Schlagwort: National Council of Jewish Women
Kenneth L. Marcus’ Oxymoron: Trump and Civil Rights
Von Dr. Clemens Heni, 12. März 2018
The Times of Israel (Blogs)
Fighting for civil rights and working for Donald Trump is an oxymoron. Activist Kenneth L. Marcus was nominated as assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education. A first committee hearing took place on December 5, 2017 with a result of 12 to 11 in his favor, and finally the full Senate will vote. Given the GOP majority he will be confirmed.
I know Ken Marcus personally, ever since he gave a talk when I was at Yale in 2008/09. He regularly appears at international conferences on antisemitism, be it in London, Jerusalem or New York City. He is a smart person and I always thought of him as a mainstream guy, who analyzes various forms of today’s antisemitism in order to fight them. His main field is defending Israel, which is important and makes good sense. However, I failed to realize some important things.
It was instructive for me to follow his nomination becoming a major topic in public discourse in the US, including articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA). The JTA reported on January 19, 2018:
“Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the committee, focused almost entirely on Marcus’ support of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ rollback of Obama administration guidelines that emphasize the rights of alleged victims in campus sexual assault cases.
Marcus, who served in similar civil rights positions in the George W. Bush administration, also has opposed affirmative action and resisted pursuing bias cases without evidence that there is intent behind the bias. He has also opposed equities for LGBTQ Americans, but told the committee that his views in that area had ‘evolved’.”
The crucial failure of Kenneth Marcus, who mentioned his wife and family being with him at the hearing, is the following:
“Murray asked Marcus to ‘name a single example of something President Trump has said or done when it comes to discrimination or women’s rights or civil rights you disagree with.’ Marcus could not, which in the current political environment would doom any candidate from accruing substantive Democratic support.”
Donald Trump abused women and proudly told other men that a celebrity such as he is, can “grab her by the pussy.” What would Marcus say if one of these abused women was his wife or his neighbor?
Trump ridiculed journalist Serge Kovalevsky from the New York Times, he ridiculed a handicapped person. That was the moment that broke the heart of actress Meryl Streep, as she said at the Golden Globe in January 2017.
Then, after a neo-Nazi had killed an antifascist counter-protester in Charlottesville and hundreds of neo-Nazis screamed “Jews will not replace us,” the US President said that there were “very fine people” among those neo-Nazis.
Trump called Mexican immigrants “criminals and rapists,” aiming at an undefined group of people from Latin and South America and he wanted to ban all Muslims from entering the US.
These are all topics of women’s and civil rights abuse in the US by Trump before and after his election.
Again, listen to Senator Murray’s question and read the answer by Kenneth Marcus:
This disqualifies Marcus from every single post dealing with civil rights and women’s rights. He takes side with a sexist criminal, plain and simple.
That is of course nothing unusual in our world. Many men have no problem with sexism, the abuse of women in particular; take the #metoo campaign as an example. But a high-profile politician in a department dealing with civil rights should or; must know much better.
Many nation-wide civil rights groups and umbrella organizations have objected to the nomination of Marcus. This holds for the biggest Hispanic civil rights organization, the UnidosUS:
“UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) and the National Urban League joined today in opposing the nomination of Kenneth L. Marcus as the next Assistant Secretary for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education. The groups noted his troubling record with regard to enforcing the rights of immigrant students and English learners, and past attempts to undermine critical policies aimed at remedying racial discrimination, including affirmative action.
Marcus’ nomination had been met with opposition from a broad range of civil rights groups who have raised concerns about the nominee’s hostility to affirmative action and other equal opportunity initiatives. Marcus did nothing to assuage those concerns during a recent nomination hearing where he failed to commit his office to enforcing the law on a number of civil rights issues in which the OCR has played a pivotal enforcement role in the past.”
The defense of Marcus by groups such as Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), StandWithUs, the Algemeiner or the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and many other Christian and Jewish groups is frankly ridiculous as they insinuate that opposition to his nomination is based on anti-Israel bias. There might be a very few groups that oppose Marcus because of his take on anti-Zionist antisemitism, like the Arab American Institute (although they do not reject Zionism and the Jewish state as such in their long statement, only “policies of Israel”). The main opponents of Marcus, though, have an issue with his analysis and policies regarding racism and sexism.
The biggest and best-known Jewish civil rights organization, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) does not come out in support of Marcus. That speaks volumes.
Then, take a leading pro-Israel Senator such as Elizabeth Warren – she did not even address the topic of Israel or BDS, as Marcus’ positions in that respect are not controversial at all to her. However, she rejects him for this job, because he fails to send a clear civil rights message when it comes to racism, for example, according to the Washington Post:
„Here’s another exchange between Warren and Marcus:
WARREN: Mr. Marcus, if confirmed, you would be responsible for protecting the civil rights of American students at a time when Nazis and white supremacists are marching across college campuses with tiki torches, and many young people are literally afraid to go to school because of the hateful climate that has been fostered by Donald Trump. If confirmed, will you commit to fully enforcing civil rights laws and protecting all students from discrimination and harassment?
MARCUS: Yes.
WARREN: Good. So, I just want to find out a little more detail about what that commitment means to you, and I thought we might go through a few fact situations. So, let’s start with an easy one. Say there’s a school district that has some mostly white schools and some mostly black schools, and let’s say that the mostly black schools have less experienced teachers, teachers with fewer qualifications, those schools have fewer books, they have fewer computers in the library, fewer AP courses available. By any objective measure, those schools have clearly been shortchanged. If confirmed, would your office step in to protect the civil rights of that district’s black students?
MARCUS: If I were confirmed, I would ensure that any complaints alleging violation of Title VI would be — would be reviewed.
WARREN: Mr. Marcus, I don’t want to start a dance here. This is a set of facts that come to you in your position, if you are confirmed, and my question is are those facts adequate? Will you step in to protect the civil rights of the district’s black students?
MARCUS: Senator, I would certainly hope to be able to provide protection for the civil rights of those black students to the extent possible under law, but what . . .
WARREN: But, that’s the question I’m asking how you see this. You’re allowed to answer hypotheticals, here, so this one should be easy. A yes or a no, would you step in on those facts, or not?
MARCUS: I appreciate that, senator, but unfortunately in my experience the cases that OCR deals with are much more complicated than hypotheticals.
WARREN: So, you don’t think that’s enough evidence, what I’ve just said?
MARCUS: I think I would need to look at it very carefully.
After questioning him, Warren said: “I don’t think we need someone in this position whose view of civil rights enforcement is to do as little as possible to protect as few students as possible. I think that would be bad for students overall, and with Betsy DeVos as secretary of education, I think it would be even worse.”
A leading pro-Israel group, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), which is part of the Leadership Conference, a major umbrella organization of civil rights groups in the US, also rejects the nomination of Marcus. Why?
“Hillel would not address Marcus’ views on federal policy and sexual harassment. Marcus endorses the decision by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to remove the Obama-era guidelines that advocates said made it easier for victims to level sexual assault charges on campus. The guidelines discouraged universities from allowing an alleged assaulter to directly cross-examine his accuser, and discouraged what until then was the common practice of requiring that the accused and the accuser first attempt to resolve the issue face to face or through mediation.
As leverage, the Obama administration made the rules under Title IX, a law that prohibits federal funding for schools that allow discrimination against women.
