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Tag Archives: patch ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare’s Wild Geese mercenary patch Posted by juleswings on November 3, 2019 The Wild Geese patch as shown above is often misidentified as being a mercenary or mercenary veteran’s insignia. This is untrue, however there is a real connection between it and one of the world’s best known mercenaries. Thomas Michael Hoare (born 19 March 1919), better known as ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare achieved legendary status in the mid 1960’s for his exploits as a mercenary in the Congo suppressing a Communist backed revolt and helping to rescue up to two thousand civilians from atrocities being carried out by the Simba rebels. Hoare’s unit, comprising around 300 mostly South African mercenaries was officially designated 5 Commando Armée Nationale Congolaise (5 Commando ANC) but unofficially referred to as ‘The Wild Geese’. This was a reference to the unit shoulder patch which featured a goose in flight below the title ‘5 Commando’ and was inspired by the “flight of the wild geese”, when Patrick Sarsfield, the 1st Earl of Lucan took his 19 000 strong Irish Jacobite army into exile in France in 1691. The term subsequently became associated with all the Irish soldiers who served with the continental European armies from the 16th thru 18th centuries. Hoare, a soldier of Irish descent, used this as a way of distinguishing his 5 Commando from the French and Belgian mercenaries also active in the Congo at that time. Original 5 Commando shoulder title featuring the flying Wild Goose, from the estate of Bill Jacobs, a South African mercenary who served in the British Parachute Regiment prior to joining 5 Commando in the Congo in 1966-67. This is the heavy-weight wool backed variation of the insignia and is less common than the more extensively used light-weight variation which was produced on a tan polyester/cotton shirt type material. Collection: Julian Tennant In 1978, Daniel Carney’s novel about a British banker hiring a group of mercenaries to rescue a deposed African President from the hands of a corrupt dictator made its cinema debut as “The Wild Geese”. The title of the movie was based on Hoare’s 5 Commando nickname and he was hired as the technical advisor for the film which was mostly shot in South Africa. The mercenary commander, Colonel Alan Faulkner (played by Richard Burton) was patterned on ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare. The film was a commercial success and helped to reinforce the connection between the title and mercenary activities in the English-speaking world. Colonel ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare wearing the uniform of his 5 Commando Armée Nationale Congolaise (5 Commando ANC) during the filming of the movie, The Wild Geese, for which he was hired as a technical advisor in 1977/78. Here, Mike can be seen wearing the more often seen ‘light-weight’ variation of the 5 Commando shoulder title on tan shirt type material. Photographer unknown. Meanwhile, around the same time, Seychelles exiles allied with the ex-president James Manchan were holding discussions with the South African Government about the possibility of overthrowing the new Seychelles president, France-Albert René, whose supporters had deposed Mancham whilst he was visiting London the previous year. Both the South Africans and the Americans were concerned about the presence of a socialist government in the Seychelles and gave their blessing, directing Manchan’s representatives to Hoare. With South African support, Hoare raised a team of 54 mercenaries (half of whom were actually serving members of the South African Defence Force) for the operation which he estimated would cost US$ 5 million to fund. However, they could only secure US$300 000 and this lack of financial backing led to compromises in the plan which ultimately led to a disastrous outcome. It is beyond the scope of this article to go into detail about the operation which involved the mercenaries entering the Seychelles disguised as a rugby club (named “Ye Ancient Order of Froth Blowers“), then disperse around the island before launching the coup whilst René was holding a cabinet meeting. Terry Aspinall provides interesting additional information about the operation and its outcome on his mercenary-wars.net website and you can also see the Associated Press uncut video ‘rushes’ showing the aftermath of the operation in the AP Archive. On 25 November 1981, Hoare and the main party of 43 mercenaries, with their weapons hidden in their luggage, flew into Seychelles International Airport at Pointe La Rue on Mahé. Unfortunately, the AK-47 of one of the mercenaries was discovered during a luggage check, triggering a six-hour gun battle at the airport. Eventually the mercenaries commandeered a Boeing 707 (Air India Flight 224) which flew them back to South Africa, leaving behind five mercenaries, one South African National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent and a female civilian accomplice, all of whom were arrested and subsequently convicted of treason in the Seychelles. One mercenary had been killed and two wounded. Weapons and luggage abandoned by the mercenaries at Seychelles International Airport after the aborted coup attempt. Note the luggage stickers featuring the “Ancient Order of Froth Blowers” logos and the children’s toys which were used as part of the mercenaries deception plan. Photographer unknown. Arriving back in South Africa, the mercenaries were initially charged with kidnapping, which carried no minimum sentence, but after international pressure this was upgraded to hijacking. After a five-month trial, 42 of the mercenaries were found guilty and given between six months and five years in prison although most sentences were later reduced to six months. For his part, however, Mike Hoare was sentenced to ten years in prison but was pardoned and released on the 7th of May 1985 after serving 2 years, eight months and 10 days of his sentence. Lack of finances had contributed to the decision to hide the mercenary’s weapons in their luggage as smuggling them to the island by boat was too costly and now, facing mounting legal bills, a plan was devised to raise contributions from sympathetic observers. This included selling ‘Wild Geese’ merchandise via the Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa and later, Soldier of Fortune magazine. The fund raising merchandise included patches and autographed paperback copies of Mike Hoare’s book, Mercenary, which recounted his adventures in the Congo. Editorial in the October 1982 edition of Soldier of Fortune magazine advertising the patch and Mike Hoare’s ‘Mercenary’ book as part of the fund raising efforts for the “Mike Hoare Defense Fund”. Scan courtesy Alex Iide. Back in those days I was a regular subscriber and after seeing the advertisement (or possibly the editorial promotion shown above) in Soldier of Fortune, I was soon the proud owner of a Wild Geese patch. This came with a personalised, serial numbered certificate, confirming that I was “an Honorary Member of the Wild Geese”. From the same advert I also bought an autographed paperback Corgi 1982 reprint of Hoare’s book Mercenary. At the time, the patch cost US$5 and the book US$12. Autographed 1982 Corgi Books reprint edition of Mike Hoare’s book “Mercenary” that was first published in 1967. This was the signed Corgi 1982 paperback edition that was sold via the promotion in Soldier of Fortune magazine. Unfortunately, I traded all of those items with another collector many years ago as at that point in time they were outside of my collecting interests. It was a decision that I later regretted as my focus began to shift to mercenary insignia, but thanks to the help of fellow collector Alan Bennett I have been able to get some of the original items that were advertised in SOF for my collection. Alan, who corresponded with the Hoare family at the time, also made me aware that the patch was actually made in two sizes although I only recall the larger size being offered for sale in the Soldier of Fortune promotion. I suspect that the smaller patch may be part of an earlier run of the the patches that were first offered for sale in South Africa as the note from Mike’s wife, Phylis describes them both as being ‘buff coloured’ whereas the original patch offered in Soldier of Fortune was white. UPDATE: Alan Bennett has kindly shared a picture of the smaller buff coloured badge with me and I have included it at the bottom of the post alongside his example of the larger original patch of the type sold in SOF. Note from Phyllis Hoare to Alan Bennett which mentions the second smaller patch. Photo courtesy Alan Bennett. I say original, because despite being somewhat of a novelty item, these patches are actually being extensively reproduced and sold to collectors via eBay with varying descriptions along the lines of “5 COMMANDO MIKE HOARE MERCENARY CLOTH PATCH BADGE WILD GEESE” and the like. Some collectors, based on the descriptions being offered, may actually be led to believe that the patch was used by the mercenaries and on occasion dealers have tried to capitalise on that asking ridiculous prices for the patches. One dealer I am aware of currently has a patch listed for US$250, which he describes as an ‘original veterans badge’ along with a black & white photocopy of the “Honorary Member of the The Wild Geese” certificate. Most of the faked patches are relatively cheap though and it is quite easy to distinguish the original patch from the copy and I’ve included pictures of both for comparison. Right: The original “Wild Geese” patch sold by Mike and Phyllis Hoare via an advertisement in Soldier of Fortune magazine in 1982. These patches were sold to raise money for his legal bills and are NOT a veterans or mercenary unit patch as is often described. Left: One of the contemporary copies that are being sold to collectors, often with all sorts of outrageous identification descriptions. When compared the differences in detail is obvious. Collection: Julian Tennant. Alan was also kind enough to send me some other material, including correspondence with Mike Hoare’s wife, Phyllis and a scan of his “Honorary Member” certificate to include in this article as I no longer have mine. Some sources refer to Hoare creating a database of potential mercenary recruits whilst in prison by signing them up as “Honorary Members of The Wild Geese”, which has contributed to the mythology around these items, but I wonder if those sources are confusing these fundraising certificates with something more sinister? I don’t know. Alan Bennett’s personalised “Honorary Member of The Wild Geese” certificate that accompanied the patches sold in Soldier of Fortune magazine circa 1982. Pictures courtesy of the Alan Bennett collection. It is probably a question that I should have asked Mike’s son, Chris when we discussed these patches and the Soldier of Fortune promotion recently. He recalled the promotion in SOF and also provided the following information which is also in his biography of his father. “To assist in paying the various legal fees, Mike had some round cloth badges made in two diameters, 105 mm and 60 mm. The badges said, ‘The Wild Geese’ and showed a goose flying over an island, and palm trees. A display in the Sunday Times of 20 June 1982 advertised the badges for sale for R5 with a signed certificate naming buyer’s honorary members of The Wild Geese. For another R10, buyers could also order signed copies of the Corgi edition of Mercenary. Later, Phyllis (Mike’s wife) advertised the badges for sale for $5 in Soldier of Fortune magazine in America; someone signed Mike’s name on the numbered certificates. There was a lot of sympathy for Mike and his Froth Blowers, and more than 3500 people responded…” Apart from reminding me of the existence of the smaller patch, which I don’t recall being offered in the SOF advertisement or editorial promotion, Chris cleared up another thing that I had been thinking about. If Mike Hoare, was in prison at the time that all the books and certificates were being sold to his supporters, how did he sign them? Well, according to Chris it was someone else and that, considering the circumstance makes sense to me. However, despite this gem of information it should not detract from these very interesting items related to a colourful and legendary soldier. “The Wild Geese” Ex Libris bookplate that accompanied Mike Hoare’s books. My Corgi paperback edition of ‘Mercenary’ was signed however I think it may have also include a separate bookplate similar to this one. This particular example, which I obtained from Alan Bennett, is slightly larger than the Corgi paperback book and I suspect it may have been used with the other books that Mike Hoare was selling after his release from prison in the mid 80’s. Collection: Julian Tennant Alan Bennett’s WILD GEESE patches including the smaller ‘buff’ coloured beret badge/patch that was referred to by Phyliss and Chris Hoare in correspondence. Courtesy the Alan Bennett collection. Acknowledgements: I am very grateful to the assistance of fellow collectors Alan Bennett and Alex Iide for their help in finding images for some of the source material that I used in this article. Thanks guys, your help is very much appreciated. If you like the content please share this post or follow this page via email or using the buttons below or in the column on the right. 2 Comments Posted in Insignia Tagged 5 commando, ancient order of the froth blowers, Congo, insignia, mad mike hoare, mercenaries, mercenary, mike hoare, patch, seychelles, seychelles coup, soldier of fortune, the wild geese Congo Mercenary 10 Commando patch Congo Mercenary 10 Commando (Commando Kansimba) patch type 2 (Julian Tennant collection) This is a recent addition to my collection. It is an original shoulder patch used by the mercenaries of 10 Commando who were under the command of Colonel Jean Schramme in the 1960’s. This version is known as the 2nd pattern of the patch and is distinguished from the earlier type by only having the outline of Lake Tanganyika in blue, whilst the first version had the entire lake in blue silk. Both of the original patches were made using the precise, machine embroidered, silk-bevo style of construction as seen in this example. Collectors should note that there are numerous fakes of this badge, many of which originate from the same fakers who make all the ARVN and US Vietnam war patches that can be found on ebay and at the War Surplus market at Dan Sinh. If you are interested in the mercenary insignia used in the Congo during the 1960’s, I would recommend that you try to find a copy of the late Gerard Lagaune’s excellent privately published reference, Histoire et insignes des parachutistes et des commandos de Pays des Grand Lacs. Histoire et insignes des parachutistes et des commandos de Pays des Grand Lacs by the late Gerard Lagaune. The text is in French and it is privately published so it may be difficult to find now that he has passed away, but it is an excellent reference detailing the parachutist and commando insignia from thHe countries surrounding the ‘great lake’ Tanganyika in Africa. Included are full colour photographs of the various mercenary unit insignia worn in the Congo during the 1960’s. 10 Commando formed part of the 5th Mechanised Brigade, which was raised on the 1st of November 1964. The brigade was controlled by approximately 60 Belgian officers and had around 350 mercenaries of various nationalities under its command. Number 10 Commando was led by Belgian mercenary, Jean Schramme. “Black Jack” Schramme was a teenager when he went to the Congo to run the family plantation, located to the north-east of Stanleyville and it should be noted that despite often being seen wearing the beret of the 2nd Belgian Commando Battalion (and contrary to some of the information he presented in his biography), there is no evidence that he had ever qualified as a commando or served in the Belgian Commando Battalion prior to his mercenary activities. In the troubles that followed independence in 1961, Schramme fled to Uganda and then moved to Katanga where he took part in the fighting, forming a group recruited from local tribes near the Kansimba region which he referred to as the “Leopard Group”. After that period of fighting ended in 1963 he moved across the border into Angola before returning in 1964 with his now named 10 Commando which operated out of Fizi-Baraka to the East of the province of Maniema and not too far from a plantation that he had once controlled. Jean Schramme’s biography, “Le Bataillon Leopard”. On the cover he is shown wearing the beret of the Belgian 2nd Commando Battalion and 10 Commando patch on his shoulder. The first pattern machine made silk-bevo patch with the full blue Lake Tanganyika is also shown, albeit in B&W. In 1967, 10 Commando was part of the revolt against the government of Colonel Mobuto Sese Seko who had become president two years previously. In early August, Schramme’s 10 Commando captured the border town of Bukavu, holding it for 7 weeks despite repeated attempts by the government ANC forces to recapture the town. On October 29, 1967 the ANC forces finally recaptured Bukavu and the soldiers of 10 Commando fled towards Rwanda crossing the border on the 13th of November 1967, where they were disarmed, ending the existence of this colourful mercenary unit. 2 Comments Posted in Insignia Tagged Africa, badge, Bukavu, commando, Congo, insignia, Jean Schramme, kansimba, Katanga, mercenary, patch, stanleyville Australian ANZAC Day Iraq 2016 patch Posted by juleswings on October 7, 2016 Close up of an Australian helmet featuring the Taji ANZAC Day Iraq 2016 patch at the dawn service held at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. 25 April 2016. Picture by Cpl Jake Sims (ADF) On 25 April 2016, Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed to Iraq with Task Group Taji commemorated the Task Group’s first Anzac Day at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. This year’s Anzac day marks the 100th anniversary since the first Anzac Day service in 1916. To commemorate the day a special one-off patch was produced by a Sydney based company for the troops serving with Task Group Taji. Australian Army soldier Private Andrew Lawrence from Task Group Taji commemorates Anzac Day at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. The ANZAC Day Iraq 2016 patch can be seen on the helmet and the issue Task Group Taji patch is visible on his right shoulder. Picture by Cpl Jake Sims (ADF) ANZAC Day Iraq 2016 patch produced for the first ANZAC Day commemoration service at the Taji Military Complex in Iraq. Personnel from Australia and New Zealand based at the Taji Military Complex in Iraq are part of the broader international Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission training members of the Iraqi security forces. The training includes weapon handling, building clearances and obstacle breaching techniques; as well as training in the Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for squad through to company-level operations to use in their fight against Daesh. General issue, Australian manufactured, Task Group Taji patch worn by Australian & New Zealand personnel serving with the Task Group as part of the mission designated Operation OKRA by the Australian Defence Force. Task Group Taji’s BPC contribution is part of Australia’s broader Defence contribution to Iraq, codenamed Operation OKRA, which includes a Special Operations Task Group and an Air Task Group. Australian Army soldier Private Andrew Lawrence from Task Group Taji commemorates Anzac Day at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. 25 April 2016. Picture by Cpl Jake Sims (ADF) Leave a comment Posted in Field Reports, Insignia Tagged 2016, ANZAC, ANZAC Day, australia, australian army, insignia, iraq, new zealand, Operation OKRA, patch, Task Group Taji Myanmar/Burmese KNLA Insurgent Army patch Posted by juleswings on August 7, 2016 Myanmar / Burma: Printed shoulder patch of the Karen National Liberation Army. One of my collecting interests are the insignia worn by various insurgent groups and guerilla armies. Burma/Myanmar is a country of particular interest to me, so I was quite excited to obtain this printed Karen National Liberation Army patch recently. This printed patch appears to be one of several different variations that are used by the KNLA. General Baw Kyaw Heh, Vice Chief-of-Staff of the Karen National Liberation Army wearing a variation of the KNLA shoulder patch. The Karen National Liberation Army (Burmese: ကရင်အမျိုးသား လွတ်မြောက်ရေး တပ်မတော်; abbreviated KNLA) is the military branch of the Karen National Union (KNU), which had been fighting the Burmese/Myanmar Government for the self-determination of the Karen people since 1949 until signing a ceasefire agreement with the government in January 2012. An officer of the KNLA in dress uniform displaying another variation of the KNLA shoulder patch. The KNLA was reported to have had a strength of roughly 6,000 soldiers in 2012 and according to the Karen National Union website, ‘The KNLA has seven brigades and three headquarters battalions. Brigades are comprised of up to five battalions, each of which has four companies, each of which in turn has three platoons. The KNLA also has 3 main branches, General Staff Office, Adjutant General Office, and Quartermaster Office. The mission of the KNLA from its foundation through to the present day is solely as a self-defense force for the Karen people and the organisation, since without such a defense force the Karen would likely be eradicated. The KNLA has no aspirations other than to safeguard and guarantee the safety of the Karen people and to support the organisation in their stand for political dialogue. Karen self-defense requirements include countering Burma Army aggression; to ban narcotics; to provide village security; and to provide security for humanitarian relief missions.’ (http://www.knuhq.org/about/defense-department/) KNLA soldier wearing an embroidered variation of the shoulder patch. If you like the content that I post here please share this post or follow this page using the buttons below or in the column on the right. Leave a comment Posted in Insignia, The 'juleswings' Collection Tagged badge, Burma, guerilla, insignia, insurgent, Karen National Liberation Army, KNLA, Myanmar, patch

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The Sublime Horror of Choice Brian Evenson interviews Paul Tremblay PAUL TREMBLAY IS the author of nearly a dozen books, many of which could be classified as horror. He is probably best known for his possession novel, A Head Full of Ghosts, which won the 2015 Bram Stoker Award and which The New York Times praised for “the pleasurable fog of [its] calculated, perfectly balanced ambiguity.” The novel that followed, Disappearance at Devil’s Rock, strikes me as cannily bringing Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock into collision with American horror in a way that gives us something quite original. Each recent book of Tremblay’s seems to me to take on a subgenre of the horror genre. He both explores it and puts pressure on it to see if he can make it do something new. Paul is anything but a complacent writer — rather than resting on his laurels, he offers work that is consistently new and unique. Paul and I talked about his most recent novel, The Cabin at the End of the World, which appeared on June 26 of this year. Paul will be reading at The Last Bookstore on July 1. BRIAN EVENSON: One thing I like about your work is that it often takes a subgenre of horror that we think we know and looks at it in a new way. In A Head Full of Ghosts (to name perhaps the clearest example), you have a very particular take on the possession story, and you bring that take into collision with reality TV. I see The Cabin at the End of the World as both acknowledging the home-invasion story and taking such stories apart, critiquing them. And yet, at the same time it’s suspenseful and a good read. How hard was it to figure out that balance? PAUL TREMBLAY: A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World both began with me thinking jeeze, how would I write this-kind-of-subgenre-story. AHFoG was an expression of my love for horror and the possession story as well as a pointed critique of some of its tropes and gender stereotypes. I won’t call Cabin an anti-home invasion story, because that’s not exactly true, but the home invasion subgenre is one I generally don’t gravitate toward as a reader or film viewer. There are examples of home-invasion stories I have enjoyed, including Wait Until Dark, Misery, and more recently the French film Ils (Them) and Mike Flanagan’s Hush. I’ve found the subgenre — particularly the movies — are too often thin in character and motivation, and they revel in the sadism of violence without consequence. I don’t want to lose my horror street cred; the above is not to say that I am anti-violence in entertainment, particularly when the over-the-top gore-fests of Evil Dead II and The Thing are two of my favorite horror movies. A home-invasion story almost always necessitates personal, up-close violence, and it’s rooted in realism. I think that kind of violence should be represented in a way that treats those transgressions with dignity (which might seem an odd word choice), reflecting how the victims (if they survive), witnesses, and even the perpetrators are fundamentally changed by the violent acts. That’s a really long-winded way of saying I was excited by the challenge of writing a home-invasion story that I would want to sit through. I tried to use my twists of the subgenre’s expectations to either propel the plot and/or set those traps of surprise for the reader, and then I let the characters fill in those quieter, in-between moments. There really isn’t a ton of plot. I thought the only way the book would work would be to focus on the seven characters, treat almost all of them (even the invaders) with a certain level of empathy. Not that I’m a playwright by any stretch, but I imagined I was writing a one-setting play so that the characters would ultimately carry the story. If you know the players, and know them really well, then the anticipation of the terrible thing that is sure to happen next builds the suspense for you. The marketing of the book mentions the home-invasion fiction that a lot of people might think of — Stephen King’s Misery and Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door. But I found myself thinking about things more on the fringe of the genre as I read it — movies like Tarkovsky’s The Sacrifice or Martha Marcy May Marlene or The Killing of a Sacred Deer, for instance, or even William Hope Hodgson’s The House on the Borderland. What were some of the less apparent books and movies that you found yourself thinking about or responding to as you were writing Cabin? I didn’t see The Killing of a Sacred Deer until very recently, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Martha Marcy May Marlene is excellent. I adore how the film is both grounded in realism and at the same time it has an ethereal, nightmarish atmosphere. I reread Lord of the Flies when working on this book. It’s not home invasion but qualifies as “survival horror,” I think. I wanted some of that book’s feel and mindset. Or at least, I wanted how that book made me feel to seep into my book. The opening paragraph of Cabin is a riff on the opening of Flies. Our current socio-political situation, shall we say, very much informs the mood of Cabin as much as any other book or movie might, and it is my hope the book works as a political allegory. There are other films and stories that inspired smaller parts here and there. For example, in the opening chapter, Wen sitting on the grass across from the huge Leonard came from the iconic scene of Frankenstein’s monster similarly sitting with a girl next to a pond. Leonard’s name and size is a purposeful allusion to another famously large Lenny. Putting in little references like that (even if they’re deep cuts or so obtuse no one else but me would get them) is the fun part of writing for me, and it even helps to keep me motivated or focused on the macro-view of the story. I think what the seemingly random collection of inspired bits had in common was the feeling of anxiety of what I was referencing engendered in me. I wanted to work that tone or feeling into the DNA of Cabin, so I tried to seed it everywhere I could. I’ll add (because I know you’re a big fan of Samuel Beckett, Brian) that I almost had a fourth epigraph for the book, one quoting Beckett, but I left it out fearing it might too strongly hint at the novel’s ending. Ah, that’s good to know. I’m glad that Beckett almost made the cut … Eugene Thacker talks about horror as offering a choice for its characters (and by extension its readers): it asks the readers to believe that either something is wrong with them (madness, insanity, the awfulness of human nature) or something is wrong with the world (the unlikely, the supernatural). Would it be fair to say that Cabin acknowledges both of those strands of horror but doesn’t choose between them? Eugene Thacker? He owes me money! Yes, I think that’s more than fair. The interplay between both of those strands helps build a wonderful atmosphere of ambiguity while reflecting both the interior and exterior pressures placed upon the characters. The plots of my previous two novels hinged on ambiguous supernatural elements, and in the case of AHFoG, ambiguous characters too. I know I can’t do the ambiguous thing forever (my editor and agent playfully refer to me as Mr. Ambiguous Horror), but I thought Cabin would fit in a thematic arc with the previous two novels, each book about families in crisis, while Cabin ups the stakes, going for a more existential and metaphysical ambiguity. One of the most important elements of the story for me is the idea of choice. Several of the characters are put in a position in which they have to make a choice — and if you know a lot of home-invasion horror you think you know how that’s going to play out, but neither the nature/pressure of the choice or the choice itself quite works out the way we think. And there are other characters who feel they have no choice, that they are compelled to do what they do. That strikes me as ultimately being about how responsible we are for our actions and how much we can blame others for them. That’s not really a question, I guess. You are correct, Brian. That is not a question. Choice is part and parcel of our daily, ambiguous existence, isn’t it? (That’s more of a rhetorical question, just to be clear.) It’s the sublime horror of choice. We never know for sure what the outcome will be, never mind whether or not we made the correct decision (if such a thing exists). More terrifying or anxiety inducing, what sort of ripple effect or unforeseen consequence does a choice have on our future selves or the lives of others. I approach most horror stories with the horror of choice in mind. I’m fascinated not necessarily by the horrific event or the transgression itself, but what decisions and choices will then be made by the characters. The feeling of having no choice or no say is a fear of mine, partly because the idea of loosening oneself from the burden and responsibility of choice and consequence is so intoxicating. I mean, at first blush that sounds almost blissful. But responsibility is the compact, and it’s the measurement of a person’s humanity. The idea of religion and cult is something I haven’t seen all that often in your work (it does appear in The Harlequin and the Train, though in very odd form — admittedly it’s odd here too). Was it difficult to get into the minds of those involved? And was it difficult to balance their sometimes very different personalities against their feeling almost compelled to perform certain actions? Without my attributing malice here, I think it’s fair to say religion blurs (but doesn’t necessarily obliterate) the line of choice in service to their god/greater good. The cult completely erases the line and severs the compact I referred to earlier. What the best horror stories (and that includes so many of your stories/novels, Brian) about religion and/or cults do is probe for the location of the line between worship, group think, and the individual. How does a person arrive on one side or the other of that line? What decisions are they capable of as a group that none of them would be willing to make individually? I didn’t want all four invaders to be faceless cartoons. I thought their experience — one of the characters in particular — was a horror as well and worth exploring. I certainly do not want the readers to sympathize with any of the invaders, but empathy is okay; the want to understand why they were doing what they were doing. A technical aside: I put in a little extra work in trying to make sure that the four strangers (half of whom do not get any POV time in the novel) were distinct people with their own voices. Post-draft I underlined the dialogue of all six of the adult characters in different colors so I could more easily do a read-through as one character. Can you talk a little more about the POV? What sort of challenges did you have working with so many different perspectives? Prior to Disappearance at Devil’s Rock, all of my novels were first-person POV with a single narrator. I hadn’t realized that until I sat down to write the book. I was surprised by how initially daunting it was to stick to third (okay, fine, I did cheat somewhat and had some first-person diary entries in the novel) and to shift into the heads of so many other POV characters, but the story of Disappearance at Devil’s Rock necessitated that kind of narrative approach, my comfort level be damned. Cabin’s story required a mainly third-person/shifting POV approach as well. I did feel a bit more at ease this time around having survived the writing of the previous novel. I spent some time pre-planning the POV shifts between the main protagonists Wen, Andrew, and Eric. It was a balance between wanting to give those characters close to an equal amount of page time or say in the proceedings, while making sure there was a reason the POV was with them for a particular section. There is a section that’s a sneaky third-person plural, which was kind of fun to mess around with, as well as a slightly different kind of POV/narration in the final chapter. I mentioned pre-planning out the POV switches and swaps, but sometimes it comes down to instinct and sometimes the only way to know if one or the other is the right choice is to try something out and then decide if it’s the right fit. In the initial draft of Cabin, I wrote one small section in second person, thinking I’d use it as a way to implicate the reader in the goings on, but I changed it to third person partly because I was worried that readers might mistakenly interpret the second person as my wanting them to sympathize with one of the invaders. There’s something that happens at the end of the second section of the book that is quite shocking and that repositioned where I thought the book might be going. Without giving too much away, was that something that you’d planned from the beginning, or something that developed as you were writing? That moment also suggests that chance — randomness — is as important as choice or lack thereof, that we as humans are caught between the choices we make (or fail to make) and things that happen to us by chance. That part was there very early on in the process. By necessity, I wrote a 10-ish page summary or plot outline. It was necessary because my two-book deal with William Morrow had been fulfilled by A Head Full of Ghosts and Disappearance at Devil’s Rock, and my editor needed 50 pages and an outline before they could make any sort of offer to get me back on deal. Suffice to say, I wanted to be back on deal. The part to which you are referring is one of a handful moments in Cabin when chance/coincidence could be interpreted or confused by the characters and the reader as potential, malignant purposefulness. All of which is in service to building both sides of the ambiguous argument (of whether or not something supernatural is happening). Chance, choice, and consequence are fundamental parts of existence, and perfect fodder for a horror story, or any story for that matter that asks: How do you live through this? How does anyone live through this? The ending, too, I’m curious if that’s something you knew you were heading toward from the beginning or if it was something that asserted itself later. When I handed in the first 50 pages and the summary to my editor in late summer of 2016, I didn’t tell my editor what the ending would be. I wrote something cheeky like, “Is ___ going to happen, or ____? I don’t know, I have to write it to find out.” But I did have an ending in mind. I don’t want to say one way or the other as to how, but the ending changed shortly after the presidential election in November. Brian Evenson is the author of a dozen books of fiction, most recently A Collapse of Horses and The Warren. Rumors and Revelations By Matt E. Lewis Maybe We All Got It Coming By Paul Tremblay The Whole Ball of Wax in a Nutshell Broken on the Wheel of Apocalypse Misfit Friendships: A Conversation with Jeff Zentner By Tim Cummings The Earth Died Screaming By Robert Cashin Ryan A Century of Fighting for Civil Liberties By Stephen Rohde Hope Is a Complicated Concept: An Interview with Behrouz Boochani By Emanuel Stoakes Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and American Jews By Peter Dreier ADD TO YOUR BOOKSHELF ADD TO BOOKSHELFCANCEL

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Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Business Intelligence, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Countries, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rankings, Top 100 M&As, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela Latin America’s Top 100 M&As From July 2016 to June 2017, there were 1,145 completed mergers and acquisition deals in Latin America, according to the Latin Trade and EMIS Top 100 M&A ranking. Leading in number of deals are Brazil, ... Latin America’s Top 100 M&As in 2 David Buchanan March 4, 2016 Mergers and acquisitions in Latin America reached $74.33 billion last year, down from the $116 billion from 2014, reflecting the tough year for the region in general. According to a report by Deloitte, most of ... Business Intelligence, In Depth, Rankings, Special Reports, Top 100 M&As Latin America’s Top M&As in 2014 Last year Latin American companies negotiated $116.04 billion worth of mergers and acquisitions, making the region a strong magnet for investors. By: Marco N. Yurén Latin America is still a big magnet for investment capital ... Argentina, Asia-Latin America, Aviation & Airports, Banking & Finance, Brazil, Business Intelligence, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Countries, Energy, Europe-Latin America, Food & Beverage, Guatemala, Industries, Insurance, Mexico, Mining, Panama, Peru, Rankings, Retail, Technology, Top 100 M&As, Topics Oi’s Acquisition of Portugal Telecom: Top M&A of 2013 Abel Halpern February 20, 2014 Petrobras also unloaded more than $4 billion in assets.The acquisition of Portugal Telecom by Brazil’s largest telephone company, Oi, was the largest M&A of the year according to LBC’s latest list of Latin America’s Top ... Analysis, Aviation & Airports, Banking & Finance, Business Intelligence, CFO Channel, Communities, Countries, Energy, Food & Beverage, Guatemala, In Depth, Industries, Interviews & Reports, Rankings, Retail, Special Reports, Top 100 M&As, Venezuela A record-breaking year for M&A deals Abel Halpern February 8, 2013 Most of the acquired companies were in Brazil, Mexico and Chile. Most of the acquirers were in Brazil, the US and -- surprisingly -- in Colombia. Trends and data drawn from the Latin Business Chronicle ... Business Intelligence, Rankings, Top 100 M&As Top 100 M&A’s (2011): Country Breakdown of Acquirors and Target To read this post, you must purchase a Latin Trade Business Intelligence Subscription. chat_bubble0 Comment visibility1298 Views* Latin America: M&A’s Decline The value and number of mergers and acquisitions dropped in Latin America last year. BY JOACHIM BAMRUD Mexican mogul Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man, again dominates Latin America’s dealmaking. Three of his companies were among ... Business Intelligence, Industries, Legal, Rankings, Top 100 M&As Latin America: Skadden Top M&A Advisor Despite M&A drop last year, many law firms boosted their business. BY LBC STAFF US-based Skadden Arps captured the top spot among legal advisors on Latin America’s mergers and acquisitions, according to Thomson Reuters. The law firm jumped ... Latin America’s Top 100 M&A’s (2011) Top 100 M&A’s: Country Breakdown of Acquirors and Target

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United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598, 2 (2000) Page: Index Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next Cite as: 529 U. S. 598 (2000) to come within Congress' authority, Congress elected to cast � 13981's remedy over a wider, and more purely intrastate, body of violent crime. Third, although � 13981, unlike the Lopez statute, is supported by numerous findings regarding the serious impact of gender-motivated violence on victims and their families, these findings are substantially weakened by the fact that they rely on reasoning that this Court has rejected, namely, a but-for causal chain from the initial occurrence of violent crime to every attenuated effect upon interstate commerce. If accepted, this reasoning would allow Congress to regulate any crime whose nationwide, aggregated impact has substantial effects on employment, production, transit, or consumption. Moreover, such reasoning will not limit Congress to regulating violence, but may be applied equally as well to family law and other areas of state regulation since the aggregate effect of marriage, divorce, and childrearing on the national economy is undoubtedly significant. The Constitution requires a distinction between what is truly national and what is truly local, and there is no better example of the police power, which the Founders undeniably left reposed in the States and denied the central Government, than the suppression of violent crime and vindication of its victims. Congress therefore may not regulate noneconomic, violent criminal conduct based solely on the conduct's aggregate effect on interstate commerce. Pp. 607-619. (b) Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which permits Congress to enforce by appropriate legislation the constitutional guarantee that no State shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process, or deny any person equal protection of the laws, City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U. S. 507, 517, also does not give Congress the authority to enact � 13981. Petitioners' assertion that there is pervasive bias in various state justice systems against victims of gender-motivated violence is supported by a voluminous congressional record. However, the Fourteenth Amendment places limitations on the manner in which Congress may attack discriminatory conduct. Foremost among them is the principle that the Amendment prohibits only state action, not private conduct. This was the conclusion reached in United States v. Harris, 106 U. S. 629, and the Civil Rights Cases, 109 U. S. 3, which were both decided shortly after the Amendment's adoption. The force of the doctrine of stare decisis behind these decisions stems not only from the length of time they have been on the books, but also from the insight attributable to the Members of the Court at that time, who all had intimate knowledge and familiarity with the events surrounding the Amendment's adoption. Neither United States v. Guest, 383 U. S. 745, nor District of Columbia v. Carter, 409 U. S. 418, casts any doubt on the enduring vitality of the Civil Rights Cases and Harris.

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Hairdresser Who Says R. Kelly Sexually Assaulted Her Speaks Out (WATCH) by Alberto Luperon | 10:38 am, March 28th, 2019 “L.C.” is speaking out. Lanita Carter, who was identified only by her initials in court documents, is publicly speaking out against R. Kelly. She told CBS This Morning that the singer sexually assaulted her on February 18, 2003. Kelly is charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for the alleged sexual assaults of three underage girls, and Carter, the lone adult. “I’m not ashamed of my past anymore,” she said. “I’m not ashamed of what naysayers say.” Carter said she supported Kelly amid his 2002 indictment for child pornography. “I would tell people, ‘Pray for him. Pray for him. I do his hair. He is nothing like what they say!'” she said. She described him as a “perfect gentleman.” That fell apart. She said Kelly called her down to do his hair and asked for a head message. Carter said she laughed it off and turned him down because she didn’t do messages. “He pulled my braid down by him,” she said. “And he say, ‘Suck it for daddy, suck it for daddy.’ And I said, ‘No.’ And I did like this. [covering her face] And he just started going, [spitting noises]. He did it, like, six times.” She said she reported the incident to cops that day, and gave them her favorite Tommy Hilfiger shirt. Semen on the clothing matched Kelly’s DNA profile, according to the bond proffer. The singer was only charged in the case last month. It’s unclear why prosecutors passed on the case then. The lead sex crimes prosecutor at the time of the alleged assault did not respond to CBS’ requests for comment. Carter reached a settlement with Kelly after the incident, according to CBS. She said she stepped forward to prosecutors again after Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx asked for alleged victims of the singer to contact the office. Kelly has denied breaking the law when it came to women. [Screengrab via CBS]

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Mustangs plan to bounce back after odd regular-season finish The West Division of the Ontario university women's soccer standings recently reached a wicked witch level of cruel. Ryan Pyette The West Division of the Ontario university women’s soccer standings recently reached a wicked witch level of cruel. Western went unbeaten in its first 14 of a 16-game regular season schedule and still missed out on securing one of two first-round playoff byes up for grabs. Their only two losses — at home to fellow powers Guelph and York this past weekend — shoved them down into third place. They actually finished alongside the Lions for second, but dropped because York had one more victory than the Mustangs and that was the decisive tie-breaker. “We needed to take care of business and we didn’t,” head coach Martin Painter said, “so we have to play on Wednesday (against Laurier at 6 p.m. at Mustang Field).” This isn’t the yellow brick route, though. Western defeated the Golden Hawks in both previous meetings without surrendering a goal, but no soccer team on the planet could have used that first-round free pass more than these Mustangs right now. They limped to the finish line with 11 players injured at the same time, including five starters. “It’s ridiculous, but we’re trying not to use injuries as an excuse,” Painter said. “We have a big roster and playing at home is a good opportunity. We’ve had some players step up and we need more to do the same this week. “Laurier is a well-organized team. They’re completely rested and they’ll be prepared. They’re tough to score on and we have to be ready.” Painter isn’t sure if starting keeper Megan Girardi, who recorded the two clean sheets against Laurier, will be available. Freshman Maddy Dunsmore, right out of high school in Vancouver, was thrown into the fire the last two games. There also are two centre backs out, a starting striker and centre midfielder recovering from various ailments. Angelica Galluzzo, a standout defender, has missed the last three games with a knee issue. But sophomore Lauren O’Donnell, a Londoner, has contributed big minutes in a pinch. There is plenty of optimism up front led by newcomer Katrina Giantsopoulos, who has scored in both Golden Hawks tilts. “We don’t really have a main (scoring threat),” Painter said, “but Katrina is one of them. We like to attack as a team with different players contributing. When we faced Laurier, we got relatively late goals and played well, especially defensively. Painter also coaches the men’s team, who dropped their final two games to finish in fourth. They’ll face Windsor right after the women’s game. The Mustangs had their best first half of the year in a 1-0 loss to second-place Guelph this past week. The Gryphons then ended up losing 4-1 to Windsor in their final game. “The Lancers are coming off a big one,” Painter said, “but I don’t think anyone wants to play our men’s team. If we can have some consistency, we can play against anybody. There’s not a massive gap between the top teams. I’d say our guys are quietly confident and playoffs would be a great time to get the most from their abilities.” Plus, they’re relatively healthy, which counts for a lot this time of year. There is added personal incentive for USports men’s soccer players. The seven-team Canadian Premier League will hold its first draft Nov. 12 for the 2019 season and they will target top-rated university players from across the country. The CPL-USports partnership allows students to sign a developmental contract and play with a CPL club while still retaining their school eligibility. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m sure it will evolve over time,” Painter said. “They’re reaching out to the schools and it would become a really great deal for Western if London was able to get its own CPL team down the road.” Painter, in his dual role, never looks past the next game these days. The logistics of the league set up in favour of one coach for both teams. “The good news if we both win Wednesday, we both go to York Sunday,” he said, “but we cross that bridge when we get to it. York has the same coach for both teams, too. I think the model works, but there’s a learning curve, we made some adjustments and we’ll be more prepared for it next year.” The brains and courage are certainly in place. On Wednesday, it’s time to prove they have the heart to keep playing. rpyette@postmedia.com Twitter.com/RyanatLFPress Falcons earn league honours, then win openers at Ontario championships Fanshawe College soccer star Jade Kovacevic breaks single-season scoring record

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M.V.I.T. Designed on a 130 acre site, the MVIT campus addresses the issue of specialized higher education alternatives in the southern region, having close proximity to the cities of Hyderabad, Chennai and Mysore. The university and its surroundings, currently distinguished by their natural beauty, are defined by a vegetated hillside profile and is expected to undergo a transition to a more urban setting as a result of the larger development process taking place in the region. While mindful of its current setting, the university is expected to become a modern campus. The emphasis was given on cross-disciplinary and trans-institutional inquiry to reflect the complexities of the world’s challenges. The primary brief and intent as to transform the existing campus into modern campus with modern facilities, amenities and functions in a coherent way so that it seamlessly aligns itself in the existing milieu. The idea was to have minimal changes and transformations to the existing Master plan of the campus but to have a strong impact on the image ability and identity of an international campus. The Phase 01 of the development therefore proposes only a small tweaking of the access, facade strategy to make it coherent and the sense of identity and collaborative learning through interconnected spaces in form of plazas and squares. Whereas, Phase 2 and Phase 3 addresses the current and future requirements of the campus in terms of its growth and expansion. N.I.F.T.

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John Deere Logo Design History and Evolution By Tanya O’Donnell Leave a Comment John Deere is known for manufacturing quality equipment , such as tractors and mowers, for farming, construction, and lawn care. All of the equipment made by John Deere is instantly recognizable thanks to its bright green and yellow color scheme that is proudly topped with the leaping deer logo. The John Deere logo has even gone beyond the farming community. You can often find it proudly displayed on jackets, hats, bumper stickers, and other paraphernalia. In this article, we will take a deep look into the history of the John Deere logo and learn more about its design. John Deere Logo Design Elements At the bottom of John Deere’s logo is the brand name, written in a hand-modified version of the classic Helvetica font. All of the letters are capitalized, yet the J and the D at the beginning of the words are slightly larger. Centered above this brand name, which is written in green, is a slightly rounded square in the same green hue. Inside of the square is the silhouette of a deer leaping towards the left. The deer is a bright yellow color, and the same yellow shade is used to draw a thin square line around the deer. John Deere has used variations of the same logo since 1876, but there have been many variations to the shape. It started out as a logo that had a drawing of a deer leaping over a log, and it was surrounded by the phrase, “John Deere, Moline, Ill.” This logo became even more elaborate in 1910, when more detail was added to the drawing, and the slogan “The trade mark of quality made famous by good implements” was added to the logo. In 1936, the company changed from an ink drawing with shading to a solid silhouette surrounded by a 12 point border because they wanted to make a logo that could easily be stenciled onto equipment. This was further simplified when the lengthy slogan, the log beneath the deer, and the complicated border were removed. By the 1950s, the logo was just a square with curved edges that contained a deer silhouette and the brand name. In 1968, the logo was streamlined even more as the deer silhouette became a two-legged profile instead of a four-legged view. The final shape change was in 2000 when the deer was altered to look like it was leaping upwards instead of jumping down. John Deere’s signature colors have been green and yellow for years, but most of their logos were actually just black and white. The signature green and yellow colors were not added to the logo until the mid 1900s. Most versions of the logo used a classic Roman font that had thick lines, serifs, and bold capitals. Starting in the 50s, the company changed to a san serif font inspired by Helvetica. The John Deere logo got its start with a simple influence. Since the founder’s name was Deere, the brand decided to use a running deer as their mascot. Over the years, this logo has received some changes inspired by the business decisions of the company. It was simplified into a two legged silhouette because the company wanted to be able to easily stencil it on their machines. The shape of the deer was slightly tweaked because the company wanted it to look more energetic and dynamic. The decision to change the logo from black to green and yellow was influenced by a desire to reference the company’s traditional colors. In the original logo, the deer shown jumping over a log was a type of animal from Africa. This was later changed to depict a white-tailed deer variety common in America. The logo may get its name from company founder John Deere, yet he only managed the company for six years in its century long history. Roughly 600 different tractor models have displayed the John Deere logo over the years. The John Deere logo shows up on both massive commercial machines and small equipment for personal use. Its colors symbolize energy and growth while the jumping deer references the power and speed of the machinery. This logo has been in use for over 155 years, and it continues to grow in popularity. Due to the loyal fan base for this logo, the John Deere logo will probably remain consistent for years to come. Miscellaneous Company Logos Realtor Logo Design, History, & Evolution Target Logo Design, History And Evolution Disney Logo Design, History, And Evolution

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Britain’s lost revolution? With the upcoming publication of Britain’s lost revolution? author, Daniel Szechi, has written a blog post regarding the subject and the book. Should Scotland be an independent nation? The Scots people were directly asked this question last September, and a majority said ‘No’. Had they been asked this question in the autumn of 1707, when the Scots Parliament was debating whether or not to enter a constitutional Union with England, there is little doubt that the answer would have been an overwhelming ‘Yes’. Yet the Act of Union, solemnly debated and carefully amended in both the Scots and English Parliaments, finally passed into law in May 1707 despite the clear hostility of the ordinary people of Scotland. It was, of course, a very different world to our own, in which the wishes and aspirations of the common people counted for little. But it was not just the humble folk who were dismayed and angered by being ‘bought and sold for English gold’ in the words of a famous song, many of their social superiors were equally outraged. As far as a sizeable minority of the Scots elite were concerned Scotland had been betrayed, and it was their duty to rescue the nation and its birthright. But how? In the early eighteenth century there was only one way to oppose a regime with a firm grip on power: armed rebellion. Therein, however, lay a complex of problems. The new British state was one of the most militarily powerful in Europe. A gaggle of Scots nobility and heritors (gentry) and their tenants and servants, no matter how enthusiastic for the national cause, would find it very hard to fight the British army and win. Scotland was also a poor nation and the Union offered the Scots people hope of a better life by commercial access to the English empire. This would end if the Scots rebelled. Then there was the question of what would happen next? If the anti-Unionist Scots rebelled and succeeded in defeating the British state, what kind of Scotland did they want to restore? In such an event the old regime in Scotland, subservient to Westminster and with an absentee monarch, was neither attractive nor feasible. Britain’s Lost Revolution is about the answer a coalition of anti-Unionists from within the Scots elite came up with in answer to these questions and a host of others. We know them simply as the ‘Jacobites’, but there was a great deal more to their aims and ambitions than the simple restoration of the exiled Stuart dynasty. Sure, they were willing to bring back James ‘VIII’, the son of James II and VII, as the king of Scotland, but only as part of a package. This included full scale French military intervention to enable the rebels to fight the British army with some hope of success, privileged commercial access to the French colonial empire to replace the economic advantages of access to the English empire and James’s agreement to a raft of radical constitutional changes that would have turned Scotland into a noble republic that would never again be subservient to England. Had the would-be rebels of 1708 succeeded the British Isles would have been transformed and the modern United Kingdom would not exist. For a moment then, in March 1708, as the French invasion force set sail for Scotland the fate of everything we now assume is solid and certain about our constitution and its politics hung in the balance. This was Britain’s lost revolution. Britain’s lost revolution? will be available from 31st January 2015 https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=9780719089176 Category: History, International Relations, Politics 21 Comments.

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Black Jewish History Month: Yaphet Kotto Today in Black Jewish History Month, Yaphet Kotto. How Are YOU Jewish: Patrilineal, Matrilineal Yaphet Frederick Kotto is an American actor, known for numerous film roles, and his starring role in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street. Kotto was born in New York City, the son of Gladys Marie, a nurse and army officer, and Avraham Kotto (originally named Njoki Manga Bell), a businessman from Cameroon. Kotto’s father, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s, was, according to Kotto, an observant Jew who spoke Hebrew, and Kotto’s mother reportedly converted to Judaism before marrying his father. Kotto has said that his paternal family originated from Israel and migrated to Egypt and then Cameroon, and have been African Jews for many generations. Being Black and Jewish gave other children even more reason, he has said, to pick on him growing up in New York City. “It was rough coming up,” Kotto said. “And then going to shul, putting a yarmulke on, having to face people who were primarily Baptists in the Bronx meant that on Fridays, I was in some heavy fistfights”. By the age of 16, he was studying acting at the Actor’s Mobile Theater Studio, and at 19, he made his professional acting debut in Othello. He also was a member of the Actors Studio in New York. Kotto got his start in acting on Broadway, where he appeared in The Great White Hope, among other productions. His film debut was in 1963 in an uncredited role in 4 For Texas. He performed in Nothing But a Man in 1964 and played a supporting role in the 1968 caper film The Thomas Crown Affair. He played John Auston, a confused Marine Lance Corporal, in the 1968 episode “King Of The Hill” on the first season of Hawaii Five-O. In 1973 he landed the role of the James Bond villain Mr. Big inLive and Let Die, as well as roles in Across 110th Street and Truck Turner. Kotto portrayed Idi Amin Dada in the 1977 television film Raid on Entebbe. He also starred as an auto worker in the 1978 film Blue Collar. The following year he played Parker in the sci-fi–horror film Alien. He followed with a supporting role in the 1980 prison drama Brubaker. In 1983, he guest-starred as mobster “Charlie” in the A-Team episode “The Out-of-Towners”. In 1987, he appeared in the futuristic sci-fi movie The Running Man and in the 1988 action-comedy Midnight Run, in which he portrayed Alonzo Mosely, an FBI agent. He played Lieutenant Al Giardello in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street. He has written two books: Royalty, and The Second Coming of Christ, and also wrote scripts forHomicide: Life on the Street. This is Black Jewish History Month at Manishtana’s Musings. ← Black Jewish History Month: Khleo Thomas Black Jewish History Month: Yavilah McCoy →

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Archive for Firestarter Teenage Wiccans, Alien Ghosts, Hair Metal Horror Posted in Aliens, Classic Horror, Evil, Ghosts, Nature Gone Wild, Science Fiction, TV Vixens, UFOs, Witches with tags Aliens, Archie, Blood Runs Thick, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Classic Horror, Dead Ant, Evil, Firestarter, Fox, Ghosted, Ghosts, heavy metal, Joshua Tree, Look What The Cat Dragged In, Maybelline, Nature Gone Wild, occult, paranormal, poison, Riverdale, Rosemary's Baby, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Science Fiction, Sonic Grave, Supernatural, The CW, The Exorcist, The Sandman, TV Vixens, Twitter, UFOs, Valentine, Warner Bros., Wiccan, witchcraft, Witches on September 21, 2017 by Drinkin' & Drive-in Here’s some wild, but not totally unexpected news: The CW and Warner Bros. are teaming up on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a remake of the hit comedy TV show, Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996 — 2003), but with a darker edge. Kinda like what they did recently with Archie and Riverdale. From the press release: “ This is a re-imagining of the origin and adventures of Sabrina as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult, and witchcraft. The series is described as being tonally in the vein of horror classics like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist and will see Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family, and the daylight world humans inhabit.” Wonder if Casper The Friendly Ghost will make a cameo? If so, hope they take the friendly part out and just have him mysterying up the hood while looking for the body of Casper the dead kid. Until that day arrives, here are a few upcoming horror and sci-fi movies/TV series to conjure on the tube… GHOSTED (October 1, 2017/Twitter) “Leroy Wright is a cynical skeptic and former missing persons detective, who thinks that ‘aliens’ are a big ’ol bunch of B.S. and that people who believe in them are certifiably nuts — people like Max Jennifer. Max is a genius true believer in the paranormal who’s convinced his wife was abducted by aliens.” A new comedy “ghost-busting” TV series on Fox™, premiering first on Twitter™ of all things. The trailers look pretty funny — like I do after a night of imbibing (sorry — word of the day calendar), so I guess I’ll watch it. But not on Twitter — I’m gonna watch it on TV like everyone should legally do. DEAD ANT (October 10, 2017) “When the one-hit-wonder glam metal band Sonic Grave embark on a trip to Coachella in hopes of a comeback, their peyote trip pit stop in Joshua Tree incites an ‘unworldly’ viscous attack, and they must rock themselves out of harms way.” “Rock themselves out of harms way.” Sounds like the story of my life. Hair metal fans will see the rip-off/homage of Maybelline™ models Poison’s 1986 Look What The Cat Dragged In debut album on the key art. I’ll watch it, but just know that my mantra is “thrashin’, not fashion.” THE SANDMAN (October 14, 2017) “With a clandestine government agency closing in on the young girl, Claire and Madison will have to work together to find a way to stop the Sandman before he claims his next victim. Factor in the sinister Valentine who leads a cadre of bureaucrats who do not mean well and soon, strange things start happening whenever Madison is around. Things move around by themselves. Cabinet doors open and close. Almost as if there’s some kind of supernatural entity in the house. It’s a journey you’ll have to fully experience to understand.” Sounds like 1984’s Firestarter, wherein a little girl who can make things burn just by using her mind, is chased by those looking to apply her skills to a job in the government. I say give the little gal a bag of marshmallows and make snacks happen. BLOOD RUNS THICK (2018) “A beautiful young woman struggles with frightening hallucinations and a crumbling mental state after her husband goes missing.” Horrible movie art. Looks like it was done by someone who was hallucinating and in the grips of a crumbling mental state. Hey, I just described ME!

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HomeNews and ViewsVote #Paralysis challenge for Longitude Prize Vote #Paralysis challenge for Longitude Prize Dr Saleyha Ahsan As an emergency medicine doctor and former British Army captain, I have witnessed the shock of sudden paralysis first hand. And it is not a condition confined to the battlefield – over 40,000 people in the UK suffer from paralysis, and someone is paralysed every eight hours. The loss of function and mobility are enormous challenges to adjust to in daily life, but the physical limitations of paralysis are only one facet of the problem. Aside from the various medical issues that immobility can cause, such as scoliosis or sores, there can be a highly damaging psychological impact. Restoring basic freedoms Many of us do not appreciate the basic freedoms of mobility and bodily function, and the positive impact these freedoms have on our mental health – paralysis can be an isolating inhibitor to social and societal engagement. At the moment, the possibility of repairing spinal injuries, whether through surgery or stem-cell therapy, is a long way off. However, we are making significant strides towards recovering elements of upright mobility and function using engineering and robotics. If paralysis is chosen for Longitude Prize 2014, the challenge will be to invent a system that gets closest to giving paralysed people the same freedom of movement that most of us enjoy. A catalyst for new ideas Refining robotics could create practical exoskeletons suitable for day-to-day use, whilst further biological testing could provide a breakthrough in regenerative medicine. This challenge could be a great catalyst for neurological, technological or biological innovations that could significantly improve the standard of living for people living with paralysis. Which is why I’m voting for paralysis to become the challenge of Longitude Prize 2014. Let’s change lives and help someone to walk again. This blog was originally published on the Nesta website, view the original blog post.

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Twixt (2011) Role: V Somewhere (2010) Role: Cleo Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) Role: Phoebe Lichten Babel (2006) Role: Debbie Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) Role: Sweetie Pie Thomas Role: Ruth Cole Birth: 4/9/1998 http://instagram.com/mefanning Elle Fanning's Biography Mary Elle Fanning was born on the 9th of April 1998 in Conyers, Georgia, USA. Her step into stardom was when she was just two years 11 months old when she played the younger version of her sister, Dakota Fanning, in the blockbuster movie I Am Sam (2001), as Lucy, age 2 years. She then played younger Dakota again when Dakota was cast in _"Taken" (2002/I) (mini)_ as Allie, age 3 years. But her first big independent movie without her sister was in 2003's Daddy Day Care (2003) as Jamie. She then had 2 guest appearances on TV, in "Judging Amy" (1999) and "CSI: Miami" (2002). Elle was now becoming more and more successful and famous, and she got another role, this time in 2004, in The Door in the Floor (2004) with Kim Basinger. Her career seems to be getting better and better, as she accomplished 2 movies this year, 2005, Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) and now she is in post-production of _I Want Someone to Eat Cheese with (2005)_ .

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Mark Follman bits of politics, media, culture and California MediaBugs Archive for the ‘Canada’ Tag Vancouver’s bold war on drugs Filed under: culture, politics | Tags: Canada, health, original reporting, politics, San Francisco, travel, Vancouver For many years Vancouver has had a serious heroin addiction. So it’s heartening to see that one of the city’s boldest strategies for confronting the problem, launched eight years ago, is continuing to meet with serious success: Vancouver’s government-backed “supervised injection site” — the first of its kind in North America — has helped reduce the number of fatal drug overdoses in the city by 35 percent, according to a new scientific report detailed in the Vancouver Sun. The news is gratifying for me personally, having invested deeply in the issue with a reporting project I did for Salon beginning in 2003. (My initial story from Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside — a neighborhood much changed these days, particularly since the 2010 Winter Games — is linked above.) Reporting another piece in 2006, one of the most striking things I found was that early results from Insite, as it’s called, had already converted some hardcore conservatives. Then city councilor George Chow — who had campaigned vigorously against the injection site when running for office — told me in fall 2006 that conservatives’ ideological fears had been misguided. They had declared that a government-sponsored facility for helping drug users shoot up would only breed more chaos. “After three years that has not happened, even with an increase in the homeless,” Chow told me then. “Without this facility the drug problem would have been far more out of control. There would be an even bigger problem with HIV transmission and other issues.” As I wrote at the time, research showed that Insite had also helped sharply reduce the sharing of dirty needles among street addicts and increased their entry into detox and addiction treatment programs. Supporters of Insite believed that the facility’s success would prove a beachhead for a less punitive and more humane war on drugs extending across Canada, and perhaps even to drug-troubled cities south of the Canadian border. Chow himself suggested that Toronto and Montreal, as well as U.S. cities with similar problems, should consider the policy already working so effectively in his own neighborhood. Now, he and Insite’s other supporters can point not only to a reduction in fatal overdoses but also to a rigorous research report making that same recommendation. The report was published Sunday, as the Vancouver Sun noted, in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet: The report, compiled by Canadian scientists from the Urban Health Research Initiative, the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and St. Paul’s Hospital, goes on to argue that Vancouver’s Insite — the country’s first safe-injection facility — should be replicated in other North American cities where drug use is a common problem. … In a column accompanying the report, Dr. Chris Beyrer, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, commended the facility’s work in helping drug abusers. “Supervised injection facilities clearly have an important part to play in communities affected by drug use. They should be expanded to other affected sites in Canada, on the basis of the life-saving effects identified in Vancouver,” he wrote. Maybe city leaders in Baltimore, San Francisco and New York City will finally take notice, too. For a deeper dive into Vancouver’s acute hard-drug crisis, and Insite’s role in helping contend with it, read this piece. Postcard from Vancouver Filed under: culture | Tags: Canada, globalization, original reporting, photography, Vancouver A few snapshots from the final weekend here at the 2010 Winter Games. The Olympic Cauldron at the convention center in downtown Vancouver, early Saturday evening: The Olympic Rings on a barge just off Stanley Park in Coal Harbour, early Saturday evening. Every time Canada won a medal, the Rings changed color for a little while accordingly, to gold, silver or bronze. By mid morning on Sunday, every single drinking establishment in the downtown area had a line around the block in anticipation of Canada facing off against the United States in the hockey gold medal finale. Some people were offering $100 just for a guaranteed spot to watch the game… in a bar. On Saturday night, some tickets to the game for sale online apparently were going for as much as $10,000. A building at Georgia and Burrard streets draped in the Canadian flag: Vancouver is an international city on a normal day, but for the past couple of weeks has transformed into a truly global village, with legions here from all over the world. It’s been fun just to walk the streets and mingle with the excited and friendly (and youthful) masses: Bonus question: Is it really true that Russian skater Victor Plushenko was once an American rock star? The spirit of Haida Gwaii Filed under: culture, politics | Tags: art, Canada, environment, globalization, Haida Gwaii, language, music, original reporting, photography, politics, travel, Vancouver In late August I returned to the archipelago of Haida Gwaii, a place whose ancient, complex culture and astonishing natural beauty are inextricable. Earlier this week, in the village of Old Massett, the renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson hosted an epic two-day celebration commemorating the totem pole he carved here 40 years ago. The pole was raised in the village on August 22, 1969, replanting a vital Haida tradition that had nearly disappeared by the end of the 19th century. It was a privilege and joy to attend the festivities and to participate in documenting them. Here are a few images I captured (please do not reproduce them without permission), though they only begin to suggest the layers of landscape, art and ceremony that were on display. The many performers included singers, drummers and dancers from Skidegate: Spruce-root woven and painted hats filled the community hall: The Tsimshian group Git-hoan, or People of the Salmon, were among the guests invited to perform: Eagle Transformation Mask, carved by Robert Davidson and danced publicly for the first time by the Rainbow Creek Dancers: Robert Davidson’s 40-foot Bear Mother pole (partial view), raised in Old Massett in August 1969: Despite devastation from decades of industrial logging, some majestic old trees still stand on Haida Gwaii. (Thanks to the tireless efforts of local advocates and defenders, the land increasingly has come under protection in recent years.) The temperate rain forests are home to towering cedar, hemlock and spruce: Along the banks of the Yakoun River, near where K’iid K’iyaas, the legendary Golden Spruce stood until its untimely demise in 1997. Every year the salmon come back to this essential river artery of Haida Gwaii. At least for now. A Supposedly Fun Thing That Seems to Kill Whales Filed under: culture, politics | Tags: Canada, DFW, environment, original reporting, photography, travel, Vancouver I took notice back when David Foster Wallace chronicled the cultural dark side of going on a cruise. But ultimately it’s the environmental dark side of the industry that makes me know I’ll Never Do It at All. Over the weekend, an adult fin whale — a threatened species in Canada — turned up dead in the waters at a cruise ship terminal in Vancouver. The rare marine giant was impaled on the bow of the “Sapphire Princess,” a Princess Cruises’ ship arriving from Alaska: (Jenelle Schneider/Vancouver Sun) Tragic, gruesome and strange — the size of the ship really begins to sink in when you realize that the dead fin whale pictured above is approximately 70 feet long, a magnificent giant cruelly rendered small. (More photos here in the Vancouver Sun’s report, and more here on Flickr.) Consider, also, that soon the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess won’t even nearly measure up to the largest, most consumptive recreational beast riding the seas. That’ll be the stupefying Oasis of the Seas. According to the Vancouver Sun, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will conduct a necropsy to determine if the ship struck the fin whale while it was alive or if the whale had already been floating dead at sea and got caught on the bow. The latter seems the less likely scenario. A fisheries spokesperson, Lisa Spaven, appeared to acknowledge as much: “Vessel strikes are a very real threat to fin whales,” she told the Sun. Moreover, an account I heard today from a source in Vancouver appears to contradict a statement put out by Princess Cruises this weekend regarding whales in the vicinity of the ship. “It is unknown how or when this could have happened, as we have strict whale avoidance procedures in place when our ships are in the vicinity of marine life,” the statement from the cruise company said. “We are not aware that any whales were sighted as the ship sailed through the Inside Passage to Vancouver yesterday.” But according to my source, two passengers who arrived on the Sapphire Princess in Vancouver this weekend said that several passengers on the ship had seen whales swimming around and under the ship as it traveled the Inside Passage cruise route just north of Vancouver Island. Spaven, the DFO spokesperson, told the Vancouver Sun that she believes the whale was struck north of Vancouver Island, since fin whales aren’t normally found in the straits closer to Vancouver. The Inside Passage is famously rich with marine wildlife and is a crucial habitat and migratory route for whales. As the Sun also reports: “This is the second time in the last 10 years that a cruise vessel has come into the Port of Vancouver with a whale caught on the bow. In that instance, in June of 1999, the Celebrity Cruise vessel MV Galaxy collided with an adult male fin whale, which likely happened as the ship transited the Hecate Strait north of Vancouver Island.” For some compelling related reading, I strongly recommend Charles Siebert’s article “Watching Whales Watching Us,” published recently in the New York Times Magazine. It’s a deep, enthralling account that dives into some provocative thinking among marine biologists today about our evolving relationship with whales — which may yet hold hope, despite our terrible history of assault on one of the earth’s most sublime creatures. There is more to Princess Cruises’ history with whales. In the summer of 2001, one of its ships slammed into a pregnant female humpback whale in the waters off Southeast Alaska, killing it. As Mother Jones reported two years ago via a National Park Service report, in January 2007 “Princess Cruise Lines pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Anchorage to a charge of knowingly failing to operate its vessel, the Dawn Princess, at a slow, safe speed in the summer of 2001 while near two humpback whales in the area of Glacier Bay National Park. The bloated carcass of a pregnant whale was found four days after the Princess ship sailed through the park. It had died of massive blunt trauma injuries to the right side of the head, including a fractured skull, eye socket and cervical vertebrae, all consistent with a vessel collision.” You can read the rest of the report at the MoJo link above, including details of the six-figure penalty paid by Princess in a plea agreement. At the time of the agreement, the U.S. attorney’s office stated, “in this case we feel Princess has stepped up and made significant, voluntary operational changes that protect whales and the marine environment.” Pending findings on the Sapphire Princess and the fin whale’s death, perhaps that assessment needs updating. I’m compelled to add that I feel a particularly personal sense of investment in this story. Exactly a decade ago, I was fortunate to have an opportunity to travel into Glacier Bay, along with three good friends, on a 10-day sea kayaking trip. I’ve explored deep wilderness throughout my life, and Glacier Bay was among the most memorable places I’ve ever been. On a couple of days during the trip, we spotted cruise ships on the horizon. We were thankful to be far away from them. In this photo I took from my sea kayak in July 1999, you can see a large cruise ship in the distance (at the right-center edge of the image) heading north against the backdrop of the Fairweather Range. We camped on nearby shoreline that night, where an exquisite sunset perhaps hinted at what was to come on day nine of our trip. The next morning we paddled into the placid waters of Beartrack Cove to the east. We were sole representatives of humanity in a place that sees little of it. There were colorful marine birds, salmon returning to spawn in coastal streams… and suddenly that morning, one enormous humpback whale. It surfaced about 30 yards in front of our tiny, tiny boats. The whale appeared to be feeding, its dark mass breaking the surface several times with its huge mouth open. We stopped paddling and tapped the rails of our boats gently to let it know our location. We watched in awe as it reappeared around us at various spots in the cove for about half an hour before it submerged for other waters. It was the most glorious kind of nervous I think I’ve ever felt, a truly unforgettable experience. The long goodnight Filed under: culture | Tags: Canada, photography, travel, Vancouver For a number of reasons Vancouver at this time of year is a great place to be doing some research and writing. Among them is that the sun doesn’t wink out entirely until about 10pm. This was Monday evening, overlooking English Bay. A Titanic for these times Filed under: culture, politics | Tags: books, Canada, DFW, economy, environment The June issue of the Atlantic has a look at the mind-blowing Oasis of the Seas, a gargantuan ocean liner forthcoming from cruise company Royal Caribbean International. Its unprecedented scale of apparent luxury surely required feats of engineering. But any awe that inspires would seem to wash away with apprehension of the ship’s untold economic and ecological hubris. A decade ago, a large cruise ship typically carried in the neighborhood of 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members. But in an industry intently focused on swelling its profits no matter the non-fiscal costs, bigger is always better. Ordered in 2006 for $1.4 billion (on the crest ahead of the economic meltdown), the Oasis leaves those old numbers far in its wake. “In November,” writes Rory Nugent, “Royal Caribbean will take delivery of a true sea monster. Now in its final phase of construction, the Oasis of the Seas will be the biggest (longest, tallest, widest, heaviest) passenger ship ever built — and the most expensive. It will dwarf Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and cast shadows dockside atop 20-story buildings. A crew of 2,165 will tend the expectations of up to 6,296 passengers.” (Photos from the official Oasis site.) According to the Atlantic, the ship has 21 swimming pools onboard, circulating more than 600,000 gallons of water. Passengers are expected to consume another 560,000 gallons per day, including daily production of 110,230 pounds of ice cubes — more than the weight of nine adult male elephants. The Oasis will also function as “its own utility company” with a 100-megawatt electrical grid — which will consume 12 tons of diesel fuel per hour and generate enough juice to power 105,000 homes. There is a 1,380-seat playhouse onboard, though it’s not even the main attraction. That would be the outdoor “AquaTheater,” which apparently is “wrapped in its own wind-shielded microclimate” and uses nearly 2,000 nozzles to spray water in concert with a Las Vegas-style light show. A good many people enjoy this kind of thing, the decadent vacation cruise. (Enough of them to support an industry with annual revenues in the tens of billions of dollars.) Based on the intuition that the experience might feel a bit like feasting on a nine-course meal in the middle of an Ethiopian refugee camp, I’ve never had any intention of trying it. David Foster Wallace famously once did. It’s a safe bet that the Oasis of the Seas would have left him royally retching. (His great essay “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again,” originally published in Harper’s in 1996 as “Shipping Out,” was made available online by the magazine after his tragic death last fall.) From Florida to Alaska, the consumptive ships of Royal Caribbean have been in the news before. Seven years ago federal investigators determined that the cruise company had covered up massive environmental malfeasance, despite a case focusing on one of its ships, the Norway, that resolved with a $1 million slap on the wrist. As USA Today reported in November 2002: Now, some of the federal agents who investigated the case say the company’s pollution went on for much longer and was much worse than the light fine suggests. Environmental Protection Agency agents say — and court records support — that the Norway not only poured hundreds of thousands of gallons of oily bilge water into the ocean. It also dumped raw sewage mixed with hazardous, even cancer-causing, chemicals from dry cleaning and photo development into the waters near Miami for many years. In the late 1990s, according to that USA Today report, Royal Caribbean had eventually pleaded guilty to 30 criminal charges in Miami, New York, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, the Virgin Islands and Alaska, and had paid $27 million in fines in 1998 and ’99. By the 2002 news report, it had “implemented a companywide environmental compliance program.” About to embark with its new mega-ship (click on the first link in this post to zoom in on the above graphic), has it since cleaned up its act? A year ago this week, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship dumped 20,000 gallons of contaminated water just off the coast of Southeast Alaska. Breaking the addiction to the drug war Filed under: culture, politics | Tags: Canada, economy, foreign affairs, globalization, law, Mexico, national security, Vancouver In Vienna this Wednesday policy makers will convene once again to consider the United Nations strategy for battling illegal narcotics worldwide. It’s a war that is statistically impossible to win. A report today from the Guardian points to the massive cocaine trade out of Latin America to exemplify how the supply-side war on drugs is equivalent to shoveling water on an international scale: The crucible is Colombia, the world’s main cocaine exporter. Since 2000 it has received $6 billion in mostly military aid from the US for the drug war. But despite the fumigation of 1.15m hectares of coca, the plant from which the drug is derived, production has not fallen. Across the whole of South America it has spiked 16%, thanks to increases in supply from Bolivia and Peru. Says César Gaviria, Colombia’s former president and co-chair of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy: “Prohibitionist policies based on eradication, interdiction and criminalisation have not yielded the expected results. We are today farther than ever from the goal of eradicating drugs.” Says Colonel René Sanabria, head of Bolivia’s anti-narcotic police force: “The strategy of the US here, in Colombia and Peru was to attack the raw material and it has not worked.” Halfway around the world it’s the same story with the heroin trade out of Afghanistan. Respected U.S. economists and judges agree: Our long-running drug policy with ideological roots tracing to Reagan and Nixon has gotten us nowhere. If, as Tom Friedman argued yesterday, we have crossed a historic inflection point for fundamentally recasting our global economic paradigm, then it seems the costly war on drugs should be of a piece. There are no easy solutions, but there are promising alternatives to the status quo. A few years ago I reported an in-depth series for Salon examining “harm reduction” policy implemented in Vancouver, whose emphasis at a local level was on curbing drug demand and its attendant social problems. It appeared to work remarkably well. There are signs the Obama administration might take things in a different direction. For his new director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, President Obama reportedly has nominated Seattle police chief Gil Kerlikowske, whose views on drug policy seem decidedly more moderate than those of Bush-appointed hardliner John P. Walters. As the Guardian also notes today, a report last fall by the Government Accountability Office concluded the war on drugs had failed in Colombia — a report that was commissioned by then Senator Joe Biden. Proof for Trump’s trial that he really is focused on foreign corruption... as in, participating in it bloomberg.com/news/articles/… [posted] > 1 day ago Follow @markfollman “America Under the Gun”: Our award-winning investigation MediaBugs and the path to more accurate news Gabby Giffords and poison politics MoJo working Return to Medicine Bow Conflicting tales of killing bin Laden Most percolated Sex commune and the city Lara Logan story botched by LA Weekly Afghanistan art books California Canada China CIA climate change comedy DFW Dick Cheney dogs economy environment FBI film food foreign affairs future-of-journalism globalization guns Haida Gwaii health immigration intelligence Iran Israel language law maps media Mexico music national security NYT original reporting osama bin laden photography poetry politics recession San Francisco sports technology television terrorism transparency travel Twitter Vancouver Wall Street war WikiLeaks writing Archives Select Month June 2013 September 2012 January 2012 December 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 Blog at WordPress.com.WPzone.net.

