Requiem For A Cabaret: The Oak Room Closes
New York's historic Algonquin Hotel has been famous for a lot of things: the roundtable where some of the greatest American wits, from George S. Kaufman to Dorothy Parker, held forth in the 1920s and '30s; generations of cats — named either Hamlet or Matilda — who haunt the lobby; and, since 1980, the Oak Room, one of New York's most loved cabaret spaces.
When Marriott purchased the hotel and closed it for renovations early this year, they announced that the Oak Room would not be reopening — instead, it will be a lounge for preferred customers.
Singer Andrea Marcovicci was kind of a lifer at the Oak Room. For 25 years she performed there, surrounded by its burnished wood panels and ornate wall sconces.
"When you walk into the Algonquin, automatically the atmosphere is like walking back in time," says Marcovicci. "Therefore, when you walked into the Oak Room, people were already prepared for listening to the music you sing."
The Church Of American Popular Song
More than 3,000 New Yorkers have signed a petition circulated by songwriter Enid Futterman asking for the Oak Room to reopen. Cabaret historian James Gavin says it was a church of the pre-rock 'n' roll American popular song.
"The Oak Room, through the years, presented a lot of performers who are simply the best at what they do; who were unrivaled at weaving a cozy, intimate spell that really made you feel as though you were part of an old-time New York elite," says Futterman.
Among the singers who performed at the Oak Room over its three-decade history were Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall and Michael Feinstein. Singers liked performing in the Oak Room for a reason, says Barbara McGurn, who started as the cabaret's publicist and took over as manager in 2001.
"In the Oak Room, the performers are right on top of the audience," says McGurn. "It's the intimacy, and I think that's always been the case."
But that doesn't mean it was easy.
"Everybody thought it was the greatest room to get into, until you're actually in it!" says Marcovicci.
Marcovicci got together with her protege, Maude Maggart, to reminisce.
"And then you realize you have to perform like you're on a lazy Susan," says Marcovicci.
"That's right!" says Maggart. "Constantly turning, turning, turning until you feel insane!"
'The Subtlest Move Can Be The Grandest Gesture'
That's because the stage was in the center of a rectangular space, with only a few customers in front of the singer, so performers frequently had to turn left and right to connect with the audience. Still, Maggart says she found ways to adjust.
"The subtlest move can be the grandest gesture, you know, because the audience is so focused in on you and what you're saying, what you're sharing with them, what you're revealing about yourself and about them, too," says Maggart.
It wasn't just the room. It was the people who worked in it.
"Our waiters are legendary," says Marcovicci. "I adore them all, but it was just almost inevitable that our waiters would decide to pour an extra glass of water during the most ..."
"Lots of ice!" says Maggart.
"... with, yes, extra ice," says Marcovicci, laughing. "And almost inevitably during [sings] 'They asked me how I knew ...' "
"Click, click, click, click," Maggart mimics ices falling into the glass.
" '[Laughs, singing] my true love was true.' Click, click, click, click! Right?" says Marcovicci.
Intimacy Comes At A Price
Both Marcovicci and Maggart say they cherished the intimate relationships they developed with the audience. Every year they were witness to birthdays, anniversaries and marriage proposals.
After every show, Marcovicci says, "We sell our CDs in the lobby, we meet people in the lobby, and we genuinely have audience members that come right up to us, hug us after the show: 'May I hug you?' "
Still, such intimacy came at a price. Historian James Gavin points to the Oak Room's high cover charge and food and drink minimum. That meant it had a limited audience, and add to that the cost of staffing it.
"The economics of cabaret are simply ridiculous," says Gavin. "I think that these places break even, at best."
While Marcovicci is feeling sad at the moment, she says, "You started in the Oak Room, you will have learned what you needed to learn about cabaret for the rest of your life. So, that room may be no more, but anyone who played in the Oak Room has learned a lesson."
And, she adds, cabaret never dies, it just migrates. Indeed, right after news of the Oak Room's closing, there was an announcement of the opening of a new cabaret club in Manhattan. Called 54 Below, it opens next month with singer Patti LuPone.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


- SEC claims that Coinbase had previously acknowledged the possibility of federal securities laws applying to its listings
- SEC pointed out that Coinbase’s own public filings noted the potential risk that listed assets might be considered securities.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has responded to Coinbase’s argument that it lacks jurisdiction in the ongoing lawsuit filed against the cryptocurrency exchange. In the lawsuit, the SEC accuses Coinbase, the second-largest crypto exchange by volume, of operating its crypto asset trading platform as an unregistered national securities exchange and brokers, thereby violating federal securities laws.
In its filing on Friday, the SEC claimed that Coinbase had previously acknowledged the possibility of federal securities laws applying to its listings. The regulatory body highlighted Coinbase’s adoption of the legal framework established by the U.S. Supreme Court to assess whether certain cryptocurrencies met the requirements of federal securities laws. Coinbase had also discouraged crypto issuers from making statements traditionally associated with securities.
The District Court for the Southern District of New York has scheduled a hearing for July 13, 2023, where both Coinbase and the SEC will present their arguments and further explore the legal issues at hand.
Furthermore, the SEC pointed out that Coinbase’s own public filings noted the potential risk that listed assets might be considered securities. This indicated that Coinbase was well aware of the potential applicability of securities laws to its conduct and understood the rules to evaluate the legality of its operations. The SEC argued that Coinbase consciously decided to take on the risk of operating outside the confines of federal securities laws to fuel its business growth.
The regulatory body firmly opposed any motion for judgment that Coinbase might file and requested the court to strike down Coinbase’s arguments related to the major questions doctrine and other concerns.
The SEC disagreed with Coinbase’s assertion that an investment contract must include a formal contract, clarifying that the Howey Test does not require a formal agreement. Additionally, the SEC stated that transactions on secondary markets could still violate securities laws, contradicting Coinbase’s second argument.
Coinbase has been actively lobbying for clearer cryptocurrency regulations in the United States, aiming to address the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by the industry. In a recent media interview, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed that the company had met with the SEC over 30 times in the past year without receiving any feedback on compliance measures.
The SEC also refuted Coinbase’s claim regarding the major questions doctrine, asserting that the case involves the SEC’s exercise of its long-standing authority to enforce statutory requirements.


