text
stringlengths 175
194k
|
|---|
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: we are suffering always headache and have taken many kind of medicine prescribed by kinds of doctor like psychologist ,ayurvediuc,homeopathic etc but do not get relief .I want to permanent relief,following are my demerit (1) When i use english medicine - whole body heated and uncontrolled thinking/headache generate. (2)When I do yoga or Jap by sitting ----- do---- (3) Dust/scent /hot/cool/ always- Effected my body- As above (4)When i think some thing deeply effected as same. Lost i Think checkup by Neurologist .
fering from headache. Tried psychologist, ayurvedic, homoeopathic treatments. Allopathy, meditation, other home remedies result into body heating and severe headache. How can this be cured? output: Hi, young man/woman you are most welcome here over the blog HCM and as you haven't written your sex of which you belong to for it would be quite difficult to issue you right advice here even I may try to advise you in a better way and after hearing your problems it is sure that you are been in the migraine disorders and which are been well connected with your brain and nervous system and due of any type of stress too, so you are advised to consult a good homeopath around your locality and advise too not to do yoga, only do deep breathing, pelvic floor and abdominal muscles's toning exercises and within time frame you feel good and wish you good luck and enjoy life free from any type of stress....psy doc reach_psydocbabbar649@rediffmail.com.. |
Famous musicians born in the year 1959
Here are 50 famous musicians from the world were born in 1959:
Suzanne Vega (July 11, 1959 Santa Monica-) a.k.a. Susanne Vega, Vega, Suzanne, Suzanne Nadine Vega or The Mother of the MP3 is an American songwriter, singer, record producer, guitarist and singer-songwriter. She has one child, Ruby Froom.
Her discography includes: Marlene on the Wall, Suzanne Vega, Solitude Standing, Luka, 99.9 F°, Live at the Stephen Talkhouse, Blood Makes Noise, Book of Dreams, Hamburg 2001 and In Liverpool. Genres she performed include Folk music, Alternative rock, Experimental music, Experimental rock and Folk rock.
Read more about Suzanne Vega on Wikipedia »
Stanley Jordan
Stanley Jordan (July 31, 1959 Chicago-) also known as Jordan, Stanley, Stanley Jordon or Jordon, Stanley is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. He has one child, Julia Jordan.
His most recognized albums: Stolen Moments, Live In New York, Bolero, Cornucopia, Flying Home, Magic Touch, Standards, Volume 1, The Best of Stanley Jordan, Live in Montreal and State of Nature. His related genres: Jazz and Jazz fusion.
Read more about Stanley Jordan on Wikipedia »
Nobuo Uematsu (March 21, 1959 Kochi-) also known as Nobuo-Uematsu, Nobuo Uemetsu, Uematsu, UEMATSU Nobuo, Nobou Uematsu, Nabuo Uematsu or Uematsu, Nobuo is a Japanese musician, composer, keyboard player and music executive.
His albums: Symphonic Suite Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy III: Original Sound Version, Final Fantasy IV: Original Sound Version, Final Fantasy IV: Minimum Album, Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon, Piano Collections: Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V: Mambo de Chocobo, Final Fantasy V: Dear Friends, Piano Collections: Final Fantasy V and Music of Final Fantasy VI. Genres related to him: Rock music, Symphonic rock, New-age music, Neoclassical metal, Electronic music, Chiptune, Video game music, Classical music and Progressive rock.
Read more about Nobuo Uematsu on Wikipedia »
John Linnell
John Linnell (June 12, 1959 New York City-) also known as Johnny Hart, John Sidney Linnell, Jared or Linnell, John is an American songwriter, singer and keyboard player. His child is called Henry Linnell.
His most well known albums: State Songs, State Songs, House of Mayors, Montana and Olive, the Other Reindeer. Genres he performed: Alternative rock.
Read more about John Linnell on Wikipedia »
Brian Setzer (April 10, 1959 Massapequa-) also known as Brain Setzer, Setzer, Brian or Brian Robert Setzer is an American guitarist, musician, singer-songwriter and actor. His child is called Cody Setzer.
His albums: Live Nude Guitars, Rockin' by Myself, Rockabilly Riot! Live From The Planet, The Brian Setzer Collection '81 - '88, 13, Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy, The Knife Feels Like Justice, Ignition, Wolfgang's Big Night Out and Red Hot & Live!. Genres he performed include Rockabilly, Big Band, Swing music, Jump blues, Rock and roll, Rock music and Swing revival.
Read more about Brian Setzer on Wikipedia »
Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty MacColl (October 10, 1959 Croydon-December 18, 2000 Cozumel) also known as Kristy MacColl, Kirsty Anna MacColl or MacColl, Kirsty was an English singer and songwriter. Her children are Jamie Lillywhite and Louis Lillywhite.
Her discography includes: Desperate Character, Kite, Days, Electric Landlady, All I Ever Wanted, Walking Down Madison, Titanic Days, The Essential Collection, Caroline and What Do Pretty Girls Do?. Genres: Folk music, New Wave, Pop music, Alternative rock, Pop rock, Blues rock, Folk rock, Country rock, Country, Rock music and World music.
Read more about Kirsty MacColl on Wikipedia »
Richie Sambora (July 11, 1959 Perth Amboy-) also known as Richard Stephen Sambora, King of Swing, Dean, Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora or Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, screenwriter, guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. His child is called Ava Elizabeth Sambora.
Related albums: Stranger in This Town, In It for Love, Undiscovered Soul, Hard Times Come Easy, Here Comes the Sun (Live at the 2001 VH1 Music Awards), Aftermath of the Lowdown and Ballad of Youth. Genres he performed: Hard rock, Blues rock, Rock music, Glam metal, Heavy metal, Country rock and Blues.
Read more about Richie Sambora on Wikipedia »
Randy Travis (May 4, 1959 Marshville-) also known as Randy Bruce Traywick, Randolph Bruce Traywick or Randy Ray is an American singer-songwriter, actor, musician, singer and songwriter.
Discography: Always & Forever, This Is Randy Travis, Live: It Was Just a Matter of Time, Forever and Ever ... The Best of Randy Travis, Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise, Greatest #1 Hits, Greatest Hits Volume One, Greatest Hits Volume Two, Old 8x10 and Rise and Shine. Genres: Gospel music, Neotraditional country and Country.
Read more about Randy Travis on Wikipedia »
Bryan Adams (November 5, 1959 Kingston-) also known as Brian Adams, Adams, Bryan, Bryan Guy Adams, bryan_adams or Bryan Guy Adams, OC OBC is a Canadian photographer, musician, singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, film score composer and social activist. His children are called Lula Rosylea Adams and Mirabella Bunny Adams.
Discography: Bryan Adams, You Want It - You Got It, Cuts Like a Knife, Reckless, Into the Fire, Run to You, Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Waking Up the Neighbours, So Far So Good and Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?. His related genres: Rock music, Pop rock, Soft rock, Alternative rock, Adult contemporary music, Pop music, Hard rock, Heartland rock and Roots rock.
Read more about Bryan Adams on Wikipedia »
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell (March 29, 1959 Queens-) also known as DJ Peretz, Perry Ferrell, Perry Bernstein, Peretz Bernstein, Farrell, Perry, Peripheral, Simon Bernstein or The Godfather is an American singer, musician, songwriter, disc jockey and singer-songwriter. He has three children, Hezron Wolfgang Farrell, Izzadore Bravo Farrell and Yobel Bernstein Farrell.
Related albums: Rev and Song Yet to Be Sung. His related genres: Alternative rock, Electronica, Hard rock, Gothic rock, Alternative metal, Funk rock and Progressive house.
Read more about Perry Farrell on Wikipedia »
Irene Cara (March 18, 1959 The Bronx-) also known as Irene Cara Escalera is an American actor, singer-songwriter, record producer, pianist, dancer and musician.
Her albums include Anyone Can See, Carasmatic, What a Feelin', Flashdance... What a Feeling, Fame, What a Feeling, and Why Me?. Her related genres: Hi-NRG, Dance-pop, Adult contemporary music, Dance music, Contemporary R&B, Disco, Pop music, Synthpop, Dance-rock and Electropop.
Read more about Irene Cara on Wikipedia »
Terry Hall
Terry Hall (March 19, 1959 Coventry-) a.k.a. Hall, Terry or Terence Hall is an English singer, musician and songwriter.
His albums include Terry Hall: The Collection, Laugh, Home and The Best of 1981/1997. Genres related to him: Ska, Rock music and New Wave.
Read more about Terry Hall on Wikipedia »
Akino Arai
Akino Arai (August 21, 1959 Tokyo-) also known as Arai Akino is a Japanese singer, songwriter, film score composer and lyricist.
Discography: Natsukashii Mirai, Shounen no Hane, 少年の羽, Sora no Mori, Hiru no Tsuki, 昼の月, Tsuki no Ie, 月の家, Kanaete and 叶えて.
Read more about Akino Arai on Wikipedia »
Chuck Mosley
Chuck Mosley (December 26, 1959 Hollywood-) also known as Mosley, Chuck, Charles Henry "Chuck" Mosley or Charles Henry Mosley III is an American singer, musician and songwriter. He has two children, Erica Mosley and Sophie Mosley.
His discography includes: Will Rap Over Hard Rock for Food. Genres: Funk, Punk rock, Rock music, Rapcore, Alternative rock, Experimental rock, Funk rock, Alternative metal, Funk metal and Hardcore punk.
Read more about Chuck Mosley on Wikipedia »
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (May 20, 1959 Honolulu-June 26, 1997 Honolulu) also known as Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, Kamakawiwo'ole, Israel, Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole, Israel "IZ" Kamakawwiwo'ole, Bruddah Iz, IZ or Israel Kamakawiwo' Ole was an American singer, musician and singer-songwriter. He had one child, Ceslie-Ann "Wehi" Kamakawiwo'ole.
His albums: Facing Future, E Ala Ē, IZ in Concert: The Man and His Music, N Dis Life, Ka ʻAnoʻi, Alone in IZ World, Wonderful World, Unforgettable, Over the Rainbow and Over The Rainbow. Genres he performed include Reggae, Jazz, Music of Hawaii, World music and Folk music.
Read more about Israel Kamakawiwo'ole on Wikipedia »
Apollonia Kotero
Apollonia Kotero (August 2, 1959 Santa Monica-) also known as Patricia Apollonia Kotero, Patricia Kotero, Apollonia, Apallonia, Patricia Appollonia Kotero, Patti Kotero or Patty Kotero is an American singer, model, actor, designer and talent manager.
Her albums: Apollonia and The Ring - Songs From Middle Earth. Genres she performed: Rhythm and blues, Minneapolis sound and Freestyle music.
Read more about Apollonia Kotero on Wikipedia »
Cherie Currie
Cherie Currie (November 30, 1959 Encino-) a.k.a. Cherie Ann Currie is an American singer, actor, artist, musician, songwriter and music artist. She has one child, Jake Hays.
Her most important albums: Messin' with the Boys, Beauty's Only Skin Deep, Cherry Bomb and Young & Wild. Genres: Hard rock, Punk rock, Rock music, Rock and roll and Heavy metal.
Read more about Cherie Currie on Wikipedia »
Martin Atkins
Martin Atkins (August 3, 1959 Nuneaton-) otherwise known as The Girl Brothers, Atkins, Martin, Martin Clive Atkins, Opium Jukebox or Opium Juxebox is an English film director, screenwriter, film producer, cinematographer and drummer.
His most important albums: Bhangra Bloody Bhangra, Never Mind the Bhangra: A Tribute to the Sex Pistols, Sticky Bhangra: A Tribute to The Rolling Stones and Music to Download Pornography By. His related genres: Post-punk and Post-industrial music.
Read more about Martin Atkins on Wikipedia »
Gustavo Cerati (August 11, 1959 Buenos Aires-September 4, 2014 Buenos Aires) a.k.a. Cerati, Gustavo, Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark or Cerati was an Argentine guitarist, musician, singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, singer and songwriter. He had two children, Lisa Cerati Amenábar and Benito Cerati Amenábar.
His albums: Amor Amarillo, Bocanada, Siempre Es Hoy, Canciones Elegidas 93-04, Ahí Vamos, Reversiones: Siempre es hoy, Plan V, +Bien, 11 Episodios Sinfónicos and Fuerza natural. Genres he performed: Pop music, New Wave, Rock music, Pop rock, Electronic rock, Electronic music, Post-punk, Alternative rock, Experimental rock, Art rock, Indie rock, Neo-psychedelia, Power pop and Deep house.
Read more about Gustavo Cerati on Wikipedia »
Pete Burns
Pete Burns (August 5, 1959 Bebington-) also known as Peter Jozzeppi Burns or Burns, Pete is an English singer and singer-songwriter.
His albums include Jack and Jill Party and Sex Drive. Genres he performed: New Wave, Pop music, Hi-NRG and Dance music.
Read more about Pete Burns on Wikipedia »
Richard Vranch
Richard Vranch (June 29, 1959 Bristol-) is an English writer and actor.
Read more about Richard Vranch on Wikipedia »
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming (February 14, 1959 Indiana-) also known as Renee Fleming, Fleming, Renee or Fleming, Renée is an American singer, consultant and actor. She has two children, Amelia Fleming and Sage Fleming.
Discography: Haunted Heart, By Request, Homage: The Age of the Diva, Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin, Verismo, Bel Canto, Dark Hope, Prelude to a Kiss, Love Sublime and Poèmes. Her related genres: Jazz and Opera.
Read more about Renée Fleming on Wikipedia »
Patrick Bruel
Patrick Bruel (May 14, 1959 Tlemcen-) a.k.a. Maurice Benguigui, Patrick Maurice Benguigui, Maurice Bruel-Benguigui, Patrick Benguigui or Patrick Bruel-Benguigui is a French singer, actor, professional poker player and composer. He has two children, Oscar Bruel and Léon Bruel.
His most well known albums: Si ce soir..., Des souvenirs devant ..., Alors regarde, Bruel, De Face, Entre deux à l'Olympia, Entre-deux..., Juste avant, On s'était dit... and Pour la vie (limited edition).
Read more about Patrick Bruel on Wikipedia »
Lydia Lunch (June 2, 1959 Rochester-) a.k.a. Lunch, Lydia, Lydia Koch, Lydia Anne Koch or Lunch is an American singer, writer, actor, songwriter, screenwriter, film score composer and poet.
Discography: Honeymoon in Red, Widowspeak, Drowning In Limbo, Matrikamantra, Smoke in the Shadows, The Uncensored Lydia Lunch/Oral Fixation, Transmutation, Conspiracy of Women, Universal Infiltrators and Shotgun Wedding Live. Genres she performed include No wave, Alternative rock, Experimental rock, Punk rock, Avant-garde, Post-punk, Spoken word, Art punk, Punk jazz, Industrial music and Avant-garde music.
Read more about Lydia Lunch on Wikipedia »
Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth (May 14, 1959 Kendal-) a.k.a. h, Hogarth, Steve or Ronald Stephen Hoggarth is an English singer. His children are called Emil Hogarth, Sofi Hogarth and Nial Hogarth.
Discography: Ice Cream Genius, Live Spirit Live Body, You Dinosaur Thing, Not the Weapon But the Hand, Natural Selection, Arch Light and 2010-12-12: Blue Note, Milan, Italy. Genres he performed: Art rock, Progressive rock, Pop music, New Wave, Neo-progressive rock and Pop rock.
Read more about Steve Hogarth on Wikipedia »
Tim Murphy (August 7, 1959 Barrie-) is a Canadian , .
Read more about Tim Murphy on Wikipedia »
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens (May 5, 1959 Brooklyn-) also known as Stevens, Steve is an American musician, record producer, songwriter and guitarist.
His most important albums: Flamenco.A.Go.Go, Memory Crash and Atomic Playboys. Genres related to him: Rock music, Hard rock, Blues, New Wave, Progressive rock, Electronica, Instrumental rock, Goa trance, Jazz fusion, Tribal house, Electronic dance music, Post-punk, Blues rock, Glam metal and Heavy metal.
Read more about Steve Stevens on Wikipedia »
Morten Harket
Morten Harket (September 14, 1959 Kongsberg-) a.k.a. Harket, Morten is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and musician. He has five children, Jakob Harket, Jonathan Harket, Tomine Harket, Henny Harket and Karmen Harket.
His albums: Heaven's Not for Saints, Poetenes Evangelium: Jesu liv i norske dikt, A Kind of Christmas Card, Vogts Villa, Letter From Egypt, Spanish Steps, Out of My Hands, Wild Seed and Brother. Genres: Pop music, Synthpop, Alternative rock, New Wave and Pop rock.
Read more about Morten Harket on Wikipedia »
Chris Lowe (October 4, 1959 Blackpool-) also known as Christopher Sean Lowe or Pet Shop Boys is a British musician, keyboard player and film score composer.
His albums: The Most Incredible Thing. His related genres: Synthpop, Dance music, Electronica, Electronic dance music, Pop music, Intelligent dance music and Electropop.
Read more about Chris Lowe on Wikipedia »
Thomas Quasthoff
Thomas Quasthoff (November 9, 1959 Hildesheim-) also known as Quasthoff, Thomas is a German singer.
Discography: A Portrait, The Jazz Album: Watch What Happens, Der kleine Hörsaal: Singen mit Thomas Quasthoff, Schubert: Schwanengesang / Brahms: Vier Ernste Gesänge, Tell It Like It Is, Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Widmung: Romantische Lieder (feat. bass-baritone: Thomas Quasthoff, piano: Justus Zeyen), Die Stimme: Deutsche Opernarien (feat. bass-baritone: Thomas Quasthoff), Balladen (feat. baritone: Thomas Quasthoff) and .
Read more about Thomas Quasthoff on Wikipedia »
Akio Ōtsuka
Akio Ōtsuka (November 24, 1959 Tokyo-) also known as Ohtsuka Akio, Akio Otuka, Akio Ōtsuka, Ōtsuka Akio, Akio Otsuka, Akio Ootsuka, Ootsuka, Akio, Akio Ôtsuka or Akio Ohtsuka is a Japanese voice actor, actor and voice acting in japan.
Read more about Akio Ōtsuka on Wikipedia »
Saeko Shimazu
Saeko Shimazu (September 8, 1959 Isehara-) otherwise known as Shimadzu Saeko or Shimazu, Saeko is a Japanese voice actor.
Her albums include .
Read more about Saeko Shimazu on Wikipedia »
Mackenzie Phillips
Mackenzie Phillips (November 10, 1959 Alexandria-) a.k.a. Laura Mackenzie Phillips, Mack or Mackinzie Phillips is an American singer and actor. Her child is called Shane Barakan.
Read more about Mackenzie Phillips on Wikipedia »
Paul Westerberg (December 31, 1959 Minneapolis-) otherwise known as Grandpaboy, Westerberg, Paul, Paul Westerburg, Westerburg, Paul, Grandpa Boy or Boy, Grandpa is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist.
Discography: Besterberg: The Best of Paul Westerberg, Gravel Pit, Suicaine Gratifaction, Open Season, Stereo, Come Feel Me Tremble, 14 Songs, Eventually, Mono and I Want My Money Back. Genres he performed: Alternative rock and Punk rock.
Read more about Paul Westerberg on Wikipedia »
Graham Fellows
Graham Fellows (May 22, 1959 Sheffield-) also known as Jilted John, Jilted John - Jilted John, John Shuttleworth, Radio Shuttleworth, Shuttleworth, John, G. Fellows or Graham David Fellows is an English actor, musician and comedian.
His albums include Radio Shuttleworth 2, Love at the Hacienda, 4 Rather Tasty Tracks, True Love Stories, Jilted John, Y Reg, The Yamaha Years, Shuttleworth Live, One Foot in the Gravy (disc 2) and The Dolby Decades.
Read more about Graham Fellows on Wikipedia »
Nobuo Tobita (November 6, 1959 Mito-) otherwise known as Tobita Nobuo or Tobita, Nobuo is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
Read more about Nobuo Tobita on Wikipedia »
Pat Torpey
Pat Torpey (December 13, 1959 Cleveland-) also known as Torpey, Pat is an American drummer, songwriter and singer.
Genres he performed include Heavy metal, Hard rock, Progressive rock and Pop rock.
Read more about Pat Torpey on Wikipedia »
Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford (December 8, 1959 Liverpool-) also known as Rutherford, Paul or Paul Steven Rutherford is a British singer, musician, dancer and keyboard player.
His albums: Oh World and I Want Your Love. Genres he performed: New Wave, Dance music, Pop rock, Synthpop and House music.
Read more about Paul Rutherford on Wikipedia »
Yuriko Yamamoto
Yuriko Yamamoto (February 13, 1959 Hino-) a.k.a. Yuriko Satou is a Japanese voice actor, actor and singer.
Her albums include KISHIN THE SYMPHONY.
Read more about Yuriko Yamamoto on Wikipedia »
Chika Sakamoto
Chika Sakamoto (August 17, 1959 Tokyo-) a.k.a. Sakamoto Chika, Chinatsu Sakamoto or Chika Ishihara is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
Her albums include and .
Read more about Chika Sakamoto on Wikipedia »
Jon Kimura Parker
Jon Kimura Parker (December 25, 1959 Vancouver-) also known as Jon Kimua Parker, Parker, Jon Kimura or John Kimura Parker is a Canadian pianist.
His albums include Scherzo/Ballade/Etudes/Nocturnes, Mozart: Piano Concerti, Chopin: Piano Works and Rite. Genres: Classical music.
Read more about Jon Kimura Parker on Wikipedia »
Tony Wakeford
Tony Wakeford (May 2, 1959 Woking-) a.k.a. Wakeford, Tony is an English , .
His albums: La Croix, Cupid & Death, Paris, Into the Woods, Not All of Me Will Die, Three Nine, Autumn Calls, Wormwood, Revenge of the Selfish Shellfish and Oddities. Genres: Punk rock, Post-punk and Neofolk.
Read more about Tony Wakeford on Wikipedia »
Danny Devos
Danny Devos (September 20, 1959 Vilvoorde-) is a Belgian , .
Read more about Danny Devos on Wikipedia »
Patrick Yandall
Patrick Yandall (September 5, 1959 United States of America-) is an American , .
His albums: , A New Day, Back to the Groove, A Lasting Embrace, The Window, From the Ashes, Eyes Of Mars, Christmas San Diego Style, Samoa Soul and New York Blues.
Read more about Patrick Yandall on Wikipedia »
Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Hoffs (January 17, 1959 Los Angeles-) a.k.a. Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American singer, guitarist and actor. She has two children, Jackson Roach and Sam Rayfield Roach.
Discography: When You're a Boy, All I Want, Susanna Hoffs, Unconditional Love, Under the Covers, Vol. 1, The Pillowcase, Under the Covers, Volume 2, Someday and Under the Covers, Vol. 3. Genres: Pop music and Rock music.
Read more about Susanna Hoffs on Wikipedia »
Bob Stinson (December 17, 1959 Waconia-February 15, 1995) also known as Stinson, Bob or Robert Neil Stinson was an American musician and guitarist.
Genres he performed: Alternative rock and Punk rock.
Read more about Bob Stinson on Wikipedia »
Ana Torroja (December 28, 1959 Madrid-) also known as Torroja, Ana is a Spanish singer, musician and songwriter.
Discography: Ana Torroja, Esencial, Frágil, Pasajes de un sueño, Puntos cardinales, Me cuesta tanto olvidarte, Como Sueñan las Sirenas Remixes By Pumpin Dolls, , Girados and Gira dos en concierto. Genres she performed: Pop music, Synthpop, New Wave and Post-punk.
Read more about Ana Torroja on Wikipedia »
Steve Rothery
Steve Rothery (November 25, 1959 Brampton Bierlow-) also known as Steven Rothery or Rothery, Steve is a British musician, songwriter and guitarist.
Related albums: The Ghosts of Pripyat. Genres he performed: Neo-progressive rock, Rock music and Progressive rock.
Read more about Steve Rothery on Wikipedia »
Jody Watley
Jody Watley (January 30, 1959 Chicago-) also known as Jody Whatley, jody_watley, Watley, Jody or Jody Vanessa Watley is an American singer, record producer, songwriter, pianist, fashion model, dancer and actor. She has two children, Lauren Watley and Arie Cymone.
Discography: Jody Watley, Larger Than Life, Affection, I Love To Love (Remixes), I Love to Love, Midnight Lounge, Looking for a New Love: 2005 Remixes, Affairs of the Heart, Greatest Hits and Intimacy. Genres she performed: Soul music, Rhythm and blues, House music, Urban contemporary, Adult contemporary music, Dance-pop, Pop music, Dance music, Hip hop music and Contemporary R&B.
Read more about Jody Watley on Wikipedia »
Rose McDowall
Rose McDowall (October 21, 1959 Glasgow-) a.k.a. McDowall, Rose or Rose Mc. Dowall is a Scottish singer.
Her albums: Afraid / Geometric Horsehair Cavalcade. Genres: New Wave, Pop music and Neofolk.
Read more about Rose McDowall on Wikipedia »
Famous actresses born in 1993 List of the top 50 Famous actresses who were born in 1993
Australian musicians died in Prostate cancer List of the top 2 Australian music stars who died in Prostate cancer
American musicians died in Liver cancer List of the top 17 American music stars who died in Liver cancer
Australian musicians born in 1947 List of the top 10 Australian music stars who died in who were born in 1947
Argentine musicians died before turning 40 List of the top 49 Argentine music stars who died before 40
French actors born in 1990 List of the top 5 French actors who were born in 1990 |
Tag Archives: Doctor Who
Netflix, Reviews, Television
THE CINEMA FIX: 12 FAVOURITE TV SHOWS OF 2018
January 3, 2019 Paul. Writer and Filmmaker 2 Comments
12 FAVOURITE TV SHOWS OF 2018
I love television and watched a lot of it last year on most terrestrial and streaming services; especially the BBC, ITV, SKY and NETFLIX channels. I must admit I am way behind on many AMAZON and ALL 4/CHANNEL 4 programmes so will be rectifying that this year. Indeed, there are probably some glaring omissions because of this.
For comparison I include last year’s favourite TV shows. This year I have not included South Park (Season 22) as it was not as good as prior years, despite clearly being one of the funniest shows around. Also, Doctor Who does not make my list as there were too many average episodes. Lastly, a special mention to The Walking Dead (Season 9), which at the mid-season break had somehow pulled itself out of the torpid decline that occurred around Season 6. It may make my 2019 list once the latest season has finished screening this year.
FAVOURITE 12 TV SHOWS OF 2017
BIG LITTLE LIES (2017) – HBO
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM – SEASON 9 (2017) – HBO
FARGO (2017) – SEASON 3 – FOX / CHANNEL 4
GAME OF THRONES (2017) – SEASON 7 – HBO
THE HANDMAID’S TALE (2017) – HULU/CHANNEL 4
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (2017) – SEASON 12 – NETFLIX
LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN – 20TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY (2017) – BBC
LEGION (2017) – FOX
MINDHUNTER (2017) – NETFLIX
SOUTH PARK – SEASON 21 – SOUTH PARK STUDIOS
STRANGER THINGS 2 (2017) – NETFLIX
THE YOUNG POPE (2016) – HBO
ATLANTA (2018) – SEASON 2 – FOX
BILLIONS (2018) – S3 – SKY
BLACK MIRROR (2017) – NETFLIX
BODYGUARD (2018) – BBC1
THE DEUCE (2018) – S2 – HBO / SKY
HANDMAID’S TALE (2018) – S2 –C4
HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (2018) – NETFLIX
INSIDE NO. 9 (2018) – S4 – BBC
KILLING EVE (2018) – S1 – BBC
PATRICK MELROSE (2018) – SKY
VANITY FAIR (2018) – ITV
A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL (2018) – BBC
A Very English ScandalAtlantaBBCBIllionsBlack MirrorBodyguardChannel FourComedy CentralDoctor WhoFoxHaunting of Hill HouseHBOInside No. 9kILLING eVEKilling Eve BBCNetflixPatrick MelroseSkySky AtlanticTelevision ReviewsThe DeuceThe Handmaid's TaleTVTV REVIEWSVanity Fair
Doctor Who, Reviews, Television
DOCTOR WHO –S11 – EP. 10 REVIEW – THE BATTLE OF RANSKOOR AV KOLOS (2018)
December 15, 2018 Paul. Writer and Filmmaker 2 Comments
DOCTOR WHO – REVIEW – THE BATTLE OF RANSKOOR AV KOLOS (2018)
Directed by: Jamie Childs
Written by: Chris Chibnall
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Phyllis Logan, Mark Addy, Percelle Ascott, Samuel Oatley, Jan Le
Produced by: Alex Mercer
Executive producer(s): Chris Chibnall, Matt Strevens, Sam Hoyle
Music composer: Segun Akinola
**SPOILER WARNING**
Notwithstanding the New Year’s Day special coming on the first day of 2019, season 11 of Doctor Who came to an end with an episode which was certainly a big improvement on the last two episodes. As a whole this season has been very hit-and-miss and despite the lofty title, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, promised much but just about delivered more hit than miss. Arguably, it was a pretty simple narrative of return and retribution as the Doctor and companions came face-to-face with an old adversary.
Firstly, I must say it was a gorgeously shot with the craggy locations of the planet contrasting impressively with the futuristic spacecraft and alien technology. On the whole the series has, despite some very dodgy CGI in a couple of episodes been lovely to look at. Likewise the guest stars in many of the episodes have been very good and in The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos seasoned character actors Mark Addy and Phyllis Logan bring resonance to the drama.
Answering a legion of distress signals brings the Doctor and the Tardis crew to Ranskoor Av Kolos circa year 5425. There they find aplanet ravaged by conflict and an amnesiac soldier Paltraki (Addy) who has lost his mind and crew. Soon the Doctor comes face to face with an ancient race called ‘The Ux’; an all-powerful duo able to build worlds with their minds.Basically they are like a telepathic Minecraft player but dealing with complex chemical and physical reality rather than computers.
More dramatically, however, is the nemesis of the piece. Having dispatched the ‘Predator’-like villain – from the very first episode of this series – the Tzim-Sha into dimensional space they find him now wreaking havoc on Ranskoor Av Kolos. He exploits The Ux’s incredible power and religious naivety to create a weapon of mass destruction and terrorize the galaxy. But who will stop him we ask? The Doctor of course! Well, with revenge on his mind (for the death of his wife, Grace) Graham has a moral choice of killing Tzim-Sha/Tim Shaw or being the better man. It’s this emotional conflict which gives the episode its’ most interesting aspect. Indeed, once again Bradley Walsh gets the most to work with out of the companions.
Overall, Chris Chibnall’s writing has been criticized on social media by irritated fans, however, I don’t actually think the concepts and general writing of the show are as bad as people say. What I think has been flawed is the rewriting and development of many of the scripts. I actually think ten singular episodes are probably too many, and like some of Capaldi’s episodes, they set-up excellent dramatic situations but had rushed endings. I believe they should go for say five stories (over ten episodes) at maximum and develop the characters more so we feel for them and the stories have a chance to breathe. Lastly, I think Jodie Whittaker has been excellent carrying the show but I never liked her costume and the direction of the Doctor as a breathless, wacky primary teacher sort did not gel with me. But as Sunday entertainment goes The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, and the series as a whole was enjoyable, if slightly underwhelming television.
Mark: 7.5 out of 11
BBCBradley WalshChris ChibnallCinema FixDoctor WhoJamie ChildsJan LeJodie WhittakerMandip GillMark AddyPercelle AscottPhyllis LoganSamuel OatleySci-fiscience fictionSegun AkinolaTARDISTelevisionTime TravelTosin Cole
DOCTOR WHO –S11 – EP. 9 REVIEW – IT TAKES YOU AWAY (2018)
December 8, 2018 Paul. Writer and Filmmaker 2 Comments
DOCTOR WHO REVIEW – IT TAKES YOU AWAY (2018)
Written by: Ed Hime
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Ellie Wallwork, Kevin Eldon, Christian Rubeck, Lisa Stokke
Produced by: Nikki Wilson
This episode, depending on your point of view, was either a strange, but moving science fantasy surrealist hybrid classic; or a collection of half-baked concepts that fell apart with an incredibly bizarre and silly ending.
Yet, It Takes You Away starts off very promisingly. For a start the title evokes suspense, mystery and an underlying sense of loss. The suspense builds when the Doctor and companions arrive in Scandinavia and are immediately faced with a mystery in the Norwegian wood. The beautiful landscape of blue fjords, green brush and scattered timber hide a dark secret within a boarded up cabin. The impressive cinematography also evokes an eerie atmosphere. Moreover, there’s a frightening monster hiding somewhere within nature. Or is there?
In the cabin, the Doctor finds a lone teenage girl, Hanne, blind and seemingly abandoned by her father. Of course, they all agree to help protect Hanne against the monster and find her father too. Up to this point the drama and mystery were intriguing and finely poised. Subsequent events descend to a strange place called the ‘Anti-Zone’. This is where it all begins to fall apart narratively speaking.
Emotionally the episode had some very powerful moments drawing on the breakdown of family relationships; Graham’s grief for the loss of his wife and whether it is better to live in or out of reality. However, within these fascinating themes were some stupid bloodsucking moths and the brilliant character actor Kevin Eldon was under-used as an underground demon-type creature. The less said about the ending the better, which I can only think was going for Twitter-like-clickbait trending rather than a coherent and believable pay-off.
The denouement, together with another massive exposition dump from the Doctor scrambling to convince us it all made sense, found the episode completely laughable. It was a shame as it had some fine ideas and Bradley Walsh gave a moving performance as Graham. Ultimately though, this season of DoctorWho is flailing having started so promisingly and It Takes You Away plummeted to a new low.
BBCBradley WalshChristian RubeckDoctor WhoDoctor Who reviewEllie WallworkIt Takes It AwayJodie WhittakerKevin EldonLisa StokkeMandip GillREVIEWSeason 11TelevisionTosin ColeTVtv review
Doctor Who, Television
DOCTOR WHO– S11 – EP. 8 REVIEW – THE WITCHFINDERS (2018)
November 29, 2018 Paul. Writer and Filmmaker Leave a comment
Directed by: Sallie Aprahamian
Written by: Joy Wilkinson
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Alan Cumming, Siobhan Finneran, Tilly Steele, Tricia Kelly, Arthur Kay
Composer: Segun Akinola
Well, after enjoying a number of this season’s episodes for fascinating writing and emotional exploration of important historical events, we finally got one that didn’t work for me on the whole. The Witchfinders found the Doctor and the now tiresomely named “gang”, in attempting to time travel to the Coronation of Elizabeth I, ending up in a bitter backward village in Lancashire. There they discover all manner of horrific deeds being dealt upon the women folk; all accused of witchcraft by the aptly named matriarch of the manor, Becca Savage.
It is announced by Savage – an excellent Siobhan Finneran – that Satan’s work is legion in the village and witches will be tried by dunking. If they survive and are able to breath under water then they are damned as a witch. Yet, if they drown they are not a witch. This medieval version of “Catch 22” was actually a real thing and while incredible to today’s woke audiences shows our ancestors in a very poor light. There is often some reflection and resonance to current times where Doctor Who is concerned and here there is no difference. Indeed, witch-hunts often occur in society now via the press or new-fangled “demon” – the damned social media.
Along with Finneran as Savage, Alan Cumming also guest stars as King James I. It’s a slyly camp and arguably over-the-top performance that Cumming excels at and was enjoyable nonetheless. However, as the episode proceeded the strength of the witch-hunt ideas gave way to a really badly written script and the Doctor and Graham wearing hats anachronistically for weak comic effect. I guess the Doctor has a bit more action, rather than being a cypher for history; and at least finds herself in a bit more peril too. But I have to admit I don’t think Jodie Whittaker is getting hold of the role of the Doctor in the way her predecessors did. It’s almost as if she’s copying David Tennant or Matt Smith too much. It’s a shame, but you cannot just blame sloppy writing or directing, as it’s now clear Whittaker is not owning the role.
The ending of the episode, while containing some brilliant monsters, was so hurried. We got a barrage of exposition in a final face-off scene which also contained some very shoddy effects. The Witchfinders was therefore a bang average episode, which started very promisingly but drowned by the end in a lake of mediocrity. Indeed, if you go to YouTube you will find a plethora of postings which are decrying the end of Doctor Who as we know it. I myself believe it’s far too early to grab a torch and join that mob. Because, on the whole, the series has had some great episodes, but unfortunately this wasn’t one of them.
Alan CummingArthur KayBradley WalshChris ChibnallDoctor WhoJodie WhittakerJoy WilkinsonMandip Gillscience fictionSiobhan FinneranThe WitchfindersTilly SteeleTosin ColeTricia KellyWitch-Hunt
DOCTOR WHO – S11 – EP. 7 REVIEW – KERBLAM (2018)
Directed by: Jennifer Perrott
Written by: Pete McTighe
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Lee Mack, Callum Dixon, Claudia Jessie etc.
After the moving emotion and historical power of last week’s episode, this week the Doctor was back to the future and in outer space. Following a delivery from the Kerblam shopping emporium the Tardis crew receive a message pleading for help. Quicker than you can say Amazon, the team are soon undercover at the space factory trying to find out what’s going on at Kerblam.
It’s a pacey episode with some excellent one-liners and a pretty involving plot. The writer Peter Tighe manages to cram in some corporate sabotage, a romance plot and creepy androids – called TeamMates – reminiscent of the electric cab drivers from Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall (1990). It also features some excellent guest appearances from comedian Lee Mack and Julie Hesmondhalgh who stand-out in their under-written roles. Aside from a couple of wonky narrative moments and dodgy CGI conveyor belt chase the episode was very enjoyable.
In terms of subtext there were some interesting points to be made about online shopping empires and the idea that machines are making human beings redundant. However, this wasn’t laboured but successfully integrated into the humorous and, at times, suspenseful story. Indeed, this felt more like one of the lighter Matt Smith or David Tennant episodes in terms of wit, action and theme. My main issue now with the series is that the Doctor’s characterisation is not as interesting as previous ones.
It is now the seventh week for Jodie Whittaker’s tenure and in each episode I have really wanted her to stamp her acting authority on the role. She is a great actor but perhaps some of the directing is failing to make the most of her ability. The show is entertaining enough but it does feel too dramatically lightweight in terms of Whittaker’s performance at times. Of course, I am still really enjoying the show but at present the Doctor is more of a cypher rather than a rounded character. Jodie Whittaker is carrying the episodes brilliantly but there’s got to be more weight and intensity for me.
AmazonBBCBradley WalshCallum DixonChris ChibnallClaudia JessieDoctor WhoJodie WhittakerJulie HesmondhalghKerblamLee MackMandip GillMatt StrevensNikki WilsonPete McTigheSam HoyleShoppingSpaceTIMETime TravelTosin Cole
DOCTOR WHO – S11 – EP. 6 REVIEW – DEMONS OF THE PUNJAB (2018)
Written by: Vinay Patel
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Leena Dhingra, Amita Suman, Shane Zaza, Hamza Jeetooa etc.
This season of Doctor Who is now settling into a strong mix of diversity, narrative simplicity and emotional resonance. I’ve read some negative comments bemoaning the quality of the writing and weakness of the stories in general, however, as Sunday night teatime entertainment goes the show is a success in my view. Indeed, the latest episode, Demons of the Punjab was another involving and fascinating watch.
This week it was Yaz’ character which took centre stage as her curiosity about her grandmother, Umbreen, found the Doctor breaking time-travel protocol. If you’ve seen the Doctor Who episode Father’s Day and film classic Back to the Future (1985) we all know how dangerous it can be for anyone to cross their own timeline. Indeed, while the Doctor has actually crossed her own timeline before many times she should really know better!
Thus, Team TARDIS travelled back to 1947 as the Partition of India took place. Here Yaz gets to meet her own family members as her grandmother is about to marry. Of course the path of true love and time travel rarely goes smoothly and the course of history is threatened by Yaz’ presence and her and the Doctor must attempt to not interfere with events. Of course, it would not be a Doctor Who episode without some kind of alien threat and this is provided by the Vajarians; a mystical race who appear where chaos is ensuing across the universe. Their presence adds an air of mystery to the episode, but ultimately they are an emotional subplot to the main conflict relating to how the Partition of India affects Yaz’ family.
Overall, Demons of the Punjab successfully combined political, historical, romance and drama in amidst the usual science fiction concepts. It was especially strong from an emotional perspective. By the end as a family is torn apart by the situation I felt a real sadness in my heart. The division of India by the British Empire was an event which divided people based on their religion and ethnic background and created a huge schism between families, colleagues and friends. Doctor Who merely skims the surface of the impact it would have and the lives affected by the subsequent conflict. Yet, what the episode teaches us is that while we may not be able to change history we must learn from it. We must learn that division and conflict can only lead to heartache and pain.
Amita SumanBradley WalshChris ChibnallCONFLICTDemons of the PunjabDoctor WhoHamza JeetooaIndiaJamie ChildsJodie WhittakerLeena DhingraloveMandip GillMatt StrevensPakistanPartitionSam Hoylescience fictionShane ZazaTosin ColeVinay Patelwar
DOCTOR WHO – SEASON 11 – EPISODE 5 REVIEW: THE TSURANGA CONUNDRUM (2018)
November 9, 2018 Paul. Writer and Filmmaker Leave a comment
Executive producer(s): BBC Productions, Chris Chibnall, Matt Strevens, Sam Hoyle
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, Brett Goldstein, Ben Bailey-Smith, Suzanne Packer etc.
Well, this was a lot of fun. I really connected with this latest adventure, which found the Doctor and her crew initially scavenging on an alien junkyard planet, before suddenly being caught in a surprise sonic explosion. They wake aboard the Tsuranga – which is an automated space hospital – like a flying version of the National Health Service. Discombobulated and injured from the mine explosion the Doctor, companions, Tsuranga’s crew and patients are soon to be faced with an even bigger danger.
Small but devastating the danger is called a P’Ting. It’s a creature that scoffs non-organic material; a cute looking eating machine that will devour the ship. It attacks the vessel and begins literally eating it out of space-ship and home. The Doctor, aided by the ship’s medical staff Astos and Mabli; plus General Eve Cicero; her brother Durkas; synth robot Ronan; and Yoss, a pregnant man are all threatened by the darned P’Ting. I wondered if there was some sociological subtext to the P’Ting as it eats its way through the hospital in space, with Chris Chibnall critiquing the devastation of the NHS by the Tories. However, this message wasn’t to the fore and overall it was essentially a fun genre episode with lots of action and humour throughout.
The standard genre set-up of a base/ship under siege is a Doctor Who staple. Despite the simplicity of the plot, it felt fast-paced and thrilling to me. The guest stars were excellent too, notably the comedian Brett Goldstein who stood out during his time on screen. There was some silliness with Ben Bailey-Smith’s Durkas rigging up a nebulous engineering control to pilot the crashing Tsuranga; nonetheless the entertainment levels remained very high. I especially enjoyed the humour and emotion gained from the alien bloke (who looked very human) giving birth; while Tosin Cole’s Ryan examined further his own relationship with his estranged father. Overall though, this was another light and uncomplicated episode from Chibnall, Whittaker and the team, but one that had me laughing and thrilled throughout.
BBCBBC ProductionsBen Bailey-SmithBradley WalshBrett GoldsteinChris ChibnallDoctor WhoJodie WhittakerMandip GillMatt StrevensPtingSam Hoylescience fictionSpaceSuzanne PackerTHE TSURANGA CONUNDRUMTIMETime TravelTosin Coletv review |
Dr. Peter M. Graham
schoolwork | Teacher … see also: Mr. Michael Settanni / Dr. Paul J. Angiolillo / Ms. Ringle / Dr. Joseph N. Bartlett / Mrs. Marie H. Flocco / Mrs. Michelle Leininger
Oxygenation and Hydrochlorination of Vaska’s Complex Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)
↘︎ Apr 22, 2010 … 6′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
Vaska’s complex, Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO), reacts with O2 at room temperature to form Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)(O2) at a ratio of 3.11:1 reactant to product and with HCl to form Ir(Cl)2[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)H at 47.7% yield. The CO stretch on the IR spectra of these compounds is found at a lower frequency than that of the CO stretch from Vaska’s complex because the additional ligands lead to increased π back-bonding. In comparison to the 31P NMR spectrum of Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO), the signal given by the 31P NMR spectrum of Ir(Cl)2[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)H is shifted upfield because of additional electronegative ligands added to the metal, which draw in electron density and deshield the phosphorus molecules. Finally, the 1H NMR spectra of Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO) and Ir(Cl)2[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)H are nearly identical aside from a signal given off by Ir(Cl)2[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)H at δ -15.36 representative of the Ir-H addition. This signal is seen as a triplet of quartets due to coupling with Ir and P.
Vaska’s complex, Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO), is a versatile complex because of its ability to bind other additional ligands.1 Whereas most complexes contain 18 electrons and are considered to be saturated, Vaska’s complex contains only 16 electrons and is thus able to add certain two-electron donors to reach 18 valence electrons. It can also undergo oxidative addition in which the Ir1 center inserts into the σ bond of certain molecules, and the oxidation state of Ir is increased while reaching 18 electrons. Oxygenation and hydrochlorination of Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO) proceed in the following manners:
Scheme 1
These oxidative additions are of interest because the relative ease of identifying their products. The additional ligands will both increase π back-bonding to the metal and draw in electron density. The effects of these two characteristics are apparent through IR and 31P NMR spectroscopy, as a weakened CO bond will cause a lowering of CO stretch frequency in an IR spectrum, and deshielded phosphorus will be shifted upfield in a 31P NMR spectrum.
All syntheses were carried out in air and the reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial sources and used as received unless otherwise noted. The synthesis of Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)(O2) (2) and Ir(Cl)2[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)H (3) were based on reports published previously.1
Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO) (1). The 1H NMR, 31P NMR, and IR spectra of (1) were taken by Dr. Graham. This compound was not synthesized but purchased commercially. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.25-7.97 (3 H, series of signals, -C6H5). 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ 24.5 (s, -P(C6H5)3). FTIR (ATR) ν(CO) 1951 cm-1 (s, C-O linkage).
Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)]2(CO)(O2) (2). A stir bar, 1 (0.010 g, 1.28 x 10-5 mol), and toluene (10 mL) were subsequently added to a 25 mL single neck round bottom flask. The flask was covered with a septum and the vessel was degassed with O2 for 3 minutes. The solution was then stirred at room temperature at moderate speed for 1 h. The septum was taken of the flask and the solvent was removed via rotary evaporation so that only a few mL of solution remained. One drop of this solution was placed onto the ATR and allowed to dry before taking the IR spectrum of the complex. FTIR (ATR) ν(CO) 1952 cm-1 (m, C-O linkage), ν(CO) 2000 cm-1 (m, C-O linkage).
Ir(Cl)2[P(C6H5)3]2(CO)H (3). 1 (0.032 g, 4.10 x 10-5 mol), THF (10 mL), HCl (concentrated, 5 drops), and Et2O (50 mL) were subsequently added to a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The solution was swirled around for about 5 minutes to allow a whitish precipitate to form. The solution was filtered using a small frit and the precipitate was vacuum dried. The product was determined to be 3 (0.016 g, 1.96 x 10-5 mol, 47.7% yield based on the amount of 1 used). An extension of the 1H NMR spectra of this substance was given out by Dr. Graham. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ -15.36 (tq, JIr, JP, Ir-H), δ 7.24-7.91 (3 H, series of signals, -C6H5). 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ -1.74 (s, -P(C6H5)3). FTIR (ATR) ν(CO) 1951 cm-1 (s, C-O linkage), ν(CO) 2021 cm-1 (s, C-O linkage).
The reaction of 1 with O2 was not directly measured for percent yield, but could indirectly be measured via the IR spectrum of the product 2. The stretch at 1952 cm-1 was telling of 1 and the stretch at 2000 cm-1 was indicative of 2. The ratio of the area of these peaks was 3.11:1, reactant to product. The reaction of 2 with HCl resulted 0.016 g of product, which was determined to be 3. This translated to 1.96 x 10-5 mol and a 47.7% yield based on the amount of 1 used. The reactants and products reacted in 1:1 ratios in both instances. The IR spectrum of 1 was used to differentiate the two stretches in the 1950 to 2000 cm-1 region on the IR spectra of 2 and 3. The stretch around 1950 cm-1 could be identified as the CO stretch from 1, and the stretches around 2000 cm-1 were from the CO stretches of 2 and 3.
The 1H NMR spectrum of 1 showed a series of signals from δ 7.25-7.97 which was representative of protons attached to the phenyl rings. The 1H NMR spectrum of 3 had these same phenyl signals, but additionally contained a signal from the hydride at δ -15.36 that was coupled with Ir and P into a triplet of quartets. The 31P NMR spectrum of 1 gave a singlet peak at δ 24.5 representative of the two identical phosphorus molecules on the compound. The 31P NMR spectrum of 3 displayed its singlet peak shifted upfield to δ -1.74.
The ratio of formation of 2 seems reasonable, but it is unable to be determined whether or not that is a high or low ratio given the reaction time. If the solution was given more time to react, perhaps more product would have formed. If the flask was degassed with O2 for a longer amount of time, it is likely that would also favor the formation of more product, as additional oxygen would increase the interactions with 1 to form 2. In retrospect, the solution could have been stirred at more rigorous speed, as that would also likely increase the interactions between 1 and O2. The percent yield of 3 was close to 50%, which seems fairly good, though not all of the product that was weighed out actually was 3. It can be seen on the IR spectrum of the product that a significant amount of 1 remained, due to the stretch visible around 1950 cm-1.
The IR spectra for 1, 2, and 3 are all very similar. The IR spectrum of 1 shows a single CO stretch at 1951 cm-1. The IR spectra of 2 and 3 also show stretches around 1950 cm-1, which suggests that those products obtained contained unreacted 1. The IR spectra of 2 and 3 also contain a second CO stretch around 2000 cm-1. These stretches are representative of desired product. The lowered frequency is due to increased π back-bonding from the addition of O2 and HCl to the Ir in 1 in each case. This strengthens the Ir-C bond and weakens the C-O bond causing the shifts in frequency.1
The 1H NMR spectra of 1 and 3 are nearly identical save for the signal given off by the Ir-H bond by 3 at δ -15.36. This signal is first coupled with phosphorus, which has a spin of 1/2.1 There are two phosphorus, so using the equation 2nI + 1, the value of 3 is obtained. Because the spin is 1/2, this means that 3 peaks will be observed in a 1:2:1 ratio. The hydrogen is then coupled to iridium, which has a spin of 3/2.2 There is only one iridium, so using the equation 2nI + 1, the value of 4 is obtained. Because the spin is 3/2, this means that the 4 peaks will be observed in a 1:1:1:1 ratio.3 This explains the appearance of the hydride signal.
The 31P NMR spectrum of 3 has a singlet peak shifted upfield from that of the 31P NMR spectrum of 1. This is due to the electronegativity of the hydrogen and chlorine added to the metal, which draw electron density away from the phosphorus molecules leaving them less shielded. The oxidation state of Ir in complex 1 is +1 while being +3 in complexes 2 and 3. Its electron count in 1 is 16 electrons, while its electron count in 2 and 3 is 18 electrons.
The main purposes of the experiments were to synthesize 2 and 3, confirm their structures by comparing their various spectra to those of 1, and to determine their percent yields or reactant to product ratios. The ratio of reactant to product for 2 was 3.11:1 which was obtained from the ratio of the areas of the two CO stretches on its IR spectrum representative of reactant and product. The percent yield of 3 was calculated to 47.7%, but was in reality lower because of CO stretches on its IR spectrum representative of 1. The visibility of this stretch means the reaction did not go to completion.
The structures of 2 and 3 were somewhat validated by their IR spectra, which gave CO stretches around 2000 cm-1. It was expected to see CO stretches for those compounds in this area because the additional ligands would cause increased π back-bonding, making the C-O bond weaker and thus lowering the frequency.1 A series of peaks seen on both the 1H NMR spectra of 1 and 3 around δ 7.24-7.91 is suggestive of phenyl groups. The only notable difference between the 1H NMR spectra of 1 and 3 is the addition of a triplet of quartets at δ -15.36 for compound 3. The splitting of the peaks is due to coupling of the proton from the Ir-H bond to Ir and to the two P. The P split the signal into triplets of 1:2:1 ratio and the Ir split those signals into quartets of 1:1:1:1 ratio. Finally, the comparison of the 1 and 3 31P NMR spectra seem to confirm the identity of 3 as the singlet seen in the spectrum of 1 is shifted upfield in the spectrum of 3. This is due to the addition of H and Cl to the compound, which are electronegative and draw electron density away from the P, leaving it deshielded.
(1) Angelici, R. J.; Girolami, G. S.; Rachufuss T. B. Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry: A Laboratory Manual; University Science Books: Sausilito, CA, 1999; pp 189-195, 259.
(2) http://www.webelements.com/iridium/nmr.html
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMR_spectroscopy
10 Apr 22: Oxygenation and Hydrochlorination of Vaska’s Complex Ir(Cl)[P(C6H5)3]2(CO) #CHM 2521 (Inorganic Chemistry Lab) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
10 Apr 16: Synthesis, Determination, and Catalytic Measurement of Ruthenium Indenylidene Complexes used in Olefin Metathesis #CHM 2521 (Inorganic Chemistry Lab) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
10 Mar 17: Synthesis and Determination of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 #CHM 2521 (Inorganic Chemistry Lab) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
10 Mar 4: Synthesis and Determination of Polypyrazolylborates #CHM 2521 (Inorganic Chemistry Lab) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
10 Feb 11: Tinkering with Tin #CHM 2521 (Inorganic Chemistry Lab) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
09 Dec 5: Ring-Opening Metathesis PowerPoint Presentation #CHM 2511 (Inorganic Chemistry) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
09 Nov 22: Double Group Transfer Reactions of an Unsaturated Tantalum Methylidene Complex with Pyridine N-Oxides #CHM 2511 (Inorganic Chemistry) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
09 Oct 22: A Stable Neutral Diborene Containing a B=B Double Bond #CHM 2511 (Inorganic Chemistry) #Dr. Peter M. Graham #Saint Joseph's University
CHM 2521 (Inorganic Chemistry Lab) (Class) / Saint Joseph’s University (School) / schoolwork (Post Type)
Synthesis, Determination, and Catalytic Measurement of Ruthenium Indenylidene Complexes used in Olefin Metathesis
↘︎ Apr 16, 2010 … 13′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
The reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)2, THF, and diphenylpropargyl alcohol under reflux yields C51H40P2Cl2Ru in 46% yield. 1H NMR spectroscopy of C51H40P2Cl2Ru shows a series of overlapping peaks at δ 7.3-7.8. C51H40P2Cl2Ru can then react with dichloromethane and tricyclohexylphosphine to form C51H76Cl2P2Ru. 1H NMR spectroscopy of C51H76Cl2P2Ru yields the same series of peaks found around δ 7.3-7.8 that C51H40P2Cl2Ru exhibits, along with a faint series of peaks at δ 1.8-2.1. 31P NMR spectroscopy of both products shows a single peak around δ 29.5. This suggests what was believed to be C51H76Cl2P2Ru was actually mostly C51H40P2Cl2Ru. Catalytic measures of the two synthesized products were inconclusive due to their similar natures, however, it is expected that C51H76Cl2P2Ru is the better catalyst as it has bulkier, more readily dissociating substituents.
The reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)2 with THF and diphenylpropargyl alcohol under reflux yields C51H40P2Cl2Ru.1 The reaction specifically takes place in the following manner:
C51H40P2Cl2Ru can then react with dichloromethane and tricyclohexylphosphine to form C51H76Cl2P2Ru. The reaction occurs in the following manner:
These products be distinguished via 1H and 31 NMR spectroscopy. The 1H NMR spectrum of the C51H76Cl2P2Ru will yield peaks representative of the newly added cyclo groups, which are missing in C51H40P2Cl2Ru. The 31P NMR spectra of each product should theoretically each show 1 peak, with the peak of C51H76Cl2P2Ru being downfield from C51H40P2Cl2Ru because of the lower electron density around the phosphorus.
The products from these two reaction are of interest because they are ruthenium alkidene complexes, which are alternatives to Grubbs’ catalysts and are much less difficult to prepare in the laboratory.1 These two ruthenium indenylidene complexes can be used as catalysts in ring closing metathesis. Show below are the balanced reaction and mechanism in which diethyl diallylmalonate undergoes this process with the aid of a ruthenium catalyst:
The relative catalytic rates of the two ruthenium indenylidene complexes can be monitored via GC/MS. Determination of the starting material and product from this technique can show the relative percentages of each material within a solution. By comparing the ratio of reagent to product for each of the ruthenium complexes, it can be determined which is a better catalyst, as the more efficient catalyst will sport the lower ratio of reagent to product.
All syntheses were carried out in nitrogen and the reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial sources and used as received unless otherwise noted. The synthesis of C51H40P2Cl2Ru (1A), C51H76Cl2P2Ru (1B), and C11H16O4 (2) were based on reports published previously.1
C51H40P2Cl2Ru (1A). A hot, dry 100 mL 3 neck round bottom flask was obtained from an oven and connected to it were a cold water condenser, septum, and sidearm stopcock. A gas inlet was connected to the condenser and a bubbler was connected to the gas inlet. All joints were greased. A stir bar was placed in the round bottom flask and the apparatus was connected to a nitrogen source. The condenser was connected to a cold water source. The round bottom flask was degassed with N2 until cool, at which time RuCl2(PPh3)2 (0.179 g, 1.87 x 10-4 mol), THF (10 mL), and diphenylpropargyl alcohol (0.080 g, 3.84 x 10-4 mol) were subsequently added to the reaction vessel. A sand bath was constructed and was used to heat the solution. The sand bath was set to 80% power and the mixture began to reflux a while later, but THF began to evaporate over time so the sand bath was turned down to around 40% power and an additional 30 mL of THF had to be added to the solution during the 2.5 h reflux period. The stir bar was spun at a moderate speed during this time.
After the reflux period had been completed, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. The solution was then transferred to a single neck 50 mL round bottom flask at which time the solution was taken off the N2 supply and was exposed to air for the remainder of the synthesis. The solvent was removed via rotary evaporation leaving a thick, dark, brownish, reddish liquor. 1.5 mL dichloromethane was added to the liquor along with 9 mL hexane, which was slowly pipeted in. A dark red solid was precipitated and filtered using a small fritted funnel and was washed 3 times with about 2 mL hexane during each rinsing. The solid was vacuum dried and placed into a pre-weighed vial (9.698 g). The vial was stored in a dessicator for 1 week. The final weight of the vial was 9.767 g. The product was determined to be 1A (0.069g, 7.78 x 10-5 mol, 41.6% yield based on the amount of RuCl2(PPh3)2 used). 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.3-7.8 (6 H, overlapping signal, Phand indenylidene). 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ 29.5 (s, Ru-P). FTIR (ATR) ν 1928 cm-1 (m).
C51H76Cl2P2Ru (1B). A hot, dry 100 mL 3 neck round bottom flask was obtained from an oven and connected to it were a cold water condenser, septum, and sidearm stopcock. A gas inlet was connected to the condenser and a bubbler was connected to the gas inlet. A stir bar was placed in the round bottom flask and the apparatus was connected to a nitrogen source. The condenser was connected to a cold water source. The round bottom flask was degassed with N2 until cool, at which time 1A (0.050 g, 5.64 x 10-5 mol), dichloromethane (7 mL), and tricyclohexylphosphine (0.055 g, 1.96 x 10-4 mol) were subsequently added to the reaction vessel. The mixture was stirred at a moderate speed at room temperature for 1.5 h. 2 mL of additional dichloromethane was added to the solution during this time as some had evaporated off.
The solution was then transferred to a 50 mL single neck round bottom flask at which time the solution was taken off the N2 supply and was exposed to air for the remainder of the synthesis. The solvent was removed via rotary evaporation. The remaining solid was suspended with 5 mL of hexane. This new solution was stirred at a moderate speed at ambient temperature for 0.5 h. The resulting solid was filtered using a small fritted funnel and was washed 3 times with about 2 mL hexane during each rinsing. The solid was vacuum dried and placed into a pre-weighed vial (9.737 g). This vial was stored in a dessicator for 1 week. The final weight of the vial was 9.824 g. The product was determined to be 1B (0.087g, 9.42 x 10-5 mol, 167% yield based on the amount of 1A used). 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 1.8-2.1 (5 H, overlapping signal, PCy3), δ 7.1-7.9 (6 H, overlapping signal, Ph and indenylidene). 31P NMR (CDCl3): δ 29.8 (s, Ru-P). FTIR (ATR) ν 1921 cm-1 (m).
C11H16O4 (2). A hot, dry 100 mL 3 neck round bottom flask was obtained from an oven and connected to it were a cold water condenser, septum, and sidearm stopcock. A gas inlet was connected to the condenser and a bubbler was connected to the gas inlet. A stir bar was placed in the round bottom flask and the apparatus was connected to a nitrogen source. The condenser was connected to a cold water source. The round bottom flask was degassed with N2 until cool, at which time 1B (0.010 g, 1.08 x 10-5 mol), anhydrous dichloromethane (6 mL), and diethyl diallylmalonate (0.100 g, 4.16 x 10-4 mol) were subsequently added to the reaction vessel. The mixture was stirred at a moderate speed at room temperature for just over 1 h. The solution was then transferred to a 25 mL single neck round bottom flask at which time the solution was taken off the N2 supply and was exposed to air for the remainder of the synthesis. The solvent was removed via rotary evaporation. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 1.2 (t, -CH3), δ 2.6 (d, -CH2), δ 4.1 (q, O-CH2), δ 5.1 (m, =CH2), δ 5.6 (tt, C-H), δ 6.8-7.7 (6 H, overlapping signal, Ph and indenylidene). GC-MS (CH2Cl2): 212 (2.5%, (2)), 241 (82.2%, (3)).
The process described above was repeated by a laboratory partner using 1A in lieu of 1B. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 0.9 (t), δ 1.25 (s), δ 1.55 (s), δ 1.84 (t), δ 3.74 (t), δ 6.8-7.7 (6 H, overlapping signal, Ph and indenylidene). GC-MS (CH2Cl2): 212 (0.12%, (2)), 241 (59.1%, (3)).
C13H20O4 (3). The 1H NMR spectrum of (3) was obtained from Sigma Aldrich.2 1H NMR (CHCl3): δ 1.25 (t, -CH3), δ 2.6 (d, -CH2), δ 4.2 (q, O-CH2), δ 5.1 (m, =CH2), δ 5.7 (tt, C-H).
The reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)2 with diphenylpropargyl alcohol yielded 0.069g of product, which was determined to be 1A. This translated to 7.78 x 10-5 mol and thus a 41.6% yield based on the amount of RuCl2(PPh3)2 used, which was the limiting reagent in the reaction. Proton NMR spectroscopy of 1A yielded one series of peaks of interest. From δ 7.3-7.8 there was a sequence of peaks representing the 6 different aromatic hydrogens from the phenyl and indenylidene groups. 31P NMR spectroscopy elicited one peak at δ 29.5 which can be attributed to phosphorus coordinated with the metal, Ru. The IR spectrum of the substance gave one notable peak at 1928 cm-1, but the identity of this peak was unable to be determined.
The reaction of 1A with dichloromethane and tricyclohexylphosphine yielded 0.087g of product, which was determined to be 1B. This translated to 9.42 x 10-5 mol and thus a 167% yield based on the amount of 1A used, which was the limiting reagent in the reaction. Proton NMR spectroscopy of 1B yielded two series of peaks of interest. From δ 1.8-2.1 were noted a faint sequence of overlapping signals, which were thought to be due to the 5 different hydrogens from the PCy3 groups. From δ 7.1-7.9 there was a string of peaks representing the 6 different aromatic hydrogens from the phenyl and indenylidene groups. 31P NMR spectroscopy elicited one peak at δ 29.8 which can be attributed to phosphorus coordinated with the metal, Ru. The IR spectrum of the substance gave one notable peak at 1921 cm-1, but again the identity of this peak was unable to be determined.
The reaction using 1B as a catalyst to perform ring closing metathesis on diethyl diallylmalonate produced a product with a 1H NMR spectrum containing several peaks of interest. The triplet δ 1.2 was thought to be due to the methyl group, the doublet at δ 2.6 was thought to be due to –CH2 groups, the quartet at δ 4.1 was thought to be due to the O-CH2 groups, the multiple peaks at δ 5.1 were thought to be from =CH2, the triplet of triplets at δ 5.6 was thought to be from C-H, and lastly the extremely weak overlapping signals at δ 6.8-7.7 were thought to be from phenyl and indenylidene groups. These assumptions are made taking into consideration that the 1H NMR spectrum of diethyl diallylmalonate was identical, save for the almost negligible peaks from δ 6.8-7.7.2 The GC/MS of 1B gave what were thought to be signals of interest at times 6.648 min and 6.945 min. The reading at 6.648 min accounted for 2.5% of the scan and was thought to be C11H16O4 because its m/z of 212 appeared as a peak. The reading at 6.945 min accounted for 82.2% of the scan and was thought to be diethyl diallylmalonate because its m/z of 241 appeared as a peak, albeit very small. This gave a proposed ratio of 33:1, reactant to product.
When using 1A as the catalyst in lieu of 1B in this reaction, proton NMR spectroscopy of the product elicited several peaks, most of which were not able to be identified. The sequence of overlapping peaks from δ 6.8-7.7 was attributed to the 6 different hydrogens from phenyl and indenylidene groups, but the triplet at δ 0.9, the singlet at δ 1.25, the singlet at δ 1.55, the triplet at δ 1.84, and the triplet at δ 3.74 could not be determined. A standard 1H NMR spectrum of the desired product C11H16O4 was unobtainable for comparison. The GC/MS of 1A gave what were thought to be signals of interest at times 6.648 min and 6.974 min. The reading at 6.648 min accounted for 0.12% of the scan and was thought to be C11H16O4 because its m/z of 212 appeared as a peak. The reading at 6.974 min accounted for 59% of the scan and was thought to be diethyl diallylmalonate because its m/z of 241 appeared as a peak, again albeit very small. This gave a proposed ratio of 491:1, reactant to product.
The results of this experiment are inconclusive. The first reaction seemed to give a decent percent yield of 1A and it was identifiable through 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy, however there were a few erroneous peaks noted on the 1H NMR spectrum and the peaks of interest were somewhat weak. The 31P NMR spectrum of 1A was inconclusive at first, so a new scan was done at a later time with a different sample. These facts seem to suggest that the original 1A obtained was not very pure. During the procedure, the sand bath was not adequately controlled, and this is most likely what caused the impure product. Because the reaction was overheated, side products may have formed or the original reagents did not react to completion, and in turn, the percent yield was in reality not as high as it appeared. This also attributes to the extra peaks that showed up on the 1H NMR spectrum. The oxidation state of 1A is +4 and its electron count is 16.
The second reaction resulted in a percent yield of 167% of what was thought to be 1B, which again suggests some error. The 31P of this product gave a peak in nearly the exact same position as 1A, so this seems to confirm that the product obtained from the second reaction was not 1B, but mostly 1A. The peak should have shifted downfield to about δ 41, which is what colleagues have reported. The proton NMR spectrum does show faint peaks from δ 1.8-2.1 which is where one would expect hydrogens attached to non-aromatic cyclo groups to be found. This means that some of the -PPh3 groups did convert to -PCy3 groups, but a significant amount on the whole. The IR spectra of the products after reactions one and two are also quite similar, again hinting that nothing really transpired during reaction two. The procedure during reaction two went as detailed by the laboratory manual, so this means the starting material was probably impure and thus could not react to completion.1 The oxidation state of 1B would also be +4 with an electron count of 16.
Because reaction one and reaction two seemed to yield the same product, the ring closing reactions cannot accurately be compared for catalytic activity. Theoretically 1B is the better catalyst, as it has PCy3 ligands opposed to the PPh3 ligands characteristic of 1A. PPh3 ligands have a cone angle of 145o while PCy3 ligands have a cone angle of 170o.3 The larger the cone angle, the bulkier the ligand and the faster it dissociates, allowing for expedited ring closing metathesis.3 The mechanism in which this takes place can be seen in Scheme 4. The reaction of diethyl diallylmalonate with 1B did not seem to elicit the ring closing mechanism. The 1H NMR spectra of the product looks identical to that of the starting material, diethyl diallylmalonate, save for one area around δ 6.8-7.7 where traces of what looks like aromatic structures, namely phenyl and indenylidene groups can be found. It looks like there was such a minute amount of catalyst available that it never interacted with diethyl diallylmalonate to close the ring.
GC/MS of 1B shows two signals which may account for diethyl diallylmalonate and the closed ring. At time 6.648, a peak accounting for 2.5% all that was picked up by the scan contains a signal of 212 can be seen which corresponds with the m/z of C11H16O4. At time 6.945 min, a peak accounting for 82.2% of the scan contains a signal of 241 can be seen which corresponds with the m/z of diethyl diallylmalonate. This gives a ratio of 33:1, reactant to product, which means the yield was rather poor. It does seem to suggest that some product may have been formed, however product was not visible on the 1H NMR spectrum, so this interpretation may be inaccurate.
The reaction of diethyl diallylmalonte with 1A yielded a different 1H NMR than the reaction with 1B did. It also shows overlapping peaks at δ 6.8-7.7 indicative of phenyl and indenylidene groups, but these peaks are much more noteworthy, meaning there was an abundance of catalyst available, where in the other reaction there was almost no catalyst available. Hence, upfield peaks are seen and are believed to be product, but these peaks are unable to be confirmed. A standard 1H NMR spectrum of C11H16O4 is unobtainable for comparison. The peaks reminiscent of the starting material seen in the 1H NMR spectrum for the reaction with 1B are not visible, which means there was some sort of change in the starting material.
GC/MS analysis however does not seem to confirm the presence of a closed ring product. At time 6.648, a peak accounting for 0.12% all that was picked up by the scan contains a signal of 212 can be seen which corresponds with the m/z of C11H16O4. At time 6.974 min, a peak accounting for 59% of the scan contains a signal of 241 can be seen which corresponds with the m/z of diethyl diallylmalonate. This gives a ratio of 491:1, reactant to product, which means the almost no product formed at all despite the presence of what seems to be a copious amount of catalyst. The reaction with 1B has a ratio of 33:1 and had almost no visible catalyst in its 1H spectrum, so it could be possible that the GC/MS was analyzed improperly.
The sources of error are difficult to pinpoint, but one issue may have been the flow of nitrogen through the system. If the flow was too great, solvent would have been lost and it would have hindered the reactions. If the hot 100 mL three neck round bottom flask was not allowed to cool completely, that may have also caused a side reaction to occur due to the unwarranted heat. Also, as noted earlier during the synthesis of 1A, the reaction was overheated, which could have caused side products to form and thus inhibit the results of the following syntheses.
The main purposes of the experiments were to synthesize 1A and 1B, confirm their structures via 1H, 31P, and IR spectroscopy, and to determine their relative catalytic rates during ring closing metathesis of diethyl diallylmalonate. 1A was identifiable by a series of overlapping peaks at δ 7.3-7.8 representative six different hydrogens attached to phenyl and indenylidene groups. This material was collected in a 46% yield, but in reality the yield was likely lower due to contaminants. 1B was synthesized with 167% yield, which suggests error. It was vaguely identifiable through its 1H NMR spectrum by a series of peaks found at δ 1.8-2.1 representative of protons attached to cyclo groups, namely the PCy3 substituents. This spectrum also contained the same series of overlapping peaks found around δ 7.3-7.8 for 1A. The 31P NMR and IR spectra for 1A and 1B are nearly identical, suggesting that almost no change in structure took place during the synthesis of 1B from 1A.
Because 1B did not properly synthesize, or did in an extremely low proportion, it was not feasible to measure 1A and 1B in comparison of their catalytic properties. It would be expected that 1B would be a better catalyst, as it contains bulkier groups which in theory dissociate faster.3 The 1A and 1B synthesized were both used as catalysts for ring closing metathesis of diethyl diallylmalonate. The product from the synthesis with 1B gave a 1H spectrum nearly identical to that of the starting material, diethyl diallylmalonate, which says that there was too low of a concentration of catalyst for the reaction to occur in the time allotted. The product from the synthesis with 1A gave a different 1H with peaks that are thought to be the desired product, but no standard 1H NMR spectrum of the product is obtainable. The results from the GC/MS of both products runs contrary to the belief that any significant amount of C11H16O4 was synthesized at all, and thus the results from this laboratory experiment are inconclusive.
(1) Pappenfus et al. Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Ruthenium Carbene Complexes for Olefin Metathesis: A Microscale Organometallic Experiment. Journal of Chemical Education. 2007, 84, 1998-2000.
(2) http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/spectra/fnmr/FNMR005436.PDF
(3) Miessler, G. L.; Tarr, D. A. Inorganic Chemistry: Third Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, 2004; pp 523-546.
circa 1996 (9 y/o)
Popularly…
04 Mar 25: Creon as a Tragic Character in “Antigone” #10th Grade – English – Forms of Fiction #Great Valley High School #Mr. Thomas Esterly
07 Sep 26: Recrystallization and Melting Point Determination Lab #CHM 2312 (Organic Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Roger K. Murray #Saint Joseph’s University
06 Sep 25: Determining the Density of an Unknown Substance (Lab Report) #CHM 1112 (General Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Joseph N. Bartlett #Saint Joseph’s University
07 Oct 17: Acid/Base Extraction of a Benzoic Acid, 4-Nitroaniline, and Naphthalene Mixture #CHM 2312 (Organic Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Roger K. Murray #Saint Joseph’s University
05 Mar 28: The American Dream Essay #11th Grade – English – American Literature #Great Valley High School #Mrs. Michelle Leininger
09 Oct 2: Verifying Newton’s Second Law #Dr. Paul J. Angiolillo #PHY 1032 (General Physics Lab I) #Saint Joseph’s University
04 Nov 27: The Crucible Essay on the Theme of Having a Good Name #11th Grade – English – American Literature #Great Valley High School #Mrs. Michelle Leininger
07 Nov 7: Liquids #CHM 2312 (Organic Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Roger K. Murray #Saint Joseph’s University
06 Oct 2: Yeast Lab #BIO 1011 (Biology I: Cells) #Dr. Denise Marie Ratterman #Saint Joseph’s University
07 Nov 14: Thin-Layer Chromatography #CHM 2312 (Organic Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Roger K. Murray #Saint Joseph’s University
08 Apr 6: The Portrayal of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in “As Good as It Gets” #PSY 1151 (Psychology of Abnormal Behavior) #Saint Joseph’s University
07 Feb 21: Determining an Equilibrium Constant Using Spectrophotometry #CHM 1122 (General Chemistry Lab II) #Mr. John Longo #Saint Joseph’s University
06 Nov 20: The Effect Light Intensity Has on the Photosynthesis of Spinach Chloroplasts #BIO 1011 (Biology I: Cells) #Dr. Denise Marie Ratterman #Saint Joseph’s University
07 Feb 14: Determining the Rate Law for the Crystal Violet-Hydroxide Ion Reaction #CHM 1122 (General Chemistry Lab II) #Mr. John Longo #Saint Joseph’s University
04 Oct 3: Catcher in the Rye Essay on the Immaturity of Holden Caufield #11th Grade – English – American Literature #Great Valley High School #Mrs. Michelle Leininger
06 Nov 14: Enthalpy of Hydration Between MgSO4 and MgSO4 ∙ 7 H2O #CHM 1112 (General Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Joseph N. Bartlett #Saint Joseph’s University
07 Feb 7: The Reactivity of Magnesium Metal with Hydrochloric Acid #CHM 1122 (General Chemistry Lab II) #Mr. John Longo #Saint Joseph’s University
Synthesis and Determination of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3
↘︎ Mar 17, 2010 … 6′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
The reaction of mesitylene with Mo(CO)6 under reflux yields [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 in low percent yield (around 1%). 1H NMR of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 shows singlets at δ 2.25 and 5.23 with absorption ratios of 9:3, respectively. 1H NMR of mesitylene shows singlets at δ 2.25 and 6.78, also with absorption ratios of 9:3, respectively. This suggests addition of the metal complex to mesitylene causes downfield shifting of the signal for protons attached directly to the ring as they are unshielded from the backbonding of carbonyl groups. The IR spectrum of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 shows a strong antisymmetric C-O stretch at 1852 cm-1 and a medium symmetric C-O stretch at 1942 cm-1 with peak areas of 64.462 cm-1 and 9.111 cm-1 respectively. The calculated OC-Mo-CO bond angle is 108.32°.
The reaction of mesitylene with Mo(CO)6 under reflux yields [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3. The reaction specifically takes place in the following manner:
This is compound of interest because it a metal-arene complex and can be considered to be an octahedral rather than tetrahedral complex. This is because the OC-Mo-CO bond angles are close to 90° instead of the expect 109.5° for tetrahedrals.1 In order to determine the structure of said substance from its 1H NMR, the peaks must be compared to the same spectrum of mesitylene for indication of identical methyl group peaks and downfield shifting a peak indicative of protons attached directly to the ring. The IR spectrum of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 can be analyzed for peaks indicative of symmetrical and antisymmetrical carbonyl stretching, whose areas can be used to calculate the bond angle between the carbonyl groups attached the to metal.
All syntheses were carried out in nitrogen and the reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial sources and used as received unless otherwise noted. The synthesis of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 (1) was based on reports published previously.1
[1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 (1). Mo(CO)6 (2.083 g, 7.92 mmol) and mesitylene (10 mL, 72 mmol) were added subsequently to a 100 mL 3 neck round-bottom flask along with a small magnetic stir bar. A sand bath was constructed and set to 50% power. A greased sidearm, stopcock, and 30 cm cold water condenser were attached to the round-bottom flask. A greased gas inlet was then attached to the condenser and connected to a bubbler. The condenser was not connected to a cold water source; it was used only to allow air to circulate. The sidearm was connected to a nitrogen source, and the system was allowed to degas for 5 minutes. The system was then put on the sand bath and the stir bar was spun at a moderate speed via a magnetic stirring instrument.
After 5 minutes, the solution in the round-bottom flask was not boiling as outlined, so the sand bath was turned up to 70% power. The sand bath was turned up to 85% another 5 minutes later. A rigorous boil was achieved when the sand bath was set to 95% 5 minutes after that. It was then set to 85% power in efforts to obtain a less extreme boil. After a total of 0.33 h of reflux, the solution was taken off the sand bath and allowed to cool to room temperature. When the apparatus was removed from the sand bath, it was dropped and roughly more than 60% of the solution was lost. The remaining solution cooled to a blackish yellow color.
The following and final procedures took place in the presence of air. Once cool, the solution was washed with 15 mL of hexane via suction filtration in a 15 mL frit. The solution was then washed with another 5 mL of hexane. About 10 mL CH2Cl2 was added to the blackish yellow powder precipitate remaining in the frit. The powder was washed with 25 to 30 mL of hexane and vacuum dried. This powder was discarded and the collected yellowish washings were rotovapped for about 0.33 h to obtain the desired product. The product was vacuum filtered, as it would not completely dry under the rotovap. The resulting yellowish powder was determined to be 1 (0.028 g, 1.18% yield based on the amount of Mo(CO)6 used). 1H NMR (CH2Cl2): δ 2.25 (s, -CH3), 5.23 (s, C-H). FTIR (ATR) ν(C-O) 1852 cm-1 (s, C-O linkage), ν(C-O) 1942 cm-1 (m, C-O linkage).
1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3 (2). The 1H NMR spectrum of 2 was extrapolated from the literature.1 1H NMR (CHCl3): δ 2.25 (s, -CH3), 6.78 (s, C-H).
The reaction of Mo(CO)6 with mesitylene yielded 0.028 g of the product, [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3. This translated to 0.09328 mmol, and thus a 1.18% yield based on the amount of Mo(CO)6 used, which was the limiting reagent in the reaction. Mo(CO)6 reacted to form the product in a 1:1 ratio, and 7.92 mmol of Mo(CO)6 was used to start, so that proportion was taken into account when calculating the percent yield. Proton NMR spectroscopy yielded a two peaks of interest. A peak found at δ 2.25 was indicative of methylhydrogens and a peak noted at δ 5.23 was suggestive of hydrogens attached directly to the aromatic ring.1 These peaks were noted with relative intensities of 9 to 3, respectively. Peaks seen at δ 7.25 and 1.54 were attributed to solvent and hexane, respectively. The 1H NMR spectrum of mesitylene in CHCl3 showed absorptions at δ 2.25 and 6.78 with relative intensities of 9 to 3, respectively.1 The peak at δ 2.25 hinted of methyl protons and the peak at δ 6.78 was suggestive of protons bonded directly the ring. The mass spectrum of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 showed a peak at m/z = 302.0, which is nearly equal to the molar mass of said substance.1 The IR spectrum showed a strong peak around 1852 cm-1 of area 64.462 cm-1 indicative of antisymmetrical C-O stretching and a medium peak around 2942 cm-1 of area 9.111 cm-1 indicative of symmetrical C-O stretching. These areas were used to calculate a OC-Mo-CO bond angle of 108.32°.
The percent yield of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 is very poor. Much of this quantitative shortcoming can be attributed to clumsiness, as much of the solution containing future product was lost when the reaction vessel was dropped. This not only resulted in a direct loss of solution, but also exposed the solution to air. The solution had been kept under nitrogen as to prevent decomposition of the products. This exposure to air undoubtedly had a contribution to the poor percent yield. The solution was also not heated as desired because it was difficult to control the sand bath. The solution was to be brought to a moderate boil, but could not be controlled to do so. It would not boil, then boiled rigorously a moment later. Attempts were made to subdue the boiling, but were unsuccessful. This overheating was probably not favorable for the reaction. More adept control of the sand bath would have resulted in a better yield of product.
Washing the product with excess amounts of hexane and CH2Cl2 also may have added to the loss of product. Excess washing would make it difficult to extract the product from the solution, as there would have been a relatively small amount of product compared to the amount of solution it was dissolved in. The solution could not be completely dried with the rotovap, which means there was an excess of hexane and/or mesitylene in the solution. Vacuum filtration then had to be used to collect the product, which was not ideal. Best case scenario, the rotovap would have completely dried the product and it would have been scraped out of the flask. Vacuum filtration gives a better chance for loss of product.
The product seemed pure as it produced clear 1H NMR and IR spectra readings. The 1H NMR spectrum shows a methyl peak at δ 2.25 and a C-H peak at δ 5.23, and the reagent in the reaction, mesitylene, also gives a peak at δ 2.25. This seems to confirm the structure and addition of the metal complex, as only the C-H peak was shifted downfield. The methyl protons are too shielded to be affected by the metal. The downfield shift is caused by backbonding of the carbonyls. IR spectroscopy revealed 3 C-O stretches, 2 of which were accounted for by a strong peak at 1852 cm-1 and the 3rd of which was accounted for by a medium peak at 1942 cm-1. Two peaks were seen because of symmetrical and antisymmetrical stretching of the carbonyls.1 The two antisymmetical modes have exactly identical absorption frequencies, and the symmetrical mode has a different absorption frequency than them, which means that a total of two peaks should be seen.1 The areas of these peaks, 64.462 cm-1 for antisymmetical stretch and 9.111 cm-1 for symmetrical stretch, allowed for discovery of the bond angle between the CO ligands. The calculated angle was 108.32°. This seems to make sense as [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 is predicted to be a tetrahedral complex and the expected bond angle for tetrahedral complexes is 109.5°, but in reality [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 acts more like an octahedral complex and the bond angle should be slightly less than 90°.1 This error could be due to excess solvent or impure an sample, which resulted in skewed IR spectrum readings and thus incorrect peak areas. The oxidation state and electron count of Mo in [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 are 0 and 6 electrons, so it is an 18 electron complex.
The main purpose of the experiment was to interpret the 1H NMR and IR spectra of [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3 to confirm the product and to decipher the bond angle between the carbonyls. The 1H NMR spectrum of the product showed peaks at δ 2.25 and 5.23, while the 1H NMR spectrum of mesitylene gave peaks at δ 2.25 and 6.78, both in ratios of 9:3, respectively. This ratio seems to confirm methyl groups and single protons attached to the ring. The downfield shifting of the second peak is attributed to the coordination of mesitylene to the metal complex. The protons attached directly to the ring are affected by backbonding of the carbonyl groups. The methyl hydrogens are shielded, and thus are not affected by the metal complex. The IR spectrum yielded two peaks near 2000 cm-1. These two peaks account for 3 C-O stretches, 2 of which are accounted for by a strong peak at 1852 cm-1 and the 3rd of which are accounted for by a medium peak at 1942 cm-1. The strong peak accounts for antisymmetrical stretching of the carbonyls and the medium peak accounts for symmetrical stretching of the carbonyls. The areas of these peaks, 62.462 cm-1 and 9.111 cm-1 respectively, provide for a theoretical angle between the carbonyls of 108.32°. In reality, this angle should be only nearly 90°. The percent yield for the reaction was poor and could have improved with a more steady hand, more precise heating of the reagents, less exposure of the solution to air, and less solvent used for washing.
(1) Angelici, R. J.; Girolami, G. S.; Rachufuss T. B. Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry: A Laboratory Manual; University Science Books: Sausilito, CA, 1999; pp 161-170.
05 Nov 17: DBQ on Slavery in France #10th Grade – History – Modern World History #Great Valley High School #Mr. Bill Mayberry
04 Feb 28: Graphic Calculator Drawing Project #11th Grade – AP Calculus BC #Great Valley High School #Mrs. Kathy Crabb
97 Sep 28: The Witch’s Curse #4th Grade #Ms. Ringle #Sugartown Elementary School
09 Oct 25: Determining the Relationship Between Work and Energy #Dr. Paul J. Angiolillo #Saint Joseph’s University
07 Sep 11: A Simulation on the Effect of Mutation on Natural Selection #BIO 1031 (Biology III: Organismic Biology) #Dr. Karen Snetselaar #Saint Joseph’s University
06 Sep 26: Determining the Formula of an Ionic Hydrate Gravimetrically #CHM 1112 (General Chemistry Lab I) #Dr. Joseph N. Bartlett #Saint Joseph’s University
05 May 8: Kurt Vonnegut Research Paper #11th Grade – English – American Literature #Great Valley High School #Mrs. Michelle Leininger
08 Nov 17: Challenges Facing Newly Founded Democracies #Dr. Kazuya Fukuoka #POL 1031 (Introduction to Comparative Politics) #Saint Joseph’s University
97 Sep 27: Not Enough Candy #4th Grade #Ms. Ringle #Sugartown Elementary School
05 Oct 17: Calculus Can’t Be That Hard… (Lafayette Application Essay) #Great Valley High School
05 Mar 17: Stock Market Crash Photo Essay #11th Grade – History – 20th Century American Experience #Great Valley High School #Ms. Meg Sargent
05 Sep 27: Memoir #1 #12th Grade – English #Great Valley High School #Mr. Michael Settanni
07 Apr 4: Relating to Jimmy’s Destructive Tendencies in “The Dubliners” #ENG 1021 (Texts and Contexts) #Mrs. Marie H. Flocco #Saint Joseph’s University
08 Oct 27: Rites of Passage and Their Religious Association #Dr. Mary O’Donnell #Saint Joseph’s University #THE 1811 (Comparative Religion)
09 Oct 28: Kinetics Analysis of Tyrosinase #CHM 2612 (Biochemistry Lab) #Dr. Mark F. Reynolds #Saint Joseph’s University
06 Feb 7: Me Speaking French #2 #12th Grade – AP French #Great Valley High School #Mrs. Patricia Carlini
Synthesis and Determination of Polypyrazolylborates: K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] and HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO)
↘︎ Mar 4, 2010 … 8′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
Synthesis and Determination of Polypyrazolylborates:
K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] and HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO)
The reaction of KBH4 heated with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole produces potassium tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)hydroborate at an unknown percent yield. 1H NMR spectroscopy of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] shows singlets at δ 1.79 and 2.06 indicative of –CH3 whereas the same spectroscopy of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole shows only one singlet in the same area. IR spectroscopy of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] shows a B-H stretch at 2420 cm-1, which is absent from the IR spectrum of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole. The reaction of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] with CuI and CO gives rise to HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) at 265% yield. 13C NMR spectroscopy of HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) produces a singlet at δ 172.4 indicative of C-O bonding, which does not appear on the 13C NMR spectrum of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3]. IR spectroscopy of HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) produces a C-O stretch at 2053 cm-1, which is absent from the IR spectrum of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3]. The analysis of these spectra seems to validate the supposed products from the reactions.
The reaction of KBH4 with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole yields tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)hydroborate. The reaction specifically takes place in the following manner:
This is compound of interest because it a polypyrazolylborate, or scorpionate, formed from a binary born hydride, which are difficult to handle.1,2 In order to determine the structure of said substance from a 1H NMR and IR spectrum, the peaks and stretches must be compared to the same spectra for 3,5-dimethylpyrazole to look for indications of boron in the structure and differentiation in methyl groups. The spectra for the two compounds should be similar save for those two main differentiations.
Metal complex HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) can be synthesized from the following reaction:
The identity of this product can be confirmed by comparing its 13C NMR and IR spectra to the same spectra of the reagent K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3]. In this case, the spectra are compared to look for the presence of C-O bonding. The spectra should appear similar aside from peaks and stretches indicative that bond. The systematic addition of functional groups to these two compounds is what makes them comparable and identifiable to and from one another in their 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectra.
All syntheses were carried out in air and the reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial sources and used as received unless otherwise noted. The synthesis of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] (1) and HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) (2) were based on reports published previously.1
K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] (1). KBH4 (1.028 g, 19.1 mmol) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (7.002 g, 72.8 mmol) were added subsequently to a 100 mL round-bottom flask along with a small magnetic stir bar. A cold water condenser with greased joint was inserted into the round-bottom flask containing the solution. This connection was further secured with a keck clip. A silicone oil bath was constructed with a glass dish containing a paper clip as a stirring instrument. The bath was placed on a hot plate and the round bottom flask was placed in the oil bath. The cold water condenser was not connected to a cold water source; it was used to allow air to circulate.
Once secure, the hot plate was turned on to 230 °C and the stirring instruments were spun at a moderate speed. A thermometer was inserted into oil bath to monitor the temperature, which fluctuated between 230 °C and 250 °C during the experiment. The solution was allowed to heat for 1 h. After this time, the round-bottom flask was taken off the oil bath and the condenser was removed. A white solid precipitate submerged in liquid remained and was allowed to cool to 90 °C, again using the thermometer to measure temperature. 50 mL of toluene was added to the flask and the solution was vacuum filtered with a 60 mL frit. A total of about 100 mL more toluene was added to wash the resulting white solid precipitate. The precipitate was washed a final time with 50 mL of diethyl ether. The precipitate was then vacuum dried for 0.33 h. The precipitate was a powdery white substance 1. 1H NMR (D2O): δ 1.79 (s, -CH3), 2.06 (s, -CH3), 5.82 (s, C-H). 13C NMR (D2O): δ 11.05 (s, -CH3), 12.44 (s, -CH3), 104.9 (s, C-H), 146.1 (s, C-CH3), 148.9 (s, C-CH3). FTIR (ATR) ν(C=N) 1560 cm-1 (s, pyrazolyl), ν(B-H) 2420 cm-1 (s, B-H linkage), ν(C-H) 2950 cm-1 (br, C-H linkage).
HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) (2). CuI powder (0.394 g, 2.07 mmol) and acetone (35 mL) were subsequently added to a 100 mL round-bottom flask along with a small magnetic stir bar. A septum was attached to the flask. Previously synthesized 1 (0.191 g, 0.567 mmol) was dissolved in a minimal amount of acetone (3 to 5 mL). CO gas was bubbled into the round-bottom flask for about 5 min. At this time, the solution of 1 and acetone was injected into the round-bottom flask, and CO gas was allowed bubbled in for another few minutes. A yellowish liquid resulted and the flask was put on ice for 1 h to allow for recrystallization. The solution was then roto-vaporized for 5 to 10 minutes to make up for inadequate recrystallization.
A grayish, greenish powder remained in the round-bottom flask, which was scraped out using a spatula and determined to be 2 (0.584 g, 265% yield based on the amount of 1 used). 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 2.30 (s, -CH3), 2.50 (s, B-H), 5.68 (s, C-H). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ 12.50 (s, -CH3), 13.92 (s, -CH3), 104.37 (s, C=C), 143.60 (s, C=N), 147.42 (s, C-N), 172.4 (s, C-O). FTIR (ATR) ν(C=N) 1543 cm-1 (s, pyrazolyl), ν(C-O) 2053 cm-1 (s, carbonyl), ν(B-H) 2499 cm-1 (s, B-H linkage), ν(C-H) 2921 cm-1 (br, C-H linkage).
C5H8N2 (3). The 1H NMR and IR spectra of (3) were obtained from Sigma Aldrich.3,4 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 2.25 (s, -CH3), 5.8 (s, C-H). FTIR (ATR) ν(C-N) 1030 cm-1 (s, pyrazolyl), ν(C-H) 2860 cm-1 (br, C-H linkage), ν(C-H) 2930 cm-1 (br, C-H linkage).
The reaction of KBH4 and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole was not measured for yield of the product, K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3], but theoretical yield would be 19.1 mmol. Theoretical yield of H2 gas, though not measured, was 57.3 mmol, based on the amount of KBH4 used, which was the limiting reagent. KBH4 reacts to form H2 in a 1:3 ratio, and 19.1 mmol of KBH4 was used to start, so that proportion was taken into account when calculating the theoretical yield. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy of the product yielded several peaks. The 1H NMR spectrum presented a two singlets found at δ 1.79 and 2.06, representative of methyl groups. A singlet found at δ 5.82 was indicative of the hydrogen attached directly to pyrazolyl ring. The 13C NMR spectrum yielded a pair of singlets found at δ 11.05 and 12.44, which was suggestive of methyls attached to the pyrazolyl ring. A singlet found at δ 104.9 was from the C-H bond on the ring, and two final singlets found at δ 146.1 and 148.9 were from the carbons on the ring attached to the methyl groups. The IR spectrum showed a sharp peak around 1560 cm-1 indicative of a C=N bond forming the pyrazolyl ring, a sharp peak around 2420 cm-1 indicative of B-H linkage, and finally a broad peak near 2950 cm-1 suggestive of C-H bonding.
The reaction of CuI, K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3], CO, and acetone yielded 0.584 g of product, HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO). This translated to 1.502 mmol, and thus was a 265% yield. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy of the product yielded several peaks. The 1H NMR spectrum contained a singlet found at δ 2.30, representative of methyl groups. A singlet found at δ 2.50 was indicative of the hydrogen bonded to boron. A third singlet found at δ 5.68 was from protons bonded to the pyrazolyl ring. The 13C NMR spectrum produced a two singlets found at δ 12.50 and 13.92, which suggested methyls carbons. A singlet found at δ 104.37 was from double bonded carbons, a singlet found at δ 143.60 was from carbon double bonded to nitrogen, another singlet found at δ 147.42 was from carbon singly bonded to nitrogen, and one final singlet at δ 172.4 was representative of carbon bonded to oxygen. The IR spectrum yielded a sharp peak around 1543 cm-1 indicative of a C=N bond forming the pyrazolyl ring, a sharp peak around 2053 cm-1 indicative of C-O bonding, a sharp peak around 2499 cm-1 indicative of B-H linkage, and finally a broad peak near 2921 cm-1 suggestive of C-H bonding.
The percent yield of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] was not able to be determined. The weight of this product was either never obtained or the figure was lost during the experiment. Percent error, though not measured, could possibly have been affected from heating the KBH4 and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole solution at too high a temperature, as it went above the 230 °C limit specified by the experimental guidelines.1 The solution was heated for only 1 h, when the suggested time was 1 to 1.5 h, which means the reagents may not have completely reacted. When the solution was taken off the oil bath and allowed to cool, it cooled more quickly than expected, and dropped to 90 °C or lower before adding the 50 mL of toluene when 100 °C was specified the addition temperature.1 There was some confusion as far as the protocol at this point, so the solution with the toluene added was allowed to cool for a short while, when the guidelines asked for the residue to be filtered and washed hot. The solution was still warm when filtered and washed, but not nearly as hot as it could have been. These types of errors would have resulted in loss of potential product and negatively affected the percent yield, had it been measured.
The product did seem pure, as it was a clean white color, and its 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectra yielded clear readings. The 1H spectrum shows methyl peaks at δ 1.79 and 2.06 whereas the 1H spectrum for the reagent in the reaction, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, shows only one methyl peak at δ 2.25. This seems to validate that addition of the boron to the molecule, as it would cause make each methyl group slightly different from the other. Polypyrazolylborates produce sharp a B-H stretch in their IR spectra, and this is evident in the IR spectrum reading for K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3].2 A sharp peak is noted at 2420 cm-1, whereas the IR spectrum for 3,5-dimethylpyrazole does not contain said stretch, again supporting the claim for addition of boron to the molecule.
The percent yield for HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) was not accurate. The product obtained from the roto-vaporization was not washed, so it is suspected that the other product of the reaction, KI, was mixed in with the desired product. It is believed that the greenish powder was HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) while the greyish powder was KI. This is why the percent yield was above 100%. Aside from that inaccuracy, the only 0.567 mmol of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] was used, when the protocol called for 2 mmol to be used.1 This would not affect the percent yield, as the amount of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] used would still be the limiting reagent, but could have affected the NMR and IR spectrums. However, it was intuitively noted that the greenish powder was the desired product, and an effort was made to extract only that powder from the product for the spectroscopy determinations.
The fact that recrystallization did not seem take place as detailed1 and that a roto-vaporizer had to be used to dry the product most likely did not help the yield of product either. Product may have been lost during this process. If the powder had been washed with acetone, a more accurate percent yield would have been obtained because the KI would have been washed away, but this was not extremely necessary for the purposes of this experiment. The product obtained did give clear 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectra, meaning it was fairly pure. The addition of the CO to the molecule from K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] is evident in the 13C NMR and IR spectra. There is a distinct peak at δ 172.4 on the 13C NMR spectrum which is not noted on the same spectrum for K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3]. The IR spectrum of HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) shows a tall sharp stretch at 2053 cm-1 distinctive of C-O bonding; the IR spectrum of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] shows no such stretch. Peaks and stretches for the spectra were labeled with the help of colleagues. An acknowledgement is made that are more than likely downfield or upfield shifts of some of the peaks from one product to another because of changes in chemical structure, but these postulates were not explored. The oxidation state and electron count of Cu in HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO) are +1 and 10 electrons, so it is a 18 electron complex.
The main purpose of the experiment was to decipher the structural changes from 3,5-dimethylpyrazole to potassium tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)hydroborate to a copper complex of potassium tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)hydroborate through 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectra. Addition of boron to 3,5-dimethylpyrazole was apparent in the 1H NMR and IR spectra of the first product. The 1H spectrum shows methyl peaks at δ 1.79 and 2.06 whereas the 1H spectrum for the reagent in the reaction, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, shows only one methyl peak at δ 2.25, seemingly confirming the addition of boron as this would make each methyl group differentiable. The IR spectrum of this product showed a sharp stretch around 2420 cm-1, indicative of B-H bonding, which is absent in the IR spectrum for 3,5-dimethylpyrazole. All of these finding seem to validate K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] as being the product of the reaction.
The 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectra of the second product also seem to confirm its expected structure. The 13C NMR spectrum for the second product shows a peak at δ 172.4, which is an area suggestive of C-O bonding. The 13C NMR spectrum of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] contains no peak in this area. The IR spectrum of the second product shows a sharp stretch around 2053 cm-1, which is also indicative of C-O bonding. The IR spectrum of K[HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3] contains no stretch in this area. These noted findings on the spectra all point towards to product being HB(3,5-C5H7N2)3Cu(CO).
The percent yield for the first reaction was not monitored, but would have been aversely affected by factors such as poor temperature control, short reaction time, and more prompt washing technique. The percent yield for the second reaction was poor, but could have been improved by washing the product with acetone and by allowing for a longer recrystallization period.
(1) Bochmann, M. Preparation and Complexation of Tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazoyl)hydroborate. pp 33-35.
(2) Trofimenko, S. Polypyrazolylborates: Scorpionates. Journal of Chemical Education. 2005, 82, 1715-1720.
(4) http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/spectra/ftir/FTIR007818.PDF
Tinkering with Tin: Synthesis of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 and SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2
↘︎ Feb 11, 2010 … 6′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
The reaction of tin with benzyl chloride under reflux yields SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 in low percent yield (around 15%) due to various factors. 1H NMR of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 shows a singlet at δ 3.15 with satellites containing coupling constant between Sn-H of 78.1 Hz. The reaction of SnCl4 with OS(CH3)2 yields SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 with poor percent yield (around 140%) due to various factors. The IR spectrum of SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 shows a large S-O stretch at 899.7 cm-1, which is a lower frequency than the S-O stretch of 1042.5 cm-1 from the IR spectrum of OS(CH3)2, suggesting coordination on the metal complex at oxygen.
The reaction of tin with benzyl chloride yields the metal complex SnCl(CH2C6H5)3. The reaction specifically takes place in the following manner:
[Figure missing.]
This is compound of interest because of the different isotopes of tin that naturally occur. In order to determine the structure of said substance from a 1H NMR spectrum, the peaks must be analyzed for satellites occurring from coupling of hydrogen to isotopes of tin. The observed spectrum is a combination of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 molecules containing different isotopes of Sn, namely 117Sn and 119Sn, among others. The value for JSn-H between satellites can confirm the presence of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3. Mass spectrum can also be used to confirm the presence of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 in the product by looking for a peak at m/z equal to the molecular mass of the substance (427 g/mol).
SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 can be synthesized from the following reaction:
It is a reaction of interest because it can be used to determine where OS(CH3)2 coordinates to Sn. Coordination of S to Sn would result in a higher frequency of S-O stretch on an IR spectrum than the frequency of the S-O stretch on the IR spectrum of OS(CH3)2 due to a strengthening of the S-O bond. Coordination of O to Sn would result in a lower frequency of S-O stretch because of a weakened S-O bond from the resonance form needed to secure that coordination.1
All syntheses were carried out in air and the reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial sources and used as received unless otherwise noted. The synthesis of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 (1) and SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 (2) were based on reports published previously.1
SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 (1). 325 mash-Aldrich Sn powder (1.939 g, 16.34 mmol), 99% Aldrich benzyl chloride (6.0 mL, 52 mmol), and deionized H2O (4.0 mL) were added subsequently to a 50 mL round-bottom flask. A small stir bar was added then added to this solution. A sand bath was placed over a stir plate and a cold water condenser with greased joint was inserted into the round-bottom flask containing the solution. This connection was further secured with a keck clip. The round bottom flask was placed in the sand bath and the condenser was connected to the cold water source.
Once secure, the sand bath was set to 50% power and the stir bar was spun a shade over moderate speed. The solution was allowed to reflux for 2.75 h. Once reflux was complete, the 50 mL round-bottom flask was removed from the condenser and allowed to cool in an ice bath until it was cold. The liquid was decanted from the white precipitate and discarded. The white precipitate was saved. Ethyl acetate (10 mL) was added to the precipitate and this solution was heated using a sand bath at 65% power and stirred at moderate speed until the white solid had completely dissolved. The round-bottom flask was then taken off the heat and submerged in an ice bath for approximately 0.5 h to allow for recrystallization.
The stir bar was removed and a high vacuum was used for about 10 minutes to extract the extraneous liquid and leave a white powder. Several mL of ether were added to the round-bottom flask and a glass stir rod was used to break up the chunks of powder and dissolve it in the ether. This solution was then suction filtered with a 30 mL glass frit and allowed the dry. The precipitate collected was 1 (0.471 g, 13.49% based on the amount of Sn powder used). 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.25 (s, CDCl3), 7.19 (s, Ph-H), 7.17 (s, Ph-H), 7.05 (s, Ph-H), 3.15 (s, JSn-H = 78.1 Hz, CH2).
SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 (2). SnCl4 (2.25 mL, 19 mmol), anhydrous diethyl ether (45 mL), DMSO (2.9 mL, 41 mmol), and ether (5 mL) were subsequently added to a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The DMSO was added using a syringe for safety purposes while the other reagents were measured and added using graduated cylinders. This solution yielded a precipitate which was isolated by suction filtering the solution through a 50 mL glass frit. Several extra mL of ether were added to the Erlenmeyer flask to help aid in transfer of all the precipitate to the filter. Once dry, the white powder precipitate 2 was collected and weighed. 11.04 g (26.49 mmol) were recovered, giving a yield of 139.4%. FTIR (ATR) ν(S-O) 899.7 cm-1 (s S-O coordination to Sn).
OS(CH3)2 (3). The IR spectrum of (3) was taken by Dr. Graham. FTIR (ATR) ν(S-O) 1042.5 cm-1 (s, S-O linkage).
The reaction of Sn, benzyl chloride, and H2O yielded 0.471 g of the product, SnCl(CH2C6H5)3. This translated to 1.102 mmol, and thus was a 13.49% yield based on the amount of Sn used, which was the limiting reagent in the reaction. Sn reacted to form the product in a 2:1 ratio, and 16.34 mmol of Sn was used to start, so that proportion was taken into account when calculating the percent yield. Proton NMR yielded several peaks. A set of peaks were found at δ 7.19, 7.17, and 7.05 were indicative of phenyl resonances derived from protons on the phenyl ring of the product.1 A sharp peak located at δ 7.25 was due to the chloroform solvent 1. Coupling between Sn and H produced a singlet at δ 3.15 with satellites 1JSn-H equal to 78.1 Hz due to the presence of isotopes 117Sn and 119Sn.1 The mass spectrum of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 showed a peak at m/z = 427.0,1 which is the molar mass of said substance.
The reaction of SnCl4 and DMSO yielded 11.04 g of product, SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2. This translated to 26.49 mmol, and thus was a 139.4% yield. IR spectrum of SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 showed its largest peak at 899.7 cm-1 while the IR spectrum of OS(CH3)2 gave its largest peak at 1042.51 cm-1.
The percent yields for each product are less than stellar. During the synthesis of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3, letting the reagents reflux for a longer time period, closer to 3 hours, may have been beneficiary to resulting in more product. The reagents may not have all completely reacted. Some of the precipitate may have been accidentally removed during decanting after reflux, and much ethyl acetate may have been added to that precipitate. A minimal amount should have been used while trying to dissolve the white solid precipitate in the sand bath. The less ethyl acetate needed and used would have resulted in a better percent yield.
The fact that recrystallization did not seem take place as detailed1 and that a vacuum had to be used to dry the product most likely did not help the yield of product either. Product may have been lost during the vacuuming process. The glass frit used for filtering was not of the utmost quality, and so product may have escaped during that process, also. The product was also not completely dry, and gave a misleading mass measurement, meaning the percent yield is even lower than recorded. The product obtained did seem to give a clear 1H NMR spectra, meaning it was fairly pure. The coupling between Sn and H due to isotopes 117Sn and 119Sn 1 in the product is distinctly visible around δ 3.15 with a JSn-H of 78.1 Hz. The NMR chemical shifts of the Sn-CH2 protons and the C6H5 protons of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 are so different because of the 117 and 119 isotopes of Sn. They affect the coupling with H, producing satellites. The C6H5 protons are not affected by this coupling. The literature states that peaks for phenyl resonance appear around δ 7 and chloroform appears around δ 7.24, which seems to validate the experimental values obtained (δ 7.05 to 7.19 for phenyl resonances ad δ 7.25 for chloroform).1
The percent yield of SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 is likely thrown off because the product was not dry when it was weighed. Several extra mL of ether were used for transport of the precipitate to the glass frit for filtering, which would most likely lead to loss of product. Not all of the precipitate was able to be transferred from the Erlenmeyer flask to the frit. Product was distinctly lost due to a seemingly defective frit, too. Attempts to refilter the filtrate were unsuccessful. The fact that the frit quality was poor meant that the product was not able to be dried well and thus carried extra weight. The product seemed to smoke away as it was allowed to dry further in exposure to air, and lost mass over time. This conundrum could not be adequately explained. IR spectrum of the product SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 shows its largest stretch at 899.7 cm-1, hinting that the coordination to Sn occurs at oxygen, as this frequency is lower than that of the largest stretch from the OS(CH3)2 spectrum (1042.51 cm-1). This is due to resonance and weakening of the S-O bond.1 The two spectra are similar save for the shifting of that one peak. The stretch at 1042.51 cm-1 is consistent with the value stated in the literature for S-O stretching (approximately 1100 cm-1).1
The main purposes of the experiments were to decipher the 1H NMR for SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 in order to determine JSn-H and to interpret the IR spectra of OS(CH3)2 and SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 to tell whether O or S coordinates to Sn. The JSn-H was found to be 78.1 Hz. The observed spectrum is a combination of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3 molecules containing different isotopes of Sn, namely 117Sn and 119Sn, among others. This is what makes the 1H NMR difficult to interpret, but the JSn-H value is validation of the presence of SnCl(CH2C6H5)3. The percent yield for that reaction was poor, due to varying factors. Longer reflux time, less ethyl acetate used during recrystallization, and better filtration techniques all would have contributed to an improved percent yield.
The IR spectrum of OS(CH3)2 showed its largest stretch around 1050 cm-1 while the IR spectrum of SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 gave its largest stretch around 900 cm-1. This lower frequency of stretch suggests that O and not S coordinates to the Sn. This is due in part to the resonance form needed to form the complex, which weakens the S-O bonding, and thus lowers the stretching frequency. The yield for the reaction to form SnCl4[OS(CH3)2]2 was also poor, which can be mostly attributed to poor filtering and drying techniques, along with the overuse of ether.
(1) “Synthesis and Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry,” Third Edition, G. S. Girolami, T.R. Rauchfuss, and R. Angelici, University Science Books, 1999.
Ring-Opening Metathesis PowerPoint Presentation
↘︎ Dec 5, 2009 … 1′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
Otherwise known as: “A Reusable Polymeric Asymmetric Hydrogenation Catalyst Made by Ring-Opening Olfein Metathesis Polymerization”
This was a PowerPoint presentation I did for class.
CHM 2511 (Inorganic Chemistry) (Class) / Saint Joseph’s University (School) / schoolwork (Post Type)
Double Group Transfer Reactions of an Unsaturated Tantalum Methylidene Complex with Pyridine N-Oxides
↘︎ Nov 22, 2009 … 2′ … download⇠ | skip ⇢
It is widely known among inorganic chemists that multiply bonded metal-ligand species take part in a diverse set of atom and group transfer reactions. It is common to witness CR2 groups transferred to unsaturated organic substrates, but viewing the insertion of CH2 into C-H bonds to yield saturated product is quite unusual. In the case of [TolC(NSiMe3)2]2Ta(CH2)CH3, its electrophilic nature allows for an improbable double group transfer to occur when exposed to pyridine N-oxides. This reactions yields [TolC(NSiMe3)2]2Ta(O)CH3 due to simultaneous deoxygenation and regioselective methylation of the pyridine N-oxide.
The benzamidinate tantalum ethylidene complex is also able to react with nitrones, which are similar in structure for pyridine N-oxides. It is not however able to react with weak oxidants such as styrene oxide and triphenylphosphine oxide. Only one equivalent of the pyridine N-oxide was needed for the aforementioned reaction to take place. 2-Methylpryidine is produced as well, as confirmed by comparison using NMR integration versus a trimethoxybeneze internal standard. The trimethoxybenze reacts further with 2-methylpyridin N-oxide to ultimately yield 2,6-dimethylpyridine and oxo complex.
It should be noted that methylation occurs regioselectively at the unsubstituted ortho position in each pyridine N-oxide. Also, the substituted pyridine N-oxide species react much slower than the unsubstituted variant, comparatively in minutes versus microseconds.
Proton and carbon 13 NMR, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography were all used to verify the tantalum oxo complex product. The IR spectrum shows a strong stretch at 922 cm-1, which is a feasible number to indicative of terminal Ta-O multiple bonds (typically 850-1000 cm-1). X-ray crystallography reveals a distorted-octahedral coordination geometry surrounding the tantalum and thus confirmed the presence of a terminal oxo character. The measured bond length of the tantalum atom to oxygen bond is reported to be 1.76 Å, which is in line with previously reported figures for Ta-O multiple bonds. Thus, all the statistics seem to confirm that a double group transfer does indeed take place.