Feminists said that before the Obama guidelines, the process revictimized assault victims. DeVos has said that Obama’s rules instead made victims of the accused.
That was the nomination killer for the NCJW, said Faith Williams, the group’s senior legislative associate.
“In light of growing number of #MeToo moments and the scandal at Michigan State University, we need these Title IX protections,” she said, referring to the explosion of sexual assault allegations by women and the recent conviction of a sports therapist at the university who was accused of assaulting nearly 200 women in his care.
Also opposing the Marcus nomination is Jewish Women International, which has developed programs in partnership with Jewish fraternities and sororities to counter sexual assault on campus.
“We are deeply concerned by the answers given during his confirmation hearing last week supporting Secretary DeVos’ rescission of important guidance clarifying the responsibilities of colleges and universities in cases of sexual assault,” Jewish Women International said in a statement last month.
In my view, and I think I am not alone, Kenneth L. Marcus’ stance helps to delegitimize the entire pro-Israel camp, a camp he stands pars pro toto, as he has a blind eye concerning the civil rights abuses by Donald Trump. In addition he seems to be supporting very dangerous policies by DeVos, downplaying if not affirming sexist and racist policies by the current Trump administration.
Most people who will gather, again, at the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism, organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry (including Netanyahu himself), March 19–21, 2018, will enjoy handshakes and have drinks, celebrating themselves as the elite of true fighters against antisemitism. Real heroes.
I myself participated in that conference in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2015. No longer. In a time when major participant organizations of the conference including the AJC, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Zionist Organization of America (see Bret Stephens’ attack in the New York Times on the ZOA’s invitation to fascist antisemite Steve Bannon) embrace a sexist, racist and Holocaust distorting president, that kind of conference is a joke, a self-congratulatory farce. As long as women, Hispanics, the handicapped, Muslims and the Dreamers behold the reluctance of a leading pro-Israel activist to genuinely support their civil rights, even while he is being considered for a high civil rights position, in the midst of his loving embrace of Trumpism, the pro-Israel camp is in deep trouble.
Zionism and Israel deserve better!
©ClemensHeni


The First Concours d’Elegance Wynn Las Vegas Shows Why It Could Take on Pebble Beach
With support from partner Rolls-Royce, other leading marques and collectors alike, the resort aims to soon be on par with the biggest players in car culture.
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Like a struggling sports franchise that lands a coach who truly believes in its full potential, a fledgling car show in Sin City has found its catalyst to greatness by teaming with one of the regions most renowned hotels. The result is the Concours d’Elegance Wynn Las Vegas, which debuted on Saturday, October 29. For anyone in attendance, it was clear that there was now another player that could eventually compete with the likes of Pebble Beach as an annual epicenter for car culture.
“You’re very fortunate, because the crowd will never be this small again,” said Grand Marshall Jay Leno to those assembled at the entrance moments prior to sparklers and streamers commencing the contest. “This is a world-class event at a world-class resort, I mean, this is doing it right. Hey, it’s Vegas—you’re not going to get this at the Walmart Cars & Coffee.”
Jay Leno fires up the automotive festivities. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
Gracing the final fairways of the Wynn Golf Club, 230 show vehicles were grouped in 15 classes, from Antiques thru 1924 to Supercars: 1967-2012. Also in the mix were various prewar and postwar sports car and racing categories, a division devoted to important Japanese cars and classes specific to Cadillac, Corvette and Shelby variants.
“With Shelby being in Las Vegas, it’s great having something like this in our backyard—we were excited to participate this year,” says Aaron Shelby, grandson to the late automotive icon Carroll Shelby. “It’s fun to see the Cobras and 427s, but it’s also really neat to see some of the unique cars that have come out,” says Shelby of the mobile history that wears his family’s name. Among them was a 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra that was made even more significant by the fact that it was both the final example built and was owned by Carroll himself.
Aaron Shelby stands next to a 2022 Shelby Super Snake Sport. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
Also catching the eye was a 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 owned by Marvin and Shelley Smith. “This is the street Cobra, it hasn’t been fettered or fussed with,” says Marvin. “It’s numbers-matching and didn’t have an accident, so that was the big deal for me . . .. and I do drive it.”
Motorsport was well represented in an all-encompassing racing segment that focused on cars campaigned from the early 1960s to 1990s, such as Bill Pope’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” featuring a mere 81-pound spaceframe chassis and the distinction that only two more examples were made after it. Then there was Tony Hart’s 1966 Lola T70, a Can Am racer in period and a winning concours car, named best in class at the Quail in 2018 and taking third in class at the Wynn.
Bill Pope’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” race car. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
Two outliers in the aforementioned field were stunning continuation cars from Jaguar Classic, a 1953 Jaguar C-Type—the first example of the C-Type to be built by the automaker in nearly 70 years—and a 1955 Jaguar D-Type. These period-correct clones, owned by local resident Joel Laub, resurrect a true automotive power couple as both bygone models were responsible for five overall victories at the 24 hours of Le Mans from 1951 through 1957.
“I owned an original C-Type and D-Type, which I raced, rallied and subsequently sold,” says Laub. “These cars are probably higher quality because they [Jaguar] had more time to build them,” says Laub when asked how the new doppelgängers compare. “Back then, they had to rush the cars to get them ready to race.” Pointing to the redux D-Type, Laub adds, “you can drive this one from here to New York.”
Joel Laub’s continuation-car examples of the Jaguar D-Type (left) and C-Type from Jaguar Classic. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
Not to be left out, Leno drew from his own renowned collection to bring a 1968 Bronco originally “gifted” to him in disrepair as a gag from fellow entertainer and late-night host Craig Ferguson. For Leno, restoration also meant giving it an engine from a Shelby GT500. “It’s got a short wheelbase and 800 hp—it’s the more-money-than-brains club” Leno told attendees. “I’m glad I didn’t have this when I was 16, because I would be dead now.”
As diverse as the field was, the team of judges used the same overarching criteria in evaluating cars across categories. “In any class, we look for originality and preservation,” chief judge Gary Bobileff told Robb Report. “The whole objective is to preserve the car when it comes to the shape, the body, what it should represent.”
Jay Leno’s 1968 Ford Bronco makes roughly 800 hp thanks to the engine from a Shelby GT500. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
The owner of eponymous restoration house Bobileff Motorcar Company, the veteran judge cites his own work on concours-quality vehicles as an example. “For a lot of the Italian cars—Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati—you can’t buy original exhaust systems, so you put on stainless-steel systems that last forever; the mild-steel ones rot out in no time. But the stainless ones sound completely different and take away half the fun of the car. We make an exact duplicate of the original exhaust systems that are guaranteed to rust out in 10 years, but that’s part of it. You try to keep everything the same, you don’t improve it.”
At the end of the day, a 1933 Duesenberg “20 Grand” and a 1951 Delahaye 235 epitomized these qualities to the judges, who named each Best of Show for the Prewar and Postwar classes, respectively. The Duesenberg “20 Grand,” named for its asking price so egregiously out of touch for the time, was the exact one presented at the Chicago World’s Fair that year and is now in the Nethercutt Collection. Peter and Merle Mullin’s Delahaye roadster, on the other hand, seems more in tune with its era of optimism and glamour—the automotive manifestation of Hollywood’s golden age.