"All I can tell you is if that football team would have played like they did against us, they'd have been 5-0 instead of 1-4," Zook said
It's too late to change the recent past, but it's not too late for the Bulldogs (2-5, 1-3 SEC) to build on their stunning victory against Florida and salvage some tangible positives from a difficult season.
The best thing the victory did was give the Bulldogs the encouragement they need to keep working and listening to first-year coach Sylvester Croom.
"It's like Bear Bryant used to say: any time you win, the grass is greener, the flowers smell better and your wife looks prettier," Croom said. "It was pretty much the same routine (on Sunday), except that I wasn't nauseated when I woke up."
Cornerback Kevin Dockery added, "It's always going to feel better after a win, especially over a team like Florida. It's just good to get rid of that nasty feeling we've been having in the pit of our stomach. Good to get a little swagger back."
It's even better to take that swagger and do something with it on Saturday. Fortunately for the Bulldogs they play at home again this week against a Kentucky team with a five-game losing streak.
That means the Bulldogs have to stop celebrating and keep moving forward.
"We've got to let it go," Dockery said. "We don't want to take one step up and take a step back. We've got to keep building."
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Might as well throw out all those stats from the first six games if the Bulldogs are going to play the way they played against Florida. Mississippi State only scored seven points against Maine and entered last Saturday's game ranked last nationally -- 117th -- in scoring (12.5 points per game) and 114th in total offense (280.5 yards), but the Bulldogs got physical against Florida and ripped the Gators for 31 points and 409 yards, 251 by rushing.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Mississippi State has the SEC's youngest defense, and that defense became even younger last week when coach Sylvester Croom replaced three veterans with two true freshmen and a sophomore. The Mississippi State defense did give up 441 yards last week and allowed the Gators to climb back in the game time after time, but the Bulldogs also forced three turnovers, including one to set up the winning score.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The things I've been telling our prospects is that we are a better football team than our record indicates, that we will get better and we will build toward a championship trophy. What I hope is this will inspire confidence in them to come be a part of what we're building." -- Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK'S GAME: Kentucky at Mississippi State, Oct. 30 -- Two weeks ago this game looked like one that Mississippi State might be able to win with some luck. Now, after last week's 38-31 victory over then-No. 20 Florida, this looks like a game the Bulldogs should win if they can continue to play physical football and move the ball on the ground.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Jerious Norwood -- Norwood has often struggled for running room this season but he got plenty of help from his blockers against Florida and made the most of it, rushing for 174 hard-earned yards on a career-high 29 carries and two touchdowns. He earned the SEC offensive player of the week award. "Jerious' play was tremendous," MSU coach Sylvester Croom said. "I'm a big back guy. I like big backs. Jerious is not biggest back in the world, but he runs big. Barry Sanders wasn't a big back, but he played like a big back. He had power."
QB Omarr Conner -- The success in the running game allowed Conner to make more plays, and he took advantage of it. After returning from a knee injury that forced him to miss two games, Conner held the offense together under pressure and completed 15 of 24 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown and rushing 50 yards and a touchdown.
LBs Quinton Culberson, Titus Brown and Gabe O'Neal -- Coach Sylvester Croom's decision to go with younger players, especially these three linebackers, may run into difficulty at times this season but it's a move toward a better future with faster linebackers.
ROSTER REPORT: The open date before the Florida game helped the Bulldogs get a lot healthier, and the game didn't produce any new significant injuries.