The mechanism of this reaction is thought to take place via two possible schemes involving a total of three mechanisms, but it is not known which scheme or mechanism is correct. There is an absence of intermediates in the reaction as evidenced by UV, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy, so deuterium labeling is used to distinguish these potential routes of formation. GC-MS shows parent ion at m/z 95 and 111 corresponding to the methyl and dimethylpyridine products, respectively. At 2.40 ppm there is a 1:1:1 triplet indicative of the CH2D group. This group also appears in both the proton and carbon 13 NMR spectras, which in all suggests that the mechanism of reaction takes place via scheme one and a mechanism label B.
Finally, nitrones which is similar in structure to pyridine N-oxides are also reacted with the benzamidinate tantalum ethylidene complex to see if they have a comparable interaction. Only after heating the complex with N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone at 45 °C for 40 hours did styrene and another new organometallic product come to fruition. The new product is suspected to be [TolC(NSiMe3)2]2TA(O)(NtBuMe) through 1H, 13C{1H} NMR, IR, and mass spectroscopic techniques.
In conclusion, it is the enhanced electrophilicity of the benzamidinate tantalum ethylidene which allows for the reaction pathway to occur. The atom transfer reactions allow for Ta-O double bonds and organic product with new C-C bonds to be formed. Further investigation into these matters is ongoing. I believe that following steps that could be taken would to delve into other metals complexes that could allow for double group transfers. Logically, I would think that the next metals to investigate would be other group 5 metals, possibly replacing Ta with Nb or Db. These metals should have the most similar properties in relationship to Ta. Reactants other than N-oxides and nitrones could also be analyzed to see if it is possible to replicate the double group transfer.
In a related study performed by ….
A Stable Neutral Diborene Containing a B=B Double Bond
Unlike the well know and oft studied chemistry of double bonds between carbons, the chemistry of boron-boron double bonds is for the most part unexplored. It is believed that boron should behave similarly to carbon due to its relativity to the element on the periodic table. Anions containing boron double bonds, specifically [R2BBR2]2-, have in the past been predicted to be possible structures of interest to synthesize in the laboratory, however such efforts have failed for the most part.
It was then proposed to explore neutral diborenes, even though they in theory should be highly reactive compounds due to their triplet ground states and two one-electron π-bonds according to molecular orbital theory. The electron deficiency in this structure could however be stabilized by the addition of Lewis base ligands. The stabilizing ability of different ligand groups were assessed, including CO and NHC, which were chosen based on their strong electron donating capabilities. The ligand group that ultimately experimentally produced an actual neutral diborene was :C{N(2,6-PRi2C6H3)CH}2. Previous work from using this ligand group for stabilizing carbenes suggested that this would be a potential stabilizing ligand for a diborene.
This compound, R(H)B=B(H)R, where R is the aforementioned ligand group, was synthesized beginning with RBBr3 and KC8 in diethyl ether. Two products were isolated from this reaction, including the desired diborene R(H)B=B(H)R. It was shown that a ratio of 1:5.4 of RBBr3 to KC8 yielded the highest percentage of R(H)B=B(H)R (12%). Any excess amount of RBBr3 over this ratio resulted in a decrease of R(H)B=B(H)R and thus in increase of the other product, R(H)2B-B(H)2R.
A few methods were utilized in order to determine the chemical makeup of these products. NMR resonances of RBH3, R(H)2B-B(H)2R, and R(H)B=B(H)R were respectively reported to be -35.38, -31.62, and +25.30 ppm. The 11B signal of R(H)B=B(H)R produced a quartet, while the other two compounds elicited singlets. This alone could suggest double bond character between borons.
X-ray structural analysis shows a bond distance of 1.828 Å for R(H)2B-B(H)2R. This number seems to be on point with calculated B-B bond lengths for similar structures such as the CO-ligated analogue (1.819 Å) and an activated m-terphenyl based diborate (1.83 Å). Crystallization of R(H)B=B(H)R reveals B-C bond distances of 1.547 Å, which is marginally shorter than that of the other molecules. In addition to this, it is calculated that the angles between the C3N2 carbene rings and the core are strikingly different than that of the other compounds used and produced. Finally, the B=B bond distance in R(H)B=B(H)R was measured to be much shorter than the B-B distance reported in R(H)2B-B(H)2R, again implying a double bond.
DFT computations were also used to support the nature of R(H)B=B(H)R. The analysis was performed on the simplified model, where R=:C(NHCH)2. The experimental bond lengths for the non-simplified model seem to be in concordance with the computed B-B and B-C bond lengths, and well as the B-B-C bond angle calculated from the simplified model analyzed using DFT. The bond character of these bonds was also delved into via HOMO representations of the compounds among other computational techniques.
In conclusion, the authors of the paper were able to successfully prove that they had synthesized and characterized the first neutral diborene compound. They also ventured into the nature of the elusive boron-boron double bond. Though it was not necessarily expected that this phenomenon could feasibly be synthesized due to the expected reactivity of the boron-boron double bond, these chemists found a way to isolate the compound. In context to the larger field of chemistry, I suppose that the authors could determine other possible ligand groups that would produce a stable neutral diborene. They could also venture into increasing the percent yield, as 12% is on the low side. Finally, they could explore other group 13 elements, such as Al and Ga to see if they can replicate similar double bond properties. |
������ Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline
Saturday, November 20, 2021 12:20:34 PM
New York: Macmillan. This conversion Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline others to abandon the group, dissatisfied with the change in A Reflective Essay On Being A Lawncrest. Implementing Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline History-Centered Curriculum Teachers, more than anyone else, determine the curriculum that stu- dents experience. Moreover, to the Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline that these vary and overlap, the number of groups Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline multiplies. Gabriel Prosser Joseph Rainey A. Politics Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline.
How to create an outline for your research paper
After four hundred years of oppression, we realize that slavery, racism and imperialism are all interrelated and that liberty and justice for all cannot exist peacefully with imperialism. Professor and author Harold Cruse saw revolutionary Black nationalism as a necessary and logical progression from other leftist ideologies, as he believed that non-Black leftists could not properly assess the particular material conditions of the Black community and other colonized people:. The liberation of the colonies before the socialist revolution in the West is not orthodox Marxism although it might be called Maoism or Castroism.
As long as American Marxists cannot deal with the implications of revolutionary nationalism, both abroad and at home, they will continue to play the role of revolutionaries by proxy. Norm R. Allen, Jr. On the one hand, Reactionary Black Nationalists RBNs advocate self-love, self-respect, self-acceptance, self-help, pride, unity, and so forth - much like the right-wingers who promote "traditional family values. Tunde Adeleke, Nigerian-born professor of History and Director of the African American Studies program at the University of Montana , argues in his book UnAfrican Americans: Nineteenth-Century Black Nationalists and the Civilizing Mission that 19th-century African-American nationalism embodied the racist and paternalistic values of Euro-American culture and that black nationalist plans were not designed for the immediate benefit of Africans but to enhance their own fortunes.
Black feminists in the U. Black cultural nationalists envisioned black women only in the traditional heteronormative role of the idealized wife-mother figure. Patricia Hill Collins criticizes the limited imagining of black women in cultural nationalist projects, writing that black women "assumed a particular place in Black cultural nationalist efforts to reconstruct authentic Black culture, reconstitute Black identity, foster racial solidarity, and institute an ethic of service to the Black community. Maulana Karenga established the political philosophy of Kawaida in Its doctrine prescribed distinct roles between black men and women. Specifically, the role of the black woman as "African Woman" was to "inspire her man, educate her children, and participate in social development.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. See also: Black supremacy and Black pride. Ideology that seeks to develop a black national identity. This article has multiple issues. Please help to improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. Learn how and when to remove these template messages. The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
You may improve this article , discuss the issue on the talk page , or create a new article , as appropriate. December Learn how and when to remove this template message. The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. May Learn how and when to remove this template message.
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Core values. Autonomy National identity Patriotism Self-determination Solidarity. List of nationalist organizations. Related concepts. This article or section contains close paraphrasing of one or more non-free copyrighted sources.
Ideas in this article should be expressed in an original manner. Main article: Free African Society. Main article: African Episcopal Church of St. Main article: Nation of Islam. Main article: Elijah Muhammad. Main article: Marcus Garvey. This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Main article: Not Fucking Around Coalition. See also: — United States racial unrest. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved May 19, Boston Review. Retrieved May 16, Journal of Black Studies. Social Dynamics. Black separatism and social reality: rhetoric and reason. New York City: Pergamon Press. ISBN Search for a place: Black separatism and Africa, OCLC Southern Poverty Law Center.
Van Deburg, ed. CiteSeerX Black Past. The Black Past. Retrieved Marcus Garvey and the philosophy of black pride Thesis. Journal of Religious Thought. ProQuest October The Journal of African American History. S2CID Orbis Books. Frantz Fanon: A Biography. Verso Books. The Daily Beast. Retrieved 25 July WTOC They are the NFAC". The DeKalb Champion. Atlanta Black Star. They all pass a series of tests to prove their writing prowess and hold the reputation of being the most professional in the industry.
Want to make sure writer's skills match your needs? Get more details on how to choose the appropriate author. The average quality score at our professional custom essay writing service is 8. The high satisfaction rate is set by our Quality Control Department, which checks all papers before submission. The final check includes:. If for some reason we happen to leave a mistake unnoticed, you are invited to request unlimited revisions of your custom-written paper. For more information, check our Revision Policy. We will help you score well in that assignment! Calculate the price of your paper Type of paper needed. You will get a personal manager and a discount. Academic level. Continue to order. Our features.
We've got everything to become your favourite writing service. Money back guarantee Your money is safe. Our service is legit We provide you with a sample paper on the topic you need, and this kind of academic assistance is perfectly legitimate. Get a plagiarism-free paper We check every paper with our plagiarism-detection software, so you get a unique paper written for your particular purposes. We can help with urgent tasks Need a paper tomorrow? Pay a fair price Our prices depend on urgency and level of study. Gehrke, N. In search of the school cur- riculum. Review of Research in Educaton, 18, 51— Hursh, D. Democratic social education: Social studies for social change.
New York: RoutledgeFalmer. Kemmis, S. The action research planner 3rd ed. Gee- long,Victoria: Deakin University Press. Marker, G. Social studies. Wayne Ross Popham, W. Establishing instructional goals. International Journal of Social Education, 7 2 , 83— Teachers as curriculum theorizers. Ross Ed. Redrawing the lines: The case against traditional social stud- ies instruction. Ross Eds. New York: Falmer. Teacher personal the- orizing: Connecting curriculum practice, theory and research.
Teacher personal theoriz- ing and research on teaching. Ross, J. McCutcheon Eds. Social studies: Wrong, right, or left? The Social Studies, 96 4—5. Sanders, D. The development of practical theories of teaching. Journal of Curriculum and Supervision, 2 1 , 50— Thornton, S. Teacher as curricular gatekeeper in social studies. Shaver Ed. Teaching social studies that matter. New York: Teachers Col- lege Press. Tyler, R. Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. Wayne Ross The content of the social studies curriculum is the most inclusive of all school subjects.
Given this, it is not surprising that social studies has been racked by intellectual battles over its purpose, content, and pedagogy since its inception as a school subject in the early part of the twentieth century: To top it off, even the historical accounts of the origins of the social stud- ies as a school subject are in dispute. Three questions form the framework for this chapter: 1 What is the social studies curriculum? These may seem to be simple and straightforward questions, but as we shall see there is debate and controversy surrounding each.
As each of the above questions is addressed, fundamental tensions and contradictions that underlie the social studies curriculum will be identi- fied. My intention is to present this series of tensions and contradictions as a heuristic for understanding the dynamic nature of the social studies. Wayne Ross the struggle over these contradictions that have shaped the nature of the social studies curriculum in the past and continue to fashion it today. The first section of this chapter examines the origins and purposes of the social studies curriculum.
The historical analysis presented in this sec- tion does not attempt to be exhaustive, but rather is intended as a context for understanding the contemporary social studies curriculum and cur- rent efforts to reform it. Both the contradictory origins of social studies in schools and the long-standing dispute over the relative emphasis of cul- tural transmission and critical thinking will be examined. The following section examines the question of curricular control with particular em- phasis on the historical tensions between curriculum centralization and grassroots curriculum development in the social studies. The impact of standards-based, test-driven education reform on social studies curricu- lum is addressed in the next section.
Social studies curriculum and in- struction cannot be considered in isolation. The teacher is the most critical element in the improvement and transformation of the social studies curriculum. In the final section of this chapter, the role of the so- cial studies teacher in relation to the curriculum is examined. In this sec- tion, the role of teachers as curriculum conduits is contrasted with a more professional activist view of teachers as curriculum theorizers. What is the Social Studies Curriculum? Origins of Social Studies in School: Academic History, Social Improvement, Struggle for Justice Social studies in the broadest sense, that is, the preparation of young people so that they possess the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for active participation in society, has been a primary part of schooling in North America since colonial times.
The earliest laws establishing schools in the United States specified religious and moral instruction. In the Latin grammar schools of New England, instruction in catechism and Bible was the core of schooling, while geography and moral philosophy were also taught. Nationalistic education intended to develop loyal pa- triots replaced religion as the main purpose of social education following the American Revolution. As mentioned above, the origins of the contemporary social studies curricu- lum has recently become a flash point between advocates of a history-cen- tered social studies curriculum and those calling for a curriculum based on the interdisciplinary study of current social studies see Evans, Whelan suggests that both sides e.
Nonetheless, the contemporary social studies curriculum does have at least two sources: academic history and social im- provement. The tensions and contradictions inherent in the establish- ment of social studies in schools, while perhaps not as extreme as represented by some scholars, may still, however, help to explain the in- ternal conflict that has shaped the field since its beginnings. Disagree- ment over curricular issues in social studies has characterized the field since its birth and these disagreements and diversities of opinion regard- ing the nature, purpose, and organization of social studies have served to energize the field.
Social educators have another history, one not directly connected to the emergence of social science disciplines and not launched by a series of committees. Rather than highlighting a vested interest in the emer- gence of a professional group, there are voices in our history, which re- flect the struggle for social justice in and through education, often focusing on citizens in the midst of social struggle. Wayne Ross Noffke argues that debates over social studies have failed to acknowledge the widening gap between haves and have-nots and the racialized and gendered patterns of privilege and oppression, which to a large degree form the basis of U. Counts , sets out the social studies project as creating a new social order, one based on democracy and economic justice.
The construction of social studies curricu- lum cannot be accomplished by a focusing on a universal, individual child. Woodson, and W. DuBois, and in communities engaged in struggle for democracy and economic justice e. As Marker and Mehlinger note in their review of research on the social studies curriculum: [T]he apparent consensus on behalf of citizenship education is almost meaningless.
Behind that totem to which nearly all social studies re- searchers pay homage lies continuous and rancorous debate about the purposes of social studies. The most influential of these was worked out by Barr, Barth, and Shermis , who grouped the various positions on the social studies curriculum into three themes: citizenship or cultural transmission, social science, and re- flective inquiry. Morrissett and Haas used the categories of conser- vative cultural continuity, the intellectual aspects of history and the social sciences, and process of thinking reflectively. They argue that the key element in the dispute over the purpose of social studies in the school curriculum in- volves the relative emphasis given to cultural transmission or to critical or reflective thinking.
When cultural transmission is emphasized, the intent is to use the social studies curriculum to promote social adaptation. The emphasis is on teaching content, behaviors, and values that reflect views accepted by the traditional, dominant society. This approach is politically conservative, valuing stability and common standards of thought and be- havior. When critical or reflective thinking is emphasized the intent is to use the social studies curriculum to promote social transformation. The emphasis is on teaching content, behaviors, and values that question and critique standard views accepted by the dominant society.
Wayne Ross action to lead to the reconstruction of society e. It is within the context of the tensions between the relative emphasis on transmission of the cultural heritage of the dominant society or the development of critical thought that the social studies curriculum has had a mixed history—predominately conservative in its purposes, but also at times incorporating progressive and even radical purposes. Stan- ley and Nelson organize the variations in social studies curriculum and instruction into three broad and not necessarily opposing categories: subject-centered social studies, civics-centered social studies, and issues- centered social studies. Subject-centered approaches argue that the social studies curriculum derives its content and purposes from disciplines taught in higher educa- tion.
Some advocates would limit social studies curriculum to the study of traditional history and geography while others would also include the tra- ditional social sciences e. The glue holding these various curricular views together is that each seeks to derive an organizing framework for the so- cial studies curriculum based upon disciplinary knowledge from higher education. Some subject-centered advocates argue for cultural transmis- sion, without multiculturalism e. For both groups subject matter knowl- edge is paramount. Civics-centered social studies is concerned with individual and social attitudes and behaviors more than with subject matter knowledge. As within the subject-centered approach, there are a wide spectrum of views from in- culcating cultural traditions to promoting social action.
Views differ on the relative emphasis that should be given to uncritical loyalty, socially approved behaviors, and to social criticism and improvement, but they share the view that social studies is more than subject matter study and must be tied to civic competence e. Issues-centered approaches propose that social studies is the exami- nation of specific issues.
Social as well as personal problems and contro- versies are the primary content of the curriculum. The views in this category range from personal development to social problems as the pur- pose of the social studies curriculum. Some advocates argue that social criticism or activism is the main reason for studying issues e. The three approaches to social studies described by Stanley and Nel- son are not necessarily separate or opposing. Knowledge from the disci- plines is used in each; none disagrees that one purpose of the social studies is citizenship education; and each accepts social studies as a valuable con- struct.
Who Controls the Social Studies Curriculum? Any response to this question hinges on a conception of curriculum. Indeed, even the curriculum commissions of the late nineteenth century recognized the crucial role of social studies teachers in achieving curricular goals. The formal curriculum is the explicit or official curriculum, embodied in published courses or study, state frameworks, textbooks, tests, and cur- riculum standards efforts e. Wayne Ross harbored a tension between approaches that rely on centralized efforts leading to a standard curriculum and grassroots democratic efforts that provide greater involvement for teachers, parents, students, and other local curriculum leaders in determining what is worthwhile to know and experience.
Curriculum centralization has resulted from three major in- fluences: legal decisions; policy efforts by governments, professional asso- ciations, and foundations; and published materials. Examples of the latter two influences will be sketched below. Educational reform efforts in s attempted to define the nature of the school curriculum and featured efforts by both intellec- tual traditionalists e. Harris and Charles Eliot and developmen- talists e. The social studies curriculum has been heavily influenced by policies of curriculum centralization. The current pattern of topics and courses for secondary social studies is largely the result of recommen- dations of the Committee see Marker, chapter 4 in this volume.
Despite the changing demographics of school attendance the pat- tern of course offerings have remained relatively unchanged: K. Self, school, community, home 1. Families 2. Neighborhoods 3. Communities 4. State history, geographic regions 5. United States history 6. World cultures, Western hemisphere 7. World geography or world history 8. United States history 9. World history United States history. American government Efforts to centralize the curriculum through government mandates also have a long history. Smith-Hughes fostered the transformation of the American high school from an elite institution into one for the masses by mandating that the states specify training needs, program prescriptions, standards and means for monitoring progress. The dual system of education created by Smith-Hughes was reconceptualized in with the passage of the Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act, which provided incen- tives for the development of work education programs that integrate aca- demic and vocational studies.
This is an example of how local grassroots initiatives of people who know best the needs and characteristics of economically distressed communities can be effectively supported Wirth, Regents Examinations in New York State are one of the oldest examples of this approach. These curriculum frameworks are intended to influence textbook pub- lishers and establish standards by which students, teachers, and schools will be assessed. Wayne Ross I have just hinted at the large-scale centralizing influence of educa- tion policies on curriculum. Resistance to curriculum centralization has always existed Ross, , c. There is a strong tradition of local school control in the U. Dewey argued that acquaintance with centralized knowledge must derive from situational concerns; that is, disciplinary knowledge must be attained by the inquiring student in ways that have meaning for her or him.
William H. In the project method, students and teachers took on a greater role in determining the curriculum because they were deemed in the best position to understand the personal and contextual foundations from which a meaningful and relevant curriculum could be constructed. Projects were pursued in small groups or as whole class experiences. Knowledge from the disciplines would be brought to bear on the pro- ject when it was perceived as relevant.
The essence of the project re- quired that teachers and students develop the idea together. If students were fascinated by zoos, for instance all subjects traditional and mod- ern could be related to a deepened understanding of zoos. Schubert, , p. For more than seventy years teachers have relied on textbooks as a pri- mary instructional tool. In , Bagley found that American students spent a significant portion of their school day in formal mastery of text materials Bagley, cited in McCutcheon, The textbook industry is highly competitive and the industry is dominated by a small number of large corporations; as a result, textbook companies modify their products to qualify for adoption in one of these states.
James W. Loewen illustrates this at length in his analysis of U. For example, in a discussion of how history textbooks make white racism invisible, Loewen notes: Although textbook authors no longer sugarcoat how slavery affected African Americans, they minimize white complicity in it. They present slavery virtually as uncaused, a tragedy, rather than a wrong perpetrated by some people on others. However, in the way the textbooks structure their discussion, most of them inadvertently still take a white supremacist viewpoint. The archetype of African Americans as dependent on others begins.
In reality, white violence, not black ignorance, was the key prob- lem during Reconstruction. Loewen, , p. That year the National Defense Education Act helped to import disciplinary specialists to design curriculum packages for schools. In the social studies, these cur- riculum innovations were collectively called the New Social Studies. Although social studies specialists helped in the development of New Social Studies materials, the curricular focus was on the academic disciplines.
Wayne Ross experts in academic disciplines, viewed teachers as implementers not active partners in the creation of classroom curriculum. While the development and dissemination of the curriculum pro- jects in the s were well funded, they failed to make a major impact on classroom practices. In contrast, proponents of grassroots democracy in curriculum offered the expla- nation that the failure was due to the blatant disregard of teachers and students in curriculum decision making.
This is especially ironic inas- much as those who promoted inquiry methods with the young ne- glected to allow inquiry by teachers and students about matters most fundamental to their growing lives, that is, inquiry about that which is most worthwhile to know and experience. Curriculum Standards It is clear that government-driven curriculum centralization efforts i. The standards movement is a massive effort at curriculum centralization. Virtually all of the subject- matter-based professional education groups have undertaken the creation of curriculum standards.
Encouraged by the positive response to the de- velopment of standards for the mathematics curriculum and the availabil- ity of federal funding for such projects, social studies educators have taken up the development of curriculum standards with unparalleled zeal. The Struggle for the Social Studies Curriculum 29 Because the aim of these projects is to create a national educational system with uniform content and goals the ongoing debates and divisions within the field of social studies has intensified.
The standards-based cur- riculum movement is a rationalized managerial approach to issues of curriculum development and teaching that attempts to define curricular goals, design assessment tasks based on these goals, set standards for the content of subject matter areas and grade level, and test students and re- port the results to the public. The intent is to establish standards for con- tent and student performance levels.
The primary tension in curriculum reform efforts, today and histori- cally, is between centralized and grassroots decision making. When there are multiple participants and competing interests in the curriculum- making process, the question arises, where does control reside? The standards-based curriculum movement in social studies represents an effort by policy elites to standardize the content and much of the practice of education e. Operationally curriculum- standards projects in social studies are anti-democratic because they se- verely restrict the legitimate role of teachers and other educational pro- fessionals, as well as members of the public, from participating in the conversation about the origin, nature and ethics of knowledge taught in the social studies curriculum.
Resources that might have been directed to assisting teachers to become better decision makers have instead been channeled into a program dedicated to the de- velopment of schemes for preventing teachers from making curricular de- cisions. The circumstances described above leads to the final question addressed in this chapter. A fundamental assumption of most cur- riculum-centralization efforts is that means instruction can be separated from the ends curricular goals and objectives. Many teachers have inter- nalized the means-ends distinction between their pedagogy and the cur- riculum.
As a result, they view their professional role as instructional decision makers not as curriculum developers Thornton, Wayne Ross What is clear from studies of teacher decision making, however, is that teachers do much more than select teaching methods to implement formally adopted curricular goals. As Thornton argues, teacher beliefs about social studies subject matter and student thinking in social studies, as well as planning and instructional strategies, together function to cre- ate the enacted curriculum of the classroom—the day-to-day interactions among students, teachers and subject matter.
The difference between the publicly declared formal curriculum and the curriculum experienced by students in social studies classrooms is considerable. This is not to say that social studies classes are not affected by factors such as the characteristics of the students enrolled, but only to emphasize that the teacher plays the primary structuring role. Teachers are actively in- volved in shaping the culture of schooling. This example illustrates the importance of focusing on the develop- ment of the enacted curriculum instead of the formal curriculum. There are three possible roles for teachers in curriculum implemen- tation Ben-Peretz, This view of teachers was adopted at the turn of the twentieth century as history was becoming established as a school subject.
Arthur Schlesinger Sr. This is clearly not a desirable role for professional teachers. The New Social Studies is an exemplar of this role for the teacher. Teachers were viewed as active implementers but not as full partners in the creation of the curriculum. A third and most desirable role for teachers is as curriculum user- developers. From this perspective teachers are assumed to be full part- ners in development of the enacted curriculum. Teacher inquiry is a key element in the success of the curriculum because it is inquiry directed at discovering curriculum potential that leads to the change and transfor- mation of formal curriculum materials, and most importantly the devel- opment of new alternatives that are best suited for circumstances the teacher is working within.
The current standards-based curriculum movement highlights the contradiction between the views of teachers as active implementers or as user-developers. Ultimately, however, curriculum improvement depends on teachers being more thoughtful about their work see Cornett et al. The most effective means of improving the curriculum is to improve the education and professional development afforded teachers. Teachers need to be better prepared to exercise the curricular decision-making re- sponsibilities that are an inherent part of instructional practice. Early in this century John Dewey identified the intellectual subservience of teach- ers as a central problem facing progressive educators in their efforts to im- prove the curriculum.
Dewey saw the solution to the problem as the development of teaching as professional work. Prospective teachers, Dewey argued: should be given to understand that they not only are permitted to act on their own initiative, but that they are expected to do so and that their ability to take hold of a situation for themselves would be a more important factor in judging them than their following any particular set methods or scheme. Dewey, , pp. Conclusion In this chapter I have posed three fundamental questions about the social studies curriculum: 1 What is the social studies curriculum? In responding to these ques- tions I identified a series of tensions and contradiction that have shaped the field of social studies historically and that still affect it today.
In response to the first question I identified the tension between the study of academic history and efforts of social meliorists as setting the stage for a long-standing conflict between advocates of subject-centered and civics- or issue-centered social studies. In addition, it was argued that the purposes of the social studies curriculum have essentially been de- fined by the relative emphasis given to cultural transmission or critical thinking in the curriculum.
The second question led to an examination of the long-standing ten- sions between curriculum centralization and grassroots curriculum de- velopment. The recent standards-based curriculum movement was discussed in this section and used as a bridge to the consideration of the final question regarding the role of the social studies teacher in relation to the curriculum. In the closing section I argued that teachers are the key element in curriculum improvement and that curriculum change in the social studies will only be achieved through the improved education and professional development opportunities for teachers.
My intention has been to present this series of tensions and contra- dictions as a heuristic for understanding the dynamic nature of the social studies. It would be a mistake to treat them as definitive oppositionals, however; it is the struggles over these contradictions that have shaped the nature of the social studies curriculum in the past and continues to define it today. Notes 1. The balance of this section draws directly upon Ross, E. I am indebted to the work of William H. Schubert for the historical analysis in this sec- tion. See Schubert, W. Historical perspective on centralizing the cur- riculum. Klein Ed. This section draws upon Ross, E. Teachers and texts.
New York: Routledge. Apple, M. The politics of the textbook. Barr, R. Defining the social studies. Ben-Peretz, M. The teacher-curriculum encounter. Black, H. The American schoolbook. New York: William Morrow. Bowler, M. The making of a textbook. Learning, 6, 38— Brooks, M. Centralized curriculum: Effects on the local school level. American Historical Association. The study of his- tory in schools. National Education Association. Report of the committee on secondary school studies. The so- cial studies in secondary education.
Cornbleth, C. The great speckled bird. New York: St. Cornett, J. W Cornett, and G. Mc- Cutcheon Eds. Counts, G. Dare the school build a new social order. New York: John Day. The relation of theory to practice in education, In The relation of theory to practice in the education of teachers: Third yearbook of the National Soci- ety for the Scientific Study of Education, part I. Engle, S. Decision making: The heart of social studies instruction.
Social Education, 24 7 , —, Education for democratic citizenship: Decision making in the social studies. Fullinwider, R. Philosophical inquiry and social studies. Gabbard, D. Defending public schools: Education under the security state. Westport, CT: Praeger. Hunt, M. Teaching high school social studies: Problems in reflective thinking and social understanding. Wayne Ross Hursh, D. Democratic social education: Social stud- ies for social change. Kesson, K. Kilpatrick, W. The project method. Kincheloe, J.
Cultural studies and democratically aware teacher education: Post-Fordism, civics, and the worker-citizen. Kleibard, H. The struggle for the American — 3rd Ed. Kohlberg, L. Moral development and the new social studies. Social Edu- cation, 14 1 , 35— The cognitive-developmental approach to moral education. Phi Delta Kappan, 56 10 , — Krug, E. The shaping of the American high school, — Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. Leming, J. Where did social studies go wrong? Washington, DC: Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. Loewen, J. Lies my teacher told me. New York: New Press. Longstreet, W. Citizenship: The phantom core of social studies cur- riculum. Theory and Research in Social Education, 13 2 , 21— W Jackson Ed.
Mathison, S. Implementing curricular change through state-mandated testing: Ethical issues. Journal of Curriculum and Supervision, 6, — Defending public schools: The nature and limits of standards-based reform and assessment. McCutchen, S. A discipline for the social studies. Social Education, 52, — McCutcheon, G. Developing the curriculum. White Plains, NY: Longman.
To do so, Informative Speech: Who Does Not Love Santa Claus history-centered curriculum should include Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline opportunities for students to study nontraditional topics Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline. ISBN Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline What are demerit points recent standards-based curriculum movement was discussed in this section and Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline as a Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline Brewing Before 1350 Analysis the consideration Denim: Song Of Racism the final question regarding the role of the social Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline teacher in relation to the curriculum. And they must come to act in Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline variety of unique and ethical ways, for the expansion and realization of democracy, the root of contemporary notions Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline citizenship, is in their hands, and it demands of Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline no Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline than the ultimate in democratic Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline anti-oppressive human Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline and human activity. Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline situation, unfortunately, is similar to the way Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline is taught and studied in schools. Teachers, whom one might Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline to fare better than their students, Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline reality exist within a number of similar and powerless Fred Shuttlesworth Essay Outline.
The Battle Of Ong Thanh Analysis
Sunday, October 24, 2021 3:34:44 AM
Maus Spiegelman Analysis
The Constitution Divides The Political Power: Three Branches Of Government
Sunday, May 23, 2021 6:55:08 AM |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What type of anemia can be caused by chronic atrophic gastritis and H. pylori gastritis? output: Chronic atrophic gastritis and H. pylori gastritis can cause iron deficiency anemia. This is because these conditions can lead to a reduction in the production of hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor, which are necessary for the absorption of iron from the diet. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. When there is not enough iron available, the body is unable to produce enough hemoglobin, which can result in anemia. Treatment for iron deficiency anemia may include iron supplements and dietary changes to increase iron intake. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have a hard white jagged lump on the top of my left ear . The white part is crystalized and can be picked off with bleeding , but will regrow . The area is painful to the touch. It does not appear to be discolored ; just the white crystal on top of the sore .Thank you for any information that you can give me .B. Hood output: White crystals and soreness to touch is classic of the Gouty tofu of the Penna. Second Opinion from Surgeon would differentiate it by clinical and physical diagnosis. Hope that this reply would help you to plan treatment with your doctor soon. Genl-CVTS. |
/**
\file IntegrateFireSim\Neuron.cpp
\brief Implements the neuron class.
**/
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "IonChannel.h"
#include "SynapseType.h"
#include "IntegrateFireModule.h"
#include "Connexion.h"
#include "CaActivation.h"
#include "Neuron.h"
#include "ElectricalSynapse.h"
#include "NonSpikingChemicalSynapse.h"
#include "SpikingChemicalSynapse.h"
namespace IntegrateFireSim
{
double Neuron::m_dSpikePeak=0;
double Neuron::m_dSpikeStrength=1;
double Neuron::m_dAHPEquilPot=-70; // equil pot for K
double Neuron::m_dCaEquilPot=200;
double Neuron::m_dAbsoluteRefr=2;
long Neuron::m_lAbsoluteRefr=0;
double Neuron::m_dDT=0.5;
/**
\brief Default constructor.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
**/
Neuron::Neuron()
{
m_bZapped = false;
m_dRestingPot = -70;
m_dSize = 1;
m_dTimeConst = 0;
m_dInitialThresh = 0;
m_dRelativeAccom = 0;
m_dAccomTimeConst = 0;
m_dAHPAmp = 0;
m_dAHPTimeConst = 0;
m_dGMaxCa = 0;
m_dVM = 0;
m_dSM = 0;
m_dMTimeConst = 0;
m_dVH = 0;
m_dSH = 0;
m_dHTimeConst = 0;
m_fltGTotal = 0;
m_dToniCurrentStimulusulus = 0;
m_dNoise = 0;
m_dMemPot = 0;
m_dNewMemPot = 0;
m_dThresh = 0;
m_bSpike = false;
m_fltEMemory = 0;
m_dElecSynCur = 0;
m_dElecSynCond = 0;
m_dNonSpikingSynCur = 0;
m_dNonSpikingSynCond = 0;
m_lRefrCountDown = 0;
m_dDCTH = 0;
m_dDGK = 0;
m_dGK = 0;
m_dGTot = 0;
m_dStim = 0;;
m_dM = 0;
m_dH = 0;
m_fltEMemory = 0;
m_bBurstInitAtBottom = true;
m_iNeuronID = 0;
m_fltAdapterI = 0;
m_fltAdapterMemoryI = 0;
m_fltExternalI = 0;
m_fltChannelI = 0;
m_fltChannelMemoryI = 0;
m_fltICaMemory = 0;
m_fltMemPot = 0;
m_fltThresholdMemory = 0;
m_fltLastSpikeTime = 0;
m_fltFiringFreq = 0;
m_fltElecSynCurMemory = 0;
m_fltSpikingSynCurMemory = 0;
m_fltNonSpikingSynCurMemory = 0;
m_iIonChannels = 0;
m_fltSpike = 0;
m_dCm = 0;
m_fltGm = 0;
m_fltVrest = 0;
m_fltTotalI = 0;
m_fltTotalMemoryI = 0;
m_lpCaActive = NULL;
m_lpCaInactive = NULL;
}
/**
\brief Destructor.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
**/
Neuron::~Neuron()
{
if(m_lpCaActive)
{delete m_lpCaActive; m_lpCaActive = NULL;}
if(m_lpCaInactive)
{delete m_lpCaInactive; m_lpCaInactive = NULL;}
}
#pragma region Accessor-Mutators
/**
\brief Gets the neuron ID.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return Neuron ID.
**/
int Neuron::NeuronID() {return m_iNeuronID;}
/**
\brief Sets the Neuron ID.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param iID The identifier.
**/
void Neuron::NeuronID(int iID) {m_iNeuronID = iID;}
bool Neuron::Enabled() {return m_bZapped;}
void Neuron::Enabled(bool bValue)
{
Node::Enabled(bValue);
m_bZapped = !bValue;
}
/**
\brief Adds to the external current.
\author dcofer
\date 3/29/2011
\param fltVal The new value to add.
**/
void Neuron::AddExternalI(float fltVal)
{
m_fltExternalI+=fltVal;
}
/**
\brief Gets the resting potential.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return The resting potential.
**/
double Neuron::GetRestingPot() {return m_dRestingPot;}
/**
\brief Gets the membrane potential.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return The membrane potential.
**/
double Neuron::GetMemPot() {return m_bZapped?0:(m_bSpike?m_dSpikePeak:m_dMemPot);}
/**
\brief Gets the votlge threshold.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return The votlge threshold.
**/
double Neuron::GetThresh() {return m_bZapped?0:m_dThresh;}
/**
\brief Gets whether a spike occured.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return true if it spiked, false else.
**/
bool Neuron::GetSpike() {return m_bZapped?false:m_bSpike;}
/**
\brief Gets if the neuron is disabled.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return true if it is disabled, false else.
**/
bool Neuron::GetZapped() {return m_bZapped;}
/**
\brief Increments the current stimulus.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param stim The stim.
**/
void Neuron::IncrementStim(double stim) {m_dStim+=stim;}
/**
\brief Increments electrical synapse current.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param cur The current.
**/
void Neuron::InElectricalSynapseCurr(double cur) {m_dElecSynCur+=cur;}
/**
\brief Increments electrical synapse conductance.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param cond The conductance.
**/
void Neuron::InElectricalSynapseCond(double cond) {m_dElecSynCond+=cond;}
/**
\brief Increment non-spiking syn current.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param cur The current.
**/
void Neuron::IncNonSpikingSynCurr(double cur) {m_dNonSpikingSynCur+=cur;}
/**
\brief Increment non-spiking syn conductance.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param cond The conductance.
**/
void Neuron::IncNonSpikingSynCond(double cond) {m_dNonSpikingSynCond+=cond;}
/**
\brief Gets the ion channels.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return Pointer to array of ion channels.
**/
CStdPtrArray<IonChannel> *Neuron::IonChannels() {return &m_aryIonChannels;}
/**
\brief Sets the resting potential.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::RestingPotential(double dVal)
{
//The mempot variables are calculated, so we do not want to just re-set them to the new value.
//instead lets adjust them by the difference between the old and new resting potential.
double dDiff = dVal - m_dRestingPot;
m_dRestingPot = dVal;
m_dMemPot += dDiff;
m_dNewMemPot += dDiff;
}
/**
\brief Gets the resting potential.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return resting potential.
**/
double Neuron::RestingPotential() {return m_dRestingPot;}
/**
\brief Sets the size of the neuron.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::Size(double dVal)
{
m_dSize = dVal;
m_fltGm = (float) (1/(m_dSize*1e6));
m_dCm = m_dTimeConst*m_dSize;
}
/**
\brief Gets the size of the neuron.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return size.
**/
double Neuron::Size() {return m_dSize;}
/**
\brief Sets the time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::TimeConstant(double dVal)
{
m_dTimeConst = dVal;
m_dCm = m_dTimeConst*m_dSize;
}
/**
\brief Gets the time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return time constant.
**/
double Neuron::TimeConstant() {return m_dTimeConst;}
/**
\brief Sets the initial threshold.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::InitialThreshold(double dVal)
{
m_dInitialThresh = dVal;
m_dThresh=m_dInitialThresh;
m_fltThresholdMemory = (float) m_dThresh * 0.001;
}
/**
\brief Gets the initial threshold.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return initial threshold.
**/
double Neuron::InitialThreshold() {return m_dInitialThresh;}
/**
\brief Sets the relative accomodation value.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::RelativeAccomodation(double dVal) {m_dRelativeAccom = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the relative accomodation.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return relative accomodation.
**/
double Neuron::RelativeAccomodation() {return m_dRelativeAccom;}
/**
\brief Sets the accomodation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::AccomodationTimeConstant(double dVal)
{
m_dAccomTimeConst = dVal;
m_dDCTH=exp(-m_dDT/m_dAccomTimeConst);
}
/**
\brief Gets the accomodation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return accomodation time constant.
**/
double Neuron::AccomodationTimeConstant() {return m_dAccomTimeConst;}
/**
\brief Sets the after-hyperpolarizing conductance amplitude.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::AHPAmplitude(double dVal) {m_dAHPAmp = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the after-hyperpolarizing conductance amplitude.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return AHP Amplitude.
**/
double Neuron::AHPAmplitude() {return m_dAHPAmp;}
/**
\brief Sets the after-hyperpolarizing time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::AHPTimeConstant(double dVal)
{
m_dAHPTimeConst = dVal;
m_dDGK=exp(-m_dDT/m_dAHPTimeConst);
}
/**
\brief Gets the after-hyperpolarizing time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return AHP time constant.
**/
double Neuron::AHPTimeConstant() {return m_dAHPTimeConst;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst maximum calcium conductance.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstGMaxCa(double dVal)
{
m_dGMaxCa = dVal;
if (m_dGMaxCa>0 && m_bBurstInitAtBottom)
{
m_dMemPot=m_dRestingPot+7.408;
m_dM=0.0945;
m_dH=0.0208;
}
else
{
m_dMemPot=m_dRestingPot;
m_dM=0.0f;
m_dH=0.0f;
}
}
/**
\brief Gets the burst maximum calcium conductance.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return conductance.
**/
double Neuron::BurstGMaxCa() {return m_dGMaxCa;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst activation mid point.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstVm(double dVal) {m_dVM = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst activation mid point.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return Mid-point.
**/
double Neuron::BurstVm() {return m_dVM;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst Activation slope.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstSm(double dVal) {m_dSM = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst Activation slope.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return slope.
**/
double Neuron::BurstSm() {return m_dSM;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst activation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstMTimeConstant(double dVal) {m_dMTimeConst = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst activation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return time constant.
**/
double Neuron::BurstMTimeConstant() {return m_dMTimeConst;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst inactivation mid point.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstVh(double dVal) {m_dVH = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst inactivation mid point.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return mid point.
**/
double Neuron::BurstVh() {return m_dVH;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst inactivation slope.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstSh(double dVal) {m_dSH = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst inactivation slope.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return slope.
**/
double Neuron::BurstSh() {return m_dSH;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst inactivation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstHTimeConstant(double dVal) {m_dHTimeConst = dVal;}
/**
\brief Gets the burst inactivation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return time constant.
**/
double Neuron::BurstHTimeConstant() {return m_dHTimeConst;}
/**
\brief Sets the burst inactivation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param dVal The new value.
**/
void Neuron::BurstInitAtBottom(bool bVal)
{
m_bBurstInitAtBottom = bVal;
BurstGMaxCa(m_dGMaxCa);
}
/**
\brief Gets the burst inactivation time constant.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\return time constant.
**/
bool Neuron::BurstInitAtBottom() {return m_bBurstInitAtBottom;}
/**
\brief Sets the neurons tonic stimulus current.
\author dcofer
\date 2/2/2012
\param dblVal The stimulus value.
**/
void Neuron::TonicStimulus(double dblVal)
{
m_dToniCurrentStimulusulus = dblVal;
}
/**
\brief Gets the tonic stimulus current of the neuron.
\author dcofer
\date 2/2/2012
\return Tonic stimulus current.
**/
double Neuron::TonicStimulus() {return m_dToniCurrentStimulusulus;}
void Neuron::TonicNoise(double dblVal)
{
m_dNoise = dblVal;
}
double Neuron::TonicNoise() {return m_dNoise;}
#pragma endregion
void Neuron::SetSystemPointers(Simulator *lpSim, Structure *lpStructure, AnimatSim::Behavior::NeuralModule *lpModule, Node *lpNode, bool bVerify)
{
Node::SetSystemPointers(lpSim, lpStructure, lpModule, lpNode, false);
m_lpIGFModule = dynamic_cast<IntegrateFireNeuralModule *>(lpModule);
if(bVerify) VerifySystemPointers();
}
void Neuron::VerifySystemPointers()
{
Node::VerifySystemPointers();
if(!m_lpIGFModule)
THROW_PARAM_ERROR(Al_Err_lStructureNotDefined, Al_Err_strStructureNotDefined, "IGFModule: ", m_strID);
}
void Neuron::Load(CStdXml &oXml)
{
int i;
int j;
double d;
m_aryTonicInputPeriod.RemoveAll();
m_aryTonicInputPeriodType.RemoveAll();
Node::Load(oXml);
oXml.IntoElem(); //Into Neuron Element
Enabled(oXml.GetChildBool("Enabled", true));
m_dToniCurrentStimulusulus=oXml.GetChildDouble("TonicStimulus");
m_dNoise=oXml.GetChildDouble("Noise");
m_dRestingPot=oXml.GetChildDouble("RestingPot");
m_dSize=oXml.GetChildDouble("Size");
m_dTimeConst=oXml.GetChildDouble("TimeConst");
m_dInitialThresh=oXml.GetChildDouble("InitialThresh");
m_dRelativeAccom=oXml.GetChildDouble("RelativeAccom");
m_dAccomTimeConst=oXml.GetChildDouble("AccomTimeConst");
m_dAHPAmp=oXml.GetChildDouble("AHPAmp");
m_dAHPTimeConst=oXml.GetChildDouble("AHPTimeConst");
m_dGMaxCa=oXml.GetChildDouble("GMaxCa");
m_bBurstInitAtBottom=oXml.GetChildBool("BurstInitAtBottom", m_bBurstInitAtBottom);
if(oXml.FindChildElement("CaActivation", false))
{
if(m_lpCaActive)
{delete m_lpCaActive; m_lpCaActive = NULL;}
m_lpCaActive = new CaActivation(this, "ACTIVE");
m_lpCaActive->SetSystemPointers(m_lpSim, m_lpStructure, m_lpModule, this, true);
m_lpCaActive->Load(oXml);
}
if(oXml.FindChildElement("CaDeactivation", false))
{
if(m_lpCaInactive)
{delete m_lpCaInactive; m_lpCaInactive = NULL;}
m_lpCaInactive = new CaActivation(this, "INACTIVE");
m_lpCaInactive->SetSystemPointers(m_lpSim, m_lpStructure, m_lpModule, this, true);
m_lpCaInactive->Load(oXml);
}
m_fltGm = (float) (1/(m_dSize*1e6));
m_fltVrest = (float) (m_dRestingPot*1e-3);
if(oXml.FindChildElement("NeuronTonicInputs", false) )
{
oXml.IntoElem();
int iTotalNeuronTonicInputs = oXml.NumberOfChildren();
for(i=0; i<iTotalNeuronTonicInputs; i++)
{
oXml.FindChildByIndex(i);
oXml.IntoElem(); //Into NeuronTonicInput Element
d=oXml.GetChildDouble("TonicInputPeriod");
j=oXml.GetChildInt("TonicInputPeriodType");
m_aryTonicInputPeriod.Add(d);
m_aryTonicInputPeriodType.Add(j);
oXml.OutOfElem(); //OutOf NeuronTonicInput Element
}
oXml.OutOfElem(); //OutOf NeuronTonicInputs Element
}
else
{
int iSpikingChemSynCount=m_lpIGFModule->GetSpikingChemSynCount();
for(i=0; i<iSpikingChemSynCount; i++)
{
m_aryTonicInputPeriod.Add(0);
m_aryTonicInputPeriodType.Add(0);
}
}
m_aryIonChannels.RemoveAll();
if(oXml.FindChildElement("IonChannels", false) )
{
oXml.IntoElem();
m_iIonChannels = oXml.NumberOfChildren();
for(int iIndex=0; iIndex<m_iIonChannels; iIndex++)
{
oXml.FindChildByIndex(iIndex);
LoadIonChannel(oXml);
}
oXml.OutOfElem();
}
oXml.OutOfElem(); //OutOf Neuron Element
}
/**
\brief Loads an ion channel.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param [in,out] oXml The xml to load.
\return Pointer to the loaded ion channel.
**/
IonChannel *Neuron::LoadIonChannel(CStdXml &oXml)
{
IonChannel *lpIonChannel = NULL;
try
{
lpIonChannel = new IonChannel();
lpIonChannel->SetSystemPointers(m_lpSim, m_lpStructure, m_lpModule, this, true);
lpIonChannel->Load(oXml);
m_aryIonChannels.Add(lpIonChannel);
return lpIonChannel;
}
catch(CStdErrorInfo oError)
{
if(lpIonChannel) delete lpIonChannel;
RELAY_ERROR(oError);
return NULL;
}
catch(...)
{
if(lpIonChannel) delete lpIonChannel;
THROW_ERROR(Std_Err_lUnspecifiedError, Std_Err_strUnspecifiedError);
return NULL;
}
}
//void Neuron::ClearSpikeTimes()
//{
// for(int iIndex=0; iIndex<m_iSpikesToKeepForFreqAnal; iIndex++)
// m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex] = -1;
//}
/*
void Neuron::StoreSpikeForFreqAnalysis(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
{
//First push all of the current values down the list.
for(int iIndex=(m_iSpikesToKeepForFreqAnal-1); iIndex>0; iIndex--)
m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex] = m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex-1];
//Now put this one on as the first one.
m_arySpikeTimes[0] = lpNS->GetCurrentTime();
}
*/
//void Neuron::CalculateFiringFreq(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
//{
// int iIndex = 0, iSpikeCount = 0;
// double fltDiff=0, dblLastSpike=0;
//
// //First push all of the current values down the list.
// for(iIndex=(m_iSpikesToKeepForFreqAnal-1); iIndex>0; iIndex--)
// m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex] = m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex-1];
//
// //Now put this one on as the first one.
// m_arySpikeTimes[0] = lpNS->GetCurrentTime();
//
//
// //Lets loop through the stack of past spike times to count how many to use.
// iIndex = 0;
// while(iIndex<m_iSpikesToKeepForFreqAnal && m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex] >= 0)
// {
// fltDiff = lpNS->GetCurrentTime() - m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex];
//
// //Only use spikes that occurred within 1 second of the current time.
// if(fltDiff <= 1000)
// {
// iSpikeCount++;
// dblLastSpike = m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex];
// }
// else
// m_arySpikeTimes[iIndex] = -1;
//
// iIndex++;
// }
//
// if(iSpikeCount>5 && dblLastSpike >0)
// {
// if(dblLastSpike == lpNS->GetCurrentTime())
// m_fltFiringFreq = 1;
// else
// m_fltFiringFreq = iSpikeCount/((lpNS->GetCurrentTime()-dblLastSpike)/1000);
// }
// else
// m_fltFiringFreq = 0;
//
//}
/**
\brief Calculates the firing freq.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param [in,out] lpNS Pointer to the neural module.
**/
void Neuron::CalculateFiringFreq(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
{
if(m_bSpike)
{
double dblDiff = (lpNS->GetCurrentTime() - m_fltLastSpikeTime)/(double) 1000.0;
if(dblDiff > 0)
m_fltFiringFreq = 1/dblDiff;
else
m_fltFiringFreq = NO_FREQ_DATA;
m_fltLastSpikeTime = lpNS->GetCurrentTime();
}
else
m_fltFiringFreq = NO_FREQ_DATA;
}
///////////////////////////////////////
// ENGINE
/**
\brief Initialization routine.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param [in,out] lpNS Pointer to the neural module.
**/
void Neuron::PreCalc(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
{
//Std_TraceMsg(0,"In Neuron::PreCalc");
int i;
int iSpikingChemSynCount=lpNS->GetSpikingChemSynCount();
//Size is in Mohms, Current is in na, and volt is in mv, Time is in milliseconds.
//so T=RC => C = T/R, where R = 1/Size. You make the size smaller it increases Rm.
//So C = T*Size; C needs to be nF, (mS/Mohm) = nF
m_dCm = m_dTimeConst*m_dSize;
m_arySynG.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
m_aryDG.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
m_aryFacilD.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
m_aryFacilSponSynG.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
m_aryNextSponSynTime.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
m_aryTonicInputPeriodType.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
m_aryTonicInputPeriod.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
SpikingChemicalSynapse *lpSCSyn=NULL;
for (i=0; i<iSpikingChemSynCount; i++)
{
lpSCSyn = lpNS->GetSpikingChemSynAt(i);
if (lpSCSyn->m_dSynAmp==0)
continue;
m_arySynG[i]=0.;
if (m_aryTonicInputPeriodType[i]==0)
m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]=0.;
else
m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]=(-m_aryTonicInputPeriod[i]*log(double (Std_LRand(0, RAND_MAX))/double(RAND_MAX))+1);
m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]=lpSCSyn->m_dSynAmp;
m_aryDG[i]=exp(-m_dDT/lpSCSyn->m_dDecay);
m_aryFacilD[i]=exp(-m_dDT/lpSCSyn->m_dFacilDecay);
//Std_TraceMsg(0, "I: " + STR(i) + " SynG: " + STR(m_arySynG[i]) + " NextSyn: " + STR(m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]) + " FacilG: " + STR(m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]) + " DG: " + STR(m_aryDG[i]) + " FacilD: " + STR(m_aryFacilD[i]));
}
m_dGK=0;
m_bSpike=false;
m_dDCTH=exp(-m_dDT/m_dAccomTimeConst);
m_dDGK=exp(-m_dDT/m_dAHPTimeConst);
m_lRefrCountDown=0;
m_dMemPot=m_dNewMemPot=m_dRestingPot;
m_dThresh=m_dInitialThresh;
m_fltThresholdMemory = (float) m_dThresh * 0.001;
// burster bits
// initialise to bottom of burst??
if (m_dGMaxCa>0 && m_bBurstInitAtBottom)
{
m_dMemPot=m_dRestingPot+7.408;
m_dM=0.0945;
m_dH=0.0208;
}
else
{
m_dMemPot=m_dRestingPot;
m_dM=0.0f;
m_dH=0.0f;
}
m_dElecSynCur=m_dElecSynCond=0;
m_dNonSpikingSynCur=m_dNonSpikingSynCond=0;
//if(m_arySpikeTimes)
//{
// delete m_arySpikeTimes;
// m_arySpikeTimes = NULL;
//}
//m_arySpikeTimes = new double[m_iSpikesToKeepForFreqAnal];
//ClearSpikeTimes();
m_dStim=0;
m_fltAdapterI = 0;
m_fltAdapterMemoryI = 0;
m_fltMemPot = m_dMemPot * 0.001;
}
/**
\brief Calculates the final update during a step.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param [in,out] lpNS Pointer to the neural module.
**/
void Neuron::CalcUpdateFinal(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
{
int i;
m_dMemPot=m_dNewMemPot;
if (m_lRefrCountDown>0)
{
m_lRefrCountDown--;
m_bSpike=false;
}
else if (lpNS->TTX() || lpNS->HH())
m_bSpike=false;
else
m_bSpike=(m_dMemPot>m_dThresh) ? true : false;
if (m_bSpike)
m_lRefrCountDown=m_lAbsoluteRefr;
m_fltSpike = (float) m_bSpike;
CalculateFiringFreq(lpNS);
for (i=0; i<m_arySynG.size(); i++)
{
if (m_arySynG[i]>0)
m_arySynG[i]*=m_aryDG[i]; // decrease previous syn G exponentially with time, unless never increased
}
m_fltMemPot = (m_bZapped?0:(m_bSpike?m_dSpikePeak:m_dMemPot)) * 0.001;
m_fltThresholdMemory = (float) m_dThresh * 0.001;
//ASSERT(m_dStim==0.); // ready for next iteration
}
/**
\brief Called when simulation is ended.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param [in,out] lpNS Pointer to the neural module.
**/
void Neuron::PostCalc(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
{
m_arySynG.RemoveAll(); // current conductance of each synaptic type
m_aryFacilSponSynG.RemoveAll(); // facilitated initial g increase caused by input
m_aryDG.RemoveAll(); // exponential decline factor in syn G
m_aryFacilD.RemoveAll(); // exponential decline factor in facilitation
m_aryNextSponSynTime.RemoveAll(); // time to next occurrence of this syn type
}
/**
\brief Calculates the update during a time step.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param [in,out] lpNS Pointer to the neural module.
**/
void Neuron::CalcUpdate(IntegrateFireNeuralModule *lpNS)
{
double GS,GSI; // total synaptic cond, current
double gCa,iCa; // Ca cond, current
double E,DCE; // mempot-restpot,expon decline factor in mem pot to resting pot
int i;
double testD;
if (m_bZapped) // don't bother calculating anything else if zapped
return;
// do tonic current input
m_dStim+= (m_dToniCurrentStimulusulus + m_fltAdapterI + (m_fltExternalI*1e9));
m_fltAdapterI = 0;
m_fltElecSynCurMemory = m_dElecSynCur * 1e-9;
m_fltNonSpikingSynCurMemory = m_dNonSpikingSynCur * 1e-9;
//Go through the ion channels and calculate their currents.
//Convert time from ms to s, and membrane voltage from mv to v
m_fltChannelMemoryI = 0;
float fltStep = lpNS->GetTimeStep()*1e-3f;
float fltVm = m_dMemPot*1e-3f;
for(int iChannel=0; iChannel<m_iIonChannels; iChannel++)
m_fltChannelMemoryI+=m_aryIonChannels[iChannel]->CalculateCurrent(fltStep, fltVm);
m_fltChannelI=m_fltChannelMemoryI*1e9f; //Currents are always in nA in this model.
// adjust current injection for size of cell
m_dStim/=m_dSize;
m_fltChannelI/=m_dSize;
// Do spontaneous spiking synaptic input
// Each neuron can get tonic input from any synaptic type which
// acts as if a single unknown pre-synaptic neuron of that type inputs either
// regular (type==0) or random (type==1) PSPs.
if (!lpNS->Cd()) // cadmium blocks all chem synapses & gCa
{
int iSpikingChemSynCount=lpNS->GetSpikingChemSynCount();
for (i=0; i<iSpikingChemSynCount; i++)
{
SpikingChemicalSynapse *pSyn=lpNS->GetSpikingChemSynAt(i);
if (pSyn->m_dSynAmp==0)
continue;
if (m_aryTonicInputPeriod[i]>0) // if there is spontaneous input
{
if (pSyn->m_dRelFacil!=1) // if facil exists, decrease its amount with time
m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]=pSyn->m_dSynAmp+(m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]-pSyn->m_dSynAmp)*m_aryFacilD[i];
testD=m_aryNextSponSynTime[i];
if (m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]<=0) // due another input
{
// check that synapse has not decremented below zero
//(you can't take away existing G)
if (m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]>0)
{
double block=1.;
#if 0
if (m_pNetworkData->m_bBlockedList[i])
{
//ASSERT(m_pNetworkData->GetPartialBlockInUse());
double noise =double (Std_LRand(0, RAND_MAX))/ RAND_MAX;
float top=m_pNetworkData->GetPartialBlockTop();
float bottom=m_pNetworkData->GetPartialBlockBottom();
block=bottom/100+noise*(top-bottom)/100;
//ASSERT(block>=0. && block<=1.);
}
#endif
m_arySynG[i]+=block*m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]; // add new synaptic occurrence
}
// facilitate next response, add residual facil to new syn amp
m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]=(m_aryFacilSponSynG[i]-pSyn->m_dSynAmp) + (pSyn->m_dSynAmp*pSyn->m_dRelFacil); // if <0, ignore
if (m_aryTonicInputPeriodType[i]==0)
m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]=m_aryTonicInputPeriod[i];
else
m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]=(-m_aryTonicInputPeriod[i]*log(double (Std_LRand(0, RAND_MAX))/double(RAND_MAX))+1);
}
m_aryNextSponSynTime[i]-=m_dDT;
}
}
// adjust for voltage dependency by scaling conductance on Neuron
// need local storage, so can do volt dep without altering basic cond
// could do this within m_pInputCx, but since several cx may use same voltage dependent
// synaptic type, more efficient to do outside??
CStdArray<double> arySynG;
arySynG.SetSize(iSpikingChemSynCount);
for (i=0; i<iSpikingChemSynCount; i++)
{
SpikingChemicalSynapse *pSyn=lpNS->GetSpikingChemSynAt(i);
arySynG[i]=m_arySynG[i];
if (pSyn->m_bVoltDep)
lpNS->ScaleCondForVoltDep(arySynG[i],GetMemPot(),
pSyn->m_dSatPSPot,pSyn->m_dThreshPSPot,pSyn->m_dMaxRelCond);
}
// sum spiking synaptic stuff
GS=GSI=0;
m_fltSpikingSynCurMemory = 0;
for (i=0; i<iSpikingChemSynCount; i++)
{
SpikingChemicalSynapse *pSyn=lpNS->GetSpikingChemSynAt(i);
if (pSyn->m_dSynAmp==0)
continue;
GS+=arySynG[i];
// NOTE: the following looks wrong (driving force should be relative to current mempot,
// not resting pot), but is actually right. It's the exponential predictor maths
// (all currents relative to rest ????)
GSI+=(arySynG[i]*(pSyn->m_dEquil-m_dRestingPot));
m_fltSpikingSynCurMemory += (arySynG[i]*(pSyn->EquilibriumPotential()-GetMemPot()));
}
m_fltSpikingSynCurMemory *= (float) 1e-9;
// do burster
if (m_dGMaxCa>0)
{
double z,tau,Minf,Hinf,dM,dH;
gCa=m_dGMaxCa*m_dM*m_dH;
//ASSERT(m_dM>=0 && m_dM <=1 && m_dH>=0 && m_dH<=1);
// again, looks wrong but is right
iCa=gCa*(m_dCaEquilPot-m_dRestingPot);
m_fltICaMemory = iCa*1e-9;
// update M & H variables
z=exp(-m_dSM*(m_dMemPot-m_dVM));
Minf=1/(1+z);
tau=Minf*sqrt(z)*m_dMTimeConst;
dM=(Minf-m_dM)*(1-exp(-m_dDT/tau));
z=exp(-m_dSH*(m_dMemPot-m_dVH))*0.5;
Hinf=1/(1+z);
tau=Hinf*sqrt(z)*m_dHTimeConst;
dH=(Hinf-m_dH)*(1-exp(-m_dDT/tau));
m_dM+=dM;
m_dH+=dH;
//TRACE("M= %lf\t\tH=%lf\tpot = %lf\n",m_M,m_H,m_MemPot);
}
else
m_fltICaMemory=gCa=iCa=0;
}
else // cadmium applied, no chem input or g/iCa
m_fltICaMemory=gCa=iCa=GS=GSI=0;
// do membrane potential
//If the HH flag is not set then calculate E in standard way outlined by Heitler.
//If HH flag is set then do not do integrate and fire portion, but instead just use basic equation of dividing
//currents by capacitance.
m_dGK=m_dGK*m_dDGK+m_bSpike*m_dAHPAmp; // cummulative AHP cond
m_dGTot=1+GS+m_dGK+gCa+m_dElecSynCond+m_dNonSpikingSynCond; // total membrane cond
DCE=exp(-m_dGTot*m_dDT/m_dTimeConst);
m_fltGTotal = m_dGTot/(1-DCE);
if(!lpNS->HH())
{
//E=(m_dMemPot-m_dRestingPot)*DCE+
// (m_dStim+m_fltChannelI+GSI+m_dGK*(m_dAHPEquilPot-m_dRestingPot)+iCa+m_dElecSynCur+m_dNonSpikingSynCur)
// *(1-DCE)/m_dGTot;
m_fltTotalI = (m_dStim+m_fltChannelI+GSI+m_dGK*(m_dAHPEquilPot-m_dRestingPot)+iCa+m_dElecSynCur+m_dNonSpikingSynCur);
E=(m_dMemPot-m_dRestingPot)*DCE+(m_fltTotalI*(1-DCE)/m_dGTot);
}
else
{
m_fltTotalI = (m_dStim+m_fltChannelI+GSI+m_dGK*(m_dAHPEquilPot-m_dRestingPot)+iCa+m_dElecSynCur+m_dNonSpikingSynCur);
//E=(m_dStim+m_fltChannelI+GSI+m_dGK*(m_dAHPEquilPot-m_dRestingPot)+iCa+m_dElecSynCur+m_dNonSpikingSynCur)/m_dCm;
E=m_fltTotalI/m_dCm;
}
m_fltTotalMemoryI = m_fltTotalI*1e-9;
m_dElecSynCur=m_dElecSynCond=0;
m_dNonSpikingSynCur=m_dNonSpikingSynCond=0;
m_dStim=0.;
// to add electrical synapse
// 1. sum together all elect syn conds (problem with scaling different sized cells here)
// (let neurons have a size factor (relative to 1), then scale defined cond by size
// (increase if < 1, decrease if > 1), so get more current into small cells.
// do same thing for stimulus amp
// this means that chemical conds are per unit area, and so changes in cell size
// have no effect on voltage, but elect syn and injected current have voltage effects
// which scale with size
// 2. add total elect synaptic conductance to m_GTot
// 3. sum all elect syn currents (G_Elec*(other_neuron_mempot-this_neuron_restpot))
// 4. put sum into current part of eqn E= ...
// do threshold
m_dThresh=m_dInitialThresh + (m_dThresh-m_dInitialThresh)*m_dDCTH + m_dRelativeAccom*E*(1-m_dDCTH);
// do spike
m_dNewMemPot=E+m_dRestingPot;
m_fltEMemory = m_dNewMemPot;
// add noise as mempot fluctuation
if (m_dNoise!=0)
{
double noise =(double) Std_LRand(0, RAND_MAX)/ RAND_MAX;
noise-=0.5;
noise*=m_dNoise;
m_dNewMemPot+=noise;
}
}
//Node Overrides
void Neuron::AddExternalNodeInput(int iTargetDataType, float fltInput)
{
if(!m_bZapped)
{
m_fltAdapterI += (fltInput*1e9);
m_fltAdapterMemoryI = (m_fltAdapterI * 1e-9);
}
}
/**
\brief Searches for an ion channel with the matching ID.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param strID GUID ID of the channel to find.
\param bThrowError true to throw error if channel is not found.
\return Pointer to the ion channel.
**/
IonChannel *Neuron::FindIonChannel(std::string strID, bool bThrowError)
{
for(int iChannel=0; iChannel<m_iIonChannels; iChannel++)
if(m_aryIonChannels[iChannel]->ID() == strID)
return m_aryIonChannels[iChannel];
if(bThrowError)
THROW_PARAM_ERROR(Rn_Err_lIonChannelNotFound, Rn_Err_strIonChannelNotFound, "ID", strID);
return NULL;
}
/**
\brief Searches for an ion channel with the specified ID and returns its position in the array.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param strID GUID ID for of the channel to find.
\param bThrowError true to throw error if channel is not found.
\return The found ion channel list position.
**/
int Neuron::FindIonChannelListPos(std::string strID, bool bThrowError)
{
std::string sID = Std_ToUpper(Std_Trim(strID));
int iCount = m_aryIonChannels.GetSize();
for(int iIndex=0; iIndex<iCount; iIndex++)
if(m_aryIonChannels[iIndex]->ID() == sID)
return iIndex;
if(bThrowError)
THROW_TEXT_ERROR(Rn_Err_lIonChannelNotFound, Rn_Err_strIonChannelNotFound, "ID");
return -1;
}
void Neuron::ResetSimulation()
{
m_fltAdapterI = 0;
m_fltAdapterMemoryI = 0;
m_fltExternalI = 0;
m_fltChannelI = 0;
m_fltChannelMemoryI = 0;
m_fltICaMemory = 0;
m_fltMemPot = 0;
m_fltThresholdMemory = 0;
m_fltLastSpikeTime = 0;
m_fltFiringFreq = 0;
m_fltElecSynCurMemory = 0;
m_fltSpikingSynCurMemory = 0;
m_fltNonSpikingSynCurMemory = 0;
m_fltSpike = 0;
m_fltTotalI = 0;
m_fltTotalMemoryI = 0;
m_fltSpike = 0;
m_dCm = m_dTimeConst*m_dSize;
m_fltGm = (float) (1/(m_dSize*1e6));
m_fltVrest = (float) (m_dRestingPot*1e-3);
m_fltEMemory = 0;
m_dGK=0;
m_bSpike=false;
m_dDCTH=exp(-m_dDT/m_dAccomTimeConst);
m_dDGK=exp(-m_dDT/m_dAHPTimeConst);
m_lRefrCountDown=0;
m_dMemPot=m_dNewMemPot=m_dRestingPot;
m_dThresh=m_dInitialThresh;
m_fltThresholdMemory = (float) m_dThresh * 0.001;
if (m_dGMaxCa>0 && m_bBurstInitAtBottom)
{
m_dMemPot=m_dRestingPot+7.408;
m_dM=0.0945;
m_dH=0.0208;
}
else
{
m_dMemPot=m_dRestingPot;
m_dM=0.0f;
m_dH=0.0f;
}
m_dElecSynCur=m_dElecSynCond=0;
m_dNonSpikingSynCur=m_dNonSpikingSynCond=0;
m_dStim=0;
m_fltAdapterI = 0;
m_fltAdapterMemoryI = 0;
m_fltMemPot = m_dMemPot * 0.001;
m_dGTot = 0;
m_dStim=0;
m_fltLastSpikeTime = 0;
m_fltFiringFreq = 0;
m_arySynG.RemoveAll(); // current conductance of each synaptic type
m_aryFacilSponSynG.RemoveAll(); // facilitated initial g increase caused by input
m_aryDG.RemoveAll(); // exponential decline factor in syn G
m_aryFacilD.RemoveAll(); // exponential decline factor in facilitation
m_aryNextSponSynTime.RemoveAll(); // time to next occurrence of this syn type
int iSize = m_aryTonicInputPeriod.GetSize();
for(int iIndex = 0; iIndex<iSize; iIndex++)
{
m_aryTonicInputPeriod[iIndex] = 0;
m_aryTonicInputPeriodType[iIndex] = 0;
}
m_iIonChannels = m_aryIonChannels.GetSize();
for(int iIndex = 0; iIndex<m_iIonChannels; iIndex++)
m_aryIonChannels[iIndex]->ResetSimulation();
}
#pragma region DataAccesMethods
float *Neuron::GetDataPointer(const std::string &strDataType)
{
std::string strType = Std_CheckString(strDataType);
if(strType == "MEMBRANEVOLTAGE")
return &m_fltMemPot;
if(strType == "ADAPTERCURRENT")
return &m_fltAdapterMemoryI;
if(strType == "EXTERNALCURRENT")
return &m_fltExternalI;
if(strType == "FIRINGFREQUENCY")
return &m_fltFiringFreq;
if(strType == "THRESHOLD")
return &m_fltThresholdMemory;
if(strType == "ELECTRICALSYNAPTICCURRENT")
return &m_fltElecSynCurMemory;
if(strType == "NONSPIKINGSYNAPTICCURRENT")
return &m_fltNonSpikingSynCurMemory;
if(strType == "SPIKINGSYNAPTICCURRENT")
return &m_fltSpikingSynCurMemory;
if(strType == "IONCHANNELCURRENT")
return &m_fltChannelMemoryI;
if(strType == "CACURRENT")
return &m_fltICaMemory;
if(strType == "TOTALCURRENT")
return &m_fltTotalMemoryI;
if(strType == "SPIKE")
return &m_fltSpike;
if(strType == "GM")
return &m_fltGm;
if(strType == "VREST")
return &m_fltVrest;
if(strType == "GTOTAL")
return &m_fltGTotal;
if(strType == "E")
return &m_fltEMemory;
//If it was not one of those above then we have a problem.
THROW_PARAM_ERROR(Rn_Err_lInvalidNeuronDataType, Rn_Err_strInvalidNeuronDataType, "Neuron Data Type", strDataType);
return NULL;
}
bool Neuron::SetData(const std::string &strDataType, const std::string &strValue, bool bThrowError)
{
std::string strType = Std_CheckString(strDataType);
if(Node::SetData(strDataType, strValue, false))
return true;
if(strType == "RESTINGPOTENTIAL")
{
RestingPotential(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "RELATIVESIZE")
{
Size(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "TIMECONSTANT")
{
TimeConstant(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "INITIALTHRESHOLD")
{
InitialThreshold(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "RELATIVEACCOMODATION")
{
RelativeAccomodation(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "ACCOMODATIONTIMECONSTANT")
{
AccomodationTimeConstant(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "AHP_CONDUCTANCE")
{
AHPAmplitude(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "AHP_TIMECONSTANT")
{
AHPTimeConstant(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "MAXCACONDUCTANCE")
{
BurstGMaxCa(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "BURSTINITATBOTTOM")
{
BurstInitAtBottom(Std_ToBool(strValue));
return true;
}
if(strType == "TONICSTIMULUS")
{
TonicStimulus(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "TONICNOISE")
{
TonicNoise(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
if(strType == "ADDEXTERNALCURRENT")
{
AddExternalI(atof(strValue.c_str()));
return true;
}
//If it was not one of those above then we have a problem.
if(bThrowError)
THROW_PARAM_ERROR(Al_Err_lInvalidDataType, Al_Err_strInvalidDataType, "Data Type", strDataType);
return false;
}
void Neuron::QueryProperties(CStdPtrArray<TypeProperty> &aryProperties)
{
Node::QueryProperties(aryProperties);
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("MembraneVoltage", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("AdapterCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("ExternalCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("FiringFrequency", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("Threshold", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("ElectricalSynapticCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("NonSpikingSynapticCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("SpikingSynapticCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("IonChannelCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("CaCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("TotalCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("Spike", AnimatPropertyType::Boolean, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("Gm", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("Vrest", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("Gtotal", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("E", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Get));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("RestingPotential", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("RelativeSize", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("TimeConstant", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("InitialThreshold", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("RelativeAccomodation", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("AccomodationTimeConstant", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("AHP_Conductance", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("AHP_TimeConstant", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("MaxCAConductance", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("BurstInitAtBottom", AnimatPropertyType::Boolean, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("TonicStimulus", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("TonicNoise", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
aryProperties.Add(new TypeProperty("AddExternalCurrent", AnimatPropertyType::Float, AnimatPropertyDirection::Set));
}
/**
\brief Adds an ion channel from an xml packet definition.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param strXml The xml to load.
**/
void Neuron::AddIonChannel(std::string strXml, bool bDoNotInit)
{
CStdXml oXml;
oXml.Deserialize(strXml);
oXml.FindElement("Root");
oXml.FindChildElement("IonChannel");
IonChannel *lpChannel = LoadIonChannel(oXml);
if(!bDoNotInit)
lpChannel->Initialize();
}
/**
\brief Removes the ion channel.
\author dcofer
\date 3/30/2011
\param strID GUID ID for the channel to remove.
\param bThrowError true to throw error if channel is not found.
**/
void Neuron::RemoveIonChannel(std::string strID, bool bThrowError)
{
int iPos = FindIonChannelListPos(strID, bThrowError);
m_aryIonChannels.RemoveAt(iPos);
}
bool Neuron::AddItem(const std::string &strItemType, const std::string &strXml, bool bThrowError, bool bDoNotInit)
{
std::string strType = Std_CheckString(strItemType);
if(strType == "IONCHANNEL")
{
AddIonChannel(strXml, bDoNotInit);
return true;
}
//If it was not one of those above then we have a problem.
if(bThrowError)
THROW_PARAM_ERROR(Al_Err_lInvalidItemType, Al_Err_strInvalidItemType, "Item Type", strItemType);
return false;
}
bool Neuron::RemoveItem(const std::string &strItemType, const std::string &strID, bool bThrowError)
{
std::string strType = Std_CheckString(strItemType);
if(strType == "IONCHANNEL")
{
RemoveIonChannel(strID, bThrowError);
return true;
}
//If it was not one of those above then we have a problem.
if(bThrowError)
THROW_PARAM_ERROR(Al_Err_lInvalidItemType, Al_Err_strInvalidItemType, "Item Type", strItemType);
return false;
}
#pragma endregion
//Node Overrides
} //IntegrateFireSim
|
Saturday, 7 February 2009
First birthday of the blog
This is the last post of the first year of this blog. One year ago, I started the Barcelona site I missed on the internet and I think the blog has meanwhile found its place.
The blog is still growing, people are joining in, new features have been added and the ideas are there to keep on making it better and better in the next year.
Thanks to all who have helped this blog make what it is now, by offering their help, spreading the news or just reading. Cheers, stay tuned!
labels barça transfer zone
We have lost a little brilliance, a little edge, but it does not worry me.
Josep Guardiola, Barcelona manager
Barcelona and Villa reply to transfer rumours
Asked about the new rumours linking Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27) with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent José Luis Tamargo seemed to leave the door open in an interview with Catalan radio station Onda Cero:
"This is new for me. I don't know if this report is true or not. But Barcelona is a big club, so if they would be interested in David Villa that would be a nice thing.
I don't think he would have problems to adapt, I'm sure he would score at Barcelona. Both Barcelona, at this moment the best club in the world, and the player would benefit from a transfer. And it would be amazing to see him play together with Messi. I think they're two compatible players, with Messi creating things from the wing and Villa being a killer in the box.
But Villa now is a Valencia player, a club which he owes a lot. He's very happy there and is only thinking about the next game. He has a contract until 2014, with a buyout clause of 150 million euro°, although he could probably leave for less. Last summer he was close to Real Madrid. That deal didn't went through because of a difference of 5 million euro. The clubs couldn't sort it out, it wasn't to be."
In an interview with Valencia regional television channel Canal 9 Tamargo nevertheless clearly denied the rumours: "Until this day, I'm not in contact with any club. Villa wil stay at Valencia." Villa himself reacted ironically to journalists: "The report doesn't say when I will join Barcelona, right?"
Valencia first vice-president Migual Zorío rejected the option of a transfer when speaking to journalists: "If we didn't sell Villa and Silva when we had no cash at all last summer, we're certainly not gonna do it when we're on the verge of signing a few deals that will provide us some money."
Asked about the rumours, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola denied a deal with Villa at a press conference: "Like I already said recently, I didn't yet speak with the sports department about the incoming and outgooing transfer for next season. I would advice the press to check their stories before they publish them."
Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said to journalists that there's no truth in the story: "I deny to have been in contact with the player. We didn't even talk within the club about an interest for the player. At this moment, the sports department is working hard to prepare next season and the following one.
We're now analyzing the squad to see which are the weak points. We'll talk about it with the coach, I'm sure he knows the weak points. But I can assure you that we're still not going after concrete players. Only later on we will start looking for players, but I insist that there's nothing going on at this moment."
Villa prefers Barcelona
Barcelona considers buying top striker
Verbal agreement with Villa
labels a tamargo, canal nou, in, onda cero, valencia, villa
[Crosas] Celtic Glasgow-Queen's Park
Celtic Glasgow played earlier today the 1/8 finals of Scottish cup. Celtic defeated third division club Queen's Park 2-1 and qualified for the next round.
Former Barcelona midfielder Marc Crosas started the game as central midfielder. He was forced to leave the pitch when he got injured just before half-time.
Sunday 2 November - League game 11: Hearts-Celtic Glasgow 0-2
Sunday 9 November - League game 12: Celtic Glasgow-Motherwell 0-2
Wednesday 12 November - League game 13: Celtic Glasgow-Kilmarnock 3-0
Sunday 16 November - League game 14: Hamilton-Celtic Glasgow 1-2
Saturday 22 November - League game 15: Saint Mirren-Celtic Glasgow 1-3
Tuesday 25 November - Champions League group stage game 5: Aalborg-Celtic Glasgow 2-1
Saturday 30 November - League game 16: Celtic Glasgow-Inverness 1-0
Sunday 7 December - League game 17: Hibernian-Celtic Glasgow-Inverness 2-0
Wednesday 10 December - Champions League group stage game 6: Celtic Glasgow-Villareal 2-0
Saturday 13 December - League game 18: Celtic Glasgow-Hearts 1-1
Sunday 21 December - League game 19: Falkirk-Celtic Glasgow 0-3
Saturday 27 December - League game 20: Rangers-Celtic Glasgow 0-1
Saturday 3 January - League game 21: Celtic Glasgow-Dundee United 2-2
Saturday 10 January - Cup 1/16 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Dundee (2) 2-1
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Robson in the 64th minute (2-1).
Sunday 18 January - League game 22: Aberdeen-Celtic Glasgow 4-2
Saturday 24 January - League game 23: Celtic Glasgow-Hibernian 3-1
Wednesday 29 January - League Cup 1/2 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Dundee United 0-0 (pen 11-10)
Starter. Crosas starts the game and plays for 120 minutes. Scores penalty.
Sunday 1 February - League game 24: Inverness-Celtic Glasgow 0-0
Substitute. Crosas replaces Nakamura in the 64th minute (0-0).
Saturday 10 January - Cup 1/16 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Queen's Park (3) 2-1
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Donati in the 42nd minute (1-0).
1. Celtic Glasgow 55
2. Rangers 53
3. Dundee United 38
4. Hearts 38
Medical: Green light for Puyol
Barcelona player Carles Puyol (30) has received earlier today the green light from Barcelona's medical staff and will be available for the league match against Sporting Gijón tomorrow.
Puyol has recovered from a small muscle tear of the quadriceps at the front of his left thigh, although he didn't train with the group today and did some individual exercises instead.
The Catalan defender suffered the injury during last week's cup game against Espanyol on Thursday 29 January and was then expected to be out for around ten days (read more here).
Medical: Xavi out for Mallorca game with flu
Medical: Puyol could return for Sporting game
Medical: Green light for Marquez
labels medical, medical puyol
Caceres feels ready to play
Coach, why was there so much commotion about the absences of Piqué, Puyol, Márquez, Milito and Alves? I'm still there to play as centre-back.
Guardiola:
Martín, sometimes it's better not to ask questions...
(click the cartoon to enlarge)
see more cartoons here
golsud.com
labels cartoon
Poll result - Man of the match: Mallorca
This is the final result of this blog's Barcelona-Mallorca: who was our man of the match? poll:
1. Iniesta 39%
3. Marquez 9%
3. Henry 9%
see full results here
see previous poll results here
Bojan, Busquets and Sanchez want another cup
original source: www.sport.es
The Copa del Rey is a tournament that exists to make a great season even better or to make a bad season acceptable. This point of view that the majority of the supporters hold doesn't seem to be something that the players share in thought. And much less the Barça players, who have gone two years without winning a trophy. However, in the blaugrana roster, there are three players who are especially hopefull for the Copa for a simple reason: they've won it before.
Víctor Sánchez, Bojan Krkic and Sergio Busquets won the trophy with the Juvenil team in 2006, which was the last time that the team has won the cup. With a team that consisted of, minus those previously mentioned: Marc Crosas, Jeffren Suarez, Iago Falque, and Giovani dos Santos, it was logical to win the trophy. That's how things went, in both the Copa and the Liga. These three players that are now a part of Pep Guardiola's first team want to repeat the celebration they lived that day in Soria. This time it'll be in Valencia.
The knockout tournament is allowing the coach to give minutes to all of his players, and everybody does what he has to. Bojan has played almost every minute in the Copa and has been important in the reaching of the semi finals, thanks to his goals against Benidorm, Atlético and Espanyol. Busquets had only missed a few minutes, before the game against Mallorca on Thursday. He played in the rest of the matches. Victor Sanchez played the first game of the 1/16 finals, although he didn't make another appearance until the Espanyol game, when he came in for Rafa Márquez, who left the pitch injured.
Feeling important to the team gives these players extra motivation to give everything in this tournament. On one hand, none of them know what it feels like to win a title with the first team. Bojan couldn't do it last season and his fellow players only arrived to the first team last summer. The forward says it clearly: "The Copa is one of the three titles that we can win, one of the three that we're still participating in and it's obvious that I'm hoping to lift the trophy because, although I hope that it's not the only title that we can win, it'll be my first. Also, I'm participating often."
The Linyola native remembers the Copa that he won with the youth team, and especially the final: "In that match Busquets scored a great goal, a cracker." Bojan arrived to Alex Garcia's team with the tournament already started, from the Juvenil B, but was still vital in the final victory: "The fixture against Real Madrid was great."
Sergio Busquets also remembers those games to be special: "Winning that Copa was incredible. Also, we defeated Real Madrid in the semi-finals in a great match at the Mini Estadi." Today, the midfielder is determined to help the first team repeat the feat: "Defeating Espanyol was the first objective and if we reach the final, which I hope to do, I'm certain that it'll be a great match. It must be impressive to see how your supporters occupy half the stadium and the rival team's supporters occupy the other half." In that case, it would also be a great career start for the player: "It would be awesome to win a title in the first year in the senior team."
Victor Sánchez entered the final against Zaragoza in the second half and was an important player during the whole tournament, where he was a key player for the coach, Alex García. The all-around player remembers: "I have great memories about that match. I felt like I was involved because I played many matches and because it was my first title," said the player, who also won the Liga with the team.
Now, three seasons later, Victor Sanchez is a part of both the senior team and Barça Atlètic, where he's doing well: "It's easy because what I like best is to play football and I know that, no matter where it is, I will play." Therefore, he could be the first player in the club's history to win the Copa del Rey and also win promotion to the second division: "It would be great for everyone. Winning a title with the first team must be great."
The next objective would be to win the fixture against Mallorca next month, after the 2-0 home game. After that, there would be one more game for the three players to repeat the moment that they lived on June 24, 2006, a day that is now already distant, even though it's still fresh in the minds of Bojan, Sergio Busquets, and Victor Sanchez. History always repeats itself.
labels bojan, busquets, contribution al, sport, victor sanchez, youth
Youth: Liverpool prepares offer for Deulofeu
British sports site Sky Sports claims that Liverpool are planning a move for Barcelona Cadete A wing attacker and Spanish youth international Gerard Deulofeu (14).
Liverpool scout Paco de Gracia would have recommended the Catalan player to Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez (read more here).
The English Premier League club wants to hold off other interested clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, and Liverpool would therefore now be ready to firm up their interest in Deulofeu by making an offer for his services.
Youth: Chelsea confirms monitoring Deulofeu
Youth: Agents battle to represent Deulofeu
Youth: Liverpool intensifying Deulofeu scouting
Watch this video of Deulofeu:
labels arsenal, chelsea, deulofeu, liverpool, out, sky sports, youth
The Points: Mallorca
Pinto 6__6__5,5__7__5,5__6
Alves 7__7__6__7__6,5__7
Piqué 6__6,5__6__6__6__6
Márquez 7__7,5__6__8__6__8
Sylvinho 6__6,5__5__5__6__5
Gudjohnsen 5__6__5,5__4__6__5
Touré 6__5,5__5__5__6__6
Iniesta 7__8__7,5__7__8__8
Hleb 5__7__5,5__8__6__6
Bojan 7__7,5__6,5__7__6,5__8
Henry 7__7,5__7__7__7__8
Messi 6__7,5__*__6__7__7
Busquets 6__5,5__*__6__6__6
Eto'o *__5__*__*__*__5
(sport-goal-clan-offside-oleole-yoya)
If you know other papers or sites that give points, you can let me know. See previous points here.
The Pictures: Mallorca
(click on the pictures to enlarge)
With Frank Rijkaard you couldn't get any honour by predicting Barcelona's starting line-up. Even hockey moms could. But this has dramatically changed last summer. Until this very day, nobody has been able to crack the code of Josep Guardiola's brain. Nor has anyone got inside his sleeves.
This is not (as in: NOT) a place for discussion on team tactics or personal player preferences. You just give the system and the eleven names you think will start the game against Sporting on Sunday.
You can give your starting line-up until four hours before the start of the game, in this case: until 3:00 pm barcelona time.
If you give your line-up before Guardiola announes his match list (or if at least 20 players are included in the match list), you get one point for the correct line-up. If you do it after that announcement, you get half a point. Who will have the most points at the end of the season, can call himself the winner.
This is the 27th time this game is organized.
FCBFan
Barcik
jerryprez
Söderström
temeldinho
westinho
ElDuroDeFCB
GrandeMessi
jepoy
B. Beltrocco
Etsp
nozbleed
Valdi
OLALEKAN
kamikaze kontiki
Romyan
granche
Koyya
Barca nike
SimonP
Cali Socis
KEMPE cy
mofof
fcbee
brogie
deyaa
ekar
blaugrana poland
Benzema could stay one more year at Lyon
Asked about the rumours linking him with several European top clubs, among which Barcelona (read more here), Olympique Lyon forward and French international Karim Benzema (21) has said in an interview with French sports paper Aujourd'hui Sport that he could well stay another year with Lyon:
"I'll wait to see how we will do in the Champions League before I make a decision. I feel good at Lyon so I don't know if I will leave. I actually think I will stay one more year at Lyon. Although I will leave some day. One has to leave France to reach a higher level. And that's my goal. So one day I will play abroad.
Lyon is a big cub but there are others. I want to win a lot of titles, a World Cup, a European championship, and so on. I want to build a legacy. And I would like to win the Ballon d'Or. I will work very hard, I will go beyond my limits trying to hold that trophy one day.
Meanwhile, I really would like to win the Champions League with Lyon. And why not this year? At this moment, Barcelona is the best club in Europe. All those who play against them, lose with four goals. But they can have a bad moment, why not against us? We will have to attack. If you only defend against them, you take eight goals. The teams who play with everyone at the back, get three goals in five minutes. That's stupid."
Cash plus Abidal bid for Benzema on the table
Lyon wants to resign Abidal next summer
Barcelona working on Benzema transfer
labels aujourd'hui sport, benzema, in, lyon
The Video: Mallorca
First international call-up for Piqué and Busquets
Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (22) and Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) have today for the first time been called-up for the Spanish national team.
The two Catalan players were included, along with Barcelona players Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, in the squad that will face England next Wednesday. Busquets only made his international debut with the Spanish U-21 team a little four months ago (read more here).
labels international, international spain, pique, sergi busquets
Guardiola declares his team independent
* Those who have one foot and four toes of the other in the final 2 - Mallorca 0 *
This is a big day. Finally we've won without the goals of Messi.
That's why I hereby proclaim...
THE MESSI-INDEPENDENCY!!!
... :
What we surely never will have is Hleb-dependency
cayecaturas.com
labels cartoon, messi
Crosas: "Guardiola was the best man for the job"
Celtic Glasgow midfielder and fromer Barcelona player Marc crosas gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.
How did you adapt to your new club?
When you start at a new place, it's always difficult, but I adapted well to the dressing-room. The hardest thing was to arrive here in August, after the heat of Barça's US tour. It was raining and it was horrible. Then I got injured, but I have recovered now and I think I'll have more chances to play.
How is Barcelona looked at from abroad?
Within the team people are talking quite a lot about how Barcelona is doing. The truth is that I noticed a clear difference compared to how people talked about the club last season when I was in Lyon. Then my team-mates asked me how it was possible that things were going that bad for a team like Barça.
What do they say this year?
Totally the opposite, people are excited about Barça, they follow the games every weekend and they're very happy with how the team is doing.
Does it bother you that people could see you as some kind af "ambassador" of Barça?
I don't see myself that way, but for some that is the case, just for the fact that I'm coming from Barça. But it's clear to me that I'm a former Barcelona player and that, for now, my time at the club has ended. If I'm following Barça now, that's just as a fan and nothing more.
You worked with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona B and also during the pre-season. You were one of those who thought that he was the best possible coach for Barça?
I was convinced - because of his work-rate and his motivation - that nobody was more capable to coach Barcelona than he was. The coach is showing that, although some people were thinking the opposite, he was the best man for the job. I hope things will keep going well for him.
You're jealous with the those who stayed and who are playing at Barça now?
It's a healthy jealousy. Looking at what they're living now, I'm very proud and very happy as a fan and because several squad players are friends of mine.
One of them is Bojan. This year he has to deal with more criticism and he's playing less. You would recommend him to follow your example?
Our careers are very different. He had his chances with the first team from the beginning. For his age, he maybe even had too many responsibilities last season. Bojan has gone through some difficult moments but last year he showed that he can be very helpful when things aren't going well.
Barcelona's next opponent in the Champions League is Olympique Lyon, a club you know well because you played there last season. You think that Barça was lucky in the draw or people are taking it too easily?
In theory, it seems the easiest opponent of the ones Barça could have faced, because of the way of playing of both teams. But it won't be easy, not at all.
Benzema is their most dangerous player?
They always ask me about him and he's indeed a great player and he shows it every game by scoring and being decisive. But there are others.
Which Lyon players are the most decisives ones in your opinion?
Juninho is a player who's around for many years. They also have some excellent players in midfield, like Jérémy Toulalan or Kim Källström. That's why I shouldn't only focus on Benzema.
Do you think Benzema would fit well in Spanish football?
Yes, I do. Although the French league isn't on the same level as the Spanish league, he shows in the Champions League that he's a very good player and that he's ready to play at whatever team.
Marc Crosas joined Celtic Glasgow in 2008. Since Barcelona can buy Crosas back in the summer of 2010 for two million euro (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the midfielder over this two years.
Barcelona could make Crosas return in 2010
How is Crosas doing at Celtic?
Crosas dreams about Barcelona return
labels crosas, interview, interview crosas, sport
Messi third best paid football player in the world
Portuguese football finances website Futebol Finance has drawn up a list of the 50 best paid football players in the world.
The site claims that Barcelona player Lionel Messi is the third best player in the world with a year salary of 8,4 million euro.
Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o also make the top-ten with 7,5 million euro. Three other Barcelona players are metnioned in the list: Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi are ranked 29th with a presumed salary of 5 million euro a year.
This is the top-10 of the list:
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) 9.000.000 €
2. Ricardo Kaka (AC Milan) 9.000.000 €
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 8.400.000 €
4. John Terry (Chelsea) 7.574.179 €
5. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 7.574.179 €
6. Thierry Henry (Barcelona) 7.500.000 €
7. Samuel Eto´o (Barcelona) 7.500.000 €
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) 6.762.660 €
9. Ronadinho Gaucho (AC Milan) 6.500.000 €
10. Andrei Shevchenko (AC Milan) 6.500.000 €
See the full list here
labels eto'o, futebol finance, henry, iniesta, messi, puyol, xavi
25 Messi (16 + 5 + 4)
22 Eto'o (19 + 3 + 0)
15 Henry (12 + 2 + 1)
7 Bojan (0 + 3 + 4)
7 Xavi (4 + 3 + 0)
4 Gudjohnsen (3 + 0 + 1)
3 Márquez (1 + 1 + 1)
3 Keita (3 + 0 + 0)
2 Piqué (0 + 1 + 1)
2 Iniesta (2 + 0 + 0)
2 Busquets (0 + 2 + 0)
2 Alves (2 + 0 + 0)
1 Touré (1 + 0 + 0)
1 Sylvinho (0 + 1 + 0)
3 own-goals opponent (2 + 1 + 0)
18 Xavi (14 + 3 + 1)
13 Alves (9 + 2 + 2)
7 Eto'o (5 + 2 + 0)
7 Henry (5 + 2 + 0)
4 Puyol (4 + 0 + 0)
3 Hleb (3 + 0 + 0)
1 Pedro (0 + 1 + 0)
1 Víctor Sánchez (0 + 0 + 1)
yellow cards (58)
7 Márquez (5 + 2 + 0) (plus 2 > red card)
4 Piqué (3 + 1 + 0) (plus 2 > red card)
4 Alves (4 + 0 + 0) (plus 1 revoked)
3 Cáceres (0 + 0 + 3)
2 Valdés (2 + 0 + 0)
2 Abidal (1 + 0 + 1)
1 Messi (1 + 0 + 0)
red cards (2)
1 Piqué (1 + 0 + 0) (plus 1 revoked)
total (Liga + Champions League + Copa)
Barcelona has played 36 official games (21 in the Liga, 8 in the Champions League and 7 in the Copa)
labels statistics 2008-2009
Guardiola denies Van Persie-Hleb swap offer
Asked about a rumour that Barcelona has offered Arsenal the return of Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27) in exchange for the transfer of Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has said at a press conference that he's not aware of that:
"Hleb hasn't been offered. Like I already said recently, I didn't yet speak with the sports department about the incoming and outgooing transfer for next season."
Asked about his situation at Barcelona, Hleb meanwhile seemed to suggest in an interview with the official Uefa website that he could be looking for a move in the summer if he doesn't get more playing minutes: "Of course I want more time on the pitch. I will fight for a place in the starting eleven until the end of the season. We will see what might happen in the summer if I am unsuccessful, but I do not want to sit on the bench."
Hleb could already leave this summer
A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger
labels arsenal, hleb, in, out, uefa.com, van persie
Alves has yellow card revoked
The Appeal Committee of the Spanish Football Federation RFEF has yesterday decided to leave "without effect" the yellow card that Barcelona right back defender Dani Alves received in the second half of the game against Santander on Sunday for presumed diving.
Because this would have been Alves' fifth yellow card of the season, he would have been suspended for the next league game, against Sporting in the weekend. With the yellow card revoked, Alves is now available to play on Sunday.
Red card of Pique revoked
labels alves
Poll - Man of the match: Mallorca
Barcelona-Mallorca: who was our man of the match?
Copa 1/2, 1st leg: Barcelona-Mallorca 2-0
Sylvinho
Gudjohnsen (55 Busquets)
Touré
Bojan (85 Eto'o)
Henry (55 Messi)
34 Henry 1-0
73 Márquez 2-0
Jorquera
out of match squad
injured/ill
Milito
labels match, match copa
Match discussion: Mallorca
This evening at 9:30 pm bt,
Barcelona plays the first game of the 1/2 finals of the Spanish cup against Mallorca.
Mallorca squad list:
Lux, Tomeu Nadal, Josemi, Scaloni, Nunes, Ayoze, Corrales, Santana, Mario, Jurado, Castro, Arango, Pep Lluís Martí, Aduriz, Trejo, Webó
Valdés, Pinto, Jorquera, Alves, Márquez, Cáceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Xavi, Víctor Sánchez, Touré, Busquets, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Hleb, Messi, Eto'o, Bojan, Henry, Pedro, Iniesta
Read a match preview
!!! LIVE MATCH CHAT !!!
Before (what are your expectations, what's your prediction, what should be the line-up,...), during and after the match, you can also comment on the game here.
Barcelona wanted Belhadj to replace Sylvinho
Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Portsmouth left back defender and Algerian international Nadir Belhadj (26) has unconfirmedly said in an interview with French sports paper Aujourd'hui Sport that Barcelona has shown interest for him before he signed a permanent deal with the English club:
"My agent was contacted by Barcelona during the winter transfer window. They wanted to prepare for the departure of Sylvinho, and Abidal was injured. It was very attractive, but I want to play. I don't want to experience a substitute situation again. I suffered at Lyon. It made me mad when Fabio Grosso was not good, but remained in the starting eleven. I could do my best, but that didn't change anything."
Barcelona prepares offer for left back Vargas
Barcelona will sign left back next summer
Barcelona wanted Portsmouth left back Belhadj
labels aujourd'hui sport, belhadj, in, portsmouth
▼ 1 February - 8 February (73)
Piqué: "Now I want to score in the Bernabeu"
Barça B - Benja: "I'm very happy to return"
Abidal doesn't want to be part of Benzema deal
Live Match Chat: FC Barcelona - RCD Mallorca
Henry: "Messi sometimes looks like Maradona"
Madrid presidential candidate approached Eto'o
Match preview: Barcelona-Mallorca
Number of the day: 6
How not to be anonymous on this blog?
Cesc wants to return to Barcelona
Thuram rejected offer to become French minister
Ribery or Gourcuff to replace Henry next summer
Alves: "I joined the perfect club at the perfect t...
Barça B - Official: Urbano to Reus on loan
Case closed: Arshavin
Quote of the day: Xavi
Puyol launches official website
Caceres: "Guardiola makes us all feel equal"
Poll result - Man of the match: Santander
The Video: Santander
Ex-Barça: Quaresma to Chelsea on loan
[Crosas] Inverness-Celtic Glasgow
The Points: Santander
The Pictures: Santander
RoadMap2Titles:Trible?
Messi scores league goal number 5000
Bojan: "I don't regret missing the Euro"
Chat Statistics: Racing Santander - FC Barcelona
Barça B - Liga 23: Atlético Baleares-Barcelona 3-2
Poll - Man of the match: Santander
Liga 21: Santander-Barcelona 1-2
Match discussion: Santander
Vilanova: "Pep and I are ready for the bad times"
Youth: Barcelona following Osasuna goalkeeper
Pique: "Messi is more decisive than Ronaldo"
Match Preview: Santander-Barcelona
Puyol wants to cut recovery time in half
Live Match Chat: Racing Santander - FC Barcelona
[Valiente] Sevilla B-Albacete |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Which biomarkers are most useful for early detection of sepsis in ICU patients? output: For the early detection of sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, several biomarkers have shown significant utility. Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are among the most widely used and studied biomarkers in clinical practice. PCT has been shown to better distinguish bacterial infection from other causes of systemic inflammation. [1-3]
Pancreatic stone protein (PSP) and soluble CD25 (sCD25) have also demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for sepsis, with area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) values greater than 0.9, indicating strong performance in differentiating sepsis from non-infective systemic inflammatory responses. [1]
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is another important biomarker, which has been shown to correlate with sepsis severity and can be useful in early diagnosis. [1][4]
Combining multiple biomarkers can enhance diagnostic accuracy. For instance, a combination of PCT, CRP, and serum amyloid A (SAA) has been shown to improve the prediction of sepsis in severe trauma patients. Similarly, a bioscore combining PCT, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), and the PMN CD64 index has demonstrated high performance in diagnosing sepsis in critically ill patients.[5-6]
In summary, PCT, CRP, PSP, sCD25, and IL-6 are among the most useful biomarkers for the early detection of sepsis in ICU patients. Combining these biomarkers can further improve diagnostic accuracy and aid in the timely management of sepsis. |
July 2003 Issue
It’s Raining Teens
They’re everywhere, and they’re targeting a teen near you! Mark Seliger captures the girl-power goddesses and cute-boy wonders currently wowing Hollywood, while Krista Smith pops a quiz on their crushes and pet peeves. Related article: “Teen Engines: Riding with the Kid Culture,” by James Wolcott.
By Krista Smith and James Wolcott
Photography by Mark Seliger
A. J. TRAUTH Birthday: September 14, 1986. Sign: Virgo. Hometown: Las Vegas. Big break: “I’m still waiting for it.” First job: A fashion show at a Las Vegas shopping mall. Upcoming project: The Stevens Get Even, the movie version of his Disney Channel series, Even Stevens; however, “my band, Badge, is my main focus now. I play guitar and harmonica and sing.” Favorite gadget: iPod. Computer: iBook. Favorite designer: Diesel Jeans. Britney or Christina: Neither. Favorite guy’s guy: Jimi Hendrix. Favorite pretty-boy: Mick Jagger. PS2 or XBox: “I don’t play video games.” Car: 1995 Honda. Pet peeve: “Lack of organization.” Celebrity crush: Barbra Streisand. Favorite bands: The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin. Favorite old TV show: Sanford and Son. Catchphrase: “Rock ’n’ roll.”
EMILY VanCAMP Birthday: May 12, 1986. Sign: Taurus. Hometown: Port Perry, Ontario. Big break: The WB’s Everwood, in which she stars as Amy Abbott. Upcoming project: Playing Sharon Stone’s daughter in A Different Loyalty. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Zero. Favorite lip gloss: Kiehl’s or MAC Lipglass. Cell phone: Samsung. (“I get service everywhere.”) Computer: Sony Vaio. Car: “I don’t drive yet.” Favorite guy’s guy: Kevin Spacey. Favorite pretty-boy: Josh Hartnett. Celebrity crush: Ashton Kutcher. Pet peeve: “People who interrupt.” Catchphrase: “Don’t fight battles you can’t win.”
BRITTANY SNOW Birthday: March 9, 1986. Sign: Pisces. Hometown: Tampa. Big break: Playing bad girl Susan LeMay on Guiding Light. Ongoing project: Starring as Meg Pryor on NBC’s American Dreams. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: One. Favorite lip glosses: MAC Lipglass, Bonne Bell, Urban Decay. Britney or Christina: Britney. Favorite guy’s guy: James Dean. Favorite pretty-boy: Ryan Phillippe. Favorite music: John Mayer, Linkin Park, 50 Cent. Pet peeve: “Reading out loud off a menu.” Idols: Reese Witherspoon and Marilyn Monroe. Celebrity crush: Charlie Hunnam. Favorite old TV show: I Dream of Jeannie. Most embarrassing moment: Being mistaken for an Olsen twin at a Golden Globes party. Catchphrase: “Keep smiling.”
AARON MEEKS Born: Aaron Joseph Meeks. Birthday: April 26, 1986. Sign: Taurus. Hometown: Los Angeles (Watts). Big break: Playing a street-smart Harlem kid who befriends Peter Falk in Showtime’s A Storm in Summer (2000). Upcoming project: The Showtime series Soul Food. Cell phone: Nokia. Favorite designer: Rocawear. Britney or Christina: Christina. Favorite guy’s guy: Kobe Bryant. PS2 or XBox: Both. Favorite band: The Roots. Car: Honda. Idols: Denzel Washington and Chris Tucker. Celebrity crush: Beyoncé Knowles. Favorite video game: NBA Live 2003. Favorite subject: Science. Favorite old TV show: Family Matters.
ASHLEY OLSEN Birthday: June 13, 1986. (She’s two minutes older than Mary-Kate.) Sign: Gemini. Hometown: Los Angeles. Big break: Full House, starting at nine months old. Upcoming projects: “S.A.T.’s and college.” (For other projects, see Mary-Kate’s profile.) Number of Juicy Couture outfits: “A lot—from two years ago, when they were hot.” Favorite lip glosses: Rosebud Salve, Chanel Sheer. Britney or Christina: Britney. Favorite guy’s guy: Brad Pitt. Favorite pretty-boy: Brad Pitt. Pet peeve: “Hair in food.” Idols: Drew Barrymore and “Martha [Stewart], because of, like, everything she’s created within her brand.” Celebrity crush: Brad Pitt. Favorite book: The Nanny Diaries. Favorite old TV show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Catchphrase: “You know."
MARY-KATE OLSEN Birthday: June 13, 1986. Sign: Gemini. Hometown: Los Angeles. Big break: Full House. Upcoming projects: Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and a Warner Bros. feature. Ongoing projects: Lifetime Network production deal, Columbia Records albums, Wal-Mart clothing and fragrance line, etc. “You can’t choose a favorite—for us it’s kind of like a company and it all runs together.” Favorite lip gloss: Cherry ChapStick. Britney or Christina: Britney. Favorite pretty-boy: Heath Ledger. Favorite bands: Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band. Pet peeve: “When people eat bananas and make that noise.” Celebrity crush: Andy Roddick. Favorite designer: “I like being really eclectic.” Favorite book: The Great Gatsby. Favorite old TV show: “I don’t watch a lot of TV.” Catchphrase: “Ciao!”
EVAN RACHEL WOOD Birthday: September 7, 1987. Sign: Virgo. Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina. Big break: Playing Jessie on ABC’s Once and Again. Upcoming projects: Thirteen, with Holly Hunter, and The Missing, Ron Howard’s 2004 thriller, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Never heard of them. Britney or Christina: Alanis Morissette. Favorite guy’s guy: Ewan McGregor. Favorite pretty-boy: Orlando Bloom. PS2 or XBox: Nintendo. Favorite music: Rufus Wainwright, Bright Eyes, Beck, Nirvana. Pet peeve: “People who do things because they think they should be doing them.” Idol: Jodie Foster. Celebrity crush: Ewan McGregor. Favorite subject: Science. Favorite book: “I’m reading Lolita.” Favorite old TV show: Daria. Catchphrase: “Love, Smurfette.”
HILARY DUFF Birthday: September 28, 1987. Sign: Libra. Hometown: Houston. Big breaks: Her starring role in the Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire (recently made into a hit movie) and the film Agent Cody Banks, with Frankie Muniz. Upcoming projects: The films Cheaper by the Dozen and The Cinderella Story, as well as a CD. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: “Probably together [with her sister, Haylie] over a dozen.” Favorite lip glosses: Nars, Lancôme Juicy Tubes. Britney or Christina: “Britney all the way.” Favorite guy’s guy: David Beckham. Favorite pretty-boy: David Beckham. Favorite band: Boomkat. Idol: Princess Diana. Favorite designer: Louis Vuitton. (She collects the bags.) Favorite old TV show: I Dream of Jeannie. Pet peeve: “Chipped polish and wastefulness.”
LINDSAY LOHAN Birthday: July 2, 1986. Sign: Cancer. Hometown: Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Big break: Playing a set of twins in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. First job: A Jell-O commercial with Bill Cosby. Upcoming projects: Freaky Friday, out this summer, and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, out next spring. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: A dozen. Favorite lip glosses: ChapStick, Kiehl’s Lip Balm. Favorite designer: Christian Dior. Britney or Christina: “Britney, but I love Christina’s voice.” Favorite guy’s guy: “James Dean, but I love Brad Pitt.” Favorite pretty-boy: Justin Timberlake. Pet peeve: “People who are fake.” Idol: Madonna. Celebrity crush: Ashton Kutcher. Favorite old TV shows: Saved by the Bell, Who’s the Boss? Catchphrase: “Peace and love."
SOLANGE KNOWLES Birthday: June 24, 1986. Sign: Cancer. Hometown: Houston. Big break: Starring in Bow Wow’s video for “Puppy Love.” First job: Background dancer with Destiny’s Child (she’s Beyoncé’s little sister) on the Christina Aguilera tour. Upcoming project: Johnson Family Vacation, with Bow Wow and Cedric the Entertainer, due in 2004. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: “As many as I can get.” Favorite lip gloss: Bonne Bell’s Lip D’Votion. Britney or Christina: Both. Favorite pretty-boy: Brandon Boyd of Incubus. Favorite bands: Incubus and Coldplay. Pet peeve: “Singing to the music when you don’t know the words.” Idol: Aretha Franklin. Favorite book: Juniper Tree Burning: A Novel, by Goldberry Long, and the Bible. Favorite old TV show: The Cosby Show. Catchphrase: “Peace out.”
LACEY CHABERT Birthday: September 30, 1982. Sign: Libra. Hometown: Purvis, Mississippi. First job: Les Misérables on Broadway at age nine. Big break: Playing Claudia Salinger on Party of Five. Latest project: Daddy Day Care, with Eddie Murphy. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: None. Favorite lip glosses: MAC, Biotherm. Favorite designers: Marc Jacobs and BCBG. Britney or Christina: Jessica Simpson. Favorite guy’s guy: Jude Law. Favorite pretty-boy: Leonardo DiCaprio. Favorite band: U2. Car: Mercedes CLK. Pet peeve: “People who don’t stomp their cigarettes out.” Idol: “My mother, or Meryl Streep.” Celebrity crush: Joaquin Phoenix. Favorite old TV show: The Wonder Years. Favorite sport: “I actually watch golf.”
GREGORY SMITH Birthday: July 6, 1983. Sign: Cancer. Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia. Big breaks: American Outlaws, with Colin Farrell, and The Patriot, with Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. (“I took a bullet for Heath Ledger and a bullet for Colin Farrell, and they both ended up on the cover of Vanity Fair.”) First job: A Tide commercial at 14 months old. Ongoing project: Playing Ephram Brown on the WB’s Everwood. Favorite gadget: Panasonic cell phone with a camera. Britney or Christina: Avril Lavigne. Favorite guy’s guy: Frank Sinatra. Favorite pretty-boy: Treat Williams. Favorite Music: Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan. Car: Old black Dodge Durango. Celebrity crush: “Not at the moment.” Favorite video game: Halo. Favorite book: The Catcher in the Rye. Pet peeve: “I hate department stores.”
CHRISTINA MILIAN Born: Christina Flores. Birthday: September 26, 1981. Sign: Libra. Hometown: Baltimore. Big break: Duet with Ja Rule on “Between Me and You.” First job: Wendy’s commercial at age nine. Upcoming projects: Torque, starring Ice Cube, out this summer; Warner Bros.’ If You Were My Girl; and a self-titled album. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Nine or 10. Favorite lip gloss: MAC Lipglass. Britney or Christina: Gwen Stefani. Favorite guy’s guy: Brad Pitt. Favorite pretty-boy: Brad Pitt. Favorite music: 50 Cent. Pet peeve: “Ignorant people.” Idols: Madonna and J.Lo. Celebrity crush: Nick Cannon. Favorite sport: “I’m a Lakers fan.” Favorite book: The Bible. Favorite old TV show: In Living Color. Catchphrase: “Cool, dude.”
MANDY MOORE Born: Amanda Leigh Moore. Birthday: April 10, 1984. Sign: Aries. Hometown: Orlando, Florida. Big break: Signing with Epic Records at age 14. First job: Singing the national anthem at sporting events from age 11. Upcoming projects: New Line’s How to Deal, out this month, and Saved, which opens in September. Coverage, an album of covers, also comes out in September. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: “No joke, probably 25.” __Favorite lip gloss:__Delux. Favorite designer: Marc Jacobs. Britney or Christina: Britney. Favorite band: Coldplay. Pet peeves: “People who are fake, and people who take life too seriously.” Idol: Bette Midler. Celebrity crush: “I have a boyfriend.” Favorite sport: Tennis. (Her boyfriend is Andy Roddick.) Favorite old TV show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Catchphrase: “We’ll see ya.”