A 1933 Duesenberg “20 Grand” (left) and a 1951 Delahaye 235 were named Best of Show for the Prewar and Postwar classes, respectively. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
Complementing the competitors, an exhibition of the industry’s latest and greatest included hypercars from Bugatti, Czinger and Koenigsegg, the current line of supercars from McLaren and luxury models from Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Of that impressive roll call, perhaps Rolls-Royce looked most at home on the grounds of the Wynn due to a collaboration that dates back decades between the legacy automaker and the hospitality provider who happens to be one of its biggest customers. Currently, there are 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms that comprise Wynn’s combined fleet between resorts in Macau and Las Vegas, the latter having 10 with another five soon to be delivered.
Four examples of the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II accent the entrance of the Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
The model’s presence was also prominent on the show lawn. “We are using this opportunity to showcase the Phantom Series II,” says Martin Fritsches, president and CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas. Of the Goodwood-based marque’s relationship with the hotelier, Fritsches says, “It started out as a partnership but turned into a friendship, and it is simply growing.” When asked whether the recently debuted Spectre, the brand’s first foray into electrification, could be expected at the concours next year, Fritsches was confident if noncommittal, saying only that “the chances are very, very high.”
A 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II adds gravitas and glamour to the exhibition lawn. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
The weekend culminated with Sunday morning’s Tour d’Elegance that had many of the entrants cruising the Las Vegas Strip with police escort and Leno leading the pack. Surprisingly, there were more than a few spectators on hand despite the relatively early start in a town synonymous with 24-hour night life. But then support has been shown throughout the process of bringing this concours to fruition.
The Wynn’s Tour d’Elegance, a winning roll on the Las Vegas Strip. Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
“We just started working on this six months ago and we’ve had so much help from the exhibitors and museums, it couldn’t be a more supportive community and we’re humbled by that,” says Brian Gullbrants, president of Wynn Las Vegas. “Everyone is telling us we have the opportunity to evolve this into something quite mightier. We are forming an advisory committee because we want experts in the industry guiding us to make sure this is the ultimate automotive show on the planet.”
That same goal drives Stuart Sobek, founder and chairman of the event. “The partnership with Wynn and this Concours d’Elegance is a magical thing to come together,” says Sobek, who marvels at how the feat was pulled off so well in such a truncated timeframe. “We now have a full year to do the next show, and it’s going to be stellar.”
Sobek, Gullbrants and a Wynn team that’s 12,000 strong are certainly on track, considering that the 2023 edition is scheduled the week before the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Cars, it seems, have become the city’s new vehicle for tourism—as if it needed one.
Click here for more photos from the 2022 Concours d’Elegance Wynn Las Vegas.
The Best of Show winners from the 2022 Concours d’Elegance Wynn Las Vegas.
Concours d'Elegance Wynn Las Vegas
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Story of St. Thenaw, the Mother of St. Mungo
ST. Thenaw, or Tennoch (latterly corrupted into Enoch), is said to have been a believer in the Christian faith, but not baptised until after the birth of her famous son. Her earnest longing is said to have been to preserve her virginity, and to dedicate her life to the service of the Church, but her semi-Pagan father insisted on her marrying the Prince of Strathclyde.
Much obscurity rests on the early part of her history; but she seems to have incurred her father’s dire displeasure, and to have fled, or been driven, from his court. She returned to it, and her enraged parent is stated to have ordered her to be stoned to death. As the courtiers, or servants, did not wish to lift a stone against the daughter of the king, they placed her in a two-wheeled cart, and hurled it over a precipice, in order that she might be dashed to death against the stones beneath; but the cart, so says the story, descended with "a gently gliding motion to the ground," and she escaped unhurt, to the great joy of many.
St. Enoch’s Church, Square, and Burn, instead of being named after, and dedicated to the antediluvian patriarch, as many suppose, were, without doubt, so named in honour of the mother of St. Mungo.
It is also on record that the original name of Trongate was "St. Thenaw’s Gate."


Mike Pence is known as a former U.S. congressman and governor of Indiana. He is most famous for becoming the vice president of the United States with President Donald Trump in 2016.
Related Biography: Jared Dudley
Background and Age
Michael Richard Pence was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana. One of six children of Nancy and Edward Pence, a U.S. Armed force veteran who operated a series of service stations, Mike Pence was politically impacted by the Irish Catholic leanings of his family. He grew up loving former President John F. Kennedy, and volunteered for the Bartholomew County Democratic Party as an understudy at Columbus North High School.
Career and Net Worth
On November 8, 2016, Pence was chosen VP of the United States when Donald Trump won the presidential race, overcoming Democratic competitor Hillary Clinton. The staggering Trump-Pence triumph was viewed as a reverberating dismissal of foundation legislative issues by working class Americans.
In the early hours of the next morning after the race had wrapped up, Pence talked at the campaign's triumph party at the Hilton Hotel in New York City. He told the crowd it was a noteworthy night and a memorable time. He was proud to say that American individuals have spoken and the American citizens have chosen their new victor.
Inside the Trump organization, Vice President Mike Pence is known as a port of quiet and calmness in the midst of the stir of mayhem. So in July 2019, when he suddenly relinquished an arranged trip to New Hampshire after he had just boarded Air Force Two at Joint Base Andrews in rural Maryland, it brought up questions.
It is uncommon that something makes a VP forsake an advanced outing once on board a plane. Mr. Pence's assistants said that there was no national security crisis or individual medical problem that prompted the change. They said that he had loaded onto the plane however that it never took off. They would not say much else about the issue. Some assume that it had to with President's upcoming military parade to celebrate the 4th of July.
Marriage, Wife and Kids
Pence has been married to spouse Karen since 1985. A former grade teacher, Karen has been included with youth-related nonprofit associations. The couple has three children together. Their names are Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. Unlike President Trump, Pence has kept his children out of the spotlight. With a better grasp of how the public spotlight can harm his children, he has done all that he can to protect them from the negative backlash of the American public.
FAQ: How old is Mike Pence?
FAQ: What is Mike Pence networth in 2020?
Also Read: Jeff Green
Birth Date: 7 Jun, 1959
Occupations: Politician
Citizenship: United States of America
Birth Place: Columbus
Description: 48th Vice President of the United States
Spouse: Karen Pence [M. 1985]
Net Worth 2021: 1 million
Last Modified: Nov 3 2020


John Philip Mathews 1931-2020
John Philip Mathews, age 89, of Faribault, died Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis.
John Philip Mathews
Private family services will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Faribault, at a later date. The Reverend Jeff Sandgren will officiate.
Arrangements are being completed by the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault.
John Philip, the son of John William and Alma (Throne) Mathews, was born on September 28, 1931 in Albert Lea. He was the third of seven children. In September of 1937, John was enrolled at the Minnesota School for the Deaf, and he graduated in 1950. After graduation, John began working for the Austin Daily Herald as a printer. It was during that time that his deaf co-worker, Sol Schwartzman, encouraged John to enroll at Gallaudet College. The encouragement to do so changed the trajectory of John’s life. He graduated from Gallaudet College in 1958 with degrees in PE and teaching. He worked for the Ohio School for the Deaf from 1958 – 1961. A Physical Education teacher and coach position opened up at his alma mater in 1961. During this time, he courted his college sweetheart, Paula Ball, as she was teaching Home Economics at the South Dakota School for the Deaf. He won her heart, and they were married in June of 1962. From the union, three children were born. While working as the PE teacher and coach for the Minnesota School for the Deaf, John moved into the printing and graphic arts teaching position so that he could be home more with his young family. John retired from MSD/MSAD in June of 1992. He and Paula were sponsors for MSD Class of 1975, he was a #1 fan at MSAD and his grandchildren’s sporting events. As John aged, he came to take over Maurice Potter’s seat of honor in Lauritsen gym.