More than 500 consumer companies active in Israel. They are offerings span the range of innovative solutions. From flying cars to robots that fold laundry, they are active in so many areas: the autonomous vehicles, water, healthIT, smart tech, wearables, Internet of things, drones, home automation, gaming, and more.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which is starting today January 8-11 in Las Vegas World Trade Center is the global stage for innovation. Dozens of Israeli companies will join 4,500 exhibitors from 150 countries.
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ISRAEL21c takes a look at some of other hottest Israeli firms exhibiting at CES this year.
Innoviz makes smart LiDAR systems – the “eyes” in next-generation autonomous vehicles. Innoviz’s LiDAR sends out pulsed laser beams to measure and monitor a car’s surroundings. The company has already received a pre-CES “innovation award” in the vehicle intelligence category. BMW is now integrating Innoviz into its autonomous vehicles scheduled to be launched in 2021.
Vayavision acts as a brain to sensors installed in cars from companies like Innoviz, determining which sensor to use at any given moment to keep drivers and pedestrians safe. Vayavision takes its data from radar, LiDAR and camera sensors. The Vayavision “brain” is intended to reduce false alarms and missed detections. The company raised $8 million in October.
Broadmann17 is similar to Vayavision, in that it aims to improve processing in autonomous vehicles. The company’s artificial intelligence allows cars (and drones) to see, identify and process large amounts of data at once. Broadmann17’s deep neural network software enables “edge” devices (with limited processing power) to take advantage of the power of AI.
Cognata uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to simulate real cities in 3D so autonomous vehicle makers can test their cars virtually before hitting the streets. Given the recent revolt against Waymo’s autonomous vehicle tests in Arizona, where pedestrians attacked the vehicles with rocks and knives, Cognata’s tech may receive particular interest this year at CES.
Phantom Auto is building a “remote control” for autonomous cars. If there’s a problem with a self-driving vehicle and there’s no steering wheel, brakes or driver, Phantom Auto can insert a human operator to control the vehicle from a remote location. Will that be enough to help passenger (and angry mobs) get past their fear of driverless cars?
Engie plugs into a car’s dashboard and helps drivers of “regular” vehicles (you know, the ones we’re driving today) diagnose problems and find the closest mechanic (along with rates) from the app’s mechanic marketplace. Engie can tell you if your car will pass its next air-pollution test or if the engine is running hot. It can even remember where you parked your car.
C2A, Karamba Security, SafeRide Technologies and Argus Cyber Security all help protect cars of today and tomorrow against cyber-threats. They work in different ways: Argus embeds its security software directly into a car’s systems, Karamba secures the infotainment center to keep out hackers, C2A is making its firewall-type “Stamper” product available royalty-free, while SafeRide detects vulnerabilities before a hacker even arrives by flagging any abnormal behavior and reporting it to the connected car’s Security Operation Center.
Tactile Mobility helps self-driving cars “feel” the road. The company uses the data coming from a vehicle’s sensors to tell how tightly a car is gripping the road, whether the vehicle is bumping up and down over potholes or how steep a hill is. Tactile Mobility can help autonomous vehicles drive faster and be less wary of fast-moving highway on and off ramps.
Flytrex wants to be the FedEx of the drone-delivery world. Its software allows operators to set pick-up and delivery points and see information about weather, topography and other drones in the air. The service is now operational at the King’s Walk Golf Course in North Dakota where it delivers food and beverages to golfers on-demand, and in Iceland where AHA which uses Flytrex to drop goods in customers’ Reykjavik backyards.
Edgybees’ First Response software suite brings augmented reality, map layers and visual markers to allow drone pilots to monitor more than the drone itself can; it allows commanders to monitor drones remotely; and it integrates a drone’s visual progress into video streams and maps. The software was used during last year’s devastating Camp Fire in California and during several major US hurricanes.
Consumer drones today mainly carry packages. But will a fully flying car be in our future? Startup NFT hopes to bring a bit of the Jetsons to our cities. The company will be displaying a prototype vehicle with VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) capabilities – no landing pad or heliport required. NFT’s electric-powered flying car has a range of 60 miles driving and 310 miles flying at a projected price of $50,000.
ROBOTS AND MORE
FoldiMate, a California-headquartered startup founded in 2012 by Gal Rozov, an Israeli software engineer, who decided that folding laundry was a boring task that can be done by a robot. The FoldiMate is slightly larger than a standard washing machine. according to the company, it can neatly fold blouses, T-shirts, tops, pants, and towels. The prototype presented at CES 2017. This year FoldiMate will be demoing its fully functional prototype.
Lumen is a personalized nutrition device that measures users’ metabolism by analyzing their breath. The company’s hand-held product includes carbon-dioxide sensors and flow meters to measure the breakdown of fat, carbohydrate and protein. The results are displayed on an accompanying smartphone app.
Watergen makes GENNY, a 50-kilogram home and office water generator that uses ambient air to extract and produce between 25 and 30 liters of water a day. One liter of GENNY-made water costs just 2 cents. The company was named a “Best of Innovation” nominee in CES’s “Tech for a Better World” category.
Intellithings also won a CES 2019 Innovation award for RoomMe, a personalized automation solution for smart homes. Install RoomMe in a selected space and its Bluetooth tech identifies who’s in the room based on their smartphone. RoomMe then automatically adjusts lights, thermostats and other devices to preset preferences.
TechSee uses cameras and augmented reality to troubleshoot users’ tech problems remotely. Just bought a new router but don’t know how to set it up? Fire up TechSee’s “Eve” app and point your phone at the router. Eve will identify the model and walk you through installation by demonstrating the steps you need to take on an augmented visual overlay. The company raised $18 million in December.
Handy with computers but hate housework? Foldimate will be demonstrating its robotic laundry folding machine at CES. A ship date is estimated for later this year with a target retail price of $980. You feed your clothes into the top of the machine, which looks a bit like a giant upright printer, and the clothes come out neat and folded. Foldimate adjusts its folding technique based on item size and user preferences.
Centaur Analytics wants to be the “Internet of crops.” The startup’s platform tracks data from sensors installed along the produce supply chain from farm to train to truck to retail facility. The app applies environmental information and predictive models to decide how best to reduce the amount of poor quality product (no more wilted lettuce!) which in turn should increase stores’ revenues.
Robots are always showstoppers at tech events, which practically guarantees personal robot-maker Temi a big CES splash. Use Temi ($1,499) to video chat with a loved one using its mobile telepresence functionality, ask Temi a question or to play your favorite song (think of Temi as Amazon Echo on wheels) or tell Temi to fetch some tea from the kitchen.
Intuition Robotics’ ElliQ has a similar home use as Temi, minus the wheels, and is aimed at chatting with seniors to help them stay active and engaged. The product won a “Best of Innovation award” in the Smart Home category at last year’s CES.
42 Game Changer might just be the perfect product for vendors at a trade show like CES. The company makes interactive mobile games branded for its corporate customers. When visitors approach the customer’s booth, they’re offered a chance to play a game and win a prize by entering their contact details. The company also will power customer interaction at the booth of another Israeli company at CES, Human Eyes.
Check out ISRAEL21c’s previous coverage of other Israeli startups that will be at CES this year, including: smart glass technology maker Gauzy, smart city platform Waycare and smart pollution monitor Breezometer.
This 22 startups from Israel will form the Israeli Pavilion sponsored by the Israeli Export Institute:
- 2Sens www.2sens.co
- Anagog www.anagog.com
- Brodmann17 www.brodmann17.com
- ByondVR www.byondxr.com
- ChiperSiP www.ciphersip.com
- Edgybees www.edgybees.com
- Endor www.endor.com
- Firedome www.firedome.io
- Gauzy www.gauzy.com
- Hexa www.hexa3d.io
- Lishtot www.lishtot.com
- Lumen www.lumen.me
- NanoScent www.nanoscentlabs.com
- NFT Inc www.nxtft.com
- Qlone www.qlone.pro
- Sixdof Space www.sixdof.space
- Superb Reality www.superbreality.com
- Syte www.syte.ai
- TriEye www.trieye.tech
- Unbotify www.unbotify.com
- Waycare www.waycaretech.com
- Woojer www.woojer.com


Police are treating a fire at housing for young homeless people in Stroud as suspected arson.
Crews were called to the Old School Buildings on Wood Street late on Thursday evening, following calls reporting the incident.
Engines from Stroud and Nailsworth attended at 10.08pm accompanied by colleagues from the emergency services.
At the scene they used two hose reels and four breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze at the two-storey, stone building.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the ground floor was 25 per cent damaged by fire and 100 per cent by smoke.
No-one was injured.
The firefighters left the scene at 11.31pm.
"It was a police led incident which is being treated as suspected arson," the spokesman added.
The Old School Buildings are listed online as being part of Bromford Support, which helps young single people aged 16-21 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with support needs.
The project only accepts referrals from Stroud District Council and other statutory agencies.
Two girls have since been arrested on suspicion of arson. More here


The Ministry of Labour and Employment has formed 23 'Crisis Management Committees' across the country comprising field level officers of the Labour Office, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments and owners of the factory to keep the labour situation normal during the COVID-19 crisis.
The committees will ensure timely payment of wages or salaries to the workers and employees. These committees will also conduct joint inspection to resolve any labor dissatisfaction through tripartite arbitration, an official release said.
If necessary, the committees can form sub-committees. The committees will have to send weekly report to the ministry through their respective department every Thursday.