RAVEN Formerly known as: Raven-Symoné. Birthday: December 10, 1985. Sign: Sagittarius. Hometown: Atlanta. Big break: Playing Olivia on The Cosby Show from the age of three. Upcoming project: The second season of That’s So Raven on the Disney Channel. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Twelve. Favorite lip gloss: MAC Lipglass. Favorite gadget: Cuticle cutter. Cell phone: Sprint with a camera. Britney or Christina: Christina Spears. Favorite guy’s guy: Vin Diesel. Favorite band: 112. Car: Mercedes-Benz ML55 S.U.V. Pet peeve: “Fake people.” Idol: Janet Jackson. Favorite designer: Prada. Favorite book: Poems of Passion, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Favorite old TV show: All in the Family. Catchphrase: “This is a serious situation.”
SHIA LaBEOUF Birthday: June 11, 1986. Sign: Gemini. Hometown: Los Angeles (Echo Park). Big break: The current Disney hit Holes, starring Sigourney Weaver and Jon Voight. Upcoming projects: *Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle; Dumb and Dumberer;*and the Project Greenlight film The Battle of Shaker Heights. First job: A guest spot on ER, playing a child with muscular dystrophy. Cell phone: Panasonic. (“It has a freakin’ camera on it.”) Computer: iBook. Britney or Christina: Eric Clapton. Favorite guy’s guy: Marlon Brando. Favorite pretty-boy: Colin Farrell. PS2 or XBox: PS2. Idol: Gary Oldman. Favorite video game: Grand Theft Auto. Favorite old TV shows: Kids Say the Darndest Things, The Cosby Show. Little-known fact: ”My name means ‘Thank God for beef.’ ”
ALEXIS BLEDEL Born: Kimberly Alexis Bledel. Birthday: September 16, 1981. Sign: Virgo. Hometown: Houston. Big break: Playing Rory Gilmore on the WB’s Gilmore Girls. Upcoming project: Returning to N.Y.U. First job: Started modeling during high school. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: None. Favorite lip gloss: Tarte lipstick. Computer: Apple PowerBook. Britney or Christina: Alicia Keys. Favorite guy’s guy: Ewan McGregor. Favorite pretty-boy: Jared Leto. Favorite band: A.F.I. Pet peeve: “Traffic.” Idol: Gandhi. Favorite designer: Alberta Ferretti. Favorite author: Kurt Vonnegut. Favorite old TV show: My So-Called Life. Celebrity crush: “The whole illusion for me is completely gone.” Catchphrase: “Cheers.”
AMANDA BYNES Birthday: April 3, 1986. Sign: Aries. Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California. Big breaks: The Amanda Show on Nickelodeon and the recent hit film What a Girl Wants. Upcoming project: “I’m going to enjoy summer.” First job: A regular performer on Nickelodeon’s All That, 1996–2000. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Eight. Favorite lip glosses: Prescriptives Gloss, Lancôme Juicy Tubes. Favorite designer: Narciso Rodriguez. Britney or Christina: Both. Favorite guy’s guy: Brad Pitt. Favorite pretty-boy: Brad Pitt. Pet peeve: “Fake people.” Idol: Jennifer Aniston. Celebrity crush: Orlando Bloom. Favorite book: Memoirs of a Geisha. Favorite old TV show: I Love Lucy. Catchphrase: "No prob."
BOW WOW Born: Shad Moss. Birthday: March 9, 1987. Sign: Pisces. Hometown: Columbus, Ohio. Big break: The Big Momma’s House soundtrack. Upcoming projects: A third album, Unleashed; a new clothing line, Shago; a new WB sitcom; and the film Johnson Family Vacation. Favorite gadget: T-Mobile Sidekick. Britney or Christina: “Christina for the voice, and both of them for the body.” Favorite guy’s guy: Denzel Washington. PS2 or XBox: PS2. Car: Ferrari. Pet peeve: “People touching my stuff.” Idols: DMX and 50 Cent. Favorite video game: NBA Live 2003. Favorite old TV shows: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Saved by the Bell. Catchphrase: “Most definitely.”
AARON CARTER Birthday: December 7, 1987. Sign: Sagittarius. Hometown: Jamestown, New York. (He’s the younger brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.) Big break: Performing his single “Crush on You” at an awards show in 1997. Upcoming project: The film Feature Force. Favorite video game: Super Metroid. Computer: PowerBook G4, 17-inch. Britney or Christina: Christina. Favorite guy’s guy: Brad Pitt. Favorite bands: Survivor, Journey. Car: Mercedes G 500. Pet peeve: “People biting their nails.” Celebrity crush: Hilary Duff. Favorite designer: Louis Vuitton. Favorite sport: Bowling. Favorite subject: Math. Favorite old TV show: The Wonder Years. Catchphrase: “One time for the rodeo.”
KYLA PRATT Birthday: September 16, 1986. Sign: Virgo. Hometown: Los Angeles. Big break: Multiple guest spots, beginning with one on Family Matters at age three. First job: A commercial for a CD-rom called Da Vinci, Time and Space. Ongoing projects: UPN’s One on Oneand Disney’s The Proud Family. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Three. (She prefers the miniskirt outfit.) Favorite lip gloss: Lancôme. Britney or Christina: Christina. Favorite guy’s guy: Vin Diesel. Favorite pretty-boy: Justin Timberlake. Favorite band: Blink 182. Car: Lexus truck. Idol: “My mother.” Celebrity crush: Justin Timberlake. Favorite video game: Grand Theft Auto. Favorite subject: Math. Favorite old TV show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Pet peeve: “Liars—they’re everywhere.” Catchphrase: “Holla!”
ALEXA VEGA Birthday: August 27, 1988. Sign: Virgo. Hometown: Miami. Big break: Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids (2001), playing the daughter of Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino. First job: Playing Burt Reynolds’s daughter on CBS’s Evening Shade at age five. Upcoming project: Spy Kids 3. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: One. Favorite lip gloss: Bonne Bell Cotton Candy Lip Smacker. Britney or Christina: “I love Christina’s voice, but Britney is more humble.” Favorite guy’s guy: Vin Diesel. Favorite pretty-boy: Josh Hartnett. Favorite designer: Lucky. Pet peeve: “People eating with their hair in their face.” Idol: Natalie Portman. Celebrity crush: Shia LaBeouf. Favorite subject: Math. Favorite old TV show: I Love Lucy. Catchphrase: “Dude, I’m out.”
DANIEL RADCLIFFE Birthday: July 23, 1989. Sign: Cancer. Hometown: London. Big break: Starring in the BBC’s David Copperfield. Upcoming project: Playing Harry Potter for the third time, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Favorite gadget: iPod. Britney or Christina: Christina. Favorite guy’s guy: Sid Vicious. PS2 or XBox: PS2. Favorite bands: Sex Pistols, Dandy Warhols, the Strokes, the Rolling Stones, and the Libertines. Pet peeve: “Being patronized.” Idol: Gary Oldman. Celebrity crush: Cameron Diaz. Favorite video game: NHL 2003. Favorite subject: English. Favorite author: Iain Banks. Favorite old TV show: Dad’s Army. Favorite food: Tuna. Catchphrase: “Cool!”
EMMA WATSON Birthday: April 15, 1990. Sign: Aries. Hometown: Oxfordshire, England. Big break: Playing Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Upcoming project: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Two. Favorite lip gloss: Stila. Favorite gadget: iPod. Cell phone: Nokia 3330. Favorite designers: Diesel, DKNY, and Miss Sixty. Britney or Christina: Neither. Favorite pretty-boy: Brad Pitt. Pet peeve: “When radio stations interrupt the song before it’s finished.” Celebrity crush: “Too many to name!” Favorite sport: Hockey. Catchphrase: “Dwarling!”
RUPERT GRINT Birthday: August 24, 1988. Sign: Virgo. Hometown: Hertfordshire, England. Big break: Playing Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Upcoming project: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Favorite gadget: Didgeridoo. Cell phone: Nokia with a camera. Computer: Hewlett-Packard. Britney or Christina: Britney. Favorite guy’s guy: SpongeBob SquarePants. PS2 or XBox: GameCube. Car: Lotus Elise. Pet peeves: “Vegetables, homework, exams, and school.” Idol: SpongeBob SquarePants. Favorite video game: Medal of Honor. Favorite author: J. K. Rowling. Fallback job: “Ice-cream man.” Catchphrase: “Wicked.”
MILO VENTIMIGLIA Born: Milo Ventimiglia, but his first agent wanted to change it to Milo Vent. Birthday: July 8, 1977. Sign: Cancer. Home: Orange County, California. Big break: Playing Jess Mariano on the WB’s Gilmore Girls. First job: A bit part on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Upcoming projects: Cursed, directed by Wes Craven, and a Gilmore Girls spin-off series. Britney or Christina: Brody Armstrong. Favorite guy’s guy: Sean Penn. Favorite bands: The Germs, Black Flag, the Distillers. Cars: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle and a Chevy Tahoe. Pet peeve: “Inconsiderate drivers.” Idols: His parents. Favorite designer: Volcom. Favorite author: Charles Bukowski. Favorite old TV show: “I don’t watch much TV.” Catchphrase: “My middle finger gets a lot of use.”
JARED PADALECKI Birthday: July 19, 1982. Sign: Cancer. Hometown: San Antonio, Texas. Big break: Playing Dean Forester on the WB’s Gilmore Girls. First job: Won a nationwide contest to be a presenter at the first Teen Choice Awards. Favorite gadget: Palm Pilot. Cell phone: Sprint PCS Touchpoint. Computer: Toshiba laptop. Britney or Christina: Britney. Favorite guy’s guy: Matt Damon. Favorite pretty-boy: Brad Pitt. Favorite bands: Pearl Jam and Radiohead. Car: Firebird. Pet peeve: “When I get blamed for something I didn’t do. I think I’m an easy target.” Idols: His parents. Celebrity crush: Jennifer Love Hewitt. Favorite video game: James Bond 007: Nightfire. Favorite book: The Great Gatsby. Favorite old TV show: Reruns of The Simpsons. Catchphrase: “Peace out.”
KALEY CUOCO Birthday: November 30, 1985. Sign: Sagittarius. Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California. Big break: Virtuosity, with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. First job: “I started modeling when I was, like, six.” Ongoing project: ABC’s 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, with John Ritter. Number of Juicy Couture outfits: Ten. Favorite lip gloss: Rosebud Salve. Favorite designer: Gucci. Britney or Christina: Britney. Pet peeve: “People smacking gum, but I do it.” Idol: Her grandfather. Celebrity crush: Michael Vartan of Alias. Favorite sport: Tennis. (A junior tennis champ, she had to decide between playing and acting.) Favorite book: The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. Favorite old TV show: Three’s Company. Catchphrase: “Gi-normous!”
Krista Smith
Krista Smith is Vanity Fair's executive west coast editor and de facto ambassador to Hollywood. She profiles rising talent for the Vanities section, helps produce the annual Hollywood Issue, and interviews filmmakers and actors on camera at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals. In 2013, she hosted @VFHollywood With Krista... Read more
See More By Krista Smith »
“Charles is a forgiving person by nature, and he wants to move on,” sources close to Charles tell Vanity Fair. “Whatever has been said and done, Harry is still his son and he loves him.”
In an episode of her web series with her husband, Charles, a groundskeeper who worked on the estate for more than 40 years provided some wisdom on how things used to operate.
A grand jury began hearing evidence on Monday. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I had emergency surgery one week ago for a perforated stomach ulcer and gallbladder removal. I had to stay in the hospital for 5 days post op and was sent home with an abdominal drainage tube. At this point what are the limits on lifting? I have an 8 month old that weighs roughly 30 lbs. Is it ok to continuously hold him, pick him up, etc? output: Hi.noted recent history of gallbladder and ulcer surgery. Is it done laparoscopically or through open technique? It is best if you do not perform/engage into any stressful/strenuous activity temporarily. Usual recovery/healing time is about 2-4 weeks time, depending on the patients' recovery. Deep breathing exercises and ambulation as s tolerated is advised. Low fat diet is also recommended. Hope this helps. |
Indonesia Sets October Coal Benchmark at Record $330.97 Per Tonne – Ministry
Indonesia has set its October coal benchmark price at a record high of $330.97 per tonne, as demand from Europe rises, its energy ministry said on Monday.
The monthly benchmark price in Indonesia, the world’s biggest thermal coal exporter, rose from $319.22 per tonne in September. It also broke the previous record of $323.91 per tonne in June.
“The reactivation of coal power plants in a number of European countries has contributed to the rise of global coal demand,” the ministry said in a statement.
Coal buyers all over Asia, and some from Europe, joined an industry conference on Indonesia’s Bali island late in September to hunt for any coal supply they can secure ahead of winter. Global supply shortages and growing energy security concerns have driven an unprecedented rebound in coal demand.
Western countries have sought to move away from the polluting fossil fuel to slash carbon emissions but demand for coal has surged as governments try to wean themselves off Russian energy while keeping a lid on power prices.
By admin, 05 Oct 2022, Source: Reuters (Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty)
COLUMN: INDIA COAL STOCKS UNDER PRESSURE OWING TO RAIL BOTTLENECKS
LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) – India’s distributed coal stocks remain critically low as the country struggles to produce and transport enough fuel to meet surging demand from power generators.
Power generators’ inventories are equivalent to just eight days worth of consumption compared with 16 days at the same point last year and before the pandemic.
In a normal year, distributed inventories increase over winter, when lower temperatures reduce electricity demand and generation, and the end of the monsoon permits greater coal production.
But stocks have remained persistently low at seven to nine days since August 2021 despite a government campaign to increase mine output and distribution.
Restocking has been dealt a further blow by a heatwave across the country over the last two months boosting air conditioning and refrigeration demand.
Power producers’ stocks are at the lowest pre-summer level for nine years, which will constrain generation and ensure blackouts continue (https://tmsnrt.rs/3sxkRyN).
Coal is the bulkiest of all commodities so supply depends as much on enough distribution capacity as it does on mine output.
Production increased by 26 million tonnes (9%) in the first four months of the year compared with the same period in 2021.
Distribution rose by 29 million tonnes (11%) over the same period, statistics prepared by the Ministry of Coal show.
At the same time, the government has ordered mines and the railway network to prioritize deliveries to power generators.
Coal despatched to the power sector increased by almost 39 million tonnes (18%) in the first four months of the year.
But the consequence has been a drop of 10 million tonnes (18%) in deliveries to industrial users, including the steel, cement and aluminium sectors.
In effect, the government has supported the supply of coal to electricity generators by worsening shortages in the rest of industry.
COAL TRAINS
In common with other countries in other periods, including Britain and China, the rail network has emerged as a major constraint on boosting coal supplies.
The total number of coal trains loaded and despatched every day in April 2022 was no higher than in April 2021, according to the Ministry of Coal.
The tripartite plan between the coal industry, railway and government called for an average of 336 trains a day to be loaded in April, but the system managed only 276, unchanged from April 2021.
Trains despatched to power producers increased by almost 18 per day (7%) compared with the same month a year earlier, but with the loss of 18 per day (56%) to all other users.
There may be scope to increase total delivery capacity by debottlenecking, increasing average train speeds and reducing dwell times at both pits and power stations to make more intensive use of the rolling stock.
In addition, the government has already intervened to reverse, at least partially, the normal prioritisation given to passenger trains over freight in a bid to move more coal faster.
Indian Railways has cancelled a slew of passenger services to make more track available (“Power-hungry India halts passenger trains to free up track to move coal,” Reuters, April 29).
Until more rail deliveries can be made, however, stocks are likely to stay under pressure and electricity generators will struggle to meet peak demand.
By John Kemp
By admin, 23 May 2022, Source: Reuters. May 12.
Indonesia Plans to Cut Coal Output to Bolster Prices, Revenue
Indonesia ordered coal miners to slash output after record production and exports from the world’s largest shipper last year weighed on prices and state revenue.
The government has set the production target at 550 million metric tons this year, 9.8% below the 610 million tons in 2019, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday. Domestic consumption of the fuel is seen jumping 12% to 155 million tons, he said.
Authorities will ensure that miners stick to the cap as the government “doesn’t want coal production to be too massive and drive prices lower and cause government revenue to drop,” Tasrif said. “We will implement the domestic market obligation as well,” he said, referring to a rule requiring miners to sell 25% of the output locally at a fixed price.
Coal Output
While coal is being squeezed out of the U.S. by cheaper natural gas and being driven out of Europe over concerns about climate change, global demand for the most-polluting fuel is still likely to rise over the coming years, driven by Southeast Asia, China and India, according to the International Energy Agency.
Coal prices in Indonesia slumped 28% last year, tumbling for a third year, as a global economic slowdown curbed demand. The decline in prices also hurt government revenue and contributed to a widening trade deficit in the Southeast Asian nation as coal remains the largest export earner.
Indonesia’s Trade Deficit Surges as Export Slump Persists
Production surpassed the government target last year as about 1,000 companies started operations under fresh mining permits issued by provincial governments, Bambang Gatot Ariyono, director-general of minerals and coal, told reporters. The government plans to track their output through electronic reporting and regular monitoring of their work plan and royalty payments, he said.
By admin, 13 Jan 2020, Source: Bloomberg.com , Thursday 9 January 2020
Indonesia Sets Lower Coal Production Target to Help Stabilize Global Price
The government has lowered its coal production target for this year to 480 million tons in an effort to stabilize the global coal price, an official has said.
Last year’s target was 485 million tons, 25 percent of which was allocated to the domestic market obligation (DMO).
Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry mineral and coal director general Bambang Gatot Ariyono said the government considered various factors before deciding on the figure, including the movement of the US dollar.
“The goal is to maintain a good coal price,” he said, adding that there were possibilities that the government might revise the production target this year.
“We will continue to oversee the situation. Usually, coal miners will revise their production target no later than July.”
One of the reasons to revise the target was to increase state revenue, he added.
Ministry data from up to Dec. 27 shows that Indonesia reached 94.02 percent of its annual total target for 2018.
Bambang assured that a 25 percent DMO policy and a coal price cap of US$70 per ton would ensure stable electricity tariffs until the year-end.
By admin, 09 Jan 2019, Source: The Jakarta Post, Tuesday 8 January 2019
Hedging Low-Grade Indonesian Coal
Physical Indonesian coal exposure is difficult to hedge and market participants often suffer from poor correlations and severe illiquidity. To promote effective price risk management for all active participants across the value chain, CME Group has introduced an ICI 4 indexed financially settled contract.
ICI 4 is one of five price assessments published in the Argus/Coalindo Indonesian Coal Index Report, that provide direct, independent and reliable valuations for Indonesian coal. The figures supplied are for varying coal grades 6,500 (ICI 1), 5,800 (ICI 2), 5,000 (ICI 3), 4,200 (ICI 4) and 3,400 (ICI 5) kcal/kg GAR. At 4200 kcal/kg, ICI 4 represents a lower grade coal that attracts significant physical trading in Asia (around 90 MTPA). The last 18 months have seen a rapid migration towards ICI 4 index-linked physical contracts in the Indonesian space.
With a strong presence in international coal, CME Group is committed to providing a reliable and liquid futures to manage your risk. The NYMEX ICI 4 futures contract gives hedgers and producers the opportunity to better manage their Indonesian price exposure.
Competitive fee schedule
Straight Through Processing (STP) directly into customer risk systems
Margined efficiently in the portfolio of products
The foundation of CME ClearPort is the strength of the CME Clearing and its market-leading risk management. The benefits of CME Clearing include:
Instant confirmation that a trade is cleared — no delays while credit checks are carried out
A fund that ensures the safety and soundness of your cleared positions
24-hour monitoring by an experienced risk management team
Indonesian Coal Products
ClearPort
Cleared As
ICI ICI – ICI
Coal (ICI 4) Indonesian Coal Index (Argus/Coalindo) Futures
NYMEX Energy Coal – – Futures 5 110
By admin, 03 Jul 2018, Source: https://www.cmegroup.com/trading/energy/coal-futures-options/ici4-indonesian-coal-futures.html 29 June 2018
Coal Prices Projected to Remain Healthy in 2018
Global coal prices are expected to remain healthy throughout 2018 owing to stable demand from China and increasing consumption in India, says the World Coal Association (WCA).
WCA chief executive Benjamin Sporton projected that demand from China would continue to be reasonably strong this year, despite the country’s plan to implement a huge gasification program for households and industries to reduce its dependence on coal.
Furthermore, he said India would also increase its coal imports amid soaring demand from its power generation sector and lower-than-expected domestic production.
“India is not in a shortage situation, but it is running very closely behind it, and that’s really what has driven coal exports into India, and a good chunk of that is coming from Indonesia,” Benjamin told The Jakarta Post recently.
The price of Asian benchmark Newcastle thermal coal had climbed to US$106.78 per ton in January after falling to as low as $74.52 per ton in May last year.
“It’s really the supply constraint that sent the price to above $100 per ton over the last year, […] and I would still expect it to be somewhere in that ballpark for most of this year,” Benjamin said.
The Indonesian government has limited the country’s coal production in 2018 at a maximum level of 485 million tons, 25 percent of which will be allocated for the domestic market.
Within the first two months of 2017, Indonesia’s coal production reached 28.07 million tons, 15.6 million tons of which were absorbed by the domestic market.
By admin, 13 Mar 2018, Source: Jakarta Post, Sunday 4 March 2018
Indonesia to Regulate Domestic Coal Price to Curb Electricity Costs
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry says it will issue a regulation on the domestic price of coal to curb production costs as the government has decided not to increase electricity rates.
The ministry’s electricity price section head, Jisman Hutajulu, said in Jakarta on Monday that domestic coal would be sold based on domestic market obligation (DMO).
“The objective of introducing the regulation is help easing the financial burden of PLN,” Jisman said as reported by tempo.co, adding that the DMO was based on Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Regulation No. 34/2009 on coal and mineral resources.
The regulation, among others, rules that the domestic price of the mineral and coal are based on the price reference of the commodity.
Under the regulation, the energy and mineral resources minister will decide the coal quota for domestic needs.
Jisman said Minister Ignasius Jonan would also revise a prevailing regulation to decide the domestic coal price after taking into account the opinions of stakeholders.
Jisman said PLN had proposed a price floor of US$60 and price ceiling of $70.
PLN previously said that rising coal prices had resulted in an increase of production costs, as around 57 percent of the company’s generated power came from coal-fired power plants.
By admin, 13 Mar 2018, Source: Jakarta Post, Tuesday 20 February 2018
Coal Futures Contract Provide Guarantee
Jakarta, Kompas – Futures contracts in coal trading transactions provides a price guarantee for industry players amid fluctuating commodity prices. Although quite profitable for sellers and buyers, futures contracts can make coal prices less competitive.
It was surfaced in Argus Coalindo Indonesia Coal Forum 2018, in Jakarta, Thursday (8/2). This gathering of coal industry players become a socialization event for futures contract concept in Indonesian Coal Index (ICI) for coal trading.
This was conveyed by PT Coalindo Energy CEO Maydin Sipayung. Coalindo Energy is the Indonesian Coal Index provider.
Maydin said, futures contracts become the agreed price of buyers and sellers of coal for a certain period. This changes the pricing system that has been set for a period of one year.
“The concept of futures contracts is applied because the selling and buying of coal is done in a long period of time. Because, the delivery time takes months. On the other hand the coal prices are very volatile, “he said.
Futures contract, Maydin continued, is a tools to determine the coal price for a certain period. Buyers and sellers get guaranteed prices.
Executive Director of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) Hendra Sinadia assess, the implementation of futures contracts have a positive and negative impact. In general, the positive impact that buyers and sellers will experience is the guaranteed price.
“But, on the other hand, futures contracts make the selling price of coal has no competitiveness. When the coal prices are high, the producers cannot experience the benefit, “he said.
Head of Sub Directorate of Production and Marketing Operations Supervision, Directorate General of Mineral and Coal Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hersonyo Wibowo said the coal production target this year is 485 million tons.
By admin, 12 Feb 2018, Source: Kompas, Friday 9 February 2018
Government Maintains Energy Prices for Q1 2018
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has announced that it will maintain the prices of electricity and certain fuel types in the first quarter of 2018, forcing state energy giants Pertamina and PLN to bear the burden of increasing oil and coal prices.
“The decision has been made to preserve people’s purchasing power,” Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said during a media conference on Wednesday.
Subsequently, the prices of Premium gasoline, which has a research octane number (RON) of 88, and subsidized diesel fuel will be maintained at Rp 6,450 (49 US cents) and Rp 5,150 per liter, respectively. These rates have been in place since April 2016, even though the prices of global crude have been in an upward trend lately.
The price of global benchmark Brent crude reached $66.78 per barrel on Tuesday after falling to as low as $44.82 per barrel on June 21.
Meanwhile, the price of electricity for low capacity non-subsidized customers will remain unchanged at Rp 1,467.28 per kilowatt hour (kWh). Prices for mid-capacity and high-capacity will hover at Rp 1,114.7 and Rp 996.74 per kWh, respectively.
This is despite the 15.4 percent increase in the price of Asian benchmark Newcastle coal to $96.63 per ton between January and November.
Pertamina and PLN has pledged to undertake various efficiency measures to cope with the government’s decision to maintain current fuel and electricity prices.
By admin, 11 Jan 2018, Source: The Jakarta Post, 27 December 2017
Asian Coal Prices Hit Late 2016 High Amid Huge Shipping Congestion
Spot cargo prices for Australian Newcastle coal have risen nearly 15 percent from lows in late November after China loosened import restrictions to help meet a winter fuel shortage.
SINGAPORE: Asian benchmark thermal coalprices have pushed to their highest levels since 2016, fuelled by demand in China and loading delays in Indonesia that have ramped up shipping congestion outside major coal ports.
“The reason behind relaxing the restrictions was to ensure coal supplies at utilities, as some coal-fired power plants in eastern regions have been operating with minimum coal inventories,” said Zhang Xiaojin, coal analyst at Everbright Futures.
The move by the National Energy Administration also followed an ambitious gasification programme that moved too many households and factories from coal to gas for its utilities to keep up. Traders said strong orders from India have also supported prices, which hit $105.65 per tonne on Wednesday, the highest since November 2016.
“India is buying throughout Q1, which means the shortage is not expected to end any time soon,” said a coal trader with a major trading house, who declined to be named.
HUGE CONGESTION
Bottlenecks at import terminals across China and delays at loading ports in Indonesia’s Kalimantan island, one of the world’s bigggest thermal coal mining regions have added to the tighter market.
“The trouble to load in Kalimantan is a result of huge rainfalls. This has triggered replacement orders for supplies from Newcastle (Australia), pushing up prices there,” said a second coal trader, speaking on condition of anonimity as he was not allowed to comment on trading activity.
The congestion started in late 2017, and is getting worse.
Shipping data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows around 100 large dry-bulk ships waiting to load coal off the coast of Kalimantan, Indonesia, most of them at Samarinda and Taboneo.
Some ships have been waiting since late October, the data shows.
Even more ships are waiting to unload coal in China, where between 400 and 500 large dry-bulk carriers are waiting outside Shanghai/Ningbo and in the Gulf of Zhili, serving the ports of Tianjin, Coafeidian, Qinhuangdao and Bayuquan.
That’s up from around 300 ships waiting outside both Chinese and Australian ports to load or deliver in late 2017.
Analysts expect tight market conditions to last until the Chinese New Year, which starts in February.
“Congestion and supply-side delays have sent prices higher. We see seaborne coal price support for the winter through to the Chinese New Year, especially from China and India,” said Shirley Zhang, principal analyst for Asian coal markets at energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.
However, in the longer term, prices should ease as China’s import curbs are potentially restored, heading to $69 a tonne by 2021 for Newcastle, Zhang said.
“In general, the Asian demand growth driver is shifting away from China towards India and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam,” she said, where strong demand growth would require investment into coal.
By admin, 11 Jan 2018, Source: Energy World from The Economic Times, 4 January 2018 |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Which imaging modality is preferred for evaluating the extent of penumbra in acute stroke patients? output: The preferred imaging modality for evaluating the extent of the penumbra in acute stroke patients is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically using a combination of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI). This approach is supported by multiple studies and guidelines.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) guidelines highlight that multimodal MRI, which includes DWI and PWI, is highly effective in identifying ischemic regions and the extent of the penumbra. DWI is sensitive to hyperacute ischemic changes, while PWI provides relative measures of cerebral hemodynamic status, allowing for the visualization of the ischemic penumbra.[1]
Additionally, the literature indicates that the DWI-PWI mismatch is a practical and reliable method for identifying the penumbra. This mismatch helps in selecting patients who might benefit from reperfusion therapies beyond the conventional therapeutic time windows. [2-3]
In summary, MRI with DWI and PWI is the preferred imaging modality for evaluating the extent of the penumbra in acute stroke patients, as it provides detailed pathophysiological and prognostic information critical for guiding treatment decisions. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have been having alot of muscle pain. I do not exercise nor have I did anything differently. I began having neck and back pain then noticed when driving my right leg hurts and I am having to use my cruise control more often. I am tired all the time and having more frequent headaches. I have no insurance therefore have not been to doctor
t causes muscle pains with neck and back pain? output: Hello, I have studied your case. Due to compression of nerve root there can be neck and back pain.Also there can be large disc bulge which is compressing over spinal cord.For these symptoms analgesic [Percocet] and neurotropic medication [methylcobalamine and pregabalin] can be started consulting your doctor.Till time, avoid lifting weights. You can consult physiotherapist for help.Physiotherapy like ultrasound and interferential therapy will give you relief.I will advise to check your vit B12 and vit D3 level.Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Wishing you good health.Take care... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have had chronic pelvic pain for 28 years I am a 45 year old female, I have Fibro, Endometriosis, Adhesions, abdominal scar tissue, Interstitial Cystitis, bradycardia, and have recently noticed the more weight lose(approx 120 lbs over a year, not intentional, but no complaints about it either) my back, spine to be specific is very tender to the touch from mid back slightly above belly button level clear down to my cocyxx. Any ideas, I d like to have my life back, was declared disabled in 2002. output: Hi, thank you for providing the brief history of you. A thorough neuromuscular assessment and musculoskeletal assessment is advised. As you have a certain condition diagnosed and also certain physical symptoms which are restricting your functional ability I will recommend undergoing physical therapy. As with physical therapy the pain and aches can be controlled with non-invasive electrotherapy. Post which exercises will be implemented where the muscles will become stronger. It will be a slow and gradual process to undergo. As the pelvic area is painful and spine is tender, physical therapy like - Therapeutic ultrasound therapy and TENS therapy will help you with decrease in the pain. Also, exercises are the key for long term recovery. |
Tag: UWE Events
Bristol Business School staff named as part of Bristol’s BME Powerlist
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 5 October 2018 5 October 2018
Earlier this week Bristol 24/7 announced the inaugural BME Powerlist which showcases the city’s 100 most inspiring, successful and influential black and minority ethnic people.
Published on October 1 to mark the start of Black History Month, the project aims to celebrate excellence across a broad spectrum of fields – from activism to arts, politics to business – and provide role models for the next generation.
The Bristol BME Powerlist has been 18 months in the making and is a joint partnership between the University of Bristol, Bristol Students’ Union and Bristol24/7 to showcase and celebrate diversity across the city; with a panel of ten judges whittling down 500 nominations to 100.
Amongst the several alumni and students from UWE Bristol that have been nominated, two members of staff from the Bristol Business School have also been highlighted in the list.
Dr Zainab Khan and Mohamud Mubarak have been selected alongside other UWE staff and students to be on the list.
Dr Zainab Khan is a BME staff forum coordinator at UWE and faculty representative on the Race Equality Task Force. Zainab has been at the forefront of the newly-launched Equity talent management programme. She is also the curator of The Link, Bristol’s largest BME professional networking event, which takes place at the university during Black History Month.
As a Somali refugee, Mohamud Mubarak uses his background in creative ways as a lecturer at UWE. He has helped and inspired countless BME students to achieve their potential and works tirelessly in his own community to promote higher education. Mohamud commented:
“To be featured on the inaugural #BristolBMEPowerlist is a huge honour among such notables. It’s amazing how far Bristol has come”
Everyone named on the list, panel judges and members of the city are invited to an event on Saturday, October 27 to engage in conversations with students and increase BME engagement in local communities.
Bristol Distinguished Address Series announces autumn speakers
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 14 September 2018 14 September 2018
UWE Bristol is pleased to announce the latest programme of speakers for the forthcoming Bristol Distinguished Address Series. The lecture series has now been certified for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes by the CPD Certification Service*.
Now in its ninth year, the Bristol Distinguished Address Series is well regarded by the City’s business community as the leading place to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership.
The Bristol Distinguished Address Series is free to attend and open to members of the business community.
The line up of speakers for the Autumn is:
Wednesday 03 October 2018 : Ashok Vaswani, CEO of Barclays Bank UK, will deliver the University’s prestigious Annual Bolland Lecture entitled, ‘Digital Transformation of Banking’.
Wednesday 17 October 2018: Kevin Ellis, Chair and Senior Partner of PwC UK, will deliver a lecture entitled, ‘The Role of Business in a Disrupted World. Why Business Needs to Work Harder to Show its Positive Contribution to Society’.
Wednesday 7 November 2018: Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, will deliver a lecture entitled ‘Achieving Social Change’.
Please contact the Media Relations office if you would like to request a media seat or have a media query about this event, email pressoffice@uwe.ac.uk
The series is delivered by the Bristol Business School in partnership with ACCA, Bristol City Council, Bristol Junior Chamber, Bristol Law Society, Bristol Media, Business Leader, Business West, CBI, CIPD, CIPFA, CMI, FSB, IoD, ICAEW and the West of England Combined Authority.
Following the talk, there will be an opportunity for the audience to put forward their issues and questions at this event.
Series organiser, Professor Nicholas O’Regan says, “We are delighted to announce that the series is now CPD accredited. The series is an excellent opportunity for members of the business community in Bristol, as well as our own students, alumni and staff to hear directly from inspirational figures in industry with a wealth of strategic experience and leadership skills at the highest level.”
Find podcasts, video interviews, photos galleries and media coverage from past Bristol Distinguished Address Series events. Follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #BristolLectures
To register for the first address please click here.
*For delegates who wish to obtain a CPD Certificate of Attendance, it is the responsibility of delegates to register their details with a member of the events team at the end of the event.
Student event: Start of the Year Careers Forum
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 10 September 2018
After a summer filled with sunshine, we’re holding a welcome back careers event as part of induction week. The forum will shine a light on opportunities for graduate jobs, placements and internships with leading employers from the South West and across the UK.
The ‘Start of the Year Careers Forum’, will consist of employer stands and breakout sessions. Expect:
Employer stands with information and freebies
A chance to meet and hear from employers from the South West and across the UK
Insights into working in different job roles and sectors
Tips to help you stand out in application processes for placements and graduate jobs
A window into the future of how technology and other trends are changing jobs and industries
WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday 19th September, 10am-2pm, Floor 3 in the Business School
These employers have an interest in speaking specifically to Business students. Employers signed up include:
This event is aimed predominately at second and third years as well as postgraduates in the Faculty of Business and Law, and we will be issuing a full programme shortly.
You do not want to miss out!
Future Impact Webinar Series: Social Media and Body Image: Finding the positives
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 27 July 2018
The Bristol Business Engagement Centre (BBEC) in conjunction with Bristol Business School is proud to launch our Future Impact Webinar Series. This webinar series will feature exciting new developments in technology, science and management practice and highlight their impact on the future of business and society. Thought provoking yet practical, you will develop a better appreciation of what these advances will mean for you, your business and community.
Our inaugural webinar, presented by Dr. Noordin Shehabuddeen, with panellists from the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) will focus on social media and body image. The Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) is the world’s largest research group focusing on the role of appearance and body image in people’s lives. Dr. Amy Slater, Deputy Dicrector, CAR and Professor Diana Harcourt, Director, CAR will share their expertise, cutting edge research and knowledge.
Social media has become an integral part of life for most young people, with over 90% using at least one social networking site, and almost half spending over 2 hours per day on social media (Tsitsika et al., 2014). Despite having many potential benefits, research has identified that greater social media use is associated with poorer body image, which is concerning given body dissatisfaction is linked to a wide range of negative psychological and health outcomes. This webinar will focus on what we know so far about the role of social media and body image, with a particular focus on looking for the potential positive role that social media could play in how we think about ourselves and our appearance.
Dr Amy Slater
Amy Slater is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England. Her research interests lie in the area of body image, specifically body image in adolescents and children. Her research has a particular focus on the role of social media and social networking services in the body image and wellbeing of young people. Amy completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Flinders University in South Australia, and in addition to her research, is also experienced with working with children and adolescents in community and hospital settings.
Professor Diana Harcourt
Diana Harcourt is Director of the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) at UWE, Bristol, the world’s largest group of psychologists researching issues around body image and appearance. Her research interests focus on the psychosocial aspects of altered or unusual appearance, particularly those associated with cancer or burn injuries. She completed her PhD at UWE, Bristol, exploring women’s experiences of breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Her work includes developing and evaluating interventions to support people who are negatively affected by visible difference and those facing decisions about treatment that will alter their appearance
Dr Noordin Shehabuddeen
Noordin is Director of UWE’s Bristol Business Engagement Centre (BBEC) and Associate Professor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. His remit is to lead a range of ambitious programmes aimed at further strengthening UWE’s role as a provider of cutting edge business-relevant education and solutions, and as a thought and practice leader in innovation. He was Director of Business Engagement as well as Director of Business Incubator at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, and prior to that, Director of the University of Liverpool’s Innovation Academy. He was also a Visiting Professor with the Government of Malaysia.
Noordin has presented numerous global webinars as a keynote speaker, and over 25 K people have taken his MOOC on innovation. He is the author of a practitioner handbook ‘Innovation in real life: a hands-on guide to genuine innovation’. He is Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Tenth Developing Leadership Capacity Conference (DLCC)
In mid July, the Bristol Business School hosted the tenth Developing Leadership Capacity Conference (DLCC). The two day conference was attended by around 70 participants who all came to present ideas and share knowledge.
The DLCC was originally developed with the aim of having a combination of those interested in researching the area of leadership learning and development and those interested in new ideas for practice. This year the conference had a healthy mix of both.
Keynotes were given by Professor Carole Elliot (Roehampton University) on Women’s Leadership Development, Dr Kevin Flinn (Hertfordshire University) presenting on a complexity approach to leadership learning and Professor Paul Hibbert (St Andrews University) who presented on an aesthetic approach to understanding leadership experiences.
Alongside the keynotes, delegates could attend streamed sessions across the categories of case studies, theory and workshops.
This year the conference was particularly interested in innovative and creative approaches to learning and developing leadership. There was stimulating conversation across all the streamed session over the two days around this theme.
The 70 plus delegates came from as far afield as Canada, Ghana, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
The keynotes are pictured below with the conference hosts and founders Dr Doris Schedlitzki and Dr Gareth Edwards and the Director of the Bristol Leadership and Change Centre, Professor Richard Bolden.
Honorary degree awarded to Kalpna Woolf
UWE Bristol awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration to Kalpna Woolf in recognition of her contribution and commitment to economic and social equality and diversity initiatives in Bristol.
The honorary degree was conferred at the Awards Ceremony of the Faculty of Business and Law at Bristol Cathedral on Wednesday 18 July at 10:30.
Kalpna completed her early education in London culminating in a BA Hons in Russian from University of London, Queen Mary College. Since she came to Bristol 20 years ago, Kalpna has been a major influencer for change in our region – both at senior board and grassroots level. After an award-winning career in the BBC, where she was Head of Production overseeing a £100m global business including the BBC’s world-renowned Natural History Unit (including ‘Planet Earth, Antiques Roadshow, Rick Stein, Countryfile and many other factual series), Kalpna was recognised for her work in the media in 2013, winning the national Asian Women’s Achievement Award.
She continues to work within the creative sector and alongside this, she has established an impressive portfolio career underpinned by her business track record and her passion for social justice and equality. She has held positions on business and charity boards including Chair of Trustees for Frank Water, business advisor and Chair of the Skills Group to the West of England LEP Board. Her board work and drive for inclusive and economic equality has led her to launch the BeOnBoard programme which is striving to deliver diversity on business boards.
She devised a Masters programme in Production Management in the Media for UWE and was awarded Visiting Professorship for the Faculty of Business and Law.
She has written a best–selling food book – Spice Yourself Slim – and in 2015 she founded 91 Ways to Build A Global City – an innovative charity which reaches out to unite all the 91 language communities in Bristol, to bring greater understanding, break down barriers and build a more cohesive city. Three years on, the charity has run Peace Cafes connecting more than 10,000 people at over 100 events and modeled a template for similar projects to be rolled out in other cities in the UK.
Kalpna has won four other national awards including the BBC’s Food and Farming Hero Award, the Guild of Food Writers Inspiration Award and MTM Woman of the Year award.
‘Becoming Enterprising’: A collaborative workshop
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 21 June 2018
On Monday 11 June, the Bristol Leadership and Change Centre (BLCC) hosted a collaborative workshop on how to get enterprise into the curriculum.
Throughout the day, guests discussed three scenarios around the topic:
Scenario 1: What do we mean by critical approaches to situated learning?
Scenario 2: Making connections between practitioner and academic views
Scenario 3: Creative practices
At the end of the day, the conversations were pulled together with Visual Sketchnotes to create an image to summarise the day.
The workshop was attended by staff, students, different practitioners and advisory board members.
For more information please see here.
South Glos Expo at the Bristol Business School
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 13 June 2018 13 June 2018
On Wednesday 6th June, the Bristol Business School hosted the South Glos Expo. The Expo saw businesses from across the South Glos region exhibit at Business School.
As well as the exhibition, there were workshops throughout the day for visitors. Workshops included an introduction to Digital Advertising and Know your Business Data delivered by Google Garage. Business West delivered workshops on the GDPR Journey and Access to Finance.
Simon Camper Photography
Networking group We Mean Biz hosted a dedicated networking lunch for guests, giving attendees the chance to further their connections within the South Glos region.
The keynote of the day was given by Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards who shared his experiences with guests.
For more information on the South Glos Expo please see here.
International Women’s Day 2018 at the Bristol Business School
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 13 March 2018
On Thursday 8 March, Bristol Business School hosted several events and workshops to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The day was collaboratively organised by the Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education (ACE); the Bristol Business School and the Bristol Law School.
Guests were welcomed by Hazel Edwards Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) who set the scene for International Women’s Day and shared her own personal experiences with attendees.
The first session was run by Professor Carol Jarvis, with several students from Team Entrepreneurship, and focused on inspirational women.
Guests were asked to work in groups and share their inspirational women and then describe them using just one word.
Next there was a panel discussion entitled ‘Barriers to and opportunities for enabling more successful women in business’. The lively discussion was chaired by Professor Jane Roscoe, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, ACE and panellists included:
Kalpna Woolf – Award winning ex BBC Head. Author -Spice Yourself Slim
Sado Jirde – Director of Black South West Network (BSWN)
Vashti Seth – Success Redefined Coach
Professor Sue Durbin – Professor in Human Resource Management
Over lunch, stalls were set up in the Business School atrium which were run by female entrepreneurs. Guests were served food from Bini Fine Foods and were serenaded by our International Women’s Day choir.
There was also a raffle which raised over £200 for Bristol charity one25, who reach out to women trapped in, or vulnerable to, street sex work, supporting them to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction.
In the afternoon there was a screening of “Barefoot in Business”, a film created by BAFTA award winning film maker Carol Cooke about female entrepreneurs in Uganda.
Also running throughout the afternoon were several workshops and drop in sessions including speed mentoring; an Athena SWAN workshop and a CV surgery.
The whole day was compered wonderfully by Lynn Barlow Assistant Vice Chancellor, ACE.
Thank you to all who were involved and helped make International Women’s Day at the Bristol Business School such a success.
International Women’s Day at UWE Bristol
Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on 22 February 2018 23 February 2018
Come help us celebrate the entrepreneurial, political, social and cultural achievements of women, and their acts of courage and determination in the pursuit of gender parity in their workplaces, communities and countries.
To mark the day, we have planned a series of events and workshops at UWE which are all free to attend and open to all.
Alongside the events there will be stalls set up through the Atrium showcasing the amazing work that women in our region produce.
There will be a charity raffle with prizes including a Spa day from The Gainsborough Bath Spa, two tickets to the Affordable Art Fair in London, a coaching session from Sequoia Bridge as well as many more. All proceeds from the raffle will go to Bristol charity one25 who reach out to women trapped in, or vulnerable to, street sex work, supporting them to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction. Further information can be found here!
There will be a free lunch provided by Bini Fine Foods for all attendees.
In order to register for this event, please email: fbl.execsupport@uwe.ac.uk
Arrival & Refreshments
Female entrepreneurs: Inspirational case studies 6X269
Panel discussion: ‘Barriers to and opportunities for enabling more successful women in business’
· Professor Jane Roscoe (Chair) – Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, ACE
· Kalpna Woolf – Award winning ex BBC Head. Author -Spice Yourself Slim
· Sado Jirde – Director of Black South West Network (BSWN)
· Vashti Seth – Success Redefined Coach
· Professor Sue Durbin – Professor in Human Resource Management 6X269
International Women’s Day Choir
Stalls ran by female entrepreneurs
Raffle announcement
Available between 12.00-14.00
Screening of Barefoot in Business
This is a film created by BAFTA award winning film maker Carol Cooke about female entrepreneurs in Uganda.
13.15- 14:15
CV Surgery
Careers Space X Block
Speed Mentoring
Speed mentoring (with a focus on enterprise)
TE Space
Athena SWAN Workshop
‘The Role of Athena SWAN in engaging gender equality in UK university settings: Accreditation or lever of change?’
14.20-15.15 Creating and Telling your Leadership Story
15.20-15.50 Difficult Conversations
‘Based on one of UWEs Learning and Development Centre courses, this will workshop will leave you with some tips on how to better handle difficult conversations.’ |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: my wife check the pregnancy kit and found that she is pregnant. She taken some atibiotic drugs in this period of pregnacy because she don t konw that she is got pregnant it is now 15 days form ovulation[The doctor prescribed the atibiotics asked her that whether she is pregnant on consultation and she told that she she is not pregneant]. Is this will affect badly to the fetus? output: Hello, and I hope I can help you today. Many women accidentally ingest medications or alcohol before they find out that they are pregnant. However, there is no fetus that even develops before the 7th week or so, so the effects of medications on a developing fetus would not yet be able to pose any harm to the pregnancy. Furthermore, there are only a few, very strong IV antibiotics that can actually cause significant harm to a developing fetus. So it is unlikely that the antibiotic that your wife was taking was even unsafe during pregnancy. Asking whether a woman is pregnant when prescribing medication is a common routine practice and does not mean that the medication prescribed is in any way. So in summary, I do not think you need to be worried about the medication your wife took in this very early stage. To enhance the health of her pregnancy, she should follow a well-balanced diet, avoid alcohol, and begin to take a vitamin supplement designed for pregnant women. Your should also choose a prenatal care provider for her and have your first visit about a month from now. I hope I was able to adequate;y answer your question today, and that my advice was reassuring. Best wishes,. |
package org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode;
import static org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSImageFormat.renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade;
import static org.apache.hadoop.util.Time.monotonicNow;
import java.io.FilterInputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.EnumMap;
import java.util.EnumSet;
import java.util.List;
import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceAudience;
import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceStability;
import org.apache.hadoop.fs.FileSystem;
import org.apache.hadoop.fs.XAttrSetFlag;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.ErasureCodingPolicy;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.HdfsConstants;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.LocatedBlock;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.blockmanagement.BlockIdManager;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.blockmanagement.BlockInfo;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.blockmanagement.BlockInfoStriped;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.Block;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.CacheDirectiveInfo;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.HdfsFileStatus;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.LastBlockWithStatus;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.protocol.LayoutVersion;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.blockmanagement.BlockInfoContiguous;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.blockmanagement.BlockManager;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.common.HdfsServerConstants;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.common.HdfsServerConstants.BlockUCState;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.common.HdfsServerConstants.RollingUpgradeStartupOption;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.common.HdfsServerConstants.StartupOption;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.common.Storage;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSDirectory.DirOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AddBlockOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AddCacheDirectiveInfoOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AddCachePoolOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AddCloseOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AllocateBlockIdOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AllowSnapshotOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.AppendOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.BlockListUpdatingOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.CancelDelegationTokenOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.ClearNSQuotaOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.ConcatDeleteOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.CreateSnapshotOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.DeleteOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.DeleteSnapshotOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.DisallowSnapshotOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.GetDelegationTokenOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.MkdirOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.ModifyCacheDirectiveInfoOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.ModifyCachePoolOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.ReassignLeaseOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RemoveCacheDirectiveInfoOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RemoveCachePoolOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RemoveXAttrOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RenameOldOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RenameOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RenameSnapshotOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RenewDelegationTokenOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.RollingUpgradeOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetAclOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetGenstampV1Op;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetGenstampV2Op;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetNSQuotaOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetOwnerOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetPermissionsOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetQuotaOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetReplicationOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetStoragePolicyOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SetXAttrOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.SymlinkOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.TimesOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.TruncateOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.UpdateBlocksOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp.UpdateMasterKeyOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp
.AddErasureCodingPolicyOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp
.RemoveErasureCodingPolicyOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp
.EnableErasureCodingPolicyOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.FSEditLogOp
.DisableErasureCodingPolicyOp;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.INode.BlocksMapUpdateInfo;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.LeaseManager.Lease;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.NNStorage.NameNodeFile;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.snapshot.Snapshot;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.startupprogress.Phase;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.startupprogress.StartupProgress;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.startupprogress.StartupProgress.Counter;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.server.namenode.startupprogress.Step;
import org.apache.hadoop.hdfs.util.Holder;
import org.apache.hadoop.util.ChunkedArrayList;
import com.google.common.base.Joiner;
import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
@InterfaceAudience.Private
@InterfaceStability.Evolving
public class FSEditLogLoader {
static final Log LOG = LogFactory.getLog(FSEditLogLoader.class.getName());
static final long REPLAY_TRANSACTION_LOG_INTERVAL = 1000; // 1sec
private final FSNamesystem fsNamesys;
private final BlockManager blockManager;
private long lastAppliedTxId;
/** Total number of end transactions loaded. */
private int totalEdits = 0;
public FSEditLogLoader(FSNamesystem fsNamesys, long lastAppliedTxId) {
this.fsNamesys = fsNamesys;
this.blockManager = fsNamesys.getBlockManager();
this.lastAppliedTxId = lastAppliedTxId;
}
long loadFSEdits(EditLogInputStream edits, long expectedStartingTxId)
throws IOException {
return loadFSEdits(edits, expectedStartingTxId, Long.MAX_VALUE, null, null);
}
/**
* Load an edit log, and apply the changes to the in-memory structure
* This is where we apply edits that we've been writing to disk all
* along.
*/
long loadFSEdits(EditLogInputStream edits, long expectedStartingTxId,
long maxTxnsToRead,
StartupOption startOpt, MetaRecoveryContext recovery) throws IOException {
StartupProgress prog = NameNode.getStartupProgress();
Step step = createStartupProgressStep(edits);
prog.beginStep(Phase.LOADING_EDITS, step);
fsNamesys.writeLock();
try {
long startTime = monotonicNow();
FSImage.LOG.info("Start loading edits file " + edits.getName()
+ " maxTxnsToRead = " + maxTxnsToRead);
long numEdits = loadEditRecords(edits, false, expectedStartingTxId,
maxTxnsToRead, startOpt, recovery);
FSImage.LOG.info("Edits file " + edits.getName()
+ " of size " + edits.length() + " edits # " + numEdits
+ " loaded in " + (monotonicNow()-startTime)/1000 + " seconds");
return numEdits;
} finally {
edits.close();
fsNamesys.writeUnlock("loadFSEdits");
prog.endStep(Phase.LOADING_EDITS, step);
}
}
long loadEditRecords(EditLogInputStream in, boolean closeOnExit,
long expectedStartingTxId, StartupOption startOpt,
MetaRecoveryContext recovery) throws IOException {
return loadEditRecords(in, closeOnExit, expectedStartingTxId,
Long.MAX_VALUE, startOpt, recovery);
}
long loadEditRecords(EditLogInputStream in, boolean closeOnExit,
long expectedStartingTxId, long maxTxnsToRead, StartupOption startOpt,
MetaRecoveryContext recovery) throws IOException {
EnumMap<FSEditLogOpCodes, Holder<Integer>> opCounts =
new EnumMap<FSEditLogOpCodes, Holder<Integer>>(FSEditLogOpCodes.class);
if (LOG.isTraceEnabled()) {
LOG.trace("Acquiring write lock to replay edit log");
}
fsNamesys.writeLock();
FSDirectory fsDir = fsNamesys.dir;
fsDir.writeLock();
long recentOpcodeOffsets[] = new long[4];
Arrays.fill(recentOpcodeOffsets, -1);
long expectedTxId = expectedStartingTxId;
long numEdits = 0;
long lastTxId = in.getLastTxId();
long numTxns = (lastTxId - expectedStartingTxId) + 1;
StartupProgress prog = NameNode.getStartupProgress();
Step step = createStartupProgressStep(in);
prog.setTotal(Phase.LOADING_EDITS, step, numTxns);
Counter counter = prog.getCounter(Phase.LOADING_EDITS, step);
long lastLogTime = monotonicNow();
long lastInodeId = fsNamesys.dir.getLastInodeId();
try {
while (true) {
try {
FSEditLogOp op;
try {
op = in.readOp();
if (op == null) {
break;
}
} catch (Throwable e) {
// Handle a problem with our input
check203UpgradeFailure(in.getVersion(true), e);
String errorMessage =
formatEditLogReplayError(in, recentOpcodeOffsets, expectedTxId);
FSImage.LOG.error(errorMessage, e);
if (recovery == null) {
// We will only try to skip over problematic opcodes when in
// recovery mode.
throw new EditLogInputException(errorMessage, e, numEdits);
}
MetaRecoveryContext.editLogLoaderPrompt(
"We failed to read txId " + expectedTxId,
recovery, "skipping the bad section in the log");
in.resync();
continue;
}
recentOpcodeOffsets[(int)(numEdits % recentOpcodeOffsets.length)] =
in.getPosition();
if (op.hasTransactionId()) {
if (op.getTransactionId() > expectedTxId) {
MetaRecoveryContext.editLogLoaderPrompt("There appears " +
"to be a gap in the edit log. We expected txid " +
expectedTxId + ", but got txid " +
op.getTransactionId() + ".", recovery, "ignoring missing " +
" transaction IDs");
} else if (op.getTransactionId() < expectedTxId) {
MetaRecoveryContext.editLogLoaderPrompt("There appears " +
"to be an out-of-order edit in the edit log. We " +
"expected txid " + expectedTxId + ", but got txid " +
op.getTransactionId() + ".", recovery,
"skipping the out-of-order edit");
continue;
}
}
try {
if (LOG.isTraceEnabled()) {
LOG.trace("op=" + op + ", startOpt=" + startOpt
+ ", numEdits=" + numEdits + ", totalEdits=" + totalEdits);
}
long inodeId = applyEditLogOp(op, fsDir, startOpt,
in.getVersion(true), lastInodeId);
if (lastInodeId < inodeId) {
lastInodeId = inodeId;
}
} catch (RollingUpgradeOp.RollbackException e) {
throw e;
} catch (Throwable e) {
LOG.error("Encountered exception on operation " + op, e);
if (recovery == null) {
throw e instanceof IOException? (IOException)e: new IOException(e);
}
MetaRecoveryContext.editLogLoaderPrompt("Failed to " +
"apply edit log operation " + op + ": error " +
e.getMessage(), recovery, "applying edits");
}
// Now that the operation has been successfully decoded and
// applied, update our bookkeeping.
incrOpCount(op.opCode, opCounts, step, counter);
if (op.hasTransactionId()) {
lastAppliedTxId = op.getTransactionId();
expectedTxId = lastAppliedTxId + 1;
} else {
expectedTxId = lastAppliedTxId = expectedStartingTxId;
}
// log progress
if (op.hasTransactionId()) {
long now = monotonicNow();
if (now - lastLogTime > REPLAY_TRANSACTION_LOG_INTERVAL) {
long deltaTxId = lastAppliedTxId - expectedStartingTxId + 1;
int percent = Math.round((float) deltaTxId / numTxns * 100);
LOG.info("replaying edit log: " + deltaTxId + "/" + numTxns
+ " transactions completed. (" + percent + "%)");
lastLogTime = now;
}
}
numEdits++;
totalEdits++;
if(numEdits >= maxTxnsToRead) {
break;
}
} catch (RollingUpgradeOp.RollbackException e) {
LOG.info("Stopped at OP_START_ROLLING_UPGRADE for rollback.");
break;
} catch (MetaRecoveryContext.RequestStopException e) {
MetaRecoveryContext.LOG.warn("Stopped reading edit log at " +
in.getPosition() + "/" + in.length());
break;
}
}
} finally {
fsNamesys.dir.resetLastInodeId(lastInodeId);
if(closeOnExit) {
in.close();
}
fsDir.writeUnlock();
fsNamesys.writeUnlock("loadEditRecords");
if (LOG.isTraceEnabled()) {
LOG.trace("replaying edit log finished");
}
if (FSImage.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
dumpOpCounts(opCounts);
FSImage.LOG.debug("maxTxnsToRead = " + maxTxnsToRead
+ " actual edits read = " + numEdits);
}
assert numEdits <= maxTxnsToRead || numEdits == 1 :
"should read at least one txn, but not more than the configured max";
}
return numEdits;
}
// allocate and update last allocated inode id
private long getAndUpdateLastInodeId(long inodeIdFromOp, int logVersion,
long lastInodeId) throws IOException {
long inodeId = inodeIdFromOp;
if (inodeId == HdfsConstants.GRANDFATHER_INODE_ID) {
if (NameNodeLayoutVersion.supports(
LayoutVersion.Feature.ADD_INODE_ID, logVersion)) {
throw new IOException("The layout version " + logVersion
+ " supports inodeId but gave bogus inodeId");
}
inodeId = fsNamesys.dir.allocateNewInodeId();
} else {
// need to reset lastInodeId. fsnamesys gets lastInodeId firstly from
// fsimage but editlog captures more recent inodeId allocations
if (inodeId > lastInodeId) {
fsNamesys.dir.resetLastInodeId(inodeId);
}
}
return inodeId;
}
@SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
private long applyEditLogOp(FSEditLogOp op, FSDirectory fsDir,
StartupOption startOpt, int logVersion, long lastInodeId) throws IOException {
long inodeId = HdfsConstants.GRANDFATHER_INODE_ID;
if (LOG.isTraceEnabled()) {
LOG.trace("replaying edit log: " + op);
}
final boolean toAddRetryCache = fsNamesys.hasRetryCache() && op.hasRpcIds();
switch (op.opCode) {
case OP_ADD: {
AddCloseOp addCloseOp = (AddCloseOp)op;
final String path =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(addCloseOp.path, logVersion);
if (FSNamesystem.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
FSNamesystem.LOG.debug(op.opCode + ": " + path +
" numblocks : " + addCloseOp.blocks.length +
" clientHolder " + addCloseOp.clientName +
" clientMachine " + addCloseOp.clientMachine);
}
// There are 3 cases here:
// 1. OP_ADD to create a new file
// 2. OP_ADD to update file blocks
// 3. OP_ADD to open file for append (old append)
// See if the file already exists (persistBlocks call)
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.WRITE);
INodeFile oldFile = INodeFile.valueOf(iip.getLastINode(), path, true);
if (oldFile != null && addCloseOp.overwrite) {
// This is OP_ADD with overwrite
FSDirDeleteOp.deleteForEditLog(fsDir, iip, addCloseOp.mtime);
iip = INodesInPath.replace(iip, iip.length() - 1, null);
oldFile = null;
}
INodeFile newFile = oldFile;
if (oldFile == null) { // this is OP_ADD on a new file (case 1)
// versions > 0 support per file replication
// get name and replication
final short replication = fsNamesys.getBlockManager()
.adjustReplication(addCloseOp.replication);
assert addCloseOp.blocks.length == 0;
// add to the file tree
inodeId = getAndUpdateLastInodeId(addCloseOp.inodeId, logVersion, lastInodeId);
newFile = FSDirWriteFileOp.addFileForEditLog(fsDir, inodeId,
iip.getExistingINodes(), iip.getLastLocalName(),
addCloseOp.permissions, addCloseOp.aclEntries,
addCloseOp.xAttrs, replication, addCloseOp.mtime,
addCloseOp.atime, addCloseOp.blockSize, true,
addCloseOp.clientName, addCloseOp.clientMachine,
addCloseOp.storagePolicyId, addCloseOp.erasureCodingPolicyId);
assert newFile != null;
iip = INodesInPath.replace(iip, iip.length() - 1, newFile);
fsNamesys.leaseManager.addLease(addCloseOp.clientName, newFile.getId());
// add the op into retry cache if necessary
if (toAddRetryCache) {
HdfsFileStatus stat =
FSDirStatAndListingOp.createFileStatusForEditLog(fsDir, iip);
fsNamesys.addCacheEntryWithPayload(addCloseOp.rpcClientId,
addCloseOp.rpcCallId, stat);
}
} else { // This is OP_ADD on an existing file (old append)
if (!oldFile.isUnderConstruction()) {
// This is case 3: a call to append() on an already-closed file.
if (FSNamesystem.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
FSNamesystem.LOG.debug("Reopening an already-closed file " +
"for append");
}
LocatedBlock lb = FSDirAppendOp.prepareFileForAppend(fsNamesys, iip,
addCloseOp.clientName, addCloseOp.clientMachine, false, false,
false);
// add the op into retry cache if necessary
if (toAddRetryCache) {
HdfsFileStatus stat =
FSDirStatAndListingOp.createFileStatusForEditLog(fsDir, iip);
fsNamesys.addCacheEntryWithPayload(addCloseOp.rpcClientId,
addCloseOp.rpcCallId, new LastBlockWithStatus(lb, stat));
}
}
}
// Fall-through for case 2.
// Regardless of whether it's a new file or an updated file,
// update the block list.
// Update the salient file attributes.
newFile.setAccessTime(addCloseOp.atime, Snapshot.CURRENT_STATE_ID, false);
newFile.setModificationTime(addCloseOp.mtime, Snapshot.CURRENT_STATE_ID);
ErasureCodingPolicy ecPolicy =
FSDirErasureCodingOp.unprotectedGetErasureCodingPolicy(
fsDir.getFSNamesystem(), iip);
updateBlocks(fsDir, addCloseOp, iip, newFile, ecPolicy);
break;
}
case OP_CLOSE: {
AddCloseOp addCloseOp = (AddCloseOp)op;
final String path =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(addCloseOp.path, logVersion);
if (FSNamesystem.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
FSNamesystem.LOG.debug(op.opCode + ": " + path +
" numblocks : " + addCloseOp.blocks.length +
" clientHolder " + addCloseOp.clientName +
" clientMachine " + addCloseOp.clientMachine);
}
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.READ);
final INodeFile file = INodeFile.valueOf(iip.getLastINode(), path);
// Update the salient file attributes.
file.setAccessTime(addCloseOp.atime, Snapshot.CURRENT_STATE_ID, false);
file.setModificationTime(addCloseOp.mtime, Snapshot.CURRENT_STATE_ID);
ErasureCodingPolicy ecPolicy =
FSDirErasureCodingOp.unprotectedGetErasureCodingPolicy(
fsDir.getFSNamesystem(), iip);
updateBlocks(fsDir, addCloseOp, iip, file, ecPolicy);
// Now close the file
if (!file.isUnderConstruction() &&
logVersion <= LayoutVersion.BUGFIX_HDFS_2991_VERSION) {
// There was a bug (HDFS-2991) in hadoop < 0.23.1 where OP_CLOSE
// could show up twice in a row. But after that version, this
// should be fixed, so we should treat it as an error.
throw new IOException(
"File is not under construction: " + path);
}
// One might expect that you could use removeLease(holder, path) here,
// but OP_CLOSE doesn't serialize the holder. So, remove the inode.
if (file.isUnderConstruction()) {
fsNamesys.getLeaseManager().removeLease(file.getId());
file.toCompleteFile(file.getModificationTime(), 0,
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().getMinReplication());
}
break;
}
case OP_APPEND: {
AppendOp appendOp = (AppendOp) op;
final String path = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(appendOp.path,
logVersion);
if (FSNamesystem.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
FSNamesystem.LOG.debug(op.opCode + ": " + path +
" clientName " + appendOp.clientName +
" clientMachine " + appendOp.clientMachine +
" newBlock " + appendOp.newBlock);
}
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.WRITE);
INodeFile file = INodeFile.valueOf(iip.getLastINode(), path);
if (!file.isUnderConstruction()) {
LocatedBlock lb = FSDirAppendOp.prepareFileForAppend(fsNamesys, iip,
appendOp.clientName, appendOp.clientMachine, appendOp.newBlock,
false, false);
// add the op into retry cache if necessary
if (toAddRetryCache) {
HdfsFileStatus stat =
FSDirStatAndListingOp.createFileStatusForEditLog(fsDir, iip);
fsNamesys.addCacheEntryWithPayload(appendOp.rpcClientId,
appendOp.rpcCallId, new LastBlockWithStatus(lb, stat));
}
}
break;
}
case OP_UPDATE_BLOCKS: {
UpdateBlocksOp updateOp = (UpdateBlocksOp)op;
final String path =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(updateOp.path, logVersion);
if (FSNamesystem.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
FSNamesystem.LOG.debug(op.opCode + ": " + path +
" numblocks : " + updateOp.blocks.length);
}
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.READ);
INodeFile oldFile = INodeFile.valueOf(iip.getLastINode(), path);
// Update in-memory data structures
ErasureCodingPolicy ecPolicy =
FSDirErasureCodingOp.unprotectedGetErasureCodingPolicy(
fsDir.getFSNamesystem(), iip);
updateBlocks(fsDir, updateOp, iip, oldFile, ecPolicy);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(updateOp.rpcClientId, updateOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_ADD_BLOCK: {
AddBlockOp addBlockOp = (AddBlockOp) op;
String path = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(addBlockOp.getPath(), logVersion);
if (FSNamesystem.LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
FSNamesystem.LOG.debug(op.opCode + ": " + path +
" new block id : " + addBlockOp.getLastBlock().getBlockId());
}
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.READ);
INodeFile oldFile = INodeFile.valueOf(iip.getLastINode(), path);
// add the new block to the INodeFile
ErasureCodingPolicy ecPolicy =
FSDirErasureCodingOp.unprotectedGetErasureCodingPolicy(
fsDir.getFSNamesystem(), iip);
addNewBlock(addBlockOp, oldFile, ecPolicy);
break;
}
case OP_SET_REPLICATION: {
SetReplicationOp setReplicationOp = (SetReplicationOp)op;
String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
setReplicationOp.path, logVersion);
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
short replication = fsNamesys.getBlockManager().adjustReplication(
setReplicationOp.replication);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetReplication(fsDir, iip, replication);
break;
}
case OP_CONCAT_DELETE: {
ConcatDeleteOp concatDeleteOp = (ConcatDeleteOp)op;
String trg = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(concatDeleteOp.trg, logVersion);
String[] srcs = new String[concatDeleteOp.srcs.length];
for (int i=0; i<srcs.length; i++) {
srcs[i] =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(concatDeleteOp.srcs[i], logVersion);
}
INodesInPath targetIIP = fsDir.getINodesInPath(trg, DirOp.WRITE);
INodeFile[] srcFiles = new INodeFile[srcs.length];
for (int i = 0; i < srcs.length; i++) {
INodesInPath srcIIP = fsDir.getINodesInPath(srcs[i], DirOp.WRITE);
srcFiles[i] = srcIIP.getLastINode().asFile();
}
FSDirConcatOp.unprotectedConcat(fsDir, targetIIP, srcFiles,
concatDeleteOp.timestamp);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(concatDeleteOp.rpcClientId,
concatDeleteOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_RENAME_OLD: {
RenameOldOp renameOp = (RenameOldOp)op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(renameOp.src, logVersion);
final String dst = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(renameOp.dst, logVersion);
FSDirRenameOp.renameForEditLog(fsDir, src, dst, renameOp.timestamp);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(renameOp.rpcClientId, renameOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_DELETE: {
DeleteOp deleteOp = (DeleteOp)op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
deleteOp.path, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE_LINK);
FSDirDeleteOp.deleteForEditLog(fsDir, iip, deleteOp.timestamp);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(deleteOp.rpcClientId, deleteOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_MKDIR: {
MkdirOp mkdirOp = (MkdirOp)op;
inodeId = getAndUpdateLastInodeId(mkdirOp.inodeId, logVersion,
lastInodeId);
FSDirMkdirOp.mkdirForEditLog(fsDir, inodeId,
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(mkdirOp.path, logVersion),
mkdirOp.permissions, mkdirOp.aclEntries, mkdirOp.timestamp);
break;
}
case OP_SET_GENSTAMP_V1: {
SetGenstampV1Op setGenstampV1Op = (SetGenstampV1Op)op;
blockManager.getBlockIdManager().setLegacyGenerationStamp(
setGenstampV1Op.genStampV1);
break;
}
case OP_SET_PERMISSIONS: {
SetPermissionsOp setPermissionsOp = (SetPermissionsOp)op;
final String src =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(setPermissionsOp.src, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetPermission(fsDir, iip,
setPermissionsOp.permissions);
break;
}
case OP_SET_OWNER: {
SetOwnerOp setOwnerOp = (SetOwnerOp)op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
setOwnerOp.src, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetOwner(fsDir, iip,
setOwnerOp.username, setOwnerOp.groupname);
break;
}
case OP_SET_NS_QUOTA: {
SetNSQuotaOp setNSQuotaOp = (SetNSQuotaOp)op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
setNSQuotaOp.src, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetQuota(fsDir, iip,
setNSQuotaOp.nsQuota, HdfsConstants.QUOTA_DONT_SET, null);
break;
}
case OP_CLEAR_NS_QUOTA: {
ClearNSQuotaOp clearNSQuotaOp = (ClearNSQuotaOp)op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
clearNSQuotaOp.src, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetQuota(fsDir, iip,
HdfsConstants.QUOTA_RESET, HdfsConstants.QUOTA_DONT_SET, null);
break;
}
case OP_SET_QUOTA: {
SetQuotaOp setQuotaOp = (SetQuotaOp) op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
setQuotaOp.src, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetQuota(fsDir, iip,
setQuotaOp.nsQuota, setQuotaOp.dsQuota, null);
break;
}
case OP_SET_QUOTA_BY_STORAGETYPE: {
FSEditLogOp.SetQuotaByStorageTypeOp setQuotaByStorageTypeOp =
(FSEditLogOp.SetQuotaByStorageTypeOp) op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
setQuotaByStorageTypeOp.src, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetQuota(fsDir, iip,
HdfsConstants.QUOTA_DONT_SET, setQuotaByStorageTypeOp.dsQuota,
setQuotaByStorageTypeOp.type);
break;
}
case OP_TIMES: {
TimesOp timesOp = (TimesOp)op;
final String src = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(
timesOp.path, logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetTimes(fsDir, iip,
timesOp.mtime, timesOp.atime, true);
break;
}
case OP_SYMLINK: {
if (!FileSystem.areSymlinksEnabled()) {
throw new IOException("Symlinks not supported - please remove symlink before upgrading to this version of HDFS");
}
SymlinkOp symlinkOp = (SymlinkOp)op;
inodeId = getAndUpdateLastInodeId(symlinkOp.inodeId, logVersion,
lastInodeId);
final String path = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(symlinkOp.path,
logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.WRITE_LINK);
FSDirSymlinkOp.unprotectedAddSymlink(fsDir, iip.getExistingINodes(),
iip.getLastLocalName(), inodeId, symlinkOp.value, symlinkOp.mtime,
symlinkOp.atime, symlinkOp.permissionStatus);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(symlinkOp.rpcClientId, symlinkOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_RENAME: {
RenameOp renameOp = (RenameOp)op;
FSDirRenameOp.renameForEditLog(fsDir,
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(renameOp.src, logVersion),
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(renameOp.dst, logVersion),
renameOp.timestamp, renameOp.options);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(renameOp.rpcClientId, renameOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_GET_DELEGATION_TOKEN: {
GetDelegationTokenOp getDelegationTokenOp
= (GetDelegationTokenOp)op;
fsNamesys.getDelegationTokenSecretManager()
.addPersistedDelegationToken(getDelegationTokenOp.token,
getDelegationTokenOp.expiryTime);
break;
}
case OP_RENEW_DELEGATION_TOKEN: {
RenewDelegationTokenOp renewDelegationTokenOp
= (RenewDelegationTokenOp)op;
fsNamesys.getDelegationTokenSecretManager()
.updatePersistedTokenRenewal(renewDelegationTokenOp.token,
renewDelegationTokenOp.expiryTime);
break;
}
case OP_CANCEL_DELEGATION_TOKEN: {
CancelDelegationTokenOp cancelDelegationTokenOp
= (CancelDelegationTokenOp)op;
fsNamesys.getDelegationTokenSecretManager()
.updatePersistedTokenCancellation(
cancelDelegationTokenOp.token);
break;
}
case OP_UPDATE_MASTER_KEY: {
UpdateMasterKeyOp updateMasterKeyOp = (UpdateMasterKeyOp)op;
fsNamesys.getDelegationTokenSecretManager()
.updatePersistedMasterKey(updateMasterKeyOp.key);
break;
}
case OP_REASSIGN_LEASE: {
ReassignLeaseOp reassignLeaseOp = (ReassignLeaseOp)op;
Lease lease = fsNamesys.leaseManager.getLease(
reassignLeaseOp.leaseHolder);
final String path =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(reassignLeaseOp.path, logVersion);
INodeFile pendingFile = fsDir.getINode(path, DirOp.READ).asFile();
Preconditions.checkState(pendingFile.isUnderConstruction());
fsNamesys.reassignLeaseInternal(lease, reassignLeaseOp.newHolder,
pendingFile);
break;
}
case OP_START_LOG_SEGMENT:
case OP_END_LOG_SEGMENT: {
// no data in here currently.
break;
}
case OP_CREATE_SNAPSHOT: {
CreateSnapshotOp createSnapshotOp = (CreateSnapshotOp) op;
final String snapshotRoot =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(createSnapshotOp.snapshotRoot,
logVersion);
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(snapshotRoot, DirOp.WRITE);
String path = fsNamesys.getSnapshotManager().createSnapshot(
fsDir.getFSNamesystem().getLeaseManager(),
iip, snapshotRoot, createSnapshotOp.snapshotName);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntryWithPayload(createSnapshotOp.rpcClientId,
createSnapshotOp.rpcCallId, path);
}
break;
}
case OP_DELETE_SNAPSHOT: {
DeleteSnapshotOp deleteSnapshotOp = (DeleteSnapshotOp) op;
BlocksMapUpdateInfo collectedBlocks = new BlocksMapUpdateInfo();
List<INode> removedINodes = new ChunkedArrayList<INode>();
final String snapshotRoot =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(deleteSnapshotOp.snapshotRoot,
logVersion);
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(snapshotRoot, DirOp.WRITE);
fsNamesys.getSnapshotManager().deleteSnapshot(iip,
deleteSnapshotOp.snapshotName,
new INode.ReclaimContext(fsNamesys.dir.getBlockStoragePolicySuite(),
collectedBlocks, removedINodes, null));
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().removeBlocksAndUpdateSafemodeTotal(
collectedBlocks);
collectedBlocks.clear();
fsNamesys.dir.removeFromInodeMap(removedINodes);
removedINodes.clear();
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(deleteSnapshotOp.rpcClientId,
deleteSnapshotOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_RENAME_SNAPSHOT: {
RenameSnapshotOp renameSnapshotOp = (RenameSnapshotOp) op;
final String snapshotRoot =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(renameSnapshotOp.snapshotRoot,
logVersion);
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(snapshotRoot, DirOp.WRITE);
fsNamesys.getSnapshotManager().renameSnapshot(iip,
snapshotRoot, renameSnapshotOp.snapshotOldName,
renameSnapshotOp.snapshotNewName);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(renameSnapshotOp.rpcClientId,
renameSnapshotOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_ALLOW_SNAPSHOT: {
AllowSnapshotOp allowSnapshotOp = (AllowSnapshotOp) op;
final String snapshotRoot =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(allowSnapshotOp.snapshotRoot, logVersion);
fsNamesys.getSnapshotManager().setSnapshottable(
snapshotRoot, false);
break;
}
case OP_DISALLOW_SNAPSHOT: {
DisallowSnapshotOp disallowSnapshotOp = (DisallowSnapshotOp) op;
final String snapshotRoot =
renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(disallowSnapshotOp.snapshotRoot,
logVersion);
fsNamesys.getSnapshotManager().resetSnapshottable(
snapshotRoot);
break;
}
case OP_SET_GENSTAMP_V2: {
SetGenstampV2Op setGenstampV2Op = (SetGenstampV2Op) op;
blockManager.getBlockIdManager().setGenerationStamp(
setGenstampV2Op.genStampV2);
break;
}
case OP_ALLOCATE_BLOCK_ID: {
AllocateBlockIdOp allocateBlockIdOp = (AllocateBlockIdOp) op;
if (BlockIdManager.isStripedBlockID(allocateBlockIdOp.blockId)) {
// ALLOCATE_BLOCK_ID is added for sequential block id, thus if the id
// is negative, it must belong to striped blocks
blockManager.getBlockIdManager().setLastAllocatedStripedBlockId(
allocateBlockIdOp.blockId);
} else {
blockManager.getBlockIdManager().setLastAllocatedContiguousBlockId(
allocateBlockIdOp.blockId);
}
break;
}
case OP_ROLLING_UPGRADE_START: {
if (startOpt == StartupOption.ROLLINGUPGRADE) {
final RollingUpgradeStartupOption rollingUpgradeOpt
= startOpt.getRollingUpgradeStartupOption();
if (rollingUpgradeOpt == RollingUpgradeStartupOption.ROLLBACK) {
throw new RollingUpgradeOp.RollbackException();
}
}
// start rolling upgrade
final long startTime = ((RollingUpgradeOp) op).getTime();
fsNamesys.startRollingUpgradeInternal(startTime);
fsNamesys.triggerRollbackCheckpoint();
break;
}
case OP_ROLLING_UPGRADE_FINALIZE: {
final long finalizeTime = ((RollingUpgradeOp) op).getTime();
if (fsNamesys.isRollingUpgrade()) {
// Only do it when NN is actually doing rolling upgrade.
// We can get FINALIZE without corresponding START, if NN is restarted
// before this op is consumed and a new checkpoint is created.
fsNamesys.finalizeRollingUpgradeInternal(finalizeTime);
}
fsNamesys.getFSImage().updateStorageVersion();
fsNamesys.getFSImage().renameCheckpoint(NameNodeFile.IMAGE_ROLLBACK,
NameNodeFile.IMAGE);
break;
}
case OP_ADD_CACHE_DIRECTIVE: {
AddCacheDirectiveInfoOp addOp = (AddCacheDirectiveInfoOp) op;
CacheDirectiveInfo result = fsNamesys.
getCacheManager().addDirectiveFromEditLog(addOp.directive);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
Long id = result.getId();
fsNamesys.addCacheEntryWithPayload(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId, id);
}
break;
}
case OP_MODIFY_CACHE_DIRECTIVE: {
ModifyCacheDirectiveInfoOp modifyOp =
(ModifyCacheDirectiveInfoOp) op;
fsNamesys.getCacheManager().modifyDirectiveFromEditLog(
modifyOp.directive);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_REMOVE_CACHE_DIRECTIVE: {
RemoveCacheDirectiveInfoOp removeOp =
(RemoveCacheDirectiveInfoOp) op;
fsNamesys.getCacheManager().removeDirective(removeOp.id, null);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_ADD_CACHE_POOL: {
AddCachePoolOp addOp = (AddCachePoolOp) op;
fsNamesys.getCacheManager().addCachePool(addOp.info);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_MODIFY_CACHE_POOL: {
ModifyCachePoolOp modifyOp = (ModifyCachePoolOp) op;
fsNamesys.getCacheManager().modifyCachePool(modifyOp.info);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_REMOVE_CACHE_POOL: {
RemoveCachePoolOp removeOp = (RemoveCachePoolOp) op;
fsNamesys.getCacheManager().removeCachePool(removeOp.poolName);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_SET_ACL: {
SetAclOp setAclOp = (SetAclOp) op;
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(setAclOp.src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAclOp.unprotectedSetAcl(fsDir, iip, setAclOp.aclEntries, true);
break;
}
case OP_SET_XATTR: {
SetXAttrOp setXAttrOp = (SetXAttrOp) op;
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(setXAttrOp.src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirXAttrOp.unprotectedSetXAttrs(fsDir, iip,
setXAttrOp.xAttrs,
EnumSet.of(XAttrSetFlag.CREATE,
XAttrSetFlag.REPLACE));
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(setXAttrOp.rpcClientId, setXAttrOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_REMOVE_XATTR: {
RemoveXAttrOp removeXAttrOp = (RemoveXAttrOp) op;
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(removeXAttrOp.src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirXAttrOp.unprotectedRemoveXAttrs(fsDir, iip,
removeXAttrOp.xAttrs);
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(removeXAttrOp.rpcClientId,
removeXAttrOp.rpcCallId);
}
break;
}
case OP_TRUNCATE: {
TruncateOp truncateOp = (TruncateOp) op;
INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(truncateOp.src, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirTruncateOp.unprotectedTruncate(fsNamesys, iip,
truncateOp.clientName, truncateOp.clientMachine,
truncateOp.newLength, truncateOp.timestamp, truncateOp.truncateBlock);
break;
}
case OP_SET_STORAGE_POLICY: {
SetStoragePolicyOp setStoragePolicyOp = (SetStoragePolicyOp) op;
final String path = renameReservedPathsOnUpgrade(setStoragePolicyOp.path,
logVersion);
final INodesInPath iip = fsDir.getINodesInPath(path, DirOp.WRITE);
FSDirAttrOp.unprotectedSetStoragePolicy(
fsDir, fsNamesys.getBlockManager(), iip,
setStoragePolicyOp.policyId);
break;
}
case OP_ADD_ERASURE_CODING_POLICY:
AddErasureCodingPolicyOp addOp = (AddErasureCodingPolicyOp) op;
fsNamesys.getErasureCodingPolicyManager().addPolicy(
addOp.getEcPolicy());
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntryWithPayload(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId,
addOp.getEcPolicy());
}
break;
case OP_ENABLE_ERASURE_CODING_POLICY:
EnableErasureCodingPolicyOp enableOp = (EnableErasureCodingPolicyOp) op;
fsNamesys.getErasureCodingPolicyManager().enablePolicy(
enableOp.getEcPolicy());
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
case OP_DISABLE_ERASURE_CODING_POLICY:
DisableErasureCodingPolicyOp disableOp =
(DisableErasureCodingPolicyOp) op;
fsNamesys.getErasureCodingPolicyManager().disablePolicy(
disableOp.getEcPolicy());
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
case OP_REMOVE_ERASURE_CODING_POLICY:
RemoveErasureCodingPolicyOp removeOp = (RemoveErasureCodingPolicyOp) op;
fsNamesys.getErasureCodingPolicyManager().removePolicy(
removeOp.getEcPolicy());
if (toAddRetryCache) {
fsNamesys.addCacheEntry(op.rpcClientId, op.rpcCallId);
}
break;
default:
throw new IOException("Invalid operation read " + op.opCode);
}
return inodeId;
}
private static String formatEditLogReplayError(EditLogInputStream in,
long recentOpcodeOffsets[], long txid) {
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
sb.append("Error replaying edit log at offset " + in.getPosition());
sb.append(". Expected transaction ID was ").append(txid);
if (recentOpcodeOffsets[0] != -1) {
Arrays.sort(recentOpcodeOffsets);
sb.append("\nRecent opcode offsets:");
for (long offset : recentOpcodeOffsets) {
if (offset != -1) {
sb.append(' ').append(offset);
}
}
}
return sb.toString();
}
/**
* Add a new block into the given INodeFile
*/
private void addNewBlock(AddBlockOp op, INodeFile file,
ErasureCodingPolicy ecPolicy) throws IOException {
BlockInfo[] oldBlocks = file.getBlocks();
Block pBlock = op.getPenultimateBlock();
Block newBlock= op.getLastBlock();
if (pBlock != null) { // the penultimate block is not null
assert oldBlocks != null && oldBlocks.length > 0;
// compare pBlock with the last block of oldBlocks
BlockInfo oldLastBlock = oldBlocks[oldBlocks.length - 1];
if (oldLastBlock.getBlockId() != pBlock.getBlockId()
|| oldLastBlock.getGenerationStamp() != pBlock.getGenerationStamp()) {
throw new IOException(
"Mismatched block IDs or generation stamps for the old last block of file "
+ op.getPath() + ", the old last block is " + oldLastBlock
+ ", and the block read from editlog is " + pBlock);
}
oldLastBlock.setNumBytes(pBlock.getNumBytes());
if (!oldLastBlock.isComplete()) {
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().forceCompleteBlock(oldLastBlock);
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().processQueuedMessagesForBlock(pBlock);
}
} else { // the penultimate block is null
Preconditions.checkState(oldBlocks == null || oldBlocks.length == 0);
}
// add the new block
final BlockInfo newBlockInfo;
boolean isStriped = ecPolicy != null;
if (isStriped) {
newBlockInfo = new BlockInfoStriped(newBlock, ecPolicy);
} else {
newBlockInfo = new BlockInfoContiguous(newBlock,
file.getPreferredBlockReplication());
}
newBlockInfo.convertToBlockUnderConstruction(
BlockUCState.UNDER_CONSTRUCTION, null);
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().addBlockCollectionWithCheck(newBlockInfo, file);
file.addBlock(newBlockInfo);
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().processQueuedMessagesForBlock(newBlock);
}
/**
* Update in-memory data structures with new block information.
* @throws IOException
*/
private void updateBlocks(FSDirectory fsDir, BlockListUpdatingOp op,
INodesInPath iip, INodeFile file, ErasureCodingPolicy ecPolicy)
throws IOException {
// Update its block list
BlockInfo[] oldBlocks = file.getBlocks();
Block[] newBlocks = op.getBlocks();
String path = op.getPath();
// Are we only updating the last block's gen stamp.
boolean isGenStampUpdate = oldBlocks.length == newBlocks.length;
// First, update blocks in common
for (int i = 0; i < oldBlocks.length && i < newBlocks.length; i++) {
BlockInfo oldBlock = oldBlocks[i];
Block newBlock = newBlocks[i];
boolean isLastBlock = i == newBlocks.length - 1;
if (oldBlock.getBlockId() != newBlock.getBlockId() ||
(oldBlock.getGenerationStamp() != newBlock.getGenerationStamp() &&
!(isGenStampUpdate && isLastBlock))) {
throw new IOException("Mismatched block IDs or generation stamps, " +
"attempting to replace block " + oldBlock + " with " + newBlock +
" as block # " + i + "/" + newBlocks.length + " of " +
path);
}
oldBlock.setNumBytes(newBlock.getNumBytes());
boolean changeMade =
oldBlock.getGenerationStamp() != newBlock.getGenerationStamp();
oldBlock.setGenerationStamp(newBlock.getGenerationStamp());
if (!oldBlock.isComplete() &&
(!isLastBlock || op.shouldCompleteLastBlock())) {
changeMade = true;
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().forceCompleteBlock(oldBlock);
}
if (changeMade) {
// The state or gen-stamp of the block has changed. So, we may be
// able to process some messages from datanodes that we previously
// were unable to process.
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().processQueuedMessagesForBlock(newBlock);
}
}
if (newBlocks.length < oldBlocks.length) {
// We're removing a block from the file, e.g. abandonBlock(...)
if (!file.isUnderConstruction()) {
throw new IOException("Trying to remove a block from file " +
path + " which is not under construction.");
}
if (newBlocks.length != oldBlocks.length - 1) {
throw new IOException("Trying to remove more than one block from file "
+ path);
}
Block oldBlock = oldBlocks[oldBlocks.length - 1];
boolean removed = FSDirWriteFileOp.unprotectedRemoveBlock(
fsDir, path, iip, file, oldBlock);
if (!removed && !(op instanceof UpdateBlocksOp)) {
throw new IOException("Trying to delete non-existant block " + oldBlock);
}
} else if (newBlocks.length > oldBlocks.length) {
final boolean isStriped = ecPolicy != null;
// We're adding blocks
for (int i = oldBlocks.length; i < newBlocks.length; i++) {
Block newBlock = newBlocks[i];
final BlockInfo newBI;
if (!op.shouldCompleteLastBlock()) {
// TODO: shouldn't this only be true for the last block?
// what about an old-version fsync() where fsync isn't called
// until several blocks in?
if (isStriped) {
newBI = new BlockInfoStriped(newBlock, ecPolicy);
} else {
newBI = new BlockInfoContiguous(newBlock,
file.getPreferredBlockReplication());
}
newBI.convertToBlockUnderConstruction(
BlockUCState.UNDER_CONSTRUCTION, null);
} else {
// OP_CLOSE should add finalized blocks. This code path
// is only executed when loading edits written by prior
// versions of Hadoop. Current versions always log
// OP_ADD operations as each block is allocated.
if (isStriped) {
newBI = new BlockInfoStriped(newBlock, ecPolicy);
} else {
newBI = new BlockInfoContiguous(newBlock,
file.getFileReplication());
}
}
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().addBlockCollectionWithCheck(newBI, file);
file.addBlock(newBI);
fsNamesys.getBlockManager().processQueuedMessagesForBlock(newBlock);
}
}
}
private static void dumpOpCounts(
EnumMap<FSEditLogOpCodes, Holder<Integer>> opCounts) {
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
sb.append("Summary of operations loaded from edit log:\n ");
Joiner.on("\n ").withKeyValueSeparator("=").appendTo(sb, opCounts);
FSImage.LOG.debug(sb.toString());
}
private void incrOpCount(FSEditLogOpCodes opCode,
EnumMap<FSEditLogOpCodes, Holder<Integer>> opCounts, Step step,
Counter counter) {
Holder<Integer> holder = opCounts.get(opCode);
if (holder == null) {
holder = new Holder<Integer>(1);
opCounts.put(opCode, holder);
} else {
holder.held++;
}
counter.increment();
}
/**
* Throw appropriate exception during upgrade from 203, when editlog loading
* could fail due to opcode conflicts.
*/
private void check203UpgradeFailure(int logVersion, Throwable e)
throws IOException {
// 0.20.203 version version has conflicting opcodes with the later releases.
// The editlog must be emptied by restarting the namenode, before proceeding
// with the upgrade.
if (Storage.is203LayoutVersion(logVersion)
&& logVersion != HdfsServerConstants.NAMENODE_LAYOUT_VERSION) {
String msg = "During upgrade failed to load the editlog version "
+ logVersion + " from release 0.20.203. Please go back to the old "
+ " release and restart the namenode. This empties the editlog "
+ " and saves the namespace. Resume the upgrade after this step.";
throw new IOException(msg, e);
}
}
/**
* Find the last valid transaction ID in the stream.
* If there are invalid or corrupt transactions in the middle of the stream,
* scanEditLog will skip over them.
* This reads through the stream but does not close it.
*
* @param maxTxIdToScan Maximum Tx ID to try to scan.
* The scan returns after reading this or a higher ID.
* The file portion beyond this ID is potentially being
* updated.
*/
static EditLogValidation scanEditLog(EditLogInputStream in,
long maxTxIdToScan) {
long lastPos;
long lastTxId = HdfsServerConstants.INVALID_TXID;
long numValid = 0;
while (true) {
long txid;
lastPos = in.getPosition();
try {
if ((txid = in.scanNextOp()) == HdfsServerConstants.INVALID_TXID) {
break;
}
} catch (Throwable t) {
FSImage.LOG.warn("Caught exception after scanning through "
+ numValid + " ops from " + in
+ " while determining its valid length. Position was "
+ lastPos, t);
in.resync();
FSImage.LOG.warn("After resync, position is " + in.getPosition());
continue;
}
if (lastTxId == HdfsServerConstants.INVALID_TXID || txid > lastTxId) {
lastTxId = txid;
}
if (lastTxId >= maxTxIdToScan) {
break;
}
numValid++;
}
return new EditLogValidation(lastPos, lastTxId, false);
}
static class EditLogValidation {
private final long validLength;
private final long endTxId;
private final boolean hasCorruptHeader;
EditLogValidation(long validLength, long endTxId,
boolean hasCorruptHeader) {
this.validLength = validLength;
this.endTxId = endTxId;
this.hasCorruptHeader = hasCorruptHeader;
}
long getValidLength() { return validLength; }
long getEndTxId() { return endTxId; }
boolean hasCorruptHeader() { return hasCorruptHeader; }
}
/**
* Stream wrapper that keeps track of the current stream position.
*
* This stream also allows us to set a limit on how many bytes we can read
* without getting an exception.
*/
public static class PositionTrackingInputStream extends FilterInputStream
implements StreamLimiter {
private long curPos = 0;
private long markPos = -1;
private long limitPos = Long.MAX_VALUE;
public PositionTrackingInputStream(InputStream is) {
super(is);
}
private void checkLimit(long amt) throws IOException {
long extra = (curPos + amt) - limitPos;
if (extra > 0) {
throw new IOException("Tried to read " + amt + " byte(s) past " +
"the limit at offset " + limitPos);
}
}
@Override
public int read() throws IOException {
checkLimit(1);
int ret = super.read();
if (ret != -1) curPos++;
return ret;
}
@Override
public int read(byte[] data) throws IOException {
checkLimit(data.length);
int ret = super.read(data);
if (ret > 0) curPos += ret;
return ret;
}
@Override
public int read(byte[] data, int offset, int length) throws IOException {
checkLimit(length);
int ret = super.read(data, offset, length);
if (ret > 0) curPos += ret;
return ret;
}
@Override
public void setLimit(long limit) {
limitPos = curPos + limit;
}
@Override
public void clearLimit() {
limitPos = Long.MAX_VALUE;
}
@Override
public void mark(int limit) {
super.mark(limit);
markPos = curPos;
}
@Override
public void reset() throws IOException {
if (markPos == -1) {
throw new IOException("Not marked!");
}
super.reset();
curPos = markPos;
markPos = -1;
}
public long getPos() {
return curPos;
}
@Override
public long skip(long amt) throws IOException {
long extra = (curPos + amt) - limitPos;
if (extra > 0) {
throw new IOException("Tried to skip " + extra + " bytes past " +
"the limit at offset " + limitPos);
}
long ret = super.skip(amt);
curPos += ret;
return ret;
}
}
public long getLastAppliedTxId() {
return lastAppliedTxId;
}
/**
* Creates a Step used for updating startup progress, populated with
* information from the given edits. The step always includes the log's name.
* If the log has a known length, then the length is included in the step too.
*
* @param edits EditLogInputStream to use for populating step
* @return Step populated with information from edits
* @throws IOException thrown if there is an I/O error
*/
private static Step createStartupProgressStep(EditLogInputStream edits)
throws IOException {
long length = edits.length();
String name = edits.getCurrentStreamName();
return length != -1 ? new Step(name, length) : new Step(name);
}
}
|
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi doctor,I would like to know how and which product is safe for my skin to look lighter. My facial skin does not look like how it used to, and I do not like it. Please help. output: However, I recommend using products with ingredients such as glycolic acid, kojic acid, lactic acid, retinol or vitamin C. These ingredients have been shown to be effective in increasing cell turnover and improving skin texture. For best results, use these products daily at night and follow up with SPF during the daytime. Hope this information was helpful to you. Wish you good health.. |
Getai night on Pulau Ubin
A large crowd, one not normally associated with Pulau Ubin on a Wednesday, turned up on the island last evening for the final night of the annual Tua Pek Kong festival. The last night, has in more recent times been marked with a getai (歌台) performance. Crude and somewhat kitsch, Getai (歌台) draws much more interest these days than the traditional street operas and puppet shows once used to provide the deities with a grand send-off.
This year’s getai, with forty dinner tables sold (as opposed to about twenty last year), seems to have attracted a much larger interest. This could be seen in the especially crowded village square (if I may call it that), where Ubin’s free-standing wayang stage – used by the Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple (乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙) to hold street opera and getai performancesis found.
The getai also saw a special guest, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman. The Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mayor, South East District also took to the stage, not to sing, but was able to impress the crowd nonetheless, with a few words in Mandarin and also in Hokkien.
Photographs from the final night of the Tua Pek Kong Festival
A boat load of devotees heading to Pulau Ubin.
Lion dancers welcoming visitors.
A larger crowd than ones previously seen turned up to watch the Getai performance held to send the popular deity off.
The lower temple saw a steady stream of devotees making offerings.
Lighting joss sticks at the temple.
The wayang stage set for the evening’s performances.
Perfromers.
The silhouette of a dancer.
A special guest, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mayor, South East District. He didn’t sing but managed to wow the crowd with a few words of Hokkien.
Homeward bound.
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Birthday of Tua Pek Kong, Chinese Opera Stage, Chinese Traditions, Culture, Festival, Festivals, Getai, Islands, Photography, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Festival Schedule, Singapore, Taoism, Taoist Festivals, Traditions, Tua Pek Kong, Tua Pek Kong Festival, Wayang, Wayang Stage, 大伯公, 乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙
Categories : Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The full moon of the fourth month on Ubin
For a few days around the full moon of the fourth month of the Chinese calendar, Pulau Ubin comes alive for a huge religious celebration held in honour of the popular Taoist deity Tua Pek Kong. The festival offers a glimpse into a Singapore that no longer exists and is a reminder of days when villages would have come alive in similar circumstances during feast days associated with their respective temple’s main deities.
The schedule for this year’s festival is as follows:
Friday 20th May 2016 (4th Month, 14th Day)
10 am Invite Tua Pek Kong
11 am Beginning Ritual sts
3.30 pm Taoist Ritual Part 1
7 pm Taoist Ritual Part 2
7 pm Sin Yong Yong Hwa Teochew Opera performnce
10 pm Invite Jade Emperor
Saturday 21st May 2016 (4th Month, 15th Day)
10 am Taoist Ritual
1 pm Lion & Dragon Dance
2.30 pm Distribution of Blessed Offering
3.30 pm Sending off Jade Emperor
7 pm Sin Sin Yong Hwa Teochew Opera
7.30 pm Crossing the Ping An Bridge
8 pm Wei Tio Temple’s Tua Ji Ya Pek visit
Sunday 22nd May 2016 (4th Month, 16th Day)
Mon 23rd May 2016 (4th Month, 17th Day)
Tuesday 24th May 2016 (4th Month, 18th Day)
Wednesday 25th May 2016 (4th Month, 19th Day)
10 am Sin Sin Yong Hwa Teochew Opera Qing Chang (Singing only)
6.45 pm Getai
10.30 pm Sending Tua Pek Kong back
Free Ferry service
Changi-Ubin 6.30pm-9pm
Ubin-Changi 8pm-10pm
Ubin-Changi 8pm-10.30pm
22nd to 24th May 2016
Ubin-Changi 6.30pm-10.30pm
More information can be found in the following posts:
Photographs from last year’s festival: The Granite Island alive
Festivities in 2014: The festive face of Ubin
Getai night at Ubin: Watching the stars under the stars
The seventh month at Ubin: A dying tradition lives on under the light of the silvery moon
Tags: Birthday of Tua Pek Kong, Chinese Opera, Chinese Opera Stage, Chinese Traditions, Culture, Festival, Festivals, Islands, Photography, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Festival Schedule, Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Festival Schedule 2015, Singapore, Taoism, Taoist Festivals, Teochew Opera, Traditions, Tua Li Ya Pek, Tua Pek Kong, Tua Pek Kong Festival, Wayang, Wayang Stage, 大伯公, 乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙
Categories : Forgotten Places, Islands, Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The season for wayang
Public entertainment during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, while intended for the special visitors of the netherworld, would once have attracted a large audience across Singapore. The crowds at such events, typically a getai in more modern times, or a Chinese opera or puppet performance in the past, have dwindled over the years. Perhaps this is more the case this year with the political hustings coinciding with the celebration of the hungry ghosts festival. It still is nice to come across them as they make not just for a colourful spectacle, but also because they tell us that the traditions of our forefathers, though modified, are very much still alive.
A 7th month Hokkien Opera performance at the Balestier Road Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple’s free-standing stage – one of the last such stages left in Singapore.
A getai performance at Woodlands.
Front row seats at such events are reserved for the guests from the netherworld.
The crowd at the getai performance.
Another getai held in Sembawang.
Which attracted a different kind of special guest.
A performer at the Sembawang getai.
Tags: Balestier Road, Chinese Opera, Colours of Singapore, Festivals, Free Standing Wayang Stage, Getai, Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple, Hungry Ghosts Festival, Permanent Wayang Stage, Photographs, Photography, Seventh Month, Seventh Moon, Singapore, Taoist Festivals, Traditions, Wayang, Wayang Stage
Categories : Entertainment, Events, Photography Series, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions, Windows into Singapore
The granite island alive
Pulau Ubin, the granite island, comes alive for a few days around the full moon of the fourth month of the Chinese calendar, when the celebrations in honour of the Taoist deity Tua Pek Kong are held. The festivities, now still going on, offers an opportunity to have a glimpse into a Singapore we have discarded. The highlight for many is the Teochew opera performance, which is being held on five of the six evenings of the six day celebration, the last being this evening. The festival will end tomorrow, with a getai performance.
This year’s festival programme: The celebration returns to Pulau Ubin
Last year’s festivities on the full moon: The festive face of Ubin
Photographs of Pulau Ubin taken during the full moon of the fourth month this year
Tags: Backstage, Birthday of Tua Pek Kong, Chinese Opera, Chinese Opera Stage, Chinese Traditions, Culture, Festival, Festivals, Islands, Photography, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Festival 2015, Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Festival Schedule, Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Festival Schedule 2015, Singapore, Taoism, Taoist Festivals, Teochew Opera, Traditions, Tua Li Ya Pek, Tua Pek Kong, Tua Pek Kong Festival, Wayang, Wayang Stage, 大伯公, 乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙
Categories : Devotion, Entertainment, Events, Forgotten Places, People in Places, Photography, Photography Series, Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The celebration returns to Pulau Ubin
Every year around Vesak Day, Pulau Ubin comes alive as the Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple (乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙) holds a series of festivities to celebrate the Tua Pek Kong festival. It is one of two occasions during which Teochew opera and getai performances are staged and offers a rare opportunity to watch Teochew opera as one might have done in the old days, under the stars. This year’s festival will be celebrated from 31 May to 5 Jun 2015 with opera performances every evening, except on the last when a getai performance will be held. The main day of the festival is on 1 Jun. More information on the festival schedule is provided below.
A post on the main festivities last year: The festive face of Ubin
A post on the last evening’s festivities from two year’s back: Watching the stars under the stars
Backstage at the wayang stage during last year’s celebrations.
A brightly dressed dancer on stage during the last evening’s getai performance two festivals back.
The schedule for this year’s Tua Pek Kong Festival.
A quick look at the main events as translated by Victor Yue:
Sunday 31 May 2015 (4th Month 14th Day)
10 am: Invite Tua Pek Kong
1 pm: Prayer ritual starts
3 pm: First Taoist Ritual
7 pm: Second Taoist Ritual
7 pm: Sin Sin Yong Hua Teochew Opera performance starts
10 pm: Invite Jade Emperor
Monday 1 Jun 2015 (4th Month 15 Day) – also Vesak Day, a Public Holiday
10 am: Prayers starts
1 pm: Lion and Dragon Dances
2.30 pm: Distribution of Temple Offerings
3.30 pm: Send off Jade Emperor
8 pm: Tua Ji Ya Pek (First and Second Grandpa deity from the nearby temple) visit
Tuesday 2 Jun 2015 (4th Month 16th Day)
Wednesday 3 Jun 2015 (4th Month 17th Day)
Thursday 4 Jun 2015 (4th Month 18th Day)
Friday 5 Jun 2015 (4th Month 19th Day)
10 am: Teochew Opera Singing (From Sin Sin Yong Hua)
6.15 pm: Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Night (Getai) with Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister for Defence & National Development, Mayor for South East District, and MP for East Coast GRC as Guest of Honour
10.30 pm: Tua Pek Kong returns
31 May to 4 Jun 2015 from Changi Jetty (6.30 pm to 9 pm) and from Pulau Ubin Jetty (8 pm – 10 pm)
5 Jun 2015 from Changi Jetty (6.30pm to 10pm) and from Pulau Ubin Jetty: (6.30 pm – 10.30 pm)
More photographs from the main celebrations last year:
More backstage scenes.
A view of the wayang stage during the evening’s performance.
The Teochew Opera performances is one of the draws of the festival.
The ritual sees the appearance of the Tua Ya Pek (大爷伯) or Bai Wuchang (白无常) and …
… the Li Ya Pek (二爷伯) or Hei Wuchang (黑无常). Collectively the pair – guardians of the Taoist interpretation of the hell or purgatory of afterlife, are known as the Tua Li Ya Pek (大二爷伯) or Heibai Wuchang (黑白无常).
A dragon dance held during the celebrations.
The three stars make an appearance.
The opera troupe onstage paying respects to the deity.
The Tua Pek Kong temple.
The temple during one of the rituals.
Categories : Entertainment, Events, Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The three last stages of Singapore
A structure that often featured in the rural landscape during the days of my childhood, was the wayang stage. Constructed usually out of wood, the wayang stage was often found in the vicinity of a rural Chinese community’s temple and together with the temple, such stages became focal points for the village folk during important festive celebrations.
A wayang performance on one of the last permanent wayang stages left in Singapore.
The festivals often required that the gods be kept amused. Entertainment often took the form of the retelling of traditional tales through the strained voices of garishly dressed performers with gaudily painted faces, all of which played out on the stage, attracting not just the gods but also many non- celestial beings.
A permanent wayang stage in Tuas, 1978 (source: Ronni Pinsler / http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/).
Interest in the tradition, wayangs – as the various genres of Chinese opera practiced here have come to be referred to, has long since dwindled and have largely been replaced by entertainment forms that reflect the national desire to abandon age-old practices. But this isn’t quite what is to blame for the disappearance of the (permanent) wayang stage. The displacement the rural world by urban townships and the dispersion of the members of the rural communities in the process, meant that many of the temples equipped with such stages have had to vacate their once generous spaces. The squeeze put on new spaces has made it less practical to have occasionally utilised permanent stages on the temples’ premises these days and today, only there are only a handful of such stages that can be found in Singapore.
Another permanent structure that was located in a village in Choa Chu Kang (source: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/).
The brightly coloured century-old stage at the Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple along Balestier Road, would be one that many would have noticed. The temple is one that has long been a very recognisable part of the road’s landscape having been established as far back as 1847. An article in the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Jan/Feb 2012 edition of Skyline gives us the background on the temple as well as on the wayang stage:
Historically, Balestier had been a swampy area infested with tigers and malarial mosquitoes. In a bid to ward off these dangers, Chinese Hokkien immigrants built the Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong temple in 1847, asking deity Tua Pek Kong for protection. Years later, Tan Boon Liat, grandson of philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, funded the creation of a free-standing wayang (theatrical performance) stage in 1906.
Seventh-month festivities at the Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong’s with a performance on the wayang stage.
A second permanent stage, is one found in a less obvious location, well hidden deep inside a private housing estate in Ulu Pandan. The concrete world that now dominates the area was where the Chua or Tua Kang Lai village had once been spread across at which the Tan Kong Tian temple, to which the stage belongs to, was established at the turn of the last century. The stage, built together with the current temple’s building in 1919, based on information at the Beokeng.com site, was rather interestingly also used as a classroom when a school, Li Qun, was setup in 1927:
Tan Kong Tian Temple (yuan fu dian) was founded in 1904 in the old village Tua Kan Lai, which means ‘near the Big Canal ( Sungei Ulu Pandan)’, and for this reason, Tan Kong Tian is also known as Tua Kang Lai Temple. Majority of Tua Kan Lai’s residents go by the surname Chua, which gave rise to another name Chua Village Temple.
The statue of Dong Gong Zhenren was brought over from Jin Fu Dian temple in Anxi county of Fujian province. The temple was rebuilt in 1919 with a opera stage, which was also used as classroom for Li Qun School setup in 1927. The school was closed in 1980 but the stage is still standing today beside the temple.
The wayang stage at Tan Kong Tian in the Ulu Pandan area.
The approach to Tan Kong Tian and the wayang stage.
The two, are the last to be found on Singapore’s main island. A third is found at the Fo Shan Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple on Pulau Ubin. The three, now serve as a reminder, not only of tradition we are fast losing, but also of a time and a way of life that has long passed us.
The wayang stage in Pulau Ubin.
Tags: Changing Landscapes, Chinese Opera, Chinese Opera Stage, Forgotten Structures, Free Standing Chinese Opera Stage, Free Standing Wayang Stage, Old Places, Permanent Wayang Stage, Photography, Rural Singapore, Singapore, Temples, Traditions, Unseen Singapore, Wayang, Wayang Stage
Categories : Changing Landscapes, Forgotten Buildings, Forgotten Places, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The festive face of Ubin
It is during two Taoist festivals celebrated in a big way by the Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple (乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙), the Tua Pek Kong festival celebrated around Vesak Day in May, and the Hungry Ghosts Festival during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, that the somewhat sleepy island takes on a festive air.
Backstage at the wayang stage: a festive face of Ubin.
The island, particularly during the Tua Pek Kong festival, is overrun by thousands of visitors who range from the many devotees who go over to participate in the rituals at the temple and the curious who are there to soak up the atmosphere of what might once have been a common scene on the main island of Singapore; to the hundreds who would head there festival or not, to seek an escape from the madness of the concrete jungle.
A modern interpretation of the three stars make an appearance.
It is more than just the colourful religious rituals that would be of interest to the curious. It is during the two festivals that we also see the use of the permanent Chinese opera stage – one of possibly two that are still left in Singapore. It has long been a tradition for Chinese temples to hold a ‘wayang‘, as the various forms of Chinese opera is commonly referred to in Singapore and Malaysia, in conjunction with festivities to entertain the deities and in the case of the seventh month, the spirits who return and many permanent stages were a feature of temples in villages across Singapore.
While interest in wayangs, which had a following among the masses, has waned in the wake of the introduction of more modern forms of entertainment, the art is being kept alive at the Ubin temple and by its Teochew opera troupe on which the spotlight does shine during the two big festivals that the temple celebrates.
At the time of writing, this year’s Tua Pek Kong festival (the photographs of which are used in this post) is still being celebrated. The celebrations will draw to a close on Saturday (17 May) with a getai (歌台) after which the temple sends Tua Pek Kong (Da Bo Gong or 大伯公) off. On the evidence of last year’s celebrations, the getai does also draw a sizeable crowd (see a post on last year’s Getai at Watching the stars under the stars) and for the experience of watching the stars (of the local getai circuit), under the stars, it certainly is well worth going over to Ubin on the final evening of the festival.
The ritual sees the appearance of the Camel cigarette smoking Tua Ya Pek (大爷伯) or Bai Wuchang (白无常) and …
Free boat rides are provided through the period of the festival from 6.30 to 9.00 pm each evening from Changi Jetty (and from 8.30 to 10 pm on the return trip). More information on the festival’s programme can be found at Peiyan’s blog: 12 May – 17 May 2014: Pulau Ubin Celebrates the Tua Pek Kong’s birthday.
[Photos of another ritual, the Pingan Bridge (平安桥) crossing ceremony, done in the belief that it would cleanse the participant of negative energy]
Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong festival Programme for 17 May 2014:
1000: Teochew Opera Performance
1845: Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple’s Night! + Getai Performance
2230: Departure of Da Bo Gong ritual
Some previous posts on festivities at the Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Temple and the island:
Watching the stars under the stars
A dying tradition lives under the light of the silvery moon
A window into a Singapore we have discarded
Tags: Backstage, Birthday of Tua Pek Kong, Chinese Opera, Chinese Opera Stage, Chinese Traditions, Culture, 黑白無常, Festival, Festivals, Heibai Wuchang, Islands, Photography, Pingan Bridge Crossing, Pulau Ubin, Singapore, Taoism, Taoist Festivals, Teochew Opera, Traditions, Tua Li Ya Pek, Tua Pek Kong, Tua Pek Kong Festival, Wayang, Wayang Stage, 大二爷伯, 大伯公, 平安桥, 乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙
Categories : Devotion, Forgotten Places, Photography Series, Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The last place in Singapore to soak in the atmosphere of the festivities which accompany a religious festival in a setting most of us may not seen for a quarter of a century is Pulau Ubin, the last island off Singapore (save for Sentosa) which has a community of residents. It is in the remnants of a village close to the island’s jetty where a Chinese Taoist temple, the Tua Pek Kong temple (Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple or 乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙) dedicated to the Earth Deity 土地公 (Tu Di Gong in Mandarin) who is also commonly referred to in Singapore as 大伯公 – Tua Pek Kong in Hokkien or Da Bo Gong in Mandarin, is found. It setting is very much one that is reminiscent of many of the rural Chinese villages which were common on the main island of Singapore up until the 1980s, with a village temple at its centre with a permanent Chinese Opera (referred to locally as “wayang”) stage often located across a clearing from it.