Throughout his life, John was very involved with the deaf community. John was a founding member of the MSAD Alumni Association and its Hall of Fame in 1992, one of several authors of MSAD Sesquicentennial History Book in 2013, inducted into the MSAD Alumni Hall of Fame at MSAD’s 150th Anniversary Banquet in 2013, and he was a field agent for the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf for many years, treasurer of Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens for many years, Minnesota delegate to N.A.D. Convention for a number of years, Miss Deaf America Pageant treasurer during Doug Bahl’s term as pageant chairperson, Faribault Emergency Response Committee as representative for the deaf community, field representative for Harris Communication and he was a founding member of the Minnesota Chapter of Gallaudet University Alumni Association which was the first in the country.
John enjoyed golfing and participating in MDGA tournaments. John and Paula often traveled with Buddy and Bernice Singleton and various deaf travel groups. He loved to put together puzzles and he framed nearly every single puzzle he ever met! A favorite puzzle was the 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle of Neuschwanstein Castle. He also enjoyed O’Hell and poker card clubs.
Survivors include his daughters Deb (and Paul) Kasper of Faribault and Amy (and Jeff) Amundsen of Faribault; grandchildren, Brynn (and Kyle Statsman), Noah (and Faith), Emilee and Jack; siblings, Ron of Albert Lea and Karen of Mamaroneck, NY.
John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Paula in 2016, stillborn son, Michael in 1967 and siblings, Carolyn, Richard, Sena and Sue.
Visit boldtfuneralhome.com for information and guestbook.
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Filling the Gaps in Clinical Trial Education, Literacy
This article appears in the September 2022 issue of Applied Clinical Trials Magazine.
Jumo Health, a global provider of age appropriate, culturally sensitive medical education resources for patients and caregivers, branched into the clinical trials space three years ago. In this Q&A, Kevin Aniskovich, president and CEO of Jumo Health, discusses its foray into the clinical trials arena, which includes delivering multimedia educational resources to more than 200 trials spanning 90-plus languages in more than 75 countries.
ACT: Jumo Health has experienced significant growth. Could you explain where the clinical trials program was a few years ago compared to now? How has it evolved?
Kevin Aniskovich: Prior to 2019, our work was focused on condition-specific resources for pediatric patients, primarily through our comic book line, Medikidz. In 2019, while researching areas for expansion, we uncovered massive deficiencies in clinical research within the areas of informed consent, enrollment, retention, and compliance. After further investigation, we developed a thesis that these issues stem from several incorrect assumptions that people understand their condition; appreciate the complexities of study protocols and how it can impact their participation and the expectations therein; and comprehend the written word, particularly as it relates to sophisticated legal language use in documents surrounding informed consent/assent.
We decided to focus on creating actionable educational materials for use in clinical trials. The initial go-to-market strategy was simple—as experts in pediatrics, we sought to provide age-appropriate resources for children and further segmented those resources by age cohort. We quickly expanded beyond comic books to include digital and video solutions to better reflect the way in which our target populations consume information.
ACT: What prompted Jumo Health to identify the need for more health literacy?
KA: With each trial, our learnings continued to inform product development, but also provided a greater understanding of the role that health literacy and culture play in the success or failure of a trial. What started out as providing resources for a pediatric population, began to include adult participants as we saw the impact that health literacy and reading comprehension plays within all ages.
We sought the root cause for the deficiencies in clinical trial recruitment and retention and compliance-related issues. What we found was staggering—only 10% of adults are considered proficient in matters of health care; 50% of adults are able to read above an 8th-grade level. As we examined the types of materials that most sites and sponsors provided to participants and caregivers, we learned that most materials were written at elevated grade levels—often beyond 12th grade—which is simply unacceptable. We can’t expect compliance if we don’t take the time to provide the requisite information in a way the recipient can understand and act upon.
ACT: What types of media are you using to teach patients about diseases and clinical trials?
KA: Jumo Health endeavors to meet the patient in a place that is familiar and convenient to how they learn best. To that end, we provide a broad range of resources in multiple mediums, including print, which includes graphic novels to flip charts; digital media, such as online activities to virtual reality; and both live action and animation videos. Our resources can be provided throughout the patient journey.
ACT: These resources are customized based on the age and culture of their target audience. Could you explain or give an example of how they can be so different?
KA: For example, the story line and 2D animation that will resonate with a 17-year-old white female with type 2 diabetes from Boston, MA, may not have the same impact with a 48-year-old Black male with type 2 diabetes from Jackson, MS, who may wish to watch a live-action video from someone sharing past experiences. We deliver evidence-based information in a relatable way that takes into account health literacy, reading comprehension, and cultural sensitivities, if the sponsor desires.
ACT: What’s next for Jumo Health in clinical trials?
KA: Without giving too much away, we will say that COVID shined a beautiful bright light on clinical research—including the lack of health equity—and the aspects that require a collective effort to cure. Jumo Health will focus squarely on its role to increase participation rates within traditionally underrepresented populations, which we will do alongside a local advocacy network across all our markets. An informed patient is a successful patient.
For more information about Jumo Health or this article, call (646) 895-9319 or email media@jumohealth.com.


Gordon S. Wood
Gordon S. Wood is Alva O. Way University Professor and Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University.
Books by Gordon S. Wood
The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin
by Gordon S. Wood
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Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815
The Radicalism of the American Revolution
“He’s a terrific writer. In this book he maps out the movement from a pre-revolutionary society focused on monarchy, hierarchy and privilege to a revolutionary society. He explains how the Americans gradually found themselves championing republicanism. Republicanism can mean a secular government, where there is no king, or republicanism can mean a system in which all people have a say. It’s a masterly book about how Americans moved from a monarchical society to a republican society, that documents each stage of this change clearly and carefully.” Read more...
The Best Books on the American Revolution
T.H. Breen, Historian
Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787
Wood explains changes that took place in American constitutional thinking between independence and the signing of the federal constitution
Interviews with Gordon S. Wood
The Best Fourth of July Books, recommended by Gordon S. Wood
The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789
by Robert Middlekauff
The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution
by Bernard Bailyn
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence
by Pauline Maier
Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America
by Jack Rakove
On the Fourth of July, Americans celebrate the Declaration of Independence from the British Empire. In its assertion that all men are created equal, the declaration was a milestone in the journey towards the more democratic world we have today. But it was still a product of the 18th century colonial society that created it. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon S. Wood talks us through five books, including his own, for understanding the history we celebrate on the Fourth of July.
Interviews where books by Gordon S. Wood were recommended
The best books on The US Constitution, recommended by Jack Rakove
Novus Ordo Seclorum
by Forrest McDonald
Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution
by Richard Beeman
A Revolution in Favor of Government
by Max M Edling
Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788
The Pulitzer prize-winning history professor tells us how the Constitution came to be written and ratified and explains why, after more than 200 years, Americans are still so deeply wedded to it.