Police: Man killed woman by running her over with minivan
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police are accusing a man of killing his girlfriend by running her over with his minivan near the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.
Police in Las Vegas have arrested 39-year-old John Treese on one count of open murder.
Authorities say Treese and his girlfriend got into an argument Saturday night because she wanted to drive. She then got out of the vehicle and began to walk on the median.
Witnesses told police they saw the minivan move backward and accelerate as it drove onto the median, striking the woman.
Police say they found the woman lying on the median. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Authorities have not released the woman’s name.
Treese is at the Clark County Detention Center. Records do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.


City Bar President Carey Dunne Testifies at Chief Judge’s Hearing on Civil Legal Services
New York City Bar Association President Carey R. Dunne testified today at Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman’s hearing on civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers, at the Appellate Division, First Department, in Manhattan. His prepared testimony follows:
Chief Judge Lippman, Justice Gonzalez, and Mr. James: I am honored to testify before you today on behalf of the New York City Bar Association at this third series of hearings on access to justice for New Yorkers who cannot afford an attorney for their civil legal services needs.
The City Bar has long been committed to providing access to justice, and we work to achieve this on a local, national and international level. In addition to our legal and policy work in this area, our public service affiliate, the City Bar Justice center, provides direct legal services by leveraging the efforts and resources of the City’s legal community to increase access to justice for low-income individuals. And our Vance Center for International Justice stimulates and coordinates pro bono efforts in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere in the world.
The City Bar applauds the Chief Judge for his extraordinary leadership, and the Task Force for its extraordinary efforts, which have made New York a nationwide leader in the provision of civil legal services to the poor. As a result of these efforts, and despite difficult budget constraints and other pressures, the judiciary budget provided a $12.5 million increase in legal services funding last year and an additional $12.5 million, for a $25 million increase over two years, a remarkable result in these difficult times.
As we all know, however, this funding increase is well short of where we need to be. Unfortunately, we are confronting an intractable demand for civil legal assistance that all the legal services providers plus considerable pro bono efforts of New York’s lawyers cannot come close to meeting. Though many statistics demonstrate this crisis, I cannot get past the number of two million – over two million New Yorkers walk into court each year with no legal counsel. They generally do not have the skills, and often the language ability, to pursue or defend their legal positions, and thus are particularly at risk of losing their shelter or their subsistence or facing a break up of their family. If these parties received representation, not only would their chances of success be greater, but their cases would be more effectively handled by an overburdened court system, and they might be able to recover some of the hundreds of millions of dollars New Yorkers are owed each year in federal benefits for which they are eligible.
Unfortunately, nothing happening in the larger world gives us comfort that these pressing needs will be met anytime soon. Recent census statistics show that the poverty level in New York City grew in 2011 to 20.9%, with almost 1.7 million residents classified as poor. Median income in the city declined. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, and the figures do not even reflect all those who have given up looking for work. While more are suffering in New York, the increase in the poverty population elsewhere in the country will result in a redistribution of federal legal services funding, so that New York providers will see double-digit declines even if the overall allocation to the legal services corporation remains the same. Many lay-offs in legal services offices are occurring statewide. And the federal government has not yet retreated from its own budget cliff, risking further cuts to federal funding in the immediate future.
Surely, we need new responses to this deepening crisis. To start, we have a desperate need for additional civil legal services funding. No single means of providing services to the poor is as effective as the experienced legal services offices and lawyers that operate so heroically. They need more money, to offset federal losses and to try to meet the great need, as they have had to turn away at least 80% of those that reach out for help. We urge that the judiciary budget include a substantial increase in legal services funding, to move closer to the $100 million increased budget goal that has been set by Chief Judge Lippman.
But we need to get more help from other sources. We and other bar associations in New York have exerted substantial efforts to mobilize the private bar, and many lawyers have heard the call and given generously of their time and resources. At the City Bar Justice Center, we have 2,171 trained volunteers, who joined with the justice center staff to assist nearly 20,000 people last year. We increased the value of pro bono legal services donated through programs at the justice center from $18 million to $20 million since last year. Our free legal hotline is supported by IOLA and OCA funding to assist thousands of New Yorkers with fast, free legal help on basic legal problems such as consumer debt, housing and family law, and it makes referrals to legal services when appropriate. Our programs also reach veterans, 9/11 victim compensation fund claimants, immigrant women and children, and victims of domestic violence and trafficking.
While other bar associations are also working hard to provide vital pro bono assistance, the current pace of pro bono activity must be greatly accelerated, and we have to be open to new ways of getting that done. We therefore fully support the recently issued 50-hour pro bono requirement for admission to the New York Bar. We see the requirement as inculcating the spirit of pro bono, exposing all new lawyers in the state to the rewards of pro bono service and, with 9000 new lawyers being admitted each year, generating a substantial amount of legal services. The rules provide a flexible approach, giving law students a broad range of ways they can help, and backing that up with a requirement that their efforts be supervised. It is now up to legal services providers, law schools, bar associations and others concerned about providing legal assistance to develop effective ways for law students to assist. The New York City Bar looks forward to doing its part and to working with others to see that law student pro bono efforts are harnessed effectively.
Similarly, we experienced lawyers need to do more. There has been much effort to encourage pro bono service but that has to be greatly intensified. The city bar has long been in favor of the concept of mandatory pro bono service. We of course recognize that this has been a highly controversial issue within the bar. However, we also support another approach which we believe would stimulate greater involvement: the mandatory reporting of pro bono activities. In 1997, the City Bar proposed that New York lawyers be required to report the extent of their pro bono commitments, as well as their monetary contributions to organizations providing legal services to the poor (the report is appended to this testimony). Our report drew on the experience of Florida, which was the first to establish the reporting of pro bono activities and contributions, both of which grew substantially after the reporting requirement was put into place. Now, eight states have mandatory reporting. Mandatory reporting in New York can be handled in a number of ways, though perhaps the easiest would be in the form used for the biannual registration renewal. That is one of a number of details that would have to be developed, and we would be happy to work with the task force in designing such a program.
In closing, we face an historic opportunity to step up the funding for civil legal services through the New York State Office of Court Administration and the pro bono efforts of the legal profession. The new bar applicant pro bono requirement will bring law schools further into pro bono work and create important resources to help combat the increase in the poverty rate and homelessness in New York City. We must take what we have learned from the past fifty years of expanding access to justice for the poor and create smarter and more efficient ways to reach more people. At the City Bar, I pledge our full support for these efforts.