Devotees offering candles at the Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Temple. The temples celebrates two festivals in a big way.
Colours painted by the setting sun – setting the tone for a colourful night of entertainment under the stars.
The temple plays host twice a year to a series of festivities which are held to commemorate two important Chinese festivals which the temple celebrates in a big way. The bigger of the two is the Tua Pek Kong festival, celebrated to commemorate the birthday of the Earth Deity around the 15th day of the 4th Chinese month, while the Hungry Ghost festival which is celebrated with an auction around the 15th day of the 7th month, is a relatively quieter affair.
An image of the Earth Deity, Tua Pek King at the main altar of the Pulau Ubin Tua Pek Kong Temple.
It is during both the festivals that the wayang stage sees use. Wayangs in the form of Teochew opera performed by the island’s Teochew Opera Troupe (which I photographed at last year’s Hungry Ghosts Festival – click on this link for the post) based at the temple, are staged for the entertainment of the temple’s devotees (also for the visiting spirits in the case of the Hungry Ghost Festival) providing a wonderful opportunity for Singaporean’s to revisit an almost forgotten tradition. In keeping up with the times, the stage also plays host to what perhaps is the new-age wayang – the getai (歌台), a somewhat kitsch (some even consider it crude) form of entertainment which by and large have replaced the wayangs of old during similar celebrations around Singapore.
A brightly dressed dancer on stage – getai is often seen as kitsch and somewhat crude, but it does have a huge following in Singapore.
I had the opportunity to see the new wayang in action in the old village like setting provided by Pulau Ubin’s stage last evening. The getai was held on the last evening of the series of festivities held over six days from 23 to 28 May this year and saw a huge turnout – boats worked like clockwork ferrying a steady stream of visitors to the temple and the festivities – which certainly made the atmosphere very festival like. Under the stars in in the comfort of the cool breeze, the audience had the seats provided already filled as the stage came alive with lights and action matched by the brilliant colours provided by the of rays of the setting sun.
The large crowd seated in front of the stage.
While I would not be one to admit to being a fan of getai, I will admit that the experience of watching the gaudily dressed stars of the song stage, entertain with song many which were could well be tunes of yesteryear, as well as converse and joke in Hokkien on a stage under the stars, was one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was particularly heartening to see the large crowd – many who broke out into smiles and laughter as the evening entertainment progressed, enjoy themselves. The atmosphere was such that it did also seem to free both young and old from the distractions we have to much of in the modern world (I must have been the only one not taking a photograph or a video clip with a mobile device who was seen to be fiddling with my mobile phone).
Marcus Chin (陈建彬) on stage.
Members of the audience had their eyes glued to the stage throughout most of the evening.
The getai show which was hosted by Xu Qiong Fang (浒琼芳) and Wang Lei (王雷) saw a string of getai stars appear on stage. Not having admitted to being a fan, there is also no need for me to pretend to know who I was being entertained by. I did however recognise one of the stars from a previous experience watching getai under the Flyer. That was veteran entertainer Marcus Chin (陈建彬). I was able to identify the Babes in the City (宝贝姐妹) pairing, only through a comment left on my instagram post by filmaker Royston Tan (the pair featured in a video he produced, “The Happy Dragon“, to promote Safe Sex) .
Babes in the City (宝贝姐妹).
Host Wang Lei (王雷) also sang – standing next to him is Lee Bao En (李宝恩), a young getai star from Johor.
A relatively more recently introduced form of festival entertainment, the getai does in fact have a long enough tradition, having gained in popularity during the 1970s as interest in the traditional forms of entertainment such as the Chinese Opera and Puppet Shows was waning. On the evidence of the turnout, it does seem that, love it or hate it, it does have a following and being more adaptable than the more traditional street theatre, it certainly is here to stay. It was nice to be out under the stars in a setting one can otherwise no longer find. It felt as if it was yesterday … almost. It would have been nice to see just one thing more – the mobile food vendors (particularly the bird’s nest drink and the steamed sweet corn seller) who never were very far away whenever the wayang came to town.
The view backstage.
A view through a window of the permanent wayang stage.
More photographs of the stage and audience:
Tags: Babes in the City, Birthday of Tua Pek Kong, Culture, 王雷, Earth Deity, 陈建彬, Festivals, Heritage, Islands, Lee Bao En, Local Traditions, Marcus Chin, Photographs, Photography, Pulau Pisang, Pulau Ubin Teochew Opera Troupe, Religious Festivals, Singapore, Sunset, Taoism, Taoist Festivals, Traditions, Tu Di Gong, Tua Pek Kong, Tua Pek Kong Festival, Unseen Singapore, Wang Lei, Wayang Stage, Xu Qiong Fang, 土地公, 大伯公, 宝贝姐妹, 李宝恩, 浒琼芳, 乌敏岛佛山亭大伯公庙
Categories : Entertainment, Events, Music, Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Traditions
The seventh month in the Chinese calendar is a month that is held with much superstition in a predominantly Chinese Singapore. It is a month when, as beliefs would have it, the gates of hell are opened and it’s residents return to the earthly world. It is a time when the air fills with the smell of offerings being burned and when tents and stages appear in many open spaces all across Singapore to host dinners during which lively seventh month auctions are held during which entertainment (for both the returning spirits and the living), more often than not, in the form of Getai(歌台) – a live variety show, is often a noisy accompaniment.
Offerings are made to the spirit world when the gates of hell are opened during the seventh month.
Getai, popular as it is today, is however, a more recent addition as entertainment to accompany seventh month dinners. Before its introduction in the 1970s, it would have been more common to see Chinese opera performances and various forms of Chinese puppet shows at such events and during festive occasions at the various Taoist temples in Singapore.
Chinese opera was a common sight at seventh month festivities in the 1960s and 1970s.
The various forms of Chinese opera back in the 1960s and 1970s as I remember them, were always looked forward to with much anticipation by the young and old. My maternal grandmother, despite her not understanding a word of the Chinese dialects that were used in the performances was a big fan, bringing me along to the opera whenever it hit town. Travelling opera troupes were common then, moving from village to village setting up temporary wooden stages on which served not only as a performance stage but also as a place to spend the night. The travelling opera troupes brought with them a whole entourage of food and toy vendors with them and it was that more than the performances that I would look forward to whenever I was asked to accompany my grandmother to the wayangs as Chinese opera performances are often referred to in Singapore and in Malaysia.
A temporary opera stage set up during a Teochew Opera performance at the Singapore Flyer.
It was also common then to see more permanent structures that served as stages back then – they were a feature of many Chinese villages and were also found around temples. Perhaps the last permanent stage in Singapore is one that is not on the main island but one found in what must be the last bastion of ways forgotten that has stubbornly resisted the wave of urbanisation that has changed the landscape of the main island, Pulau Ubin, an island in the north-east of Singapore. Although many of the island’s original residents have moved to the mainland and many of their wooden homes and jetties that once decorated the island’s shoreline have been cleared, there is still a small reminder of how life might once have been on the island – a small community still exists, mainly to provide services to the curious visitors from the main island who come to get a taste of a Singapore that has largely been forgotten.
The permanent stage at Pulau Ubin – it was common to see such stages around temples and in Chinese villages up until the 1980s.
The permanent stage at Pulau Ubin is one that sits across a clearing from the village’s temple which is dedicated to the popular Taoist deity, Tua Pek Kong (大伯公). It is also one that is still used, playing host to Teochew Opera performances by the temple’s opera troupe twice a year – once during the Tua Pek Kong Festival and once during the seventh month festivities. I have long wanted to catch one of the performances in a setting that one can no longer find elsewhere in Singapore, but never found the time to do it – until the last weekend when I was able to find some time to take the boat over for the seventh month festivities which were held on Friday and Saturday evening.
The Tua Pek Kong Temple on Pulau Ubin.
The clearing in front of the temple at Pulau Ubin with the tent set up for the seventh month auction.
For me, it is always nice to take the slow but short boat ride to the island – something I often did in my youth, not just because Pulau Ubin offers a wonderful escape for the urban jungle, but also because it takes me back to a world that rural Singapore once had been. We do have a few places to run off to on the main island, but it is only on Pulau Ubin that one gets a feel that one is far removed from the cold concrete of the urban world in which I can return to the gentler times in which we once lived.
On the slow boat to Ubin.
Ubin in sight – all it takes is a short boat ride to find that a little reminder of a Singapore that has long been forgotten.
Pulau Ubin offers an escape from the maddening urban sprawl.
Although the festivities on the island are now a quieter and a less crowded affair than it might once have been here and in similar celebrations that once took place across the island, it is still nice to be able to witness a dying tradition held in a traditional setting that we would otherwise not be able to see in Singapore any more. While it still is difficult for me to understand and appreciate what was taking place on stage, especially with the amplified voice of the auctioneer booming over the shrill voices of the performers on stage, it was still a joy to watch the elaborately made-up and kitted-out performers go through their routines. It was also comforting to see that the members of the troupe included both the young and the old, signalling that there is hope that a fading tradition may yet survive.
The stage manager calling lines from the script out to the performers – a necessity as the troupe members are all doing this part-time.
The treat that comes with any wayang performance is that it brings with it the opportunity to go backstage. It is here where we get to see the performers painstaking preparations in first doing up their elaborate make-up and in dressing up in the costumes, as well as watch the musicians who provide the characteristic wind, string and percussion sounds that Chinese Opera wouldn’t be what it is without.
Going backstage is always a treat. A performer gets ready as a drummer adds his sounds to the opera in the background.
A performer preparing for the evening’s performance backstage.
The same performer doing her make-up.
Another putting a hair extension on.
The fifteen year old little drummer boy.
Performers also double up as musicians as the troupe is short of members.
I would have liked to have spent the whole night at the festivities, but as I was feeling quite worn out having only returned to Singapore early that morning on a late night flight, I decided to leave after about two hours at the wayang. The two hours and the hour prior to that on the island were ones that helped me not just to reconnect with a world I would otherwise have forgotten, but also to the many evenings I had spent as a child catching the cool breeze in my hair by the sea. Those are times the new world seems to want us to forget, times when the simple things in life mattered a lot more … There will be a time that I hope will never come when this world we find on Pulau Ubin will cease to exist. I will however take comfort in it as long as it is there … and as long as there are those who seek to keep traditions such as the Teochew opera we once in a while are able to see there, alive.
The light of the silvery moon seen on Pulau Ubin – the festivities are held during the full moon of the seventh month.
A section of the audience and participants in the seventh month dinner.
Close-ups of performers and scenes from the Teochew Opera:
Tags: Backstage, Chinese Opera, Chinese Opera Stage, Chinese Wayang, Hungry Ghosts Festival, Islands, Photographs, Photography, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Ubin Teochew Opera Troupe, Rural Singapore, Seventh Month, Seventh Moon, Singapore, Singapore Islands, Teochew Opera, Traditions, Tua Pek Kong, Tua Pek Kong Temple, Unseen Singapore, Wayang, Wayang Stage
Categories : Events, Forgotten Places, Growing Up, Heritage Trails, Islands, Performing Arts, Pulau Ubin, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore, Things I loved about Singapore, Traditions |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: which cosmetic filler is best for me? output: the most commonly used fillers are made out of hyaluronic acid. because of their varying consistency they are used differently. prevelle silk is the thinnest of the hyaluronic acid fillers. it gives a soft subtle effect that is very natural. it’s my personal favorite for treating the area around the lips. the effects usually last 3 to 4months. juvederm is slightly thicker. it works well on marionette lines that just beginning to show smile lines and to smooth the contours of jaws that are beginning to sag. juvederm usually lasts around 6-8 months although in the lips it does not last as long because the constant movement of the mouth breaks down the filler. restylane is one of the older fillers around. while many doctors still use it i personally prefer to use juvederm or perlane because i find they give smoother results. perlane is the thickest of the hyaluronic acid fillers. it’s best for deep folds like really pronounced marionette lines or the creases that run down from the nose and around the mouth. this is the one people start asking for once they hit forty. it lasts for about a year. perlane does tend to leave the skin slightly swollen for a couple of days so plan accordingly ifyou have a big event coming up. radiesse is a totally different filler. in the first place it’s made out of calcium. it has a firmer consistency which makes it ideal to model cheekbones or jawlines or to fill in very deep marionette lines. the problem some doctors have with radiesse is that because it takes so long to dissolve – up to a year in most cases – it’s very hard to correct mistakes. unsatisfactory radiesse results however are there to stay for the next 12 months. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have a fifteen month old grandson. On tues. he had a slight fever and loose stools.. On Wed. he started vomiting with greenish colored loose stools. Today he cried all day long and only wanted my daughter to hold him all day. He ate cheerios but anything else he wouldnt eat. Tonight he ate something and vomited again. How do you know when it is a stomach virus or food poisoning? He is still having wet diapers. After the last vomiting episode they fed him jello and seemed to keep that down. No fever today. Just constant crying.Should they take him to e.r. output: Hi... Once it starts it will take 5-7 days to completely get better. Unless the kids having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry. There is no need to use antibiotics unless there is blood in the motion. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhea. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My wife has been having spasm in her chest for the past one month. Now it has become severe with frequent arresting catches on getting up from a chair or bed. She is 53 just entering menopause. Nusaid-MR was prescribed by her gynaecologist with no eefect. What is wrong with her?
t causes spasm in chest? output: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. She might be having muscle spasms which is giving this chest symptoms. But better to first rule out heart diseases because post menopausal women are at increased risk of heart diseases. So get done ecg and 2d echo first. If both these are normal then no need to worry for heart diseases. Post menopausal women are at increased risk of calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency and these can cause spasm too. So get done vitamin D3 and calcium levels. If deficiency then she will need supplements. Don't worry, she will be alright. But first rule out heart diseases. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: How can you differentiate between cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea in a clinical setting? output: Differentiating between cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea in a clinical setting involves a combination of history, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory tests.
History and Physical Examination: A detailed history and physical examination are crucial. Key historical features suggesting cardiac causes include a history of heart failure, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and orthopnea. Physical examination findings such as a third heart sound (S3) gallop, jugular venous distension, and peripheral edema are indicative of cardiac etiology.[1]
Imaging: Chest X-ray and echocardiography are valuable tools. Pulmonary congestion and cardiomegaly on chest X-ray suggest a cardiac cause, while hyperinflation and flattened diaphragms suggest a pulmonary cause. Lung ultrasound can also be useful; a generalized "interstitial syndrome" pattern is highly sensitive and specific for cardiac dyspnea.[1-2]
Laboratory Tests: Measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) can help differentiate cardiac from pulmonary causes. A BNP level <100 pg/mL effectively rules out heart failure. [1][3]
Pulmonary Function Tests: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and arterial blood gases (PaO2, PaCO2) can aid in differentiation. Lower PEF and PaO2 are more indicative of pulmonary causes, while higher values suggest cardiac causes. The Dyspnea Differentiation Index (DDI = PEF x PaO2/1000) has been shown to be useful, with values above 1.6 indicating cardiac pathology.[4-5]
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET): According to the American Heart Association, CPET can distinguish between cardiac and pulmonary limitations by analyzing gas exchange, oxygen uptake, and ventilatory patterns during exercise.[6-7]
End-Tidal CO2 (ETCO2): Lower ETCO2 levels are associated with cardiac causes of dyspnea, such as congestive heart failure, and can be a useful adjunct in the prehospital setting.[8]
In summary, a combination of history, physical examination, imaging, laboratory tests, and specific indices like DDI and CPET can effectively differentiate between cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I am really really insecure about my two front teeth, I have a gap but not just and average one, it widens nearer the bottom of my tooth like a small isosceles triangle, my dentist says I dont need braces but I get picked on and I hate it please help output: It is caused due poor oral hygiene, improper brushing and flossing that leads to accumulation of bacterial plaque and calculus deep in the gum pockets and root surfaces of the teeth. These deposits lead to gum recession and loosing of the teeth from the bone socket. Chronic condition leads to resorption of the bone and separation of the teeth leading to formation of gaps.I would suggest you to get an OPG radiograph done which helps in evaluation of the underlying bone support and accordingly treatment can be planned.I hope this helps, take care.. |
Alumni Sucess Stories
Alumni Success Stories Civil Engineering
Achieving success in life is not something one gets by fluke or luck but is something for which a combination of skills, timing, hard work and luck is needed. Successful people share many common habits with each other and this is enough to prove that success may have a certain recipe and path. Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic has provided a stepping stone to many students in its journey of more than 25 years .Here are a few stories of students making it big in life.
Mr. Dhananjay Kalbhor
Enterprenuer and Social Activist
Mr.Dhananjay Kalbhor is an alumni of P.C.Polytechnic of the 1993 batch.
Dhananjay Kalbhor born and brought up in Pradhikaran, completed his formal education in diploma in civil engineering. He has served as a PCMC Corporator in 2002 for 5 years.
Mr. Dhananjay Kalbhor in his corporate service period actively participated in social developments in Pradhikaran area. He developed the Akurdi Canal Grocery Market, Gymnasium, Reference Public Library along with Grade Separators which truly got him blessed by his ward’s families.
Social Contribution:
Since 1998 he has being bestowing the needy students & patients through Somaji Kalbhor Charitable Trust enabling them to take further leaps in their lives. He feels proud to have been actively working in association of this trust and feels humble that he got an opportunity to serve the needy through a channel developed by his forefathers.
He has also actively worked the following organizations like: Anuradha Mahila Pratishthan, Mauli Pratishthan , Mauli Vyakhyanmala Samiti, Mauli Jeshtha Nagrik Sanghatna, Tuljabhavanimata Mitra Mandal and other women group organisations.
The saying that “The king is respected only in his kingdom, however a wise person is respected all over the world” syncs with Mauli Foundation’s belief and in Mauli foundation this idea is diligently followed by everyone. Mauli foundation organizes value based religious and thought provoking knowledge sharing spiels by highly respected and knowledgeable people from the social service fields since last 15 years. While talking about Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic , Mr.Dhananjay Kalbhor got a bit nostalgic remembering the golden days spent in the campus . He said “It takes someone special to be an educator; a person who cares for others, and aims to help students grow to their fullest potential. The best teachers are capable, dedicated and hardworking, along with having an interest in making a substantial difference in the future of children.”
His belief in the institute reflects from the fact that his son is also a student of Pimpri Chinchwad polytechnic and at present studying in the third year of the Civil Engineering department .
Mr.Chetan Kalbhor
Chetan Kalbhor is an alumnus of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic. He passed out in 1997 and thereby completed his graduation from D.Y.Patil College of Engineering. He was a very dedicated and sincere student After his graduation he joined his family business. He put in a lot of hardwork and dedication into his enterprise and hence made a mark for himself and his family. Today he is a Director in more than 2 firms and known for his enterprising skills in and around Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic.
His name has also been registered in the Guiness book of World Records for being a part of the longest human chain under water in Thailand. This shows his allround personality and interests in life towards achieving greater heights in all the fields. He was always dedicated as a student and continues to be so as a professional. When asked about Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic, his reply was truly mesmerising.
He said “The three golden years of my life spent at PCP was a perfect roller-coaster ride. Through the ups and downs, I gained the strength to face challenges confidently and emerged out with flying colors. The encouragement to balance academics and co-curricular activities imbibed the sense of holistic development. Emphasis for discipline, respect for moral values along with quenching the ever-lasting thirst for knowledge made me a complete individual. The care and affection with which every member of PCP family nurtured me has set deep gratitude and love for the institution”.
Ajit Damodar Gavhane
Enterprenuer, Academician and Politician
Mr. Ajit Damodar Gavhane was a Student Of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic From 1990-1993 .He was a sincere student and an all rounder , participating in all activities . He had good leadership qualities , and was very famous among the students and staff of the institute .The same reflection he has carried forward in his professional life as well . He is a Corporator from Bhosari , Prabhag 05 and an academician . At present he also holds the post of a Treasurer Standing Committee, PCMC and was the , Ex-Chairman Standing Committee , PCMC . He is very much a people’s person and is involved in many social causes .He has undertook the responsibility of the Treasurer Bhojapur Sarvajanik Vachnalay and Library, and Secretary Rajmata Jijau Sports Foundation, Bhosari to extend his support to the future generation and provide them a fair and non biased platform to pursue their dreams .
He is a well established entrepreneur , Ajit Damodar Gavhane is registered with Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Their DIN is 07557009. He is the director of two companies D.R.Gavhane Landmarks and D.R.Gavhane properties.
He organizes many social , cultural and sports events for the society.
He strongly believes in sharing and exhibits the same by extending his support to the underprivileged and less fortunate. He has also many times raised their issues in the corporation and bought them under the scanner of the corporation.
He has a image of a very helpful person with strong human values.
While talking about Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic, he remembers his days which were the initial years of the institute , trying to establish itself and trying to find a foothold .He reminisces the famous saying of the Late President of the United States John F.Kennedy
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them” – John.F.Kennedy
Going by the same he was very proud and happy to suggest the same institute to his brother Amit Damodar Gavhane , who is also an alumnus of this institute.
Amit Damodar Gavhane
Amit Damodar Gavhane passed out of the institute in the year 1996 . he was a sincere and diligent student . He was quiet student and always kept to himself. When asked about PCP Amit was first speechless and then he said some very sweet things about the institute. He was very upfront in putting forth that the legacy of the siblings will be carried forward by the next generation and they will also be bred in the safe and secure culture and atmosphere of Pimpri Chinchwad polytechnic .
“With a very friendly and qualified staff and the high qualify infrastructure, the college provided us with every possible facility and a great atmosphere. The main focus was always on academics, everything else was secondary. I have high hopes that PCP will reach new heights and become one of the premier institutions in the country”.
Amit Damodar Gavhane is registered with Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Their DIN is 06720160. He is the director of two companies D.R.Gavhane Landmarks and D.R.Gavhane properties.
Abhiraj Ajit Gavhane
Following the footsteps of his father and uncle Abhiraj Gavhane also took admission in the Institute. He is a meritorious student since his school days .He completed his diploma in the year 2014 and thereby registered for graduation at Symbiosis Institute of Technology. He passed out of the institute in 2017 and is pursuing his M.S. in New Zealand.
Abhiraj Gavhane is an alumnus of the institute since the year 2013. He was a very intelligent student having an all round performance in all co curricular and extra curricular activities.
In addition to learning subjects, taking active part in cultural and sports events, being part of fests and seminars, attending workshops and nature club trips, delivering talks and guiding peers, I have had a lot of fun alongside. PCP made me recognize my hidden potential, build on my talent and achieve great feats of success in various arenas. Proud of my alma mater and blessed to be a part of PCP family!.
Narendra Dnyaneshwar Landge
Mr. Narendra Landge was a student of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic between 1993-1996. He was a diligent and sincere student and had already decided his future goals. He always wanted to be an entrepreneur and achieve success. Today he has established himself as a thorough professional and an successful entrepreneur and made a mark for himself in the construction business.
“If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.”
He advises the students not to overthink when opportunities knock your door! The entrepreneur has some serious advice to students about avoiding overdoing of thought and data processing and rather get on the opportunity bandwagon and have the ride of your life!
“My three years in Civil Department were one of my best experiences I ever had. It gave me exposure to various extra-curricular activities along with great academics. It provided all the facilities and encouragement needed to attain high in life. Looking back, I can see my department was extremely important and a stepping stone in my career. It allowed me to develop my interpersonal skills, which are extremely important in any field of work.”
Advice to young entrepreneurs
Do not ever compromise on quality. Never lose your self-confidence. Believe in yourself and the service you are giving. Third, always stick to what you know. When you employ people, you should know what you ask them to do.
Amol Botre
Mr.Amol Botre was a student of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic between 2005 and 2008. He completed his graduation from Rajashri Shahu College Of Engineering And Research. After completion of degree he worked with various renowned organisations and since then has no looking back.
At present he is working as the project Manager at S.J.Constructions Pvt. Ltd, a renowned name in road and highway construction. As the Project manager at SJCP Limited, Amol has charted an ambitious growth path for the company.
Value based education is the key at PCP and hence Amol is also involved in various social contribution activities. He is an active member of Abhiyanta Prathisthan, founded by the Alumni of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic. This organisation is involved in various activities like needy and deserving students welfare, farmer welfare etc. An active student of the Civil Department Amol has a few good things to say about the polytechnic.
“Civil Engineering Department equipped me for the world outside with the best skill set. Those three amazing years gave me much more than bookish knowledge; I met probably the best people in my life and some inspiring personalities. It has also helped me in shaping my character and strengthen my attitude to deliver strong results in industry.”
Abishek Govind Barne
Corporator PCMC
“ The most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and not to give into peer pressure to try to be something that you’re not, to live your life as an honest and compassionate person, to contribute in some way.”
Abhishek Govind Barne is a Corporator from Ward No. 23c (Pimpri Chinchwad Mahanagar palika ), as a Bhartiya Janata Party Candidate. He is an alumni of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic and was a student during 2006 To 2009. Abhishek was a very quiet and sincere student.
I had great opportunities for all 3 years to represent Department of Civil Engineering in various inter-college competitions which has evolved our personality, helped me grow team playing & most importantly we won many accolades for the college which gave us lot of pride & helped us to manage multi-tasking in our professional life. I would be happy to be associated with my department through alumni again & give back to students to grow in their life further.”
Rajesh Phalke
Consultant Crane flow Technologies limited
P&L, turnaround & leadership management, Sales & Marketing, Business Development, Restructuring, Operations, Team building
Rajesh Phalke was a student of Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic from the first batch, he completed his diploma in 1993 and thereafter his graduation from Jivaji University, Gwalior in the year 1992. Since then, he has not looked back.
Strategic planner and highly accomplished professional with career spanning 32+ years in steering sales & marketing, strategic business operations, project management, dealer network, new product development, brand building, IT operations, supply chain management, organizational management, re -structuring & engineering, manpower leadership and ensuring revenue generation and profitability enhancement in Industrial Valves and Engineering Manufacturing sector.
PCP was a great experience to me, where teachers were like friends when it came to explaining of concepts, having discussions or sharing of thoughts and opinions. With determination, dedication and sincerity great things can be achieved. This is what we were taught at PCP where faculties are always there for us whenever we lookup to them!
Swapnil Taras Patil
Swapnil Taras Patil has passed out from Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic in June 2011. An all-rounder, involved in all cocurricular and extra curricular activities.
Swapnil is the proprietor of Morya developers, a renowned construction company in the Kiwale Dehu belt. He has completed many housing schemes successfully.
Sachin Zadbuke
Sachin completed his diploma from Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic in 2003 and thereafter his graduation from AISSMS in 2006.
Sachin was a studious student in his college days, sincere and hardworking. was always ahead in participating in extra curricular activities and cocurricular activities. He was an athlete and a sports enthusiast who participated in may zonal and intercollegiate events.
He is a biker and participated in various bike racing events.
Now Sachin is a developer, undergoing development works in and around Pune. He has achieved a lot in his small career spanning 10 years. He always attends alumni meets in college and is very fond of the institute. He is proactive in various events related to the development of the students.
“When you leave college, there are thousands of people out there with the same degree you have; when you get a job, there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life, so make the most out of it“
Girish Bhondve
Managing Director at Seetai Developers.
Girish was a 2010 pass out continuing his graduation in D.Y.Patil college of Engineering, Akurdi and completing it in the year 2013. He was an average student, but with very big Dreams. He always wanted to be an entrepreneur. When asked about Pimpri Chinchwad polytechnic, he said “The three years I spent here were really fulfilling. I like to thank all the teachers for their affectionate co-operation and guidance. What a great experience. It has made my life.”
Surendra Sunil Barne
Surendra Barne is an alumni from the 2012 batch. He completed his diploma with distinction. he further took admission in Symbiosis Institute of technology for his graduation and completed it in the year 2015. He immediately joined his family business and is now involved in taking his family business ahead .
Surendra was a quiet student but very forthcoming in cocurricular activities. He completed his education smoothly. When asked about Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic, he was quick to respond. ”PCP was and is a paradise for me. It has changed my life and stars completely. I can say no more than that, it was a home to me. I was here all the time, am here and will be here. Words are not enough to express. Thanks to all the great people here.”
Nenaad Bhondve
Nenaad passed out from the Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic in the year 2013 with a first class. He further took admission in Symbiosis Institute of technology for his graduation and completed it in the year 2016. Born in a family of Entrepreneurs, Nenaad was always inclined towards making a mark for himself in the corporate world. So as soon as he completed his diploma education he joined his family business and started supporting his father in his free time. This really boosted his knowledge in the field of construction and helped him complete his graduation smoothly
Nenaad Bhondve is the proprietor of N.B.Bhondve Constructions, a renowned firm involved in Government and non government commercial and residential construction. When asked about Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic he said the following:
“PCP is a good place to build our future academically and place us on a higher platform with value addition through various extracurricular, adventure, nature and sports activities. Our PCP “rocks”!. Thanks to our teachers for providing such excellent facilities to shape our character and our future.
Mayur Kalokhe
Mayur Kalokhe passed out from the Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic in the year 2012 with a first class. He further got admission in Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering and pursued his degree from there. He passed out in the year 2015 and joined his family business Kalokhe Stone Crushing Unit. But he had some other dreams.
He started his construction business in the year 2016, and is at present involved in many commercial and non commercial projects. The sincere and hardworking student that he was, he is conducting his business in the same way. When asked about Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic he enthusiastically comes forward expressing his views .This is what he had to say “PCP has been my second home, 3 years of College has seemed like 3 months, days have been happier, exciting and full of knowledge. Teachers have been great, always focusing attention on our all-round development. There has always been a very friendly and lively atmosphere and a driving spirit to learn. Truly and honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I would finally say that, PCP has given me the best days of my life, which I shall cherish forever.
Ashok Mote
Ashok Mote is a 2014 passout. He was the topper of his batch .A very harrdworking and sincere student, I fall short of words to when I have to mention about his conduct and behaviour. An extremely well behaved and good student, the three years of his journey in PCP, was truly mesmerising. From a very humble background, his dreams could be seen in his eyes. Always wanting to excel in whatever he did. He was one student Civil Department will always remember. Always ahead in all co curricular and extra curricular activities.
After his diploma, he got admitted into veermata Jijamata Technical Institute , Mumbai for his graduation. He completed his graduation with distinction in the year 2016 and today he is working with the polite group , one of the renowned developers in Pimpri Chinchwad Though he has had such humble beginnings we at Pimpri Chinchwad Polytechnic and Civil departmenty are confident that he will go a long way. When asked about his endeavour with PCP, as we were very confident about him his reply also refected the same feelings. he said
“Discipline, Skill and Perfection are the values that PCP has inculcated in me. The brisk work of the excellent faculty coupled with the fierce competition on campus churns out the best from PCPian’s. The journey has however graduated beyond the tenets of diploma engineering, to that of building character & confidence. May this rich culture & tradition of PCP spirit live forever” |
DPS board member Merida on Romanoff campaign's payroll
63 posts • Page 2 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4
Re: Article Discussion: DPS board member Merida on Romanoff camp
by gardengirl on July 23rd, 2010, 9:15 am #1518612
Last edited by gardengirl on July 23rd, 2010, 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Well-behaved women seldom make history." —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
gardengirl
donnybrook --
donnybrook's recent comments
Joined: June 21st, 2007, 10:08 am
by billagain on July 23rd, 2010, 9:20 am #1518626
Quite Frankly wrote: If this woman is paid as a member of the school board which accepts federal funds this is a violation of the Hatch act on her part and she should be prosecuted.
Hatch act applies to federal employees only. Seems not to have applied to Karl Rove while running the Bush campaign and working as a political advisor (fed employee) in the WH. I guess by your defintion we can't be supporting anyone if we drive on a highway built with fed funds: we're all off to jail now.
billagain
bill m
bill's recent comments
Joined: May 30th, 2010, 10:18 am
Article Discussion: DPS board member Merida on Romanoff camp
by The3Ds on July 23rd, 2010, 9:25 am #1518640
Isn't this the same Andrea Merida who showed up to a DPS Board Meeting and then was secretly sworn in before the person she was replacing, Michelle Moss, could participate in her last meeting? From the Post..."Merida, rather than waiting to take the oath of office with two other new members after the meeting, had instead been sworn in hours earlier so she could cast a vote on the controversial reforms." Wasn't Andrea Merida the person who caused DPS to consult and pay for a marriage counselor and meet in (of all places) the Broadmoore Hotel, because the Board was in such disarray? So much for being a good steward for the kids at DPS...apparently they couldn't have just met in a regular old room in the DPS headquarters building.
This is also the same Andrea Merida who stood behind the podium looking very "concerned" when DPS announced it was going to boycott Arizona. Apparently, it took too much time to actually READ the whopping 16 page document before jumping to conclusions about what the law actually says and it should concern the parents who the DPS Board claims are so "concerned" about the law that they wanted action. Not that they seem to put as much energy into raising their abysmal graduation rates or closing the gap between white and minority performance...no, it's the Arizona law that forced them to gather together to take a stand.
There is probably an ad being made right now saying "Is this the kind of leader Romanoff is going to appoint if he becomes our Senator?"
I honestly don't know what's happening in this election. Romanoff is making a BIG mistake having someone as idiotic as Merida on his campaign and trust me when I say that the floodgates are open now and Merida's actions WILL come to light in order to smear the Romanoff campaign. Bennet is being supported by the Obama administration (and the Democratic machine) and if you believe for one second that she is not a liability, well then, I've got a bridge to sell you.
The3Ds
Tina D
Tina's recent comments
Joined: October 22nd, 2007, 12:17 pm
by Just Anita on July 23rd, 2010, 9:35 am #1518663
Andrea Merida's choice to accept money from her candidate's campaign - regardless of the kind of person she is, whom she has helped, or any the other excuses coming forward in support of Romanoff and Merida's actions - circumvent the facts. Romanoff paid and elected official directly, and Merida accepted payment, using her elected position to promote her candidate. This is called conflict of interest - period. Failing to disclose that fact is fraud, and deserves a Grand Jury investigation into Romanoff's campaign contributions for other officials he may have paid, as well as Merida's immediate resignation as a DPS school board member. It's clear Andrea Merida has a difficult time separating ideological support with promoting her political views as an elected official - using our children as politcal pawns. Some of want to keep politics out of educating our children. Removing Merida is a great place to start!
Just Anita
Anita Sherman
Anita's recent comments
Joined: July 21st, 2010, 8:23 am
by Hughie on July 23rd, 2010, 9:37 am #1518667
'Immaterial' is the key word of course in Merida's statement. Once you delve into Merida's career you find she is a 'piece of work' and plays by her rules...only.
Romanoff, will find her services come at a hefty personal price as to his credibility.
Hughie
Hugh H
Hugh's recent comments
Just Anita wrote: It's clear Andrea Merida has a difficult time separating ideological support with promoting her political views as an elected official - using our children as politcal pawns. Some of want to keep politics out of educating our children. Removing Merida is a great place to start!
Exactly...and it's no coincidence that the Post is bringing this up now. That means that there will be a Bennet ad out soon questioning the logic behind hiring someone as polarizing as Merida is. DPS isn't a success story...it's a pathetic excuse for a school district with a few schools that do well enough to pull the underperforming schools out of dead last.
Bennet has numerous school districts to choose from in our state who have made major turnarounds in their student's lives and none of them had board members selected to work for his campaign. Surely there are other leaders from other public school systems that could have been a better choice and I'm not sure if it reflects poorly on Romanoff's ability to hold people accountable for their actions or if he doesn't think her actions are a big deal. Either way, it seems like we are about to usher in an age of Hickenlooper-as-Governor and Bennet-as-Senator just because the people who stood a chance against them are d-u-m-b.
by dude_chill on July 23rd, 2010, 10:35 am #1518785
What ever happened to VOLUNEERING for a campaign?
by Buyers Agent on July 23rd, 2010, 10:53 am #1518830
cmck wrote: Coloradoans would like a sense they have a voice in Washington that comes from here, not from the national political elite. Romanoff has shown his style by using the highways and byways of the state to talk to ordinary people. Bennet has shown his by not even knowing where most of the little people live.
So well said that I had to repeat it verbatim, sorry, though I also totally agree with what Tina said later, below.
Last edited by Buyers Agent on July 23rd, 2010, 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Kathy Hansen
Kathy's recent comments
The3Ds wrote: Either way, it seems like we are about to usher in an age of Hickenlooper-as-Governor and Bennet-as-Senator just because the people who stood a chance against them are d-u-m-b.
by kwf739 on July 23rd, 2010, 11:00 am #1518841
After looking at the DPS CSAP scores, seems to me that none of the DPS board members should be helping on other peoples political campaigns. Why aren't they focused on why our kids can't read, write, do simple math, etc?
kwf739
Kevin's recent comments
Joined: August 15th, 2007, 1:46 pm
by urthpigg on July 23rd, 2010, 11:16 am #1518872
The Denver Post wants Michael Bennet, the moneyed corporate candidate, to win the primary and possibly the Senate seat. No one should be the least bit surprised. Until I see the Denver Post dig into the corruption behind Michael Bennet's campaign, which I am sure is far more extensive than whatever is going on here with Romanoff, I will continue to believe that political news reporting in the Denver Post is strongly biased toward a point of view that continues and expands the dominance of large corporations over everyone else in Colorado and the world.
urthpigg
question's recent comments
Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 7:15 am
by erigena on July 23rd, 2010, 11:38 am #1518912
kwf739 wrote: After looking at the DPS CSAP scores, seems to me that none of the DPS board members should be helping on other peoples political campaigns. Why aren't they focused on why our kids can't read, write, do simple math, etc?
One of the major reasons why "our kids can't write, do simple math, etc" is that many
of their parents fail to do their jobs as the first teachers in the first school (the home).
It doesn't take much time or energy to read to a child from his/her earliest years, but
we will never make this part of the 'cultural expectation,' until we stop blaming the
teachers for what the parents failed to do.
erigena
DrCurt S
DrCurt's recent comments
by toohip on July 23rd, 2010, 11:52 am #1518938
This is smart strategy. If Bennet has any skeltons in his closet it's going to be at his tenure at DPS. Businessmen with free market ideals, aren't afraid of breaking a few eggs (rules) to make their ommelette. Bennet is not well thought of among teachers to put it mildly. Running an education system like a business, just never works, because the objective (profit vs test scores) just can't survive the business model. All Bennet was doing, as Obama and his Sec of Education now is doing, is trying to appeal the angry citizens of "why our schools don't work" and creating alternative business-like models of charter schools and pay for performance schedules.
toohip
too hip
too's recent comments
by mordy on July 23rd, 2010, 12:08 pm #1518962
So What?! Bennett has been in the pocket of Big Biz from th eday he was sworn in.
Gabby H
Gabby's recent comments
by toohip on July 23rd, 2010, 12:19 pm #1518980
The3Ds wrote: Isn't this the same Andrea Merida who showed up to a DPS Board Meeting and then was secretly sworn in before the person she was replacing, Michelle Moss, could participate in her last meeting? From the Post..."Merida, rather than waiting to take the oath of office with two other new members after the meeting, had instead been sworn in hours earlier so she could cast a vote on the controversial reforms." Wasn't Andrea Merida the person who caused DPS to consult and pay for a marriage counselor and meet in (of all places) the Broadmoore Hotel, because the Board was in such disarray? So much for being a good steward for the kids at DPS...apparently they couldn't have just met in a regular old room in the DPS headquarters building.
I believe the issue or subject is Romanoff. Merida isn't running. This guilt by association thing never floats. Try harder if you want to tear down Romanoff.
Just Anita wrote: Andrea Merida's choice to accept money from her candidate's campaign - regardless of the kind of person she is, whom she has helped, or any the other excuses coming forward in support of Romanoff and Merida's actions - circumvent the facts. Romanoff paid and elected official directly, and Merida accepted payment, using her elected position to promote her candidate. This is called conflict of interest - period. Failing to disclose that fact is fraud, and deserves a Grand Jury investigation into Romanoff's campaign contributions for other officials he may have paid, as well as Merida's immediate resignation as a DPS school board member. It's clear Andrea Merida has a difficult time separating ideological support with promoting her political views as an elected official - using our children as politcal pawns. Some of want to keep politics out of educating our children. Removing Merida is a great place to start!
"using our children as political pawns!" Where do you get that leap of faith from the story that Romanoff is hiring DPS board members to help his campaign? If you don't like Romanoff, attack Romanoff. Merida apparently is doing what is legal, or she'd be facing charges by now. All the legal wannabes who want to accuse her of the Hatch Act to conflict of interest(?) sound rather desperate here. How can that be a "conflict of interest" working for a political candidate while serving on a school board? I think you're grasping at straws and creating straw men. If you're worrying about campaign ethics, I think you're looking in the wrong direction. Try some of the Repubs - they're busting out all over with ethic violations. But we understand that there's an alterior motive here - to condemn Romanoff - the rightful heir and people's choice - to Colorado's senate seat. If it wasn't for Ritter and doing favors for friends, we wouldn't be having this issue.
Yaakovwatkins wrote: These ethical violations would look worse if the Maes and McGinnis hadn't beaten the Democrats to it.
I'm not going to argue which one is worse. They all stink. And then these same people wonder why people don't vote.
Ah yes, the intelligent citizen's choice - refuse to vote out of personal frustration. Why we have one of the lowest voter turn outs of any country - lack of passion for government leadership.
by nogop on July 23rd, 2010, 12:33 pm #1519003
gardengirl wrote: . Merida should have disclosed her status,
And so should have Romanoff.
I'm sorry he's looking less and less like a grass roots reformer he wants us to think he is, and more like the back door dealing slick politician that he's running against.
nogop
Tim A
JohnHKennedy wrote: Why do the Denver Post's publisher, Bill Ritter and President Obama have against rank and file Colorado Democrats making a decision on the candidate "they want". Both candidates have paid advisors. Get over it.
WHAT DID COLORADO DEMOCRATS EVER DO TO OBAMA?
That he Must Tell US who OUR Senate Candidate Will Be?
Gov. Ritter split the Colorado Party and Set our Colorado Party Back 10 Years with the Bennet appointment.
Now,460,000 Colorado Dems will get recorded Obama calls telling us we have to support Michael Bennet, Phil Anchutz's Corporate Raider "Pretend" Hero of the Public Option.
Amen! This is why people like the poster says he's not going to vote he's tired of the politics. That's why these things happen - lack of participation, voting, interest - it's called apathy and frustration. True progressives might have been upset with Ritter's choice, but now's OUR chance to make the choice. Ignore the righties, this is our election. Vote Romanoff!
It's true Obama failed the true progressive in so many ways, but one was to always follow party line. Just because Bennet is the "incumbant" doesn't make him an automatic choice. Look at what Ben Nighthorse Campell did as our "incumbant" senator. He waited until he got elected by the Democrats, then he switched parties. We can't just vote the status quo party candidate, we have to vote both our conscience and against the Party of No. If Bennet wins the primary, I'm holding my nose and voting "against" the Republican candidate. We can't always have the right choice we want to choose from but if we don't vote, we lose that opportunity.
HANG UP ON OBAMA.
SEND A MESSAGE TO WASHINGTON DC "We're Sick of Your arrogant Meddling""
50% more Colorado Democrats at our State Assembly Wanted Romanoff and Still Obama Meddles. See the news story
http://bit.ly/cWyfIK
by pookie on July 23rd, 2010, 12:38 pm #1519015
"Merida and fellow school board member Jeannie Kaplan, another strong Romanoff supporter, have joined with member Arturo Jimenez to raise questions about a complex financial transaction crafted by Bennet and current DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg. With Pe??a on the other side of those arguments, board functions have sometimes become surrogate forums for the Senate primary."
If you can squeeze it in...do you think you could maybe find a minute or two to find ways to teach our children to read and write and add and subtract? And God help us, graduate? You know, if it is not too much trouble...
pookie
pookie's recent comments |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi my 12 year old has had a loose top right incisor that has been hanging on by dangling gums for months. Two weeks ago the dentist said it needs to be cut because the gum and tooth are hanging well below the rest of his teeth, but we scheduled another appointment to have procedure done one week from now. Today the gum has turned dark purple and Im very concerned if there could be infection. output: Hi. Thanks for the query. Loose upper incisor at the age of 12 is abnormal whether it is milk tooth that is over retained or a permanent tooth. Purple discoloration of the gum can be due to Infection or trauma causing blood accumulation under the gum. So my suggestion is to first get the latest x-ray if the tooth done to rule out the exact cause of the discoloration. Please upload the image of the x-ray so that I can advise you appropriately. For now don't let him bite anything from the front teeth. Give soft meals and avoid hard foods. Painkillers can be given if there is pain. Hope this helps. Regards.. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hello doctor,I am a 20 year old female, not on any medication. I have stress, loss of appetite, feel sick when eating, throw up after eating, headache, and trouble sleeping.
I have stress, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping. Why? output: Hello. When you say you are stressed, it would be helpful to know how bad the stress is. Do you frequently suffer from stress or do you get stressed out easily? If yes, all these symptoms you described can be attributed to stress alone. Moreover, too much mental or physical stress also aggravates existing dyspepsia or hyperacidity as this causes an increase in gastric acid secretion, hence the throwing up and loss of appetite. However, if you have other symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, or malaise, we would have to look at other possibilities too. Let me know if that is all you are feeling or if there is more to your symptoms. In the meantime, try to relax and de-stress yourself by listening to music or meditate and see if you feel any better. If not, then report back to me so that we can take a look at other probable factors.. |
Food and Vegetarian
Food Venture
Maggi Goreng Mamak
Maggi Goreng Mamak. The number fried noodle selling. In fact, each time we head to the mamak stalls, its like a habit or food lingo we must call for a plate of Maggi Goreng Mamak. My knees too can wobble for this style. Quickly fried on the spot, there and then noodles (Mee Goreng Udang, Char Kway Teow, Anchovies Fried Mee Hoon & Malaysian Fried Mee). Maybe not always, yet, I do yearn for and I usually request for lotsa veggies in Maggi Goreng Mamak. Can be a satisfying mind you even when we make it in our kitchen and of course, without compromising on cleanliness and according to our taste (Nyonya Mee Siam, Malaysian Fried Mee Hoon & Hokkien Mee). Whichever and whatever ingredients we prefer, regardless, the essentials have to be Maggi instant noodle or noodles, chillies, soy sauce, and like I have already told you, throwing in lotsa vegetables.
2 packets Maggi instant noodles (alternatively, yellow noodles) - blanch in hot water to soften.
5 tofu pok/or any tofu will do - cut into two pieces
4-5 stalks sawi/mustard green (or any leafy greens)
3 shallots - chopped
5 garlic - chopped
1/2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp (more or less) curry powder
Salt for taste (use sparingly/ only if needed)
Sliced red chillies (for garnishing)
Heat oil, break in eggs, scramble, remove and keep aside.
In the same oil. saute shallots and garlic.
Add curry powder and quickly stir.
Pour in sweet sauce and light soy sauce.
Stir. Add mee, Maggi seasoning (from mee packet), tofu, mustard green and scrambled eggs.
Quickly stir over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Dish out and serve with calamansi lime, cucumber and red chilli slices.
Kindly Bookmark and Share it:
Posted by Nava K
Labels: Chillies, Eggs, flavouring, Food and Cooking, Lime/Lemon, Noodles, Sauce, Shallots, Stir-Fried, Taufu, vegetarian, veggies
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Malaysia
Ramya Venkateswaran July 28, 2014 at 5:51 PM
delicious and colorful nava
Reni July 28, 2014 at 6:59 PM
Gorgeous clicks.....looks super tempting !i agree with u coming up with an intro at times can be a real challenge :)
Shashi Charles July 28, 2014 at 8:04 PM
Wow - I've had maggi noodles a bunch of different ways - but never like this - looks delish!
madhavicyberkitchen July 29, 2014 at 12:31 AM
Learnt a different way of maggi noodles .
Lady Lilith July 29, 2014 at 12:52 AM
What a clever way to use instant noodles.
Subha Bose July 29, 2014 at 1:29 AM
This looks good I will try it with maggie soon.
Caroline Taylor July 29, 2014 at 3:40 AM
Sounds like a great dinner to me!
Sony P July 29, 2014 at 5:15 AM
Colorful and tasty dish....... lovely clicks
laks July 29, 2014 at 11:02 AM
maggi is my all time favorite :D lovely clicks :)
Guru Uru July 29, 2014 at 12:02 PM
Yum these noodles look so addictive :D
Shama Nagarajan July 29, 2014 at 6:32 PM
yummy ...
Natasha Bhatt July 29, 2014 at 8:58 PM
I love Maggi and wud definitely love to try this recipe.. Thanks fr sharing.. Talking abt cleaning the house it is such a pain esp if u have a big house.. !!
Shirley Tay July 29, 2014 at 9:42 PM
Love this no-fuss meal!
Ez Vina July 30, 2014 at 11:58 AM
nyumm.. I love this, as long as it is not too spicy.
Jasmine Rabuñal Barrientos July 30, 2014 at 2:07 PM
Thanks for this recipe. I love noodles and always want to try on new recipes.
Jasmine x
Biny's Recipes July 30, 2014 at 9:36 PM
maggi magic is everywhere... thx
Small Kucing July 31, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Thanks. I tried previously...but my maggi too soggy. must try again
Ivy Sew August 6, 2014 at 1:10 PM
Wow, this is one of our favorites too! Your pic look so tempting....Thumbs up! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Nava. Regards :)
To receive all updates via Facebook. Just Click the Like Button Below...
Powered By EXEIdeas
Search nava-k.com
Jul 10 (1) Jul 03 (1) Jun 27 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 14 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 02 (1) May 28 (1) May 23 (1) May 20 (1) May 15 (1) May 08 (1) May 06 (1) Apr 29 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 18 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 01 (1) Feb 21 (1) Feb 15 (1) Feb 03 (1) Jan 26 (1) Jan 18 (1) Jan 14 (1) Jan 10 (1) Jan 01 (1) Dec 24 (1) Dec 20 (1) Dec 14 (1) Dec 10 (1) Dec 06 (1) Dec 03 (1) Nov 28 (1) Nov 24 (1) Nov 21 (1) Nov 15 (1) Nov 09 (1) Nov 04 (1) Oct 31 (1) Oct 25 (1) Oct 19 (1) Oct 12 (1) Oct 06 (1) Sep 28 (1) Sep 22 (1) Sep 16 (1) Sep 10 (1) Sep 02 (1) Aug 23 (1) Aug 15 (1) Aug 08 (1) Aug 02 (1) Jul 26 (1) Jul 21 (1) Jul 16 (1) Jul 10 (1) Jul 03 (1) Jun 25 (1) Jun 19 (1) Jun 14 (1) Jun 08 (1) Jun 04 (1) May 29 (1) May 24 (1) May 16 (1) May 05 (1) Apr 29 (1) Apr 23 (1) Apr 19 (1) Apr 13 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 05 (1) Mar 31 (1) Mar 26 (1) Mar 22 (1) Mar 17 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 06 (1) Mar 02 (1) Feb 27 (1) Feb 23 (1) Feb 19 (1) Feb 14 (1) Feb 10 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 02 (1) Jan 28 (1) Jan 22 (1) Jan 15 (1) Jan 09 (1) Jan 05 (1) Jan 02 (1) Dec 30 (1) Dec 26 (1) Dec 23 (1) Dec 19 (1) Dec 15 (1) Dec 11 (1) Dec 08 (1) Dec 03 (1) Nov 27 (1) Nov 23 (1) Nov 20 (1) Nov 14 (1) Nov 08 (1) Nov 02 (1) Oct 26 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 15 (1) Oct 10 (1) Oct 05 (1) Sep 30 (1) Sep 25 (1) Sep 20 (1) Sep 15 (1) Sep 11 (1) Sep 07 (1) Aug 31 (1) Aug 26 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 17 (1) Aug 13 (1) Aug 09 (1) Aug 04 (1) Aug 01 (1) Jul 28 (1) Jul 24 (1) Jul 19 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 11 (1) Jul 07 (1) Jul 04 (1) Jun 30 (1) Jun 27 (1) Jun 23 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 16 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 09 (1) Jun 06 (1) Jun 02 (1) May 29 (1) May 25 (1) May 22 (1) May 17 (1) May 15 (1) May 12 (1) May 09 (1) May 05 (1) May 02 (1) Apr 28 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 21 (1) Apr 17 (1) Apr 14 (1) Apr 10 (1) Apr 06 (1) Apr 02 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 26 (1) Mar 22 (1) Mar 17 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 03 (1) Feb 27 (1) Feb 23 (1) Feb 19 (1) Feb 15 (1) Feb 11 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 04 (1) Jan 31 (1) Jan 27 (1) Jan 23 (1) Jan 19 (1) Jan 15 (1) Jan 11 (1) Jan 07 (1) Jan 03 (1) Dec 30 (1) Dec 26 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 17 (1) Dec 13 (1) Dec 08 (1) Dec 05 (1) Dec 01 (1) Nov 28 (1) Nov 25 (1) Nov 21 (1) Nov 16 (1) Nov 11 (1) Nov 07 (1) Nov 04 (1) Nov 01 (1) Oct 27 (1) Oct 25 (1) Oct 21 (1) Oct 17 (1) Oct 05 (1) Sep 29 (1) Sep 23 (1) Sep 20 (1) Sep 17 (1) Sep 13 (1) Sep 10 (1) Aug 31 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 25 (1) Aug 18 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 11 (1) Aug 04 (1) Aug 01 (1) Jul 28 (1) Jul 26 (1) Jul 23 (1) Jul 19 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 11 (1) Jul 08 (1) Jul 04 (1) Jul 01 (1) Jun 26 (1) Jun 23 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 17 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 10 (1) Jun 07 (1) May 29 (1) May 26 (1) May 23 (1) May 17 (1) May 10 (1) May 07 (1) May 04 (1) Apr 28 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 15 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 03 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 21 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 05 (1) Mar 02 (1) Feb 28 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 19 (1) Feb 16 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 12 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 03 (1) Jan 19 (1) Jan 18 (1) Jan 15 (1) Jan 12 (1) Jan 08 (1) Jan 06 (1) Jan 04 (1) Jan 02 (1) Dec 31 (1) Dec 29 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 18 (1) Dec 10 (1) Dec 08 (1) Dec 03 (1) Dec 02 (1) Nov 29 (1) Nov 28 (1) Nov 26 (1) Nov 24 (1) Nov 23 (1) Nov 19 (1) Nov 08 (1) Nov 07 (1) Nov 05 (1) Oct 29 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 22 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 19 (2) Oct 15 (1) Oct 12 (1) Oct 10 (1) Oct 09 (1) Oct 08 (1) Oct 05 (1) Sep 25 (1) Sep 24 (1) Sep 22 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 12 (1) Sep 07 (1) Aug 26 (1) Aug 22 (1) Aug 19 (1) Aug 17 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 10 (1) Aug 08 (1) Aug 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) Jul 26 (1) Jul 20 (1) Jul 16 (1) Jul 06 (1) Jun 23 (1) Jun 11 (1) Jun 05 (1) May 26 (1) May 22 (1) May 14 (1) May 11 (1) May 07 (1) May 04 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 24 (1) Apr 20 (1) Apr 17 (1) Apr 13 (1) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 28 (1) Mar 26 (1) Mar 23 (1) Mar 20 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 13 (1) Mar 09 (1) Mar 08 (1) Mar 03 (1) Feb 18 (1) Feb 16 (1) Feb 14 (1) Feb 02 (1) Jan 17 (1) Jan 16 (1) Jan 12 (1) Dec 26 (1) Dec 23 (1) Dec 15 (1) Dec 11 (1) Dec 04 (1) Dec 03 (1) Dec 01 (1) Nov 29 (1) Nov 25 (1) Nov 21 (1) Nov 12 (1) Nov 10 (1) Nov 06 (1) Nov 05 (1) Oct 27 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 19 (1) Oct 17 (1) Oct 08 (1) Oct 05 (1) Sep 30 (1) Sep 26 (1) Sep 25 (1) Sep 24 (1) Sep 21 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 17 (1) Sep 15 (1) Sep 11 (1) Sep 10 (2) Sep 08 (1) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (1) Sep 01 (1) Aug 30 (1) Aug 26 (1) Aug 25 (2) Aug 21 (1) Aug 20 (1) Aug 19 (1) Aug 18 (1) Aug 15 (1) Aug 13 (1) Aug 12 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 06 (1) Aug 04 (1) Aug 01 (1) Jul 31 (1) Jul 28 (1) Jul 24 (1) Jul 23 (1) Jul 17 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 12 (1) Jul 02 (1) Jun 30 (1) Jun 23 (1) Jun 21 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 17 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 11 (1) Jun 09 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 05 (1) Jun 03 (1) May 31 (1) May 30 (1) May 25 (1) May 20 (1) May 19 (1) May 15 (1) May 12 (1) May 02 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 23 (1) Apr 21 (1) Apr 20 (1) Apr 17 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 10 (1) Apr 08 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 04 (1) Mar 31 (1) Mar 29 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 20 (1) Mar 17 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 13 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 05 (1) Mar 02 (1) Feb 27 (1) Feb 24 (1) Feb 23 (1) Feb 21 (1) Feb 20 (1) Feb 19 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 10 (1) Jan 29 (1) Jan 27 (1) Jan 26 (1) Jan 24 (1) Jan 23 (2) Jan 21 (1) Jan 20 (1) Jan 19 (1) Jan 17 (1) Jan 16 (1) Jan 15 (1) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (1) Jan 10 (1) Jan 09 (2) Jan 08 (1) Jan 07 (1) Jan 04 (1) Jan 02 (1) Jan 01 (1) Dec 30 (1) Dec 24 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 20 (1) Dec 19 (1) Dec 17 (1) Dec 14 (1) Dec 12 (1) Dec 10 (1) Dec 09 (1) Dec 07 (1) Dec 04 (1) Nov 18 (1) Nov 14 (1) Nov 13 (1) Nov 09 (1) Nov 08 (1) Nov 05 (1) Nov 03 (1) Oct 31 (1) Oct 30 (1) Oct 29 (1) Oct 26 (1) Oct 24 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 22 (1) Oct 21 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 18 (1) Oct 16 (1) Oct 11 (1) Oct 10 (1) Oct 07 (1) Oct 04 (1) Oct 02 (1) Sep 30 (1) Sep 28 (1) Sep 27 (1) Sep 24 (1) Sep 23 (1) Sep 20 (1) Sep 13 (1) Sep 09 (1) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (1) Sep 01 (1) Aug 29 (1) Aug 27 (1) Aug 26 (1) Aug 23 (1) Aug 22 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 17 (1) Aug 16 (1) Aug 15 (1) Aug 13 (1) Aug 12 (1) Aug 10 (1) Aug 09 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 06 (1) Aug 02 (1) Jul 27 (1) Jul 26 (1) Jul 23 (1) Jul 22 (1) Jul 20 (1) Jul 19 (1) Jul 18 (1) Jul 16 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 14 (1) Jul 12 (1) Jul 09 (1) Jul 05 (1) Jul 03 (1) Jul 01 (1) Jun 29 (1) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (1) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (1) Jun 23 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 16 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 12 (1) Jun 11 (1) Jun 10 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 04 (1) Jun 02 (1) May 29 (1) May 27 (1) May 26 (1) May 24 (1) May 23 (1) May 22 (1) May 20 (1) May 18 (1) May 16 (1) May 14 (1) May 11 (1) May 09 (1) May 07 (1) May 06 (1) Apr 29 (1) Apr 26 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 20 (1) Apr 18 (1) Apr 16 (1) Apr 15 (1) Apr 13 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 08 (1) Apr 06 (1) Apr 04 (1) Mar 31 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 28 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 26 (1) Mar 25 (1) Mar 21 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 05 (1) Mar 03 (1) Feb 27 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 23 (1) Feb 22 (1) Feb 21 (1) Feb 16 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 10 (2) Feb 08 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 04 (1) Jan 30 (1) Jan 28 (1) Jan 23 (1) Jan 21 (1) Jan 20 (1) Jan 15 (2) Jan 13 (1) Jan 11 (1) Jan 10 (1) Jan 08 (1) Jan 05 (1) Jan 03 (1) Dec 31 (1) Dec 27 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 19 (1) Dec 18 (1) Dec 14 (1) Dec 10 (1) Dec 08 (1) Dec 06 (1) Dec 03 (1) Dec 02 (1) Nov 28 (1) Nov 26 (1) Nov 25 (1) Nov 20 (2) Nov 18 (1) Nov 16 (1) Nov 15 (1) Nov 14 (1) Nov 10 (1) Nov 09 (1) Nov 07 (1) Nov 06 (1) Nov 04 (1) Nov 03 (1) Oct 31 (1) Oct 28 (1) Oct 25 (1) Oct 22 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 15 (1) Oct 11 (1) Oct 08 (1) Oct 04 (1) Sep 28 (1) Sep 20 (1) Sep 18 (1) Sep 14 (1) Sep 13 (1) Sep 10 (1) Sep 07 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 10 (1) Aug 06 (1) Aug 01 (1) Jul 27 (1) Jul 23 (1) Jul 20 (1) Jul 16 (1) Jul 13 (1) Jul 11 (1) Jul 09 (2) Jul 06 (1) Jul 05 (1) Jul 02 (1) Jun 30 (1) Jun 27 (1) Jun 25 (2) Jun 23 (1) Jun 21 (2) Jun 19 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 17 (1) Jun 15 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 11 (1) Jun 08 (2) Jun 06 (1) Jun 04 (1) Jun 02 (1) May 31 (1) May 28 (1) May 24 (1) May 22 (1) May 21 (1) May 20 (1) May 14 (1) May 11 (1) May 08 (1) May 07 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 21 (1) Apr 16 (1) Apr 13 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 08 (1) Apr 06 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 26 (1) Mar 23 (1) Mar 21 (1) Mar 19 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 14 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 09 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 05 (1) Mar 01 (1) Feb 27 (1) Feb 22 (1) Feb 20 (1) Feb 14 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 10 (1) Feb 07 (2) Feb 05 (1) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (1) Jan 30 (1) Jan 25 (1) Jan 24 (1) Jan 23 (1) Jan 18 (1) Jan 17 (1) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (1) Jan 04 (1) Dec 29 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 15 (1) Dec 13 (1) Dec 09 (1) Dec 05 (1) Dec 02 (1) Nov 30 (1) Nov 27 (1) Nov 22 (1) Nov 21 (1) Nov 18 (1) Nov 14 (1) Nov 10 (1) Nov 09 (1) Nov 04 (1) Nov 03 (1) Oct 30 (1) Oct 29 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 21 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 19 (1) Oct 18 (1) Oct 17 (1) Oct 15 (1) Oct 13 (1) Oct 12 (2) Oct 10 (1) Oct 06 (1) Oct 05 (1) Oct 01 (1) Sep 26 (1) Sep 24 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 14 (1) Sep 09 (1) Sep 08 (1) Sep 03 (1) Sep 02 (1) Aug 31 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 25 (1) Aug 23 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 18 (1) Aug 17 (1) Aug 15 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 10 (2) Aug 06 (1) Aug 03 (1) Aug 02 (1) Jul 31 (1) Jul 28 (1) Jul 27 (1) Jul 24 (1) Jul 14 (1) Jul 13 (1) Jul 12 (1) Jul 11 (1) Jul 10 (1) Jul 06 (1) Jul 04 (1) Jul 02 (1) Jul 01 (1) Jun 25 (1) Jun 20 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 13 (1) Jun 08 (1) Jun 03 (2) May 31 (1) May 30 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 25 (1) Apr 14 (1) Apr 13 (1) Apr 08 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 09 (1) Mar 08 (1) Mar 06 (1) Mar 05 (1) Mar 02 (1) Feb 26 (1) Feb 21 (1) Feb 20 (1) Feb 19 (1) Feb 18 (1) Feb 16 (1) Feb 15 (1) Feb 08 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 03 (1) Jan 31 (1) Jan 29 (1) Jan 27 (1) Jan 24 (1) Jan 23 (1) Jan 22 (1) Jan 19 (1) Jan 15 (1) Jan 14 (1) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (1) Jan 05 (1) Jan 02 (1) Jan 01 (2) Dec 27 (1) Dec 24 (1) Dec 19 (1) Dec 18 (1) Dec 16 (1) Dec 13 (1) Dec 07 (1) Dec 06 (1) Dec 03 (1) Nov 30 (1) Nov 29 (1) Nov 26 (1) Nov 25 (1) Nov 22 (1) Nov 21 (2) Nov 18 (1) Nov 16 (1) Nov 13 (1) Nov 12 (1) Nov 11 (1) Nov 08 (1) Nov 03 (1) Nov 02 (1) Nov 01 (1) Oct 31 (1) Oct 29 (1) Oct 21 (1) Oct 19 (1) Oct 15 (1) Oct 11 (1) Oct 05 (1) Sep 29 (1) Sep 26 (1) Sep 25 (1) Sep 16 (1) Sep 14 (1) Sep 11 (1) Sep 07 (1) Sep 05 (1) Aug 30 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 04 (1) Jul 22 (1) Jul 21 (1) Jul 18 (1) Jul 16 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 13 (1) Jun 22 (1) May 29 (1) May 28 (1) May 21 (1) May 20 (1) May 19 (1) May 08 (1) May 03 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 20 (1) Apr 17 (1) Apr 15 (1) Apr 13 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 06 (1) Apr 04 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 31 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 08 (1) Feb 27 (1) Feb 23 (2) Feb 20 (2) Feb 16 (1) Feb 11 (1) Feb 10 (1) Feb 07 (2) Feb 05 (1) Feb 04 (1) Jan 26 (1) Jan 02 (1) Dec 06 (1)
@nava_krishnan
Tweets by navakris
Nava Krishnan
Karaikudi Kozhi Kuzhumbu/Chicken Curry
Kozhi. Chicken. Ayam. My other half-half's, one of his enemies. Enemy as in he does not eat chicken. Why, if you are asking me? ...
BIO-ESSENCE Bio-Bounce Collagen Essence Cream
There’s definitely a beauty story behind this BIO-ESSENCE, Bio-Bounce Bird’s Nest Collagen Essence Cream. But I am not sure if it wi...
Tom Yum Prawn Fried Rice
The ever loved easy to put together fried rice is back, I'm also featuring Tom Yum again. Nice kicky punchy fried rice and of course...
Mama Kim Sauna Mee - Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam
Been around. Mama Kim Sauna Mee has been around for as long as I can remember. Even before I stepped foot, I am now of course kinda one ...
Tanni Saar (Sweet Leaf In Dhal Gravy)
Tanni Saar. A runny watery Indian dal curry/gravy ( Sambar/Indian Dhal Curry ) and the two prominent ingredients are? Obviously, we n...
Vegan Pumpkin Soup
Month of August and sure, rain is falling from sky. So far, nothing worrying nor rain has flooded our area, but when it rains almost da...
Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce
Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce. For a matter of fact, nothing much is expected in terms of cooking or making, and the type o...
Sardine Varuval (Dry Style)
Tuna or Sardine? Sardine mostly. Fresh sardine or canned sardines? Both goes strongly and tremendously ( Mathi Achar & Nadan Sardi...
Kerabu Mangga (Mango Salad)
Kerabu? What is kerabu? Kerabu is basically our Malaysian, Malay style ( Sayur Lodeh , Sambal Petai Bilis & Masak Lemak Nenas ) raw...
Vegan Thai Fried Rice
Vegan and vegetarian. Whatever. Both not applicable for me. Though vegetarianism is something for my other half-half once a week. Vegan ...
Curry Mee (Vegetarian)
Curry Mee. The vegetarian version ( Penang Curry Mee & Home Made Curry Mee ). The power house of any curry mee, definitely mus...
Frasers Hill
Bentong Pahang
Betong Thailand
Pulau Ketam
Kyoto/Kobe/Osaka
Alor Setar Kedah
Penang Thaipusam
Sungkai Perak
Port Dickson Negeri Sembilan
Sapporo/Hokkaido
Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai/Myanmar
Dubai - One Day Tour
Norway And Denmark
Vietnam And Cambodia
Phuket And Krabi
Italy (Rome/Florence/Venice/Verona/Milan
Food and Cooking (514) Food (376) Herbs (312) Chillies (224) Food Venture (208) seafood (201) vegetarian (164) Veges (152) Spices (145) Travel (142) Spicy (140) Sauce (138) veggies (127) Fish (121) Infor (120) Drinks (118) Beauty (117) Features (117) simmered (113) Fashion And Beauty (112) Garlic (106) Chicken (102) Desserts (102) flavouring (101) Soup (98) gravy (98) Lime/Lemon (95) Ginger (91) Fried (83) Rice (82) Skin-Care (82) Sugar (82) Shallots (81) Noodles (80) reviews (79) Oil (77) Places (75) Brand (72) Curry (71) Stir-Fried (70) Eggs (69) Milk (69) Fruits (64) Prawns (59) Potatoes (57) Onion (53) places features (52) Flour (47) Coconut (46) Life And Living (41) Baked (40) Pork (37) Tomato (33) Lamb (31) Salt (31) Grilled (30) brands (28) Mutton (27) Make-Up (24) Sambal (24) Taufu (22) Water (21) info (20) Black Pepper (19) steamed (19) Squids (18) Belacan/Shrimp Paste (16) sponsored (16) Fashion (14) Crab (13) Food Review (11) Vinegar (10) fried. (10) chilies (9) drinks. (8) boiled (7) cookies (7) no cook (7) broiled (6) Anchovies (5) Beef (5) Nava K Consulting (5) Cosmetics (3) curries (3) mushrooms (3) Accessories (2) Dessert (2) Shallot (2) Events (1) Lemon (1) Tips (1) cockles (1) egg (1) |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: my son is 29yo.several wks ago ,for about 4-5 days,he had tingling of arms and legs. At the exact same time,he had whooshing in head that was worse when he moved his head and neck. He has hx of sinus surgery 5 yrs ago. Hx of brain tumor ,7 yrs ago. follow up MRI every 6 mos to. . 1 yr. NEVER changed . Primary doc did all blds, vit B,lyme, and a brain MRI ALL were Neg. Neuro or ENT?Sounds Like ????? output: You should know that his complaints could be related to a cervical spine lesion or a bulging disc in this region. Considering his past medical history for brain tumor (which may sometimes lead to medullary seeding), I would recommend performing a cervical spine MRI study. You should discuss with his doctor on these issues. Hope you will find this answer helpful! Wishing all the best,. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: - output: The GBA gene encodes the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, which is responsible for breaking down glucocerebrosides, a type of lipid, within lysosomes. Mutations in the GBA gene can lead to a deficiency or dysfunction of this enzyme, resulting in the accumulation of glucocerebrosides. This has several downstream effects that are implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD):
1. **Lysosomal Dysfunction**: Accumulation of glucocerebrosides disrupts lysosomal function. Lysosomes are crucial for degrading and recycling cellular waste, including damaged proteins and organelles. Dysfunctional lysosomes can lead to the buildup of toxic proteins, such as alpha-synuclein, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease.
2. **Alpha-Synuclein Accumulation**: Reduced glucocerebrosidase activity has been shown to increase the aggregation of alpha-synuclein. These aggregates form Lewy bodies, which are characteristic of Parkinson's disease pathology. Alpha-synuclein accumulation can disrupt cellular homeostasis and lead to neuronal death.
3. **Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress**: Mutant glucocerebrosidase can misfold and accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), causing ER stress and activating the unfolded protein response. Chronic ER stress can lead to neuronal dysfunction and apoptosis, contributing to neurodegeneration.
4. **Mitochondrial Dysfunction**: There is evidence that GBA mutations can also impair mitochondrial function, leading to reduced energy production and increased oxidative stress. These mitochondrial deficits can exacerbate neurodegenerative processes.
5. **Impaired Autophagy**: GBA mutations may hinder the autophagy-lysosome pathway, essential for clearing damaged proteins and organelles. An impaired autophagy system can lead to the accumulation of toxic substrates, further contributing to cell death.
While not every individual with a GBA mutation will develop Parkinson's disease, these mutations significantly increase the risk. Studies suggest that GBA mutations are among the most common genetic risk factors for Parkinson's disease, highlighting the importance of glucocerebrosidase in maintaining neuronal health. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My son who is 13 years old has been diagnosed with an enlarged liver. The hepatitis tests have come back negative and the one mono test is negative. We are waiting on one more Mono test to come back. What else would cause a viral infection that enlarges the liver? output: .. The enlarged liver can be from viral hepatitis infection as well as from fatty liver or from hemolytic anemia like condition... For viral hepatitis work up done with... -Sept and got estimation-hbsag detection -anti CV detection-serum bilirubin hemolytic anemia work up done with... -Peripheral smear examination -relic count -LDH estimation If needed he electrophoresis done to rule out hemoglobinopathy if present... Like thalassemia also can lead this... According to cause further treatment can be guided.... Take Paradise : physician consultation for examination.... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi,I 28yr old.weighing 76kgs. Am treated for hypothyroidism (now normal) for last two months with Thyronorm 75mcg & Eldervit injection for 8week to reduce hair loss My hair fall has still not been reduced & the hair thinning is still on...Please let me know when will it stop or is there any perscription to stop thyroid hair loss. Thanks
gest treatment for hair loss with hypothyroidism output: Hi,Probably you may be having telogen effluvium.. It may be due to some cause. Most common cause is psychological upsets like anxiety,worries, tension or depression. Other causes may be thyroid dysfunction, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, anaemia, other internal diseases,drugs..etc. and you have thyroid dysfunction which might be responsible in your case.And remember that normal hair fall in adult may be 100 to 150 per day. So, please avoid anxiety related with hair fall.You consult dermatologist for firm diagnosis and treatment. Blood tests may be done to rule out internal diseases.You may take biotin containing tablets for long time along with vitamin E cap. You may apply mild steroid lotion like beclomethasone lotion on scalp at night. Mild herbal shampoo to cleanse the scalp and almond oil as hair oil may be used. Please continue treatment for hypothyroidism with regular check up TSH level.Have patience for the result. I hope you got my answer.Thanks.. |
Anal Blasphemy - Perversions of Satan (2012)
Anal Blasphemy is one of numerous projects involving the prolific Molestor Kadotus, who has been one of the most active proponents of the Finland underground, not only through his own label (Hammer of Hate) but also having worked with a number of acts like Baptism, Calvarium, and Valoton, and a handful of acts abroad like Drowning the Light. He is joined here, on this third opus of disgust, by a few of the other label artists, namely Kryth from Pure Evil on drums and vocals, and Possessed Demoness of Anguished, who also provided her wretched rasping for the entirety of "Lust for Satan". I'm sure the sound of this band will surprise no one: pure, primitive, tainted black metal to spit in the eye of all that is hallowed and beautiful, before penetrating the skull behind it.
I'm also sure that, if you've seen any of the band's perverse and often seductive album covers in the past (check out the Filth Union in Desecration or Pure Blasphemy splits and try not to stiffen), or read the song titles here, that you'll realize this is black metal of the lewd and Anti-Christian persuasion, sort of a more barbaric and unwashed spin on the whole Impaled Nazarene/Marduk Fuck Me Jesus thing, an ugly and unapologetic eroticism not fit for mainstream consumption. However, what totally threw me for a loop is just how well this record balances its blackened grime and punishing primacy with a strange sense of atmosphere delivered in the random samples and screams, and a few of the lighter, subtly melodic guitar progressions (as in "Perverse Madonna, Filthy Magdalene"). Anal Blasphemy is crude at its core, with a raucous guitar tone that resembles a dark, reeking, offal and vomit-soaked alley behind a strip club, sort of like Beherit, Archgoat or Hellhammer sauteed in goat semen and smut. The lyrics and themes revolve around sodomy, succubi and Satanic sexuality, par for the course, but despite itself, Perversions of Satan actually ends up seeming more well-rounded and interesting than one might otherwise suspect...
The performances here are all around great, if simple. Kryth keeps his drums raw and airy, hovering in the din below the crunch of the guitar to create that distancing sensation I enjoy in a lot of underground black metal. Kadotus has a firm, hoarse and muddied rasp which moors the music in a forceful anchor, while Demoness creates a great contrast in her track with her distinct, post-Burzum screaming, and even mixes is some orgasmic clean notes to mix that up. There are also some pure death metal vox on tunes like "Black Cum Absolution". The bass doesn't offer much by way of compelling lines, it's more or less saddled by the filthy guitar tone; but the samples add a lot of strangeness to the record, even if I can't understand them personally. All told, though Perversions of Satan isn't the most sinister and explosive album you're like to hear from the Finnish dark side, it was a nice balance of warmth and discomfiture, like gestating in some infernal womb until the time of your violation and searing in hell-sauce has arrived. Nothing truly novel, and tunes like "Vomit the World" might have their share of familiar riff patterns, but they're unclean, deplorable, uncompromising, and entertaining for the purist.
Verdict: Win [7.5/10]
http://anal-blasphemy.cjb.net/
Labels: 2012, anal blasphemy, black metal, death metal, finland, win
Soulless - In Death's Grip (2012)
There comes a certain frustration as a music critic when you run across such a gem as Ohio's Soulless and realize that they've gone on rather criminally unsung through their career. Here we've got a fantastic death thrash act which excels at songwriting, an all too rare commodity in the States, sitting out there in the Midwest, at a time when both genres are booming in a resurgence. I must admit some befuddlement at why their carnal opus Forever Defiant (2007) wasn't the biggest thing in a long time, or at least far more deserving of a first class seat on the hype train than the vast majority of metalcore-based acts who adopted this fusion of genres upon first hearing Slaughter of the Soul, Reign in Blood and your choice of an In Flames or Dark Tranquillity classic in the 90s.
Five years pass, and one might have assumed Soulless stuck the proverbial fork in their dreams, until they started to tease new material in 2012, which inevitably led to their fourth full-length In Death's Grip. Upon first listen, I was surprised at how little had changed in their sound, but that's really the only possible gaff I could hurl at this disc, because otherwise, it's a deliriously energetic, entertaining 11 rounds of abuse (past the intro) that remind me exactly what I loved about its constituent influences in the first place. The obvious comparison point here would be Carcass in the 1992-1994 era, when they were evolving their grind roots into a more dynamic display of thrash-based, palm-mute heavy riff structures; but where a band like Cali's Exhumed mutated that inspiration into a more gorified, hostile excess, Soulless dial it back to incorporate some obvious 80s North American thrash influences (Slayer, Razor, etc), and then temper that hybrid with some Swedish elements like the harmonic tremolo riffs so beloved in At the Gates. The result creates a blustering, biting, forward motion that never ceases in its attempt to engage the listener's neck muscles and nervous system.
Though I've definitely no aversion to a more atmospheric-based extremity, metal for me growing up was always about the architecture of guitar riffs first and foremost. Whether it was "Immigrant Song", "The Ripper", "Symptom of the Universe" or "Maze of Torment", the momentum of the axes provided the central vehicle for my amusement. This is a formula Soulless also prescribe to, and thus it's no shock that Wayne Richards and Jim Corrick take point with a plethora of pummeling, driving rhythms that focus heavily on mid-paced hair whipping tempos, but occasionally break into slower grooves. Melodies are interspersed both through the leads and the muscular rhythm licks. The tone is appropriately meaty; perhaps not so overwhelming as the first time I heard Heartwork, but it definitely captures the imagination when they break out into the clinical muted riff progressions redolent of late 80s Destruction and Pestilence. The leads are a mixed bag here, with some ("Bleed You Dry", "Sinner Without a Soul") striking more memorable scenes than others, but all told there's no death of craftsmanship or intent.
Not to belittle the rest of the band's contributions, here, which are all beyond competent. Jim Lippuci's wretched snarl distinguishes itself from a Jeff Walker or Tomas Lindberg by splicing an added sheen of impish curdling and bleeding fragility; and like a Carcass or Deicide, the rasps are often complemented with a guttural undercurrent to punch through your ear drums as he rifles through tales of murder and civilization's decline. Dave Johnson's bass is great, veering off just often enough from the guitar rhythms to enforce their structure but establish its own personality, not too heavily drowned in distortion as is often the case with such bands, thick and fluid where it stands alone (intro to "In Darkness Consumed"). Chris Dora's battery is also delivered at a fulfilling volume. The kicks aren't too deep, but rather they snap along to the chugging of the guitars, and while this is not a band that often accelerates to a blinding speed or a blast, he keeps the hammering enthusiastic, flexible, and bright to rival the lavish mischief of the band's surgical melodic sensibilities.
As I hinted earlier, complaints here are quite minimal. The hidden radio broadcast clip outro of the guys dicking around doesn't really add much to the proceedings, but it's not as if it will interrupt the flow of the disc unless you've got it on repeat. There's also the fact that the composition level here doesn't move forward or even sideways in a meaningful way from Forever Defiant. It's steadfastly loyal to that sound, and by extension there are a dozen or so riffs which will seem slightly redundant to earlier material. Don't get me wrong: there are at least 9-10 songs here that range from good to killer ("Serpent Reaper" being a good example of the latter), but all in all there were a few from the prior album which I found marginally more memorable. On the other hand, the production here seems more well-rounded and resonant than Forever Defiant, which was a fraction cleaner and more sterile. The cover of Destructor's "Take Command" is a nice addition, helping celebrate another local legend while making the song their own in translation.
Ultimately, though, any and all quips are eclipsed in the face of another great effort from a band which deserves much more than the obscurity they've experienced. This is basically a billiards match between
Heartwork and Slaughter of the Soul, with Violent Restitution tending bar, Malleus Maleficarum off in the corner smoking and Slaughtercult trying to flirt up all their girlfriends before Reign in Blood jabs him in the testicles with a pool cue. What's not to like?
Verdict: Win [8.75/10] (the mighty guide the blind)
http://www.soullessdomain.com/
Labels: 2012, death metal, ohio, soulless, thrash metal, USA, win
Pure Evil - As Blood Turns Black, Mankind Shall Drown in Despair (2012)
While this isn't my first encounter with the black works of Finnish multi instrumentalist Kryth, it's my first with his Pure Evil project, a band in which he performs all instruments and vocals. I covered the full-length 2009 debut of Korgonthurus, Marras, upon which he handled the drums and guitars, but that was more of a collaboration and focused on more gratuitously swollen compositions. This, the 3rd Pure Evil album, As Blood Turns Black, Mankind Shall Drown in Despair, also features some weighty track lengths, but we're talking in the range of 9-11 minutes, and they're broken up by shorter pieces to provide more of a variety to the experience; a crucial distraction, because a lot of the music here is molded from somewhat stock riffing aesthetics of the post Beherit, Darkthrone variety that we've been inundated with countless times.
Let's not take lightly this guy's talents: he drums, he writes and records the bass and guitars, and he then slathers the experience in a hoarse admixture of rasped and growled vocals. The flow of the music here is very often a mid to slow-paced stream of dense, melodic chords which reminded me often of other local heavyweights like Horna, Behexen or the more anthemic tracks of Satanic Warmaster; though Pure Evil carries a more serious, somber attitude within its notation. Occasionally, as in the opening riffs of "Blood Turns Black", Kryth bursts into this barrel-rolling, primal intensity circa Hellhammer or Darkthrone, and then he clobbers you with a mid-blast beat before transitioning into slower, atmospheric moments (this was also my favorite tune of this batch). I also can hear the clear death metal influences here, because his vox will often favor a sheer guttural inflection, and some of the tremolo riffs in places like "Seas of Blood" definitely have more of a pure old school death strain. Some credit must also be given that Kryth doesn't endlessly just recycle the same riffs, there are plenty enough transitions that the longer cuts don't stumble over themselves.
What I found less interesting was just the construction of the riffs, which are merely pretty average in the wake of so many other like-minded acts. This is no frills, traditional blackened metal which doesn't rely on ambiance or synthesizers to provide much atmosphere, but a lot of the licks were ultimately predictable in how they manifest, and despite the project's handle of 'pure evil', I ended up thinking the brighter rushes of melodic progressions were more mournful than sinister. That said, the production here is effectively noisy, thick and punishing. You can make out all instruments including the flooded bass lines, with the vocals strident and tortured atop the fuming, cold-blasts of guitar. Fans of Scandinavian classics like De Mysteriis dom Sathanas and Transilvanian Hunger might find something to like about the disc, not to mention the Finnish acts Sargeist, Horna, Behexen, Vitsaus, and Kryth's other projects. There's certainly a sense of purism here I can appreciate, but in the end this one didn't leave much of an impact crater on my soul.
Labels: 2012, black metal, death metal, finland, pure evil
Flotsam & Jetsam - Ugly Noise (2012)
Sometimes it's a bit tricky to discern the trajectory a band has chosen, and with Flotsam & Jetsam those 'sometimes' equate to mires of stylistically outmoded experimentation which was frankly never cool to begin with. The big selling points to Ugly Noise were that the band was self-releasing it, a DIY/Kickstarter sort of operation where no label would muddy the waters between the artist and its fanbase; and that this featured the full Cuatro-era lineup, with 4 out of 5 original members from the classic 80s records alongside bassist Jason Ward (who has remained a member since '91). Now, if you ask me, I haven't a fucking clue why Flotsam & Jetsam would return to that easy accessibility period of watered down thrash/power saturated with banal radio hooks and weak riffing that often brought it out of the metal spectrum entirely. The 90s produced nothing but mediocrity from this outfit, despite their major label presence and any delusions to the contrary. They've never capitalized on No Place for Disgrace or written anything that approached that same benchmark of quality, but at least their 2010 effort Cold showed some signs of life; some pretty intense songwriting that simply wasn't consistent enough.
As soon as I saw the dilapidated piano on the cover, and read the self-deprecatory album title, I knew that this was going to be yet another mid-life crisis ordeal where the band is trying to maturate their material with a more friendly appeal to the masses, sort of a retread of where they were at on Cuatro. You get little traces of generic palm-muted thrash rhythms here or there, but nothing bordering on complexity or originality which they once possessed in spades. Half the time this is sterilized hard rock fare with a few misleading traces of progressive rock influences not unlike those awful Megadeth, Savatage and Queensryche records of the mid-90s, and when the band finally picks up the hammer it becomes a mixture of cheesy electronics and bad groove/bounce metal rhythms as on "Cross the Sky", "Run and Hide", etc. From the perspective of pure verse/chorus sculpting, they're not poorly written, but the punchy polish of the production and the lack of compelling guitars (apart from a few gleaming, atmospheric leads) really moor this album down into a box of tissues. About the only person here who is delivering consistently is Erik A.K., whose voice still carries a fraction of its distinct silk, fire and grit, but even he can't really save the songwriting process, especially not with pathetic lyrics of individualism and rebellion which wouldn't have even seemed deep to a castigated teen in 1988...oh wait, that was me.
Granted, Flotsam & Jetsam have never been poets laureate, but once they charge into a chorus like on "To Be Free" I found myself keeling over in laughter, and not the fun kind. The sad kind. Just take a brief tour of the song titles. "Rage"? "I Believe"? "To Be Free?" "Machine Gun"? "Carry On"? All have been implemented countless times by any number of artists, and despite being a mere aesthetic detail, this lack of creativity still contributes to Ugly Noise's underwhelming nature. I do not at all mind the little bits of experimentation, like the dark, deep pianos used in the opening title track, or the Queen-like choral syncopation striking out through "Rage", in fact I encourage such risks, but overall Flotsam & Jetsam really don't contribute to the thrash, speed or power metal traditions that birthed them, nor can they rival their own formative works. Tunes like "Rabbit's Foot" are simply too safe and disposable to take seriously, and a few catchy vocal lines just can't coalesce the experience into something worth the time. Generally, veteran bands like this will try to trace their steps and return to the eager, hungry sounds of their upward swinging youths, so it's a little strange that the Arizonans are interested in bringing back that sterile and uninteresting sound from the height of their MCA years. At one time this all might have helped push some units, but Ugly Noise is ultimately offensive to both its predecessor and the band's roots...
Not total shit, perhaps, but bad enough that I'd rather listen to My God. This just wasn't my thing, and while I can't ever expect No Place for Disgrace II to manifest, it'd be great if Flotsam & Jetsam could get back to kicking our asses again (which they very nearly did in 2010). I know they're capable. The question is: do they?
https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official
Labels: 2012, arizona, Fail, flotsam and jetsam, thrash metal, USA
Queiron - Sodomiticvm Per Conclave (2012)
While they've never released an expressly 'bad' album, I've not really been easy on São Paulo's Queiron in the past, strictly because I've just felt that there was a lot of latent ability here which wasn't manifesting into the band's songwriting. The results were a slew of more or less average fast, brutal death metal records which followed closely in the footsteps of their precursors Morbid Angel, Deicide, Krisiun, and maybe the 'death' years of Behemoth. This time out, though, the Brazilians firmly plant a rainforest up my posterior, because the riffs and songs here are very much pronounced, memorable, without abandoning the savagery of its predecessors. From its seductive cover image to the variation of its compositions, Sodomiticvm Per Conclave is a step above its sinister elder siblings and will, in a just world, widen the band's exposure through the underground circuit.
They set this up with an evil, almost martial march of ambiance that transforms into an instrumental called "Ordo Iconoclastic Rebellis", threaded with guitar harmonies. Here you really get the first sense for this more potent, pummeling production. The drums are set just right for the battering ram blasts and fills, though the kick drum does occasionally feel boxy (not a huge problem). The guitars have this robust, crunching richness to the slower, palm muted patterns, and yet they still hold up for the harried assault of chords used to adorn the blasted passages. However, the band has really refined its sense for melody, and the note progressions in tunes like "Perversion in Khaoz" or "Slavghter Ministry" implement a lot of tried and true, classic heavy metal and rock lead techniques into what otherwise prove a less palatable blueprint of brutality. Clinical harmonies are picked through some of the chugging patterns, and the songs on this album distinguish themselves from one another far more than on The Shepherd of Tophet or Impious Domination. Even Marcelo's vocals, which come across like a mixture of classic Sinister and the dual guttural-rasp technique of Deicide, seem more poignant and punishing.
I also really loved the exotic (if overbearing) sense of atmosphere they create through ritual pieces such as the intros or the brief "Templvm Perversvm". Like a lot of death and black metal acts, these guys really use the Latin thing to the point of near-cheesiness. U's become v's, f's become v's. They love that letter: v. But once you blend this all into the extremist undercurrent and the bevy of solid, entertaining riffs that support the album as a whole, it all transforms into something very much fulfilling to the sinister being in each of us. Okay, so Queiron aren't reinventing the wheel, and a myriad of death metal groups like Septic Flesh and Nile have already given us great blends of atmosphere and aggression, but I'll still take this over the garden variety vapidity one finds in the architecture of many also-ran bands and albums. Sodomiticvm Per Conclave is perhaps not a 'great' album, but it kept me interested through almost the entire 50 minutes, and certainly provides a case for one of the more improved acts I've heard this year.
http://www.myspace.com/queiron
Labels: 2012, brazil, death metal, queiron, win
Convulse - Inner Evil EP (2013)
Convulse is another case of an early death metal act which has, in the wake of a long-term absence, developed an enormous following due to the fact that their debut, World Without End hits all the right notes with the latest generations of fans seeking out the crushing, atmospheric, authenticity that used to run rabid in the genre during the earlier half of the 90s. One could certainly not argue that the widespread proliferation of the internet has bolstered the Finns' audience, and the cult tatters of legend status began to circulate around their name. Fast forward 18 years after their more divisive sophomore Reflections (which saw a marginal shift in sound) and we've got the inevitable reunion material, and already I've seen a number of early listeners citing disappointment...
Yes, you guessed it: these new tracks are not EXACTLY World Without End 2.0, but really, what would any sane individual expect? Convulse was a group which had already moved on from that precise aesthetic before embarking on their nearly two-decade hiatus. To their credit, and to the relief of many who will hear this with fresh ears, I think the Finns have done a pretty damn good job of updating their old sound. The fundamental songwriting here is not at all unlike that of those formative years, and the major differences come in terms of production, which feels cleaner and perhaps a fraction less ominous than the debut. Otherwise, the guitars still have a lot of that sodden groove to them, sullen lapses into death/doom sequences, and ruddy streams of mutes which still churn, even without that muddy and swamp-like tone of olde. Coupled with evil, archaic death metal melodies (like those late in "Inner Evil" itself) or the brute, brunt gutturals of Rami Jämsä, the EP absolutely recycles its ancient inspirations, both musically and lyrically. Hell, "God is Delusion" is more or less a spiritual successor to the title track or "Godless Truth" from World Without End, and it remains pretty clear: you won't be meeting with these dudes at Bible Studies on the next Sabbath.
I did feel that there was a small gulf here between the quality of two tracks. "Inner Evil" is the more direct and pummeling of the pair, but I felt the more atmospheric fulfillment of "God Is Delusion" was superior, from the great acoustic intro to the somber, mourning melodies which permeate its slower hooks. The latter simply sticks with me longer. Once in awhile the band will pull off a riff or two which just doesn't seem all that interesting, and overall there is not a whole lot of creativity here, which I would think might actually satisfy a certain portion of the purist audience who want their death delivered with no frills, dressings, or progression. But ultimately, I thought these two tunes were above average, keeping me interested at least past a few spins. The bass is fluid and fragrant with the din of rot-blossoming corpses, the drums keep a great pace with some really organic fills and primitive blasts for the faster sequences, the guitars rich and chunky. The vocals are a bit monotonous but to be truthful I felt this way also of their debut. Fitting to the tunes, but a bit more character and less predictability would enhance the experience.
I feel like I had a reaction to this EP comparable to how I felt about the latest Incantation full-length, if not nearly so positive or pronounced: it's the same band, only tidier and more matured through the seasons, but they're still playing the music true to themselves. If Convulse can create a proper album with at least this level of songwriting, I don't see how that could be a bad thing, and supporters of that old Finnish axis of evil which also includes Demigod and Demilich should not be too turned off. Decent stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/Convulse
Labels: 2013, convulse, death metal, finland, win
Denouncement Pyre - Almighty Arcanum (2013)
If 2010's World Cremation was the right hook pummeling you to the arena mat, then Almighty Arcanum must be the pinning maneuver, because it more or less takes everything I enjoyed about that album and fleshes it out into a more appreciable set of songs that had me straining my neck in bestial, barbaric deference. Like the last album, the worst I can ever say for Denouncement Pyre is they lack a real sense for creativity or innovation, but when you're having as much fun as you will listening through these tracks, then that shouldn't prove a hindrance in eagerly recommending this to the followers of groups like Deströyer 666, Marduk, (90s) Enthroned, (late 80s) Bathory, Angelcorpse, Bestial Warlust, and other purveyors of comparable, cacophonous, blitzkrieg bombast.
This is a fast record, but not to a fault. Blasting sequences are measured out against slower, warlike segues where the drums are just as intense, like artillery treads about to crush a few hillocks of human bones. As with the prior album, the band accrues more black metal brownie points than death (for a hybrid), but you can feel the presence of the latter medium through the more robust, growled vocals. What separates the Australians from a number of similar, savagery-borne outfits who try to thrive on simple formulas of blasts and tremolo patterns is that Denouncement Pyre fuse a little more atmosphere into even the most standard numbers like "An Extention of the Void" and the eerie keening behind the meaty bridge riff; or the slower, ominous riffing of "The Deceiver". That said, they truly shine when they barrel forward through pieces such as the titular "Almighty Arcanum" or the superb, driving "Circle of Serpents". If you're not throwing your horns at the abyss within about :30 of the early riffs in these, then you're probably late for Communion, clearly in the wrong place. Almighty Arcanum is not filled to the bloody gills with excellent, memorable rhythms, leads, or transitions, but it's entirely well put together, a noteworthy opus of infernal craftsmanship.
Much of this can be attributed to the emboldened, incendiary production, which transforms what might otherwise be the most banal of riffing sequences into a poignant discharge of bright, intimidating anger. The drums and vocals sound great, but the guitars have an exemplary mix whether they're surging along in some black/thrash configuration, twisting into a vile tremolo picking, or a more solemn, crushing abrasion. Bass is not too much of a standout in terms of adding depth and dimension, but you can still hear it plugging along somewhere, and it doesn't detracted from the dominant guitar seated above it. The vocals of Decaylust (aka 'D) aren't exactly novel, but they're abusive enough, and I like the wavering fountain of vomited blood he invokes on the sustained notes. All told, Almighty Arcanum is an impressive, smash-up job, even if the pale quartet on the cover seem like they've turned their ouroboros into some hellish trampoline. Plenty of seething bursts of Satanic celerity here to counteract the occult mortar-shell certainty of the mid-paced fare, and if you ignored them the last time they put out an album (a good one, I might add), it'll be a little harder in 2013, since Denouncement Pyre will piss demon-spunk all over you.
http://www.facebook.com/DENOUNCEMENTPYRE
Labels: 2012, australia, black metal, death metal, denouncement pyre, win
Deceptor - Chains of Delusion EP (2013)
The short version of what makes Deceptor's Chains of Delusion EP so damn compelling: it takes just about everything you know about the genres of traditional thrash, speed and power metal, traces them by the roots to their source in the ground, hacks 'em up into a juicer, and then proceeds to regurgitate them into one of the most delicious blends you've tasted in a good long time. Shaken or stirred. Room temperature or add ice cubes. Morning, noon, night. England's latest (deserved) sensation earns its master's degree in mixology while tearing out some of the best, science fictional metal tracks I've heard in ages, fronted by a wonderfully rabid, schizoid vocalist who exponentially increases the character of an already unhinged slew of memorable riffage.
The longer version: This rules. Track down a copy or I don't like you anymore.
The beauty of Deceptor's sophomore EP is that it throws out all the rules, and then proceeds to play by them anyway. There's an organic, vibrant feel to the production of these tunes that feels so much more laid back and sincere than most of the oversaturated, brickwalled studio sounds I equate with the mesh of genres they play around in, but the hooks and technicality on parade are superb. Reminds me quite a lot of when I first heard Slough Feg (when they were The Lord Weird Slough Feg); this band isn't nearly so folkish in composition, but the love for classical and slightly complex, nuanced riffing is in the ball park. The drums are tactile, the bass just as dextrous and involved as the rhythm and lead guitars. Apart from the two robotic-voiced interludes, which I could give or take, Chains of Delusion consists of four dynamic and distinct pieces, loaded with tasteful licks which betray a love of all things 80s. There's the sort of harried, classically-inflected picking redolent of acts like Megadeth or Helstar, but the band isn't afraid to erupt into a more focused groove. What's more, the guitar tone isn't excessively driven or distorted, so you get this rich, natural, springy sound in the chords that holds up through the more frenetic note progressions.
Even more diverse, though, are the vocals, which run the range from a Bruce Dickinson or Harry Conklin power metal inflection to all manner of wretched thrash barks aka King Fowley (Deceased), salacious psycho screams that reminded me of the super obscure US act Terrahsphere, and even a few guttural growls. Literally, they'll shift gears from measure to measure. There's just no end to what they'll pile into a cut, and yet rather than coming across as disjointed or scatterbrained, they all somehow manage to fit beautifully into the puzzle; yes, even the weird crooning sequences that appear in some of the verses. As a result, Chains of Delusion becomes a consummate piece of entertainment more than a tired adherence to the blueprints which often bring the boring to the band's constituent parent mediums. No, it's not a pure, biting thrash effort like you'd expect from Exodus or Warbringer, written purely for the mosh-inclined, but it plays with a lot of that genre and twists in some NWOBHM styled guitars, classic US power metal, and ultimately, whatever the trio desires. Listening through this was like experiencing dozens of obscure tapes and vinyls I had from 80s band simultaneously...
I guess the only gripe one could have here is that the music is so good I wanted more than just 18-19 minutes of it, so dazzlingly interesting that you feel as if you're being cut short. But that's largely due to the fact that, upon hearing Deceptor, you'll realize they're mad geniuses with countless ideas boxed up in their minds that you simply can't wait to exploit. Hopefully the clock of sanity won't tick too long before we get to do just that with a full-length; in the meantime, they've got a back log of demos and one prior EP to dive into, or I could just listen to Chains of Delusion for the 40th time. Manic, musical excellence that should delight connoisseurs of both antique and contemporary metallurgy.
Verdict: Epic Win [9.25/10]
http://www.facebook.com/deceptoruk?ref=ts&fref=ts
Labels: 2013, deceptor, Epic Win, power metal, speed metal, thrash metal, uk
Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed by the Ocean's Tide (2013)
H.P. Lovecraft and his morbid mythos are hardly a novel theme running in metal these days, and in fact a multitude of songs and entire concept albums have paid tribute through either direct translations of he and his followers' tales, or creative interpretations, across just about all the sub genres, from heavy and doom to black and death metal. So the gorgeous cover artwork and title to Sulphur Aeon's debut Swallowed by the Ocean's Tide are quite overt in their inspiration, as are the solemn chants through the intro piece "Cthulhu Rites", but I really have to hand it to these Germans: this is by far one of the best albums to date to represent the beloved horror author, because it does it so distinctly and differently from almost anyone else...
Sulphur Aeon is at its squamous, withering core a guitar and drum-heavy death metal trio, but the approach they take to the medium is frankly refreshing in the muddy wake of so many chasm-defiling Incantation clones, Swede-a-likes, and so forth. You could consider this old school, fast-paced death with loads of broiling tremolo harmonies and blast beats, threaded with chugging grooves and streaming, fluid picking progressions that hint of melodeath, but pointing out precise influences become more complicated. I sort of thought of it as a hybrid of ominous Morbid Angel growls and grooves with (Devin Townsend's) Ocean Machine in terms of that overwhelming sense of texture to the production which really encapsulates this forsaken, maritime menace. But even this doesn't exactly describe the structure of the guitars, which occasionally reminded me of the thick textures in modern Hypocrisy riffing. Depth charge kick drums, roiling, rich guitar tones and a voluminous, deep bass to the production create a suspense in the listener that he or she is being pressurized on all sides by the brine, Deep Ones pulling at his/her legs as they pull their victim to the ruins on the ocean floor. All the while, waves of ambiance cascade across the background of the riffs like fleeting pods of whales.
Many concept albums of this nature (in extreme metal, at least) have gone for a creepier, abstract vibe, which does play strongly to the atmosphere of the Mythos, but these Germans clout you and squeeze you with a suffocating majesty that works just as well. Think of this more as the 'reckoning' once the Old One has awakened, and not the chain of mysterious psychological events leading up to it. The cultists won, and now a fucking tsunami of tentacles lashes out infectiously through the sheer force of the presentation and balanced, muscular riff set that dominates at least the first half of the record. In fact, the first five full tunes here are utterly perfect. From the melodic swerves of "Incantation" to the black-metal inflected chords of the title track, I was completely floored and flooded by what was happening. It's only a little deeper in the track list, with tunes like "Those Who Dwell in Stellar Void" or "Beneath.Below.Beyond.Above" that it ever starts to feel redundant, that the well of ideas here has dried up ever so slightly. Even then, however, the band is still mightily consistent in sound, and the closing march "Zombi" with its sheen of glimmering wave-like melodies is a nice reprieve from the near 40 minutes of 'the bends' one might suffer from the heavier material's ballistic decompression.
Other than this marginal dive in quality as it progresses, Swallowed by the Ocean's Tide is unquestionable phenomenal. The production might prove too dense and saturated for some who like a lo-fi, stripped sound to their death metal instrumentation, but if you're open to the added weight of studio layering, this proves a wonderful proof of concept that really fits its artwork and theme. The vocals of 'M' Martin Hellion are not exactly novel for the field, a gruff guttural not unlike you'd expect from Nile or Tucker-era Morbid Angel, but I can't think of anything else that would have been able to hold it's own against the glorious oppression of the guitars. Ultimately, this just has everything I desire in a 21st century death metal outing. It draws upon a wealth of both old school and newer inspirations, it really doesn't sound 100% like anything else I've been listening to, and Sulphur Aeon exhibit a seasoned grasp of songwriting aesthetics: concise, heavily loaded with riffs that stick, and never boring. It might front load some of its otherworldly, amphibious thrills, but its truly a work of resonant, heart-stopping ferocity from the fathoms. Highly recommended, and not just to fish people.
http://www.facebook.com/SulphurAeon
Labels: 2013, death metal, Epic Win, Germany, sulphur aeon
Paradox - Tales of the Weird (2012)
Though some listeners have expressed reservations at the overwhelming, heavily saturated and dystopian brand of power/thrash that Paradox have evolved into, I admit to being fully in thrall with both Electrify and Riot Squad. The future is staring us in the face, after all, and I found both the production and theme of those albums to create a sonic counterpart to my idealized fantasies of such a tomorrow, borne out of the 80s and an early love of cyberpunk and speculative fiction which I have yet to grow out of. Pummeling metallic approximations of Blade Runner, Syndicate, Neuromancer, and Robocop!? Sign me up! Granted, the proximity of their release might have led to some aesthetic overlap in content, but keep in mind that Electrify was already arriving after an 8-year gap. This time around, the Germans have taken a little more time than with Riot Squad to craft a follow-up, and though as a whole I'm enjoying it (only) a fraction less, I will say without question that Tales of the Weird is a more accessibly produced and audibly balanced effort.
Paradox has long excelled at forging atmospheric intros with acoustics that lead the charge, at least since the excellent Heresy (1989), and so does this technique open the 9-minute title track for this sixth album, which is more or less a microcosm of the entire disc. Pugilistic triplets and muscular mutes anchor the material with the same thrashing tension they've adopted since the debut, structurally mirroring classic Californian classics like Master of Puppets or The Legacy more so than countrymen Destruction or Kreator. The vocals of Charly Steinhauer, however, really reign in the European comparisons to various thrash and speed metal outfits like Midas Touch, Deathrow, Scanner, Risk, and of course Vendetta, whose own Daxx was involved with the lyrics on this very album. Charly's inflection is melodic, accented, yet still dangerous enough to deliver the harder riffs here convincingly, and the minor flaws and imperfections, flats and sharps actually enhance the experience, a common trait I've found in German thrash especially (great examples would be Schmier or Mille Petrozza, two far more vicious frontmen). What helps set Paradox apart and beyond the bullet belted, denim vested, garden variety pizza thrash act, though, is the momentous majesty of the dual harmonies, leads, and melodic spikes that are sure to engorge their appeal to modern power metal addicts.
Tales of the Weird feels ambitious as a whole, even if you break down individual components of the sound and find what are often pretty standard note progressions, or riffs that really don't stand out so much on their own. There is such a seasoned framework to the songwriting that even the most direct and violent thrashers like "Escalation", "Slashdead" and "Brutalized" are festooned with melodies, hooks, and flawlessly executed leads that, if not always so memorable, capitalize upon the classical shredding influences that dominated the 80s in both hard rock and harder metal spheres. These are contributed by one of the newest members in the fold, Christian Münzner, and just to put his level of proficiency into perspective: he also plays in tech death metal wizards Obscura and Spawn of Possession...making the transition to this style with ease. The other new member is drummer Daniel Buld, and his performance is a polished powerhouse worthy of any modern thrash outing, with plenty of double bass and dextrous fills to really fill out the low end. Olly keller reprises his role on the bass, and as with the last two albums he rambles along faithfully to the riffs, but ninjas enough fills and grooves into his lines to give the tunes even more depth.
No song passes without some exciting verse or bridge riff, but in particular I found "Day of Judgement", "The Downward Spiral" and "Escalation" the most sticky in terms of their transitions and compelling notation. The addition of Rainbow's "A Light in the Black" is a wise one; not as hard hitting as the originals which precede it, but nonetheless it survives its transformation thanks to the meat on the guitar and clinical but impressive performance of Steinhauer, who sounds pretty clear. Tales of the Weird is not the sort of album which will find a home with fans of the dirtier death/thrash, crossover or black/thrash sounds who loathe progression and unfettered melody coursing through their faves, but it brings back that forward thinking sense of evolution which dominated the late 80s efforts of bands like Artillery, Coroner, Deathrow, Mekong Delta and Paradox itself, which was sadly interrupted when thrash (and certain other strains of metal) fell by the wayside for groove, grunge, and 90s 'alternative'. For this reason alone I might laud it, but the Germans honor the onus to actually write some damn good tunes in the process, and there's no reason you shouldn't dig this if you're fond of Heresy, Collision Course, Electrify or Riot Squad.
Perhaps the title's a bit of a throw-off, since this is hardly an unusual or experimental offering. But I'm sure it was more of a send-up to cult science fiction media. Otherwise: great music, beautiful Claudio Bergamin cover art, and warlike, relevant lyrics consistent with the aggression of the prior effort. Sure, I expect nothing less from Paradox, and I'm sure others have comparable expectations, but its always comforting to know that Charly Steinhauer and crew have our backs just the same.
Verdict: Win [8.75/10] (a merciless confession)
https://www.facebook.com/paradoxthrash
Labels: 2012, Germany, paradox, power metal, speed metal, thrash metal, win
Mental Home - Угра (2012)
I have to say, of all the reunions and comeback records I've heard this year, Mental Home's Угра ('Ugra') was perhaps the least expected. Not because the Russians ever called it quits permanently, but because I neglected to notice the single/teaser they dropped last year, and after the diminishing results of their last album Upon the Shores of Inner Seas (their third on and last on the End Records, and first and last to get US distribution through Century Media), I did not think I'd be hearing the band again in a studio capacity. Yet here it stands, the 4th full-length, with most of the members returning from the 90s (save for the bassist, who is replaced here by 'Serpent' from several other Russians acts), after a 12 year hiatus...
This is a self-released album, and it bears the distinction of being their first entirely in Russian (with a German concept, if the cover didn't tip you off). Not only that, but the melodies and riffing structures really seem to conjure idealistic images of their homeland, from its vast history to its architecture; something I've always enjoyed in their music. Right away, the band has returned to the symphonic/melodic doom stylings of Vale and Black Art, their strongest statements, and abandoned a fraction of that fruitless progression from Upon the Shores...which I found to be quite a disappointment from its predecessors. The guitars are bulky, accessible and heavily based in simplistic melodic riffing, and they've not lot any of that huge polish circa Black Art. 'Maiden' Smirnov continues to orchestrate the group beyond the normal parameters of their rock instrumentation, and he often leads off tunes like "В среднем течении.. (In the Middle of a Stream)" or "Берёза, яблоня, рябина (Birch, Apple, Rowan)" with both eloquent and (somewhat) cheesy synthesizer pads that are not likely to win over those who loathe keys in black or doom metal. All told, though, these are pretty catchy tracks that offer up similar motifs to Black Art with perhaps a few breaths of progression that hint of a band not simply interested in retreading old steps.
One difference is that Sergey's vocals here feel a lot grittier and harder hitting than the prior albums, even if the style and tonality are largely the same. Combined with the native lyrics, this might be one element which could turn off fans of the earlier work, though once you settle into its rougher contours it continues to fit the music quite well. Drums, bass, piano and clean guitars are all top notch quality, and Угра is varied and well-paced across 46 minutes. So seasoned and consistent in quality, in fact, that it really does not feel like much time has lapsed since their 2000 effort. Mental Home has always been, and continues to be one of the more distinct bands in this field, implementing a layer of ethnic immersion into their notation which you're too rarely going to find elsewhere. I was also impressed that they capped off the disc with a Lake of Tears cover ("Raven Land"), sped up a little and sung in Russian. Not because it was as cool as the original, but just that they had the good taste to try such a thing and make it their own. Ultimately, Угра isn't quite so infectious as their 1996-1999 works, but nevertheless this is a good listen and a welcome return to what so compelled me towards their music in the first place, with a sound all to themselves that should sate fans of Gothic/doom metal who don't shy away from the language barrier.
http://mentalhome.ru/
Labels: 2012, doom metal, mental home, russia, win
Prophecy of Doom - Total Mind War (2012)
Definitely among the more obscure bands in the British underground in that crucial late 80s/early 90s death metal wellspring, Prophecy of Doom are ripe for the sort of treatment this Total Mind War collection offer us. Prior to this, my only exposure to the band had been their full length debut, Acknowledge the Confusion Master ('90), a pummeling abomination which might have found its way into the mitts of many a Napalm Death, Carcass, Bolt Thrower or Godflesh fan if only their nets had been cast a little wider. Crude in execution, to be sure, but in these times of mining the underground forgotten, I could see a lot of younger fans falling for its authentic fusion of leaden, busy grooves and over the top, gruff scowls and blunted barks.