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FDA approves expanded use of Opdivo in advanced lung cancer The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer whose disease progressed despite platinum-based chemotherapy. (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease progressed despite platinum-based chemotherapy. Opdivo works by targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 cellular pathway. The FDA approved Opdivo earlier this year to treat patients with advanced squamous NSCLC whose disease progressed despite platinum-based chemotherapy. This most recent approval expands the use of Opdivo for treatment of patients with non-squamous NSCLC. The safety and effectiveness of Opdivo for non-squamous NSCLC were assessed in a study of 582 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with Opdivo or docetaxel. Participants treated with Opdivo lived an average of 12.2 months, while those treated with docetaxel lived an average of 9.4 months. Nineteen percent of those treated with Opdivo experienced a complete or partial regression of their tumors, which lasted an average of 17 months, compared to 12 percent among those taking docetaxel, which lasted an average of six months. The most common side effects of Opdivo are fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, decreased appetite, cough, and constipation; there is also risk of immune-mediated side effects. An evaluation of samples from a subgroup of patients' tumors suggests that the level of PD-L1 expression in NSCLC tumors may help identify patients who are more likely to live longer due to treatment with Opdivo. "Therefore, today the FDA also approved the PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx test to detect PD-L1 protein expression levels and help physicians determine which patients may benefit most from treatment with Opdivo," the agency said in a news release. Opdivo is marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb, based in Princeton, N.J. The PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx test is marketed by Dako North America Inc., based in Carpinteria, Calif. Opdivo approval expanded to include lung cancer More information: More Information Citation: FDA approves expanded use of Opdivo in advanced lung cancer (2015, October 12) retrieved 20 January 2020 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-fda-opdivo-advanced-lung-cancer.html FDA expands Merck drug's approval to treat lung cancer Nivolumab improves the proportion of lung cancer patients alive after more than a year Atezolizumab set to change refractory lung cancer treatment FDA approves new melanoma drug from Bristol-Myers Studies: Merck drug Keytruda effective against 3 cancers Loss of function in key Y-chromosome genes increases cancer risk in men Researchers uncover new vulnerability in kidney cancer

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Little Mix, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Monday January 28 Originally published in the Nottingham Post. It has not been an easy few days for Little Mix. On Sunday, a tabloid kiss-and-tell accused One Direction’s Zayn Malik of cheating on band member Perrie Edwards (she’s the one with the purple hair). Cutting short a promotional visit to France, Zayn flew into town for crisis talks. The couple were snapped in a Nottingham taxi, not looking especially lovey-dovey; Zayn in particular looked downright sheepish. On Monday morning, Leigh-Anne from the band took to Twitter, crossly denying that any cheating had taken place. (“He loves her so much.”) And by Monday evening, as the girls made their way to the Royal Concert Hall, press speculation had reached fever pitch. How would Perrie cope with the pressures of the stage show? Would she stand by her man, or would she flip him the finger and show him the door? Would there be tears, tirades, an onstage meltdown? Well, the hacks could only hope. Sadly for the gossip-hounds, but happily for the hordes of young “Little Mixers” who had been looking forward to the show for months, the girls put on their best smiles and sailed cheerfully through the show, never once referring to the Zayn-and-Perrie incident. This was only the third date of their first full tour, and the 2011 X Factor champions still had a lot to prove. Bouncing onto the stage in crop tops and baggy blue trousers, they launched straight into We Are Who We Are, from their debut album DNA. A troupe of buff boy dancers joined them for Stereo Soldier, the equally chirpy second number, with shirts tied round their waists in case it got a bit parky. “Thanks for supporting us from the start”, said Jesy, explaining that the girls had become “my best friends and my family”. As the foursome hoofed through Always Be Together, video footage showed them goofing around in dressing rooms and on tour buses. During one of the costume changes, mini-interviews with each band member flashed onto the screens. Leigh-Anne revealed her beauty tips (“cleanse, tone and moisturise”), and Jesy shared her life lessons (“I’ve learned to have more confidence in myself”). Despite an overly shrill sound mix – a faithful reproduction of their album, but only if you were used to hearing it through laptop speakers or on a smartphone – the girls delivered a convincing, polished performance. Chart-topping single Wings was an early highlight – so much so, that they reprised it for the encore – and an unaccompanied rendition of En Vogue’s Hold On, with gorgeous four-part harmonies, proved that they could deliver vocally. Other covers included Nicki Minaj’s Super Bass, TLC’s No Scrubs and Katy Perry’s E.T. “Sometimes, being in Little Mix is like a curse”, Jesy confessed towards the end of the show. She never got round to explaining why, but perhaps recent events had reminded her of just how tough life can be at the top. If that was so, then hopefully the ear-shredding screams of the ever-loyal Little Mixers had helped to lift the curse, at least for one more night. Donny & Marie Osmond – Nottingham Capital FM Arena, Sunday January 27 Posted in Capital FM Arena, gigs, Nottingham Post by Mike A on February 12, 2013 Osmonds fans are a friendlier bunch than most. “Are you enjoying it?” ask the couple on our right. “Wonderful, aren’t they?” In the interval, the lady behind us leans forward. “I’m 78 years old, and they make me feel like I’m 18 again”, she beams. Meanwhile, the super-fan on our left is telling us about the “I love Donny” slogan that she daubed on her bedroom wall. Forty years on, it’s still there; her mother won’t paint it out. They’re a mischievous bunch, as well. “Please stay in your seats”, urges Donny, descending from the stage for a promenading rendition of The Twelfth Of Never. Fat chance, mate. A couple of times, he’s almost wrestled to the floor, as ladies who are old enough to know better launch themselves at their idol, seizing their moment after all these years. My super-fan friend gets a kiss, and shrieks with delight; my mate gets a manly high-five. For Close Every Door, Donny plays the part of an imprisoned Joseph, stripped of his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. “Do what you want with me”, he intones, surrendering to captivity with solemn dignity. The invitation is too much for his adoring army. There’s a roar of fruity laughter, laced with a hint of menace. It doesn’t derail him. “Hate me and laugh at me”, he glares, continuing the verse. It almost feels like a rebuke. Hate him and laugh at him? Donny’s no stranger to either, and neither is his sister Marie. Mocked for their wholesomeness in the Seventies, dismissed as old hat in the Eighties, they stood their ground and shrugged off the knocks. And just look at them now: fresh from a four year run in Las Vegas, filling arenas, back on top and having the last laugh. And there’s a lot of laughter in a Donny and Marie show. “I have to say Hi to my favourite fan”, says Marie, puffed out after a rocking mash-up of Walk This Way and These Boots Are Made For Walking that’s as raunchy as her faith will allow. Crouching in front of the wind machine, she duly fans herself, good and proper (“I’m so hot!”), before grabbing a bottle of water and slugging it down in one. (“And you thought Mormons couldn’t drink!”) It’s a polished, practised show, but there are surprises along the way. The other Osmond brothers are also in the UK, touring in the Seventies musical Boogie Nights. Donny teases us with an announcement, the crowd goes wild… and then a bunch of fake Osmonds prance onto the stage, recreating dance moves from one of the early hits. At the end of the number, Marie saunters on from the wings. “If you can handle it, I have another dancer”, she grins, ushering real-life brother Jay onto the stage. Donny looks genuinely shocked. The brothers confer, some stools are rustled up, and we are treated to an impromptu duet: Love Me For A Reason, the biggest Osmonds smash of all. Seventies nostalgia is a key element of the evening – how could it not be? – but there’s much more besides: Las Vegas-style production numbers, Broadway medleys, a little bit of country, a little bit of rock ‘n roll (they have a song about that), and even a touch of opera. Marie’s soprano is a revelation, and her impassioned renditions of Pie Jesu and Nessun Dorma earn her two of the biggest ovations of the night. “I know you’re all here to see Donny”, she sighs – but sibling rivalry can be a powerful motivating force, and Marie works it hard, fully earning her equal billing. The pair begin and end the show together, but mostly they perform apart, in alternating sets. The hit duets are saved for the end, and while they go down a treat with the fans, you can’t help but notice a certain distance between the older brother and the younger sister. Their voices fuse perfectly, but their eyes almost never meet. There’s scripted banter, but little warmth in the exchanges, leaving you wondering whether their relationship is more of a professional than a familial one these days. But it’s a minor quibble, at the end of a hugely entertaining evening that sends every single fan home smiling. Donny & Marie: It Takes Two, Vegas Love, Get The Party Started, Dancing In The Street, Knock On Wood, I Want To Take You Higher Marie: Paper Roses, Walk This Way, These Boots Are Made For Walking, Crazy, Like A Hurricane/Country Medley, Pie Jesu Donny: Crazy Horses, Puppy Love, Yo Yo, Love Me For A Reason (duet with Jay), I Just Want To Celebrate, Dynamite, Celebration Broadway sequence: Give My Regards To Broadway (Donny), I Whistle A Happy Tune, Getting To Know You (Marie), Beauty And The Beast (Donny), The Sound Of Music, Climb Every Mountain (Marie), Close Every Door (Donny), For Good (Donny & Marie) Rock This Town (Donny & Marie), The Twelfth Of Never (Donny), Nessun Dorma, All That Jazz, Cabaret, But The World Goes ‘Round (Marie), Soldier of Love (Donny) Donny & Marie: A Little Bit Country (A Little Bit Rock & Roll), I’m Leaving It All Up To You, Make The World Go Away, Deep Purple, Morning Side Of The Mountain, A Beautiful Life, Remember When, It Takes Two (reprise), May Tomorrow Be A Perfect Day

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Viewing: friends - View all posts Music as a Time Machine - Part 5 For Squirrels - Example This album came out while I was in high school. I loved the lead single, and remember watching its video quite a bit on MTV, but by the time I got my hands on the album and listened to the entire thing, there were six or seven songs I liked even more. Front to back, this is an album I always loved. Tragically, a van accident killed the lead singer and bass player shortly before this album was released, so this band remains rather obscure. I remember in my early twenties always being surprised when I would meet someone who also had this album. Usually, if someone had it, they were just about as enthusiastic about it as I was. Example reminds me of my youth, gone many years ago. It reminds me of longtime friends, many of whom are gone in different ways. It reminds me of driving down 35 or 270 or 33 to go hang out. It makes me wish I could write a song that makes someone feel the way that "Disenchanted" still makes me feel all these years later. It makes me wish I could write something with the brilliant simplicity of "Eskimo Sandune". Also, these lyrics from "Under Smithville" have taken on different meaning for me than they did back in the day: "And I've been feeling so old / Tell me now who you think I am" in albums, cd, time machine, nostalgia, friends, For Squirrels, Example, Disenchanted, Eskimo Sandune

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Archive for the tag “Central African Franc” Opinion: Wouldn’t be shocking if their suddenly came a coup d’etat against Talon… Not that I wish this on Benin nor anywhere else. But when President Patrice Talon is seeking to end the Central African Franc and let the reserves of Benin out of the Banque de France. Expect that Paris, France gets into a stir and a hiccup will end up happening in Cotonou. They can already play the facade of the acts of one-party local elections and dissidents out of that. That a small infringed and demoralized group of activists, military soldiers and a few high ranking officials, suddenly came into play. That would fit Paris so wisely, as the French doesn’t want to loose their hold on their former colonies. Fracafrique is too important to loose. The French cannot stomach anyone challenging them or even crossing them. That will not happen in 2019. They rather have more power and more friends on the continent, then lose one of them. Benin’s “new” President Talon will stop the dependency with the French. Where the Republic of Benin can decide more of their own. If the Republic would leave the CFA it would really show force. Now, they are just preparing to withdraw the foreign reserves. That is a hit on the Banque de France. This must hurt the pride of the French and their glorious colonial history, which the CFA is reminder and a relic of. Talon is daring the powers to be. His powerful in Cotonou, that’s why he could dismiss and stop the opposition from running in the local elections, but he is now going up against the ones whose running the IMF and has leverage in the United Nations and the World Bank. All of these can hurt the economy of Benin. And if the French continues their exploits, they would use the previous President Thomas Boni Yayi. Who was the President of Benin between 2006 to 2016. Even with his health defects and struggle. He might muster some courage, if he knew that his previous partners of Paris would reinitiate him in power. As he lost to Talon in 2016. All of that wouldn’t be surprising at all. If not, the French find a collective of “progressive” and “dissidents” who happens to work some mercenaries and they just suddenly takeover the radio, TV and the Parliament. They put road-blocks into the Capital. Therefore, announcing the resignation of Talon and his regime, as they want a democratic government and they are in transition to another one. So, that they as soldiers will bring a fundamental change. But in reality, the new government will continue the CFA and the French influence. They will secure the French industrial exports and everything else. As long, as the elite can shop and do the kneeling in front of the neo-colonial masters of France. That would be a real life thing and another story in the tale of French dominance on the continent. Peace. Posted in Africa, Army, Development, Economy, Ethics, Governance, Government, Law, Leadership, Politics and tagged Benin, Central African Franc, CFA, Françafrique, France, Patrice Talon, President Talon, Talon, Thomas Boni Yayi | Leave a comment EFF welcomes Benin’s Decision to Withdraw its Foreign Currency Reserves from France and Calls on all other African Countries to do the same (09.11.2019) Posted in Africa, Development, Diplomacy, Economic Measures, Economy, Ethics, Governance, Government, Law, Leadership, Politics and tagged Benin, Central African Franc, CFA, Françafrique, France, Patrice Talon, President Talon, Talon | Leave a comment Opinion: Francafrique is alive, as Paris axe Arikana Chihombori Quao! Arikana Chihombori Quao, the African Union Ambassador to the United States, which was terminated on the 7th October 2019 after her open criticism of the Western Powers hold of the African Nation. She’s been vocal and righteously so against the French hold of the former African colonies it has agreements with, military, monetary and direct trade enriching itself on the spoils of the African continent. Which is all true, that is why all the big-men from the previous colonies are favourable and steady visiting Paris and meeting the heads of state there. That is why, the interests of Paris comes before the needs of the citizens of the respective Republics. They are all Francafrique doing. That is why Emmanuel Macron has no issues boosting dictators, standing by autocrats who secure the monetary gains of the Central African Francs (CFA). This is boosting the Reserves of France, they are earning on the printing and monetizing the currencies of these Republics. They are all in the hands of the French, controlling and monitoring the monetary policies and the economic policies made in the respective republics. This is how to keep the governments, either by the hook or by the crook. Secondly, they are also kept by a military pact and a resource sharing agreements, which means the extraction industry of the French gets first deals, if it is Total or anything else. Will get a first rights to extract or be able to trade commodities. That is why you see in former North African Republic, which was colonizes you see Renaults, Citroen’s and so-on. You are not seeing so many American or British cars there, but French produced cars in abundant. That is because, the French still has a foothold and advantages, which the Republic have to abide too. Therefore, what the axed and sacked AU Ambassador to US said about the French is true. It maybe hurt the pride of the French. But you don’t need to say anything substantial to hurt their pride. You can just dismiss their champagne and they will cry havoc. In addition, the French know they need Francafrique and they would miss out important market, funds and resources, which it cannot live without. The banks, the industries and military would suffer a hit. The French will not say this, but the reason for axing shows this. The French is weak, the French isn’t as great or has the power to flex without its state under passive control through the measures of the CFA and other Post-Colonial agreements made with Big-Men in the Francafrique. That is just the way it is and because someone with a title said it. It had to be silenced. However, if the French didn’t want it undressed or questioned their role on the continent. They should have maybe answered it with words or numbers. Instead, they are verifying her words by axing her and pushing the Chairman of AU to get rid of her. Peace. Posted in Africa, Development, Diplomacy, Ethics, Governance, Law, Leadership, Politics and tagged African Union, Alexis Ngabonziza, Algeria, Arikana Chihombori Quao, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Franc, Central African Republic, CFA, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Françafrique, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Niger, Senegal, Togo | Leave a comment President Macky Sall is a bit to friendly to the Colonial French! “With the French colonization, we had positive things” – President Macky Sall The Senegalese President Macky Sall is out again, being super-friendly to the French. Even saying again that the Colonizer did lots of good to Senegal. The Republic and the people should be ashamed by the man. That he is so little sovereign and with pride over his own republic. If he was Paul Biya, I would understand, he should praise Switzerland and the mountain resorts he resides at. But I will not digress more. President Sall has again praised France. It is like you wonder how much money they are doling him and what sort of business-deals he has done with French Companies. Since he is a bit to friendly with them. Especially knowing the history of France in Senegal. You should figure out, that you can be cordial with them, but not so lovable. First show some older clips, to show that this isn’t new from the President. So the ones that is shocked about recent statements as of this week. This is his M.O. and what he does. He has been like this before and said similar things, even if the French was imperialistic and still is, with their reach and demeaning control of the currency market in West Africa. Which the Republic of Senegal is under and their monetary policies are controlled by, therefore, I would expect more reluctant view of France, but Sall is different. He prefers and just see goodness from the French. BWOG Staff reported in 2013: “President Sall painted his vision for African Economic growth, insisting that philosophers like Fukuyama and Hobbes paint a picture of man “as a wolf to other men.” He insisted that predatory economic practices be reined in and saw little merit in criticism of African debt by countries “that are in huge debt themselves!” “We cannot validate the voice of the future with tools from the past,” he went on, claiming that innovative investment, not empty charity, was the real path to growth. He claimed that 4/5ths of African countries were experiencing growth above the world average and insisted that a common currency for eight West African is the right move. The one positive aspect of colonialism is that it united those countries oppressed by the same power” (BWOG Staff – ‘LectureHop: Macky Sall, the President of Senegal’ 28.09.2013 link: http://bwog.com/2013/09/28/lecturehop-macky-sall-the-president-of-senegal/). An interview with Sall in 2013: “What role should countries such as Senegal play in regional security compared with outside actors such as the United States and France? We cooperate with France, which is an ally and a friend. It is of course a former colonial power. But France understands the stakes in and the sociology of our countries. The United States also has a security policy in the region, and it is our partner through africom [the U.S. Africa Command] and everything that it does in terms of military cooperation with various countries” (…) “So can Africa take care of its own problems now? No. Africa cannot handle its own problems, because we are not yet at the point where we have the logistical capabilities to deploy troops in case of emergency. It’s simply a matter of means, not a matter of men” (Mercredi – ‘A Conversation With Macky Sall’ 28.08.2013 link: https://www.ndarinfo.com/A-Conversation-With-Macky-Sall_a6291.html) Northern Senegal farmers: “Under French rule, the poor farmers of Northern Senegal were forced by oppressive economic policies to resort to the monoculture of peanuts and rice. The legacy of colonialism on traditional farming practices was the desertification of the delicate Sahel soil and a devastating famine in the late twentieth century (Kloby 103). In what was once a civilization of communal living and bartering, the French instituted elements of capitalism that would best serve the European metropole. Instead of nurturing a complete capitalist system and educating the local populous about the newly developed concepts of industrialization and economic theory, the Europeans exploited the rich resources of both land and people to further advance their own development (Rodney 112)” (Emma Anderson – ‘COLONIZATION AND SENEGAL’ 10.07.2013 link: https://www.globalcitizenyear.org/updates/colonization-and-senegal/) . As you see, President Sall has a favorable view, maybe he is caught up in the view of French Embassy of Senegal in Dakar, which writes on their page about their relationship: “After more than three centuries of uninterrupted relations, France and Senegal have remained since the independence of very close nations. A shared history, a tradition of cooperation in all fields, a constant flow of human and material exchanges in both directions, confirm this proximity. The strong bond that President Léopold Sédar Senghor had with our country has been perpetuated by his successors, President Abdou Diouf, President Abdoulaye Wade, and President Macky Sall since April 2012. France intends to remain alongside Senegal, which is the largest recipient of French aid in sub-Saharan Africa. It is in all these areas, but also in that of our cultural and human exchanges, woven through three hundred and fifty years of history, that the exceptional relations of friendship between France and Senegal are manifested” (La France au Senegal – ‘Relations politiques’ 21.06.2017). Therefore, you can see that the exceptional relationship is evident in the way Sall is defending the colonial works that French did in Senegal, as they didn’t do it to control and get their imperial control of Senegal. That should be insulting to Sall, but you can wonder why he see it so favorable. Because he shows such defense and defense of the assimilation and the policies done by French Colonial Administrations, which was done for the betterment of Paris and not for the betterment of Dakar. That was just dumb-luck if the policies created something good for Dakar, because the end-game in the colonial enterprises are for the betterment of the empire, not for the colonies. They are the means to an end. That is why Sall is so French friendly and defending the demeaning and insulting policies of the Colonial French. Which the Senegal republic has inherited and is still under supervision of the French. As their monetary policies and other government framework are still monitored by the French and the French Treasury in Paris. Therefore, the Senegal Government have less control and have less powers of their own, as long as they are following guidelines from the French on how the Central African Franc (CAF) is. The Senegalese are the ones that following similar steps as in France, but have politicians that are blindly also following the French. This is all in deliberate way of still having not only influence, but actual control of the territories they used reign supreme over. That is what the French is doing. Therefore, President Sall is a bit to friendly and defending the French. I just don’t get it. I don’t. But that is just me though. Peace. Posted in Africa, Civil Service, Development, Diplomacy, Ethics, Governance, Government, Law, Leadership, Politics, Transparency and tagged Abdou Diouf, Abdoulaye Wade, Central African Franc, CFA, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Emmanuel Macron, Françafrique, François Hollande, France, French, Léopold Sédar Senghor, Macky Sall, Peanut, President Hollande, President Macron, President Sall, Rice, Senegal, Western Africa | Leave a comment Muse Report shows how the French Government supported Habyiramana during the 1994 Genocide! Just two days ago an American Law Firm studied the Rwandan Genocide as they say it themselves: “In light of that inquiry, the Government of Rwanda has retained the Washington, D.C. law firm of Cunningham Levy Muse LLP to review and report on the material available in the public record on the role and knowledge of French officials regarding the Genocide against the Tutsi” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 3, 2017). This here is will be quotes from that report that is on the role of the French Government in the Rwandan Genocide. Clearly, there has been allegations and has been some talk about that, concerning the arms and the knowledge of it. This report are putting light on some of that. I will take the quotes that is substantial for the French intervention in the civil war and genocide in Rwanda. “The expansion of France’s military support and strategic advice began within days of the war’s commencement. On October 11, 1990, Defense Attaché Colonel René Galinié recommended sending French advisers into the field, northeast of the combat zone, to “educate, organize and motivate troops that had been ossified for thirty years and who had forgotten the basic rules of battle.” (…) “In addition to advice, French officials supplied the FAR with modern mortars, armored vehicles, and other vehicles, along with ammunition and rockets. French officials also provided and helped maintain helicopter-gunships, which fired upon RPF fighters. According to jokes at the time, the only thing Rwandan soldiers did was pull the trigger” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 12-13, 2017). “Massacres of Tutsi continued throughout 1991, 1992, and up until the Genocide. French officials were aware of massacres at this time, as well as the role of the Habyarimana government and its military in them. Despite this knowledge, French officials maintained their support of the Rwandan military and funneled weapons into Rwanda” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 20, 2017). “Thus, in February 1993, after the Noroît detachment had just been reinforced . . . , the Army Chief of Staff reminded the defense attaché that he was responsible for “ensuring that the Rwandan army does not find itself in a stock shortage of sensitive ammunition . . . and that deliveries to the FAR of military equipment be made in the utmost discretion.” In fact, in the timeline laid down in his end of mission report, Colonel Philippe Tracqui, commander of the Noroît detachment for the period from February 8, 1993 to March 21, 1993, noted “Friday, February 12, 1993: landing of a DC8 50 with a 12.7mm machine gun plus 100,000 cartridges for the FAR. Wednesday, February 17, 1993: landing of a Boeing 747 with discrete unloading by the FAR of 10 mm shells and 68 mm rockets (Alat).” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 23, 2017). “The French Parliamentary Commission accordingly found: Faced with procrastination by Rwandan authorities and concerned about the stability of states and regional security, France never made the decision to suspend all cooperation, or even to decrease the level of its civil and military aid. Thus, President Juvénal Habyarimana was able to convince himself that “France . . . would be behind him regardless of the situation, and he could do anything militarily and politically.” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 27, 2017). “Arms flows to the FAR were not suspended immediately by France after the imposition of the arms embargo on May 17, 1994. Rather, they were diverted to Goma airport in Zaire as an alternative to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, where fighting between the FAR and the rebel RPF as well as an international presence made continued shipments extremely difficult. Some of the first arms shipments to arrive in Goma after May 17 were supplied to the FAR by the French government. Human Rights Watch learned from airport personnel and local businessmen that five shipments arrived in May and June containing artillery, machine guns, assault rifles and ammunition provided by the French government. These weapons were taken across the border into Rwanda by members of the Zairian military and delivered to the FAR in Gisenyi. The French consul in Goma at the time, Jean-Claude Urbano, has justified the five shipments as a fulfillment of contracts negotiated with the government of Rwanda prior to the arms embargo” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 39, 2017). “Information in the public record also shows that in the months that followed the Genocide against the Tutsi French officials continued to support génocidaires. On August 3, 1994, the UN Secretary General suggested that the international community should coordinate with UNAMIR to identify within the camps perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi, with an eye to bringing them to justice. But instead, French soldiers escorted and released suspected génocidaires in Zaire. Between July and September 1994, French military helicopters evacuated Bagosora, along with Interahamwe leader Jean-Baptiste Gatete, and other ex-FAR troops and militia members, out of Goma” (…) “Finally, we urge the Government of Rwanda to seek France’s cooperation in this endeavor. To this end, France should make available its archives, documents, physical evidence and officials (current and former). Any investigation by the Government of Rwanda should evaluate what occurred in the 1990s, as well as what has happened since then, including France’s cooperation with this investigation into French complicity in the Genocide” (Cunningham Levy Muse, P: 48, 52, 2017). This one collected lots of public information and put into account. This is damning evidence and not just random quotes from a mad-man, but from lawyers collected information as ordered by the Rwandan Government. The could have been done by the French, they might have given other insights and even transcripts we haven’t seen. Even as the Rwandan has and can get documentation on the actions during the genocide and before. Since the Rwandan Government wants closure and might want the French to answer for their crimes. French President Francois Mitterrand at the time was loyal to President Juvenal Habyarimana, therefore wanted to stop the Rwandan Patriotic Front from overthrowing their man at any cost apperently. The French really showed it with the ammunition, training and also helping them flee with weapons to Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo. Clearly, the French knew what they did and did it with a reason, as of they wanted someone loyal to them and also a weapons brother at any cost. So the continued trouble of the Great Lakes Region has been created by the French as well. Since they let the Interahamwe and Ex-FAR leave with weapons in the refugee camps in the DRC. That has been an initial reason for violence since the 1990s. The French should step up and take responsibility for what they did and who they gave power to. Which also created this genocide. The PRF and President Paul Kagame did his part, the RPF is not a holy and non-violent movement who just brought peace. They also killed and took control. However, the French did aid and abide help to the other partner in the crime. Therefore, they are responsible for their part in this genocide. That shouldn’t be left alone and the stones should be turned, the ones sanction this and ordering this on behalf of Habyarimana and his government. This report was compelling and it shows how disgraceful the French was and how they really wanted the dictator Habyirmana to continue to rule in Rwanda. Peace. Cunningham Levy Muse LLP – ‘REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA ON THE ROLE OF FRENCH OFFICIALS IN THE GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI’ (11.12.2017) Posted in Africa, Army, Civil Service, Development, Diplomacy, Ethics, Governance, Government, History, Law, Leadership, Politics and tagged American Government, Borders, CAF, Central African Franc, Citizens, Colonial, Colonial history, Crimes against Humanity, East Africa, Françafrique, François Mitterrand, France, French, French Authorities, Génocidaires, General Habyarimana, Genocide, George Bush, George W. Bush, GoF, GoR, GoT, Government of France, Government of Rwanda, Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Paul Kagame, Human Rights, ICC, International Criminal Court, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, International Laws, Iraq, Iraq War, Jean Baptiste Gatete, Jurisdiction, Kabarondo, Kagame, Kigali, Kingdom, Nation, Noroit, Octavien Ngenzi, Paris, Paul Kagame, Philippe Tracqui, Police State, Post-Colonial Times, Post-Colonialism, President Bush, President Habyarimana, President Juvénal Habyarimana, President Kagame, President Mitterrand, Republic, Roman Statute, RPF, Rule of Law, Rwanda Patriotic Front, Rwandan Government, Rwandese, Sovereign, Sovereign state, Tanzania, Tito Barahira, totalitarian, UN, UN Charter for Human Rights, UNAMIR, United Nation, United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, USA | Leave a comment President Macron neo-colonial perspective on Africa came to the surface at the G-20! The supposed centrist and progressive French President Emmanuel Macron, he newly elected President who we’re to be a fresh air. Aren’t apparently so, not if he believes what he said this week during the G-20 Summit in Hamburg. It is a disgrace of a modern European President to reflect this sort of sentiment. Especially, since this wasn’t said by some rascals associated with Marine Le Pen or Geert Wilders, but actually out of Macrons own mouth. It is time to erase the saint-hood and the prestigious placing among the hopeful leaders. Because when he says these words, it hurts, and it proves that the French still feels superior towards the African Nations and their people. Macron clearly feels so when explaining himself and addressing development on the continent. The words in italic are proving his sentiments. Just take a look at a badly translated Press Conference on the 8th July 2017! “I do not share that kind of reasoning. There were several envelopes that were given. Either we change the target with the addition of billions. We have been deciding to help Africa for decades and we did. If it were that simple, you would have noticed it. The Marshall Plan is a plan for material reconstruction, in countries that had their equilibrium and stability. The challenge of Africa, it is totally different, much deeper and civilization today. What are the problems in Africa? “He asked” (…) “It is through rigorous governance, fighting corruption, a struggle for good governance, successful demographic transition. In countries that still have 7 childbirths per woman, you can spend billions of euros, you do not stabilize anything. The plan of this transformation that we must conduct together must take into account the African specificities by and with African Heads of State. It is a plan that must take into account our own commitments on all the projects I have just mentioned, better associate public and private; And it must sometimes be more regional and even national. That is the method that has been adopted and that is what we do wherever we are engaged. I will have the opportunity next week to come back in much more detail” (Macron, 08.07.2017). It seems like he knows and understands the African experience, that he can precisely blame the mothers of Africa for the bad demographics. That he can say the failed planned parenthood is the problem. Because, the French has no interfering in the African affairs with their armies, with their control through their Central Bank and Central African Franc (CFA), and also their ideals of a Francafrique. Dr. Lansine Kaba said these words a few years ago and they still ring in my ear! “Francafrique involves a complex web of relations that have made France a major player in the affairs of many African countries and even of the African Union. Through the networks of this largely “opaque conglomerate”, France, a founding member of the UN Security Council and the World Bank, can boast a significant global influence that extends far beyond the French-speaking states. The term Francafrique suggests several facts and ideas, ranging from the politics of cordial exchange and cooperation to that of covert actions and violent military intervention that the French have been known for perpetrating in different parts of Africa since the 1960s” (…) “It involves an effective style of diplomacy that is not necessarily staffed with well-seasoned accredited diplomats, but energetic and daring doers. Francafrique builds relations that rely on close personal connections woven between the French leadership (the president and his close aides) and individual African leaders who depended on French assistance and security forces. Francafrique excelled in channelling funds to electoral campaigns of some prominent French politicians too” (Al Jazeera, 2013). Than you have the WikiLeaks cable leaked from 2009, that even speaks volume of the way Macron views Africa as well: “Gompertz admitted that France’s Africa policy does have problems, most notably, that France continues to focus most of its efforts on its former colonies, even though they are not necessarily the most strategically important. Gompertz hopes to push for a stronger engagement with Anglophone and Lusaphone Africa. (Note: GOF officials frequently cite Nigeria, Angola, and South Africa as three of France’s key emerging partners in Africa. Gompertz was departing the same afternoon for Morocco and South Africa. End note.) Similarly, too much of France’s political and cooperation resources in Africa are designed to reinforce its partnerships within the international “Francophonie” organization. Gompertz cited the example of Burundi, where English is replacing French as the most popular foreign language, but he said this is understandable given Burundi’s important trade links in the East African Community. At the same time, he related that while he was Ambassador to Ethiopia, there was a strong demand for French language teachers, but France was not responsive in helping meet this need” (WikiLeaks, 2009). So when Macron claims the missing envelopes and development, for various reasons, that he can understand. Even his own former Ambassador to Ethiopia Stephane Gompertz saying the projects was more for political gain and French own interest in Africa. Therefore, that the French President says what he says about the envelopes are bit disgusting. Knowingly the only intent the French has in Africa, isn’t directly developing the continent, but to extend their power there. Than he later claims the demographic and planned parenthood issues is behind it all. When the French interference and misuse of funds to keep their friendly leaders at bay. Clearly, are the program the French run under their Francafrique project. So, when a French President should know what the French has known. That the French can spend billions and envelopes a not see development. When the interests are more of Paris, than of Dakar or Bamako, even the shores of Tunis. Usually if the Fancafrique are more for the gain of its own than the ones in need. More for the Paris elite or the friendly leaders instead of development. Therefore, it is an own created monster of French influenced based on patronage and clientele served from Paris. Macron must know this as the Ivorian and other leaders have nice houses on the boulevards of Paris. These are made of the patronage created by the French. It is therefore, disgusting, that he blames the African woman and their parenthood for the lacking development. When lots of French own influence on the continent is for personal gain and for patronage. Not for development itself. To overlook this, is to forget the French acts and also superior belief in themselves. That is why Macron said what he said. The belief and understanding of grand strength. That they are one of the greatest civilizations on planet earth. President Macron words: “In countries that still have 7 childbirths per woman, you can spend billions of euros, you do not stabilize anything”. Macron need some sense and need to step-up from his Le Pen ways. He need to fix his mind and should rethink French strategy on African soil, before talking about stabilization. Parts of the problems still on the continent is the problems left behind from the French. That they have never left wealth, but left behind petty dictators who spends fortune on Champs Elysee! Peace. Al Jazeera – ‘Q&A: France’s connections in Africa’ (15.08.2013) link: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2013/08/201381584025929212.html WikiLeaks – ‘”FRANCAFRIQUE” — MFA DISPUTES REPORTS ON A RETURN TO BUSINESS AS USUAL’ (19.11.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09PARIS1534_a.html Posted in Africa, Aid, Civil Service, Corruption, Development, Diplomacy, Economic Measures, Economy, Ethics, Governance, Government, Law, Leadership, Politics, Transparency and tagged Africa, Africa Policy, African Nation, Algeria, Anglophone, Angola, Bamako, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Franc, CFA, Cote d'Ivoire, Dakar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Demographic, Development, Disgusting, Djibouti, Dr. Lansine Kaba, DRC, Emmanuel Macron, Ethiopia, Françafrique, France's Africa Policy, Francophonie, French, French Politics, G-20, G20, Gambia, Geert Wilders, Hamburg, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Kingdom of Morocco, Lansine Kaba, Lusaphone Africa, Macron, Marine Le Pen, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Opaque Conglomerate, Parenthood, Paris, Planned Parenthood, Pride, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Stability, Stephane Gompertz, Superior, The Marshall Plan, Tunisia, World Bank | Leave a comment Discussion: Should the French get jurisdiction for trials of Rwandan Genocide? Since they now are breaching international boundaries and judging acts not happening on French soil, but in Rwanda. It is not that I am for the Rwandan genocide or partial in any sense of the actions done in Paris today. I will just spill the beans and ask for questionable trial and courtship in Paris as that is France, not Kigali that is Rwanda. If it still we’re tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania then this would be understandable for court outside as it was an agreement between United Nation and the Rwandan Government for this Tribunal as Peaceful change after the civil war and the genocide in 1993-1994 in the country. There I will question the action of the French Authorities today. In Paris today: “On Tuesday, Octavien Ngenzi, 58, and Tito Barahira, 64, will go on trial for allegedly playing a direct role in the massacre of hundreds of Tutsi refugees in a church in the eastern town of Kabarondo on April 13, 1994” (News Wires, 2016). Because it is an important question and with the implication of history between Rwanda and the France; France have been the colonial master on the African Continent and still have control over the Central African Franc (CAF) and with that has an economic stake in many African nations. Still, this should not be implicated into why they can take Citizens of another Nation and also order their trial, even if it is breaching with Human Rights and Roman Statute. Most Countries have ratified the Roman Statute and also parts of UN Charter for Human Rights and even the Geneva Convention on justice in War. Still, this does opens the door from who has the right to sanction and the right to create justice. Some people might say the Rwandan Government is a totalitarian and a Police State under strict control from a central government under the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) under President Paul Kagame who does not have the will to take certain Génocidaires to court as they might implicate certain close allies of the government. Still, that does not open the question that I will talk about. Because even if the courts and judges are premature and built for the Government in Rwanda, does not take away their jurisdiction and their own rights of rule of law in their own country. Even when it is the violations are a crime against humanity as Genocide. Not that I want the men and woman behind an action of this size to get away is not my intention to discuss it. It is more the example of colonial law and the post-colonial acts that are not just or justified. We as people have to set standards and use our minds. I will not let the French or British control the Central Arguments, as much as I don’t want the Americans or Chinese doing it. What is important is this. We have Nations, which is a set territory, a territory where they keep citizens safe and have the monopoly for violence is for the state; in that sense that the nation have an Army to keep foreign forces away and the town a secure to raise families and work. Second part of that security is the internal security to make peace inside the country with a Police that takes criminals and courts of laws that with justification condemns and detain fellow citizens that have breached the national laws. All of this should be universal and understood, as ordinary understanding of what a state should do. And it with this matter I will take a step further. Because this is important even when the States and Governments who controls their nations and does the wrong acts against fellow peers. Their citizens should then as long as the nation and state have ratified international laws and statutes get their crimes against humanity in the International Criminal Court of Hauge. Even if the ICC and it’s attack on African Leaders, it still have the authority as given by the United Nation and the other bodies together with the ratified laws that the States and Government have signed at one point in time. The problem I have and the reason for it is simple and it’s basic for any Republic/Kingdom/State/Nation their sovereign rights and their sovereign rule as a Sovereign Power in their own Territory as it is with the Army and the Police inside that nation. That is the main issue I have. Even when it comes to Crime Against Humanity. Let’s say that the unlawful and unjust war from the United States of America under President George W. Bush who even address the world on 20th March 2003, which started a war on false premise and lies to American public and the United Nations, without the international states accept for United Kingdom accepting the attack on the Sovereign Nation of Iraq under President Saddam Hussain. I am not saying President Hussain we’re a saint, as his acts with certain gas and weapons against Iran was not justified, still the matter at hand can question the jurisdiction of the ones implicated and breaches of justice from the American Government at the time and the United Kingdom Government who went in Iraq. They all certainly we’re behind acts against Humanity on some levels as they went to war and even did torture in certain chambers in Iraq. Can the Rwandan Government and their courts if they collect evidence and collect for instance affidavit of victims and of low-level civil servants of the time, could they take President Bush for trial at the High Court of Kigali? I am just asking the question, because the case today is an act upon the same sovereign question as the former Mayors of two towns or villages are taken to court in Paris. They are in foreign land as they are not in the Jurisdiction and the Territory of where the crimes happen and in the State where the claimed Génocidaires are citizens. If citizenship and if sovereign nations still means something, then we have to ask the question and ask the matter. Even when it grimes crimes and crimes against humanity as the laws should be the same for Western Nations as for the African Nations. This should open up the questions for French interaction with the Génocidaires of the official government at the time under President Habyarimana with the military training and equipment before Operation Turquoise turned into the UNAMIR mandate under Dallaire. In that sense, the black-box sage that never really been answered as the training and interference of the French, should give the Government under Rwandan Patriotic Front to be allowed to Court the French Men who served the Génocidaires, right? Since the French now is doing the same in Paris, just because they are French and European should not make them able to clean their hands of the blood, just as much as the RPA, now RPF should not be white-washed over time. The law should apply alike to either side. Something that should not be needed to explain or take on; as any crime on humanity and support of the attacks with weapons and structures should be taken to court as violation of these men and woman. The case is not that the Génocidaires should be dealt with from authorities and the men behind killings should not be punished by the Government or any other piece international legal-body that has the jurisdiction on it. If so then the men and woman should go to international court or a national one that could offer a fair judgement on the causes behind the violations and assess the criminal activity. But what bugs me is the easy way the French and Government of France overturn the Rwandan Government as a sovereign nation to turn their citizens and their eye-witnesses to Paris for the trial to concede the judgement of these two mayors. Not that I am defending the Mayors for their activity, it’s the actions of French I am still questioning. That is why, why couldn’t the Rwandese if they could collect information on the French involvement and support of the late-President Habyarimana in the turns up-to the genocide. Since the French can now take Rwandese to court in Paris and collect the witnesses from Rwanda to serve these men and woman in the capital of France. There questions about it and if it is justified as the precedence this kind of cases set. As if the French Authorities still can grant them authority to get these people to be eye-witnesses in a court case of actions against humanity in Rwanda and not on the French shores or near Caen. Therefore since this court is not directly based on the Roman Statute or the other ratified laws where the crimes against humanity are involved and control the verdicts of the judgements. So the matter is that if it was so, since this a case that is about crimes done abroad in alien jurisdiction, it might should have been posted in the ICC and not the High Court or whatever name the Court have in Paris. It is not that I want the two Mayors to free-men without a court judgement or get the Génocidaires of the Rwandan tragedy to not be tested in Court and get fair trials, so that the men and woman who has actually done their crimes get their punishment. But the way it is done and how it is conducted as long as it talks about Sovereign States and Territory; when coming to court and to be able to conduct justice to its citizens and the condemn the crimes, condone it and make sure that criminals get fair trials before serving time as felons. That shouldn’t be too much to ask. The question is if we twisted the Courts to Kigali instead of Paris, if the French we’re sent to be on trial in Kigali instead of Paris. That should be allowed to ask, as the Rwandan Government and the French Government are both Sovereign States. As Sovereign they have rights, over territory and their citizens and nations are bound to respect these in any sense and be responsible for justice, also over boundaries and borders. And also respecting the international conventions, laws and other ratified accords that set the standards for justice in the State as the Citizens need safety and security; something the state should provide and make sure they have, by the peaceful means and rule of law. Peace. New Wires – ‘Rwandan ex-mayors face trial in France over 1994 genocide’ (10.05.2016) link: http://www.france24.com/en/20160509-rwandan-ex-mayors-face-trial-france-1994-genocide-Ngenzi-Barahira Posted in Africa, Civil Service, Crime, Development, Discussion, Ethics, Europe, Governance, Government, Law, Leadership, Politics and tagged American Government, Borders, CAF, Central African Franc, Citizens, Colonial, Colonial history, Crimes against Humanity, East Africa, Françafrique, François Mitterrand, France, French, French Authorities, Génocidaires, General Habyarimana, Genocide, George Bush, George W. Bush, GoF, GoR, GoT, Government of France, Government of Rwanda, Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Paul Kagame, Human Rights, ICC, International Criminal Court, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, International Laws, Iraq, Iraq War, Jurisdiction, Kabarondo, Kagame, Kigali, Kingdom, Nation, Octavien Ngenzi, Paris, Paul Kagame, Police State, Post-Colonial Times, Post-Colonialism, President Bush, President Habyarimana, President Juvénal Habyarimana, President Kagame, President Mitterrand, Republic, Roman Statute, RPF, Rule of Law, Rwanda Patriotic Front, Rwandan Government, Rwandese, Sovereign, Sovereign state, Tanzania, Tito Barahira, totalitarian, UN, UN Charter for Human Rights, UNAMIR, United Nation, United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, USA | Leave a comment

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Tag Archives: Estrie Upper and Lower Canada Posted by michelinewalker in Canada, History Canada, Cornelius Krieghoff, Eastern Townships, Estrie, Lower Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Quebec Act, United Empire Loyalist, Upper Canada Owl’s Head and Skinner’s Cove on Lake Memphremagog, by Cornelius Krieghoff (courtesy The Canadian Encyclopedia and National Gallery of Art) This is Owl’s Head as depicted by Cornelius Krieghoff, in 1856. By and large, during the many years Dutch-Canadian artist Cornelius Krieghoff spent in Canada, he did not often visit the Eastern Townships, now called l’Estrie, the region southeast of Montreal where seigneurs did not own land. But he made a painting of Owl’s Head and Skinner’s Cove, on Lake Memphremagog. Owl’s Head is a small mountain. United Empire Loyalists & The Eastern Townships In the early days of Nouvelle-France, the seigneuries were narrow and deep properties situated on the shores of the St Lawrence River. I should think that forestiers (lumberjacks) and coureurs de bois, harvested wood and fur in the Eastern Townships and that there may have been a few Canadiens parishes. However, the Townships were not settled systematically until 10,000 United Empire Loyalists fled the independent Thirteen Colonies out of loyalty to Britain. Some went to St John’s, New Brunswick, some to Kingston, in the current Province of Ontario, but a large number settled in the area of the Province of Quebec that would be called the Eastern Townships (les Cantons de l’Est). The Townships were a favorite destination for United Empire Loyalists. Quebec’s Eastern Townships The Eastern Townships are a mountainous area. Its mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains and therefore not very high or steep. The Appalachians were probably cropped and rounded by icebergs and other northern giants moving south in a pre-historic past. But although the Appalachian Mountains do not possess the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains, in Western Canada, they are nevertheless perfect for skiers in winter. Moreover, the region has several lakes and rivers. Closest to Sherbrooke, the main city in the Eastern Townships /l’Estrie, is Lake Memphremagog, where the Benedictine Abbey (Saint-Benoît-du-Lac) I wrote about in my Easter post is located. But Lake Memphremagog is also depicted in Krieghoff’s painting featured above (oil on canvas). The Quebec Act, 1774 But let us travel back in time. You may recall that the Quebec Act [i] of 1774, discussed in The Aftermath & Krieghoff’s Quintessential Quebec, made French-speaking Canadians full-fledged British citizens. Many Canadiens were happy to have escaped the French Revolution, the priests in particular. The same could be said of the seigneurs. Their life remained as it had been before 1763, the year New France was officially ceded to Britain, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Matters changed however with the arrival of United Empire Loyalists in the Province of Quebec and other British locations north of the Thirteen Colonies. Authorities had to make room for the United Empire Loyalists. Consequently, a large number of English-speaking settlers were given land in the Eastern Townships, now better known as l’Estrie. So the Quebec Act needed reconsideration and reconsidered it was. The Constitutional Act, 1791 Lower Canada and Upper Canada, 1791 (please click on the map to enlarge it) The year 1791 saw the enactment of the Constitutional Act, an act which Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB (1724 – 1808) opposed. The former Province of Quebec was divided into two Canadas: Lower Canada, down the St Lawrence River, and Upper Canada, up the St Lawrence River and bordering on the Great Lakes. This division of the former Province of Quebec gave French-speaking Canadians a land, Lower Canada, in which they were the majority despite the arrival of United Empire Loyalists. Therefore, their life did not change considerably. In fact, the creation of Lower Canada gave French-speaking Canadians the sense that they inhabited a Canada of their own. However, the Constitutional Act protected all Canadiens. On this subject, I will quote the Canadian Encyclopedia in order to provide you with accurate information: The Act guaranteed continuity of ownership of lands held under the SEIGNEURIAL SYSTEM in Lower Canada and created the CLERGY RESERVES in Upper Canada. [ii] Lower Canada was nevertheless different than the Province of Quebec. For one thing, it was smaller. Moreover, the inhabitants of Upper Canada were predominantly English-speaking Canadians and those of Lower Canada, predominantly French-speaking Canadians. In other words, joined, the two Canadas would be a mostly English-speaking country. In the Canadian Encyclopedia, the Constitutional Act of 1791 is described as follows: The bill had 4 main objectives: to guarantee the same rights and privileges as were enjoyed by loyal subjects elsewhere in North America; to ease the burden on the imperial treasury by granting colonial assemblies the right to levy taxes with which to pay for local civil and legal administration; to justify the territorial division of the PROVINCE OF QUEBEC and the creation of separate provincial legislatures; and to maintain and strengthen the bonds of political dependency by remedying acknowledged constitutional weaknesses of previous colonial governments. [iii] In short, in 1791, the Quebec act was replaced by the Constitutional Act which led to the division of the Province of Quebec into two Canadas. Everything seemed acceptable but, in 1837-1838, both Canadas rebelled. Lord Durham, John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham GCB, PC (12 April 1792 – 28 July 1840), was asked to conduct an enquiry and provide a report as well as recommendations. The Report led to the Act of Union “enacted in July 1840 and proclaimed in 1841.” (Wikipedia, “The Act of Union”). At this point, we pause so we can remember the essential facts. 1) In 1774, Canadiens inhabited a very large Province of Quebec, but 2), as of 1791, due to the arrival in the Province of Quebec of the United Empire Loyalists, the Province of Quebec was divided into Lower Canada and Upper Canada. 3) As a result, Canadiens lived in a smaller territory, but a territory which they felt was theirs. 12 Alouette [iv] (please click on Alouette to hear the music) [i] A short term for a long title: An Act for making more effectual Provision for the Government of the Province of Quebec in North America (please see below). [ii] Pierre Toussignant, “The Constitutional Act 1791” http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/constitutional-act-1791 [iii] Pierre Toussignant’ “The Constitutional Act” [iv] Theodore C. Blegen, Songs of the Voyageurs (St Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1998[1966], p. 46. (Université de Moncton’s 21-voice male choir) According to Wikipedia, “the principal components of the [Quebec] Act were: The province’s territory was expanded to take over part of the Indian Reserve, including much of what is now southern Ontario, plus Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. The oath of allegiance was replaced with one that no longer made reference to the Protestant faith. It guaranteed free practice of the Catholic faith. It restored the use of the French civil law for private matters while maintaining the use of the English common law for public administration, including criminal prosecution.” The Constitutional Act of 1791, formally The Clergy Endowments (Canada) Act, 1791 (31 Geo. 3. c.31), is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. (Long title: An Act to repeal certain Parts of an Act, passed in the fourteenth Year of his Majesty’s Reign, intituled [sic], An Act for making more effectual Provision for the Government of the Province of Quebec, in North America; and to make further Provision for the Government of the said Province.)

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Aspiring musician in need of some artistic affirmation? Take your music to the streets. “Busking taught me that I was okay the way I was,” Australian singer-songwriter Toni Watson tells Apple Music. “I don't need to be like anyone to do well in this life.” The confidence initially instilled by Byron Bay’s appreciative passersby has proved well-founded. Powerhouse pop singles “Johnny Run Away” and “Dance Monkey” broke through domestically with fans engaged by her positivity. “There are enough people in the world sharing aggression,” she says. “They teach the young generation to say f**k, t***ies, a**, and b**ch, or get into wars over Twitter. I don’t want to be a part of that. There’s more to stand for.” In this track-by-track guide, Watson embraces coming out and friendship, and passionately details what she and her music stand for. “The Kids Are Coming” “This is a song I wrote about ‘old-minded’ people thinking young people these days are snowflakes just on their phones. The younger generation work so hard. They're fighting the biggest war of all—they're standing up for equality, trying to stamp out racism, trying to really, really push and promote gay pride. They've got a sense of community. They’re the people trying to protect the Great Barrier Reef, global warming, pollution of the planet. And doing it without guns. We're not going to war and killing people. The kids are coming; that's exactly what it means—that they're a force to be reckoned with.” “My manager warned me that ‘Dance Monkey’ wouldn’t be a big track like ‘Johnny Run Away.’ Then all of a sudden it became my biggest hit. I had people singing it back to me at Splendour in the Grass [Australian music festival in New South Wales] and it’s been on every single radio station in Australia. I didn't write this track for radio. I wrote this song for the people at the Byron Bay hostel so we could all dance to it. People were trying to write songs to knock Lil Nas X off his perch; I didn't try to do that. I wrote this song before his song was even released. 'Dance Monkey’ showed me that I'm good enough. I have confidence in the songs that I've written and I'm not going to change anything.” “Colourblind” “I wrote this song about the summertime before I moved to Byron Bay. I lived in a cabin in the middle of the bush. Four days a week I lived in my van and wrote music. Then what I would write, I'd play on the streets over the next few nights, but I got to the point where I was so horribly sad because I didn't have my friends around me. The song starts with ‘Sweet talks on a Sunday afternoon.’ It was the day they told me I had to quit my job and go busk because they knew that's what I wanted to do. And if I couldn't pay rent, they were going to support me. It’s a song to say, ‘No matter how far away I am or you are, you’re always on my mind.’” “Johnny Run Away” “I wrote this song because my best friend Kurt went through a really hard time. I never knew the story about how he came out to his family. When he told me, he was so upset. I'd never seen him talk like that about a time when he felt shameful or wasn’t good enough. He's super proud of himself now and has a great relationship with his family. I wrote that song when I was 16. That's the kind of song you write when you don't care about the bigger picture, you're writing something special to someone you care about. When I decided that that would be my first single, I asked him if it was okay. He's been by my side through this whole journey. I played a show where I supported AURORA and I got him onstage, and I just wanted him to see the support that people have for his experience.” “This track and ‘Johnny Run Away’ are linked together. You hear Jimmy as a passing character. Then in the next track, Jimmy has his own story to tell and his struggles. In life we pass many people by; we say hi at the grocery store, or when we're getting coffee. But whether they're just there for a second or you talk to them for an hour, everyone has their own s**t going on.” “Never Seen the Rain” “Splendour in the Grass was a moment where I was like, ‘Whoa, the support is bigger than I thought.’ It's hard to gauge from Instagram how many people want to rock up and see you play live. Last year I snuck into the festival with a fake ticket I bought on Gumtree. I was sitting there thinking, ‘I'm going to play here one day.’ I didn't imagine it'd be the year after, and especially not with the kind of response I had. I only released this song a few days before, so to have that many people singing back at me was incredible.” The Kids Are Coming - EP Tones and I ℗ 2019 Bad Batch Records under exclusive license to Elektra Records for the World excluding Australia and New Zealand. *DONBEAR* , 11/01/2019 TikTok Monkey I mean the vocals are unique but I think we can all mostly agree that the only reason we know this song in the first place is because of certain app. Idk I can’t really tell if this is a good song or bad but it’s mostly being played just to get it out of my head Jasontheargo , 11/27/2019 So much hate on this album. I like her unique sound and the fact that she writes her own lyrics, which is something to be appreciated these days #1WomanRiot , 12/24/2019 Rasp in her voice is incredible I just heard this song on the radio today for the first time. Looking at other reviews, I guess it’s been around on tik tok but I don’t use that app. So, here I am, newly in love with her voice. Reminds me of a singer in an old speak easy or night club belting out what comes naturally. This feels new and fresh. Keep making music and I’ll keep buying it! More By Tones and I Dance Monkey (Stripped Back) - Single

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Personal Reflections on Mamma Mia! Over the course of my six months at SMUS, I have attended a variety of events for the first time. One of the events that has been gradually building in terms of expectation and anticipation, was the annual Senior School musical. I’m told that there is a complicated process – equal thirds science, art and magic – in choosing the musical. This year, as we all know, it was Mamma Mia!. As this term’s pace gradually quickened, parts were allocated, rehearsals took place, and general levels of confidence rose. As opening night approached, it became apparent that this is no ordinary school show. First of all, tickets for the performances sell like hotcakes. If you’re lucky enough to get one, you then learn that all the principal characters are ‘double cast’, meaning that twice the normal number of students get to experience the pressure and sense of achievement of quite literally being in the spotlight. And so, the event drew close. Four performances over three days with more than 2,000 tickets sold. I was fortunate enough to attend the opening event on Friday, March 1 with invited guests for an Advancement reception. It had been a productive day with a series of Board meetings and I was anticipating the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy. That was exactly how the evening unfolded: a most convivial Advancement event for donors at the Headmaster’s Circle level and beyond – many thanks to the organizing committee – then it was on to the school bus for the short trip down to the McPherson Playhouse. It was great to be in the back seat again – memories of my youth, often as one of the least well-behaved members of a school trip, came flooding back. While in the McPherson Playhouse, one was immediately struck by the wonderful Art Show – again, brilliantly planned to allow as many of our diverse audience as possible to view the creative output of our artistic community. The range of works was outstanding. My only regret being that with numerous conversations taking place, I did not have the opportunity to appreciate the work in proportion to its quality. I have arranged to go back at a quieter moment. Once the curtain lifted, one was immediately swept along on a tide of enthusiasm and emotion. The opening refrain from the large orchestra – all members of the school community – quickly proved that this would be a polished performance. The key characters were flawless in their delivery of complicated roles, even down to the fine nuance of conveying humorous emotion, and as an audience we were fully transported to Donna’s taverna on a Greek island. Indeed, talking of Donna’s taverna, we must mention the team that designed, built and painted a fantastic set, which brought the audience into the very heart of the action. Creative use of video technology in the background allowed us to almost hear the soft sea breezes and lapping of waves in the distance. Now we are back to the routine of school with memories of a wonderful series of performances slowly fading. I emphasize the word slowly, as I hear the ABBA tunes being hummed repeatedly around the school campus. I know that this school musical brought joy to thousands and provided opportunities for hundreds of students to be involved in a major team project and develop leadership and confidence in their abilities. Being the veteran of quite literally hundreds of school plays and dozens of school musicals, I rate this amongst the very best. On behalf of all of us fortunate enough to be in one of the Mamma Mia! audiences, I extend thanks to everybody who invested time, energy and talent to give us an experience which will remain an uplifting memory for a very long time. … and now thoughts turn to 2020! Mr. Mark Turner is Head of School at St. Michaels University School.

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Sub-Zero Error Codes Viking Error Codes Wolf Error Codes Thermador Error Codes Marvel Repair Mecklenburg Home → Marvel Repair Mecklenburg Marvel Appliance Repair Mecklenburg With the hustle and bustle of daily life, all we want when we get home is to relax in a stress-free environment. The last thing we want is to deal with a broken appliance, but unfortunately, it isn’t until the washing machine or refrigerator breaks down that we realize how much we rely on them.WHY DID IT BREAK?First let’s look at the possible reasons your appliances stop working. Whether it is the fault of the manufacturer or the fault of the improper maintenance, repairing is usually less expensive that replacing household appliances. Regular maintenance of your appliances not only keeps them functioning properly, but it also extends their longevity.Keep in mind that appliances that we use on a daily basis such as refrigerators, washing machines and microwaves are bound to have problems with extended use. 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Point, Cuba, Cuddebackville, Cutchogue, Dale, Dalton, Dannemora, Dansville, Darien Center, Davenport, Davenport Center, Dayton, De Kalb Junction, De Peyster, De Ruyter, Deansboro, Deer Park, Deer River, Deferiet, Delancey, Delanson, Delevan, Delhi, Delmar, Delphi Falls, Denmark, Denver, Depauville, Depew, Deposit, Derby, Dewittville, Dexter, Diamond Point, Dickinson Center, Dobbs Ferry, Dolgeville, Dormansville, Dover Plains, Downsville, Dresden, Dryden, Duanesburg, Dundee, Dunkirk, Durham, Durhamville, Eagle Bay, Eagle Bridge, Earlton, Earlville, East Amherst, East Aurora, East Berne, East Bethany, East Bloomfield, East Branch, East Chatham, East Concord, East Durham, East Elmhurst, East Greenbush, East Hampton, East Homer, East Islip, East Jewett, East Marion, East Meadow, East Meredith, East Moriches, East Nassau, East Northport, East Norwich, East Otto, East Pembroke, East Pharsalia, East Quogue, East Randolph, East Rochester, East Rockaway, East Schodack, East Setauket, East Springfield, East Syracuse, East Williamson, East Worcester, Eastchester, Eastport, Eaton, Eden, Edmeston, Edwards, Elba, Elbridge, Eldred, Elizabethtown, Elizaville, Elka Park, Ellenburg, Ellenburg Center, Ellenburg Depot, Ellenville, Ellicottville, Ellington, Ellisburg, Elma, Elmhurst, Elmira, Elmont, Elmsford, Endicott, Endwell, Erieville, Erin, Esopus, Esperance, Essex, Etna, Evans Mills, Fabius, Fair Haven, Fairport, Falconer, Fallsburg, Fancher, Far Rockaway, Farmersville Station, Farmingdale, Farmington, Farmingville, Farnham, Fayette, Fayetteville, Felts Mills, Ferndale, Feura Bush, Fillmore, Findley Lake, Fine, Fishers, Fishers Island, Fishers Landing, Fishkill, Fishs Eddy, Fleischmanns, Floral Park, Florida, Flushing, Fly Creek, Fonda, Forest Hills, Forestburgh, Forestport, Forestville, Fort Ann, Fort Covington, Fort Drum, Fort Edward, Fort Hunter, Fort Johnson, Fort Montgomery, Fort Plain, Frankfort, Franklin, Franklin Springs, Franklin Square, Franklinville, Fredonia, Freedom, Freehold, Freeport, Freeville, Fremont Center, Fresh Meadows, Frewsburg, Friendship, Fulton, Fultonham, Fultonville, Gabriels, Gainesville, Gallupville, Galway, Gansevoort, Garden City, Gardiner, Garnerville, Garrattsville, Garrison, Gasport, Geneseo, Geneva, Genoa, Georgetown, Germantown, Gerry, Getzville, Ghent, Gilbertsville, Gilboa, Glasco, Glen Aubrey, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Glen Oaks, Glen Spey, Glen Wild, Glenfield, Glenford, Glenham, Glenmont, Glens Falls, Glenwood, Glenwood Landing, Gloversville, Goldens Bridge, Gorham, Goshen, Gouverneur, Gowanda, Grafton, Grahamsville, Grand Gorge, Grand Island, Grandview On Hudson, Granite Springs, Granville, Great Bend, Great Neck, Great River, Great Valley, Greene, Greenfield Center, Greenfield Park, Greenhurst, Greenlawn, Greenport, Greenvale, Greenville, Greenwich, Greenwood, Greenwood Lake, Greig, Groton, Groveland, Guilderland, Guilderland Center, Guilford, Hadley, Hagaman, Hague, Hailesboro, Haines Falls, Halcottsville, Hall, Hamburg, Hamden, Hamilton, Hamlin, Hammond, Hammondsport, Hampton, Hampton Bays, Hancock, Hankins, Hannacroix, Hannawa Falls, Hannibal, Harford, Harpersfield, Harpursville, Harriman, Harris, Harrison, Harrisville, Hartford, Hartsdale, Hartwick, Hastings, Hastings On Hudson, Hauppauge, Haverstraw, Hawthorne, Hector, Helena, Hemlock, Hempstead, Henderson, Henderson Harbor, Henrietta, Hensonville, Herkimer, Hermon, Heuvelton, Hewlett, Hicksville, High Falls, Highland, Highland Falls, Highland Lake, Highland Mills, Highmount, Hillburn, Hillsdale, Hilton, Himrod, Hinckley, Hinsdale, Hobart, Hoffmeister, Hogansburg, Holbrook, Holland, Holland Patent, Holley, Hollis, Hollowville, Holmes, Holtsville, Homer, Honeoye, Honeoye Falls, Hoosick, Hoosick Falls, Hopewell Junction, Hornell, Horseheads, Hortonville, Houghton, Howard Beach, Howells, Howes Cave, Hubbardsville, Hudson, Hudson Falls, Hughsonville, Huguenot, Huletts Landing, Hume, Hunt, Hunter, Huntington, Huntington Station, Hurley, Hurleyville, Hyde Park, Ilion, Indian Lake, Inlet, Interlaken, Inwood, Ionia, Irving, Irvington, Island Park, Islandia, Islip, Islip Terrace, Ithaca, Jackson Heights, Jacksonville, Jamaica, Jamesport, Jamestown, Jamesville, Jasper, Java Center, Java Village, Jay, Jefferson, Jefferson Valley, Jeffersonville, Jericho, Jewett, Johnsburg, Johnson, Johnson City, Johnsonville, Johnstown, Jordan, Jordanville, Kanona, Katonah, Kattskill Bay, Kauneonga Lake, Keene, Keene Valley, Keeseville, Kendall, Kennedy, Kenoza Lake, Kent, Kerhonkson, Keuka Park, Kew Gardens, Kiamesha Lake, Kill Buck, Killawog, Kinderhook, King Ferry, Kings Park, Kingston, Kirkville, Kirkwood, Knowlesville, Knox, Knoxboro, La Fargeville, La Fayette, Lacona, Lagrangeville, Lake Clear, Lake George, Lake Grove, Lake Hill, Lake Huntington, Lake Katrine, Lake Luzerne, Lake Peekskill, Lake Placid, Lake Pleasant, Lake View, Lakemont, Lakeville, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lanesville, Lansing, Larchmont, Latham, Laurel, Laurens, Lawrence, Lawrenceville, Lawtons, Le Roy, Lee Center, Leeds, Leicester, Leon, Leonardsville, Levittown, Lewis, Lewiston, Lexington, Liberty, Lily Dale, Lima, Limerick, Limestone, Lincolndale, Lindenhurst, Lindley, Linwood, Lisbon, Lisle, Little Falls, Little Genesee, Little Neck, Little Valley, Little York, Liverpool, Livingston, Livingston Manor, Livonia, Livonia Center, Loch Sheldrake, Locke, Lockport, Lockwood, Locust Valley, Lodi, Long Beach, Long Eddy, Long Island City, Long Lake, Lorraine, Lowman, Lowville, Lycoming, Lynbrook, Lyndonville, Lyon Mountain, Lyons, Lyons Falls, Macedon, Machias, Madison, Madrid, Mahopac, Mahopac Falls, Maine, Malden Bridge, Malden On Hudson, Mallory, Malone, Malverne, Mamaroneck, Manchester, Manhasset, Manlius, Mannsville, Manorville, Maple Springs, Maple View, Maplecrest, Marathon, Marcellus, Marcy, Margaretville, Marietta, Marilla, Marion, Marlboro, Martinsburg, Martville, Maryknoll, Maryland, Masonville, Maspeth, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Massena, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Mattituck, Maybrook, Mayfield, Mayville, Mc Connellsville, Mc Donough, Mc Graw, Mc Lean, Mechanicville, Mecklenburg, Medford, Medina, Medusa, Mellenville, Melrose, Melville, Memphis, Mendon, Meridale, Meridian, Merrick, Mexico, Middle Falls, Middle Granville, Middle Grove, Middle Island, Middle Village, Middleburgh, Middleport, Middlesex, Middletown, Middleville, Milford, Mill Neck, Millbrook, Miller Place, Millerton, Millport, Millwood, Milton, Mineola, Minerva, Minetto, Mineville, Minoa, Model City, Modena, Mohawk, Mohegan Lake, Moira, Mongaup Valley, Monroe, Monsey, Montauk, Montezuma, Montgomery, Monticello, Montour Falls, Montrose, Mooers, Mooers Forks, Moravia, Moriah, Moriah Center, Moriches, Morris, Morrisonville, Morristown, Morrisville, Morton, Mottville, Mount Kisco, Mount Marion, Mount Morris, Mount Sinai, Mount Tremper, Mount Upton, Mount Vernon, Mount Vision, Mountain Dale, Mountainville, Mumford, Munnsville, Nanuet, Napanoch, Naples, Narrowsburg, Nassau, Natural Bridge, Nedrow, Nelliston, Nesconset, Neversink, New Baltimore, New Berlin, New City, New Hampton, New Hartford, New Haven, New Hyde Park, New Kingston, New Lebanon, New Lisbon, New Milford, New Paltz, New Rochelle, New Russia, New Suffolk, New Windsor, New Woodstock, New York, New York Mills, Newark, Newark Valley, Newburgh, Newcomb, Newfane, Newfield, Newport, Newton Falls, Newtonville, Niagara Falls, Niagara University, Nichols, Nicholville, Nineveh, Niobe, Niverville, Norfolk, North Babylon, North Bangor, North Bay, North Blenheim, North Boston, North Branch, North Brookfield, North Chatham, North Chili, North Collins, North Creek, North Evans, North Granville, North Greece, North Hoosick, North Hudson, North Java, North Lawrence, North Norwich, North Pitcher, North River, North Rose, North Salem, North Tonawanda, Northport, Northville, Norwich, Norwood, Nunda, Nyack, Oak Hill, Oakdale, Oakfield, Oakland Gardens, Oaks Corners, Obernburg, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Odessa, Ogdensburg, Olcott, Old Bethpage, Old Chatham, Old Forge, Old Westbury, Olean, Olivebridge, Olmstedville, Oneida, Oneonta, Ontario, Ontario Center, Orangeburg, Orchard Park, Orient, Oriskany, Oriskany Falls, Orwell, Ossining, Oswegatchie, Oswego, Otego, Otisville, Otto, Ouaquaga, Ovid, Owego, Owls Head, Oxbow, Oxford, Oyster Bay, Ozone Park, Painted Post, Palatine Bridge, Palenville, Palisades, Palmyra, Panama, Paradox, Parish, Parishville, Parksville, Patchogue, Patterson, Pattersonville, Paul Smiths, Pavilion, Pawling, Pearl River, Peconic, Peekskill, Pelham, Penfield, Penn Yan, Pennellville, Perkinsville, Perry, Perrysburg, Peru, Peterboro, Petersburg, Phelps, Philadelphia, Phillipsport, Philmont, Phoenicia, Phoenix, Piercefield, Piermont, Pierrepont Manor, Piffard, Pike, Pine Bush, Pine City, Pine Hill, Pine Island, Pine Plains, Pine Valley, Piseco, Pitcher, Pittsford, Plainview, Plainville, Plattekill, Plattsburgh, Pleasant Valley, Pleasantville, Plessis, Plymouth, Poestenkill, Point Lookout, Poland, Pomona, Pompey, Pond Eddy, Poplar Ridge, Port Byron, Port Chester, Port Crane, Port Ewen, Port Gibson, Port Henry, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Port Jervis, Port Kent, Port Leyden, Port Washington, Portageville, Porter Corners, Portland, Portlandville, Portville, Potsdam, Pottersville, Poughkeepsie, Poughquag, Pound Ridge, Prattsburgh, Prattsville, Preble, Preston Hollow, Prospect, Pulaski, Pulteney, Pultneyville, Purchase, Purdys, Purling, Putnam Station, Putnam Valley, Pyrites, Quaker Street, Queens Village, Queensbury, Quogue, Rainbow Lake, Randolph, Ransomville, Raquette Lake, Ravena, Ray Brook, Raymondville, Reading Center, Red Creek, Red Hook, Redfield, Redford, Redwood, Rego Park, Remsen, Remsenburg, Rensselaer, Rensselaer Falls, Rensselaerville, Retsof, Rexford, Rexville, Rhinebeck, Rhinecliff, Richburg, Richfield Springs, Richford, Richland, Richmond Hill, Richmondville, Richville, Ridge, Ridgewood, Rifton, Riparius, Ripley, Riverhead, Rochester, Rock City Falls, Rock Hill, Rock Stream, Rock Tavern, Rockaway Park, Rockville Centre, Rocky Point, Rodman, Rome, Romulus, Ronkonkoma, Roosevelt, Rooseveltown, Roscoe, Rose, Roseboom, Rosedale, Rosendale, Roslyn, Roslyn Heights, Rotterdam Junction, Round Lake, Round Top, Rouses Point, Roxbury, Ruby, Rush, Rushford, Rushville, Russell, Rye, Sabael, Sackets Harbor, Sag Harbor, Sagaponack, Saint Albans, Saint Bonaventure, Saint James, Saint Johnsville, Saint Regis Falls, Salamanca, Salem, Salisbury Center, Salisbury Mills, Salt Point, Sanborn, Sand Lake, Sandusky, Sandy Creek, Sangerfield, Saranac, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Sardinia, Saugerties, Sauquoit, Savannah, Savona, Sayville, Scarsdale, Schaghticoke, Schenectady, Schenevus, Schodack Landing, Schoharie, Schroon Lake, Schuyler Falls, Schuyler Lake, Schuylerville, Scio, Scipio Center, Scottsburg, Scottsville, Sea Cliff, Seaford, Selden, Selkirk, Seneca Castle, Seneca Falls, Severance, Shandaken, Sharon Springs, Shelter Island, Shelter Island Heights, Shenorock, Sherburne, Sheridan, Sherman, Sherrill, Shirley, Shokan, Shoreham, Shortsville, Shrub Oak, Shushan, Sidney, Sidney Center, Silver Bay, Silver Creek, Silver Lake, Silver Springs, Sinclairville, Skaneateles, Skaneateles Falls, Slate Hill, Slaterville Springs, Slingerlands, Sloansville, Sloatsburg, Smallwood, Smithboro, Smithtown, Smithville Flats, Smyrna, Sodus, Sodus Point, Solsville, Somers, Sonyea, Sound Beach, South Bethlehem, South Butler, South Byron, South Cairo, South Colton, South Dayton, South Fallsburg, South Floral Park, South Glens Falls, South Jamesport, South Kortright, South Lima, South New Berlin, South Otselic, South Ozone Park, South Plymouth, South Richmond Hill, South Salem, South Wales, Southampton, Southfields, Southold, Sparkill, Sparrow Bush, Speculator, Spencer, Spencerport, Spencertown, Speonk, Sprakers, Spring Brook, Spring Glen, Spring Valley, Springfield Center, Springfield Gardens, Springville, Springwater, Staatsburg, Stafford, Stamford, Stanfordville, Stanley, Star Lake, Staten Island, Steamburg, Stella Niagara, Stephentown, Sterling, Sterling Forest, Stillwater, Stittville, Stockton, Stone Ridge, Stony Brook, Stony Creek, Stony Point, Stormville, Stottville, Stow, Stratford, Strykersville, Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant Falls, Suffern, Sugar Loaf, Summit, Summitville, Sunnyside, Surprise, Swain, Swan Lake, Sylvan Beach, Syosset, Syracuse, Taberg, Tallman, Tannersville, Tappan, Tarrytown, Thendara, Theresa, Thiells, Thompson Ridge, Thompsonville, Thornwood, Thousand Island Park, Three Mile Bay, Ticonderoga, Tillson, Tioga Center, Tivoli, Tomkins Cove, Tonawanda, Treadwell, Tribes Hill, Troupsburg, Trout Creek, Troy, Trumansburg, Truxton, Tuckahoe, Tully, Tunnel, Tupper Lake, Turin, Tuxedo Park, Tyrone, Ulster Park, Unadilla, Union Hill, Union Springs, Uniondale, Unionville, Upper Jay, Upton, Utica, Vails Gate, Valatie, Valhalla, Valley Cottage, Valley Falls, Valley Stream, Van Buren Point, Van Etten, Van Hornesville, Varysburg, Verbank, Vermontville, Vernon, Vernon Center, Verona, Verona Beach, Verplanck, Versailles, Vestal, Victor, Victory Mills, Voorheesville, Waccabuc, Waddington, Wading River, Wainscott, Walden, Wales Center, Walker Valley, Wallkill, Walton, Walworth, Wampsville, Wanakena, Wantagh, Wappingers Falls, Warners, Warnerville, Warrensburg, Warsaw, Warwick, Washington Mills, Washingtonville, Wassaic, Water Mill, Waterford, Waterloo, Waterport, Watertown, Waterville, Watervliet, Watkins Glen, Waverly, Wawarsing, Wayland, Wayne, Webster, Weedsport, Wellesley Island, Wells, Wells Bridge, Wellsburg, Wellsville, West Babylon, West Bloomfield, West Burlington, West Camp, West Chazy, West Clarksville, West Coxsackie, West Davenport, West Eaton, West Edmeston, West Falls, West Fulton, West Harrison, West Haverstraw, West Hempstead, West Henrietta, West Hurley, West Islip, West Kill, West Lebanon, West Leyden, West Monroe, West Nyack, West Oneonta, West Park, West Point, West Sand Lake, West Sayville, West Shokan, West Stockholm, West Valley, West Winfield, Westbrookville, Westbury, Westdale, Westerlo, Westernville, Westfield, Westford, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Westmoreland, Westons Mills, Westport, Westtown, Wevertown, Whippleville, White Lake, White Plains, White Sulphur Springs, Whitehall, Whitesboro, Whitestone, Whitesville, Whitney Point, Willard, Willet, Williamson, Williamstown, Williston Park, Willow, Willsboro, Willseyville, Wilmington, Wilson, Windham, Windsor, Wingdale, Winthrop, Witherbee, Wolcott, Woodbourne, Woodbury, Woodgate, Woodhaven, Woodhull, Woodmere, Woodridge, Woodside, Woodstock, Worcester, Wurtsboro, Wyandanch, Wynantskill, Wyoming, Yaphank, Yonkers, York, Yorkshire, Yorktown Heights, Yorkville, Youngstown, Youngsville, Yulan, 00501, 00544, 06390, 10001, 10002, 10003, 10004, 10005, 10006, 10007, 10008, 10009, 10010, 10011, 10012, 10013, 10014, 10016, 10017, 10018, 10019, 10020, 10021, 10022, 10023, 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12910, 12911, 12912, 12913, 12914, 12915, 12916, 12917, 12918, 12919, 12920, 12921, 12922, 12923, 12924, 12926, 12927, 12928, 12929, 12930, 12932, 12933, 12934, 12935, 12936, 12937, 12939, 12941, 12942, 12943, 12944, 12945, 12946, 12949, 12950, 12952, 12953, 12955, 12956, 12957, 12958, 12959, 12960, 12961, 12962, 12964, 12965, 12966, 12967, 12969, 12970, 12972, 12973, 12974, 12975, 12976, 12977, 12978, 12979, 12980, 12981, 12983, 12985, 12986, 12987, 12989, 12992, 12993, 12995, 12996, 12997, 12998, 13020, 13021, 13022, 13024, 13026, 13027, 13028, 13029, 13030, 13031, 13032, 13033, 13034, 13035, 13036, 13037, 13039, 13040, 13041, 13042, 13043, 13044, 13045, 13051, 13052, 13053, 13054, 13056, 13057, 13060, 13061, 13062, 13063, 13064, 13065, 13066, 13068, 13069, 13071, 13072, 13073, 13074, 13076, 13077, 13078, 13080, 13081, 13082, 13083, 13084, 13087, 13088, 13089, 13090, 13092, 13093, 13101, 13102, 13103, 13104, 13107, 13108, 13110, 13111, 13112, 13113, 13114, 13115, 13116, 13117, 13118, 13119, 13120, 13121, 13122, 13123, 13124, 13126, 13131, 13132, 13134, 13135, 13136, 13137, 13138, 13139, 13140, 13141, 13142, 13143, 13144, 13145, 13146, 13147, 13148, 13152, 13153, 13154, 13155, 13156, 13157, 13158, 13159, 13160, 13162, 13163, 13164, 13165, 13166, 13167, 13201, 13202, 13203, 13204, 13205, 13206, 13207, 13208, 13209, 13210, 13211, 13212, 13214, 13215, 13217, 13218, 13219, 13220, 13221, 13224, 13225, 13235, 13244, 13250, 13251, 13252, 13261, 13290, 13301, 13302, 13303, 13304, 13305, 13308, 13309, 13310, 13312, 13313, 13314, 13315, 13316, 13317, 13318, 13319, 13320, 13321, 13322, 13323, 13324, 13325, 13326, 13327, 13328, 13329, 13331, 13332, 13333, 13334, 13335, 13337, 13338, 13339, 13340, 13341, 13342, 13343, 13345, 13346, 13348, 13350, 13352, 13353, 13354, 13355, 13357, 13360, 13361, 13362, 13363, 13364, 13365, 13367, 13368, 13401, 13402, 13403, 13404, 13406, 13407, 13408, 13409, 13410, 13411, 13413, 13415, 13416, 13417, 13418, 13420, 13421, 13424, 13425, 13426, 13428, 13431, 13433, 13435, 13436, 13437, 13438, 13439, 13440, 13441, 13442, 13449, 13450, 13452, 13454, 13455, 13456, 13457, 13459, 13460, 13461, 13464, 13465, 13468, 13469, 13470, 13471, 13472, 13473, 13475, 13476, 13477, 13478, 13479, 13480, 13482, 13483, 13484, 13485, 13486, 13488, 13489, 13490, 13491, 13492, 13493, 13494, 13495, 13501, 13502, 13503, 13504, 13505, 13599, 13601, 13602, 13603, 13605, 13606, 13607, 13608, 13611, 13612, 13613, 13614, 13615, 13616, 13617, 13618, 13619, 13620, 13621, 13622, 13623, 13624, 13625, 13626, 13627, 13628, 13630, 13631, 13632, 13633, 13634, 13635, 13636, 13637, 13638, 13639, 13640, 13641, 13642, 13643, 13645, 13646, 13647, 13648, 13649, 13650, 13651, 13652, 13654, 13655, 13656, 13657, 13658, 13659, 13660, 13661, 13662, 13664, 13665, 13666, 13667, 13668, 13669, 13670, 13671, 13672, 13673, 13674, 13675, 13676, 13677, 13678, 13679, 13680, 13681, 13682, 13683, 13684, 13685, 13687, 13690, 13691, 13692, 13693, 13694, 13695, 13696, 13697, 13699, 13730, 13731, 13732, 13733, 13734, 13736, 13737, 13738, 13739, 13740, 13743, 13744, 13745, 13746, 13747, 13748, 13749, 13750, 13751, 13752, 13753, 13754, 13755, 13756, 13757, 13758, 13760, 13761, 13762, 13763, 13774, 13775, 13776, 13777, 13778, 13780, 13782, 13783, 13784, 13786, 13787, 13788, 13790, 13794, 13795, 13796, 13797, 13801, 13802, 13803, 13804, 13806, 13807, 13808, 13809, 13810, 13811, 13812, 13813, 13814, 13815, 13820, 13825, 13826, 13827, 13830, 13832, 13833, 13834, 13835, 13838, 13839, 13840, 13841, 13842, 13843, 13844, 13845, 13846, 13847, 13848, 13849, 13850, 13851, 13856, 13859, 13860, 13861, 13862, 13863, 13864, 13865, 13901, 13902, 13903, 13904, 13905, 14001, 14004, 14005, 14006, 14008, 14009, 14010, 14011, 14012, 14013, 14020, 14021, 14024, 14025, 14026, 14027, 14028, 14029, 14030, 14031, 14032, 14033, 14034, 14035, 14036, 14037, 14038, 14039, 14040, 14041, 14042, 14043, 14047, 14048, 14051, 14052, 14054, 14055, 14056, 14057, 14058, 14059, 14060, 14061, 14062, 14063, 14065, 14066, 14067, 14068, 14069, 14070, 14072, 14075, 14080, 14081, 14082, 14083, 14085, 14086, 14091, 14092, 14094, 14095, 14098, 14101, 14102, 14103, 14105, 14107, 14108, 14109, 14110, 14111, 14112, 14113, 14120, 14125, 14126, 14127, 14129, 14130, 14131, 14132, 14133, 14134, 14135, 14136, 14138, 14139, 14140, 14141, 14143, 14144, 14145, 14150, 14151, 14166, 14167, 14168, 14169, 14170, 14171, 14172, 14173, 14174, 14201, 14202, 14203, 14204, 14205, 14206, 14207, 14208, 14209, 14210, 14211, 14212, 14213, 14214, 14215, 14216, 14217, 14218, 14219, 14220, 14221, 14222, 14223, 14224, 14225, 14226, 14227, 14228, 14231, 14233, 14240, 14241, 14260, 14261, 14263, 14264, 14265, 14267, 14269, 14270, 14272, 14273, 14276, 14280, 14301, 14302, 14303, 14304, 14305, 14410, 14411, 14413, 14414, 14415, 14416, 14418, 14420, 14422, 14423, 14424, 14425, 14427, 14428, 14429, 14430, 14432, 14433, 14435, 14437, 14441, 14443, 14445, 14449, 14450, 14452, 14453, 14454, 14456, 14461, 14462, 14463, 14464, 14466, 14467, 14468, 14469, 14470, 14471, 14472, 14475, 14476, 14477, 14478, 14479, 14480, 14481, 14482, 14485, 14486, 14487, 14488, 14489, 14502, 14504, 14505, 14506, 14507, 14508, 14510, 14511, 14512, 14513, 14514, 14515, 14516, 14517, 14518, 14519, 14520, 14521, 14522, 14525, 14526, 14527, 14529, 14530, 14532, 14533, 14534, 14536, 14537, 14538, 14539, 14541, 14542, 14543, 14544, 14545, 14546, 14547, 14548, 14549, 14550, 14551, 14555, 14556, 14557, 14558, 14559, 14560, 14561, 14563, 14564, 14568, 14569, 14571, 14572, 14580, 14585, 14586, 14588, 14589, 14590, 14591, 14592, 14602, 14603, 14604, 14605, 14606, 14607, 14608, 14609, 14610, 14611, 14612, 14613, 14614, 14615, 14616, 14617, 14618, 14619, 14620, 14621, 14622, 14623, 14624, 14625, 14626, 14627, 14638, 14639, 14642, 14643, 14644, 14646, 14647, 14649, 14650, 14651, 14652, 14653, 14692, 14694, 14701, 14702, 14706, 14707, 14708, 14709, 14710, 14711, 14712, 14714, 14715, 14716, 14717, 14718, 14719, 14720, 14721, 14722, 14723, 14724, 14726, 14727, 14728, 14729, 14730, 14731, 14732, 14733, 14735, 14736, 14737, 14738, 14739, 14740, 14741, 14742, 14743, 14744, 14745, 14747, 14748, 14750, 14751, 14752, 14753, 14754, 14755, 14756, 14757, 14758, 14760, 14766, 14767, 14769, 14770, 14772, 14774, 14775, 14777, 14778, 14779, 14781, 14782, 14783, 14784, 14785, 14786, 14787, 14788, 14801, 14802, 14803, 14804, 14805, 14806, 14807, 14808, 14809, 14810, 14812, 14813, 14814, 14815, 14816, 14817, 14818, 14819, 14820, 14821, 14822, 14823, 14824, 14825, 14826, 14827, 14830, 14831, 14836, 14837, 14838, 14839, 14840, 14841, 14842, 14843, 14845, 14846, 14847, 14850, 14851, 14852, 14853, 14854, 14855, 14856, 14857, 14858, 14859, 14860, 14861, 14863, 14864, 14865, 14867, 14869, 14870, 14871, 14872, 14873, 14874, 14876, 14877, 14878, 14879, 14880, 14881, 14882, 14883, 14884, 14885, 14886, 14887, 14889, 14891, 14892, 14893, 14894, 14895, 14897, 14898, 14901, 14902, 14903, 14904, 14905, info@newyorkappliancerepair.us

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Wal-Mart Banks on the ’Unbanked’ Every day 2.5 million people walk through the doors of a Wal-Mart (WMT) store in Mexico, generating nearly $20 billion in sales last year. Now they are potential customers of Banco Wal-Mart, the chain’s new lending operation. So are the company’s 12,000 Mexican suppliers, as well as its 155,000 employees. “We want to leverage this traffic we have in our stores,” says Julio B. G?mez, Banco Wal-Mart’s chief executive. As in the U.S., Wal-Mart is Mexico’s largest retail chain. It has 997 locations, including supercenters, food and clothing stores, and restaurants. It has diverted many Mexicans from traditional commerce and stirred occasional opposition from local merchants. But the president of Mexico’s central bank, for one, publicly credits Wal-Mart’s high-volume, budget-conscious retail strategy with helping tame inflation to the low single digits. Mexican regulators say they expect the newly chartered Banco Wal-Mart to spark competition that eventually could lower the cost of consumer borrowing. For the moment, though, Wal-Mart is taking advantage of a market where annual interest rates often exceed 100%. A supercenter just west of Mexico City offers a side-by-side $1,100 Whirlpool refrigerator for 104 weekly payments of $23, which works out to an annual percentage rate of 86% and more than doubles the cost, to $2,295. “We are not saints,” G?mez told industry analysts in a Nov. 12 Webcast. “We’ve come into this business for volume and profitability similar to our other businesses, or else we wouldn’t invest.” Asked separately about Wal-Mart’s rates, spokesman Ra?l Arguelles says: “We offer very competitive [financial] products that we will be constantly evaluating to make them even more attractive.” When Wal-Mart sought a banking license in the U.S. two years ago, its path was blocked. Among the obstacles: American banks, unions, grocery store owners, and both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Even then- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan weighed in with worries about lightly regulated “industrial loan corporations” that could hobble the financial system. So the company looked south, where regulators couldn’t have been more pleased to welcome Banco Wal-Mart. Sixteen Wal-Mart bank branches are already offering installment plans on electronics and household appliances. By the end of next year, Banco Wal-Mart expects to operate in 100 stores, and it projects that it will be profitable within four years. It also intends to offer credit cards and micro-loans for entrepreneurs. Continue Reading “Wal-Mart Banks on the ’Unbanked’“ Source: BusinessWeek (link opens in a new window)

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Night Magazine Aso still in frame for BetVictor Gold Cup | Racing News By Kyle November 7, 2019 No Comments Last Updated: 07/11/19 9:50am Aso – in frame for BetVictor Gold Cup Venetia Williams has yet to decide whether to let stable star Aso take his chance under top-weight in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The nine-year-old has nine career victories on his CV – including a valuable handicap success at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Aso returned to Prestbury Park to beat all bar Frodon in the Ryanair Chase in March, and began the new campaign by finishing third in last weekend’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Williams is mulling her options, which include the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day as well as next weekend’s big handicap at Cheltenham first. She said: “It was a very pleasing performance at Wetherby – he has run a smashing race. “I can’t say where he is going to go just yet, but he has come out of the race fine. “He has the entry in the BetVictor, and that might come too soon, but I’m not sure at the moment.” Aso has excelled at trips close to the two and a half miles of the BetVictor, but indicated again at Wetherby that three miles is far from beyond him. Williams added: “The thing is, when you get to that sort of level, you don’t have too much choice with the trip. “You hope he can collect a big one – and we will head back to the Ryanair in March – but there is plenty of water to go under the bridge between now and then. “He has an entry in the King George as well, and that could be another option.” Previous PostWorld’s oldest travel company on quest for new backers | Business News Next PostGuatemala Travel: 13 Amazing Mayan Ruins You HAVE To Visit! - Hand Luggage Only © 2020 Night Magazine.