The Best Books on the American Revolution, recommended by T.H. Breen
The Stamp Act Crisis: Prologue to Revolution
by Edmund Morgan & Helen Morgan
The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence
by T.H. Breen
The Will of the People: The Revolutionary Birth of America
The American Revolution began as a war for independence but, by its end, the war had transformed the thirteen colonies into a republic. Historian T.H. Breen recommends the best books which relay the revolutionary impact of the American War of Independence.
The best books on Benjamin Franklin, recommended by D.G. Hart
Benjamin Franklin: The Shaping of Genius: the Boston Years
by Arthur Bernon Tourtellot
The Puritans: A Transatlantic History
by David D. Hall
The Enlightenment in America
by Henry May
William Penn’s Legacy: Politics and Social Structure in Provincial Pennsylvania 1726-1755
by Alan Tully
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a remarkable bunch of people, but Benjamin Franklin might have been the most remarkable of them all. Coming from humble stock, he became a businessman, scientist, diplomat and politician—a giant of the Enlightenment. Historian D.G. Hart sheds some light on his character and background and puts him in his broader social and political context.


WTO meeting opens in Hong Kong
Rich and poor nations were at odds as a World Trade Organization meeting opened here Tuesday, with trade ministers saying a breakthrough is unlikely on the thorny issue of agricultural trade that has held up negotiations for months. At least 1,000 protesters, mostly South Korean farmers wearing red bandanas, gathered at a downtown park to chant slogans against the WTO, driven by fears that opening up their agricultural markets would destroy their livelihoods.
Police have blocked off access to roads near the conference site, set up barricades and even glued bricks onto the sidewalks in the hopes of preventing violence that has flared at previous WTO summits. The six-day meeting was meant to lay the groundwork for a global treaty by the end of 2006 that would cut trade barriers across a wide array of sectors, from agriculture to services, wrapping up the so-called Doha round of talks.
But an impasse over farm trade has brought the negotiations to a virtual halt, with developing nations accusing the U.S., EU and other rich economies of not cutting agricultural tariffs and farm subsidies enough, keeping out exports from poorer nations that depend heavily on agriculture as an income source.
India's trade minister, who has emerged as a key figure in the talks, said that while it would be hard for 149 WTO members to reach an agreement on farm trade, he didn't foresee an outright collapse like the previous ministerial gathering in Cancun, Mexico, two years ago, which fell apart amid acrimony. Differences over agriculture was the culprit there, too.
"I don't see a repeat of Cancun," Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath told the Associated Press. "Cancun was an outburst of a lack of hope. Now countries are hoping."
Still, Nath insisted that "developing countries do not want to see the perpetuation of inequities in global trade."
He urged members to stay engaged in the negotiations, and predicted that all parties would strive to make some progress at the Dec. 13-18 gathering.
"The next six days are going to see efforts by everybody to move forward," Nath said. "But efforts do not necessarily mean there will be results, because the issues are very, very contentious." EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has said that the European Union won't change its offer of an average 46 percent cut in farm tariffs unless he sees some movement from developing nations on offering to reduce their trade barriers on manufactured goods and services.
Mandelson said that parties gathered in Hong Kong summit should try to narrow their differences so that a treaty can be completed by year's end, saying that developing nations depend on a successful round.
"Whilst we cannot solve the problems of the round in Hong Kong, Hong Kong must help us to find solutions of balance and of ambition in the endgame of the round," he said.
However, he warned against focusing too much on farm trade: "Concentrating on agriculture, important as it is, to the exclusion of other areas, will defeat that ambition."
With expectations so low, some delegates have been saying another gathering of all 149 members would be needed to hammer out "modalities," WTO jargon that refers to the specific formulas that will form the basis for a final treaty.
"This meeting has already been downgraded as a midterm stocktaking," said Mari Pangestu, Indonesia's trade minister, who heads a grouping of 45 poorer countries within the WTO. "We hope by April to reach an agreement on full modalities."
Outside the convention center, various protest groups staged demonstrations to vent their anger and concerns about the WTO and globalization, which many of them believe benefit primarily the rich and powerful.
Gathering for a march at a downtown park, farmers from South Korea, Japan, India, the Philippines and Brazil punched their fists in the air and beat drums and gongs. I.L.


Biden lays out plan to end hunger by 2030
The president announced more than $8 billion in new commitments as a call to action from academic, civic, and charitable leaders.
The president announced more than $8 billion in new commitments as a call to action from academic, civic, and charitable leaders at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
By Nicole Neuman
Published: Sep. 28, 2022 at 4:16 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Joe Biden is laying out his administration’s plan to address our nation’s struggles with food insecurity.
“I really know we can do this end hunger by 2030,” said Biden. “First help more Americans access the food that will keep their families nourished and healthy.”
The president’s comments were at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. It’s the first such meeting to be held in more than 50 years.
During the conference, the president announced more than $8 billion in new commitments as a call to action to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says this is an opportunity to better integrate food and its impact on healthcare.
“The USDA is excited about the opportunity to look for ways that we can provide more incentives under SNAP for fruit and vegetable opportunities for SNAP families,” said Vilsack. “We’re excited about the opportunity to expand the WIC bonus so that WIC participants will be able to access healthier foods.”
In Michigan, food insecurity is a growing problem.
Feeding America estimates more than $556 million is needed to keep Michiganders from going hungry.
That’s including the state’s most vulnerable with one in seven children not knowing if they’ll receive healthy food to eat.
Dr. Phil Knight is the executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
“When children are dependent on parents and parents are working, but they’ve got more ‘month’ than they do money that’s where we as a culture, as a society have to come along side of them,” said Dr. Knight.
This historic package to address hunger is being backed by academic, civic and charitable leaders.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
Republicans and Democrats spar over committee snubs
‘Life at conception’ act reintroduced in Congress as Republicans control the House
SD state lawmakers aim to prevent "kid friendly" drag shows


Rumor: The first PlayStation State of Play event of 2023 could take place next month
Rumor has it that there could be a new PlayStation State of Play event, the first of 2023, that will see a plethora of gameplay footage, content, and news from many different games released throughout the year. Fans are always excited to learn more about PlayStation and learn about their favorite games, which is why they look forward to each of the State of Play events throughout the year.
The last PlayStation State of Play event took place in September 2022, which featured the trailer for God of War Ragnarok, the announcement of the multiplayer game Synduality, the introduction of the exclusive Hogwarts Legacy quest, and more. So there’s bound to be even more exciting news and gameplay at this year’s State of Play events as more game and hardware releases are expected in the coming months.
PlayStation Lifestyle magazine has compiled a bunch of news, which can be found online on 4chan, Twitter and other sources, about rumors of a PlayStation State of Play event in February. The rumor is based on the fact that PS VR2, the second generation of PlayStation VR games, is due out on February 22nd, which will certainly require a State of Play-style event to showcase the headset’s capabilities. .
However, in a PlayStation Lifestyle article, they found the rumors to be unfounded and unrelated to an official PlayStation or Sony source. This seems to be mostly a prediction based on the fact that PS VR2 will release in February. Plus, with Hogwarts Legacy getting a PlayStation-exclusive quest line and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 coming out in the fall, it only makes sense that Sony decided to set the state of the game in the first quarter.
PlayStation has been collecting tons of content for a long time to show it at State of Play events. Last year, PlayStation showed some great gameplay footage of Stellar Blade that further inspired fans to play a game that seems to merge the best parts of the Nier games with Bayonetta. Through these events, players will learn more about exactly what to expect from upcoming games. Whether State of Play comes out next month or not, fans can still expect plenty of exciting PlayStation releases and news in the coming months.