Total Mind War is not a new recording, but rather a pairing of two of the group's demos, the Second Peel Session (1991) and Ego Death Grind (1996). At a half hour playtime and 7 tracks (some of which are redundant with the band's two studio albums), it's hardly a substantial tour through Prophecy's past, nor is it an unwarranted criticism that it feels incomplete when there were numerous other antiquities (demos, EPs, and split material) that might have been added for a better sense of completeness. That said, you never know with these things, there might be licensing issues or member disputes that preclude such an effort. Certainly the songs here are great representations of the band's style, though one will have to accept the demo level production here which is marginally less clean than what I recall of Acknowledge. Thick, punishing guitars weave dirty grooves that lie somewhere between Symphonies of Sickness, Realm of Chaos, Harmony Corruption and Disharmonic Orchestra's Expositionsprophylaxe in structure. Not exactly complex, but certainly busier than your stock chord progressions inherent to so many death/grind or death/doom acts of that era. The drums are taut and tense while the bass has a muddy, pervasive air about it that looms off in the near distance.
But the real standout for Prophecy of Doom was the vocal presence of 'Shrew', which felt like a more garbled alternative to Barney Greenway or Karl Willetts sauced in these grim, echoing effects which are incredibly ridiculous but at the same time: entertaining. Even where the riffs suffer from a bit of a blander note progression, the swerving swagger of the emboldened bass and Shrew's inflection really take this to another level, as does the presence of the spacious ambient swells in the midst of Ego Death Grind tracks like "Protogenesis", easily my favorite on this compilation. You'll definitely hear those hints of death/doom on the latter demo that started to creep into the band's sound through the 90s, as they slowly drifted away from the grinding roots. Lyrically, the Brits were fairly political and technological, mirroring several of their peers like Napalm Death or Deviated Instinct, and well scripted from what I can recall of the debut album.
Ultimately, though, Total Mind War is going to appeal most to those interested in collecting such gems who have never owned the content. As I said, a few of these cuts did appear on the full-lengths, the first of which would probably be the best intro to new fans who can find it; but this is probably the best place for tracking down Ego Death Grind. In terms of quality, Prophecy of Doom were not the most memorable writers, surely, and yet I think there's something charming about their style which might appeal to old school bloodhounds that are tired of the same old cavernous Autopsy/Incantation advocates, or the xeroxed Swedish blueprints. This band and these songs were very indicative of a scene long abandoned (though its chief practitioners still attract a large following), and the combination of raucous vocals, sludgy death riffs and the maturity of the later content here lead me to believe these guys were capable of bigger things.
Verdict: Indifference [6.5/10]
http://www.myspace.com/prophecyofdoomegodeathgrind
Labels: 2012, death metal, grindcore, Indifference, prophecy of doom, uk
Vomitor - The Escalation (2012)
Australia's long been a haven for raving metal madmen, much as it has been for brutal cult film like Razorback and the Mad Max series. I mention these, because Vomitor has always struck me as a group of barbarians reared on both this 70-80s cinematic extremity just as much as the fundamentals of death, thrash, black and speed metal, all of which they pulp together into a whipcord of frenzied, raw energy and Teutonic inflected riffing circa Sodom, Kreator and Destruction (in addition to Slayer, Hellhammer, 80s Morbid Angel and Possessed) in the early through mid 80s. Denim, vests, helmets, bullet belts, beer, patches, this is the archetypal band of retro maniacs who, rather than just endlessly aping riffs and production, do try something mildly different with the joint petulance of their production values and the sinister intentions exacted by the nasty vocals, frilly leads, etc. It's not hard to reason why their prior efforts like Devils Poison generated the buzz they did, and Vomitor is surely a fine fit for the crowd enamored of Hells Headbangers, Nuclear War Now! and related labels who specialize in this field.
It's also no surprise that these sickos (past and present) almost all have history in other Down Under deviants like Gospel of the Horns, Spear of Longinus, Portal or the seminal Bestial Warlust. The writing is not exemplary, perhaps, but it is incredibly seasoned mischief that never sounds insincere or trying to take the piss out of the genres it celebrates. I realize the band is generally labeled as a death/thrash hybrid, but the bloodied, Mille-like barks and unwashed savagery of the presentation also reek of Mayhem's Deathcrush era or a few of the earlier Bathory records. The guitar tone here is crisp, crunchy, and never obscured in the mix, but at the same time it's light and primitive and just about perfect for both the churning grime of the slow to mix paced chords and palm mutes, to the more harried and intense picking sequences that drive pieces like the opener "Pitch Black" or "Hellburst to Fight". When they pursue a more melodic progression of notes, they always pop out of the mid-toned backdrop like vulture cries, and the leads are generally interesting developments no matter how dissonant, incendiary or frivolous the patterns. Drums have a very live feel cast about them, with the kick set at a tolerable level and lots of crash to the fills, and the bass, while audible, has a thinner tone that allows the guitars and vocals the center stage.
I love the effects placed on the crude, barking vocals which help them feel like echoes across a traumatized, irradiated wasteland. Malevolent desert ghosts, stalking any mutant who survived the fallout. These guys are also capable of building intensity to the point where it becomes like an ungodly offspring of Repulsion and mid-80s Dark Angel, but then they'll simmer down into some less overbearing material for a swell contrast ("Horrors of the Black Earth"). Despite its wilder embellishments, The Escalation is focused and concise, with about 31 minutes and 7 tracks (with an intro), and never grows boring unless you're just not in the mood for such a rough handling. True, the songs don't really stick out in my memory for much longer than when I'm listening to the disc, but they easily stoke the hell-hearths of nostalgia for that crucial time when a lot of bands were branching out, and the borders between the thrash, death and black genres were somewhat blurred, with no one in a rush to define them to the exclusion of all others. A fun, consistent record which easily affirms their place among the better groups in this niche, safely recommended to fans of Pleasure to Kill, In the Sign of Evil, Darkness Descends, Hell Awaits, Altar of Madness, Seven Churches, as well as newer outfits like Cruel Force, Antichrist, Ketzer, Deathhammer, etc. Thunderdome cage metal.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vomitor/170920829616359
Labels: 2012, australia, black metal, death metal, speed metal, thrash metal, vomitor, win
Endezzma - Erotik Nekrosis (2012)
After what I believe to be a looping Doctor Faustus quote, Norse heathens Endezzma dowse the listener in about 60-70 seconds of gradually escalating noise and horror, before letting loose the black metal dogs of war. It's a dramatic entrance, and one that they are fortunately able to capitalize with 40 minutes of consistent material that balances off the primalist riffing of early 90s Scandinavian extremity with a fair share of atmospheric content that prevents the record from ever growing stale. This is an important characteristic in a world where so many bands seem to aim for either one or the other half of this equation, and thus end up in a rather narrow confines from which it becomes difficult to escape. This is not some amazingly unique or inventive outfit, mind you, but they get the job done in the songwriting department, and the rhythmic variation here is appreciated.
Essentially, you've got these dense and compacted grooves ("Against Them All" is a good example) which draw upon the heritage of a Darkthrone, Celtic Frost/Hellhammer, or perhaps even a touch of the latest Satyricon black & roll; and sauteed in higher, jangling strings that often bear the brunt of dissonance. Some tracks go out for an even more anguished, atmospheric structure ("Swansong of a Giant", "Hollow") through which the guitars are used more as a malevolent backdrop for the tortured vocal. Elsewhere they lay on the thicker, double bass drums up to a faster pace, but this is not a band who ceaselessly blast across material: they want you to feel every note, every dripping, malignant emotion dispersed through the instruments and vocals, and as a result Erotik Nekrosis has all the airs of a seasoned, maturated recording. The bass is a copious brute, pumping along against the rhythm guitar, and the drums have a lot of crashing rock techniques that help support the grooves. Endezzma doesn't shy away from using cleaner (though still distorted) strings where they're applicable, and the vocalist puts a lot more character and meat into his inflection than the typical, forgettable rasp many black metal bands drone along with.
The late and prolific Trondr Nefas (also of Angst Skvadron, Beastcraft and Urgehal) shines on what is possibly his final recording, and that richness and cautious rendering of the rhythm guitar paired up with M. Sorgar's (aka Morten Shax) bloodied grunts and howls kept me transfixed upon the music throughout. Individually, I wouldn't claim that most of the note progressions are oh so memorable, and the songs aren't so infectious that I wished to immediately cycle back through them, but on the whole this is a album that really gets it right: it's immersive and interesting, and even the lengthier tracks don't tend to force any sense of boredom during the experience. The bold, up front production readily translates the band's oblique, ominous themes through the speakers without ever threatening the sterilization that often comes with overt polish and overdubbing. Erotik Nekrosis is nothing amazing by virtue of having heard its components many times before through Norse and Swedish black metal pioneers, but darkly pleasurable, well above average.
http://www.facebook.com/endezzma
Labels: 2012, black metal, endezzma, norway, win
Megascavenger - Descent of Yuggoth (2012)
Megascavenger is yet another of the myriad Roger 'Rogga' Johansson projects, and one of the newest. It's been a busy year for the Swede, with at least a half dozen releases under his belt, from the exceptional (Putrevore's Macabre Kingdom) to the acceptable (latest from The Grotesquery and Revolting) to the downright average (the ghostly death grind of Humanity Delete). Somewhere in the midst of all these recordings he's managed to eke out an additional, monstrous old school death metal act and invite a few of his friends among the underground royalty to help flesh it all out. Where to place Megascavenger in the Rogga pantheon? Where other acts in his retinue might represent overt tributes to his Swedish peers and forebears, I like to think of this as a meatier homage to something like Bolt Thrower or Asphyx.
You can expect the typical traits out of Descent of Yuggoth: solid, effortless production that seethes in its own boiling atmosphere, and a riff-set which is both unashamedly derivative and entertaining. There is a load of grime on the guitar which seems like churning blood and sludge, but he also incorporates some melodies to counterbalance the low end domination, and a slew of guest leads from Patrick Mameli (Pestilence), Jonas Lindblood (Puteraeon, Taetre) and Eric Daniels (Asphyx). The album measures off its slower grooves and faster blitzes in balanced succession, and it ends up feeling like a more a mix of Realm of Chaos/War Master era Bolt Thrower or The Grand Leveler Benediction if it were molded with a more modernized production redolent of Autopsy's first two discs. The guitars are abrasive and intense, the bass like a toxic ooze slinking alongside the drums, and the vocals are Rogga's general low-end gutturals and don't necessarily distinguish themselves from numerous of his other projects. Here, too, he is assisted by a few of the old timers: Paul Speckmann (Master), Marc Grewe (Morgoth), and of course Dan Swanö. My one regret is that they're not all used more often, to create a sort of brutal Hear'n'Aid of barks and growls.
As it stands, though, Descent of Yuggoth is a crude, crunchy album which succeeds thanks to how it front loads a lot of the best tunes: the tank-like treading opener "Nihilisticon" or the bouncing bombardment of "Catapulted Through Aeons" to name a few. Not quite a 'cavernous' style album like so many that seem all the rage in recent years, but 100% committed to satisfying the nostalgic death metal crowd who largely disregard aesthetics post-1995, with the possible exception of the production values that are tremendous here. My one caveat is that everything this album does, I felt Rogga and Dave Rotten did better with the Putrevore sophomore. The sounds of the two albums are not entirely the same, but the riffs and the overall mix there was just so staggeringly, motherfucking unbelievable that I've been spoiled on some of his other works. Riff for riff, this isn't quite that consistent, and a few times I felt myself nodding off on the later half of its content. But it certainly stands out more than a few of Roger's other recent works like Bloodgut, Bone Gnawer or Humanity Delete, and you could do a lot worse than this crushing collection of Lovecraftian caveman hymns.
Labels: 2012, death metal, megascavenger, sweden, win
Unburied - Murder 101 (2012)
As open minded of a guy as I am, with a vested interest in many genres of music and especially sub-genres of metal, every now and then there's a release which comes along and gets under my skin: and not in a good way. Unfortunately, for Virginia's Unburied and their sophomore outing Murder 101, this was indeed the case, and I found it torturous to sit through this the acceptable number of times that I usually take to fashion my observations into a written opinion. Now, let me clarify first: this was a band from another age, formed in the 90s, and some of their primitive approach to brutality carries through from this simpler time period. I have no real issues with music of such a neanderthal nature, nor can I persecute Unburied for its heavily misogynist lyrics and themes (let's just say the cover is indicative of a lot of the album's inspiration). Cruelty of this nature is a common trope among many brutal death & grind acts, and if you're not used to it by now...there's always brostep? Granted, the band themselves might not hate women, but this album most definitely fucking does. Murder 101 does not pull any punches, and some will appreciate such defiance.
The album is being branded as death metal, and certainly that's a large part of what's going on, with some faster based riffing segments, old school chugging, and a production on the guitars that definitely reminds me somewhat of that old Morrisound tone so popular among Floridian bands of olde. That said, I also heard a lot of hardcore influences in the leaden, unflinching simplicity of the groove riffs, and especially in the gruff lead vocals, which have a sort of thuggish inflection I equate with East Coast bands like Sheer Terror or Blood for Blood from the 90s. This isn't necrophiliac gore & guts, but more of a wifebeater brand of death metal which attempts to deliver maximum punishment through minimum riffing. And this is where my major issue with the album comes in: the note progressions almost 100% suck. Seriously, such dreadfully mediocre patterns in the breakdown riffs that they're often just two chords bouncing back and forth ("Trapped in a Delusion" and the title track "Murder 101" are two offenders), preschool punishment that I wouldn't find funny or interesting if I were to assume even the most ironic stance. In the band's defense, the aforementioned tracks are some of the worst here; others pummel along with a lot more intensity...
...and yet those, too, are incredibly underwhelming in construction, even in the most clinical thunder-chug thrashings of "Heartless Corpse Defilement" or the uppity punkish chord configurations embedded into the song "Witchburner". Not a single damn riff sequence on this entire 30 minute album was remotely compelling, and there's really no compensation anywhere. Not in the banal, predictable NYHC meets NYDM grooves, nor the spurious use of samples. The drumming is decent enough, with a nice slappy snare sound that functions adequately against the broiling guitar, and the bass guitar has a nice pop to it which reminds me of NY thrash bands like Anthrax, but neither is performing anything interesting enough to ignore just how vapid a reaction I had to the riff set. It's not the worst album I've heard by a long shot, and the band at least keeps the tracks concise enough that they don't drag on forever. They showed up, and they played. I guess in the end, I get what Unburied were trying to pull off here, a totally stripped down return to their roots and a total 'I Don't Give a Fuck' attitude. An approach that might warrant some consideration elsewhere, but I really think it would leave a bigger impact with better plotted songwriting. Wasn't my thing.
Verdict: Fail [3/10]
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unburied/191878257527420
Labels: 2012, death metal, Fail, unburied, USA, virginia
Naer Mataron - ΖΗΤΩ Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ (2012)
Long subsisting on savagery, Naer Mataron have unquestionably proven themselves to be one of the most sinister extremists among the cult of Hellenic black metal. One of the closest in that scene to adhere to the concept that this genre's roots are raucous, fast, unhealthy, unholy and uncomfortable music to damage the psyche and soul. Their records have traditionally not been the stuff of glorious gallivanting and singalong melodies, but more interested in skinning the audience and cannibalizing their organs, and their latest, sixth full-length ΖΗΤΩ Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ (i.e. 'Long Live Death') is a further affirmation of their scathing Satanic blood ablutions and the organ harvesting of an angelic chorus. Now just a three piece (they were five on 2008's Praetorians), one would think that they might pursue a more stripped-down approach to violence, but that's not really the case with this...
To my surprise, Naer Mataron have actually ramped up the death metal elements in their music to the point that this latest album is basically a death/black hybrid. Granted, the last album had a bit of this felt through the construction of the muted picking and several of the riffs, but the vocals there were more of an abrupt and uncouth snarl placing it largely in the latter niche. Here, we get denser death grunts, which combined with the hyper-accelerated riffing bring to mind veterans like Morbid Angel, or Polish acts like Behemoth or Hate. Rhythmically they continue to implement a lot of dissonant, cutting chord patterns which reflect their Norse black metal influence and the heritage of their earlier records, but this is a blasted, brutal assault which will potentially sate followers of both camps (or each, individually). Frenetic, tireless drumming lays out the groundwork, and above the clamorous configurations of chords you get zipping, unhinged leads that feel as oblique and evil as the Floridian forefathers, if perhaps not as complex or interesting as something Trey might have written in his prime. But fear not, because this isn't some monotonous blast-fest lacking in variation: they use a lot of great rhythmic tricks, stop/start patterns festooned in spikes of morbid melody (as heard in "Sleepless Beings"), and even some rabid, turbo-thrashing riffage as in "Faceless Wrath of Oblivion".
The mix of ΖΗΤΩ Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ is murky without being muddled, and you can hear each course being carved out by the frenzied guitars in a strong balance with the kick, bass, and grunts. Perhaps the least compelling components of this new focus are the guttural vocals, which simply don't offer much of a distinction among hundreds of like-minded death or death/black outfits; and the bass-lines which maintain the presence of a rumbling hell-train beneath the abyss, but primarily get lost behind the guitar flurries. But to be honest, I can forgive cases, since Kaiadas does not do a poor job with either, and never has (cut the guy some slack, he's an actual elected member of parliament in Greece for the Golden Dawn). Ultimately, Naer Mataron prove that they 100% have the chops to succeed in this field, and if songs like "Whispers of Begotten Premonition" or "Sleepless Beings" are any indicator, they've gut the raw intensity to sate fans of death/grind or brutal death without alienating their core black metal audience, and hell, the title gave us plenty of warning, right? It's not amazingly memorable, but we've got a pretty fucking explosive album here; despite its mutation away from the sound of their first few discs, it's just as good as efforts like Up from the Ashes or Discipline Manifesto.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naer-Mataron-official/122029807867493
Labels: 2012, black metal, death metal, Greece, naer mataron, win
Kawir - ΙΣΟΘΕΟΣ (2012)
Where many metal bands initially pursue a traditional and derivative aesthetic in their writing, and later abandon it through progression due to outside influence, Greece's Kawir might be considered an opposite. This was initially a flawed but curious band whose use of instrumentation did wonders to enact idealized visions of their homeland's ancient folklore and history. This was the stuff of glades and ruins, gods lamenting their mortal lovers, mortals lamenting their mortality. Pure myth-stuff, and it was indeed a compelling prospect. After all, the world round, we are inundated with Greek myths and legends as a part of our education (or at least we were), so it's great to hear a band finally delve into that, especially one on native soil with a more immediate and interesting perspective on the rituals and lore involved. Sure, many other bands like Virgin Steele have explored the territory in depth, but perhaps not enough among the Hellenic extreme metal scene.
Kawir continue to journey through this collective cultural atavism in terms of their lyrical inspiration and themes, even with the title, Isotheos which translates to 'godlike'. Sadly, though, the music itself has continued to transform into a more standardized form of European black metal that has few differences from the wealth of Scandinavian, German and Italian bands clinging to the compositional qualities of the masters in the 90s. To be blunt: this should not really be happening, not for a band with 20 years behind it which has had ample time to develop its roots into distinct and unforgettable schema. Alas, ΙΣΟΘΕΟΣ becomes a victim of this affliction. Despite a few moments of genuine melodic bliss which recount the charms of their earlier work, this 5th full-length is too often reliant on the basis, exhausted blueprints of the genre without advancing or exacerbating them. The faster-paced tremolo guitar progressions (chords and single note picking) are more or less what you'd hear from a thousand other bands, the harsher vocals are not highly unique unto themselves, and the drums, while competent, aren't noteworthy. It's for this reason that the album's more atmospheric passages, like the chants in "Hymn to Winds" which accompany the more glorious, Triarchy of the Lost Lovers-era Rotting Christ-like rhythm guitar, stand out instantly.
Negatives aside, though, I must give Kawir some credit on the production here. This was a band with some pretty primitive sounding recordings in their past (not necessarily to their benefit), and from the sound of ΙΣΟΘΕΟΣ, you wouldn't know it. All instruments are represented in crystal clarity, from the nice crunch on the central rhythm guitars to the slightly fuzzed backing melodies. The deeper male backing choirs truly resonate through pieces like "Hades", and Greek bands (this one and Rotting Christ, at least) excel at incorporating this into the music more than perhaps anyone else in the genre. The rhythm section is fluid, though they rarely stand out. Wind instruments still maintain a solid presence here, especially in the short instrumental "Panspermia" where they flutter through the sylvan emptiness like naiads splashing through lakes; or the grandiose, 10 minute "Hymn to Apollo", which was hands down the most impressive track for me on this record, really digging out the Kawir that I wanted to hear. I only wish that these moments were more the 'rule' than the exception.
There is also quite a lot of variety throughout this, the band carefully measuring off the faster black metal surges against acoustics, or slower chord progressions. My issue just stems from the fact that about 50% of the riffs here are too familiar and uninteresting to justify themselves among Kawir's better use of atmospheric segues. If the riffs were more memorable during the stock black metal moments, then I'd be a lot more forgiving, but I just couldn't get into much of this. I wouldn't call it boring, though, nor a 'bad' album by any means. It's on par with the last full-length (2008's Ophiolatreia), and probably worth checking out if you've an interest in Greek bands who are actually invested in their cultural roots rather than the typical Satanism you'd expect in the field. A decent effort, and smooth enough on the ears, but I'm still waiting for this group to really arm itself with the past and deliver a truly evocative Elysium that I cannot experience elsewhere.
http://www.facebook.com/kawirblackmetal?v=wall
Labels: 2012, black metal, Greece, Indifference, kawir
Thy Darkened Shade - Eternvs Mos, Nex Ritvs (2012)
Guitarist Semjaza is quite a busy man of late, writing and performing with a number of Greek black metal acts including Acrimonious, who have just released a strong sophomore album, and the leather bound wildmen Nadiwrath, whose debut dropped last year. More impressive than either of these, though, is Thy Darkened Shade, a project formed in the later 90s which has long since been silent, until word was dropped that their debut album would be arriving through World Terror Committee. And quite an exciting record this is, kicking its tired niche in the ass with a vicious precision, ample turmoil and riffs flying by a thousand miles per second like a razorblade tornado above which the rasps beckon like maddened carrion birds awaiting the human carnage in the storm.
Definitely getting that late 90s Scandinavian black metal vibe once again, which a good number of Greek groups have adopted over the past decade rather than follow in the footfalls of their more distinguished, renowned countrymen like Necromantia or Rotting Christ. This isn't a bad thing, of course, since most of the world has similar influences; and it's also not really a surprise if you've heard Acrimonious, Acherontas, or Ravencult. To their credit, Thy Darkened Shade really get it right. The lashing maelstroms of tremolo guitars are adorned with a lot of higher string dissonance redolent of groups like Emperor, 1349 and other Nordic varieties, and they also like to burst into these excellent black/speed or black/thrash progressions which are like a ramped up Aura Noir (in "Reconstruction of Soul and Matter", etc). Blast beats are meted out effortlessly and there's definitely a lot of forward thrust through most of the songwriting, though a few pieces like "To Suffer the Perpetual Curses" slow things down and incorporate atmospherics like keys to break the rabid pace. Songs are all pretty average length, around 4-6 minutes, but within these margins you are generally due for at least a handful of exciting guitar riffs and a reasonable level of internal variety.
The mix here is cutting and uncomfortable, without a lot of natural low-end, and I wasn't too impressed with the bass overall. Then again, this is generally par for the course on an album of this sort, once again in league with the ferocity of the Swedish and Norse influences. One area I feel the group could improve is in the vox, which are competent enough as they appear, but lack much variation against the far more exciting music. I believe some shrieks or just a sharper delivery would work wonders to compensate, but certainly I've heard a lot less inspired and enthusiastic rasping elsewhere than what 'The A' and Semjaza are retching out here. Otherwise, Thy Darkened Shade is intense, entertaining and admittedly quite pissed off, and I've come away from this debut numerous times feeling that same scathed sensation which bands like Marduk and Impaled Nazarene were delivering about 15 years ago (though this is a bit more technically inclined in terms of its structure). Eternvs Mos, Nex Ritvs is frankly one of the more promising Hellenic assaults I've come across lately, alongside Spectral Lore's Sentinel and Acrimonious' Sunyata.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thy-Darkened-Shade/391172430930927
Labels: 2012, black metal, Greece, thy darkened shade, win
Acrimonious - Sunyata (2012)
The previous Acrimonious full-length, Purulence (2009) was not one I derived much enjoyment from, a fairly typical Scandinavian styled black metal disc which never really distinguished itself with strong composition or even just damn good riffs. Having said that, the Greeks have rallied, regrouped, and produced a far more poignant and compelling offering in Sunyata, perhaps not something as riveting as Hellenic masterworks like Triarchy of the Lost Lovers, Scarlet Evil Witching Black or the latest from countrymen Spectral Lore, but nonetheless a proficient, multi hued opus which should garner them some attention through the underground. It's not exactly a paradigm shift away from its predecessor, and it's not composed of wholly novel aesthetics, but there is an unshakable sense of mystical fulfillment here which stands up to numerous listens with little hint of decay.
For one, the ambient and black metal components really gelled through this release, the Greeks employing a clear dark classical influence, through both the standalone pieces like the intro "Nexus Aosoth" with its grim string swells, and the subtle and complementary synths and effects used to heighten the riffing surges. Even though the guitars aren't anything we haven't heard before among Norse and Swedish black metal royalty, the tone of the chords is so level and dense that they really stand out against the echoing, clamorous vocals and the polished if intense drumming. Bales of melodies and harmonies are constantly writhing above the flood of the rhythm guitar, and in truth there's a lot of intricate, acrobatic groundwork here which draws the ears far more than on the debut. The general quality of the riffs might not be the highest or most memorable you'll apt to encounter in this field, but there are at least a dozen standouts spaced out among the hour of music that create anticipatory highlights. Acrimonious is not yet a band one would turn to for astounding leads, but the contrast of rich dissonance, brighter melodies and loads of variation is intriguing enough.
Bass lines have that hint of progression and groove to them which lends itself well to the exotic ritual and introspective grandeur felt through worldly black metal, once again creating a subtext of progression and exploration rather than merely aping the rhythm guitars. The drums are tight and fill-heavy across all tempos, with a nice sheen of reverb that helps them cut through the glinting, harried guitar work; and the vocals are possessed of a solemn, soaring angst which breeds a lot more character than the standard rasp would have been able to achieve over these tunes. It's full-bodied, rapturous and works well with the choirs and other distractions the band uses to balance off the aggression of the core instruments. In short, there's a good deal happening throughout Sunyata, and thanks to the production values, you'll be able to discern it all. Much of the music is accessible, yet there's more to greet you with each successive spin, not to mention the strength of its passionate occult lyrics. Tracks like "The Hollow Wedjat" will prove a thrill for fans of mid to late-90s Emperor, and I'd very much recommend the album to those who enjoy the other, more ambitious Greek outfits like Spectral Lore or Acherontas, the latter of which several of the members were once involved in.
Verdict: Win [7.75/10] (and so Moves the Voice that no Thought can Bind!)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ACRIMONIOUS/114756638618913
Labels: 2012, acrimonious, black metal, Greece, win
Legion of Doom - The Summoning of Shadows (2012)
The hurdles faced by Athens' Legion of Doom are not those of musical competence or authenticity, but those of redundancy and the dearth of ingenuity which plagues a lot of those mid-tier European black metal outfits, even those with a 20+ year history. These Greeks have a solid backlog of records like For Those of the Blood and The Horned Made Flesh, and have never truly disappointed, yet they're still complacent in arm wrestling against the law of averages. Certainly, they've powered through most of their matches to emerge victorious, but not without a struggle. One that persists through this latest offering The Summoning of Shadows out through Zyklon-B productions. For all intensive purposes, this is a solid, proficient black metal album with a mild atmospheric flair, but that's unfortunately where it begins and ends.
To put it bluntly: a band which has been around as long as this one has no choice but to provoke higher expectations from the black metal audience, expectations which are simply not met with this fifth full-length. The strange torment of the vocals, and the atmospheric embellishments are about the only things keeping this from an utter state of banality due to the bland riffing sequences. Legion of Doom, once kicking their death and grind roots to the curb and transforming into the black metal entity most would recognize, have never shared that sense for novelty as their peers like Varathron or Rotting Christ. Apart from the infusion of classical and orchestral elements that have occasionally appeared through their records, this is more of an 'assembly-line' style of black metal with its roots in groups like Mayhem, Emperor, Marduk, Enthroned, and the like. Tremolo picked notes and rapid ridges of chords and dissonance that never really deviate from predictable outcomes. Double bass and blast beats which feel more obligatory than passionate. Symphonic intro and outro which in this case are sadly thwarted by the muddled, masculine goofiness of their narration. The bass never feels important whatsoever.
This would all be fine if the tunes at the core of The Summoning of Shadows were any good, but I found it incredibly difficult to generate any interest with the vapid progressions in "An Infra Calling" or "The Garden of Flesh", which are little more than retreads of Northern forebears. Don't get me wrong: Legion of Doom play in key, they play in syncopation, and they can muscle their way through material as if the dynamics on offer were second nature. Fits of cold hostility are balanced with more soothing segues (like the cleaner melodic guitars in "The Garden of Flesh"), but when one steps back a few paces and absorbs the work as a whole, it feels all too comfortably structured. Those with a massive amount of nostalgia for the Norse and Swedish studio efforts of the later 90s might appreciate this sense of familiarity which clearly left and imprint on these Greeks' creative process, but even in that particular niche there is no feeling that this music excels or pays lavish tribute to its inspirations. Coupled with the cheesy bookends, and the lack of much content, this is easily the least impressive Legion of Doom record I've heard yet.
https://www.facebook.com/legeones
Labels: 2012, black metal, Greece, Indifference, legion of doom
Nocternity - Nocternity EP (2012)
Few would accuse Nocternity of being one of the more prolific or 'busy' bands in their scene, but the empty aural landscape since their 2003 sophomore Onyx has at least been littered with some EP and split releases, not the least of which was the last, Harps of the Ancient Temples (2007), which was in my estimation the pinnacle of the band's subtly atmospheric sledgehammer approach to their genre. Five years hence, we are at last treated to a pair of newer tracks, but while they stay firmly on guard in the Greeks' aesthetic camp, they do absolutely nothing to further their position on the battlefield...
Nocternity have always been about creating this dark, distant and incredibly bleak envelope through which they pummel along at a barbaric pace, and here is no exception. The EP was recorded on an 8-track recorder, and it's certainly got a very oblique, murky feel, with the bass lines just as loud as the guitars and only the vocals and tinny tremolo melodies coming out on top. The drums offer little more than a mechanistic charge in the background, leaving the vocals and guitars to captivate the audience. Daemon of Limbonic Art replaces Whyrhd on the vocals this time, and he's got a sufficient enough, ghastly rasp to match the subdued din of the music, joined by some deeper growls that hover on the edge of perception. There are a few bright synthesizers implemented (in particular the late moments of the first tune "Titans"), and the bass is juicier than you'll normally hear on a stock black metal recording, but all of this is useless with songs so devoid of compelling riffs...
Each of the two tunes is a 'universe' until itself, with "Titans" being the faster paced, at the cost of seemingly unbroken cycles of monotony that had me checking my watch only about 2-3 minutes in. "River of Woe" is more spacious and experimental, with sparse percussion and a lot of guitars being used in a funereal sense or as sheer ambiance. Unfortunately, despite the variation of the pair, there is naught here but a pretty mundane 14 minutes of blackened emptiness that evokes only a sense of numbness and ennui. I did not exactly hold up high expectations, but Harps of the Ancient Temples at least had one kick ass tune and a fascinating Vangelis cover. The content this time around is incredibly dry and uninspired, so one has to wonder what else they've got going on these past five years? I'm sure Nocternity is more of a project than a full time thing, but even then...this draws blanks. The decision to record with older equipment is admirable and speaks of an impulse to really gnaw at the roots of black metal, but these guys are surely better than this.
http://www.myspace.com/nocternityofficial
Labels: 2012, black metal, Fail, Greece, nocternity
Pure Evil - As Blood Turns Black, Mankind Shall Dr...
Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed by the Ocean's Tide (2013...
Thy Darkened Shade - Eternvs Mos, Nex Ritvs (2012)...
Anaal Nathrakh - Vanitas (2012)
Cattle Decapitation - Monolith of Inhumanity (2012...
Chapel of Disease - Summoning Black Gods (2012)
Anthem - Burning Oath (2012)
Tiamat - The Scarred People (2012)
Be'lakor - Of Breath and Bone (2012)
The Forsaken - Beyond Redemption (2012)
Nuclear Assault - Atomic Waste: Demos & Rehearsals...
Hic Iacet - Prophecy of Doom EP (2012)
Children of Technology - Mayhemic Speed Anarchy EP... |
We have this little ritual, West and I, of making coffee for one another. Sometimes he makes it (usually after lunch), and sometimes I do (our morning cuppa, following the school run); but the process is the same for each of us: rinse out our little Bialetti espresso maker, fill with fresh water, spoon the coffee grounds over the metal filter, screw the top back on, and place it on the stovetop to heat up while we microwave the two cups of milk for our lattes. Mmmmm. Rich, delicious, and – most importantly – caffeinated!
The coffee-preparation process is the same, but there’s one slight variation in the finished product each of us receives: whoever gets the second cup also gets a bit of ‘sludge’ from the coffee grounds. It’s a very slightly finer cup for whomever gets the first pour. Knowing this is the case, I make sure that West gets the first pour.
Oh, I know I could make it even. I could do a little pour into each cup, back and forth and back again, to make sure that neither of us gets the dregs on our own. I could. But then neither of us would get the pure ‘first pour’, either. And, in truth, I don’t really mind the dregs. I know, too, that when West makes the coffee, he reserves the second pour for himself and gives me the finer cup. It balances out.
When you think about it, it’s not just with coffee that there’s a ‘first pour’ and ‘the dregs’; our time, our energy, our families – with each of these things we have a choice to make, whether we realise it or not, about where we’re going to bestow this superior ‘first pour’.
If I’m working on an article or some other writing, it’s easy to be consumed by it; so focused on the words and ideas swirling around in my head that every other bit of input is a frustrating distraction. In truth, it’s like that anytime I’m wrestling with ideas – even if I’m internally trying to figure out how to better nurture my children and be more patient with them, I’ll be swatting them away and growling at them while I’m trying to think it through. How’s that for irony?! There are definitely times that I need to lock myself away to sort out the ideas, set down the phrases, and complete a writing task; but at other times I really have to train myself to view the thoughts (and worries) as a distraction, rather than seeing my kids that way. Sometimes, at the very least, my kids should get the ‘first pour’ of my energy, focus, and attention; my children as individuals and my family as a group – not just concepts, ideas, theories and debates about the concept of ‘parenting’.
Likewise, when life and lists crowd in and there doesn’t seem to be time for anything, let alone a sacred, quiet space in time to read the Bible, pray, or meditate, where does my ‘first pour’ go? Likely, every little thing gets a drip of my best; the dregs, if anything, are what’s left for the pursuit of spiritual growth and nurture.
And although when I make a coffee I put myself second – with little to no detriment – I can see that it’s not healthy for us to always leave ourselves just the dregs of our time and energy. Sometimes we need to make sure that we get the sustaining, superior, beneficial ‘first pour’ as well – not to short-change those we love, but to ensure that we function as healthy, fulfilled, and functional human beings. When I start to feel like I’m pouring into too many cups, I know that the result will be unsatisfying – and unsatisfactory – for all of them. I need to give myself the first pour – step back from things, renew my energy, regain my perspective, and then I’m fresh to make a new batch.
This isn’t a new idea. In the Bible, one of God’s requirements of the Jews was that they would bring Him their ‘first fruits’ as an offering. He also required them to sacrifice their best before Him; an unblemished lamb (sound familiar?), amongst other things. Sure, these are Old Testament practices, but they’re ones whose essence remains useful to observe today: what we do for God should be what we do first; and what we bring to God should be our best. It shouldn’t be that church is what we fit in if we haven’t got anything better to do on a Sunday. It shouldn’t be that sleep, activities, and TV crowd in and replace our time praying and reading the Bible. (It shouldn’t be the case, but I’ll raise my hand first – I find time to vege in front of Netflix almost every night, and yet I can’t seem to establish a regular quiet time routine for reading the Bible and meditating on God’s word…).
I think it’s worth considering, from time to time. Who’s getting the first pour in your life? Do you need to change the order of cups?
Did you ever have one of those days in which the sum of your deficiencies adds into one huge indictment against your worth? Or perhaps even a whole phase in which the negative side of your personal ledger seemed so disproportionately stacked against the positive that ruin/shame/disgrace must be the logical conclusion?
I’ve definitely had those days – and even longer phases – but I have always survived them. I know a girl who had one of those days – maybe even weeks, months, or years – and she did not.
Anna* was a lovely, quirky, wry girl. She had grown up in our church and remained connected for most of her twenty-seven years. Sometime after high school, she took on the job of managing our church nursery – I’m told that she was giddy with excitement every time she heard of a pregnancy, and she’d begin the countdown until the next baby was due to arrive into her care. She was a beloved part of our church family. She was our kids’ first real babysitter, too, and the boys would look forward to her visits and the fun books she’d select from her Mum’s daycare to bring and share with them. Although ‘quiet’, Anna was not devoid of character; in fact, she had a large group of friends, plenty of flair, and an awesome secret identity as a roller-derby queen.
April 12th, 2013 was a cold, dark day. The wind howled and the rain lashed the streets. I was in a melancholy mood, because that day one of my dearest friends was leaving Vancouver and moving all the way across to the East Coast.
But nothing – not the foul weather, not my own sadness, not the malaise we sometimes feel on those somber, wet days in early spring – could have measured the depth of Anna’s grief; because that day she took her own life.
Did I miss the signs?
Was there any small way in which I made her feel unloved, unlovely, unimportant?
What could I have done that might have prevented her from such a drastic and final step?
The next morning, the sun rose – how strange it felt to me that this should be the case, that something was still normal. And we had to sit our kids down and tell them that we’d lost her.
West and I had discussed the daunting task of informing our kids and concluded that we would tell them only that our sweet Anna had fallen. They were just too young to know more, and we wanted to spare them some pain and confusion – it was enough that everyone around them was reeling with the news.
Two days later it was Sunday, and we entered a church that was – appropriately – utterly unlike the sanctuary we’d entered just a week before. The atmosphere was hushed, funereal; our collective grief was palpable.
I don’t remember the first part of the service; all I remember was feeling numb. That surreal sense of being stuck in a bad dream made it difficult to focus, and around me I could hear that others were struggling. I kept praying for her closest ones, who were in our midst that morning as they were every Sunday – praying that they were feeling buoyed by God’s love and comfort during this darkest time.
And then the sermon began.
Our pastor spoke of this loss and our grief, and gave voice to the anxieties we were feeling. And something amazing happened. His words, undoubtedly chosen carefully and prayed over, transcended the bitterness of our anguish – and those words poured a healing salve over our raw and broken hearts. All those thoughts and worries and sorrows that had been reeling in my head were quelled and soothed and comforted. The oppressive atmosphere lifted and Truth breathed hope into a room that had, just moments before, been filled with despair.
We were reminded of the girl we knew and loved, and we were counselled to remember her as such.
We were assured of God’s presence in her life even in her darkest hour when she must have felt far from the truth of it.
We were woken from the nightmare and encouraged to take shelter in the wings of our Lord.
The truth is this: there’s no such thing as an ‘unforgiveable sin’. If there were, grace would be a lie. Even when we would forsake the world and the pain therein, God never forsakes us.
Anna had made, our pastor told us, one terrible, fatal mistake. She had been blind to the love and care that surrounded her, or so overwhelmed by her internal suffering that she lost sight of the Truth. But God never lost sight of her. She let go – but God never let go of her.
Were all our questions answered? No. How could anyone measure the depth and breadth of the suffering that would drive a beloved friend, daughter, and sister to take her own life, or give full meaning to it?
Were we immediately free of the pain and grief that had so ensnared us since hearing the terrible news? No. We have all been indelibly changed by it. Four years on, the scars remain. The scars will always remain.
But the Truth remains, too. Grace saves us. Grace saved Anna; death does not hold the victory in her story.
We all have times in our lives when our sadness, guilt, or shame consumes our thoughts – and sometimes threatens to consume our souls – but God has the final word. And that word is grace.
God’s grace is sufficient for us. God’s grace is sufficient for me – and it is sufficient for you. God’s grace was sufficient for Anna.
When we fall, we are not lost forever. God catches us.
Please know – if you are in the trenches, He may feel far, but God is there. He loves you, cares for you, and he wants LIFE for you. Find someone to talk to – call your local Crisis centre, a friend, even your doctor, and tell them how you’re feeling. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I remember my folks telling this story (although, admittedly, I don’t actually remember that the appreciation for parmesan was the line upon which he divided the human race – I know it was something equally ludicrous!). You’ve probably heard a few of these statements, yourself.
There’s something that appeals to human nature about having a neat system to categorize the people around us. It seems that, particularly regarding subjects about which we’re passionate, we see things in dualities: either you’re ‘for’ what I’m for, or you’re against me. It’s ‘us’ vs. ‘them’. But even when it’s a more nebulous concept – something less obvious than a preference for Italian cheeses – we can be quick to draw lines of division.
Have you ever said, or thought, those words?
Maybe ‘those people’ were the ones from the wrong side of town; the kids whose parents worked jobs that your white-collar parents would disparage because they were ‘unskilled’ or ‘uneducated’ – or perhaps ‘those people’ were the privileged offspring of the ‘entitled’ elite, never having to work to earn the riches they enjoyed, looking down at you and ‘your people’ because they think that they’re where they are because they work ‘smart’ while your blue-collar families just work hard.
Maybe those people were in a community from which you felt an outsider – separated from them by language, culture, or religion. You don’t understand why they don’t think like you, act like you, talk like you – and why they don’t seem to want to change, as you think they should, to ‘fit in better’ in their new country. Or perhaps you’re the new one on the block, and you feel like ‘those people’ whose citizenship goes back some generations view you with suspicion, treat you as ‘other,’ subtly exclude you from things because “you won’t get it.” You feel like they’ll probably never consider you to be truly one of them… You don’t trust them, and they don’t trust you.
Whatever the case, the assumption you make is that those people are essentially different from you. You assume that they have different values, different beliefs, different motives… You figure that they don’t care about the things you care about, and – if you were honest about it – you’d admit that you don’t like them for it.
Money, education, culture, race, politics, religion – these things can be the lines upon which we divide ourselves from others; they’re at the root of some pretty deep rifts between fellow humans.
I’m originally from South Africa.
Well, I will tell you that I do know a thing or two about the issue of ‘those people’. I’ve been the fish-out-of-water; I’ve been the standout ‘other’; I’ve been the new kid in class. I have also, very occasionally, been the ‘local’ with something of a history in a place. But let’s look beyond my own history to see what History says about what happens when we get a bit caught up in maintaining that separation between ‘us’ and ‘them’.
Apartheid was a system adopted by the ruling parties of South Africa toward the end of the 1940s. We know now that this policy of separate development resulted in an oppressive regime in which people of one race enjoyed every benefit at the expense of everyone else – and we know now that the system of apartheid, aside from being intrinsically unjust, was one that perpetuated injustice, prejudice, and the subjugation of these ‘minority’ peoples under the rule of the others.
We know that NOW, but back then – when apartheid was first instituted – it was based upon a very idealistic (and misguided) belief by many white South Africans that it was in everyone’s best interests for each group to retain their own customs, culture, and language within the confines of their separate but parallel societies. In theory, this was a kindness (such was the lie that was sold to the voting public). In practice, there was nothing kind, respectful or just about it; apartheid was simply the institutionalization of racial discrimination.
We know THIS: History has proven that the separation of people based on these divisions – ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ – results in greater misunderstanding, greater prejudice, and greater rifts between one person and another.
Not knowing people personally, but instead confining them to a category, leads to a kind of small-minded cynicism about their motives as well as a hard-heartedness towards them as fellow humans.
Remember that assumption I mentioned earlier? That ‘those people’ are essentially different from you?
We’re all ‘other’ to someone else.
This post isn’t me being political; this is me being personal. I’m not immune to these lines of division. I have also sometimes been caught up in concern about ‘others’.
I love diversity. I think that one of the special things about our world is the colour and texture provided by different cultures, languages, traditions – even ethnic differences; the spectrum of eye colours, hair colours, skin… I love it that, just the other week, here in New Zealand a pair of little girls from our school – one Sri Lankan and one South African – joined together to perform at a local Chinese singing competition (and they won an award!). So sometimes, when I’ve been thinking about the potential for one nationality or another to dominate all the others because of that nationality’s increasing population, I’ve been concerned about the dilution of that diversity.
What??? But why did God create such interest and diversity if he didn’t care about all those differences? Variety is the spice of life!
The truth is, our world will always have diversity. Between the crazy and wonderful gene combinations we’ve got floating around, the variety of physical characteristics, personalities, styles of dress (and other forms of self-expression), and opinions – which we know will never align completely on this side of heaven – we’ve got plenty of diversity. What we need to do is to ensure that those distinctions don’t become a barrier to connection between ourselves and others.
Ultimately, all the differences we see – those things that separate ‘us’ from ‘them’ – are nothing to God. Clinging too tightly to our national/ethnic identity has a way of blinding us to the hearts and virtue of others; God wants us to recognize our kinship with others. We’re all His children. And there’s none of us – not a single one – that God wouldn’t be glad to have in heaven. We all have equal access to Jesus – and His heart is that we’d all accept him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, so that we can spend eternity together.
So what are we doing drawing divisions where none truly exist? Really, the only ‘us’ and ‘them’ there can be are those who’ve answered His call and those to whom He’s still calling. We’re all his children – and that makes us family.
Go out today and greet your brothers and sisters with love and warmth.
There have been times when I’ve sat on the beds of my young children and wept with frustration and angst at the impossibility of motherhood.
I have cried bitter tears about the enormity of my to-do list and my ineptitude at accomplishing simple tasks. I’ve sobbed about the big and the little things; the things I’ve meant to do but haven’t; the people I’ve let down; the ways in which I am failing consistently, constantly, relentlessly. When I’ve been too quick to anger and too harsh in my responses I have fallen broken-hearted on my pillow and cried hot, copious tears until my throat was hoarse and my eyes were swollen and my emotions were spent.
This is the hardest job I’ve ever had.
From the physical process of becoming a mother onwards, this journey has been fraught with discomfort and difficulty.
Some parenting difficulties, once finished, are easily forgotten. Sleep issues are one of these. We went through different phases with all of our kids where they’d need a lot of help to get to sleep, or they’d have trouble sleeping through the night. At the time that we were going go through them I’d wonder when it was that we’d last had an easy evening or a full night’s sleep, and I couldn’t imagine that it was ever going to be easier to get our kid to sleep; but once we were finally through that phase I almost couldn’t remember why it had seemed like it was such a struggle (until the next sleepless phase was upon us).
But there are other tribulations I’ve faced as a parent that linger even after they’ve been dealt with; echoes of past struggles, internal debates that haunt me; circular arguments on repeat in my head. Did I really make the right decision about x? Could I have handled y better? Should I have responded differently to z? And how is it that I’ve got a kid who does/says that?!!!
Every time I think I’ve got a handle on one problem, another one crops up. Just when I’m about to pat myself on the back, I end up having to slap myself on the back of the head, instead.
I mean, sure, there’s joy. Sure, there are moments where I feel like all is right in my world (through God’s grace alone). And certainly there is love – deep, fierce, strong, tender, and abiding. There’s humour – because, after all, they can be funny little people (even when they’re not trying to be).
But where’s that moment – as yet so elusive – where I get to feel that I am doing well at this job?
Where’s the proof that my life’s work will result in the contented, loving, productive people of faith and character that I pray my boys will grow up to be???
I have come to the conclusion, again and again, that I am not able for this challenge of motherhood. I’m not enough. At times, this realisation of my profound inability has dragged me to the depths of despair.
But that despair doesn’t get the last word in my story.
Today at church we heard again about the miracle of the loaves and the fishes – actually, the two miracles of the loaves and the fishes, because we were reminded that first Jesus fed 5000+ people and then later he repeated the miracle with 4000+. Both times, a crowd had gathered to learn from Jesus; he filled their souls and their minds, but another need arose: their stomachs needed filling, too. The disciples asked around and gathered a paltry amount of food in the face of such need: a few loaves of bread and some fish. It wasn’t enough.
Jesus took those loaves and those fish and he multiplied them. The people who were gathered on the sand – and, later, the people who were gathered on the mountaintop – ate their fill, and there was still plenty left over. God turned ‘not enough’ into an abundance.
I was reminded today that what we bring to God – what we bring to life – isn’t enough; but He multiplies our offerings. We are unable, but He is able. We are mired in our weakness, but in His strength he frees us.
Today I need to remember to simply make my offering. I need to remember to trust in God’s ability to multiply, magnify, and sanctify my small, imperfect efforts. I need to take tiny, shaky steps towards the goal, and trust in Him to bring me to the finish line.
I am not – and I never will be – enough. But God is.
Bring your need: God will be your sufficiency.
Maybe it’s the stage of life I’m in, where one child’s nighttime waking is almost guaranteed (and so, therefore, is my tiredness), or maybe it’s because we sprang for the extra layer of cushioning on our mattress, but I love my bed. I could just nestle in there and stay snuggled up all day. The demands of my life don’t permit such laziness, though (more’s the pity!); in order to attend to my necessary duties, I’m forced to leave the comfort of my bed.
A couple of years ago I was compelled to write about not dwelling in comfort; I wrote the following article for our church magazine, because it was to my fellow Christians that I felt this message should be directed. Basically, I felt the need to remind us all that comfort is not a dwelling place; i.e. it is good and necessary for us to nestle into the comfort of our salvation; it is good and right that we should draw near to Jesus and find peace and joy in His presence; but we need to remember that we are called to be His hands and feet.
God calls us to take refuge in Him. He calls us to find comfort in Him, to ‘dwell’ in His perfection and light as a respite from a world in which we experience pain and struggle and darkness. Our Lord encourages us to take time to reflect and revel in being in Him. We are to embrace and celebrate the sanctuary of God’s love – but our responsibility does not end there. The purpose of this refuge is to re-charge us to go into the world and embody that love for others. Second Corinthians 1 instructs us that God comforts us in order that we may then provide the same comfort to others.
Christ himself took comfort in the Father. Jesus went up to Gethsemane to pray and to seek peace from the turmoil in his soul. But he did not stay there; from that hilltop he went out, strengthened in his resolve, to do what God was calling him to do.
God is calling us to do His work, too. Like a mother whose reluctant child is clinging too long to her skirts, He is ushering, cajoling, exhorting us to take heart and trust in his love to go with us as we leave the sanctuary of His breast. We have things to do in the world around us and we must not tarry in this place of comfort for too long, lest we deny our calling to be God’s heart out there in a hurting world.
As we approach Easter, we’re invited to look upon the Cross. Often, we’re tempted to bypass the gritty crucifixion scene and move straight to the more comforting symbol of the empty cross and the hope and peace offered there. It’s easier to skip the hard parts of Christ’s story – His suffering for our gain – and go directly to the joy of our redemption and His resurrection. But let us pause before the Cross, and Christ upon it – bound there by our sins – and consider the challenge therein.
It’s difficult to contemplate the Christ’s experience on the cross. It is not comfortable to encounter the pain or suffering of our fellow human beings; it’s not comfortable to consider how much we have and what our responsibility might be to those who have not; it’s not comfortable to think about speaking God’s truth into a world which has, historically and continuously, rejected Jesus. “I’m not called to missions,” we declare – forgetting that we are called to be God’s hands and feet in this world. “It’s a fallen world – there will always be sin and poverty and sickness. There’s nothing we can do to change that.” But do we really think we’ve got no responsibility to pass on the comfort of the Father to those who struggle beyond our natural sphere of influence and interaction?
As Christians, we’re called to be people of action. Our deeds should reflect God’s heart in the world. But too often we go to that place of refuge in our faith and we STAY there. Instead of taking sanctuary, being filled up and encouraged, and then getting back into the thick of things to do God’s work, we wrap ourselves up in the comfort of our salvation, in the comfort of our blessed lives, in the comfort of our smug completeness – and we do nothing.
Instead, let’s commit to the challenge of aligning ourselves with God’s will for our lives. This is an ongoing process; the action God expects of us depends on our particular gifts and talents as well as the stage of life we’re in – we need to remain open to God’s calling in small ways as well. But we do need to be willing to embrace discomfort in order to show God’s heart to others.
Accepting grace is simply not enough. How can we receive a transformative gift and remain unchanged by it? God is calling us to demonstrate His love in this world. He is moving in us, dwelling with us, encouraging us and renewing us; all for the purpose of equipping us to go out and be active in our faith.
This year, as we complete the Lenten season, perhaps we can challenge ourselves: if comfort is something we strive towards or even spend a lot of time thinking about, then perhaps it’s time to re-examine our priorities.
Jesus didn’t die to ensure our comfort.
Something to consider: When we encounter difficulty/challenges, do we seek a way out of those challenges or do we seek God in the midst of those challenges? Remember, God invites us to take comfort from Him; from there we are equipped to go out, strengthened by His love and His presence, and do whatever we’re called to do. |
hosting providers compared
email marketing services compared
How to Start a Successful Blog
50 best free themes
Best eCommerce Platforms
Best Live Chat Software
Best Cheap WordPress Hosting
Transparency Report #28 – On Leadership, WordPress.org Challenges, and New Partnerships
Ionut Neagu / Updated: June 3, 2019 / Transparency Reports / 7 comments
Welcome to the 28th edition of the monthly transparency report (for May 2017). This is a series where I do my best to discuss all the current goings on that were at the center of our attention last month, plus everything else that’s interesting from a business-ish point of view. Click here to see the previous reports.
#Transparency #Report no.28 - On #Leadership, #WordPress.org Challenges, and New #Partnerships
Something I shared in one of the previous reports was how we were planning to invite third-party authors to offer some of their themes through our directory at ThemeIsle.com. Well, it’s happening!
But this month’s report is not only about that. There’s been a lot more going on, actually, and I hope to get to all that further down in this report. Feel free to jump around, though:
Third-party themes in the ThemeIsle directory | Is there room for a Jetpack alternative? | Community and the Theme Review team (TRT) | Listen less, care less, but do more
Third-party themes in the ThemeIsle directory
Here’s the current state of events with our theme partnership program (you could call it like that, I guess):
We’ve just had our soft launch of the whole initiative on June 20th this year, which was, if you look at the calendar, just two days before this report’s publication.
In this introductory phase, we’re getting started with 4 awesome themes from 2 renowned theme stores: ProteusThemes and Anariel Design.
A sneak peek of the themes:
LegalPress by ProteusThemes
MedicPress by ProteusThemes
Didi by Anariel Design
Maisha by Anariel Design
Here’s what our current plans are for the partnership program in general – our roadmap:
Start with 4 themes. Check ✅. Add the themes to our directory, email customers to let them know that there’s cool new stuff on the way (for no additional payment required), and then see what people think of the themes.
Make sure that everything is going well and that we can also support the new themes without bigger hurdles (site note; yes, we do offer support on these third-party themes as well).
After a month or so, expand with another 4 themes from the same theme stores.
Wait another 3 months and then evaluate how things are going.
Start laying out a plan for rebuilding the website around this very concept entirely.
Get 2 more partners on board and 6-8 more themes.
Although this plan might sound like it’s very specific, as usual with those things, we’ll surely tweak and adjust as we’re going forward. For now, I’m really happy with our first partners and the quality of the themes they’ve brought to us. I know that our users are going to love them, particularly within the niche markets that those themes are meant for.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a hand-picked collection of 50 themes max, all coming from top theme authors (quality-wise, not necessarily “top” in terms of current popularity, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us). While at the same time, our in-house team will probably focus on one or two flagship themes – more general/multipurpose in nature – while the niche side of the equation is going to be catered to by our partners – other theme authors.
“But wait, there’s more!” (as they say in marketing)
So changing our direction with themes a bit is only one piece of the puzzle. The other, huge piece, is something entirely different:
Is there room for a Jetpack alternative?
Long story short, we’re thinking of launching a sort of a more open, Jetpack alternative.
The story with that starts during the difficult times of having Zerif Lite banned from the repo. One of the requirements back then was to move some of the theme’s functionality to a separate companion plugin, and thus have the theme just be a theme, while everything else – all added functionality – would be handled via a plugin.
We built such plugin and called it ThemeIsle Companion. Its purpose has been to add all the missing pieces back to Zerif Lite (and later to Hestia as well).
While developing it, we realized that people who are using other themes, not just ours, might benefit from a plugin like that as well. For instance, the plugin adds some content widgets initially used on the Zerif homepage. Widgets for stuff like: testimonials, team members, your “focus” or mission statement, clients list. If those elements are universal enough then they can be quite useful in other themes too.
This is where our new plugin comes into play. It’s a rebuilt version of ThemeIsle Companion, more features, more modules, better architecture. Overall, you could call it a more open, Jetpack alternative. Now, when I say “our new plugin comes into play,” it’s not actually ready yet. On its way.
Before you dismiss the idea of Jetpack alternative entirely, let me just show you what it is that we want to do with this plugin exactly:
First off, the goal is to enhance your self-hosted WordPress installation with a package of small tools and upgrades that can be easily activated one by one. And “one by one” is the keyword here – so that the plugin doesn’t bloat your system, but instead only gives you what you actually need.
Here’s part of what’s coming in the plugin:
basic social media share buttons,
Elementor modules and templates,
Beaver Builder modules and templates,
Gutenberg modules and templates,
custom menu elements (allowing you to add things like cart icons, search, etc.),
integration with GPL-compatible stock images from MyStock.Photos,
image optimization,
SMTP integration,
caching,
subscription modules.
This may seem like a lot, but every module will be a more or less standalone thing. Meaning, the plugin won’t slow down the site due to importing everything at once, but instead will give you the possibility to activate whatever you need specifically.
Also, we don’t aim for a certain module to be the most complete of its kind in the market. Let’s take caching as an example, when suggesting modules to enable, we’ll detect any other caching solutions already running on the user’s install, particularly if there are any fully-fledged alternatives. And if there are, we won’t activate our own corresponding caching module. So for instance, anyone who has WP Rocket enabled, probably won’t even see our caching module mentioned on the list.
The end goal is to provide a simple, self-hosted site enhancement solution that tackles multiple areas. This way, the user doesn’t have to go through 10 other plugins and deal with sometimes very complex configuration pages for an otherwise basic functionality.
For instance, security is a good example here. Our module might only add things like limiting login attempts and captcha protection. It’s not a lot, yes, but on the other hand, not everyone needs a solution like Wordfence, nor wants to have to deal with all the config.
At the same time, to keep the plugin from getting bloated, we will make things as modular as possible, and, like I said, load them only when they are needed. For example, if you don’t use Elementor on your site, everything Elementor-related won’t even be available, nor shown in the dashboard.
Again, this is not something that is likely to happen tomorrow. We’re working on it. The starting point is perfecting the structure so that it works with our own themes flawlessly, and then slowly expanding.
Community and the Theme Review team (TRT)
You might have noticed that the report is a bit late this month. Two reasons for that. First, the whole team was away for WordCamp Europe, and apart of that, I also attended the WordPress Community Summit that happened a couple of days before WCEU.
Overall, I’m really happy I had this opportunity, I have to say, and I appreciate the time I spent with Ulrich, Carolyna and Sakin from the TRT, as well as Mika, and also Otto who works on the WordPress.org repo + as part of the plugins team.
Long story short, just to summarize my overall conclusions, I feel there’s a huge communication gap between theme authors, the TRT, and even the other teams working on other aspects of the overall WordPress.org experience.
Some observations:
As far as I can tell, the TRT actually cannot really do much in terms of what we see when we go to the themes page on WordPress.org. While the TRT is responsible for what makes it in, gives feedback, listens to users and so on, the team that’s actually in charge of what gets shown on the WordPress.org pages is the Meta team.
Honestly, this for me doesn’t make much sense. It introduces whole another level of complexity into the picture. I mean, there are two teams and multiple people that collaboratively influence the way that the WordPress.org themes directory works. It’s tough to encourage any sort of leadership in a scenario like that, and this might be the biggest problem, actually.
Had there been just one person in charge of the “complete themes experience” then a lot of difficult times or unpopular developments could have been avoided. The lack of anyone who’s able to decide, “okay, this is what we’re doing” can have a huge impact, and especially in an environment where we have hundreds of people trying to contribute, all chasing their individual goals.
Most of the teams, along with the TRT, lack leadership in general – a person truly in charge. At the same time, though, electing a person like that might be challenging. First off, from my point of view, that person cannot be a volunteer. Leading a team or a company isn’t easy and it requires a lot of time. For that, it would probably need to be a paid position.
However, now we get into the fuzzy part. Some people in charge of different areas of WordPress.org are Automattic employees, some work for different companies that sponsor them, and then some are actually volunteering their spare time.
Personally, I would find it useful to know if a person is a full-time contributor or a volunteer just so I can align my expectations. I mean, I don’t expect volunteers to even answer tickets or respond to messages. After all, it’s their spare time.
Sponsoring a contributor is also an interesting concept, and also something that would be cool to see somewhere in the person’s profile. It certainly makes sense for commercial companies that want to give back to the community to sponsor a contributor – either delegate one of their employees to work with WordPress or make a new hire. However, even though I know that there are contributors like that in the community, right now, it all happens basically behind the curtains, and you can never know who’s who.
So that’s all in terms of leadership, but let’s go back to the WordPress.org theme directory for a moment.
As I mentioned, the Meta team is where you need to direct yourself if you want to change anything about how things appear in the directory. But … it’s rather hard to get into, or maybe I just couldn’t find a way in…
I initially thought that the Slack #meta channel is where things have been happening for the Meta team. Doesn’t seem like so. Apparently, it’s just a place for all unrelated (aka. “meta”) issues that don’t fit anywhere else.
Here’s my initial outreach from around two years ago:
As you can see, no answer. Clearly not the right place. And the handbook is not helpful either. The only useful pieces of information that I could find is the team page, and the list of the current projects (interesting read).
Eventually, I got a chance to talk with Otto about this during WCEU. He pointed me in a direction that can work + encouraged me to start working on the issues that I think are the most important. However, I suppose not everybody can go to events and talk with members of different WordPress teams in person, so having a page/resource on how to contribute and actually encourage people to do so should help a lot.
Overall, I think that the TRT does a really good job considering the environment they’re in. They bring people in and then help them understand how everything works with themes in the WordPress ecosystem.
Listen less, care less, but do more
This may sound odd, but hear me out, please.
With the rise of Slack, and direct communication tools in the web dev world in general, everybody can express whatever’s bothering them this very second.
Your theme got suspended? Go to Slack and complain.
Somebody copied your otherwise GPL(!) plugin? Go ahead and shame them.
Your theme remains in the queue for too long? Go to Slack and make sure that everybody knows.
Theme rejected? Same thing.
I could go on. 🙂
What I’m getting at is that there’s a lot of noise out there. Maybe that noise is valid in certain scenarios, but probably not in 100% of them. I am not saying that authors shouldn’t express their voice and especially if they feel that they’re being taken advantage of. However, at the same time, the main collaborative goal for all of us in the WordPress ecosystem is (1) to make sure that only the best themes get accepted, and only then (2) that every member of the community involved is 100% happy with that outcome.
What I’m trying to say is that when you’re working on something, you perhaps shouldn’t take every opinion into account, just because it’s loud. Just “do.” At the end of the day, we will still have nothing if all everybody is doing is “listening” and “caring” about what other people have told them. The no.1 thing is to always “do.” No amount of listening is going to make your life (or company or products) better if you don’t actually “do” anything about it.
As theme authors, too often we see reviewers only as someone who’s actively stopping us from getting our theme online. Us vs them. Right? While, in fact, it’s not at all like that. Theme reviewers do just as important of a job as theme authors do.
But that goes the other way around too. Just speaking from my own personal experience, when Zerif Lite got suspended, I felt that theme authors were often perceived as not good people overall – people who want to just game the system for profit.
This is a prime example of lack of communication and transparency. At the end of the day, both sides of the equation have important jobs and no one has any bad intentions. A middle ground needs to be found here. For that to happen, however, I believe that we need commercial businesses invited into the community and represented more. For example, at the Community Summit, besides Yoast, I haven’t met any other big plugin author.
This whole thing goes back to the ideas of the code of conduct and inclusivity that the WordPress community wants to be known for. Right now, though, it just doesn’t seem to work everywhere.
I mean, the WordPress world is vast, and every member of the community is different. However, those differences don’t just come down to your skin color, sexual orientation, cultural differences, and so on. This goes way deeper. More or less, each one of us does everything differently. And those differences absolutely need to be respected.
For instance, Matt Mullenweg has his unique way of answering tough questions, usually by going around the subject while still relating things back to the core aspect. Some people don’t like that. I’m one of them. I like to tell things like they are and in a straightforward way, even if some people might not like that.
But at the end of the day, this doesn’t mean that I’m in the right and they’re in the wrong. No, we’re just different. That’s the diversity thing. Yet, we’re all pursuing the same goal – to make the WordPress ecosystem better, and truly – truly! – more inclusive. So let’s embrace that.
Okay, that’s all I have for you this month. As always, thanks for reading and for supporting us! Stay updated and get new reports delivered to you by subscribing here:
All edits and witty rewrites by Karol K.
Or start the conversation in our Facebook group for WordPress professionals. Find answers, share tips, and get help from other WordPress experts. Join now (it’s free)!
Get the CodeinWP weekly!
50+ Best Free WordPress Themes
The Complete GDPR Guide
How to Start a Blog: Complete Guide
Best Email Marketing Tools
Managed WordPress Hosting Guide
SiteGround vs Bluehost vs HostGator vs InMotion vs GoDaddy
Top 5 E-Commerce Hosting Solutions
Mailchimp Competitors & Alternatives 2019
Best SMTP Providers Compared
1Password vs LastPass vs Dashlane
How Much Does a VPN Cost?
Best Live Chat Software Solutions
Transparency Series
Reviews and Comparisons
10+ Fastest WooCommerce Themes (Free, Optimized, and Beautiful)
How to Manage Multiple WordPress Websites (Do It the Easy Way With These 5 Tools)
9 Best Free Business Name Generators + How to Use Them
Transparency Report #12 – We’re Launching a New Blog + Why
Transparency Report #26 – The Future of ThemeIsle and How Often People Change Themes
Transparency Report #37 – How We Built, Launched and Promoted Our Latest Project
CodeinWP stands for all-things-WordPress. From web design to freelancing and from development to business, your questions are covered.
Revive Social
Optimole
Just Free Themes
Domain Wheel
BizarroDevs
Best Free WordPress Themes
WordPress Statistics
Mailchimp Alternatives
Copyright © 2012- CodeinWP | All rights reserved | Powered by VertiStudio |
In the last decades, publications such as books and articles in magazines, all seem to be rooted to only a few works. There is an, in text-length rather extended, breed description in the multi-volumed encyclopaedia of Éditions Atlas (Mon chien – Mon ami), also published in Dutch under the title Mijn hond – Mijn vriend (1988/89), by Lekturama.
Then there is the “Thèse”, the independency pretending veterinary thesis by O.Chapusot of 1991, under the title of Contribution à l’étude de la race Barbet en France. Chapusot in here speaks about the contrasting points of view of the two breed clubs in France. He tries to make an independent honest historical survey, but already quite soon blocks himself with details. Any thorough analysis of the concerned matters he does not bring, not even an attempt of an analysis of the different loads carried by the term “barbet”.
Concerning the 19th century – this was a somehow confusing period with the entry of cynology, which seems to intend merely to supply a fixation of aspects of confusion, instead of bringing clarity and order. To say it in different words: these confusions had a strong artificial nature, because some persons created some situations and enhanced confusion, instead of explaining things properly to the public. From this period, Chapusot chooses only some poor quotations from the 19th century, walking by fast along all the rest. Apparently, he is only a veterinary and not a historian, and in addition his vision of all kinds of cynological developments is rather surficial. His bibliography is unbelievable poor.
In 2014 Het Barbetboek (Barbet book) was published in the Netherlands by B. Waller-Rengelink and E. Roest Kempemo, and also in an English edition. This work is meant to be a nice practical guide for owners in the first place and spends only a few words (less than 0,02% space) on the history and development.
A good breed description of the history and development of the Barbet: how should that be? The best would be to start from the well-known article of Le Houelleur in L’Éleveur, Nº 2539, 7-10-1934. Of course not everything should be copied without proper digestion, but considered as material to check all points of argumentation, evidence and possible indications in original sources, compare and analyse them, correct them if necessary and in particular complete them.
The above mentioned encyclopaedia of Atlas/Lekturama (1988/89) says about the Barbet that the breed was absent at the time France was named “Gaul”, and the ancient Celts only had hounds and mastiffs for hunting and only had some poor agriculture and no shepherd dogs. This latter sounds like a contradiction to the fact that the Celts were already very involved in keeping herds of sheep and their wool weaving techniques were already highly developed ages before the first Celt ever set a foot in France. Then, how could they keep and breed herds of sheep without dogs to protect them? I only mention this as example of how unreliable some general available documentation on the Barbet is.
After no research was done, some more recent source states the opposite:
“The geographic origins of the Barbet are unknown, but it appears to be that he lived in our country when it was named Gaul” (http://www.chiens-online.com/race-barbet-fiche-100.html).
If this is interpret strictly, it would make someone sitting on the edge of the chair for all the surprising information, which could help to give this line some sense. After checking antique sources, both written and iconographic, it seems however there’s not even any theory about it, nor any indication. France was called Gaul by Julius Caesar’s time. Since then Celtic dog breeds are being described by various authors from Antiquity, but not any bearded. So, this statement from chiens-online seems to be only an expression of some kind of feeling.
On the same level is the first line on page 4 of the introduction of Chapusot’s “Thèse” (1991):
“The barbet is a very old French dog breed, which has given birth to quite a number of other breeds, of which the most current in fact is the poodle”.
The author however spends only some pages on assumptions and gives some kind of inventory of points of view, without making any difference between fanciful hypotheses and serious opinions, based on facts. It lacks checking of data, and does not bring any real argument other than an external similarity of various dog breeds. So, this is not of any help either. Concerning breeds, created with the aid of the Barbet, the best known are rough-coated scent hounds, at first at the court of Brussels, and then the rough-coated pointing breeds in several countries are known to descend from Barbet-like dogs in their own countries, and in France the Barbet was used to create the Griffon Boulet. But Chapusot puts the Poodle at number one to descent from the Barbet, in spite of that the Poodle can be traced back as a separate breed at least as long as the Barbet itself, and not even specific to France alone with different lines of development. With its first line, the “Thèse” expresses merely a belief-system, an error caused by the lack of proper analysis and research more than the apparently confusing fact that both breeds were known under the same name of “barbet”. Some 16th and 18th century sources already described them as separate breeds (Gesner, Gmelin).
Before being able to chisel out the connections of Barbets, water, company and shepherd dogs, it is necessary to achieve a proper vision as wide as possible on the early tracks of the hunting Barbet. Most sources, even controversial, seem more or less unanimous that we find them in the end of the Late Middle Ages. Because of that, it appears to be a key-period, and in order to obtain a stable point of departure to reach all kinds of connections and understand later developments, it’s good to make an inventory of some main analyses.
What do we really know about the historical sources on the Barbet as hunting dog for water game or different kinds of dogs with the same sort of exterior?
In France we find old, not necessarily the oldest, traces with Gaston Fébus and the, according some researchers even older, work of Le Roy Modus et la Royne Racio, both from the 14th century.
“Chiens d’oysel” or “espainholz” in the hunting book of Gaston Fébus (1386), showing old fashioned spaniels, of which the majority was smooth, but some were long-coated or Barbets
On one illustration with Fébus a Barbet-coated “spaniel” can be seen in the midst of a group “espainholz” (spaniels) or “Chiens d’oysel” (bird dogs), which are smooth or long-coated. For the opportunity, I invented the term “Barbet-coated” to indicate it is long-coated with a potential beard, apparently, often with a “shaved face”, on feet and toes, back and front of the legs long, on the body even longer, well wavy and much thicker than with a long-coated spaniel. Also, on the portrait of Fébus, sitting on his throne, surrounded by representatives of all, in that time, known hunting breeds, there stands a long-coated spaniel, and not a Barbet-coated.
In Modus dogs are depicted on the hunt in co-operation with hunting-birds (falcon, hawk, etc.) and in particular also to retrieve the down-fetched birds from the water. There exists a rather large number of versions or copies of Modus, and each time the illustrations are a little bit different, and in some cases it is interesting to have a closer look. This way Lindner (1940) seems wanting to make a link between a depiction in a (in Germany existing) copy of Modus and the water-dog of Feyerabendt (1582), more precise the woodcut by Jost Amman (see my translation of some pages by Strebel, some time ago). Perhaps Lindner’s feeling, already a bit preceeded by Strebel (1905) can be correct. What is lacking however, is richer reference material and it should be deeper researched.
What exactly can we conceive from Fébus (1387)? Here follow some quotations from him, being an expertise of quality as a mix between love for a proper working dog and artistic beauty, taken over from Castaing (1960, pp. 45-47):
– “There exists another sort of dogs, called Chiens d’oysel [bird dogs] or espainholz (spaniels), because they come from Spain, though other countries have them too….”.
– “The Chiens d’oysel [bird dogs] are quarrellers and great barkers”.
– “The beautiful Chien d’oysel [bird dog] must have a robust head and large body and a white and patched coat, because they are the most beautiful and of this coat we like them the best. And he should not be too hairy and must have a thick tail”.
Another copy of Fébus’ hunting book, showing 12 “spaniels”, of which 3 are long-coated or Barbets, although the type of the individual dogs is much less defined than in case of the coloured version. Remarkable however is that the bushy “cow-tails” are depicted with much emphasis.
Fébus covers two well-known illustrations with these Chiens d’oysel: one with ten (on another version twelve) of them in a field subtitled “Cy apres devise du chien doysel et de toute la nature”, and another with three of them hunting rabbits. After careful investigation of these miniatures Castaing (1960) remarks:
“… on one of them are two Chiens d’oysel out of ten, and on the other only three out the twelve are griffons or épagneuls in that sense what we understand nowadays under those terms, as well with most of them the tail is provided with short or brushy hair, just like a cow’s tail, like those long ago, the dogs were shorthaired. Without any doubt one has to park them in the same kennel, like it is being showed on another miniature, producing accidental mixes, because Fébus himself said so: but the long-coated were rather well a minority, and some of them were Barbets”.
Long-coated “espainhol” on the portrait of Fébus, sitting on his throne surrounded with examples of all the known hunting breeds of that time (1386). He indicated this as his favourite coat-type, apparently long-coated, but not too abundant. Still, if you study the front-side of all the 4 legs, it seems they are still more “hairy” than we consider typical for a modern spaniel. Therefore in this case it appears to be a not yet so well fixed mix between a smooth spaniel and a Barbet.
The first two miniatures mentioned were two different versions of the same scene: one with the 12 drawn with ink, where, in my opinion, the type is worked out a bit inferior, and the other better known with only 10 Chiens d’oysel, painted in colour, where much more attention was paid to depict the individual type of each dog.
Fébus however gives also another clear example of such Chien d’oysel or espainhol, and that is on his portrait, where he sits on the throne, surrounded by representatives of all the settled hunting dog breeds of his time, and among them a long-coated red Chien d’oysel or espainhol, which supplies him apparently some ideal, in spite he is reddish instead of white with patches.
It seems this way that the reddish or yellowish colour is connected to the long hair, and so most likely influenced by the Barbet-coated. The ideal would be to obtain a modern spaniel-like long coat with the colour of the smooth-coated, but that stage wasn’t fixed yet on large scale. But perhaps we just have too few portraits to make a better inventory. Concerning the colour of the smooth espainholz, some seem to be greyish or greyish-brown with darker patches. This must have been a primitive way to depict the roan coat type.
Smooth and long-coated “espainholz” of “Chiens d’oysel” (bird dogs) hunting rabbits in Fébus’ hunting book (1486). Because they also catch rabbits, it’s obvious they cannot be mistaken for some small breed of scent hounds, which in contrary hunt by nose on fresh scent track.
The question is: has the 14th century variation between the bird dogs, of which the Barbet seems to be part of, been the personal breeding art of Fébus, or did he just explain with this example how one should or could select, and was the whole art of breeding Chiens d’oysel (bird dogs) included the three coat types part of a wider spread, region or country bound blueprint?
Because Modus pays more attention to the bird dogs than Fébus (who only has them depicted hunting rabbits and not even birds), and may have been a little earlier work, the answer may be indeed that the Chien d’oysel (bird dog) certainly was a wider spread concept, and existed already before the 14th century.
In each case both the by Fébus described (on his pictures smooth-coated) white patched bird dogs and (on his picture reddish-yellowish) Barbet-coated bird dogs must have been stable breeds somehow, and likewise older than then the 14th century. And when Fébus calls them native to Spain, but also says that other countries have them too, judging from general dog breeds history, Italy may be been the (or one of the) other countries.
To the question: has Chien d’oysel (bird dog) been a term for the occasion, it looks most certain the answer is “no”, because both Fébus and Modus used it and likewise did Petrus de Crescentiis from Italy (13th century, his work was published in print later in the 15th century, a.o. in German and Polish). Herein the bird dog was mentioned next to the hawk dog.
Rather often it is being suggested by a number of authors since the 19th century that the hawk dog, mentioned in various dated Frankish laws, has been the same as the bird dog (Chien d’oysel). This would assume that some primordial bird dog (pointer, spaniel or Barbet) has been in use in northwest Europe and Germany since the end of the Roman period, in spite of this is not really confirmed anywhere.
The differentiation of bird dog and hawk dog by Petrus de Crescentiis however should be a good reason for suspicion.
On his blog http://caille-des-bles.blog.fr/2007/03/14/petite_histoire_du_chien_d_arret~3655934/ Jean Luc Bayrou gives a practical note about this question in his Petite histoire du chien d’arrêt (14-3-2007):
“Later it was believed to see the Chien d’oysel in the Capitulari of Dagobert (7th century) in the sentence “that who has killed a hunting dog which is named hapichunt, [a number of] three [gold coins] was applied”. The word hapichunt is often translated wrong as pointing dog [chien d’arrêt], although the word hapich means in reality falcon. This indicates thus the dog of the falconer, and not the lay-dog [chien couchant]”.
Another copy of “Modus” in a German collection (approximately 1400-1450), with (a) 3 not very fine- built looking bird dogs, reminding both Strebel (1905) and Lindner (1940) to (b) Jost Amman’s woodcut of a water dog (according Strebel – because of the stingy ridge on the back – a rough-coated type) in Feyerabendt’s book (1582)
Some completing remarks may help to make the picture a bit more clear:
– In the Late Middle Ages (1250-1500) the dogs used by falconers were almost exclusively greyhounds and spaniels. The greyhound (lévrier) however was never ever indicated as hawk dog or bird dog, but without exception, always under a separate name. At least from the 13th on the term “bird dog” (Chien d’oysel, Vogelhund) can be traced, what certainly can be accepted in the same meaning as Fébus did with the “espainhol”, what includes the possibility the same coat variety went along with this term: smooth, long-coated or Barbet.
– The so-called Capitulari Triplex of Dagobert I (7th century) consist of large collections of Frankish laws from the 7th to the 15th century, of which only a small part could be from Dagobert, but it is not this, but the Lex Baiuvariorum (Bavarian law) of the 8th century with later additions, which contains the considered line, quoted above by Jean Luc Bayrou: “VI. De es cane, qui dicitur hapuhhunt, qui sententiae subiaceat”, which means that he who killed a hawk dog was punished the same way as he who did that with a greyhound, so had to replace it by a same kind of dog and also to pay 3 solidos (golden coins).
– Hapich (Old-German) does not mean “falcon”, but “hawk” (autour). There are but indications that the appellation hapichunt could have been a translation error, copied in the Early Middle Ages from other text models.
The big question now of course is the nature of the Barbet in the 14th century, at least in the case of Fébus, who apparently considered it as a coat-variety within the frame of the Chien d’oysel (bird dog) or espainhol (spaniel).
The author of the dog encyclopaedia of Atlas/Lekturama claims that the Barbet was the forefather of the 14th century espainhol, although Gaston Fébus reveals that this espainhol was in majority a smooth-coated breed. I think the author of Atlas means that the Barbet-coated espainhol produced long-coated espainhols by crossing with the smooth-coated espainhol. This makes some sense.
19th century book illustration of a miniature illustration from Modus (14th century) with a not so well defined bird dog.
All the nonsense of introduction of the Barbet in the shape of shepherd dogs by the Maures from northwest Africa, loyally copied in so many articles, is more or less impossible to check, because research is impossible if it is only an assumption, based on some old source, which mixed fairytales with facts.
Pure fantasy is the statement by the author of Atlas that there was no agriculture in the Merovingian empire, because agriculture and life-stock breeding were widespread on the territory of France already in the Celtic period before the Romans. The assumption they did not have had shepherd dogs is pure nonsense and only indicated that the person who wrote this had definitely no awareness at all of history, or read nothing better than the comics of Astérix by Uderzo. First of all, shepherd dogs were mentioned in the Merovingian laws and also long before the famous Celtic wool weaving techniques have been certified by samples from Hallstatt (Austria), dating from 1200-400 BC. This means sheep breeding has always been a very important factor in the Celtic culture, and how could that ever have been possible without shepherd dogs?
The same illustration in two different copies of “Le Roy Modus et la Royne Racio”, of which the original was from around 1350. Left the Chiens d’oysel are smooth and long-coated and at the right both are long-coated.
Codex Manesse (German, appr. 1250). King Chunrat with hawks and bird dogs.
All serious researchers (Castaing 1960, De Marolles 1922) come out on the same point, that bird dogs, as the smooth-coated primordial lay-dogs (chien couchants) are typicly South European, and all evidence for Barbet-coated dogs speaks for the same.
As such this does not really exclude long-coated shepherd dogs with beards or any other bearded dog, although they most likely have had their own ways of dispersion. An example with a Barbet-coated shepherd dog on a Flemish tapestry of the 15th century, half-shaved like a lion, and a spinning tool next to it, may sweep away any doubt that Barbet-coated dogs were spread over Europe already in that time, and being used in different breed selections (hunting, sheep herding).
Barbet-coated dog, herding the sheep on a Flemish tapistry (15th century). Note that his coat is carefully clipped like a lion.
Concerning the coat type, most depictions show a thick wavy coat, and only in case of the Très riches heures of the duke of Berry by the brothers of Limbourg, in a falconry scene a brown dog with a long coat is depicted, but here the waves are smaller and numerous, so that the coat has a definite curly character. A rather similar dog by Lieven van Lathem doesn’t expose real curls. In a Flemish version in French of the 13th century falconry-book of the king of Germany and Sicily, Frederic II, the “Master of Bruges of 1482” depicted a non-curly Barbet, white, clipped in lion model, beard and face cut short (all 15th century).
About the falconry (or oyselerie, or chasse au vol, volerie, vluchtbedrijf, because other birds than falcons were used as well) can be said there is a rather strong connection with bird dogs. On the other hand, it cannot be considered too essential, because falconry was known among the Romans as well the Merovingians and the Carolingians but without any evidence of Chiens
Details of the falconry scene on the August-page of the “Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry” by the brothers of Limbourg (1413-1416). it’s a very small detail of a rather stylish miniature painting, in spite of the high ear-set the total with long wavy curls speaks for itself.
d’oysel. According to one of the best falconry historians, Swaen (1937) the Germans picked up falconry from the east (may be from Scyths or Thracians) and brought it to Italy, from where the Romans brought it to Gaul. Greeks and Slavs must have got it from Central-Asian tribes.
So, I would tend to consider the connection of the Chiens d’oysel with falconry a later development and mainly of south and south-east European nature, spreading itself further north from around the 13th century, as far as can be traced. An example exists in the Codex Manesse, a manuscript from Heidelberg, Germany. Here the type seems to be long-coated and not bearded, but it is only one rare illustration.
A rather similar dog, although not really curly but almost tending to be, 2nd half 15th century by Lieven van Lathem.
In the Middle Ages, many falconers had Byzantine and oriental connections, like the author of De arte venandi cum avibus, Frederic II, king of Sicily and Germany (13th century). Robert d’Anjou, king of Naples and count of Provence (1277-1343) introduced in Provence hunting with birds on herons and bustards, mainly in the area of Crau near Arles. His greyhounds (lévriers) were trained on peafowl. Taken the tight connection between hunters and falconers it goes too much without saying to be a bold theory, that he had access to some kind of dogs to retrieve them from the water, because the work of Modus was almost from the same time and Fébus only some decades later. The canton he reserved for his pleasures near Arles still carried his name in the 17th century. The husband of his grand-daughter and heir gave his name to a brook, where he hunted herons (Louynes or Luynes).
Also Jehan de Francières, knight of Rhodos, commander of Choisy and grand-prior of Aquitania, during the reign of Louis XI (15th century) wrote a treatise on falconry, after sources of falconry-masters from Cyprus, Antioch and Greece.
Portrait of Maria of Burgundy with a merlin (steenvalk), a pigeon size falcon with the reputation of working excellent in combination with bird dogs.
So, even without evidence in detail a flood of connections can be observed between France, where water dogs apparently appeared at least in the 14th century, and the South and East Mediterranean, which is considered the region of origin of bearded dogs in Antiquity.
Detail with a white Barbet in lion-clip in a 15th century Southern Dutch copy by the Master of Bruges of 1482 of the famous falconry book by Frederic II.
In the Southern Netherlands the water dogs seem to be settled since the 15th century at least. Maria of Burgundy most likely kept them. She even died from an accident during a heron hunt where she lived near Bruges and Ghent. On a well-known portrait she carries a very small falcon, not larger than a pigeon. This variety was the merlin (esmirillion, smelleken, steenvalk), which was according Jacht-Bedryff (Dutch manuscript of 1636, first published in 1948) specialised in staying high in the air above the lay-dog (chien couchant) or spillioen (spaniel), excellent for the hunt on partridge.
Ash, E.C.: Dogs: their history and development, London 1927
Atlas éditions: Mon chien – mon ami, Paris 1988/89 and its Dutch version of Lekturama
Bayrou, J.L.: Petite histoire du chien d’arrêt, blog http://caille-des-bles.blog.fr, 2007
Bise, G.: The hunting book by Gaston Phoebus, Fribourg/Genéve 1978
Blaze, E.: Le livre du Roy Modus et de la Royne Racio, Paris 1839
Castaing, J.: Les chiens d’arrêt, Bern 1960
Chapusot, O.: Contribution à l’étude de la race Barbet en France, Alfort 1991
Dunoyer de Noirmont, baron: Histoire de la chasse en France, vol. 3, Paris 1868
Jungklaus, F.: Der kleine Münsterländer Vorstehhund, Neudamm 1921
Lindner, K.: Gechichte des deutschen Weidwerks II, Berlin 1940
SCC, http://www.chiens-online.com/race-barbet-fiche-100.html
Swaen, A.E.H.: De valkerij in de Nederlanden, Zutphen 1937
Swaen, A.E.H.: Jacht-Bedryff, Leiden 1948
Zimmermann, H.: Lexikon der Hundefreunde, Leipzig 1933/34 |
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine
Government health sites
Call for Papers:
AJLM Special Issue on The Future of Diagnostics. Extended submission deadline:
The African Journal of Laboratory Medicine is now included in Scopus.
Home ▶ Vol 6, No 2 (2017) ▶ Chikaonda
Tarsizio Chikaonda
Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
UNC Project, Lilongwe, Malawi
Irene Ketseoglou
Nelson Nguluwe
Robert Krysiak
Isaac Thengolose
Felix Nyakwawa
Malawi National Tuberculosis Programme, Lilongwe, Malawi
Nora E. Rosenberg
James Mpunga
Irving F. Hoffman
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Maria A. Papathanasopoulos
Mina Hosseinipour
Lesley Scott
Wendy Stevens
Chikaonda T, Ketseoglou I, Nguluwe N, et al. Molecular characterisation of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Malawi. Afr J Lab Med. 2017;6(2), a463. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v6i2.463
Molecular characterisation of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Malawi
Tarsizio Chikaonda, Irene Ketseoglou, Nelson Nguluwe, Robert Krysiak, Isaac Thengolose, Felix Nyakwawa, Nora E. Rosenberg, Christopher Stanley, James Mpunga, Irving F. Hoffman, Maria A. Papathanasopoulos, Mina Hosseinipour, Lesley Scott, Wendy Stevens
Received: 08 Apr. 2016; Accepted: 05 Oct. 2016; Published: 31 Mar. 2017
Copyright: © 2017. The Author(s). Licensee: AOSIS.
Background: Availability and access to the detection of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs remains a significant challenge in Malawi due to limited diagnostic services. The Xpert® MTB/RIF can detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance to rifampicin in a single, rapid assay. Rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis has not been well studied in Malawi.
Objectives: We aimed to determine mutations in the rifampicin resistance determining region (RRDR) of the rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis strains which were defined as resistant to rifampicin by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay.
Methods: Rifampicin-resistant isolates from 43 adult patients (≥ 18 years) from various districts of Malawi were characterised for mutations in the RRDR (codons 507–533) of the rpoB gene by DNA sequencing.
Results: Mutations were found in 37/43 (86%) of the resistant isolates in codons 511, 512, 513, 516, 522, 526 and 531. The most common mutations were in codons 526 (38%), 531 (29.7%) and 516 (16.2%). Mutations were not found in 6/43 (14%) of the resistant isolates. No novel rpoB mutations other than those previously described were found among the rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis complex strains.
Conclusion: This study is the first to characterise rifampicin resistance in Malawi. The chain-termination DNA sequencing employed in this study is a standard method for the determination of nucleotide sequences and can be used to confirm rifampicin resistance obtained using other assays, including the Xpert MTB/RIF. Further molecular cluster analysis, such as spoligotyping and DNA finger printing, is still required to determine transmission dynamics and the epidemiological link of the mutated strains.
Tuberculosis remains an important public health problem especially in the developing world. The global impact of tuberculosis is significant, with an annual estimate of 9.6 million tuberculosis cases and over 1.5 million deaths due to tuberculosis in 2014.1 The tuberculosis burden is worsened by the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis cases, defined as simultaneous resistance to at least rifampicin and isoniazid, with or without resistance to any other drug.1
In Malawi, there were 5564 new smear-positive cases of tuberculosis registered in 2014.1 Patients diagnosed with tuberculosis are treated with the standard quadruple antibiotic therapy recommended for drug-susceptible tuberculosis (rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide). Rapid detection of drug resistance is crucial in choosing the most effective treatment to avert morbidity and mortality of infected individuals and reduce the risk of MDR tuberculosis transmission.1
Rifampicin, if the isolate is susceptible, is a very important component of the current tuberculosis treatment regimen and has proved to be effective to both susceptible strains and strains resistant to streptomycin and isoniazid.1 However, there is growing resistance to rifampicin, largely due to particular genomic mutations in the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.2 The rpoB gene encodes the β subunit of RNA polymerase, which is involved in chain initiation and elongation. A signature sequence for M. tuberculosis identification is contained in this region.3,4 Mutations in the rifampicin resistance determining region (RRDR) of this gene (codons 507–533) are associated with rifampicin resistance.5 Detection of such mutations indicates rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis strains and can be used as a predictor for MDR tuberculosis, although not a complete surrogate marker.6
Globally, it is estimated that 3.3% of new cases and 20% of previously-treated cases have MDR tuberculosis and that 9.7% of these cases have pre-extensively drug resistant tuberculosis.1 A substantial percentage (37%) of new tuberculosis cases and a staggering percentage (74%) of the global estimate of MDR tuberculosis incident cases were not reported or remained undiagnosed in 2014. Determination of the pattern of drug resistance is performed in less than 3% of people diagnosed with tuberculosis worldwide.1,7,8
Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) relies on detection of growth and is performed using an antibiotic susceptibility testing set consisting of a growth control and one tube for each anti-tuberculosis test drug, with known concentration.9 Phenotypic DST is widely used in limited-resource settings. This method is inexpensive and accurate, though time consuming due to its reliance on the growth of M. tuberculosis, which takes a long time to obtain results.10 Mutation(s) in the genes relevant to responses to each drug are associated with resistance to tuberculosis drugs.10 Genotypic DST methods target well-characterised resistance-associated mutations. Genotypic DST determines such mutations in the tested gene region only and as such, unknown or less frequent mutations might be missed.11,12 Molecular tools for rapid DST are developed upon a better understanding of mutations responsible for drug resistance in the bacterial genome.13,14 Several molecular methods, including the Xpert® MTB/RIF (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, United States), have been developed for the detection of M. tuberculosis complex DNA and RRDR mutations associated with rifampicin resistance.15,16,17 The World Health Organization strongly recommends the use of Xpert MTB/RIF as the initial diagnostic test for use on pulmonary specimens from adults and children suspected of having HIV-associated tuberculosis or MDR tuberculosis.1
The use of DNA sequencing complements the above assay in detecting new mutations, as well as confirming the presence of the most frequent mutations that could be associated with drug resistance, and has conferred excellent benefits to patient care due to the larger DNA fragment that is sequenced.18,19 DNA sequencing determines mutations by comparing the differences between the gold standard (H37Rv reference strain) and the test nucleotide sequence.20,21
We aimed to assess the RRDR of the rpoB gene for mutations in M. tuberculosis strains that were defined as rifampicin resistant by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay and to establish the prevalence of such mutations in tuberculosis-infected Malawians.
Ethical considerations
Approvals for this study were granted by University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (M120256), National Health Sciences Research Committee (NHSRC) in Malawi (NHSRC # 999) and the University of North Carolina (UNC; Chapel Hill) Institutional Review Board (CID 1211). Obtaining consent was waived because the study used previously-stored and residual sputum pellets, and consent from patients was given during recruitment and/or this was part of routine testing for tuberculosis drug resistance.
We conducted this study using processed sputum sediments (pellets) from new and previously-treated patients, ≥ 18 years of age. Demographic and clinical information was collected from the respective laboratory tuberculosis registers and entered in Excel (Microsoft, Inc., Redmond, Washington, United States) spreadsheets. Both retrospective and prospective pellets (N = 995) were used in the current study.
Retrospective pellets
Retrospective sputum pellets (n = 351) were collected between April 2011 and July 2012 from a study conducted in outpatients initiating tuberculosis treatment at Martin Preuss Centre at Bwaila Hospital (Bwaila) in Lilongwe, which was looking at the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis at this HIV/tuberculosis clinic.22 Sputum samples were processed for routine culture at the UNC Project laboratory following the N-acetyl-L-cysteine and sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH) method. Pellets were inoculated on both mycobacterium growth indicator tubes (MGIT) and Löwenstein Jensen media. DST was performed using the Hain MTBDRplus assay (Hain Lifescience GmbH, Nehren, Germany). Residual pellets were stored at -80°C and selected at random for use in this study without any special criteria to eliminate bias.
Prospective pellets
Prospective sputum pellets came from patients suspected of drug-resistant tuberculosis (n = 644) who presented consecutively to district hospitals in Malawi, and sputum samples were sent to the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in Lilongwe for conventional DST between June 2012 and May 2014. Sputum was processed using the NALC-NaOH method and the pellet was split in two. The first sample was used for routine culture and conventional DST at the NTRL, while the other was stored for up to two weeks at 2°C – 8°C for Xpert MTB/RIF testing and MGIT culture at the UNC laboratory.
Mycobacterium cultures at the UNC laboratory
Pellets were re-suspended in 1.5 mL of phosphate buffer and split into different volumes. One part was processed for routine culture using MGIT and the other was processed on Xpert MTB/RIF (0.5 mL). MGIT tubes were inoculated with 500 µL of the re-suspended sample as previously described23 and were monitored daily for growth using a hand-held BACTEC MicroMGIT Reader for up to 42 days. Smears were prepared from positive cultures, stained using Ziehl-Neelsen stain (Becton, Dickinson & Company, Sparks, Maryland, United States) and examined for acid-fast bacilli. Determination of eligibility for DNA sequencing was dependent on results from the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (software version G4). DNA was extracted from corresponding MGIT cultures if rifampicin resistance was detected by Xpert MTB/RIF.
Xpert MTB/RIF assay
Samples (n = 995) were processed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. A sample reagent buffer was added to 500 µL of the re-suspended pellet in the ratio of 3:1 (sample reagent buffer:specimen) as described previously.24 The container was closed tightly and then vigorously shaken for 15 seconds. The mixed specimen was left to stand for 10 minutes followed by another vigorous shaking for 15 seconds and left to stand for a further five minutes. Thereafter, 2 mL of the mixed specimen was loaded into a single-use Xpert MTB/RIF cartridge. The closed cartridge was loaded into the GeneXpert® instrument, where extraction, amplification and detection of M. tuberculosis and screening for resistance to rifampicin were performed automatically and simultaneously. Results were available within two hours. The Xpert MTB/RIF probe and cycle threshold (Ct) value was documented for each tuberculosis strain that was detected as resistant to rifampicin.
DNA extraction and amplification
Genomic bacterial DNA was extracted from cultures at the UNC laboratory using the HAIN GenoLyse kit (Hain Lifescience GmbH, Nehren, Germany). From MGIT liquid media, 1.0 mL was transferred to a Sarstedt micro-centrifuge tube. The tube was centrifuged for 15 minutes at 14 000 rpm. The supernatant was carefully discarded and the pellet was re-suspended in 100 µL Lysis Buffer from the kit, vortexed thoroughly and incubated at 95°C in a heating block for five minutes. Tubes were removed and briefly centrifuged to remove condensation. To each tube, 100 µL of Neutralization Buffer was added, vortexed for five seconds and then centrifuged for five minutes at 14 000 rpm. Supernatant was transferred to a new tube and the pellet was discarded. The extracted DNA was stored at -80°C for use as DNA template.
MTBDRplus line probe assay
The GenoType®MTBDRplus line probe assay (Version 2) was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In brief, an appropriate number of PCR tubes, one for each sample and one each for a PCR positive (M. tuberculosis DNA) and negative (dH2O) control were labelled. A master mix was prepared for one reaction and the final volume adjusted according to the total number of samples, with some excess to allow for pipetting errors. The solution was mixed by inversion and an aliquot of 45 µL of the prepared master mix was transferred to each PCR tube. 5 µL of each sample or control DNA was added to the appropriate PCR tube. PCR was performed in a 9700 DNA thermocycler (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, United States), using the cycling protocol as described by the manufacturer.
DNA PCR
PCR amplification of the rpoB gene, which included the RRDR, was carried out using forward primer rpoBF2 (5’-GAG GGT CAG ACC ACG ATG AC-3’; nucleotide positions 1030 to 1049 according to H37Rv numbering, GenBank accession number CAB09390.1) and reverse primer rpoBR (5’-GAG CCG ATC AGA CCG ATG T-3’; nucleotide positions 1460 to 1478 according to H37Rv numbering) in a GeneAmp PCR system 9700 thermocycler (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, United States). The total volume of the PCR reaction used was 50 µL, containing: 5 µL of 10X high fidelity buffer, 1 µL of 10 mM dNTP mix, 2 µL of 50 mM MgSO4, 1 µL of each primer, 0.2 µL of Taq HiFi (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California, United States), 36.8 µL of molecular grade water and 3 µL of extracted genomic DNA. Amplification conditions were set at: 94°C for two minutes; followed by 35 cycles of 94°C for 30 seconds, 55°C for 30 seconds, 68°C for 40 seconds; followed by a 10-minute final elongation at 68°C. PCR products were purified using the GeneJet PCR purification kit (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States) following the manufacturer’s instructions. 5 µL of the amplified product was visualised on a 1% agarose gel.
DNA sequencing was performed in an automated DNA sequencer ABI 3700, (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, United States) using the BigDye terminator V3.1 sequencing kit with forward primer rpoBS (5’-GCA GAC GTT GAT CAA CAT CC-3’) and reverse primer rpoBR (5’-GAG CCG ATC AGA CCG ATG T-3’). The total volume of the sequencing reaction was 20 µL, containing: 4 µL of BigDye terminator, 2 µL of 10X sequencing buffer, 2 µL of water, 1 µL of primer and 11 µL of sample. Amplification conditions were set for: one minute at 96°C; followed by 25 cycles of 96°C for 10 seconds, 50°C for five seconds, 60°C for four minutes; followed by a 10-minute final extension at 72°C. The completed sequencing reaction mixture was purified using 75% isopropanol as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
The sample plate was loaded onto the ABI 3700 automated DNA sequencer and the resulting sequences were analysed and compared to the wild-type sequence of the well-characterised M. tuberculosis H37Rv reference strain using Sequencher software V4.8 (Genecodes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States). The well-defined RRDR region (codons 507–533) corresponded to codons 426–452 (nucleotides 1276–1356) in the downloaded H37Rv reference sequence.
All study data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and then exported and analysed using Stata Version 12 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, United States). We calculated proportions and percentages based on district, patient category, Xpert MTB/RIF probes and codons in the RRDR of the rpoB gene to determine resistance mutations and their prevalence.
The 644 specimens from NTRL were categorised clinically as previously treated cases (574/644; 89.1%), new (27/644; 4.2%), or not known (43/644; 6.7%). From Bwaila, 24/351 (6.8%) suspected tuberculosis cases were categorised as retreatment, and 327/351 (93.2%) were from patients presenting with tuberculosis for the first time.
The Xpert MTB/RIF assay detected rifampicin resistance in 64/995 (6.4%) specimens, which were selected for further DNA sequencing of the larger region of the rpoB gene. Three specimens (3/64) were from Bwaila, while the rest (61/64) were collected from NTRL. Most of the rifampicin-resistant cases detected by Xpert MTB/RIF were associated with probe B (23/64) and probe E (23/64). Fifteen (15/64) samples were detected by probe D, 2/64 by probe A, while probe C detected 1/64 samples (Table 1). Of these, 43/64 were successfully sequenced. The remainder (n= 21; 32.8%), all from NTRL, were not sequenced, either due to failure of PCR amplification (n = 19) or they failed sequencing (n = 2) (Figure 1). The PCR amplification failure could not be explained, although in part this could be due to insufficient template DNA, a an attempt was made to extract DNA from pellets (n = 7) which had not grown on culture.
FIGURE 1: Workflow and isolate selection for DNA sequencing from tuberculosis cultures and processed sediments.
TABLE 1: rpoB gene mutations associated with Xpert MTB/RIF probes used.
Seven different mutations were detected in 37/43 (86%) specimens in codons 511, 512, 513, 516, 522, 526 and 531. Mutations were common in codons 526 (38%), 531 (29.7%) and 516 (16.2%) (Table 2). No insertion, deletion or double point mutations were observed. However, mutations were not detected in 6/43 (14%) of the strains by DNA sequencing, despite being detected by Xpert MTB/RIF probe B (4/6) and by probe E (2/6) as rifampicin resistant. Repeat Xpert MTB/RIF testing was not done for these strains due to insufficient left-over pellets. Delayed Ct values between 17.0 and 32.7 were observed in 4/6 strains which had no mutations. The observed Ct values were markedly higher than the ΔCt max cutoff of > 4 for the automated detection of rifampicin resistance by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay.25 The remainder (n = 2) gave an undetectable result on probe B (n = 1) and probe E (n = 1).
TABLE 2: Distribution of mutations in codons 491–574 of the rpoB gene and amino acid changes in the rifampicin resistance determining region, Malawi, 2011 and 2014†.
When stratified by district, the prevalence of mutations was high in tuberculosis patients from Ntchisi 2/5 (40%), Nkhotakota 4/13 (30.8%), Nsanje 5/20 (25%) and Balaka 2/12 (16.7%). Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, had the lowest prevalence of mutations 9/466 (1.9%), followed by Mulanje 2/57 (3.5%).
As expected, the number of mutations was highest among patients registered as retreatment 29/598 (4.8%), compared with new cases 8/354 (2.3%). There were no real trends of mutations across classified retreatment cases (recurrent, default, etc.) in relation to new tuberculosis cases. Mutations in codon 531 were found in almost all patient groups, except for those classified as recurrent; codon 526 in all groups, except in the ‘new patient’ category in which mutations at codon 516 were predominant. A single strain from a patient with no history of prior tuberculosis treatment was detected with a mutation at codon 522.
All 43 specimens that were successfully sequenced were also tested on GenoType MTBDRplus and two strains gave discordant results. Both strains showed susceptibility to rifampicin on GenoType MTBDRplus, but resistance to rifampicin on Xpert MTB/RIF. Mutations were not detected in these strains by DNA sequencing.
This study is the first to characterise rifampicin resistance in Malawi. The majority of rpoB gene mutations in this study analysed by direct sequencing correlated well with rifampicin resistance observed on Xpert MTB/RIF. Our findings reveal that 86% of all rifampicin-resistant isolates harboured mutations in the RRDR of the rpoB gene with codon 526 (CAC → TAC) as the most frequent, followed by codon 531 (TCG → TTG/TAG). By contrast, mutations were not detected in 6/43 (14%) of the strains following nucleotide sequencing. False-positive rifampicin resistance was most likely considering the observed wild-type sequences in these strains. Data on drug-resistance mutations involving the RRDR of the rpoB gene, which relates highly to rifampicin resistance, is new for Malawi as no previous studies have analysed the rpoB gene among tuberculosis strains circulating in the country.
Previous reports demonstrated that strains requiring high rifampicin concentrations in phenotypic DST have been associated with mutations at codons 526, 516, and 531,26,27 corroborating that these are the most prevalent rpoB mutations worldwide.28 Several studies of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis have reported the presence of novel and common rpoB gene mutations, especially in the RRDR.29,30,31 In addition, other studies have documented the presence of common and novel rpoB mutations outside the RRDR.29,32 Based on our amplicon size, we only evaluated the most frequently-mutated codons between positions 491–574, which include the RRDR. The contribution of additional mutations to resistance at positions outside the region that was sequenced, for example codon 176, cannot be ruled out. Future work should focus on sequencing the entire rpoB gene.
It is of particular interest that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay detected rifampicin resistance in six isolates, but partial sequencing of the rpoB gene did not detect any changes in the nucleotide sequences, such that the mechanisms/pathways of resistance of these strains remain unknown. Since unprocessed sputum was not sequenced, it was difficult to confidently exclude hetero-resistance in these strains. In low rifampicin-resistance prevalence areas, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay would be expected to falsely diagnose some cases,8 which could be the case with these strains. Sequencing the entire rpoB gene might help to understand the mechanism of resistance of the strains. In contrast, results obtained in Swaziland show that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay did not detect the rpoB I491F mutation (outbreak strain) in 38/125 (30%) of the isolates tested as compared to DNA sequencing, raising fears about the assay’s unreliability due to under-diagnosis and potential treatment inadequacy, since it does not detect mutations outside the RRDR.33 Furthermore, a study by Theron et al. observed that five strains were rifampicin resistant on Xpert MTB/RIF, rpoB sequencing and/or GenoType MTBDRplus, but susceptible on phenotypic DST.34 It should be noted, however, that PCR amplicons were different in the Xpert MTB/RIF assay versus what was used for the Sanger-based sequencing. The probes may have bound to minority variants in the Xpert MTB/RIF amplicons, resulting in a positive signal, whereas a combination of PCR bias and population-based Sanger sequencing (where the limit of detection is approximately 20% of the quasispecies and only the predominant population is reported) might have resulted in only the wild-type sequence being detected.35 Moreover, different fitness of drug-resistant tuberculosis under culture conditions can allow for the outgrowth of wild-type tuberculosis,36 accounting for the discordant results between the molecular and phenotypic assays.
Drug resistance was detected in some new tuberculosis cases and these results were confirmed by detecting mutations in the RRDR of the rpoB gene. Detecting resistance to rifampicin in new tuberculosis cases highlights the need for testing resistance to drugs in this category especially if the patient was in contact with a known MDR tuberculosis patient. Our results show that the prevalence of mutations associated with rifampicin resistance among new tuberculosis cases was 2.3%. In Malawi, the prevalence of MDR tuberculosis is low (0.4%) among new smear-positive cases and is 4.8% among retreatment cases. Testing for tuberculosis drug resistance in Malawi is not routinely done except for those highly suspected of drug resistance.37
Results obtained by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay were in agreement with GenoType MTBDRplus results on rifampicin resistance, with an exception of 2/43 (4.7%), which were sensitive on the GenoType MTBDRplus but rifampicin resistant on Xpert MTB/RIF. Ct values of 18.5 and 24.4 on Xpert MTB/RIF, both on probe B, were interpreted as rifampicin resistant. Mixed infection with multiple tuberculosis strains was excluded in these strains given the wild-type rpoB gene sequences and no observed underlying peaks on the DNA sequence chromatograms. Phenotypic DST is difficult to standardise and expensive and time-consuming to maintain routinely. In the absence of molecular techniques, several critical questions about tuberculosis remain unanswered, including recognition of acquisition of drug resistance resulting from gene mutations versus transmission of drug resistant strains.38
The relatively small number of rifampicin-resistant samples observed in the current study limited our ability to establish the overall prevalence of rpoB gene mutations in tuberculosis strains circulating in Malawi. Moreover, we sequenced only an approximately 450 bp amplicon; thus, the contribution of mutations in regions outside of the amplicon sequenced to overall resistance could not be determined. With the available data, an assessment of the epidemiological link between the rifampicin-resistant strains was not possible, as such further molecular cluster analysis is still required to determine transmission dynamics of the mutated strains. Future studies should consider performing phenotypic DST to detect mutations outside the RRDR (full length rpoB gene) and compare to DNA sequencing, considering that Sanger sequencing has a limit of detection where the minority population may not be detected.
The chain termination DNA sequencing employed in this study is a standard method for the determination of nucleotide sequences. It is conclusive and can be used to confirm rifampicin resistance obtained by other assays, including the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, despite having a limit of detection with minority resistant populations. Although phenotypic DST is recommended to verify rifampicin resistance when using Xpert MTB/RIF, DNA sequencing can be used to detect the frequency and exact site of mutations in the RRDR. All tuberculosis strains with mutations in the current study had one of the previously-described rpoB gene mutations containing nucleotide changes. No new mutations were identified. Findings from this study emphasise the need for a national representation of sputum specimens from tuberculosis-infected patients to assess the magnitude of tuberculosis rpoB gene mutations that are responsible for rifampicin resistance in Malawi.
The authors thank the UNC Project laboratory staff, National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (Malawi) and laboratory staff at the HIV genotyping laboratory at University of the Witwatersrand for assisting with the study.
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
Sources of support
This project was funded by the National Commission for Science and Technology (Malawi) through the Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative (HRCSI). Additional funds were made available by the UNC Project (Malawi), UNC Fogarty AITRP (D43 TW001039), UNC Centre for AIDS Research (P30 AI50410) and Malawi HIV Implementation Research Scientist Program (D43 TW010060).
T.C. conceptualised the study. T.C., I.K., N.N. and I.T. performed the experiments. M.H., L.S., W.S., F.N., R.K., M.A.P., J.M. and I.F.H. oversaw the operational aspects of the study. T.C., N.E.R. and C.S. conducted the data analysis and T.C. drafted the manuscript. All authors revised the manuscript and approved the final draft.