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I’ve been working on expanding my printables library and I’ve added some scripture and hymn wall art! These Bible verses (and one hymn) to print are simple and are available in download for an 8×10 or 5×7 frame. My original intent was that they be Bible verse decor for walls, but as I developed them I couldn’t help thinking that they would also look great on a desk or on top of a mantel – so download and use them wherever you think best! Bible Scripture Art Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ... Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers' houses. And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness, was there. (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Solomon and the assembly sought it out. ... The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. ... Bible Scripture Art Now King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. He was a widow's son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work. He fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both. read more. Christian Gifts "You shall have no other gods before Me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,read more. Bible Scripture Art At Wayfair, we want to make sure you find the best home goods when you shop online. You have searched for bible verse wall art and this page displays the closest product matches we have for bible verse wall art to buy online. With millions of unique furniture, décor, and housewares options, we'll help you find the perfect solution for your style and your home. Browse through our wide selection of brands, like Tangletown Fine Art and Enchantingly Elegant. If you aren’t finding the perfect product in the results for your current search for bible verse wall art, you can try searching again or using the Department navigation on the top of the page. Bible Scripture Art Glory of ChristChrist AtoningThe Effect Of The Word Of GodChrist's Own GloryimagepersonalityThe Beauty Of NatureGod On HighRight Hand Of GodRadiancyGod Sustaining CreationPower Of Christ, ShownHand Of GodGod, Living And Self sustainingRight SidesSalvation, Nature OfKnowledge, Of Jesus ChristCreatorGod's Glory In Jesus ChristMediatorGod, Power OfGod, Glory Of Share Your Faith Products "Now I am sending Huram-abi, a skilled man, endowed with understanding, the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone and wood, and in purple, violet, linen and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to make all kinds of engravings and to execute any design which may be assigned to him, to work with your skilled men and with those of my lord David your father. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ... Christian Gifts The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Christian Canvas Art Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. ... Christian Gifts Our extensive experience ensures you of the highest quality product. As in most industries, when they start to mature the low price competitors come in to make quick money with inferior products. The Vinyl Wall Decal industry has been no different. Just in the past few years, we have seen a flood of inferior products coming in from overseas. While these products are usually cheap, they aren’t usually even functional. These products come without necessities like pre-installed transfer tape making it almost impossible for you to actually install the product. One company we know of doesn’t even “weed” their products making them useless for most customers. Of course, trying to fight with a Chinese company for a $5 refund is seldom worth the time so most users just end up frustrated and disappointed. He also made two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits and the height of the other capital was five cubits. There were nets of network and twisted threads of chainwork for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital. So he made the pillars, and two rows around on the one network to cover the capitals which were on the top of the pomegranates; and so he did for the other capital. The capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits. There were capitals on the two pillars, even above and close to the rounded projection which was beside the network; and the pomegranates numbered two hundred in rows around both capitals. Thus he set up the pillars at the porch of the nave; and he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin, and he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz. On the top of the pillars was lily design. So the work of the pillars was finished. Now he made the sea of cast metal ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits, and thirty cubits in circumference. Under its brim gourds went around encircling it ten to a cubit, completely surrounding the sea; the gourds were in two rows, cast with the rest. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; and the sea was set on top of them, and all their rear parts turned inward. It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it could hold two thousand baths. Then he made the ten stands of bronze; the length of each stand was four cubits and its width four cubits and its height three cubits. This was the design of the stands: they had borders, even borders between the frames, and on the borders which were between the frames were lions, oxen and cherubim; and on the frames there was a pedestal above, and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. Now each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and its four feet had supports; beneath the basin were cast supports with wreaths at each side. Its opening inside the crown at the top was a cubit, and its opening was round like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on its opening there were engravings, and their borders were square, not round. The four wheels were underneath the borders, and the axles of the wheels were on the stand. And the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. The workmanship of the wheels was like the workmanship of a chariot wheel. Their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. Now there were four supports at the four corners of each stand; its supports were part of the stand itself. On the top of the stand there was a circular form half a cubit high, and on the top of the stand its stays and its borders were part of it. He engraved on the plates of its stays and on its borders, cherubim, lions and palm trees, according to the clear space on each, with wreaths all around. He made the ten stands like this: all of them had one casting, one measure and one form. He made ten basins of bronze, one basin held forty baths; each basin was four cubits, and on each of the ten stands was one basin. Then he set the stands, five on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house; and he set the sea of cast metal on the right side of the house eastward toward the south. Now Hiram made the basins and the shovels and the bowls. So Hiram finished doing all the work which he performed for King Solomon in the house of the LORD: the two pillars and the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the tops of the pillars; and the ten stands with the ten basins on the stands; and the one sea and the twelve oxen under the sea; and the pails and the shovels and the bowls; even all these utensils which Hiram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were of polished bronze. In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. Solomon left all the utensils unweighed, because they were too many; the weight of the bronze could not be ascertained. Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the LORD: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; and the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs, of gold; and the cups and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold. Thus all the work that King Solomon performed in the house of the LORD was finished And Solomon brought in the things dedicated by his father David, the silver and the gold and the utensils, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD. Christian Gifts

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Read by Glen McCready The precursor of Jurassic Park. Somewhere in South America, there is a plateau; and roaming in its forests are dinosaurs. Only one man has ever been there, and his reports are so astonishing that no-one is prepared to believe him; except the extraordinary Professor Challenger. He decides to take a trip to prove beyond doubt that this lost world really exists. With the daredevil journalist Edward Malone, meticulous, sceptical Professor Summerlee and the professional adventurer Lord John Roxton, Challenger sets out on a mission as dangerous as it is thrilling. Inspiring endless imitations, The Lost World is Sir Arthur Conan Doylersquo;s classic adventure of discovery. Released: January 2009 The Valley of Fear Glen McCready Glen McCready trained at The Webber Douglas Academy. Stage credits include: Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Son in A Voyage Round My Father and Walter Langer in Five Finger Exercise. Television appearances include Arthur Symons in Casanova’s Lost Letters. He has narrated numerous audiobooks including The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and The Visible World by Mark Slouka for Naxos AudioBooks, as well as The Finishing School by Muriel Spark and many others. Titles read by Glen McCready The Children of the New Forest (abridged) The Lost World (abridged) The Lost World (unabridged) The Poison Belt (unabridged) The Visible World (unabridged) Titles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard (unabridged) The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (unabridged) Four Short Stories (unabridged) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the type of person whose biography alone could exhaust you. Between his birth in 1859 and his death in 1930 he was a doctor, novelist, playwright, twice failed MP, ship’s surgeon on a trip to the Arctic (which he loved), medical officer on a trip to West Africa (which he loathed), short story writer, failed ophthalmologist, spiritualist, agnostic, science-fiction pioneer, historical novelist, failed volunteer for the Boer War, field doctor in the Boer War, balloonist, enthusiast for aeroplanes, defender of the unjustly accused, organiser of a civilian battalion during the First World War, adventure story writer, naval visionary (foreseeing blockades and recommending lifebelts), military historian… and he managed to scribble a few detective stories, too. He was fuelled by the kind of vigorous determination to be doing something that characterised the British Empire in its pomp, a man incapable of just thinking about an issue, but moved to action in which he would become completely involved. He was also a man almost defined (as many people are) by his contradictions. He wanted to be a successful writer, but began to positively hate his most spectacularly successful creation, Sherlock Holmes. He was dedicated to action, to reality, to logic – but was drawn with a profound compulsion to spiritualism and a belief in the existence of fairies. He wanted to be remembered for his historical novels, but time has not judged them to be anything like his own estimation of them. He was a man who seemed to be the epitome of upright Britishness, and yet described meeting the languid, literary, epigrammatic, society darling Oscar Wilde as ‘a golden evening for me’. It should not be surprising that people fail to fit snugly in the boxes created by those who are not familiar with them; but there is about the breadth of Doyle’s experiences and his almost uncontrollable energy that which suggests a determination not to settle for the mundane, or the expected; as if he was driven to find something beyond the normal realms of professional and personal achievement. In many ways, he could be seen to have succeeded in this. He married without, it would seem, much passion; but fell in love, passionately, and (after honourably waiting for his ill wife to die) followed his heart into a union of great happiness. He had to make a living, so became a doctor; but took the gamble of giving it up for writing, an act that filled him with tremendous joy. He was possessed of a great imagination, and allowed himself to give it full rein in stories that have become classics of their type and some of the earliest examples of their genre. The Lost World is one of these. It was written fairly late in Conan Doyle’s career (1912) and stands as a work of early science fiction, fitting comfortably next to the likes of Wells, Haggard, Verne and Burroughs. It is also a book that uses Darwinian evolutionary theory as a thread in the narrative (although there are occasions where the science dips into early-20th-century prejudice). It was the inspiration for many other books and films that took its central premise as their starting point. And it is peopled with characters that are as brimful of energy and determination as Doyle himself – as well as some surprising political references and far more humour than readers of the Holmes stories have much right to expect. The basis of the story is the possibility that there might be dinosaurs still living on the earth, unaffected by the usual evolutionary forces at work elsewhere. Dinosaurs have long exercised a peculiar fascination for the public, from those who still hunt Loch Ness monsters to those who finance huge-budget (and huge audience) films; but this was one of the first books to use them as a central part of the story. The other factor gripping the public of the time was the very existence of unknown parts of the globe and what they might contain – travellers were returning from previously unknown places (especially Africa and South America, where The Lost World is set) with astonishing stories. At the same time, palaeontology was becoming extremely popular – Doyle himself found some dinosaur footprints in Sussex, something that may well have inspired the book. Uniting these popular themes (and using his own scientific understanding and his many contacts in the world of science and exploration to give them credibility), Doyle then introduced his cast of characters. Firstly there is the the love-struck journalist Edward Malone, who does what any self-respecting Edwardian would do to impress his beloved: ask to go on a life-threatening assignment. This is exactly the kind of get-up-and-go that Doyle himself possessed, and he seems to think any lack of it is indicative of a failing of moral fibre. Then there is Professor Summerlee, a rather meticulous scientist; Lord John Roxton, an adventurer; and finally the simply extraordinary Professor Challenger – vast, booming, powerful, utterly convinced of his own rightness, and prepared to take on the establishment with his fists if need be. All these characters are drawn with a freshness and brio that suggests Doyle was enjoying himself; but he was also making a few veiled political statements. While Challenger was (loosely) based on William Rutherford, and Summerlee on another professor with whom Doyle had studied at Edinburgh, the people who inspired Roxton and Malone were based on more contentious figures, two of whom ended up being arrested for treason during WWI, and one of whom went missing searching for a lost city in Brazil. Edmund Morel was one of the bases for Malone. Morel had campaigned against the appalling treatment of the people in the Congo, and Doyle had lectured with him on the slavery that resulted from colonial trading. But he was a pacifist (which Doyle was not), and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after the publication of some leaflets. One of Roxton’s originals was the British diplomat, Roger Casement. Again, Doyle approved of Casement’s work against the slavery associated with rubber plantations; but Casement was also an Irish nationalist, and his attempts to get the Germans to free any Irish prisoners of war in return for German assistance to fight the British were discovered, whereupon Casement was executed. Colonel Percy Fawcett, a surveyor, archaeologist and explorer, was also an inspiration for Roxton – and he and his son both disappeared in 1925. But the fact that such people existed and were public figures, the science underlying the Boy’s Own adventure, the thrill of the unknown being discovered – all these fuelled the public passion for such adventurous imaginings. And if there was ever a man to feed a passion for adventurous imaginings, Arthur Conan Doyle was he. Notes by Roy McMillan

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Movie Fail We have opinions. Ghostwood Radio (Twin Peaks) Hoopleheads (Deadwood) Stark Contrast (Game of Thrones) Ember Island Airwaves (Avatar/Korra) Dueling Reviews Søren and Josh’s Oscarcast Superheroes Are Not In Decline May 12, 2012 By Søren Hough 1 Comment One of Roger Ebert’s “Far Flung Correspondents,” Michael Mirasol, recently wrote an article entitled The rise and decline of the superhero. It’s a very interesting and well-written piece, and even includes a video essay to accompany the text. However, I cannot say that my views totally gel with Mr. Mirasol’s assessments. I think it’s always important to remember that when Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman, the first real icon of superhero comics, they did not necessarily have in mind the deep, moralistic messages that Superman and Superman II sported some forty or so years later. Sure, some basic principles were instilled in the character that made Superman such a likable symbol of goodness – virtuosity, sticking up for the little guy, et cetera. Regardless, the much more intricate symbolism that comprises the modern iterations of Superman is something was added later once the potential for, well, more was realized. Yes – let us delve into the deeper meaning of the “super-heart massage.” And of course, there’s the distinct possibility that a lot of that came from the fact that Shuster and Siegel were channeling their Eastern European Jewish heritage in creating such a character. It would make sense to create an honest, brave, and noble savior of the “little guy” (the Jews) to fight the bullies of the world, and maybe that’s exactly who Superman (Supermensch?) was supposed to be. However, I think it is a mistake to say that superhero films should always have some ulterior motives or subtexts which convey a sociopolitical message as Mr. Mirasol suggest Guillermo Del Torro did in Hellboy or Jon Favreau unintentionally did in Iron Man. The universe of the superhero has always been fascinating because while they were ultimately just created to help people escape the sameness of their day-to-day lives, over time, they have become such 3-dimensional constructs that fans and authors have been able to elaborate on those simple foundational concepts. This has provided us with some serious food for thought amidst all of the whiz-bang fantasy action endemic to the medium. But with this in mind, it is critical that we remain cognoscente of the idea that while it is possible that such icons as the X-Men, Superman, and Batman were always meant to represent all of the subtleties that we recognize in them today, I think that those meanings were likely derived from the nuances that the auteurs writing and drawing the comics passed on subconsciously and not from the creators’ original outright intentions. As an example of this, we can look at Magneto, arch-villain of the X-Men. A little known fact, Magneto was never explicitly stated to be a Jew until very recently (3-4 years ago). However, it was strongly implied for many years, particularly once his past as a Holocaust survivor had been revealed in the 80s. I believe it was only in 2008, with the release of X-Men: Magneto Testament, that Magneto was outright said to be a Jewish Holocaust survivor. This presumption that he had a particular religious background is a great example of fans reading into the comics and trying to attribute real-world ideas and concepts to their characters, regardless of the actual motives of the artists. I always knew he was Jewish! ~ The X-Men Fanbase And indeed, the desires of the authors in the 80s and 90s may well have been to make Magneto Jewish, and perhaps they were in fact stymied by a need for the still anti-semitic social climate to change sufficiently before an overt declaration of heritage could be made. Nevertheless, the history of Magneto’s past since his inception is also an example of how, Jewish Holocaust victim or not, Magneto made for a formidable X-Men foil for almost five decades since the 1960s – the fact that he’s Jewish now is just the proverbial icing on the cake, a backdrop that gives his actions and his rhetoric some renewed context. At its heart, the comic book universe is an escapist fantasy which can be just as easily extrapolated on as not. A film like The Avengers, while far from perfect, certainly captures exactly what it is that has attracted readers since the advent of the superhero at the beginning of the twentieth century – fun. Therefore, in conclusion, I must respectfully disagree that the era of the superhero is in decline, but has rather maintained or even expounded upon the fabric of that particular film genre from its earlier incarnations in the 80s and 90s. I do agree that these movies have room to evolve, but not every superhero film needs to have a “deeper” meaning to accurately represent the comics from which they draw inspiration – they just need to remember what that unique element is that has made superheroes such a magnetic force for the past century. Before I sign off, let me leave you with a a wonderful little adaptation of an old Batman panel that has become quite famous around these here interwebs: ~ Søren About Søren Hough Søren is Editor-in-Chief at Movie Fail. A biochemistry PhD student, his other passion lies in writing about movies. He writes for RogerEbert.com, wrote for ScottFeinberg.com and served as the Assistant Arts Editor for Film and Television at The Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Subscribe to Movie Fail Enter your email to stay up to date on all of the best articles from Movie Fail! About Us Meet Our Staff FAQs Privacy Movie Fail is licensed under Creative Commons. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at http://moviefail.com/faqs/. Copyright © 2012–2020 Movie Fail · Magazine Pro Theme · WordPress

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Posts com Tag ‘kaos’ Global Imbalance – An imminent Dollar Crisis Publicado: julho 18, 2009 por Yogi em Capital, Culture, History, Non Sense, Philosophy, Politics, Psy, Tudo Tags:caos, Crise, crisis, fusion, kaos, understanding more about “Global Imbalance – An imminent Dollar…“, posted with vodpod Publicado: junho 29, 2009 por Yogi em Capital, Culture, Non Sense, Politics, Tudo Tags:caos, Crise, crisis, kaos, Política, Politics por Tutty Vasques, Seção: Ô, raça! 12:28:52. Esse negócio de beneficiar neto, sobrinho, cunhada, sogra ou irmão já era! O Congresso acaba de estabelecer um novo grau de parentesco funcional: O pai do novo diretor-geral do Senado é primo do suplente de Heráclito Fortes. Entendeu? Então repete! Publicado: junho 22, 2009 por Yogi em Capital, Culture, History, Philosophy, Politics, Psy, Tudo Tags:caos, Capital, Crise, crisis, Dinheiro, Economia, Economy, freedom, inteligência coletiva, kaos, líder, leader, leadership, liberdade, liderança, meios, money, Política, política mundial, Politics, príncípios, principles, socialism, socialismo, world politics This equality and freedom would be achieved through the abolition of authoritarian institutions that own and control productive means as private property,[6] so that direct control of thesemeans of production and resources will be shared by society as a whole. Libertarian socialism also constitutes a tendency of thought that informs the identification, criticism and practical dismantling of illegitimate authority in all aspects of social life. Accordingly libertarian socialists believe that “the exercise of power in any institutionalized form – whether economic, political, religious, or sexual – brutalizes both the wielder of power and the one over whom it is exercised.”[7] Libertarian socialists place their hopes in trade unions, workers’ councils, municipalities, citizens’ assemblies, and other non-bureaucratic, decentralized means of direct democracy.[8] Many libertarian socialists advocate doing away with the state altogether, seeing it as a bulwark of capitalist class rule, while others propose that a minimal, non-hierarchical version is unobjectionable.[9] Political philosophies commonly described as libertarian socialist include most varieties of anarchism (especially anarchist communism, anarchist collectivism, anarcho-syndicalism,[10]mutualism,[11] social ecology,[12] autonomism and council communism).[13] Some writers use libertarian socialism synonymously with anarchism[14] and in particular socialist anarchism.[15][16] 1.1 Anti-capitalism 1.2 Opposition to the state 1.3 Violent and non-violent means 2 Political roots 2.1 Conflict with Marxism 3 Notable libertarian socialist tendencies 3.1 Mutualism 3.2 Anarchist communism 3.3 Anarcho-syndicalism 3.4 Council communism 3.5 Within the political mainstream 3.6 Within the New Left 3.7 Social ecology 4 Libertarian socialism in modern times 5 Criticism of libertarian socialism 6 Libertarian socialist periodicals 9.1 Libertarian socialist general resources 9.2 Introductory articles 9.3 Libertarian socialist websites 9.4 Libertarian socialist history [edit]Overview Noam Chomsky, a noted libertarian socialist. Libertarian socialism is an ideology with diverse interpretations, though some general commonalities can be found in its many incarnations. Its proponents advocate a worker-oriented system of distribution that radically departs from capitalist economics (socialism).[17] They proposed that this economic system be executed in a manner that attempts to maximize the liberty of individuals and minimize concentration of power or authority (libertarianism). Libertarian socialists are strongly critical of coercive institutions, which often leads them to reject the legitimacy of the state in favor of anarchism.[18] Adherents attempt to achieve this through the decentralization of political and economic power, usually involving the socialization of most large-scale property and enterprise. Libertarian socialism denies the legitimacy of most forms of economically significant private property, because they view capitalist property relations as forms of domination that are antagonistic to individual freedom.[19] The first person to describe himself as a libertarian was Joseph Déjacque, an early French anarchist communist. The word stems from the French wordlibertaire, and was used to evade the French ban on anarchist publications.[20] In the context of the European socialist movement, libertarian has conventionally been used to describe those who opposed state socialism, such as Mikhail Bakunin. In the United States, the movement most commonly called libertarianism follows a capitalist philosophy; the term libertarian socialism therefore strikes many Americans as a contradiction in terms. However, the association of socialism to libertarianism predates that of capitalism, and many anti-authoritarians still decry what they see as a mistaken association of capitalism to libertarianism in the United States.[21] As Noam Chomsky put it, a consistent libertarian “must oppose private ownership of the means of production and the wage slavery which is a component of this system, as incompatible with the principle that labor must be freely undertaken and under the control of the producer.”[22] In a chapter recounting the history of libertarian socialism, radical economist Robin Hahnel relates that thus far the period where libertarian socialism has had its greatest impact was at the end of the 19th century through the first four decades of the twentieth century. “Early in the twentieth century, libertarian socialism was as powerful a force as social democracy and communism. The Libertarian International – founded at the Congress of Saint Imier a few days after the split between Marxist and libertarians at the congress of the Socialist International held in The Hague in 1872 – competed successfully against social democrats and communists alike for the loyalty of anticapitalist activists, revolutionaries, workers, unions and political parties for over fifty years. Libertarian socialists played a major role in the Russian revolutions of 1905and 1917. Libertarian socialists played a dominant role in the Mexican Revolution of 1911. Twenty years after World War I was over, libertarian socialists were still strong enough to spearhead the social revolution that swept across Republican Spain in 1936 and 1937.”[23] [edit]Anti-capitalism Part of the Politics series on Currents[show] Key topics and issues[show] Organizations and people[show] Religious socialism[show] Related topics[show] See also: Anti-capitalism Libertarian socialists assert that when power is exercised, as exemplified by the economic, social, or physical dominance of one individual over another, the burden of proof is always on the authoritarian to justify their action as legitimate when taken against its effect of narrowing the scope of human freedom.[24] Typical examples of legitimate exercise of power would include the use of physical force to rescue someone from being injured by an oncoming vehicle, or self-defense. Libertarian socialists typically oppose rigid and stratified structures of authority, be they political, economic, or social.[25] Libertarian socialists believe that all social bonds should be developed by individuals who have an equal amount of bargaining power, that an accumulation of economic power in the hands of a few and the centralization of political power both reduce the bargaining power—and thus the liberty of the other individuals in society.[26] To put it another way, capitalist (and right-libertarian) principles concentrate economic power in the hands of those who own the most capital. Libertarian socialism aims to distribute power, and thus freedom, more equally amongst members of society. A key difference between libertarian socialism and free-market libertarianism is that advocates of the former generally believe that one’s degree of freedom is affected by one’s economic and social status, whereas advocates of the latter focus on freedom of choice. This is sometimes characterized as a desire to maximize “free creativity” in a society in preference to “free enterprise.”[27] Libertarian socialists believe if freedom is valued, then society must work towards a system in which individuals have the power to decide economic issues along with political issues. Libertarian socialists seek to replace unjustified authority with direct democracy, voluntary federation, and popular autonomy in all aspects of life,[28] including physical communities and economic enterprises. Many libertarian socialists argue that large-scale voluntary associations should manage industrial manufacture, while workers retain rights to the individual products of their labor.[29] As such, they see a distinction between the concepts of “private property” and “personal possession”. Whereas “private property” grants an individual exclusive control over a thing whether it is in use or not, and regardless of its productive capacity, “possession” grants no rights to things that are not in use.[30] [edit]Opposition to the state Schools of thought[show] Theory · Practice[show] Issues[show] History[show] Culture[show] Economics[show] By region[show] Lists[show] Anarchism Portal See also: Anti-statism Libertarian socialists regard concentrations of power as sources of oppression, leading many to oppose the state. In lieu of states, libertarian socialists seek to organize themselves into voluntary associations (usually collectives, communes, cooperatives, commons, or syndicates) which use direct democracy or consensus for their decision-making process. Some libertarian socialists advocate combining these institutions using rotating, recallable delegates to higher-level federations.[31] Spanish anarchism is a major example of such federations in practice. Contemporary examples of libertarian socialist organizational and decision-making models in practice include a number of anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation movements[32] including: Zapatista Councils of Good Government and the Global Indymedia network (which covers 45 countries on 6 continents). There are also many examples of indigenous societies around the world whose political and economic systems can be accurately described as anarchist or libertarian socialist, each of which is unique and uniquely suited to the culture that birthed it.[33] For libertarians, that diversity of practice within a framework of common principles is proof of the vitality of those principles and of their flexibility and strength. Contrary to popular opinion, libertarian socialism has not traditionally been a utopian movement, tending to avoid dense theoretical analysis or prediction of what a future society would or should look like. The tradition instead has been that such decisions cannot be made now, and must be made through struggle and experimentation, so that the best solution can be arrived at democratically and organically, and to base the direction for struggle on established historical example. Supporters often suggest that this focus on exploration over predetermination is one of their great strengths. They point out that the success of the scientific method comes from its adherence to open rational exploration, not its conclusions, rather than dogma and predetermined predictions. Although critics claim that they are avoiding questions they cannot answer, libertarian socialists believe that a methodological approach to exploration is the best way to achieve their social goals. To them, dogmatic approaches to social organization are doomed to failure; and thus reject Marxist notions oflinear and inevitable historical progression. Noted anarchist Rudolf Rocker once stated, “I am an anarchist not because I believe anarchism is the final goal, but because there is no such thing as a final goal” (The London Years, 1956). Because libertarian socialism encourages exploration and embraces a diversity of ideas rather than forming a compact movement, there have arisen inevitable controversies over individuals who describe themselves as libertarian socialists but disagree with some of the core principles of libertarian socialism. For example, Peter Hain interprets libertarian socialism as favoring radical decentralization of power without going as far as the complete abolition of the state[34] and libertarian socialist Noam Chomsky supports dismantling all forms of unjustified social or economic power, while also emphasizing that state intervention should be supported as a temporary protection while oppressive structures remain in existence. Proponents are known for opposing the existence of states or government and refusing to participate in coercive state institutions. Indeed, in the past many refused to swear oaths in court or to participate in trials, even when they faced imprisonment[35] or deportation.[36] [edit]Violent and non-violent means Errico Malatesta, 1891 Some libertarian socialists see violent revolution as necessary in the abolition of capitalist society. Along with many others, Errico Malatesta argued that the use of violence was necessary; as he put it in Umanità Nova (no. 125, September 6, 1921): It is our aspiration and our aim that everyone should become socially conscious and effective; but to achieve this end, it is necessary to provide all with the means of life and for development, and it is therefore necessary to destroy with violence, since one cannot do otherwise, the violence which denies these means to the workers.[37] Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued in favor of a non-violent revolution. The progression towards violence in anarchism stemmed, in part, from the massacres of some of the communes inspired by the ideas of Proudhon and others. Many anarcho-communists began to see a need for revolutionary violence to counteract the violence inherent in both capitalism and government.[38] [edit]Political roots As Albert Meltzer and Stuart Christie stated in their book The Floodgates of Anarchy, anarchism has: …its particular inheritance, part of which it shares with socialism, giving it a family resemblance to certain of its enemies. Another part of its inheritance it shares with liberalism, making it, at birth, kissing-cousins with American-type radical individualism, a large part of which has married out of the family into the Right Wing and is no longer on speaking terms. (The Floodgates of Anarchy, 1970, page 39.) That is, anarchism arose as a cross between socialism and liberalism, incorporating the anti-capitalist attitude of socialists and the anti-statist, what would today be called libertarian, attitude of classical liberalism. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who is often considered the father of modern anarchism, coined the phrase “Property is theft” to describe part of his view on the complex nature of ownership in relation to freedom. When he said property is theft, he was referring to the capitalist who he believed stole profit from laborers. For Proudhon, the capitalist’s employee was “subordinated, exploited: his permanent condition is one of obedience.”[39] Seventeen years (1857) after Proudhon first called himself an anarchist (1840), anarchist communist Joseph Déjacque was the first person to describe himself as a libertarian.[40] Outside the United States, “libertarian” generally refers to anti-authoritarian anti-capitalist ideologies.[41] For these reasons the term “libertarian socialism” is today almost synonymous with anarchism, outside of the US the term “libertarian socialism” would be considered redundant. Back in the United States, Henry George spearheaded the Single Tax Movement, which sought socialism via progressive taxation, with tax only on natural resources. This might be seen as a predecessor to libertarian socialism trends there. Libertarian socialism has its roots in both classical liberalism and socialism, though it is often in conflict with liberalism (especially neoliberalism and right-libertarianism) and authoritarianState socialism simultaneously. While libertarian socialism has roots in both socialism and liberalism, different forms have different levels of influence from the two traditions. For instancemutualist anarchism is more influenced by liberalism while communist and syndicalist anarchism are more influenced by socialism. It is interesting to note, however, that mutualist anarchism has its origins in 18th and 19th century European socialism (such as Fourierian socialism)[42][43] while communist and syndicalist anarchism has its earliest origins in early 18th century liberalism (such as the French Revolution).[44] [edit]Conflict with Marxism Mikhail Bakunin, 1814-1876. See also: Anarchism and Marxism In rejecting both capitalism and the state, some libertarian socialists align themselves with anarchists in opposition to both capitalist representative democracy and to authoritarian forms of Marxism. Although anarchists and Marxists share an ultimate goal of a stateless society, anarchists criticise most Marxists for advocating a transitional phase under which the state is used to achieve this aim. Nonetheless, libertarian Marxist tendencies such asautonomist Marxism and council communism have historically been intertwined with the anarchist movement. Anarchist movements have come into conflict with both capitalist and Marxist forces, sometimes at the same time, as in the Spanish Civil War, though as in that war Marxists themselves are often divided in support or opposition to anarchism. Other political persecutions under bureaucratic parties have resulted in a strong historical antagonism between anarchists and libertarian Marxists on the one hand and Leninist Marxists and their derivatives such as Maoists on the other. In recent history, however, libertarian socialists have repeatedly formed temporary alliances with Marxist-Leninist groups for the purposes of protest against institutions they both reject. Part of this antagonism can be traced to the International Workingmen’s Association, the First International, a congress of radical workers, where Mikhail Bakunin, who was fairly representative of anarchist views, and Karl Marx, whom anarchists accused of being an “authoritarian”, came into conflict on various issues. Bakunin’s viewpoint on the illegitimacy of the state as an institution and the role of electoral politics was starkly counterposed to Marx’s views in the First International. Marx and Bakunin’s disputes eventually led to Marx taking control of the First International and expelling Bakunin and his followers from the organization. This was the beginning of a long-running feud and schism between libertarian socialists and what they call “authoritarian communists”, or alternatively just “authoritarians”. Some Marxists have formulated views that closely resemble syndicalism, and thus express more affinity with anarchist ideas. Several libertarian socialists, notably Noam Chomsky, believe that anarchism shares much in common with certain variants of Marxism such as the council communism of Marxist Anton Pannekoek. In Chomsky’s Notes on Anarchism,[45] he suggests the possibility “that some form of council communism is the natural form of revolutionary socialism in an industrial society. It reflects the belief that democracy is severely limited when the industrial system is controlled by any form of autocratic elite, whether of owners, managers, and technocrats, a ‘vanguard’ party, or a State bureaucracy.” Autonomist Marxism, Neo-Marxism and Situationist theory are also regarded as being anti-authoritarian variants of Marxism that are firmly within the libertarian socialist tradition. Similarly,William Morris is regarded as both a libertarian socialist and a Marxist.[citation needed] [edit]Notable libertarian socialist tendencies [edit]Mutualism Proudhon and his children, by Gustave Courbet (1865). Main article: Mutualism (economic theory) Mutualism is a political and economic theory largely associated with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. Proudhon was in favor of private ownership of the means of production for small enterprises, but in large scale enterprises supported replacing wage labour by workers’ co-operatives, arguing “it is necessary to form an ASSOCIATION among workers . . . because without that, they would remain related as subordinates and superiors, and there would ensue two . . . castes of masters and wage-workers, which is repugnant to a free and democratic society.”[46] Mutualists believe that a free labor market would allow for conditions of equal income in proportion to exerted labor.[47] As Jonathan Beecher puts it, Proudhon’s aim was to, “emancipate labor from the constraints imposed by capital”.[48] Proudhon supported individual possession of land rather than community ownership. However, Proudhon believed that an individual only had a right to land while he was using or occupying it. If the individual ceases doing so, it reverts to unowned land.[49]Mutualists hold a labor theory of value, arguing that in exchange labor should always be worth “the amount of labor necessary to produce an article of exactly similar and equal utility,”[47] and considering anything less to be exploitation, theft of labor, or usury. Mutualists oppose the institutions by which individuals gain income through loans, investments, and rent, as they believe the income received through these activities is not in direct accord with labor spent.[47] In place of these capitalist institutions they advocatelabor-owned cooperative firms and associations.[50] Mutualists advocate mutual banks, owned by the workers, that do not charge interest on secured loans. Most mutualists believe that anarchy should be achieved gradually rather than through revolution.[51] Worker cooperatives such as the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation follow an economic model similar to that of mutualism. The model followed by the corporation WL Gore and Associates, inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics, is also similar to mutualism as there is no chain of command and salaries are determined collectively by the workers. G.D.H. Cole‘s guild socialism was similar to mutualism.[52] Today, mutualism’s stress on worker association is similar to the more developed modern theory of Participatory Economics, although Participatory Economists do not believe in markets. Mutualist anarchist ideas continue to have influence today, even if indirectly. Many modern day cooperatives are influenced directly or indirectly by economic mutualism that became popular in the late 19th century.[53] Some individualist anarchists, such as Benjamin Tucker, were influenced by Proudhon’s Mutualism, but unlike Proudhon, they did not call for “association” in large enterprises.[54] [edit]Anarchist communism Main article: Anarchist communism Anarchist communism was first formulated in the Italian section of the First International, by Carlo Cafiero, Errico Malatesta, Andrea Costa, and other ex-Mazzinian republicans. Out of respect for Mikhail Bakunin, they did not make their differences from standard anarchism explicit until after the latter’s death.[55] In 1876, at the Florence Conference of the Italian Federation of the International (which was actually held in a forest outside Florence, due to police activity), they declared the principles of anarcho-communism, beginning with: “The Italian Federation considers the collective property of the products of labour as the necessary complement to the collectivist programme, the aid of all for the satisfaction of the needs of each being the only rule of production and consumption which corresponds to the principle of solidarity. The federal congress at Florence has eloquently demonstrated the opinion of the Italian International on this point…” This report was made in an article by Malatesta and Cafiero in the (Swiss) Jura federation‘s bulletin later that year. Cafiero notes, in Anarchie et Communisme, that private property in the product of labor will lead to unequal accumulation of capital, and therefore undesirable class distinctions. Anarcho-communists hold that the liberation of the individual, as well as the abolition of wage slavery and the State, requires the introduction of a free distribution economy, and therefore the abolition of the market.[56] In this belief they are contrasted with some anarchists and libertarian socialists who advocate collective ownership with market elements and sometimes barter. Anarcho-communists assert that a gift economy can be operated by collectives through direct democracy. As Peter Kropotkin put it, “We must recognize, and loudly proclaim, that every one, whatever his grade in the old society, whether strong or weak, capable or incapable, has, before everything, THE RIGHT TO LIVE, and that society is bound to share amongst all, without exception, the means of existence at its disposal.” (Conquest of Bread ch. 3) [edit]Anarcho-syndicalism Main article: Anarcho-syndicalism Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labor movement.[57] Anarcho-syndicalists view labor unions as a potential force for revolutionary social change, replacing capitalism and the State with a new society democratically self-managed by workers. The basic principles of anarcho-syndicalism are: Workers’ solidarity Workers’ self-management Flag used by Anarcho-syndicalists and Anarcho-Communists. Workers’ solidarity means that anarcho-syndicalists believe all workers—no matter their race, gender, or ethnic group—are in a similar situation in regard to their boss (class consciousness). Furthermore, it means that, within capitalism, any gains or losses made by some workers from or to bosses will eventually affect all workers. Therefore, to liberate themselves, all workers must support one another in their class conflict. Anarcho-syndicalists believe that only direct action—that is, action concentrated on directly attaining a goal, as opposed to indirect action, such as electing a representative to a government position—will allow workers to liberate themselves.[58] Moreover, anarcho-syndicalists believe that workers’ organizations (the organizations that struggle against the wage system, which, in anarcho-syndicalist theory, will eventually form the basis of a new society) should be self-managing. They should not have bosses or “business agents”; rather, the workers should be able to make all the decisions that affect them themselves. Rudolf Rocker was one of the most popular voices in the anarcho-syndicalist movement. He outlined a view of the origins of the movement, what it sought, and why it was important to the future of labor in his 1938 pamphlet Anarcho-Syndicalism. The International Workers Association is an international anarcho-syndicalist federation of various labor unions from different countries. The Spanish Confederación Nacional del Trabajoplayed and still plays a major role in the Spanish labor movement. It was also an important force in the Spanish Civil War. [edit]Council communism Main article: Council Communism Council communism was a radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. Its primary organization was the Communist Workers Party of Germany (KAPD). Council communism continues today as a theoretical and activist position within Marxism, and also within libertarian socialism. The central argument of council communism, in contrast to those of Social democracy and Leninist communism, is that workers’ councils arising in the factories and municipalities are the natural and legitimate form of working class organisation and government power. This view is opposed to the reformist and Bolshevik stress on vanguard parties, parliaments, or the State. The core principle of council communism is that the state and the economy should be managed by workers’ councils, composed of delegates elected at workplaces and recallable at any moment. As such, council communists oppose state-run “bureaucratic socialism”. They also oppose the idea of a “revolutionary party”, since council communists believe that a revolution led by a party will necessarily produce a party dictatorship. Council communists support a workers’ democracy, which they want to produce through a federation of workers’ councils. The Russian word for council is “soviet,” and during the early years of the revolution worker’s councils were politically significant in Russia. It was to take advantage of the aura of workplace power that the word became used by Lenin for various political organs. Indeed, the name “Supreme Soviet,” by which the parliament was called; and that of the Soviet Union itself make use of this terminology, but they do not imply any decentralization. Furthermore, council communists held a critique of the Soviet Union as a capitalist state, believing that the Bolshevik revolution in Russia became a “bourgeois revolution” when a party bureaucracy replaced the old feudal aristocracy. Although most felt the Russian Revolution was working class in character, they believed that, since capitalist relations still existed (because the workers had no say in running the economy), the Soviet Union ended up as a state capitalist country, with the state replacing the individual capitalist. Thus, council communists support workers’ revolutions, but oppose one-party dictatorships. Council communists also believed in diminishing the role of the party to one of agitation and propaganda, rejected all participation in elections or parliament, and argued that workers should leave the reactionary trade unions and form one big revolutionary union. [edit]Within the political mainstream There was a strong libertarian current in the British labour movement and the term “libertarian socialist” has been applied to a number of democratic socialists, including some prominent members of the British Labour Party. The Socialist League was formed in 1885 by William Morris and others critical of the authoritarian socialism of the Social Democratic Federation. It was involved in the New Unionism, the rank and file union militancy of the 1880s-90s which anticipated syndicalism in some key ways (Tom Mann, a New Unionist leader, was one of the first British syndicalists). The Socialist League was dominated by anarchists by the 1890s.[59] The Independent Labour Party, formed at that time, drew more on the Non-Conformist religious traditions in the British working class than on Marxist theory, and had a libertarian strain. Others in the tradition of the ILP, and described as libertarian socialists, have been Nye Bevan, Michael Foot, Robin Cook, and most importantly, G. D. H. Cole. Labour minister Peter Hainhas written in support of libertarian socialism, identifying an axis involving a “bottom-up vision of socialism, with anarchists at the revolutionary end and democratic socialists [such as himself] at its reformist end”, as opposed to the axis of state socialism with Marxist-Leninists at the revolutionary end and social democrats at the reformist end.[60] Defined in this way, libertarian socialism in the contemporary political mainstream is distinguished from modern social democracy principally by its political decentralism rather than by its economics. Katja Kipping of Dresden, Germany is an example of a contemporary libertarian socialist politician operating within a mainstream government. [edit]Within the New Left Main article: New Left The emergence of the New Left in the 1950s and 1960s led to a revival of interest in libertarian socialism.[61] The New Left’s critique of the Old Left‘s authoritarianism was associated with a strong interest in personal liberty, autonomy (see the thinking of Cornelius Castoriadis) and led to a rediscovery of older socialist traditions, such as left communism, council communism, and the Industrial Workers of the World. The New Left also led to a revival of anarchism. Journals like Radical America and Black Mask in America, Solidarity, Big Flame and Democracy & Nature, succeeded by The International Journal of Inclusive Democracy,[62] in the UK, introduced a range of left libertarian ideas to a new generation. Social ecology, autonomism and, more recently, participatory economics (parecon), and Inclusive Democracy emerged from this. [edit]Social ecology Main article: Social ecology Social ecology is closely related to the work and ideas of Murray Bookchin and influenced by anarchist Peter Kropotkin. Social ecologists assert that the present ecological crisis has its roots in human social problems, and that the domination of human-over-nature stems from the domination of human-over-human.[63] Politically, social ecologists advocate a network of directly democratic citizens’ assemblies organized in a confederal fashion. This approach is called Libertarian Municipalism. Economically, social ecologists favour libertarian communism and the principle “from each according to ability, to each according to need.”[citation needed] [edit]Libertarian socialism in modern times Libertarian socialists in the early 21st century have been involved in the squatter movement; social centers; infoshops; anti-poverty groups such as OCAP and Food Not Bombs; tenants’unions; housing cooperatives; intentional communities generally and egalitarian communities; anti-sexist organizing; grassroots media initiatives; digital media and computer activism; experiments in participatory economics; anti-racist and anti-fascist groups like Anti-Racist Action and Anti-Fascist Action; activist groups protecting the rights of immigrants and promoting the free movement of people, such as the No Border network and No One is Illegal; worker co-operatives, countercultural and artist groups; and the peace movement etc. Libertarian Socialists have, also, an MP in Turkish Parliament; Ufuk Uras, selected in 2007 General Elections in Turkey.[64] [edit]Criticism of libertarian socialism Some capitalist libertarians argue that freedom and equality are often in conflict with one another, and that promoting equality (as valued by socialism) will inherently require restrictions on liberty (as valued by libertarianism), forcing the society to choose one or the other as their primary value. The Kurt Vonnegut story “Harrison Bergeron“, in which equality is enforced by imposing physical and mental handicaps on overachievers, can be seen as illustrating this point through hyperbole (though Vonnegut’s own belief in socialism is a point of interest).[65] Libertarian socialists typically dismiss the perceived contradiction between freedom and equality as a red herring. Noam Chomsky states that, “human talents vary considerably, within a fixed framework that is characteristic of the species and that permits ample scope for creative work, including the appreciation of the creative achievements of others. This should be a matter of delight rather than a condition to be abhorred.”[66] Other libertarian philosophers (often referred to as liberals, in the classical sense) such as Frederic Bastiat, Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, and Hans-Hermann Hoppe, stress that liberty is a state of affairs in which one is free from the unjustified aggression of others, and that any understanding of liberty must be grounded in natural rights – and especially property rights. Thus, they argue that absolute freedom for all is not a contradiction, and that the abolition of natural rights (including property rights) would, by definition, also be the abolition of liberty.[67][68][69] As Ludwig von Mises, an Austrian economist, put it, “The continued existence of society depends upon private property.”[70] Libertarian socialists believe that this criticism stems from a misconception that conflates simple possession with private property as a legal and social institution. For libertarian socialists, the latter produces exploitation and oppression (Proudhon’s “theft” and “despotism”) and so reduces individual freedom for the working class to the ability to change masters.[71] As such, they argue, liberalism fails to understand how private property undermines liberty.[72] For libertarian socialists, “[t]o demonise state authoritarianism while ignoring identical albeit contract-consecrated subservient arrangements in the large-scale corporations which control the world economy is fetishism at its worst.”[73] [edit]Libertarian socialist periodicals Against the Grain: a libertarian socialist newspaper (USA 1976-1978)[74] Anarcho-Syndicalist Review (US) Big Flame (UK, 1960s-70s) Comment: New Perspectives in Libertarian Thought (US, 1960s, edited by Murray Bookchin)[75] Democracy & Nature (US/UK) – succeeded by The International Journal of Inclusive Democracy (belongs to the direct democratic, libertarian socialist and autonomy traditions)[76] Contemporary Issues–Dinge der Zeit (English and German language “magazine for a democracy of content”, 1947-1997 published by Joseph Weber, Murray Bookchin’s mentor)[77] Flash Point: a libertarian socialist newsjournal (Saskatoon, Canada, 1970s)[74] Freedom newspaper (United Kingdom) Heatwave (UK, 1960s)[78] Leeds Other Paper (UK, 1974-1991)[79] Libertarian Communism Organized Thoughts (US, 1990s)[80] Rebelles (Quebec, 1990s)[81] Red and Black Notes (Detroit, 1990s-, features Cajo Brendel, Cornelius Castoriadis, Martin Glaberman, CLR James, Larry Gambone and others)[82] Red & Black Revolution (Publication of The Workers Solidarity Movement, Ireland) Root and Branch (Cambridge, Mass., USA, 1970-, featured work of Paul Mattick and others)[83] Socialisme ou Barbarie (France) Solidarity (UK, 1960s-70s)[84] Der Sozialist, (Germany, 1900s, co-edited by Gustav Landauer and Margarethe Hardegger)[85] Tegen de Stroom (1990s, Netherlands)[86] The Commune (UK, 2008-) [87] Workers Solidarity (Publication of the Workers Solidarity Movement, Ireland) Zenit Sweden, 1958-1970 (Magazine by Syndikalistiska Grupprörelsen) Turnusol (Turkey, 2008~)[88] Council communism Geolibertarianism Georgism Inclusive Democracy Left communism Left libertarianism Libertarian League Libertarian Marxism Luxemburgism Ricardian socialism (sometimes called socialist anarchism,[1][2] and sometimes left libertarianism[3][4]) is a group of political philosophies that aspire to create a society without political, economic, or social hierarchies, i.e. a society in which all violent or coercive institutions would be dissolved (or at least drastically reduced in scope), and in their place every person would have free, equal access to the tools of information and production.[5] Publicado: maio 25, 2009 por Yogi em Capital, Math, Nature, Science, Tech, Tudo Tags:caos, eletricity, Energy, fusion, kaos, tesla, wireless energy Read full article at Wikipedia. 1820: André-Marie Ampère describes Ampere’s law showing that electric current produces a magnetic field 1831: Michael Faraday describes Faraday’s law of induction, an important basic law of electromagnetism 1864: James Clerk Maxwell synthesizes the previous observations, experiments and equations of electricity, magnetism and optics into a consistent theory, andmathematically models the behavior of electromagnetic radiation. 1888: Heinrich Rudolf Hertz confirms the existence of electromagnetic radiation. Hertz’s “apparatus for generating electromagnetic waves” is generally acknowledged as the first radio transmitter. 1891: Nikola Tesla improves on Hertz’s primitive radio-frequency power supply in U.S. Patent No. 454,622, “System of Electric Lighting.” 1893: Nikola Tesla demonstrates the illumination of phosphorescent bulbs wirelessly (without any wires connected to the bulbs) at the World’s Columbian Exposition inChicago.[citation needed] 1894: Hutin & LeBlanc, espouse long held view that inductive energy transfer should be possible, they file a U.S. Patent describing a system for power transfer at 3 kHz 1894: Nikola Tesla wirelessly lights up vacuum tubes at the 35 South Fifth Avenue and 46 E. Houston Street laboratory in New York by means of the electrodynamic resonance effects[citation needed] 1894: Jagdish Chandra Bose ignites gunpowder and rings a bell at a distance using electromagnetic waves, showing that communication signals can be sent without using wires.[3][4] 1895: Jagdish Chandra Bose transmits signals over a distance of nearly a mile.[3][4] 1897: Guglielmo Marconi uses Hertz’s radio transmitter to transmit Morse code signals over a distance of about 6 km. 1897: Nikola Tesla files the first of his patent applications dealing with Wardenclyffe tower. 1899: It is claimed in Prodigal Genius that Nikola Tesla illuminated 200 bulbs wirelessly (without any wires connected to the bulbs) at a distance of 26 miles while working atPikes Peak, Colorado Springs. No documentation from Tesla’s records has been found that would confirm this actually happened. The first commercial transmission of AC occurred in 1896 over wires at a distance of 26 miles, which may be the source of this rumor.[5][6] 1900: Guglielmo Marconi fails to get a patent for radio in the United States. 1901: Guglielmo Marconi first transmits and receives signals across the Atlantic Ocean using Nikola Tesla’s wireless energy transmitter. 1904: At the St. Louis World’s Fair, a prize is offered for a successful attempt to drive a 0.1 horsepower (75 W) air-ship motor by energy transmitted through space at a distance of least 100 feet (30 m).[7] 1926: Shintaro Uda and Hidetsugu Yagi publishes their first paper on Uda’s “tuned high-gain directional array”[8] better known as the Yagi antenna. 1961: William C. Brown publishes article that explores possibilities of microwave power transmission. [9][10] 1964: William C. Brown demonstrated on CBS News with Walter Cronkite a microwave-powered model helicopter that received all the power needed for flight from a microwave beam. Between 1969 and 1975 Brown was technical director of a JPL Raytheon program that beamed 30 kW over a distance of 1 mile at 84% efficiency. 1968: Peter Glaser proposes wirelessly transferring Solar energy captured in Space using “Powerbeaming” technology [11][12]. 1971: Prof. Don Otto develops a small trolley powered by Inductive Power Transfer at The University of Auckland, in New Zealand. 1973: World first passive RFID demonstrated at Los-Alamos National Lab. [13] 1975: Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex does experiments in the tens of kilowatts. [14][15][16] 1988: A power electronics group led by Prof. John Boys at The University of Auckland in New Zealand, develops an inverter using novel engineering materials and power electronics and conclude that inductive power transmission should be achievable. A first prototype for a contact-less power supply is built. Auckland Uniservices, the commercial company of The University of Auckland, Patents the Technology. 1989: Daifuku, a Japanese company, engages Auckland Uniservices Ltd to develop the technology for car assembly plants and materials handling providing challenging technical requirements including multiplicity of vehicles 1990: Prof. John Boys team develops novel technology enabling multiple vehicles to run on the same inductive power loop and provide independent control of each vehicle. Auckland UniServices Patents the technology. 1996: Auckland Uniservices develops an Electric Bus power system using Inductive Power Transfer to charge(30-60kW) opportunistically commencing implementation in New Zealand. Prof John Boys Team commission 1st commercial IPT Bus in the world at Whakarewarewa, in New Zealand. 2004: Inductive Power Transfer used by 90 per cent of the US$1 billion clean room industry for materials handling equipment in semiconductor, LCD and plasma screen manufacture. 2005: Prof Boys’ team at The University of Auckland, refines 3-phase IPT Highway and pick-up systems allowing transfer of power to moving vehicles in the lab 2007: A physics research group, led by Prof. Marin Soljacic, at MIT confirm the earlier(1980’s) work of Prof. John Boys by wireless powering of a 60W light bulb with 40% efficiency at a 2m (7ft) distance using two 60 cm-diameter coils. 2008: Bombardier offers new wireless transmission product PRIMOVE, a power system for use on trams and light-rail vehicles.[17] 2008: Industrial designer Thanh Tran, at Brunel University made a wireless light bulb powered by a high efficiency 3W LED. 2008: Intel reproduces Nikola Tesla’s 1894 implementation and Prof. John Boys group’s 1988’s experiments by wirelessly powering a light bulb with 75% efficiency.[18] Nuclear Korea Publicado: maio 25, 2009 por Yogi em Capital, International, Non Sense, Politics, Tech, Tudo Tags:caos, end of the world, fim do mundo, guerra, kaos, war, world politics Earthquake Details Monday, May 25, 2009 at 00:54:43 UTC Monday, May 25, 2009 at 09:54:43 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones 41.306°N, 129.029°E 0 km (~0 mile) set by location program 70 km (45 miles) NNW of Kimchaek, North Korea 95 km (60 miles) SW of Chongjin, North Korea 180 km (115 miles) SSW of Yanji, Jilin, China 375 km (235 miles) NE of PYONGYANG, North Korea Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 3.8 km (2.4 miles); depth fixed by location program NST= 75, Nph= 75, Dmin=371.4 km, Rmss=0.57 sec, Gp= 72°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=A USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Event ID us2009hbaf

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Art, Architecture and Photography Crime Thriller Mystery Factual / Documentary Fitness / Exercise Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - 10th Anniversary Edition - Paperback While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. Solving the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of da Vinci…clues visible for all to see…and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and da Vinci, among others. The Louvre curator has sacrificed his life to protect the Priory’s most sacred trust: the location of a vastly important religious relic, hidden for centuries. In a breathless race through Paris, London, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to work for Opus Dei—a clandestine, Vatican-sanctioned Catholic sect believed to have long plotted to seize the Priory’s secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory’s secret—and a stunning historical truth—will be lost forever. In an exhilarating blend of relentless adventure, scholarly intrigue, and cutting wit, symbologist Robert Langdon (first introduced in Dan Brown’s bestselling Angels & Demons) is the most original character to appear in years. The Da Vinci Code heralds the arrival of a new breed of lightning-paced, intelligent thriller…surprising at every twist, absorbing at every turn, and in the end, utterly unpredictable…right up to its astonishing conclusion. North London Hospice North London Hospice eShop, LONDON N12, England. Registered Charity Number 285300. © 2013 nlhshop.co.uk. All Rights Reserved.

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Authors: Leinwand, Kristina L. DO; Gerich, Mark E. MD; Hoffenberg, Edward J. MD; Collins, Colm B. PhD; National Institutes of Health T32 Institutional Training Grant in Pediatric Gastroenterology; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment The effects of CBD on receptors in the immune system may help reduce overall inflammation in the body. In turn, CBD oil may offer benefits for acne management. A human study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigationfound that the oil prevented activity in sebaceous glands. These glands are responsible for producing sebum, a natural oily substance that hydrates the skin. Too much sebum, however, can lead to acne. The tincture is available in three strengths: 500mg, 1,000mg, and 3,000mg. Prices range from $0.04 to $0.07 per mg, depending on the concentration, which makes the tincture very low-priced compared to oils from most competing brands. Medterra also offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and will issue full refunds for all returns. In addition to the tincture, Medterra also offers CBD capsules in 25mg and 50mg concentrations. Our bodies are thought to produce endocannabinoids by the billions every day. “We always thought the ‘runner’s high’ was due to the release of dopamine and endorphins. But now we know the euphoria is also from an endocannabinoid called anandamide,” its name derived from the Sanskrit word for bliss, says Joseph Maroon, MD, clinical professor and vice chairman of neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. We produce these natural chemicals all day, but they fade quickly because enzymes pop up to destroy them. That’s where CBD comes in: By blocking these enzymes, CBD allows the beneficial compounds to linger.

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‘Game of Thrones’ Final Season Episode 3 Preview: The Great War Begins (VIDEO) • April 22, 2019 Episode 3final seasonGame of Thronespreviewseason 8video In the longest episode in ‘Game of Thrones’ history, the living will battle the dead as the Night King arrives at Winterfell. Take a look at the preview… The event that’s been talked about for months will finally arrive next Sunday night. In the next episode in the final season of ‘Game of Thrones’, the army of the dead will battle the living in the longest battle sequence ever produced on film or television. The sprawling episode will go for one hour and 22 minutes — the longest ever for ‘Game of Thrones’. Ahead of the debut, HBO has released a teaser for the upcoming episode that will feature this epic battle that took more than 60 days to film. Obviously like everything else with ‘Game of Thrones’, the final season has been shrouded in mystery so not much is known about this episode outside of the battle scene that we’ve been promised as the great war finally starts between the living and the dead. Also pay close attention to the final line spoken from Daenerys to Jon Snow when she tells him “the dead are already here”. Check out the trailer for ‘Game of Thrones’ episode 3 in the final season. ‘Game of Thrones’ Recap ‘A Knight of the... The Best Advice from NBA Stars on Improving... ‘Runaways’ Season 3 Trailer: Elizabeth Hurley Debuts as Morgan le Fay, Cloak and Dagger Arrive (VIDEO) Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt Set to Star in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ ‘Game of Thrones’: Plot Details Revealed for First Three Episodes in Season 7 Christian Bale Reportedly In Talks to Join ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

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Report: Julian Edelman On Track To Return To Patriots For Divisional Playoffs by on Sun, Jan 3, 2016 at 12:46PM In what’s been a terrible year for the Patriots injury-wise, New England finally got some good news. Wide receiver Julian Edelman reportedly will be back for the divisional playoff round, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday. Edelman fractured his foot against the New York Giants on Nov. 15 in Week 10 of the season, but he started practicing at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 11. Edelman had 692 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in nine games before his injury. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who’s been dealing with an ankle injury, also is slated to return for the playoffs. New England has been working with an inexperienced offensive line thanks to injuries, and it’s led quarterback Tom Brady to be sacked 36 times in 15 games this season compared to 21 times last year. Vollmer certainly will be a welcome presence on the Patriots’ quest for Super Bowl 50. Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images Thumbnail photo via New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman prepares to line up during the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium.