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Italian court clears Knox of murder
An Italian appeals court throws out Amanda Knox's murder conviction, ordering her release after nearly four years in prison for the death of her British roommate. Msnbc's Martin Bashir and NBC's Savannah Guthrie report.Oct.03.2011


Macintosh HDJoint Coordination Centre officials board cargo ship Mehmet Bey as it waits to pass the Bosporus off the shores of Yenikapı during a misty morning in Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 31, 2022. (Reuters File Photo)
Ns News Online Desk: Türkiye is in contact with Russia and Ukraine to address the concerns of both countries regarding the suspension of the grain deal, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Tuesday.
“Yesterday, we had a phone call with (Russian Defense Minister Sergei) Shoigu. They said that they were uncomfortable with the explosions and that it was against the agreement and that they could not allow transportation under these conditions,” Akar told reporters in the Turkish capital Ankara, referring to Russian complaints of an attack on its fleet in Crimea last Saturday, which it cited in its suspension on Saturday.
He continued: “We thought we’d talk to Ukraine. We shared Shoigu’s views and concerns with the Ukrainians.”
Akar said that Shoigu is still in talks with his side, adding: “We are evaluating the facts to see if the arrangement will be extended.”
Akar said that all parties should be sensitive to protecting the deal, adding that Türkiye hopes to see it extended. The minister noted that under the deal, Türkiye welcomed more than 10 million tons of Ukrainian grain exported to the world.
Russia on Saturday announced its suspension of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain export deal.
On July 22, Türkiye, the U.N., Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume Black Sea grain exports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February. A Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) with officials from the three countries and the U.N. was set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.
For its part, Türkiye continues to take necessary initiatives with all parties to solve problems related to the implementation of the deal, which had sent out some 10 million tons of grain since early August, helping to stem a global food crisis.


Married mother-of-one high school teacher, 27, is arrested for having sex with a male student multiple times on and off campus
- Jessica Welch Greene was arrested on Tuesday and charged with three counts of sexual activity with a student
- Authorities say the Davie County High School teacher had sex with a male student on and off the campus between November 1 and December 1
- The age of the male student has not been released
Davie County sheriff's deputies have arrested a teacher and charged her with having sex with a male student.
The sheriff's office told local media outlets Tuesday that 27-year-old Jessica Welch Greene of Mocksville is charged with three counts of sexual activity with a student.
The victim is a boy, but authorities would not disclose how old he is.
According to Facebook, Greene appears to be married and the mother of a young child.
Jessica Welch Greene (pictured) has been arrested for having sex with one of her male students at Davie County High School in North Carolina
According to Facebook, Greene appears to be married and the mother of a young child
Law enforcement say the 27-year-old teacher had sex with the student on and off campus between November 1 and December 1
Deputies say the sex occurred on and off the campus of Davie County High School between November 1 and December 1.
The sheriff's office received a report from the Davie County Schools on December 2 that one of its employees at the high school might be involved in an inappropriate relationship with a student.
The school system said it received the allegations December 1.
Greene has been suspended without pay on Monday. It was not known if she has an attorney.
'The safety of all of our students continues to be a top priority,' the district said in a statement. 'And we will continue to partner with parents, our community, and law enforcement to maintain a safe teaching and learning environment for the students we serve.'
She is currently being held in jail on $15,000.
This is the second teacher in Davie County to be arrested this year for an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Shannon Wood, a former coach and teacher at Ellis Middle School, was arrested in September on charges of a statutory sex offensive with a child under 15, three counts of disseminating material harmful to a minor, one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor and one count of disseminating obscene material to a minor.
She resigned in August and had been at the school since 2007.
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In an Ideas piece, Rosen says in the world of politics, wrath can be a powerful motivator.
Obama is on the warpath over distortions about health care reform, but he’s spreading one of his own.
Efforts by Rep. Jerrold Nadler to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act have suffered a setback.
Republican leaders fire up about 800 activists gathered for the rally outside the Capitol.
Republicans have lined up a strategy to try and steal some of the thunder from Obama's Wed. speech.
For decades, he was a major bogeyman for the right. Not every foe is ready to forgive and forget.
Attack ads are targeting five House Republicans who voted against the energy legislation in June.
In an Ideas piece, Cantor says that the federal debt threatens prosperity.
Since its launch, Eric Cantor's National Council hasn’t held a single public event.
His campaign and his leadership PAC have now paid more than $1 million to lawyers.
Nancy Pelosi is trying to unite her divided caucus around a common enemy — the health insurance industry.
Lawmakers face a challenge on health bill: how to dumb it down so average Americans understand it.
GOP whip protects top lieutenants with huge fund raising event.
She hasn't made an official announcement yet, but Hutchison is already shaking up her campaign team.
The DNC pushes back against Republican charges that Obama's stimulus package has been ineffective.
California woman leading the birthers movement has made fast "friends" with influential Republicans.
In an Ideas piece, Rep. Slaughter says one of Congress's basic functions is to approve the budget.
In an Ideas piece, Cantor says passing bills under an open rule is becoming a thing of the past.
Vice President speaks in in Richmond, Va., hometown of one of the program’s top critics, Eric Cantor.
He's hawking the success of the administration's stimulus plan in Richmond, Va. — home district to Cantor.


“Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t,” said Trustee Ken Checkel during the final budget deliberations at the most recent Clearview Board of Trustees meeting.
Trustees at the time were discussing reserves and what would a prudent manager running a $35.5 million-dollar operation keep on hand for the unexpected.
“On one hand, the government is whining every year about school boards and their reserves”, said Checkel. “They criticize when our reserves are too large, sometimes they claw back reserves. But if you look at the Calgary Public School Board (CSB), they (the government) then criticize that they (CSB) didn’t keep enough money in reserve to handle the situation.”
The situation was created when the provincial government in October 2019 unilaterally pulled millions of dollars back from previously approved school budgets. Staffing had been set, students were in the classroom and programs were underway. Presto, Clearview lost $400,000 overnight, and larger city school boards were slammed with multi-million-dollar, mid-year cuts.
Schools boards are faced not only with unforeseen circumstances such as a leaky roof, but must try and manage reserves to deal with fickle politicians and erratic funding.
It brought to mind another discussion that happened at the Clearview Board meeting on March 18. Trustees who had attended the Rural Education Conference in Edmonton came back gushing about how well they were treated by a huge contingency of United Conservative Party (UCP) cabinet ministers and MLAs. Vice-Chair Neitz threw a little cold water on the love-in by acknowledging in the first year of the Notley government the same thing had happened.
But it was Trustee John Schofer, a non-attendee at the conference, who asked the pertinent question. Did you ask why year-over-year more public money is going to private schools? Chairman Hayden said, yes, and the answer was private schools have growing enrollments. Schofer’s reaction struck me as someone who was in complete disbelief that public school trustees would just accept that answer without push back.
I too pondered Hayden’s response. Private schools are getting more students as public schools receive inconsistent funding and are often used as a punching bag by the UCP government.
Legislation is being changed at mach speed to give charter schools autonomy from school boards—another important step towards a two-tier educational system.
My question, who is fighting for public education?
The issue with private, charter and even Catholic schools is they all have a veto over who can attend—an unfair advantage. Difficult students, students whose first language isn’t English, special needs students, students who practice a different religion, LGBTQs and poor students can be turned away.
The logical next steps will be to eliminate elected trustees, introduce performance funding and establish a voucher system where funding goes with the student. It takes away economies of scale, spreads even thinner scarce financial resources, and creates winners and losers.
Unlike all the other options, public education is the big loser–it’s the system that can’t pick and choose students to enhance their ‘performance’ and grow their funding.
The UCP script about choice is just wrong.
Choice in education isn’t about public, private, charter or home-schooling.
Educational choice is either a strong publicly-funded education system where all children, regardless of differences, can attend; or a two-tier system—one for the privileged and one for the marginalized.
Northern European countries are the model of the former; America and Britain are models of the latter.
Two-tier education always leads to greater societal divides—more elitism, more economic inequality, more tribalization, more racism and more violence—simply because it leaves behind a vast number of marginalized kids ill-prepared to contribute positively to society when they reach adulthood.
B. Schimke, News Journalist


The Washington Times by Andrea Noble - November 17, 2011
On two nights a month apart this year, Takia Johnson drew the attention of D.C. law-enforcement officers, who pulled over her car and took her into custody on charges she was driving under the influence of PCP. But despite the arrests, Ms. Johnson by day continued in her city job — enforcing the laws of the District as a parking officer. During the first incident in February, Ms. Johnson was pulled over for driving erratically, police said. She appeared to be in a drug-induced stupor, according to court records. A charge of driving under the influence from that incident is pending in D.C. Superior Court, but a month after the arrest, she was stopped again while driving and found with two PCP-dipped cigarettes in her car. She pleaded guilty to a possession charge from that incident. The charges are related to a hallucinatory drug formally called Phencyclidine. Users engage in delusional and sometimes violent or behavior, which calls into question whether Ms. Johnson should have been on the job at all after the arrests — and whether her employer, the D.C. government, should have known about them. A spokeswoman for the Department of Public Works, which employed Ms. Johnson, said the agency is investigating the arrests but declined to say whether she remains on duty as a parking enforcement officer. "Once that investigation is concluded, the department will take the appropriate action," DPW spokeswoman Linda Grant said in an email. Attempts to reach Ms. Johnson through the agency, union officials and a lawyer representing her in the open case were unsuccessful. Public employment records indicate that Ms. Johnson, 31, has worked since 2003 as one of about 200 parking enforcement officers with the agency, which enforces D.C. laws related to parking, most notably by writing tickets.
Since 2003, Ms. Johnson has pleaded guilty to three other criminal charges: driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of PCP in the District in 2005, and carrying a concealed handgun in Prince George's County, where she now lives, in 2007. Only certain "safety-sensitive" positions with the D.C. government require random drug testing, and employment can be terminated if an employee tests positive, said Charles Tucker, general counsel for the District's Department of Human Resources. Ms. Grant said parking officers are not among those subjected to random drug testing. The rest of the District's employees are governed by city personnel regulations, which do not specifically prohibit drug use but state that employees should not engage in an interest "which is in violation of federal or District law" or "which might impair an employee's mental or physical capacity to such an extent that he or she can no longer carry out his or her duties and responsibilities." Criminal defense lawyer David Benowitz, who has no connection to the case, said Ms. Johnson's prior guilty pleas raise difficult questions for the agency to answer. "It certainly doesn't speak well to the credibility of any tickets she has written," he said. According to court documents from the two arrests this year, Ms. Johnson was stopped by the same pair of police officers in the same Northeast block after the officers noticed a moving Dodge Charger without its headlights activated. In the Feb. 1 incident, officers watched the Dodge make an illegal U-turn in the 6000 block of Clay Street Northeast, then drive at about 2 mph for a block. When they pulled over Ms. Johnson, she was "staring blankly forward" and "only able to repeat the word 'yes ... yes ... yes,' " say state charging documents filed in D.C. Superior Court. She later told officers that she had smoked a cigarette dipped in PCP about 15 minutes before she was pulled over. During the March 1 arrest, the same officers saw the Dodge going east on Clay Street with its headlights dark and pulled over the vehicle. When they approached the car, the officers noted a strong chemical smell that they suspected was PCP, which prompted them to search the car, charging documents state. Two cups of alcohol and two cigarettes dipped in PCP were found inside the car. Ms. Johnson and a passenger bickered over who owned the PCP-laced cigarettes, but the officers charged both with possession. In July, Ms. Johnson pleaded guilty to the possession charge and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation. A non-jury trial is scheduled in January on the DUI charge.
The police Tridico was a lying, crooked, son of a gun. Who makes the whole US MPD looks bad! Officer Tridico was his name. How can a person drive two miles per hour? Tridico had originally charged her with an alcohol charge. That wasnt going to stick. Ther was two different officers called on the scene who gave her a sobriety test. According to the Officers who gave it to her she past. They told her it would be up to the arresting officer (Tridico). That was her first arrest. Her second arrest, Tridico got his partner who rode with him to arrest her. Because Tridico wasnt confident in the first arrest, because the arrest was a big fat lie! The whole entire police report was falsafied. So, being the criminal devil he is, he drove around in her area ever chance he got to find her again until he locked her up. The second time he arrested her, she was NOT in her car, she was standing outside talking to the other person who was arrested also. And that person had the drugs ON THEM. Tridico did not care, he had one agenda and that was to charge her too. Why was she though? I can tell you, because he needed something to stick. Again, Tridico is crooked. Ms. Johnson never stood a chance, because of her PAST criminal history. She knew that, and its extremely hard to battle the Police in a trail and win. Even though, you know your innocent 9 times out of 10 a Judge will verdit in the Officers/Government favor. If this officer still has a job with law inforcement he sure dont deserve it! Tridico, is dishonset, and he is a criminal due to all the corruptness he does. Why does the Gov. allow harrassing, dishonest, corruptive person like Tridico to represent the DMV? It really makes them look not credible or reliable to the people of the community. I believe Tridico will get what he has coming to him.
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All articles by: Leonora Aliu
The woman shaping Kosovo’s future soldiers
Meet Irfete Spahiu, the first woman General in the Kosovo Security Force
The verdict that failed to reveal the Assembly’s attackers
Basic Court decision quashed due to lack of evidence in terrorism case.
A murder as a turning point
Ivanović assassination: Fear, threats and insecurity ignored in the north.
“The Snake” raises its head for the Special Court
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci blames the international community for his own political failures.
Being part of a state that does not treat you as such
Institutional marginalization of children with disabilities in the education sector.
Ramush Haradinaj takes up the role of Prime Minister
Extraordinary session held after the constitution of the Haradinaj government.
Kosovo’s Assembly finally chooses its president
Establishing new institutions unblocked by late night agreements.
Kosovo’s Interpol membership is far from assured
As UN General Assembly vote approaches, does Kosovo have the support?
Fears of a repeat of 2010
Lack of time and pre-election coalitions mean monitors are warning of misconduct on election day.
Sali Mekaj’s indictment up for review
Appeals court allows its former head to object to his indictment
French court refuses to extradite Ramush Haradinaj to Serbia
Former KLA commander free to return to Kosovo.
Drita Hajdari: Without cooperation with Serbia, it is impossible [...]
Special prosecutor discusses the challenges of prosecuting war crimes when the majority of suspects are unobtainable to state institutions.
Kosovo’s army’s uncertain path
Hashim Thaci’s game is more likely to trigger elections in Kosovo than to transform KSF into Kosovo’s army this year.
The deserter prosecuted for war crimes
The story of Sinan Morina, extradited to Serbia on war crimes charges.
Kosovo takes new steps towards establishing its army
President Thaci bypasses Constitution to push progress.
Appeals underway for Kosovars on Interpol list
Haradinaj one of 20 appeals submitted to Interpol in December 2016.
Surveillance included as evidence against Vetvendosje activists
Initial blows traded in tense court session.
Questions remain over Thaci’s role in train stop
President may have acted unconstitutionally if he issued order to Kosovo Police.
France delays decision on Haradinaj extradition request
Former KLA commander remanded on bail while all evidence considered.
Equal education, only on paper
Kosovar girls not being provided skills for equal labor force participation.
International investigation into Dehari case legally unlikely
Legal avenues limited for implementing petition's key demand.
Could Fatmir Limaj be handed to the special court for war crimes?
NISMA boss already indicted for war crimes in Kosovo.