World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis report 2015. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; c2015 [Cited 2016 Jan 27]. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/191102/1/9789241565059_eng.pdf
Heep M, Brandstätter B, Rieger U, et al. Frequency of rpoB mutations inside and outside the cluster I region in rifampin-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(1):107–110. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.39.1.107-110.2001
Helb D, Jones M, Story E, et al. Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampin resistance by use of on-demand, near-patient technology. J Clin Microbiol. 2010;48(1):229–237. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01463-09
Vadwai V, Boehme C, Nabeta P, et al. Xpert MTB/RIF: a new pillar in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis? J Clin Microbiol. 2011;49(7):2540–5. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02319-10
Van Rie A, Warren R, Mshanga I, et al. Analysis for a limited number of gene codons can predict drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a high-incidence community. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(2):636–641. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.39.2.636-641.2001
World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis report 2014. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; c2014 [cited 2015 Oct 27]. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/137094/1/9789241564809_eng.pdf
Chaisson RE, Nuermberger EL. Confronting multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(23):2223–2224. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMe1204478
Steingart K, Schiller I, Horne DJ, et al. Xpert® MTB/RIF assay for pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;1:CD009593. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009593.pub3
Global Laboratory Initiative. Mycobacteriology laboratory manual. Rockville, MD: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.; 2014.
Aung WW, Ei PW, Nyunt WW, et al. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Myanmar. Ann Lab Med. 2015;35(5):494–499. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2015.35.5.494
Musser JM. Antimicrobial agent resistance in mycobacteria: molecular genetic insights. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1995;8(4):496–514.
Rattan A, Kalia A, Ahmad N. Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: molecular perspectives. Emerg Infect Dis. 1998;4(2):195–209. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0402.980207
Nettleman MD. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: news from the front. JAMA. 2005;293(22):2788–2790. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.22.2788
World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis control 2008: surveillance, planning, financing. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; c2008 [cited 2016 Nov 06]. Available from: http://data.unaids.org/pub/report/2008/who2008globaltbreport_en.pdf
García de Viedma D. Rapid detection of resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a review discussing molecular approaches. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2003;9(5):349–359.
Cepheid. Xpert® MTB/RIF Two-hour detection of MTB and resistance to rifampicin. Sunnyvale, CA: Cepheid; c2011 [cited 2011 Nov 07]. Available form http://xpert_mtbrif brochure eu 0089-02lor.pdf
Bowles EC, Freyée B, van Ingen J, et al. Xpert MTB/RIF®, a novel automated polymerase chain reaction-based tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2011;15(7):988–989. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.10.0574
Kourout M, Chaoui I, Sabouni R, et al. Molecular characterisation of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Morocco. Int J Tuberc lung Dis. 2009;13(11):1440–1442.
Choi J-H, Lee KW, Kang H-R, et al. Clinical efficacy of direct DNA sequencing analysis on sputum specimens for early detection of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a clinical setting. Chest. 2010;137(2):393–400. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-0150
Xiao HP. Progress in tuberculosis control. Shanghai, China: Fudan University Press; c2004 [cited 2011 Nov 07]. Available from: http://xpert_mtbrif brochure eu 0089-02lor.pdf
Si J, Wang Z, Wang Z, et al. Sequencing-based detection of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with spinal tuberculosis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2012 Jul;132(7):941–945. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-012-1506-7
Barnett B, Gokhale RH, Krysiak R, et al. Prevalence of drug resistant TB among outpatients at an HIV/TB clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2015;109(12):763–768. https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trv092
Blakemore R, Nabeta P, Davidow AL, et al. A multi-site assessment of the quantitative capability of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;184(9):1076–1084. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201103-0536OC
Nicol MP, Workman L, Isaacs W, et al. Accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF test for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children admitted to hospital in Cape Town, South Africa : a descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011;11(11):819–824. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70167-0
Scott LE, McCarthy K, Gous N, et al. Comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF with other nucleic acid technologies for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis in a high HIV prevalence setting: a prospective study. PLoS Med. 2011;8(7):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001061
Ohno H, Koga H, Kohno S, et al. Relationship between rifampin MICs for and rpoB mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Japan. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1996;40(4):1053–1056.
Madania A, Habous M, Zarzour H, et al. Characterization of mutations causing rifampicin and isoniazid resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Syria. Polish J Microbiol. 2012;61(1):23–32.
Ramaswamy S, Musser JM. Molecular genetic basis of antimicrobial agent resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: 1998 update. Tuber Lung Dis. 1998;79(1):3–29. https://doi.org/10.1054/tuld.1998.0002
Mani C, Selvakumar N, Narayanan S, et al. Mutations in the rpoB gene of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from India. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(8):2987–2990. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.39.8.2987-2990.2001
Siddiqi N, Shamim M, Hussain S, et al. Molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from patients in North India. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2002;46(2):443–50.
Varma-Basil M, El-Hajj H, Colangeli R, et al. Rapid detection of rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from India and Mexico by a molecular beacon assay. Clin Microbiol. 2004;42(12):5512–5516. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.42.12.5512-5516.2004
Lingala MAL, Srikantam A, Jain S, et al. Clinical and geographical profiles of rpoB gene mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Hyderabad and Koraput in India. J Microbiol Antimicrob. 2010;2(2):13–18.
Sanchez-Padilla E, Merker M, Beckert P, et al. Detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis by Xpert MTB/RIF in Swaziland. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(12):1181–1182. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc1413930
Theron G, Peter J, van Zyl-Smit R, et al. Evaluation of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a high HIV prevalence setting. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;184(1):132–140. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201101-0056OC
Comas I, Borrell S, Roetzer A, et al. Whole-genome sequencing of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis strains identifies compensatory mutations in RNA polymerase. Nat Genet. 2011;44(1):106–110. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.1038
Mariam DH, Mengistu Y, Hoffner SE, et al. Effect of rpoB mutations conferring rifampin resistance on fitness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004;48(4):1289–1294.
Malawi National Tuberculosis Programme. National tuberculosis control programme manual. 7th ed. Lilongwe, Malawi: Ministry of Health; 2012.
Mathema B, Kurepina NE, Fallows D, et al. Lessons from molecular epidemiology and comparative genomics. Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;29(5):467–480. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1085699
1. The potential use of rifabutin for treatment of patients diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis
Michael G Whitfield, Robin M Warren, Vanessa Mathys, Lesley Scott, Elise De Vos, Wendy Stevens, Elizabeth M Streicher, Guido Groenen, Frederick A Sirgel, Annelies Van Rie
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy vol: 73 issue: 10 first page: 2667 year: 2018
doi: 10.1093/jac/dky248
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | ISSN: 2225-2002 (PRINT) | ISSN: 2225-2010 (ONLINE) |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What is Short Bowel Syndrome and what causes it? output: Short Bowel Syndrome is a malabsorption disorder that occurs when a person has a lack of functional small intestine. This can be caused by a number of factors, including surgical removal of a portion of the small intestine, congenital defects, or diseases such as Crohn's disease. The small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients and fluids from the food we eat, so when it is not functioning properly, a person may experience malabsorption, malnutrition, and dehydration. Treatment for Short Bowel Syndrome may include dietary changes, medications to manage symptoms, and in some cases, surgery to lengthen the remaining small intestine. |
Kinetic Analysis of Some Chalcones and Synthetic Chalcone Analogues on the Fenton-Reaction Initiated Deoxyribose Degradation Assay1
Pál Perjési*, Zsuzsanna Rozmer
Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Pécs, Rókus u. 2, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
First Page: 61
Publisher Id: TOMCJ-5-61
Revision Received Date: 26/1/2011
Acceptance Date: 26/1/2011
Full-Text HTML Views: 2001
Abstract HTML Views: 1226
© Perjési and Rozmer; Licensee Bentham Open.
* Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Pécs, Rókus u. 2, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Tel: +36 72 503 626; Fax: +36 72 503 627; E-mail: pal.perjesi@aok.pte.hu
Investigation of in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenging (antioxidant) effect 4-methoxychalcone (1a) and its cyclic analogues (2a-4a), as well as their hydroxyl substituted counterparts (1b-4b) was performed by means of the Fenton-reaction initiated deoxyribose degradation assay in short term (10 minute) and long term (240 minute) experiments. The kinetic deoxyribose method provides possibility to investigate not only the short term antioxidant (hydroxyl radical scavenger) effect but the possible late prooxidant effect of the tested substances as well. In the short term studies compounds 2a, 2b and 4b showed the most pronounced antioxidant effect. The long-term studies showed that the antioxidant activity of all the tested compounds but 4a can be well characterized by the short time determination of the thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive substances (TBARS). Experiments in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) resulted in a substantially reduced degradation of deoxyribose in each incubation. Similar to the respective experiment performed without EDTA, the TBARS level of the incubations with 4a showed an increase over the 60-120 minute period. The results demonstrated that complex forming activities that can modify microspeciation and reactivity of iron ions can lead to different short term antioxidant efficiency of the tested substances. Results of the long term incubations indicated that chemical transformation of the tested substances can result formation of derivatives that can initiate further redox activities under the experimental conditions.
Keywords: Chalcones, cyclic chalcone analogues, fenton-reaction, deoxyribose assay, prooxidant effect.
View Abstract Download PDF
Chalcones (1,3-diphenyl-2-propenones) (1) are intermediary compounds of biosynthetic pathway of a very large and widespread group of plant constituents known collectively as flavonoids [1]. Chalcones have been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in a variety of experimental systems [2,3]. The compounds have been shown to act as effective cell proliferation inhibitors, anti-tumor promoting and chemopreventive agents [4, 5].
Earlier we have investigated in vitro antineoplastic activity of several synthetic chalcones and the cyclic chalcone analogues, e.g., E-2-(X-benzylidene)-1-indanones (2), -tetralones (3) and benzosuberones (4) (Fig. 1A and 1B). The compounds were evaluated against P388, L1210, Molt 4/C8 and CEM cells as well as against approximately 60 further human tumor cell lines from nine different neoplastic diseases [6-8]. Besides the documented tumor cytotoxic effects, some of the above cyclic chalcone analogues were found to display outstanding CYP1A inhibitor activity [9].
Fig. (1A).
Time-course of degradation of deoxyribose in the presence of 1a-4a and quercetin (5) (200 µM) using 50 µM H2O2.
*Each absorbance (Abs) (λ=532 nm) is the average of three parallel measurements ± standard error. Details of incubation and derivatization is written in the Materials and Methods part.
Fig. (1B).
Time-course of degradation of deoxyribose in the presence of 1b-4b and quercetin (5) (200 µM) using 50 µM H2O2.
Recently, we have investigated the effect of two of the above cyclic chalcone analogues, E-2-(4’-methylbenzylidene)- and E-2-(4’-methoxybenzylidene)-1-benzosuberone (4a) on the cell cycle of Jurkat T cells. It was found that both compounds induced apoptosis and modified the cellular thiol status of the cells [10]. Investigation of effects of 4a, and the hydroxyl-substituted analogs 1b-4b of the methoxy substituted derivatives (1a-4a) on isolated rat liver mitochondria showed the compounds to deplete reduced glutathione (GSH) and disrupt electron transport chain and energetic metabolism. Increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and possible covalent interaction with GSH was found to be as chemical events accompanied exposure of mitochondria of the investigated compounds [11, 12].
As a continuation of our previous works, in the present paper we report on investigation of in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenging (antioxidant) effect of the previously tested tumor cytotoxic 4-methoxychalcone (1a) and its cyclic analogues 2a-4a, as well as their hydroxyl substituted counterparts (1b-4b) compared to the effect of quercetin (5) (Fig. 1A and 1B). Antioxidant effect of the compounds has been tested by means of the Fenton-reaction initiated deoxyribose degradation assay [13]. Degradation of deoxyribose is supposed to be the result of attack of the Fenton-reaction generated hydroxyl radicals (HO˙), which results in formation of carbonyl fragments [14] that - on heating with TBA at low pH - generate a pink chromogen with absorption maximum at 532 nm [13]. Testing of antioxidant effect (hydroxyl radical-scavenging potential) is based on the competitive reaction of deoxyribose and the tested antioxidant with the reactive hydroxyl radicals [13].
Hydroxyl radicals (HO˙) formed in Fenton-type reactions are reported to react with phenol to generate isomeric dihydroxybenzene derivatives [15]. Since further oxidation (redox cycling) of the formed dihydroxy derivatives could generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), phenolic antioxidants could cause oxidative stress as a result of a series of spontaneous and enzyme catalyzed reactions [16, 17]. Such a mechanism can not be excluded for explanation of the observed prooxidant effect of the previously tested hydroxychalcones (1b-4b) [12]. To test this possibility we applied a modified version of the previously reported kinetic deoxyribose degradation assay [18], which can provide information not only on the immediate antioxidant action but on the possible late prooxidant effect of the investigated compounds as well [19]. Composition of the incubations and details of generation of TBARS were optimized based on the results of Winterbourn [20].
For comparison, we have performed the experiments in the presence of and without addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to the incubation mixtures. Addition of EDTA results in formation of iron(II)-EDTA complex [21], whose Fenton-activity could result in degradation of EDTA [22]. In the absence of EDTA, a portion of the iron ions is complexed by deoxyribose [23]. In these so called “site-specific” Fenton reactions hydroxyl radicals react immediately at the place where there are formed. Accordingly, compounds with ligand properties compete for the iron ions with the deoxyribose molecules and thus decrease degradation caused by the iron-catalyzed hydroxyl radical attack.
Quercetin (5) has received considerable attention because of its overwhelming presence in foods. The compound may aid in the prevention of several degenerative diseases (e.g., cancer, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation) by preventing lipid peroxidation [24]. Quercetin (5) is well known as an efficient reducing agent and chelator of transition metals [25]. Scavenging of free radicals and chelation of iron ions both contribute to the antioxidant activity of the compound [23,25].
Synthesis and characterization of the compounds 1a-4a and 1b-4b (Scheme 1) were performed as described earlier [6, 12]. Their structure and purity was checked by their melting points, >1H NMR, TLC (thin layer chromatography) and GC (gas chromatography) methods.
Scheme 1.
Structure of the investigated chalcones (1), E-2-(X-benzylidene)-1-indanones (2), -tetralones (3) and –benzosuberones (4), and quercetin (5).
Quercetin (5), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA), 2-deoxy-D-ribose (deoxyribose), 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), iron(II) sulfate (FeSO4) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Budapest, Hungary). Other chemicals used were of analytical grade available if otherwise not specified. All solutions were freshly prepared using doubly distilled water. To control the pH value of prepared buffers Mettler Toledo MP 220 pH meter and Mettler Toledo InLab 413 combined electrode was used. The absorbance was recorded with a Specord M40 (Carl Zeiss Jena, Germany) spectrometer. Each value is the average of three independent measurements.
DEOXYRIBOSE DEGRADATION INITIATED BY IRON-DEPENDENT HYDROXYL RADICAL
Deoxyribose Degradation (Control)
The mixture of deoxyribose (9 mM) dissolved in 30 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.4 containing 40 mM sodium chloride, 20 µM/50 µM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 30 µM iron(II) sulphate (FeSO4) was incubated at 37 oC for 10 minutes. The reaction was started by the addition of FeSO4 and degradation of deoxyribose was determined by spectrophotometric measurement of the TBA-reactive substances. The incubation was performed in the presence of 1% (v/v) DMSO, too. The composition of the blanks was the same as above but H2O2 and FeSO4 were omitted.
Deoxyribose Degradation in the Presence of Chalcones (1a,b-4a,b)
The incubations were carried out in the presence (36 µM) or in the absence of EDTA. The reaction mixture contained: 30 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.4 without EDTA or containing 36 µM EDTA, 9 mM deoxyribose, 40 mM sodium chloride, 100 µM or 200 µM chalcone or quercetin (5) dissolved in DMSO corresponding to 1% (v/v) of the total volume of the mixture, 20 µM or 50 µM H2O2, and 30 µM FeSO4. The control mixtures did not contain the investigated compounds, only the vehicle (DMSO). The composition of the blanks was the same as above but H2O2 and FeSO4 were omitted. The reactions were started by addition of FeSO4 and mixtures were incubated at 37°C for 10 minutes and in separate experiments for 4 hours. In these latter cases samples were taken at different (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, and 240 minutes) timepoints. Degradation of deoxyribose was characterized by spectrophotometric determination of the TBA-reactive substances.
Determination of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS)
The thiobarbituric acid reactivity was developed by mixing 1.0 ml aliquot of the incubation mixtures with 0.5 ml thiobarbituric acid reagent (1% (w/v) TBA dissolved in 50 mM sodium hydroxide solution) and 0.5 ml 5.6 % (w/v) TCA followed by heating at 100 oC for 8 minutes. When the mixture was cooled and the developed chromogen was determined by reading the absorbance at 532 nm against appropriate blanks.
Initially, the reaction was investigated using 30 µM iron(II) ion and 20µM H2O2 in the presence of 100 µM chalcone analogues (1a,b-4a,b) using 10 minute incubation time. Under such conditions (excess of iron(II) ions over H2O2) the Fenton reaction is restricted to the quantitative oxidation of iron(II) ions by hydrogen peroxide [26].
Fe2+ + H2O2 = Fe3+ + .OH + OH-
Fe2+ + .OH = Fe3+ + OH-
Accordingly, iron(II) ions, deoxyribose and the tested compounds compete for the forming hydroxyl radicals.
Under such conditions the hydroxyl substituted compound 1b showed the most effective inhibition of deoxyribose degradation (Table 1). Increasing the chalcone concentration to 200 µM resulted in a somewhat more effective antioxidant activity of the investigated compounds. Under these conditions compounds 2a, 2b and 4b showed the most pronounced antioxidant effect (Table 1).
Degradation of Deoxyribose in the Presence of Chalcones (1a,1b), Cyclic Chalcone Analogues (2a,2b,3a,3b,4a,4b) and Quercetin (5) Using 20 µM H2O2; 50 µM H2O2;and 36 µM EDTA + 50 µM H2O2. (Incubation Time: 10 Minute) *
Conditions of the Fenton Reaction
Test Compound
Concentration of test Compound (µM)
20 µM H2O2
36 µM EDTA + 50 µM H2O2
Absorbance Absorbance Absorbance
Control - 0,705 ± 0,033 0,695 ± 0,003 0,356 ± 0,015
1a 100 µM 0,653 ± 0,028 0,613 ± 0,007 0,274 ± 0,014
1b 100 µM 0,571 ± 0,032 0,644 ± 0,061 0,243 ± 0,037
2b 100 µM 0,622 ± 0,019 0,621 ± 0,030 0,274± 0,004
5 100 µM 0,349 ± 0,044 0,351 ± 0,001 0,218 ± 0,015
* Each absorbance (λ=532 nm) is the average of three parallel measurements ± standard error. Details of incubation and derivatization is written in the Materials and Methods part.
Increasing the H2O2 concentration to 50 µM (excess of H2O2 over iron(II) ions) did not drastically change either the degree of oxidation of deoxyribose in the control samples or the antioxidant effect of the investigated compounds. Comparison of the corresponding results of the 20 µM and 50 µM H2O2 experiments showed a small but statistically significant increase of antioxidant effect of 1a and 4a used in 100 µM concentration. Results of the two series of investigations showed the hydroxyl substituted 1b-4b to have somewhat more effective antioxidant activities. Quercetin (5) was statistically more effective antioxidant than any of the investigated chalcones under both investigated conditions (Table 1).
Performing the latter experiments in the presence of 36 µM EDTA resulted in a substantially reduced degradation of deoxyribose even in the control samples (Table 1). Reduced degradation of deoxyribose can be rationalized by the presence of the strong iron chelator EDTA [21, 22]. At the same time the relative antioxidant activity of almost all the investigated compounds but the reference 5 increased in both concentrations. This observation suggest that complexation of iron ions by quercetin (5) - which can be substantially reduced by EDTA - plays an important role of antioxidant effect of 5 under the EDTA-free experimental conditions. In the presence of the strong iron chelator EDTA such effect of quercetin is diminished and its antioxidant (hydroxyl radical scavenger) activity becomes similar to that of the structurally related chalcones. The highest increase of antioxidant effect at the elevated (200 µM) concentration was observed in the case of the benzosuberone derivatives 4a and 4b, and the tetralone derivative 3a. Quercetin (5), the most effective tested compound, was also found to be more effective in the 200 µM concentration (Table 1).
Time course of the Fenton-reaction initiated deoxyribose degradation was investigated using 50 µM H2O2 and 200 µM test compounds without or in the presence of EDTA over a 240 minute time period. Application of long term incubation under such conditions (excess of H2O2 over iron(II) ions) provides the possibility to investigate whether chemical modification of the tested compounds by the Fenton reaction generated hydroxyl radicals results in formation of redox active derivatives which can initiate redox cycling (involving reduction of the iron(III) to iron(II) ions) and generation of hydroxyl radicals over the time of the extended incubation period [16]. On the other hand, reduction of iron(III) to iron (II) ions can diminish the iron(III)-catalyzed –non hydroxyl radical mediated- degradation of deoxyribose, which might be responsible for formation of some of the TBARS during the boiling phase of the method [27].
In the experiments performed without EDTA the level of TBA-reactive substances (TBARS) in the control incubations was found to be almost constant over the 240 minute period (Fig. 1A and B). This observation suggests that the initially formed TBARS and iron(III)-levels are stable under the control’s conditions. According to the expectations, the initial antioxidant activity of the tested compounds could be well characterized by the short time determination of TBARS. Comparison of levels of TBARS of the control incubations at the 10 minute (ABS=0.705) (Table 1) and the 20 minute (ABS=0.765) (Fig. 1A) timepoints suggests that most of the Fenton-reaction initiated degradation of deoxyribose is taking place in the first 10 minutes of incubation. The zero minute level of TBARS (ABS=0.761) is very much the same as that of the 20 minute level (Fig. 1A) due to the heating of the freshly mixed samples at 100 oC to obtain the TBA chromogen. It is also worth mentioning that the zero minute level of TBARS is rather close to the control level in the case of all investigated compounds but 5 (Fig. 2B and B). This latter observation can be considered as the result of formation of iron-quercetin (5) complex [28] which results in reduced extent of deoxyribose degradation in “site-specific” degradation reactions.
Time-course of degradation of deoxyribose in the presence of 1a-4a and quercetin (5) (200 µM) using 36 µM EDTA and 50 µM H2O2.
Time-course of degradation of deoxyribose in the presence of 1b-4b and quercetin (5) (200 µM) using 36 µM EDTA and 50 µM H2O2.
Among the hydroxyl substituted compounds 1b-4b the indanone derivative 2b was found to be the most effective antioxidant (Fig. 1B). The TBARS level remained almost constant for each investigated compound from the 20 minute timepoint over the 240 minute period (Fig. 1B). On the contrary, the TBARS levels in the incubation mixtures of the methoxy substituted analogues 1a-4a slightly changed during the prolonged incubation time (Fig. 1A). For example, 3a and 4a displayed a significantly reduced TBARS levels after the 80 minute and 120 minute timepoints, respectively. These observations suggest redox activities that result in decrease of the TBA-reactive derivatives in the incubation systems.
Fenton-reaction initiated degradation of deoxyribose of the control incubations in the presence of EDTA (36 µM) resulted in significantly lower level of TBARS than that of without EDTA. Similar to the experiments performed without EDTA, the level of TBARS in the control incubations was found to be almost constant over the 240 minute period (Fig. 2A and B). Under such conditions the zero time level of TBARS is also very much the same in all incubations but in that performed in the presence of 5, where it is statistically lower.
The TBARS levels in the incubations of the hydroxyl substituted 1b-4b performed in the presence of EDTA are comparable to that of the reference 5 in each case but the open-chain 1b (Fig. 2B). This observation also underlines importance of formation of iron(II)-quercetin (5) complex in the significantly higher antioxidant effect of 5 under the EDTA-free experimental conditions. Similar investigation of the methoxy substituted 1a-4a showed all the incubations but that with 4a to have TBARS levels similar to that of with 5 (Fig. 2A). It was found that the TBARS level of the incubation with 4a showed an increase over the 60-120 minute period followed by significant decrease over the rest of the incubation time (Fig. 2A). In order to get a better understanding of the observed prooxidant effect of 4a ethyl acetate extract of the 120 minute incubation sample was investigated by GC-MS. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate extract could not indicate presence of any derivative of the parent compound. Further studies are needed to provide experiment-based explanation of this observation. Such a prooxidant activity of 4a is characteristically different from the results obtained with the respective hydroxyl substituted 4b.
In summary it was demonstrated that scope of the original “test-tube” assay for evaluation of antioxidant properties of potential antioxidants based on the degree of Fenton-reaction initiated degradation of deoxyribose is valid but limited. Although the initial antioxidant activity of the tested compounds can be well characterized by the short time determination of TBA-reactive substances, complex forming activities that can modify microspeciation and reactivity of iron ions can lead to different antioxidant efficiency of the tested substances. Chemical modification of the tested substances can result formation of derivatives that can initiate further redox activities under specific experimental conditions that can convert short-term “antioxidants” to “prooxidants” on longer observation time. To have a more comprehensive evaluation of antioxidant/prooxidant activities of xenobiotics long term investigations are recommended with/without of transition metal chelating agents (e.g., EDTA) that can modify microspeciation of iron ions. On the other hand, the added chelating agents can also act as competitive hydroxyl radical scavengers in the Fenton-type test systems.
1 The paper is considered as Part V of the series E-2-Benzylidenecyclanones. Part IV: P. Perjési, J. Linnanto, E. Kolehmainen, E. Osz, E. Virtanen, J. Mol. Struct. 2005, 740 81-89..
This study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine Research Fund (AOK-KA 34039-12/2009), University of Pécs. The authors express their sincere thanks to Szilárd Molnár (South-Transdanubian Environmental Protection Inspectorate, H-7634 Pécs-Cserkút, Hungary) for performing the GC-MS measurements in his laboratory, and to Zsuzsanna Moravecz (University of Pécs) for her excellent technical assistance.
[1] Harborne, JB Plant Flavonoids in Biology and Medicine: Biochemical, phar-macological and Structure-Activity Relationships; Cody, V; Middleton, E Jr; Harborne, JBS, Eds.; Alan R. Liss: New York, 1986, pp. 15-24.
[2] Middleton, E Jr; Kandaswami, C; Theoharides, TC The effect of plant flavonoids on mammalian cells: Implications for inflammation, heart disease, and cancer Pharmacol. Rev, 2000, 52, 673-751.
[3] Nakamura, Y; Watanabe, S; Miyake, N; Kohno, H; Osawa, T Dihydrochalcones: evaluation as novel radical scavenging antioxidants J. Agric. Food Chem, 2003, 51, 3309-12.
[4] Dimmock, JR; Elias, DW; Beazely, MA; Kandepu, NM Bio-activities of chalcones Curr. Med. Chem, 1999, 6, 1125-49.
[5] Go, ML; Wu, X; Liu, XL Chalcones: an update on cytotoxic and chemopreventive properties Curr. Med. Chem, 2005, 12, 483-99.
[6] Dimmock, JR; Kandepu, NM; Nazarali, AJ; Kowalchuk, TP; Motaganahalli, N; Quail, JW; Mykytiuk, P; Audette, GF; Prasad, L; Perjési, P; Allen, TM; Santos, CL; Sydlowski, J; De Clercq, E; Balzarini, J Conformational and quantitative structure-activity relationship study of cytotoxic 2-arylidenebenzocycloalkanones J. Med. Chem, 1999, 42, 1358-66.
[7] Dimmock, JR; Zello, GA; Oloo, EO; Quail, JW; Kraatz, H-B; Perjési, P; Aradi, F; Takács-Novák, K; Allen, TM; Santos, CL; Balzarini, J; De Clercq, E; Stables, JP Correlations between cytotoxicity and topography of some 2-arylidenebenzocyclanones determined by X-ray crystallography J. Med. Chem, 2002, 45, 3103-11.
[8] Perjési, P; Das, U; De Clerq, E; Balzarini, J; Kawase, M; Sakagami, H; Stables, JP; Lorand, T; Rozmer, Zs; Dimmock, JR Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activity of some 3-benzylidene-2,3-dihydro-1-benzopyran-4-one which display selective toxicity for malignant cells Eur. J. Med. Chem, 2008, 43, 831-49.
[9] Monostory, K; Tamási, V; Vereczkey, L; Perjési, P Study on CYPA1 inhibitory action of 4’-methoxybenzylidene-benzosuberone and some related cyclic chalcone derivatives Toxicology, 2003, 184, 203-10.
[10] Rozmer, Zs; Berki, T; Perjési, P Different effects of two cyclic chalcone analogues on cell cycle of Jurkat T cells Toxicol. In vitro, 2006, 20, 1354-62.
[11] Perjési, P; Kubalkova, J; Chovanova, Z; Marekova, M; Rozmer, Zs; Fodor, K; Chavkova, Z; Tomeskova, V; Guzy, J Comparison of effects of some cyclic chalcone analogues on selected mitochondrial functions Pharmazie, 2008, 63, 899-903.
[12] Guzy, J; Vaskova-Kubalkova, J; Rozmer, Zs; Fodor, K; Marekova, M; Poskrobova, M; Perjesi, P Activation of oxidative stress response by hydroxyl systituted chalcones and cyclic chalcone analogues in mitochondria FEBS Lett, 2010, 584, 567-70.
[13] Halliwell, B; Gutteridge, JMC; Aruoma, OI The deoxyribose method: A simple “test-tube” assay for determination of rate constants for reactions of hydroxyl radicals Anal. Biochem, 1987, 165, 215-9.
[14] Cheeseman, KH; Beavis, A; Esterbauer, H Hydroxyl-radical-induced iron-catalysed degradation of 2-deoxyribose Biochem. J, 1988, 252, 649-53.
[15] Grootveld, M; Halliwell, B; Hill, HAO An aromatic hydroxylation assay for hydroxyl radicals utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Use to investigate the effect of EDTA on the Fenton reaction Free Radical Res, 1986, 1, 243-50.
[16] Gregus, Z; Klaassen, CD Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons; Klaassen, CD, Ed.; McGraw-Hill: New York, 2001, pp. 35-81. Chapter 3
[17] Parkinson, A; Klaassen, CD Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons; Klaassen, CD, Ed.; McGraw-Hill: New York, 2001, pp. 133-224. Chapter 6
[18] Cheng, Z; Li, Y; Chang, W Kinetic deoxyribose degradation assay and its application in assessing the antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds in a Fenton-type reaction system Anal. Chim. Acta, 2003, 478, 129-37.
[19] Rozmer, Zs; Perjési, P Néhány nem-szteroid gyulladáscsökkento hatásának vizsgálata a 2-deoxi-D-ribóz Fenton-reakció iniciálta degradációjára Acta Pharm. Hung, 2005, 75, 87-93.
[20] Winterbourn, CC Factors that influence the deoxyribose oxidation assay for Fenton reaction products Free Rad. Biol. Med, 1991, 11, 353-60.
[21] Galey, J-B Antioxidants in Disease Mechanisms and Therapy; Sies, H, Ed.; Academic Press: San Diego, 1997, pp. 167-203.
[22] Halliwell, B; Sies, H Antioxidants in Disease Mechanisms and Therapy, 1997, , 3-20.
[23] Chobot, V Simultaneous detection of pro-and antioxidative effects in the variants of the deoxyribose degradation assay J. Agric. Food Chem, 2010, 58, 2088-94.
[24] Formica, JV; Regelson, W Review of the biology of quercetin and related bioflavonoids Food Chem. Toxicol, 1995, 33, 1061-80.
[25] Pietta, PG Flavonoids as antioxidants J. Nat. Prod, 2000, 63, 1035-42.
[26] Kremer, ML Mechanism of the Fenton reaction. Evidence for a new intermediate Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys, 1999, 1, 3595-05.
[27] Genaro-Mattos, TC; Dalvi, LT; Oliveira, RG; Ginani, JS; Hermes-Lima, M Reevaluation of the 2-deoxyribose assay for determination of free radical formation Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 2009, 1790, 1636-42.
[28] Hajji, HE; Nkhili, E; Tomao, V; Dangles, O Interactions of quercetin with iron and copper ions: complexation and autoxidation Free Radical Res, 2006, 40, 303-20. |
King Township is committed to keeping business supported and informed during the pandemic.
January 7, 2021 - Ontario Providing Supports for Small Businesses, Workers and Families
Province’s plan includes $10,000 grant for eligible small businesses and additional electricity-rate relief.
The Ontario government is providing targeted relief for businesses and people impacted by the current public health measures aimed at blunting the spread of the Omicron variant. As part of this plan, the government is introducing a $10,000 grant for eligible businesses that are subject to closures under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen and is providing additional electricity-rate relief for businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home.
“Our government understands that public health measures needed to blunt the spread of the Omicron variant are impacting the lives and livelihoods of small businesses, workers and families across Ontario,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Since the first day of the pandemic, we have provided unprecedented levels of support to protect people, jobs and our economy. We will continue to deliver on that commitment.”
As part of a comprehensive plan to support workers and businesses, the government is announcing an Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. It will provide eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000.
Eligible small businesses include:
Restaurants and bars;
Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms);
Performing arts and cinemas;
Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
Meeting or event spaces;
Tour and guide services;
Conference centres and convention centres;
Driving instruction for individuals; and
Before- and after- school programs.
Eligible businesses that qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and that are subject to closure under modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and will not need to apply to the new program. Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks. Small businesses that qualify can expect to receive their payment in February.
The Ontario government is also providing electricity-rate relief to support small businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home while the province is in Modified Step Two. For 21 days starting at 12:01 am on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set 24 hours a day at the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate. The off-peak rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility and will benefit customers on both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans.
Read Media Release
January 3, 2021 - Ontario Temporarily Moving to Modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen
In response to recent trends that show an alarming increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is temporarily moving the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications that take into account the province’s successful vaccination efforts. These time-limited measures will help blunt transmission and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed as the province continues to accelerate its booster dose rollout. As part of the province’s response to the Omicron variant, starting January 5, students will pivot to remote learning with free emergency child care planned for school-aged children of health care and other eligible frontline workers.
“As we continue with our provincial vaccine booster efforts, we must look at every option to slow the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Putting these targeted and time-limited measures in place will give us more opportunity to deliver vaccines to all Ontarians and ensure everyone has maximum protection against this virus.”
Unlike other variants throughout the pandemic, evolving data is showing that while the Omicron variant is less severe, its high transmissibility has resulted in a larger number of hospital admissions relative to ICU admissions. Staff absenteeism is also expected to rise and affect operations in workplaces across Ontario due to Omicron infection and exposure, including in hospitals and schools. Real-world experience and evidence in Ontario reveal that approximately one per cent of Omicron cases require hospital care. The rapid rise of Omicron cases, which may soon number in the hundreds of thousands, could result in the province’s hospital capacity becoming overwhelmed if further action isn’t taken to curb transmission. When one in 100 cases goes to hospital, it means that with this rapid increase in transmission the number of new cases requiring hospitalization will also rapidly increase daily. For example, 50,000 cases per day would mean 500 hospital admissions per day, which is greater than the peak daily hospitalizations of 265 per day from last spring, when hospitals were under significant strain during the third wave of the pandemic.
In response, the province will return to the modified version of Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. for at least 21 days (until January 26, 2022), subject to trends in public health and health system indicators.
These measures include:
Reducing social gathering limits to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
Limiting capacity at organized public events to five people indoors.
Requiring businesses and organizations to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
Limiting capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance. Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits.
Retail settings, including shopping malls, permitted at 50 per cent capacity. For shopping malls physical distancing will be required in line-ups, loitering will not be permitted and food courts will be required to close.
Personal care services permitted at 50 per cent capacity and other restrictions. Saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars closed.
Closing indoor meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions but permitting outdoor spaces to remain open with restrictions.
Public libraries limited to 50 per cent capacity.
Closing indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
Restricting the sale of alcohol after 10 p.m. and the consumption of alcohol on-premise in businesses or settings after 11 p.m. with delivery and takeout, grocery/convenience stores and other liquor stores exempted.
Closing indoor concert venues, theatres, cinemas, rehearsals and recorded performances permitted with restrictions.
Closing museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals. Outdoor establishments permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity.
Closing indoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues. Outdoor establishments permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy limited to 50 per cent capacity. Boat tours permitted at 50 per cent capacity.
Closing indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms, except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and select professional and elite amateur sport leagues. Outdoor facilities are permitted to operate but with the number of spectators not to exceed 50 per cent occupancy and other requirements.
All publicly funded and private schools will move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17, subject to public health trends and operational considerations.
School buildings would be permitted to open for child care operations, including emergency child care, to provide in-person instruction for students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated remotely and for staff who are unable to deliver quality instruction from home.
During this period of remote learning, free emergency child care will be provided for school-aged children of health care and other eligible frontline workers.
Please view the regulation for the full list of mandatory public health and workplace safety measures.
December 22, 2021 - Government Temporarily Expands Access to Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadian workers and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced the federal government’s intention to temporarily expand eligibility for key support programs to ensure Canadians are protected and workers and businesses get the help they need to sustain them through new and necessary public health restrictions.
Using regulatory authority provided in Bill C-2, the government intends to introduce new regulations that would:
Expand the Local Lockdown Program to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more; and reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent. Eligible employers will receive wage and rent subsidies from 25 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent, depending on their degree of revenue loss. The 12-month revenue decline test continues to not be required in order to access this support.
Expand the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to include workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more. As announced previously, this benefit will provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50 per cent or more of their income as a result.
These updated regulations will apply from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022, during which time it is expected that public health authorities will continue to implement “circuit-breaker” restrictions that limit the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across Canada.
More details on the expansion of these support measures are available in the backgrounder associated with today’s announcement.
December 22, 2021 - Ontario Launches New Supports for Businesses
Rebate program cuts property taxes and energy costs; New cash flow supports providing up to $7.5 billion for businesses, including those affected by Omicron restrictions.
The Ontario government is introducing new supports for many of the businesses that are most impacted by public health measures in response to the Omicron variant. These supports include a new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program and a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.
“Ontario businesses have already contributed so much to the province’s fight against COVID-19,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “We recognize that these necessary capacity limits to reduce the transmission of the virus will impact businesses, and that’s why we are introducing these new supports, which will put money directly into the hands of business and free up their cash flows during this critical time.”
Through the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program, eligible businesses will receive rebate payments equivalent to 50 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to the current capacity limits. This will provide support to businesses that are expected to be most impacted financially by the requirement to reduce capacity to 50 per cent. Examples of businesses that will be eligible for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program include restaurants, smaller retail stores and gyms. A full list of eligible business types will be made available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.
Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022, with payments to eligible businesses provided retroactive to December 19, 2021. Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.
“I commend business owners for pivoting quickly as we respond to the Omicron variant in our continued fight against COVID-19,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “It is essential that we support them during their time of need, and that’s why our new rebate program will provide them with the support they need right now on their energy bills.”
The province is also providing additional support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes, supporting businesses in the immediate term while capacity restrictions are in place while providing the flexibility Ontario businesses will need for long-term planning. The six-month period will begin January 1, 2022 and end July 1, 2022.
This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. With this help, approximately 80,000 businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes, helping them free up cash flow during these challenging times:
Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
Fuel Tax
Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans
Mining Tax
Race Tracks Tax
December 17, 2021 - Ontario Further Strengthening Response to Omicron
In response to the rapidly-spreading and highly transmissible Omicron variant, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is applying additional public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity and social gathering limits. These measures will help curb transmission and continue to safeguard the Ontario’s hospitals and ICU capacity as the province continues to rapidly accelerate its booster dose rollout.
“Throughout this entire pandemic, we’ve never faced an enemy like Omicron given how quickly it spreads,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We need to do everything we can to slow its spread as we continue to dramatically ramp up capacity to get as many booster shots into arms as possible. Doing so is the best way to safeguard our hospital and intensive care units.”
The latest modelling suggests that the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant could put additional strain on Ontario’s hospital capacity, making it critical to slow the spread as the government dramatically increases vaccine capacity and expands eligibility for third booster doses. The province recently doubled its vaccination capacity and continues to ramp up further to get as many vaccines into arms as possible. Over 156,000 doses were administered on December 16, 2021 with capacity increased to 200,000 to 300,000 in the coming days.
To further strengthen its response to Omicron and reduce opportunities for close contact as the province gets as many vaccines into arms as possible, Ontario is introducing a 50 per cent capacity limit in the following indoor public settings:
Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments and strip clubs;
Personal care services;
Personal physical fitness trainers;
Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies);
Shopping malls;
Non-spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g. gyms);
Indoor recreational amenities;
Indoor clubhouses at outdoor recreational amenities;
Tour and guide services; and
Photography studios and services; and
Marinas and boating clubs.
These limits do not apply to any portion of a business or place that is being used for a wedding, a funeral or a religious service, rite, or ceremony. Businesses or facilities will also need to post a sign stating the capacity limits that are permitted in the establishment.
To further reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, additional protective measures are also being applied:
The number of patrons permitted to sit at a table will be limited to 10 people and patrons will be required to remain seated in restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments, meeting and event spaces and strip clubs.
Bars and restaurants, meeting and event spaces and strip clubs will be required to close by 11 p.m. Take out and delivery will be permitted beyond 11 p.m.
Dancing will not be allowed except for workers or performers.
Food and/or drink services will be prohibited at sporting events; concert venues, theatres and cinemas; casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues.
The sale of alcohol will be restricted after 10 p.m. and consumption of alcohol in businesses or settings after 11 p.m.
In addition, to mitigate COVID-19 transmission that can occur at informal social gatherings, the province is also reducing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
These restrictions will come into effect on 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
October 22, 2021 - Ontario Releases Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has released A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term, which outlines the province’s gradual approach to lifting remaining public health and workplace safety measures by March 2022. The plan will be guided by the ongoing assessment of key public health and health care indicators and supported by local or regional tailored responses to COVID-19.
“Thanks to our cautious and careful approach to re-opening, we are now in position to gradually lift all remaining public health measures over the coming months,” said Premier Doug Ford. “This plan is built for the long term. It will guide us safely through the winter and out of this pandemic, while avoiding lockdowns and ensuring we don’t lose the hard-fought gains we have made.”
Ontario will slowly and incrementally lift all remaining public health and workplace safety measures, including the provincial requirement for proof of vaccination and wearing of face coverings in indoor public settings, over the next six months. This phased approach will be guided by the ongoing assessment and monitoring of key public health and health care indicators, such as the identification of any new COVID-19 variants, increases in hospitalizations and ICU occupancy and rapid increases in transmission to ensure that public health and workplace safety measures are lifted safely.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Ontario has taken a cautious approach to reopening to protect the health and safety of Ontarians,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our plan will ensure we replicate this success and take a gradual approach that will protect our health system capacity, prevent widespread closures, keep our schools open and support the province’s economic recovery.”
In the absence of concerning trends, public health and workplace safety measures will be lifted based on the proposed following milestones:
In response to continued improvements to key indicators, including ongoing stability in the province’s hospitals, effective October 25, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will lift capacity limits in the vast majority of settings where proof of vaccination are required, such as restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments; indoor areas of sports and recreational facilities such as gyms and where personal physical fitness trainers provide instruction; casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and indoor meeting and event spaces. Limits will also be lifted in certain outdoor settings.
At this time, the government will also allow other settings to lift capacity limits and physical distancing requirements if they choose to require proof of vaccination, including:
Personal care services (e.g., barber shops, salons, body art);
Indoor areas of museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
Indoor areas of amusement parks;
Indoor areas of fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals;
Indoor tour and guide services;
Boat tours;
Indoor areas of marinas and boating clubs;
Open house events provided by real estate agencies; and
Indoor areas of photography studios and services.
Locations where a wedding, funeral or religious service, rite or ceremony takes place may also implement proof of vaccination requirements for services, rites, or ceremonies at the location.
This will not apply to settings where people receive medical care, food from grocery stores and medical supplies. In addition, the government intends to allow for greater capacity at organized public events such as Remembrance Day ceremonies and Santa Claus parades with more details coming in the near future.
The government intends to lift capacity limits in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including food or drink establishments with dance facilities (e.g., night clubs, wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing); strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs.
In the absence of concerning trends in public health and health care following the winter holiday months and after students returned to in-class learning, the province intends to begin gradually lifting capacity limits in settings where proof of vaccination is not required. The Chief Medical Officer of Health will also lift CMOH directives as appropriate.
Proof of vaccination requirements may also begin to be gradually lifted at this time, including for restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, facilities used for sports and recreational facilities and casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments.
The government intends to lift proof of vaccination requirements in high-risk settings, including night clubs, strip clubs, and bathhouses and sex clubs.
At this time, it is intended that remaining public health and workplace safety measures will be lifted, including wearing face coverings in indoor public settings. Recommendations may be released for specific settings, if appropriate.
In addition, the provincial requirement for proof of vaccination will be lifted for all remaining settings, including meeting and event spaces, sporting events, concerts, theatres and cinemas, racing venues and commercial and film productions with studio audiences.
To manage COVID-19 over the long-term, local and regional responses by public health units will be deployed based on local context and conditions. Public health measures that may be applied locally could include reintroducing capacity limits and/or physical distancing, reducing gathering limits and adding settings where proof of vaccination is required, among others. Public health measures would be implemented provincially in exceptional circumstances, such as when the province’s health system capacity is at risk of becoming overwhelmed or if a vaccine resistant COVID-19 variant is identified in the province.
“We are now in a position where we can see the proposed plan for lifting the remaining public health and workplace safety measures in Ontario,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The months ahead will require continued vigilance, as we don’t want to cause anymore unnecessary disruption to people’s everyday lives. We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the public health measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their shots. Ontario has the infrastructure in place to manage outbreaks, including a high-volume capacity for testing, and people to perform fast and effective case and contact management when needed.”
October 21, 2021 - Canadian Government announces targeted COVID-19 support measures to create jobs and growth
With one of the most successful vaccination campaigns in the world, many businesses safely reopening, and employment now back to pre-pandemic levels, Canadians have reached a turning point in the fight against COVID-19. The government has now surpassed its target of creating a million new jobs. Canada is on the road to economic recovery—but some areas of the country and economy continue to need targeted support.
Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced that the government is taking targeted action to create jobs and spur economic growth. This includes moving from the very broad-based support that was appropriate at the height of lockdowns to more targeted measures that will provide help where it is needed, while prudently managing government spending.
The government is proposing the following changes to business support programs:
Extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent and increase the subsidy rate to 50 per cent. The extension would help businesses continue to hire back workers and to create the additional jobs Canada needs for a full recovery.
Deliver targeted support to businesses that are still facing significant pandemic-related challenges. Support would be available through two streams:
Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, to hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent.
Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, would support other businesses that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent.
Applicants for these programs will use a new “two-key” eligibility system whereby they will need to demonstrate significant revenue losses over the course of 12 months of the pandemic, as well as revenue losses in the current month.
Businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns will be eligible for up to the maximum amount of the wage and rent subsidy programs, during the local lockdown, regardless of losses over the course of the pandemic.
These programs will be available until May 7, 2022, with the proposed subsidy rates available through to March 13, 2022. From March 13, 2022, to May 7, 2022, the subsidy rates will decrease by half.
To ensure that workers continue to have support and that no one is left behind, the government proposes to:
Extend the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit until May 7, 2022, and increase the maximum duration of benefits by 2 weeks. This would extend the caregiving benefit from 42 to 44 weeks and the sickness benefit from 4 to 6 weeks.
Establish the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit which would provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers should they be unable to work due to a local lockdown anytime between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.
With these changes, the government is supporting the hardest-hit sectors and those who are affected by the virus while recognizing that broad-based assistance is no longer needed. These changes will continue to prioritize job creation and a strong economic recovery.
September 14, 2021- Ontario Releasing Guidance to Support Proof of Vaccination Policy
As the province continues to respond to the fourth wave of the pandemic driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant, the government is further protecting Ontarians through continued actions that encourage every eligible person to get vaccinated and help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Today the government released the regulations and guidance for businesses and organizations to support them in implementing proof of vaccination requirements, which take effect on September 22, 2021. Requiring proof of vaccination will help increase vaccination rates, protect individuals in higher-risk indoor settings, and keep businesses open.
“High rates of vaccination against COVID-19 are critical to helping protect our communities and hospital capacity while keeping Ontario schools and businesses safely open,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As we continue our last mile push to increase vaccination rates, requiring proof of immunization in select settings will encourage even more Ontarians to receive the vaccine and stop the spread of COVID-19. If you haven’t received your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please sign up today.”
In advance of September 22, all Ontarians can print or download their vaccination receipt from the provincial booking portal. The Ministry is working on additional supports and services to assist Ontario residents who need help obtaining proof of vaccination, including requesting a copy be sent by mail. Those who need support obtaining a copy of their vaccination receipt including those who do not have access to a computer or printer can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
Ontario is developing an enhanced vaccine certificate with a unique QR code to make it safer, more secure and convenient to show that you have been vaccinated, when required to do so. The enhanced vaccine certificate and verification app will be available by October 22, 2021. Ontario’s proof of vaccination guidance will be updated to reflect the new processes.
“Businesses need a smart, quick and safe solution to verify vaccination,” said Kaleed Rasheed, Associate Minister of Digital Government. “The made-in-Ontario enhanced vaccine certificate for the public and the verification app for businesses are tools to confirm that an individual has been vaccinated while protecting Ontarians’ health data.”
The proof of vaccination policy has resulted in a marked increase in vaccination rates. Between September 1 and September 8, 2021, the seven-day average for first doses administered increased by more than 29 per cent, from over 11,400 doses to over 14,700 doses. During that time, more than 90,000 first doses and 102,000 second doses were administered in Ontario to individuals aged 18 to 59.
To further increase vaccine uptake, the province is continuing its last mile strategy to reach eligible individuals who have yet to receive a first or second dose. This includes:
The provincial call centre booking or rebooking more than 135,000 appointments;
The GO-VAXX bus administering more than 3,700 doses with 50 per cent being first doses, since launching on August 7, 2021;
Setting up a Provincial Vaccine Confidence Line that individuals can call to speak with an experienced agent or health specialist about COVID-19 vaccine questions; and
Supporting more than 550 vaccination clinics in or nearby elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools that are currently operational or planned for the near future.
“As we continue to see cases of COVID-19 in our communities, we must keep up the fight against the transmission of this virus and its variants to create a safer environment for ourselves, our families and our communities,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “The best defense against COVID-19 is getting a vaccine and encouraging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated too. Wearing a mask and practising physical distancing where possible are public health measures we all must continue to follow.”
To further protect those who face the highest risk from COVID-19 and the Delta variant, the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health is following the evidence and recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and will begin offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to additional groups, such as individuals with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency, individuals receiving active treatment for significantly immunosuppressive conditions and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Locations and timing for third doses will vary by public health unit and high-risk population based on local planning and considerations.
“Getting fully vaccinated is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and others,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “To provide the best protection to some of our more vulnerable populations, we are offering a third dose to additional groups of immunocompromised people who are more likely to have had a less than adequate immune response to the initial two dose COVID-19 vaccine series. I continue to strongly encourage anyone eligible who hasn’t already come forward to get their COVID-19 shot, to do so today to do their part to help keep themselves, their loved ones and our communities safe.”
Guidance for Businesses & Organizations
September 1, 2021 - Ontario to Require Proof of Vaccination in Select Settings
To further protect Ontarians as the province continues to confront the Delta-driven fourth wave of the COVID-19, the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, will require people to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings starting September 22, 2021. Requiring proof of vaccination in these settings reduces risk and is an important step to encourage every last eligible Ontarian to get their shot, which is critical to protecting the province’s hospital capacity, while also supporting businesses with the tools they need to keep customers safe, stay open and minimize disruptions.
Ontario will also introduce an enhanced digital vaccine receipt that features a QR code, which is safe, more secure and with you wherever you go. This digital vaccine receipt can be kept on a phone and easily used to show that you've been vaccinated if you need to. In addition, the province will launch a new app to make it easier and more convenient for businesses and organizations to read and verify that a digital vaccine receipt is valid, while protecting your privacy.
July 9th, 2021 - Ontario Moving to Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen on July 16
With key public health and health care indicators continuing to improve and the provincewide vaccination rate surpassing the targets outlined in the province’s Roadmap to Reopen, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health the Ontario government is moving the province into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021.
In order to enter Step Three of the Roadmap, Ontario needed to have vaccinated 70 to 80 per cent of individuals 18 years of age or older with one dose and 25 per cent with two doses for at least two weeks, ensuring a stronger level of protection against COVID-19. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Ontario’s health care partners, as of July 8, 2021, over 77 per cent of the population in Ontario ages 12 and over have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and over 50 per cent have received their second dose. More than 16.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered provincewide.
“Ontario has continued to see improvements in key health indicators, allowing the province to move to Step Three of the Roadmap and safely resume more of the activities we’ve missed,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “While this is exciting news, we most still remain vigilant and continue to follow the public health measure we know work and keep us safe. Vaccines remain our ticket out of the pandemic so if you haven’t booked your appointment yet, please do so today.”
Step Three of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of additional indoor services with larger numbers of people and restrictions in place. This includes, but is not limited to:
Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions;
Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing;
Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect;
Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space. Capacity for indoor spectators is 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Capacity for outdoor spectators is 75 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 15,000 people, whichever is less;
Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
Essential and non-essential retail with with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;
Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).
Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and
Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).
Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three. This is in alignment with the advice on personal public health measures issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, while also accounting for Ontario specific information and requirements. Face coverings will also be required in some outdoor public settings as well.
Please view the regulation for the full list of public health and workplace safety measures that need to be followed.
“Thanks to the continued efforts of Ontarians adhering to public health measures and advice, as well as going out to get vaccinated, we have seen most key health indicators continue to improve,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “However, the pandemic is not over and we must all remain vigilant and continue following the measures and advice in place, as the Delta variant continues to pose a threat to public health.”
The province will remain in Step Three of the Roadmap for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their eligible population aged 12 and over fully vaccinated. Other key public health and health care indicators must also continue to remain stable. Upon meeting these thresholds, the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity limits for indoor and outdoor settings and limits for social gatherings, will be lifted. Only a small number of measures will remain in place, including the requirement for passive screening, such as posting a sign, and businesses requiring a safety plan.
Ontario’s epidemiological situation is distinct from other jurisdictions and the Delta variant is the dominant strain in Ontario, which is not the case with some other provinces. As a result, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, face coverings will also continue to be required for indoor public settings. The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to evaluate this need on an ongoing basis.
Public Health & Workplace Safety Measures
June 24th, 2021 - Ontario Moving to Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen on June 30
With key public health and health care indicators continuing to improve, the provincewide vaccination rate now surpassing the targets outlined in the province’s Roadmap to Reopen, and on the recommendation of the the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
“Because of the tireless work of our health care heroes, and the record setting success of our vaccine rollout, we are able to move into Step Two ahead of schedule on June 30 with the support of our public health experts” said Premier Doug Ford. “We are proceeding safely with the re-opening of our province and will continue to work around the clock until the job is done.”
In order to enter Step Two of the Roadmap, Ontario needed to have vaccinated 70 per cent of adults with one dose and 20 per cent with two doses for at least two weeks, ensuring a strong level of protection against COVID-19. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Ontario’s health care partners, as of June 23, 2021, over 76 per cent of the population in Ontario ages 18 and over have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and over 29 per cent have received their second dose. More than 13.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered provincewide.
Before entering Step Two, the province also needed to see continued improvement in key public health and health care indicators, including hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and the weekly cases incidence rates. After entering Step One, during the period of June 11 to 17, 2021, the provincial case rate decreased by 24.6 per cent. As of June 22, the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs is 305, including 10 patients from Manitoba, as compared to 450 two weeks ago. The province expects these positive trends to continue over the coming days before entering Step Two.
“Due to a continued improvement in key indicators, Ontario is ready to enter Step Two of our Roadmap, allowing us to safely and gradually ease public health measures while continuing to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Thank you to the Ontarians who rolled up their sleeves to help us reach this exciting milestone. Every dose administered brings us one step closer to the things we’ve missed, so please sign up to receive the vaccine when it’s your turn.”
Step Two of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of more outdoor activities and limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn, with other restrictions in place. This includes, but is not limited to:
Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 5 people;
Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity;
Non-essential retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times, and at 25 per cent capacity and other restrictions;
Outdoor dining with up to 6 people per table, with exceptions for larger households and other restrictions;
Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 25 per cent capacity of the particular room;
Outdoor fitness classes limited to the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of physical distance;
Outdoor sports without contact or modified to avoid contact, with no specified limit on number of people or teams participating, with restrictions;
Overnight camps for children operating in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
Outdoor sport facilities with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
Outdoor fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals, permitted at 25 per cent capacity and with other restrictions.
While the province has surpassed Step Three vaccination targets, Ontario may remain in Step Two for a period of approximately 21 days to allow the most recent vaccinations to reach their full effectiveness and to evaluate any impacts of moving to Step Two on key public health and health care indicators. When it is determined to be safe, the province will promptly move to Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen.
“Due to the continued commitment of Ontarians adhering to public health measures and going out to get vaccinated, we have seen our key health indicators continue to improve across the province,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “While we can now begin preparing to ease public health measures under the Roadmap, the fight against COVID-19 is not over and we must continue adhering to the public health advice and measures currently in place to maintain this great progress.”
June 7, 2021 - Ontario to Move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11
Based on the provincewide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in key public health and health system indicators, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, will move the province into Step One of its Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 11, 2021.
Step One of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller crowds where risk of transmission is lower. It will also permit more limited indoor settings to be open, all with restrictions in place. In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government has amended Step One to also permit indoor religious services, rites and ceremonies, including wedding and funeral services limited to 15 per cent capacity.
Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen includes but is not limited to:
Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
Non-essential retail permitted at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold;
Essential and other select retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold;
Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households;
Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people, among other restrictions;
Day camps for children permitted to operate in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines for COVID-19 produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks, and short-term rentals;
Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open outdoors for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with no more than 10 performers, among other restrictions;
Outdoor horse racing tracks and motor speedways permitted to operate without spectators; and
Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens with capacity and other restrictions.
The province will remain in Step One for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. If at the end of the 21 days the province has vaccinated 70 per cent of adults with one dose and 20 per cent of adults with two doses and there are continued improvements in other key public health and health system indicators, the province will move to Step Two of the Roadmap.
All public health and workplace safety measures currently in place will remain in effect until the province moves to Step One on June 11, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. During this time, the government will continue to work with stakeholders on their reopening plans, including targeted measures for specific sectors, institutions and other settings to ensure that they have full awareness of when they can begin to safely reopen and how.
Roadmap to Reopening Ontario
April 16, 2021 - Ontario Extends Province-wide Shutdown and Strengthens Stay-at-Home Order
The Ontario Government has extended the province-wide shutdown and strengthened the current Stay-at-Home order. Changes include:
Prohibit all outdoor social gatherings and organized public events, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone or a caregiver for any member of the household;
Close all non-essential workplaces in the construction sector;
Reduce capacity limits to 25 per cent in all retail settings where in-store shopping is permitted. This includes supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers' markets, other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies; and,
Close outdoor recreational amenities, such as golf courses, basketball courts and soccer fields with limited exceptions
April 7, 2021 - Ontario Enacts Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order - Effective Thursday, April 8th at 12:01 am
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a third provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat on the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants.
Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise , or for work that cannot be done remotely. As Ontario's health care capacity is threatened, the Stay-at-Home order, and other new and existing public health and workplace safety measures will work to preserve public health system capacity, safeguard vulnerable populations, allow for progress to be made with vaccinations and save lives.
In addition, the province is also strengthening public health and workplace safety measures for non-essential retail under the provincewide emergency brake. Measures include, but are not limited to:
Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, and other restrictions;
Restricting access to shopping malls to limited specified purposes, including access for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, with one single designated location inside the shopping mall, and any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall, along with other restrictions;
Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to grocery items, pet care supplies, household cleaning supplies, pharmaceutical items, health care items, and personal care items only;
Permitting the following stores to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25 per cent capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.:
Safety supply stores;
Businesses that primarily sell, rent or repair assistive devices, aids or supplies, mobility devices, aids or supplies or medical devices, aids or supplies;
Rental and leasing services including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental;
Optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public;
Businesses that sell motor vehicles, boats and other watercraft;
Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; and
Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service, which may only permit members of the public to enter the premises to purchase a cellphone or for repairs or technical support.
Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses that engage in sales to the public, to operate with a 25 per cent capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
These additional and strengthened public health and workplace safety measures will be in effect as of Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
April 1, 2021 - Ontario Implements Provincewide Emergency Brake - Effective Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 12:01 am
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is imposing a provincewide emergency brake as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province. The provincewide emergency brake will be effective Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. and the government intends to keep this in place for at least four weeks.
The provincewide emergency brake would put in place time-limited public health and workplace safety measures to help to stop the rapid transmission of COVID-19 variants in communities, protect hospital capacity and save lives. Measures include, but are not limited to:
Prohibiting indoor organized public events and social gatherings and limiting the capacity for outdoor organized public events or social gatherings to a 5-person maximum, except for gatherings with members of the same household (the people you live with) or gatherings of members of one household and one other person from another household who lives alone.
Restricting in-person shopping in all retail settings, including a 50 per cent capacity limit for supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers' markets, other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies, and 25 per cent for all other retail including big box stores, along with other public health and workplace safety measures;
Prohibiting personal care services;
Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining. Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments will be permitted to operate by take-out, drive-through, and delivery only;
Prohibiting the use of facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness (e.g., gyms) with very limited exceptions;
Requiring day camps to close; and,
Limiting capacity at weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 15 per cent occupancy per room indoors, and to the number of individuals that can maintain two metres of physical distance outdoors. This does not include social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions, which are not permitted indoors and are limited to five people outdoors.
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, all Ontarians are asked to limit trips outside the home to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members, or exercising outdoors with members of their household. Employers in all industries should make every effort to allow employees to work from home.
The current COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open, will be paused when the provincewide emergency brake comes into effect. The impacts of these time-limited measures will be evaluated throughout the next four weeks to determine if it is safe to lift any restrictions or if they need to be extended. With more than $1.6 billion invested to protect against COVID-19, schools remain safe for students and staff. Keeping schools open is critical to the mental health and well-being of Ontario youth. During the emergency shutdown, schools will remain open for in-person learning with strict safety measures in place. The spring break will continue as planned for the week of April 12. In order to support working families, child care will remain open during the shutdown. Child care settings will continue to adhere to stringent health and safety measures so that they remain safe places for children and staff.
Fill List of Restrictions During Provincewide Shutdown
February 19, 2021 - York Region moving back to Red-Control level and will no longer be subject to the Stay-at-Home order effective Monday, February 22, 2021
Based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, the York Public Health Region will transition out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open at the Red-Control level and will no longer be subject to the Stay-at-Home order. These changes will come into effect on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
After returning to the Framework, public health regions are required to stay in their level for at least two weeks. The government will then assess the impact of public health and workplace safety measures to determine if the region should stay where it is or be moved to a different level. Public health regions may be moved to a higher level within the two-week window, if necessary, based on the set indicators and thresholds outlined in the Framework. In addition, Ontario has introduced an "emergency brake" to allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately advise moving a region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt transmission.
Details and Guidelines on Red-Control Level
February 8th, 2021 - Provincial shutdown and Stay-at-Home order maintained in York Region until at least Feb. 22
The Ontario government is moving to a regional approach in the fight against COVID-19. For York Region and most regions, the shutdown and Stay-at-Home order will be maintained as well as all existing public health and workplace safety measures. As local trends of key public health indicators improve, regions will be gradually transitioned back into the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open, with some new and modified measures in place. York Region is expected to return to the Framework on February 22, 2021. The specific colour-coded zone will be determined at that time. The date may change depending on the trends and local public health indicators.
January 26, 2021 - Launch of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will work with participating Canadian financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans of up to $1 million.
HASCAP is available to businesses across the country, in all sectors, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service. Businesses with multiple locations under one related entity, could be eligible for up to $6.25 million. HASCAP will help businesses with their day-to-day operating costs during the COVID-19 crisis and enable them to invest in their longer-term prosperity.
Eligible businesses can start applying as early as February 1 at principal financial institutions and more widely by February 15. Interested businesses should contact their primary lender to get more information and to apply.
January 15, 2021 - Apply Now for the New Ontario Small Business Support Grant!
The government announced the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant on December 21st, 2020, which will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners to help navigate this challenging period.
Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Province wide Shutdown. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020.
User Application Guide
January 12, 2021 - Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives
In response to a doubling in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, the real and looming threat of the collapse of the province's hospital system and alarming risks posed to long-term care homes as a result of high COVID-19 transmission rates, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a second provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA).
Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. This order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people's mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. In addition to limiting outings to essential trips, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.
In response to the alarming and exceptional circumstances at hand, and to further interrupt the deadly trend of transmission in Ontario communities, hospitals, and long-term care homes, the government will enact the following additional public health measures:
Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people with limited exceptions. This is consistent with the rules during the lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 in spring 2020 and will allow individuals and families to enjoy time outdoors safely.
Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can't physically distance more than two metres.
All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.
These measures will come into effect between Tuesday January 12, 2021 and Thursday, January 14, 2021, including the provincial declaration of emergency under the EMCPA, orders under that Act, and amendments to regulations under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
December 21st, 2020 - Ontario Announces The New Ontario Small Business Support Grant
The government is announcing the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners to help navigate this challenging period.
Small businesses required to close or restrict services under the Provincewide Shutdown will be able to apply for this one-time grant.
Eligible small businesses include those that:
Are required to close or significantly restrict services subject to the Provincewide Shutdown effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020;
Have less than 100 employees at the enterprise level; and
Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April 2019.
Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.
Essential businesses that are allowed to remain open will not be eligible for this grant. More information about the Ontario Small Business Support Grant is available here.
Businesses that are impacted by the Provincewide Shutdown will also be eligible for the property tax and energy cost rebates. In November, the government launched a program to provide rebates to offset fixed costs such as property tax and energy bills for businesses that are required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures. These Ontario Small Business Support Grant rebates will continue to be available for businesses impacted by the Provincewide Shutdown and earlier restrictions. Business can apply for the rebates here.
December 11th, 2020 - Ontario Moving York Region into Grey Lockdown with Stronger Public Health Measures Effective Monday December 14 at 12:01 AM
These steps are being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 in order to keep schools open in the regions where in-class learning is permitted, safeguard health system capacity, and protect the province's most vulnerable populations. The regional levels and specific public health measures are set out in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework.
Find out about the latest public health measure, advice and restrictions in York Region
December 9th, 2020 - Ontario Permanently Allowing Alcohol with Food Takeout and Delivery
Additional permanent reforms for the hospitality sector will allow:
reduced minimum pricing of spirits consumed on-site, to align with the reduced pricing introduced for takeout and delivery orders;
the length of time for temporary patio extensions to be set out by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO); and,
for a requirement that ensures third parties delivering from licensed restaurants and bars have a delivery licence.
November 27th, 2020 - York Region COVID-19 enforcement task force conducts 439 inspections, issues 8 charges
Inspections carried out indicate most businesses and customers across York Region are adhering to COVID-19 safety measures and protocols. However, there were 8 charges laid against residents and businesses as of 3 p.m. on Friday. None of those businesses are located in King Township.
Read York region CLASS ORDER made pursuant to Section 22(5.0.1) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act
As of Monday November 23 at 12:01 AM gathering limits in York Region for all organized public events and social gatherings will be reduced:
5 people indoors
25 people outdoors
November 13th, 2020 - Ontario Government Updates to COVID-19 Response Framework Move York Region into Red-Control
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Public Health Measures Table, the Ontario government has updated the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework, by lowering the thresholds for each level in the framework.
The outcome of this update is that York Region will be classified as Red-Control effective 12:01AM Monday November 16.
The following public health safety measures are in place for York Region:
General Safety Measures - Applicable to gatherings, workplace requirements and face coverings:
Physical distancing to be maintained for all events and gatherings with individuals outside of one’s household
Workplaces are required to screen
Face coverings are required in all public spaces (with limited exemptions) including indoor workplaces
Worker protections, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks and eye protection, are required where patrons without face coverings are within 2 metres of workers (indoors and in the absence of a Plexiglas or some other impermeable barrier)
Advice to restrict non-essential travel from areas of high transmission to areas of low transmission
Development and implementation of a communication/public education plan highlighting risk
Gathering Limits for all organized public events and social gatherings:
10 people indoors
Gathering limit for religious service, rite or ceremony, including wedding ceremonies and funeral services, if the gathering is held in a building or structure other than a private dwelling:
30% capacity indoors with physical distancing in place
100 people outdoors
An indoor event or gathering cannot be combined with an outdoor event or gathering so as to increase the limit of people attending
Read York Region safety measures
November 10th, 2020 - 2020 Ontario Budget Enables Significant Provincial and Municipal Property Tax Relief
The Ontario government is proposing to give municipalities the flexibility to target property tax relief to small businesses. The province is also considering matching these reductions, which would provide small businesses with as much as $385 million in municipal and provincial property tax relief. This initiative is part of the 2020 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover.
Through the 2020 Budget, the government also announced that it will lower Business Education Tax (BET) rates for over 200,000 employers, or 94 per cent of all business properties in Ontario, starting January 1, 2021. This will create $450 million in immediate annual savings and represents a reduction of 30 per cent for many businesses.
Property tax rates will be reduced to 0.88 per cent. For many employers, this represents a reduction of 30 per cent if the local government applies a 30 per cent discount with the proposed new small business property subclass.
Taken together, these property tax measures could mean a business like a bakery shop could receive $5,000 in municipal tax relief and $4,000 in provincial property tax relief if the local government applies a 30 per cent discount with the proposed new small business property subclass. Combined with a $1,500 BET reduction, this bakery shop owner would receive a total of $10,500 in property tax savings in 2021.
November 3rd, 2020 - Ontario Government Provides Additional Details on COVID-19 Response Framework and the $300 Million to Support Eligible Businesses
The framework categorizes public health unit regions into five levels: Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control, and Lockdown being a measure of last and urgent resort. Each level outlines the types of public health and workplace safety measures for businesses and organizations. These include targeted measures for specific sectors, institutions and other settings.
To provide the utmost transparency, each public health unit will be classified according to current framework indicators. York Region's proposed classifications based on data for the week of October 26, 2020 is Orange - Restrict.
This will be confirmed by the province on Friday, November 6, 2020 and become effective on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. Final decisions on moving public health unit regions into the framework will be made by the government based on updated data and in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, local medical officers of health and other health experts, and will be reviewed weekly.
Going forward, the government will continually assess the impact of public health measures applied to public health unit regions for 28 days, or two COVID-19 incubation periods.
Beginning November 16, 2020, eligible businesses in Orange and Red classified public health units will be able to apply for temporary property tax and energy cost rebates directly to the province through a single, online application portal.
Types of businesses that are eligible for support include:
gyms, facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities
performing arts and cinemas
bingo halls, gaming establishments, casinos, conference centres and convention centres
community centres, multi-purpose facilities, and museums
personal care services (with exception of oxygen bars)
racing venues
meeting or event space
in-person teaching and instruction
Read the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Clean
More Information on the November 16 application portal
October 16th, 2020 - York Region to enter modified Stage 2 restrictions
The Ontario government has announced that effective Monday, October 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.York Region will be subject to modified Stage 2 restrictions for a minimum of 28 days and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Measures under this modified Stage 2 include:
Reducing limits for all social gatherings and organized public events to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained. The two limits may not be combined for an indoor-outdoor event;
Prohibiting indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs and food court areas in malls;
Closing of:
Indoor gyms and fitness centres (i.e., exercise classes and weight and exercise rooms);
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments;
Indoor cinemas, performing arts centres and venues, (except for rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted performance subject to conditions, including no spectators);
Spectator areas in racing venues;
Interactive exhibits or exhibits with high risk of personal contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, etc.;
Prohibiting personal care services where face coverings must be removed for the service (e.g. makeup application, beard trimming);
Prohibiting real estate open houses (permitting in-person showing by appointments only)
Reducing the capacity limits for:
Tour and guide services to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors
In-person teaching and instruction (e.g. cooking class) to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, with certain exemptions, including for schools, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, private career colleges, the Ontario Police College, etc.
Meeting and event spaces to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors with limited exemptions, including for government operations and the delivery of government services; and
Limiting team sports to training sessions (no games or scrimmages).
October 14th, 2020 - Federal Government to extend Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy
Federal government announces it intends to introduce legislation that extend the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy through to June 2021.
October 9th, 2020 - Government announces new, targets support to help businesses through pandemic
Government announces new, targeted support to help businesses through pandemic. The government plans to introduce legislation to provide the following support:
The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 to both tenants and property owners
A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy.
The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021
An expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans—and that continue to be seriously impacted by the pandemic—to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022.
October 7th, 2020 - Ontario Supports Small Main Street Businesses with $60 Million in Funding
Ontario Supports Small Main Street Businesses with $60 Million in Funding through PPE Grant. The plan includes a one-time grant of up to $1,000 for eligible small businesses — in retail, food and accommodations, and other service sectors — with two to nine employees to help offset the unexpected costs of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Read the Main Street recovery plan
September 25th, 2020 - Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Extension
The September extension for CECRA is now available. It is based on the existing program parameters for the April, May and June period. No new documents are needed to opt-in. New applicants can apply for up to 5 months of rent assistance (from April through August) all at once. Once the initial application is pre‑approved, a property owner can opt-in for September. This is the final extension of the program.
September 9th, 2020 - Rent relief for Canadian Small Business Extension
Rent relief for Canadian small business through CECRA has been extended for September. New applicants can apply for up to 6 months of rent assistance (from April through September) all at once.
September 3rd, 2020 - Government of Ontario providing $8 million for Energy Assistance Program for Small Business
The Government of Ontario is providing $8 million to support small business and registered charity customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.
The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. Small business and registered charity customers may be eligible for up to $850 in support towards their electricity bill if they primarily use electricity for heating, or up to $425 otherwise. Small business and registered charity customers could also be eligible for up to $425 in support towards their natural gas bill.
You must apply for CEAP-SB through your utility or USMP. Contact your utility or USMP directly as each may have a unique approach for application in-take.
August 31st, 2020 - Greater flexibility and extension of Canada Emergency Business Account
Government announces greater flexibility and extension of Canada Emergency Business Account. CEBA application deadline extended to October 31, 2020. BCAP application deadline extended to June 2021.
August 20th, 2020 - Financial Assistance Announcements
The following significant financial assistance announcements were made on August 20:
CERB has been extended by an additional 4 weeks to a maximum of 28 weeks
EI eligibility has been expanded
3 new benefits have been announced to aid recovery, including benefits for those who have contracted COVID-19 and their caregiver
August 13th, 2020 - Pop-up Patios coming to Main Street
2 Pop-up patios will be installed on Schomberg's Main Street on August 14 and 17.
August 4th, 2020 - Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Extension
The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) has been extended to August.
July 20th, 2020 - York Region to move into Stage 3
York Region to move to Stage 3 on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
July 17th, 2020 - Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Extension & Emergency Rent Assistance Program
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy has been extended until December 2020.
The July extension opt-in is now available for the Ontario Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program.
See Financial Assistance
July 13th, 2020 - York Region and King Township remain in Stage 2
24 health unit regions have been approved to move into Stage 3 on Friday July 17. York Region and King Township will remain in stage 2.
See the Stage 3 Framework for re-opening Ontario.
July 9th, 2020 - Mandatory Face Coverings or Masks Required in York Region
As of 12:01 a.m. Friday July 17, 2020, masks or face coverings are required inside enclosed public spaces in York Region.
Program extended to June
Get a Subsidy of Up to 75% of Employee Wages
Free e-Commerce Websites
Add e-Commerce to your business with a free website
$2,500 Digital Transformation Grants
Latest COVID-19 Outbreak Updates
View latest update |
\section{Introduction}
Neural Architecture Search (NAS) has advanced state-of-the-art on various tasks, such as image classification \citep{dblp:conf/cvpr/zophvsl18,Pham2018EfficientNA,2018regularized, dblp:conf/cvpr/tancpvshl19}, machine translation \citep{DBLP:journals/taslp/FanTXQLL20, DBLP:conf/icml/SoLL19}, and language modeling \citep{ Pham2018EfficientNA, DBLP:conf/iclr/LiuSY19, jiang-etal-2019-improved, li-etal-2020-learning}. Despite the remarkable results, conventional NAS methods are computationally expensive, requiring training millions of architectures during search. For instance, obtaining a state-of-the-art machine translation model with an evolutionary algorithm requires more than 250 GPU years \citep{DBLP:conf/icml/SoLL19}.
Several techniques have been proposed to improve the search efficiency, such as sharing parameters among all architectures \citep{Pham2018EfficientNA, DBLP:conf/aaai/CaiCZYW18, DBLP:conf/cvpr/ZhongYWSL18}, predicting the performance instead of full training \citep{ DBLP:conf/eccv/LiuZNSHLFYHM18, DBLP:conf/iclr/BakerGRN18, DBLP:conf/eccv/WenLCLBK20, DBLP:journals/corr/abs-2003-12857}, and searching over a continuous space \citep{ DBLP:conf/iclr/LiuSY19, jiang-etal-2019-improved, li-etal-2020-learning}. Unfortunately, these approaches still suffer from the high cost of predicting the performance of each candidate architecture. An inherent reason for this is that obtaining accurate performance requires training numerous neural networks to convergence, as described in Sec. \ref{sec:PE}. However, it is unnecessary to predict the model performance as in previous NAS methods. Rather, all we need is to distinguish architectures of different quality in NAS, say, ranking these architectures.
\input{analysis/search-cost.tex}
In this paper, we approach the problem by formulating NAS as a ranking task. Here we propose RankNAS, a ranking model for comparing different architectures. One of the key challenges is that directly ranking all architectures in a large search space is still computationally infeasible. Therefore, we adopt the pairwise method \citep{DBLP:conf/icml/BurgesSRLDHH05, DBLP:conf/icml/WauthierJJ13}, where the ranking problem is reduced to a binary classification problem over architecture pairs. To speed up RankNAS further, we develop an architecture selection method that chooses the most promising architectures for evaluation according to the importance of features, e.g., the topology of architectures.
We test RankNAS on well-established machine translation and language modeling benchmarks. Experiments show that RankNAS is orders of magnitude faster than standard NAS systems and can find better architectures. Notably, RankNAS is generic to different tasks and evaluation metrics. It achieves competitive results on hardware-aware NAS tasks and is 10$\times$ faster than the HAT baseline \citep{wang2020hatht}. It also discovers new architectures that outperform vanilla Transformer by +1.8 BLEU points on the IWSLT'14 De-En data and +1.5 BLEU points on the WMT'14 En-De data, surpassing the Evolved Transformer \citep{DBLP:conf/icml/SoLL19} with 150,000$\times$ less search cost.
\section{Preliminaries}
NAS generally consists of two steps: 1) sample architectures from the pre-defined search space, and 2) estimate the performance of these samples. This work focuses on the performance estimation step, which is the efficiency bottleneck of NAS.
\subsection{Search Space}
\label{sec:search-space}
The search space contains all possible architectures for the search. In this work, we take the Transformer architecture for description, but the discussed problem and solutions are general and can be applied to other models. Following HAT \citep{wang2020hatht}, we represent a Transformer architecture as a set of features and search for the optimal model configuration.
An overview of the search space is shown in Figure \ref{fig:search-space}. It is extended from the HAT's space and inspired by manually designed Transformer variants, including Relative Position Representations \cite{DBLP:conf/naacl/ShawUV18} and Deep Transformer \cite{wang-etal-2019-learning-deep}. The search space can also be represented as a \textit{supernet} where each sub-network is a unique architecture. The search space contains around $10^{23}$ possible architectures, as detailed in Appendix \ref{appendix-space}. It is computationally prohibited to explore such a large space with an exhaustive method.
\input{method/search-space.tex}
\subsection{Performance Estimation}
\label{sec:PE}
Let $\mathcal{A}$ denotes the search space, and each architecture in it is represented by a feature vector $\alpha$. Formally, the goal of NAS is to find the optimal architecture $\alpha^{*}$ with the best performance. The performance can be measured by some metrics, such as accuracy or latency. The performance estimation process consists of two steps: 1) estimate the performance of all architectures, and 2) choose the architecture with the optimal performance.
Without loss of generality, we define $\mathcal{S}(\cdot)$ as the performance evaluated by some metrics. The task here is to find the most promising architecture with maximum $\mathcal{S}(\cdot)$. Standard NAS methods solve this problem by learning to estimate the performance of each architecture. The objective is given by:
\begin{equation}
\label{eq:nas}
\begin{aligned}
\alpha^{*}= \ & \operatorname*{argmax}_{\alpha} \mathcal{S}_{val}(w^{*}, \alpha)\\
\textrm{s.t.} \ w^{*}= \ & \operatorname*{argmax}_{w} \mathcal{S}_{train}(w, \alpha)
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
where $w$ is the weights associated with the architecture. $\mathcal{S}_{val}$ and $\mathcal{S}_{train}$ are the evaluation results on the validation set and training set, respectively.
Optimizing Eq. \ref{eq:nas} is time-consuming as obtaining the optimal weights for each architecture requires training them to converge. Although we can share the weights among all architectures to amortize the cost, performance evaluation is still nontrivial and requires numerous training steps.
\section{NAS as Ranking}
As mentioned in Sec. \ref{sec:PE}, the goal of NAS is to find promising architectures that achieve high performance on unseen data. NAS requires distinguishing whether the architectures are “good” or “bad” rather than predicting accurate performance. Therefore, it is natural to treat NAS as a ranking problem, in which the explicit goal is to rank different architectures correctly.
\subsection{Pairwise Ranking}
\paragraph{Problem Formulation.}
Given an architecture $\alpha$, we define a score $s$ on it by a function $r(\cdot)$:
\begin{equation}
s = r(\alpha, p)
\end{equation}
\noindent where $p$ is the parameter of the scoring function. We implement the scoring function with a gradient boosting decision tree, as detailed in Sec. \ref{sec:ranking-setup}.
We want to optimize $p$ such that $s$ assigns high scores to good architectures and low scores to bad architectures. This induces a ranking of the candidate architectures in the search space. It is infeasible to sort all candidate architectures in a large search space directly. A solution is to reduce the listwise ranking problem to the pairwise ranking problem. Fortunately, the properties of the NAS task allow us to achieve the goal. As described in \citet{dudziak2021brpnas}, the relation between any pair of performance is \textit{antisymmetric}, \textit{transitive} and \textit{connex}. This makes it possible to rank all architectures via pairwise comparisons, substantially reducing the training complexity.
\paragraph{Training Set Construction.}
\label{sec:traing-set}
In pairwise ranking, the learning task is framed as a \textit{binary classification} of architecture pairs into two categories: correctly ordered and incorrectly ordered. Given an architecture pair $(\alpha_{i}, \alpha_{j})$ and the order of performance $\bar{P}_{ij}$, we can construct training examples $(\alpha_{i}, \alpha_{j}, \bar{P}_{ij})$ for the classification by comparing the two values. Note that $\bar{P}_{ij}$ is a 0-1 variable. For example, if $\alpha_{i}$ is better than $\alpha_{j}$, we would add $(\alpha_{i}, \alpha_{j}, 1)$ and $(\alpha_{j}, \alpha_{i}, 0)$ to the training set.
\paragraph{Optimization.}
\label{sec:ranknas}
Consider a pair of architectures $(\alpha_{i}, \alpha_{j})$, scored by $s_i$ and $s_j$, respectively. The probability of $\alpha_{i}$ being better than $\alpha_{j}$ is given by the difference through an activation function $g$:
\begin{equation}
P_{i j}= {g\left(s_{i}-s_{j}\right)}
\end{equation}
We assume that $P_{i j}\geq0.5$ means $\alpha_{i}$ is better than $\alpha_{j}$ while $P_{i j}<0.5$ means $\alpha_{j}$ is better than $\alpha_{i}$. Here we use a logistic function to achieve this goal:
\begin{equation}
\label{eq:pij}
P_{i j}=\frac{1}{1+e^{-(s_{i}-s_{j})}}
\end{equation}
Similarly, $P_{j i}$ can be induced by:
\begin{equation}
\label{eq:pji}
P_{j i}= \frac{1}{1+e^{-(s_{j}-s_{i})}} = 1 - P_{i j}
\end{equation}
Denote the gold score of $\alpha_{i}$ being better than $\alpha_{j}$ as $\bar{P}_{i j}$. We use the cross-entropy loss function for the classification. The loss for a pair of inputs is:
\begin{equation}
\label{eq:ranknas}
\begin{aligned}
L_{i j} &=-(\bar{P}_{ij} \log P_{ij} + \bar{P}_{ji} \log P_{ji}) \\
&={(1-\bar{P}_{i j}) \cdot (s_{i}-s_{j})} + \\
& \ \ \ \ \ \log {(1+e^{-(s_{i}-s_{j})})}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Compared with Eq. \ref{eq:nas}, Eq. \ref{eq:ranknas} just requires $\bar{P}_{i j}$. In particular, we use the intermediate performance measured on the validation set during training. It is much easier than assessing the accurate performance of candidate architectures. In this sense, the ranking model is ``easier'' to learn and may not need many training samples as in performance prediction. RankNAS also enables efficient optimization through gradient methods. Algorithm \ref{algo:training} describes the complete training process of the ranking model.
\begin{algorithm}[t]
\caption{Training of RankNAS}
\label{algo:training}
\KwIn {search space $\mathcal{A}$ and ranking model $r$}
\While{$r$ not converged}{
\textbf{training example construction:} sample $(\alpha_{i}, \alpha_{j})$ from $\mathcal{A}$, compute $\bar{P}_{ij}$ by comparing their performance\;
\textbf{classification:} compute scores $(s_i, s_j)$\;
\textbf{optimization:} optimize $r$ w.r.t. Eq. \ref{eq:ranknas}.
}
\end{algorithm}
\subsection{Applying Pairwise Ranking}
Although the training time of the ranking model is heavily reduced, it is still challenging to apply it to the ranking of all architectures in the search space $\mathcal{A}$. The challenge is that exploring all architectures is computationally expensive, even when the task is a binary classification.
\input{method/overview.tex}
\input{analysis/loss-features.tex}
\paragraph{Correlations between Features and Performance.}
We start by analyzing the effect of architectural features on estimated performance. Figure \ref{fig:performance-features} illustrates the impact of the FFN dimension on latency and the validation loss on the machine translation task. We observe that: (a) different architectural features have very different correlations with the same evaluation metric, and (b) the same features also have different influences on different metrics. For example, the latency monotonically increases when scaling the FFN dimension on CPUs, while it is almost unchanged on GPUs. Hence, it is natural to improve search efficiency by eliminating unimportant features.
\paragraph{Feature Importance.}
\label{sec:feature-selection}
Inspired by previous feature selection methods \citep{DBLP:journals/ml/Breiman01, DBLP:journals/jmlr/FisherRD19}, we measure the importance of an architectural feature (e.g., the number of layers) by calculating the increase in the model error after permuting the feature.
We assume that each architecture $\alpha$ is represented by a feature vector $\bm{f} \in \mathcal{R}^{M \times N}$, where $M$ is the number of different features, and $N$ is the dimension of feature vectors. Also, we assume a set $C$ that contains $n$ architectures sampled from the search space. We first estimate the original model error $L_{total}$ on $C$ using the accumulation of the prediction errors. For any feature $\bm{f}_i \in \bm{f}$, we randomize it for each architecture in $C$. Then the randomized architectural features are passed to the ranking model and yield an error $L_i$. The importance of the $i$-th feature $\bm{f}_i$ is defined by:
\begin{equation}
I(\bm{f}_i) = \frac{L_{i}}{L_{total}}
\end{equation}
where a higher value implies $\bm{f}_i$ is more important.
\paragraph{Search Space Pruning.}
It is easy to select valuable architectural features with the above measure. Given all features $\bm{f} \in \mathcal{R}^{M \times N}$, we discard those with a score less than a threshold $\theta$ and obtain the selected features $\bm{f'} \in \mathcal{R}^{M' \times N}$, where $M' < M$. Then we can prune the search space according to the selected features. For instance, if the feature \textit{Embedding Dimension} is not selected, we will keep it \textit{fixed} during the search. Finally, we only search over the architectures in the reduced search space.
An overview of the search process is presented in Figure \ref{fig:overview}. As described in Sec. \ref{sec:ranknas}, the training of the proposed ranking model is much cheaper than previous methods, which need to optimize the parameters for all architectures. Pruning search space further reduces the number of architectures to be evaluated. Also, the sampling procedure can be implemented with any existing NAS search strategy, e.g., Random Search (RS) or Evolution Algorithm (EA).
\section{Experiments}
\label{sec:experiment}
\subsection{Experimental Setups}
We evaluate our methods on language modeling and machine translation tasks. In the experiments, we search for hardware-aware architectures and high-accuracy architectures.
\input{res/hat-search.tex}
\paragraph{Training Setups.}
For machine translation, we experiment on the IWSLT’14 De-En and WMT’14 En-De tasks using the identical settings as \citet{wang2020hatht}. For language modeling, we experiment on the WikiText-103 dataset \citep{Merity2017PointerSM} with the same settings as \citet{baevski2019adaptiveir}. We set the maximum number of tokens per sample to 1,843 to fit the memory constraints and apply gradient accumulation to keep the same batch size as \citet{baevski2019adaptiveir} ’s work. All models are trained with mixed precision on 8 NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti GPUs except for IWSLT ones, which only take one GPU for training.
\paragraph{Ranking Model Setups.}
\label{sec:ranking-setup}
We implement the ranking model (binary classifier) described in Sec.\ref{sec:ranknas} with LightGBM \citep{DBLP:conf/nips/KeMFWCMYL17} and set the learning rate to 0.1. To prevent overfitting, we set the maximum number of leaves to 30 and the tree's maximum depth to 6. We also use the default regularization terms and apply the early stopping strategy to the training. Specifically, the training stops if the validation score does not increase for 5 rounds. After training the ranking model, we apply the search space pruning method to find the most valuable architectural features for different tasks and hardware. There are two hyper-parameters for pruning: the sample size and the threshold. We set them to 200/1.15 and 300/1.25 for the hardware-aware architecture search and high-accuracy architecture search, respectively.
\input{res/lm-search.tex}
\paragraph{Architecture Search Setups.}
Table \ref{tab:iwslt-search-space} and Table \ref{tab:wmt-search-space} presents the search space of high-accuracy search for the translation tasks. We refer the readers to \citet{wang2020hatht}'s work for more details about the search space of hardware-aware architecture search. RankNAS is not restricted to a specific search strategy. We compare different search strategies in the experiments, including Random Search (RS) and Evolutionary Algorithm (EA). We apply uniform sampling for RS and use the same settings as \citet{wang2020hatht}'s work for EA. More specifically, the random search process will stop if the best-so-far architecture does not change for 3 epochs.
\input{res/accuracy-search.tex}
\paragraph{Evaluation Metrics.}
We report the results obtained by averaging 5 runs with different seeds. We calculate BLEU scores with case-sensitive tokenization using Moses, and apply the compound splitting BLEU for WMT, the same as HAT. We test the latency of models on an Intel Xeon Silver 4114 CPU and an NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti GPU. A machine translation model's latency is the time of translating a single sentence with a fixed length - 30 for WMT and 23 for IWSLT. For language modeling, the latency is the cost of decoding a single sentence without mini-batching, averaged over the whole test set. Following \citet{wang2020hatht}'s work, we measure each model's latency 300 times and remove the fastest and slowest 10\% and then take the average of the rest 80\%. Note that we report the total number of trainable parameters in a model, while \citet{wang2020hatht} emit the parameters of the embedding layers. The search cost is the GPU hours measured on or normalized to a single RTX 2080Ti.
\subsection{Results}
\paragraph{Hardware-Aware Architecture Search.}
\label{exp:hat}
The hardware-aware NAS aims to maximize the accuracy under specified latency constraints on different hardware platforms. We first rank architectures by their latencies and pick those that meet the constraint to achieve this goal. Then we rank the selected architectures by their losses on the validation set and choose the best one. For machine translation tasks, we use the same search space as HAT \citep{wang2020hatht}, which contains around $10^{15}$ possible architectures. For the language modeling task, we use the following search space: [10, 12, 14] for decoder layer number, [768, 1024] for embedding dimension, [3072, 4096, 5120] for hidden dimension, and [8, 12, 16] for the head number in attention modules. We add a simple linear projection without bias if two adjacent layers have different hidden sizes.
Table \ref{tab:hat-search} shows the results of RankNAS comparing to HAT \citep{wang2020hatht} and Transformer \citep{DBLP:conf/nips/VaswaniSPUJGKP17} on the machine translation tasks. Our method is effective in reducing the search cost for different tasks and hardware platforms. For instance, it requires 10.53$\times$ less cost to find a comparable architecture on the WMT task. The discovered architectures also have the lowest latencies with the same or better BLEU scores on most tasks. For example, the architecture designed for the CPU is 2.68$\times$ faster than the standard Transformer.
We present the architecture search results for language modeling on the WikiText-103 test data in Table \ref{tab:lm-search}. All models are evaluated with a context window of 2,560 tokens, following \citet{baevski2019adaptiveir}. Our method significantly accelerates the baseline on different devices. Specifically, our method speeds up the baseline by 2.59$\times$ on the CPU and 1.83$\times$ on the GPU. Our model also obtains a perplexity of 18.13, which outperforms Transformer-XL \citep{dai2019transformerxlal} and is comparable to the state-of-the-art language model, e.g., Sandwich-Transformer \citep{DBLP:conf/acl/PressSL20}.
\paragraph{High-Accuracy Architecture Search.}
\label{exp:accuracy-search}
Unlike hardware-aware architecture search, the high-accuracy architecture search only optimizes accuracy and does not consider latency. In the experiments, we enlarge the HAT's search space by introducing two additional features \textit{Relative Attention Position} \citep{DBLP:conf/naacl/ShawUV18} and \textit{Layer Norm Position}, as shown in Table \ref{tab:iwslt-search-space} and Table \ref{tab:wmt-search-space}. This expands the size of search space to $10^{23}$, 8 orders of magnitude larger than HAT.
\input{res/mt-ranker.tex}
We compare RankNAS with state-of-the-art machine translation models designed by human experts and models discovered by other NAS methods. The results are presented in Table \ref{tab:accuracy-search}. RankNAS consistently outperforms other methods in both the IWSLT and WMT tasks. It demonstrates that RankNAS can also design high-accuracy architectures. Notably, the discovered architectures achieve a +1.8 BLEU improvement on the IWSLT task and a +1.5 BLEU improvement on the WMT task than the standard Transformers baseline \citep{DBLP:conf/nips/VaswaniSPUJGKP17}. We show that RankNAS surpasses the Evolved Transformer \citep{DBLP:conf/icml/SoLL19}, with orders of magnitude fewer search costs. RankNAS also matches the performance of gradient-based methods, including NAO \citep{DBLP:journals/taslp/FanTXQLL20} and DARTSformer \citep{DBLP:conf/acl/ZhaoDSZWC21}.
\section{Analysis}
We analyze both the accuracy and efficiency of our search method and study the effect of different features on model performance.
\subsection{Architecture Ranking Accuracy}
\label{analysis:accuracy}
To study the accuracy of the proposed method, we evaluate it on the IWSLT translation task. We randomly sample 200 different architectures from the HAT search space (small) and the enlarged search space (large) introduced in Sec. \ref{exp:accuracy-search}. We train these architectures from scratch and measure their BLEU scores on the test set. Table \ref{tab:mt-predictor} presents the Kendall and Spearman rank correlation coefficient between the predicted results and the real scores. RankNAS outperforms HAT in terms of different ranking correlations. For example, RankNAS achieves a high Kendall's Tau of 0.883 and 0.826 on small and large spaces. This indicates that the predicted ranking is very close to the real results.
\input{analysis/selected-features.tex}
\paragraph{Importance of Ranking Accuracy.}
\label{sec:analysis-accuracy}
Although our ranking model is more accurate than prior methods, a question remains: how does ranking accuracy affect the search quality? We analyze the impact of different ranking models on the high-accuracy NAS task. Figure \ref{fig:bleu-sample} compares two ranking models with different ranking correlation coefficients. The results are obtained by best-so-far models trained from scratch on the IWSLT'14 De-En data. Results show that inaccurate ranking leads to poor search results. It indicates that an accurate ranking model is essential for architecture search.
\subsection{Analysis of Discovered Architectures}
We present the discovered architectures in Appendix \ref{appendix-arch} and analyze important features for different hardware on the IWSLT'14 De-En task.
Figure \ref{fig:selected-features} (top) plots the selected features for the CPU. It shows that the decoder FFN dimension is the most important feature for predicting latency, followed by the decoder's arbitrary attention and the encoder FFN dimension. We also find that the decoder embedding dimension has a similar impact on latency as the number of decoder layers.
Figure \ref{fig:selected-features} (bottom) illustrates the results for the GPU. Similar to the CPU, the latency on the GPU has a high correlation to the decoder attention module. The main difference is that the latency on GPU is insensitive to FFN or embedding dimensions but more sensitive to the number of decoder layers.
The results indicate that we can design \textit{``shallow and wide''} models for GPUs and \textit{``deep and thin''} models for CPUs to achieve the Pareto-optimal state. Similar design insights have been verified in recent works, such as \citet{wang-etal-2019-learning-deep}, \citet{hu-etal-2020-niutrans}, \citet{DBLP:conf/aaai/LiLXZ21}, and \citet{lin-etal-2021-weight}.
\subsection{Search Efficiency}
Experiments in Sec. \ref{sec:experiment} show that our method has much lower search costs than previous works. We now analyze how does our method accelerates the architecture search.
\paragraph{Ranking Model Training Efficiency.}
The overall search cost includes the training time of the ranking model and the cost of the search process. Figure \ref{fig:search-cost} compares our method and HAT on the IWSLT’14 De-En task. The two methods share the same search space and sampling strategy for search. We observe that the ranking model training takes most of the time. RankNAS speeds up the ranking model training by 10.34 times compared with HAT. Pruning the search space further reduces the 75\% time of the search process. Thus the overall search cost is significantly reduced. It indicates that efficient training of the ranking model is essential to accelerate the search process.
\paragraph{Architecture Search Efficiency.}
We also analyze the efficiency of our proposed methods on the IWSLT hardware-aware task. Figure \ref{fig:loss} shows the loss curves on the validation set of the models found by our method with different sampling strategies. We observe that RankNAS is compatible with different strategies. Also, the evolutionary algorithm outperforms random search in terms of the rate of convergence and the search result.
\input{analysis/bleu-sample}
\section{Related Work}
Many efforts have been made to improve the NAS efficiency for different tasks \citep{dblp:conf/cvpr/tancpvshl19, dblp:journals/corr/abs-1812-03443, dblp:journals/corr/abs-1812-00332, DBLP:journals/corr/abs-1911-00105, Chen2020AdaBERTTB}. A common approach to accelerating the search process is to use a proxy, such as reduced model size, training data, or training steps. However, it is inaccurate for estimating the model's performance and diminishes the NAS quality \citep{DBLP:conf/iclr/BakerGRN18,dudziak2021brpnas}. Another popular way is to share parameters among all architectures to reduce the training time \citep{dblp:conf/cvpr/tancpvshl19, dblp:journals/corr/abs-1812-00332}. However, it is infeasible to train all architecture candidates fairly to obtain their accurate performance.
\input{analysis/loss.tex}
Recent works explored performance prediction based on architectural properties, i.e., the network topology and the model size \citep{DBLP:conf/eccv/LiuZNSHLFYHM18, 8901943, DBLP:conf/eccv/WenLCLBK20, DBLP:conf/eccv/NingZZWY20}. For instance, Hardware-Aware Transformer (HAT) \citep{wang2020hatht} encoded architectures into feature vectors and predicted the latency with a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) for the target hardware. BRP-NAS \citep{dudziak2021brpnas} proposed an end-to-end performance predictor based on a Graph Convolutional Network (GCN). Although these methods greatly improve the performance estimation efficiency, they still require many samples and train numerous neural networks to converge, thereby increasing the search cost. Instead, we are motivated by the fact that NAS is expected to distinguish different candidate architectures. Thus, NAS can be solved by learning pairwise ranking rather than obtaining the accurate performance of architectures.
\section{Conclusion}
We have presented RankNAS, a simple yet efficient NAS algorithm for both hardware-aware and high-accuracy architecture search. We have shown that pairwise ranking can significantly improve search efficiency. We also have proposed a search space pruning method to help the ranking model be more efficient during the search. Our approach outperforms prior methods in both efficiency and accuracy. RankNAS requires 80\% less time in ranking model training on the hardware-aware search task and accelerates the overall search process by 11.53 times. Also, the architectures discovered by our method outperform state-of-the-art Transformer models in terms of efficiency and accuracy.
\section*{Acknowledgements}
This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61876035 and 61732005), the National Key R\&D Program of China (No.2019QY1801), and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC (Nos. 2019YFF0303002 and 2020AAA0107900). The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions.
|
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hello,Last week my frnd was bitten by a streetdog, he forgot to take vaccine and after a week he had Arv nd rav vaccine nd now hes undergoing with dog vacines wich is of 5 doses wich is given evry week.so can he hav alcohol during this course.?Please tell is drinking alcohol during this course affect him?
s taking alcohol while on vaccination for rabies affect health? output: Hi & Welcome to HCM.I can understand your concern.Alcohol consumption may reduce the efficacy of the anti rabies vaccines.Although there's no dietary restriction as long as the anti rabies vaccine is given, however it is advisable to stay away from alcohol because of the following reasons:1. There may be unexplained interactions between efficacy of the vaccine & alcohol intake.2. Rabies vaccination provides immunity against rabies infection while consumption of alcohol decreases the body immunity.3. Individuals who receive the anti rabies vaccine may experience symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, etc. which are similar to the symptoms experienced by intake of alcohol.4. The symptoms of alcohol intoxication can mimic the symptoms of rabies infection: confusion, agitation, anxiety, muscle issues. It would be hard to tell if your symptoms are from the alcohol or due to rabies infection itself.Based on the above mentioned facts, it is better your friend should avoid alcohol consumption.Best of your health... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What is the Fenton reaction, and how does it relate to the pathologic generation of free radicals in the presence of certain metals such as copper and iron? output: The Fenton reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the generation of free radicals in the presence of certain metals, such as copper and iron. This reaction can occur in the body when there is an excess of these metals, leading to the pathologic generation of free radicals that can cause damage to cells and tissues. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can cause oxidative stress and damage to DNA, proteins, and other cellular components. The Fenton reaction is one of the mechanisms by which this damage can occur, and it is thought to play a role in the development of a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I ve had pink urine after eating beets, but today what started out as pink urine is now deep red and I m concerned it is blood, there are also little fibers I the urine. Can eating beets exacerbate a bladder/kidney problem? How long should I wait before swing a doctor? output: This will be gone in a day or two. I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications at: http://www.com/doctors/. |
Flagship Pod: FB Gets Crushed, Crypto Winter, Gambling Stocks, Volatility & More!
market & industry analysis Feb 06, 2022
In this week's podcast we're bringing you a live recording from our conversation earlier this week. We discuss everything from why Facebook is crashing to if we're in a crypto winter and more.
If you'd like to listen live and ask us questions throughout the next live session, just join us next week at 2:00pm PST // 5:00pm EST every Thursday.
To listen live, just join our Discord here: Discord Channel
If you'd like to listen to this in Apple Podcasts: Click here
We're also on Spotify: Click here!
Peter Starr:
And now coming to you live from our coast-to-coast trading desk, this is the Flagship Pod, a weekly live podcast filmed in front of a live discord audience where we talk about all things the economy, the stock market, and the various market forces affecting the world around you.
As always, I'm your host, Peter Starr Northrop, bringing you this time a really, really just stacked show. We've had a wild volatile week, a lot of ups and downs, mostly ups followed by a brief down today. A lot of really great tech earnings we missed, a lot of amazing, interesting news coming out of Facebook as they face the reverberations of the Apple privacy situation. And then what's going on with volatility in general, what's going on with energy stocks, what's going on with things like DraftKings, is it still dip season? What is going on here? Lots of stuff to cover in the next half hour folks, so I'm just jumping right into it.
As always helping me cover that, joined today by Justin Kramer, chief analyst, CEO, co-founder here at moby.co
Justin Kramer dude, hell of a week, man. What's going on? How are you holding on in this very volatile situation?
Justin Kramer:
Yeah, every week seems to be crazier than the next. The week before it was down, this week is up, and today is another down day and we'll see what tomorrow brings us. But the volatile times are not ending any time soon. It's been entertaining to say the least, although obviously certain portions of the portfolio are hurting, but it's just par honestly for the course.
Exactly, it just adds drama to everything too. It's one of those things where you are consistently trying to add to your positions over time as opposed to thinking, oh, the market's down, I'm doomed. No, no, no, no, if you are thinking you're doomed because the market is down now, your time horizon is all out of whack, my dude. And so that's the whole point of conversations like this audience is to help give you the confidence to maintain your monthly investing cadence, make sure you're adding the right positions to your portfolio. Not necessarily at the right time, but make sure you have that perspective.
But let's get into the market news, Justin. I guess the main thing is market is down today, but the contagion that kicked it off was this absolutely massive Facebook earnings call yesterday evening when they essentially announced hey, we're going to be missing out on 10 billion in revenue for a bit here. Our users are down, our active users are down, everything's down and so it is the single largest day drop in value for any company, I don't know if in history, but that's one of the headlines I saw. $237 billion of value gone. Absolutely just nuts. Just thinking about how many companies just got wiped out if you wiped out $200 billion of value.
What is going on with Facebook, Justin? Is this going to keep happening as they face losing out on all of the advertising revenue from being able to track people on iOS and all of that or is there something deeper going on here? What are people missing when they think about the Facebook conversation?
Yeah, we did call this out back in October. First off, Facebook has 40% of humans on Earth using their platform. To continue growing 10%, 20% when you have billions of people using your product is literally impossible. So growth was inevitably going to stall, but what's really changed right now is this is the first time in 18 years that they've actually had no growth. Users have more or less stayed exactly the same and they're losing a lot users to other platforms like TikTok.
Pair that with real issues on the advertising side, which is how they completely monetize their platform and honestly, it's kind of scary what we're seeing right now. Again, we called this out back in October that this was a possibility and now it's really starting to play out. I would be nervous for the company going forward. They obviously have more data and more technology than 99% of the other companies out there, so it's not like they're going to go to zero tomorrow, but we might be watching, as we speak, the actual peak of Facebook.
Peak Facebook dude, which is insane. There's so much to unpack there too when you think about all those factors there. I also just want to quickly, not gloat, but just also point out that not only did we point this out on the analysis side on over at moby.co in October, we also pointed this out every single day when we went live on TikTok.
If you don't know audience, in addition to this interview I do with Justin every week here on Discord, I'm also going live giving my unfiltered thoughts. Not as intelligent as talking to Justin, just talking about the market every day over on TikTok. It's been going pretty well and every single day I've been like, "Facebook's going to be the contagion." That Facebook earnings call is going to be a disaster and I love being right, but what's more amazing about that is something you pointed out on Twitter Justin, where their users are going down while TikTok usership and also creatorship on TikTok is skyrocketing despite the fact that if you look at the numbers, it's really awful being a creator on TikTok.
TikTok is the most insane and wild virality platform known to humankind, but you get paid, what is it? 10 cents on the dollar that you would get paid if you're on Facebook being monetized by Facebook's various monetization efforts. So if you are a creator, you're having a much better quality of life experience posting to Instagram, posting to the core Facebook platform considering you're making roughly 10X what a TikTok creator is. And it's comparable to YouTube too, though as a YouTube creator you make a little bit more than even Facebook. It's amazing that TikTok is seeing this kind of growth. TikTok obviously isn't a publicly created company here in America, I don't think. Someone call me out on that. But the main thing is is thinking about sure, TikTok has this insane growth, but unless they start really serving their creators, it's going to be a really interesting dichotomy here.
Getting beyond that, where are all these users going? They're going to TikTok, it looks like they're also going to Snapchat too. Here's the shock of the quarter for me, Justin: TikTok's stock has popped 57% today off of a brilliant earnings call where they finally, on a net adjusted basis, had a profitable quarter. Their earnings per share was up 22 cents versus 10 cents expected. The revenue last quarter was 1.3 billion versus what people expected less than a billion. Their active users are growing massively. They had 319 million users as opposed to about 300 million, and their average revenue per user is actually up to about $4.
So even though Snapchat is facing the exact same market forces that Facebook is, they are thriving and they are a much, much, what am I trying to say here? Stable metaverse play than Facebook. If you look at all of the ups and downs that Snapchat has had, I know I'm just hitting you with these numbers right now Justin, but looking at this, if we hit peak Facebook, could we see a really, really sick growth run for Snap moving forward?
Yeah, it's definitely possible. Ultimately, Snapchat is going to arrive at a lot of the similar issues that Facebook is, which is around privacy regulations, Apple's non tracking new software that they rolled out last year with iOS 14.5. Listen, at the end of the day, if they're growing, that's great, but they don't have the scale that Facebook has and they don't have nearly the same technology and they're battling the same headwinds.
So in the short term, I'm not surprised that advertisers are leaving, going to Snapchat, going towards other mediums, especially with a lot of the younger generation using Snapchat in addition to TikTok. So I think a lot of it's chasing where the users are going whereas Instagram is what's keeping them afront in the social media front or Facebook. But from an advertising attribution and targeting perspective, they're going to be running into the same issues. So maybe in the short term over the next year it's good play, but in the long run, I think Snapchat's going to continue facing a lot of the same difficulties.
Yeah. If anything, this is just the market being like well, I just took all this money out of Facebook, I got to put it somewhere. It might be these two factors playing off of each other, right? A lot of people see the market as a zero sum game and so sometimes market sentiment means I pull money out of Facebook, I put it into a Facebook "competitor." And you can make an argument why Snap is a much stronger metaverse play than Facebook, despite the fact that Snapchat hasn't made any kind of concerted announcements around their plans for AR in the metaverse. They just are the OGs in the augmented reality space and therefore, have a bit of an advantage there. But it's going to be really interesting to see exactly what they do with that advantage and if they make a metaverse play, unless the whole metaverse issue is just a head fake just to keep Facebook's stock value up at peak Facebook before things go away.
Either way, I don't want to talk, I don't want to live in Mark Zuckerberg's head the entire podcast here Justin, so let's pull our focus back real fast. Let's get back to the market itself and let's just talk about what we've seen.
Across all of January, we had three out of four down weeks. Then last week, the last week of January, Apple single handedly saved the world and brought us back to growth. That growth cycle continued until today when Facebook ended it. And so when we're thinking about this, when I look at this volatility, what am I seeing here? Is this just what happens every earning season or is this earning season amplified just because of like all the uncertainty about the fed, not uncertainty, but all the worries about what inflation means, what raising rates means, what the asset purchasing program ending means.
Can you take me through that? How do we look at this volatility right now? And how should I think about it shaking out? Is there any specific pattern we should be looking for as we try to understand exactly what's happening with dip season?
Yeah, I wouldn't look too much into individual names on why they're popping [inaudible 00:09:17]. Obviously there's exceptions: Facebook, Snapchat, a lot of them being the exceptions. But net overall, the sectors are moving in line with each other. If tech's going one way, most tech stocks will follow except for the market leaders, which we see Facebook deviating from Google and Snapchat and some of these others. But at a sector level, which is how you should be looking at it, the day-to-day volatility is more than expected. Feds raising rates, cutting back stimulus, investors are getting scared, they're flying towards safe money. These are just themes that aren't going away. There's a reason energy is the number one performing sector over the last 52 weeks, which I don't think most people realize. It's up 75% in the last 52 weeks and the next closest is financials at 33%. That's just not even close and the rest of the sectors are falling way far behind. Healthcare at number three and then so on and so forth.
So people are looking for, and they look at Snapchat, it's like oh, it's up huge today, Facebook is down, tech is [inaudible 00:10:15] to make money. But what no one's talking about is that energy in some of these historically "boring" companies are far outpacing everything. They're beating crypto, they're beating tech, they're beating everything. And I don't think that's going to be the case forever. I'm not a long term believer in oil companies, and even for that manner financial companies, but in the short term in the current environment, these are companies that are going out to form. We've been saying it every single week for the last several months. I hope you've been paying attention, it's not rocket science, it's just like this is how the market reacts when the fed takes certain rates. It just hasn't been done in a decade so most newer investors just don't even know what's coming.
Exactly and I think one thing you mentioned a lot too was we had a good analysis last week. Can you kind of take us through the major energy players right now? Obviously we love ConocoPhillips, who else is a really strong play right now? Take me through the analysis you've done in terms of the best performers in this really strong energy environment?