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AbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionReferencesCopyright An Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GutGard) Alleviates Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Kadur Ramamurthy Raveendra,1 Jayachandra,2 Venkatappa Srinivasa,3 Kadur Raveendra Sushma,1 Joseph Joshua Allan ,4 Krishnagouda Shankargouda Goudar,4 Hebbani Nagarajappa Shivaprasad,4 Kudiganti Venkateshwarlu,4 Periasamy Geetharani,4 Gopalakrishna Sushma,4 and Amit Agarwal4 1Department of Medicine, Srinivasa Diabetic Research Centre, Bangalore 560 050, India 2Department of Medicine, Cambridge Hospital, Bangalore 560 008, India 3Department of Medicine, Manasa Petal Hospital, Bangalore 560 032, India 4Research and Development Centre, Natural Remedies, Bangalore 560 100, India Academic Editor: Adair Roberto Soares Santos Revised21 Mar 2011 Accepted11 Apr 2011 Published16 Jun 2011 A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of GutGard, an extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra, in patients with functional dyspepsia. The primary outcome variables of the study were the change in the severity symptoms and the global assessment of efficacy. The quality of life was evaluated as a secondary outcome measure. The patients received either placebo or GutGard (75 mg twice daily) for 30 days. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of change in the severity of symptoms (as measured by 7-point Likert scale), the global assessment of efficacy, and the assessment of quality of life using the short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index. In comparison with placebo, GutGard showed a significant decrease () in total symptom scores on day 15 and day 30, respectively. Similarly, GutGard showed marked improvement in the global assessment of efficacy in comparison to the placebo. The GutGard group also showed a significant decrease () in the Nepean dyspepsia index on day 15 and 30, respectively, when compared to placebo. GutGard was generally found to be safe and well-tolerated by all patients. GutGard has shown significant efficacy in the management of functional dyspepsia. Among various gastrointestinal disorders, functional dyspepsia is one of the most common and costliest clinical conditions in general medical practices. Dyspepsia in the absence of clinically identifiable, structural gastrointestinal lesions is known as functional dyspepsia or nonulcer dyspepsia [1, 2]. The general symptoms of functional dyspepsia include upper abdominal fullness, epigastric pain, belching, bloating, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, heartburn, and loss of appetite [1–5]. Though the prognosis remains poorly defined, functional dyspepsia is prevalent worldwide. In Europe and North America, 20% of patients with dyspeptic symptoms had consulted either physicians or hospital specialists; more than 50% patients were on medication often and around 30% of dyspeptics reported taking days off work or schooling [5–7]. Chang reviewed the epidemiology of functional dyspepsia and reported the annual incidence of dyspepsia around 9-10% [8]. Long-term studies indicate that more than 80% of patient populations affected by chronic functional dyspepsia were likely to be persistent after 6-7 years of follow-up [9–11]. Although functional dyspepsia does not seem to be life threatening, the impact remains stressful and leads to huge medical expenses. The dyspeptic patients reported significantly reduced quality of life when compared to general healthy public [8]. As per the published reports, the direct and indirect economic burden due to functional dyspepsia was found to be huge and also has considerable impact on productivity [12]. To achieve a sense of overall well-being, to reduce the cost of treatment and to maintain the quality of life, effective and safe remedies would be a welcome addition for patients with functional dyspepsia. Despite the availability of several treatments, the pharmacological interventions were found to be inconclusive and experienced with varied efficacy. With the increasing popularity of medicinal plants globally, many herbal extracts/preparations are evaluated for management of gastrointestinal disorders. The roots and rhizomes of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn; family: Leguminosae) have been in traditional use for several centuries. The roots of G. glabra have expectorant, diuretic, laxative, sedative, antipyretic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and antiadhesive properties [13–16]. In addition, licorice has been reported for enhancing gastric mucus secretion and antiulcer activity [17, 18]. In vitro study on glabridin and glabrene (flavonoids present in licorice root) revealed anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) activity, and the licorice extract has also shown significant beneficial effect on all forms of H. pylori infection [19, 20]. In an earlier in vivo study, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) was found to be effective in alleviation of ulcer in aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats [21]. The curative effect of DGL in gastric ulcer patients was confirmed during 1970s by clinical trials [22, 23]. Clinically DGL has been used as a main source for the treatment of ulcerative conditions of gastrointestinal disorders like peptic ulcer, canker sores, inflammatory bowel diseases, and so forth [24]. The antiulcer property of licorice extract was also established in gastric ulcer patients. Acute oral toxicity study of GutGard, an extract of G. glabra, was found to be safe up to 5000 mg/kg in rats. Recently, Chandrasekaran et al. confirmed the dual inhibitory effect of GutGard on derivatives of COX and LOX inflammatory pathways [25]. Specialized licorice extracts have been recently shown to exhibit excellent antiulcer activity in experimental animal models. GutGard has shown marked improvement at different doses (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) in pylorus ligation, cold-restraint stress, and indomethacin induced gastric mucosal injury in albino Wistar rats and the effects were found to be dose dependent [26]. From the above considerations, G. glabra is found to be an effective agent in the management of several gastroenterological disorders. This study was particularly aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of GutGard in patients with functional dyspepsia. The test substance GutGard is a flavonoid rich, root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra developed by Natural Remedies, Bangalore, India. GutGard has following phytochemical specifications, namely, glabridin (≥3.5% w/w), glabrol (≥0.5% w/w), eicosanyl caffeate (≥0.1% w/w), docosyl caffeate (≥0.1% w/w), glycyrrhizin (≤0.5% w/w), and total flavonoids (≥10% w/w). The clinical investigation was conducted over a period of four months (December 2009 to March 2010) as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized manner in two trial centers in Bangalore, India, which included a screening procedure, selection of participants, test medication, and finally posttreatment evaluation. Fifty-four patients were initially diagnosed for functional dyspepsia according to Rome-III criteria [27] and enrolled for the study. Screening was done by physical examination (weight, height, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), etc.) and biochemical evaluation before the patients were assigned into the trial. The patients were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Table 1). The purpose and methodology of the clinical trial were explained in simple, understandable language to all the patients. Before randomization, the subjects were asked to completely understand and sign the informed consent form. A copy of informed consent form was issued to trial participants. In addition, investigators clarified queries/doubts of trial subjects if any, prior to signing the consent form. Consent was taken by the investigators of the clinical trial. All the subjects were informed that they can withdraw at any time from participating in the trial without any prior notice. This study was conducted after approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee. (i) Diagnosis of functional dyspepsia/nonulcer dyspepsia by fulfilling Rome-III criteria (ii) Should be suffering with at least 4 or more symptoms mentioned below and with total symptom score of 20 or more based on 7-point Likert scale (a) Upper abdominal fullness (b) Upper abdominal pain (c) Belching (d) Bloating (e) Early satiety (f) Nausea (g) Vomiting (h) Regurgitation (i) Heartburn (j) Loss of appetite (i) Age less than 18 years or over 65 years (ii) Advanced chronic illness that would impair follow-up or monitoring (iii) Pregnancy or breast feeding (iv) Previous surgery for ulcers (v) Subjects with previous history of gastroesophageal reflux (vi) Subjects with concomitant symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome (vii) Drug and alcohol abuse (viii) Mental illness or dementia Inclusion and exclusion criteria. 2.2. Randomization and Blinding After the diagnoses, baseline status was established, four were excluded, and 50 patients were randomly assigned to placebo () and GutGard () groups (Figure 1). A list of unique integer random numbers considered as patient code (i.e., random allocation sequence) was generated using a computer-aided programme. As per the random allocation sequence, the containers (either placebo or GutGard capsules) were labeled with unique random numbers. The randomization sequence was developed at Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, India, and forwarded to study centre. The entire process was performed in a confidential manner and all the concerned in study centre namely, investigators, patients, and other supportive staff were unaware of the random allocation sequence. The participants fulfilling the selection criteria of the study and after obtaining the written informed consent were enrolled by the study investigators and subsequently the pharmacist dispensed the study medication to the participants taking into consideration the order of enrollment and as per the random allocation sequence. The investigators, patients, and pharmacist dispensing the interventions were all concealed to group assignment. The blinding process was maintained till all the data were compiled and verified for accuracy and then forwarded for statistical analysis. Flow chart of disposition of patients. Test medication was dispensed by the pharmacist in a container with 30 capsules on day 0 and day 15. The patients were instructed to take placebo or GutGard (75 mg twice daily) with a glass of water after food (one capsule morning and one in the night). The investigational substance was stored as per the recommendation in accessible, controlled area, and pharmacists were accountable for the same. Patients were informed to visit the trial centers on day 15 and day 30 for follow-up. At each visit, the investigators informed the patients to bring the capsule container, and remaining capsule (unused) counts were performed. Patient who took completely the issued capsules was considered to be compliant to the study medication. 2.3. Assessment of Efficacy and Tolerability The primary outcome variables of the study were the change in the severity symptoms and the global assessment of efficacy. A list of 10 gastrointestinal symptoms, namely, upper abdominal fullness, upper abdominal pain, belching, bloating, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, heartburn, and loss of appetite, were considered. The patients were asked to rate themselves for the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms using 7-point Likert scale [28], and the change in severity of symptoms was assessed on days 0, 15, and 30. On day 30, the overall changes in dyspeptic symptoms were calculated, and the measurement was categorized into five grades (symptom free, markedly improved, moderately improved, not changed, and deteriorated) for global assessment of efficacy-an index for the overall response to 30 days of intervention. The quality of life was evaluated using the short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) as a secondary outcome measure. The NDI is a disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument consisting of a 10-item questionnaire examining the influence of dyspepsia on five elements (subscales) in patient’s health, like tension, interference with daily activities, disruption to regular eating/drinking, knowledge/control over disease symptoms, and interference with work/study. Based on the subscales, the scores of NDI were assessed on days 0, 15, and 30. This total score of NDI gives information on quality of life and impact of illness of dyspeptic patients [29, 30]. The primary and secondary assessment of efficacy was achieved by face to face discussions with trial patients. Clinical laboratory investigations were done before and after the interventions in order to assure the safety. The study imposed that medications potentially affecting the gastrointestinal tract were restricted during the trial period. The required sample size for difference between two means, that is, for a two-sample -test, was estimated using Snedecor and Cochran formula according to Dell et al. [31] as estimated from Holtmann et. al. [1] with α value of 0.05 and . Based on this, the required sample size calculated for each arm of GutGard or placebo was 24 subjects or a total of 48 for the complete study. Twenty-five participants from each intervention were considered for the statistical analysis. Characteristics of patients at baseline of two groups were compared by independent samples -test. The change in total symptom scores and Nepean dyspepsia index of each patient on day 15 and day 30 were calculated by subtracting the total symptom scores and Nepean dyspepsia index of day 0 (baseline) from respective observation of each parameters recorded on day 15 and day 30. The total symptoms scores and Nepean dyspepsia index (change from the baseline) of two groups were analyzed by independent samples -test. Effect size, which estimates the change in individual symptom scores relative to the variability in the individual symptoms scores at baseline, was calculated using the following formula. A scale with an effect size of 0.8 or larger was considered as magnitude of improvement. The global assessment of efficacy observed in two groups was analyzed by proportion test [32]. Laboratory investigations recorded on day 0 and day 30 were also analyzed by independent samples -test. The above statistical applications were performed using SPSS software. A two-tailed (alpha = 2) probability value was considered to be statistically significant. Out of fifty-four patients screened for eligibility, three patients were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria and one patient declined to participate. A total of 50 patients were randomly assigned into two groups, namely, placebo (; 16 males and 9 females) and GutGard (; 15 males and 10 females), and subsequently considered for analysis (Figure 1). 3.1. Demographic Characteristics of Patients Mean characteristics of treated group versus placebo group at baseline were found to be comparable except for age and diastolic BP in GutGard treated group which were still within normal range (Table 2). Parameters Placebo ( ) GutGard ( ) Patients (Male/Female) 16/09 15/10 Age (years) 45.16 ± 2.06 38.12 ± 1.84* Weight (kg) 67.55 ± 1.75 66.38 ± 2.15 Height (cm) 163.93 ± 1.69 164.29 ± 1.06 Heart rate/min 83.04 ± 1.48 80.32 ± 1.36 BP systolic (mmHg) 128.00 ± 2.10 122.64 ± 1.92 BP diastolic (mmHg) 84.24 ± 0.80 79.92 ± 0.88* Total symptoms scores of dyspepsia 28.68 ± 0.62 29.96 ± 0.55 Nepean Dyspepsia Index 34.40 ± 1.02 35.64 ± 0.65 versus placebo. Characteristics of the patients at baseline (mean ± SE). 3.2. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures The change in total symptom scores from baseline of different groups was summarized in Table 3. In comparison with placebo group, GutGard treated group showed a significant decrease () in total symptom scores on day 15 and day 30, respectively. The effect size of individual symptom scores of different groups was summarized in Table 5. The magnitude of improvement in terms of effect size after 15 and 30 days of treatment was apparently more in GutGard treated group except in “early satiety” as compared with placebo. Groups Total symptom scores (Change from baseline) Nepean dyspepsia index (Change from baseline) Day 15 Day 30 Day 15 Day 30 Placebo ( ) −5.08 ± 0.57 −8.24 ± 0.76 −4.04 ± 0.49 −6.56 ±0.85 GutGard ( ) −11.32 ± 0.77* −15.20 ± 0.71* −12.08 ± 0.82* −19.56 ± 0.85* Efficacy of GutGard on improvement of total symptom scores and Nepean dyspepsia index (mean ± SE). With respect to global assessment of efficacy, one patient from GutGard group was completely free from dyspeptic symptoms while none of the patients in placebo group reported symptoms free. Out of 25 patients in each intervention, none in placebo and 14 in GutGard showed marked improvement in symptoms, and the proportion of patients was significantly higher () in GutGard intervention than that in placebo. Moderate improvement was noticed in nine patients in GutGard treated group and eleven patients in placebo group. The symptoms remained unchanged in fourteen patients of the placebo group while only one in GutGard group and the difference in proportion was significantly less () in GutGard treated group than the placebo. None of the patients in both groups complained deteriorated condition (Table 4). GutGard supplementation resulted in a significant decrease () in Nepean dyspepsia index on day 15 and day 30, respectively, versus placebo group (Table 3). Groups Global assessment of efficacy Symptom free -value Markedly improved -value Moderately improved -value Not changed -value Deteriorated -value Placebo ( ) 0 (0) — 0 (0) — 11 (44) — 14 (56) — 0 (0) — GutGard ( ) 1 (4) 0.00 14 (56) 4.10* 9 (36) 0.29 1 (4) 3.70* 0 (0) — Values in parentheses represent the percentage of patients in each category. Effect of GutGard on improvement of global assessment of efficacy. Parameter Groups ( ) Day 15 Day 30 Change in score Effect size Change in score Effect size Upper abdominal fullness Placebo −0.52 0.393 −0.88 0.665 GutGard −1.72 5.186 −2.28 6.875 Upper abdominal pain Placebo −0.04 0.084 −0.16 0.336 Belching Placebo −0.76 0.734 −0.96 0.927 Bloating Placebo −0.8 0.755 −1.08 1.019 Early satiety Placebo −0.88 0.848 −1.04 1.002 Nausea Placebo −0.16 0.225 −0.28 0.393 Vomiting Placebo −0.16 0.210 −0.32 0.419 Regurgitation Placebo −0.28 0.211 −0.80 0.603 Heartburn Placebo −0.84 0.899 −1.44 1.541 Loss of appetite Placebo −0.64 0.492 −1.28 0.985 Effect of GutGard on the individual symptoms scores. 3.3. Laboratory Investigations The blood parameters carried out on day 0 and day 30 in GutGard and placebo groups were within normal limits. Though, there were marginal increase in random blood sugar on days 0 and 30 and decrease in serum creatinine on day 0 in GutGard treated group, these changes were all within the specified normal range (Table 6). There was no study medication-related adverse effect reported during the complete intervention period. Parameters Day 0 Day 30 Placebo (n = 25) GutGard (n = 25) Placebo ( ) GutGard ( ) Haemoglobin(g/dL) 13.30 ± 0.31 13.40 ± 0.33 13.37 ± 0.30 13.58 ± 0.28 Random blood sugar(mg/dL) 86.64 ± 2.76 103.6 ± 2.08* 91.44 ± 1.59 100.72 ± 2.30* Serum creatinine(mg/dL) 0.93 ± 0.02 0.83 ± 0.03* 0.88 ± 0.02 0.88 ± 0.02 Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (IU/L) 20.64 ± 1.56 20.50 ± 1.45 20.20 ± 1.08 17.28 ± 1.24 Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (U/L) 23.48 ± 1.73 28.03 ± 1.71 20.80 ± 1.07 23.20 ± 1.19 Results of laboratory blood parameters (mean ± SE). Saad and Chey, in a review on current and emerging therapies for functional dyspepsia, enlisted various approaches employed such as dietary manipulations, modern medicines directed at single or multiple targets within the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, psychological interventions and of late, and complementary and alternative traditional medicinal systems [11]. Treatment with synthetic medicines, though found to be effective and common, is accompanied with several side effects. In addition, these modern drugs are expensive, alter the normal gastrointestinal functions, and at times may aggravate the existing conditions [24]. Use of herbal supplements in the management of gastrointestinal complications, especially for functional dyspepsia, has attracted researchers worldwide. Several herbal formulations have been reported with clinically proven efficacy and safety in the recent past, and screening of medicinal plants for potent antidyspeptic agents appears to be continuing [33]. From the published literature, G. glabra, a perennial, temperate zone herb [24], is reported to possess a variety of pharmacological properties such as demulcent [22, 34], anti-inflammatory [18], and antiulcer activities [35] that can be attributed to the beneficial effects of GutGard on gastrointestinal system. A preclinical study on GutGard in albino Wistar rats revealed statistically significant improvements in endpoints, namely, ulcer index, volume, and total acidity of gastric contents in various models of antiulcer activity. Also the study reported potent antioxidant activity with high hydrophilic and lipophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value and thereby validated its cytoprotective effect [26]. In the current study, effectiveness of GutGard (75 mg) twice daily for 30 days was evaluated in patients with functional dyspepsia using changes in the pre- and postintervention scores of the study outcome measures. On comparison, GutGard exhibited significant reduction in total symptom scores on day 15 and day 30, marked improvement in global assessment of efficacy, and significantly decreased the Nepean dyspepsia index on day 15 and day 30 than the placebo group. Analysis of effect on individual symptoms of functional dyspepsia has also revealed excellent improvements in GutGard treated group except for early satiety as compared with the placebo group. Despite well established, favorable effects of G. glabra on digestive system, the available literature indicates the lack of adequate clinical studies on effect of licorice/licorice preparations, as single entity, in functional dyspeptic patients, and connotes the importance of the present study as one of the earliest double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trials on efficacy of licorice in the control of functional dyspepsia. In the present study, changes in total symptoms scores from baseline values were evaluated, and GutGard supplementation has shown to considerably improve the total symptoms scores. Coon and Ernst, in a review on effects of selected herbal medicinal products in patients with functional dyspepsia, observed that though various techniques were used for measurement of total symptoms scores, few of them were seem to be nonvalidated [33]. Given this consideration, the current study employed the validated 7-point Likert scale reported by van Zanten in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics [28]. Dietary preparations containing licorice as one of the key ingredients have also shown considerable efficacy in patients with functional dyspepsia. A meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, clinical trials on a polyherbal combination containing licorice (Iberogast) demonstrated excellent overall therapeutic effect in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. The dose and duration of the herbal actives were kept the same in all the individual studies. The findings showed a substantial improvement of symptoms with Iberogast but varying superiority to placebo pertinent to dyspepsia-specific gastrointestinal symptom score [36]. A systematic review on efficacy and tolerability of Iberogast by Melzer et al. also validated the therapeutically related decrease of gastrointestinal symptom-scores in patients with functional dyspepsia [37]. Patients’ assessments of global efficacy as measured by the proportion of patients without symptoms or with marked improvements have shown the superiority of GutGard treatment (56%) over placebo (0%) and have been found to be in accordance with the changes in the severity of total symptoms. Likewise, the disease-specific quality of life improvements evaluated by NDI also revealed significant advantages resulted by GutGard administration. Although the improvements in quality of life is viewed as a secondary outcome measure in ongoing clinical trials, Talley et al. expressed the prospective use of improvements in the Nepean Dyspepsia Index as a primary objective of treatment in future clinical investigations on gastrointestinal conditions such as functional dyspepsia [29]. With respect to effects on individual symptoms, as evident from effect size, GutGard notably decreased the intensity of symptoms such as upper abdominal fullness and epigastric pain which are considered as important symptoms of functional dyspepsia [38, 39]. Correspondingly, the other parameters of GutGard group also exhibited marked improvements on day 15 and day 30 of the study period except for “early satiety” symptom wherein the effects of the investigational medication and the placebo were found to be comparable. Hence, the overall improvements in total symptoms scores can be attributed to the cumulative and uniform effects of licorice extract on almost all individual symptoms of functional dyspepsia. On the other hand, relevant gastrointestinal effects (antiulcer activity) of G. glabra may provide noteworthy insights in understanding the pharmacological benefits in alleviation of functional dyspepsia. A double-blind clinical study on DGL exhibited ulcer healing properties upon administration of capsules (each with 400 mg actives) for 8 weeks and subjective improvements were recorded in 90% subjects [2]. Lakworthy and Holgate reported antiulcer activity after administration of tablets containing 380 mg DGL in all the 32 patients (100%) endoscopically diagnosed having duodenal ulcer and with chronic history. The beneficial effects were found to be improved as the duration of intervention extended since 56% of the patients recovered after 12 weeks of treatment whereas 78% recuperated after 16 weeks [23]. These findings were in accordance with the current study wherein total symptom scores and NDI were found to be improved over a period of 15 and 30 days. As commonly reported in several clinical trials, the present investigation also observed improvements in total symptoms scores of placebo group. However, the improvements were found to be insignificant and not in concurrence with the outcomes of other parameters. In addition to true placebo effect, contribution of spontaneous fluctuations resulting in improvements of symptoms in functional dyspeptic patients is reported in the published clinical studies [3]. Placebo controls are ethically justifiable if usage does not expose research participants to excessive risks of harm [40]. Scientifically, placebo controlled trials require smaller sample size, generate reliable scientific evidence for the evaluation of new substances, and have better internal validity though are less relevant to patient management and have low external validity [41]. No treatment-related adverse effects were reported during the study, and GutGard administration was found to be safe and well tolerated by all patients during the complete intervention period. Despite few side effects generally reported with the use of G. glabra, patients of the present study did not experience any such side effect that indicates the widely safe nature of the dietary supplement [42]. The available published literature on clinical studies of licorice extracts/formulations also did not report any significant adverse events at various dosage regimens [22, 23]. Isbrucker and Burdock, based on the existing scientific evidence and considering the importance of licorice as a popular food ingredient, reviewed the safety of the medicinal herb and asserted that the current intake levels of licorice products seems to be safe [43]. The findings of the randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial on GutGard, the root extract of G. glabra, revealed significant decrease in symptoms scores in concordance with improvements in almost all individual symptoms and found to be superior to placebo group in the management of functional dyspepsia. 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IPCC looks to the land in fight against climate change By Paul Ridden IPCC looks to the land in figh... A special report from the IPCC entitled Climate Change and Land will form the basis of scientific input for upcoming climate and environment negotiations kevron2002/Depositphotos A Special Report of Climate Change and Land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just been released. It shows that land is under increasing pressure from humans and climate change, and calls for better land management around the world, and a change in diet. "Governments challenged the IPCC to take the first ever comprehensive look at the whole land-climate system," said Chair of the IPCC, Hoesung Lee. "We did this through many contributions from experts and governments worldwide." Almost a quarter of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are due to agriculture, forestry and other forms of land use. The report says that improved land management can go some way to mitigate the effects of climate change, but reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all players needs to be undertaken urgently if there's any chance of keeping global temperatures below those set out in the Paris Agreement. A focus on sustainability and reducing food waste could be key factors in addressing climate change, though even warming of around 1.5° C – the ideal target for increase limitation agreed by governments in 2015 – still poses increased risk from "dryland water scarcity, fire damage, permafrost degradation and food system instability." Valérie Masson-Delmotte, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I, also warned that "very high risks related to permafrost degradation and food system instability are identified at 2° C of global warming." The IPCC reports that climate change is already affecting the availability (yield and production), access (prices and ability to obtain food), utilization (nutrition and cooking) and stability (disruptions to availability) of food production. And the future is not looking too bright. "Food security will be increasingly affected by future climate change through yield declines – especially in the tropics – increased prices, reduced nutrient quality, and supply chain disruptions," said Priyadarshi Shukla, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III. "We will see different effects in different countries, but there will be more drastic impacts on low-income countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean." The report also acknowledges the detrimental effect on the environment of animal-based food production, while noting that the consumption of plant-based foods has a lower environmental impact. The IPCC didn't go all out and recommend the widespread adoption of vegan or vegetarian diets though, instead advocating more sustainable meat production and reduced consumption. "Some dietary choices require more land and water, and cause more emissions of heat-trapping gases than others," Debra Roberts, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II, noted. "Balanced diets featuring plant-based foods, such as coarse grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and animal-sourced food produced sustainably in low greenhouse gas emission systems, present major opportunities for adaptation to and limiting climate change." The report – Climate Change and Land, an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems – has been published online and will form the basis of scientific input for upcoming climate and environment negotiations. "There is real potential here through more sustainable land use, reducing over-consumption and waste of food, eliminating the clearing and burning of forests, preventing over-harvesting of fuelwood, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping to address land related climate change issues," said Panmao Zhai, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I. EnvironmentGlobal Warming Paul Ridden While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe. Ocean temperatures hit highest levels ever recorded Climate change driving vegetation growth higher into the Himalayas "Solar umbrellas" could reduce the blight of evaporation ponds Australia had its hottest and driest year on record in 2019

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Arbitration Decision Affirms Intellia Therapeutics’ Interpretation of Licensing Agreement with Caribou Biosciences on the CRISPR/Cas9 Technology Interim Award concluded all technology in dispute was exclusively licensed to Intellia Parties must negotiate terms and payments to Intellia for Caribou’s use of the chemically modified guide RNAs CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTLA) announced today that an arbitration panel issued an Interim Award confirming that certain structural and chemical guide RNA modification technologies were exclusively licensed to Intellia by Caribou Biosciences under the parties’ July 2014 agreement. This Interim Award is subject to additional negotiations between the parties and potentially further arbitration proceedings before it becomes final. After concluding that the chemical modification technology was within the scope of Intellia’s exclusive license from Caribou, the arbitration panel noted that its decision could delay or otherwise adversely impact the continued development of these modified guide RNAs as human therapeutics. It also noted that Intellia currently is not using these modified guide RNAs in any of its active programs. For this reason, the panel stated it will declare that Caribou has “leaseback” rights, which it described as exclusive, perpetual and worldwide, to the chemically modified guide RNAs. This “leaseback” only applies to the chemically modified guides and will be subject to terms, including Caribou’s future payments to Intellia, to be negotiated by the parties or, if unsuccessful, to additional arbitration proceedings. The “leaseback” will not include the structural guide modifications intellectual property at issue in the arbitration, any other intellectual property exclusively licensed or sublicensed by Caribou to Intellia under the Caribou license (including but not limited to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property co-owned by University of California, University of Vienna and Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier), or any other Intellia intellectual property. Upon, and subject to the terms of, a final award, which will follow negotiations between the parties and potential further legal proceedings, Caribou would be able to use the modified guide RNAs at issue for human therapeutics. Intellia or Caribou may challenge the arbitration panel’s decisions under limited circumstances. The Interim Award has no impact on any of Intellia’s current programs. Additionally, the Interim Award has no effect on any other Intellia rights or Caribou obligations under their agreement. Background on Intellia’s License from Caribou Biosciences In July 2014, Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. licensed from Caribou Biosciences, Inc. certain intellectual property. On October 17, 2018, the Company initiated an arbitration proceeding with the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS) against Caribou asserting that Caribou is violating the terms and conditions of the Caribou license, as well as other contractual and legal rights, by using and seeking to license to third parties technology covered by two patent families (described in, for instance, PCT No. PCT/US2016/015145 and PCT No. PCT/US2016/064860, and related patents and applications) relating to specific structural or chemical modifications of guide RNAs. About Intellia Therapeutics Intellia Therapeutics is a leading genome editing company focused on developing curative therapeutics using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Intellia believes the CRISPR/Cas9 technology has the potential to transform medicine by permanently editing disease-associated genes in the human body with a single treatment course, and through improved cell therapies that can treat cancer and immunological diseases, or can replace patients’ diseased cells. The combination of deep scientific, technical and clinical development experience, along with its leading intellectual property portfolio, puts Intellia in a unique position to unlock broad therapeutic applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and create a new class of therapeutic products. Learn more about Intellia Therapeutics and CRISPR/Cas9 at intelliatx.com and follow us on Twitter @intelliatweets. This press release contains “forward-looking statements” of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (“Intellia” or the “Company”) within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding Intellia’s beliefs and expectations regarding: its ability to advance and expand its CRISPR/Cas9 technology to develop human therapeutic products, as well as maintain, protect and expand its related intellectual property portfolio; its plans to negotiate, and ability to agree to, a “leaseback” with Caribou, including the scope of such arrangement and the timing and amount of payment under any such arrangement; the potential to initiate additional arbitration or legal proceedings if negotiations are not successful; the potential implications and impact the Interim Award may have on Intellia’s current programs or on any other intellectual property rights and changes in any of the foregoing in connection with the issuance of a final award; its ability to develop other in vivo or ex vivo cell therapeutics of all types; and the impact of any of the foregoing on its collaborations and licensing arrangements. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to Intellia’s ability to protect and maintain our intellectual property position, including as a result of the Interim Award or the finalization of any award; risks related to Intellia’s relationship with third parties, including our licensors; or risks related to our ability, or the ability of our licensors, to protect and maintain their intellectual property position. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Intellia’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Intellia’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Intellia’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Intellia undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. Intellia Contacts: Glenn Goddard Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer glenn.goddard@intelliatx.com Jennifer Mound Smoter Senior Vice President, External Affairs & Communications jenn.smoter@intelliatx.com

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Explore Stories Wanted: Lifesavers with a Thirst for Adrenaline Northland Community & Technical College September 15, 2017 October 30th, 2019 Firetrucks, ambulances, helicopters… paramedics work the frontlines of emergency care Pat Krause found himself dealing blackjack in Grand Forks after graduating from a four-year university with a degree in psychology. He found himself in a similar situation as many new graduates after leaving a four-year institution. With a more general brand of bachelor’s degree, he was asking himself a common question: What do I really want to do with my future? Blackjack certainly wasn’t a career. It paid the bills, but there was no inspiration, no motivation, no fulfillment. He needed a change. Today, sitting down with Krause at the newly-opened station #5 of the Grand Forks Fire Department where he works as a firefighter paramedic, it’s clear he’d finally found his calling. Far from a “comfort zone career,” Krause was drawn to the job for its tangible impact on his community. He also found inspiration and direction at Northland Community and Technical College, where he would return to learn the skills he’d need in this lifesaving field. “I heard by word of mouth that Northland had a really good paramedic program, as well as a specific firefighter paramedic program, which led me to this field,” Krause explained. “I was looking to apply for firefighting positions, and my advisors recommended the paramedic route because it would open up a lot more opportunities.” Initially, firefighting was Krause’s goal, but the more he looked into the career, the more he learned about the day-to-day realities of the job. He discovered that most of the calls coming into the fire department are for medical emergencies. That’s when the lightbulb went off in his head. “With the fire department in general, most calls are medic calls,” Krause said. “So, having paramedic training makes me much more versatile as more departments are now requiring paramedics as the standard for new hires. Northland offered me both with their firefighter paramedic program.” On day one of his new job, Krause gained an even deeper appreciation for the training he received at Northland. As part of a new batch of hires for the Grand Forks Fire Department, Krause and his rookie firefighters were enrolled in a first-of-its-kind program that was part training, part orientation to the career. With the two-year degree, you get a lot of skills-based and classroom-based training that gives you a leg up once you’re on the job. Pat Krause – Firefighter Paramedic Graduate, Northland Community & Technical College “We started the first fire academy held by the Grand Forks Fire Department,” Krause explained. “We did 12 weeks of training, which covered the basic skills to become an entry-level firefighter. Going through that academy, I noticed we covered most of the skills and training at Northland already, so I had a good foundation in the skills we were expected to learn on the job as new hires. With the two-year degree, you get a lot of skills-based and classroom-based training that gives you a leg up once you’re on the job.” Now, just about a year and a half on the job with Grand Forks Fire Department, Krause is still learning the true complexity of the position. “I didn’t realize the variety of things you do as a firefighter,” he said. “It’s not all about putting out flames. We do everything from car accidents to trench rescues to medic calls. You never know what the day’s going to bring.” A Life of Service … And Yes, Adrenaline The lifesaving nature of the job cannot be overstated. Paramedics—whether they work at a fire department, on an ambulance in a national park or elsewhere—are on the front lines of emergency medical care. Every call that comes brings the opportunity to save a person’s life. It’s a career in service to others, but it’s also a career custom fit for those who find the best in themselves when called into action. “It’s an exciting career,” said Dan Sponsler, a 30-year veteran paramedic. Sponsler has been Northland’s lead instructor since 1992 when the paramedic program grew from a certificate program into a two-year, A.A.S. degree. As he discusses his chosen career, his tone is enthusiastic, yet guarded. You can hear in his voice the depth of his experience and the impact it has had on his life. Some people call us adrenaline junkies. You have a direct impact on how well patients survive their situation. Dan Sponsler – Paramedic Instructor, Northland Community & Technical College “It’s not a 9 to 5 job,” he said. “Working with people, working the streets, it’s not a career that everybody can do. Paramedics are people who can deal with stress, think critically, and make decisions on their feet that impact people’s lives. It’s not for the faint of heart. We get involved in situations that are emotionally and physically challenging, and we need to be able to deal with those.” “It’s different every time you go out on a call,” he continues. “Some people call us adrenaline junkies. You have a direct impact on how well patients survive their situation or how well they come out of it.” Art Culver, manager of Altru Health System’s ambulance services, echoes much the same message. He’s a Northland graduate with 20 years of experience on the job. “There is an adrenaline rush when we go on 911 calls,” he said. “What gets us going is coming to work and helping people. That’s really why we do this job and not everybody can do it. We see simple things and we see horrific things, so it takes a special type of person to be able to do this job. We do it because—in the end—even if it’s a bad outcome, we gave that person every possible chance.” Training for a Lifesaving Career To be in the position to give someone else a chance to live, to be able to care for people at their worst, the realities of working in crisis, it all starts with training for the moment. For Culver, whose job is now to recruit and staff a team of 40-plus paramedics at Altru, there’s no better place to get that training than Northland Community and Technical College. I only hire quality paramedics, and nine out of 10 of ours come from Northland. Art Culver – Manager of Ambulance Services, Altru Health System “I would say out of the 42 paramedics that we have here at Altru…” Culver pauses a moment as he tries to count, “…only four did not go through that program. Ninety percent of our paramedics went through Northland’s program, so it is vital to us,” he said. “There are people from around this area who want to become paramedics and want to stay here and give back to their communities.” And that’s the essence of what it is to be a community college, and it’s the reason why students choose Northland. They want a career with purpose. They want to stay close to home. They want to contribute to their hometowns, and Northland provides the perfect environment—combined with educational excellence—that goes unmatched throughout the upper Midwest. Just ask Culver. “I don’t hire just to fill a position,” he said bluntly. “I only hire quality paramedics, and nine out of 10 of ours come from Northland, so I would say that the quality of their instruction is really great. It’s great that the majority of their students do their internship with us, essentially being interviewed six to eight weeks while they’re working with us during their internship.” Career Outlook: ‘100% Job Placement’ Like many of Northland’s other two-year programs, the Paramedic A.A.S. program was the first accredited paramedic training program in the entire region. Sponsler said the school recently completed its fifth round of re-accreditation, a testament to the dedication of Northland and the program faculty who continue to provide this critical life-saving training needed throughout the country. “Our two-year program, if you put it in clock hours, is about 2,000 curriculum hours of training,” Sponsler explained. “A little over half of that is hands-on training, teaching skills and integrating the classroom knowledge with field skills. We combine that with clinical in hospitals and in ambulances doing actual patient care under supervision as well as internship time, where students work the streets with experienced paramedics getting the first-hand experience. There’s such a demand that graduates today are leaving here with limitless opportunities in the field. When it comes to job placement, Sponsler doesn’t hesitate. “We have 100 percent job placement for our Northland graduates,” he said proudly. “We have a lot of companies come to recruit specifically at Northland because of our reputation. It’s not uncommon for our students to come out of their internship with a job offer.” “There’s such a demand right now and will be for the foreseeable future,” he continued. “Our graduates can go to work pretty much anywhere they want when they get out of school—rural areas, metro and everywhere in between. If Altru could find five paramedics right now, they’d hire all five. The Fargo-Moorhead area is in a similar situation. It’s a nationwide shortage. There’s such a demand that graduates today are leaving here with limitless opportunities in the field.” Start Your Northland Story. Apply NowRequest InfoVisit Feature No Comments Northland Stories is the home for storytelling at Northland Community & Technical College, a collection of original stories sharing the experiences, accomplishments, and challenges of our innovative teachers, inspired learners and influential alumni. www.northlandcollege.edu A member of Minnesota State. An affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator. © Northland Community & Technical College. Apply to Northland Visit Northland

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Office Builders Balking At Downtown Brooklyn By Matthew Schuerman • 01/16/06 12:00am When city planners rezoned much of downtown Brooklyn 17 months ago, it was meant to make the city’s third-largest business district even larger. Now it is looking more and more like a bedroom community. It is not just the half-dozen condo projects sprouting up around the edge of downtown, transforming weed-strewn parking lots into glassy towers. Even the 10-block area envisioned as the “commercial core” of the new downtown is leaning residential. The developers of the two sites furthest along in the planning process are suggesting that as few as 200,000 square feet of office space might go up where two million square feet were once envisioned, with the balance going for hotel rooms and apartments. A third property owner wants to erect a hotel right in the middle of a site where a 20-story office tower was supposed to be built. An existing office tower in that central core—7 MetroTech Center, the 1930 Verizon building—was purchased last April to be converted into condos. In other words, Brooklyn’s booming residential market has overtaken the supply of office space—making it harder for roughly 19,000 jobs that were originally seen as the fruit of the rezoning to find their way into the new downtown. Brooklyn’s boosters say they are not worried about the awkward start of what Mayor Bloomberg once called “a key part of our strategy to preserve and grow jobs.” After all, people used to complain that downtown Brooklyn, and especially MetroTech Center, Forest City Ratner’s 15-block office complex at the north end of the rezoned area, shut down at 5 p.m. Now it looks like downtown Brooklyn is just going to be waking up then. “We believe residential is still important,” said Lee Silberstein, a public-relations consultant representing the Downtown Brooklyn Council, a division of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce that conceived of the rezoning and convinced Mayor Bloomberg to adopt it as his own. “The more people living there, the more it becomes an around-the-clock community, and that will make it more attractive to businesses in the long run.” Mr. Silberstein is also a spokesman for Thor Equities, a shopping-mall developer that controls arguably the most important site downtown, which is zoned for a 1.2 million-square-foot office building. But Mr. Silberstein said that Thor’s chairman and C.E.O., Joseph Sitt, is currently planning a tower that would include just 100,000 square feet for offices, another 100,000 square feet for retail, with the remaining million square feet split roughly between a hotel and apartments. He would be open to changing that configuration if a major corporation were to step forward and ask for 50 floors. But that has not happened. Unlike other parcels around downtown, the site is ready to go. All Mr. Sitt needs is money. He is, Mr. Silberstein said, looking for a development partner or an investor. Thor’s broker, William Shanahan, executive vice president and partner at CB Richard Ellis, said that Mr. Sitt would also be interested in selling the property, although Mr. Silberstein disputed that. A Brooklyn native, Mr. Sitt recently proposed turning Coney Island into the closest thing to Las Vegas that could legally be built in New York: a billion-dollar complex with a four-star hotel, water park, shopping mall, blimp, searchlights and glitzy attractions like Cirque du Soleil and House of Blues. Fifteen years ago, he started the Ashley Stewart chain of clothing stores—it offers plus-size fashions targeted to African-American women—right on Fulton Street. Now Thor owns 12 malls around the country, and a couple of other buildings, but Mr. Silberstein said he was not aware of any properties that Thor had developed from the ground up. Originally, according to press reports, Mr. Sitt was planning to build the downtown office tower all by himself, which would have put downtown Brooklyn’s most important parcel in the hands of a first-timer. It is not surprising that he has sought help, industry experts say. “Only a handful of developers are capable of doing a million-plus-square-foot project in New York City,” said Glenn Markman, executive director at Cushman & Wakefield. “It is an extremely difficult thing to accomplish and you have to work your way up to it.” Mr. Markman is representing another major property developer, Joshua Muss, president of Muss Development, a Queens-based developer who built the Brooklyn Marriott nearby and is adding another 280 rooms to the hotel now. Mr. Muss reportedly has entered into a joint venture with the city’s Economic Development Corporation to construct an 850,000-square-foot building at Red Hook Lane and Boerum Place. Mr. Markman would not give details of the project, as it has not been announced nor finalized. But real-estate sources said that most of that building would be devoted to apartments, with about 100,000 square feet set aside for an educational institution—presumably Brooklyn Law School, which is headquartered across the street. Only 100,000 or 150,000 square feet is now being considered for offices. The E.D.C. would not respond to specific questions, but spokeswoman Janel Patterson said in a statement: “The Downtown Brooklyn Plan offers the best chance for expanding what is already the City’s third largest business district …. The residential market already is responding to the plan, making it a more vibrant 24/7 neighborhood. In the end, what is built and when will be determined by the market.” Mr. Muss and Mr. Sitt are apparently entangled in the mixed messages of New York’s commercial real-estate market: While vacancies are the lowest they have been in five years, the type of large tenants that are needed to spur construction of a million-square-foot building are nowhere to be found. And if they were, they could make Larry Silverstein very happy by taking some of his space at Ground Zero off the market—for arguably the same price as in Brooklyn. But what’s so great about Manhattan anyway? Mr. Markman sees the downtown Brooklyn market as becoming a center for the “creative industries.” “I’m starting to see media, publishing and entertainment companies get interested in Brooklyn,” he said. “A lot of creative people are moving to downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights …. You have people living here, eating here and playing here, and [they] are going to soon find their way to work in the borough. When you start having decision-makers living here, you are going to have a big interest in commercial development. They will move their offices here.” The question is whether there will be any space left for offices. That sounds like an obnoxious question, given the size of downtown Brooklyn. But the new zoning allows either residential or commercial development throughout downtown Brooklyn. The new residential development—anticipated to total about 1,000 apartments—was expected to be concentrated on the edges of downtown, along Schermerhorn Street, for example, or across Flatbush Avenue. Office buildings were supposed to go in the 10-block central core. In order to promote commercial construction in a borough that many still consider to be an unacceptable business address, commercial buildings in the core could rise 20 percent higher than apartment buildings. Yet the residential market is so strong—or the commercial market so weak—that that incentive has not tempted anyone to gamble on offices. Bruce Ratner, Forest City Ratner’s president and C.E.O., recently came to a similar conclusion. He originally proposed 2.1 million square feet of office space to be included in his Atlantic Yards complex, which lays adjacent to the boundaries of the downtown rezoning to the southeast. Then, last summer, he reduced that amount to 628,000 square feet and made up the difference with market-rate condos. Together, the Thor and Muss sites were supposed to contribute two million square feet out of the 4.6 million square feet of commercial development anticipated in the next decade, according to project specifications. By using most of that square footage for apartments and hotel rooms instead, about 7,200 of the anticipated jobs would be lost, according to a standard formula that allocates 250 square feet for each office job. Potentially, developers could tear down buildings almost anywhere in the commercial core—roughly the triangle bounded by Willoughby Street, Flatbush Avenue Extension and Fulton Street—and build higher, recapturing some of those jobs. But the final environmental-impact statement for the rezoning project, issued in April 2004 at the behest of the Department of City Planning and the E.D.C., was very specific about envisioning which parcels would most likely be developed. Because of the difficulty of buying enough contiguous small lots to create a footprint big enough for a modern office building, the city imagined that just five sites in the commercial core could be turned into office towers, including the Thor and Red Hook Lane properties. These were either already owned by the government or could become so thanks to eminent domain, after which they would be leased to private developers. One of those other sites, at Willoughby and Duffield streets, has been painstakingly assembled over the past 20 years by a large Brooklyn landowner, Al Laboz, according to real-estate deeds on file with the city. However, a hotel developer, John Lam, who recently put up the 158-room Four Points by Sheraton in Chelsea, bought two lots in the footprint last August, according to records. Crain’s New York Business reported over the summer that Mr. Lam wants to build a 300-room Sheraton or 180-room Hilton Garden. Neither Mr. Laboz nor Mr. Lam returned telephone messages. City planners did, by the way, envision a new hotel. Needless to say, it was not supposed to be where Mr. Lam wants his, nor where Thor Tower will stand. But that, of course, is just what the planners thought. Filed Under: Home, Real Estate, Brooklyn, The Financial Press, Joseph Sitt, Lee Silberstein, John Lam SEE ALSO: Marlo Staunton Brown

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Thesis - Doctoral The unified Monte Carlo model of photon migration in scattering tissue-like media for the needs of Biomedical Optics Doronin, Alexander DoroninAlexander2014PhD.pdf (13.03Mb) Cite this item: Doronin, A. (2014). The unified Monte Carlo model of photon migration in scattering tissue-like media for the needs of Biomedical Optics (Thesis, Doctor of Philosophy). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4651 Permanent link to OUR Archive version: http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4651 Nowadays optical and laser-based diagnostics technologies are widely used in many fields such as oncology, vascular and developmental biology, dermatology, pharmacy, materials sciences, food, and the cosmetic and health care industries. Optical techniques have a number of advantages over traditional methods and provide a broad variety of practical solutions for non-invasive diagnostics in a range of studies from single cells to biopsy of specific biological tissues and even whole organs. Conceptual design of a particular optical diagnostics system for non-invasive in vivo measurements of structural alterations in biological tissues and changes in their physiological properties requires careful selection of various technical parameters, including wavelength, coherence, polarization and intensity profile of incident optical radiation, sensitivity of the detector, size, and the geometry and mutual position of source and detector. When applied to biological tissues, multiple scattering of light overwhelmingly prevents laser-based techniques from providing high quality images of tissue structure and structural changes. Thus, comprehensive studies of optical radiation propagation and signal formation are required. Due to the complex inhomogeneous structure of biological tissues no general analytical solution exists that can describe the detected optical signal and how it is affected by structural or physiological changes. However, there is an exceptional example of a stochastic approach: the Monte Carlo method. Without extrinsic or intrinsic constraints, throughout the years the Monte Carlo method has been a gold standard for the assessment of optical radiation propagation and spacial localization of signals in biological tissues. Nonetheless, previously developed Monte Carlo models were extremely resource consuming and suffered from serious disadvantages, considerably limiting their applications. Due to the diversity of existing optical diagnostics modalities the development of a new Monte Carlo code was typically required for a particular practical application. This thesis describes the work that has gone into the development of the unified Monte Carlo model and considers its applications for the particular needs of biomedical optics. By utilizing the developed model, an intimate investigation of optical radiation propagation in highly scattering randomly inhomogeneous media such as biological tissues has been carried out. Further developments of the method and a complete theoretical background are presented. Emphasis is given to including the method the coherent properties of optical radiation. The developed model supports of a variety of configurations corresponding to the actual experimental conditions. The code of the developed model has been generalized and unified for multi-purpose use for various applications in biomedical optics utilizing object oriented programming. A dramatic speed up of simulations has been achieved using parallel programming on graphics cards. A user friendly, web-based prototype of a computational service which allows researchers worldwide to use, check and validate the developed model has been created. A hybrid peer-to-peer network has been applied for Monte Carlo simulations to deal with the limitations imposed by the multiuser nature of the online service. The developed model has undergone a number of reliability tests including a comprehensive comparison against theoretical predictions, other models and experiments. Both qualitative and quantitative agreements have been found. Aiming to understand the peculiarities of light propagation within tissue-like media, the model has been used in a number of studies. A procedure which allows estimating the distribution of the probing radiation for a particular configuration of an experimental system is presented. Pilot studies of energy transfer in various parts of human body have been performed. The influence of the optical parameters of tissue-like media such as scattering and anisotropy on the probing optical radiation has been studied and a new so called diffusing wave polarimetry optical diagnostic modality has been introduced. An opportunity to monitor the condition of biological tissues and grading cancerous stage by traversing the Stokes vector on the Poincare Sphere is presented and compared with the results of simulations. The model has been used to calculate the depolarization of light by rough surfaces of scattering phantoms. Finally, Monte Carlo modeling of the optical coherence tomography signal formation was considered, which resulted in the emergence of a novel imaging technique called the double correlation approach. The double correlation approach has been applied to observe the low frequency electric fields propagating in biological tissues, obtain the spatial distribution of superficial blood vessels in human skin and monitor the transcutaneous vaccine delivery in mouse skin. It is anticipated, that further developments of the unified Monte Carlo model presented in this thesis can potentially form a base for a comprehensive computational platform and can significantly impact the planning of experiments in the biophotonics and biomedical optics communities. Advisor: Meglinski, Igor; Andersen, Mikkel; Eccles, Michael Degree Name: Doctor of Philosophy Degree Discipline: Department of Physics Publisher: University of Otago Keywords: Biophotonics; Biomedical Imaging; Monte Carlo method; Optical Diagnostics; Parallel programming; CUDA; Image processing; Optical coherence tomography; Diffusing-wave polarimetry; Earlier cancer diagnostics; Online Monte Carlo tool Research Type: Thesis Physics [106] Thesis - Doctoral [2752]

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Soviet Union: Information View All Currencies Coin Types (no coin types listed for Soviet Union) (no coins listed for Soviet Union) Soviet Union (1922 - 1991) The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russian: Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик, tr. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik) abbreviated to USSR (Russian: СССР, translit: SSSR) or shortened to the Soviet Union (Russian: Сове́тский Сою́з, tr. Sovetskij Soyuz), was a Marxist-Leninist state on the Eurasian continent that existed between 1922 and 1991. It was governed as a single-party state by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital. A union of multiple subnational Soviet republics, its government and economy were highly centralised. The Soviet Union had its roots in the Russian Revolution of 1917, which overthrew the Russian Empire. The Bolsheviks, the majority faction of the Social Democratic Labour Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, then led a second revolution which overthrew the provisional government and established the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (renamed Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1936), beginning a civil war between pro-revolution Reds and counter-revolution Whites. The Red Army entered several territories of the former Russian Empire, and helped local Communists take power through soviets that nominally acted on behalf of workers and peasants. In 1922, the Communists were victorious, forming the Soviet Union with the unification of the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian republics. Following Lenin's death in 1924, a troika collective leadership and a brief power struggle, Joseph Stalin came to power in the mid-1920s. Stalin suppressed political opposition to him, committed the state ideology to Marxism–Leninism (which he created) and initiated a centrally planned economy. As a result, the country underwent a period of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation which laid the basis for its later war effort and dominance after World War II.[8] However, Stalin established political paranoia, and introduced arbitrary arrests on a massive scale after which the authorities transferred many people (military leaders, Communist Party members, ordinary citizens alike) to correctional labour camps or sentenced them to death. In the beginning of World War II, after the United Kingdom and France rejected an alliance with the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany, the USSR signed a non-aggression pact with Germany; the treaty delayed confrontation between the two countries, but was disregarded in 1941 when the Nazis invaded, opening the largest and bloodiest theatre of war in history. Soviet war casualties accounted for the highest proportion of the conflict in the cost of acquiring the upper hand over Axis forces at intense battles such as Stalingrad. Soviet forces eventually captured Berlin in 1945, inflicting the vast majority of German losses. The territory overtaken by the Soviet Union from Axis forces in Central and Eastern Europe became satellite states of the Eastern Bloc. Ideological and political differences with Western Bloc counterparts directed by the United States led to the formation of Comecon and the Warsaw Pact, culminating in the prolonged Cold War. Following Stalin's death in 1953, a period of moderate social and economic liberalization, known as "de-Stalinisation" and "Khrushchev Thaw", occurred under the administration of Nikita Khrushchev. The Soviet Union then went on to initiate significant technological achievements of the 20th century, including launching the first ever satellite and world's first human spaceflight, which led it into the Space Race. The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis marked a period of extreme tension between the two superpowers, considered the closest to a mutual nuclear confrontation. In the 1970s, a relaxation of relations followed, but tensions resumed when the Soviet Union deployed troops in Afghanistan at the request of its new socialist government in 1979. The campaign drained economic resources and dragged on without achieving meaningful political results. In the late 1980s the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, sought to reform the Union and move it in the direction of Nordic-style social democracy, introducing the policies of glasnost and perestroika in an attempt to end the period of economic stagnation and democratize the government. However, this led to the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements. Central authorities initiated a referendum, boycotted by the Baltic republics, Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova, which resulted in the majority of participating citizens voting in favour of preserving the Union as a renewed federation. In August 1991, a coup d'état was attempted by hardliners against Gorbachev, with the intention of reversing his policies. The coup failed, with Russian President Boris Yeltsin playing a high-profile role in facing down the coup, resulting in the banning of the Communist Party. On 25 December 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the remaining twelve constituent republics emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union as independent post-Soviet states. The Russian Federation (formerly the Russian SFSR) assumed the Soviet Union's rights and obligations and is recognised as its continued legal personality. Royal Mint Bullion Soviet Union: Details See Wikipedia page Provinces... Transcaucasian SFR 1918 1936 Soviet Union: Currencies Used Soviet Ruble 1919 1991

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Home » General Assembly » 2016 GA Report 2016 General Assembly Report The 83rd General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is meeting at Sandy Cove conference center, North East, Maryland, June 8–14, 2016. This running daily report is written by David J. Harr and edited by Linda Foh and Stephen Pribble. Questions or comments may be addressed to Ross Graham, stated clerk. Go to Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Wednesday June 8, 2016 Pre-Assembly Conference Before the 83rd General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially called to order on Wednesday evening, commissioners and other guests had the opportunity to attend the Pre-assembly conference entitled “Marriage, Sexuality, and Faithful Witness.” The conference, held at Glasgow Church (PCA) in Bear, Delaware, was designed to equip church officers to uphold the biblical view of marriage and sexuality in light of the increasing antagonism from the surrounding society. The conference featured three plenary addresses and a panel discussion. The afternoon began with a lecture by the Rev. Dr. Carl Trueman, Professor of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary. Mr. Trueman addressed the subject of modern sexuality and identity politics. He traced how the rapid changes of recent years were fed by deeper movements in ethics and culture. A changing notion of personal identity set the stage for a radically new view of sexuality. The second speaker was Elder Randy Beck (PCA), the Justice Thomas O. Marshall Chair of Constitutional Law at the University of Georgia School of Law. Mr. Beck’s lecture, “Living under Foreign Law” outlined the legal history that led to the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage. He also described the current legal protections that the church enjoys along with areas where Bible-believing Christians can expect legal friction in the current culture. The afternoon’s final speaker was the Rev. Tim Geiger. Mr. Geiger is the Executive Directory of Harvest USA, a ministry that equips the church to care for those who are struggling with sexual sin. The message provided practical instruction on how the church can pastorally minister to people in their midst who are wrestling with same-sex attraction and gender confusion. The conference concluded with a panel discussion Q&A with all of the speakers. Joining the group was Ms. Jennifer Marshall, Vice President for Family, Community, and Opportunity and Fellow of the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC. The pre-assembly conference will be available on opc.org in the near future. The assembly this year is taking place at the Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East, Maryland. This beautiful facility is located on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. A colorful sunset over the water was the backdrop for the first evening of the 83rd General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The assembly was officially called to order at 7:30 p.m. by the Rev. Archibald Allison, retiring moderator of the 82nd (2015) General Assembly. The assembly opened with a worship and communion service. Commissioners and visitors packed the Sandy Cove chapel and joyful voices echoed with the singing of God’s praises. Mr. Allison preached on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, “Christ the Power and Wisdom of God.” In contrast to the failing wisdom of this world, Christ is the power of God unto salvation. After the worship service, commissioners moved to the Chesapeake Auditorium where the bulk of the assembly’s business will take place. The stated clerk of the assembly, the Rev. Ross Graham, called the roll. For twenty-four commissioners, this is the first time they have taken part in a general assembly. A poll of the ministers and ruling elders indicated that 31 were ordained the 2010’s, 37 in the 2000’s, 32 in the 1990’s, 15 in the 1980’s, 12 in the 1970’s, and 9 in the 1960’s. One of the first substantial items of business was the election of a new moderator. The floor was opened for nominations. Elder Paul Tavares from Covenant OPC in Grove City, PA was nominated. In the absence of other nominations, Mr. Tavares was declared elected and took the gavel from Mr. Allison. The day was concluded as the assembly took care of several housekeeping matters. Communications were received, the docket was adopted, and commissioners were assigned to Advisory Committees that will work throughout the day on Thursday. The assembly adjourned for the night with prayer by the Rev. Jeremiah Montgomery, pastor of Resurrection OPC, State College, Pennsylvania. Thursday June 9, 2016 The sun sparkled over the waters of the Chesapeake Bay as commissioners made their way to Water’s Edge Dining Room for breakfast. At 8:30 a.m. commissioners gathered in various meeting rooms to begin work with their assigned Advisory Committees. Advisory Committees help the assembly with its work. They are tasked with meeting with representatives of the various General Assembly committees and reviewing their reports and recommendations. Advisory Committees also review communications to the General Assembly and any judicial matters that have been appealed to the assembly. Each Advisory Committee then reports to the whole assembly with its recommendations. When an Advisory Committee reports that it is “silent” with regard to the work of a committee under its review, this silence is understood to convey approval of the committee’s work and concurrence with its recommendations. At 11:40 a.m., the assembly reconvened in the Chesapeake Auditorium for a devotional service led by the Rev. Russell Hamilton, pastor of Pilgrim OPC in Bangor, Maine. Mr. Hamilton’s message focused on Romans 8:31–32. In that passage, Paul gives an encouraging word for weary believers—God is for us! If he has given us his Son, he will surely give us all things needed for life and godliness. The service was ended with a hymn of praise, “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star.” After lunch, the Advisor Committees met to complete their work. The assembly reconvened at 3:35 p.m. with the singing of “Great God, How Infinite Art Thou!” and prayer by Elder D. G. Hart. The first order of business was a brief address by the fraternal delegate from the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Several different Presbyterian and Reformed denominations sendt representatives to the assembly to serve as fraternal delegates. These delegates cannot vote on matters but can make speeches on the floor of the assembly in support of particular issues. These delegates are also given an opportunity to address the assembly to bring greetings on behalf of their denomination. The delegate from the PCA was the first to address the assembly. The Rev. Marvin Padgett thanked the Lord for the good working relationship between the OPC and the PCA. Mr. Padgett has an intimate knowledge of this cooperative relationship because he serves as the Executive Director of Great Commission Publications, a joint publishing ministry of the OPC and PCA. Mr. Padgett reported that the PCA continues to grow and expand her ministry in the US and abroad. He noted that one big issue to be discussed at their upcoming assembly is the issue of racial reconciliation. The first report on the docket for today was the report of the Stated Clerk, Mr. Graham. The Stated Clerk serves the General Assembly throughout the year by preparing the agenda and organizing the massive amount of material associated with each assembly. He also serves on several committees of the church and performs a host of behind-the-scenes administrative work. Mr. Graham reported that the Minutes/Yearbook of this year’s assembly will be available for electronic distribution for the first time. The clerk also introduced the assembly to the newly-published volume, “A Ministerial and Congregational Register of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.” This publication gives biographical information about every minister who has served in the OPC since its founding in 1936 and historical information about every congregation that has been part of the denomination. He noted his appointment of Rev. John Mahaffy as assistant clerk for his 18th consecutive year serving in that position. Mr. Mahaffy will record the minutes of the meeting, aided by the Rev. Robert Van Kooten. Next on the agenda was the report of trustees of the OPC. The trustees oversee the legal and tax issues related to the denomination. They also oversee the work of the stated clerk and track the budgets of various GA committees. Mr. Graham was re-elected as stated clerk for another two-year term beginning in June 2017. The Rev. Richard Ellis (Faith, Elmer, NJ) and Elder Edward Tress (Calvary, Glenside, PA) were re-elected to the board of trustees. The OPC statistician, Mr. Luke Brown, gave his report. Mr. Brown collects and analyzes membership, attendance, and giving data as reported by individual congregations. 2015 was a year of slow growth. Membership was up just 0.24% and morning worship attendance was up 2.27%. It was encouraging to hear that total monetary giving increased by almost 5%. Mr. Brown encouraged the assembly to keep praying for unity, faithfulness and growth in our churches. At the conclusion of the report, Mr. Brown was re-elected statistician for his 31st year of service in that role. The assembly then turned to the three program committees that make up the OPC’s Worldwide Outreach. The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension (CHMCE) was the first to report. The Committee on Home Missions exists to help the presbyteries and congregations of the OPC start new Presbyterian and Reformed congregations throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Home Missions General Secretary John Shaw reported that four new home mission works were begun in 2015. There were a total of thirty-eight mission works that received CHMCE support last year. The committee has budgeted for the start of eleven new works in 2016. Three different OPC church planters gave brief reports on their respective mission works. The Rev. Mike Myers described how Heritage Presbyterian Church (OPC) is bringing the good news of Christ to the needy community of Royston, Georgia. The Rev. Jonathan Moersch is the organizing pastor in Capistrano Beach, California, an area with little Reformed witness. Finally, the Rev. Eric Hausler told the assembly of the work in Naples, Florida. Elections were then held for the class of 2019 of the Committee on Home Missions. Ministers James Cassidy (South Austin, TX), Donald Poundstone, and John Currie (Redeemer, Ada, MI), and elder Gregory De Jong and Garret Hoogerhyde were elected. Thursday Evening After the dinner break, the assembly reconvened with the singing of “Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord.” The Rev. Doug Vandeburgt brought fraternal greetings from the Canadian and American Reformed Churches. Mr. Vandeburgt rejoiced to report several recent instances where ministers from our two bodies worked together. The Canadian and American Reformed Churches look forward to ongoing fellowship and cooperative labor with the OPC. The assembly then paused for a “Historian’s Moment.” This year marks the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. To celebrate, the Committee for the Historian produced a series of six videos highlighting the extraordinary contributions of six different women of the OPC. These contributions will be highlighted in an upcoming book. The first video highlighted the dedicated labor of Mrs. Charlotte Kuschke. Mrs. Kuschke was a Christian school teacher and wife of the Rev. Arthur Kuschke. The assembly was deeply moved as this ninety year old saint greeted the assembly by video and urged commissioners to stay true to the truth of God’s word. General Secretary Mark Bube then reported for the Committee on Foreign Missions. Mr. Bube summarized all the various fields where the OPC is actively seeking to win the lost and establish self-sustaining Presbyterian churches. The Rev. Calvin Cummings, Jr. reminded the assembly of how God has used the OPC to minister to the country of Japan over many years. Mr. Cummings has now retired from active service after 37 years ministry in Japan. Three other OPC missionaries reported to the assembly−the Rev. Mark Richline, missionary to Uruguay, the Rev. Eric Hausler, part-time missionary to Haiti, and the Rev. Ben Hopp, missionary to Haiti. Just as Paul and Barnabbas reported back to the church in Antioch in Acts 14, the assembly heard how God had “opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” At the conclusion of the Foreign Missions report, the following men were elected to the committee: the Rev. William Kessler, the Rev. Philip Proctor, the Rev. John Van Meerbeke, Elder Hayo Jager, and Elder John Emmett. The final report of the evening was given by the Committee on Christian Education. The work of Great Commissions Publications (GCP) was presented by the Rev. Marvin Padgett (PCA), Executive Director, and Rev. Mark Lowrey (PCA), Associate Executive Director. GCP publishes Sunday School curriculum and other materials for the OPC and PCA. Mr. Lowrey introduced the newly-revised curriculum for older elementary age children called G2R–a Bible survey of all the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. General Secretary Danny Olinger highlighted the work of the Special Sub-committee on Marriage and Sexuality. The subcommittee was formed to help the members and congregations of the OPC to uphold a biblical view of marriage and sexuality. The pre-assembly conference was part of the fruit of this subcommittee’s labor. More resources are being planned to continue to aid the church navigate these important issues. The Rev. Alan Strange described the process of producing the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. Back in 2006, the General Assembly instructed the Committee on Christian Education to produce a psalter hymnal with musical settings of all 150 Psalms and a collection of hymns. In 2011 the OPC entered into an arrangement with the United Reformed Churches of North America to work together on the project. In 2014, the OPC GA approved the collection of psalms. This year the General Assembly will need to vote on the collection of hymns for the Psalter Hymnal. A collection of 428 hymns was presented to the assembly for approval as a package. But the vote would have to wait until Friday because the order of the day arrived and commissioners needed some rest after a long day. The assembled was dismissed for the evening at 9 p.m. with prayer by Elder Mark Graham. The work of the General Assembly began at 8:30 a.m. when Mr. Taveres, the moderator, called the assembly to order. The first order of business was the singing of God’s praises through the hymn “O Worship the King.” After prayer by the Rev. Bruce Buchanan, the assembly was introduced to the Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen who greeted the assembly on behalf of the United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA). Mr. Vander Meulen serves as the chairman of the Psalter Hymnal Committee of the URCNA. He praised God that this joint venture of the OPC and URCNA has provided a wonderful demonstration of the unity of the faith that these two bodies share. The assembly then returned to the report of the Committee on Christian Education and addressed Overture 1. This overture is a request of the Presbytery of Central Pennsylvania asking the assembly to direct the Committee on Christian Education to consider the preparation of a modern English study version of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Such a version would seek to modernize the language of the catechism without changing its meaning. Representatives of the Presbytery of Central Pennsylvania were careful to explain that this modernized version would not hold constitutional standing in the church but instead would be available to the churches for study and memorization. Such a version could aid the discipleship of Christians for whom English is a second language as well as native English speakers. Commissioners had different convictions about the wisdom of such a project. But the assembly was agreed that the Committee on Christian Education should study the proposal and report back to next year’s assembly with detailed recommendations. The assembly then returned to the topic of the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. A series of three motions was passed to finalize approval. First, the collection of 428 hymns was approved as a package. Then the assembly approved the Psalter Hymnal as a whole. Finally, the assembly voted to communicate its decisions to Synod 2016 of the United Reformed Churches of North America, the highest assembly of that body. The Synod will meet next week and our brothers from the URCNA will vote on motions similar to those just passed by the OPC assembly. If the URCNA votes to proceed, the Psalter Hymnal will go into production. It will take some time to get all the necessary copyright approvals, but the hope is that the Psalter Hymnal would be available for purchase in late 2017. Just before the morning break, the commissioners were directed outside for the annual GA photo. GA photographer Mrs. Tricia Stevenson and her husband the Rev. Jim Stevenson coaxed the group into position by the water’s edge. Mrs. Stevenson snapped a bunch of pictures, diligently trying to make this group of Presbyterians look as good as possible. The assembly reconvened and held elections for the class of 2019 of the Committee on Christian Education. Elder James Gidley and Elder John Muether were elected to the Subcommittee on Ministerial Training. The Rev. Glen Clary, the Rev. David Harr, and the Rev. Alan Strange were elected to the committee at large. Next the work of the Committee on Coordination was discussed. The goal of the committee is to recommend to the General Assembly a combined budget for Worldwide Outreach (Christian Education, Foreign Missions, and Home Missions and Church Extension), to encourage the practice of biblical stewardship in the church, and to help coordinate the promotion of the work of Worldwide Outreach. Elder David Haney, Director of Finance and Planned Giving for the OPC, reported for the committee. He detailed several reasons to thank the Lord. In 2015 the program committees of Worldwide Outreach were able to meet their budgets. That means that about $4 million went to the work of carrying out the great commission. The church can also praise God for the 2015 Thank Offering of over a million dollars. Following the report, the assembly approved a combined Worldwide Outreach budget of 4.1 million for 2017, a 1% increase over last year. At the 11:40 a.m. order of the day, the Rev. Ryan McGraw gave a timely devotional entitled “Cultivating Christ-Honoring Speech in Church Courts.” Preaching from Proverbs 15:1–4, Mr. McGraw challenged the assembly with the need for the wise use of the tongue. One should leave General Assembly loving Jesus more because of the God-glorifying speeches we have heard on the floor of the assembly. Hymn 644 was a fitting conclusion: “May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say.” Following the lunch break, the assembly reconvened with the singing of “Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder.” The Rev. Douw G. Breed brought fraternal greetings from the Reformed Churches of South Africa (RCSA). The RCSA was established in 1859 and has 91,000 members in over 300 churches. Their federation has a history of active missionary work in the southern part of the African continent and India. Mr. Breed asked the assembly to pray for the RCSA as they seek to be salt and light at a time where their country is struggling with economic and political difficulties. The assembly was treated to another brief video highlighting one of faithful women of the OPC. Dora Duff was a tireless laborer on the foreign mission field. She met her husband, the Rev. Clarence Duff in Ethopia. After being forced to leave the field due to Mussolini’s aggression in north Africa, Mrs. Duff longed to return to mission work. She personally petitioned the General Secretary for the Committee on Foreign Missions to send her and her husband to Eritrea because the need for the gospel was so great. They ministered in Eritrea until 1971. The rest of the day was taken up with matters surrounding appeals and complaints. This is often the most complicated part of the General Assembly. The commissioners labor carefully to make sure that proper procedure is followed, to try to ensure justice in the courts of Christ’s church. It isn’t hard for an assembly to get tied up in procedural knots. These knots typically take time to untangle. But the goal is clear: care for Christ’s sheep. This year the assembly dealt with a complaint coming from a local session on appeal. That session filed a complaint against another local session, claiming it had failed to act biblically. The complaint was ruled out of order by both the session complained against and by the presbytery on appeal. After much debate, the assembly determined to remand the complaint back to the presbytery, so that it could address the substance of the case. The assembly considered a communication that presented a series of three complaints that came to assembly after the normal deadline for consideration of appeals and complaints had passed. The assembly determined that the lateness of the complaints made it unable to effectively handle the matter at this assembly. The session that brought the complaint to the assembly may submit their complaints to next year’s assembly. The difficult afternoon and evening of labor was interspersed with more encouraging presentations. Following the afternoon break, the assembly watched a video about the life of Mrs. Mabel Danzeisen. Mrs. Danzeisen served in a quiet corner of the OPC and her name is not widely known. But she is a wonderful example of the backbone of the OPC. Mrs. Danzeisen taught at a one-room schoolhouse in Carson, North Dakota. For thirty years she served as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School superintendent, and officer in the Women’s Missionary Society. In the afternoon, the assembly heard from the Rev. Daniel Wilson of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand (RCNZ). Mr. Wilson is a North Carolina native and Greenville Seminary graduate who moved to New Zealand to minister in the RCNZ. The OPC and RCNZ have a long history of swapping ministers, a testimony to the close fellowship of these two bodies. Mr. Wilson described the need for more ministers in the RCNZ and urged OPC men to consider a call in New Zealand. After dinner, the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA) greeted the assembly through fraternal delegate Rev. Reinier Noppers. Established by Dutch immigrants in the 1950s, the CRCA has 57 churches and 10 church plants. Through it started as an ethnic church, it has since developed into a very multicultural communion. Mr. Noppers encouraged the assembly with the words of Philippians 1:9, “that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” On a day filled with much difficult deliberations, it is good time to talk about some bright spots at the assembly. The assembly is able to function smoothly due to the diligent labor of many behind-the-scenes workers. Eight different young people serve as assembly “pages”. These pages are called into service at various points in the day to distribute printed materials, set out snacks, man registration tables, and give directions to commissioners. These enthusiastic and helpful young men and women range in age from 9 up to 20. The pages for 2016 are Rachel, Bethany, Jacob, and Joshua Stevenson (children of the Rev. Jim Stevenson of Providence OPC in Tulsa) and Tina, Maddie, and Emma Nakhla (children of Elder David Nakhla, Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response Coordinator). Ben Ward (Covenant OPC, St. Augustine, FL) and Thomas Roof (Cornerstone OPC, Ambler, PA) run the complex sound system utilized by the assembly in the Chesapeake Auditorium. They operate eleven different microphones that need to be turned on at a moment’s notice to enable the commissioners to hear each other. The Rev. Robert Tarullo (Westminster OPC, Indian Head Park, IL) runs the invaluable electronic voting system and Elder David Mahaffy (Sovereign Grace OPC, Oak Harbor, WA) controls the video system. We praise God for these cheerful laborers. The assembly concluded for the evening at 8:30 p.m. with prayer by the Rev. Bruce Prentice (Bethel OPC, Carson, ND). The assembly adjourned a half hour early in order to hold a reception for Cal and Edie Cummings in celebration of their retirement after 40-plus years of missionary service in Japan. Foreign Missions General Secretary Mark Bube read the resolution of thanks that will be printed in the minutes of the assembly, detailing the sacrificial service of the Cummingses to the Lord Jesus Christ. Cal and Edie each addressed the assembly, describing the blessed life that God has granted to them. Mr. Bube thanked the Lord of the harvest for graciously providing these faithful laborers. Commissioners and guests then enjoyed a reception of pizza and cake. When Moderator Tavares took up the gavel to call the assembly to order, it was an act filled with historic significance. It was on this day 80 years ago that the Rev. J. Gresham Machen took up the work as moderator of the very first General Assembly in Philadelphia. On this 80th birthday of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the commissioners at Sandy Cove looked to God in prayer as they sought to be faithful to the legacy of faithfulness that has been passed down to them. Sadly, the day began with difficult news. The Rev. LeRoy Miller had to be taken during the night to Christiana Medical Center in Delaware with a kidney blockage. Mr. Miller went into surgery Saturday morning to correct the problem. The Lord was pleased to answer the prayers of God’s people on his behalf. The surgery was successful and Mr. Miller was able to return to the Sandy Cove Conference Center by the end of the day. Praise the Lord for his fatherly care! The Rev. Maynard Koerner brought fraternal greetings from the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS). The RCUS is the much older sister of the OPC, having just met for their 270th General Synod. Mr. Koerner reported that the RCUS has been encouraged and challenged by the OPC’s work of missions and church planting. He praised the Lord for the good relationship between the two bodies and commended the commissioners “to God and to the word of his grace” (Acts 20:32). The assembly returned to the work of the Committee on Appeals and Complaints. The committee is seeking to increase its size from three men to five in order to aid them in their heavy workload. In order to make such a change to the Standing Rules of the assembly, an amendment needs to first be proposed to the following year’s assembly, then passed that following year. The assembly followed the committee’s recommendation and did indeed propose this amendment to the 84th General Assembly. Elections for the committee were held and the Rev. John Mallin and Elder Thomas Crumplar were elected. Then the Assembly returned to its review of the work of the Committee on Coordination for one final action. The Rev. Donald Duff and Elder John Mazunik were re-elected to the committee. The next report came from the Committee on Diaconal Ministries (CDM). Elder David Nakhla serves as the CDM administrator as well as Short-term Missions and Disaster Response Coordinator. Mr. Nakhla reported that the committee provides assistance to diaconal needs that are too large to be handled by local deacons or presbytery diaconal committees. The CDM also seeks to provide training for local deacons. For example, the CDM will sponsor its third Diaconal Summit in June 2017. Contributions to the denominational diaconal fund are used to support the diaconal outreach of our foreign missionaries. For example, the CDM funds the work of the medical clinic in Naakale, Uganda. The committee also coordinates aid to help those affected by natural disasters, in the name of Jesus Christ. The committee is currently studying how it can partner with local churches around the world to help bring relief to those suffering from the current worldwide refugee crisis. Finally, the commissioners watched a brief video on the work of short term missions—an increasing focus in the OPC. The assembly responded to the CDM report by passing a request for churches to support the work of the committee at the rate of $25 per communicant member for 2017. Elections were held and the Rev. Ron Pearce, Elder Alexander Zarek, and Deacon John Voss, Jr. were returned to the committee for another term of labor. The Committee on Pensions began its report just before the morning break. The committee provides a retirement plan for OPC ministers and offers term life insurance plans. Elder Roger Huibregtse reported that 2015 was not a good year for the investments of the Pension fund, but over the long term the fund has done well. Before the assembly could take up the recommendations of the committee, the order of the day arrived for the morning break. After its 20 minute recess, commissioners and visitors sang praise to God: “Thee We Adore, Eternal Lord!” and prayed for God’s blessing. The Rev. Kyle Sims brought fraternal greetings from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP). Mr. Sims reported that the ARP is moving in a more evangelical and Reformed direction. They recently passed a declaration on race, confessing sins of the past and declaring a desire to pursue ministry among people of all different races and ethnicities. Mr. Sims urged the body to pray for the denominational seminary and college, Erskine College and Theological Seminary, as they face significant financial needs. Ministers and elders were encouraged to fellowship with local ARP leaders to develop deeper relationships between the churches. The assembly then took up the recommendations of the Committee on Pensions. The assembly passed the recommendation of the Committee to change how participants receive their vested interest in the retirement fund. Under the new rules, participants would be 100% vested after two years in the plan. GA also authorized the Committee on Pensions to change the OPC Pension Plan from a trustee-directed plan to a participant-directed plan. This change will provide several asset-allocation options that will allow participants to choose the option that best fits their life situation. It is anticipated that the performance of the new plan will be comparable to or even outperform the current plan. An investment firm (Wipfli Hewins Investment Advisors, LLC) will oversee the transition and provide assistance to participants as they make investment decisions. Following prayer for the upcoming meal, the assembly adjourned for lunch. The Rev. Benjamin W. Swinburson brought a devotional message from 2 Kings 6:1–7, the story of Elisha and the floating axe head. The prophetic power of Elisha is a picture to us of the saving power of the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the midst of our weakness, our hope is in his strength. The assembly responded to God’s word with a hymn of praise, “Crown Him with Many Crowns.” The assembly quickly completed the report of the Committee on Pensions by electing Elder Bruce Stahl, the Rev. Darren Thole, Elder David Winslow, Jr. to the class of 2019. The Rev. Kurt Vetterli gave a fraternal address on behalf of his denomination, the Evangelical Reformed Church-Westminster Confession (ERKWB). The ERKWB is a Reformed body in Switzerland and Austria. Mr. Vetterli noted many similarities between our two churches: both came out of liberal bodies, both started small, and both face difficulties as the evangelical world around struggles with increasing liberalism. The ERKWB has been encouraged to have an OPC minister, the Rev. Tony Curto, visit Europe several times over the past few years for teaching and encouragement of ERKWB churches. The assembly then turned to the Report of the Committee of Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations (CEIR). CEIR is charged with pursuing and nurturing relationships with other denominations of like faith and practice as an expression of our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ. The Rev. Jack Sawyer reported for the committee. The OPC has three different levels of ecumenical relationship that represent various depths of fellowship between the bodies. At present the OPC is in “Ecclesiastical Fellowship” (the highest level of fellowship) with sixteen churches. The OPC is also in “Corresponding Relationship” with ten churches. In addition, the OPC is in “Ecumenical Contact” with fourteen churches. The OPC also participates in a number of different interchurch bodies such as the International Conference of Reformed Churches and the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. To promote this work, the assembly passed a few motions. The assembly voted to regularize its relationship with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia as one of full Ecclesiastical Fellowship. The assembly also proposed a change in its standing rules to the next assembly. The change would clarify the status of fraternal representatives of other denominations who visit OPC General Assemblies. The Rev. George Cottenden, the Rev. Tony Curto, and the Rev. Stephen Tracey were elected to serve on the committee. Next, the Committee on Chaplains and Military Personnel gave its report. The committee provides support and encouragement to military and civilian chaplains who are ministers of the OPC. Through its participation in the Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel, chaplains are officially endorsed to serve in the U.S. military. The committee also seeks to minister to those who serve in the armed forces and their families. Special thanks was given for the labors of Elder Robert Coie upon his retirement from the committee this year after many faithful and fruitful years of service. He has been instrumental in organizing God’s people to pray for chaplains and military personnel. The committee read a statement of thanks for the work of Mr. Coie, and the Rev. Richard Dickenson offered prayer. After enjoying a break and afternoon snacks, the assembly reconvened with the singing of the hymn, “Sing Praise to the Lord.” Prayer was offered by the Rev. John Ferguson. On this 80th anniversary of the OPC, the assembly was delighted to watch a brief video about another faithful woman of the OPC. This presentation featured the life of Mrs. Bobbi Olinger, the great missions lady of Southern California. As a member of Calvary OPC in La Mirada, CA, Mrs. Olinger was a tireless promoter of the work of foreign missions. She compiled detailed binders about each of the church’s missionaries, wrote skits about the lives of the missionaries for kids to perform, and gave talks in local churches about missions. The assembly returned to its review of the work of the Committee on Chaplains and Military Personnel and elected the Rev. Richard Dickenson and the Rev. Chris Wisdom to the class of 2019. Prayer was offered by Elder James Van Dam. On this historic day, it was fitting that the assembly would hear the report of the Committee for the Historian. Historian Elder John Meuther described several projects that are in development. In the fall of this year, the committee will publish a new book entitled “To Live is Christ: A Biography of E. J. Young,” on the life of the Westminster Theological Seminary professor and OPC minister. Also in production is “Choosing the Good Portion: Women of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.” The committee is gearing up to commemorate another historic anniversary, the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation. Beginning this October and continuing into 2017, New Horizons will feature a series of 15 essays on the Reformation and its impact on the OPC. The Rev. Danny Olinger introduced one more video presentation. This one was on the life of Mrs. Grace Hard, missionary to Korea. She felt called to missions at age nine and hoped to go to Tibet to share the good news of Jesus. At Wheaton College she met and married Mr. Ted Hard who became a minister in the OPC. Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet made missionary work there impossible, Mr. and Mrs. Hard were appointed missionaries to Korea in 1953. Mrs. Hard was the treasurer for the mission, taught Bible studies, and taught in Christian schools. She also taught seminary courses in Christian Education in Korea and later in India. In retirement she and her husband ran a Christian literature ministry. The Rev. Brian De Jong was reelected to the Committee for the Historian. Elder David Haney then approached the podium to report for the Temporary Committee to Study the Care for the Ministers of the Church. The committee was formed by the 81st GA in 2014 to investigate needs of OPC ministers and suggest ways in which care can be provided or enhanced during all phases of their ministry. The committee conducted a survey of ministers in 2014 to assess the needs. The committee communicated their preliminary suggestions to the Committee on Pensions and the Committee on Diaconal Ministries. Each of the committees is in support of the following recommendation: that the assembly establish a new committee, the Committee on Ministerial Care. The new committee would oversee the OPC Pension Fund, help ministers get counsel on financial planning and insurance risk management, and provide counsel to presbyteries on how to improve financial compensation for ministers. The new committee would also seek to provide non-financial support to ministers. This could involve things like mentoring, counseling, retreats, and sabbaticals. Before the assembly finished its debate on this recommendation, the order of the day for dinner arrived and the assembly concluded its business for the day. The Rev. John Fesko prayed for God’s blessing on the coming Lord’s day as Christ’s sheep gather to sing his praises and hear his word. The Lord’s Day was a helpful day of rest for the commissioners of the General Assembly after several long days of labor. Five different OPC congregations in the area welcomed commissioners and assembly visitors to their morning worship services. Each church provided lunch and warm fellowship. After dinner at Sandy Cove, an evening worship service was held at the chapel. Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Pole Tavern, NJ organized and led the worship service. The Rev. Richard Ellis encouraged God’s people with a message from Psalm 131. Knowing that the Lord is powerful and loving, his children can rest on him even during chaotic times. Following the service, many commissioners took advantage of the beautiful evening to enjoy fellowship outside by the water. The final full day of deliberations of the 83rd General Assembly began with the singing of praise to our God: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” Throughout the assembly, piano accompaniment to the singing at the opening of sessions and at the end of devotional times has been provided by two accomplished musicians─Mrs. Gail Mininger, wife of commissioner Rev. Larry Mininger from Orlando, FL, and commissioner Dr. David VanDrunen from Escondido, CA. The Rev. Kevin Backus addressed the assembly, bringing fraternal greetings on behalf of the Bible Presbyterian Church. Mr. Backus has attended twenty general assemblies and has become a good friend of the OPC. Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the OPC, he thanked the Lord for our shared history and our ongoing friendship. When planting a new church, the Bible Presbyterian Church is careful to communicate with the local OPC presbytery. The Bible Presbyterian Church has also communicated with the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries so that they will be in a position to work together with the OPC on disaster relief if needs arise. The assembly turned its attention back to the report for the Temporary Committee to Study the Care for Ministers of the Church. The GA approved the establishment and mandate of a Committee on Ministerial Care which was discussed in detail at our Saturday afternoon meeting. The assembly also proposed a series of changes to the Standing Rules that would allow for this committee to begin its work. After our morning break and the singing of “Around the Throne of God in Heaven,” the assembly heard another fraternal address. The Rev. Jerrold Lewis is from the Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA) which has twenty congregations and 3 preaching stations. They partner with the Heritage Reformed Congregations in the work of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. The FRCNA just finished a joint synod meeting with the Heritage Reformed Congregations and are investigating possible pathways to organic union. The FRCNA has benefited from their relationship with the OPC. For example, the General Assembly study reports have proven helpful. The assembly enjoyed the final video on prominent women of the OPC. Mrs. Betty Andrews was a dedicated missionary of the OPC. She married OP missionary Rev. Egbert Andrews, and they ministered in Taiwan for twenty years. Mrs. Andrews taught Sunday School classes, taught a woman’s Bible study in Taiwanese, and used her musical gifts to serve the mission. After retiring from the mission field, Mrs. Andrews continued to serve the Lord at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community. She visited the sick, played the piano, and prayed for hours. She still resides at Quarryville at age 98. Throughout the assembly commissioners have enjoyed an informative display of artifacts of OPC history in the lobby of the Sandy Cove Conference Center. The display highlights the contributions of faithful women in history of the OPC. The display was put together by Miss Abigail Harting, daughter of the Rev. Robert Harting, pastor of our church in Middletown, Delaware. Miss Harting has just completed a master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University in museum studies and non-profit business management. Eager to use her gifts for the church, she volunteered much time and expertise to put together this display. The assembly then heard a report of the Special Committee to Visit the Presbytery of the Northwest that was erected by the 81st GA, two years ago. The committee was given the task of helping this presbytery in dealing with conflicts that have divided it. The committee reviewed hundreds of pages of documents and made six different trips for face-to-face meetings. A theological dispute played a significant role in the present divisions. But in the committee’s assessment the more fundamental cause of divisions was the systemic failure to pastorally and effectively address concerns on the personal and corporate levels. The committee has seen fruit from their ministry. One evidence of this came in the form of a resolution of repentance that was passed without dissent by the presbytery. Another encouraging sign was the request of the presbytery to have the committee continue its work for another year on a standby basis. Through its questions and discussions, the assembly demonstrated a deep concern over the situation. It was determined to grant the request of the presbytery to continue the work of the committee for another year, urging the presbytery to continue the good work of reconciliation. The Rev. Chad Bond prayed for God’s rich blessing on the Presbytery of the Northwest and the work of the committee. At 11:40 AM the assembly paused its deliberations to hear a devotional message by the Rev. Ken Montgomery, associate pastor at Redeemer OPC in Dayton, OH. Mr. Montgomery encouraged the assembly with the words of Psalm 133. It was a timely reminder of the fragrant blessing of unity that God grants to his people through his Spirit and the ministry of the Jesus, our High Priest. After a refreshing lunch break, the assembly sang the hymn “Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow!” The Rev. Jack Sawyer read a letter from the Rev. Ben Westerveld of the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ). Mr. Westerveld gave thanks for good growth in their churches. The ERQ gives thanks for the ongoing partnership with the OPC. Each summer OP churches send missions teams to assist St. Marc’s ERQ church in their English for Kids outreach. The assembly then turned its attention to the report of the Committee to Study Republication. Two years ago, the assembly erected a committee to examine the concept of the Mosaic covenant as a republication in some sense of the covenant of works made with Adam. The committee was charged with advising the assembly as to what is consistent with the doctrinal standards of our church (the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms). The committee, consisting of five of the OPC’s most learned ministers, labored for the past two years and produced a detailed report. The committee explains that the key section of the standards is Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 7. The Confession teaches thatthere is one covenant of grace that “was administered differently in the time of the law and in the time of the gospel” (WCF VII.5). There are not “two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations” (WCF VII.6). So the Mosaic covenant must be viewed in substance as a part of the covenant of grace, through administered differently than the new covenant. This confessional language of substance and administration helps us to define which views of the Mosaic covenant are confessional and which are not. The assembly voted to distribute the report to presbyteries and other interested parties for study. The report would not carry constitutional weight, as if it were the official statement of the OPC, but the assembly determined it would be a profitable document. The report includes a list of topics pertaining to covenant theology for presbyteries to consider as they examine candidates for the ministry. Having completed work on this detailed theological report, the commissioners were encouraged by the arrival of the dinner break. The assembly regathered after the meal and sang “Jerusalem the Golden.” Last year’s assembly erected a Special Committee on Canadian Matters. The committee is studying the financial and strategic issues related to the OPC’s ongoing ministry in Canada. The OPC has three churches and two mission works in Canada, and there are certain challenges associated with these ministries. For example, a U.S. citizen who takes a call to pastor a church in Canada cannot participate in the OPC pension fund without paying taxes both in Canada and the U.S. There are also tax-related challenges concerning contributions to Worldwide Outreach. The committee gave a preliminary report but was given another year to work on solutions to these challenging issues. Toward the end of the evening it became clear that the business of the General Assembly would be wrapped up a half day early. The assembly passed a series of administrative motions. Presbytery and committee minutes were approved. The budget for the General Assembly Operating Fund was approved. Plans for the next two assemblies were discussed and approved. A detailed motion of thanks was read and passed. It thanked all those who served publicly and privately to make this assembly a success. The commissioners rose to sing a final hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.” The moderator prayed for the work of the assembly and the ministry of the OPC throughout the world. After a benediction by the Rev. Archibald Allison, Moderator Tavares officially dissolved the 83rd General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He called for a new assembly to convene on May 31, 2017 at Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Illinois. The assembly responded by singing the Doxology. Indeed, God is to be praised as the one from whom all blessings flow. The 83rd General Assembly was filled with the blessings the Lord had graciously given. May he use these efforts for the furthering of the kingdom of his beloved Son. This report was written by the Rev. David J. Harr, pastor of Immanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Medford, New Jersey.