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Do residents of border city McAllen, Texas want a border wall?
By: Chris Welch
McAllen, Texas is a city of about 150,000 people and sits just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. The city has found itself thrust into the spotlight, especially after President Trump stopped in the city to talk about what he calls the crisis at the border.
The city, which Mayor Jim Darling calls the “American city that speaks Spanish,” has been turned into ground zero for the debate over a border wall, whether its residents like it or not.
Mayor Darling doesn't like it, but he's taking it in stride.
“We're kind of amused by everybody coming down and doing their press conferences and all that, with very little input from local people one way or the other,” he says.
The mayor believes a wall is not a simple solution. He says sections of barrier--like ones put up in certain areas over the years, especially along the border in California, Arizona, and New Mexico--do have a use. However, he says building along the natural border that is the Rio Grande makes no sense.
“If you build a wall, there’s a significant portion of property sometimes miles between the wall and the real border. So, we don't want a new border created. So, what is that land? Is that, do we cede that to the cartels?” he says.
Just outside McAllen, there’s Progreso International Bridge, a popular spot for U.S. citizens to cross into Mexico and shop.
American Gary McCool was in the area. When asked if he supported the build of the wall, he replied he does.
“You have to have something to slow them down,” McCool says. “You can’t stop them, but you have to have something to slow ‘em down.”


Psychedelic Stock News: Nextleaf (CSE: OILS) Licenses U.S. Patent to Hempcrete Natural
May 9, 2022 33 views0
Vancouver, British Columbia – May 9, 2022 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE: OILS) (OTCQB: OILFF) (FSE: L0MA) (“Nextleaf” or the “Company”), a federally regulated manufacturer and distributor of cannabis vapes and oils, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic agreement (the “Agreement”) with Hempcrete Natural Building Ltd. (“Hempcrete Natural”), an international construction company creating carbon neutral communities through sustainable, renewable, and stronger buildings.
The Agreement permits Hempcrete Natural, on a non-exclusive basis, to commercialize certain Nextleaf intellectual property, specifically, a U.S. patent related to hemp biomass processing.
Hemp ash processed using Nextleaf’s patented technology shows promise as a key ingredient and replacement for fly ash in the manufacturing of Portland cement. Research suggests Portland cement production is responsible for 2-3% of global energy use and approximately 5% of man-made CO2 emissions.
Government funded R&D led by Nextleaf Engineering Manager, Dr. Krupal Pal, PhD, P.Eng., demonstrated superior performance of hemp ash as both a valorized biofuel and as a cementitious material. Dr. Pal co-authored, with leading academics, a research paper titled ‘Hemp Waste Valorization as Biofuel and Cement Replacement in Cement and Concrete Production’ which can be accessed here.
When leveraged as a biofuel during hemp ash production, power is generated, and metric tonnes of biomass can be diverted from landfills and used as a supplementary cementitious material. Current estimates indicate close to a billion kilograms of biomass being harvested annually by the marijuana and hemp industry with tonnes of waste sent to settlement pits and landfills.
“Nextleaf identified carbon lifecycle management as an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while launching a new vertical. We are excited to license our technology to a team of subject matter experts with decades of experience with hempcrete building materials,” said Nextleaf CEO and co-founder Paul Pedersen.
Nextleaf to present at Canaccord Genuity’s 6th Annual Cannabis Conference
Nextleaf CEO Paul Pedersen will be presenting at Canaccord Genuity’s 6th Annual Cannabis Conference on May 11, 2022, at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. For more information about joining this virtual event, please visit: https://www.canaccordgenuity.com/capital-markets/about-us/events/cg-2022-us-cannabis-symposium/
The Company’s award-winning prohibition-era brand, Glacial Gold(TM), outsold Canada’s largest cannabis producers in the oil and vape category in British Columbia during Q1 2022. Glacial Gold(TM) Anytime Vape is the #1 selling CBD forward vape SKU in B.C. Nextleaf has developed a competitive advantage in the production of cannabis oil by leveraging its patent stack to control the cost and quality of the ingredients used to manufacture vapes and oils. Nextleaf has been issued 10 U.S. patents for what the Company believes to be the most efficient technology to produce high-purity distilled cannabinoids in a regulated market.
About Hempcrete Natural Building Ltd.
Hempcrete Natural is a British Columbia based, international construction company focused on building carbon neutral communities and affordable housing to create a more sustainable future. Hempcrete Natural removes petrochemicals from the construction process by replacing them with fibre-reinforced lightweight concrete, free of concerns such as pests, mould, and fire. With over 20 years of experience and a network of strategic partners for supply chain needs, Hempcrete homes use 60% less energy, are less expensive to build, and last for multiple generations. For more information visit: www.hempcrete.ca
About Nextleaf Solutions Ltd.
Nextleaf(R) is a federally regulated manufacturer and distributor of cannabis vapes and oils under its award-winning prohibition-era brand, Glacial Gold(TM). The Company’s multi-patented ingredient processing technology transforms cannabis and hemp biomass into high-purity distillate at an industrial scale. Nextleaf is a low-cost producer of cannabis oils, and supplier of THC and CBD ingredients to qualified wholesale partners across Canada. Nextleaf is the first publicly traded company to be issued a U.S. patent for the industrial extraction and purification of cannabinoids. The Company has been issued 18 U.S. patents, and over 95 patents globally, on cannabinoid processing including distillation and acetylation. Nextleaf develops cannabinoid-based formulations and proprietary delivery technology through its Health Canada Research Licence with sensory evaluation of cannabis via human testing. For more information visit www.nextleafsolutions.com and www.Glacial.Gold
Nextleaf trades as OILS on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OILFF on the OTCQB Market in the United States, and L0MA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Follow the Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Follow Glacial Gold(TM): Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Jason McBride, Corporate Development
604-283-2301 (ext. 219)
jason@nextleafsolutions.com
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,
Paul Pedersen, CEO
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s intellectual property(“IP”), expected IP licensing revenues, and those regarding the Company’s strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believe”, “expect”, “aim”, “intend”, “plan”, “continue”, “will”, “may”, “would”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “predict”, “project”, “seek”, “should” or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company’s MD&A for the most recent fiscal period. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed or approved the contents of this press release.
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Rex Nutting: Which jobs have come back, and which ones haven’t
Silver Stock News: IMPACT Silver (TSXV: IPT) Announces Q1 2022 Results Revenue of $4.6 Million, EBITDA $0.4 Million


Directed by Nisha Ganatra
Starring Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling
Review by Jon Kissel
A famously instructive cultural scenario occurred on NBC in the mid-2000’s, wherein two new shows about sketch comedy debuted at the same time. One, Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, made its writers into heroes battling the forces of ignorance, one comedy bit at a time. The other, Tina Fey’s 30 Rock, deliberately made its show-within-a-show a badly-rated-and-received series of fart jokes and desperate attempts to create merchandising. Despite having less of a pedigree, 30 Rock ran for seven seasons while Studio 60 was quickly canceled. There were surely dozens of reasons for this divergence, but one was that Studio 60 never had a believable sketch show in its center, especially if it was going to be posited as some central part of American cultural life. A show can’t convince me that their writers or performers are some kinds of treasured icons and then include scenes from the show-within-a-show that make that treasuring implausible. Director Nisha Ganatra and writer/star Mindy Kaling haven’t taken this to heart in Late Night, a film about an inexperienced writer starting her first gig on a revered-but-fading host’s show. All involved need to convince the viewer that they’re good at their jobs, but Kaling may have been too consumed with her excellent work on The Office to pay attention to what was happening in NBC’s other time slots and file that information away for later use.