Yeah, so in the short term, ConocoPhillips definitely, they're up over a 100% in the last year, which is insane. Exxon Mobil, a company that I never thought I would hear come out of my own mouth is up over 120% in the last year. If you look at it, and we put an analysis out on this on our website very recently, the price of oil and gas relative to these stock price performance is basically exactly in line. So if you're betting on these companies, you're betting on oil prices to go up.
From what we've seen so far, they can continue going up even if inflation dips because the demand for oil is so high, so we think it'll continue running. On top of that, the other companies we're looking at is Shell. They're taking more of a green energy stance, which we like over the longer term. And then even something more risky that probably won't perform well in the short term but will do really well in the long term is companies that are looking towards clean energy. Plug Power is something we've been talking about for the last few years. They're moving towards hydrogen based energy. It might seem like hype, especially to a lot of newer retail investors, but these are energy companies we like over the short, medium and long term.
And Plug Power is a really exciting one because they're getting really close to that point where their hydrogen is cheaper than propane for forklifts. Not fully cheaper, but the fact that they can take advantage of credits. They're getting really close to the price point they need to be. So Plug Power is one I'm watching a lot too, so much that I made an actual whole YouTube video about that. You can check that out over at youtube.com/c/Mobyinvest.
How about Valero though, Justin? I feel like that's one that's new in our focus this week. And as we think about other petrochemical companies, how's Valero doing and how do they figure into your whole analysis about the energy market?
Yeah, Valero is definitely, I don't know if I touched upon it before, but they're another energy company we're looking at. They're interesting right now relative to some of the other players out there. With Valero specifically, not only are they reporting great numbers, which is across the board right now, it's to be expected with energy prices going up, but their guidance, and that's really what we're looking for, is something that is going to keep them outperforming over the next several months.
So every single conceivable metric like free cash flow, EBIDA, all these like boring numbers that are actually important are expected to trend above consensus. Which for newer investors, if things are beating expectations, the stock is going to do well 99% of the time. So when we see companies like them beating historically and putting out expectations that'll be higher going forward, that's just a green light for us to go directly after them. So we think companies like them, especially with their biofuel based business, their jet fuel based business, are going to do really, really well in this environment. It's not going to last forever, hope you got the last quarter or two it as we've been continuing to invest in these companies, but it's still not too late so we still like it a lot.
And that's going to be the theme moving forward audience. What you're going to see again is a media and the way people talk about investment just be very dramatic. We're genuinely living in interesting times, right? And you need to really understand that as an investor, you need to be looking for these more boring companies. Right now, boring is beautiful. The media's going to show you a bunch of shiny objects that are either head fakes or potentially things that are going to go up and then go right back down as we respond to this volatility. Finding the stocks with good fundamentals, finding these energy stocks is absolutely huge. And I think you need to really keep that in mind: am I buying this stock because it's interesting, or am I buying this stock because it's a good investment? Boring is beautiful people, especially now more so than ever. We're back in a value market, get with these value plays, stay with them for a while and you're going to have a great time.
And then a quick aside, yes, all the people roasting me in DMS, I did completely butcher the pronunciation of Valero. You have to understand that I was raised in Tennessee and also Philadelphia so I have a very, almost Southern accent that's always competing with a regular Northeastern accent. And sometimes it comes at as really, really weird pronunciation. So there's your fun fact for the day. Jumping right in though, what's going to win today? Tennessee or Philadelphia? Who even knows? In the Superbowl, nobody. Moving on.
Justin, I guess one thing our audience is also concerned about in the middle of roasting me in DMS is how this energy situation plays out with our very interesting geopolitical situation. One of the reasons that oil prices are going up is simply because there's a bit of an energy crisis in Europe, there was a bunch of supply chain issues in 2020. And that energy crisis could get really exacerbated if we actually have a straight up conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
And so when you look at that, is that something that's going to affect energy prices across the board or is that just something that Europe has to worry about? How do we think about this in this weird uncertainty, geopolitical period? If bombs start dropping tomorrow, God forbid, I really don't think that's going to happen. I feel like Russia's posturing to prop up oil prices, but again, I'm not in the Kremlin right now, I can't tell you if that's true or not. What are your thoughts there though, Justin? If we saw like an actual armed conflict here, would that cause all these stocks to tank? Obviously you can't make a one-to-one prediction, but how would you think about that if something like that would actually break out because it's something on our minds as we think about it, specifically petrochemical stocks?
Yeah, to say obviously if or not that's going to happen, obviously I have zero clue. No one has any clue except for Putin and a few other people. So obviously from a speculation standpoint, it's impossible to say. I agree with you, if I had to put my money on it, I would say it's not going to happen, but it's not an investment, it's a bet. But should it happen, obviously things are going to change.
So Russia's a major producer of oil, they have a lot of relationships in the Middle East with OPEC and a lot of the other petrochemical producers. So they invade other countries, there's war broken out, there's definitely going to be an influence. Pair that with the fact that not only are the fed in the US raising interest rates, but the Central Bank of Russia will be raising rates as well, although more dramatically to 1% raises versus 25 basis point raises. And that should drastically affect things, both from an inflation standpoint as well as a gas standpoint.
The demand for gas and oil, should they increase, in theory should go up and the supply, especially with trade routes and other things should be constrained even more, should go down. So I would imagine if, and to your point, this isn't a one to one deal, but should they actually invade, should there actually be a war, should they raise rates, a lot of should's, energy price stocks should continue to do well.
Precisely. Yeah, and that's just one thing we need to make sure is how does this affect the actual market if anything goes down and I appreciate putting all the things we can look out for. So we're going to keep switching around because again, a very volatile market leads to a very volatile podcast, so we're going to leave geopolitics and get back to the small stuff as we think about all these other trends that are happening.
And I guess one thing that our audience is concerned about with the latest rises is, oh shoot, did I miss dip season? Did I miss a bunch of dips to buy watching all the big tech stocks carry the market upwards? And I think there's a lot of dips that are still happening and I think there's a lot of stuff that's really interesting.And one that you keep pointing out that I keep forgetting to mention on the podcast is DraftKings. DraftKings is down about 56% from its all time high. It was down 75% a little bit earlier in the week, but it keeps being weirdly volatile.
And so when you look at this Justin, what's the deal here as we think about what's happening with DraftKings right now. Is DraftKings still buy the dip situation or is sports betting not as strong as it should be now that it's becoming more and more accepted here in the United States?
Yeah, one thing I will fully admit is with timing, it's impossible. You'll never hear anyone say this but we definitely did get a little bit lucky in our timing there. We're not soothsayers, timing in the market is literally impossible to do consistently. We saw DraftKings down 75% from its all time high, it seemed like a no brainer for us to add to our position. We luckily called the bottom. Having said that it could easily dip it back down so we got lucky it keeps sliding down, easily. But over the long term, we're betting on the fact that legalization of sports betting continues to widen and DraftKings has the partnerships and have the reach in certain regions to be able to extend those relationships further.
And so when you look at New York, you look at California, you look at Pennsylvania, you look at Florida, you look a lot of the markets that people are expanding into. And specifically in New York and New Jersey, DraftKings has major wallet share. And the lifetime value of some of these customers relative to how much it costs to acquire them even with the ridiculous promotions that are going on right now, are a 10:1 ratio. That means that for every dollar they're extending towards buying customers essentially, they're getting, we're estimating it to be 10 in return.
So their investment, and it's going to hurt their company in the short term, is ultimately going to help beyond measurable amount in the long term. So we absolutely love DraftKings, the fact that we timed it at the bottom, great for us, pat us in the back, it was definitely a little bit of luck so I'll fully admit that. But if we like DraftKings last year, it's still down 50%, there's no reason not to continue liking it now. Even if it goes down, it goes up, who cares? This is a multiyear bet. Whether you get a 100% of the upside or 90% or 80%, you're still getting the upside.
Timing it on the bottom and then timing it on the top is impossible, no one can do it, I don't care what anyone says, it's proven to be impossible. So as long as you believe in that thesis over the long term, you want to put some in now, you want to put some in systematically. And say you're doing a $1000, say a $100 or $200 every month for the next 6 to 12 months, that's a great way to dollar cost average yourself in. This is a bet in the long term. So buying the dip is great, if you don't have the position, the more you wait, in theory it could keep going up. You're going to hurt yourself even if it goes the other way.
Exactly, yeah. And when you talk to investors, when you time those bottoms it is all about luck. So one of the major reasons you follow moby.co is we tend to be a little bit luckier than most other analysts. That's more of a joke response. But let's get into, I am amazed we are being as efficient as we're being. We are really just cranking out the points here. I didn't think we'd have time for this today, but we do.
Speaking of calling bottoms Justin, crypto. Obviously, crypto had just as much of a terrible drop as the NASDAQ did. We're seeing some volatility/recovery. Bitcoin is hovering more around, what? The 37-38K mark, right? Yeah, it's hit 37, got back up to 40 for a hot second. No, just shy of 40, I should say. And now hovering at 37. Ethereum is a whole mess. So when you look at this, are we in crypto winter right now? Is this a full on crypto bare market or is the whole thing, Bitcoin, just following the NASDAQ at this point?
Yeah, it just looks following the marketplace. If stocks pop tomorrow and it's a prolonged pop in a positive direction, then I would be very surprised if Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto market didn't follow suit. It's a risky asset, so likely that's what would happen. It's obviously not guaranteed, but in the short term, I don't think we're in a position of we're saying we're in a crypto winter. This isn't 2017, 2018, the market is still very young, but it's not as premature as it was. The market has definitely matured a lot. You have real institutional capital in, it's not led by retail investors. You have actual projects that millions, if not billions of dollars are being thrown at them. So we're in a completely different place from that perspective. Having said that, there's not that many consumer applications right now of people using crypto at a wide scale to ultimately warrant these crazy valuations.
So it's a long winded way of saying I don't think we're in crypto winter, we're in a completely different place now. I don't think we're going to see a two year bare market, obviously it's possible. But right now, we really need to be aware of what's going on. It's a different environment and I think similar to DraftKings and how we feel about everything, if you love it now, this is a multi-year bet on the world changing on how it does business, which is VO blockchain technology. So if you're getting it at 30, you're getting at 20, you're getting at 40, you're getting at 50, in the long run if it's hitting a million a coin, it's all the same thing. So trying to time it is just like a suckers play, honestly.
Exactly. And audience, one thing that I'm really impressed with, I just finished animating this before we went live. I just finished a data analysis chart where I weighted Bitcoin and the NASDAQ together over the last five years and just ran the chart to see how they're going to perform against each other. And the one thing that's really awesome to watch is just how much Bitcoin in the last three years compared to the last 10 years has stabilized in terms of developing momentum in its price, i.e price changes take a little bit longer to happen in Bitcoin now.
And so you're literally watching the market mature, but at the same time as this market matures, you see these moments in 2019, and specifically in the last six months, where you can literally watch it follow the NASDAQ, which is really interesting to see. People aren't using Bitcoin as an inflation hedge with the way we thought they were, they're using it more as like an additional investment on top of their regular stock portfolio. So that's something we're going to be watching moving forward.
And then Justin, I guess that gets us into the rest of the crypto space. You mentioned how none of these have any real uses, that's why we're really excited about Web3 and DeFi, actual services which are going to be built on top of these blockchains.
As we look into that, as we think about that, what are some of the various like alt coins/DeFi plays that you're watching right now? What are the things you're excited about as we watch this market mature even more. As we determine if we're in a crypto winter or not, a lot of our audience is interested in adding to more smaller alt coin plays just to think, well, if I'm not going to make big gains in the big players right now this year, maybe it's my time to mention some smaller stuff. What are the things you're watching on the more alternative side of things on the smaller cap side?
Outside everything that we always talk about in our site, like Avalanche, Polkadot, a lot of these alt coins that we definitely like, there's still bigger to your point. So for some of the smaller ones, they're all honestly trending in a similar direction, which is obviously down. Having said that, there are some other ones. Helium, we haven't had the chance to fully analyze yet, but it's a project we've been watching for a while. I don't think one sector really has had a positive return in the Web3 world, but Helium was the closest one. And it's a coin that we've liked for a while, which is a decentralized play on telecommunications. So that's one we've looked at and we're definitely going to try and write up. MakerDAO is another one, Avalanche is another one. Avalanche is still big, but these are some other plays that we like.
And then in addition to that, Peter, the video you did still hasn't changed, excuse me, the video still hasn't changed on how we feel about OlympusDAO. That's something we still definitely like. They're in a tough environment from a macro perspective right now. Having said that, OlympusDAO is still making a lot of progress. They just had a vote pass that would allow them to create an inverse bond that would basically just help them with their treasury backing. Small detail, but things that are just progress as we're tracking them.
So long story short, these coins are likely going to suffer, maybe these one off ones that are either being pumped or have really cool updates, but those are finding diamonds in the rough right now, honestly. It's, not a good answer, I'm sure for people who are looking for the next big thing, the timing right now is just really tough. The environment of putting money in and becoming a millionaire overnight wasn't going to last forever. And it may very well come back, but right now, it's tough timing.
Exactly and you're never trying to become a millionaire overnight. That's why you only had one example of that last year, there was that absolute mad person who managed to turn $1000 into a couple billion on the back of Shiba-Inu. That's only going to happen in these ridiculous meme coins spaces that you should just be avoiding overall.
On an anecdotal level, I'm still pretty excited about Olympus in terms of the way that they took this punch, especially considering that the biggest OHM Fork, TIME Wonderland, was revealed to be basically started by a scam person, like an actual convicted felon for financial fraud. And watching TIME Wonderland completely crash, and then have that news come out and kill it even further. OHM has kind of stabilized at just above its backing per OHM, which is a whole complicated DeFi thing, which has given me the confidence to double down. I just added to a lot of my AVAX back into OlympusDAO just to keep going. Because the cool thing about these spaces is the ridiculous wars we saw last year with APY, these unsustainable APYs, are over. Olympus is now stabled around 900-1000% APY year over year, which is really awesome to see. So that's why I'm excited about it moving forward again. That's still pretty high, it's not going to last for years or anything, but that's still awesome to be here early as they build up this protocol.
Either way, Justin, we've managed to cram so much into this half hour. Go us! I'm really excited. We have literally one minute left. Any final thoughts for me before we go ahead and end this out? Anything else people should be watching as we live through this volatility? What else is on your mind, man?
Yeah, for people who are listening to this, whether it's the recorded version on Spotify, Apple Music, or on our website or people who are listening to us live, it's the same message that we've been saying every single week. So if you've been paying attention, I hope it's starting to resonate, but this volatility isn't going away anytime soon. You might be able to swing trade stuff here and there but a lot of that is just gambling. So we need to find companies and stocks that we fundamentally believe in in the right valuations. We publish on this three to five times a week and continue to have the same mentality and that's how we'll outperform the market.
Chasing these projects and chasing these stocks that are having these 50%, 100% swings, you'll make money here and there but in the longer run, I would say 9.9 out of 10 investors are losing money. So just have patience, building wealth is not an overnight thing. As much as you read the stories, CNBC is selling you fear and greed on becoming a millionaire overnight. This stuff takes time, you just got to find the right companies and stick with them.
Exactly and as always, that's going to be the point we have, that's going to be the best place where we feel like it's a good place to stop because that's the thing, the whole point of the show is to give you the confidence you need to consistently invest and to find those little places where you can add a little bit more juice to your portfolio, so to speak. But it's never going to be a get rich quick thing and it's not going to be anything that's going to be absolutely massive. This compounding interest game is the easiest game in the world, you just only get one shot to play it because it takes 35 years to play it properly. And so I hope that throughout these conversations, we give you that confidence to add as much as you possibly can to your positions month over month, over month, over month so that you have that confidence you can build that basis of wealth, a stronger one than you would've without us.
Either way audience, I really appreciate your time. If you like lives like this, we are doing them daily. It's just me solo over on our TikTok. We're also trying to expand with going live with an interview format on Instagram as well. If you want more in-depth analysis, check us out moby.co/go. We also have more in-depth video stuff over at youtube.com/c/Mobyinvest.
Either way audience, we've got some really cool stuff coming out next week as well. I'm really excited to take you through some other various macro forces over on our YouTube channel, you'll be seeing that from us soon. But either way audience, all I can say is I really appreciate your time. If you have any questions for us on the back end here, hit us up over at Discord. You can just DM me at any point, I want to make sure I answer questions as best as I can, or you can email us at [email protected]
Regardless audience, it's been really awesome talking with you today. I really appreciate your time. And as always, I'd like to leave you with peace, love and incremental gains. Everyone be well, thank you so much. |
The elements book greek myths pdf
Most greek myths include elements of fantasy, adventure, and violence, but they were not viewed by the greeks as simply exciting stories. The bestknown greek creation myth is the one told by the renowned poet. Greek myths study guide batavia city school district. A time came when many tribes of this aryan race moved on to other lands. Often these marginal notes were designed to explain elements of a story that were. Students learn about common characteristics of myths and examine story elements in the myths. Modern scholars refer to and study the myths in an attempt to understand the religious and political elements of ancient greece and its civilization. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and. These accounts initially were disseminated in an oralpoetic tradition. The greek mythology was reported first by him in his iliad and odyssey. The majority of myths authors are unknown since numerous tales are rooted to the prewriting era but some are of known source. Downloading of this book for private use and official government. The 10 best greek mythology books norse mythology for. Many of them were used as paradeigma or education by example.
Yet genuine mythic elements may be found embedded in the least promising. Elements, adding new cases, providing different proofs and converses. We find many instances of cretan myths in greek stories, such as those of. Start studying intro to greek mythology element and purposes of myth. Scans of books and newspapers, for example, may contain nonfree. Mythology grades 912 the ewing public schools 31 lower.
The pantheon of greek gods and goddesses greek mythology page 2 you need to know the greek gods goddesses by both of their greek and roman names. Interpretations of greek mythology edited by jan bremmer first. In need of a unique supplementary material for homers classic greek epic, the odyssey. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Growing up in a family of monster hunters is not easy. The city, located 31 miles north of athens, is situated on a plain bordered by the cithaeron mountains and lake yliki and is still populated today. The greek creation myth all creation myths the world over have a certain similarity to one another, in that they explore the efforts of early humans to explain the origin of the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars, and the creatures of the earth, including men and women. The mythology of the greeks this dark picture is worlds apart from the stories of classical mythology. This reading set includes a variety of these tales. Interpretations of greek mythology pdf free download epdf. Robert graves the greek myths including many of the greatest stories ever told the labours of hercules, the voyage of the argonauts, theseus and the. Pdf elements of salvation in the greek myths on the. Greek myth attempts to explain the origins of the world, and details the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines and mythological creatures.
If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Its written in a style so simple and clear that children should have no problem understanding it, but the language is also very colorful and evocative. And why havent they passed away like the ancient greeks themselves. There are two volumes, but they are often available in a single book, which makes it easier for the reader to handle. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
In the broadest terms myths are traditional stories about gods, kings and heroes. Some of them settled in the land we now call greece, taking with them their quaint stories of the sky and the clouds, of father dyaus. Since revising the greek myths in 1958, i have had second thoughts about the. Mythology purports to be an early nineteenthcentury primer on greek myths. Over the last sixty years scholars have increasingly become aware of links connecting early greek poetry with the literatures of the ancient near east. Vi the encyclopedia of celtic mythology and folklore celtic women helped their men in battle. Even today, we use many idioms and metaphors that have roots in greek mythology.
Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Heiberg 1883 1885accompanied by a modern english translation, as well as a greek english lexicon. In a twovolume work that has become a classic reference book for both the serious scholar and the casual inquirer, robert graves retells the adventures of the important gods and heroes. Intro to greek mythology element and purposes of myth. Euclids elements of geometry university of texas at austin. The book should be considered a starting point for anybody with interest in greek. Grades 912 the ewing public schools 31 lower ferry road ewing, nj 08618 boe approval date. The book exists, in part, because this is a conversation of ideas worth pondering as well as watching.
Another look at the mythological elements in the book of job elmer smick the book of job, like a microcosm of the old testament bears witness to the will and purpose of the god who created iand rules over nature and all creatures, especially his crowning creature man. Students read shortened and school appropriate versions of the myths in small grou. Greek myths famous stories, myths and legends of ancient greece. The 10 best greek mythology books norse mythology for smart. These characters are referred to many time in classical literature. If youre looking for a great book on greek mythology for kids, daulaires book of greek myths is easily the best one out there. Robert graves the greek myths is a wonderful resource for learning about the myths of ancient greece. Pdfthe myths and legends of ancient greece and rome ibiblio. At the foundation of nearly every culture is a creation myth that explains how the wonders of the earth came to be. Was this an observed fact, or a way of showing the celts to be more barbaric than the romans, who left their wives at home when they invaded. Crisrejmahn greek mythology is the body of myths and teachings that belong to the ancient greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. Favorite greek myths the darkness of night was a serpent, slain by their sungods arrows.
Wenhams book of the same title and jeremy duffs new edition advances a longestablished tradition into the twentyfirst century. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Myths from around the world explain creation often using the same or similar elements in their stories. A myth may also contain historical elements, especially the flood myths. According to herodotus, many of the elements of the so called greek myths associated with the greek gods were borrowed from foreign religions, mainly from the pelasgeans who lived in the lower balkans who in turn borrowed them from the egyptians, who borrowed from sumerians, babylonians etc. A story of unknown authorship that people told long ago in an attempt to answer serious questions about how important things began and occurred. A guide to the gods of greek myths modern vocabulary inspired by greek myths. Myths follow specific patterns and contain similar motifs which set them apart from other types of stories.
Of course the greeks too had their roots in the primeval slime. The elements of new testament greek pdf book library. Another look at the mythological elements in the book of job. Originally published in 1955, it was updated for the last time in 1960. There have been real floods and people have created stories to explain why they happened. All the olympian gods joined against the titans, who were led by zeus father cronus and the mighty atlas. The books cover plane and solid euclidean geometry.
Some examples are greek mythology, roman mythology, norse mythology, celtic mythology and chinese mythology. This file was edited to remove nonessential embedded elements that are not known to be public domain or available under a free license. A graphic organizer covering four famous greek myths. Myth of prometheus a brief introduction when zeus, the king of the olympian gods, was young and trying to establish his rule, a long and terrible war ensued. Krauss greek mythology study guide an exploration of justice in literature, part i english 10 inside this packet, you will find several resources for your journey into greek mythology, including. Myths of beginnings aim to discuss the explanatory purpose of myths and what they meant to their audience. A myth may also contain historical elements, especially. Using greek tools without mastering biblical greek the book of greek myths popup board games daulaires book of greek myths meet the orchestra. The greek historiographical and poetical sources about the hyperboreans show that their concept and image were constructed from a mythical perspective, in spite of being mainly dealt with by geographers and of course trademen. Posters for greek myths are located at the back of the tell it. Building on the ancient greek civilization domain, students explore several wellknown greek myths and mythical characters, including prometheus and pandora, demeter and persephone, arachne the weaver, oedipus and the sphinx, theseus and the minotaur, and others. How briefly the anthropologists treat the greek myths is noteworthy. Informative and fun, the narrative interlaces modern cultural references into the text, highlighting the influence of the stories on the present day. It has been rigorously translated and carefully compiled.
Myths relate the creation of the world and sometimes its future destruction as well. The graphic organizer covers the main characteristics of a myth and has students outline the main points of the myth. Myth elements graphic organizer name of myth main character godgoddess main characters special powers explanation of an event in nature how does the godgoddess interact with people. The original book by nunn was replaced and succeeded in 1965 by j. It is a collection of definitions, postulates, propositions theorems and constructions, and mathematical proofs of the propositions. Hamiltons scholarly work singlehandedly renewed an interesting the classical world in american schools. This was a very informational read and i was able to build my knowledge on greek myths and uncover more tales. Stephen fry does a brilliant job of recounting the greek myths through describing the tales of gods, goddesses and creatures alike. Rituals often play a major role in greek myths, as sacrifices can often appease the gods. Achilles, the son of peleus and thetis, was the greatest of all greek heroes who took part in the trojan war. In terms of storytelling, there are many different ways in which greek myths can be presented. Mythology is a body of myths and legends from a particular region and culture.
This pdf contains portions of the greek mythology link complete collection, version. Favorite greek myths classic books for children at. The myths were often recited aloud, not simply to entertain, but to teach about many subjects, such as the following. Its written in a style so simple and clear that children should have no problem understanding it, but the language is also very. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. A guide to the instruments of the orchestra through star constellations and greek myths jason, the argonauts, and the golden fleece. On a more profound level, of course, the book exists because bill moyers was willing to address the fundamental and difficult subject of myth and because joseph campbell was willing to answer moyers. So lucky to have found this book in the local library. Elements on including aegis, ambrosia, golden fleece, ichor, necklace of harmonia, nectar, shield of achilles, shirt of nessus etc.
Having to constantly leave behind friends quickly made and teachers that she adored, ashlynne began resenting her whole ordeal. Elicit from them that mythslike other storiescontain the following elements. The greek myths by robert graves goodreads share book. Sep 22, 20 title slide of elements of greek myths slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The myths, folktales, and fairy tales project is designed so that you may choose any one or all of the three sections to explore depending on available class time and desired teaching focus. Elicit from them that myths like other storiescontain the following elements. The greek myths, robert graves the greek myths 1955 is a mythography, a compendium of greek mythology, with comments and analyses, by the poet and writer robert graves, normally published in two volumes, though there are abridged editions that present the myths only.
From myth to myth questions about the origins of the universe, of the sky, of the earth, of life, of man have given rise to many different myths and legends and continue to be the subject of intensive research by astrophysicists, biologists and anthropologists for details about the ancient cosmogonies referred to in the following, see e. Greek myths on including adonis and aphrodite, adventures of perseus, ages of man, amaltheas horn, argonauts, birth of athena, centauromachy, creation of man by prometheus, eros and psyche, gigantomachy, idas and marpessa, labours of heracles etc. The greek landscape the landscape of greece has always played a great role in. The myths themselves typically have a coherent beginning, middle, and end, although some appear to depend on knowledge of other elements of the mythology. The study of the way early man looked at his surroundings does not get much help from the greeks.
Daulaires book of greek myths slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Included is a 17 slide literary vocabulary powerpoint presentation outlining the values and beliefs found in a greek hero and the 12 literary elements found in epics. After ten years of fighting, zeus and his fellow olympians defeated the enemy. All the scattered elements of each myth have been assembled into a harmonious narrative, and many variants are. The want of an interesting work on greek and roman mythology, suitable. These elements becoming at length consolidated by what means. Favorite greek myths the light which comes from the sun, while helios was the god of the sun itself.
Located in the boeotia region of central greece, thebes is a city steeped in the ancient greek myths and its gods. Click download or read online button to get favorite greek myths book now. The edition used as the source for the production of this book summary is the greek myths complete edition, edited by robert graves. At the age of sixtythree, hamilton began a second career retelling the ancient myths of greece and rome. Many of the things that we will read this year will make a reference to a. Martin wests new book far surpasses previous studies in comprehensiveness, demonstrating these links with massive and detailed documentation and showing they are much more fundamental and pervasive than has hitherto been acknowledged. This is a classic work designed to provide a thorough introduction to the prechristian religion of greece. Arabic translations of greek works and latin translations of the. In the folkloric tradition, myths were handed down from generation to generation by wordofmouth. Many cultures have creation myths, which explain how the world came to be. Originally a way to explain the natural world, these stories are rich in plot and characters. Since 1914 cambridge has published the elements of new testament greek, a bestselling textbook for scholars and students of the bible. Greek mythology is told through a large collection of written texts, and in greek representational arts, such as vasepaintings and sculpture. The book points to the essence of the greek myths at various levels the spiritual level of the mysteries, the metaphysical level of greek philosophical speculations, the historical background as far as we know today, the social level of anthropological studies.
Favorite greek myths download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Before she knows it, things in her life begin to get really weird, really freaking fast. Endymion, pelops, daedalus, pygmalion what are the stories behind these and the hundreds of other familiar names from greek mythology names that recur throughout the history of european culture. Mythos is a retelling of a selection of greek myths and legends with stephen frys witty, sometimes selfindulgent, panache. Chapter i an over view of the greek mythology 4 the simplest and most direct way to approach mythology is to look at its subject matter. Stories that explain natural occurrences and express beliefs of right and wrong. Identify character, plot, and setting as basic story elements.
Are there modern mythologies in the same sense as greek mythology. Read the bunyip of berkeley creek by jenny wagner, about the truth in myths. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and roman mythology as part of their english classes have edith hamilton to thank. Mar 28, 2020 rituals often play a major role in greek myths, as sacrifices can often appease the gods. In this book, youll meet all the major gods in greek mythology and youll even. Though there may be elements of fact intertwined in their telling, these stories happen in a time and place that does not really exist, regardless of how real the setting may seem. Byzantine greek codices manuscript books written 5001500 years after the greek works were composed. Elements of the so called greek myths newsblaze news. Check out all my greek productscommon elements in creation myths it is in the nature of humans to wonder about the unknown and search for answers. The ancient greeks gave so much to literature fables, great playwrights, and of course, the greek myths. Myths from around the world reflect the culture of its peopletheir values, beliefs, and traditions. Aug 20, 2008 unfortunately, that is not true either.
536 765 486 931 1318 325 1296 1484 1010 805 916 320 900 1083 929 1608 955 242 416 1295 1086 901 1122 1300 807 1331 991 138 954 405 1390 166 988 235 631 1476 1383 1187 |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My son underwent nephrectomy(left) in June 2010 ((he was 6 yrs) due to congenital obstruction between his blader and ureter detected late. After the surgery, now after 2 years he is again found frequently urinating and sonography says mild hydronephrosis and upper hydroureter in the right kidney. what may be the possible reasons. In 2010 his renal scan said functioning of right kidney to be 92%.
ergone nephrectomy surgery. Suffering from frequent urination. Sonography reported mild hydronephrosis. Reason? output: Hello,Thanks for posting your query.Hydronephrosis means swelling/distension of kidney, due to retention of urine or inflammation. It can be due to lower urinary tract infection which may ascend to kidneys causing frequency of urine and distension of kidney/ureter. stone in ureter can also cause distension of ureter and kidney but would have been detected on sonography. As your child has had surgery for congenital abnormality, he is at higher risk of UTI and obstruction by post-surgical strictures. Give him cranberry juice which may cure and prevent UTIs. Get his labs done, urinalysis, urine culture and dye scan.UTI can be treated effectively with antibiotics after urine culture results.Hope it helps.Take Care!.. |
Suffragio
17 Elections to Watch in 2017
In Depth: Brazil
In Depth: Canada
In Depth: India
In Depth: UK Votes
Tag Archives: canadian alliance
Rempel’s amazing Twitterstorm kicks off Conservative leadership race
October 27, 2015 Kevin Lees Leave a comment
Michelle Rempel, an outgoing junior minister from Calgary, welcomed herself to the Conservative leadership sweepstakes with a late-night, girl-power Twitter rant.
So far, the race to succeed Stephen Harper as the next leader of Canada’s Conservative Party has been notable for the level of disinterest it’s drawn — not a single candidate has yet announced a campaign for the leadership.
Despite wild speculation about who might want to take the reins of Canada’s soon-to-be opposition, some of the most well-known potential contenders have already ruled themselves out of contention — former Québec premier Jean Charest (himself a one-time leader of the old Progressive Conservative Party), former New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord, Saskatchewan’s wildly popular two-term premier Brad Wall, former foreign minister John Baird.
But there’s one potential candidate who isn’t being coy about her intentions.
It’s Michelle Rempel, a 35-year-old MP from Calgary who’s been in office only since 2011. Born in Winnipeg and of partial French Canadian ancestry, she worked in development at the University of Calgary before jumping to politics, winning the by-election when Jim Prentice left federal politics for the private sector (and before Prentice returned to provincial politics for a disastrous run leading Alberta’s government). She quickly made a splash in the House of Commons and in 2013, Harper recognized her talents by appointing her as a junior minister for western economic diversification.
In an odd — and at turns, confident, caustic and compelling — Twitter rant in the middle of the night on October 22, Rempel made the case for her potential leadership, sometimes making the case against casual misogyny in everyday politics that would make Hillary Rodham Clinton proud.
It’s worth reading in full: Continue reading Rempel’s amazing Twitterstorm kicks off Conservative leadership race →
albertabelinda stronachbernard lordbrad wallcanadacanadian alliancecharestconservativejason kenneyjohn bairdjustin trudeaukim campbellleitchliberalmackayprogressive conservativeraittrempel
Harper’s legacy is the birth of a modern 21st century Canadian conservatism
Outgoing prime minister Stephen Harper is the only leader that Canada’s modern Conservative Party has ever known. (Facebook)
Next week, for the first time since 2002, Stephen Harper will neither be Canada’s prime minister nor opposition leader.
At the same time that Stephen Harper was on stage conceding defeat to Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, he announced (via a statement) that he would indeed be stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party, a position that he has held since 2003 when the party first came into being.
In the days ahead, the Conservative Party will decide how to appoint a caretaker interim leader pending a full leadership election to choose the party’s second leader.
Harper leaves behind a mixed legacy, like any prime minister.
For Canada’s conservatives, Harper wasn’t just a three-term prime minister, though his nine-year tenure will be longer than all but five prime ministers in Canadian history. He’s the tribune who led the Canadian right out of the wilderness of opposition and the man who brought the Canadian west back into the national conversation that had focused too long on Toronto commercial matters, constitutional crises, bilingualism and appeasing the Quebeckers.
In retrospect, it’s amazing that it took just three years for Harper to take power after engineering the December 2003 merger between his Canadian Alliance, the upstart prairie and western movement that brought a more full-throated, US-style, socially conservative attitude to national politics, and the more troubled Progressive Conservative Party. By the 2000s, the PCs were a relic of the eastern elite, and the party never fully recovered from the 1993 election, when it lost all but two seats in the House of Commons.
Incredibly, as the Conservative Party looks to choose Harper’s successor in the weeks and months ahead, he is the only leader that the current Conservative Party has known — not counting, of course, the two living former Tory prime ministers Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney, neither of whom ever completely warmed to the Calgarian warrior from the west.
RELATED: Live-blogging Canada’s election results
At just 56 years old, Harper certainly didn’t look or act like a leader (or prime minister) in a hurry for retirement. He looked mostly like someone who believed, until too late, that leftist and moderate voters would split between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP), giving the Conservatives yet another path to government by plurality vote. To his misfortune (and to the NDP’s), that didn’t happen.
Post-election reports reveal that Harper was considering a pledge not to seek a fifth term after 2015. But having only won his first majority government in 2011, Harper might have easily stuck around to run for a fifth mandate if he’d survived October 19. But in shooting for a fourth consecutive term, Harper knew well that he was facing long odds attempting to repeat what only Conservative John Macdonald and Liberal Wilfrid Laurier accomplished before.
Coupled with the onset of a mild economic recession, it was always an uphill fight for Harper. He can walk away from the election result with his head held high, having remade Canadian conservatism and nudged Canada toward greater fiscal responsibility, more enthusiasm for free trade and presided over a generally more unified Canadian entity. Continue reading Harper’s legacy is the birth of a modern 21st century Canadian conservatism →
canadian allianceCETAchretienconservativeflahertyharperimmigrationjohn bairdjustin trudeaukyotoliberalmackaymaroismulroneyndppacificpaul martinpreston manningprogressive conservativequebecreform partysenate reformstockwell daytax cutsTPP
Support Suffragio
About Suffragio
Suffragio attempts to bring thoughtful analysis to the political, economic and other policy issues that are central to countries outside of the US -- to make world politics less foreign to the US audience. Suffragio focuses, in particular, on those countries and regions with upcoming or recent elections.
Choose a country:
Choose a country: Select Category 14 in 14 (17) 15 in 15 (1) 17 in 17 (1) Abkhazia (1) Afghanistan (14) African Union (1) Albania (3) Alberta (10) Algeria (9) Andalusia (2) Andhra Pradesh (2) Angola (4) Antigua and Barbuda (1) Argentina (19) Armenia (4) Arunachal Pradesh (1) Assam (3) Assorted Links (126) Australia (40) Austria (16) Azerbaijan (2) Baden-Württemberg (2) Bahamas (1) Baja California (1) Bangladesh (11) Barbados (2) Basque Country (7) Bavaria (5) Belarus (4) Belgium (9) Benin (1) Berlin (1) Bhutan (2) Bihar (5) Bolivia (4) Books (4) Bosnia/Herzegovina (4) Botswana (1) Brandenburg (2) Brazil (30) Bretagne (1) British Columbia (3) Brunei (1) Buenos Aires (2) Bulgaria (10) Burkina Faso (4) Burma/Myanmar (5) Burundi (6) Calabria (2) Cambodia (2) Cameroon (2) Campania (2) Canada (104) CAR (Centrafrique) (7) Catalonia (7) Catalunya (9) Cayman Islands (1) Chad (2) Chattisgarh (2) Chechnya (1) Chihuahua (1) Chile (8) China (49) Colombia (17) Comparative Politics (7) Corsica (1) Costa Rica (8) Côte d’Ivoire (1) Crimea (2) Croatia (6) Cuba (18) Cyprus (10) Czech Republic (17) Delhi (6) Denmark (13) District of Columbia (1) Djibouti (1) Dominican Republic (5) DRC / Congo (2) Ecuador (7) Egypt (49) El Salvador (9) Emilia-Romagna (1) England (2) Equatorial Guinea (1) Eritrea (1) Estonia (6) Ethiopia (7) European Union (76) Falkland Islands (2) Finland (6) Flanders (3) Florida (1) France (109) French Polynesia (1) Gabon (1) Galicia (6) Gambia (1) Georgia (13) Germany (69) Ghana (8) Goa (1) Greece (67) Greenland (5) Grenada (2) Guatemala (11) Guerrero (1) Guinea (6) Gujarat (6) Guyana (1) Haiti (4) Hamburg (1) Haryana (3) Hesse (2) Honduras (28) Hong Kong (11) Hungary (12) Iceland (8) India (69) Indonesia (22) Iowa (2) Iran (32) Iraq (12) Iraqi Kurdistan (6) Ireland (20) Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) (2) Israel (49) Italy (81) Jakarta (1) Jamaica (4) Jammu and Kashmir (1) Japan (24) Jharkhand (1) Jordan (2) Jubaland (1) Kaliningrad (1) Karnataka (4) Kazakhstan (3) Kenya (19) Kerala (3) Kosovo (3) Kuwait (1) Latvia (7) Lazio (2) Lebanon (16) Lesotho (2) Liberia (3) Libya (7) Liguria (1) Lithuania (11) Lombardia (2) London (1) Lower Saxony (2) Luxembourg (6) Macau (1) Macedonia (3) Madagascar (5) Madhya Pradesh (3) Maharashtra (3) Malawi (1) Malaysia (4) Maldives (6) Mali (18) Malta (3) Manitoba (1) Maryland (1) Mauritania (4) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2) Mexico (36) Michoacán (1) Minas Gerais (1) Miranda (1) mississippi (1) Moldova (1) Monaco (1) Mongolia (1) Montenegro (3) Nagorno-Karabakh (1) Namibia (2) Nauru (1) Nepal (1) New Brunswick (1) New South Wales (2) New York (2) New Zealand (7) Newfoundland (3) Nicaragua (2) Niger (1) Nigeria (11) Nizhny Novgorod (1) North Korea (3) North Rhine-Westphalia (1) Northern Ireland (8) Norway (11) Nova Scotia (2) Nuevo Leon (1) Odisha (2) Oman (1) Ontario (9) Osaka (1) Pakistan (25) Palestine (6) Panama (5) Papua New Guinea (1) Paraguay (5) Paris (4) Pernambuco (1) Personal (29) Peru (10) Philippines (9) Poland (12) Portugal (7) Puerto Rico (7) Puglia (3) Punjab (3) Qatar (1) Quebec (35) Rajasthan (2) Rhineland Palatinate (1) Romania (10) Rome (1) Russia (48) Rwanda (4) Saarland (1) San Marino (1) Saskatchewan (1) Saudi Arabia (6) Saxony (2) Saxony-Anhalt (1) Scotland (26) Senegal (16) Serbia (15) Sicily (6) Sierra Leone (5) Sikkim (3) Singapore (4) Slovakia (6) Slovenia (6) Somalia (5) Somaliland (1) South Africa (19) South Australia (1) South Korea (22) South Sudan (4) Spain (39) Sri Lanka (3) St. Pierre et Miquelon (1) Sudan (3) Swaziland (1) Sweden (11) Switzerland (6) Syria (32) Taiwan (5) Tajikistan (1) Tamil Nadu (6) Tanzania (2) Tasmania (1) Telangana (3) Texas (3) Thailand (10) The Netherlands (27) Thuringia (3) Tibet (1) Timor-Leste (1) Togo (3) Tokyo (1) Toronto (2) Trinidad and Tobago (1) Tunisia (5) Turkey (23) Tuscany (1) Uganda (4) Ukraine (27) Uncategorized (17) United Kingdom (131) United Nations (3) United States (207) Upper Austria (1) Uruguay (3) Uttar Pradesh (6) Uttarakhand (1) Vatican City (8) Veneto (2) Venezuela (72) Victoria (1) Vienna (2) Vietnam (5) Wales (1) Wallonia (1) West Bengal (6) Western Australia (1) WTO (2) Xinjiang (1) Yemen (4) Zambia (4) Zanzibar (1) Zimbabwe (8) Zulia (2)
Convicted felon @DineshDSouza. https://t.co/SXfspSDkR1 about 3 hours ago from Twitter for Android
They found a pill in Ibiza. https://t.co/a88RPreBgW 10:04:14 PM January 25, 2021 from Twitter for Android
The guy who sent his partner abroad to fetch documents from Wikilinks is lecturing @mattyglesias about integrity. C… https://t.co/ddbOiGIZYb 10:49:46 PM January 24, 2021 from Twitter for Android
If you want to feel old, remind someone (me) he was born just 16 years after Churchill died. https://t.co/UC8ZW45UHW 10:42:37 PM January 24, 2021 from Twitter for Android
In a world where we have a $4T infrastructure bill, $15 billion should go to Salton Sea to prevent an accelerating environmental disaster. 10:09:01 PM January 24, 2021 from Twitter for Android
RT @internetmaxwell: rip larry king thank u for ur sonic impersonation https://t.co/Z8zDAc7RzI 04:07:42 PM January 23, 2021 from Twitter for Android
Ridiculous. https://t.co/wsxg2cGRgZ 12:34:11 PM January 23, 2021 from Twitter for Android
1/20 was a very momentous day. For me, it marked the 10-yr anniversary of the death of the most consequential profe… https://t.co/fhDrvUPuMu 11:31:30 PM January 22, 2021 from Twitter for Android
Mommy and Daddy are fighting again https://t.co/2M6GzvbqBV 10:42:24 PM January 22, 2021 from Twitter for Android
Repeat after me: Shinola is an overpriced Fossil watch. 09:59:01 PM January 22, 2021 from Twitter for Android
This is a really really great article because it's so honest about what we don't know. The best thing I've read on… https://t.co/UxNFJtdgky 08:09:08 PM January 22, 2021 from Twitter for Android
RT @ddiamond: 2) In the past week, @business says 912,497 vaccine doses were administered per day — or 91% of Biden’s goal of 1M Americans… 06:11:13 PM January 22, 2021 from Twitter for Android
@suffragio
assad austerity berlusconi Cameron canada CDU chavez china coalition Congress conservative democratic party egypt European Union France germany greece Hollande india iran israel Italy labor labour liberal liberal party marine le pen merkel modi obama PD PS putin republican russia Sarkozy social democrats syria syriza tory trump tsipras United Kingdom United States venezuela
Like Suffragio on Facebook
MAKING WORLD POLITICS LESS FOREIGN
Who is the most impressive foreign policy / security official (so far) in the Trump administration?
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Secretary of Defense James Mattis
Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly
UN Ambassador Nikki Haley
National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster
A Fistful of Euros
ABC Color (Paraguay)
Africa Report
Aftenposten (Norway)
Al-Ahram (Egypt)
Alberto Nardelli (Italy/EU)
América Economía
Americas Quarterly
An Arab Citizen (Bassem Sabry)
Analects (Economist on China)
Andrew Sullivan — The Daily Beast (US/UK policy)
Animal Politico (MX)
Armenia Now
Arms Control Wonk
Asahi Shimbun (Japan)
Athens News
Atlantic Community
B92 (Serbia)
Babalú Blog (Cuba)
Balkan Insight
Banyan (Economist on Asia)
Baobab (Economist on Africa)
BDNews24 (Bangladesh)
Berlingske (Denmark)
Brazil Portal
Buenos Aires Herald
BusinessWorld (Philippines)
Caribbean Journal
Charlemagne (Economist on Europe)
Charter97 (Belarus)
China Daily (US version)
ChinaFile
Chosun Ilbo (SK)
Civil (Georgia)
Colombia Reports
Copenhagen Post
Council on Foreign Relations Blogs
Cyprus Mail
Dagens Nyheter (Sweden)
Daily Graphic (Ghana)
Daily Inquirer (Phiippines)
Daily Maverick (South Africa)
Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Daily Nation (Kenya)
Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Daily Star (Lebanon)
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Daniel Berhane (Ethiopia)
Daniel Drezner (Foreign Policy)
Dawn (Pakistan)
De Standaard (Flemish)
Der Spiegel (International)
Der Standard (Austria)
Diário de Notícias (Portugal)
Die Presse (Austria)
Die Welt (Germany)
Dutch News (English)
DW (Germany)
E Kathimerini
East Asia Forum
EG Justice (Equatorial Guinea)
El Comercio (Peru)
El Heraldo (Honduras)
El Khabar (Algeria)
El Mundo (Spain)
El Nacional (Venezuela)
El Nuevo Dîa (Puerto Rico)
El Siglo (Panamá)
El Universal (MX)
El Universal (VZ)
Electionista
Europolitics
Felix Salmon — Reuters (Economics/Finance)
FirstPost (India)
Folha (São Paolo)
Foreign Policy Association Blogs
Francis Fukuyama (American Interest)
Fréttablaðið (Iceland)
Generación Y (Cuba — Yoani Sánchez)
Guardian (Nigeria)
Gulf News (UAE)
Haaretz (Israel)
Honduras Culture and Politics
Hoy (Dominican Republic)
Hoy (Ecaudor)
http://www.voanews.com
http://www.zeit.de/index
Hürriyet (Turkey)
Iceland Review
Il Sole 24 Ore (Italy)
Info Matin (Mali)
Informed Consent (Juan Cole)
Inside Greece
Irish Independent
Italy Chronicles
Jakarta Globe
James Fallows (The Atlantic)
Jeffrey Goldberg (The Atlantic)
Jordan Times
Journal of Democracy (JHU)
Khaleej (Dubai)
Korea Herald
L'Essor (Mali)
L'Express de Madagascar
La Liberte (Algeria)
La Nacion (Argentina)
La Prensa (Panamá)
La Presse (QC)
La Repubblica (IT)
La Tercera (Chile)
La Vanguardia (Catalonia)
LatIntelligence
Lawfare (Brookings)
Le Matin (Morocco)
LiveMint (India)
LSM (Latvia)
Mainichi Shimbun (Japan)
Malta Today
Mmegi (Botswana)
Monkey Cage
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten (Denmark)
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Swiss)
New Mandala (Australia-based Asia coverage)
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
New Times (Rwanda)
Nine O'Clock (Romanian)
Norway Post
NRC Handelsblad (NL)
O Dia (Rio de Janeiro)
O Globo (Rio)
Obscure Suddha (Jacob Bathanti)
Open Europe
Ottomans and Zionists
Paul Krugman (Economics/Finance)
People's Daily (China)
Policy Network
Politiken (Denmark)
Prague Monitor
Press TV (Iran)
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Radio Prague (English)
Rebel Economy
Reforma (Mexico)
Rhyming with Oranges (Jazza John)
RIA Novosti (RU)
RTE News (IE)
Santiago Times
Scenari Politici (Italy)
Scotsman (Edinburgh)
Scroll'in (India)
Shisaku Blog (Japan)
Siempre! (Mexico)
Smoke & Stir (Taylor Marvin)
South China Morning Post (HK)
Standard (Kenya)
Straits Times (Singapore)
Sud Quotidien (SN)
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Bavaria)
Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden)
Telegraaf (NL)
Thai Rath
The 545 (India)
The Bhutanese
The Cable (FP)
The Devil's Excrement (Venezuela)
The Disorder of Things
The Hankyoreh (SK)
The Independent (South Africa)
The Irrawaddy (Burma)
The Local (Germany)
The Local (Swiss)
The Nation (Pakistan)
The Reporter (Ethiopia)
The Standard (HK)
The Star (South Africa)
Three Hundred Eight (CA)
Times of Zambia
To Pontiki (Gr)
Tripoli Post
Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok — Marginal Revolution (economics)
UN Dispatch
Venezuela News and Views
Vienna Review
Whispers in the Loggia (Vatican)
Wilson Center: Mexico Institute
World Elections Blog
Wyborcza (Poland)
Xinhua (China)
Y-Net (Israel)
Yemen Times
Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan)
Zaman (Turkey)
Коммерсантъ (Kommersant, Russia) |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Im very concerned right now. Im 11 weeks pregnant. And during what was my morning sickness, it apparently made me so sick that I couldnt brush my teeth without having to suffer through a horrible reaction afterwards.. I believe I have the starting of pregnancy gingivitis. I have noticed with trying to remember to brush once to twice a day and listerine once a day the gingivitis appears to be going away. (Its only in the front of my mouth.) I am scared though, as I read up on it this early in the morning.. I have had my tears, and was hysterical to my fiance that I may have no teeth... Please tell me how I may treat this? And yes, I realize, I need to see a dentist but that could be months from now as I live in a big city an it took ages itself to even get me in for my first check up with pregnancy which is this friday! output: Thanks for your query, I have gone through your query. Pregnancy gingivitis is common during pregnancy, nothing to worry, it's because of the hormonal changes. Once you deliver everything will be fine. Right now nothing to be panic, just maintain the oral hygiene by brushing morning and night. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating anything. Do not use chlorhexidine mouth wash, instead you can rinse with warm water with little salt dissolved(saline) in it. Once you get time you can get your teeth cleaned. You will not lose any teeth just because of pregnancy gingivitis. I hope my answer will help you, take care.. |
Globe Newswire by NASDAQ
Spring Hope, NC, Feb. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NEWMEDIAWIRE — Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK:HEMP), a global leader in the industrial hemp industry with bi-coastal processing centers including the 85,000 square-foot multipurpose industrial hemp processing facility in Spring Hope, North Carolina, a state of the art processing center in Medford, Oregon, and a 500-acre hemp growing Eco-Village in Golden Valley, Arizona, announced today that the company received noteworthy coverage on the nationally-syndicated radio show “Adams on Agriculture.”
During the Feb. 22, 2019 segment, Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin discusses the company’s role of empowering farmers across the U.S. by offering processing services to meet the high demand for high cannabidiol (CBD), as farmers across the nation rush to gain from the agricultural opportunities afforded by the historic 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp. Perlowin’s February 22, 2019 live interview discusses the speed at which states are implementing hemp policy since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the extreme demand for CBD-rich hemp and the company’s expanding operations across the U.S. Adams on Agriculture is an agricultural talk radio show syndicated nationally on dozens of radio stations, featuring interviews with decision makers including members of Congress, USDA personnel, and leaders of agricultural organizations such as Hemp, Inc. The show features in-depth topics of discussion including the 2018 Farm Bill, trade, and new technology. In the interview, Perlowin discusses the rate at which extractors are purchasing high CBD hemp: “I dry and process hemp for our growers in Oregon. They’re making a million dollars off of five acres. It’s not a theory, it’s a fact. Everyone’s gonna grow the high CBD hemp… [and] because of this insatiable craze for CBD… you will sell everything you can grow. I was just in Oregon doing processing, and we have processing in North Carolina, Arizona and Oregon. That’s where my footprint is, and we’re pretty big in each area… You have brokers from all the extraction companies going farm to farm to farm to try to buy as much biomass as they can.”Hemp, Inc. is promoting a “Back to the Land” movement. It is supporting farmers across the nation with ventures including its local processing centers in Medford, Oregon, the largest multipurpose hemp processing and manufacturing center in the western hemisphere located in Spring Hope, North Carolina and a 500-acre hemp growing eco village in Golden Valley, Arizona. This Veteran Village Kins Community is one of Hemp, Inc.’s strategic growing partners with a solar and wind-powered facility designed to grow hemp and produce cannabidiol (CBD) products which will benefit veterans, as well as generate revenue for Hemp, Inc. To meet the high demand of CBD market, CEO Bruce Perlowin has also visited various areas of Puerto Rico for the last two months to identify land to support a second Veteran Village Kins Community hemp growing eco-village.Perlowin goes on in the interview to discuss a widespread shortage in biomass as a result of this insatiable demand for CBD: “The last harvest was recent– the end of last year, and right now, the country’s almost completely out of biomass. So already, beginning of February/beginning of March, we’re almost out of biomass and the price has already started going up and up and up…[farmers] don’t need to worry about where they’re gonna sell because there’s a million brokers who will show up. Some companies guarantee 30 thousand an acre if you grow for them.”To see 1 minute videos of Hemp, Inc.’s current activities, go to Bruce Perlowin’s personal Facebook page where he posts daily on all of Hemp, Inc.’s activities around the country.ABOUT HEMP, INC.With a deep-rooted social and environmental mission at its core, Hemp, Inc. seeks to build a business constituency for the American small farmer, the American veteran, and other groups experiencing the ever-increasing disparity between tapering income and soaring expenses. As a leader in the industrial hemp industry with ownership of the largest commercial multi-purpose industrial hemp processing facility in North America, Hemp, Inc. believes there can be tangible benefits reaped from adhering to a corporate social responsibility plan.HEMP, INC. UPDATES SHAREHOLDERS ON ITS STRATEGIC PLAN AND CURRENT FOCUS TO HELP BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP INDUSTRYFor the past few years, Hemp, Inc. has grown and evolved with the industrial hemp industry, giving it unique insight into the pain points faced by small family farms and other companies in the industry. “We know how vital it is to take the time to build the infrastructure to support such a high demand and we’ve invested heavily in the expertise and experience to make this happen. This is just the start,” said Perlowin.So far, there are seven divisions:Division One – The Industrial Hemp InfrastructureThe Industrial Hemp Infrastructure (Division One) currently consists of two hemp processing facilities across the country, with a third under development, which will include an in-house third party testing laboratory. The largest of the two is its multi-purpose industrial hemp processing facility and milling operation in Spring Hope, North Carolina. It’s the largest “industrial hemp processing center” in the western hemisphere and has grown to become the pre-eminent center of the industrial hemp industry. The 85,000 square foot facility sits on a 9-acre campus. It is environmentally sustainable and was built from the ground up in hopes of “Making America Hemp Again.” With a patent pending manufacturing process, the North Carolina facility is operating full time to process millions of pounds of our unique kenaf, hemp blend, to manufacture all green natural loss circulation materials (LCMs) that are to be sold to the oil and gas drilling industry, along with an all green natural oil spill absorbent, a second industrial hemp/kenaf product called Spill-Be-Gone.
Original story can be found at: http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/02/27/1743589/0/en/Hemp-Inc-CEO-Featured-on-National-Radio-Show-Discussing-Company-s-Expanding-Footprint-and-Demand-for-Cannabidiol.html?f=22&fvtc=5&fvtv=41223728
CWCBExpo NY Provides Educational Roadmap for Success
CBD Life Sciences Subsidiary LBC Bioscience Sell Out at Fountain Hills Great Fair
SYDNEY, Australia, Aug. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Starbuds International (“the Company”), parent company to Compass Lifestyle clinics (“Compass”), is pleased to provide an update on its activities since launching its first medical clinic in Sydney Australia in May.
500 patients in 100 daysWithin 100 days of opening, Compass Lifestyle Clinics has seen over 500 patients and helped provide safe access to medicinal cannabis under the watch of the Therapeutic Goods Association (“TGA”). The company is now looking to expand its capacity to serve patients across Australia.Dr. Teresa Towpik wins Doctor of the YearAt the 2019 Cannabis Industry Awards for Australia, the honours of Doctor of the Year were taken home by Compass Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Teresa Towpik. The award comes as further validation for the work Dr. Towpik has done to bring cannabis into the mainstream as a medicinal cannabis advocate in addition to her tireless work both educating doctors around prescribing as well as serving patients.Investment in Australian Cannabis Grower Medigrowth AustraliaThe Company has also secured a minority investment in Australian Medicinal cannabis late stage applicant and cultivation company Medigrowth Australia. The investment further strengthens Compass’ position in the supply chain, combining patient-centric advocacy & GP education with a leading Australian medicinal cannabis grower and extractor.
“Our strategic partnership with Compass consolidates our commitment to patient access and advocacy. We look forward to working with the highly respected team at Compass to educate, inspire and innovate.” says Adam Guskich, Co founder of Medigrowth Australia. “Our combined resources will prove instrumental in providing access to pure, safe, trusted and affordable Australian grown pharma grade medicinal cannabis for Australian patients.”Along with this announcement, Brianna Martyn, Co-Founder of Starbuds International, has been appointed to the Strategic Advisory Board“Australia has welcomed us with open arms”, says Dave Martyn, President of Compass. “When we did our research, we could see Australians were underserved when it came to safe access to medicinal cannabis. At the same time, from an economic standpoint, we’ve seen what an incredible job creator the cannabis sector has been in Canada. We’ve been fortunate to partner with some of the top cannabis leaders in Australia to play a part in ensuring safe patient access while also helping to grow the industry at large.”The news at a time when medical cannabis acceptance is rapidly growing. With monthly approvals increasing recent news around the removal of red tape surrounding cannabis companies, Compass is poised to expand it’s presence in Australia as it looks towards multi-clinic expansion as well as further investment opportunities. Those interested in learning more about Compass Lifestyle Clinics can do so at https://compassclinics.com.au or in Canada at https://compasscannabis.ca.About Compass Cannabis ClinicsCompass Cannabis Clinic is a medical cannabis service provider whose core business is focused on providing educational and consultative services to those looking for access to medicinal cannabis. Compass works with a number of Licenced Producers to ensure the right product for the patient while eliminating product bias for prescribers. With several clinics operating in Canada and over 13,000 patients served, Compass has now expanded into Australia with its first clinic in Sydney. Compass Lifestyle Clinics, located in Sydney, with plans for rapid expansion. Compass also operates recreationally in Canada as Starbuds Canada.For further information contactDaniel Winer
daniel.winer@compassclinics.com.au CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “achieve”, “could”, “believe”, “plan”, “intend”, “objective”, “continuous”, “ongoing”, “estimate”, “outlook”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should” or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes. Management of the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Various material factors and assumptions are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Those material factors and assumptions are based on information currently available to the Company, including data from publicly available governmental sources as well as from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of the retail cannabis industry which the Company believes to be reasonable. However, although generally indicative of relative market positions, market shares and performance characteristics, such data is inherently imprecise. While the Company is not aware of any misstatement regarding any industry or government data presented herein, the retail cannabis industry involves risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors.Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company’s actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e52045f5-e820-43b1-9d91-9f5d3e5e9622
Original story can be found at: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/08/27/1907468/0/en/500-Patients-in-100-Days-and-Investing-in-Australian-Companies-Compass-Lifestyle-Clinics-Looks-towards-the-future-of-Medicinal-Cannabis.html?f=22&fvtc=5&fvtv=41223728
EDMONTON, Alberta, Aug. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radient Technologies Inc. (“Radient” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: RTI; OTCQX: RDDTF), a global innovator in the industrial scale extraction and downstream processing of premium grade cannabis and hemp derivatives, has released its financial results for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2020, ending June 30, 2019. The financial statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis are available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com.
Financial Highlights:Strong cash position:As at June 30th, 2019 the Company had maintained a cash position of CAD $23.5 million.Large inventory for increased future revenue generation:As part of the Company’s business model, which will allow it to benefit from advantages related to cost, scale, and yield provided by its proprietary extraction and processing platform, Radient has secured a large inventory of cannabis biomass (valued at CAD $21.7 million), which will be processed at its Edmonton I manufacturing facility into extracts for sale to Canadian Licensed Producers. This inventory is mainly the result of Radient’s purchase of CAD $19.5 million worth of dried cannabis biomass from Canadian Licensed Producers, including Aurora Cannabis Inc. (“Aurora”), which the Company initially announced on July 8, 2019.
Radient has secured buyers for the majority of these extracts. Revenues earned from the sale of these extracts are expected to be in excess of the value of the current total inventory of dried cannabis biomass (CAD $21.7 million), and the Company expects this will have a meaningful positive impact on its earnings reported across fiscal Q2 2020 and/or fiscal Q3 2020. Due to various supply chain factors including shipment of biomass, product analysis and delivery of final product, the Company expects the majority of this revenue will be reported in fiscal Q3 2020.
Corporate Update:Successful scale up of throughput at Edmonton I facility:Since the commencement of extraction and processing activities at its Edmonton I facility (“Edmonton I”) in March 2019, Radient has begun to significantly scale up throughput batch sizes of cannabis biomass by multiples of 5x – 10x, in line with the Company’s expectations. Edmonton I has a throughput capacity of 56,0000 kg/ year of cannabis at full capacity.Recovery and quality of cannabinoids has exceeded expectations:Radient is pleased to report results from the scale-up at Edmonton I have proven:Cannabinoid recovery (yield) from biomass is consistently above 90%, and up to 99%.Cannabis extracts have maintained product stability, including negligible cannabinoid degradation. Hemp processing line on track for completion:Radient’s Edmonton II Facility (“Edmonton II”), dedicated to the extraction and downstream processing of CBD from hemp, is on track for completion at the end of calendar 2019. Upon completion, Edmonton II is expected to have an annual throughput capacity of 420,000 kg/ year of hemp.Expansion into Germany:Radient’s Germany facility (‘Germany”) is expected to begin initial commissioning in the second half of calendar 2020, scaling up to its full capacity of 280,000 kg of cannabis and 2.8 million kg/ year of hemp thereafter. Please refer to the subsection titled “Germany” under “Cannabis Activities” in the MD&A for further details.Expanded throughput capacity in Canada:Radient’s Edmonton III facility (“Edmonton III”), currently under construction, is expected to be commissioned in the second half of calendar 2020, scaling up to its full capacity of 280,000 kg of cannabis and 2.8 million kg/ year of hemp thereafter.
Upon completion of its Edmonton II, Edmonton III and Germany facilities, Radient will have a combined total annual throughput capacity of more than 600,000 kg/year of cannabis and more than 6 million kg/ year of hemp across Canada and Germany.EU GMP compliance:Radient is building both its Edmonton III and Germany facilities to be EU GMP compliant.Post-Reporting:Improved working capital via Amended Loan Facility Agreement:The Company announced the amendment of its original loan facility with Moskowitz Capital Mortgage Fund on August 26, 2019, which increased the amount of the loan from CAD $5.5 million to $8.5 million, and extended the maturity date of the loan from November 1, 2020 to November 1, 2021.Consumer product manufacturing:In anticipation of upcoming changes to the Cannabis Act, which will make the production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals legal in Canada as of October 2019, Radient has been developing a range of compounds and formulations to meet anticipated demand of its clients. In particular, Radient has been focusing on formulation development for various vaping products, edible cannabis products, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals that its clients will be introducing into the Canadian marketplace. The Company has developed vaping liquid formulations for commercialization and is preparing its manufacturing operations for the production of vaping liquids and cartridge filling, and expects the production of vaping liquid will begin in fiscal Q3 2020. Management Commentary:“This is a key inflection point for Radient,” Denis Taschuk, President & CEO of Radient commented. “During fiscal Q1 2020 we proved our processing and manufacturing capabilities with respect to cannabis, and subsequently acquired a large inventory of cannabis biomass in order to develop white label cannabinoid derivatives for sale to Canadian LPs. We see this as a significant turning point for Radient as a revenue generating company, and we expect this will be clearly reflected in our Q2 2020 and/ or Q3 2020 financials.” About Radient
Radient Technologies provides industrial-scale manufacturing solutions for premium natural ingredients and products. Utilizing its patented MAP™ extraction technology, Radient delivers superior customer outcomes in terms of ingredient purity, yield, and cost, serving global market leaders in industries such as foods & beverages, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care. Since 2016, Radient has expanded its offerings to enter the cannabinoids market, using its proprietary platform to provide premium ingredients including those that contain a broad range of cannabinoid and terpene profiles. Please visit www.radientinc.com for more information.SOURCE: Radient Technologies Inc.Investors please contact: William (Bill) Wasson, Senior VP of Capital Markets and Investor Relations: wwasson@radientinc.comMedia/press please contact: Caitlin Cheadle, Director of Communications: ccheadle@radientinc.comForward Looking Information:
This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the growth of the Company’s business operations; the construction of the Company’s facilities; the Company’s future revenues and timing of such revenues; the Company’s future products; the Company’s ability to sell its products and attract new customers; the expected throughput capacities at its facilities as set out in the “Corporate Update” section above; the future recovery and quality of the Company’s extracts; the Company’s ability to expand its business internationally; the Company’s ability to grow its business in the cannabis sector and the Company’s future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Radient, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although Radient has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Radient does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Original story can be found at: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/08/27/1907438/0/en/Radient-Technologies-Inc-Releases-First-Quarter-2020-Financial-Results-and-Provides-Corporate-Update.html?f=22&fvtc=5&fvtv=41223728
NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via CannabisNewsWire – Leading Edge Expositions, a company specializing in B2B trade show production, is proud to announce further details of the upcoming Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo) in Los Angeles, California. It will run from September 26 – 28, 2019, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The expo has garnered a number of high-powered sponsors. Their diamond sponsor, Freed, is a prominent CBD company known for promoting healthy living. Other big sponsors include Marcum LLP, an accounting group; Zuber Lawler, a global law firm; and CCELL, known for its disruptive vaping technology. These and other leading companies in the cannabis space have come together to help make CWCBExpo a highly valuable and memorable occasion.Event organizers have also ensured the conference schedule will be packed with interesting and informative speeches, workshops and networking opportunities for all guests in attendance. The keynote address, scheduled for September 26, will be given by Steve White, CEO of Harvest, Inc. He will discuss social justice in the cannabis industry.Other speeches on the agenda will cover the cannabis industry from a myriad of angles, including the medical field, business, law and growers. For those interested in business and law, there will be additional workshops detailing how to manage the blossoming cannabis industry and what laws and regulations business owners should be aware of while their businesses grow.Finally, to provide greater ROI to every guest, speaker and sponsor attending, the expo will include multiple networking events designed to foster new business relationships to capitalize on the fast-growing market. On the evenings of September 26 and 27, CWCBExpo will offer networking opportunities for guests to unwind while making useful connections. Attendees are also encouraged to get involved in the various workshops to make important connections.Demand for CWCBExpo is sure to grow even further as the event draws closer. Attendees who purchase their tickets now will benefit from discounted pricing. To register for the upcoming Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo in Los Angeles, visit: https://www.cwcbexpo.com/attend-registration-los-angeles/About Cannabis World Congress & Business Expositions (CWCBExpo)
CWCBExpos are the premier business-to-business events for the legalized cannabis industry and are held 3 times per year in the largest financial, business, and media markets—New York, Los Angeles and Boston. Connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn: @cwcbexpo.General Inquiries:
Leading Edge Expositions, LLC
Paramus, New Jersey
201.580.2050 OfficeMedia Contact:
CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
Original story can be found at: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/08/27/1907192/0/en/Cannabis-World-Congress-Business-Exposition-Brings-Industry-s-Top-Conference-Program-to-Los-Angeles.html?f=22&fvtc=5&fvtv=41223728
Why It’s So Hard to Bet Against Canada’s Marijuana Boom
Budding Marijuana Company In Canada
Unflavored Diamond CBD Oil 100MG |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: good day to all: my question concerns blood pressure. my pressure is generally low: 100/60. i noticed that i become lightheaded and weak when bending over or straining. my blood pressure soars (we have used several monitors to measure--so the readings are correct) today BP measured 147/105 HR 78. i have been diagnosed with labile BP and have recently undergone genetic testing for EDS. any input would be appreciated. my work requires that i bend and such-- i am a designer. i fear that i cannot continue my work. thank you for any insight. blessings in your path. (female, 50, 5 5, 195 lbs) output: Hias your blood pressure is generally low, and you are light-headed also during bending it can be because of a phenomenon called orthostatic hypotensionveins in our legs act as a reservoir to store blood, contraction of veins pumps blood towards heart which is pumped by heart to the body and blood pressure is maintained,somehow this mechanism is not functioning properly ion your body would suggest you to wear stockings while working .tight stocking will increase pressure on veins in legs and would assist them to pump blood back to hairdo not bend suddenly .....do it slowly so that your body could adapt to change in posture ...thank you. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hello Doctor. I have got a pint-sized bite in my nose by my cousin s dog. Though no bleeding was there but i saw a less than pinch blood when i inserted my finger into my nose. The dog was vaccinated. Moreover i have already taken anti tetanus and 5 anti-rabies dose 1 month before after getting a stray dog bite. So do i have to take anti rabies injection further? Please Help. output: Just check with the veterinary doctor if the dog is completely immunized for rabies2. If you have taken the whole course of rabies just 1 month ago that would be enough, no need of further dosages3. Still observe the dog for 10 days, If dog develops any symptom of rabies I advise to take anti rabies immunoglobulin in and around the site of bite/scratch. Discuss this with your doctor and then decide. Hope I have answered your query. Get well soon.. |
What do Enterprise Architects do?
That depends. A good number of Enterprise Architects (EAs) appear to come through the professional promotion ladder process which ends up at the top of this value chain: the Enterprise Architect. They are veterans, they know people and people knows them, they give advice and are knowledgeable about the company history, culture and motivations behind every technology in existence. They are often consulted by management and occupy a position of respect since some are legends for services rendered.
Do they really do Enterprise Architecture? They mostly don't. They do check consistency of designs between projects and against their own experience but they do not have a reference Enterprise Architecture to validate results against.
But let's move on.
The next type is the Enterprise Architecture Integration architect; it is an important role since most applications are hard to interconnect even today. They are chosen from the SOA ranks, as the middle name for SOA is integration for most adopters. They use middleware, mostly based on ESBs, JAVA/JMS, MQ Series and/or Web Services. They are often found in Enterprise Architect jobs. Sometimes called SOA Architects. Do they do Enterprise Architecture? They do the EA integration bit.
Then the well known Enterprise (JAVA) Architects called so because of the Enterprise Java Edition so naming. The technology is said to be Enterprise wide. There are some called Enterprise Solution Architects probably because they naturally work in solution delivery projects. They do a lot of patching work in their platform of preference to keep the applications running. This is not really Enterprise Architecture work.
There is also the IT strategy role where mostly the Enterprise Architect works on the IT technology roadmap which is associated to Enterprise Architecture and Strategic Planning. If not based on an Enterprise Architecture this role will deliver best effort silo-ed outcomes.
The Enterprise Architects are often classified in: Applications and Infrastructure architects to enable work division and specialization. They often end up doing inventories of technologies and applications. They are usually present in most meetings since they are supposed to cover the whole Enterprise.
Sometimes the Enterprise Data Architect role is also created when the Enterprise has trouble with managing its customer data or extracting reliable intelligence from available sources, which is quite often, simply because information is duplicated in a few applications.
Typically, applications, technology and data architectures have little in a common: separate diagrams with different entities, drawn by different architects without a common picture. In truth, the existing EA frameworks recommend you do the usual business, information, applications and technology layers and leave you at that.
Is this a problem? No analysis transcends from one view to another, changes are not propagated, impacts are not resolved and IT is not aligned to business or strategy. Hence it is a problem.
What Enterprise Architects actually do? It did not surprise me to discover that Enterprise Architects don't do much Enterprise or business architecture work for that matter. What is business architecture anyway, a few business process diagrams? It is true nevertheless that Enterprise Architects tend to be experienced people who may engage and solve most IT situations, in a flexible and clever manner.
What an Enterprise Architect should do though?
The job starts with putting together an EA business case to justify the EA development once for all, then sell the EA to business and management to get sponsorship and resources. Afterwards, the EA framework selection, customization or creative design since most frameworks are not going further than general patterns like matrices, layered pyramids, cubes, process and best practices etc. This is a critical success factor for the rest of the EA development!
The architect establishes the design principles, the process, breaks down the EA work into workstreams and organizes the teams to discover and document the current Enterprise state and blueprint. The Enterprise Architect validates other Enterprise developments from an EA point of view: all solutions architecture design have to comply to EA principles and conventions reuse the same components and link to other artifacts. Also, the ERP, SCM, CRM, MDM, Portal and business specific applications, suites and activities have to be properly documented at the process and technology layers.
As the EA becomes the knowledge DB of the Enterprise, the content has to be organized early in an EA taxonomy and exposed on the Intranet. The EA architect leads this effort.
Then the architect looks at the Business and IT Strategies aligns them to the Enterprise Map, determines the future state of the EA and establishes technology standards, guidelines and roadmaps. Then the EA architect specifies the EA compliance criteria and process controls, evaluates EA maturity and not least, coordinates the entire EA development work. Most Enterprise Architects don't do that. (They do though, validate most IT developments against their own professional experience which is good but leads to variable and debatable outcomes.)
Well, there is an explanation for that. The "body of EA knowledge" is scarce, fragmented, contributed by practitioners from experience rather than academia. There is a reason for that too. EA crosses the boundaries between the theory and practice of business (existing since the dawn of time) and IT (still young and playful, celebrating about half a century of existence)... disciplines that until now have been treated in utter separation. The Business side concocts a system specification, the business analyst translates it and the IT implements it. But business and IT have different cultures, objectives, vocabularies and require very different skills. Hence, the division between Business and IT does well without an Enterprise Architecture to align governance, goals, processes, communication language...
How does one select an Enterprise Architect (EAs)? So many around these days. No wonder because the title and pay are attractive. Since there are few distinctive qualifications or selection criteria for an Enterprise Architect, how do you recognize an Enterprise Architect? Is it intuition? Is it the good old boys network?
Most EAs have studied TOGAF, Zachman, FEA and quickly gave up on DoDAF. These appear to be the universal requirements for an Enterprise Architect. Nothing earth shuttering though, no mathematics, almost marketing like material.
Zachman it's quite straightforward to read and understand by all. It is common sense. Long before that, Rudyard Kipling's poem "Elephant's child" from "Just so stories" beautifully suggested, an every day life discovery process based on the "w" questions:
"I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who...."
(Zachman 2 is coming, I hear, surely adding some substance to the Mendeleev's elements table, the framework was likened to) All of us browsed TOGAF (hard to go through otherwise due to its richness).
FEA is a bit of a read, in fact there are quite a number of documents, but what remains in one's mind is the simple framework (consisting of performance,... business, services, technology reference layers) which is not quite rocket science. But if you read specific agency frameworks you discover they differ in many ways, fact that may baffle you a bit.
DODAF, not bad at all, formalizing descriptions in diagrams types connected by a metamodel, complementing FEA models in many ways, has its own vocabulary that departs too much from the EA accepted modeling. Hence it is hardly usable except in defense.
As such, it is not too hard to tick the methodology boxes for an Enterprise Architecture job: Zachman, TOGAF, FEA and other (IAF, EAP, E2AF...). But unfortunately this is not too distinctive, in fact it provides no differentiation since most architects can claim this.
That is why the Enterprise Architect's curriculum must be backed by a long IT experience and references. Good social skills proving that he/she is articulate as well to communicate with stakeholders and "C" level management (sounds catchy!) is a must, they say. In any case, you must keep your nerve explaining to everybody again and again what it is, why, how you are going to do it. As soon as you leave, people start asking anew, what was that for?
Counting these criteria, is it possible to narrow down the candidates to a short list?
Currently, Zachman, TOGAF and the soft skills tick boxes decimate the number of candidates; but is that enough? By the way, has anyone been asked at an EA interview, what are Zachman or TOGAF about? I find it difficult to find questions with answers relevant to the framework since knowledge about, is either straightforward or common to other disciplines.
Typically, technology criteria are further employed for selection: experience with Java frameworks, .Net platforms... although software programming is not a basic requirement, strictly speaking, for an Enterprise Architect, but experience of it, yes. An Enterprise Java architect knows more about programming in JEE than the development of an Enterprise Architecture, which is natural. The real need for an Enterprise Java Architect is in Enterprise Applications Integration and patching.
You will often find the Enterprise Solution Architect role as well, where the chosen one ought to do whatever work comes that way, Enterprise wide, from Java to TOGAF. This is quite an one man band requirement but would attract a Solution rather than an Enterprise Architect. A solution architect is someone who, starting from business requirements, selects an IT application most suitable from a functional viewpoint and for integration in the existing IT landscape. The role is less hands on than the Enterprise Java Architect, working more closely with the business.
Then, many demand experience in the specific business domain such as financial, insurance... The experience might help speed the process, but unfortunately they may eliminate the real Architects.
Anyway, as in the previous case, this is not really a requirement for for an Enterprise Architect which should work with and mobilize the business to design the specific architecture. An Enterprise Architect would apply method and frameworks to your EA rather than attempting to substitute software designers and business people and their expertise; he would model any business, on any IT platform, following the same process, no matter what industry, beginning with products and stakeholders' interaction specification, continuing with the functional decomposition and process design and engineering and, not really ending with the architecture of the resources executing it, IT and people.
Until now, I neglected the architecture skill, the most important in fact in the selection process. What is an Architect? It is someone with a structured mind, who likes to discover and use patterns and is willing to do this tenuous job. The Architect digs to discover the essence, like a true IT intellectual, and feels the inner need to understand how parts fit into the whole. A craftsman and artist, since Enterprise Architecture is far from being a science right now. Usually, is experienced in more structured disciplines such as hardware and software design. The architect also struggled at some point with OO UML and distributed components technology, hopefully not too much CORBA.
So ask what architecture is, what are the artefacts for an EA, how are they linked, what is a metamodel, how would the candidate design, implement and maintain an EA, what would be the work breakdown, what are the architecture principles or styles...
Finally, you've got yourself an Enterprise Architect. But will you get an Enterprise Architecture? Probably not. This is a problem: all companies have Enterprise Architects but no Enterprise Architecture. Life goes on; the company survived without an EA for many years already.
Anyhow once you have the Enterprise Architect in situ, the problem seems to disappear: the EA box is ticked and the peace of mind descends upon everyone, including management. No Enterprise Architecture though. But since few know what that is, a few diagrams of interconnected applications will quench the thirst for it.
But remember what the Enterprise Architecture is: the documented structure and operation of your company. Hence EA is a necessary evil in this era of fast change, growing complexity and amount of information. The Enterprise Architect must be a dedicated and well rounded man that has to apply creatively the existing body of knowledge since the current state does not support well your endeavor to create your Enterprise Architecture.
Consultancies, do they have EA frameworks? Most of them yes, some variations of the "legacy" ones. They count a lot on the collective consultants' experience with plenty of former projects to serve as examples. Aggregation or consolidation of all work in a single framework is seldom performed though, to the best of my knowledge.
Consultancies worry less with the selection of an EA consultant. There must be a hard working chap with a mortal desire to travel a lot, camp in hotels, hostels, managed apartments, dine in planes and trains, be mobile connected till late, live with an allowance of about 30-40$ a day but be able to impress customers with a no nonsense EA talk leaving few questions unanswered or providing the legacy answer "there is no silver bullet". More often than not, customers don't expect wonders anyway. In fact, in most cases consultants are more like "contractors", in that they do what the customer tells them rather than tell the customer what to do.
For a consultancy, a typical framework - that changes and varies quite often - is based on the few known layers (business, information, applications, technology etc) conveniently surrounded by a few great Zachman style questions, such as Why, Who, When, Where.... Orthogonally one will always find a security slice. Some have Strategy on top to show how important it is. These frameworks look like triangles, two dimensional boxes, tables, cubes, pyramids that really give you the impression of Architectonic monuments and with it, the good warm feeling that we talk about architecture.
When the EA exercise ends, the customer remains, with a diagram occupying a boardroom wall displaying and impressive myriad of connections and actors. At the top there always are the customer channels since the customer is king - that's marketing speak. There is a little bit for everyone but not enough to keep the interest long. Not quite touching the business issues or views. A bit hard to read, standing there and who's going' to maintain it? The consultant. One cannot print it since equipment like this is a rarity.
Consultancies usually have other Enterprise wide assignments, not only Enterprise Architecture design. That saves the day. The consultant must be flexible and inventive. Must be self-reliant, confident, bendable, ductile, non-vertebrate, cool and an "accomplished communicator" so that he can inspire confidence and sales even to his own boss. Communications to level Cs if not higher is a must.
The EA consultant is often compared to a body in a body shopping process, i.e. engaged in whatever work the customer desires over a while. The body may have a soul but that is not part of the contract. There is a striking similarity with the oldest trade in then world. a consultant, like Faust, would sell his soul for a viable framework.
I often wondered how does a recruiter recognize an Enterprise Architect. I concluded he/she does not. Too hard a job if the architects, those occupying EA positions or employers have different views of what EA is, its purpose and what they do.
While I watched an EA purpose discussion (> 200 entries) on Linkedin, I realised that few quoted definitions from known sources. As most entries were different, I concluded that the EA body of knowledge is fragmented, not agreed upon. That is most likely because there are too many schools, definitions and frameworks. The intriguing thought, given the creativity of these responses, is that the architects themselves seem content with this state of art that gives them freedom to define as EA whatever they do. As a result, E architects most likely, do different jobs. The benficiaries of EA would never know what they get, in particular because, they don't know what to ask.
There is a category of Enterprise wide IT Architects for domain like infrastructure, applications... They are are professionals able to see and draw a big picture, for a few functions of an Enterprise, in the domain there are in. They are not really Enterprise architects but they are called so when they are part of an EA team.
EA is not about SW architecture either. SW architects, Enterprise Java Architects are in fact developers.
IT solution architects design the block diagram of an application, its components and its context.
IT Architects are not Enterprise Architects for the simple reason that they don't know and are not even interested in how the Enterprise works. They are often called E Architects, when having accumulate experience, they review all IT solution architectures in the Enterprise in order to make recommendation to reduce duplication, standardise etc but seldom having a common framework or EA blueprint as reference for decision making.
In fact, there are too many Enterprise Architects and too few Enterprise Architectures.
The confusion between EA architects and IT architects bothers because the "wrong architects" as Gartner calls them in "10 pitfalls...", are employed with results for firms and EA discipline we already know.
An Enterprise Architect, whose scope of work is the whole Enterprise rather than IT, should coordinate and integrate the BPM effort with the rest of EA workstreams since (1) BPM is part of the EA business architecture layer and (2) the BPM CoE is already responsible and best qualified to do it.
Currently BPM/xSigma and EA developments are working in parallel, to my knowledge, because too frequently the EA is IT centric.
More, a BPM effort in isolation may not lead to expected results because processes are often implemented in IT, take for instance ERPs, CRMs...
Equally so, an IT EA devised in separation would lack the big picture of the business flows and aims.
For this to happen the role of the Enterprise Architect should be elevated at the business management level, indeed. How do we ever achieve this?
I would argue that EA should be logically at the level immediately above the organizational functions it coordinates (IT, business improvement, BPM...). But that depends on the scope of the EA in that specific organization. Ideally it would be reporting to the CEO for broadest scope and benefits. In practice it often reports to the Head of IT Architecture, with all the consequences related to scope, visibility and authority.
I realize that many of us, Enterprise Architects, our pay masters, and recruiters emphasize at times different aspects of EA. But they are all part of an Enterprise Architect's work day.
Here are the types:
* EA Sell Justify (build business case) and sell EA
* EA Design Architecture discovery and modelling
* EA Strategic planning Roadmapping, Strategic planning
* EA Operation Maintenance and EA compliance work
And, in a way, each type requests a specific set of skills:
Justification and sell use skills like the knowledge of the enterprise workings (KPIs), what makes them effective, how costs could be reduced... Also the business case specification implies some financials. Selling and communications require soft skills.
Architecture modelling assumes methodologies like structured and OO analysis and design, a structured mind and disposition... Also a wide knowledge of technologies and architecture principles.
Roadmapping and strategy skills are still an art form demanding an understanding of trends, business and IT strategy skills, planning...
EA Maintenance demands project and solution architecture knowledge, change management, governance and organization skills, influencing, discipline, organized mind etc.
Another outcome of the Enterprise Architecture conference in Sydney I recently participated to, was the positioning of the Enterprise architect as a leader in the transformation of the Enterprise and a participant in the business decision making process. All good news. Right now, this is not really the case although the trend may point in that direction.
But what is a leader or leadership for that matter? Let me point you to a recent discussion on HBS on this matter. What an interest this topic has raised! Latest thinking there points out that leaders must have theatrical qualities. I would say that actors becoming leaders are not rare, these days, especially in politics. But is it what leadership needs? I really believe that what is called theater is in fact another term for excellent communication skills, being able to hold an inspiring speech in front of your people or at a conference.
What is a leader? My take: An individual who leads a group's activity to a specific purpose. But these individuals could be selected, nominated, self-nominated or inheriting a leading position, a position of authority. In this case, a group may not even respect or agree with these individuals. The authority of this leader comes from the power of the position and political games. This is not what we mean by leadership in general.
What is leadership then? Leadership is the quality of an individual to attract followers for a specific purpose. For that a leader must inspire trust and respect coming from natural personal qualities, learned from experience or taught knowledge and skills. Leadership requires self confidence and emotional control.
But it is possible to have a leading position without having leadership capabilities or the other way around. From here onwards, I would prefer to discuss the case of leaders capable of leadership only for keeping a simple and healthy tone of debate.
What are the qualities of leadership? Inspiring trust and respect is tantamount, even if the leader has a position of power, since there is little he/she can achieve otherwise. How to inspire trust and respect? In the first place, the individual has to be credible and lead by example; that will require top competence in that field of activity, a basic sine qua non condition for the leader. So the leader bases his confidence on knowledge and experience. How could confidence come otherwise?
The leader will have a vision, an ideal that inspires people and determines them to follow. He would be finding solutions where few can. A leader does the "right things" some say, but also should do the "things right", a good manager/administrator does.
A leader should be emotionally stable having a degree of Emotional Intelligence (EQ as opposed to IQ), so that he could understand, interpret and control emotion in others. But the leader is in control of himself first. A leader, alternatively, could be passionate to inspire his followers with his energy and enthusiasm. Which alternative do you think is right? ( believe it depends on culture: EQ is cool for the the Anglo-American culture while passion may be the norm for Latin cultures.
It is said that another way to inspire a followship is to act, as in theatre, i.e. play the role of a leader to inspire people. I do not believe this really works to the end although, nobody can deny, acting may have, sometimes, charming results, offering an alternative dimension to the grim reality. But in the long term the one who benefits is the actor, the "leader" and not the group. There is the difference between the role and the reality, the personage and the person. An actor is at his best when plays naturally since he is authentic i.e. there is match between substance and form. A mismatch is decoded by primitive but efficient detectors within ourselves: the eyes which do not smile or avoid looking you into your eyes, the gesture that does not confirm the words, the intonation gone the other way.
Leadership needs authenticity to succeed, that is the image shown should fit the substance and competence. Authenticity means "you do what you say" and "you say what you think".
There are archetypes or worse stereotypes of leader types. The hero in films is a typical example. People are moulding themselves on heroes since early childhood. We struggle to imitate the best, their behaviour, we learn from them. There is also the stereotype of the business manager played by many, unfortunately. Someone who looks confident, decided, sure of success, looking the part but without the depth to deliver.
The problem is that without the underlying professional ability, the confidence is wrong footed and the results average. The surrogate leader fails without knowing why since he is playing the role well and moreover believes in himself. Acting alone will not deliver professional results.
In a culture driven by acting leaders the real work would not be prized any longer; meritocracy would be applied in terms of acting skills. An acting leader can empower, delegate but the immediate ranks feel the competence void and are tempted to step up the ladder. Then leadership will be maintained not by respect inspired by competence but through power, minute control and politics.
The style of leadership depends on field: a warrior leader would be bold and ready to fight, a president would be a decision maker, and a conductor would orchestrate the individuals in the orchestra. This would require different qualities.
Leadership depends on situation. A company in difficult times for instance. In normal times leadership is welcome but not in demand.
Leadership does not necessarily means moral "good"; the proposed ideal appeals to followers good or evil. It is still leadership. There are evil leaders having their followers. Usually, they take on the good cause leaders.
Why people follow? Because trust, belief, the lack of doubt it is said to make people content, if not happy. Following is easier than leading. Too many choices or decisions makes us unhappy, it was discovered. People follow because of fear as well in order to get protection.
Finally, leadership comes from will or desire to lead, since it is not solely a blessing but a very consuming activity, requiring sacrifice and dedication to the cause. |
2016 News Release Archive
NACDL’s Public Affairs & Communications Department issues news releases on behalf of the association concerning developing news events as well as announcements and policy positions of the association.
News Release ~ 12/20/2016
U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Denies Rehearing and En Banc Review as DOJ Continues Effort to Keep Its Federal Criminal Discovery Blue Book From Being Disclosed to the American Public; Panel Modifies Opinion and Remands to District Court -- Washington, DC (Dec. 20, 2016) – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit denied NACDL's petition both for a rehearing and en banc review following the July 19, 2016, decision of a three-judge panel...
Just in Time for the Holidays, President Obama Announces 153 Commutations; Total Grants Near 1,200 -- Washington, DC (Dec. 19, 2016) – Today, President Obama announced 153 grants of commutation. Of today's 153 grants, 82 were in cases supported by Clemency Project 2014.
NACDL Releases Pretrial Justice Manual for New Jersey Practitioners; Additional States Forthcoming -- Washington, DC (Dec. 13, 2016) – In partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJ OPD), and with grant support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) today releases The New Jersey Pretrial Justice Manual in an effort to support New Jersey attorneys as they work to end pretrial injustice in the state.
NACDL Past President John Wesley Hall to Receive Prestigious Al Horn Memorial Award from NORML -- Washington, DC (December 9, 2016) – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Past President John Wesley Hall will receive the Al Horn Memorial Award from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) National Legal Committee on December 10, 2016.
As Thanksgiving Approaches, President Obama Announces 79 New Clemency Grants; Total Grants Surpass 1,000 -- Washington, DC (Nov. 22, 2016) – After commuting the sentences of 72 prisoners earlier this month, President Obama today commuted the sentences of 79 more prisoners. Of today's 79 grants, 54 were in cases supported by Clemency Project 2014.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Legislation to Delay Proposed Rule Changes Designed to Enable Sweeping Government Hacking Power -- Washington, DC (Nov. 17, 2016) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) welcomes the bipartisan introduction today of the Review the Rule Act to delay for six months implementation of proposed changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
President Obama Today Announced Another 72 Clemency Grants -- Washington, DC (Nov. 4, 2016) – After commuting the sentences of 200 prisoners in October, President Obama today commuted the sentences of 72 more prisoners.
President Obama Announces 98 Clemency Grants; Second Set of Grants This Month -- Washington, DC (Oct. 27, 2016) – After commuting the sentences of 102 prisoners on October 6, President Obama today brought October's total thus far to 200 by commuting the sentences of 98 more prisoners.
News Release ~ 10/26/2016b
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Receives Outstanding Alliance Award from U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform -- Washington, DC (Oct. 26, 2016) – Earlier today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) was presented with the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) Outstanding Alliance Award at its 17th Annual Legal Reform Summit in recognition of its "important contributions to the fight for criminal justice reform."
States Have Long Road Ahead to Ensure the Constitutional Right to Counsel, New NACDL Report Finds -- Washington, DC (Oct. 26,2016) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) today released a report that surveys the standards set by each of the 50 states to provide counsel in criminal cases to those who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.
The Sixth Amendment Center Releases Groundbreaking Study of Public Defense in Indiana; Report Commissioned by Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Oct. 24, 2016) – This morning, the Sixth Amendment Center released an important new study – The Right to Counsel in Indiana: Evaluation of Trial level Indigent Defense Services.
Cynthia W. Roseberry, Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014, to Receive Humanitarian Award -- Washington, DC (Oct. 21, 2016) – Tonight, Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014 Cynthia W. Roseberry will receive the Church of Scientology Humanitarian Award in Washington, DC at the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office this evening at 6 pm.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Seeks Responses to Key Questions Posed to the Presidential Candidates -- Washington, DC (Oct. 11, 2016) – Between August and early September, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) canvassed its members and others in the criminal defense bar and community for their input in connection with questions NACDL would be submitting to the following candidates for President – Hillary Clinton (D), Donald Trump (R), Jill Stein (G), and Gary Johnson (L).
NACDL and the Foundation for Criminal Justice Applaud Clemency Project 2014 Milestone; 2,000 Petitions Submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney -- Washington, DC (Oct. 7, 2016) – TToday, the working group known as Clemency Project 2014, which was formed by National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the Federal Public and Community Defenders, achieves an historic milestone, submitting its 2,000th petition to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Clemency Project 2014 To Surpass 2,000 Submitted Clemency Petitions; President Obama Announces 102 Clemency Grants -- Washington, DC (Oct. 7, 2016) – Today, Clemency Project 2014 will surpass the milestone of 2,000 clemency petitions submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, with many more nearing submission. And late yesterday, President Obama commuted the sentences of 102 prisoners, 55 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.
NACDL Sr. Privacy and National Security Counsel Jumana Musa To Receive Major Civil Rights Award -- Washington, DC (Sept. 29, 2016) – Jumana Musa, Senior Privacy and National Security Counsel at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), will receive the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Ralph Johns Civil Rights Award on Saturday, October 1, at the Civil Rights Luncheon during the ADC's 2016 National Convention being held in Washington, DC.
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Issues Major Forensic Science Report; Calls for Stronger Scientific Standards -- Washington, DC (Sept. 20, 2016) – Today, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued a major new report calling for the strengthening of forensic science standards.
President Obama Announces A Second Set of More than 100 Clemency Grants This Month -- Washington, DC (Aug. 30, 2016) – In his second set of clemency grants this month, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 111 prisoners today, 72 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.
New York City Attorney Rick Jones Installed as President-Elect of Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 16, 2016) -- New York City attorney Rick Jones was sworn in as President-Elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's 59th Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 13.
News Release ~ 08/15/2016c
New York City Attorney Rick Jones Receives Prestigious 2016 Heeney Award from Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2016) – New York City attorney Rick Jones has been chosen as the 2016 recipient of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' (NACDL) Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award.
Barry J. Pollack Sworn in as 2016-17 President of Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2016) -- Barry J. Pollack of Washington, DC was sworn in as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) by United States District Judge Amit P. Mehta at the Association's Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 13.
News Release ~ 08/15/2016a
2016-17 Officers and Newly Elected Members of the Board of Directors Installed at Annual Meeting -- Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2016) – NACDL installed newly elected officers and directors at its Annual Board and Membership Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 13.
South Carolina State Senator Gerald Malloy Receives Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award by Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Palm Beach, FL (Aug. 12, 2016) – Gerald Malloy, a private attorney and state senator from South Carolina, was honored today with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' (NACDL) Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award at NACDL's 15th Annual State Criminal Justice Network conference in Palm Beach, FL.
Alexander Bunin Receives Champion of Public Defense Award from Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Palm Beach, FL (Aug. 11, 2016) -– Harris County Chief Public Defender Alexander Bunin was presented with the Champion of Public Defense Award by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at its 59th Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 11.
President Obama Announces Single Largest Set of Clemency Grants Since Taking Office -- Washington, DC (Aug. 3, 2016) – In his fourth set of clemency grants since March 30, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 214 prisoners today, 118 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.
Barry J. Pollack to be Sworn in as 2016-17 President of Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 1, 2016) -- Barry J. Pollack of Washington, DC will be sworn in as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., on August 13.
Kent R. Hart, Executive Director and Past President of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Missing and Believed Dead -- Washington, DC (July 26, 2016) – Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (UACDL) Executive Director and Past President Kent R. Hart is reported to have slipped and fallen into a waterfall while hiking in Hallingdal, Norway late Sunday.
DOJ Persuades Panel at U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to Keep Its Federal Criminal Discovery Blue Book From Being Disclosed to the American Public; NACDL to Seek Rehearing En Banc -- Washington, DC (July 25, 2016) – On July 19, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit – Circuit Judge Srinivasan and Senior Circuit Judges Sentelle and Edwards – issued its decision in National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers v. U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for United States Attorneys and U.S. Department of Justice.
Supreme Court Rejects Government’s Expansive Interpretation of “Official Act” Under Federal Bribery and Honest-Services Fraud Statutes; Vacates and Remands in Case of Former Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell -- Washington, DC (June 27, 2016) – In an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts, the U.S. Supreme Court today unanimously rejected the government’s expansive interpretation of what constitutes an impermissible "official act" under the federal bribery statute, the Hobbs Act, and the federal honest-services statute.
Symposium Report: The Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age -- Washington, DC (June 8, 2016) -- The Fourth Amendment has entered the digital age. New surveillance technologies and programs — from GPS tracking devices to automated license plate readers to bulk data collection — have upended traditional law enforcement practices and created new challenges for defense lawyers.
President Obama Announces Third Set of Clemency Grants in Just Over Two Months -- Washington, DC (June 3, 2016) – In his third set of clemency grants in just over two months, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 42 prisoners today, 25 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014. Of those 25 that came through the Project, 14 were serving life sentences.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Decries HIV Criminalization -- Washington, DC (May 26, 2016) – On May 21, 2016, at the spring meeting of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the board of directors unanimously adopted a resolution opposing all laws that base criminal liability and/or penalty enhancements on one's HIV status rather than on the intent to harm another individual.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar: The Continuing Collapse of the Case for Capital Punishment -- Washington, DC (May 24, 2016) – Yesterday, in its 7 to 1 judgment in Foster v. Chatman (14-8349), the U.S. Supreme Court found that prosecutors violated the Constitution in the 1987 capital case against Timothy T. Foster, an African-American man accused of killing a white woman, when they struck every prospective black juror from the pool.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Bipartisan Legislation to Block Proposed Rule Changes Designed to Enable Sweeping Government Hacking Power -- Washington, DC (May 19, 2016) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) welcomes the introduction of the Stop Mass Hacking Act (S. 2952) by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), to prevent changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure from taking effect.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar and the Foundation for Criminal Justice Applaud Major Clemency Project 2014 Milestone: More than 1,000 Petitions Submitted to Date to the Office of the U.S. Pardon Attorney -- Washington, DC (May 16, 2016) – In recent days, the working group known as Clemency Project 2014, which was formed by National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers (NACDL), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the Federal Public and Community Defenders...
Clemency Project 2014 Surpasses 1,000 Submitted Clemency Petitions -- Washington, DC (May 16, 2016) – Last week, Clemency Project 2014 surpassed the milestone of 1,000 clemency petitions submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, with many more nearing submission.
President Obama Announces Second Set of Clemency Grants in Under Six Weeks -- Washington, D.C. (May 5, 2016) – In his second set of clemency grants in under six weeks, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 58 prisoners today, 28 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.
Congress Must Block Proposed Rule Changes Designed to Enable Sweeping Government Hacking Power -- Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2016) -- The Supreme Court yesterday referred controversial proposed changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to Congress, and without further Congressional action those changes will come into effect December 1st of this year. NACDL submitted comments in opposition to these far reaching changes, arguing that the significant impact on constitutional rights requires a much more transparent and robust process than federal rule-making.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes House Judiciary Committee's Unanimous Passage of Email Privacy Act -- Washington, D.C. (April 13, 2016) – Today the House Judiciary Committee passed out of committee the Email Privacy Act (H.R. 699) by a vote of 28-0.
New Report Investigates Courts in South Carolina that Convict and Jail Many Defendants without a Lawyer Present -- Washington, DC (April 4, 2016) – Today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the ACLU of South Carolina released a new and critically important report, Summary Injustice: A Look at Constitutional Deficiencies in South Carolina's Summary Courts.
U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Sixth Amendment Right to Defense Counsel of One's Choice -- Washington, DC (March 30, 2016) – In a widely-awaited decision concerning the Sixth Amendment right to counsel and the government's pretrial seizure of a defendant's assets, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in the case of Luis v. United States (14-419).
Clemency Project 2014 Applauds Commutation of 61 Federal Prison Sentences -- Washington, D.C. (March 30, 2016) – In his first clemency grants since December of 2015, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 61 prisoners today, 25 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.
NACDL Press to Publish The Feminine Sixth: Women for the Defense, by Leading Defense Attorney and Legal Scholar Andrea D. Lyon -- Washington, DC (Mar. 28, 2016) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is delighted to announce that its publishing unit, NACDL Press, will be publishing a groundbreaking work on women in criminal defense by leading criminal defense attorney, legal scholar, Dean and Professor of Law at Valparaiso University School of Law, and decades-long NACDL member Andrea D. Lyon.
IN MEMORIAM: Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Mourns the Passing of Tiffany May Joslyn -- Washington, DC (March 8, 2016) – Tiffany May Joslyn, who served as counsel for white collar crime policy at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) from 2008 through 2015, died in a tragic car accident on Saturday, March 5, together with her younger brother, Derrick T. Joslyn.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Forensics Initiatives Announced by Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates -- Washington, DC (Feb. 24, 2016) – Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates delivered important remarks today during the 68th Annual Scientific Meeting Hosted by the American Academy of Forensic Science in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Applauds Administration's Efforts to Close Guantanamo, But Says the Framework Falls Short -- Washington, DC (Feb. 23, 2016) – Today, the Administration released what it says is a "Plan for Closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility." While there are serious deficiencies in that plan, the administration is to be commended for continuing its effort to at long last shutter the detention facility.
Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Presents Radley Balko with its Champion of Justice Journalism Award -- Washington, DC (Feb. 22, 2016) – On Friday, February 19, 2016, at its midwinter seminar and meeting in Austin, Texas, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) presented Washington Post journalist, investigative reporter, and blogger Radley Balko with its Champion of Justice Journalism Award.
Flawed Microscopic Hair Comparison Analysis Testimony Leads to New Trial for George D. Perrot -- Washington, DC (Jan. 27, 2016) -- George D. Perrot was granted a new trial yesterday in Massachusetts based on newly-discovered evidence that the FBI's microscopic hair comparison testimony contained scientifically invalid statements.
Supreme Court Ban on Mandatory Juvenile Life Without Parole Strengthened, Made Retroactive -- Washington, DC (Jan. 25, 2016) -- In a case revisiting its landmark 2012 juvenile justice decision in Miller v. Alabama, today the United States Supreme Court ruled in Montgomery v. Louisiana that its holding in Miller prohibiting mandatory life without parole for juveniles is a substantive rule of Constitutional law and therefore retroactive in cases of state collateral review. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What is the probable diagnosis for a patient who presents with sudden onset flashes of light and floaters in the left eye, and a feeling like "a curtain came down" over her eye, with ophthalmoscopy revealing a grayish-appearing retina? output: The likely diagnosis for this patient is retinal detachment. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina, the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye responsible for vision, separates from the underlying tissue. This can cause sudden onset of symptoms such as flashes of light, floaters, and a feeling like a curtain has come down over the eye. Ophthalmoscopy may reveal a grayish-appearing retina, which is a characteristic finding in cases of retinal detachment. Treatment for retinal detachment typically involves surgery to reattach the retina and prevent permanent vision loss. Delayed treatment can lead to permanent vision loss, so prompt recognition and management of retinal detachment is critical. |
University Chemistry
Subject Content
Volumn Content
Review Online
2021 Vol. 36,No. 2Published:28 February 2021
Study and Reform of Chemical Education
The Construction of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Course for Training Top Talents Under the Background of "Double First Class"
Hongyu Liu, Gu Jin, Qizhi Yao, Jiao Li, Lingling Li
Analytical chemistry laboratory plays a very important role in basic chemistry laboratory teaching. With the development of scientific research, the status of instrument analysis has been promoted, and the status of quantitative analysis laboratory in basic teaching has been greatly impacted. This paper introduces the reform and achievements of the laboratory of analytical chemistry in our university in recent years.
2021, 36 (2): 1912006. DOI: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX201912006
1924Abstract/Metrics
15RichHTML
382 PDF(5849KB)
MTSAE Teaching Model for the Course of Instrumental Analysis Based on "Internet +" Background
Dongmei Dai, Jia Chen, Haoyu Shen, Nengbing Long, Ning Gan
Under the background of Internet + and internationalization of dual first-class discipline, aiming at cultivating talents with engineering practice ability, team-cooperated spirit and international vision, as well as enhancing students' independent innovation level, the undergraduate and graduate's instrumental analysis courses were reformed. A novel MTSAE course teaching mode with international standards, through the adoption of MOOCs teaching (M), team collaboration (T), seminar (S), abroad-domestic class interaction (A) and evaluation comprehensively (E), was developed for guiding students to actively participate in the study with international background. It can help students to achieve subjective initiatives, extend accumulation from frontier knowledge, strengthen the team cooperation and communication ability. It can also effectively promote the internationalization level of the students, which played a key role in promoting the cultivation of innovative talents.
The Transition from Quantity to Quality: The Exploration and Reform on the International Training Scheme for Top Chemistry Undergraduate Students at the Stage of "Top-notch Undergraduate Training Program 2.0"
Xiaoshuang Ma, Chengbin Zheng
Since 2009 when Sichuan University started to implement the Top-notch Undergraduate Training Program (Top-notch Program for short) in Chemistry, a relatively comprehensive scheme of international training has been established and progress has been made. As the Ministry of Education starts the "Top-notch Undergraduate Training Program 2.0" in 2019, we are obliged to review the current international training model for chemistry undergraduates by learning from other universities both domestic and overseas to explore better ways of deepening international cooperation and improving the quality of international training for top chemistry students.
374 PDF(729KB)
Study on the Teaching Connection between Environmental Chemistry and Four Basic Chemistry Courses
Qunhui Wang, Na Song, Ming Gao, Chuanfu Wu, Baorui Liang
As a required course for the environmental engineering major, environmental chemistry has overlapped teaching content with the four major basic chemistry courses (inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and analytical chemistry). In order to improve classroom teaching efficiency and students' learning enthusiasm, our teaching team summarizes and analyzes the similar knowledge between environmental chemistry and the four basic chemistry courses, and then updates and optimizes the teaching content. Meanwhile, with assorted teaching methods including questioning, comparing and discussion, we guide students to explore "new knowledge" from "known knowledge" to deepen knowledge layer by layer. Furthermore, the "rain classroom" teaching mode is applied to help the teaching connection, which can improve the teaching effect.
A Marking Scheme of Chemical Laboratory Based on Modern Information Technologies
Wenjing Song, Chang Liu
A scientific laboratory marking method is important in arousing students' enthusiasm in laboratory study, thus, the quality of laboratory teaching of universities is improved. In order to meet the needs of laboratory teaching in the new era, it is necessary to establish a marking system which is deeply integrated with modern information technology. Therefore, a novel marking system was constructed, in which modules of pre-lab test, experimental operation, data quality, calculation, report and literature were included. Each module was marked by grade and the detailed indexes have been laid out. In addition, the software of Excel and MATLAB were used to realize data auto-correction and auto calculation for the final marks.
Construction and Teaching Practice of Multi-Dimensional Information Laboratory Resources of Inorganic Chemistry
Xiaofei Ma, Yalu Ma, Hongling Gao
In view of the obvious differences in chemistry basis, the ability of theoretical and laboratory connection, and the level of laboratory skills among the freshmen with chemical-based majors, the teaching team of inorganic chemistry of Tianjin University has constructed multi-dimensional information laboratory resources of inorganic chemistry including classroom demonstration experiment, online opening of laboratory course, experimental safety management and education, and the production and application of virtual simulation experiment. Those resources have been applied to the teaching practice of inorganic chemistry, which could solve the difficulties of students in the learning process and improve the teaching effect and efficiency.
Statistical Analysis of Current Teaching Research Situation of University Chemistry Teachers in Recent 10 Years: Taking the Journal of University Chemistry as an Example
Yekun Pu, Yanling Li, Jinghua Liu
According to published papers of "Teaching Research and Reform" column in "University Chemistry" in the past 10 years (2010–2019), the survey of 535 papers from the basic information of the literature, the authors and the content of the paper shows that: (1) University chemistry teaching research and reforms are generally on the rise, and the content of teaching research is relatively comprehensive, including curriculum research, classroom teaching research, experimental practice teaching research, etc., of which experimental and practical teaching research is relatively weak; (2) teaching mode is the focus of teaching research; (3) the amount and participation of different types of university chemistry teaching research and reform are different; (4) research is mostly based on cooperative research.
Practice and Thinking of Inorganic Chemistry Teaching for Medical Major Foreign Undergraduates
Peng Zhan, Xinyong Liu
In recent years, education for foreign students has become an important part of higher medical education in China. Inorganic chemistry is a basic course for medical students. Based on summarizing the many years of inorganic chemistry teaching in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Shandong University, this article discusses inorganic chemistry teaching from the aspects of teaching content selection and teaching method reform, in order to gradually improve the quality of teaching.
8RichHTML
Survey of Chemistry
How Much do You Know about Chemical Weapons? A Brief Introduction of Chemical Warfare Agents and Development of Decontamination Technology
Yaru Zhang, Yan Xia
Chemical weapon is a kind of weapon which can attack enemy's combat power by means of poison. It can kill with many ways, large-scale, high power, and long duration. It is known as "silent killer", and its basic component is chemical warfare agents. For a long time, the use of chemical weapons in war will not only reduces the opponent's combat effectiveness, but also harms many innocent people, which is not in line with ethical requirements. Therefore, it is important to reduce the harm of chemical weapons. This article first introduces the basic knowledge of chemical weapons, including the components, classification, and then summarizes the methods of detecting and degrading chemical warfare agents in recent years from the perspective of chemistry, and prospects the development trend of decontamination technology.
The Story of Nanogold: No Small Matter
Haibo Zhang, Haiyan Liu, Yunhua Chen
Gold element occupies a crucial position in the history of science and technology. Ernest Rutherford figured out the basic architecture of the atom by shooting alpha-particles at gold foil. Michael Faraday's experiments with colloidal gold gave an early hint of today's nanotechnology revolution. The gold electrodes were used to make the chips that triggered the information revolution. Gold nanoparticles are central to the development of gold technologies, such as diagnostic testing tools, plasma effects and highly effective catalysts. In this paper, the history, application and future development of nano-gold are discussed and summarized in vivid language with examples. Meanwhile, the relevant physical and chemical principles are also introduced, so that readers can understand the relevant knowledge of nano-gold in interesting reading.
Improving the Potentiometric Determination of Fluoride Content in Tea Solution
Weimin Fang, Yuxiu Wei, Jiqing Cai, Haijuan Zhu, Yeer Yu, Tong Chen
The original experimental scheme was further optimized and improved by quantitatively measuring the effects of total ionic strength adjusting buffer, different tea leaves and tea-making water temperature and time. The objective is to enable students to understand the importance of controlling the experimental conditions for determination, so as to further stimulate students' interest in the science and pleasure of chemistry experiments.
The Flexible Application of QR Code in the Laboratory Teaching, Laboratory Instrument Management and Academic Report
Yinyun Lü, Yuhua Weng, Rui Pan, Chunyan Zhang, Zhiqiang Dong, Xiaoqing Ouyang, Chanzi Ruan, Zhenling Xu, Shunü Peng, Yanping Ren
As an important carrier of the Internet of everything, QR code extremely makes people's life greatly. This paper introduces practices and experiences of applying QR code to laboratory teaching, laboratory instrument management and academic report flexibly of the National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry Education of Xiamen University, hoping to provide applicable guidance for domestic university laboratory teaching and laboratory instrument management.
Aqueous Synthesis and Characterization of Temperature-Responsive Polymer Microgels: An Introduction of a Comprehensive Chemical Experiment
Laiying Zhang, Ruyue Lan, Zhihong Liu, Weitai Wu
This study illustrates a comprehensive experiment covering polymer chemistry, physical chemistry and instrumental analysis. In this experiment, the temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgels are synthesized and characterized. The PNIPAM microgels are prepared by free-radical precipitation polymerization in aqueous phase. The temperature responsive properties of PNIPAM microgels were explored from two aspects, macroscopic and microscopic. This comprehensive experiment is based on the research of cutting-edge topics, which is helpful to cultivate students' ability of integrating theory with experiment and applying knowledge to practice, as well as to train students' awareness of interdisciplinary integration.