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Mon July 15, 2013
Seeing more $2 bills lately? Could be because of a campaign by marijuana advocates
Last Wednesday, medical marijuana groups started a campaign that they hope will shed light on the economic impact of the marijuana industry.
They want supporters of medical marijuana and cannabis legalization to spend at least one $2 for every cash purchase.
Organizers hope that placing more $2 bills in circulation will show the economic impact of medical marijuana.
And the economic impact is more sizeable than one would think. According to Bill Laitner at the Detroit Free Press, there are 130,000 registered medical marijuana users in Michigan.
Laitner’s report highlighted statistics about the economic impact of marijuana usage according to the RAND Corp. think tank:
According to a study released this year by several researchers, including one from the prestigious RAND Corp. think tank in Santa Monica, Calif., Americans who use marijuana — both legally and illegally — spend about $30 billion per year just on the drug itself.
“Michigan has slightly over 3% of the U.S. population, so that should mean that Michigan’s marijuana users currently spend about $945 million a year on marijuana,” said Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Marijuana Policy Project.
Harvard researcher Jeffrey Miron found that in 2008 dollars, Michigan could see about $96 million in tax revenue from taxing and regulating marijuana, according to O’Keefe, a native of Grosse Pointe Farms.
- Julia Field, Michigan Radio Newsroom
Marijuana in Michigan


WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders have decided to withdraw part of a massive federal spending bill set for a vote later this week after an uproar over whether members of Congress might see their first pay raise in a decade.
The bill as filed would restore a cost-of-living increase that was suspended amid a recession-battered economy. But lawmakers in both parties, sensitive to the optics of voting to raise their own pay from $174,000, publicly erupted over the issue.
“We are delaying consideration of the legislative branch appropriations bill while we continue to discuss the issue of the cost-of-living adjustment,” said Mariel Saez, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland.
Other portions of the bill, including funding for the military and for health and human services programs, will move forward.
The move is a setback for Hoyer, who advocated restoring the automatic increase, arguing that a rising cost of living in Washington has strained the finances of lawmakers, especially those who are not independently wealthy.
The issue was hotly debated in a House leadership meeting Monday night, aides said, with Hoyer arguing to push forward with the bill while others said the move was politically unwise.
The issue could be revisited in another spending bill later this month, the senior aide said.
Among those most vocally opposing the pay hike were scores of Democratic freshmen. Several sponsored or co-sponsored floor amendments to ensure that lawmakers would not see a raise.
Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, said Monday that lawmakers were prepared to vote against the overall bill, funding scores of federal agencies, if the pay hike were included.
“Whether you want to call it a COLA [cost-of-living adjustment], whether you want to call it a pay increase, whatever it is, that’s not something Congress should be focusing on right now,” he said. “We have other things we gotta work on.”
Aside from Hoyer, the biggest proponent of the pay raise has been a newcomer: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, the 29-year-old rising liberal star who has made income inequality a key issue.
After Hoyer pulled the pay-raise issue Monday evening, Ocasio-Cortez said she understood the optics but called it “shortsighted” because the frozen-salary structure on Capitol Hill created too many incentives for members and staffers to leave for greener pastures at lobbying firms.
“It may not be politically popular to say but honestly this is why there’s so much pressure to turn to lobbying firms and to cash in on members’ service after people leave,” she said.
Monday’s blowup followed private bipartisan discussions about trying to minimize the political blowback from a congressional pay hike, with Democratic and Republican leaders quietly agreeing to hold their fire to help out their rank-and-file members. Some leaders have also argued that it is a staff retention measure, because salaries for congressional aides cannot exceed those of lawmakers.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, declined to comment Monday on Democrats’ decision to pull the legislative-branch funding bill but defended the need for a pay increase.
“There hasn’t been a COLA in 10 years,” he said. “I think all federal employees should be treated equally.”
Lawmakers passed a 1.9 percent across-the-board pay raise for federal workers, not including members of Congress, earlier this year. The cost-of-living adjustment, if adopted, would’ve add about $4,500 to lawmakers’ yearly paychecks — roughly a 2.6 percent raise.
Washington Post writer Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.