Kaling plays Molly Patel, a cheerful employee in a chemical plant who fancies herself the office jokester. She’s hired by venerable late-night host Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) as an explicit diversity hire, a last-ditch effort by Katherine to spice up a writers’ room solely stocked by white, male Harvard alums. What follows is the predictable assortment of initial setbacks and underestimations, followed by breakthroughs and an uncommon bond formed between Molly and Katherine, her boss’ boss’ boss. I doubt Molly went out for drinks with her plant director, but here nor there. The Studio 60 problem is most apparent with Molly’s arc, wherein her first accepted joke is an abortion-rights gag that framed as a brave stance but is something the hackiest hack Twitter lefty constantly pushes out everytime a gaggle of Republican men passes a new restrictive bill. The instinct for the joke is solid, but the material is tired. As a shorthand and a way to keep things moving, that single joke of Molly’s serves as a calling card, despite the fact that each night’s show requires dozens of jokes and one-liners.
The lack of imagination in Late Night continues from there. Katherine is closer to lead of the film than co-lead, as the film is just as much about her breaking out of her rut than it is Molly finding a new profession. Thompson, who doesn’t hide her English accent or play down her patrician manner, seems an odd choice as a colleague of Conan O’Brien or Jay Leno, and her guest line-ups (Doris Kearns Goodwin and Dianne Feinstein on the same night) are more appropriate for Nightline. The film never considers that Thompson might not want to continue doing the same monologue/bit/first guest/second guest/musical act format, or that she would be better suited to the kind of long-form show John Oliver is doing, a show that the film knows exists because it includes references to him. Instead, Late Night tries to force Katherine to mimic her rivals and coddle her audience, instead of finding a new niche in a crowded landscape. One doesn’t cast Thompson because they think she’d be good at doing man-on-the-street gimmicks, or that she’d envision herself as Jimmy Fallon instead of Terry Gross. It’s another instance of the film insisting that something that has not been suitably established (Molly is a good writer, Katherine cares about the lives of her youtube star guests) is instead written in stone.
What the film does get out of Thomspon is a withering turn as a cruel boss, but one that retains audience sympathy through raw aspirational charm. It’s easy to imagine why someone would stay with Katherine, as a drop of praise would cover over barrels of criticism. She wills the film into watchability alongside the earnest Kaling and a supporting cast of heavy hitters like Denis O’Hare, Hugh Dancy, Amy Ryan, and Paul Walter Hauser. Late Night doesn’t communicate any authenticity in its depiction of the talk-show industry, or of a post-#metoo environment where workplace relationships are especially fraught with power dynamics, but it has a greater sense of the writers’ room itself, no doubt a symptom of Kaling’s years of experience on all sides of one. Late Night’s fun in its behind the scenes back-and-forths, and Ganatra makes a film that has existed in one form or another on TV into something that belongs on big screens. It’s shockingly Kaling who emerges as the disappointment with a script that’s far beneath her earlier work. Late Night needed its own writers’ room, not for comedy punch up but to find a better way into its plot and its characters. C


The story of Corrie Ten Boom
In 1837, Willem and Elizabeth ten Boom opened a watch shop in their house in Harlem, Holland. They lived above the shop with the rest of their family. The home was later passed down to Willem’s son, Casper, and then to Casper’s daughter, Corrie.
The Ten Boom family were devoted Christians who dedicated their lives in service to their fellow man. Their home was always an “open house” for anyone in need.
During the Second World War, the Ten Boom home became a refuge, a hiding place, for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, Casper and his daughters, Corrie and her sister Betsie, risked their lives. This non-violent resistance against the Nazi-oppressors was the Ten Booms’ way of living out their Christian faith. This faith led them to hide Jews, students who refused to cooperate with the Nazis, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement.
During 1943 and into 1944, there were usually 6-7 people illegally living in this home: few Jews and a Few members of the Dutch Underground. Additional refugees would stay with the Ten Booms for a few hours or a few days until another “safe house” could be located for them. Corrie became a ringleader within the network of the Haarlem underground. Corrie and “the Beje group” would search for courageous Dutch families who would take in refugees, and much of Corrie’s time was spent caring for these people once they were in hiding. Through these activities, the Ten Boom family and their many friends saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews, and protected many Dutch underground workers.
On February 28, 1944, this family was betrayed and the Gestapo (Nazi secret police) raided their home. The Gestapo set a trap and waited throughout the day, seizing everyone who came to the house. By evening about 30 people had been taken into custody! The Gestapo suspected Jews were in the house, but the Jews were safely hidden behind a false wall in Corrie’s bedroom. Casper, Corrie and Betsie were all arrested, because underground materials and extra ration cards were found in their home.
Casper, Corries father (84 years old) died after only 10 days in Scheveningen Prison. Corrie and Betsie spent 10 months in three different prisons, the last was the infamous Ravensbruck Concentration Camp located near Berlin, Germany. Betsie (59) died in Ravensbruck, but Corrie survived.
The Ten Booms gave their lives for this family’s commitment, but Corrie came home from the death camp. She realized her life was a gift from God, and she needed to share the family story after the war. Corrie received many tributes: she was knighted by the Queen of Holland. In 1968, the Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem) asked Corrie to plant a tree in the Garden of Righteousness, in honor of the many Jewish lives her family saved. Corrie’s tree stands there today. In the early 1970’s Corrie’s book THE HIDING PLACE became a bestseller and World Wide Pictures released the major motion picture “The Hiding Place.” Corrie went on to write many other inspiring books and make several videos.
Corrie died on her 91st birthday, April 15, 1983. It is interesting that Corrie’s passing occurred on her birthday. In the Jewish tradition, it is only very blessed people who are allowed the special privilege of dying on their birthday!
In 1987, the Corrie ten Boom House Foundation purchased the building To continue this family’s witness, in 1988 the Foundation opened this home as a museum.
Pastor Jack Graham
Chaim Herzog: President, Ambassador, General & Defender Of Zionism
We held a WONDERFUL event for Hannukah, in which we hosted over 400 widows and orphans
San Remo Conference Of 1920: Reshaping The Middle East
A greeting from grandfather
Operation Moses: Airlifting Our Brothers Back Home
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This article originally appeared on March 14, 2013 in The Alamedan. Michele Ellson, editor.
“Gonzo Journalist” Jon Ronson
At Spank Salon, getting your makeup done “includes lash application,” according to their price list. Ouch! But that’s not the only reason it’s hard to sit still at this super hip parlor: Compelling art lines its walls, with new work rotated in frequently to keep heads turning.
We’ve come a long way from when redheads were targeted as witches or vampires in the infamous Malleus Maleficarum, but gingerism and its stereotypes linger. Megan Lynn Kott, who describes herself as “a lifelong redhead – in actuality and spirit” and her artistic partner Justin DeVine give some long overdue love to carrot-tops in their show “GINGERLY: an ode to all our favorite redheads,” which opens at Spank Salon on Saturday, March 16.