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In defense of the Pilgrims November 22, 2012 Nathan Smith 6 Comments By what right did 100 English Puritans, remembered as “the Pilgrims,” arrive at Cape Cod late in the year in 1620 and establish a new settlement called Plymouth Plantation? None was needed. Or if you prefer, by the right over the earth which God granted to all mankind when He told Adam and Eve: Be fruitful and multiply: fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, and over every living thing that moves on the earth… Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing herb that sows seed on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. I also give every green plant as food for all the wild animals of the earth, for all the birds of heaven, and for everything that creeps on the earth in which is the breath of life. (Genesis 1:28-30) The Pilgrims came to North America, not with the intention to harm anyone or to take the fruit of anyone else’s labor, but rather, to provide for their own sustenance through their own labor, and to practice their religion in peace. They had no authorization from the English king to settle in New England. They did have authorization from the English king to settle in Virginia, which had been carefully procured through their contacts in the Virginia Company. It seems clear, however, that they had few scruples about acquiring such authorization, regarding it rather as a guarantee that the monarch wouldn’t physically destroy any settlement they might establish. They had considered settling in Guyana, and ruled it out partly because the Spanish would likely destroy such a colony militarily, especially if it flourished. They had no authorization from the native Americans to settle. That is not because they regarded the natives as inherently inferior or as lacking human rights, as a certain detail in William Bradford’ history Of Plymouth Plantation makes especially clear. Having just reached Cape Cod, late in the year and short of supplies, at one point the Pilgrims took some food from the Indians after these had run away in fear: After this, the shallop [a light sail-boat] being got ready, they set out again for the better discovery of this place, and the master of the ship desired to go himself, so there went some 30. men, but found it to be no harbor for ships but only for boats; there was also found two of their houses covered with mats, and sundry of their implements in them, but the people were run away and could not be seen; also there was found more of their corn, and of their beans of various colors. The corn and beans they brought away, purposing to give them full satisfaction when they should meet with any of them (as about some six months afterward they did, to their good content). And here is to be noted a special providence of God, and a great mercy to this poor people, that hear they got seed to plant them corn the next year, or else they might have starved, for they had none, nor any likelihood to get any till the season had been past (as the sequel did manifest). Neither is it likely they had had this, if the first voyage had not been made, for the ground was now all covered with snow, and hard frozen. But the Lord is never wanting to his in their greatest needs; let his holy name have all the praise. In short, they stole. About the later end of this month, one John Billington lost himself in the woods, and wandered up and down some five days, living on berries and what he could find. At length he lit on an Indian plantation, twenty miles south of this place, called Manamet, they conveyed him further off, to Nawsett, among those people that had before set upon the English when they were coasting, whilst the ship lay at the Cape, as is before noted. But the Governor caused him to be inquired for among the Indians, and at length Massassoyt sent word where he was, and the Governor sent a shallop for him, and had him delivered. Those people also came and made their peace; and they [the Pilgrims] gave full satisfaction to those whose corn they had found and taken when they were at Cape Cod. Clearly, the Pilgrims did not regard their moral rules as applying only among themselves. They didn’t feel too guilty of a theft of food that they desperately needed, rather thanking God for the opportunity. But they were determined to repay it, and they did so. Indians and whites alike were men, and had the rights of men. The Pilgrims came neither to enslave, nor to dispossess. They did not initiate violence, and though heavily armed and not afraid to use force in a just cause, they sought a path of peace amidst the endemic warfare of the Indian tribes. They were not particularly resentful when the Indians did resort to violence, for they held themselves to a higher moral standard than they expected of the Indians, having benefited from the light of the Gospel, as the Indians had not. They were not violating the rights of the native Americans of those times by settling among them, just as undocumented immigrants today are not violating the rights of native Americans today by settling among us. Human rights consist in the safety of one’s person and property. Against this, one might suppose that there is some sort of a collective right over a slab of territory, which is controlled by the “sovereign” government or the majority or whatever, such that unauthorized immigrants like the Pilgrims or Mexican fruit-pickers are violating. But there isn’t. That’s why the Pilgrims did nothing wrong, and why it’s quite right that Americans continue to take pride in them and celebrate them. If you accept this, you can accept the story of the First Thanksgiving in the proper spirit: as a sort of national epic for America, a great and heroic adventure leading to the founding of a nation, with this distinction from most other national epics: that it is (a) true, and (b) peaceful. It is a story of great faith and courage, but also of humility. Its heroes are common men. They take no credit but give it to God. It began with some rural Englishmen who took it upon themselves to be more devout than was fashionable at the time. They wanted to restore pristine Christianity. They began to assemble in certain congregations, and to be persecuted. Having heard that there was religious freedom in Holland, they resolved to emigrate. It is interesting to compare their twelve years’ sojourn in Holland with their arrival in America. From Bradford’s account, they seem to have asked no one’s leave to settle there, nor to encountered any hindrance to so doing. Bradford does not specially remark that Holland had open borders. It suffices to say that Holland was a “civil [civilized] country.” The Puritans had fears about moving to Holland: Being thus constrained to leave their native soil and country, their lands and livings, and all their freinds and familiar acquaintance, it was much, and thought marvelous by many… to goe into a country they knew not (but by hearsay), where they must learn a new language, and get their livings they knew not how, it being a dear [expensive] place, and subject to the miseries of war [Holland was chronically at war with Spain, which claimed sovereignty over it], it was by many thought an adventure almost desperate, a case intolerable, and a misery worse then death. Especially seeing they were not acquainted with trades nor traffic, (by which that country doth subsist,) but had only been used to a plain country life, and the innocent trade of husbandry. But these things did not dismay them (though they did some times trouble them) for their desires were set on the ways of God, and to enjoy his ordinances; but they rested on his providence, and knew whom they had believed. It is striking that simply being driven out by force on the grounds that they were foreigners with no right to live in Holland isn’t listed even among the things that they feared. The twelve years that the Pilgrims sojourned in Holland were years of truce in its war with Spain, and the renewal of that war was one reason the Pilgrims wanted to leave. Another was that the culture of Holland was ill-suited to the very religious lifestyle they preferred. It was, in particular, a bad influence on their youth. (I sort of like it that this archetypically social-conservative angst played its role in the nation’s founding.) It’s hard to tell from Bradford’s history whether they had prospered in Holland or not: it seems they were well-received but had chronic economic difficulties. But they also seem to have wanted vaguely to do something great for the Lord, to set in motion some great providential design. In that, they succeeded! We know that part of the story, perhaps, better than they ever did, for what was abstract to them has become concrete to us. We see the reality of which they saw but the dream and the foreshadowing. Organizing the voyage was very complicated and full of travails and setbacks and negotiations that went awry: Boston, a few years later, was much more successful, but it probably couldn’t have happened without Plymouth Plantation. Boston was the masterpiece of venture capitalism to which Plymouth Plantation was the snafu-ridden pilot project. Half the company died in the winter of 1620-21, so you can imagine the gratitude a year later when they had managed to raise crops, store food for the winter, and establish peace with neighboring Indian tribes, with much help from Squanto, an Indian who had been in Europe and spoke broken English and who became their friend and ally, now instructing them how to grow corn in New England soil, now acting as a diplomat to neighboring tribes. The first Thanksgiving was in November 1621. Puritan New England, more than Virginia, is where the American civilization we know today was born. There was a Lord of the Flies element in the history of early Virginia, a breakdown of civilized values when they were removed beyond the societal matrix which maintained them. Not a complete breakdown, but enough to give a toehold to a barbarous institution which tainted American history for centuries thereafter: slavery. The whole southern United States became a slave society. It was the little undocumented colony of religious refugees that flourished through equality and freedom, setting a new pattern of society which has become American democracy, now widely emulated around the world. Civilized values held firm among the Pilgrims because they were founded on religion, and the civil constitution grew out of them. It is thanks to the Pilgrims that America became a bastion of freedom, and thanks to America that the West remained the bastion of freedom through the two world wars. The dividends from the Pilgrims’ venture exceed all calculation. Now, if you reject the simple and natural idea that people such as the Pilgrims have a right to go and settle in a new place with the intention of living peaceably by their own labor and have no need for anyone’s authorization in order to do so, you can’t appreciate this story. You’re compelled to disapprove. Squanto, the Pilgrims’ kind friend, the cultural bridge between the Old and New Worlds, becomes a traitor. The Pilgrims are invaders. VDARE says this explicitly: Thanksgiving is a purely American holiday, started in the year 1621 by the Pilgrims, a group of people entirely white, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant. It has nothing to do with immigration. But increasingly every year, the cultural establishment tries to make Thanksgiving about immigration... But the Pilgrims were not immigrants—they were either colonizers or invaders, depending on your point of view. Of course “colonizers or invaders” might be a good way to describe some modern immigrants. There’s no “depending on your point of view” about it. Indeed, that expression is a good example of the rotten moral relativism that seems to lie at the heart of much nativism. What are we to understand here? That the Pilgrims were invaders and we should disdain them as such? Or that “we”– Americans– should, from our “point of view,” regard the Pilgrims as “colonists,” and can approve of them, but we should disdain the “invaders” among modern immigrants — and also, presumably, native Americans are entitled to be just as disdainful of the Pilgrims from their “point of view?” What kind of a holiday can Thanksgiving be under this interpretation? Are we celebrating a successful invasion– not celebrating that what the Pilgrims did was good, but only that “we” happened towin?How could anyone feel festive with such amoral notions in their minds? No, the Pilgrims were in the right, objectively in the right, they did a brave and heroic thing, and sowed the seeds for a vast harvest of benefit to all mankind, though they were but common men, innocent country people, seeking not glory, but more or less just to go to church on Sunday unmolested. They showed heroic courage, yet without the violence that has so often accompanied courage in history, and marred it. It is a fitting tribute to the Pilgrims that the holiday they have bequeathed to us– though, also fittingly, it wasn’t instituted as a holiday by them, but long afterwards– celebrates not their courage but God’s gifts, for they chose, rightly, to take credit for nothing but give all the credit to God. Let me finish with more words from William Bradford. But hear I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people’s present condition; and so I think will the reader too, when he well considers the same. Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation (as may be remembered by that which wente before), they had now no friends to welcome them, nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies, no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seeke for succor. It is recorded in scripture as a mercy to the apostle and his shipwrecked company, that the barbarians shewed them no small kindnes in refreshing them, but these savage barbarians, when they met with them (as after will appear) were readier to fill their sides full of arrows than otherwise. And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search an unknown coast. Besids, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men? and what multitudes there might be of them they knew not. Neither could they, as it were, go up to the top of Pisgah, to view from this wildemes a more goodly country to feed their hopes ; for which way soever they turned their eyes (save upward to the heavens) they could have little solace or content in respect of any outward objects. For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a weatherbeaten face ; and the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hue. If they looked behind them, there was the mighty ocean which they had passed, and was now as a main bar and gulf to seperate them from all the civil parts of the world. If it be said they had a ship to succor them, it is trew; but what heard they daily from the master and company? but that with speed they should look out a place with their shallop, where they would be at some near distance; for the season was such as he would not stir from thence till a safe harbor was discovered by them where they would be, and he might go without danger; and that victuals consumed apace, but he must and would keep sufficient for themselves and their return. Yea, it was muttered by some, that if they got not a place in time, they would turn them and their goods ashore and leave them. Let it also be considered what weak hopes of supply and succor they left behind them, that might bear up their minds in this sad condition and trials they were under; and they could not but be very small. It is true, indeed, the affections and love of their brethren at Leyden [some of their community had stayed behind in Holland, in the town of Leyden] was cordial and entire towards them, but they had little power to help them, or themselves… What could now sustaine them but the spirit of God and his grace? Amen to that. Thanks be to God this day for all those who have made long journeys to build America. history of bordersmoral relativismThanksgivingthen versus nowVDARE Previous PostThankful for ImmigrationNext PostAviva Chomsky on open borders: weak on economics, stronger on politics and history 6 thoughts on “In defense of the Pilgrims” Pingback: Links & comment « Rhymes With Cars & Girls Pingback: Links der Woche | Freisinnige Zeitung Pingback: » Open borders and religious freedom Open Borders: The Case Pingback: We still have much to do | Open Borders: The Case Pingback: How Would a Billion Immigrants Change the American Polity? | Open Borders: The Case In defense of the Pilgrims is licensed by Nathan Smith under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

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364 F. 3d 269 - Delta Commercial Fisheries Association 364 F3d 269 Delta Commercial Fisheries Association DELTA COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ASSOCIATION; John Thompson, Plaintiffs-Appellants, GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL; United States Department of Commerce, Donald L. Evans, as Secretary of, Defendants-Appellees. No. 03-30545. United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. L. Kevin Coleman (argued), Law Office of L. Kevin Coleman, New Orleans, LA, James Felix Gasquet, Law Office of James F. Gasquet, III, Buras, LA, for Plaintiffs-Appellants. William Brandt Lazarus (argued), U.S. Dept. of Justice, Environment & Nat. Resources Div., Washington, DC, for Defendants-Appellees. Mark A. Brown, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Environment & Nat. Resources, Washington, DC, for U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Before BENAVIDES, STEWART and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. BENAVIDES, Circuit Judge: Plaintiff-Appellant Delta Commercial Fisheries Association is a non-profit corporation designed to represent the interests of commercial fishermen. Plaintiff-Appellant John E. Thompson is a commercial fisherman and president of the Association. Appellants (together, the "Association") sued the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, the federal authorities responsible for regulating fishing in U.S. waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The Association's suit alleges that the Council does not include "fair and balanced" representation of commercial and recreational fishing interests as required by a provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C.A. § 1852(b)(2)(B) (West 2000). The district court determined that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the Association's claims and dismissed the suit. We affirm the judgment of the district court for two reasons: first, the Association lacked standing; and second, the United States has not waived its sovereign immunity from this type of suit. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1801-1883 (West 2000), aims to preserve fishery resources by preventing overfishing, id. § 1801(a)(6). The Act creates several Regional Fishery Management Councils, each of which works with the Secretary of Commerce to manage fishery resources in a particular area. Id. § 1852(a). For instance, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council manages fishery resources off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Id. § 1852(a)(1)(E). Each council develops a fishery management plan with accompanying regulations and limits on catches, takes public comments, and submits the proposed plan and regulations to the Secretary. Id. § 1852(h). The Secretary then reviews the proposed plan and regulations and either approves or disapproves them. Id. § 1854. The Gulf of Mexico Council comprises seventeen voting members, eleven of which the Secretary appoints.1 Id. § 1852(a)(1)(E). Each voting member serves a three-year term. Id. § 1852(b)(3). The Secretary must appoint candidates from lists submitted by the governors of the states represented on the Council. Id. § 1852(b)(2)(C). After consulting representatives of commercial and recreational fishing interests "to the extent practicable," each governor submits a list of three qualified individuals for each vacancy on the Council. Id. The Secretary then reviews each governor's list and, if any individual on the list is not qualified, directs the governor to submit a new list. Id. In making appointments, the Secretary "shall, to the extent practicable, ensure a fair and balanced apportionment, on a rotating or other basis, of the active participants (or their representatives) in the commercial and recreational fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council." Id. § 1852(b)(2)(B). The Secretary must submit a report to two congressional committees showing that the Council is fair and balanced. Id. This case focuses on § 1852(b)(2)(B)'s requirement that the Secretary ensure "fair and balanced" representation of commercial and recreational fishing interests. The Association asserts the Council has not been fair and balanced because representation is weighted toward recreational interests. Over the last four years, seven of the eleven appointed members have represented recreational interests, while only three or four members have represented commercial interests. The Association complained to the Secretary about this imbalance, but the Secretary responded that his ability to ensure "fair and balanced" representation is limited because the governors control the pool of available appointees. The Association then sued the Council and the Secretary in his official capacity.2 The suit seeks declarations (1) that the composition of the Council is not and has not been "fair and balanced"; (2) that shrimp aquaculture (which some recent Council members have represented) is not a commercial fishing interest; and (3) that when a substantial imbalance of representation exists, a list of nominees drawn solely from recreational fishing interests is not "qualified" within the meaning of the Act. The suit also seeks a preliminary (but not permanent) injunction prohibiting the Secretary and Council from (1) appointing new members; (2) allowing new members to take their seats; and (3) conducting business that affects commercial fishermen. The Government moved to dismiss under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). The Government argued (1) that the United States has not waived its sovereign immunity; (2) that the Act does not provide for a private right of action to challenge the Council's composition; and (3) that the Association lacked Article III standing to sue. The district court concluded that the Act did not waive the Government's sovereign immunity against a suit challenging the composition of the Council and therefore dismissed the case based on lack of jurisdiction. Delta Commercial Fisheries Ass'n v. Gulf of Mex. Fishery Mgmt. Council, 259 F.Supp.2d 511, 516 (E.D.La.2003). The Association appealed. We first address the Association's Article III standing to challenge the composition of the Council. Although the district court did not address standing, this Court "may affirm summary judgment on any legal ground raised below, even if it was not the basis for the district court's decision." Performance Autoplex II Ltd. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co., 322 F.3d 847, 853 (5th Cir.2003). We review questions of standing de novo. Arguello v. Conoco, Inc., 330 F.3d 355, 361 (5th Cir.2003). If a plaintiff lacks Article III standing, then a federal court lacks jurisdiction to hear the complaint. Grant ex rel. Family Eldercare v. Gilbert, 324 F.3d 383, 386 (5th Cir.2003). The Association, as the party invoking federal jurisdiction, bears the burden of establishing the three familiar elements of Article III standing: injury in fact, causation, and redressibility. McConnell v. Fed. Election Comm'n, 540 U.S. 93, 124 S.Ct. 619, 707, 157 L.Ed.2d 491 (2003). To show injury in fact, a plaintiff must demonstrate an injury that is "`concrete,' `distinct and palpable,' and `actual or imminent.'" Id. (quoting Whitmore v. Arkansas, 495 U.S. 149, 155, 110 S.Ct. 1717, 109 L.Ed.2d 135 (1990)). The Association has failed to explain how the purported imbalance of interests on the Council causes any such injury. The Association alleges that regulations made by the Council profoundly affect their ability to earn a living. However, the Association has failed to challenge any specific fishery plan, regulation, order, or enforcement action. Nor has the Association challenged any specific appointment to the Council. The Association admits that it has not challenged any specific adverse action by the Council or by the Secretary. Instead, the Association emphasizes the purported deviation from the statutory requirement that the Council be "fair and balanced." According to the Association, this deviation by itself constitutes injury in fact. But the only interest injured by deviating from this mandate is the Association's generalized interest in proper application of the law. Frustration of such an interest is not by itself an injury in fact for purposes of standing. See Sierra Club v. Glickman, 156 F.3d 606, 613 (5th Cir.1998).3 The Association complains that challenging a specific regulation would be unworkable. Any such challenge, the Association argues, would require a showing that the regulation is arbitrary and capricious — a showing that, in the Association's view, is exceedingly difficult. These practical obstacles, however, do not obviate the "irreducible" constitutional requirement that a plaintiff demonstrate an actual or imminent injury. See McConnell v. Fed. Election Comm'n, 124 S.Ct. at 707 (quoting Vt. Agency of Natural Res. v. United States ex rel. Stevens, 529 U.S. 765, 771, 120 S.Ct. 1858, 146 L.Ed.2d 836 (2000)). A plaintiff's failure to establish one of the three elements of Article III standing deprives federal courts of jurisdiction to hear the plaintiff's suit. Rivera v. Wyeth-Ayerst Labs., 283 F.3d 315, 319 (5th Cir.2002). Therefore, because the Association has failed to establish an injury in fact, the district court's dismissal for lack of jurisdiction was appropriate. We also agree with the district court that the Association's suit is barred by sovereign immunity. The United States must consent to be sued, and that consent is a prerequisite to federal jurisdiction. United States v. Navajo Nation, 537 U.S. 488, 502, 123 S.Ct. 1079, 155 L.Ed.2d 60 (2003). Consent may not be inferred, but must be unequivocally expressed. United States v. White Mountain Apache Tribe, 537 U.S. 465, 472, 123 S.Ct. 1126, 155 L.Ed.2d 40 (2003). Even when the United States waives its sovereign immunity in part, that partial waiver must be strictly construed in favor of the Government. Ardestani v. INS, 502 U.S. 129, 137, 112 S.Ct. 515, 116 L.Ed.2d 496 (1991).4 We review claims of sovereign immunity de novo. Koehler v. United States, 153 F.3d 263 (5th Cir.1998). The Association contends that § 1861(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act waives the United States' sovereign immunity. That section provides that "[t]he district courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any case or controversy arising under the provisions of this chapter." 16 U.S.C.A. § 1861(d) (West 2000). The Association argues that, because "this chapter" refers to the entire Act, the United States has waived sovereign immunity for "any case or controversy" arising under the Act. The Association further argues that because § 1861(d) authorizes district courts to issue various orders and to "take such actions as are in the interest of justice," the United States has unequivocally waived its sovereign immunity from suit. We find no such unequivocal waiver in § 1861(d). We have consistently held that a statute providing for district court jurisdiction over certain kinds of cases or controversies does not by itself waive sovereign immunity. See, e.g., Beall v. United States, 336 F.3d 419, 421-22 (5th Cir.2003); Koehler, 153 F.3d at 266 n. 2 (5th Cir.1998).5 Nor does the fact that § 1861(d) also authorizes district courts to issue certain orders and take certain actions transform this provision into an unequivocal waiver of sovereign immunity. Empowering a district court to take certain actions is not tantamount to authorizing a civil action against the federal government. Without an unequivocal waiver, federal courts lack jurisdiction to hear suits brought against the United States. White Mountain, 537 U.S. at 472, 123 S.Ct. 1126 (2003). Therefore, the district court's dismissal of this case for lack of jurisdiction was appropriate. The Association has failed to prove that any injury in fact flowed from the purported imbalance on the Council. Furthermore, sovereign immunity bars the Association's challenge to the composition of the Council.6 We therefore AFFIRM district court's judgment dismissing the Association's suit for lack of jurisdiction. The other members of the Council are the regional director of the National Maritime Fisheries Service and the principal state officer in charge of fisheries for each represented stateId. § 1852(b)(1). The Association originally sued the Secretary as an individual but later amended its pleadings to delete all reference to the Secretary as an individual. Thus, the Association has not sued the Secretary or any voting member of the Council in his or her individual capacity and does not seek to invokeEx parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908). Cargill, Inc. v. United States, 173 F.3d 323 (5th Cir.1999), a case that bears some superficial resemblance to this case, is distinguishable. In Cargill, a federal agency planned a study of the toxic effects of diesel on miners. The agency decided to arrange for peer review of the protocol to be used in the study. The agency therefore authorized a board of scientific counselors to review the protocol. A coalition of mine owners protested that the board was not "fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented" as required by § 5 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act ("FACA"), 5 U.S.C.A. app. 2 § 5 (West 1996). The Government argued that the mine owners had not demonstrated that a deviation from the "fairly balanced" requirement constituted an injury in fact. However, Cargill determined that "[w]hen the requirement is ignored, persons having a direct interest in the committee's purpose suffer injury-in-fact sufficient to confer standing to sue." 173 F.3d at 337 (quoting Nat'l Anti-Hunger Coalition v. Executive Comm. of the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, 711 F.2d 1071, 1074 n. 2 (D.C.Cir.1983)). The challenge mounted by the mine owners in Cargill was far more concrete than the allegations brought by the Association in this case. The plaintiff mine owners in Cargill were challenging review of a specific protocol that would control an already-planned study in which the government required them to participate. Cargill, 173 F.3d at 330 n. 5. The data gleaned from the study would have paved the way for new regulations based on the study's findings and could also have exposed the mine owners to tort liability. Id. In contrast, the Association has identified no regulation or order that the Council has taken or is more likely to take as a result of the alleged underrepresentation of commercial fishing. Therefore, Cargill does not control this case. Section 1855(f) of the Act does partially waive sovereign immunity by providing for judicial review of regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act. However, the Association has not attacked any regulations and does not rely on § 1855(f) InBeall, for instance, the court analyzed 28 U.S.C. § 1346, which authorizes district court jurisdiction over cases involving the recovery of erroneously or illegally collected taxes. Beall, 336 F.3d at 422. The court determined that § 1346 did not by itself waive sovereign immunity. Id. Only when combined with a provision allowing for a civil action to recover wrongfully collected taxes could § 1346 be considered a waiver of sovereign immunity. Id. Because we decide this case based on standing and sovereign immunity, we decline to address the Government's alternative arguments that the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes no private right of action to challenge the composition of the Council and that the Act's "fair and balanced" requirement is nonjusticiable

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417 F. 2d 1246 - United States v. Mitchell 417 F2d 1246 United States v. Mitchell UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, Robert Duane MITCHELL, Defendant-Appellant. United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit. Oct. 20, 1969. Everett B. Hale, Manitowoc, Wis., for defendant-appellant. Robert J. Lerner, U.S. Atty., Milwaukee, Wis., for appellee. Before HASTINGS, Senior Circuit Judge, FAIRCHILD and KERNER, Circuit judges. HASTINGS, Senior Circuit Judge. Defendant Robert Duane Mitchell was convicted of perjury following a trial by jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Honorable James E. Doyle, district Judge, presiding.1 Defendant was represented at the trial by court appointed counsel and appeals from the judgment of conviction and sentence. We affirm. The indictment in the instant case charged defendant with willfully and knowingly testifying under oath in the bank robbery trial of one Charles Layton Cox to material matter which he did not believe to be true, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C.A. 1621.2 In the Cox trial, Cox was indicted for robbing the Silver Lake State Bank, Silver Lake, Wisconsin, on November 17, 1967, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C.A. 2113(a) and 2113(d). Cox was convicted following a trial by jury in cause 67-CR-183 in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Honorable John W. Reynolds, district judge, presiding. Mitchell testified in the Cox trial that he, not Cox, had robbed the Silver Lake State Bank in question and had participated in the flight from the bank. In the instant perjury trial, the parties entered into a written stipulation of the testimony Mitchell gavt at the Cox trial and to the fact that Mitchell was a witness for defendant Cox and testified under oath. The stipulation further stated that when Mitchell so testified on March 28, 1968, the matter before the court 'involved an Indictment charging Charles Layton Cox with committing a robbery of the Silver Lake State Bank, Silver Lake, Wisconsin on November 17, 1967 in violation of Sections 2113(a) and 2113(d), Title 18, United States Code of Laws.' A certified copy of such indictment was attached to and made a part of the stipulation. The stipulation further set out in detail Mitchell's testimony describing how he and one Phil Haas robbed the bank in question on November 17, 1967, and of their subsequent flight from the bank. To prove the falsity of Mitchell's testimony in the Cox trial, the government first introduced records of the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company of Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Those records showed Mitchell was employed there and at work during the hours when, according to his testimony in the Cox trial, he was allegedly robbing the Silver Lake State Bank. The government further introduced testimony by Harold Greer, a fellow prisoner of the defendant, to the effect that Mitchell had told Greer that Cox had asked him to plead guilty to the robbery of the Silver Lake State Bank with which Cox was charged and had given him the details of the robbery. Greer further testified Mitchell told him Cox had offered Mitchell money to take the blame and had told Mitchell he would be able to serve any sentence he received concurrently with a sentence in another bank robbery case for which Mitchell was being tried.3 Also testifying for the government was a deputy sheriff who had pursued the robbers of the Silver Lake State Bank and had shot and killed one of them. He testified Mitchell was not the other individual whom he had seen fleeing after the bank robbery. He identified Cox as that other individual. Counsel appointed for defendant on this appeal was not trial counsel in the district court. He raises a single contested issue in his brief. It is asserted that an essential element of the crime of perjury under 1621, supra, is that the sworn, false testimony go to a material matter. The government does not contest this and it is in harmony with the words of the statute. It is further asserted the government has the burden of proving materiality. Again, the government does not challenge this contention and cases from other circuits support it. LaRocca v. United States, 8 Cir., 337 F.2d 39, 43 (1964); Brooks v. United States, 5 Cir., 253 F.2d 362, 364 (1958), cert. denied 357 U.S. 927, 78 S.Ct. 1374, 2 L.Ed.2d 1372. The crux of defendant's contested issue is the claim that the government did not meet its burden of proving materiality in the perjury trial. We find this contention completely without merit in view of the stipulation entered into by the parties. It is clearly stipulated that the Cox trial involved the Silver Lake State Bank robbery, and the indictment in the Cox case is incorporated as a part of the stipulation. This sufficiently establishes the nature of the issue in the Cox trial. The stipulation further sets out verbatim the testimony of Mitchell given during the Cox trial and that it was given under oath by Mitchell in such trial. In United States v. Parker, 7 Cir., 244 F.2d 943, 950 (1957), we said: 'The test of materiality of false testimony is whether the testimony has a natural effect or tendency to influence, impede or dissuade the investigating body from pursuing its investigation * * *.' It is too plain for argument that when Mitchell testified he had robbed the Silver Lake State Bank, his testimony would have the effect of 'influencing' the jury in its determination of the question of whether Cox had robbed the Silver Lake State Bank. We conclude that the government has sustained its burden of proving the materiality of the defendant's testimony at the Cox trial. Six days before this case came on for oral argument, defendant filed a pro se motion in this court and was granted leave to file a pro se supplemental brief. The propositions raised in such brief-- which defendant's appointed counsel argued to this court-- challenge the competency and sufficiency of the government's evidence to prove the falsity of the alleged perjured testimony. Defendant first urges that it was error to admit a time card and time sheet from the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company. Defendant contends that these records are hearsay, and he is correct in that. However, Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1732(a) provides a clear exception to the rule barring hearsay evidence and amply supports the admission of this evidence.4 Defendant further urges that it was error to admit the testimony of his fellow prisoner, Greer. Defendant apparently means to bring his case within the scope of Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201, 206, 84 S.Ct. 1199, 12 L.Ed.2d 246 (1963), which held it was a denial of the Sixth Amendment's guarantee to use against a defendant 'evidence of his own incriminating words, which federal agents had deliberately elicited from him after he had been indicted and in the absence of his counsel.' However, a thorough review of the record before us and of the extensive cross-examination of Greer reveals no evidence that the government in any way prompted Greer to obtain information from Mitchell or to furnish Mitchell's voluntary statements to government officers. This is simply a case of a misplaced confidence. The trial court did not err in admitting Greer's testimony. Defendant finally appears to urge that the government's evidence was not sufficient to prove the falsity of his testimony at the Cox trial. The record fully supports the jury's determination of falsity, including the corroboration required by the 'two-witness' rule peculiar to perjury prosecutions. See 18 U.S.C.A. 1621, note 238. This contention is without substance. Defendant was sentenced to serve a term of two and one-half years, to be consecutive to the sentence imposed by Judge Reynolds in No. 68-CR-25. Mr. Everett B. Hale, a reputable member of the Wisconsin Bar, was appointed by this court to represent defendant on this appeal pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act of 1964. We thank him for this professional service. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of conviction and sentence appealed from is affirmed. Judge Doyle was sitting pursuant to an assignment from the Western District of Wisconsin '1621. Perjury generally 'Whoever, having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath to be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed, is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true, is guilty of perjury, and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable whether the statement or subscription is made within or without the United States.' It appears in the transcript of the trial proceedings in the instant case that at the time of sentencing Mitchell's trial counsel represented to Judge Doyle that Mitchell had been sentenced to serve a term of 20 years by Judge Reynolds in the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Mitchell's guilty plea to a charge of robbing another bank in case No. 68-CR-25. Further, that shortly thereafter, Mitchell was sentenced to serve a concurrent term of five years on his guilty plea to an attempted escape charge by sawing a bar in his cell in the Waukesha County jail '1732. Record made in regular course of business; photographic copies '(a) In any court of the United States and in any court established by Act of Congress, any writing or record, whether in the form of an entry in a book or otherwise, made as a memorandum or record of any act, transaction, occurrence, or event, shall be admissible as evidence of such act, transaction, occurrence, or event, if made in regular course of any business, and if it was the regular course of such business to make such memorandum or record at the time of such act, transaction, occurrence, or event or within a reasonable time thereafter. 'All other circumstances of the making of such writing or record, including lack of personal knowledge by the entrant or maker, may be shown to affect its weight, but such circumstances shall not affect its admissibility.'

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Martha Byrne Grateful for Quality Time with Kids By peoplestaff225 Actress Martha Byrne had been working on As the World Turns since her children Michael Terrence, 10, Maxwell Vincent, 6, and Annmarie, 2, were born, but now that the 38-year-old has left the show, she’s enjoying being a stay-at-home mom. "It’s been nice to spend quality time with my three children," says Martha, adding that, "My youngest daughter is two years old, so I’m grateful to spend these formative years with her." With time to spare, the actress is reveling in the ability to be fully involved with all aspects of her children’s lives. "For the first time in my life I’m heavily involved in the school process, from serving lunches at school to helping out with homework and the curriculum," explains Martha. Whether she was working or not, Martha knows feels that "life is about family — pure and simple," a point that was made crystal-clear after Annemarie’s birth, she reveals. "My daughter was very ill when she was born; in fact, it was touch-and-go there for a while," Martha shares. "I’ve always loved being a mom, but to be able to parent full time has been really important to me. And I love it." Martha and her husband Michael McMahon have been married since 1994. Source: Canadian TV Guide

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Here are 9 Latinas you should be learning about in history class By Hello Giggles This article was originally published on HelloGiggles.com. March is Women's History Month and, to honor the occasion, we'd like to create a space for all the women history forgot. For the women who deserve a place in our textbooks. For the women whose voices should echo. This piece — just one in a series — is for them. We owe a lot to the women who came before us and paved paths where previously there were none to follow. Though not at all exhaustive, this list includes some of the Hispanic/Latinas who made their mark on history (and some who are still working to fight for important causes). It's an ode to their work and also a means of inspiration, a call to Latinx members of disenfranchised communities to follow their own dreams and make an impact. Many of the women listed below didn't shake things up without a little criticism from the government and the public — but they have nonetheless been instrumental in showing that women can make a difference. 1. Eva Perón (1919-1952) Eva Perón served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952 and left behind a legacy that inspired the musical Evita (which inspired the movie adaptation with Madonna as the leading lady). There's a reason her life inspired both. As First Lady, she worked to serve the poor and those in need. One of her biggest contributions: The creation of Partido Peronista Femenino, or the Female Peronist Party. Perón was instrumental in Argentina finally giving women the right to vote. In 1951, she announced her vice-presidential candidacy, but eventually pulled out of the race. If you want to learn more about her life, you can visit the Museo Evita in Buenos Aires, where you can gain knowledge about her story and even see some of her outfits (she also happened to have impeccable style). 2. María Félix (1914-2002) In a 2002 obituary, The Guardian called Mexican actress María Félix “the incarnation of the strong, sexual woman, who would, nevertheless, be tamed by machismo by the end of the movie.” In the 1940s, Félix became a movie icon — even though she operated within a patriarchal time for movies, she made her presence felt. Just take for instance some of the movies she starred in like Doña Diabla (“The Devil is a Woman”), La Mujer Sin Alma (“The Woman Without a Soul”) or La Devoradora (“The Devourer”). She was notorious for refusing to work in Hollywood because she didn't want to take on stereotypical roles. In 1993, she published the autobiography Todas mis guerras. 3. Gloria E. Anzaldúa (1942-2004) Gloria E. Anzaldúa served as an important icon for queer feminists of color. She wrote beautifully about identity, known most widely for her essay “La Prieta” and books like Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. She was also an editor for an important text called “This Bridge Called My Back: Writing By Radical Women of Color,” which won the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award. In 1991, she won a National Endowment for the Arts creative writing fellowship. Her legacy lives on in awards such as the American Studies Association's Gloria E. Anzaldúa Award for Independent Scholars. 4. Pura Belpré (1899-1982) For 45 years, Pure Belpré worked for the New York City Public Library with a mission: To diversify the audience the library was reaching. As the first Latina librarian there, she realized the need for programming, but also for more diverse literature. Then, in 1932, she wrote her first children's book. The Puerto Rican writer, storyteller, puppeteer, and librarian is an inspiration for writers of color. The Pura Belpré Award keeps her legacy alive — it's given each year to a “a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.” 5. Dolores Huerta (1930-Present) Most people know about Dolores Huerta through her work with César Chávez, but her story is about so much more. Huerta founded the Agricultural Workers Association, even before she joined forces with Chávez to create the National Farm Workers Association. Her efforts led to the establishment of the federal assistance program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and helped establish the Agricultural Labor Relations Act. In 2012, President Obama awarded her The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Now in her 80s, Huerta still fights for important issues like immigration, healthy eating, and more. Earlier this year, Sundance made the Dolores film an official selection. 6. Rigoberta Menchú (1959-Present) 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú Tum grew up in the Quiché culture, a Native branch of Mayan culture in Guatemala. She and her father belonged to the Committee of the Peasant Union to defend their land (Mayan communities were being displaced once the Guatemalan army took power in 1954). Menchú lost her father, brother, and mother to army and security forces. She went on to advocate for the rights of women and Native peoples, and formed the first indigenous-led party WINAQ. Today, she still advocates for the rights of indigenous people, actively speaking to many audiencesabout the topic. 7. Ellen Ochoa (1958-Present) In 1993, Dr. Ellen Ochoa made history as the first Hispanic woman to go into space for the STS-56 mission on the Discovery. That momentous event is so important for inspiring young Latina girls with big dreams. Ochoa continues to make her mark as the director of the Johnson Space Center, where she is the first Hispanic director and only the second female director. And one more thing: She has three patents. 8. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (1952-Present) In 1989, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen became the first Latina women to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born in Havana, Ros-Lehtinen has worked to support causes such as the Violence Against Women Act. She was instrumental in passing the Women Airforce Service Pilot Arlington Inurnment Restoration Act, which meant that Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) would fully receive the military honors they deserved. Ros-Lehtinen isn't without her critics and has been in the news recently for her views on health care. 9. Ana Mendieta (1948-1985) A provocative and iconic artist, Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta is a major figure in contemporary art history. Best known for her photography work in nature (like the iconic “Tree of Life” image from 1976), Mendieta also worked in performance art, video, painting, and more. Mendieta worked closely with the body; she was unafraid, often using blood in her pieces to challenge viewers to think more closely about violence against women. Mendieta met an untimely death, but her legacy lives on in the path she created for feminist artists.

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Winnetka Bowling League ” On the 5″ Okay bear with me for a minute here, ready ? The title of Jennifer Lopez’s 1999 debut album was “On the 6” which at the time probably, or at least initially, only made sense to New York City residents with its reference to, you know, the 6 train. With that kind of title it’d be cool to say the album intrinsically captured the feeling, and unpredictable energy of NYC but, of course, it did not. It was typical dance pop circa 1999, the title merely an autobiographical wink from J-Lo to her hometown. The end. Whatever. Okay, come now and meet it’s polar opposite in every way, “On the 5”. Yeah, that’s the 5, as in the West Coast’s ubiquitous freeway/highway/endless road. This thing’s blood is literally made of California, and reeks of suntan lotion, gasoline, blue skies, flowers, and the breeze rushing through the windows of a ’92 Subaru . It longingly dreams about the legendary Summer of Love ( 1967) and references both Revolver, and Pet Sounds in the most romantic and wistful way possible. This isn’t hyperbole I swear, all this stuff is in the actual song which is as sweet and swell as can be. ← Weekly New Wonders Playlist

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You are here: Home / Pics & Info / Hand Spoonmaker by Dan Dustin Hand Spoonmaker by Dan Dustin I am posting this page for Norm Stevens (the wonderful spoon collector) to let people know of this book. It is available through North House Folk school. “The potter asked me of one of my spoons, “Where did you get this?” I answered, “Out of a tree.” He said, “No, I mean the design. Where did you get that?” “Well,” I said, “Out of the tree, you see, I am not responsible.” The first hand carved wooden spoon I bought was from Dan Dustin in the early 1970s when my wife, Nora, and I first started attending the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s annual fair at about the same time Dan began exhibiting there. We developed a strong friendship that we have maintained over the years. At this year’s Fair, I purchased a copy of his new book now entitled Spoon Tales. This 28 page 8.5″ x 8.5″ booklet is a fine record of Dan’s work, his philosophy, and some of his techniques. The numerous color photographs, taken by Clive Russ a professional photographer, depict over 75 of his spoons, bowls, and other pieces. A number of the photographs, for example, depict the tools that he uses to create his masterpieces. A brief statement by Dan, written in his usual witty and revealing style, accompanies each photograph. A one-page Glossary and a one-page Introduction add to the charm of this booklet. It should, in my opinion as an avid spoon collector, be of interest to collectors and spoon makers alike. At the Fair, Dan persuaded me to act on his behalf in the marketing and distribution of his publication. I readily agreed to do so. The cost of the booklet including shipping and handling, is $22 within the United States and $25 to other countries. Payment should be made to me either by check or through my PayPal account (normanstevens@mac.com). Each copy will be signed by Dan. I would, of course, be happy to answer any questions, or provide any additional information. Dan is looking primarily to recover his publication costs and has graciously agreed to share part of the modest profits from the sales that I may generate with me to support my Gathering of Spoons Project. Dan also has available a 50 minute dvd, From Tree to Beam, that depicts the process, with his own narrative, that he uses to create hand-hewn beams. That dvd ordinarily sells for $30. If you should wish to purchase both the booklet and the dvd, we can make them both available for $36 (within the US) or $39 (to other countries) including shipping and handling. The dvd sold separately is available for $20 plus $1 or $3 shipping and handling depending on destination. Norman D. Stevens 143 Hanks Hill Road Storrs, CT 06268 normanstevens@mac.com August 30, 2010 Filed Under: Pics & Info, Spoons

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WTO Failure Compels Bilateral Trade Deals for Canada By Peter McCaffrey On Mar 12, 2014 It’s widely accepted by many economists that free trade promotes economic growth, fights poverty, reduces inequality, and is beneficial to all countries that participate, on both sides of the trade. Yet, an important piece of the international free trade puzzle, the Doha Round of trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), has been a complete failure. Under negotiation since 2001, the Doha Round is a multilateral international free trade agreement aimed at lowering trade barriers like tariffs and quotas to facilitate increased global trade, particularly between the developed and the developing world. The negotiations were always going to be slow and difficult, but recently talks have collapsed even further with no real progress made since 2008. Disagreements between major players like the United States, the European Union, China, India, and Brazil — particularly over agriculture, industrial tariffs, and non-tariff barriers — have prevented any meaningful reform. Despite free trade being so broadly recognized as beneficial in all of these countries, their governments continue to hold up the Doha negotiations for political reasons. The benefits of free trade tend to accrue over the long term and spread out over the entire economy, making them much harder to see, while the costs of free trade are far more visible, concentrated in time and in certain sectors, like job losses in industries that aren’t viable in the long term. Many politicians recognize what economists say about free trade, but they can’t avoid the temptation to prop up unsustainable businesses to protect select jobs in the election-cycle-dominated short-term of politics, rather than focusing on the best long-term policies for the country. They can’t help themselves from inserting exceptions into deals, negotiating exemptions in agreements and pushing for compromises, to the point where, reading some Free Trade Agreements, they seem to have more goods exempted than included. Some still hold out hope for the Doha talks, but the differences between the parties are significant and a positive outcome is unlikely, at least in the short term. In the mean time, Canada and other countries should continue to focus on the kind of bilateral and regional trade deals that were prevalent before the WTO discussions. Smaller scale agreements, like NAFTA for example, are generally easier to settle thanks to the limited number of countries and competing interests involved in the negotiations. Canada signed the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union in October, and is working on other trade agreements that will benefit Canada’s short and long-term economic interests. The government is also on the cusp of a bilateral trade deal with South Korea and is playing a significant role in a regional agreement under negotiation with 12 other countries in Asia and the Americas, known as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Free trade deals will always be a three-way trade off between how “free” the agreement actually is, how many countries are included in the deal, and the feasibility of the negotiations. The Doha talks are both comprehensive in nature and cover many countries, which greatly expands the number of competing interests vying for their own special dispensations, making it difficult for many countries to sign up. By contrast, the Canada-South Korea deal is also comprehensive but has proved far easier to conclude thanks to being limited to only those two countries. Interestingly, CETA and the TPP are both a little of each — moderately inclusive, a reasonable but limited number of countries, and, therefore, a decent chance of successful implementation. After the CETA signing last year, if the South Korea and TPP negotiations can be concluded successfully, the Canadian government will have achieved three incredibly significant deals negotiated outside the WTO. If other countries continue to demand wide-ranging exemptions in trade deals, don’t expect any more progress at the WTO for the foreseeable future. The WTO was specifically created to facilitate free trade; if it is unable to effectively perform that task, then Canada and other nations must continue to pursue more bilateral and regional trade deals, to extend the benefits of free trade to as much of the world as possible. CanadaFree TradeWTO Peter McCaffrey 2 posts 0 comments The New Venezuela: Farewell, Fidel Canada: Court Leaves Glass Empty for Raw Milk Crusader New Peronist Economic Plan Will Lead to Argentina’s Downfall Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Fuel Venezuela’s Dollarization Alberto Fernandez Has No Plan For Argentina’s Economy 90 Percent of Coffee Pickers in Colombia are Venezuelan

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NCAA approves Bears’ request Sam Mustari Freshmen and sophomore University of Northern Colorado wrestlers and volleyball players can now change their long-term goals. The Bears will be eligible for NCAA Division I postseason action starting with the 2006-07 academic year after the NCAA Membership Subcommittee approved a request by the UNC athletic department to reclassify student-athletes in those two sports. UNC is currently in the third year of a five-year transitional process from Division II to Division I (I-AA for football), which has made it ineligible for postseason until the 2007-08 academic year. Until now, that is, for wrestling and women’s volleyball. In applying for the reclassification, UNC officials were allowed to select one men’s and one women’s sport. “We are very confident that the volleyball and wrestling programs could compete in the NCAA Division I postseason in the very near future,” UNC athletic director Jay Hinrichs said. “This reclassification accelerates that opportunity.” UNC head wrestling coach Jack Maughan played an instrumental role in the Bears applying for reclassification, gaining strong support from the National Wrestling Coaches Association of which he is president. He is scheduled to meet with his team today to explain the ruling. “As president of the NWCA, we attempted to get all the individual sports a reclassification,” Maughan said. “We still don’t feel it’s just a wrestling issue. “It’s a student welfare issue. The kids who were here when we moved up either have to transfer or not be eligible for postseason, but this is good news for incoming student-athletes. It helps with the kids who are already in our program, and it helps us to quicker become more competitive.” UNC head women’s volleyball coach Ron Alexander informed his team of the ruling as the Bears prepare to go on the road to face Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Alexander said. “This is a big boost for our program because some of our student-athletes could have picked another program, and they picked us. “That also applies for current recruits who may be undecided on our program or another one. They now know they can come here and redshirt and be eligible for postseason for four years.” Redshirt freshman outside hitter Dulcie Stone welcomed the news, but explained that the possibility of a reclassification didn’t play a huge role in her selecting to attend UNC. “I came here to receive an education, and the fact that the volleyball program is so solid,” Stone said. “We were eligible for the Division I Independent tournament last year and won it, which was a great accomplishment.” However, Stone conceded that opportunity of adding a Division I postseason appearance ranks high on the Bears’ wish list. “Everybody on the team is very excited now for the chance to compete in postseason in two years because anytime you can compete with schools that have been at the Division I level for a long time, it’s a great opportunity,” Stone said. NDSU head wrestling coach Bucky Maughan is excited about the positive results the reclassification may have on recruiting for the Bison. “The class we are currently recruiting will have all four years of Division I championship opportunities, following a redshirt year,” Bucky Maughan said. “With increased scholarships, we are going to be able to bring in some athletes to make the move up successful.” Jack Maughan still expects some current UNC wrestlers with just one year of eligibility to explore the transfer process. “I respect the fact that some guys are looking out for their careers and have a shot to be an All-American. “This is still great news though because at times, it’s been tough to recruit true Division I athletes here for wrestling. That should slowly change now. We’re a much better sell now to top-tier recruits.”

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About Pop Physics 3.3 Mass, Weight, and Weightlessness Wed. June 20, 2012 Fri. September 22, 2017 C. Liam Brown Chapter 3: Gravity and Orbits Critical Questions: What is the difference between weight and mass? Why do you weigh less on the moon? Why does your stomach lurch when the elevator you’re in starts moving? You might have noticed that in the last section, I used the words “mass” and “weight” interchangeably. If a certain type of physicist were reading that section, I might be in jail by now. At this point, I should placate the purists out there and be a bit more precise about all of these terms. At least there’ll be ice cream sandwiches. Imagine stepping onto a simple bathroom scale and seeing the little needle turn. You might think that the way a scale works is obvious, but let’s Think Like a Physicist here and describe this situation technically. First of all, your body is pulled downwards by the gravitational attraction between yourself and the Earth. A coiled spring inside the scale compresses, providing you with more and more upwards force the more it is compressed. The whole thing adjusts itself, with a bit of wobbling, until it stops at a point when the upwards force from the spring is exactly equal to the force of gravity pulling you down. (At that point, the net force on you is zero, so you don’t accelerate.) We know from the previous section that objects of greater mass experience a greater force of gravity, so heavier objects will stabilize with a more tightly compressed spring and thus a higher scale reading. That may seem like a needlessly complicated way to describe what’s happening, but it reveals an interesting truth about weight. The scale isn’t directly measuring anything about you. It measures the amount a spring compresses, which measures the amount of gravitational force acting on your body. This is the key point: the scale is measuring the strength of the force of gravity pulling you down. But as we now know, the strength of that force depends on both your own mass and the mass of the Earth, as well as the distance from you to the center of the planet. So let’s say that a scale measures ‘weight’, which is really just another word for the strength of the force of gravity. Now grab the nearest scale and hop into a teleporter which sends you to the top of Mount Everest and stand on the scale again. What do you notice? Weight is the force of gravity, but we’ve already seen that gravity decreases the farther you get from the Earth. So the reading on the scale should now be smaller. And yet, if the teleporter was functioning correctly, you haven’t changed – there is still the same amount of ‘stuff’ (matter) in your body as there was previously. So we need another term to describe that quantity that didn’t change. This is ‘mass’. On Earth, the two words are interchangeable for everyday use, because gravity has about the same strength everywhere on the surface of the planet. If an object has twice the mass, it will have twice the weight. But your weight changes depending on where you are in the universe. If you go to the moon, for example, you’ll weigh about one sixth of your weight on Earth. (This is due to the fact that the moon has a much smaller mass than the Earth does and so exerts a smaller gravitational force on you.) Your mass, on the other hand, won’t have changed. Unless you survived only on freeze-dried potatoes and Tang on the way up. Mass is a property of all matter1. It has two main effects: the first is to cause objects to resist acceleration when a force is applied; the other is to experience and apply gravitational forces when other objects are nearby. Today, physicists are actively researching what may seem like an unanswerable question: why does mass exist? One part of a possible answer to this question requires the existence of a particle called the Higgs Boson (check out a great animation about the Higgs in this previous post!). The Higgs Boson has been hyberbolically nicknamed the “God Particle” because its existence would help validate the Standard Model of particle physics (to be discussed later). As I write this, scientists in Europe are busily smashing particles together at the Large Hadron Collider, hoping that the Higgs boson might pop out of the resulting collisions. But in some ways, this line of thinking answers more of the “how” then the “why”. For now, it seems that mass is just something we all have to deal with. There are some particles (and by “some” I mean “two”) that are currently known to have no mass at all. The most commonly known of these is the photon, which is the particle that light is made out of. Because photons are not restricted by the limitations of mass, they only ever move at one speed – the fastest speed anything can move at, the speed of light. We beings made out of matter will never know what it’s like to be a photon – we’ll never be able to experience masslessness. But we do have two ways of experiencing weightlessness, which is entirely different but still a lot of fun. The easiest way to feel weightless is to go into outer space. As we already discussed, once you get far enough from any big planets or moons, there will be no strong gravity forces pulling you in any direction. You will simply float. This may feel a bit different than you’d imagine – it’s not exactly like floating underwater. Whenever you’re on Earth, certain parts of your body can sense which way is down by detecting the force of gravity. For example, a series of canals, comprising the vestibular system inside your inner ear, contain a fluid which moves around and tells your brain about how your body is accelerating. But when you’re floating in space, this fluid is floating around as well (rather than flowing to the lowest point). Your limbs and inner organs float too, of course – even your blood accumulates more in your brain than usual, as I mentioned in the introduction to this chapter. If you can’t easily get to outer space, the other way to experience this sense of weightlessness is to be in freefall. To convince yourself of this, imagine standing inside an elevator whose cable has snapped, so that it’s accelerating downwards towards the ground.2 Rather than panicking, pull an apple out of your pocket, hold it out to the side, and drop it. What happens? Because the elevator and everything inside it all fall with the same rate of acceleration (just like the hammer and the feather from earlier), and because the apple cannot accelerate downwards more quickly than the elevator, the apple will not drop towards the floor. Instead, it’ll float next to your hand as if it were in outer space. Everything around you and everything in your body is falling at exactly the same rate, and so you feel weightless: you can now float freely around inside the elevator, and even your inner ear fluids will float around inside your head. To be clear, both you, the apple, and the fluids are not actually weightless – there is still a force of gravity pulling everything down. But you have no way to feel or detect this force unless there is a window that shows the outside world zooming past. We can extend this line of thought to a few more related situations. First of all, you don’t have to be in an elevator to experience this kind of weightlessness – any freefall situation will do. But what about standing in an elevator that is accelerating downwards at some other rate? If its acceleration is slower than freefall, you’ll feel lighter than normal, but not completely weightless. This accounts for the strange swooping sensation you feel in your stomach when an elevator starts going down. Similarly, when an elevator starts accelerating upwards, you feel a bit heavier. If you’re feeling very comfortable with the ideas of motion described in Chapter 1, you’ll now be able to explain why you feel strange at the beginning and end of an elevator trip but not in the middle. (If you’re not, this paragraph may hurt your brain.) Once an elevator has started to go down, it moves at a constant velocity for most of the time until it stops. But moving downwards at a constant velocity is very different from accelerating downwards: when an elevator is moving but not accelerating, a dropped object will fall to the ground, just like normal. This is a surprisingly difficult set of ideas to come to terms with, but if you put together everything we’ve talked about so far, you should be able to convince yourself that it’s true. Scientists often use this kind of apparent weightlessness to create artificial ‘microgravity’ situations. NASA’s famous “Weightless Wonder” (or “Vomit Comet”, depending on who you ask), is flown in parabolic arcs designed to match the path of a projectile moving in freefall – like how a baseball moves when you hit a home run. It’s ok, it’s supposed to do that. For about 25 seconds during each six-mile-long arc, the passengers move in freefall with the plane and thus feel weightless.3 Big Ideas: Weight is the amount of gravitational force acting on an object. It changes depending on where the object is located. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It can only change if some mass is added or removed. When a person is accelerating, they feel either heavier or lighter (depending on the direction of acceleration). A person in freefall has no sensation of gravity at all. Next: 3.4 – Orbits Previous: 3.2 – Gravity And, technically, of some particles that aren’t considered matter. ↩ In order to make this example work correctly, we’ll have to ignore air resistance here so that the elevator doesn’t end up moving at a terminal velocity. ↩ The pilot doesn’t just cut the engine so that the plane hurtles through the sky for a while – the engine has to counter air reistance in order to match a true freefall trajectory. Another possible point of confusion is that the passengers feel weightless even on the upwards part of the arc. Just remember that an object can be accelerating downwards even while moving up. Freefall is freefall, no matter where you’re headed at the time. ↩ 3.2 Gravity Seven Minutes of Terror Support PopPhysics Chapter 0: An Introduction Chapter 1: Motion Chapter 2: Newton's Laws Chapter 3: Gravity and Orbits Chapter 4: Fluid Mechanics Chapter 5: Energy and Heat Chapter 6: Waves and Sound Chapter 7: Light and Optics Pop Physics All rights reserved. Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress

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TWO POEMS – Stallion Dunquis Image: Georgia O’Keeffe – Ram’s Head, White Hollyhock and Little Hills, 1935 Stallion Dunquis is a poet & modern troubadour based in New York City and Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Untitled No rest until the final rest in fire Cold showers and a laugh at discomfort Sleep an hour, cut my hair with… ONE POEM – Bradley Samore Image: Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum – Quadra 04, 2016 Bradley Samore currently lives in North Carolina and is a high school English teacher. His writing has been featured in various publications including West Texas Literary Review, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, and SLAB Literary Magazine. Heat Lightning Out of the house and into the night flashes distract… Mexico of the Imagination – Charles Haddox Image: Remedios Varo – Still Life Resurrected (1963) Charles Haddox lives in El Paso, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border, and has family roots in both countries. His work has appeared in over forty journals including Chicago Quarterly Review, The Sierra Nevada Review, Folio, and Concho River Review. Mexico of the Imagination In the fresh spring of childhood, I… SHORT STORY: A Trip Back Down – Mark Thorson Mark Thorson is the author of several screenplays, including the award-winning American Passage and most recently, of the collection of short stories, Final Delivery. Mark is also an alumnus of the prestigious American Film Institute. Winter 1986 The end of Lewy Olson’s career arrived on a Sunday morning. It came during his eleventh season, shortly… Towards a working definition of sexual consent – Amelia Horgan Image via Emma Persky on flickr. Amelia Horgan is a writer and activist from London currently studying for a PhD in philosophy. Towards a working definition of sexual consent “It’s really great that we’re having conversations about consent now. But let’s not forget that the culture we live in is inherently coercive and non-consensual.” — ‘Fucked’ zine… POETRY – Sam Arrowsmith Image: Elijah Hiett on Unsplash Sam Arrowsmith is a recent graduate of the University of Birmingham. His academic background includes a biochemistry bachelors and a biotechnology masters. Outside of science, he is an aspiring comedian, writer and artist. Princess on a plastic throne From the simple shapes of flat arid plains and stone box houses, she ascended…

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Tag Archives: Gun Control Act Ronald Reagan and FOPA: Myth vs. Reality America, ATF, conservative, crime, Firearm Owner's Protection Act, firearms, freedom, government, gun control, Gun Control Act, machine guns, National Firearms Act, Natural Law, Ronald Reagan, Second Amendment, The People Conservatives tend to lionize anyone associated with their ideology. Fewer politicians have been more ingrained in conservative mythology than Ronald Wilson Reagan. Rush Limbaugh explained: He was optimistic and happy. He was infectious. He dared to embrace big ideas. He dared to do big things to overcome huge obstacles in the midst of all kinds of experts telling him it couldn’t be done, in the midst of all kinds of criticism, in the midst of all kinds of personal insults. He rejected Washington elitism and connected directly with the American people who adored him. He didn’t need the press. He didn’t need the press to spin what he was or what he said. He had the ability to connect individually with each American who saw him. That is an incredible — I don’t even want to say “talent.” It’s a characteristic that so few Americans have, so few people have, but he was able to do it. He brought confidence; he brought vigor, and he brought humility to the presidency, which had been missing for years, and this profoundly upset his political and media adversaries to no end, and Reagan enjoyed that. Ronald Reagan rejected socialism; he rejected big government. He insisted on returning as much government back to the people as was possible. Rush Limbaugh’s Tribute to Ronald Reagan, June 07, 2004. Some of this is certainly true. On the surface Reagan seemed like a true American President in the most realistic and patriotic ways. Compared to his two immediate predecessors he seemed like one of the Founders returned to save the day. Compared to the last two occupiers of the Whitehouse it would almost seem that Reagan came down from Olympus. It is understandable why so many cite him their favorite president of all time or call him the greatest conservative. However, as sometimes happens, the facts get in the way. Reagan cut tax rates but he also increased taxes – 11 times during his Presidency. On his watch the federal debt tripled. Bush (43) was only able to double the debt, Obama being on a similar trajectory. Amateurs. Reagan grew the government, both in terms of spending and in overall scope. Reagan, while opposing Soviet intervention throughout the world, engaged in extreme levels of foreign meddling, some (like the Taliban) with lasting consequences. Reagan also gave amnesty to 3 million illegal aliens. His law was sold to the public as a crackdown on immigration but only deepened the problem for future generations. He also successfully sold gun control under the guise of firearms protection. Reagan was a gun grabber. I was reminded of this when I saw a pro-Reagan/pro-gun, “conservative ” meme posted on Facebook: Conservatives Today On March 30, 1981 John Hinkley Jr. shot Reagan outside the Washington Hilton with a .22LR revolver. The President made a full recovery. Press Secretary James Brady was not as lucky, being paralyzed by a head shot. Brady and his wife Sarah founded the Brady Campaign against guns. As Reagan did not immediately react by joining with the Bradys many believe him a full proponent of gun rights – thus, the above meme. Conservative forget that after leaving office Reagan supported the Brady Bill: “Still, four lives were changed forever, and all by a Saturday-night special — a cheaply made .22 caliber pistol — purchased in a Dallas pawnshop by a young man with a history of mental disturbance. This nightmare might never have happened if legislation that is before Congress now — the Brady bill — had been law back in 1981.” Ronald Reagan, Why I’m For the Brady Bill, New York Times, March 29, 1991. The now-expired/obsolete Bill did little to nothing to stop violent crime. Had it been law in 1981 it might have saved Brady and Reagan and two others from being shot. It was law in 1999 and did nothing to prevent the Columbine tragedy. Reagan never had a chance to support or sign the Bill while in office. He did, however, sign the Firearm Owner’s Protection Act (FOPA) into law in 1986. Like Reagan’s immigration “crackdown”, the Act’s name is a misnomer. FOPA, 100 Stat. 499, amended 18 U.S.C. § 921, et seq. (and related laws) in an overhaul of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), 82 Stat. 1213-2. Had Reagan been a friend of the Second Amendment he would have attempted to repeal the GCA and the National Firearms Act (NFA). He did not; he added more controls. FOPA had two effects. One, it shuffled around ATF regulations and procedures in response to complaints of arbitrary and redundant policies. However, the “loosening” of some regulations came with a steep price. The second part of FOPA essentially banned the sale to and possession of machine guns by civilians. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to transfer or possess a machinegun. (2) This subsection does not apply with respect to— (A) a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of, the United States or any department or agency thereof or a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or (B) any lawful transfer or lawful possession of a machinegun that was lawfully possessed before the date this subsection takes effect. 18 U.S.C. § 922(o)(entirety). The machine gun “ban” was not actually a total bar. In reality did two things: it created onerous requirements for ownership, and; it limited the supply of available guns. Current estimates of the number of fully automatic weapons available to the public are somewhere around 180,000 units. This limitation caused the price of the guns (not including the taxes and procedural costs of ownership) to skyrocket. The military or a police agency can purchase a new Heckler and Koch MP5 9mm sub-machine gun for somewhere south of $3,000 (well equipped). A citizen can buy the same thing for north of $30,000 before taxes. And, the citizen gets a reconditioned pre-1986 model. It’s like the government’s stupid “cash for clunkers” program that dried up the supply of used cars and forced more people into buying more expensive newer cars; except, here, the people are left with only a supply of outrageously overpriced used vehicles. Now, many folks do not like the idea of any automatic weapons in the hands of the commoners. Liberals use “machine guns” as a rallying cry to describe just about any gun – from a Daisy BB rifle to a single-shot 12 gauge. Even people on the right are often opposed to the concept. I’ve been at several NRA functions and similar events where gun lovers would tell me, when prompted or on their own, that “no one needs a machine gun”. Really? Then just how did the nation survive from the invention of the machine gun (call it Maxim in 1883) until 1986 without total calamity? It’s the same reason “assault rifles” pose no danger – criminals don’t use them. Criminals prefer handguns like Hinkley’s .22 plinker. Of the 8,124 murders committed in 2014 with firearms, only 248 were committed with any kind of rifle. In the same year 435 people were murdered by baseball bats and hammers while 660 were killed by punches and kicks. Automatic weapons appear nowhere in the statistics even though there are about 180,000 of them out there. This is the way it’s always been. In years past and in a freer America anyone could purchase any type of weapon with no government interference at all. This included machine guns. Then, as now, there was no problem or epidemic associated with these dread devices. That’s because they are really only good for engaging large numbers of hostiles at once. Even combat soldiers rarely resort to fully automatic firing. In war machine guns are usually used in concentration against hardened positions, armor, or against massed enemy troops. Before 1898 and the Spanish-American War the American military had almost no machine guns at all. The Rough Riders had to rely on civilian-donated guns to attack San Juan Hill. That means for about 15 years machine guns were only in private hands – with no reported problems. Well, we had it…. izquotes.com Now, you might be thinking, “if machine guns are only useful in extreme circumstances in war, why bother having them?” The truth is most people would not own them even if they were completely unregulated. It’s the freedom, the option to have them that matters. Given that we have a government which raises taxes, increases the debt and burden on the people, stirs up terrorists, and imports aliens (including terrorists) – often while lying about it all – perhaps this is an option the people need. Like them or not, these weapons are “arms” protected by the Second Amendment and by the Natural Law theory of self-preservation. These are part of the citizen gun rights in need of protection. Ronald Reagan didn’t do it regardless of what the Facebook conservatives think. Gun Control: The Great Divide (Over Nothing) ≈ Comments Off on Gun Control: The Great Divide (Over Nothing) America, anarchy, CIA, Congress, Constitution, crime, evil, freedom, government, gun control, Gun Control Act, guns, H.L. Mencken, Hitler, ISIS, law, National Firearms Act, Natural Law, Obama, politics, Second Amendment, statism, terrorism, The People, War, Washington Mass shootings, terror attacks, and assassinations always prompt a heated national “discussion” on the matter of firearms and firearms control (the private ones, mind you). As with any important issue there are many competing ideas and angles though there are two predominant groups that get attention – pro-gun control and anti-gun control. While I am solidly in favor of the private ownership and use of firearms, my anarchist disposition gives me a unique, almost outside view. As I see the current debate one side, the gun controllers, really want a complete ban on all private firearms though they present their ideology in terms of “responsible”, incremental measures designed only to ensure safety. The other side, the NRA side, nominally defends the Second Amendment while agreeing to many of the same incremental controls sought by the other side. I see both groups ultimately seeking to use the power of government to advance their own agendas and the agenda and existence of the government itself. They are both allied with the state. I have no use for any of them. Some of the gun grabbers are blatant about their ultimate aim – Rolling Stone called for the repeal of the Second Amendment. Other grabbers pretend to agree that individuals have the right to keep and bear arms while insisting that those arms never be used for defensive purposes. The main problem with the notion of self-defense is it imposes on justice, for everyone has the right for a fair trial. Therefore, using a firearm to defend oneself is not legal because if the attacker is killed, he or she is devoid of his or her rights. In addition, one’s mental capacity is a major factor in deciding whether a man or woman has the right to have a firearm. The author of this insane Huffington Post statement wants to alter, rather than abolish, the 2A in order to nullify it. The author takes into account only those relatively few crimes committed and lives lost to the illegal use of guns. Considered in totality, privately owned guns save far more lives every day and every year than they take. Then again, by this man’s standards, each such lawful defensive usage constitutes a deprivation of the original aggressor’s right. The only thing I can think of to attempt to justify this kind of logic is that this fellow obviously worships the government as a god and regards laws as a religion. Like a Natural Law theorist, he seeks to conform all positive law to the designs of and the adoration of his god. He would happily place the primacy of the state over the lives of human beings. He is a statist’s statist. Some on the other side do a good job of refuting this nonsense: We have a government here that is heedless of its obligation to protect our freedoms. We have a government that, in its lust to have us reliant upon it, has created areas in the U.S. where innocent folks living their lives in freedom are made defenseless prey to monsters—as vulnerable as fish in a barrel. And we have mass killings of defenseless innocents—over and over and over again. How dumb are these politicians who want to remove the right to self-defense? There are thousands of crazies in the U.S. who are filled with hate—whether motivated by politics, self-loathing, religion, or fear. If they want to kill, they will find a way to do so. The only way to stop them is by superior firepower. Disarming their law-abiding victims not only violates the natural law and the Constitution but also is contrary to all reason. All these mass killings have the same ending: The killer stops only when he is killed. But that requires someone else with a gun to be there. Shouldn’t that be sooner rather than later? The NRA is the poster child of the pro-Second Amendment movement. They are vilified by the New York Times: What makes the legislative inaction all the more maddening is that there is general public agreement in favor of attempts like these to reduce the bloodshed. An overwhelming majority of Americans — including gun owners and even N.R.A. members — support universal background checks, while strong majorities want to block sales to suspected terrorists and ban high-capacity magazines. And yet the N.R.A. rejects these steps, even though it says that terrorists shouldn’t be able to get guns. Instead, it clings to the absurd fantasy that a heavily-armed populace is the best way to keep Americans safe. That failed in Orlando, where an armed security guard was on the scene but could not stop the slaughter. There is no truth to any of this dribble from the fallen Gray Lady. The worst of the lies is that the NRA is complicit with terrorism and that it blocks those “common sense” gun control measures. It does not. The NRA seems more than happy with the bulk of the existing gun control measure – all of them unconstitutional. While the NRA backs lawsuits to overturn various local measures, they roundly accept the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act. Both of these laws treat all Americans like criminals and bar the easy or economical possession of the type of weapons actually protected by the Second Amendment. The NRA also agrees with the opposition regarding the expansion of watch lists – to exclude terrorists from the gun pool of course, and no more… Their own words on the matter: Fairfax, Va.— The executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, Chris W. Cox, released the following statement regarding terror watchlists: We are happy to meet with Donald Trump. The NRA’s position on this issue has not changed. The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period. Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing. If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist. At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed. That has been the position of Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.) and a majority of the U.S. Senate. Sadly, President Obama and his allies would prefer to play politics with this issue. This statement places the NRA (and Donald Trump by association) in the same position regarding gun control as Senate Democrats and the Obama administration – though the Executive seems a little at odds with itself as to how the proposed list measures would be (will be) implemented. Proposals to expand the “no-fly” list to cover firearms purchases has even drawn the ire of the ACLU as the list procedures (as they exists and as proposed) violate fundamental due process. The NRA, Donald Trump, Hussein Obama, and their friends are all wrong. There is no due process at all concerning these controls. The new Senate proposal, S.551, mentions due process protection and then negates it in the same paragraph. The government really has no dog in this fight as it is the primary creator and enabler of terrorism today. If not for the unceasing meddling and misadventure of the state there wouldn’t be any terrorists in our nation to worry about and no need for any lists nor for gun control. A former CIA agent admits the government and the elites are the problem: A former CIA counterterrorism agent has said it is time to talk about why terrorism really happens, and to address the “misguided narratives” that lead to oversimplification of the situation and continued war. Amaryllis Fox worked on counterterrorism and intelligence in the CIA’s clandestine service for ten years. She told AJ+ that the beliefs surrounding terrorism are “stories manufactured by a really small number of people on both sides, who amass a great deal of power and wealth by convincing the rest of use to keep killing each other.” Fox says the current conversation about Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in the US “is more oversimplified than ever.” “Ask most Americans whether ISIS poses an existential threat to this country and they’ll say yes. That’s where the conversation stops,” she said. Her observation echo what H.L. Mencken said about the government’s imaginary hobgoblins a century ago. Hitler concurred that terrorism (real or manufactured) is the best way to keep people panicked and, therefore, controlled. Gun control is about people control. Terrorism, war, and government in general are about creating and maintaining power for a few. It’s that simple. That’s what they’re working towards. And, they are working hard. After Washington stirs up an already volatile region in begins to import the angered locals into America. Some really are hapless refugees. Others are terrorists – as the CIA admits. Oddly … or not, many of the recent notable terror suspects in America have had some ties to the CIA. This should raise serious questions and red flags about the state’s motives and how those motives negatively affect the rest of us – but it doesn’t. The bulk of the discussion put forward by either side of the political divide or by the government itself is: what else can the government do? What they are doing is just more of the same. The people keep seeing their freedoms chipped away. The elites keep amassing power. The useless laws grow. The attacks, foreign and domestic, continue. They unvetted “refugees” keep pouring in – over 400 from Syria alone – since the Battle of Orlando this past weekend. The horror and the comedy of the divide is how pointless it all is. Until the ridiculous, blasphemous, and hellish cult of government is dealt with, none of it matters. Google. The Second Amendment 10th Amendment, 14th Amendment, 19th Century, 1st Amendment, Alexander Hamilton, America, Anti-Federalists, arms, Articles of Confederation, attorneys, Bill of Rights, blasphemy, British Empire, Brutus, CLE, collecting, collective rights theory, Congress, Constitution, Constitutional Convention, Constitutional Law, D.C., D.C. Court of Appeals, D.C. v. Heller, D.C. v. Parker, Declaration of Independence, District of Corruption, Dred Scott v. Sandford, duty, English common law, federal, Federalist Papers, forty-fifth Congress, Founders, free state, freedom, God, government, governor, gun control, Gun Control Act, Harvard, history, hunting, incorporation, King George, Laurence Silberman, Laurence Tribe, law, law school, legal profession, libertarians, Liberty, Lord Bacon, MacDonald v. Chicago, Mariens, militia, Miller, National Firearms Act, National Guardindividuals, Natural Law, organized, Pennsylvania Minority, politicians, Posse Comitatus, powers, professional military, rebellion, rifles, rights, Robert Yates, Roman Republic, Second Amendment, self-defense, shotgun, slavery, sports, States, Supreme Court, Tacitus, The People, Thomas Jefferson, ticks, trojan horse, Tudors, tyranny, unorganized, Vietnam, Virginia Convention, Washington, William Kimmel, worship This is a follow-up to some of my recent columns, Posse Comitatus, A Short History of Gun Control in America, and others. The Second Amendment and its subject matter have been in the news recently as part of the never-ending “debate” over gun control. The Amendment has also received special attention from the U.S. Supreme Court twice in the past five years. My purpose here is to explain what the Amendment means and what most commentators (even pro-firearms authors) miss in their reading and application. Even if you do not own guns or have an interest in them, this issue affects you and your Liberty. Somewhere in the writing process I realized I should have divided this into several segments. My apologies for the heft of the article. Sadly, I didn’t even get to add in half of what I should – maybe a book is in order? certainly a follow-up’s follow-up. “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1791)(entirety). (Minutemen staring down British Regulars. Google Images.) The Second Amendment has absolutely NOTHING to do with hunting, sport shooting, and weapon collecting. Those activities are important and are rights which derive from Natural Law. However, they are ancillary to the purpose of the 2nd Amendment. Ancillary also are the issues of self-defense and defense of others and of property from attacks by common criminals. They to are the absolute rights of the People (absolute, under appropriate circumstances). However, none of these things, which are commonly attributed to the true nature of the 2nd Amendment and gun ownership, fall under the actual purpose of the Amendment. There are two primary reasons why the 2nd Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights. First, the Founders wanted a heavily armed population so that the nation and the constituent States might be well defended from foreign or outside aggression and invasion. Second, and most important, the Founders wanted the People heavily armed in order to overthrow or repel the State governments or the federal, national government in the event said government ever became tyrannical in nature and operation. The true purpose of an armed people is to resist tyranny. This is not only the right of the People, it is also their solemn duty. Politicians do not like being reminded of this fact these days. Perhaps their guilty consciences get the better of them given the nature of modern government – as close to tyrannical as just about any in history. For reasons given herein and, those which I plan to elaborate on in a future column about arms, the ticks have little to fear. As I have written elsewhere, most humans like to be controlled. In the absence of fair masters, they will take any master that comes along. I hope you, by your nature or by reading this article, are a member of the few who prefer freedom to slavery. Your existence makes the tyrants sweat. For the longest time the Second Amendment was largely written off by the legal “profession.” When I was in law school I was told the Amendment (and a few others) didn’t really exist. I found this strange. The Amendment was there in the text of the Constitution and its plain language made perfect sense (the 10th Amendment was the same way). Try as I could, I could never locate the provision which allowed for the murder of babies. The law school community regards this right, in blasphemy, as if it had been written by God himself. Then again, law school has little to do with the law. The one thing that was not required reading in my Constitutional law classes was the Constitution. No mention was made of the natural underpinnings of the Constitution. It’s no wonder most attorneys emerge from this environment without the slightest knowledge of whence our laws are derived. I was different, I always am. I read the old documents and inquired as to why certain things were included and excluded textually. I read a lot. At the time, the only legal textbook in print which even mentioned the 2nd Amendment was the one compiled by Laurence H. Tribe of Harvard law fame. His mention was very brief, but at least he had the curtsey to include it at all. Most Consitutional law education focuses on two things: 1) the supreme power of the government and; 2) a few pet rights with plenty of case law material for professors to quote (the 1st Amendment, for instance). I also have columns underway to explain both the Constitution (briefly) and the convoluted subject of Constitutional law. You’ll have to wait for those. As I said, the 2nd Amendment received little official attention for many years. Early in our history and it that of our English forebears, the concept of a well armed population was well enshrined. It was taken as a given that men would be armed. The Founders went the brave extra step and set the armed people as defenders of their own Liberty against the heinous forces of organized government. Thomas Jefferson was rightly fearful of the problems posed by a standing government army. The Declaration of Independence was full of accounts of the crimes committed by King George through his armies. The mandate for a militia rather than a professional army found its way into the Articles of Confederation, Article 4. While armies are allowed under the Constitution, they are supposed to be limited to a two-year duration, they were meant as an emergency measure. U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8. In the debates leading to the Constitutional Convention, both the Federalists (in favor of the Constitution) and the Anti-Federalists (fearful of a strong central government) denounced the practice of standing armies as grave threats to liberty. Writing for the Federalists Alexander Hamilton, himself not the greatest proponent of decentralized liberty, reiterated the common saying of the time that standing armies “ought not be kept up, in time of peace.” Federalist, No. 26. In No. 28 Hamilton asked mockingly, against the fact of armed State militias, when could the federal government ever amass a sufficiently threatening army? As Monday morning’s historical quarterback, I suppose the answer was “in about 200 years.” Hamilton also thought the two-year budgetary limitation placed on the army would render it ineffective for tyrannical purposes. Federalist, No. 24. Out of the pocket again, we now have a standing army fighting numerous “wars” despite the absence of a federal budget for four years. The Anti-Federalists were equally fearful of a central army. In his Tenth Letter, January 24, 1788, “Brutus” (most likely New York judge Robert Yates) warned of two dangers presented by a standing army. First, it could be used by leaders against the people in order to usurp power. Second, the armies themselves could “subvert the forms of government, under whose authority they were raised…” As examples he cited the once free and constitutional Roman Republic and British Empire. Interestingly, the Second Amendment could have contained anti-army language. The Virginia Convention proposed a Bill of Rights (June 27, 1788), which would have had the second amendment as seventeenth. It would have read: “That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in times of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and therefore ought to be avoided, as far as circumstances and protection of the community will admit, and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.” I rather like that. The Pennsylvania Minority had put forth a similar proposal on December 18, 1787. During the forty-fifth Congress, Rep. William Kimmel of Maryland, author of the Posse Comitatus Act, echoed the sentiments of the Founders as he quoted Tacitus, “Is there any escape from a standing army but a well-disciplined militia?” 7 Cong. Rec. 3579. He also quoted Lord Bacon, who remarked of the Tudor years of English history, a “mercenary army is fittest to invade a country but a militia to defend it.” Id. Many were the quotes from members of the House and Senate on similar points. The issue faded as the 19th Century progressed because it was still taken for granted that free people should be armed. As I noted in Gun Control, the States and the federal government from this period to the present, began to enact various illegal, and progressively worse restrictions on gun ownership. The 2nd Amendment did make appearances in law and court cases though during this period of general dormancy. I will discuss two such cases here. In Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857), the Supreme Court ignobly affirmed black slaves were property as opposed to people. However, the Court’s reasoning touched on the 2nd Amendment. If slaves were considered human beings, then they would be entitled to human rights – such as the right to bear arms. This case gave silent acknowledgment to the 2nd Amendment, which law professors somehow overlooked or wrote off. It also slaps their Supreme Court worship in the face. The fallibility of their god also seems lost on them. In United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939), the Supreme Court held the 2nd Amendment only protected firearms with militia “value.” Mr. Miller was arrested for illegal possession of a short-barreled shotgun, one of the weapons regulated under the UnConstitutional 1934 National Firearms Act. I always thought this case made some sense. If the only guns protected are those of use to the militia or the military, then it would seem the people have a right to own those types of weapons. And, if they are entitled to own those, why not allow them all lesser guns (like short-barreled shotguns). Subsequently, shotguns of reduced length came in useful to the army GIs and Marines in Vietnam and other tight, uncomfortable places. The delusional legal community took Miller to mean something else, something only a law professor could belive – that the 2nd Amendment protects a government’s “right” to keep arms. The deliberate misinterpretation of Miller during the last half of the 20th Century gave rise to the idiotic “collective rights” theory, an impossibility in and of itself. The theory lead to the belief of leftists and statists alike that the 2nd Amendment gave the government the “right” to organize a body such as the National Guard. This was ludicrous. Only individual persons have rights. Individuals with rights can join together in the exercise of those rights, but the rights themselves never acquire group status. The status certainly never transcends from the people, individually speaking, to the government. Governments have powers, not rights. The point was finally clarified (as if such a plainly worded sentence needs clarification…) by the U.S. Supreme Court in two cases early in our current Century. In District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008) the high Court overturned D.C.’s illegal law restricting handgun ownership. The Court also held the Second Amendment did in fact confer upon the people a fundamental right to keep and bear arms. The collectivists were crushed. The Court actually noted the Natural Law right of self-defense. The law professors were confused. The opinion limited its reach to federal laws and enclaves (like D.C.) and appended certain language regarding “traditional” uses of firearms. The Court also made notable mention of the proper relationship between the people and the militia, but they did not reach my ultimate conclusion from Miller. In my humble but professional opinion (I are a Constitutional and firearms law litigator person, after all), the legal opinion rendered by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in its earlier hearing and decision of Heller, D.C. v. Parker, 478 F.3d 370 (2007)(Parker was then a co-plaintiff with Heller and several others), was a far better recitation of the 2nd Amendment, its meaning and origins. Judge Laurence Silberman went to great lengths to explain the original meaning of the “militia” and its prerequisite condition of an armed people. I will comment on this subject a little later, in my own words. I met Judge Silberman at a legal education luncheon (CLE) in 2008, while Heller was pending the Supreme Court. I thanked him for his contribution. However, as is so often my way, I was disgruntled that afternoon and made my usual sarcastic comments to kick off the meeting. CLE’s do that to me. Imagine paying a good sum of money for a decent lunch which you can’t enjoy because some dude or dudette is babbling on about the law. Anyway, I recall referring to D.C. as “the District of Corruption.” I did this before a small gathering of government attorneys and government-dependent attorneys. Judge Silberman gave me a nervous chuckle, the rest of the crowd was aghast at my … honesty. Anyway, the 2008 opinion was good enough of a start. Two years later the Court added to the new body of 2nd Amendment law. In MacDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 3025 (2010) the Court, in striking down an illegal Chicago law, “incorporated” the effect of the Second Amendment to the States, via the 14th Amendment. Many libertarian scholars are dubious of the theory of incorporation but I will not touch on that here other than to say the 2nd Amendment must be respected by the States. This makes sense, as far as it goes, as no entity may legitimately violate fundamental human rights. The Court also included some dangerous language in the decision, particularly regarding the possibility laws may place “reasonable restrictions” on firearms ownership. The reference may prove a trojan horse for gun owners, especially in light of those restrictions already in place (NFA and GCA) which are now taken for granted. I do not take them so and I have no faith in government to keep any additional restrictions “reasonable.” Other, newer cases are working their way through the courts, generally with good success. I think the Amendment is finally getting some of the respect it deserves. I also don’t think Congress will act to rashly regarding new restrictions, yet, even in the face of the ridiculous hysteria raised of late. I began by stating the Second Amendment is about the people resisting government tyranny. I do not advocate herein the violent overthrow of the government. Such action, even if warranted, would likely end in disaster. Besides, given the suicidal tendencies of the federal and most state governments, such action would seem pointless. I said “even if warranted” because once any government exceeds its scope and purpose to the point it becomes a threat to, rather than a defender of, the Liberties of the People (the only real reason for the existence of government), then again, it is the right and duty of the people to shrug off such tyranny. When such action is taken legitimately, it is not an act of rebellion. In fact, at such point, it is the government which is in rebellion and deserving of correction. This may be subject matter for another future column. The Founders, being highly suspicious of standing armies in the service of a central government, determined to set up a militia as a proper alternative. A “militia” is merely the organization to some degree of all the armed men in a jurisdiction. Every State in the Union still maintains a militia, completely separate from the National Guard. The militia of a given state is generally divided into two classes – the “organized” militia and the unorganized. The organized consists of members of the State defense force, whatever it may be termed. These are voluntary citizen forces under control of the Governor. They are generally neutered these days but retain the ability to become a combat ready force. The unorganized force consists of all able-bodied males (and certain females) between certain ages (adults, generally). I am a proud member of the unorganized Georgia militia! These militias are primarily at the disposal of the States and can only be utilized by the federal government in certain cases. The main point of this system is that the weapons are supposed to be in the hands of the people, not the government. This is specifically true regarding infantry weapons. A militia member should, today, be able to report for duty with any weapons available to a modern infantryman. This would include fully automatic rifles (including SAWs) and shoulder launcher systems (Stingers, etc.). We currently are restricted from such weapons, illegally, by the NFA and the GCA and amendments. Also, as a counter to my central premise of militia dominance, the federal government has done a terrible job regulating the militias. The States have all but abdicated their independence and authority to Washington. Washington has also taken advantage of this situation by raising and maintaining huge standing, professional military forces in perpetuity. This is all contrary to the intent and the language of the Constitution. The American people have also undergone a dramatic transformation. Regarding these instant issues, the populace tends to regard militias as dangerous bands of domestic terrorists while literally worshipping the federal Imperial military. How many yellow ribbon decals have you seen promoting the militia? This leads me to my final point, the concept that so many people miss regarding the Second Amendment. Most historical analysis has focused on the “militia” preface and the “right of the people” action clause, or both together (see Judge Silberman). What everyone seems to miss is the “security of a free state.” A state, according to the Founders and their wisdom could only be preserved by an armed people serving as the militia. The key word here is – “FREE.” Given the decline of liberty, seemingly demanded by the people, can we be said to live in a free state anymore? If we do not, is anything else important? I would, of course, answer affirmatively. I’m not so sure about my fellow countrymen. This may provide material for a future column. Your thoughts?