Many valuable scientific research samples are stored in ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, each of which consumes as much energy as a single family home. With approximately 1000 ULTs on campus, cold storage continues to be a major target for Green Labs energy conservation efforts.
Building on past pilot studies, this year’s Chill Up Challenge encouraged researchers to adjust the temperature of ULT freezers. An increase of 10oC reduces equipment energy consumption by 20 per cent on average. This action is safe for many research sample types, increases freezer lifespans and contributes to equipment cost savings and waste reduction.
An impressive 58% of Michael Smith Laboratory researchers now have freezers set to the energy saving temperature. The department is saving 38,000kWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the consumption of 100 home chest freezers.


For all the Transformers fans out there, I have great news for you guys. Come March 2012, Singapore will have her first ever Transformers Cybertron Convention at Resorts World Convention Centre in Resort World Sentosa. There is no doubt that this is going to be big and all of you TF fans out there better make yourself available for this party. And the best part is. we will be the first country in Southeast Asia to have this event!
Name of Event: Resorts World Sentosa Singapore TRANSFORMERS Cybertron
Venue: Compass Ballroom at Resorts World Convention Centre in
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Date: 11 – 14 March 2012
Timing: 11 – 13 March (11am – 9pm), 14 March (10am – 6pm)
"HASBRO SINGAPORE AND RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA SINGAPORE TO HOST FIRST EVER TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON CON IN SOUTHEAST ASIA"
TRANSFORMERS mania is expected to hit a new high in Singapore and the region, with renowned branded play company, Hasbro (Singapore), and Singapore‟s first integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa („RWS‟), jointly announcing that the RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA SINGAPORE TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON CON 2012 („Cybertron Con‟) will be coming to Singapore this year, a first for Southeast Asia.
Held at the Resorts World Convention Centre from 11 to 14 March 2012, TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con will be a TRANSFORMERS brand extravaganza for fans, with different exhibits and activities that promise to bring smiles from the neophytes to even the most avid TRANSFORMERS collectors and hobbyists.
Appearing at the convention will be Mr. Hideaki Yoke, who has built up a substantial fan following in his role as the lead designer of TRANSFORMERS figures in Takara Tomy.
“Following the TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con‟s successful inaugural convention in Shanghai in 2010, Hasbro Singapore is thrilled to share the hugely popular TRANSFORMERS brand with fans in Singapore and around the region. With the recent launch of TRANSFORMERS The Ride, and TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon becoming the fourth highest grossing movie of all time at the global box office, it is a fantastic opportunity to bring this tremendous TRANSFORMERS event to Resorts World Sentosa, a destination resort that is very popular with tourists from the region” said Mr. Harland Chun, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific, Hasbro Singapore.
“The TRANSFORMERS brand continues to be a pop culture phenomenon with millions of fans all over the world. As such, we‟re excited to welcome tens of thousands of fans to this unprecedented convention to celebrate the stories, characters, art, action figures and entertainment surrounding the popular property. TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con is about celebrating the love of the TRANSFORMERS brand with lifelong fans and new fans alike,” he added.
Together, RWS and Hasbro (Singapore) will help bring the global TRANSFORMERS phenomenon to fans in the region, and inject vibrancy into the tourism sector as the integrated resort continues to bring in world-class attractions and events.
Said Mr. Dennis Gilbert, Senior Vice President of Attractions, Resorts World Sentosa: “We have had a tremendous run since the launch of TRANSFORMERS The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore. Bringing TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con to Resorts World Sentosa is a natural step to take, considering the strong following of this global TRANSFORMERS phenomenon in Asia. We believe that the combination of the convention and the ride will complete the experience for any TRANSFORMERS fan.”
Paying tribute to the popular entertainment brand that has taken the world by storm through its animated TV series, comic book and movie franchise, the convention will feature an extensive display of TRANSFORMERS toys; cartoon animation and video games! The event will also highlight previously unreleased artwork, as well as workshops for aspiring designers.
To showcase the history of the brand, Hasbro will present an extensive collection of historical TRANSFORMERS items from throughout the brand‟s 27 year history via a visually stunning exhibit. The exhibit will take fans through the chronological progression of the TRANSFORMERS brand, beginning with the classic „Generation 1‟ era. As fans proceed through, they will be able to view extensive artwork and information about characters and stories from different eras of the brand from ‘Beast Wars’ to the most recent entertainment blockbuster movie and current ‘Transformers Prime’ animated series produced by Hasbro Studios.
Other than the historical retrospective, TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con will feature a wide variety of displays, interactive experiences and special events. TRANSFORMERS brand leaders and designers will also be in attendance to meet with fans and attend special events and panel discussions.
Other special events and exhibits will include:
Panel Sessions with special guest, Mr. Hideaki Yoke and TRANSFORMERS brand experts from Hasbro;
A 22-foot tall OPTIMUS PRIME character statue, one of the largest TRANSFORMERS statues ever;
TRANSFORMERS drawing classes by top Hasbro artists (at select times);
Three-dimensional action figure dioramas capturing scenes from popular TRANSFORMERS entertainment including the blockbuster movies
National „Fastest Fingers First‟ Challenge, testing convention goers‟ skills at converting TRANSFORMERS action figures from “robot” to “vehicle” modes.
Convention-goers can also expect to receive limited edition 2012 TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con souvenirs while supplies last, and see premium TRANSFORMERS collectibles. Hasbro will also display the latest line of TRANSFORMERS toys and products which will be available for purchase during the convention.
Fans who wish to attend 2012 TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con are encouraged to reserve their packages and tickets fast through the Resorts World Sentosa website at www.rwsentosa.com, ticketing booths located at Universal Studios Singapore, RWS Ticket and Membership Hub, via hotline +65 6577 8888, Ticket sales begin from 3rd February 2012.
More information will be released closer to date. In the meantime, for more on 2012 TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con, please visit www.cybertroncon.com. Fans can also receive updates and take part in contests to receive exclusive prizes by joining the 2012 TRANSFORMERS Cybertron Con Facebook page at www.facebook.com/transformerssingapore.