“We were specifically shopping for a salon rather than a gallery,” Kott said. “Spank Salon is the perfect venue for such a show: combining both pop-culture and hair-culture.”
Singer Tori Amos
These Oakland-based artists whipped up nearly two dozen paintings, mostly of actors — including cast members from Chris Carter’s “X-Files” and Joss Whedon’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly” TV shows — and musicians like Tori Amos and Neko Case. But they also include several downright obscure pieces, including those of “gonzo journalist” Jon Ronson and Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue magazine. “It’s more a counterculture kind of thing than pop culture,” said Kott, who attended fashion school.
Kott fully expects that visitors will present them with lists of perceived omissions. “There are many more that we would have liked to do,” Kott said, including “Buffy” actress Alyson Hannigan; Fred and George Weasley from “Harry Potter” and Captain Kathryn Janeway from “Star Trek: Voyager.” But they pared their list down “due to time constraints and sanity.”
Viewing each artist’s solo work – Kott with her swirling watercolors and DeVine’s detailed fantasy drawings – it is remarkable that the two were able to sync their styles to create such a cohesive body of work for “GINGERLY,” united to the point that they don’t intend to identify which artist created which piece. “We’re slowly but surely coming into this as a partnership, a little more nameless and collaborative,” Kott said of the teamwork that grew out of the Wednesday night “Drinking & Drawing Club” they started at Café van Kleef in Oakland almost two years ago. “Creating art as a team, you share the glory and the pain of it.”
A reception for “GINGERLY” will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Children are welcome but, per the salon’s website, “Don’t bring your little brats up in here and let them run around like the little demons they are … unless they are really really good.” (Maybe the parents would get another application of the lash?) The work will be on display for six weeks.
Spank Salon is located at 1912 Clement Avenue. (510) 521-9100. http://spanksalon.com. They are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and on Sunday by appointment.
Tags: Adam Savage, Alameda, Alan Tudyk, Alyson Hannigan, Art Garfunkel, Beaker, Brian Posehn, Cafe Van Kleef, Captain Janeway, Chris Carter, Claire Danes, Felicia Day, Gillian Anderson, Grace Coddington, Harry Potter, Jon Ronson, Joss Whedon, Justin DeVine, Louis CK, Megan Lynn Kott, Neko Case, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rose Leslie, Simon Pegg, Spank, Star Trek, The Alamedan, Tilda Swinton, Tori Amos, Woody Allen
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Depeche Mode / Devotional
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 10th, 2004
Released Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Music / Concert
WEA Corp.
I’ve got to be honest. I was never a Depeche Mode fan. My lack of interest in them didn’t really come from their music, which I always thought was different – in a good way. It was just that in the 80’s and 90’s, MTV played their videos 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The video for “Enjoy the Silence” was burned into my eyelids. I couldn’t get away from the band no matter how hard I tried.
My, how things have changed. MTV doesn’t play Depeche Mode videos anymore, or any videos for that matter, and after wat…hing Depeche Mode’s concert DVD, Devotional, I have come to appreciate the band to the point where I would proudly say that I am now a fan. In an age where your choices range from over-saturated pop, to recycled rap music, Depeche Mode is a breath of fresh, nostalgic air. Front-man Dave Gahan’s overstated baritone voice is completely different from anything you hear nowadays and Martin Gore’s lyrics are actually quite deep for a techno-rock band, peppered with religious images and undertones. Far more introspective than most of the “music” that is mass produced today.
In Devotional, all the aforementioned traits and qualities about Depeche Mode ring true. Filmed over two 1993 tour dates in Barcelona and Frankfurt, by the band’s longtime video collaborator Anton Corbijn, the group performs its most acclaimed songs in front of a frenzied throng. Dave Gahan knows how to work a crowd, as evidenced by his patented tush-waiving and getting the crowd to sing along. He also takes off a shirt and rings the sweat from it before tossing it into the crowd. He then jumps into the crowd himself much to the dismay of the security. Anton Corbijn films the concert straight up, not sensationalizing the performances, and in the process makes the show an intimate evening with the band. The religious imagery present in Gore’s lyrics are featured visually on stage, meshing with the music just as they did in the videos Corbijn directed throughout the band’s career.
Depeche Mode fans will no doubt find plenty to get excited about in Devotional. For those of us less familiar with the band, there are plenty of occasions to get acquainted, so that by the time we’ve finished watching their performance on stage, we’ll call ourselves Depeche Mode fans too. You’d almost be crazy not to.
Devotional’s lone shortfall is the picture. Filmed in 4:3 fullscreen, the picture is stained in pinks and blues, is grainy as all hell, and not sharp at all. It looks like Corbijn lit the stage in a black light. While it does give a certain mood to the performance, it almost takes away from the connection between the band and the viewer. At certain points in the concert, I felt like I was watching the band in “Predator-Vision.”
This is where the disc really comes to life. Although I’ve only come into contact with one other concert DVD, that being The Last Waltz, I can tell you that the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound present on Devotional is amazing. The sound is so full, so crisp and so engulfing; you’ll feel like you are a member of the crowd. The bass in “Personal Jesus” will shake your house like a tremor.
However, to achieve the best sound from this DVD, you may need to play around with your audio receiver. I used the “Rock Concert” function on my receiver and the sound was enhanced greatly, adding to concert feel of the DVD. In normal Surround Sound, the sound is too separated, giving the surround speakers more crowd noise than they can handle, and Gahan’s vocals are also masked in echoes. If your receiver comes with a function for concerts, I would seriously recommend using it.
The DVD’s other sound option is PCM Stereo. While it’s severely lacking when compared to the disc’s superior DD 5.1 track, the PCM Stereo mix is competent enough to get enjoyment from. While the subwoofer gets less of a work out here, in concert mode the PCM Stereo track still thumps enough to make you feel like you are at the show. However, the PCM Stereo track in regular Pro Logic is far too jangly, and the subwoofer takes the day off. There are too many highs and not enough lows to equal out the track. Again, if your audio receiver has a “concert” mode, use it.
Devotional Live Projections – Here you have only the stage projections and artwork displayed to eight of the band’s live songs. The audio options are DD 5.1 and PCM Stereo.
Promotional Videos – Here we have some of the music videos from Songs of Faith and Devotion, the album Depeche Mode was promoting while on tour. Audio options here are only PCM Stereo.
MTV Documentary: Depeche Mode Rockumentary – As the title states, this is the 1993 MTV documentary about the make-up of the band, and the relationship Depeche Mode has with their visual collaborator, Anton Corbijn. This is where we learn that Gahan was not always the crowd-worker he is during Devotional. Audio – 2.0 Stereo.
Monologue by Anton Corbijn – The band’s visual collaborator speaks on how he translates the band’s music into visual images throughout their relationship from the early 80’s to the early 90’s when the concert was filmed. Audio – PCM Stereo.
Devotional Tour Programmes – Here you can thumb through the actual programs for the concert.
Devotional really gets beneath the surface of Depeche Mode and will allow fans both old and new to appreciate what is presented. While the picture could be better, the excellent audio more than makes up for it, and the many extras will allow fans to learn more about the performance as well as the band. Although the disc has its shortcomings, I’d be a fool not to recommend it.
Devotional Live Projections
MTV Documentary: Depeche Mode Rockumentary
Monologue by Anton Corbijn
Devotional Tour Programmes
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