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Pop Kid – Chris Lowe Of Pet Shop Boys Interviewed Long time PSB fan Andrew Harrison sits down for an hour with Chris Lowe to talk Blackpool showbiz, big coats and the problems with EDM Much as Paul McCartney wrote the melodic (if perhaps ingratiating) Beatles songs and John Lennon the abrasive sloganeering ones, there’s a widely held belief among followers of the Pet Shop Boys that you can divide their catalogue into “Neil” albums and “Chris” albums. In this reading the former are the wistful, witty recordings where Neil Tennant explores the nocturnal complications of being forever a stranger in a big city: Nightlife, Release, late-period LA elegy Elysium and of course the mother of all Neil-ism, Behaviour, home to the sublime ‘Being Boring’. “Chris” albums such as Introspective, Very or 2013’s back-to-lasers rebirth Electric, on the other hand, are replete with bangers, dedicated to all things euphoric, all-electro-all-ecstatic tributes to the Chris Lowe watchword “Wahey!” “It’s not really like that,” says Chris Lowe, who this afternoon is plonked on a sofa in the Pet Shop Boys’ compact yet discreetly well-appointed studio in creative East London. “We are quite different people. Neil is always on the go, he’s always got something in the diary, whereas I’m content to just cook something simple and watch television. “But musically we are… I don’t know, we just gel. It’s not as if I only like uptempo music and Neil only likes folk-inspired ballads. There’s never any tension, or me saying, ‘This isn’t banging enough.’ We both like a bit of everything. We’re both as happy to be in Berghain on a Sunday afternoon listening to electronic beats as we are listening to Dusty Springfield tearing her heart out.” As is the case with the best duos in music and beyond, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe (always in that order, like Ant and Dec) are two complementary personalities who combine to create a third: Tennant/Lowe. And sometimes it’s Lowe, with his daft hats and his giant complicated coats and his almost heroic refusal to smile in photographs, who seems like the guardian of the essential Pet Shopness of the Pet Shop Boys. That, and his famous off-the-cuff manifesto from a 1986 US TV interview which PSB quickly transplanted onto ‘Paninaro’, a song from the days when b-sides could become as famous as a-sides: “I don’t like country and western. I don’t like rock music, I don’t like rockabilly or rock and roll particularly. I don’t like much really, do I? But what I do like, I love passionately.” His refusal to join in, to play the game, to participate in pop’s fake joviality from 1980s Top Of The Pops to modern talent show, is as much part of PSBs’ enduring appeal as the songs. “We had a video director once who said I stood still very well,” Chris informs me proudly. “It’s not easy, you know. A lot of people can’t do it. It’s an art form.” Pet Shop Boys first appeared on the national stage at the height of 80s pop positivism: big smiles, big hair, ruinously expensive videos, Smash Hits, the lot. “Everyone was so active. It was a big party where everyone was having a great time and smiling at the camera. Thumbs aloft! We just didn’t want to do that. So we ignored the cameras and the jollity of the situations. Let’s face it, it’s easier to stand stock-still isn’t it?” Thus was a persona born – Pet Shop Boys, the grumpiest men in pop. They also became easy to parody, which Chris loves, be it French & Saunders sidekicks Raw Sex or Flight Of The Conchords doing ‘Inner City Pressure’. In PSBs’ early days of performing ‘West End Girls’ on TV Chris used to wear a leather jacket whose sleeves were slightly too long. All you could see was one finger poking out. “And my sister used to do this terrible impersonation of me with just this finger, poking, and looking miserable…” Pet Shop Boys are now 35 years into a creative partnership which has evolved from the hit factory of the ‘West End Girls’-to-‘Domino Dancing’ Imperial Years via an exploratory middle youth which encompassed latin pop, ballet, musicals and even Johnny Marr-assisted indie rock on 2001’s ‘Release’. Now they have arrived back where they started, returning to primal electro and hi-NRG octave basslines, and feeling remarkably modern with Electric in 2013, their first post-Parlophone record on their own label x2. They might no longer have hits in the conventional in-with-a-bullet sense. But in every other respect they’re still right in the melée – touring extravagantly, writing out-and-out singles (‘Love Is A Bourgeois Concept’, ‘Vocal’, the deliciously poignant current one ‘The Pop Kids’) designed for an imaginary, less focus-grouped version of the charts, fulfilling their duty to be popular. They are the pop act that art people love, the living blueprint for every frosty synth band ever to stand motionless behind a keyboard – although when off-duty Tennant and Lowe are tirelessly entertaining. And they have become something unique in British music: an actual grown-up pop group. Neil (61) and Chris (56) use the primary colours of popular song and electronics (their highest term of approval for a dance track that bypasses the conscious mind and goes straight to the body is “moronic”) to look at adult life – straight, gay and TBA – in this strange time when ageing seems permanently deferred. Even though there’s no such thing as a “Chris record”, the Pet Shop Boys’ new, thirteenth album Super (released on April 1 exactly thirty years and one week after their debut Please) is quite Chris. Blindingly bright, relentlessly uptempo and driven by fluorescent electronics and hammering, out-and-proud 80s drums, it’s a continuation of Electric’s synth-born reboot but with the colour and contrast turned up still further. Stuart Price produces once again. The sound texture is Berlin and they wrote many of the songs there, but recorded them at Price’s place in Los Angeles. Do the Pet Shop Boys feel they have to travel to remind themselves who they are and what they’re good at? “Actually where we are rarely affects what we write,” Chris admits, “except when we were in South America and we heard a lot of reggaeton. We’re the opposite of Damon Albarn and – what’s it called? – world music. We don’t go to Africa and come back with lots of African vibes. Wherever we go it always ends up 80s electro,” he admits, laughing. “People go to Berlin to write some cold electronic music. They want to be David Bowie or U2. We went there and ended up writing this very lush orchestral LA album [2012’s Elysium]. So there you go. Although,” and his mind starts to wander, “having said that I would quite like to go to Turkey and make a really authentic-sounding Turkish-influenced record. I love that sound actually…” When I wonder if the banging side of PSB is winning the battle in their mature years, Chris says that they’ve actually been sitting on a ton of ballads and slow tunes for the planned third in their ‘triptych’ of records with Price. “The feel of Super is purely down to the songs we chose,” he says. “We wrote some quite dark techno tracks and some much more pop things at the same time, but we wanted this one to be basically Electric, only more so. There’s going to be a third one and that’s when the melancholia will kick in again.” The lack of any need to fit in with Radio 1 has its advantages too. “We don’t have to concentrate so much on traditional pop structures any more. We’re freed from the shackles of classic pop – or we can put them right back on again when we feel like it. To be honest I’m not even sure what pop music is any more. “We tend to work in a vacuum now,” he says, “more so than we ever did. We know we’re not going to get played on much radio so you’re free to do what you want.” He sips his water and grins. “It’s very liberating.” As any Pet Shop Boys enthusiast knows, future keyboard wizard and Blackpool native Christopher Sean Lowe began his life in music playing the trombone (pop fact: he would play and in fact invent hi-NRG trombone on the track ‘I Want A Lover’ from their debut album). It started with his grandfather who also played trombone in the RAF band, the Blackpool Tower Ballroom orchestra and later a comedy jazz group called The Nitwits. “When I was very little, a toddler in fact, we all went to Paris to stay in a caravan park on the Bois de Boulogne for the summer,” Chris recalls with glee. “Grandpa went off to perform with topless women at the Lido on the Champs Elysée until the early hours.” The ‘What Have I Done To Deserve This?’ video – showgirls, velvet drapes, tuxedo’d sidemen, tears in the dressing room – was ready in waiting. “The fact is, I’m from a showbusiness family,” Chris says. His mother was a dancer who worked in numerous shows around Blackpool; his father was as a sales rep for the gas board. Chris played in a local brass band, the Norman Memorial Band (they’re still going) and with the cadet force at school. There’s still a lot of Blackpool in him, he thinks. “I was there just the other day, walking along the promenade. There’s a very distinctive air quality. Growing up there, it’s a fun place with lots of nightclubs and bars. Everyone’s there to have a good time. I think that rubbed off a lot.” In 1976, when disco appeared, Chris began going to clubs like Man Fridays with their plastic palm trees, and got a job collecting glasses in the Dixieland Showbar. “Being in a musical environment with lots of people who were having fun to pop music… that made an impression.” He studied architecture in Liverpool at the height of punk rock – “we went to Eric’s and saw people like The Vibrators, which was fantastic, and get records from Probe where Pete Burns worked” – but kept his hair long. “I love subcultures and youth movements,” he says, “but I’ve never joined any of them. I’ve always stood around on the periphery, watching.” The first time he encountered the New Romantics was at a Roxy/Bowie night in Liverpool. Everyone was dressed up except Chris who was wearing what he wears now – jeans, sweatshirt, trainers. Later, when he moved London for architectural work placements, he’d go to the Beat Route in Soho or the Camden Palace where everyone dressed as flamboyantly as ever they did in the Capital. “And here’s me, jeans, sweatshirt, trainers… Steve Strange said, ‘I wouldn’t have let you in.’ Everyone’s been working all week to get their outfit right, and I turn up and ruin the whole thing.” He has another sip of water. “Nothing’s changed really.” In August 1981 he famously ran into Neil Tennant in an electronics shop on the King’s Road. Chris was just browsing; he can’t even remember what he was looking for. In those days he read hi-fi magazines because he couldn’t afford to buy a decent stereo. But this encounter proved to be one of the most fortuitous chance meetings in all pop. Tennant and Lowe discovered a shared interest in underground club music and synthesisers. They talked a lot about David Bowie, and music – all music. Within weeks they were were working on songs together. “It really was completely by chance,” Chris recalls. “As George Michael said, turn a different corner and we never would have met… I don’t know if people believe in fate but it’s difficult not to when you meet a complete stranger and you fit perfectly with them musically. Funny, isn’t it?” The Pet Shop Boys broke through at a time when the bright, ultraconfident megapop of the early 80s was dying. ‘West End Girls’, a substantial worldwide hit and a UK number one in 1985, announced them as a more restrained proposition, better suited to commenting on an era defined by the downside of conspicuous consumption. People who weren’t sure what irony meant decided that the Pet Shop Boys must be ironic, because how could anyone present themselves as an anti-pop star and really mean it? The Pet Shop Boys’ deadpan reserve provided a coherent identity and a readymade guide on how to do things (example: when Radio One asked them to create a generic jingle for the station, they recorded a snippet which went “This is a generic jingle/Pet Shop Boys”). It also proved to be an excellent way to cope with the ups and downs of the pop life. “I have a very detached way of dealing with everything,” Chris explains. “I’ve always just looked on rather than feeling like I’m a part of it. I think it comes from the fact that it’s just very odd to become a pop star at all. It’s got a built-in surreality to it. From that moment onwards. nothing seems totally real. If weird things happen it’s almost like it’s not happening to you. Even if things aren’t go particularly well it’s still interesting, isn’t it? In fact in many ways it’s better.” So are Chris Lowe and Chris from the Pet Shop Boys two separate people? Well… no, he says, because that would imply that there’s some sort of act going on. And the Pet Shop Boys are not an act. “But,” he admits, “that is how I feel when I’m going onstage. There’s this person going onstage and it’s not me.” The person going onstage has needs, specifically the Chris wardrobe. “I love coats,” he beams. “I’m from the North West of England – we’re all about big coats.” The mirrorball jackets with matching helmet or the coat with neoprene straws, they’re hot as hell and very uncomfortable but that’s showbusiness, isn’t it? Sunglasses too, “always the most satisfying purchases.” The camouflage-pattern metal ones that he’s wearing for the Super pictures came from Matthew Williamson in Mayfair. As soon as he bought them he went into the Y-3 shop and saw a camouflage hat. “I thought, it’s fate again. The whole thing is a look.” He admits that he misses the old gladiatorial days, when pop group went up against pop group in Smash Hits, Radio One, NME and Top Of The Pops. “I do miss going to the San Remo pop festival and Paul Weller and Bananarama and everyone would be there,” he says. “Great days. You felt like you were all in it together. It’s a shame that we’re no longer part of that.” The social media technologies which replaced that world of pop media are a poor substitute, he thinks. Neil and Chris stopped going on Twitter as themselves, as opposed to operating a band account, some years ago. “That sort of direct contact is stifling, I think,” says Chris. “It takes something away. You can end up checking Twitter before you go to bed. It’s claustrophobic.” We’ve always known what Chris Lowe doesn’t like – country and western, rock and roll, smiling in public. It turns out he’s not too keen on contemporary EDM either. “It’s basically rock music, isn’t it?” he says. “It’s rock songs but played on electronic equipment. That’s why I don’t feel any connection with it.” So I ask him how he’d characterise what he does like. He flounders a little. “I like… what do I like? It’s hard to put into words. I like music to be uplifting, but it doesn’t have to be fast and banging. Sad music can be uplifting too. I have folders full of emotional stuff to light a candle and get in the bath to, and wallow. I love a good wallow. So it’s complicated. Upliftingness is what I like. An emotional reaction. I mean, listen to this…” He pulls out his phone and locates his current favourite, a song called ‘Hotel Home’ by Molly Nilsson which PSBs’ friend Joel Gibb of The Hidden Cameras introduced them to. It sounds like Nico singing ‘Wrote For Luck’. The piano’s terribly out of tune. But there’s no denying that it’s a bit special. “I’d love us to do a remix of this,” Chris says. “What’s she singing? ‘Hotel home, you’re never on your own…’ I don’t know what it means but I can relate to it.” Then he scrolls to another folder to play me a remix of ‘The Pop Kids’ by Israeli DJ Offer Nissim. “Most bands hate their remixes, don’t they?” says Chris. “I love ours. It’s the only time I get to listen to the Pet Shop Boys as a surprise. This has got a fantastic Pet Shop Boys moment on it.” While he’s searching for the song he tells me about the time they were at a club in Mexico. Neil came running over, all excited about the track that was playing. Why can’t we make records like this?, he’d asked. “Neil,” Chris replied, “this is us.” “Right, here it is.” He presses play. The low-key original ‘Pop Kids’ has been steroid-injected with clanging latin drums which give way to an early breakdown. The beats fall away, strings billow and Neil breathes “Oh, I like it here/Oh I love it.” Chris is laughing with delight. “Can you imagine Neil with a wind machine and his hands in the air? I can picture it,” he beams. “This captures everything about us: ‘I like it here – I love it.’ “I mean, at the end of the day, that’s all you really need to know.” Taken from: The Quietus Interviewer: unknown

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News from the world of maths: Sad news: Paul Cohen dies Sad news: Paul Cohen dies The distinguished mathematician Paul Cohen sadly died on Friday the 23rd of March 2007, just a few days before his 73rd birthday. Cohen worked on a range of topics, but is best-known for his work on set theory. His work in this area cuts right down to the foundations of mathematics. The mathematician David Hilbert famously believed that it should be possible to phrase all of mathematics in a single and completely formal theory. Based on a collection of axioms — pre-determined facts that are so self-evident they do not themselves need to be proved — and the rules of logic, it should be possible to formally prove every mathematical truth and to arrive at a complete theory that is free from contradiction. Set theory provides a language in which such a formal system might be phrased. In maths a set is simply a collection of objects. The objects themselves are allowed to remain abstract and so you can talk about all mathematical objects — whether they are functions, numbers or anything else — in terms of sets. In the beginning of the twentieth century, mathematicians laid down a list of axioms and rules of logic that resulted in a formal and rigorous theory of sets. The system is known as ZF theory, after Ernst Zermelo and Abraham Fraenkel. On the face of it, sets are simple objects. But once you allow them to have an infinite number of elements, things become complicated. If you take the set of whole numbers, for example, and compare it to the set of all numbers, you'll notice that although both sets are infinite, they are fundamentally different from each other. The set of whole numbers consists of isolated objects, whereas you can think of all the numbers as merging together to give a continuum. In some sense, the set of all numbers is "bigger" than the set of whole numbers, so we need a notion of size for infinite sets also. The mathematician Georg Cantor (1845 - 1918) formalised such a notion, called cardinality, and in doing so came up with a conjecture that became known as the continuum hypothesis: that there is no set that is "larger" than the set of whole numbers and "smaller" than the set of all numbers. However, a proof of this fact illuded Cantor and the continuum hypothesis became the first on Hilbert's list of mathematical challenges for the 20th century. When it comes to the axioms of set theory, things aren't all that clear-cut either. Some axioms are clear as day, for example the one which states that two sets are the same if all their elements are the same. Others are more controversial though, and one of them is the axiom of choice. It states that if you have a collection of sets, then you can form a new set by picking one element from each. Again, this is clearly possible when you've got a finite collection of sets, but if there are infinitely many, it's not clear that a mechanism for picking an element from each always exists. Although the majority of mathematicians accept the axiom of choice, there is a school of thought which doubts it. Paul Cohen proved two significant — and to the Hilbert school of thought disappointing — results in this area. He showed that neither the continuum hypothesis nor the axiom of choice can be proved from the axioms of ZF theory. Together with results previously proved by Kurt Gödel, this means that neither can be proved to be either true or false within ZF theory. Within ZF theory, the continuum hypothesis will forever remain a mystery. As far as the axiom of choice is concerned, the result means that there's no clear indication as to whether you should include it or its negation as one of your initial axioms of set theory. In both cases you come up with a sound system, so the decision whether to include it or not has to be made on different grounds. In proving these results, Cohen not only contributed to the philosophical debate about the foundations of maths, but also developed a whole new set of tools to deal with questions on what can and cannot be proved within formal mathematical systems. His work was honoured with a Fields medal in 1966. The world of maths has lost one of its most distinguished members. posted by Plus @ 10:27 AM News from the world of maths: Careers magazines from Arberry Pink Careers magazines from Arberry Pink We have recently come across a great range of career magazines for students and graduates from different backgrounds. KAL (for ethnic minority university students and graduates), Number Ten (for female university students and graduates), The Arberry Profile (for disabled university students and graduates), Spectrum (for ethnic minority secondary school students) and Mint (for female secondary school students) are produced by the people at Arberry Pink. Each magazine contains information about different areas of employment, with interviews with people working in these fields and information on employers. The latest issue of Spectrum has a feature on science and engineering, which talks to people from the British Antarctic Survey, a space mission scientist, and a geochemist. Also the magazines are all written and edited by a team of students, in collaboration with the staff at Arberry Pink. So if you are looking for experience in journalism why not consider getting involved? posted by Plus @ 12:43 PM News from the world of maths: Students are falling in love with maths again Students are falling in love with maths again Figures recently released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that 10 per cent more applications were made this year for courses in the mathematical sciences than last year. This pushed mathematics in to the top 20 most popular courses at UK universities. Sir David Wallace, chair of the Council for Mathematical Sciences, said, "This is not just great news for the mathematical sciences. It is also great news for the UK as a whole as we need mathematics graduates more than ever before. As a bedrock for our knowledge economy, mathematics is vital for scientific research and development, and for our economic and social well-being." This year, by the closing date for applications to study in 2007, UCAS had received 33,790 applications for mathematics courses. This demonstrates a 10 per cent increase on this time last year and a massive 37 per cent increase since 2004. Applications to the mathematical sciences dropped suddenly in 2000 following the introduction of AS-levels. The numbers have been steadily increasing ever since but are still not at the levels they were just ten years ago. News from the world of maths: Say hello to Plus! Say hello to Plus! As part of the Cambridge Science Festival, the Centre for Mathematical Sciences (home of Plus) is having an open day on Saturday 24 March. You can come and meet some of the Cabridge mathematicians who work on everything from gravity and black holes to climate change, disease dynamics and how bacteria swim. There will be hands-on activities, demonstrations, computer models and displays share some of the wonders of mathematics and theoretical physics. And the Plus team will be there so come and say hello to us at the MMP stand! When: Saturday 24th March 2007, 12.00 - 4.00 pm Where: Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Clarkson Road, Cambridge No booking required - drop in throughout the day. Limited on-site parking is available - the CMS car park is on Wilberforce Road, off Madingley Road. The Maths Cafe will be open from 12 noon until 3.30pm serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, sandwiches and snacks. And while you there, why not catch one of these talks. No ticket is necessary, just turn up in good time to secure a seat. CURVED SURFACES - Popular lecture by Prof Alan Beardon. Every point of an orange can be in contact with a table top; why is the same not true of a banana? Why is it more difficult to wrap a football in paper than it is to wrap a box in paper? How do we represent the curved surface of the earth on a flat piece of paper? How do we navigate around the surface of the earth? Saturday 24th March 2007, 12.15 - 1.15 pm AVALANCHE! - Popular lecture by Dr Jim McElwaine More than a million avalanches happen throughout the world every year. Most fall harmlessly, but the largest can destroy whole towns and kill thousands. This non-technical multimedia talk describes one mathematician's efforts to understand snow avalanches, from investigating disasters in the Japanese mountains to dropping half a million ping-pong balls down a ski jump. Saturday 24th March 2007, 2.00 - 3.00 pm News from the world of maths: Euler on the radio Euler on the radio This year marks the 300th birthday of the legendary mathematician Leonhard Euler. Plus will be celebrating this with a series of articles, but if you want to give your eyes a rest and use your ears, then tune into BBC Radio Four's Material World on Thursday the 15th of March at 4.30pm. Half the program will be on Euler and will feature Plus authors Julian Havil and Robin Wilson. If you read this entry after the event, you can listen again on the BBC website. News from the world of maths: Education Show, Birmingham NEC - come and say hello to the MMP team! Education Show, Birmingham NEC - come and say hello to the MMP team! Come and meet staff from the Millennium Mathematics Project, the organisation behind Plus at the Education Show in Birmingham from March 22nd to the 24th. The MMP's stand is GG84 at the Birmingham NEC, so if you're visiting the show, come and say hello to Plus and the rest of the staff from the MMP.

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Working Group in Political Psychology and Behavior (WoGPoP) HOME / CALENDAR / Deborah Schildkraut, Tufts University Friday, November 1, 2019, 12:00pm to 1:30pm CGIS S354 The Political Meaning of Whiteness for Liberals and Conservatives This study examines new open-ended and closed-ended survey responses among white liberals and conservatives in the U.S. to assess the role they think their racial group membership plays in how they think about politics. It then uses insights from those responses to develop and test a new measure designed to capture how white identity operates politically. To date, much political science research on white racial identity documents the links between white identity and right-leaning candidate and policy preferences. Much less is known about the role of whiteness on the left. The analysis here shows that even though white liberals talk about anti-racism, privilege, and institutional racism when asked about race and politics and say that they have become more aware of their race in recent years, they generally do not view their own whiteness as a politically salient identity. The results indicate that it is important for scholars to use measures that distinguish between whites who appear “woke” but do not act on their “wokeness” from whites for whom an awareness of privilege motivates them toward an anti-racist agenda subscribe iCal Valerie Purdie Greenaway, Columbia University 2/14/2020 12:00pm to 1:30pm Jill Greenlee, Brandeis University Yarrow Dunham, Yale University Guy Grossman, University of Pennsylvania

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P. Wesley Lundburg October 21, 2017 February 19, 2018 P. Wesley Lundburg Published by P. Wesley Lundburg P. Wesley Lundburg has been an Alaska Charter Boat Captain, Coast Guardsman, college English professor, and professional editor. Wes holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Literature. He works full-time in higher education as a college dean and professor and writes most every day as part of his "down time" and fun time. Wes launched his fiction-writing career in 7th grade with a teacher-acclaimed UFO abduction story, became addicted to writing, and hasn't stopped since. Besides his current set of novels, most of his published work has been creative essays, particularly nature pieces, and he has written many outdoor travel articles. He has also published academic papers, and presented papers and workshops in his field of Literature and Communication. His greatest joy has been in writing fiction, however, and he has written numerous short stories, some of which have seen publication. Wes' writing is steeped in characters and a sense of place. Raised in San Diego, California, and having lived more than 17 years in Alaska, these are the sources of his major fiction works. In Alaska, he served in the Coast Guard and later ran a one-boat fishing charter company. Wes now lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, five kids, very small dog, and a smattering of wild bunnies that hide and dart around his back yard. View all posts by P. Wesley Lundburg Next postNavigating Narrative . . . Wes’ Pics from Alaska The P. Wesley Lundburg Facebook Page P. Wesley Lundburg Facebook Page The Frank Mattituck Series

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Woman Admits Helping Suspects in Franky the Pug Case Avoid Arrest Hancock County Jail A woman who helped two men elude police in connection with the killing of a pug dog named Franky received her sentence on Tuesday. Maria Lockhart, 26, pleaded guilty Monday in an Ellsworth courtroom to a felony charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution. She was accused of helping Nathan Burke and Justin Chipman, who were suspected of stealing and damaging an SUV belonging to lobsterman Phil Torrey, and torturing and killing his dog. Burke and Chipman had once worked on Torrey's boat as sternmen. According to the BDN, Lockhart drove the men to Bangor, where they got a hotel room after Franky went missing in August of 2018. The Winter Harbor woman was given a deferred disposition sentence, which means that if she stays out of trouble for a year, she can withdraw her guilty plea and instead be charged with a misdemeanor crime of obstruction of government administration and pay a fine of $250. If she gets into trouble in the next year, she could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Chipman pleaded guilty to multiple charges in November and is now awaiting sentencing. Burke was taken into custody over the weekend, after failing to appear in court in August. Categories: Articles, Crime, Local News, Maine, News, Police

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Big banks are launching a blockchain trade platform powered by ‘Bitcoin-like’ token The banking industry wants to blockchain too. By Qrius Desk Credit: Pixabay By Mix The banking industry is hell-bent on taking over the nascent blockchain and cryptocurrency market. A group of financial firms led by UBS Group AG is eyeing blockchain technology for settling cross-border trades worldwide with its own “Bitcoin-like” token. The 14 firms – including Barclays, Nasdaq, Credit Suisse Group, Banco Santander, ING, and Lloyds Banking Group – have registered a new entity to control the devleopment of the token, dubbed ‘utility settlement coin’ (or USC for short), The Wall Street Journal reports. The financial giants have poured over $60 million into the new company, called Fnality International. The token, which has been in the works for four years now, will function both as a payment device and a “messenger that carries all the information required to complete a trade,” according to the report. The new permissioned blockchain system will purportedly make cross-border trades much faster and less risky. “You remove settlement risk, the counterparty risk, the market risk,” UBS investment strategy head Hyder Jaffrey told the WSJ. “All of those risks add up to costs and inefficiencies in the marketplace.” In addition to the previously mentioned institutions, Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce , State Street Bank & Trust Co., Commerzbank AG, KBC Group NV, Mitsubishi UFG Financial Group Inc., and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp have also agreed to use the USC token. The new platform is expected to take off within the next 12 months, which corroborates past reports suggesting the platform will be fully operational by 2020. It remains to be seen if USC is more of a cryptocurrency than JP Morgan’s token, though. This article was originally published on The Next Web.

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Vince Staples & Tyler, The Creator Put Tyga… When news broke last week that he was the newest signee to G.O.O.D. Music, the internet was not here for… This Is The Reason Why Frank Ocean Hasn’t… This is why we haven't gotten Boys Don't Cry. Scary: Hollywood Hills Man Arrested For Stalking Kendall… A$AP Rocky isn't the only guy vying for Kendall Jenner's affections. Tyler, The Creator “My Ego” (NEW MUSIC) Addressing his controversial reputation, Tyler dumps a load on "My Ego." 2016 Afropunk Festival Lineup: Ice Cube, Tyler, The… Festival season is in full swing and Brooklyn's annual Afropunk Festival is returning to Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn's Fort… Kanye West Hits The Studio With Vic Mensa,… In the words of DJ Khaled, Kanye West is "up to something." MUSIC STREAM: Ariana Grande Releases “Be Alright,” Lil… Though not as inspiring as Kendrick Lamar's "Alright," Ariana Grande's new song "Be Alright" is a pretty smooth cut. Grande… Tyler, The Creator & A$AP Rocky “Golf Media… After completely destroying Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" beat, A$AP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator are back with some more dope… The Internet “Special Affair / Curse” (NEW VIDEO) The Internet undoubtedly had one of the best R&B albums of 2015, and they’re continuing to promote the album with new… Watch Tyler, The Creator Freestyle Over Kanye West’s… Tyler, the Creator is a huge fan of Kanye West's The Life Of Pablo track "Freestyle 4." Watch This Hilarious Video Of A$AP Rocky Impersonating… Tyler's unique voice isn't an easy one to mimic, but Rocky has its gritty inflection down pat. Tyler, The Creator, Kali Uchis, & Austin Feinstein… It's almost been a year since Tyler, the Creator dropped his "Cherry Bomb" LP, but it's never too late for… Tyler, The Creator Comes After Critics In “F**k… Tyler, The Creator is fed up with Australia and the U.K. After attacking social issues in his video for “Buffalo,”… This Really Happened: Tyler, The Creator Paid A… Get ready to barf. No, seriously. We’re literally gagging. While promoting his new album Cherry Bomb, Tyler, the Creator paid… NYE at The Pavilion Billie Eilish’s Top 5 Fashion Moments! 2019 Making Strides Walk

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admissions@raycollege.com About Bangalore University Accredition & Affiliations RAY Experience Bangalore University was established in July 1964 as an off shoot of the University of Mysore, primarily to include institutions of higher learning located in the metropolitan city of Bangalore and the districts of Bangalore, Kolar and Tumkur, which eventually became a separate university Since 1964, Bangalore University has grown both in size and strength to include a large number of affiliated colleges, P.G. Centers with a rich diversity of programme options. In consonance with this expansion, in 1973, the University moved into a new campus named ‘Jnana Bharathi’ (JB) located on a sprawling 1100 acres of land and shifted many of its post graduate departments to this newly established campus. Bangalore University has completed Fifty-two years of fruitful existence and has come to be hailed as one of the largest universities of Asia. Though originally intended to be a federal university, it has eventually emerged as an affiliating University. The University was first accredited in 2002 by NAAC with Five Star Status, re-accredited in the years 2008 and Nov. 2016 in 2nd and 3rd Cycles with ‘A’ Grade. According to QS University Ranking: BRICS-2016, an international agency ranked Bangalore University at 151st position amongst BRICS nations. As per Hansa Research Survey 2016 published in THE WEEK-May 29, 2016 issue, Bangalore University is ranked at No. 15 in the Top Multi-disciplinary Universities at All India level, at No.9 in the Top State Multi-disciplinary Universities, No.5 in the South Zone and No.1 in the State of Karnataka. The University is providing quality teaching and encouragement to research in frontier areas with social relevance that would reflect its mission and goals aptly symbolized by its emblem ‘JNANAM VIGNANA SAHITHAM’. RAY Integrated College # 1258, 4th Block, 1st Stage, HBR Extension Behind Chris Super Specialty Hospital www.raycollege.com Developed by Entity Vibes

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PI's Media Digest: Public charge rule finalized; IPCC highlights land-use responses to climate change Sarah Mittermaier Welcome to our media digest for the week ending August 16, 2019! Each week, PI compiles a round-up of the latest public health-related news, with an eye toward media framing and language, particularly as they relate to the role of primary prevention. The views expressed in these articles do not reflect those of Prevention Institute. The Department of Homeland Security finalized changes to the public charge rule that will make it much more difficult for immigrants from low-income backgrounds to gain permanent residency status in the US. In the past, the public charge rule considered whether applicants would be dependent on cash assistance or long-term care. The rule change considers use of a broader range of social service programs—programs that documented immigrants are entitled to access, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, housing assistance, and Medicaid—and will also consider income and financial status (under 125% of the federal poverty level will count as a negative factor, over 250% of the federal poverty level as a positive factor), age (being under the age of 18 or over the age of 61 will be counted negatively), education, and health status, with medical conditions deemed likely to require extensive treatment or institutional care, or to interfere with the immigrant’s ability to earn an income counting against the applicant. The public charge test does not apply to all immigrants – humanitarian immigrants, like refugees or human trafficking survivors will not be subjected to the test, nor will Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, people renewing their green card status, and some other categories of immigrants. The rule change is currently scheduled to go into effect on October 15. In an interview with NPR, acting head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli offered his own revisions to the Emma Lazarus poem that is etched into the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet. And who will not become a public charge.” Researchers estimate that 26 million people would be directly affected by changes to public charge, including approximately three-quarters of immigrants coming from Mexico and Central America, and that the “chilling effect” of this policy change will be much broader. Already, many social service agencies have seen drops in enrollment among immigrant populations. In an interview with Vox, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, described changes to public charge as part of an overall governance strategy that says “that if you are brown and you are an immigrant, you are not welcome here, and this now codifies that. This basically says we only want white, wealthy people to come to this country, or even to remain in this country… The other impact of course is actually on families’ overall well-being and health. We have already seen families who are forgoing necessary treatment like chemotherapy, preventive care, reproductive care — any kind of care — nutritional assistance for newborns. Many families who are deciding to dis-enroll in a whole range of programs because they are afraid they are being made to choose between taking care of themselves and their families or eventually being permanently separated from their families if, at the time they apply for their green card, they are denied because they are deemed to be a “public charge.”” The Trace reports on community-based efforts to prevent gun violence, as an increasing number of cities and states are investing in these kinds of initiatives. “The shift is particularly evident in California, where in June, Governor Gavin Newsom approved $30 million for California Violence Intervention and Prevention, or CalVIP, a statewide grant program. CalVIP supports local organizations that seek to reduce violence through interventions like mentoring, educational activities, job training, and therapy for black youth who’ve experienced violence. The funding infusion, up from $9 million, marks the largest in the program’s history. Activists of color say the change is long overdue. “Victims of violence in communities have largely been seen as a problem for black folks, brown folks, poor folks to solve on our own,” said Michael McBride, a Bay Area pastor and director of LIVE FREE, a campaign that aims to stem urban violence and mass incarceration. “We have been for decades trying to raise the kind of strategies that we know, with proper support and funding, could save a lot of lives.” … While they welcome the increased focus on urban shootings, advocates of color note the racial disparity that persists in who is leading, managing, and defining the discussion. “We as national black and brown-led organizations are left out of the national dialogue on the regular,” said Anthony Smith, executive director for Cities United, which helps mayors and cities create safer and healthier environments for young black men and boys. “You hear about Everytown, Giffords, and March for Our Lives. You don’t get to hear about Cities United, Good Kids Mad City, and LIVE FREE.”” The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement on how racism affects children’s health and development. Dr. Maria Trent, one of the co-authors, says, “Racism is a significant social determinant of health clearly prevalent in our society now… we call it a socially transmitted disease: It’s taught, it’s passed down, but the impacts on children and families are significant from a health perspective.” LAist reports on the progress made so far by Sacramento County's Black Child Legacy Campaign, launched in 2015 to reduce preventable deaths among African-American children, and details the campaign’s approach to data, analysis, community ownership of the initiative, addressing structural factors, and developing targeted universalist approaches. To begin with, “the committee identified four main causes of the deaths: sleep-related deaths or sudden unexplained deaths; child abuse and neglect by parents or caregivers; issues in pregnancy, like premature birth; and third-party homicide, like gun or gang violence. They found seven Sacramento neighborhoods where these issues were the most pronounced. Danielle Lawrence, who runs a nonprofit in one of those neighborhoods, Arden Arcade, said the report was a turning point. "You understand that there are disparities everywhere when you do this work, and yet and still, it wasn't until this report laid it out in black and white that we were like, 'Oh, this is deeper than we even thought,'" Lawrence said.” PI’s Elva Yañez wrote a blog on overcoming guns, hatred, and racism, tracing the long history of white supremacist violence that Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have faced in the US: “This act of domestic terrorism points our attention to our collective past, making clear that the recent changes in immigration policies and practices, as well as the normalization of virulent anti-immigrant rhetoric, are simply the latest chapter of an abhorrent history that has led to genocide, the institution of slavery, mass incarceration, deportation, and internment—all leaving illness, injury, and death in their wake.” The Atlantic’s Vann Newkirk reports on how African-American farming families have lost millions of acres of land across the South over past century, which Newkirk describes as “the great land robbery”: “Owners of small farms everywhere, black and white alike, have long been buffeted by larger economic forces. But what happened to black landowners in the South, and particularly in the Delta, is distinct, and was propelled not only by economic change but also by white racism and local white power. A war waged by deed of title has dispossessed 98 percent of black agricultural landowners in America. They have lost 12 million acres over the past century. But even that statement falsely consigns the losses to long-ago history. In fact, the losses mostly occurred within living memory, from the 1950s onward. Today, except for a handful of farmers... who have been able to keep or get back some land, black people in this most productive corner of the Deep South own almost nothing of the bounty under their feet.” A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change focuses on land-use approaches to mitigate the effects of climate change, ranging from limiting urban sprawl, restoring damaged ecosystems like wetlands and prairies, diversifying crops and improving productivity of land already in cultivation, and other strategies. The New York Times reports that a quarter of humanity faces looming water shortages and tracks water stress levels across major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, which already faces extremely high water stress levels. “The stakes are high for water-stressed places. When a city or a country is using nearly all the water available, a bad drought can be catastrophic… A lot can be done to improve water management, though. First, city officials can plug leaks in the water distribution system. Wastewater can be recycled. Rain can be harvested and saved for lean times: lakes and wetlands can be cleaned up and old wells can be restored. And, farmers can switch from water-intensive crops, like rice, and instead grow less-thirsty crops like millet.”

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Editor's Choice FEMA ChiefBecomes Hurricane's Latest Victim Sun | Local By Spencer S. Hsuand Susan B. Glasser, The Washington Post — Sep 7th, 2005 Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is at the eye of a political storm. assciated press file photo Michael Brown has been called the accidental director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, caricatured as the failed head of an Arabian sporting horse group who was plucked from obscurity to become President Bush's point man for the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Amid the swirl of human misery along the Gulf Coast, Brown admitted initially underestimating the impact of Hurricane Katrina, whose winds and water swamped the agency's preparations. As the nation reeled at images of the calamity, he appeared to blame storm victims by noting that the crisis was worsened by New Orleans residents who did not comply with a mandatory evacuation order. By last weekend, facing mounting calls for his resignation, he told reporters: "People want to lash out at me, lash out at FEMA. I think that's fine. Just lash out, because my job is to continue to save lives." More broadly, the 50-year-old Oklahoma lawyer and the agency he leads have become the focus of a broad reappraisal of U.S. homeland security efforts four years after the September 11th attacks. In recent days, politicians and officials in both parties have derided Brown's qualifications to head the chief disaster-response agency — as well as the performance of the agency and its federal, state and local partners. At a time when homeland security experts called for greater domestic focus on preparing for calamity, Brown faced years of funding cuts, personnel departures and FEMA's downgrading from an Cabinet-level agency. As recently as three weeks ago, state emergency managers urged Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and his deputy, Michael Jackson, to ease the department's focus on terrorism, warning that the shift away from traditional disaster management left FEMA a bureaucratic backwater less able to respond to natural events such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Brown's defenders say he is the scapegoat of a cataclysmic storm and failure of New Orleans' levee system that, in the words of President Bush and Chertoff, could not be foreseen. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," Bush said Friday during a tour of the state. Joe Allbaugh — a college friend, former Bush campaign manager and past FEMA director who hired Brown as FEMA general counsel in 2001 — offered a qualified defense. Allbaugh called the government's overall performance "unacceptable" but added: "Blaming one agency, you cannot do that." Still, he acknowledged that FEMA had lost independence and clout with the White House. "I had a unique relationship with the president, having been his chief of staff," Allbaugh said. "If you don't have that kind of relationship, it just makes things tougher." If anything, Brown's political background has become a liability, leading to charges that he was given his job as patronage. He got his start in politics as an Oklahoma native with Allbaugh but ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1988, winning 27 percent of the vote. He has chaired the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority and served as a City Council member, examiner for the Oklahoma and Colorado supreme courts, and assistant city manager. Allbaugh hired Brown after an acrimonious end to a nine-year stint as commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association. Former officials say he was forced out; a friend and lawyer of Brown's said he negotiated a settlement after withstanding numerous lawsuits against his enforcement of rules for judges and stewards. Defending his qualifications, Brown said he has overseen responses to 164 presidential declared emergencies and disasters as FEMA counsel and general counsel, including the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster and the California wildfires in 2003. While Chertoff said the levee breach that flooded New Orleans "exceeded the foresight of planners," Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, said Brown and other top federal officials were briefed as much as 32 hours in advance of landfall that Hurricane Katrina's storm surge was likely to overtop levees and cause catastrophic flooding. "They knew that this one was different," Mayfield said Monday. "I don't think Mike Brown or anyone else in FEMA could have any reason to have any problem with our calls. ... They were told. ... We said the levees could be topped." In his last extended TV interview on CNN, Brown admitted Thursday that the federal government did not know that thousands of survivors without food or water had taken shelter at the city's convention center, despite a day of news reports. Bruce Baughman, Alabama emergency management director, head of the National Emergency Management Association and the official in charge of FEMA's response to the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks in 2001, said Katrina will leave its mark on federal disaster management. "It's time to realize, whoever is in charge of FEMA does need an emergency management background. ... It's something you learn by experience, and a lot of that experience is gone," he said. FEMA Chief Waited Until Storm Hit to Reinforce Region WASHINGTON The government's disaster chief waited until hours after Hurricane Katrina had already struck the Gulf Coast before asking his boss to dispatch 1,000 Homeland Security employees to the region — and gave them two days to arrive, according to internal documents. Michael Brown, director ... [Read More...] Downgrading FEMA Increases Disaster Risks SEATTLE In the days tocome, as the nation and the people along the Gulf Coast work to cope with the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we will be reminded anew, how important it is to have a federal agency capable of dealing with ... [Read More...] Exercise Envisioned Even Deadlier Storm Ray Terese and his wife, Benita, carry furniture out of their home in Slidell, La. Mark Humphrey | Associated Press WASHINGTON As Katrina roared into the Gulf of Mexico, emergency planners pored over maps and charts of a hurricane simulation that projected 61,290 dead and 384,257 ... [Read More...] Katrina Fallout Gets Uglier Brown Michael WASHINGTON Former FEMA Director Michael Brown gave an emotional, sometimes angry account Tuesday of what went wrong with the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, blaming much of the failure on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. ... [Read More...] Hurricane Roundup Help Rushed to Afflicted Region WASHINGTON Government and private relief agencies scrambled Tuesday to cope with a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gulf Coast cities and towns devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Officials in a host of federal agencies — from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ... [Read More...]

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Alabama Fans Encouraged to Support Crimson Tide in the College Colors Challenge Tide 100.9 (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) As part of the 12th annual College Colors Day celebration, which kicks off on Sept. 2, The University of Alabama will participate in the College Colors Challenge as fans unite to show their spirit and pride for the Crimson Tide. Three national winners from the second annual event will be selected to win an all-expenses paid trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Last year’s celebration saw the biggest College Colors Day ever with over 70 athletes, celebrities and musicians joining thousands that showcased their fandom for their alma mater and favorite schools, and expectations for this year’s celebration are even bigger. This year, when fans visit www.CollegeColorsDay.com as of Monday, Aug. 1, not only will they be able to create their own shareable, custom avatar, fans can also register to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the pinnacle of college football competition. Three lucky fans from across the country will be awarded the prize of experiencing the College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa, Fla. The tickets to the game will be provided by College Football Playoff and Extra Yard for Teachers, the College Football Playoff’s primary charity partner that empowers and honors the teachers that help student-athletes across the country realize their dream of attending college. On Sept. 2, Crimson Tide fans are encouraged to show their camaraderie and support for Alabama to all college football fanatics across the social media landscape. Through the month of August, be sure to check out the Alabama Athletics social media accounts below for special College Colors information, and use the hashtags #RollTide and #CollegeColors to be a part of the excitement. In addition, you can find a list of all Alabama Athletics social media accounts on www.RollTide.com. Athletics Accounts: Facebook: University of Alabama Athletics Twitter & Instagram: @UA_Athletics With the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) representing the trademark licensing programs of more than 150 of the nation’s leading universities, the annual celebration of College Colors Day is dedicated to promoting the traditions and spirit that embody the college experience. College Colors Day is celebrated by thousands of organizations, retailers, classrooms and millions of individuals who wear their team colors and share their school spirit with friends and colleagues.

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Members of an atheist congregation at Harvard listen to music during a recent gathering. Church without God - by design By Dan Merica, CNN Follow @DanMericaCNN Boston (CNN)-– It’s Sunday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a rapt congregation listens to a chaplain preach about the importance of building a community. A few dozen people sit quietly for the hourlong service. Music is played, announcements are made and scholars wax poetic about the importance of compassion and community. Outsiders could be forgiven for believing this service, with its homilies, its passing of the plate, its uplifting songs, belongs in a church. If so, it’s a church without one big player: God. Sunday’s congregation in Cambridge is a meeting of the Humanist Community at Harvard University and the brainchild of Greg Epstein, the school’s Humanist chaplain. A longtime advocate for community building, Epstein and his group of atheists have begun to build their Cambridge community and solemnize its Sunday meetings to resemble a traditional religious service. To Epstein, religion is not all bad, and there is no reason to reject its helpful aspects. “My point to my fellow atheists is, why do we need to paint things with such a broad brush? We can learn from the positive while learning how to get rid of the negative," he said. Godless congregations For Epstein, who started community-building at Harvard nearly 10 years ago, the idea of a godless congregation is not an oxymoron. “We decided recently that we want to use the word congregation more and more often because that is a word that strongly evokes a certain kind of community - a really close knit, strong community that can make strong change happen in the world,” he said. “It doesn’t require and it doesn't even imply a specific set of beliefs about anything.” Epstein is not alone in his endeavor. Jerry DeWitt, who became an atheist and left his job as an evangelical minister, is using his pastoral experience to building an atheist church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This Sunday, DeWitt's congregation will hold its first meeting as a "Community Mission Chapel." "When you become a part of this congregation, this community, you are going to become part of a family," DeWitt told CNN. "There is an infrastructure there for you to land in. There is going to be someone there to do weddings and to do, unfortunately, the funerals." READ MORE: Unbelieving preachers get help to 'come out' as open atheists Sunday school for atheists As members of the Cambridge congregation file into a wood-paneled classroom at Harvard, singer Shelley Segal greets them with a few songs from her latest recording, called simply, “An Atheist Album.” Taking a hint from the theme of the event, Segal strums on her guitar and belts her song, “Gratitude.” “I don't believe in a great power to say thank you to,” Segal sings. “But that won’t take away from my gratitude.” Harvard's humanist chaplain Greg Epstein leads an atheist gathering. After the music, Epstein offers a few words of greeting before the meeting gets to its heart: a discussion about compassion. A four academics and a journalist discuss the effects of religion on raising children and their ideas about compassion. Congregants listen intently, some even taking notes. Each service has a message – compassion, evolution or acceptance - after which congregants engage in a lengthy discussion. Before the main event, kids are invited to what some parents refer to as “Sunday school,” where Tony Debono, a biologist Massachusetts Institute of Technology, teaches the youngsters about evolution, DNA and cells. There's little talk about organized religion, positive or negative. Likewise, down in Louisiana, said his atheist services will not be anti-religion. "What we are looking at doing is different," DeWitt said. "If you are a religionist and you come and sit in our pew, the only way you can leave offended is because of what you don’t hear and what you don’t see. We won’t be there to make a stance against religion or against God." In the last few years, the number of “nones” – those who don’t associate with any organized religion – has grown at a rate faster than any other group. Nones now represent one in five Americans, according to a 2012 Pew Research Center poll. Although the number of atheists has grown, too, there are still a large number of “nones” that choose not to associate with the label “atheist.” Some at Harvard’s Humanist congregation fall into this category. “I don’t particularly have a religion,” said Anil Nyer, a neurologist who brought his daughter to Humanist Sunday school. But Nyer also said he didn’t want to label himself as an atheist. One reason to shy away from the atheist label: Many Americans hold a negative impression of nonbelievers. According to a recent Public Religion Research Institute poll, nearly 40 percent of Americans believe that atheists are changing American culture for the worse. “Whenever we put atheists on a list like this and we compare them to other groups, atheists tend to come in towards the bottom of that list,” said Robert P. Jones is the CEO of Public Religion Research Institute. “Americans tend to hold a lot of reservations about atheists.” Epstein hopes his congregation can change that. By formalizing meetings and building a strong community, the Harvard group hopes it can be a model for other atheist congregations forming around the country. A group meets during an atheist gathering in Boston. More atheists may come of the closet if they know a congregation will be there to support them, Epstein said, “Being an atheist is something we want people to come out and be,” said the Humanist chaplain. “There are so many people, probably millions, who are humanists or atheists or nonreligious in private and nobody knows." Epstein said he gets e-mails daily from people founding atheist meet-up groups. “Tulsa, Oklahoma; North Carolina; London; Vancouver, Canada; Houston, Texas,” Epstein said, listing the sources of the most recent e-mails. “One part of what we are saying is come on out and let your neighbors know” about your disbelief, he said. “It is not going to make you worse of a person, it is going to make you a better person to be more open about who you are.” Rituals for the irreligious For the last few years, the Humanist Community at Harvard has operated out of a small three-floor walk-up off the bustling streets of Harvard Square. The walls are littered with posters about atheism – tributes to famed atheists Eddie Izzard, Seth MacFarlane and Stephen Fry. Because of the scattered furniture and the Harvard dorm feel, Epstein jokingly describes the space as “college broke chic.” That’s being generous – but it's also about to change. Starting in the fall, the Humanist Community at Harvard will begin meeting in a nearly 3,000-square-foot community center with an event space for nearly 100 people. Although the plan is to use the space at the group’s headquarters, it will also serve as a broader community center for the group that Epstein and others are trying to build in the Boston area. “What we really would like to see is a community center where people can come by at anytime and to use it as a space to study or have a meeting for various committee,” said Chris Stedman, the assistant humanist chaplain at Harvard. Stedman said he sees the new building as a place for people to gather, not only to become part of a humanist community, but to also become more engaged with the world. When he talks about his plans for the future, Epstein appears to long for a time when the new community center could mimic aspects of church - a place for baby-naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals. The success of an atheist church will depend on walking the thin line between too much and too little ritual, Epstein said. Humanists boast a proud freethinking streak, and some at the Harvard event said they don’t want to be associated with any sort of dogma or belief system - or even a system based on disbelief. Anyway, Esptein said his congregation will be less a group of people united by beliefs - or disbelief - and more like an opera, or a painting. “Our community is like a work of art," he said. "Hopefully people will respond to that work of art and it will garner controversy and discussion like a work of art." Dan Merica - Dan Merica Filed under: Atheism • Belief • Church • Houses of worship • United States Next entry »Pastors aim to keep peace at Zimmerman trial « Previous entryPastor friend says Paula Deen can't be a racist Praying is the most effective from of mental onansim It's sunday! And summer! Go have fun outside. Eat a hotdog! No one cares about your silly comments..... tallulah13 Actually it's raining, and I only like hot dogs when I can have them with beer at the ball park. Why is everyone on here so mean? Were not really mean, it's just a different kind of entertainment. An atheist cannot exist without hate. Secular Humanist from Ohio I was going to say, "What do you mean, 'mean'?" but I thought it was too mean. Cpt. Obvious Why do you see everyone here as mean? Colin – thanks for proving the point... No way Atheists!! Atheists are Discriminated Against in Schools: Discrimination against atheists in school isn’t too uncommon, unfortunately, and as a consequence atheists can feel very much alone. Just as some schools have tried to hinder the creation of groups for gay students, some have tried to hinder the creation of groups for atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers. Such discrimination is illegal, but that doesn’t stop school administrators who don’t want to be seen as supporting godless atheists. Easy steps to starting a successful religion. Rule number 1: Believe or else Rule number 2: See rule number 1. NEXT: Convince vulnerable, prospective devotees that they are worthless trash; sinners, who are certain to burn in hell and suffer the brutality of their loving god's wrath because they deserve it. NEXT: When the vulnerable, prospective devotees have been sufficiently pounded down by indoctrination and fear of death, promise them a "get out of hell, go directly to heaven" pass. HINT: This last tactic is most successful if you play to their emotions with a story full of drama, torture, blood, sacrifice and death. Teach them that it is moral and just to absolve the "sins" of the guilty by punishing the innocent. And for good measure, dazzle them with stories about miracles. NEXT: To obtain a " Get out of hell, go directly to heaven" pass, See rule number 1. Great way in describing the RELIGION OF ATHEISM!! kyzaadrao Because taking spiritual advice from a stranger in a blog post that would dismiss everyone who doesn't agree as a sheep is so much more trustworthy than making up your own mind. hockeyguy#66 It's all about your individual mindset. I myself am not a religious person, yet my sister, who I love with all my heart, is a born again Christian. But I understand it helps her through her life struggles being a recovering alcoholic. I don't understand how the brain works to compensate one for the other, but it makes her happy. To me, that's what matters. I was raised catholic by parents that weren't religious at all. But I appreciate the knowledge early so I could come to my own opinion later in life. If religion is what you need to find meaning in life, that's your decision. Nice outlook. Many people need the comfort religion provides, and we can't begrudge them that. Religion is the opiate of the masses, but opiates can be a good thing. There's much pain in life. Just don't try to legislate your distraction so that it MUST be my distraction. Atheists are Discriminated Against in the Boy Scouts: It is well known that the Boy Scouts of America excludes atheists both as members and as leaders. Not so well known is why: the Boy Scouts of America asserts that atheists are incapable of being sufficiently moral or patriotic to deserve to be involved with scouting. As a private organization this is their right, however bigoted it is; so long as they receive public assistance and funding, however, their discrimination should be as illegal as it is unethical. Atheists are Discriminated Against in Child Custody Cases: Some may find it surprising, but atheists are routinely discriminated against by judges deciding child custody cases. There is a common assumption that religion — any religion — is necessary for properly raising children and that atheists are incapable of seeing to the religious, moral, and social needs of their own kids. Parents who regularly attend church are given great preference over parents who don’t believe in gods. My AIDS has Cancer Real Hard This is how things would have went down if that stupid book were true [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-khATBDrBU&w=640&h=360] That was hilarious!! ATHEIST DISCRIMINATED BY POLITICS: Bigotry against atheists is not limited to theory and harsh language — anti-atheist bigotry can also lead to anti-atheist discrimination. After all, if bigots are convinced that atheists are immoral, untrustworthy, and perhaps even evil on some level, then it’s only to be expected that they will treat atheists unequally and as inferiors. Perhaps the most obvious example of how atheists are discriminated against is in politics: people are less likely to vote for atheists than they are for any other minority — women, blacks, Jews, Muslims, or even gays. No atheist is likely to be elected on any level anywhere in America and no politicians are likely to specifically appeal to atheists’ votes by defending their interests. Some even openly express bigotry against atheists, for example President George H.W. Bush. Have you ever tried really, really hard, and concentrated, and considered making sense? Just wondering....... People sure do get mean when talking about religion! I can’t stand atheists — but it’s not because they don’t believe in God. It’s because they’re crashing bores. Atheists: No God, no reason, just whining Superstar atheists are motivated by anger — and boohoo. My problem with atheists is their tiresome — and way old — insistence that they are being oppressed and their fixation with the fine points of Christianity. What — did their Sunday school teachers flog their behinds with a Bible when they were kids? – Terry Eagleton It sounds like you would really miss your magical thinking and the wizardry of your "God". Actually, the wonder and awe at the real universe is much more astounding than anything that you (or primitive Middle Eastern Hebrews) could make up to fantasize about. Josh Olsen Gee I could say the exact same words about many organized religious leaders. "motivated by anger," "insistence that they are being oppressed" by the government and non believers and people who choose to behave differently than they do, and their "fixation with the fine points of Christianity." to argue why their condemnation of others is justified. I'm guessing their Sunday school teachers used to "flog their behinds with a Bible when they were kids" too. Perhaps that is why they have so much pent up frustration and rage when they see others being more tolerant and relaxed about life. They got bullied into bullied into believing something as a child and now want to bully everyone else to have to believe it too. I think the world would be a whole lot better place if everyone respected everyone else's beliefs, disbeliefs or uncertainty about beliefs. My Cancer has AIDS Real Hard Oh No! Discrimination! You sound bitter. But, it's quite obvious you're trolling. You are an atheist pretending to be a christian using the same insults christians use on a regular basis. The obviousness of this stinks like oprah's minge. Ya gotta love it when a Christian scorns you with the admonition that you will "go to hell" for not believing . Out of all the silly superst.itious beliefs of the Christians, I think the myth of hell is my favorite. Think it through. I don't have to kill, I don't have to steal, hell, I don't even have to litter. All I have to do is have a reasonable, honest and rational disbelief in the Christian god and he will inflict a grotesque penalty upon me an infinite times worse than the death penalty. And he loves me. Let's subject this "cherished Christian doctrine" to the probing light of say.......fifth grade mathematics. Approximately one hundred and ten thousand million (110,000,000,000) people have lived on Earth. Given all those who have, over the centuries, rejected the Christian god, or who have otherwise committed mortal sins, there must be literally thousands of millions of people burning for all eternity in the cosmic oven of hell set up by their all-loving god. Some must have been burning for thousands of years by now. About 100,000 people die every day. There must be a constant stream of thousands of forlorn souls every day into the one way pit of hell their “all-merciful” god set up and maintains. But, far, far worse than sheer overwhelming numbers is the extent of the punishment. There is no way out, no parole, no time off for good behavior. You don’t just burn, you burn for all eternity. Billions of people and thousands of daily new arrivals burning for all eternity! No criminal justice system in the history of the Human race, even those established by the most despotic of tyrants, comes close to matching the unfathomable barbarity of their “infinitely benevolent” god. Hitler murdered six million Jews in his concentration camps, but compared to the Judeo-Christian god, Hitler was a bleeding-hearted wimp. A goose-stepping girlie-man. Their “all-caring” god not only burns billions more than Hitler, Pol Pot and all other dictators and tyrants added up, he keeps doing so to them for all eternity! I would not wish a bad sunburn on a person simply because they have a different religion to me, let alone fry them for all eternity. It is also odd that their all-loving god is also all-knowing and knows which souls will go to hell before they do. He even knows it before they are born, and yet he still creates them. He is worse than a psychopathic teenager than breeds litter after litter of kittens so he can slowly roast them in ovens. That is the problem with using the same deity to be both the carrot and the stick. It gets really silly really quickly. How they believe this utter garbage in the 21st century completely eludes me. Oh the gullible people with faith ... God hates gay people .. by a good Christian, kill them all ... because the Christian is so much better than Allah If God hates gay people and wants them killed, why are atheists killing them? are they? last time I checked ultra religious zealots were preaching killing gays, not the atheist .. oh by the way, I am not atheist .. I just like to make fun of gullible people. I know God is a myth .. but I do not go around asking people to accept they are fools. That is self evident atheists are killing gays? I can NEVER bring myself to be an atheist. Not because they don't believe in God, but because of the tone of the evil, s c u m b a g, devil worshiping, demon-possessed atheists that spew hatred here. They can NEVER be happy for others who inspires those who needs inspiration. They are angry all the time and I can't see myself living a life of an atheist because the Love of Christ is too powerful within me to live in such bitterness. My comment may sound hateful, but when truth & facts bites, oh well, it is what it is. So you don't believe in God, but you believe in demons....yeah, birght one you are. Colin – Show me where I stated that I don't believe in God? "My comment may sound hateful".... because it is! Be nice to people and you will be happier! I take it you're not a Christian, though, because you wouldn't want to be of the same religion as Adolph Hitler. Right? hitler was an atheist. Well, at least us atheists never killed millions in the name of our not religion like your kind do. yes you are very smart and everyone else is totally dumb ... sure you are Joe Stalin atheist murdered over 60 million of his own people. hitler atheist caused the deaths of over 250 million worldwide and murdered 20 million in death camps Mao atheist credited with as many as 800 million murdered and the list is endless TeeJay Swann No, your post is full of hate. You did nothing different than what you accuse atheists of doing. Guess that means you are a but because of the tone of the evil, s c u m b a g, devil worshiping, demon-possessed Christian that spews hatred here, and you also broke the 9th Commandment by bearing false witness. Don't want be an atheist? Fine; don't be. But don't lie to try and get your point across. You are no better than those you condemn. Now I know how the pagans must have felt as Christian churches started popping up. Hopefully the demise of the Greco-Roman zombie cults will accelerate over the next 50 years. I count it all joy to see the abundance of steeples rising over the cities, towns and villages of this land testifying to the sovereignty of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. myweightinwords Yeah, those phallic symbols really represent Christ well. Sometimes a steeple is just a steeple ...and sometimes it's a big ol' d.o.n.g of god pointin' at the sky! Evolution changes things. tsaad And it doesn't matter who you pray to. Prayer is a communication with the one true God and only the one true God TheBob Prayer does change things. It turns your brain into a soft useless mush. Redoran For me there is NO heaven. When I am dead, yes, I am dead. Yes dead and lost forever in a place prepared for the most evil spiritual beings a place you will be unprepared for and unable to endure. You are to be pitied Yet the only proof you offer is that of your diseased mind. The proof is given by God Himself in the resurrected Christ. Beyond this while on earth Jesus is recorded warning people of the horrors of hell. Much is testified to and illustrated not only by Jesus but substantiated in the law and the prophets as well. Many texts of the apostles warn of the dangers and torments of hell. Dippy And that's your proof of hell? God who cannot lie told us all and that is proof enough. @. ooo let me think..................... @* , sorry the eyes are going, why won't god fix that? You've shown yourself incapable of honest thought So if God cannot lie, he is not all powerful. A being who would allow and maintain the hell you describe is the most evil, de.s.p.icable, vile, disgusting, terrorist-torturer who has ever existed. You worship the Most Low; Pure Evil incarnate. @* So, let me get your belief straigh. You believe that I don't have to kill, I don't have to steal, hell, I don't even have to litter. All I have to do is have a reasonable, honest and rational disbelief in the Christian god and he will inflict a grotesque penalty upon me an infinite times worse than the death penalty. You will perish for your own sins, sins that you could be free of but have chosen to hold onto. God will judge you based on His perfection not yours, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Your fate is your own choosing. Gadflie Cannot lie? So much for omnipotence. PRISM 1234 Jesus said that to some, even if dead should rise and come to warn them of that place of the damned called Hell, they wouldn't believe. He came, arose from the dead, declaring the glory and power of God. If they do not believe His testimony, and the Spirit of God who testifies of Him, only Hell itself will convince them. And that they SHALL see! OTOH "Jesus said that to some, even if dead should rise and come to warn them of that place of the damned called Hell, they wouldn't believe." A real god would know exactly how to do it. It would not be at all stymied. Yours? Incompetent. * Incompetent - or more likely, non-existent. @Colin When you state you haven't done all those things, you are implying that because your own goodness you deserve God's salvAtion. But the truth is NO ONE DOES. s it is, you are prepared to stand before Him(in case HE exists), in your own righteousness. But without Christ, and His sacrifice on the Cross which He did for all mankind, no one can be saved. That's why those who refuse Christ will go to Hell. There is only two paths, through Christ or without Him. And since man's soul is immortal, he'll goes into one of the two places: Heaven, God's abode, or Hell, where he is forever separated from God, in place that was never created for human souls. What is so hard to understand here? IbelieveinGod Ok what's the big deal? There are all different kinds of religions,spiritual groups, ect. This was bound to take place and in all honesty i am surprised it hasn't happened sooner. The only issue I have ever had with non believers, is the fact that the min they realize a person believes they are called a idiot, or ridiculed in some other manner. How can people expect to be took seriously when they want to ridicule someone simply because they choose to believe in something. Now granted we do have our bad apples as far as religious people go,but that shouldn't give a pass for people to ridicule all who have faith. I have no problem with someone who doesn't believe and has no interest in ever believing, it is that persons choice. Just as it is mine to believe. So if atheists want to get together like what the article describes then fine why not its a free country. It's, not its. Sorry, religion is not so sacred that it gets a free pass. "The only issue I have ever had with non believers, is the fact that the min they realize a person believes they are called a idiot, or ridiculed in some other manner." – I think that historically it has been far more common for believers to chastise or exclude non-believers than the other way around. Granted that may be because it has often been the perception that believers far outnumber non-believers. Of course how can we really know for sure? "How can people expect to be took seriously when they want to ridicule someone simply because they choose to believe in something." Unfortunately many organized religious leaders expect to be taken seriously yet tend to ridicule non-believers and even those from other religions who simply those who believe in something different. "Now granted we do have our bad apples" – There are bad apples on both sides. I just tend to hear about the religious zealots more often as several "religious leaders" speak publicly to condemn other religious or those with different beliefs and poke their nose into politics and try to get everyone to believe what they believe and behave how they behave. I think the world would be a whole lot better place if everyone respected everyone else's beliefs, disbeliefs or uncertainty about beliefs. Not ALL Atheists put people down for being believers. I wouldn't even say that most do. There are those who have a sort of "holier than thou" way about them, but from what I've seen, the Christians and Catholics are more judgemental of Atheists or those with different beliefs. I can accept that Dick or Jane believes in a magical sky god but I cannot respect it. Atheism – just another make-myslef-feel-good religion. This is pure nonsense: atheism is absence of god(s) and religion/church. As sometimes said, pretending that atheism is a religion is like saying that baldness is a hair color. Unfortunately, the journalist presented this coalition as a church. This idea is easy to sell in the USA. From an intellectual point of view, it's not very honest. Red: just another person who doesn't understand the rather simple definition of atheism. IntellectualViolence Why is atheism not a religion? Atheism is more than a mere denial. Stating a disbelief in the supernatural IS a belief system, just as complete as the theist's belief system that asserts the existence of the supernatural. One could argue that the theist's belief system is older, more complex, and generally accepted, but not that it is a more complete belief system. I fail to see how Atheism is different from other belief systems like Christianity, Buddhism, Satanism, or Paganism. I am convinced that atheism is a religion (albeit a non-conventional one), but I am open to better understand dissent. IV – because atheism is an answer to a single question – do you believe that some kind of god exists? No = atheist, Yes = Thiest. It's everything else that gets added later that makes it a religion (indeed many forms of Buddhism are attheistic, but I would still consider it a religion whereas Humanism isnt' reliant on how you answer either way). « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 Next »

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Barton. “Chromosome Inversions, Local Adaptation, and Speciation.” Genetics, vol. 173, no. 1, Genetics Society of America, 2006, pp. 419–34, doi:10.1534/genetics.105.047985. year=2006 Conference Paper (55)

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Denoising inferred functional association networks obtained by gene fusion analysis Kamburov, Atanas Bioinformatics (Ralf Herwig), Dept. of Vertebrate Genomics (Head: Hans Lehrach), Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Max Planck Society; Kamburov, A., Goldovsky, L., Freilich, S., Kapazoglou, A., Kunin, V., Enright, A. J., et al. (2007). Denoising inferred functional association networks obtained by gene fusion analysis. BMC Genomics, 8, 460-460. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-8-460. Cite as: http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0010-80FF-2 Background Gene fusion detection – also known as the 'Rosetta Stone' method – involves the identification of fused composite genes in a set of reference genomes, which indicates potential interactions between its un-fused counterpart genes in query genomes. The precision of this method typically improves with an ever-increasing number of reference genomes. Results In order to explore the usefulness and scope of this approach for protein interaction prediction and generate a high-quality, non-redundant set of interacting pairs of proteins across a wide taxonomic range, we have exhaustively performed gene fusion analysis for 184 genomes using an efficient variant of a previously developed protocol. By analyzing interaction graphs and applying a threshold that limits the maximum number of possible interactions within the largest graph components, we show that we can reduce the number of implausible interactions due to the detection of promiscuous domains. With this generally applicable approach, we generate a robust set of over 2 million distinct and testable interactions encompassing 696,894 proteins in 184 species or strains, most of which have never been the subject of high-throughput experimental proteomics. We investigate the cumulative effect of increasing numbers of genomes on the fidelity and quantity of predictions, and show that, for large numbers of genomes, predictions do not become saturated but continue to grow linearly, for the majority of the species. We also examine the percentage of component (and composite) proteins with relation to the number of genes and further validate the functional categories that are highly represented in this robust set of detected genome-wide interactions. Conclusion We illustrate the phylogenetic and functional diversity of gene fusion events across genomes, and their usefulness for accurate prediction of protein interaction and function.

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Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs Justin P. F. Pomeranz, Ross M. Thompson, Timothee Poisot, Jon S. Harding Institute for Applied Ecology Food webs are a powerful way to represent the diversity, structure, and function of ecological systems. However, the accurate description of food webs requires significant effort in time and resources, limiting their widespread use in ecological studies. Newly published methods allow for the inference of feeding interactions using proxy variables. Here, we compare the accuracy of two recently described methods, as well as describe a composite model of the two, for the inference of feeding interactions using a large, well-described dataset. Both niche and neutral processes are involved in determining whether or not two species will form a feeding link in communities. Three different models for determining niche constraints of feeding interactions are compared, and all three models are extended by incorporating neutral processes, based on relative abundances. The three models compared here infer niche processes through (a) phylogenetic relationships, (b) local species trait distributions (e.g., body size), and (c) a composite of phylogeny and local traits. We show that all three methods perform well at predicting individual species interactions, and that these individual predictions scale up to the network level, resulting in food web structure of inferred networks being similar to their empirical counterparts. Our results indicate that inferring food web structure using phylogenies can be an efficient way of getting summary webs with minimal data, and offers a conservative test of changes in food web structure, particularly when there is low species turnover between sites. Inferences made using traits require more data, but allows for greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying trophic interactions. A composite model of the two methods provides a framework for investigating the importance of how phylogeny, trait distributions, and relative abundances, affect species interactions, and network structure. Methods in Ecology and Evolution https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13125 Pomeranz, J. P. F., Thompson, R. M., Poisot, T., & Harding, J. S. (2019). Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 10(3), 356-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13125 Pomeranz, Justin P. F. ; Thompson, Ross M. ; Poisot, Timothee ; Harding, Jon S. / Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs. In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 2019 ; Vol. 10, No. 3. pp. 356-367. @article{edc9900ab2e94b8f8a05318d48bb49af, title = "Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs", abstract = "Food webs are a powerful way to represent the diversity, structure, and function of ecological systems. However, the accurate description of food webs requires significant effort in time and resources, limiting their widespread use in ecological studies. Newly published methods allow for the inference of feeding interactions using proxy variables. Here, we compare the accuracy of two recently described methods, as well as describe a composite model of the two, for the inference of feeding interactions using a large, well-described dataset. Both niche and neutral processes are involved in determining whether or not two species will form a feeding link in communities. Three different models for determining niche constraints of feeding interactions are compared, and all three models are extended by incorporating neutral processes, based on relative abundances. The three models compared here infer niche processes through (a) phylogenetic relationships, (b) local species trait distributions (e.g., body size), and (c) a composite of phylogeny and local traits. We show that all three methods perform well at predicting individual species interactions, and that these individual predictions scale up to the network level, resulting in food web structure of inferred networks being similar to their empirical counterparts. Our results indicate that inferring food web structure using phylogenies can be an efficient way of getting summary webs with minimal data, and offers a conservative test of changes in food web structure, particularly when there is low species turnover between sites. Inferences made using traits require more data, but allows for greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying trophic interactions. A composite model of the two methods provides a framework for investigating the importance of how phylogeny, trait distributions, and relative abundances, affect species interactions, and network structure.", keywords = "body size, food web inference, food web structure, neutral theory, niche model, trait-matching, WebBuilder", author = "Pomeranz, {Justin P. F.} and Thompson, {Ross M.} and Timothee Poisot and Harding, {Jon S.}", doi = "10.1111/2041-210X.13125", journal = "Methods in Ecology and Evolution", publisher = "John Wiley & Sons", Pomeranz, JPF, Thompson, RM, Poisot, T & Harding, JS 2019, 'Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs', Methods in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 356-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13125 Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs. / Pomeranz, Justin P. F.; Thompson, Ross M.; Poisot, Timothee; Harding, Jon S. In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 10, No. 3, 2019, p. 356-367. T1 - Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs AU - Pomeranz, Justin P. F. AU - Thompson, Ross M. AU - Poisot, Timothee AU - Harding, Jon S. N2 - Food webs are a powerful way to represent the diversity, structure, and function of ecological systems. However, the accurate description of food webs requires significant effort in time and resources, limiting their widespread use in ecological studies. Newly published methods allow for the inference of feeding interactions using proxy variables. Here, we compare the accuracy of two recently described methods, as well as describe a composite model of the two, for the inference of feeding interactions using a large, well-described dataset. Both niche and neutral processes are involved in determining whether or not two species will form a feeding link in communities. Three different models for determining niche constraints of feeding interactions are compared, and all three models are extended by incorporating neutral processes, based on relative abundances. The three models compared here infer niche processes through (a) phylogenetic relationships, (b) local species trait distributions (e.g., body size), and (c) a composite of phylogeny and local traits. We show that all three methods perform well at predicting individual species interactions, and that these individual predictions scale up to the network level, resulting in food web structure of inferred networks being similar to their empirical counterparts. Our results indicate that inferring food web structure using phylogenies can be an efficient way of getting summary webs with minimal data, and offers a conservative test of changes in food web structure, particularly when there is low species turnover between sites. Inferences made using traits require more data, but allows for greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying trophic interactions. A composite model of the two methods provides a framework for investigating the importance of how phylogeny, trait distributions, and relative abundances, affect species interactions, and network structure. AB - Food webs are a powerful way to represent the diversity, structure, and function of ecological systems. However, the accurate description of food webs requires significant effort in time and resources, limiting their widespread use in ecological studies. Newly published methods allow for the inference of feeding interactions using proxy variables. Here, we compare the accuracy of two recently described methods, as well as describe a composite model of the two, for the inference of feeding interactions using a large, well-described dataset. Both niche and neutral processes are involved in determining whether or not two species will form a feeding link in communities. Three different models for determining niche constraints of feeding interactions are compared, and all three models are extended by incorporating neutral processes, based on relative abundances. The three models compared here infer niche processes through (a) phylogenetic relationships, (b) local species trait distributions (e.g., body size), and (c) a composite of phylogeny and local traits. We show that all three methods perform well at predicting individual species interactions, and that these individual predictions scale up to the network level, resulting in food web structure of inferred networks being similar to their empirical counterparts. Our results indicate that inferring food web structure using phylogenies can be an efficient way of getting summary webs with minimal data, and offers a conservative test of changes in food web structure, particularly when there is low species turnover between sites. Inferences made using traits require more data, but allows for greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying trophic interactions. A composite model of the two methods provides a framework for investigating the importance of how phylogeny, trait distributions, and relative abundances, affect species interactions, and network structure. KW - body size KW - food web inference KW - food web structure KW - neutral theory KW - niche model KW - trait-matching KW - WebBuilder UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/inferring-predatorprey-interactions-food-webs U2 - 10.1111/2041-210X.13125 DO - 10.1111/2041-210X.13125 JO - Methods in Ecology and Evolution JF - Methods in Ecology and Evolution Pomeranz JPF, Thompson RM, Poisot T, Harding JS. Inferring predator-prey interactions in food webs. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 2019;10(3):356-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13125 10.1111/2041-210X.13125 http://www.mendeley.com/research/inferring-predatorprey-interactions-food-webs

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30 years of change in the Thai Retail Market Contributor October 31, 2018 Retail property is one of the most complicated types of real estate development because of the constantly changing behaviours, tastes and needs of consumers. SEE ALSO : Swire Properties merges art and retail space once again The Thai retail property market has changed enormously over the last 30 years since CBRE established an office in Bangkok and change continues at an even faster rate especially with the growth of E-commerce. 30 years ago, the Bangkok retail property market was limited to a handful of department stores and a few typical shopping centres like Central Plaza Ladprao completed in 1982, Amarin Plaza completed in 1985 and the original Siam Centre completed in 1977. The rest of the retail sector was shophouses and wet markets. There are now almost 7.5 million square metres of modern retail property in Bangkok split between department stores, shopping centres, big box stores and other new formats. There has been rapid growth and change in the range of retail formats and types of tenant. The first 7-Eleven convenience store opened in Thailand in 1989 and there are now 10,268 stores in 2018. The first big box store was Makro Ladprao in Bangkapi district in 1989 and now Big C, Tesco Lotus and Makro have over 450 big box stores in Thailand. Over the last 30 years we have seen an increased move from traditional retail in wet markets and shophouses to modern retail formats ranging from convenience stores and community malls to giant regional shopping centres such as Central Westgate. The modern retail format has spread throughout Thailand with many provincial cities now having modern shopping centres. The Thai retail market is, like the rest of the world, facing the new challenge of E-commerce. In the UK, E-commerce sales are expected to account for 18% of total retail sales in 2018 and 9.5% in the USA. Currently E-commerce sales account for less than 1% of total retail sales in Thailand but this is expected to grow rapidly as E-commerce platforms and infrastructure, including payment systems and distribution have now been established. Big players are currently entering the Thai E-commerce market such as Alibaba investing $320 million as well as JD forming a $500 million joint venture with Central Group. Retailers will have to adapt to best serve customers in stores and online. Retail developers will have to improve the customer experience through design, decoration, events, tenant mix and customer service. Retail landlords will have to create a unique environment that focusses on customer experiences. Landlords can achieve this through placemaking in which transforms retail space into “destinations” and “lifestyle centres” to draw more consumers to the area. Landlords may also choose to shift towards greater food and beverage based tenants, such as restaurants, as they provide an experience which cannot be replicated online. “clicks” will not totally replace “bricks” but will mean that retailers and retail property developers will have to change. “Simply building a nice glass box and filling it with brand names, won’t work anymore. “said Ms. Jariya Thumtrongkitkul, head of retail services at CBRE Thailand.“ Many retailers are trying to pursue an omni-channel approach with both online and offline channels that are fully integrated whereby the digital and physical options complement each other.” Landlords will need to fully integrate the omni-channel approach in which to provide consumers with a frictionless experience across online and offline channels. AI will also have a big role to play in collecting data. Through using interactive apps or customer order history, businesses will also be able to form a more accurate customer profile in which they then can use to personalise their marketing campaigns as well as improving their operations and sales. The use of data can also help retailers better keep up and understand consumer trends and expectations. The continuous change in consumer behaviour means that retail property development is much more complicated than office development. It requires hands on management and constant innovation and improvement. The level of commitment and expertise needed is very high and unlike hotels it is rare to subcontract management to a third party in Thailand. SEE ALSO : Fast Retailing to define the future of retail Even though the economy is improving retailers, retail landlords and developers face big challenges in adapting to the changing environment caused by E-commerce. The shopping centre is one of the most successful business models and will not fade away but the competition from E-commerce means that the model will have to evolve to survive. Jariya Thumtrongkitkul is Head of the Advisory & Transaction Services – Retail, CBRE Thailand. She is responsible for coordinating with local and international retailers, and selling and leasing retail premises in Thailand. Jariya has been involved in the retail industry since 2003 and has successfully handled many retail projects including J Avenue, The Esplanade, La Villa, Nawamin City Avenue, Suzuki Avenue and The Street Ratchadapisek. Tags Asia Thailand Real Estate property development retail property Avatar and AI tech for Estée Lauder X'mas campaign EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW : Sean Lee Davies' immersive storytelling Davidoff introduces new flagship store at Hong Kong’s The Peninsula Thailand bans single-use plastic bags in retail Esprit inks new joint venture in China Taiwan’s Yi Fang Fruit Tea expands to Thai market Alma Lasers expands to Korean market Naver joins cross-border mobile payment alliance Australian fashion brand Bardot to shutter 58 stores nationally

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Richard Jaffe RJ Press Hardcover (January 1, 2007) “What other people may find in poetry or an art museum, I have found in the flight of a good drive. Yet, in this book, Inner Peace and Happiness by Richard Jaffe, you will find inspiration akin to what I’ve experienced on the course. I highly recommend it.” — Arnold Palmer, American Golf Legend and member, World Golf Hall of Fame “It’s unusual and refreshing to find a successful businessman and philanthropist who writes inspirational poetry about love. Yet Richard Jaffe is that rare leader who helps us remember that love of our mission, family, colleagues, customers and friends is the essence of leadership.” — Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level “Richard’s poetry breathes life into the words friendship, love and happiness. His poems serve as a constant reminder of what is important in life.” — Gary Heil, co-Author of One Size Fits One and Maslow On Management “‘Words that come from the heart, enter the heart,’ an old Hebrew proverb teaches. This is the case with Richard Jaffe’s poetry, filled with vivid, emotionally compelling images. Inner Peace and Happiness is the heartfelt writing of a poet with a large, all-embracing heart.” — Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of A Code of Jewish Ethics, and Jewish Literacy. “Knowing Richard Jaffe as well as I do, I can tell you that he lives “The Secret” every day and his poetry reflects this timeless philosophy. Richards’s unique ability to express his emotions so eloquently is sure to enamor his readers as each of his poems have captivated me.” — Lisa Nichols, co-author of Chicken Soup for The African American Soul and The Secret Copyright © 2014 Richard Jaffee

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Enzymedica and Dr. Michael Murray Join Forces You are here: Home / Blog / Blog / News / Enzymedica and Dr. Michael Murray Join Forces Enzymedica, Inc. is excited to announce that Dr. Michael Murray, author of over 30 books, including “The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine,” and an individual who has been recently named “The Voice of Natural Medicine” by Nutrition Business Journal, has joined the company as Chief Science Officer. According to Scott Sensenbrenner, CEO, “Dr. Murray is a true icon in the natural health movement and brings tremendous credibility, experience, and passion to our company.” Dr. Murray will be critical to driving new innovations in product development for Enzymedica, as well as leading research efforts to create next generation formulas that will be groundbreaking for the industry. In addition to his role with Enzymedica, Dr. Murray will be working closely with the Roskamp Institute in Sarasota, Fl. This non-profit organization is performing cutting edge research for organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD) and the European Union (EU). Roskamp is renowned for their team’s research on Alzheimer’s disease, Gulf War Illness, and other complex diseases. Dr. Murray and the Institute will be developing better answers for improving brain health, the human microbiome and digestion. Enzymedica’s strategic relationship with the Roskamp Institute gives it the resources and expertise critical for providing innovative, science-based natural products, furthering its contribution to digestive health. This close partnership is further demonstrated by Sensenbrenner, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Roskamp Institute. Dr. Murray says, “I am thrilled to be part of the team at both Enzymedica and the Roskamp Institute. It is a dream come true.” Sensenbrenner and Dr. Murray previously worked together in the 1990s at Enzymatic Therapy, which was later acquired by the German company Dr. Wilmarr Schwabe Pharmaceuticals. About Enzymedica: Florida-based Enzymedica, Inc. was founded in 1998 to offer consumers targeted enzyme products, and only uses the highest quality vegetarian enzyme sources available. Enzymedica products are the top-selling digestive enzymes in the U.S. market according to SPINS, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry. Enzymedica is a proud supporter of many green initiatives, including use of solar energy, recycled steel for its building and recycled paper for packing and shipping. Enzymedica also sponsors initiatives in autism, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) of Sarasota, and others. About Dr. Murray: Dr. Murray is one of the world’s leading authorities on natural medicine. He has published over 30 books featuring natural approaches to health. He is a graduate, former faculty member, and serves on the Board of Regents of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. Not all Health Products are Created Equal Dr. Joseph Mercola Interviews Mark Newman On Dutch Testing

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The Border Patrol’s ‘Culture of Impunity’ June 18, 2015 by Source Border Patrol internal affairs department absolves agents in 67 lethal force cases The U.S. Customs and Border Protection internal affairs department cleared agents of wrongdoing in dozens of lethal force cases, including those which killed children and U.S. citizens. (Photo: shawn alladio/flickr/cc) By Nadia Prupis / Common Dreams In case after case involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shooting and killing unarmed people, agents were cleared of wrongdoing by the CBP’s internal affairs department—including in the killings of children and U.S. citizens. Investigations into 67 shooting incidents, 19 of which were fatal, absolved agents in all but three cases, which are still pending, the LA Times reported on Monday. Only two agents in total were disciplined—with an oral reprimand, the Times wrote. Even in cases where evidence of criminal misconduct was presented, agents still went free of charges. One case was that of a 15-year-old Mexican boy who was shot and killed by border patrol after throwing rocks from a border bridge in El Paso, Texas in 2010. In another, agents shot to death a 19-year-old American citizen as he attempted to climb a fence into Mexico near Douglas, Arizona. All agents were cleared of wrongdoing in those cases. Meanwhile, the agents involved in the three shooting incidents currently awaiting investigation are still conducting armed patrols along the border. Critics say the findings demonstrate how the CBP, like many federal agencies, operates with near-impunity, even as the Obama administration has promised to crack down on the use of excessive force. “We are deeply disappointed” with the lack of action, Juanita Molina, executive director of Border Action Network, a human rights organization based in Tucson, told the Times. “When you have someone throwing rocks and someone responding with lethal force, it is just not proportional.” “Turning the page doesn’t mean burying the past,” said Chris Rickerd, a border security expert at the ACLU. “There is no assurance to border residents that agents who have used excessive, improper lethal force aren’t on the job in their communities.” The Times continued: Unlike domestic police departments, the 21,000-member Border Patrol released almost no public information about shootings, including the outcome of its investigations, until recently. That practice has started to ease slightly as supervisors have been granted more latitude from headquarters to describe individual incidents. The internal affairs review was started in July after an earlier study of the same 67 shooting cases by an independent group of law enforcement experts found a pattern of agents firing in frustration at people throwing rocks from across the border, as well as agents deliberately stepping in front of cars apparently to justify shooting at the drivers. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), which conducted the independent review in May 2014, said the border patrol showed “a lack of diligence” in investigating shooting incidents. Christian Ramírez, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, said at the time that the PERF report should mark “a turning point for the strained relations between Customs and Border Protection and civil society.” In an op-ed for the El Paso Times, the Arizona Republic editorial board excoriated the agency for its culture of secrecy, racial profiling, and human rights abuses at detention centers. “The Border Patrol is alleged to have committed egregious civil rights abuses. Many people think that doesn’t matter because agents deal with people who crossed the border illegally,” wrote the editorial board. “But U.S. citizens are waiting for answers about checkpoints in their communities. U.S. citizen children have allegedly been detained in inhuman conditions. U.S. citizens have been killed by border agents. And the U.S. Constitution does not protect only U.S. citizens. The Border Patrol culture of impunity needs to change. The evidence just keeps piling up.” In one of the three cases still awaiting investigation, border patrol agents shot 30-year-old Juan Pablo Perez Santillan as he stood watch for a group of migrants crossing the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas in July 2012. Perez Santillan died from his wounds at a hospital. According to a lawsuit filed by Perez Santillan’s family, an agent shot at the man five times, hitting him in the chest. As Perez Santillan’s brother Damien pleaded for help, the lawsuit states, another agent shouted back, “Que se muera el perro.” “Let the dog die.” Latest posts by Source (see all) And Then They Came for the Vietnamese… - December 13, 2018 Amazon’s Disturbing Plan to Add Face Surveillance to Your Front Door - December 13, 2018 140+ Arrested as Youth-Led Protests Demand Green New Deal on Capitol Hill - December 11, 2018 Filed Under: Courts, Justice, Government, Immigration, Politics « Texas Lifeguard? Protecting Mauna Kea: Vocabulary for Haoles » Marco E Lopez says In 1985, designated Year of the Child by the UN, a frail 12-year-old Mexican boy named Humberto Carrillo was shot through the back by a U.S. Border patrolman while the child stood on Mexican soil. Then OPM investigated the shooting and cleared agent Ned Cole of all wrongdoing. I filed and litigated the case against the government in the Southern District. After the discovery period had closed and about three months before trial I received an anonymous call from a government employee, presumably, who gave me information critical to the case and completely contradictory to the official defense being prof erred by the government. It was bad that the shooter was not even put on the witness stand. Humberto’s case was the first case of excessive use of force the U.S. Border Patrol had ever lost. And, even after a federal judge stated in her decision the defense was not credible, the officer was not disciplined in any way. So long as this man-made border remains and the wealth disparities between the two countries continue, there will always be violence at the border; described by Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes as an “open wound.” Thank for covering this vital international issue.

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Warren Says All-Women Democratic Presidential Ticket Can Beat Trump, Points to Harris Written by <a href="index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=29504"><span class="small">Martin Pengelly, Guardian UK</span></a> Pengelly writes: "Elizabeth Warren believes an all-women Democratic presidential ticket can beat Donald Trump next year." Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday in Charleston, South Carolina. (photo: Sarah Blake Morgan/AP) By Martin Pengelly, Guardian UK lizabeth Warren believes an all-women Democratic presidential ticket can beat Donald Trump next year. The Massachusetts senator made her views plain in an interview with the Associated Press in Charleston, South Carolina, on Sunday. “Sure, why not?” she said. “I think [voters] would support a lot of different combinations.” Warren was speaking in the week the California senator Kamala Harris, formerly seen as a strong candidate for the nomination, dropped out of the race. Warren has fallen back a little in polling but remains in a clear top four, with former vice-president Joe Biden, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. “Look, it would be presumptuous of me to be talking about individuals, but I’m open to getting this right because that’s what we want to do,” Warren told the AP when asked about her theoretical choice of running mate, a little less than two months out from the Iowa caucuses. “We want to build a Democratic ticket and a stronger Democratic party that’s ready to get out there and compete at the national level, at the state level, at the local level.” Some suggest another woman would be a mistake, given Hillary Clinton’s defeat by Trump in 2016. The AP said Warren “argued that women notched historic wins during the 2018 midterms, suggesting voters are worried less about gender than the message candidates are offering”. The senator has said she would consider Harris as a potential running mate. Many in the party favour Stacey Abrams, now campaigning for voting rights after narrowly losing the gubernatorial election in Georgia last year. Warren also told the AP she would be “open” to considering Biden for the role he played under Barack Obama. In an interview with Axios also released on Sunday, Biden said he would be open to considering Warren. Biden said he would want someone “who knows that you and he or she are totally simpatico in terms of your ideology, where you want to take the country, your vision for the country, and you have to be able to turn over significant responsibility to them.” Ideologically speaking, that would seem to count out Warren, who differs with Biden significantly in many policy areas, most conclusively healthcare. But the former VP acknowledged it would be valuable for the Democrats to have a woman or a person of colour on their ticket. “I’d add Senator Warren to the list,” he said. “I’d add all. But she’s going to be very angry at my having said that ... The question is would she add me made to her list. You know.” Now he knows. Regarding the actual campaign, Warren told the AP she was not concerned about Biden’s strong position in South Carolina, a key early voting state, and with African American voters in general. She also criticised the billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg over his late entry and said the party needed to attract disillusioned Republican voters. “We’re going to need as many Democrats as we can to build up our turnout,” she said, “and we’re also going to need some Republicans to help us, some Republican women, some Republican men, who are turned off by how Donald Trump behaves. “I think we’ve got a path to victory, and I think the energy and enthusiasm of women is really what’s going to carry us across the finish line with a good margin.” Women, Warren said, will “not only help us win the White House but, just as has been happening, help us win up and down the ticket”. Warren seems confident she can head that ticket. In a column published by the Guardian on Sunday, she took Trump to task for his “reckless” behaviour on the world stage, particularly at the Nato summit in London last week. “A mounting list of global challenges demand US leadership and collective action,” she wrote. “As president, I will recommit to our alliances – diplomatically, militarily and economically.”

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Ellison Gives Up Oracle CEO Role for CTO Oracle Corp.'s iconic co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison announced Thursday that he is stepping aside from day-to-day management at Oracle to focus on technology and strategy. According to the announcement, which was released Thursday after the U.S. financial markets closed, Ellison will vacate his position as CEO effective immediately, with two executives taking over Oracle's CEO responsibilities -- Mark Hurd, current co-president of Oracle, and Safra Catz, the other co-president and Oracle's CFO. Ellison will remain at Oracle as its new CTO and executive chairman of the board of directors, the company said. "Safra and Mark will now report to the Oracle Board rather than to me," Ellison said in a prepared statement. "All the other reporting relationships will remain unchanged." Hurd will manage all issues related to Oracle's global vertical industry businesses, as well as sales and service. Catz will oversee all legal, finance and manufacturing matters. Ellison will be responsible for all hardware and software engineering matters. "The three of us have been working well together for the last several years, and we plan to continue working together for the foreseeable future," Ellison said. "Keeping this management team in place has always been a top priority of mine." Oracle gave no explanation for Ellison's role change in its announcement beyond a statement by Dr. Michael Boskin, presiding director of Oracle's board, who said that Ellison "made it very clear that he wants to keep working full time and focus his energy on product engineering, technology development and strategy." The executive changes were announced on the same day as Oracle's fiscal first-quarter financial reporting. The company reported $8.6 billion in total revenue for Q1, missing analyst expectations of $8.8 billion. Earnings per share at $0.62 were also a miss, with analysts expecting $0.64 per share.

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Bringing together Australia’s leading stillbirth researchers and health professionals for the first time. Hear from current Red Nose grant recipients on their groundbreaking research into the causes of stillbirth. Together, with your support we can end preventable stillbirth. Help us get to zero. ​This event is now sold out! But you can watch our live Facebook stream here. Monday 3 December 6pm for a 6:15pm start (to be followed by a cocktail networking hour) Jim Stynes Room, Melbourne Cricket Ground This event is now sold out. Watch our live Facebook stream here.​ Why should you attend this event? The Inaugural Red Nose Research Series brings together leading researchers and health professionals who are working towards reducing the unacceptably high loss of lives to stillbirth and SUDI. Stillbirth is a significant health issue worldwide, which is multifactorial and includes biological, social and service-related factors all contributing to the risks. Research into the development of test prevention strategies needs to occur and actions to drive findings into practice ensue. In addition, targeted education, which is robust, is essential to the success of our mission to reduce stillbirth rates. Whilst the rates of SUDI have reduced dramatically, the focus on continued education and research is paramount to eradicate both SUDI and stillbirth. Dr Miranda Davies-Tuck: Preventing term stillbirth in South Asian born mothers Dr Maryam Mozooni: The effect of migration and acculturation on risk of stillbirth in Western Australia Dr Adrienne Gordon: Sleep in Pregnancy Pilot Trial (SLiPP) Prof Heather Jeffery: Update on SUDI: the past, the present and the future See speaker bios below. For information on how to get to the MCG, including car, train, tram and bus routes, visit www.mcg.org.au/getting-around/getting-around. The Jim Stynes Room is located in the Olympic Stand on level 2. For further information on parking and transport click here. Professor Craig Pennell, Chair of the Red Nose National Scientific Advisory Group, talks about the inaugural Red Nose Research Series About the speakers: Dr Maryam Mozooni Maryam is a medical doctor, initially trained as a general practitioner in Iran, who pursued a career in academia by undertaking a PhD in Public Health and Obstetrics & Gynaecology after immigrating to Australia. She currently works as a Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia and as a Sessional Teaching Academic at the University of Notre Dame Australia. She is the mother of two healthy children born in Australia and her research interest includes public health, health services and reproduction, with a focus on migration and ethnicity. Dr Mozooni’s research has been funded by Women and Infants Research Foundation, the University of Western Australia and recently by Red Nose to study the effect of migration and acculturation on risk of stillbirth in Western Australia. Prof Heather Jeffery AO Heather is a Paediatrician/Neonatologist. She has been Professor of International Maternal and Child Health, Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and Clinical Academic Neonatologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), Sydney. Prior to this she was Head of Department of Neonatology at RPAH. During the last 10 years she has focused on South East Asian countries working in Malaysia, Vietnam, the Balkans and more recently Mongolia and South Africa. Her research interests are focused in three areas. i) A multidisciplinary nutritional research program underway in Sydney to develop methods to screen rapidly, easily, at low cost the most at risk, malnourished, term newborns and young children up to two years using near infrared technology (NIR project). Gates Foundation funding ii) Prevention of neonatal infection and perinatal mortality and morbidity in four South East Asian (SEA) countries (SEA URCHIN project funded by NHMRC, a collaborative project with the Cochrane Centre, Monash University and four SEA countries) iii) Evidence-based education (SCORPIO methodology) to translate best evidence into practice. This has been trialed in NSW and applied to capacity building in Macedonia, Vietnam and the SEA URCHIN project Since her PhD many years ago on SIDS she has maintained a research and community interest in the prevention of SIDS and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants. She currently is a member of the Child Death Review Committee, NSW, the Sudden Infant Death Advisory Committee NSW Health and the scientific committee of Red Nose. Dr Adrienne Gordon Adrienne is a Neonatal Staff Specialist in the RPA centre for newborn care and an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow at the University of Sydney. She has a Masters of Public Health and a PhD on risk factors for stillbirth for which she received an NHMRC Public Health Scholarship. She is particularly interested in perinatal topics with a public health impact that have the potential to improve pregnancy and newborn outcomes. Adrienne is on several State and National Committees that are directly responsible for policy and practice in the provision of perinatal care. She is Deputy Chair of the National Scientific Advisory Group of Red Nose, a member of the IMPACT network for improving health through perinatal clinical trials, represents NSW on the National Perinatal Mortality Report project and has close links with perinatal consumer groups such as Miracle babies and the Stillbirth Foundation Australia. She is an avid supporter of evidence-based policy and practice and is passionate about translating research into clinical care. She led the Sydney Stillbirth Study which assessed modifiable risk factors for late pregnancy stillbirth across nine different hospitals. The results of this project have contributed to the recent establishment of a specialised bereavement support service (iSAIL – integrated support after infant loss) within Sydney Local Health District. Adrienne is also Project Lead for the Charles Perkins Centre’s BABY1000 Study. BABY1000 is a visionary project which will provide a major contribution to knowledge regarding early life predictors of health and disease and the interventions that will ultimately improve health for our future generations. Dr Miranda Davies-Tuck Miranda is an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow, with a focus on perinatal and clinical epidemiology. Her main research areas include understanding ethnic differences in maternal and perinatal outcomes, stillbirth, assessing the effectiveness of current antenatal and intrapartum interventions and home birth. Dr Davies-Tuck has an established collaboration with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, where she has a secondment to undertake research that aligns with department of health priorities and her research interests. She has also written a Department of Health Document, ‘Implementing a public home birth program: Guidance for Victorian public health services’ to instruct health services how to plan, set up and run their own public home birth programs.

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Home News DPRK Today: Who Is Kim Jong-un’s Mysterious Wife? DPRK Today: Who Is Kim Jong-un’s Mysterious Wife? by Jeremy Holcombe May 7, 2014 2 comments In the psychotic prison state that calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, nothing is what it seems, and everything is a secret. The entire country is essentially a 47,000 square mile Potemkin village, an elaborate ruse of happiness and efficiency designed to obscure the terror, poverty, and murder hidden beneath. So it's probably no surprise that we know so little about the wife of North Korean boy dictator Kim Jong-un. The Kim regime is notoriously secretive about the private lives of the ruling dynasty. The wife of the dynasty's founder, Kim Il-sung, was named Kim Song-ae; she disappeared forever when her stepson Kim Jong-il took power. Jong-il had four wives and "consorts," none of whom ever appeared in public or in the state-controlled media. Jong-un is the first leader since his grandfather died to appear with his wife in public. But who is Jong-un's wife, Ri Sol-ju? The only thing experts can agree on is that she's beautiful. It is even widely suspected that the name "Ri Sol-ju" is a pseudonym; Kim Jong-un's own biological mother was often referred to in Northern media with a fake name. The regime has released practically no information about the woman. Here are the claims made by the official North Korea propaganda organs: Her name is Ri Sol-ju. She is Kim Jong-un's wife. She makes public appearances with her husband, such as attending this concert and watching a baseball game with washed-up American athlete and fellow traveler Dennis Rodman. Outside observers, particularity in the the South Korean media, have dug deep to uncover facts about the mystery woman. As with any speculation about the inner secrets of the North, these "facts" have to be taken with a healthy serving of salt: She was born in 1985. Or 1986, 1987, 1988, or 1989. Her family is prominent in the Communist Party elite. Her mother is a doctor and her father is a university professor. She studied singing in China. In 2005, she participated in a cheerleading competition in South Korea. The couple was married in 2009; it was an arranged marriage, ordered by the dying Kim Jong-il. She has given birth to one child, although the birth was never announced and the child has never appeared in public. Rodman told The Guardian that Ri gave birth to a girl named Ju-ae in 2012. While it may seem strange there was no public announcement, it should be noted that no one on Earth knew that Kim Jong-un existed until he was announced as heir in 2010. She was a singer in the Unhasu Orchestra, a state-sponsored Western-style musical group, and she performed a number of times outside of North Korea. Nine members of the Unhasu Orchestra were executed last year on Kim's orders, and foreign observers speculated that the dictator was eliminating his wife's old friends to maintain control over her. A high-level defector claimed the band had produced a pornographic video, and the executions were to cover up Ri's involvement. Kim is attempting to obliterate his wife's past as a singer, ordering all her old CDs to be confiscated and destroyed. While North Korean women, including previous Kim family wives, are required to wear approved styles of clothing, Ri dresses in expensive Westerm fashions, favoring Chanel. Long live the proletariat! In 2012, Ri was "grounded," banned from public appearances for two months. This was supposedly because she refused to wear a pin bearing her father-in-law's face, or because she was "too cheerful." On social media, South Koreans express admiration for Ri's modernity and style, while foreigners operate under the assumption she is a captive of the regime. Facebook features a number of fake profiles for the Dear Leader's wife; she does not have an official social media presence. Unlike North Korea's so-called space program, we have evidence that Ri Sol-ju actually exists. But who is she? How much power and influence does she wield? Is she a willing accomplice to the regime's crimes, or an innocent prisoner trying to protect her family? Until the North Korean regime is finally overthrown and dismantled, we may never know. Sources: CNN | Daily Beast | New York Magazine | Korean Central News Agency of the DPRK | Wikipedia 1 2 3 DPRK Today: Who Is Kim Jong-un’s Mysterious Wife? was last modified: March 8th, 2016 by Jeremy Holcombe brutal dictatorshipsCommunismDennis RodmanKim Il-sungKim Jong-ilKim Jong-UnKoreaNorth KoreaRi Sol-ju Jeremy Holcombe The Empire Strikes Back: Putin Gets Revenge for Sanctions July 1st, 2014: Will Obama’s New Tax Law Destroy the US Economy? What Will Happen If President Trump Closes... The Politics of Black Panther Compulsory Schooling Crushes Kids’ Free Will Shoulda–Woulda–Coulda: How to Deal With Your Regrets Three Famous Novelists — Who Got the... Tories Help Further Delay Brexit: No Brexit... Black Captain America and Female Thor Are... Progressives Attack DeVos For Changes to Title... 4 Noted Hollywood Character Actors You Wish... Touring North Korea, Land of Enchantment

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Topic Integration SubTopic Enterprise application integration (EAI) SOA data services alex_aldo - Fotolia Data integration vs. ETL in the age of big data Data integration provides a consistent view of business performance across multiple data sources, though it needs to keep up with the changing needs of organizations and the big data revolution. Andy Hayler, Information Difference Getting a consistent view of business performance across a large enterprise is a thorny problem. Often, global corporations lack a single definitive source of data related to customers or products. And that makes it difficult to answer even the simplest questions. Data integration could be the answer. Data integration provides a unified view of data that resides in multiple sources across an organization. Extract, transform and load (ETL) technology was an early attempt at data integration. With ETL, the data is extracted, transformed and loaded from multiple source transaction systems into a single place, such as a corporate data warehouse. The extract and load parts are relatively mechanical, but the transform portion isn't as easy. For this to work, you need to define business rules that explain which transformations are valid. One of the main distinctions in the question of ETL versus data integration is that data integration is a broader creature. It can include data quality and the process of defining master reference data, such as corporatewide definitions of customers, products, suppliers and other key information that gives context to business transactions. Data classification and consistency Let's look at one example. A large operating company might need several levels of classifications for products and customers to segment marketing campaigns. A smaller subsidiary of the same company could do this with a simple hierarchy of products and customers. In this example, the broader organization may classify a can of cola as a carbonated drink, which is a beverage, which is part of food and drink sales. However, the smaller subsidiary may lump the same cola can into food and drink sales without the intermediate classifications. This is why there needs to be consistency of classification -- or at least an understanding of what the differences are -- to get a global view of overall companywide sales. Unfortunately, the simple act of knowing who you're doing business with isn't always that simple. For example, Shell U.K. is a subsidiary of the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell. Companies like Aera Energy and Bonny Gas Transport are entities of Shell -- some with other investors. So, business transactions with those companies need to add up into a global view of Shell as a customer, but the relationship is not obvious from the company name. A vice president of a famous investment bank once told me they had no idea how much business they did on a global basis with, for example, Deutsche Bank, let alone whether or not that business was profitable, as the answers to such questions were buried within the systems of the various global investment bank divisions. Data quality issues ETL technology was an early attempt to help with this problem. But to get the transformation step right, you need to define business rules that lay out what transformations are valid -- for example, how to aggregate sales transactions or mapping a database field where "male" is used to another where "m" is used to define a male customer. Technologies were developed to help with this process. It turns out that achieving integrated data is broader than just than ETL versus data integration. Consider data quality. What if it turns out that there are duplicates in customer or product files? For one project I worked on, nearly 80% of the apparent customer records were duplicates. This meant the company had just one-fifth the number of business customers it thought it had. In materials, master file duplicate rates of 20% to 30% are the norm. Such anomalies should be eliminated when the data is aggregated for a corporate overview. Ever-increasing volumes of data Even though data integration has its advantages for large corporations, it's not without its challenges. The amount of unstructured data that corporations produce continues to grow. And, because data is held in different formats -- sensor data, web logs, call records, documents, images and video -- ETL tools can be ineffective, because they weren't designed with these factors in mind. These tools also struggle when there are high volumes of data or big data. Certain tools like Apache Kafka attempt to address this issue by streaming data in real time. This allows them to overcome limitations in former message bus approaches to real-time data integration. The world of data integration has evolved since the early days of ETL. But it needs to continue its evolutionary path to keep pace with the changing needs of organizations and the big data revolution. Dig Deeper on Enterprise application integration software Evaluate AWS Glue vs. Data Pipeline for cloud-native ETL By: Ernesto Marquez Close the loop on the AWS data management gap By: Ofir Nachmani What are key features for choosing the best ETL tools for your needs? By: Craig Stedman Bringing Analytics as a Service to the enterprise By: Dan Sullivan Andy Hayler asks: What do you think are the most important differences between ETL and data integration? Is your IT ready to compete in the digital age? –Intel ETL tool adoption guidelines for enterprises – ComputerWeekly.com Evaluate AWS Glue vs. Data Pipeline for cloud-native ... – SearchAWS Business Intelligence: Determining Your Data ... – SearchBusinessAnalytics SearchDataManagement - 11 Oct 2019 10:08 AM Etlworks - 22 Oct 2019 4:06 PM Data integration is the process of combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of them. ETL is a three-step function of extracting, transforming and loading that occurs before storing data into the data warehouse. hence, this is the main difference between data integration and ETL.

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Hiring Our Heroes Honors Military Spouse Award Recipients Military Spouses honored at the 2019 Military Spouse Impact Awards presented by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes. Image courtesy of Sandy Davis Photography Military.com | By T. T. Robinson What does it mean to make an impact? Whether it's fostering change, inspiring others or working tirelessly for the betterment of society, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is recognizing spouses, organizations and communities that do just that: Make an impact. At an awards dinner in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes initiative announced the recipients of its first annual Military Spouse Impact Awards. Categories include the Military Spouse Volunteer Award, Military Spouse Entrepreneur Award, Community Leader Award, and the Impact Award for Lifetime Achievement. "The individuals recognized at our inaugural Impact Awards and Celebration Dinner are significantly contributing toward creating strong communities that support and provide economic opportunities for military spouses," said Eric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of Hiring Our Heroes. "Their actions have created tremendous impact in the lives of military spouses and the collective communities working to support them." "Hiring Our Heroes has long committed itself to connecting military spouses with economic opportunity," said Elizabeth O'Brien, senior director of military spouse programs for Hiring Our Heroes. "These awards shine an important and much-needed light on leaders across the spectrum from municipalities to volunteers to small-business owners to executives." The award recipients are: Impact Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award for demonstrated hiring, mentorship and support of military spouses in their search for meaningful employment goes to Sheila Casey, who has long served as an inspirational leader for military spouses. From her work as the spouse of the former Army chief of staff to her role as chief operating officer of The Hill political publication, as well as her leadership roles at various non-profits, Casey epitomizes the strength, courage and determination it takes to be a career-minded military spouse. Military Spouse Volunteer Impact Award. This award recognizes a volunteer who has made great contributions to strengthen and empower his or her community and the military spouses in that community. The inaugural impact award recipient is Mary Reding, founding member and past president of the Military Spouse J.D. Network. Military Spouse Entrepreneur Impact Award. This honor recognizes a military spouse entrepreneur who serves as an example of entrepreneurial innovation by creating long-term economic opportunities for military families. Call Sign Coffee Company, owned and operated by a service-disabled combat veteran and a military spouse, is the recipient of this year's award. Community Leader Impact Award. This award recognizes a city and its leaders for their efforts in creating a strong, inclusive community that allows military spouses to thrive both inside and outside of the gates. The 2019 award recipient is the city of San Antonio, Texas. Congratulations to all the recipients, who continue to show up for our community and truly make an impact. To learn more about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes, click here. What to Expect When a Service Member Is Killed or Injured Here's what will happen if your service member or another member of his unit his killed or injured. Read more. 6 Surprise OPSEC Don'ts Looking for ways to give a military spouse a hand during a surprise deployment? Here are some ideas. Inaugural Military Spouse Virtual Career Expo to Tackle Unemployment Military spouses are an important part of military life, so the Army Chief of Staff is focusing on improving their lives in 2...

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Written on 12 March 2013 . AIPS 2013 to feature 16 exhibitor seminars AIPS 2013, taking place from 13 to 15 March 2013 in Pavilion 9B of the Atakent Exhibition Centre, will now feature 16 seminars from exhibitors presenting their latest developments. The event's business programme is expanding by the day, and seminars from four producer countries will be dedicated to the in-demand area of automatic gaseous fire suppression. Gulzana Abdusharipova, Exhibition Manager: "An advantage of AIPS is that is takes place alongside KazBuild Spring - now held under the Kazakhstan Construction Materials brand – and KazRealty exhibitions. Preliminary telemarketing figures show that around 5,000 industry professionals will be attending the events." Over 50 companies from Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Sweden will exhibit at AIPS 2013. Exhibitors will include Kazakhstani representatives of major American, Russian, Japanese and South Korean companies, and their presence expands the horizons and enhances the status of AIPS. The latest products from world-famous producers of integrated security and video surveillance systems, innovative fire-fighting solutions, special equipment and much more will be on display. Rustam Safargaliev, Access Control Systems Department Manager at the Kazakhstani company Intant, was pleased with the preparation and professionalism of the AIPS 2012 visitors. "The visitors are not a random cross-section; they are interested in the market. I would say 90% of visitors knew exactly what they wanted. They came to us asking questions like "What kind of video surveillance or access control products do you have?", which I really liked. It greatly increased the efficiency of our work at the stand." Viktor Gusev, General Director of Egida: "I am delighted that AIPS becomes a more and more respected event every year. In 2012, we managed to combine the formats of B2B and G2B (government-to-business), which without a doubt has made participation in the event a lot more effective for our exhibitors. The meetings that took place here were very important ones." Alexander Yakovlev, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in Kazakhstan, in his welcome letter speaking about the importance of AIPS: "I am confident that this exhibition, due to its huge number of new solutions and proposals, becomes more and more important every year, and ultimately enhances the security of the state, every citizen of Kazakhstan, and of visitors to the country. It is at this exhibition, and in communicating with participating companies and exchanging views and discussions at stands, that each professional can assess and learn about new developments and technologies and learn from the experience of colleagues. On the whole, participation in the exhibition is not just a regular presentation of achievements in security systems - it is a real tool for shaping a modern and efficient public security system. I am sure that the methods and innovations of this year's exhibition will prove extremely popular with professionals." AIPS has become a regular springtime meeting place for security, surveillance and fire safety professionals. Since its launch three years ago, it has grown into the biggest security event in Kazakhstan, with the vast majority of the region's key companies showcasing their new developments and products. Kazakhstan's market attracts more and more attention from abroad every year, and this is reflected by the large numbers of international representatives. AIPS 2013 is a chance to learn about the current demands of customers, find out what competitors are planning, and meet a trade audience face-to-face. For more information on the event, its business programme or its exhibitor list, please visit www.aips.kz. AIPS is organised by Iteca and Atakent Expo together with Egida. Egida is also the General Sponsor of the event this year. Media support is provided by 19 outlets from Kazakhstan, Russia and Europe. Created on 12 March 2013 .

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Ron Hansen Ronald Lavern Hansen Born: 4 / 5 / 1938 at Oxford, NE (USA) This article was written by Jimmy Keenan On July 30, 1968, Washington Senators shortstop Ron Hansen pulled off one of baseball’s rarest and most difficult feats when he turned an unassisted triple play against the Cleveland Indians. This diamond rarity took place at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland during the bottom of the first inning after leadoff hitter Dave Nelson singled and Russ Snyder followed that up with a walk. The next batter, catcher Joe Azcue, worked the count to three balls and two strikes off Senators pitcher Bruce Howard. With both runners moving on the pitch, Howard delivered the ball to Azcue, who laced a line drive between Hansen and second base. Ron took a step to his left and snagged the ball out of the air. With his momentum carrying him toward second, he stepped on the bag to double up Nelson. Hansen then ran towards Snyder, who was caught in no man’s land between first and second base, tagging him for the third out. It was the first unassisted triple play in the major leagues in 41 years. Hansen later donated his glove and the ball from that historic play to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. When speaking to a reporter after the game, the modest Hansen remarked, “It was one of the best plays I’ve ever made in terms of all of the putouts, but it wasn’t that difficult, in fact it was made to order. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Ronald Lavern Hansen was born on April 5, 1938, in Oxford, Nebraska. His father Audrey1 and his mother, the former Edna Wolfe moved from Nebraska to Albany, California, when Ron was two years old. When the Hansens arrived in Albany, Audrey took a job as a moulder at a local foundry. Hansen attended Albany High, where he played football, baseball and basketball. In addition to his gridiron exploits, he was the school’s star third baseman and the Most Valuable Player on the basketball squad during his senior year. Ron graduated from high school in 1955, and after turning down a scholarship to the University of California, signed a professional baseball contract with the Baltimore Orioles on April 7, 1956. Don McShane, the Orioles chief scout on the West Coast, discovered and recommended Hanson, but it was actually Oakland Oaks owner C.L. “Brick” Laws who took care of the signing. At that time, the Orioles had a working agreement with Oakland, so Laws, who was adept at handling player contracts, orchestrated the deal, complete with a $4000 signing bonus. Thirteen major league teams were interested in signing the young infielder, but Ron chose the Orioles. In a 1960 interview with Baseball Digest, Hansen gave his reasons for picking the Birds, “I decided to sign with Baltimore because I had the best chance of advancing with them and I had read a lot about Mr. Richards [Orioles manager Paul Richards] although I had never actually met him.” A short time later, Laws relocated his Oakland franchise to Vancouver, British Columbia, and Hansen went with him. Ron played a few games for the Vancouver Mounties under the watchful eye of manager Lefty O’Doul before being sent down to the Class C Stockton Ports at the beginning of the season. Hansen started out playing third base for the Ports but was moved over to shortstop after an injury to starter Gary Robin. Ron ended up playing thirty games at short that year, hitting .289 with 20 doubles. That winter, Hansen played for the Pueblo team in the Mexican League. Under the tutalege of manager Jimmy Adair, who hit Ron hundreds of grounders, the young shortstop began to show marked improvement on balls that were hit to his right side in the hole. In 1957, Ron was invited to the Orioles spring training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona. After the first few days of practice, baseball insiders were beginning to compare him to St. Louis Cardinal shortstop Marty Marion. The scouting report on Hansen read: “He has sure hands; moves beautifully to either side; can throw from the hole; he has a strong cross body throw; a perfect infielder’s arm. When asked about Hansen, Baltimore manager Paul Richards replied, “There is no doubt in my mind that this kid has big league ability.” Hansen, who stood 6’3” and weighed nearly 200 pounds, was one of the first big men to play the shortstop position. In addition to being a great defensive player, he also had power at the plate, which made him an even more valuable prospect. Ron was well on his way to making the Baltimore team in 1957 when he hurt his back during an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs. Ron tried to downplay the injury, but over the next few weeks he started experiencing severe back pain and weakness in his left leg. Despite the best efforts of Oriole trainer Eddie Weidner, Hansen’s health issues continued to escalate. Baltimore management, not wanting to take any chances with their shortstop of the future, sent him to team physician Dr. Erwin Mayer. From there Hanson was sent to the Mayo Clinic for a more thorough examination. Unfortunately for Ron, the prognosis was not good as he was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in his back along the sciatic nerve that controls the upper part of the legs. In an interview in Boys Life magazine, Hanson spoke about waiting so long to seek medical help. “I know I should have gone to the doctor right off but here I was an eighteen year old and in the big leagues. I wasn’t about to give that up for a Charlie Horse.” On May 17, 1957, the Oriole infielder underwent spinal surgery at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. The operation was a success, and from there he began the long rehabilitation process. Through a vigorous regimen of exercises, he slowly began to regain his strength and dexterity. After missing all of the 1957 season, Ron started out the following year with Vancouver. On April 15, the Orioles placed him on their major league roster. To make room for Hansen, the Orioles optioned catcher Frank Zupo to their farm club in Nashville. Unfortunately, Ron was not fully recovered from the surgery. When asked about his back by a local sports writer, Hansen replied, “When its cold, windy and damp it does stiffen up a little. It doesn’t keep me from making the plays but it does give me a little trouble.” After going hitless in 12 games with the Orioles, he was sent down to Knoxville to regain his stroke at the plate. A short time later, Ron experienced another setback when a broken hand sidelined him for part of the season. Due to his injuries, Hansen did not hit much at Knoxville and was sent to Nicaragua to play winter ball for former major leaguer Earl Torgeson’s Boer team. Ron belted 17 home runs for Torgeson’s ballclub and was hitting around .300 when he tweaked his back during the league playoffs and had to be sent back to the States. Fortunately, the injury was diagnosed as a muscle spasm, and he was given a clean bill of health for the upcoming season. In 1959, the Orioles had veterans Chico Carrasquel and Willy Miranda playing shortstop, so Ron was sent to Vancouver, where he would play every day. There, he teamed up with another highly touted Oriole prospect, second baseman Marv Breeding, the two making a formidable keystone combination. Hansen went on lead the Pacific Coast League with 321 putouts, 496 assists, and 96 double plays. He had a solid year with the bat too, clubbing 18 home runs to go along with 61 RBI and a .256 batting average. Ron was called up to the Birds at the end of the year, appearing in two games. In 1960, everything came together for Hansen and the Orioles. Ron, playing his usual outstanding defense, coupled with his ability to hit the long ball, earned the starting job at shortstop for Baltimore that spring. On April 19, Ron garnered his first major league hit off the Washington Senators Pedro Ramos. Hansen and second baseman Marv Breeding also turned three double plays that day, helping the Orioles edge out the Senators 3-2. By early May, the Birds’ rookie shortstop was on a torrid hot streak. At one point he went 7 for 17, raising his average to .363, which was second best in the loop, just five points behind league leader Roger Maris. On July 2, Hansen was named the starting shortstop for the American League All-Star team. The squads were selected by the players, coaches and managers in their respective leagues. Hansen, who was hitting .255 with 51 RBI, received 165 out of 208 possible votes, 124 more than Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio, who had been the starter the previous two seasons. There were two All-Star games played that year, one in Kansas City and the other in New York. The American League lost both contests,but Hansen acquitted himself well, going 1 for 2 in the first game and 2 for 4 in the second while accepting a total of six chances in the field. Yankee manager Casey Stengel, after watching Hansen play, commented to the press, “That kid looks like he was born at shortstop.” The Baltimore Orioles played first-rate ball in 1960, winning 89 games and finishing in second place, eight games behind the New York Yankees. It was the first time the Birds had a winning record since the team came over from St. Louis in 1954. The Orioles pitching staff, mostly made up of players under the age of 23, led the loop in complete games and tied for the league lead in earned run average. The Orioles’ youthful, yet extremely talented infield, made up of Brooks Robinson at third, Hansen at shortstop, Marv Breeding at second, and Jim Gentile at first, turned an amazing 172 double plays. In addition, veterans Gus Triandos, Gene Woodling, and Jackie Brandt performed well, keeping the Birds near the top of the standings for most of the season. The Orioles were in the thick of the pennant race until a four-game sweep by Yankees in mid-September effectively knocked them out of contention. Defensively, the twenty-two-year-old Hansen had an outstanding year, leading the junior circuit in putouts by a shortstop with 325. At the plate, Ron hit .255 with 22 home runs while driving in 86 runs. His outstanding all-round play earned him the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award, as he received 22 out of 24 possible votes from the Baseball Writers of America. The other two votes went to his Oriole teammates, pitcher Chuck Estrada and first baseman Jim Gentile. Cleveland Indians colorful and outspoken general manager Frank Lane told members of the press that he felt that the Orioles’ success in 1960 was mainly due to Hansen’s contributions. “In my book, he’s not just the rookie of the year; he’s the player of the year. He’s the main reason that the Orioles were challenging for the lead in the last two months.” Ron was called into the Army Reserves in October of 1960 so he learned of the award while stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. When asked how he felt about being named Rookie of the Year, Hansen replied to a reporter, “I can’t believe it. It’s just unbelievable. This is something every ballplayer dreams of but never believes will happen.” The Sporting News also gave the nod to Hansen for its American League Rookie of the Year. After serving for six months in the Army Reserve, Hansen reported to the Orioles, but he was only able to get in 10 days of spring training before the season started. On April 30, 1961, Jim Gentile, Gus Triandos, and Hansen blasted consecutive home runs off the Detroit Tigers’ Paul Foytack, helping lead the Orioles to a 4-2 victory. The three home runs in a row tied a major league record at that time. Ron put together a decent year in 1961 although his home runs, doubles and triples fell off a bit from the previous season. At shortstop, he was still a strong defensive presence in the middle of the Baltimore infield. Uncle Sam came calling again in October of 1961, and once more Ron was summoned for Army Reserve duty. Stationed at nearby Fort Meade, Maryland, he was able to fulfill his military obligations and still commute to Memorial Stadium to get his work in with the team before the start of the 1962 campaign. In April, the Army granted Hansen a month’s leave, and in May he received another 30-day extension. The Pentagon would later allow men with seasonal occupations to report to their jobs 90 days in advance of their scheduled discharge. This ruling allowed Ron to re-join the Orioles for good later in the season. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit Hansen once again in late August when he sustained a broken hand after being hit by White Sox pitcher John Buzhardt. Ron had his usual outstanding year with the glove in 1962, but offensively his batting average dropped 75 points and his power numbers slipped as well. In January of 1963, the Orioles traded Hansen, outfielder Dave Nicholson and third baseman Pete Ward along with pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm to the Chicago White Sox for shortstop Luis Aparicio and outfielder Al Smith. Chicago was managed by Al Lopez, who took an immediate liking to the 25-year-old shortstop, eventually naming him co-captain of the team. Ron adapted well to his surroundings in Chicago, teaming up with Hall of Fame second baseman Nellie Fox. When asked by a reporter about his new double play partner, Fox replied, “Aparicio was great, no question, but I get along real well with Ron. Hansen covers as much ground as Luis, although he does it with the longer strides of a Marty Marrion rather than with Aparicio’s speed. ” On June 21, 1963, Ron connected for a two-run home run off Cleveland Indians pitcher Early Wynn with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. The White Sox and the Indians were knotted in a scoreless tie at the time, the game-winning blast spoiling the future Hall of Famer’s bid for his 300th win. The White Sox finished second in the American League in 1963, winning 94 games, and Ron led all American League infielders in assists. He would accomplish this feat two other times during his career. At the plate, he knocked in 67 runs. The hard-charging Sox finished the 1964 season one game behind the first place New York Yankees. Chicago’s tall rangy shortstop hit for a .261 batting average to go along with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs, He also posted career highs in doubles (25) and hits (150). Ron also led the loop in putouts for the second time. The following season, Hansen set the major league mark for the most chances by a shortstop in a doubleheader on August 29, 1965. Chicago swept Boston in the twinbill, and Ron recorded 19 chances in the first game, which went 14 innings, and 10 more in the nightcap. He also hit a double in the 14th inning of the first tilt that put the eventual winning run on third base. Hansen’s 28 chances eclipsed the old mark of 26 set by Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Arky Vaughn in 1940. Hansen played all 162 games for the White Sox in 1965 while continuing to establish himself as one of the most consistent infielders in the game. That season, he led all American League shortstops in assists for the second year in a row. In early May of 1966, Ron re-injured his back during pre-game batting practice. The injury occurred when Hansen stepped back and came down on a baseball that someone had thrown into the infield, He tried to play through the pain but was eventually removed from the White Sox lineup on May 14. A short time later, he underwent a myelogram2 at Mercy Hospital in Chicago that showed a defect between the fifth lumbar vertebrae and sacrum, The injury required a second back operation, and he missed the rest of the season. After losing Hansen’s services, the White Sox used infielders Al Weis, Lee Elia, and newly acquired Wayne Causey to help fill the gap at shortstop. Hansen, who was fully recovered from the surgery, came back to play in 157 games for the White Sox in 1967. He also led all American League shortstops in assists for the third time in his career. On September 10, he was involved in another baseball milestone when he handled the final out of teammate Joel Horlen’s no-hitter. On February 13, 1968, the White Sox traded Hansen along with pitchers Dennis Higgins and Steve Jones to the Washington Senators for second baseman Tim Cullen plus pitchers Bob Priddy and Buster Narum. On July 30, 1968, Hansen turned an unassisted triple play in the first inning of a 10 –1 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Two days later, Washington traded Hansen back to the White Sox for Tim Cullen. It was the first time in baseball history where the same two players were traded for each other twice in the same season. When Hansen returned to Chicago, the White Sox had Luis Aparicio (who had re-joined the team in a trade the previous November) at shortstop so Ron played third base for the remainder of the 1968 season. The following year, the versatile infielder took on the role of utility man for the Sox, playing every infield position, and hitting .259 with 2 home runs and 22 RBI. Ron went through prolonged contract negotiations with Chicago management in the off- season. Figuring he would practice with the team until an agreement could be reached, he left his home in Maryland and drove to the White Sox spring training facility in Sarasota, Florida. While he was en route, the Chicago front office sold his contract to the New York Yankees for $5000. New York used Ron as a utility infielder in 1970, and despite a trip to the disabled list in late August, he had a good year, compiling a solid .297 batting average. The Yankees won 93 games and finished in second place behind the Baltimore Orioles. Hansen’s hot bat allowed manager Ralph Houk the luxury of going with an all right-handed hitting lineup against some of the tougher left-handed pitchers in the league. Ron continued in the same infield back up role with the Yankees in 1971, but his batting average dropped off from the previous season. In February of 1972, the Yankees released Hansen, and two months later he was picked up by the Kansas City Royals. His stay with the Royals was brief, as he was let go after appearing in only 16 games. Hansen finished his 15-year major league career with 1007 hits, 106 home runs and 501 RBIs. Defensively, he had a stellar .968 lifetime fielding percentage to go along with a 4.82 range factor at shortstop [95th all-time]. Ron would go on to serve as the first base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1980 through 1983. In 1984, he managed the Paintsville team (Brewers minor league affiliate) in the Appalachian League. The following year, the Montreal Expos hired him as their first base coach and infield instructor. He also saw duty as the Expos’ hitting coach under manager Felipe Alou. Hansen remained with the Expos through the 1989 season. A keen judge of baseball talent, Hansen signed on as an advance scout with the New York Yankees in 1991 and later worked in that same capacity with the Philadelphia Phillies. Always fond of his days spent with Washington, Hansen appeared in the 1995 Television program DC Baseball: You Gotta Have Heart that chronicled baseball in the nation’s capital. The former Senator shortstop and a number of other Washington players, including Frank Howard, Roy Sievers, and Mickey Vernon were in attendance for the final baseball game at RFK Stadium on September 23, 2007. On May 12, 2008, Cleveland Indians second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera made an unassisted triple play against the Toronto Blue Jays. Coincidentally, Hansen was in the stands at Progressive Field in Cleveland that night working as an advance scout for the Philadelphia Phillies. When asked about witnessing the triple play, Hansen told a reporter, “First one I’ve ever seen from the stands. This kid is a real good fielder and has a great future. On a play like that it’s just reaction, and he reacted right.” Hansen retired from his scouting duties in 2010. Ron and his wife Dale were married in 1960 and currently reside in the rural community of Baldwin, Maryland. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. Last revised: March 1, 2014 Ellis, Jim. “Big Hunk of Man at Short,” Baseball Digest, September 1960. Spokane Daily Chronicle The 1959 Baltimore Orioles, presented by Phillies Cigars and prepared by Sports Illustrated. Boys Life Magazine, December 1962. The Times- News Daytona Beach Morning- Journal Lodi News Sentinel St. Joseph Gazette Schenectady Gazette The Whig Standard WSI News- White Sox Interview by Mark Liptak MASN interview by Pete Kerzel 09/11/2011 Baseball Todd’s Dugout article and interview of Ron Hansen by Todd Newville Thorn, John, Phil Birnbaum, Bill Deane, et al. , eds. Total Baseball: The Ultimate Baseball Encyclopedia. 8th ed. Toronto: Sport Media Publishing, Inc., 2004. A special thanks to SABR member Cappy Gagnon for contacting the BioProject Committee to suggest that someone write a biography of Mr. Hansen. 1 An article in the September 1960 Baseball Digest gives the names of Ron Hansen’s parents as Audrey and Edna. 2 A myelogram is a test that uses x-rays and a special dye to make images of the back and the fluid-filled spaces between the bones of the spine.

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Rick Anderson Richard Arlen Anderson Born: 11 / 29 / 1956 at Everett, WA (USA) This article was written by Joel Rippel In the spring of 1986, as he was beginning his ninth professional season, Rick Anderson wondered if he would ever get the chance to pitch in the big leagues. Anderson, who had spent the previous six seasons in the pitching-rich New York Mets’ organization at Triple-A Tidewater, was 29 and knew he was running out of time. “I told my wife (Rhonda) if I don’t get the chance this year, I’d be a coach or scout,” Anderson said. “I didn’t dream I’d get a chance. I just figured it would never come.”1 But the opportunity to pitch in the major leagues finally presented itself in 1986. Anderson was born on November 29, 1956, in Everett, Washington, just north of Seattle. His father, Dick, was a lineman for a power company, and his mother, Jane, was a homemaker. The family also included four daughters. As a youth Anderson played baseball and basketball, but in junior high he decided to focus on baseball. At Everett’s Mariner High School, he pitched a no-hitter and earned all-state honors as a senior in 1975. After high school, he spent two years at Everett Community College. A highlight of his two seasons with Everett was a no-hitter against Fort Steilacoom Community College (now Pierce College). After two seasons at Everett, Anderson enrolled at the University of Washington. As a junior in 1978, Anderson led the Huskies in starts (13) and complete games (10) and was 5-6 with a 4.23 ERA to help the Huskies record their first winning season in 12 years. The Huskies, who won just 114 of 261 games between 1967 and 1977, were 29-16-2 in 1978. On April 14, 1978, at Washington’s Graves Field, Anderson pitched 10 no-hit innings in a 0-0 tie with Oregon State. The game was called after 10 innings because of darkness. “I think I walked 10 and struck out 10,” Anderson said. “I probably threw around 200 pitches.”2 In June of 1978, Anderson was selected by the Mets in the 24th round of the amateur draft. At 21, he began his professional career with Little Falls of the New York-Penn League. In 14 appearances with Little Falls, Anderson went 2-3 with two saves and a 2.25 ERA. Anderson spent the 1979 season with Double-A Jackson (Texas League), going 8-11 with a 3.85 ERA. There were several highlights. On May 1, pitching for just the second time in 25 days because of rains and floods, Anderson scattered four hits and allowed just a ninth-inning solo home run in a 6-1 victory over Arkansas. He helped his cause by getting three hits. “It was really a wet spring,” Anderson said. “Everything was flooded. The Pearl River flooded. We couldn’t get to the ballpark. We had to go to gyms to throw. It was crazy.”3 Eleven days after the victory over Arkansas, Anderson tossed a no-hitter in Jackson’s 8-0 victory over Shreveport in Jackson. Anderson, who walked three (the Mets turned three double plays) and struck out two, credited catcher Jody Davis. “Davis told me before the game that changeups would work with these guys,” Anderson said.4 Anderson began the 1980 season at Jackson but was promoted to Triple-A Tidewater (International League). With Jackson, he was 3-2 with four saves and with Tidewater he was 1-3 with one save. He spent the 1981 and 1982 seasons at Tidewater. In 1981 he was 3-5 with three saves in 37 relief appearances, and in 1982 he was 4-2 with two saves in 31 appearances. He split the 1983 season between Tidewater and Jackson. In 15 appearances (14 in relief ) for Tidewater, which was managed by Davey Johnson, Anderson was 2-1 with two saves and a 4.05 ERA. At Jackson, he made 12 starts and was 5-1 with a 3.59 ERA. In his only relief appearance he earned a save. Still, the Mets didn’t beckon; the 1984 and 1985 seasons were also spent at Tidewater. In 1984, he was 6-9 with three saves and a 3.38 ERA in 26 appearances (17 starts). In 1985, he made a career-high 48 appearances (46 in relief)—going 6-3 with seven saves and a career-best 1.98 ERA. Anderson returned to Tidewater for the 1986 season, but got a break in early June. Mets starting pitching Bruce Berenyi sprained an ankle while jogging. Anderson, five months shy of his 30th birthday, was called up to replace him. On June 9 at Shea Stadium, Anderson, after 185 appearances with Tidewater, started against the Philadelphia Phillies. He went seven innings, allowing just four hits and no earned runs, walked two and struck out five. The Mets led 2-1 when Anderson was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Phillies eventually won the game, 3-2 in 10 innings. “It’s remarkable what he did,” Davey Johnson said. “He’s been pitching in relief mostly, and this was only his third start all year. I’ll bet we start getting calls from other teams.”5 Anderson’s debut came with his parents in the stands and just two days after his wife had given birth to their second child. “After all that time in the minor leagues I finally made it to the big leagues and I’m on the mound and Gary Carter is behind the plate,” Anderson said. “It was a dream come true. It was fun. My wife had just had a baby. I was at the hospital when they gave me the call that I was being called up.”6 After the game, Anderson was sent back to Tidewater, but he was called up again in mid-July. His second major-league appearance came July 20 against the Astros in Houston. Anderson pitched three scoreless innings of relief in the Astros’ eventual victory in 15 innings. Two days later, in Cincinnati, he pitched 1⅓ innings of scoreless relief in the Mets’ 14-inning victory over the Reds. Anderson finally allowed an earned run in his fourth major-league appearance. In his second inning of relief against the Braves, in the second game of a July 26 doubleheader in Atlanta, Anderson allowed an earned run—the first after 12⅓ innings with no earned runs. On August 6, Anderson earned his first major-league victory. He started and went five innings in the Mets’ 7-6 defeat of the Cubs in Chicago. Anderson allowed five hits and three runs (two on a fourthinning home run by Jerry Mumphrey) and left the game with the Mets leading 6-3. Four days later, in Montreal, Anderson pitched three perfect innings in relief of starter Sid Fernandez to earn his first major-league save. On August 14, in the second game of a doubleheader against St. Louis at Shea Stadium, Anderson suffered his first major-league loss. He allowed four runs in six innings in a 5-1 defeat by the Cardinals. On August 30 Anderson was sent back to Tidewater when the Mets recalled shortstop Kevin Elster from Jackson. Back in Tidewater, Anderson helped the Tides, who finished fourth in the International League regular season, capture the league championship. In the deciding game of the Governors’ Cup series, Anderson tossed a four-hit shutout as the Tides defeated the Columbus Clippers, 2-0, in Norfolk to win the best-of-five series, 3-1. Anderson then rejoined the Mets. On September 18 he pitched five shutout innings in a 5-0 defeat of the Cubs, outpitching future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux for his second victory. Anderson, who was 2-1 with a save and a 2.72 ERA in 15 appearances, was left off the Mets’ postseason roster, when the Mets kept just nine pitchers. But he remained with the team during the postseason as an insurance policy in case of injury. “Look at how many guys would die to put on a uniform and sit in the dugout for the playoffs and the World Series,” he said. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to. It’s an honor.”7 Late in spring training of 1987, Anderson and catcher Ed Hearn were traded to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher David Cone and outfielder Chris Jelic. “Anderson can flat-out pitch, and Hearn was a big help to us last year,” Davey Johnson said. “But in both cases we have an abundance of people at their positions.”8 Anderson spent most of the 1987 season with Triple-A Omaha, where he was 6-5 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 starts. In six appearances with the Royals, he was 0-2. In 1988 he was 7-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 14 starts for Omaha, and 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in seven appearances with the Royals. After the 1988 season, Anderson became a free agent and signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers. “It didn’t include an invite to the big-league camp,” he said. “I told my wife it might be time to retire. My wife agreed. I got the opportunity to go into coaching. I never looked back.”9 The opportunity came from a tip from former teammate Ron Gardenhire, whom Anderson had known since 1980 in the Mets organization. Gardenhire, who was beginning his second season as a manager in the Minnesota Twins’ minor-league system, called Anderson. “I was set to retire,” Anderson said. “Ron said the Twins were looking for a pitching coach for their rookie ball team.”10 “Our first day in Jackson, we worked out,” Anderson said. “And Ron said he and his wife couldn’t find an apartment. I said, ‘Why don’t you come live with my wife and I?’”11 At 32, Anderson began his coaching career with the Gulf Coast League Twins (in Sarasota). He then spent three seasons (1990-92) at Kenosha of the Class-A Midwest League before moving up to Double-A Nashville in 1993. After two seasons in Nashville, Anderson moved up to the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City. At Salt Lake City the manager was former big-league catcher Phil Roof. “Rick has been with me for two years and he takes the pressure off my shoulders,” Roof said. “You can talk to the pitchers he has worked with and they will tell you he is a big part of their success. Rick is a student of the game and he has a lot of patience and just does a great job.”12 Anderson spent the next seven seasons at Salt Lake City. After the 2001 season, Gardenhire replaced Tom Kelly as the manager of the Minnesota Twins. Gardenhire, who had been a coach under Kelly since 1991, named Anderson his pitching coach. Anderson and Gardenhire spent the next 13 seasons with the Twins. In their first season (2002), the Twins won the AL Central title to reach the postseason for the first time since 1991. The Twins reached the postseason six times in the first nine seasons under Gardenhire. But in 2014, after the Twins’ fourth consecutive 90-loss season, Gardenhire and Anderson were let go. In 2015 Anderson was living in Florida, taking time off from baseball. Nearly 30 years after his major-league debut, Anderson said he still had fond memories of the 1986 Mets. “Being around those guys was great,” Anderson said. “To this day, I’m still friends with a lot of those guys. The reunions have been great.”13 This biography is included in the book "The 1986 New York Mets: There Was More Than Game Six" (SABR, 2016), edited by Leslie Heaphy and Bill Nowlin. 1. The Sporting News, June 2, 1979. 2. Author’s telephone interview with Rick Anderson, May 15, 2015 (Hereafter Telephone interview). 3. Telephone interview. 5. New York Times, June 10, 1986. 7. New York Times, October 9, 1986. 8. New York Times, March 28, 1987. 10. Telephone interview. 12. Deseret News (Salt Lake City), April 5, 1995.

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Tag Archives: memories The snake and Nano’s Alzheimer’s April 17, 2019 BlogAlzheimer's, culture, love, memories, Pakistan, SnakesA. Rinum “I had Hindu friends.” My Nano (grandma) who has Alzheimer’s says, wiping away a tear that rolls down her cheek. She looks at me and smiles. “A few of them we’re Sikh and Christian too, and we would sit on the roof, on wooden cots and talk until the sun sunk behind the horizon, or until my father came home and shooed us all away. After the partition, we all just separated.” I hold onto Nano’s hand and sit by her knees. She doesn’t remember me, but she knows I look like someone she’s supposed to know. She gets frustrated when she doesn’t remember so I play around with her, telling her I’m the cleaning lady or a neighbor or someone who is here to steal the metal plates that Abu (grandpa) bought for her. It’s her glassy eyes that make me feel guilty. Her lips wobble and her eyebrows knit together so I spit out the truth. And as soon as I do that she smiles and kisses me on the cheek. She tells me how much she missed me, and I want to say the same thing to her, but I’ll end up crying. So, instead, I ask her to tell me about her time when the British were here. “They were nice. Very just…” she says, and I see pride forming in her eyes. She remembers certain things like they happened yesterday, but she’s forgotten everything else including me. “This one time, after the British left and when your mother was a child…” Nano giggles. She tells me her tales, again and again, each one having the same people, but new plots. “It was late at night and I had to use the bathroom. During those days we didn’t have toilets, so we had to go out in the fields to relieve ourselves. At night all of us women would gather together at a meeting point, and we would walk towards the fields. Now the fields were empty, and they were scary. The fields were far away from the village, so it was usually a long walk. The wind would make these weird noises that would make our hearts crawl. So like any other day, holding our oil lanterns, we walked to the fields. The grass was as long as my knees, and it was hard to walk, but we managed to get deep where no one would see us. We separated and took our spots. Now as soon as we all settled down, this girl, my friend started screaming, and we all jumped in fear grabbing our trousers with one hand and the oil lanterns with the other. ‘Snake’ I heard someone shout. We were all so scared that we… we… we.” Nano pauses and looks at me with confusion contouring her features. The wrinkles forming on her forehead deepen and she asks, “Who are you?” “Nano!” I try not to sound frustrated, but anger coats the softness in my voice. “I’m your granddaughter,” I tell her for the umpteenth time. Nano’s not paying attention to me anymore, she’s too focused on my cousin who’s slamming the door because my youngest aunt refused to give him money. I slowly slip away and go to Mama. I tell her Nano’s story and she laughs confirming that it’s true. “I have my own story to tell, but yes… all the women ran away, and a man came and hunted the snake and killed it.” “No….” My aunt says frowning. “That’s not what happened. The snake was a female who had taken the form of a snake. Her husband was killed by Chacha Akhtar, so she came back, and she bit him while he was sleeping. Remember…” She says to mama as she holds back her laugh. “Yeah and Abu (father) used that stone to suck out the poison” Mama is wheezing so hard that water leaks through her lashes. “The stone is probably in the old house. Remind me to go get it later.” Auntie’s still laughing. I blankly stare at them, not knowing what childhood story they’re talking about, but it makes me smile knowing that I’ve reminded them of a memory they both had forgotten. “Alchemy… Herbs…” Mama says trying to explain the whole concept of the snake-stone-story to me. “Chemistry” she finally breathes in disappointment, as if Alchemy is something we’re taught in school. I ask her about the stone but that requires a story of its own. Nano has Alzheimer’s, Mama’s story seems too boring, so I go with auntie’s version. Photo by Burak K from Pexels How many people will you save? (Pakistan trip-2016) September 17, 2018 Short Storiesanxiety, freedom, love, memories, Pakistan, Story, traveling, village-lifeA. Rinum I’m standing on the balcony of my uncle’s house in our village, staring at the mountains far into the distance. Over there, close to the horizon are the lush valleys of Kashmir. The white clouds, above me, seem to be colliding with one another as if playing a failing game of tag. “Salina, take the cots inside.” I hear the old woman next door scream in Panjabi to her daughter. Salina, a beautiful girl with long shiny hair comes running out into the Veranda and drags all the cots inside. I watch her in amusement. She’s my age, and she lives in the village but she’s more active than I could ever be. Her strength probably comes from working in the fields all day. Surviving here, in the village is a workout on its own. People here rarely have phones and apps, but they know what the weather would be like just by looking at the sky. It’s a talent that’s been passed down from generation to generation and unfortunately, it’s a skill I haven’t acquired. Wifi here isn’t common either. But those that do have wifi don’t know how to use it and because of that, they don’t have passwords on it. Sometimes my phone catches signals and I find myself on Instagram scrolling through pictures of people who are pretending to be happy just like me. Somewhere in the distance, someone has a cassette player on- that’s playing those Hindi and Pakistani songs people played when they lived in black and white. The same few songs are playing on repeat. I’ve memorized the lyrics by now. Our village is pretty old. It probably has a story of its own. From the balcony, the view is breathtaking. On one side of it, the mountains are visible and on the other side, the little village houses create a mosaic. The wind tickles you on your skin as it passes by. The fresh scent of jasmine is lingering in the air. The houses in the village, except for ours, are all joined. The roofs and some of the balconies connect. All you have to do is jump over the railing and you’ll be in the next house. People here don’t mind because everyone knows everyone. To the villagers, I’m the granddaughter of Droga-the girl who came from America for her summer break. Not all the houses are made of bricks and cement, a few, deep in the belly of our village are still made of clay. They don’t have bathrooms and like people in the olden days, they have to go out into the fields. To my right I see a young boy milking a cow. He takes the cows otter and squeezes milk into his mouth. That seems like something I would like to do. Probably something, I will do. On my left side, I see a woman gathering cow dung. She mixes it with hay and later on when it’s hardened she’ll use it as fuel to cook outside on the clay stove. “Maybe we should help them,” I talked to my mom once. “The money I saved for camping-we can give it to Nilya and her family, and they can make a toilet.” Even though I lived seven seas away, these people where what shaped me. They mended me into what I was and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get them off my mind. Most of my years in Pakistan were spent in the city, but the village was always like an empty home that my heart ached to know more of. “How many people will you help?” my mom said frowning. She wanted to help them too, but we weren’t of the elite class. We barely fed ourselves in a capitalist society. We were all from the lower class, the only difference was that these people were from the lower class of Pakistan and we were from the lower class of America, but compared to them we were well-off. “Everyone mama,” I tried to get her attention. Thick drops of sweat trickled down her cheeks and disappeared into her clothes. The heat was getting to her. Load shedding was so common that I lost track of when we had electricity and when we didn’t. We would often sit outside on the veranda, with hand fans cursing the government for their failure. At times it would get so hot that we would sit under the shower with our clothes on and when we had no water, we would use the hand pump. “Your dads a taxi driver in New York City, we’re six people living in a two-apartment bedroom, with a tiny kitchen and a small bathroom. This is why I want you to graduate from College, become a doctor and help these people…” she didn’t stop talking. She gave me an entire lecture on how I needed to keep my GPA high and get into med-school to fill her dreams. To become what she wanted me to be. A few rain-drops gracefully cascade down my cheeks. It feels good. When I was younger the rain was the only thing that bought me comfort. Maybe because I made myself believe, that in it was purity. I look down at the veranda. My grandma is sitting on the cot drinking tea from a bowl. She has Alzheimer’s and she thinks I’m here to kick her out of her house. She’s been paranoid since we came here last week. My cousins who live in the city also came to meet us. They’re playing cricket in the veranda. The youngest one calls me beautiful girl. He’s seven and he thinks I’m a doctor and I work in a big medical clinic in NYC. I never lied to him, but I didn’t correct him either. At least someone has a positive image of me. The villagers are doing their daily duties. They know I’m watching, and they’re annoyed. A young girl nearby is making food outside on the clay stove. She’s making chicken curry. I know this because I can smell the spices she used. Another woman is warming the tandoor to make roti. My aunt knows her, and she’ll make roti for us too. I gaze down at the rocky narrow pavement outside our house. Young kids are playing cricket on the road and among them, I see a woman slowly walking to our house. She’s wearing a blue shalwar kameez and she looks very pale. Her bones are showing as if she has no flesh on them. For a moment I stare at her, trying to remember who she is, and then it hits me. She’s Nazia, my mom’s second cousin. I smile at her from above and run down the stairs, but I don’t greet her. Instead, I stand on the side and wait for her to recognize me. She was the one who would do my henna and design my hair. Every time we would come to the village from the city we would go to her house. She was like an aunt. The door opens and Nazia walks in. She goes and hugs my mom and sobs into her shoulder. I stare at them, trying to make sense of the situation. “Phophoo,” she calls my mother with love, ” I’m dying,” she chokes almost laughing. I cringe at her words, wondering why someone would joke about death. Nazia looks over my mother’s shoulder and her gaze lands on me. “Aashee,” she squeaks my nickname with love. I awkwardly smile at her, but she doesn’t smile back, instead, she walks over to me and embraces me into one of the warmest hugs I’ve ever felt. Her seven-year-old son straddles beside her. He awkwardly glances at me and I do the same. Mama leads Nazia into one of the rooms with the AC- thankfully the electricity is back on. I trail behind them. My Aunt, who came from France to look after my grandmother, walks into the room with five cups of tea and biscuits. Tea in Pakistan is a symbol of affection and kinship. “What do the doctors say?” Mama asks Nazia as she squeezes her hand. My eyes flip up and all I see is Nazia shaking her head in disapproval. “I only have one kidney, which isn’t even working properly. The doctors say that in another month or so I wouldn’t be able to use it and I’ll have to go on dialysis. But tell me phophoo, how can someone like me afford that. How am I going to live?” “Have faith,” Mama comforts her. Mama’s lips are moving but I can’t make sense of her words. The only thing I could see is Nazia’s son playing with my little cousin. What would happen to him if something happened to her? I lean back on the sofa and close my eyes, but the only thing I can hear is mama saying the same words over and over again. “How many people will you help?” Update- Nazia’s sister, donated her kidney to her; both are doing well (2018). Nilya and her family finally have a toilet in their house (2018). High School- An old memory. September 8, 2018 Bloganxiety, back to school, giving up, high school, memories, outcast, Panic attacksA. Rinum A pain in the arse. Especially if you’re not even a student anymore. It’s hectic. It’s like you’re standing in front of the same teachers and the same consulars all over again, but the only problem is, is that you’re being scolded like you’ve cut class to hang out with those kids who do meth. But you’ve never done meth because you were too busy doing math, and that screwed you over so badly that you’ve forgotten how to add. Which is obviously worse than meth. That’s exactly how I felt when I went back to my high school for a problem my sister had. She’s a student in that same school and the school administration have vowed not to help her because she’s related to me. It’s a blood thing, I think. I mean, I’m not complaining about the school- okay maybe I am. Like y’all need to fix ya’ll bathrooms and y’all attitudes. Oh and let me not get started on the hundred other things that are wrong with your school. I’m graduating from college, but the thought of high school still sends a ripple of fear down my spine. It’s like one of those haunted houses everyone is scared to go to. Heck, I’ve never been scared of haunted houses as scared as I am of high school and I’m a grown adult. Not like college is any better. I mean, maybe sometimes the people aren’t rude, but then why do I feel like they’re about to pounce on me any moment. It’s like there’s a language barrier between the students and the administration, but ironically everyone is speaking the same language. But then why does it feel like we’re standing on two separate islands and we’re all yelling at each other from opposite ends. My high school experience wasn’t like high school musical. Where everyone was jolly and energetic. It was mostly filled with dead zombies who were cranky and obnoxious. More than Gabriella’s there were Sharmane’s. I was a shy girl, I mean I still am. Tell me to fetch something from the deli next door and I would cry for a month. But that’s a whole different story. High school should be a place where teenagers develop. Where they feel safe not threatened. Where people listen because being a teenager is hard, heck being alive is hard. But it should be a safe haven, not a war zone. A place filled with flowers and all those other soft and mushy things. But no, for me high school was a dungeon, filled with creepy demons waiting to prey on me. Every time I would see the school building, my heart would claw in my throat. It was like I was in a horror movie and the school building wanted to see me die. Like that movie where the house comes to life, except the school was dead and so was everyone in it. That was the only thing that I wanted to do. Run far away from the building and never see it ever again, but it was close to my house and I saw it every effen day. Maybe that’s why kids cut school. Because instead of teaching students about survival they are taught about how beautiful the quadratic equation is. I mean I’m not saying that the quadratic equation isn’t important, I might need it when I’m doing my taxes. But, students should be taught how to deal with their problems not thrash more problems onto them. SAT, Honors, AP classes, College, Career; it’s all overwhelming. The only thing I learned in high school is that life sucks, and Hitler has a weird ass mustache. Oh, and how the mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cell. Boyles Law? PV=nRt. Let’s not forget about plants. It is very crucial to learn how conifers reproduce because we’re all being raped by plants. Maybe I’m exaggerating. Maybe I’m being clouded by my hatred of my high school years. But it was hard, not having friends, I mean not like I still do. I’m a very lonely person by the way. But it required more energy to try to stay positive than to actually study. The effort to care would drain all the energy I had in me. It’s like this feeling that you’re dumb because unlike all the other students you don’t have special talents. They have all these AP classes and they’re into sports and here you are wondering why your pants don’t have pockets. The system is rigged. I demand more pockets. But to all those high school-ers or even middle-school-ers who are going through this, I wish the odds in your favor, heck I wish all the numbers in your favor. It’s complicated and no one understands. I know. Just keep pushing on and keep trying. Your life does not end here. Go to teachers who care. Trust me there are a few. Yes, you have no idea where your future is leading you. Trust me, even I don’t know and I’m graduating from college. But have faith in yourself, because you’re epic. If you were born different, then why fit in. You’re an outcast and you should be grateful. You did not fight through a million other sperms to be like everyone else. You were born different so be happy. Give your best my growing little pumpkins and soon you will turn into pie. I’m joking. No one likes pumpkin pie. Be fried chicken instead. Everyone loves fried chicken. But don’t give up. Keep trying and keep a positive attitude. I promise you will make it through. Yes! Your insides are churning, and Miss D. doesn’t like you, but this isn’t a chapter in your life, it’s just a mere sentence. Don’t rip up your book just because you didn’t like one word. You’ll make it through, I promise Because I did too.

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Facebook ProfileTwitter ProfileYoutube ProfileLinkedIn ProfileInstagram Profile Be a Member School Welcome to School Group’s International E-learning Blog November 14, 2019By School Group0 comment Welcome to Education Matters, the blog of School Group. Education has the potential to change people’s lives for the better, setting them on a course for a brighter future by opening up opportunities they never thought possible, no matter where in the world they live. But for most of humankind’s recent history, education has followed a predictable path — a steady diet of book learning, memorization and lectures, followed by standardized testing — resulting in huge gaps in educational outcomes. Thankfully, advances in technology have created the potential to close the gaps in education. And School Group believes that peer-driven international e-learning is answer to making quality education accessible. Our goal is to empower and support students to learn, build a strong foundation for their futures and develop valuable interpersonal, teamwork and cross-cultural skills, while building an online and brick-and-mortar community of passionate lifelong learners and doers. For the past two years, as we’ve been working to establish a presence in our initial countries of focus — the U.S., Nepal, India, New Zealand, Canada and Pakistan — we’ve also been readying ourselves behind the scenes, creating a groundbreaking learning management system (LMS) to further our mission of improving education and lives around the world. As we grow and evolve, Education Matters will report on our progress. We will also cover the best of education, e-learning, international development and community service — spanning everything from the latest news, research and discoveries in the field of education and technology to the impact educational innovations are having on people’s lives across the globe. And we’ll also offer expert opinion and commentary, as well as compelling personal stories from the world of learning. Check back often since we’ll be posting regularly. We invite you to join the conversation with comments on blog posts and suggestions on what you would like to see us cover here. Follow and reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. And please be sure to tell everyone about what we’re doing. Team #SchoolGroup VR and AR | Increasing Opportunity and Engagement in the Classroom 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT): The High-Speed Connectors of Digital Classrooms The Age of E-learning POSTS BY TOPIC Select Category e-learning EduTech School Group is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. EXPLORE SG Sign Up for the latest SG news © 2019 SCHOOL GROUP. TERMS & CONDITIONS PRIVACY POLICY

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Futuramatheme parksWorld's Fair A ready-made ideal city “Since the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, world’s fairs and expositions returned continuously to the concern with creating idealized cities. The Chicago World’s Fair was especially significant in establishing what would later become integral not only to the logic of expositions, but to theme parks like Disneyland and EPCOT and urban destinations like Odaiba that would follow in their wake: in all instances, a ready-made ideal city was created, one that was technologically driven and reliant on commercial imperatives and popular culture. As James Gilbert has explained when discussing early exposition visitors, ‘the visible future they encountered was a carefully engineered vision, a prophecy […] of the coming relationship between work, leisure, and culture’. But unlike the dystopian futures often delineated in science fijiction, in the future visions of the expositions, the inclusion of technological and scientifij ic innovation within the social environment was intended to inspire the creation of utopian spaces. “Events like the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933-1934 (also called the Century of Progress International Exposition) and the New York World’s Fair of 1939 took the first important steps not only in forging a relationship between sci- ence, technology, industry, and society, but also integrating these concerns with the visions and consumer pleasures offfered by science fijiction and entertainment. Rydell explains that, in the wake of the Great Depression, ‘1930s scientists, confronted by a “revolt against science”, joined corporate backers of the fairs in trying to pin popular hopes for national recovery on the positive results expected from the fusion of science and business’. Specifically, combining the speculation familiar to science fij iction with the realities of the scientific and technological innovations of the time, these fairs specialized in presenting the public with future utopian realities made possible through technological advancement. “A look at pre-World War II futuristic utopian thinking, as envisioned by Norman Bel Geddes for General Motors. This was designer Bel Geddes masterpiece — the “Futurama” exhibit in GM’s “Highways and Horizons” pavilion at the World’s Fair, that imagined the distant future of a faraway time 1960.” It was the New York World’s Fair of 1939 that became one of the most famous examples to showcase a new urban landscape, one that featured the utopian possibilities of technology and science. On the opening night, after Albert Einstein switched on the lights that would bring life to the fair’s motto – ‘Designing the World of Tomorrow’ – the fair proceeded to create a vision of a world in which ‘science could become a way of life and utopia would be nigh’. The fair showcased the latest technologies offfered by corporations (such as Rotolactor, an automatic cow-milking machine). Numerous other technological inventions were presented to an eager public as well: Voder, a synthetic human-speech device by AT&T; television sets by RCA, GE, and Westinghouse; and Elektro, a walking and talking robot by Westinghouse. However, it was the representation of a ‘city of the future’ that drew crowds by the millions…” Text: Angela Ndalianis, Disney’s Utopian Techno-Futures: Tomorrow’s World That We Shall Build Today, in Tourist Utopias: Offshore Islands, Enclave Spaces, and Mobile Imaginaries, ed. Timothy Simpson, Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam, 2017. Comment October 30, 2019 October 30, 2019 tezby 1960sretro futuretheme parks Adventure thru Inner Space “It’s often been said that science fiction predicts the future. I’d argue that this isn’t generally the case. In fact, it’s the future that predicts science fiction. “First off, we have to understand what we mean when we talk about “the future.” That definite article “the” implies that there is a single future, but of course there isn’t—despite how we talk about it, the future isn’t a fixed, tangible thing, it’s a psychological and social construct. (The past is also a psychological and social construct, but we won’t get into that here.) Each of us has one or several possible models of the future in mind at any given time—both our personal future and the future of the world—and society as a whole also has several possible agreed-upon futures under consideration. “These models of the future are built by the human brain, extrapolating from the present situation using information gathered from past events, and they are all inherently flawed because of the limitations of the human brain. Even computer models and other calculations are built according to rules devised by human brains, and are equally subject to these flaws. Our vision of the future tells us much more about ourselves, our pasts, and our present than it does about the actual future…” “Tomorrowland, a section of the Disneyland theme park that nominally reflects the world of the future, is a vivid example of how our views of the future have changed over time. “In Tomorrowland’s first phase (1955-1967), the main attractions were the Moonliner, a simulated trip to the moon, sponsored by TWA; Autopia, an automobile-driving ride for children, reminiscent of the interstate highway system; the all-plastic House of the Future, sponsored by Monsanto; and the Submarine Voyage, inspired by the voyage of the Nautilus, the first atomic-powered submarine, under the north pole. You can easily see how these attractions reflected the interests and concerns of the time. “Tomorrowland was given its first major makeover in 1968. Major new attractions added at this time included the Carousel of Progress, sponsored by GE, which touted the wonders of electricity; Adventure Thru Inner Space, sponsored by Monsanto, which took riders on a journey into the heart of the atom; and Peoplemover, sponsored by Goodyear, a scaled-down model of a clean, quiet, rubber-tired public transit system of the future. Not long thereafter, the Moonliner was remodeled into Mission to Mars and Space Mountain, Disney’s first multimedia rollercoaster, was added. These changes reflected the fact that the concerns of the immediate post-war period had been replaced with new concerns, more consumer-oriented and even more expansive. “By 1998, Tomorrowland was becoming increasingly dated despite some cosmetic changes and was given another major makeover. Notable changes at this time included the addition of the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, a new interactive ride in which riders could compete not only with each other but with people all over the world via the Internet, and the replacement of the Rocket Jets with the new Astro-Orbitor, an essentially identical ride except that the older ride’s black and white NASA-style design was replaced with a new “retro-futuristic” design in bronze, gold, and brown. “The harder Disney tried to keep its future up-to-the-minute, the faster it went out of date. (There’s nothing so stale as yesterday’s headlines.) So in recent years they’ve begun reaching all the way back to Jules Verne for a more “timeless” future. Even though these designs are already obsolete, they still retain a futuristic flavor, and it won’t fade so quickly…” Text: David Levine, How the Future Predicts Science Fiction, The Internet Review of Science Fiction, February 2010. Image: Tomorrowland’s Carousel of Progress via A Little Slice of Life. Comment May 6, 2011 tezby

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Claire tries to keep the identity of the mysterious stranger secret, as Drill gains new recruits… Once again it’s the Bradbury-based aspects of this story that are the more compelling, as Drill starts to communicate with Henry, tells Harper there’s a way she can save her mother who’s perilously close to death, and sends Minx on a recruiting spree. The recap at the top of the episode suggests that Minx accessed the DoD database to find out what they know about the disappearance and reappearance of Henry’s father’s plane – a plotline that seems to be used more as a background for the triangle between Henry’s mother (FBI agent Claire) and her own parents. The Mysterious Stranger is now confirmed to be Henry’s father, Sean, who is getting visions while in the shower and seeing weird symbols which he then tattoos on himself. It’s a nice homage to the Illustrated Man source for the book, whose tattoos each told a tale, and makes me hopeful that more of what seemed simply bolted on for the pilot actually has its roots in Bradbury. I’m hoping that Derek Webster as Claire’s FBI partner starts to get something more to do, and also gets a little quicker on the uptake – does it really take him that length of time to cotton on to the fact that Claire knows all the time that the person they’re chasing seems to be Sean? Verdict: Not quite as gripping as the opener, this feels as if the producers are still trying to establish what the show’s focus should be – sci-fi or family drama. 7/10

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The Fruit Tree Foundation - First Edition - CD Album (2011) Original UK Release Date: 27th June 2011 'First Edition' was the result of a rather intensive (and certainly difficult to organise) writing workshop in a remote Perthshire farmhouse in February 2010. The Fruit Tree Foundation's 'project leaders' Rod Jones and Emma Pollock had already drawn up their wish-list of musicians and songwriters so all that had to happen next was their spending some time together under one roof to write and rehearse the songs. The first attempt (in Jan 2010) was called off at the last minute after Rod Jones had no alternative but to let his car skid its way down the hill from the farmhouse on a completely iced-over, impassable road. Determining these conditions weren't the safest (especially for the heavily pregnant Karine Polwart), the workshop was rescheduled for February when the weather was supposed to be milder. It wasn't. Winter continued to bite from 20th to 24th February, with snow and ice threatening to cut the farmhouse off from the outside world which, given the Twilight Sad were about to embark on a US tour, would have been unfortunate to say the least. Alasdair Roberts came in for a day before having to leave and, when things started to look particularly bleak with Jack Frost, Harry Ice and Dave Snow laying seige to the building, they all buggered off pretty smartish. So smartish in fact, that, by all accounts, it looked like a herd of wildebeest had ordered takeout and then fucked off without locking the door behind them. Talented do-gooders or not, The Fruit Tree Foundation lost their housekeeping deposit. Emma Pollock: "Writing the new music in the house in Perthshire in such an intense way really brought home to me the inclusive nature of music and how it always manages to convey an energy all of its own. All nine of us walked in on the first day really quite unaware of what we were about to do, but ultimately the music written carried us all along and the atmosphere in the house was always really positive. Music takes you out of yourself and you can become engrossed in its mood and momentum. This change of perspective can be a wonderful thing and I love the fact there's so much music out there for us to dive into any time we want to go somewhere new." Hear hear. This is a rich, fiercely intelligent and thrillingly diverese piece of work and you are wholeheartedly encourage you to pick up a copy. A 50% share of the profits from this release will be going to the Mental Health Foundation.

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A Matter Of Orange Shirts And Respect Chris St-Jean Why Do Residential Schools Even Matter? Back in the mid- to late-1800s, there was a push to assimilate the Canadian native culture that continued well into 1996, when the last residential school shut its doors. It was believed that by establishing residential schools, the government would be able to make the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people, among others, more like the white population and therefore "civilize" them. These kids in the residential school system were taken from their families and forced to follow Christianity, in addition to being severely punished for speaking their own languages and following their own faiths. It was a terrible history, one where the Department of Indian Affairs in Canada actually encouraged the operation of residential schools and thousands of children were physically, mentally and sexually abused and died from a variety of conditions. It's horrific to be ripped away from your parents, but to be at the constant threat of disease and assault - even more so. There are countless survivors of the residential school system and several have gone on to publish memoirs of their time in the system. This is a very good thing, though it's certain that their stories would be extremely difficult to write. Thankfully, these people did demonstrate a great deal of bravery and did write their stories; without them, no one would truly know what happened during the time in which the residential school system was functioning. For Anyone Who Couldn't Wear Theirs Ripped Away, Just As Her Identity Nearly Was Phyllis Webstad was the third generation of her family to go to the Mission, a residential school more formally known as St. Joseph's Residential School in William's Lake, British Columbia. She'd chosen an orange shirt to wear for the occasion, but that shirt was promptly ripped from her body when she showed up at the school and she never saw it again. Unlike several kids who would end up spending years in the residential school system, Webstad stayed 300 days, but that was long enough. A day would have been long enough to lay witness to the terrible abuses going on in the Mission and in other schools. She started the first Orange Shirt Day in September 2013, and there have been a growing number of participants. It's something that she says has helped her through the healing process because for the longest time, the color orange represented something terrible. She admits that she felt like no one cared about her or her feelings, or those of the 150,000 other Aboriginal children who would have attended these residential schools designed to "take the Indian out of the child." Not only were kids abused both mentally and physically should they slip and use their own native language, there was effectively mental genocide that went on. The cultural genocide is obvious; when you're punished for expressing your own culture, how much longer will your culture continue? While there are countless students who are very much aware of the residential school fiasco, there are those who are most certainly not aware. Some might attempt to argue that those affected by the residential schools experience directly should simply "get over themselves" because it's been 20 years since the last one closed, and in at least one other case, a former residential school has been transformed into Blue Quills First Nations College, a tribal college in Alberta. Anyone who has been through extensive trauma will tell you there is no simple path to "getting over it," and in the case of residential schools, while former Prime Minister Stephen Harper did offer an apology to those affected by residential schools in 2008, the apology is not enough. The racism that was so prevalent behind the decision to even open residential schools in the first place still exists today. There are still people who talk about the "damn (insert race of choice here)" as though having such discussions using such language is perfectly acceptable. There are still those who think it's acceptable to pound on someone simply because of the color of their skin. Here's the hard truth for those who need to hear it still: there are lousy people through all races, creeds and colors. Blaming others for the flaws and faults perceived in a very few others is not only inappropriate, it's dangerous. It throws us back to the mistakes of our past when we tried to make everyone exactly the same, and we can't do that. Ever. We aren't ever going to be the same as everyone else, and that's all right. We need to celebrate individuality rather than try and snuff it out. We see it through all marginalized groups, and it's through events like Orange Shirt Day that we can recall those who did not survive the trauma of being marginalized and learn to apologize for the mistakes of our past. Frightening statistics Residential Schools History - A Terrible Past Schools are State Funded Indoctrination Camps by Sam Wickstrom2 Why the Education System Has Failed to Succeed by Sarah C Nason28 Louisiana Public Schools Went Private – But There Are Some Things That Seem A Little Weird – Update! by C E Clark115 Arguments For and Against the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools by Paul Goodman70 Moral Values for Students: A Necessary Part of the Curriculum by Paul Richard Kuehn300 Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in School? by Leonard Tillerman11

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The Ultimate List of the World’s Greatest Festivals [Part 1] Traveling isn't all complete without trying to have a quick bite of the local culture of the destination you chose. Sometimes, even the culture itself drives us... 9 Incredibly Risky Airports in the World The Longest Continuously Inhabited Cities in Europe The second smallest continent in the world, Europe, is known as the birthplace of Western Culture. It played a great role in colonialism that it controlled most... 24 Stairs You Must Climb Before You Die While staircases are considered as the fundamental means to move from one point in a building to another, they become incredibly interesting when appearance and... Piodao: Portugal’s Most Picturesque Village The town seems to have been plucked from a fairy tale or from an expertly-designed movie set, with window sills all painted the same shade of blue, houses all built in the same way, with similar proportions, a white limestone church perched beside it.... Natural Volcanic Rock Pools in Madeira, Portugal Naturally formed from volcanic rock, Poca do Gomes is one of the most unique natural pools in the world.... Colorful Umbrellas Float Above the Streets of Agueda, Portugal A sea of colorful umbrellas hang in mid-air in the streets of Agueda, Portugal.... Monsanto, Portugal: The Town Among Boulders Monsanto, a town built among boulders in Mt. Monsanto, Portugal, has stood the test of time since the Early Stone Age.... © 2017 SoCawlege | All rights reserved

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Ana Ulin 😻 @anaulin@social.coop "a truly modern postal service would be more than the sum of its parts. It would help restore confidence in the public sector’s role in serving the common good, at a time when faith in government seems so hard to come by." http://inthesetimes.com/article/22140/postal-service-usps-privatization-climate-change-banking/ Oct 30, 2019, 17:38 · Tusky · 1 · 3 · 2 "In an era of little faith in government, a reimagined postal service could demonstrate how public solutions can solve many of our collective problems, from climate change to a predatory financial industry. That’s exactly what the post office did in the country’s early days." "Republican-controlled Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, limiting its ability to innovate beyond the delivery of mail and packages, just as the internet began to boom." "Post office locations could provide free Wi-Fi access, computers with access to government services, printers, and public meeting rooms. Clerks could provide drivers’ license renewal, multilingual translation, help with immigration processing and other services." "The buildings themselves could be used to extend broadband infrastructure and be fitted with green technology like solar panels, electric car charging stations and rooftop farms. USPS’s Los Angeles mail processing facility has 31,000 solar panels, making it one of the city’s largest buildings generating electricity through solar. " "USPS could also return to providing affordable banking services, as it did from 1911 to 1967. " social.coop is a cooperatively-run corner of the Fediverse. The instance is democratically governed by its members, who generally share an interest in the co-op model, but topics of discussion range widely. If you are interested in joining our community, please review our Bylaws and Code of Conduct. If you agree with them, you may apply for membership on our instance via this link Our instance is supported by sliding scale contributions of $1-10/mo made via Open Collective. You must have an active Open Collective account to apply for membership; you may set one up here social.coop

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Our mission is to ensure the actualization of a fully realized democracy with responsive and accountable governance. Our bold vision is to end the institutional, structural and systemic racism in Mississippi and the Southern Region that drives inequitable economic policies and to bring about an educational system that provides every student – regardless of race, gender, religion, zip code or disability – with a first-rate, quality public education. Southern Echo was founded in 1989 to build the capacity of African American communities to form a network of new, accountable grassroots leaders and community organizations, based on an inter-generational model. Born from the labor and love of Hollis Watkins, Leroy Johnson, and Mike Sayer, Southern Echo provides training, technical, and educational assistance to marginalized and vulnerable communities with the primary goal to empower these communities so that they might impact the formation and implementation of the public policies that affect their lives. Hollis Watkins was attracted to Civil Rights work in the early 1960s, becoming one of the first Mississippians to join the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He worked with SNCC leader Bob Moses organizing communities around the state. When it seemed that the Civil Rights Movement was burning out in Mississippi, Watkins wanted to give people the tools they needed to continue addressing issues that concerned them — farm subsidies, voting, and public education. He enlisted Leroy Johnson, an activist who had extensive experience developing community education, environmental and cultural programs during his time at Rural Organizing and Cultural Center (ROCC) and Mississippi Action for Community Education and Mike Sayer, an attorney who had directed field services and community projects and trained elected officials for MACE, to help him take the lessons he had learned from the Civil Rights Movement to build a community organizing organization. Johnson, a Holmes County native, suggested that the organization focus its efforts in the Delta — where poverty and racism conspired daily to crush the souls of Black folks. Southern Echo has become an organization that empowers the descendants of enslaved African people and is unparalleled in its community organizing ability. Sign up to get updates from Southern Echo.

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Spence-Chapin Partners with The Family Equality Council as an “Ally for Adoption” Spence-Chapin is excited to partner with the Family Equality Council in their “Allies for Adoption” campaign, agreeing that every child in America deserves the chance to find a forever family. As an Ally for Adoption, we support the Family Equality Council’s efforts to eliminate barriers to adoption faced by LGBT people in every state. We are also partnering with Parents, Family, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and the Family Equality Council by joining their Every Child Deserves a Family Coalition to support a bill currently before the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate that eliminates any state laws, practices, or procedures that exclude LGBT foster and adoptive families. Spence-Chapin also received the Human Rights Campaign’s “All Children-All Families” Seal of Recognition in October and we continue to be fully committed to equality in adoption as we build families with partnered same-sex and LGBT singles.

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Here's proof that Philando Castile had a permit for his gun Rob Wile In the wake of his killing at the hands of police last week, at least a few outlets and commentators have questioned whether Philando Castile had a permit to carry a gun. Those doubts have now been put to rest. Castile's family released a copy of his gun permit to CBS Minnesota, dated June 4, 2015 by Hennepin County, Minnesota. As CBS News notes, because the permit was issued by Hennepin County, it was not considered a public record. In the Facebook Live video she posted just after Castile was shot five times by officer Jeronimo Yanez, Diamond Reynolds, Castile's girlfriend, can be heard saying that Castile had a permit for the gun in the car. Yanez fired, police claim, because he feared Castile was reaching for his weapon when he was instructed to provide the officer with his driver's license. Yanez can be heard saying, "I told him to get his hand off it," in the video. Castile's family had contended since his shooting that he legally obtained a concealed carry permit from the state. His mother, Valerie, recalled to CNN that he had expressed his concerns to his sister about the potential dangers of carrying his gun, even legally. "They had a conversation about the concealed carry permits they both had," she said. "They said to be cautious and my daughter said, 'You know what, I don’t even want to carry my gun because I’m afraid they’ll shoot me first and ask questions later.'" As my colleague Ethan Chiel wrote, the National Rifle Association has still not directly commented on the facts of the incident other than to describe Castile's death as "troubling," even though his shooting was prompted by a seeming violation of his legal gun rights Yanez and his partner have been placed on paid leave. Reynolds is calling for a federal investigation into the shooting. Rob covers business, economics and the environment for Fusion. He previously worked at Business Insider. He grew up in Chicago.

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Next:NAVAL AIR: Russian Carrier Dreams Sunk Intelligence: A Torrent Of Targets July 24, 2009: The al Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan are having a growing problem with American UAV attacks. So far this year, the American Hellfire missiles have been used 31 times, causing 365 deaths (mostly al Qaeda or Taliban members, including over twenty senior leaders). For all of 2008, there were 36 attacks, causing 317 deaths. The UAV campaign actually began in earnest 11 months ago. Since then, there have been over fifty attacks, causing over 500 deaths. The rate of attacks has been increasing this year. While the terrorist groups are concerned about the losses, especially among the leadership, what alarms them the most is how frequently the American UAVs are finding their key people. The real problem the terrorists have is that someone is ratting them out. Someone, or something, is helping the Americans find the terrorist leaders. It wasn't always that way. In 2007, there were only five UAV attacks, three in 2006, one in 2005 and one in 2004. Back then, it wasn't just the lack of identified targets that kept the UAVs away, but fewer UAVs, and Pakistani resistance to American UAVs making attacks inside Pakistan (even though the targets were terrorists attacking Pakistanis, including senior leaders.) By 2008, the Pakistanis changed their mind. This Hellfire campaign is hitting al Qaeda at the very top, although only 22 percent of the attacks so far have taken out any of the most senior leaders. But that means over half the senior leadership have been killed or badly wounded. Perhaps even greater damage has been done to the terrorist middle management. These are old and experienced lieutenants, as well as young up-and-comers. They are the glue that holds al Qaeda and the Taliban together. Their loss is one reason why it's easier to get more information on where leaders are, and why rank-and-file al Qaeda and Taliban are less effective of late.. While al Qaeda believes local Pakistanis are responsible for leaking location information to the Americans, it's a bit more complicated than that. First of all, the U.S. has had a good informant network in the Pakistani tribal territories for the last few years, especially in the Taliban heartland of North and South Waziristan. This is a relatively small area (11,500 square kilometers) of mountains and forests along the Afghan border. Over a decade ago, U.S. intelligence operatives returned to the Afghan border area, and began developing an informant network inside Afghanistan, using tribal connections on the Pakistani side. This was a tedious business, especially in Waziristan. After September 11, 2001, this network was worked with greater urgency. The growing force of Predator (and later the larger Reaper) UAVs were available to run round-the-clock surveillance on what was going on down there. The main obstacle to using all this information was the Pakistani president (Pervez Musharraf), an army general who did not want to anger the tribesmen by letting the Americans launch a lot of Hellfire missiles from their UAVs. Musharraf insisted on personally approving each Hellfire strike, and he did not do this very often. Musharraf lost his job last August. The U.S. and the new civilian government agreed that it was now open season on al Qaeda. The new Pakistani government asked the Americans to be as discreet, and accurate, as possible, and then hunkered down for the public outrage over this American "attack on Pakistan." But in fact, the Hellfire attacks were killing men who were responsible for terrorist attacks that had killed thousands of Pakistanis. The U.S. intelligence network in Pakistan had connections everywhere. Even pro-Taliban tribesmen were willing to earn some money by informing on al Qaeda. That's because many Taliban did not like the al Qaeda people (most of the them foreigners) much at all. The Taliban has tried to maintain good, or at least civil, relations with al Qaeda. But that efforts has frayed to the point where al Qaeda big shots like Osama bin Laden spends most of his time staying hidden from U.S. UAVs, Pakistani troops and hostile Pushtun tribesmen. Pakistani officials believe that the multimillion dollar rewards on bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders may now actually work. The problem has always been that you can't capture an al Qaeda big shot without the assent of local tribal leaders. For a large chunk of that reward, that assent may now be had from some chiefs, and bin Laden knows it. He also knows that he has lost an irreplaceable number of veteran leaders, to U.S. Hellfire missiles, in the last eleven months. Rumor has it that big money was paid for the information that made some of these attacks possible. It's bad enough that al Qaeda is losing senior people, it's worse that they are now seen, by local tribesmen, as a way to get rich. Al Qaeda leaders now know what it's like to be terrorized. Make A Comment View Comments (1) IRAQ: The Importance Of Looking Good NAVAL AIR: Russian Carrier Dreams Sunk Intelligence: Current 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 

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The Earth in their Hands Our emotional connections with clay, with its ingenious integrity and the remarkable and spiritual impulses it provokes, are what have driven our relationship with this material for over 20 years. And so, when we came across this article in Resurgence, we felt compelled to share it because it so powerfully captures the sentiments we feel when working with clay, as we continue with our mission to share its beauty and benefits with the world, not as a ceramic, but as a wall covering. India Windsor-Clive, in Japan, meets two ceramicists inspired by the nature of their materials. A humble tea bowl sits poised, pedestalled in a glass cabinet. Light brushes its rough surface and catches the glaze dripping down from its rim. It exudes an aura of unassuming beauty, and of feeling immensely felt. Existing unto itself. Whole. This particular black tea bowl by Raku Sanyū VI (1685–1739) is entitled Un’en kagan, meaning ‘Clouds and Haze Pass Before Your Eyes’. Peering through the glass in the Raku Museum in Kyoto, you can imagine the steam passing before your eyes against the obsidian glaze as you sip green tea from its depths. Although ceramics is an incredibly varied field amongst Japan’s venerated craft traditions, a recent encounter with two of the country’s leading ceramic artists, Miwa Kazuhiko and Ken Mihara, revealed some of the remarkable historical and spiritual impulses that move them to create such compelling and contemporary work. Both Miwa and Mihara demonstrate an innate relationship with their materials and the natural processes that mould their work in the elemental coalescence of earth and fire. After an eight-hour drive from Kyoto, we arrived in Hagi. Located in the Yamaguchi Prefecture on the western edge of the main island of Honshu, the town is home to Miwa Kazuhiko and his family’s legacy. Kazuhiko is the son of the late Miwa Kyusetsu XI, a national treasure and 11th generation of one of the most important potting dynasties in all of Japan, second only to Raku. The family’s distinguished teaware is high-fired stoneware with a thick, cloudy white glaze, which has been made in the Miwa kiln since it was established in 1663, and is still in use today. We visited the Hagi Uragami Museum, where an impressive installation by Kazuhiko is exhibited alongside the work of his brother, father and great-grandfathers. Mysterious and large-scale ceramic slabs in gold, black, white and grey glazes are scattered throughout the gallery, uneven and angular, some broken and pieced back together, others left as ruins. We were soon met by Kazuhiko, who began to explain how his family’s tradition influenced his bold, sculptural work. He described how, as with much in life, each work is rooted on the ground and grows up towards the sky, to infinity or the future, and that much of his inspiration derives from big patterns in Nature, such as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite: inspired by the earth and made up of the earth. Kazuhiko showed us to his traditional wooden house and extensive studio complex on the outskirts of Hagi. There was the five-chambered, hand-built, wood-fired climbing kiln built into a slope – a method introduced from Korea. Kazuhiko explained how the kiln is first purified with salt before it is lit, and can take over 30 hours to fire a single load. He mixes different raw clays with coarse sand, which is not very malleable, so his ceramics often crack or fall apart completely. “It’s delicate work,” he says. “One out of dozens is successful.” The differing materials, their irons and minerals, react differently to temperature, so the artist cannot completely control how the object turns out. A work begins relatively even at the start, and the magic happens in the kiln. With a synergetic effect, the lustrous white glaze beads up to reveal the textured reddish-black clay underneath. The making of each work becomes a dialogue between the artist’s vision and the nature of his materials. Each descendant adapts these age-old techniques for his own trademark flare of originality, including the recipe for the semi-opaque glaze made from the straw ash of burnt rice plants grown in nearby fields. A treasured Oni-Hagi tea bowl with its uneven and potted white glaze sits on a spot-lit shelf in Kazuhiko’s private gallery. What is it that makes this work successful? Kazuhiko explains how it is all about feeling: a work just feels right. It is exactly as it is meant to be. It goes beyond the idea of aesthetic arrangement to reveal an implicit balance of Nature and imperfection, melded to create something so perfectly pleasing. An object as an embodiment of life – the coexisting imperfections and perfections of human and Nature – epitomises the Japanese aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, based on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence – impermanence, suffering and absence of self – it adheres to beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete, as in the key aspects of the tea ceremony purported by master Sen no Rikyū (1522–91): rustic simplicity, directness of approach, and honesty of self. As well as observing the aesthetics of imperfection, wabi-sabi beholds the intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. The next day we drove up the coast to Izumo, home to the oldest shrine in Japan and an ancient archaeological site with tumuli dating back to the 6th century. Set within the surrounding smoking mountains is the home and studio of Ken Mihara, whose primal and talismanic forms conjure up the ceremonial ambience of ancient bronzeware whilst echoing the environs of Izumo. A work spirals up from the wheel-head and flutes upward into the air in Mihara’s studio. Mihara describes how he moved away from functional, vessel-like forms towards pure self-expression, his works becoming objects in their own right. “My heart has been set free,” he writes. “What has been ingrained in the body and the many rules of consciousness are no longer needed. My expressions have embraced, and are honest towards, what is borne within.” Mihara’s works are realised through the intricate and intimate technique of hand-coiling – allowing for the artist to instil and transpose himself within the work. He does not sketch or begin with a form in mind, but rather allows his hands to “begin a conversation with the clay”. With an aura of serenity and Zen-like simplicity, the presence of the artist is tangible in Mihara’s works, which, in his words, “embody the never-ending pursuit of unforeseen beauty”. Mihara explains how each work undergoes multiple firings, during which a myriad of colours emerge across the surface of this local iron-rich clay. Without any glazes, decorative details or finishes, the clay’s inherent minerals react with fire and oxygen to manifest landscapes of vivid purples, indigos, oranges and yellows across its raw, textured surface. Mihara speaks of the clay found beneath our feet as having a distinct memory of colours trapped within it, and the way in which it is fired can “unlock the memories within clay”. Although Mihara cannot predict what the colours will be, he can intuitively adjust the oxygen and temperature levels that give rise to a wider spectrum of colour. Within the symbiosis of man’s creative impulse and natural forces in the work of these ceramic artists, there’s a natural resonance that is so intrinsic that it is unquestionable. Echoing Japan’s Shinto tradition, in which all things natural, even those inanimate, are worshipped as divine, rejecting the idea of the human mind being at the centre of existence, this reverence for Nature can be seen as recognition of the power of all matter and materials. Nature is as much an author of the work as they are. India Windsor-Clive is a freelance writer. This article was first published in Resurgence & Ecologist issue 305, November/December 2017. All rights to this article are reserved to The Resurgence Trust. To buy a copy of the magazine, read further articles or find out more about the Trust, visit www.resurgence.org Picture: Kei (Mindscape) by Ken Mihara. Photograph courtesy of Yufuku Gallery

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Crystal Morris talks about winning Ernst & Young award, mentoring and more by Jo-Lynn Brown Crystal Morris is CEO of Gator Cases, in Tampa, a global leader in plastic music equipment cases and other types of cases. When her father died, almost five years ago, she struggled with not knowing if she could run the company on her own. Not one to walk away from a challenge, she has grown the company’s manufacturing and distribution numbers consistently. Recently acquiring Levy’s, a guitar strap company in Nova Scotia, Canada, Gator Cases is on track to have $60 million in revenue in 2019. Morris has the mind of a businessperson and the heart of an adventurer. She loves to drive fast, fly airplanes and watersports. She is also an avid supporter of arts education and a mother of two boys. Bridgette Bello, CEO and publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, interviewed Morris before an invitation-only audience at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Kate Tiedemann College of Business. Here’s a recap of that discussion. To view images of the event, click here. Tell us about the most interesting thing that has happened to you since being on the August cover of TBBW. I was absolutely thrilled to win Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award. It really meant a lot to me. As [you] mentioned, my father passed and we started this company together, so I really felt like it was a night that honored him, his entrepreneurship and all of the things he taught me. In the music industry side of the business, the big trade shows are the National Association of Manufacturers, and we had one in Nashville in July. We absolutely had a blast. We won best in show, had all of these great artists in the booth and we debuted some amazing new products. Another pet project of mine is a group that I formed with two other women. It’s a program we’re calling SWIM (“Smart Women in Music”). The idea of the program is to get more women into leadership roles in the music industry. We had our first group of scholarship winners come to summer NAM and it was absolutely the most rewarding thing. I’ve had fun in the past two months. You do like to have fun. That was one of the things that I found the most intriguing about you. What’s been your latest thrill-seeking adventure? The most recent fun thing that we got was a little boat in downtown Tampa. We’re having a blast wakeboarding and have discovered that in the shipping channel where the cruise ship comes in, except for the two days a week it goes in and out, there’s no water traffic and it’s flat, so for any water skiing or wakeboard enthusiasts in the room, it’s a total win. What is the best piece of business advice that someone gave you? I saw an amazing speaker recently. What stood out to me was the topic about fun and creating laughter in every room. In the most serious of meetings if you can make people smile and have fun, it makes the whole mood change. I know you’re trying to make a difference with programs such as SWIM and mentoring. Can you go more in-depth with how you’re doing that? Within our industry, the thing we kind of looked at was different points of people’s careers. Then we created an award and the winners can come to the NAM trade show with us. The three girls that won the award for the first time came to the summer NAM show in July. We lined them up with amazing CEOs and other women in leadership. We got them a sort of “backstage pass,” and it really allowed them to see what it was like. And the next thing we’re working on is designed for people who are more midcareer and helping connect them to a director, vice president or C-suite level. We partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership and we’re going to be offering about 15 women an incredible symposium on leadership. Change is inevitable, and it’s never easy, though often we look back and appreciate it. Talk about starting the company with your father and what that journey was like. In 2000, my dad and I started the company together and I went on to have children. I was home a lot and I ran the back office of the company and he was the front person. About 12 years ago I walked into his office, I looked at him and his whole face was drooping and I remember sitting there and thinking, “Oh, my gosh—what’s wrong?” I remember having the realization that something major just changed in my life. From there he got diagnosed with a bizarre disease, we treated it, and there were four or five years of up-and-down health. At that point in time, I had to look myself in the mirror and decide what I wanted. I realized I wasn’t really the front of the company. I wasn’t out doing sales and it was a very male dominated industry. I had to think about, ‘how do I get taken seriously?’ I decided I was going to have to solve this, so I made a list of all of the issues I needed to fix and I saw the gaps. I made a plan to solve those issues. Everything from these are our key customers, to how to we build those relationships? It’s one thing to show up and shake hands, but how do I show them that I have the skills to be a value-add? I put some targets on a couple of boards and I started looking to see who I knew on them, or someone that I knew that knew someone. At that time there really wasn’t a LinkedIn, so I got on planes and started showing up in front of our partners. That’s the thing with change: You don’t always plan on it, but it happens, and you have to decide if you’re going to be resilient and how you’re going to react to it. The cool part was there were years where my dad’s health improved and we had fun. Every time we have great success, I just think how I would never be here without him. I know that he’s proud of it. When we were together at your house, you started talking about wanting to do a “Battle of the Bands” competition with corporations. You walk in the front door of our offices and there’s pingpong tables. You walk around the corner and there’s a full band setup. Most people that work at Gator are musicians of some sort; there’s usually music being played by 4:30 or 5 p.m. Music absolutely brings people together and we wanted to get more people involved, so we came up with this idea of doing a “Battle of the Bands.” It was funny because Gator’s band was playing and my great friend, who runs a company called BlueGrace Logistics [Bobby Harris], sends me a text that says, “Look, there’s people playing in my office in the back. We have a band!” It was the same night. And I’m like, OK, we need to battle. We’ve been working with David Cox, who runs the Gasparilla Music Festival, and I think we’re zoning in on a November date at Sparkman Wharf [in Tampa]. Our idea is to get eight corporate bands. The cost of entry is going to be around $1,500; hopefully, we will have some corporate sponsors and we’re going to have a fun night. The money will go toward building music classrooms in low-income school districts. What didn’t we ask you? We’re having such a good time. I’m anxious to find the next acquisition and to continue to grow. Business challenges happen all of the time. Tariffs, as you can imagine, have been a fun challenge. But I think part of the fun is finding these challenges then finding the next way to work around them. ♦ You can read Crystal Morris’ cover story here. ABOUT CEO CONNECT TBBW’s “CEO Connect” series is an exclusive, invitation-only, monthly event that brings together the Tampa Bay area’s top business leaders to meet and mingle. Sponsors for August’s event included CLA and CenterState Bank as presenting, Thomas Financial as a gold-level sponsor, and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Kate Tiedemann College of Business as host sponsor. Metropolitan Ministries and Inside the Box provided the food, and DCE is a production partner. Typically, the evening begins with a cocktail reception for about 120 guests, followed by an interview of that month’s cover CEO, providing insight into their lives, careers and views on issues affecting the business community. The interview is conducted by Bridgette Bello, TBBW’s CEO and publisher. Partnering with TBBW on the event provides an opportunity to network with the area’s business elite, generate new business opportunities and increase brand awareness. For information about event sponsorship opportunities, email Jason Baker at [email protected].

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BT raises pressure on BSkyB with free BT Sport offer Tim Westcott, Alzbeta Fellenbaum, Fateha Begum This product is included in: Broadband Media Intelligence Service Channels & Programming Intelligence Service TV Media Intelligence Service Have an expert contact you. BT will offer three pay TV sports channels for no extra charge to its broadband subscribers, a move aimed at defending its leadership of the UK broadband market and offering a lower cost pay TV alternative to BSkyB. Despite its massive investment in sports rights, the centrepiece being a £738m three-season contract for rights to the Premier League, BT is effectively giving away the three channels - BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN - to more than five million residential subscribers. HD versions of the channels will cost £3 per month. Subscribers who do not have a BT broadband package will have to pay £12 a month for the SD channels or £15 for HD. In comparison, the cheapest BSkyB package including Sky Sports costs £42.50 a month. BT said it would offer new customers BT Infinity, its high-end broadband package, for £15 a month. It previously cost £18. Copper broadband will cost £10 a month. BT has also added exclusive deals for Moto GP, Women's Super League football, Australian A-League football and extreme sports from Red Bull Media House to its portfolio of rights, which already includes 38 Premier League matches a season, English rugby union, Serie A, the Bundesliga and the French Ligue 1. The BT channels will be delivered over BT's high speed broadband network. The company said that 15m homes have access to the network, and that it will cover 90 per cent of the UK in three to four years. The package will also be available on the BSkyB satellite platform - although BT, and not BSkyB itself, will handle the subscriber management. They will also be available via YouView and Vision Plus set-top boxes and through a BT Sport App on PCs, smart phones and tablets. BT revealed it was also negotiating a wholesale deal with cable operator Virgin Media and will also make the channels available in Ireland. The channels will launch on 1 August, with the first Premier League match kicking off on 17 August. The £3 a month fee for HD channels will be waived for one year for satellite customers who sign up before 1 August. The telco is also attacking BSkyB's lucrative pubs and clubs business, claiming to undercut its prices by 80 per cent, although with the more limited range of games. BT customers wanting to access Sky channels, Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, also require a fibre broadband connection and an Internet enabled DTT box. BT's costly move into the premium sports rights market last June was unexpected. Its pricing strategy means that it will gain zero additional subscription revenue from its broadband customer base other than the small fee for those choosing HD. This looks like an expensive way of defending this line of business from competitors including BSkyB - which reported 4.235m broadband subscribers at the end of last year, compared to Virgin Media' s 4.465m and Talk Talk's 4.053m. At the end of 2012, BT had 6.569m broadband customers, constituting 30 per cent of the UK broadband market. BSkyB recently bumped up its broadband subscriber base through an acquisition of 0.5 million broadband subscribers in April 2013 from Telefonica UK, a move which will see BSkyB ending the first quarter of 2013 as the number two player in the UK broadband market. Although BT's broadband customer base has been increasing steadily, with a 2.2 per cent average quarterly growth in new broadband subscribers over the last two years, it has not matched the pace of BSkyB's growth (4.3 per cent average quarterly growth). Sky's low-cost offer and existing customer relationships (via its TV service) have allowed it to rapidly gain market share. BT's free TV offer, and requirement for separate billing relationship for BT Sport via satellite, is aimed at stopping or even reversing the bleed of those customers which have both Sky TV and BT Broadband towards Sky's bundled communications services - although the low cost nature of Sky's communications services may make this an uphill struggle. Regardless of the impact on Sky and BT broadband subscribers, the move is undoubtedly a blow to the other UK ISPs. Combined, BT and BSkyB dominate the ongoing expansion of the UK broadband market, having taken a 95 per cent share of net broadband additions in 2012, according to IHS estimates. It is likely that this harsh competitive environment will worsen further for the other players following the launch of the BT Sport offer. While BT's offer appears to be primarily targeted at ertswhile BSkyB customers, the offer is also likely to lure some of TalkTalk's broadband and TV subscribers. TalkTalk's performance in the broadband market has been underwhelming over the last two years, with the exception of its recent addition of 10,000 new subscribers in Q4 2012 - the first net add increase in three years, driven by the telco's YouView rollout. With BT's newly reduced prices for broadband packages and free sports programming, the incumbent telco's offer will undoubtedly be appealing to a selection of both current and potential TalkTalk customers. With BT Sport, BT is looking to also add incentives to its current subscribers to upgrade to its fibre-based product, BT Infinity. The company is promising better functionality and interactivity compared to its regular broadband packages, although details on the exact form of these enhancements are still thin. BT is pushing hard to deploy fibre optic broadband, with one of fastest commercial fibre rollouts globally, but take-up remains slow. IHS estimates there are roughly 100,000 FTTP (fibre-to-the property) customers out of BT's 1.3m Infinity customers (which are in fact primarily VDSL customers), across the more-than 15m homes passed. BT will be offering BT Sport to both new and existing customers of BT Infinity, though new customers would have to renew their minimum term contract for a further 12 months. Although BT has lowered the minimum term from 18 months, a factor which negatively impacted YouView uptake in the past few quarters, it is continuing to charge a £49 activation fee for the set-top box. BT Infinity customers wanting to access BT Sport will be required to pay an upfront cost of £199 for a set-top box, or a monthly subscription fee of £5. In premium pay TV, BT is still a comparative minnow compared to BSkyB, despite launching its hybrid DTT/IPTV service BT Vision in 2006. Sports fans who already subscribe to Sky Sports (via BSkyB and cable) but have a BT broadband subscription will effectively get a free bonus in the form of the BT Sport channels and no obvious new incentive to churn from the satellite service. BT estimates that 40 per cent of its broadband subscribers take Sky Sports - approximately two million homes. BT's sports offer is arguably already stronger than its predecessors Setanta Sports and ESPN, which each signed up more than a million customers. The company has more 'first pick' Premier League matches - 18 a season - which should enable it to secure matches involving the most popular teams like Manchester United and Liverpool. However, die-hard sports fans are unlikely to give up BSkyB's sports packages for BT Sport: it still has a stronger offer of Premier League matches (116 a season, including 20 first picks) as well as a wide range of other sports like cricket, golf, F1 motor racing and the Champions League (though BT might make a challenge for rights from 2015/16). BT's hard-won deal to wholesale the Sky Sports 1 and 2 channels is still in place and will continue beyond the end of the current season. BSkyB, which has already seen off challenges from On Digital, Setanta Sport and ESPN, will clearly have to review its pricing strategy in the face of BT's new approach. BT is much larger than these former rivals and seems to be preparing for a long game. It will broadcast from studios on the Olympic Park in East London, and has taken out a ten-year lease on the facilities. Ireland UK BT Sky Virgin Media Media & Advertising Mobile & Telecom Digital Media Operators & Services Service Provider Broadband & Video TV Media & Content Video

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HomeSportsTrack record holders look toward Penn Relays Track record holders look toward Penn Relays Distance and hammer throw look to lead the Owls at Franklin Field this week. It has been a breakout year for track and field teams, and they said they hope to continue the momentum on 26 April 2011 Joey Cranney Sports Distance and hammer throw look to lead the Owls at Franklin Field this week. It has been a breakout year for track and field teams, and they said they hope to continue the momentum on a national stage at the Penn Relays this week. WALBERT YOUNG TTN Junior distance runner Travis Mahoney runs in a race. “I’d say that it’s been a breakout year,” distance coach Matt Jelley said. “In the distance events, we just keep getting better and better.” Women’s track and field has had two Top 5 overall finishes in seven events this year. The team hasn’t finished outside the Top 15. Senior hurdles runner Assata Cowart set the Temple all-time record for the 1K run in January and senior distance runner Sarah Rutter set the Temple record for the 3K run. “We’re a strong squad in the [400 and 800 meter run],” Jelley said. “On the girls side, across the board, we’re a pretty well-rounded team.” The 2010 Atlantic Ten Conference Women’s Rookie of the Year, sophomore mid-distance runner Victoria Gocht, will head to the Penn Relays for the second year in a row to compete in the 800 after posting a team-best of 2 minutes, 12.38 seconds in the same event last week. “We have a bunch of 800 runners who are doing excellent led by [Gocht], who is coming off an injury and doing an excellent job,” Jelley said. The men’s track and field team has had six Top 5 performances in seven events this year. Junior distance runner Travis Mahoney has gained national attention for his performance in the 3K steeplechase. “The standout would be [Mahoney],” Jelley said. “He ran an 8:41.6 [in the steeplechase], which is the second fastest time in the country this year, which qualifies him for the regional qualifiers and qualifies him for USA’s.” Another standout on the men’s side is senior thrower Bob Keogh, who broke the Temple record for the hammer throw earlier this month. “[Keogh’s] having an incredible season,” Jelley said. “He’s broken the school record four or five times. It seems like every time he goes out, he breaks the school record.” “Not only does he do well on a performance basis, but he also is a great leader,” Jelley added. “He ended up helping the younger guys and girls. He’s been like a player-coach for us.” Mahoney and Keogh have a chance to display their talents on a larger stage at the Penn Relays. Keogh will compete in the hammer throw and Mahoney will run the 1,200-meter leg of the distance medley. The Penn Relays represent a dual opportunity for the Owls’ track and field teams. It is an opportunity for the teams to display their talent to a national audience and finish their seasons on high notes. “The only time we’ve competed indoors, we finished fifth overall out of 88 teams, which is why we want to go and compete against the best teams in the country and show them what Temple is all about,” Jelley said. Joseph Cranney can be reached at joseph.cranney@temple.edu. Joey Cranney Society’s labels stifle personality growth and development Temple Tweets Sustainability office lends tool for a green commute 26 April 2011 Amelia Brust News A networking site, Zimride, links students to accessible carpooling options. Following in the footsteps of other colleges such as the University of Michigan, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles, Temple recently joined Zimride.com, Keeping it classy until the last day of classes 26 April 2011 Alexis Sachdev Fashion, Features Columnist Alexis Sachdev offers ways to stay fashionable during finals. Good morning, fashionistas. Or, if you’re like me – say, “hello,” to your third day without sleep. Womp. I’m sad to report I haven’t stuck Scripting awareness 26 April 2011 Priscilla Ward Features “VI Degrees” spreads awareness about HIV/AIDS and the African-American community. Unprotected sex, adultery and prostitution are only a few of the many plot twists seen in the play “VI Degrees.” Directed by Temple alumnus and Grizzly says: What an awesome way to epaxiln this-now I know everything!

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HomeOpinionCommentaryVaccinations are part of civic duties Vaccinations are part of civic duties Americans should consider vaccination part of their civic duties. 17 February 2015 Erin Edinger-Turoff Commentary, Opinion Professor Conrad Weiler can remember a time, while he was growing up, when everyone was petrified by the idea of polio. It was summer – pools closed, children did not play outside. The public lived in fear of contracting the debilitating illness, and many did. When the vaccine for the disease came out, he said it “felt like a miracle.” No American millennial has experienced the anxiety that Weiler, a political science instructor at Temple, witnessed and felt at a young age. This, and the eradication of many other infectious diseases, is all thanks to the sophistication of today’s science of medicine – of our ability to vaccinate. America is a country that upholds individual freedoms. This ideal is seemingly the only valid argument presented by those critics of vaccination, whose voices have surfaced in a recent vaccination debate. The concept of a debate on the topic already seems ludicrous, given the established scientific evidence that there is no clear link between vaccination and autism. Instead of speculating and perpetuating irrational fears surrounding medicine, Americans need to consider the facts. We know that vaccination prevents diseases like measles, which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention declared eradicated in America in 2000 but has since seen outbreaks in 2014-15 in areas like California. We know that people are protected by a medical phenomenon called “herd immunity,” meaning that if at least 95 percent of the population is vaccinated, a disease outbreak is, for all intents and purposes, impossible. Perhaps most importantly, given the recent flurry of attention to vaccination, is that we know there are some people with weakened immune systems who cannot be vaccinated due to their compromised health. Those are people – children, often – with leukemia and other cancers, or autoimmune diseases. That’s why, as Weiler said, the topic of vaccination “should be much less political than it is.” Since there is no federal law mandating that parents vaccinate their children, Weiler reviewed state-level statutes on vaccination with his American State and Local Politics course once he noticed the current attention to the topic. According to the National Vaccine Information Center, many allow for religious and personal exemptions, along with medical – 48 states allow for religious exemptions and 17 allow for “philosophical, conscientious or personal belief exemptions.” The upsetting irony of those allowances is that medical exemptions require proof from a doctor. Religious and personal reasons only require the beliefs to be “sincerely held.” The only states that do not allow for religious exemptions are Mississippi and West Virginia – unsurprisingly, the CDC reported 99.7 percent of Mississippi schoolchildren were MMR vaccinated in 2014. And no outbreaks of measles in that state have circulated national media channels. Dr. Thomas Fekete, Temple University Hospital’s Infectious Diseases section chief, said those questioning the safety of vaccination seem to have “an exaggerated fear of risk” based on a feeling, not an informed opinion. While he said he does not want to disrespect anyone’s personal decisions, he thinks healthy people “owe [vaccination] to other people as well as ourselves,” and as far as I’m concerned, that means regardless of their religion or personal misgivings. It is important to let people think for themselves and make their own choices. But are people who choose to exempt themselves from vaccination for non-medical reasons truly thinking? Or are they acting upon a feeling, like Fekete suggested? It certainly seems to be the latter. When the health of our country’s children is a major component, don’t we all, as citizens, have an obligation to make a logical decision that protects our younger generation? In a period of dramatic political polarization in this country, it’s unfortunately not surprising that figures like Chris Christie and Rand Paul have interjected their support of individual freedoms into a topic that, frankly, has no business being divided into right- and left-wing arguments. It is socially irresponsible to disregard the safety of those who cannot be vaccinated, even if they would like to be. We have to, as Fekete said, “look at the bigger picture.” That’s not an anti-American idea. If we can unite as a nation in the interest of national security during times of war and conflict, why can’t we come to a consensus that vaccination is defending our national health? On any college campus, where students live in close quarters in university residence halls, the value of vaccination is clear. Imagine the chaos and panic on Main Campus if Morgan Hall erupted with measles because no students were vaccinated – I’d rather not. Sometimes, Weiler said, “there are certain public goods that cannot be provided by individuals on their own free will,” meaning, in the case of vaccination, the public good of protection from infectious diseases will deteriorate if it is left up to each individual to contribute to majority vaccination. Though I would argue in its defense, perhaps ending religious and personal exemptions is extreme. Regardless of whether any new laws are enacted, though, any naysayers should stop considering vaccination to be a political choice and consider it a citizen responsibility. We, as Americans, are lucky to have the freedoms we do. But those freedoms will prove useless unless we utilize them responsibly, not selfishly. Erin Edinger-Turoff can be reached at erin.edinger-turoff@temple.edu or on Twitter @erinJustineET Uzbekistan natives share improbable journey Citizens have right not to get vaccinated Students for Bernie Sanders organize on campus 06 October 2015 Jenny Roberts Around Campus, Features, Politics Temple Students for Bernie is in the process of becoming an official student organization, but has been active in the meantime. Union Dissent Though Temple’s AFSCME union has been without a contract since October 2007, many union members are speaking out against union leadership on a listserv. Two injured in Park Ave. shooting 07 April 2015 Joe Brandt Crime, News Residents say a man chased others while firing a gun.

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HomeUncategorizedWhere have all the gamers gone? Where have all the gamers gone? It may be the student next to you in chemistry class or the girl you always see on your floor of the residence hall. They can be everywhere and nowhere at once. Traditionally, they spend 25 October 2005 The Temple News Uncategorized It may be the student next to you in chemistry class or the girl you always see on your floor of the residence hall. They can be everywhere and nowhere at once. Traditionally, they spend their time with their hands on a joystick or their minds deep within a role-playing game, lost in some foreign world. Who are “they?” I’m referring to the dorks of the world, or more specifically, of Temple. They are video game fanatics, comic book readers and the elite few who know what a 20-sided die looks like. The video game industry is set to surpass the movie industry in revenue; sales of game software is a $7 billion market, according to the Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. gaming industry’s trade group based in Washington, D.C. Comic books have been exploding in popularity and in sales with one company, Marvel Comics, seeing its shares the highest in company history. Yet, these people and their culture seem to be non-existent at Temple. According to the latest available statistics, Temple has more than 25,000 full-time students and 112 student organizations. But no Dungeons & Dragons (a popular role-playing game) clubs, no anime (Japanese cartoon) clubs and no gaming clubs. Oh, dorks of Temple, where art thou? Occasionally I see a student wearing a Mario Brothers T-shirt, or overhear an argument whether Spider-Man could beat Superman. But for the most part, the dork population is severely underrepresented, and with the amount of students that attend Temple, it seems like commonsense that these people do exist. But where? The university doesn’t necessarily facilitate these activities, either. It seems an entire culture is being ignored here. For example, the newsstands in the bookstores don’t carry magazines catering to the culture of dorks. Although the stores do feature a wide variety of magazines from Time to High Times, publications such as Inquest (for collectable card games), Wizards (comics), and GamePro (video games) are nowhere to be seen in the two Temple bookstores. As far as video games around the university, dorks once again get slighted. According to the Yellow Pages, there are no local arcades in North Philadelphia. In fact, aside from a few Chuck E. Cheeses and The Dave and Busters on Delaware Avenue, there are no listed arcades in the city. Granted, the expanded Student Center sports some arcade machines from the old gaming room. But all of them are more than five years old and in shoddy condition. The Temple curriculum doesn’t exactly cater to gamers either. Perhaps this deters dorks from not attending. The only semblance of video game design classes is the ‘new media’ concentration in the School of Communications and Theater, which features a special topics course on new media. In the course description, it aims to use “computers to construct fictional worlds in 3-D space and/or imaginative digital intervention in real space.” Although, in Temple’s defense, not many public universities offer extensive gaming curriculums. This is my plea to all the l33t h4x0rz and fraggers: Get out and unite! As a popular ad states: If you’re going to pretend you’re an elf, you might as well do it with other people. Get out. Connect! Make yourself known. And if you happen to be in need of an opponent in Halo or Magic: the Gathering … come get some. Sean Blanda can be reached at scblanda@gmail.com. The Temple News Biker Chick: Bike-sexuals – Too hot to handle Higher Expectations Week

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Home Entertainment Biography Of Late S/African Hip Hop Rapper Jabulani Tsambo A.k.a HHP Biography Of Late S/African Hip Hop Rapper Jabulani Tsambo A.k.a HHP Xoliswa Zewas Late S/African Hip Hop Rapper Jabulani Tsambo/Photo credit: Google photo Jabulani Tsambo also known as Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) or Jabba, was an award winning South African rapper who tended to perform in different ethnic languages, but mainly Setswana. HHP completed his high school at St. Alban’s College in Pretoria Initially he was in a group called Verbal Assassins who had their debut album, Party, in 1997 when working with producer Chicco Twala. READ ALSO: Stats SA – Unemployment On The Rise However, the group later split after their release and HHP began working with singer/ producer Isaac Mthethwa on his single debut album, called Introduction. The album established a new and innovative genre that incorporated several South African tongues like Setswana, Isizulu, and Sesotho. He frequently employed the phrase “Maf-town” that relates to his hometown, Mafikeng, of South Africa’s North West province. In 2004 he released O Mang, an album that saw him reuniting with Rameetse as the producer of a track entitled On My Own.The remix of this track earned him critical acclaim.. In 2007, he was on our television screen in a dancing competitions known as Strictly Come Dancing and won the competition alongside his dancing partner Haley Bennett. READ ALSO: Cape Town Mayor Patricia to take Bowman’s Report To Court That same year(2007) in September He was honoured in in the inaugural Mafikeng Golden Stars Awards held at the Mmabana Convention Centre, for having been one of the people from his hometown to have transcended in his field. In 2008 he starred as himself in 11 episodes of the e.tv musical soapie Rhythm City. He made his debut on the show on 4 April, 2008. HHP was one of the featured celebrities on the first season of the South African version of the genealogy documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? (based on the British series of the same name), which premiered on SABC2 in May 2009. In December 2009 he released his seventh studio album Dumela. READ ALSO: Hyundai And Kia Will Outfit Their Cars With Solar Panels HHP has been nominated 20 different times and has won 11 awards so far, he has worked with artists such as Nas and Amerie, released seven albums, earned a BET award nomination for best international act in 2010, and MTV Africa Music Award in his eleven years of being in the music industry. He co-chaired a record label, Lekoko Entertainment. In 2016 the rapper legend revealed that he had been battling with depression and had attempted suicide three times during the year 2015. HHP was found dead in his Johannesburg home on the 24th of October 2018.11.01 Ho tsoa lelapeng la Surge Zirc SA re re ophomole ka khotso JABBA #Biography Of Jabulani Tsambo #HHP #Hip Hop Pantsula #Jabulani Tsambo #Verbal Assassins Sergio Romero Involved In Car Crash On Way To Training (Video) Harry Kane Is Among The England Squad For Nations League Finals Cedy Zewas - 27th May 2019 Fan Cries, Begging Jub Jub Not To Air The Uyajola Show(Video) Xoliswa Zewas - 18th May 2019 Share All Your Properties Or Risk Loosing It All Malema Warns... Xoliswa Zewas - 6th May 2019 EFF Claims Slapping Police Officer Was To Protect Malema’s Life Cedy Zewas - 11th February 2019 Babalwa Mneno Is defending Burna Boy’s Comments On Twitter Thembi Ndlovu - 19th November 2019

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India Mirror of Truth The Tale of the Himalayan Yogis 21st Century Bookstore Newsletter (December 2005) This month I have read three books, which I most highly recommend. First, is India: Mirror of Truth, A Seven Year Pilgrimage, by Steve Briggs. Steve, who lives in Fairfield, was a member of Purusha (an American monk) sent by his guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, to India to teach meditation. Steve made the most of this unique opportunity, traveling all over India, visiting many of the most holy places, temples, saints, shamans, politicians, pundits, swami’s, astrologers, and even humble folk. This is an incredibly fascinating memoir, both personal and universal. While I doubt this book will ever gain the stature of Autobiography of a Yogi, (Yogananda) or A Search In Secret India, (Paul Brunton) two of my favorite books of all time, I would rank Briggs’ book right up there and in the same lineage. Briggs catches the soul of India. The book is well-written and truly a joy to read. The author’s experiences and insights are both memorable and enlightening. Everyone who is a meditator, spiritual seeker, or an adventurer at heart must read this book. —Len Oppenheim, owner 21st Century Bookstore The Iowa Source (February 2006) Land of Truth India Mirror of Truth: A Seven-Year Pilgrimage by Steve Briggs By Tony Ellis A former University of Arizona tennis star sent to India by his guru to teach meditation may be an unlikely scenario, but it provides the platform for an inspiring and deeply personal account of this perplexing and mystifying culture. Many western writers have failed to understand India, bamboozled by the quantum meandering of the country’s complex psyche. In India Mirror of Truth: A Seven-Year Pilgrimage, Steve Briggs succeeds because he meets India on its own terms. With an open heart and mind, he reaches beyond the chaos of sight, sound and smell to appreciate the hugely beneficent spirit embedded in every aspect of Indian life. It is this welcoming spirit that gives India the flexibility to absorb and adapt to new influences and is one of her greatest strengths. Generations of stiff-lipped British gentlemen attempted to impose their authority on India only to find that while they weren’t looking India had assimilated some of their most familiar icons—cricket, railways, bureaucracy and tea—added a few spices and claimed them as her own. Earlier Mogul invaders suffered a similar cultural fate. The author arrives in India as teacher, but it is obvious that he is more interested in being student. His seven-year odyssey takes him from the coastal waters of Kerala to the high Tibetan plateau. Along the way, he encounters saints and shamans, politicians and pundits, astrologers and ascetics, entrepreneurs and artisans as well as enjoying the most important heartland of India, the family. He visits ancient holy sites, encounters swamis living at the source of the Ganges, participates in arcane purification rituals, experiences the excitement of thirty million pilgrims at the Kumbha Mela as guest of a maharaja, and shares the company of lamas at Tibetan monasteries in Ladakh. Deep in the Himalayas, his search for spiritual India reunites him with an ageless Master who seems to have been expecting his arrival. Somewhere in between, he gets to teach meditation to some of India’s elite. Finally, his dream of pursuing spiritual liberation in a remote ashram is realized. Briggs’ account is far more than travelogue. It is journey of personal experience. As the title suggests, India acts as a mirror for him to find his own truth. For many years people have traveled to India seeking enlightenment. There is probably no other country where God is so alive in every day life. Briggs understands the real truth lies within a person’s own heart and that India can provide the roadmap to reach this truth. As India leapfrogs into the age of high technology and economic prosperity, one can only wish she doesn’t lose this spiritual treasure house that Briggs so beautifully describes. Hopefully sadhu and Samsung, Microsoft and Mother Divine can co-exist in harmony. Full of Love, February 15, 2006 Reviewer: Roger Kirk, Bozeman, Montana For me, this book has been a great inspiration. I didn’t want to do anything but read the book from beginning to end for the feeling it seems to instill. Usually about half way through a book I really like, I start getting upset and even mad that it is going to be over — how could the author write this book and then end it without having another available right behind it? With Steve Briggs book, while I would gladly have another book to continue with, I did not feel a void at the end but instead more full. That is a first. Don’t know why it happened but am very happy for it. How is the book different? The writing is simple and straightforward but somehow it instilled feelings of deep gratitude, fullness, and a longing, not unlike missing a lover, but without the pain. Fascinating and rich accounts of people, places, and experiences atypical to the west portrayed in a simple and honest manner. A Renewal of Purpose, February 10, 2006 Reviewer: Opus22 "RR" (IA) I have recently read this excellent book on Steve’s travels in India. I did not expect the book to be as good as it is — it starts slowly and builds ‘forcing’ me to stay up late to read just a little more. I found my self in tears several times for the book is more than just about a complex diverse culture and country but a spiritual odyssey that is captivating and reminding me of my own journey in life. Having spent a little time in India enlivened the book even more as it is a country and experience one can only have be visiting there. I found it to be a very provocative book in that it brings one back to his own self — and to that I thank Steve for this marvelous read. A Service Ace From Tennis Professional & Meditation Expert, February 2, 2006 Reviewer: David Kramer (Chino Hills, California) Steve Briggs was a fellow tennis professional in the late seventies shortly before he first traveled to India. It does not surprise me how well written his recollections of his seven year pilgrimage to India is, for he discovers the soul and spirit of the Indian people, the heart of their culture, and their tradition of knowledge which continue to be of timely importance for those who find the game of life so fascinating and enjoyable. As an educator/instructor, and now as a writer, Steve is perfectly capable of guiding his students/readers on a journey that will satisfy the timeless thirst for the most important discovery of all — the awakening to one’s Self and living a life of value, enlightenment, and service to humanity. “India: Mirror Of Truth,” is a composite view the author shares with his reader on his journey through a country that is home to the world’s most ancient wisdom and mature family values, while uncovering the very personal ambitions that were accomplished by Steve’s own search for knowledge of that illumination. I feel this book is a must read for anyone who has ever had the desire to take the trip of a life time to a country whose magnificence is a reflection of it’s inner spirit which is available to all seekers looking for truth! His book is an absolute mirror of the heart, heroic character, and noble reflections of a man whose experience demands that he write another book, the sooner, the better. India: Mirror of Truth, December 5, 2005 Reviewer: David Saunders (Cumbria, UK) Soon after I first learned to meditate in 1973, people mentioned ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramahansa Yogananda, which was a truly wonderful book that gave insights into India’s rich spiritual heritage and what it was like to be a true exponent of the land’s spiritual teachings. Forty years later, Steve Briggs’ remarkable book feels like reading ‘Autobiogarphy of a Yogi’, all over again, but this time from the standpoint of a westerner, himself an exponent of those teachings, and obviously becoming an adept. As a westerner myself, somehow this brings it far closer to home, with a very uplifting core message, and stories of the land that tell me it’s time to make my own pilgrimage.

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