Construction and Application of Virtual Simulation Experiment of Pressurized Hydrogenation
Jing Du, Xiaofei Ma, Wentao Zhao
In order to expand the application of pressurized hydrogenation in undergraduate teaching and help students use hydrogen in a safe and proficient way, a virtual simulation experiment of pressurized hydrogenation reaction was proposed and constructed. Based on the work of three Nobel Prize winners in the field of hydrogenation, the virtual simulation experiment of pressurized hydrogenation was carried out. The experimental construction includes simulation software resources, learning sharing platform, mobile learning resources, process construction and evaluation system construction, which gives full play to the role of virtual simulation technology in the field of chemical engineering and blazing a new trail for some chemical engineering laboratory courses that are difficult to be carried out in teaching.
Quantum Chemistry Calculation Experiment on Activation Energy for Isomerization of HCN and HNC
Xiufang Xu
On the basis of teaching content of computational chemistry course, we introduce a computational chemistry experiment to senior undergraduates. This experiment uses Gaussian 09, GaussView and UltraEdit softwares to search the transition state of $ \text{HCN}\rightleftharpoons \text{HNC} $ isomerization reaction, calculate the energies of reactant (HCN), transition state (TS) as well as the product (HNC), and consequently to obtain the reaction activation energy. Through this experiment, students will learn how to perform the energy calculation with the quantum chemistry calculation methods to obtain activation energy of a reaction.
1030 PDF(611KB)
Exploration and Practice of Undergraduate Self-Design Experiments: Based on the Disposal and Analysis of Wastewater Containing Chromium Ion
Tianjiao Fan, Qizhi Yao, Gu Jin
Self-design experiment is one of the important links in the teaching system of analytical chemistry laboratory in our university. In this paper, the chromium-bearing wastewater produced in the teaching process of analytical chemistry lab class is taken as the treatment object. Students are required to independently consult the literature, design their experimental schemes, and evaluate the feasibility of their schemes. On this basis, the self-design experiments are carried out, and the harvested results are analyzed and evaluated. The implementation of the teaching process trains not only the students' ability to analyze and solve problems, but also their innovative thinking consciousness.
Study on the Colour Reaction System of Iodine and Water-Soluble Polymer
Hongyu Liu, Sihao Yuan, Gu Jin
This paper introduces a comprehensive inquiry experiment. Two water-soluble polymers, starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were selected to form a color developing system with iodine. By spectrophotometry, the effects of different reaction conditions, such as pH, reaction temperature, concentration of reactants and reaction time, on the color rendering results were investigated, and the optimum reaction conditions were determined. The working curve of absorbance was constructed and the application of the color rendering system was discussed. Rationality of quantitative measurement of substances.
Iodometry-Based Standardization of Iodine Value of Nut Oil: An Introduction of a Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry Experiment
Yan Deng
A comprehensive analytical chemistry experiment was introduced: oil in nuts like walnuts and peanuts was extracted by organic solvent and the iodine value of these oil was standardized via indirect iodometry to evaluate the degree of unsaturation of nut oil. By using purification techniques like extraction, filtration and distillation, as well as typical titrimetry like iodimetric method, students can interpret the experimental principles with their basic theoretical knowledge. Furthermore, life-based problem solving enhances their ability to solve problems and arouses their interest in chemistry.
Research into the Instruction on Preparation and Purification of Aspirin
Demei Tian
This paper introduces the preparation, purification and structure identification of aspirin, especially the teaching method, purpose and result at distinct stages of the experiment. Through problem-based learning with flipped classroom, students' active learning ability and comprehensive experimental ability was improved. By doing experiments independently and discussing the experiment result in groups, students' ability of independent thinking and cooperation was strengthened.
Synthesis of Cyclotriphosphonitrile Sulfonate Flame Retardant and Application of Flame Retardant Polycarbonate: Undergraduate "Scientific Research Feedback Teaching" Comprehensive Experiment in Nankai University
Rong Wei, Xue Wang, Shuihuan Yu, Zhekan Yao, Zhiwei Miao
In order to improve the undergraduate education quality, Nankai University has organized undergraduate innovative research activities of "One Hundred Projects". College of Chemistry combines its own feature, and promotes the combination of theoretical teaching and scientific research practice in the form of "Scientific Research Feedback Teaching". College of Chemistry gives correct guidance to students as to joining scientific research innovation training and obtains satisfactory education outcome. Here we report the synthesis of two flame retardants and their application in flame retardant polycarbonate, which is one of the "One Hundred Projects" carried out in College of Chemistry in Nankai University. In the meantime, the specific implementation process and teaching effect of the "One Hundred Projects" are introduced.
Study on the Effect of Appearance of the Primary Standard on Standardizing the Standard Solution: Borax as an Example
Shasha Liu, Huixiang Li, Jie Lei
Borax in different appearance is compared and studied in standardization of the standard hydrochloric acid as primary standard. The obtained concentrations of hydrochloric acid are 0.1049 mol·L-1 and 0.1052 mol·L-1, respectively. Then based on the statistical test of the data, it was revealed that there are significant differences between the two. Additionally, appearance differences of borax, which may be caused by the change of its properties, will give rise to the error of subsequent measurements.
Exploration and Application of Blended Learning in Chemistry Laboratory Safety Course
Wei Wang, Dongyu Lü, Lijun Dong, Chengshan Yuan, Yongwen Shen, Jingfeng Lan, Guangnong Lu, Xiangyang Xu
A blended learning curriculum, Chemistry Laboratory Safety, has been constructed by the National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry Education of Lanzhou University. Through the combination of online and offline teaching modes, the course which integrates safety training, virtual simulation learning, safety assessment and access certification has been established, and a three-dimensional, systematic and linked safety access information management system has also been established. It serves as an effective carrier for universities to carry out laboratory safety education and assessment. The students' safety values, the safety awareness of environmental protection, and the efficiency of experimental safety training are improved by the developing of the blended teaching mode, which has a positive effect on diversified and standardized safety education system.
Improvement of the Determination of Components in Paracetamol, Aminophenazone, Caffeine and Chlorpheniramine Maleate Tablet Using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Wenxue Chen, Shasha Liu, Huixiang Li
The quantitative analysis based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been widely applied to medical researches. In order to help students to learn more about the basic working principle of NMR spectrometer and the method of quantitative analysis of the drugs using NMR spectroscopy, two improvements were made about "the determination of components in paracetamol, aminophenazone, caffeine and chlorpheniramine maleate tablet using 1H NMR spectroscopy" experimentby optimizing the procedure for sample treatment and introducing the determination of the trace component (e.g., chlorpheniramine maleate) in the tablets. the content of four components in tablets could be simultaneously analyzed under mild conditions.
Modification of UV-Visible Spectrophotometer for Application in Laboratory Teaching
Yuqing Chen, Shuangwen Chen, Yuanyuan Ji
In this paper, the UV-Visible spectrophotometer (SHIMADZU UV-1750) was simply modified to realize the on-line detection of samples and applied to laboratory teaching. The modification is also applicable to SHIMADZU UV-1780 and other models of spectrophotometer. The modification expands the function and improves the utilization rate of the instrument. In the laboratory teaching, the modified UV-Visible spectrophotometer can become a part of the protein collection system (replacing the traditional protein detector and recorder), thus reducing the acquisition cost of laboratory instruments.
Polyaniline Film for Supercapacitor Featuring Energy Level Visualization: A Proposed Comprehensive Chemical Experiment
Xincai Liu, Binbin Dong, Danming Chao
In this paper, we introduced a comprehensive chemical experiment in research-oriented university, the polyaniline film for supercapacitor featuring energy level visualization. The content included electrochemical polymerization of aniline, study of electrochromic properties, fabrication and properties of supercapacitor device, and its charge storage visualization. Through the practice, students will be able to further enhance the practical ability of scientific research on the basis of mastering experimental theory and experimental skills. The development of this experiment can also expose students to the frontiers of scientific research and cultivate students' ability to think independently and innovate continuously.
The Development of Cleaning Methods for Liquid Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Tubes
Anna Tang, Yancong Ren, Xiaojuan Deng, Guosheng Ding
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy plays an important role in chemistry, pharmacy, biology, environment, medicine and material sciences, etc. With the popularization of NMR spectroscopy, the cleaning of NMR tubes has been paid more and more attention. From the traditional brush cleaning to ultrasonic cleaning, and then to the specific NMR tube cleaner, the cleaning methods of NMR tubes are developing towards the direction of low cost, high efficiency, non-destructive and green. With the advantages of saving labor and simple operation, NMR tube cleaner represents the developing trend of NMR tube cleaning mode, and so has been more and more widely used.
Laboratory Personal Safety Protection: Selection and Analysis of Chemical Protective Gloves
Yuan Zheng, Quan Lan, Hongyan Feng, Weipeng Wu, Pingping Zhu
The selection principles and applicability of several commonly used chemical protective gloves were analyzed in detail. The characteristics of chemical structure, polarity and solubility of polymer, and the anti-penetration and anti-aging properties of chemical protective gloves of different materials would be introduced in this paper.
Exploration of Constructing the Intelligent Open Sharing Platform for Experiments
Yinyun Lü, Rui Pan, Yuhua Weng, Yonghong Ruan, Pingping Wu, Laiying Zhang, Shunü Peng, Yuqing Chen, Chunyan Zhang, Zhiqiang Dong, Xiaoqing Ouyang, Chanzi Ruan, Zhenling Xu, Changming Yan, Yanping Ren
This paper introduces practices and experiences of setting up the intelligent open sharing platform for experiments of the National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry Education of Xiamen University, such as the construction framework, management system, operation process and operation effect, hoping to provide applicable guidance for the open management of domestic university laboratory.
Management and Treatment of Liquid Waste in College Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
Jing Chang, Chuang Shang
A large quantity of experimental waste liquid can be produced in the chemistry laboratory. If the liquid waste is handled improperly, it not only will pollute the environment, but also is harmful to our health. Taking the analytical chemistry laboratory teaching as an example, this paper analyzes the current situation of liquid waste management, discusses solutions of management and treatment, and puts forward suggestions to effectively reduce the production of liquid waste in laboratories, which provided reference materials for the chemical laboratory with similar problems.
Spectrophotometric Method for Kinetics of Reversible Reaction
Xizhe Huang, Zengjun Liao, Xinyi He, Rongtian Xu, Dongmei Han
Kinetics is an important part of physical chemistry laboratory teaching. In this article, we present a spectrophotometric method for study of the reversible kinetic reaction process of phenolphthalein-NaOH system. The ambient temperature has little influence on the experimental reaction, and the spectrophotometer is the only required instrument for carrying out this experiment. All reagents used are in small amount and low toxic, which is in accordance with the green chemistry concept.
The Third Discussion on the Oxidation Number
Ying Zhang, Guoyan Zhang, Xinjun Quan
In this paper, the different ideas about the concept of the oxidation number in domestic chemistry textbooks have been discussed. Based on this, we propose to use the term of specified charge number instead of formal charge number and apparent charge number to describe the oxidation number. Through the interpretation of the definition of the oxidation number, we draw some important inferences and finally introduce our explorations and attempts on the contents of the oxidation number in compiling the inorganic chemistry textbook, and suggest introducing the valence-shell electron number method to determine the oxidation number of elements in inorganic chemistry and general chemistry textbooks.
Between Teacher and Student
Exploration on Some Problems about Condensation Polymerization in Polymer Chemistry Teaching
Zhifen Meng
There are some problems in the condensation polymerization teaching, such as the ratio of function groups, the Polyester linear equilibrium polycondensation kinetic equation, etc. The students were often puzzled with these problems. Based on many years of polymer chemistry teaching experience, these problems were discussed in this paper to provide some reference for peers teaching and students learning.
Analysis on the Application Conditions of the Pre-Equilibrium and Steady-State Approximations
Ying Sun, Shuyong Zhang
The application conditions of pre-equilibrium and steady-state approximations usually used for treatment of complex chemical kinetics are discussed. Based on the characters of opposing reaction, the simplified application conditions for pre-equilibrium approximation is proposed. The shortcoming of the former conditions is pointed out. By defining a dimensionless parameter relating to the discrepancy from steady state and using graphic method, the application conditions of steady-state approximation for the consecutive reaction is clarified. When the rate for consumption of the intermediate is 100 times larger than its generation rate, the error by using steady-state approximation is less than 1%, which is a good approximation.
Some Considerations on the Mathematization of Quantitative Analysis
Feng Gan, Yongxin Chu, Weilan Yang
This paper provides a primary analysis and discuss on the mathematization of quantitative analysis. By analyzing the present situation of chemical quantitative analysis, instrumental analysis and chemometrics in the establishment and application of mathematical theories, it pointed out that the mathematization of quantitative analysis has not been realized. The mathematization of quantitative analysis should be realized by establishing mathematical equation that contains chemical parameters, is self-contained and can be evolved into mathematical theorem.
A Web-Based Point Group Teaching Platform (PGLite) in Structural Chemistry Course
Xiaoliang Liu, Yangqiu Liu, Ming Lei
Using web technology, the development and application of the platform of molecular point group system PGLite have been described in this paper. A friendly interface for directly accessing webpages to manipulate molecular models has been implemented, and a molecular point group display platform for structural chemistry courses has been constructed to help students better understand the molecular symmetry, which effectively improve the teaching effect of molecular point groups section.
1052 PDF(8359KB)
Analysis of the Definitions Related to Catalyst
Chen Ling, Shuyong Zhang
After first established in 1835, the definition of catalyst has undergone several progresses. In 1996, IUPAC Nomenclature Committee proposed a new definition of catalyst. But till now this new definition has not been adopted extensively. In this paper, the fundamental characteristics of catalyst are listed and discussed with the essential features being clarified. Based on these discussion, a new definition of catalyst is suggested. The concept of negative catalyst is analyzed based on the essential features of catalyst. It is suggested to replace negative catalyst by inhibitor. It is meaningful for us to get a better understanding of catalyst and correct misunderstandings in the present physical chemistry textbooks.
Calculation of Adsorption Thermodynamics Parameters for Adsorption on the Solid-Liquid Interface
Weitao Wang, Xiangli Chen, Baiqin Yang
The adsorption on the solid-liquid interface is important for industry and daily life. To investigate the adsorption process, the adsorption thermodynamics usually are essential. The adsorption thermodynamics are analyzed with the parameters of the change of Gibbs free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS). In this presentation, the different methods for calculation of the adsorption thermodynamics parameters are introduced. Moreover, examples for calculations and applications of the adsorption thermodynamics are presented.
Application of SymPy in the Teaching of Structural Chemistry Course
Cheng Hou
Structural chemistry is one of the core basic courses of chemistry-related majors. In the course of teaching structural chemistry, complex formula derivation, mathematical operations and function image drawing have always been the most difficult points of the course. This article introduces the application of the Python scientific computing library SymPy for symbolic calculation and function image drawing in the teaching of structural chemistry through specific examples. The programming language involved in the library is easy to learn, understand, and operate. It can effectively help students overcome their fear to learning, deepen their understanding of structural chemistry, and also help subsequent learning of computational chemistry courses.
Analysis of the Temperature Deviation for Boiling of Liquid and Condensation of Vapor Using Kelvin Equation
Zhibin Tao, Shuyong Zhang
The discrepancies for calculating condensation temperature and boiling temperature for droplet and small bubble using Kelvin equation were discussed. The discrepancies can be ascribed to the neglect of variation of the vapor pressure of curved surface to plain surface with temperature, and the misusing of Kelvin equation for small bubble during boiling. The way to reduce the discrepancy is introduced while the applicability of Kelvin equation is discussed.
Application of Programming Language R in Teaching of Analytical Chemistry
Qiaoguo Tan
Application of programming language R for the teaching of analytical chemistry was demonstrated with several examples. Numerical calculation of R was used to solve the high-order equations involved in chemical equilibrium. It avoided the cumbersome processes of formula simplification, and also unified all equilibrium calculations into the same method. Plotting functions of R were used to plot species distribution curves, titration curves, etc. Statistical analysis functions of R were used to replace the traditional manual method. Numerical simulation functions of R were used to help students understand complex concepts such as propagation of error and confidence interval. Compared with Excel, which is commonly used in the teaching of analytical chemistry, R also has the characteristics of being code-based, self-explanatory, flexible, rapidly evolving, and readily accessible. The application of R in teaching of analytical chemistry not only helps to improve the learning efficacy, but also provides an opportunity for students to master the powerful research tool R.
Monthly, Started in 1986
Supervised By:MOE
Sponsored By:PKU CCS
Published By:CCME, PKU
Editor-in-Chief:Wang Ying-xia
Associate Editor-in-Chief: Cheng Gong-Zhen
Li Na
Wang Yu-Zhi
Sun Xing-Wen
Zhang Shu-Yong
Zhu Ya-Xian
Zou Peng
Editorial Office of University Chemistry. All rights reserved
Address: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, zip code: 100871
Service Hotline: 010-62751721 Email:dxhx@pku.edu.cn QQ author group: 114648064 |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi doctor my child is almost 4 yrs and having cold for which i gave her maxtra for 3 days without realising that i gave her an overdose of that medicine that is roughly 7 ml twice in a day. Will it have any adverse effect and what and can anything be done to reverse that. output: Thanks for asking I have gone through your query, your 4-year-old child having cold and you have given mantra 14ml per day. You are worried about side effect of this dose. There is not some much side effect of this dose in 4-year-old child. He may feel more sleepy. So not send him school and keep him at home and let him sleep if he is like to sleep. So nothing to worry. Hope i able to answer your query.. |
Business demands faith, compels earnestness, requires courage, is honestly selfish, is penalized for mistakes, and is the essence of life.
— William Feather
There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.
— Katharine Butler Hathaway
PROJECTILE, n. The final arbiter in international disputes. With the growth of prudence in military affairs the projectile came more and more into favor, and is now held in high esteem by the most courageous.
Both wit and understanding are trifles without integrity. The ignorant peasant without fault is greater than the philosopher with many. What is genius or courage without a heart?
Have the courage to take your own thoughts seriously, for they will shape you.
Courage consists in equality to the problem before us.
Courage is as often the outcome of despair as of hope; in the one case we have nothing to lose, in the other everything to gain.
— Dianne de Poitiers
A flock of wild geese had settled to rest on a pond. One of the flock had been captured by a gardener, who had clipped its wings before releasing it. When the geese started to resume their flight, this one tried frantically, but vainly, to lift itself into the air. The others, observing his struggles, flew about in obvious efforts to encourage him; but it was no use. Thereupon, the entire flock settled back on the pond and waited, even though the urge to go on was strong within them. For several days they waited until the damaged feather had grown sufficiently to permit the goose to fly. Meanwhile, the unethical gardener, having been converted by the ethical geese, gladly watched them as they finally rose together and all resumed their long flight.
We can cross the rivers of doubt and discouragement on the bridge of faith even before we get to them.
— Sterling W. Sill
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.
— Robert Green Ingersoll
One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world will be better for this.
— Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
That government is best which governs the least, so taught the courageous founders of this nation. This simple declaration is diametrically opposed to the all too common philosophy that the government should protect and support one from the cradle to the grave. The policy of the Founding Fathers has made our people and our nation strong. The opposite leads inevitably to moral decay.
— Ezra Taft Benson
— Thomas Stearns Eliot
The qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker: an abiding passion for the task, courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance.
— Bryan Miller
Good ideas and innovations must be driven into existence by courage and patience.
— Hyman George Rickover
We had no more courage than Harriet Tubman or Marcus Garvey had in their times. We just had a more vulnerable enemy.
— Stokely Carmichael
We live by encouragement and die without it - slowly, sadly, angrily.
— Celeste Holm
A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whom timidity prevented from making a first effort.
— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
— William J. H. Boetcker
To call war the soil of courage and virtue is like calling debauchery the soil of love.
— George Santayana
Courage is a quality so necessary for maintaining virtue, that it is always respected, even when it is associated with vice.
Hope, like faith, is nothing if it is not courageous; it is nothing if it is not ridiculous.
— Thornton Niven Wilder
There is a strength of quiet endurance as significant of courage as the most daring feats of prowess
— Henry Theodore Tuckerman
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
— Martin Luther King
Property is the fruit of labor ... property is desirable ... is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
Until the day of his death, no man can be sure of his courage.
— Jean Anouilh
There will be selfishness and greed and corruption and narrowness and intolerance in the world tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow. But pray God we may have the courage and the wisdom and the vision to raise a definite standard that will appeal to the best that is in man, and then strive mightily toward that goal.
— Harold E. Stassen
Support the strong, give courage to the timid, remind the indifferent, and warn the opposed.
— Whitney M. Young
Those who won our independence ... valued liberty as an end and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.
Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.
— Sydney Smith
It is going to be a long, hard haul; it will require patience, courage, faith that hangs on when hope fails, if we are to tame the rude barbarity of man, so that the atomic age becomes a blessing, not a curse. There never was such a day for the Christian gospel. God help us all in these years ahead to make that gospel live in men and nations!
Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.
— Harry S. Truman
It is often difficult to change circumstances, but a positive attitude can help lift discouragement.
— Val R. Christensen
Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.
I've been through it all, baby. I'm Mother Courage.
— Elizabeth Taylor
Though conditions have grown puzzling in their complexity, though changes have been vast, yet we may remain absolutely sure of one thing; that now as ever in the past, and as it will ever be in-the future, there can be no substitute for elemental virtues, for the elemental qualities to which we allude when we speak of a man, not only as a good man, but as emphatically a man. We can build up the standard of individual citizenship and individual well-being, we can raise the national standard and make it what it can and shall be made, only by each of us steadfastly keeping in mind that there can be no substitute for the world-old commonplace qualities of truth, justice, and courage, thrift, industry, common sense and genuine sympathy with the fellow feelings of others.
— Theodore Roosevelt
True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.
— John Petit-Senn
What, courage, man! What though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.
— William Shakespeare
Where faith is there is courage, there is fortitude, there is steadfastness and strength ... Faith bestows that sublime courage that rises superior to the troubles and disappointments of life, that acknowledges no defeat except as a step to victory; that is strong to endure, patient to wait, and energetic to struggle ... Light up, then, the lamp of faith in your heart ... It will lead you safely through the mists of doubt and the black darkness of despair; along the narrow, thorny ways of sickness and sorrow, and over the treacherous places of temptation and uncertainty.
— James Lane Allen
The fact is that liberty, in any true sense, is a concept that lies quite beyond the reach of the inferior man's mind. And no wonder, for genuine liberty demands of its votaries a quality he lacks completely, and that is courage. The man who loves it must be willing to fight for it; blood, said Jefferson, is its natural manure. Liberty means self-reliance, it means resolution, it means the capacity for doing without ... the average man doesn't want to be free. He wants to be safe.
Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount.
— Clare Booth Luce
Courage conquers all things; it even gives strength to the body.
— Publius Ovidius Naso Ovid
I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
— Thomas Alva Edison
Often the real test of courage is not to die, but to live.
— Conte Vittorio Alfieri
Courage is poorly housed that dwells in numbers; the lion never counts the herd that are about him, nor weighs how many flocks he has to scatter.
— Aaron Hill
Wine gives courage and makes men more apt for passion.
Every sort of energy and endurance, of courage and capacity for handling life's evils, is set free in those who have religious faith.
— William James
It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals of American society.
— Robert Francis Kennedy
Courage and modesty are the most unequivocal of virtues, for they are of a kind that hypocrisy cannot imitate; they too have this quality in common, that they are expressed by the same color.
Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!
That is the nature of hope. We do all we can, and then the Lord stretches forth his hand and touches our lives with light and courage and, most of all, hope.
— Dwan Jacobsen Young
Of courtesy, it is much less Than courage of heart or holiness, Yet in my walks it seems to me That the Grace of God is in courtesy.
No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut.
— Channing Pollock
To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.
All courage is a form of constancy. It is always himself that a coward abandons first. After this all other betrayals come.
— Cormac McCarthy
Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.
Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.
I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among men the greatest asset I possess. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement.
You will never be able to discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
— Hannah Whitall Smith
Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you.
— Mary Tyler Moore
Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear. Thus a feeling of utter unworthiness can be a source of courage.
Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
Among the calamities of war may be numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.
Many of our fears are tissue-paper thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them.
— Brendan Francis
Who has courage to say no again and again to desires, to despise the objects of ambition, who is a whole in himself, smoothed and rounded.
— Quintus Horatius Flaccus Horace
Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.
My study of Gandhi convinced me that true pacifism is not nonresistance to evil, but nonviolent resistance to evil. Between the two positions, there is a world of difference. Gandhi resisted evil with as much vigor and power as the violent resister, but True pacifism is not unrealistic submission to evil power. It is rather a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love.
Everyone has a talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.
— Erica Jong
If we have made an error, done a wrong, been unjust to another or to ourselves, or, like the Pharisee, passed by some opportunity for good, we should have the courage to face our mistake squarely, to call it boldly by its right name, to acknowledge it frankly and to put in no flimsy alibis of excuse to protect an anemic self-esteem.
— William George Jordan
Courage is the finest of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.
The price paid for intellectual pacification is the sacrifice of the entire moral courage of the human mind.
— John Stuart Mill
Courage consists not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing it, and conquering it.
— Jean Paul Richter
All your problems, discouragements, and heartaches are, in truth, great opportunities in disguise.
True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason.
— Alfred North Whitehead
Culture is what is left after everything we have learned has been forgotten. It consists of a deepened understanding, a breadth of outlook, an unbiased approach and a heart that has deep sympathy and strength of courage.
— G. Bromley Oxnam
Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.
Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him obey his conscience.
— James Freeman Clarke
You take a number of small steps which you believe are right, thinking maybe tomorrow somebody will treat this as a dangerous provocation. And then you wait. If there is no reaction, you take another step: courage is only an accumulation of small steps.
— George Konrad
Precisely because the tyranny of opinion is such as to make eccentricity a reproach, it is desirable, in order to break through that tyranny, that people should be eccentric. Eccentricity has always abounded when and where strength of character has abounded; and the amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage it contained. That so few dare to be eccentric marks the chief danger of the time.
Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death.
— Earl Wilson
These are some of the characteristics of the state of mind which the creation and appreciation of haiku demand: Selflessness, Loneliness, Grateful Acceptance, Wordlessness, Non-intellectuality, Contradictoriness, Humor, Freedom, Non-morality, Simplicity, Materiality, Love, and Courage.
— Reginald Horace Blyth
'Tisn't life that matters! 'Tis the courage you bring to it.
— Hugh Walpole
He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all.
The ant's a centaur in his dragon world. Pull down thy vanity, it is not man Made courage, or made order, or made grace, Pull down thy vanity, I say pull down. Learn of the green world what can be thy place In scaled invention or true artistry, Pull down thy vanity, Paquin pull down! The green casque has outdone your elegance.
Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.
— Richard Milhouse Nixon
Lee tells his troops. After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.
— Robert E. Lee
It takes far less courage to kill yourself than it takes to make yourself wake up one more time. It is harder to stay where you are than to get out.
— Judith Rossner
True courage is a result of reasoning. A brave mind is always impregnable.
— Jeremy Collier
We are indeed fortunate to live in this favored country where we can participate in the selection of our governmental leaders and register our choice in a secret ballot. The selection of proper leaders is extremely important in maintaining good government. I encourage all of you who are eligible to vote to exercise your franchise according to the dictates of your conscience.
— Franklin D. Richards
What we do not see, what most of us never suspect of existing, is the silent but irresistible power which comes to the rescue of those who fight on in the face of discouragement.
... idealism is one of the greatest forces in the world. It makes seeming impossibilities possible and succeeds where prudence fails. But unless the idealist is brave and has the courage to face the truth, his idealism creates nothing.
— Grenville Kleiser
There is a courageous wisdom; there is also a false reptile prudence, the result, not of caution, but of fear.
— Edmund Burke
Courage is the strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.
Creativity is neither the product of neurosis nor simple talent, but an intense courageous encounter with the Gods.
— Rollo May
We need the iron qualities that go with true manhood. We need the positive virtues of resolution, of courage, of indomitable will, of power to do without shrinking the rough work that must always be done.
The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty, and truth.
In times of hurt and discouragement, it may be consoling for all of us to recall that no one can do anything permanently to us that will last for eternity. Only we ourselves can affect our eternal progression.
— Marvin J. Ashton
Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy.
— Dean Koontz
Since new developments are the products of a creative mind, we must therefore stimulate and encourage that type of mind in every way possible.
On writing humor: There must be courage; there must be no awe. There must be criticism, for humor, to my mind, is encapsulated in criticism. There must be a disciplined eye and a wild mind.
— Dorothy Parker
Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.
— Arthur Somers Roche
Pugnacity is a form of courage, but a very bad form.
— Sinclair Lewis
The only kind of courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one minute to the next.
— Mignon McLaughlin
The three-o'-clock in the morning courage, which Bonaparte thought was the rarest.
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
Let a new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second generation full of courage issue forth; let a people loving freedom come to growth.
— Margaret Walker
True courage is cool and calm. The bravest of men have the least of a brutal, bullying insolence, and in the very time of danger are found the most serene and free.
— Lord Shaftesbury
We have never understood why men mount the heads of animals and hang them up to look down on their conquerers. Possibly it feels good to these men to feel superior to animals, but does it not seem that if they were sure of it they would not have to prove it? Often a man who is afraid must constantly demonstrate his courage and, in the case of the hunter, must keep a tangible record of his courage.
— John Ernst Steinbeck
To manage a business successfully requires as much courage as that possessed by the soldier who goes to war. Business courage is the more natural because all the benefits which the public has in material wealth come from it.
— Charles F. Abbott
I cannot but think that he who finds a certain proportion of pain and evil inseparably woven up in the life of the very worms, will bear his own share with more courage and submission.
Courage you have, and the knowledge that we are all pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.
— Fra Giovanni Giocondo
It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions.
Democracy encourages the majority to decide things about which the majority is blissfully ignorant.
— John Simon
My testimony has been my anchor and my stay, my satisfaction in times of joy and gladness, my comfort in times of sorrow and discouragement.
— Amy Brown Lyman
When I consider what some books have done for the world, and what they are doing, how they keep up our hope, awaken new courage and faith, soothe pain, give an ideal life those whose hours are cold and hard, bind together distant ages and foreign lands, create new worlds of beauty, bring down truth from heaven; I give eternal blessings for this gift, and thank God for books.
Courage charms us, because it indicates that a man loves an idea better than all things in the world, that he is thinking neither of his bed, nor his dinner, nor his money, but will venture all to put in act the invisible thought of his mind.
Most affections are habits or duties we lack the courage to end.
— Henry Millon De Montherlant
The bigger the information media, the less courage and freedom they allow. Bigness means weakness.
— Eric Sevareid
With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of intergrity.
— Keshavan Nair
When a teacher of the future comes to point out to the youth of America how the highest rewards of intellect and devotion can be gained, he may say to them, not by subtlety and intrigue; not by wire pulling and demagoguery; not by the arts of popularity; not by skill and shiftiness in following expediency; but by being firm in devotion to the principles of manhood and the application of morals and the courage of righteousness in the public life of our country; by being a man without guile and without fear, without selfishness, and with devotion to duty, devotion to his country.
— Elihu Root
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination
— Earl Nightingale
A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.
To bear other people's afflictions, everyone has courage and enough to spare.
— Benjamin Franklin
Courage is a special kind of knowledge; the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.
— David Ben-Gurion
Your morning thoughts may determine your conduct for the day. Optimistic thoughts will make your day bright and productive, while pessimistic thinking will make it dull and wasteful. Face each day cheerfully, smilingly and courageously, and it will naturally follow that your work will be a real pleasure and progress will be a delightful accomplishment.
— William M. Peck
The only service a friend can really render is to keep up your courage by holding up to you a mirror in which you can see a noble image of yourself.
Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.
— Peter F. Drucker
I have every confidence in the ultimate success of our joint cause; but success in modern war requires something more than courage and a willingness to die: it requires careful preparation.
— General Douglas MacArthur
Few persons have courage enough to appear as good as they really are.
My mother encouraged my writing, but I didn't exactly follow in her footsteps. She sold everything she ever wrote.
— Robert Streeter Aldrich
We must constantly build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of the human soul. But because I happen to be a parent of almost fiercely maternal nature, I praise casualness. It seems to me the rarest of virtues.
— Phyllis McGinley
Courage is the capacity to confirm what you can be imagined.
— Leo Calvin Rosten
Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring.
— William Alexander
Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that one should never miss the opportunity to give encouragement.
— George Matthew Adams
The men and women who have the right ideals ... are those who have the courage to strive for the happiness which comes only with labor and effort and self-sacrifice, and those whose joy in life springs in part from power of work and sense of duty.
It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is close upon you.
— Arthur Conan Doyle
A person who sins neither in thought nor deed, and is fair and just, gains enormous courage and strength. As a leader, you need courage born of integrity in order to be capable of powerful leadership. To achieve this courage, you must search your heart, and make sure your conscience is clear and your behavior is beyond reproach.
— Konosuke Matsushita
But none of the means of information are more sacred, or have been cherished with more tenderness and care by the settlers of America, than the press. Care has been taken that the art of printing should be encouraged, and that it should be easy and cheap and safe for any person to communicate his thoughts to the public. And you, Messieurs printers, whatever the tyrants of the earth may say of your paper, have done important service to your country by your readiness and freedom in publishing the speculations of the curious. The stale, impudent insinuations of slander and sedition with which the gormandizers of power have endeavored to discredit your paper are so much the more to your honor; for the jaws of power are always opened to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.
— John Adams
We have come out of the time when obedience, the acceptance of discipline, intelligent courage and resolution were most important, into that more difficult time when it is a man's duty to understand his world rather than simply fight for it.
— Ernest Hemingway
Seeds of faith are always within us; sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth.
— Susan Taylor
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
— Muhammad Ali
Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.
— Clare Boothe Luce
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'
— Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey
The great lawyer who employs his talent and his learning in the highly emunerative task of enabling a very wealthy client to override or circumvent the law is doing all that in him lies to encourage the growth in the country of a spirit of dumb anger against all laws and of disbelief in their efficacy.
The test of tolerance comes when we are in a majority; the test of courage comes when we are in a minority.
— Ralph W. Sockman
The cynic makes fun of all earnestness; he makes fun of everything and everyone who feels that something can be done ... But in his heart of hearts he knows that he is a defeated man and that his cynicism is merely an expression of the fact that he has lost courage and is beaten.
— George E. Vincent
All the courage and competitiveness of Jackie Robinson affects me to this day. If I patterned my life after anyone it was him, not because he was the first black baseball player in the majors but because he was a hero.
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN: If you think you are beaten, you are, If you think that you dare not, you don't, If you'd like to win, but you think you can't, It's almost certain you won't. If you think you'll lose, you've lost, For out in the world you'll find, Success begins with a fellow's will, It's all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are, You've got to think high to rise, You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can. NOTE: A copy of this inspirational poem hangs on the wall in Arnold Palmer's office. Arnie has made it a practice to read the poem at the start of each day. It serves him as a source of inspiration, courage and motivation that enables him to attack whatever problems and challenges that day might bring. It works for Arnie. It will work for you. Try it.
— Arnold Palmer
Send the harmony of a Great Desire vibrating through every fiber of your being. Pray for a task that will call forth your faith, your courage, your perseverance, and your spirit of sacrifice. Keep your hands and your soul clean, and the conquering current will flow freely.
— Thomas Dreier
It is especially important to encourage unorthodox thinking when the situation is critical: At such moments every new word and fresh thought is more precious than gold. Indeed, people must not be deprived of the right to think their own thoughts.
— Boris Yeltsin
Fill ev'ryglass, for wine inspires us, And fires us With courage, love and joy. Women and wine should life employ. Is there ought else on earth desirous?
— John Gay
New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.
Most men have more courage than even they themselves think they have.
— Fulke Greville
Courage: Great Russian word, fit for the songs of our children's children, pure on their tongues, and free.
— Anna Akhmatova
Marriage is a relationship based in no small part on virtues. The most basic of these is responsibility, for marriage is an arrangement held together by mutual dependence and reciprocal obligations. But successful marriages are about more than fulfilling the conditions of a contract. In good marriages, men and women seek to improve themselves for the sake of their loved one. They offer and draw moral strength by sharing compassion, courage, honesty, self-discipline and a host of other virtues. Husband and wives complete themselves through each other, and the whole of the union becomes stronger and more wonderful than the sum of the two parts.
— William John Bennett
https://miniwebtool.com/quote-search/?word=courage |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: hi .im female 22 years ...im having cough from last two months ...consulted several ent specialist ....but still my cough is there...with irritation in trachea and sometimes yello sputum....it continues for the whole day ....i need to know about its cause output: This can be treated with oral anti histamines and topical steroid nasal sprays. In most cases it is caused by an allergen. If this can be identified and exposure reduced then symptoms should also reduce.(2)HERD- gastroesophageal reflux is also a common cause. Some persons may not be aware of the reflux and present with the cough only.(3)asthma hope this helps. |
Special Collections Spotlight: African American and African Pamphlet collection
September 15, 2022 August 3, 2022 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
The African-American and African Pamphlet Collection consists of 20th century materials on African, African-American, and Caribbean culture and literature. The collection spans the years 1905 -1979, although the majority of the pamphlets date from the 1960s and 1970s. The pamphlets are in English, French, and a variety of African languages, such as Swahili, Tsonga, Tswana and Xhosa. Some of the unique publications include a transcript of a 1931 worker’s trial by the U. S. Communist Party on a race-related incident, 1970s university studies on integration, and texts of speeches given by American radical leaders and leaders of African countries.
The collection is organized in thirteen series that include; African Culture and History, African Literature, African-American Culture and History, African-European Literature, American Literature, Black Workers in America, Canadian Literature – Poems, Caribbean Culture and History, Caribbean Literature, Desegregation, Race Relations and Racism, Revolutionary and Radical Literature.
Explore the African American and African Pamphlet collection finding aid.
To view any items in the collection visit the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library or if you have any questions, please contact us!
What is a finding aid?
A finding aid is a description of the contents of a collection, similar to a table of contents you would find in a book. A collection’s contents are often grouped logically and describe the group of items within each folder. You rarely find descriptions of the individual items within collections. Finding aids also contain information about the size and scope of collections. Additional contextual information may also be included.
New Exhibit: “…at the crossroads on the path to liberation”
February 22, 2022 February 21, 2022 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
Come by the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library to see our latest exhibition “…at the crossroads on the path of liberation”: Changemakers in the Africa Diaspora on display now through mid-March.
This collection of material from our archives invites the University of Maryland community to explore some of the revolutionary and transformative literature in our collections created by changemakers throughout the African diaspora who challenged an oppressive status quo. Through both words and actions, these individuals changed the way people thought about race and class. These works present ideas that push us to take a more critical look at our culture, politics and systemic racism. Some of these authors will be known to you and some might be new. We encourage you to visit and to learn more about these changemakers.
Images from the exhibition “…at the crossroads on the path to liberation”: Changemakers in the Africa Diaspora
Digitizing the AFL-CIO Civil Rights Department records
January 13, 2022 January 7, 2022 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
In May 2021, Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) began a three year grant project with Georgia State University’s Southern Labor Archive – “Advancing Workers Rights in the American South: Digitizing the Records of the AFL-CIO’s Civil Rights Division.”
SCUA will digitize and make accessible online approximately 45 linear feet (or 20-25%) from the AFL-CIO Civil Rights Department records (listed below), as well as 20 – 16mm films from the AFL-CIO Labor Film collection. Georgia State University’s Special Collections & Archives will be digitizing 119 linear feet and some audio recordings from the Records from the AFL-CIO’s Southern Area Director’s Office Civil Rights Division for online access. This project is supported by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). The grant program is made possible by funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. For more details about the grant award visit CLIR’s list of 2020 funded projects and the University of Maryland Libraries’ announcement.
Voter Suppression: Then and Now
June 1, 2021 July 7, 2021 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
Following the 2020 presidential election, the ensuing debates over the integrity of the election and the violence of early 2021, voting rights and efforts to ensure fair and safe elections seem as important as ever.
The Brennan Center for Justice’s State Voting Bill Tracker 2021 reports that in just over one month, hundreds of restrictive bills were introduced across the country, some of which have already passed and been signed into law. Georgia, Arizona, Texas, Florida and Michigan’s legislative battles have dominated headlines for many weeks.
As debates rage, many have invoked terminology we thought a distant part of our nation’s troubled history, calling these newly introduced voting bills Jim Crow laws. Looking into our past using resources in our collections can help us better understand the ways laws meant to protect marginalized citizens failed. Politicians cloaked systemic bias into law by utilizing coded language and proxies for race to deny people of color access to the ballot.
Literacy Tests and Poll Taxes
Gerrymandering & the Attempted Elimination of Macon County, Alabama, 1957
April 20, 2021 May 10, 2021 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
Despite its fundamental political motive–to reshape voting districts in order to benefit the electoral chances of one political party–gerrymandering may be one of the few practices that Republicans and Democrats have in common these days. Although the effects of Republican-led gerrymandering has arguably received more national attention during recent years, both parties have used this practice to gain political advantages. Districts across Maryland, for example, have been redrawn by both major parties during the last several decades. Take Baltimore–a longtime resident in southern Baltimore may have lived in as many as three different electoral districts during the last 20 years.
While gerrymandering has been utilized to both maximize and minimize the electoral impact of different groups of voters, its geographic effect typically follows a certain pattern. The shapes of different districts change every few years as a result of gerrymandering. However, in 1957 in southeast Alabama, the practice of gerrymandering almost led to the complete elimination of one county entirely. The reason? To severely curtail the voting power of African-American residents.
Despite ever-present resistance from white, pro-segregation factions, including violent intimidation tactics used by white nationalist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, black voter registration in the South rose steadily during the 1950s. A corresponding trend was also occurring in Macon County, Alabama–located about 40 miles east of Montgomery and home to the historically-black Tuskegee University. Whereas only 30 African-American residents were registered to vote in 1930, over 1,000–or roughly three percent of the total county population–were registered by 1957.
Of course, this trend also created heightened concern among white southerners who feared that black voters would be able to curtail long-standing segregation laws across the region. In turn, they worked with state legislators like Alabama senator Sam Engelherdt to develop and implement strategies to stop the growth of black voters.
Disenfranchisement in Mississippi, 1954
On February 3, 1870, the United States ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The third and final amendment of the Reconstruction Amendments–enacted in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War to help rebuild the Union and establish a freer society unbound from slavery–prohibits states and the federal government from withholding a citizen’s right to vote based on that person’s “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” After Iowa ratified the amendment on February 3–becoming the 28th state to do so and fulfilling the three-fourths threshold for amendment ratification–celebrations sprung out across the country.
At the time, President Ulysses S. Grant claimed that the passage of the Fifthteenth Amendment “completes the greatest civil change and constitutes the most important event” in the nation’s history. Many other Republicans believed that the amendment would finally guarantee black Americans equal rights under the law. Future president James A. Garfield even declared that the amendment would ensure black Americans control over their collective well-being. Garfield proclaimed, “It places their fortunes in their own hands.”
Nevertheless, because the federal government failed to strongly enforce the Fifteenth Amendment at the state level after the Reconstruction Era, southern states used alternative methods to restrict the right to vote for black Americans. For many decades after the ratification of the amendment, the state of Mississippi became one of the more deliberate enablers of disenfranchisement methods. By 1875, only five years after the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, members of the Democratic Party in the state developed what came to be known as the Mississippi Plan–a series of measures used to suppress the black vote and keep their party in power. Eventually, these measures culminated in the passage of a new state constitution in 1890, which explicitly disenfranchised black voters through the implementation of poll taxes and literacy tests.
Disenfranchisement in Mississippi and other Southern states–enforced using voter registration measures like poll taxes as well as violent intimidation tactics organized by racist vigilante groups like the Ku Klux Klan–persisted throughout the late 1800s and well into the 20th century. However, by the mid-1950s, events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the emergence of grassroot civil rights groups like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference helped spur rejuvenated calls for actions to protect the rights and well-being of African-Americans across the country.
Racism as a Political Tool in the Southern Suffrage Movement
March 23, 2021 May 11, 2021 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
In 1870, the 15th Amendment stated that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This amendment gave many men of color the right to vote, though racist state and local governments almost immediately drafted new laws to disenfranchise them.
Across the American South, racist politicians scrambled to restrict Black votes and maintain white supremacy. As soon as the federal government stopped enforcing the 15th Amendment after Reconstruction, Southern states successfully disenfranchised most Black men with Jim Crow laws and violent intimidation tactics.
However, as the women’s suffrage movement regained popularity, Southern politicians feared not only that the proposed Susan B. Anthony Amendment would enfranchise Black women voters, but that it would re-enfranchise Black male voters as well. As Congress debated the Amendment in 1919, South Carolina Senator Ellison “Cotton Ed” Smith argued that “the southern man who votes for the Susan B. Anthony Amendment votes to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment.”
Spotlight on Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
February 16, 2021 January 28, 2021 / hornbakelibrary / Leave a comment
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was an abolitionist, women’s rights activist, and acclaimed poet born in Baltimore in 1825. Born to free parents and orphaned at three, Watkins was raised by her maternal uncle Rev. William Watkins, an abolitionist and civil rights activist, and his wife Henrietta. She was educated at her uncle’s school, the Watkins Academy for Negro Youth. While she was still very young, Harper worked as a nursemaid and seamstress for a white family that owned a bookshop. There, she discovered her love for books and filled her free time with reading.
From there, Watkins grew up to become the first African American woman to publish a short story, and she published her first book of poetry, Forest Leaves, at age 20. Harper went on to publish another book of poetry, many short stories, and several novels, including her most popular work Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted. Watkins’ writing often addressed issues of race, gender, and their intersections.
The poem below, “Slave Mother,” highlights the painful relationship between motherhood and Blackness that Harper observed during her lifetime.
Heard you that shriek? It rose
So wildly on the air,
It seem’d as if a burden’d heart
Was breaking in despair.
Saw you those hands so sadly clasped—
The bowed and feeble head—
The shuddering of that fragile form—
That look of grief and dread?
Saw you the sad, imploring eye?
Its every glance was pain,
As if a storm of agony
Were sweeping through the brain.
She is a mother pale with fear,
Her boy clings to her side,
And in her kyrtle vainly tries
His trembling form to hide.
He is not hers, although she bore
For him a mother’s pains;
He is not hers, although her blood
Is coursing through his veins!
He is not hers, for cruel hands
May rudely tear apart
The only wreath of household love
That binds her breaking heart.
His love has been a joyous light
That o’er her pathway smiled,
A fountain gushing ever new,
Amid life’s desert wild.
His lightest word has been a tone
Of music round her heart,
Their lives a streamlet blent in one—
Oh, Father! must they part?
They tear him from her circling arms,
Her last and fond embrace.
Oh! never more may her sad eyes
Gaze on his mournful face.
No marvel, then, these bitter shrieks
Disturb the listening air:
She is a mother, and her heart
Is breaking in despair.
In her discussions of intersectionality, Watkins alienated many white suffragists. She criticized the racism and selfishness of their refusal to support the 15th Amendment. In response, she helped found the American Woman Suffrage Association, which actively supported the 15th Amendment. She was also active in the “Colored Section” of Philadelphia’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
Later, Watkins helped organize the National Association of Colored Women (NACW). The NACW focused on both black and women’s issues such as women’s suffrage, lynching, and Jim Crow laws, and became the most prominent organization of the African American Women’s Suffrage Movement.
Post by Rigby Philips
History, specializing in women’s history and the history of sexuality (2021)
New Exhibition Online: Get Out the Vote
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new virtual exhibition, Get Out the Vote: Suffrage and Disenfranchisement in America.
Inspired by our collections of grassroots organizations, we used material from our collection to tell the story of voting rights in America, from the founding of this nation to our current electoral climate.
The ideal of universal suffrage, or “one person, one vote,” has compelled many to advocate for greater equity and inclusion in the electoral process. Over the years, voting rights have expanded and contracted for many marginalized communities. Election laws continue to evolve in America as citizens demand equitable representation in government and access to the ballot.
Despite the importance of suffrage in America, voting rights have not always been ensured for everyone. Barriers to voting have led many to advocate for a more representative electorate and to encourage greater participation in local, state, and national elections. Their efforts are crucial to ensure all ALL citizens have the opportunity to cast their ballot.
Visit the online exhibition, explore our collections, and contact us to learn more.
Washington, DC, 1 March 1913. Baltimore News American Collection
Undated.
Baltimore News American Collection
New York, NY, 19 October 1963.
AFL-CIO records
Undated. Frontlash records
African-Americans in the Early Labor Movement
DYK that labor unions did not allow African-Americans to become members back in the day? Being a member of a union was important to be able to bargain for workers’ rights and fight against the discrimination that black workers faced. Many skilled black workers sought to join unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) between 1881 and 1915. But, white craft union members, who were primarily affiliated with the AFL, were afraid of the competition and didn’t allow African Americans to join. On the other hand, industrial unions were more accepting of black workers.
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) union members pose with locomotive firemen, ca. 1940. AFL-CIO Photographic Print Collection (RG96-001)
Who were early allies?
The Knights of Labor, the AFL until 1915, the United Mine Workers of America, the International Longshoreman’s Union, and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).
Some black workers allowed to join:
The Teamsters, the Cigar Makers, the Hotel and Restaurant Employees, the Carpenters, and the Printers.
Very few black workers allowed to join:
The Pressmen, the Lithographers, the Photo-Engravers, the Iron Steel and Tin Workers, the Molders, the Pattern Makers, the Glass Workers, the Boot and Shoe Workers, and the Wood Workers
For more information about the relationship of the civil rights movement and the labor movement, visit our exhibit “For Liberty, Justice, and Equality: Unions Making History in America” in person or online or email us at askhornbake@umd.edu.
Jen Eidson is a Special Collections Processing Archivist in the University of Maryland Libraries. |
← The Cosmonaut: date of release and update
Was Orville Wright’s the first flight ever? →
French aviation history through the life of its pioneers…
I moved to France about two years ago to work for Airbus in its Blagnac offices. Blagnac is a small village close to Toulouse. The place radiates passion for aviation (I once shared the geek outlook of my dentist’s waiting room).
My office is located at the avenue Didier Daurat, to get there I cross two roundabouts: Maurice Bellonte and Émile Dewoitine… these names probably do not ring a bell to most of you. Neither did to me. But then the back street is called Charles Lindbergh. It is then that you realize what might be going on and wonder who the previous names were.
Many months ago I collected the names of some of the streets of Blagnac and Colomiers (the village at the other side of the airport were Airbus is also located), and then, with the help of Google and Wikipedia, I searched who they were. I started a trip into French aviation history through the life of its pioneers…
Didier Daurat (EN):
Daurat was a fighter pilot during World War I, distinguishing himself by spotting the Paris Gun which was pounding Paris.
After the war, he joined Latécoère’s airline company, (which later became the Compagnie générale aéropostale – Aéropostale, then Air France) where he was a pilot and later operations director.
From this time, the legend of the man with the iron will made Didier Daurat a boss admired by many, feared by all and hated by some. He did not hesitate to dismiss those who showed the slightest sign of weakness, questioned his methods or did not adhere to the ‘spirit of the mail’ (l’esprit du courrier).
Many of his pilots began their careers as grease monkeys, taking apart, cleaning and reassembling engines. According to Daurat, this formed character and taught pilots to respect their machines. But he knew when he saw a talented pilot. When Jean Mermoz presented himself in Toulouse and made a dazzling display of piloting skill, Daurat told him “I don’t need circus artists but bus drivers.” (“Je n’ai pas besoin d’artistes de cirque mais de conducteurs d’autobus”). Nevertheless, he engaged him to clean the engines. […]
Dewoitine D.333 assembly (public domain image).
Émile Dewoitine (EN, FR):
[…] Émile Dewoitine entered the aviation industry by working at Latécoère during World War I. In 1920, he founded his own company, but facing little success at home, went to Switzerland where his Dewoitine D.27 fighter was accepted for operational service.
In 1931, Dewoitine went back to France and founded Société Aéronautique Française – Avions Dewoitine. During the 1930s, several noteworthy aircraft rolled out of the Toulouse-based Dewoitine factories including the Dewoitine D.500, the French Air Force’s first fully metallic, monoplane fighter, as well as the Dewoitine D.338 airliner.
In 1936, part of the French aviation industry was nationalized and Dewoitine’s factories were absorbed by the state-owned SNCAM. During the Battle of France in 1940, the Dewoitine D.520 turned out to be France’s best fighter aircraft. […]
Maurice Bellonte (FR):
Maurice Bellonte […] est un aviateur français. Associé à Dieudonné Costes, il a réussi en 1930, à bord du Breguet XIX “Point d’interrogation”, la première traversée de l’Atlantique Nord d’est en ouest. […]
Dieudonné Costes (EN, FR):
Dieudonné Costes […] was a French aviator who set flight distance records. He was also a fighter ace during World War I. […]
On 26 September 1926 he flew 4,100 km (2,546 miles) from Paris to Assuan, with René de Vitrolles, attempting at breaking a world distance record. He broke the world distance record on 28 October 1926, flying 5,396 km (3,351 miles) from Paris to Jask, Persia, with J. Rignot, as a part of 19,625-km (12,187-mile) Paris-India-Paris flight.
Between 10 October 1927 and 14 April 1928 Costes and Joseph Le Brix flew 57,410 km (35,652 miles) around the world, in Breguet 19GR named Nungesser-Coli, from Paris through Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Japan, India, and Greece, although they traveled across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco, California, to Tokyo, Japan, by ship.
On 1–2 September 1930, Costes with Maurice Bellonte, flew the Breguet 19 Super Bidon “?” from Paris to New York, as the first heavier-than-air aircraft to cross the North Atlantic in the more difficult westbound direction between the North American and European mainlands. They covered either 5,850 km (3,633 miles) or 6,200 km (3,850 miles), according to different sources, in 37 hours 18 minutes. While flying over Portsmouth, New Hampshire, they lost their navigational map out of an open window of the plane. Two children saw the map falling from the sky while they were watching for the flight to cross over their farm. The children, Louise Stef and her brother John, returned the map to Costes, who had asked for its return through the media.
Joseph Le Brix (EN, FR):
Joseph Le Brix est d’abord un officier de marine, atteignant le grade de lieutenant de vaisseau, avant de se tourner vers l’aviation.
Avec Dieudonné Costes, il réussit, sur un Breguet 19 baptisé Nungesser et Coli en l’honneur des deux aviateurs français disparus dans l’Atlantique nord à bord de l’Oiseau blanc, la traversée de l’Atlantique sud entre Saint-Louis du Sénégal et Natal (Brésil) où ils arrivent le 15 octobre 1927.
Henri Potez (EN, FR):
Henry Potez […] was a French aircraft industrialist.
He studied in the French aeronautics school Supaéro. With Marcel Dassault, he was the inventor of the Potez-Bloch propeller which after 1917, have been set on most of all Allied planes of World War I.
In 1919, he founded his own company Aviations Potez that between the wars built many planes and seaplanes in factories at that time considered the most modern in the world. He bought the Alessandro Anzani company in 1923. Many Potez planes such as the Potez 25, 39, 54, 62, 63 were an international success, with world records. […]
Santos Dumont (EN):
Alberto Santos-Dumont […] was a Brazilian aviation pioneer. The heir of a wealthy family of coffee producers, Santos Dumont dedicated himself to aeronautical study and experimentation in Paris, France, where he spent most of his adult life.
Santos-Dumont designed, built, and flew the first practical dirigible, demonstrating that routine, controlled flight was possible. This “conquest of the air”, in particular his winning the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize on October 19, 1901 on a flight that rounded the Eiffel Tower, made him one of the most famous people in the world during the early 20th century. […]
Alberto Santos Dumont flying the Demoiselle (1909) (public domain image).
Santos-Dumont described himself as the first “sportsman of the air.” He started flying by hiring an experienced balloon pilot and took his first balloon rides as a passenger. He quickly moved on to piloting balloons himself, and shortly thereafter to designing his own balloons. In 1898, Santos-Dumont flew his first balloon design, the Brésil.
[…] his primary interest soon turned to heavier-than-air aircraft. By 1905 he had finished his first fixed-wing aircraft design, and also a helicopter. He finally achieved his dream of flying an aircraft on October 23, 1906 by piloting the 14-bis before a large crowd of witnesses for a distance of 60 metres (197 ft) at a height of about five meters or less (15 ft). This well-documented event was the first flight verified by the Aéro-Club de France of a powered heavier-than-air machine in Europe and won the Deutsch-Archdeacon Price for the first officially observed flight further than 25 meters. On November 12, 1906, Santos-Dumont set the first world record recognized by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale by flying 220 metres in 21.5 seconds.
The Wrights used a launching rail for their 1903 flights and a launch catapult for their 1904 and 1905 machines, while the aircraft of Santos-Dumont and other Europeans had wheeled undercarriages. The Wright Brothers continued to use skids, which necessitated the use of a dolly running on a track. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, founded in France in 1905 to verify aviation records, stated among its rules that an aircraft should be able to take off under its own power in order to qualify for a record. Supporters of Santos-Dumont maintain that this means the 14-bis was, technically, the first successful fixed-wing aircraft.
The wristwatch had already been invented by Patek Philippe, decades earlier, but Santos-Dumont played an important role in popularizing its use by men in the early 20th century. Before him they were generally worn only by women (as jewels), as men favoured pocket watches.
Clément Ader (EN, FR):
Clément Ader […] was a French inventor and engineer born in Muret, Haute Garonne, and is remembered primarily for his pioneering work in aviation.
Ader was an innovator in a number of electrical and mechanical engineering fields. He originally studied electrical engineering, and in 1878 improved on the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell. After this he established the telephone network in Paris in 1880. In 1881, he invented the “théâtrophone”, a system of telephonic transmission where listeners received a separate channel for each ear, enabling stereophonic perception of the actors on a set; it was this invention which gave the first stereo transmission of opera performances, over a distance of 2 miles (3 km) in 1881. In 1903, he devised a V8 engine for the Paris-Madrid race, but although three or four were produced, none were sold.
Following this, he turned to the problem of mechanical flight and until the end of his life gave much time and money to this. Using the studies of Louis Pierre Mouillard (1834–1897) on the flight of birds, he constructed his first flying machine in 1886, the Éole. It was a bat-like design run by a lightweight steam engine of his own invention, with 4 cylinders developing 20 horsepower (15 kW), driving a four-blade propeller. The engine weighed no more than 4 kg/kW (7 pounds per horsepower). The wings had a span of 14 metres and were equipped with a system of warping. All-up weight was 300 kg (650 pounds). On 9 October 1890, Ader attempted a flight of the Éole. It is accepted that the aircraft took off, reaching a height of 20 cm, and flew uncontrolled for approximately 50 m (160 ft), 13 years before the Wright Brothers.
Ader undertook the construction of a second aircraft he called the Avion II, also referred to as the Zephyr or Éole II. Most sources agree that work on this aircraft was never completed, and it was abandoned in favour of the Avion III. Ader’s later claim that he flew the Avion II in August 1892 for a distance of 100 metres in Satory near Paris, was never widely accepted.
[…] In 1909 he published L’Aviation Militaire, a very popular book which went through 10 editions in the five years before the First World War. It is notable for its vision of air warfare and its foreseeing the form of the modern aircraft carrier, with a flat flight deck, an island superstructure, deck elevators and a hangar bay. His idea for an aircraft carrier was relayed by the US Naval Attaché in Paris[8] and were followed by the first trials in the United States in November 1910.
An airplane-carrying vessel is indispensable. These vessels will be constructed on a plan very different from what is currently used. First of all the deck will be cleared of all obstacles. It will be flat, as wide as possible without jeopardizing the nautical lines of the hull, and it will look like a landing field.
—Clément Ader, L’Aviation Militaire, 1909
Marcel Doret (FR):
En 1910, il est apprenti mécanicien. Il s’engage à 18 ans, dès le début de la Grande Guerre dans l’artillerie et combat à Verdun. Il est blessé 3 ans plus tard et reçoit la médaille militaire. Une fois guéri, il demande son transfert dans l’aviation et rejoint Dijon puis Chartres. Lâché seul après moins de deux heures de vol en double commande, il est breveté pilote militaire en 1918, à l’âge de vingt-deux ans, et il poursuit sa formation à l’École de chasse et d’acrobatie de Pau après un court passage à Avord. À la fin de la guerre, il est ouvrier chez Renault, mais Émile Dewoitine le remarque dans un meeting aérien. Le 1er juin 1923, Doret entre comme pilote d’essai dans ses usines à Toulouse, et devient rapidement chef pilote d’essai. Jusqu’en 1939, il met au point quarante-trois prototypes d’appareils très différents, ce qui lui donne une maîtrise presque totale du pilotage. Avec la production des appareils de ligne, comme le D.332 Émeraude, il est amené à les convoyer dans des pays de plus en plus lointains et devient un des premiers pilotes de ligne.
Roland Garros (public domain image).
Roland Garros (EN):
[…] He started his aviation career in 1909 flying Alberto Santos-Dumont’s Demoiselle monoplane, an aircraft that only flew well with a small lightweight pilot. In 1911 Garros graduated to flying Bleriot monoplanes and entered a number of European air races with this type of machine, such as the 1911 Paris to Madrid air race.
He was already a noted aviator before World War I, having visited the U.S. and South America. By 1913 he had switched to flying the faster Morane-Saulnier monoplanes, and gained fame for making the first non-stop flight across the Mediterranean Sea from Fréjus in the south of France to Bizerte in Tunisia. The following year, Garros joined the French army at the outbreak of World War I. […]
In the early stages of the air war in World War I the problem of mounting a forward-firing machine gun on combat aircraft was considered by a number of individuals. The so-called interrupter gear did not come into use until Anthony Fokker developed a synchronization device which had a large impact on air combat; however, Garros also had a significant role in the process of achieving this goal.
As a reconnaissance pilot with the Escadrille MS26, Garros visited the Morane-Saulnier Works in December 1914. Saulnier’s work on metal deflector wedges attached to propeller blades was taken forward by Garros; he eventually had a workable installation fitted to his Morane-Saulnier Type L aircraft. Garros achieved the first ever shooting-down of an aircraft by a fighter firing through a tractor propeller, on 1 April 1915; two more victories over German aircraft were achieved on 15 and 18 April 1915.
On 18 April 1915, either Garros’ fuel line clogged or, by other accounts, his aircraft was downed by ground fire, and he glided to a landing on the German side of the lines. Garros failed to destroy his aircraft before being taken prisoner: most significantly, the gun and armoured propeller remained intact. Legend has it that after examining the plane, German aircraft engineers, led by Fokker, designed the improved interrupter gear system. In fact the work on Fokker’s system had been going for at least six months before Garros’ aircraft fell into their hands. With the advent of the interrupter gear the tables were turned on the Allies, with Fokker’s planes shooting down many Allied aircraft, leading to what became known as the Fokker Scourge.
L’escadrille Normandie Niemen (EN):
[…] was a fighter squadron, later regiment (of three squadrons) of the French Air Force. It served on the Eastern Front of the European Theatre of World War II with the 1st Air Army. The regiment is notable for being one of only two air combat units from an Allied western European country to participate on the Eastern Front during World War II, the other being the British No. 151 Wing RAF, and the only one to fight together with the Soviets until the end of the war in Europe.
[…] It fought in three campaigns on behalf of the Soviet Union between 22 March 1943, and 9 May 1945, during which time it destroyed 273 enemy aircraft and received numerous orders, citations and decorations from both France and the Soviet Union, including the French Légion d’Honneur and the Soviet Order of the Red Banner. Joseph Stalin awarded the unit the name Niemen for its participation in the Battle of the Niemen River (1944).
Georges Guynemer 1917 (public domain image).
Georges Guynemer (EN):
Georges Guynemer […] was a top fighter ace for France during World War I, and a French national hero at the time of his death. […]
He was originally rejected for military service, but was accepted for training as a mechanic in late 1914. With determination, he gained acceptance to pilot training, joining Escadrille MS.3 on 8 June 1915. He remained in the same unit for his entire service. He experienced both victory and defeat in the first plane allocated to him, a Morane-Saulnier L monoplane previously flown by Charles Bonnard, and accordingly named Vieux Charles (Old Charles). Guynemer kept the name and continued to use it for most of his later aircraft.
[…] Flying the more effective plane, Guynemer quickly established himself as one of France’s premier fighter pilots. He became an ace by his fifth victory in February 1916, and was promoted to lieutenant in March. At the year’s end, his score had risen to 25. Capitaine Brocard, commander of Escadrille N.3 (Storks), described Guynemer at that time as “…my most brilliant Stork.” Less than a year later, Guynemer was promoted to captain and commander of the Storks squadron.
[…] as described by one of his flying comrades (name withheld due to security reasons):
Guynemer sighted five machines of the Albatros type D-3. Without hesitation, he bore down on them. At that moment enemy patrolling machines, soaring at a great height, appeared suddenly and fell upon Guynemer. There were forty enemy machines in the air at this time, including Baron von Richthofen and his circus division of machines, painted in diagonal blue and white stripes. Toward Guynemer’s right some Belgian machines hove in sight, but it was too late. Guynemer must have been hit. His machine dropped gently toward the earth, and I lost track of it. All that I can say is that the machine was not on fire.
Only 22 at his death, he continued to inspire the nation with his advice, “Until one has given all, one has given nothing.”
René Fonck (EN, FR):
René Paul Fonck […] was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top Allied fighter ace, and when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of “all-time Allied Ace of Aces”. He received confirmation for 75 victories (72 solo and three shared) out of 142 claims. Taking into account his probable claims, Fonck’s final tally could conceivably be nearer 100 or above. […]
Yet for all his skill and success, Fonck never captured the heart of the French public as Guynemer had. Fonck was ascetic and withdrawn. Instead of drinking or socializing with the other pilots, he planned his flying missions and tactics, ironed his uniforms, and stayed physically fit through calisthenics. He seemed to overcompensate for his shyness by constantly mentioning his exploits. As a result, he seemed distant, arrogant, even abrasive. His comrades respected his skills, but even one of his few friends, Marcel Haegelen, considered him a braggart and shameless self-promoter. Fonck may have resented the fact that Georges Guynemer remained more popular in the French press even after he surpassed him in victories. […]
Fonck returned to civilian life after World War I, and published his war memoirs Mes Combats, prefaced by Marechal Foch, in 1920.
During the 1920s, Fonck persuaded Igor Sikorsky to redesign the Sikorsky S-35 for the transatlantic race or Orteig Prize. On 21 September 1926, Fonck crashed on takeoff when the landing gear collapsed, killing two of his three crew members. Charles Lindbergh shortly afterward won the prize in 1927. […]
Charles Lindbergh (EN):
As a 25-year-old U.S. Air Mail pilot, Lindbergh emerged suddenly from virtual obscurity to instantaneous world fame as the result of his Orteig Prize-winning solo non-stop flight on May 20–21, 1927, made from Roosevelt Field located in Garden City on New York’s Long Island to Le Bourget Field in Paris, France, a distance of nearly 3,600 statute miles (5,800 km), in the single-seat, single-engine purpose built Ryan monoplane Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh, a U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve officer, was also awarded the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his historic exploit. […]
Henri Guillaumet (EN):
[…] He was a pioneer of French aviation in the Andes, the South Atlantic and the North Atlantic. He contributed to the opening up of numerous new routes and is regarded by some as the best pilot of his age. “Je n’en ai pas connu de plus grand” (I’ve never known a greater one), said Didier Daurat, owner of Aéropostale.
Guillaumet carried the mail between Argentina and Chile. On Friday 13 June 1930, while crossing the Andes for the 92nd time, he crashed his Potez 25 at Laguna del Diamante in Mendoza, Argentina, because of bad weather. He walked for a week over three mountain passes. Though tempted to give up, he persisted while thinking of his wife, Noëlle, until June 19 at dawn when he was rescued by a 14-year-old boy named Juan García. He reached a village whose inhabitants could not believe his story. This exploit made him stand out among the ‘stars’ of Aéropostale.
To his friend Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who had come to find him, he said, “Ce que j’ai fait, je te le jure, aucune bête ne l’aurait fait.” (What I have done, I swear to you, no other animal would have done.) Saint-Exupéry tells the adventure of Guillaumet in his 1939 book Terre des Hommes (published in English as Wind, Sand and Stars).
After a number of south Atlantic crossings, he was appointed managing director of Air France. […]
In 1995, Futuroscope paid homage to Guillaumet with a 3D IMAX film by Jean-Jacques Annaud, Wings of Courage (les Ailes du Courage). […]
Saint-Exupéry (EN, FR):
[…] French aristocrat, writer, poet, and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of several of France’s highest literary awards and also won the U.S. National Book Award. He is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) and for his lyrical aviation writings, including Wind, Sand and Stars and Night Flight.
Saint-Exupéry was a successful commercial pilot before World War II, working airmail routes in Europe, Africa and South America. At the outbreak of war, he joined the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force), flying reconnaissance missions until France’s armistice with Germany in 1940. After being demobilized from the French Air Force, he traveled to the United States to convince its government to enter the war against Nazi Germany quickly. Following a 27-month hiatus in North America, during which he wrote three of his most important works, he joined the Free French Air Force in North Africa, although he was far past the maximum age for such pilots and in declining health. He disappeared over the Mediterranean on his last assigned reconnaissance mission in July 1944, and is believed to have died at that time.
Jean Dabry (FR):
Jean Dabry […] est un pilote français de l’Aéropostale puis d’Air France.
D’abord officier au long cours, il entre à l’Aéropostale dès 1928 comme navigateur. Deux ans plus tard avec Jean Mermoz comme pilote et Léopold Gimié à la radio, il participe au record de distance en circuit fermé sur Latécoère 28.
Les 12 et 13 mai 1930, le même équipage effectue la première traversée postale de l’Atlantique Sud sur l’hydravion Laté 28 “Comte de la Vaulx”.
Lucien Servanty (FR):
[…] fut l’un des plus célèbres ingénieurs de l’histoire de l’aviation française.
Diplômé des Arts et Métiers, Servanty débuta en 1931 chez Breguet, puis entra en 1937 à la SNCASO lors de la création de celle-ci. Pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Servanty continua son activité sous le contrôle des autorités d’occupation mais réalisa aussi en secret l’étude du SO.6000 Triton, le premier avion à réaction français, qui effectua son premier vol en novembre 1946.
Par la suite, Servanty dirigea les études de plusieurs avions militaires d’importance tels que le SO.6020 Espadon et le SO.9000 Trident, prototype très innovateur d’un intercepteur à propulsion mixte turboréacteur-fusée. C’est toutefois grâce à une œuvre à vocation civile que Servanty acquit sa notoriété : la direction technique du programme Concorde pour la partie française. L’amitié nouée entre Servanty et son homologue anglais Bill Strang permit en particulier au projet de surmonter les nombreuses difficultés d’une collaboration franco-britannique pas toujours évidente au niveau politique.
Servanty mena à bien la totalité du programme d’essais mais, subitement décédé en 1973 à 64 ans, ne put assister au premier vol commercial de sa création en 1976. […]
Leon Bourrieau (FR):
Bourrieau eut l’honneur d’être le premier à faire voler le Fouga « Sylphe ” modèle probatoire, le 14 juillet 1949. Il mit au point cet appareil ainsi que les bancs volants Fouga « Gémeaux ” pour le réacteur Turbomeca. Finalement, le 23 juillet 1952, il y a trente-cinq ans, il décolla le prototype du « Magister “, dessiné par Robert Castello et Mauboussin (d’ou l’appellation C.M. 170), consacré par 871 exemplaires dont beaucoup volent toujours! Léon Bourrieau fut d’abord militaire. La finesse de son pilotage lui valut d’appartenir à la « Patrouille acrobatique d’Etampes ” et d’assumer les responsabilités de moniteur.
Pierre Nadot (FR):
Le 27 mai 1955, la Caravelle effectue son premier vol, décollant à 19 h 15, pilotée par Pierre Nadot secondé par André Moynet et accompagné de Jean Avril et Roger Béteille, pour un vol de 22 minutes. Pour ce premier essai, l’avion restant à basse vitesse, les volets de bord de fuite ne sont pas sollicités. […]
Yves Brunaud (FR):
Le 30 Janvier 1959, le Br-1150 Atlantic motorisé par des turbopropulseurs Rolls-Royce Tyne fut sélectionné par l’OTAN parmi 21 projets. Le 2 Octobre 1961, la SECBAT (Société Européenne pour la Construction du Breguet Atlantic) fut crée.
Les sociétés suivantes prirent part au programme :
Breguet & Dassault-Aviation (France).
Fokker (Pays-Bas).
Dornier & Siebel (Allemagne)
SABCA, Fairey & Fabrique Nationale Herstal (Belgique).
Les turbopropulseurs Tyne étaient fournis par Rolls-Royce, SNECMA-Hispano, FN et MTU; les équipements électroniques par des sociétés Américaines. Les chaînes de production ont été installées dans les usines Breguet de Toulouse.
Quatre prototypes furent construits. Le premier effectua son vol initial le 21 Octobre 1961 avec Bernard Witt, Roméo Zinzoni et René Périneau aux commandes. Le second vola le 23 Février 1962, piloté par Yves Brunaud, M. Raymond et René Périneau.
Franz Joseph Strauss (EN):
Franz Josef Strauss […] was a German politician. He was the chairman of the Christian Social Union, member of the federal cabinet in different positions and long-time minister-president of the state of Bavaria.
As an aerospace enthusiast, Strauss was one of the driving persons to create Airbus in the 1970s. He served as Chairman of Airbus in the late 1980s, until his death in 1988 […]. Munich’s new airport, the Franz Josef Strauss Airport, was named after him in 1992.
This list is far from covering all pioneers, nor all the great engineers that built French aviation during the past century. This is just a random walk through Blagnac streets.
While looking for these characters I stumbled upon a great site with a good collection of French aviation characters: “L’Aviation Française: des Hommes et des Ailes“.
PD1: Be sure that not all streets are named after aviation pioneers… I got to meet several doctors, writers, etc. 😉
PD2: Emphasis are mine. Most of the excerpts come from Wikipedia articles.
Filed under Aerospace & Defence, France
Tagged as Aéropostale, Air France, Airbus, aviation, aviator, Émile Dewoitine, Blagnac, Cartier, Charles Lindbergh, Clément Ader, Didier Daurat, Dieudonné Costes, dirigible, France, Franz Joseph Strauss, French aviation, Georges Guynemer, Henri Guillaumet, Henri Potez, Jean Dabry, Joseph Le Brix, L'escadrille Normandie Niemen, Latécoère, Leon Bourrieau, Lucien Servanty, Marcel Dassault, Marcel Doret, Maurice Bellonte, Patek Philippe, Pierre Nadot, pilot, pioneers, René Fonck, Roland Garros, Saint-Exupéry, Santos-Dumont, World War I, World War II, Wright Brothers, Yves Brunaud
4 responses to “French aviation history through the life of its pioneers…”
Pingback: Was Orville Wright’s the first flight ever? | The Blog by Javier
Pingback: Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Le Bourget) | The Blog by Javier
Pingback: WWI aces: Fonck and Baron von Richthofen | The Blog by Javier
Jim Dearien
Hello Javier! I found your blog while searching for information on J Rignot. I had not heard of him and his association with Mr Costes wrt flying. I noticed your information on Mr Costes and Mr Bellonte as having done the reverse of Mr Lindbergh and I had a foot note to add to the story. While most are aware of the $25,000 prize money for Mr Lindbergh’s flight, and the same purse for the flight of Mr Costes and Mr Bellonte for the Paris to New York flight, many are unaware of a Dallas Texas business, Col William E. (Bill) Easterwood offering an additional $25,000 prize for the two pilots from France continuing the next day from New York to Dallas Love Field. They accomplished that flight on Sept 4, 1930 when 30,000+ Dallassites met their plane, the Question Mark, at Dallas Love Field. I would love to share pictures of this little piece of history and a tighter connection between France and America is you’re interested.
I’ve just finished 32 years in commercial aviation and now have time to tell this story. |
2. About Karen and Fred, 7. Rewire Living, III. The Rewired Life, IV. TRT Places
The High Ground
The more things change, the more they stay the same. On the left, the Bullet leaves Factory Place on his way to our Sandia Park, NM house (center). For the past 16 years the Bullet has been our family sedan, taking us to Ralphs, CVS et al. On the right the Bullet makes his first visit to the local grocery store. Soon thereafter, he went to Walmart, the Pottery Barn, the Container Store, TJMax and — of course– our local bar.
After 34 years of marriage, I’ve learned the secret to not getting a divorce during a move is one simple phrase: “Yes, honey, let’s take that as I’m sure we can use it!” And so, we have made the move from the streets of downtown LA to the gravel roads of Sandia Park with no casualties.
One would think that moving from a 600 sq. ft. loft into a 2500 sq. ft. house would be no big deal, especially if you think about what the reverse could be? Well, I’m here to tell you that you’d be wrong, very wrong. We…
spent 14 solid days without-a-day-of-rest packing up Factory Place
80+ boxes, three or four pieces of furniture, one motorcycle and one car
Around $6800 for the moving truck, movers, auto transporter, etc.
1 1/2 days of cleaning said loft and two days driving to New Mexico
We’re now in our second week of unpacking
Late on our first night in Laguna, I was sitting on the deck with a Corona in hand, gazing out at the stars and mountain shadows. There were no sounds. Dead quiet. Not of traffic, of people, music, dogs or the neighbor upstairs. I started to panic. What the f___ am I going to do OUT HERE? No going to Tony’s for a drink or the Redwood Room for dinner. No emailing Cindy and Peter to get together tonight in Grand Central Market. No Starbucks three minutes away. No saying hello to neighbors that I don’t know. No walking the dogs to the dog park next to LACI. No ….. pretty much everything we’d known for the past 11 years.
“The times, they are a changing”
Living on the mountain
We quickly learned that we live on the East Mountain as opposed to the side of the mountain facing Albuquerque. East Mountain people consider themselves different from the Other Side. There is no city civilization near by. The one traffic sign on the Main Highway (The Turquoise Trail) reads, “Congested Area Ahead” and I swear I’ve never seen more than three or four cars. Equally accurate road signs include “Fallen Rocks” (not Falling?), “Twisting Road Next Five Miles” after three miles of twisty roads, “Narrow Road, Keep Right” (what, we don’t keep right on less than narrow roads?) and “Watch for Deer,” failing to mention the wild turkeys, coyotes, rabbits and squirrels we’ve come across. We hope the “Keep Trash Locked Away Until Pickup” with a picture of a Bear is equally accurate.
The West Mountain is full of rocks and boulders, it looks arid with few trees. Views are spectacular, but of city lights, cars and people. The East Mountain is like Colorado or Angeles Crest, totally green with Pine and Junipers, closely packed with the occasional field of grass. Views are spectacular as well, but of a mountain range covered in forest, with a sprinkling of other houses tucked away down dirt roads.
Not the Lizard – Paako Golf Resort
The Lizard
Sitting in the Lazy Lizard (our favorite local bar — more about the Lizard later), it’s pretty evident that we’re new to the neighborhood. Hints include wearing a shirt with a collar, not having a beard three inches past your chin, wearing boat shoes not boots, and no baseball cap or cowboy hat. People fall into basic two groups: the aforementioned East Mountain people and what we call the Paako Ridge Golfers. Paako Ridge is rated as the top golf course in NM and just a couple of miles further up the Tortoise Trail, but a world apart. We’re beginning to fit in nicely, though I suspect people think of us as Paakos despite living more remotely that 90% of the people in the Lizard. Since there is only one bar within 10 miles, the Lizard is the mountain’s melting pot.
When we describe where we live to our fellow East Mountaineers, they say something to the tune of “You live way up there?” They look at us with a bit more respect. Yes, we’re remote. A couple miles north of the Lizard on Hwy. 14, take a left on La Madera, drive five miles up this narrow, twisty road to Canon Madera, left through the gate, and up another mile of gravel road and you’ve arrived at Walti’s Southwest Chalet. It’s a lot like Little Big Sur, on the way you’re saying to yourself “Where the f___ is it?” and then once you get there, you’re thinking “This could be good, very good.”
Enough with the descriptions, let’s go to the video and pictures!
The Videos
The Approach. What’s it like getting there: Driving to 87 Laguna
The House. First time as owners: Laguna Tour
Outside Tour Start: Exploring the five acres Outside Tour Start
The North: Lots of cacti and a bit of flat land. North of the House
Fire Roads: There are fire roads to the north and above the house Fire Roads
Driveway South: It’s a long walk Driveway
The Pictures
Alex and the SOS crew begin loading up Factory Place at 7:57AM on July 29th.. Despite reading dozens and dozens of horror stories about moving, the SOS crew did great.
Now Voyager II gets packed away
Three hours later and the SOS truck leaves Factory Place.
Karen spent a day and a half scrubbing FP clean in order to get our deposit back. I admired her will power…
Every good husband knows when to get out of the way. I decided to get out of the way at the Girl and the Goat restaurant. Very good
First stop on the way to NM was Barstow, a sorry town indeed. Most of it is deserted or about to be deserted. We were staying in a Motel 8 and the motel across the street was tough competition: “Motel 7”. This was the best shot I could find, and its of a laundromat.
While Gallup NM isn’t much better, it has the El Rancho Hotel, which is a gem of a place. One of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in.
Shot from the patio of the El Rancho through the lens of a Corona
Karen and the dogs at said patio.
The lobby. The El Rancho is worth going to Gallup for.
The Bullet in his new home. In the 16 years we’ve owned him, he’s never been in a garage. He doesn’t realize that he’s going to have a much bigger brother in there as well.
Mr. Handy Man tackles another tough job of putting together shelving. Even Bogart is wondering how long can a guy take to put together a shelf?
Karen immediately begins the never-ending job of trimming trees and other green things
Life on the Mountain
Every morning we walk the dogs down the driveway. Most of our 5.1 acres is yet to be explored
7300 ft. elevation makes going back up a hike.
This is where we have morning coffee every day
Karen’s newest passion is Hummingbirds. At this point, we have six Humming Bird Hotels and two “Wild” bird hotels.
New arrival — Karen’s first wheel barrow.
Big night at the Lizard — Susan Clark and her band play a couple of sets. She’s the most famous singer from the area and only occasionally does the Lizard. She lives “up the street”.
Perfect timing. After 10 months, LowBuck finally arrives on the scene. LowBuck (as in cheap) is an 87 Jeep Grand Wagoneer who has undergone some significant upgrades by the premier Wagoneer restorer — WagonMaster. I can’t wait to rumble into the Lizard in him: )
My new office. About the same size as my Office in a Closet at Factory Place, now I look at the mountain rather than an alley.
Not sure it gets much better than this — LowBuck, the Bullet and Now Voyager II are all together for the first time.
August 16, 2021 /7 Comments/by FHW
https://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_20210709_1854357-e1629067852419.jpg 684 1596 FHW http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png FHW2021-08-16 19:57:262021-10-07 15:27:00The High Ground
2. About Karen and Fred, 7. Rewire Living, IV. TRT Places
After almost three years of looking for a house, from Ventura to Prescott to Big Bear to Ojai to San Diego to Sonora to San Pedro to Durango to Santa Fe to….we have finally bought a house in Sandia Park, NM. The house is in the mountains just outside Albuquerque.
Yes, its as remote as it looks
Where KR and I intend to spend a lot of time having a cocktail
Last Friday we drove to Durango, CO to look at a house only to have it sold on the same day we were to see it. That is so typical of this market. Then we drove to see this house (Laguna Vista Trail) that we liked enough online that we had already made an offer sight unseen, but was contingent on us seeing the place. We arrived in the Albuquerque are a couple of days later.
We got progressively more depressed as we drove toward the house for the first time. Take Highway 40 east to Highway 14 (also known as the Turquoise Trail), then nine miles up to a little two lane road (La Madera) and up it for five more miles and then… turn off on a dirt road, go through a gate (by a trailer with a sign saying, “I have a shotgun and backhoe,” and then another mile on this dirt road to the driveway, which is another 300 yards long and we were there! I was thinking there was no way this was going to work.
Around mile 3 on the way to Laguna, this sign pretty much says it all: don’t put the trash out in anything other than battle-tested trash cans because bears are around.
The mile long gravel road …
Driveway entrance with our stamp on the sign.
Just when you think you’re there, there’s another 100 yards to go.
After the first visit, we left and went in search of a drink. We were in love with the house and truly fearful of the remoteness and change of ife style it represented. We parked on a street in ABQ, had dinner, a couple of drinks and then decided to drive “out there” to see what driving that road at night would be like.
Finally, we got to see the house for the first time in person. Well, judge for yourselves
Dining room looking into the living room
A bar that’s not a bar
Part of the top deck. This shot doesn’t really capture the view
KR doing the deal with Nancy, our real estate agent
The most important room. I’m sacrificing with “only” a two-car garage. Current owner is a Guzzi rider, so he can’t be all bad. Weird for sure: )
Next morning, KR was still worried so we asked for another visit. After another hour, we went to another restaurant and made the decision – we would go through with the sale.
This house represents the weird circumstances that were required for us to afford a house we liked:
Its remote. Very remote
It was designed by an architect who started construction somewhere around 2000. He had a heart attack, died and the house sat unfinished for almost 15 years. The current couple bought it about 2 years ago and finished it themselves (he’s a contractor/engineer and she obviously has pretty good taste). Then their family situation changed and the wife needed to go back to Wisconsin and wanted to sell the house rather quickly.
Its 2500 sq. ft. sitting on 5 acres in a a small development called Canon Alegre. It’s pretty much the highest house on the mountain
This is pretty much how I feel.
So, we signed on the digital dotted line and have now entered the escrow/closing phase that is characterized by two things: money and documents.
We left Albuquerque shortly after signing on the dotted line and headed south toward Puerto Vallarta. Crossing the border at El Paso was a new experience that went surprisingly well considering its the highest volume crossing in the U.S. First night was spent on a street in Hidalgo de Parral, just south of the Chihuahua state line with Durango. Next night was another street in the El Centro part of Durango (the city), and tonight we’re on the beach at Mazatlán. As is sooo typical of RVing, the air conditioning unit just went out during one of the nights we could really use it.
This is where we camped overnight in Hidalgo de Parral. That’s a HUGE statue of Pancho Villa in a park near El Centro. There’s even a Pancho Villa museum. Seems strange because this is the town he was murdered in, not born. Also, after he was buried someone dug up the body beheaded it.
Another view, stepping out Thor’s side door.
Squirt and I have a beer and watch the sunset. This is a beach just south of San Blas, about three hours north of PV
June 15, 2021 /9 Comments/by FHW
https://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Screen-Shot-2021-06-10-at-2.12.45-PM.png 408 681 FHW http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png FHW2021-06-15 20:21:002021-06-19 08:42:24The Eagle Has Landed
2. About Karen and Fred, Mexico, Reports from Afar
Boots in Baja
The real purpose of this trip was to see if KR and I could get on our m/c horse again after a couple of years away. Our unstated goal was to make it to Catavina, about 400 miles south of the border, to see the extraordinary cacti and rocks in the Baja mountains. We found this horse wandering in the desert though I didn’t try to ride him. But we did get on our m/c horse again and found our groove.
My strategy for this trip was to recreate our first motorcycle trip to Mexico thirty years ago. Back then, Karen had never been on a motorcycle, so we didn’t take any freeways south to avoid going over 50mph. It’s been a while since we were both on the bike so I wanted to ease us into it. Karen had been giving me the “I don’t really want to go, but I’m not letting you go by yourself” vibes for the prior two weeks. She didn’t start packing for this trip until the morning we left. As she pulled on her helmet, she wasn’t a happy camper.
It was probably a blessing that it took me three full days to figure out how to operate our helmet intercoms, hence there was no f___ you’s”coming through the speakers. Technology hasn’t always been my friend, but in this case silence was golden.
I’ll cut to the chase: twelve days and 1,700 miles down Baja to Loreto (about 2/3rds of the way down) and then back. It didn’t take us long to find our groove, both good and bad. On Day Two we took our obligatory low speed spill, this time in soft gravel as we entered a Pemex station. Neither one of us felt anything. NVII just got a few more scratches and we were off.
The road (Mex Hwy 1) has pretty much been transformed into a smooth, Two-Laner snaking through the desert and mountains, with only a few car-eating pot holes. Even a Prius could make it: ) I used an incredible amount of restraint in our pace, not going over 80 (OK 85) but once. Most of the time, I let everyone pass us as we sauntered down the road. Not too long down the road and I heard my all time favorite sound — Karen “chirping” in the intercom and having a great time talking while seeing the sights. We had found our Rhythm of the Road. Perhaps it was a bit slower and the days were shorter, but everything else felt exactly the same.
One of the great things when traveling by m/c is the daily routine. Get up early, have a cup of coffee while packing up, carry all the stuff to the bike and strap it on, and shove off for the day’s sights. Breakfast is about two hours out and lunch is later. We typically rolled into our last stop and revered the process. Unpack the bike, unpack our stuff, get cleaned up, and head out to see the sights and find a Corona. Rinse and repeat.
Both times we crossed the Border at Tijuana, which is usually the THE border crossing to avoid. No papers or Temporary Tourist Visa necessary, but I did buy a week’s worth of m/c insurance. Going down we went through the border and never stopped, probably not going slower than 20 mph as the border to TJ was empty. Coming north, border traffic was pretty normal, which is to say daunting. Various Apps were predicting 2-3 hour crossing times. We did it in 20 minutes from start to finish by splitting lanes and dodging hawkers, cutting back into the line right before the guard stations. The most difficult thing was not tipping over as the road was greasy and tough to get a grip with my “compact” stems.
We made it to Loreto which is 700+ish miles below the border, after a fairly grueling ride. No chirping in the helmet on this leg as KR was Done going south:) We stayed at a very nice hotel, Posada de Las Flores, in the center of town. We decided to spend a second night here as its so nice and I have a bunch of work to get done. It’s very expensive at…. $103/night US.
The next day we made a U-Turn and headed back up. We had some really great nights, a few not so great riding segments, and perfect weather for the entire twelve days. This would be classified as a short trip for us, but I think we’ll look back on it with fondness with the realization we’re still young enough to be doing this kind of stuff: )
Here’s what things looked like so far.
There’s not a lot of love beneath the smile as KR suits up before shoving off
Believe it or not, we’d never been to downtown San Diego. It was a happening place this Saturday night and we were very happy to jump in.
Many hotels and AirBnB’s have eliminated human check-ins as a result of COVID. Here KR stands in front of a hotel in Coronado while texting to see if there’s any availability.
Typical small restaurant. This one in San Vincente, which is in Baja Norte’s wine country.
One of my favorite place ever, the Mision Santa Maria Hotel in San Quintin. We first found it 30 odd years ago, and while the name has changed, its pretty much unchanged
View from our room
The beach. See any people?
The beach stretches as far as you can in the other direction as well.
Motorcycle Dude needs a Corona at the bar. I thought it was a look, KR not so much: )
We had a near-death experience, but it wasn’t on the bike, it was in a Mexican cab on the way to this famous old restaurant in San Quintin. The taxi driver was looking at his phone, playing with his kid, and talking with his wife on the 25 minute drive at night down a two-lane road. No one had seat belts. I couldn’t stop thinking about f___ing ironic if we got killed in a taxi crash on a m/c trip: ) I finally crawled over the front seat and shouted at him to shut up keep his eyes out front.
One of the coolest places on earth, mountains of Catavina with rocks and cactus
We took a walk down this dirt road/path behind our hotel. The Catavina Desert Inn is a great hotel with pretty shitty staff and an outrageous $30pesos/hr/128MB charge.
The 150miles between Catavina and Guerro Negro going south is pretty desolate with no “real” gas stations in between. Here, we stop at an abandoned Pemex station that is now manned by guys selling gas out of 1 gallon jugs. A mechanical breakdown out here would not be a good thing. Of course, NVII does not breakdown unlike his predecessor NVI.
On the other end of the scale, we stay at the Posada de Las Flores Hotel in Loreto for a couple of days. One of the great things about traveling by m/c is the extreme contrasts in surroundings and accommodations one can seek out.
While Loreto is small, its a pretty happening place. This is the town square on a Wednesday night. Bars, restaurants, music and dancing. Like I said, contrasts.
My Loreto office was on the pool deck of the Posada de Las Flores. And people ask me why I use a small computer: )
The next night all the beach hotels in Santa Rosalia were booked (we didn’t know it was Spring Break) so we stayed at this hotel in El Centro. Plastic table worked just fine as my office. Cost per night: $30US
The more mundane part of m/c travel: KR’s one pair of shoes broke, so we went shopping in a zapateria.
Motorcycle Stud. All systems worked well. Karen and I decided that our next m/c trip will be to South Africa this fall.
April 10, 2021 /6 Comments/by FHW
https://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_20210329_1745109.jpg 1067 1600 FHW http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png FHW2021-04-10 14:46:532021-04-10 14:46:53Boots in Baja
2. About Karen and Fred, 6. Rewire Essays, I. About, III. The Rewired Life
An oddball of a life
Warning: This is not a travel post. Proceed at your own risk.
I was having a drink the other night thinking about lots of stuff, but mostly musing on one primary question; “What path led to being here, now?” The “here and now” part wasn’t just the specific here and now (sitting in a hotel bar in Seattle, late at night, after a great day of thinking up ways to bolster the state of Washington’s cleantech ecosystem), but the more general here and now: somehow finding my life/adventure mate in KR; traveling to 27 countries and counting; doing something important and difficult at an age when most (all?) of my friends have hung up their spurs; living in downtown LA in an 800 square ft. apartment while building a wonderful house in PV (yet not seeing it much:); getting stuck in a Mexican desert for five hours when the Iron Duke broke down on our most recent trip north; and deciding that ultimately KR and I were going to live in an RV for a lot of our going forward time.
A few more screwdrivers and a theme began to emerge: I’ve been an oddball pretty much most of my life, I just didn’t know it:) This has turned out to be a good thing.
I was out of sync from the start as both my parents were over 35 and my nearest sibling was 10 years older. I was an accident. Being an accidental child has its advantages. No brothers and sisters to fight over things with. Christmas presents targeted at just you. And parents that feel guilty for all the mistakes they made on the planned kids tend to ease up on you.
The first time being out of sync had not so good consequences was as a “professional” motorcycle racer. I started racing at 22, competing against kids that were 16, 17, 18. I was married and working two jobs when my competitors were still doing homework:) Despite winning more than 70 races, I was never the “it” guy because at 22 I was just too old to be viewed as an up and comer. What the f__?
Boy racer
I went from motorcycle racer to Madison Avenue account guy. I worked at an agency on Madison Avenue that had a company bar, company chef, a conference room for any setting (from living room to conference center), and more guys from Harvard/Yale/Princeton than you could count. Girls were strictly limited to either copy writers or secretaries. I read a book called How to Dress for Success and learned that corduroy suits and maroon shoes weren’t as cool as I thought. How could that be?:)
By definition, if you spend five years racing motorcycles, you’re going to enter the “real” business world a touch late. I was an old young account guy who had a penchant for corduroy suits:) I quickly ditched the corduroys and shifted to a white-hot focus on catching up with everyone. Two brief cases to work, going to graduate school at night, working seven days a week, every week, were the routine for my early years on Madison Avenue.
Being a motorcycle racer, Teamster, and old young account guy made me an odd ball in a good way. I outworked and out-thought and out-planned everyone else. I became a very determined, competitive SOB who wanted to win in business just as much as I liked winning on the track. I rose up the ranks of the advertising business, eventually running the Apple account in the U.S., running an office for a big agency in San Francisco, and making more money than I had ever dreamed about.
Along the way I got fired more times than anyone else I know. The best “your fired” line: “Fred, you’ve seen the movie Good Fella’s? Know the scene in which Joe Pesci walks into a house thinking he was going to be a Made Man only to get shot in the back of the head? Well, that’s you…” Thank you Steve for the most creative axing ever:) Somehow I never worried about being fired — either being scared of it or worrying too much about it after the fact. I was becoming an accomplished eat-what-you-kill guy and had confidence I could make it happen, no matter where.
There is a case to be made that the “being out of sync” gene runs in our family. My sister was a successful business woman with hundreds of people working for her at a time when women just did not work in anything other than secretarial jobs. My brother quit his job as an aerospace engineer to start a company selling and eventually making mini computers back in the day of Radio Shack. He was the first person I had ever known who was a successful entrepreneur.
Sometime in the early ’90s I came to an important decision: I didn’t want to be an accomplished traditional ad guy, I wanted to somehow become part of what people were calling the New Media. No one knew what it was, heck I didn’t even know how to spell I_N_T_E_R_N_E_T, but I knew I wanted to be part of it.
Bye bye ad guy, hello tech guy.
I became the most out of sync guy around. I started an Internet company out of my house, drove a 13 year old Fiero (known affectionately as the American Ferrari), began telling corporate titans they were sorry-assed losers if they didn’t get on board the coming Internet revolution, and transformed myself into a pretty accomplished technology startup guy.
I’ve liked building things my own way from the beginning. I’ve started or tried to start 11 companies/projects/things, five of which actually went somewhere, three of which actually made money, one of which made a lot of money.
Speaking of money, I was once an Internet Titan worth $40M on paper. That’s a feeling I recommend to everyone provided you can handle when the $40M suddenly goes away. But there’s definitely a rush associated with being rich.
Always being out of sync slowly transformed me. I stopped caring about what other people thought. I developed a lot of confidence in being able to take care of KR and myself no matter what the f__ happened. I got comfortable in being a weirdo. I got comfortable in being me.
Wreckage of Casa Loca on an East Texas highway. Like the Subaru commercial, “We lived.”
After my various Internet and technology forays, KR and I sold our Hollywood house of 16 years and I turned to trying to figure out how to rewire our life so I could make a living while on the road. We had a custom 4WD RV made to roam the earth only to find ourselves spewed across an East Texas highway, giving KR a broken back and Lotus a brain tumor. Eight years later we tried it again, this time on a motorcycle in South America. Then LACI called while we were in Bolivia and we rushed back to Los Angeles to start a whole new chapter of being out of sync with life.
We now live in an 800 square feet loft in downtown Los Angeles. It’s called the Arts District because all the hipsters are moving in. Talk about being out of sync?:) I’m trying to convince the world that a new industrial revolution is coming called cleantech and getting similar responses to the mid-90’s Internet phenom, “What’ the business model? Will anyone want a sustainable widget? You’re inventing a solution to a non problem!..” Yada yada. Heard all of it before.
“We need to remodel a little” KR says to FW…
We’ve also moved our base of operations south of the Border to Puerto Vallarta Mexico — the safest country on earth:) Most of you reading this think we’re crazy for doing this as well. Drug cartels. El Chapo is now roaming around again. Murders left and right. Corrupted police and government officials. All true, except that’s not what we see.
We see a neighborhood full of playing kids, of young men and women walking to work at 6AM on a Sunday, of neighbors chasing down a truck which sideswiped the Broken Arrow and didn’t stop. Our neighbors caught him and called the police.
Mean streets of Puerto Vallarta
On the way driving up to LA a couple of weeks ago the Iron Duke broke down in the middle of the Mexican desert. We barely coasted into the only Pemex station in Mexico that didn’t have anything but gas pumps. We’re talking Nowhere’s Ville. The attendant got on his cell, called his expert “Mechanico.” Forty-five minutes later the Mechanico Team showed up in a beat-to-an-inch-of-its-life Toyota with a tool box that would make mine look impressive. After five hours of on-again, off-again theories of what was wrong — and giving them $500 cash to buy parts — they fixed the Iron Duke and we were on our way. There are few things more creative than Mexican’s keeping their vehicles running long past their Use By date:)
Mary Douglas, a famous British anthropologist known for her writings on human culture and symbolism, came up with a term that kind of described my life: matter out of place. Dirt on the ground is called earth, but when its on your sleeve its called dirt because its matter out of place. Things that are out of place are more often scorned than celebrated. The trick is to always think of yourself as the earth:)
August 2, 2015 /13 Comments/by FHW
http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png 0 0 FHW http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png FHW2015-08-02 14:48:352019-08-08 14:57:31An oddball of a life
2. About Karen and Fred, 7. Rewire Living, 9. Corona Adobe B&B, II. Travel Near & Far, III. The Rewired Life, IV. TRT Places, Mexico
La Corona becomes The Corona Adobe
Fourteen months after construction began, La Corona is done. 6,200 square feet of Mexican cement, bricks, wood, tile and adobe.
Our first season with La Corona is coming to a close and we couldn’t be happier with what we’ve cobbled together over the last fourteen months. Like everything else in our life, this season has brought surprises and changes that have pushed us in new directions. La Corona has rarely been empty, beginning with Jungle Storm III in early November right through this year’s Spring Break in April. It’s become a great party house for locals as well as out-of-town visitors — which surprisingly enough is what we had in mind in the first place!
Along the way, we’ve invented a new type of inn-keeping called “Bed and Wine” — as we’ve turned La Corona into the Corona Adobe, a B&B with a twist (OK, several twists). Before La Corona was even done, we began receiving inquiries from friends of friends about renting either a room, floor or the entire house. Before we could say “sure,” our first guest had stayed for two weeks in the “Adobe Suite.” Karen and Chelli quickly became great friends and gave dinner parties together; thus the “Bed and Wine” was born.
Like any self respecting B&W, we’ve unleashed a full marketing onslaught including website: CoronaAdobe and a listing on AirBnB, both of which couldn’t have been done without the help of Dan Weil. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Now that construction is done and the “High Season” is ending, KR is moving back to LA for at least the summer. This is great news, of course, as its been about a year since she was last in the US. This will present some adjustments for both of us, primarily in that KR will be moving from a 6,200 sq ft Mexican mini-mansion to a 900 sq. ft. Los Angeles-style micro loft. I don’t expect it to make much difference to Lilly as a bed is a bed is a bed:)
Here’s what this season has looked like:
The downstairs courtyard, kitchen and fish pond
Second floor: the kitchen, dining room and living room as viewed from the kitchen.
The kitchen with the pizza oven in background.
The living room with the latest addition to La Corona — the 10,000lb. bookcase.
The “outdoor” living room
The entrance sala, just outside the “Adobe Suite.”
The “Adobe Suite’s” bed.
The pool deck
Observation deck
The “secret bedroom”
Sunset and vino
Calm before the storm
One of the season’s parties starts innocently enough
Then picks up speed when the girls hit the kitchen
KR is happy to have Her Man home. Her Man is making himself useful as always, tackling a hard to open wine bottle.
The crew eating dinner in the dining room
This could have ended badly. Gwen, feeling no pain, decides to give Jennifer a hair cut with garden clippers
What’s a party without a pool? Here Carlos, Peter and yours truly are in deep conversation solving the problems of the world .
This is just a good shot. We’re awaiting for the boat to “Rhythms of the Night” show, about an hour boat ride south.
Unusual view of PV for us– from a boat off shore at night.
“Rhythms of the Night” was a great show. It’s a Mexican version of Cirque du Soleil.
On the way back, Peter and Carlos waste no time in celebrating the voyage.
Waiters doubled as entertainment on the cruise back.
Night ended around 1 in the morning at Andale’s with Yvonne leading the way.
Back in the real world, Isidro, KR and Jesus try and figure out the highly sophisticated pool filter. We’re still working on it.
I do my part in household maintenance, giving Lilly a bath in the kitchen sink. Lilly’s lov’n having Dad around.
Sayulita is a surfing town about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. Makes for a great day trip.
It’s always good for people watching, buying trinkets you’ll never use again, and having a couple of cervezas on the beach.
It’s never enough — time in PV — and I’m back at my favorite airport, on the way back to “civilization.”
https://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/IMG_27671.jpg 3000 4000 FHW http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png FHW2013-04-21 08:36:292019-08-08 15:44:40La Corona becomes The Corona Adobe
1. About TRT, I. About, II. Travel Near & Far, III. The Rewired Life
What is TheRestlessTraveler.com?
Who can argue with this? We came across this Mark Twain quote on a bike in Colorado. TheRestlessTraveler.com is all about "Explore, Dream, Discover."
TheRestlessTraveler.com is both a journal of off-the-beaten-path travel and off-the-beaten-path living. On our way to figuring out how to travel more, we decided to change just about everything else in our lives. So,what started out as a journal of our off-beat style of travel has turned into a window on our adventures off the road as well.
In 1992 I mapped out an around-the-world-motorcycle trip and said "let's do it!" I got the "are you crazy?" look from Karen and quietly waited for my next shot. Eighteen years later I'm not so crazy afterall as KR has joined me in the asylum.
There are a couple of story arcs that might interest:
Reports from Afar: We (and you) will be reporting from the places we go. Nepal and the Dakar Rally are the two first installments along with a motorcycle trip in which we rediscovered our inner biker selves. We chronicle our latest trip — a three month journey on our m/c through South America.
Rewire Journey to a New Life: This is the ongoing story of how we’re reconfiguring our life-style. This is a perfect case history that no plan is ever executed as envisioned.
All Things Puerto Vallarta: Thinking about living in Mexico or just visiting Puerto Vallarta? Here’s our experience with Little Big Sur and La Corona.
Links: I intend to grow a link farm here to help all of you who might want information about the what/how/when/who/why’s
It’s all about you. Just kidding, I wanted to get your attention. But this is more about all of us than just me. It would be thrilling if any of you wanted to write a guest post as ultimately TheRestlessTraveler.com will become something beyond just KR and I. I’m literally sitting on the edge of my chair hoping that you get some enjoyment from TRT. If you do, please let me know and send it to someone you know. If you don’t, please let me know what’s wrong with it and how to make it better.
Finally, a few notes on help. Dan Weil designed the entire thing, so if you like its look, hire Dan. Amy Gelfand helped Dan and I make the thing work. She’s a WordPress maven. And to all of you who said, “do it!” Thanks.
Fred Walti
fred@therestlesstraveler.com
You're invited! Come along for the ride.
October 16, 2010 /3 Comments/by FHW
http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png 0 0 FHW http://www.therestlesstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TRT-SITE-LOGO-blueglasses.png FHW2010-10-16 10:22:212019-08-09 18:22:40What is TheRestlessTraveler.com? |
Interview: Blueprint meets Annabelle Selldorf
By Francesca Perry
Pin image
Francesca Perry sits down with Annabelle Selldorf, whose eponymous practice has been sensitively shaping New York’s homes and cultural institutions for three decades
Words by Francesca Perry
In a light-filled, parquet-floored space overlooking New York’s Union Square, a thoughtful and elegant German– American leans back in her armchair, pauses, and says: ‘It’s better to be happy than to be unhappy.’ I laugh drily: ‘If only it were that easy.’
Perhaps surprisingly, I’m not describing a therapist’s session. On a sunny April morning I am sitting with Annabelle Selldorf in her eponymous practice’s offices — a high-ceilinged, open-plan affair — discussing her approach to architecture, to work, and to nurturing the 75-strong New York firm she initially set up in 1988. Happiness is not something you often hear architects talk about, but then again the narrative that Selldorf presents sits apart from that of prevailing high-octane, competitive architecture and busts myths which continue to define architectural success.
One of the Selldorf-renovated exhibition halls at the French art centre created out of a rail depot, Luma Arles. Credit: Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Selldorf first settled in New York in the late Seventies, having moved from her native Cologne in Germany — but no grand plan motivated this. ‘I didn’t get into architecture school in Germany,’ she admits simply, and consequently relocated to study architecture at the Pratt Institute. She loved New York, and stayed. But when Selldorf set up her firm in the late Eighties, her ambition was more about independence than any lofty driving principles. ‘I was fairly unequivocal by the time I set out on my own,’ she says. ‘I wanted to be independent and make my own decisions.’
The practice grew slowly — ‘Everything happened quite gradually,’ Selldorf explains — and suffered a blow in the financial crisis a decade ago. ‘We had moved into this [Union Square] office in 2007 with 40 people, as we had grown out of our old office,’ she says. ‘Then the recession hit. I thought I was going to have to open a pizza restaurant in here or something!’ The practice shrank, and then grew again.
Visualisations of Selldorf Architects’ proposals for the Frick Collection in New York, which will comprise sensitive repurposing, expanding and upgrading of facilities. Credit: Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Although Selldorf’s early projects were mainly residential (a typology she continues to this day), her practice has become known for its sensitive and user-focused cultural projects — from the Neue Galerie New York (2001), a museum of early-20th-century German and Austrian art within a Beaux Arts building, to Luma Arles (2015–18), the transformation of a 19th-century rail depot in France into a centre for contemporary art. And now, the practice is undertaking the renovation and expansion of the much-beloved New York institution, the Frick Collection, completing in 2023.
Selldorf’s first non-residential project, she explains, was a gallery for Michael Werner in New York (1990). ‘He said he didn’t like architects,’ Selldorf recalls. ‘He didn’t want the ambition of an architect to interfere with his vision of a space to show art. I was fine with that, because my way of working on and thinking about space is not about making a gestural statement. I proved to him that with thoughtfulness and dedication you can solve more issues than meets the eye. That set up a particular paradigm that we’ve stuck to.’
Read about Selldorf’s work and the word that crops up again and again is ‘subtle’. Hers is not a showy architecture — in an industry perhaps dominated by it — and she is clear about that. ‘If you believe in the transcending power of architecture, is that not evidence of a controlling and overpowering way of expression?’ she asks. But ‘subtle’ doesn’t quite capture the work’s intentions, which, she explains, are more about a power that nevertheless doesn’t ‘knock you over the head’.
‘I don’t think we’re short on confidence in the buildings we make,’ Selldorf says. ‘The hierarchy of articulation is just quite different. I’m after something that is direct. I think about the long-term, rather than the short-term, experience.’ This focus on user experience is a key preoccupation that defines the practice’s work, and it is often best embodied by its museum and gallery projects, where the design centres on the visitor’s journey and encountering of art. ‘My favourite experiences with our own work is to see the spaces when people use them,’ she says. ‘It’s great to see a space coming to completion as a result of its use.’
At the Swiss Institute in New York (2018), subtle interventions, such as a new stairwell and roof pavilions, provide an array of art-filled spaces to explore. Credit: Nicholas Venezia. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Selldorf illustrates her approach by describing a person who repeatedly visits the same space in a museum, yet gets something new from it each time. ‘I want you to go into the same room again and again and to feel free to discover your own potential of response,’ she says. ‘I think that’s provocative, not subtle, without giving you a sign that says “please be provoked by this”. I don’t want to tell people what to think or do, or where to go. What you are doing instead is making it possible for people’s own experiences to fully evolve.’ Perhaps, though, the practice’s apparent ‘subtlety’ comes down to the fact that many of its museum and gallery projects involve renovation, expansion or adaptive re-use, requiring a continuation of context and often — in the case of the Carrère and Hastings-designed buildings hosting the Neue Galerie and the Frick Collection, for example — sensitively honouring heritage.
At the Neue Galerie, Selldorf balanced historical restoration of the 1914 building with structural and mechanical modifications for the exhibition of art. At Luma Arles, alongside shaping the 6.5ha masterplan, Selldorf has converted five historic, industrial structures into two new flexible-use exhibition facilities, a hotel, visitor centre and cafe, with her latest work involving the creation of a new dance studio and artists’ residences within a 19th-century former office building.
The Swiss Institute in New York (2018). Credit: Nicholas Venezia. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
At the Frick, Selldorf will sensitively repurpose 5,574 sq m of the museum and create 2,508 sq m of new space, all in order to enhance the institution’s resources for display and exhibitions, conservation, education and public programmes, as well as upgrade visitor amenities and accessibility. The project, which received approval from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in June 2018 despite concerns from conservationist campaigners, is due to break ground next year.
In 2018, Selldorf completed the new 697 sq m home for the New York-based contemporary art organisation Swiss Institute, located within a former bank built in 1954. Selldorf was careful not to significantly alter the exterior or change the architectural spirit of the mid-century building. What she has done, however, is transform the interior experience into one that celebrates the viewing of art and visitor’s journey, as well as expand the building’s ambitions with a brand new roof terrace. Selldorf has created a joyful little building that, unlike most galleries, pays attention to the circulation spaces as much as the exhibition spaces.
Selldorf’s NoHo residential project, 10 Bond Street (2015). Credit: Nicholas Venezia. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Including basement and roof, the Swiss Institute comprises four levels of art, including in the mix a bookstore and a library space. Although a new lift enables full accessibility, visitors are encouraged to use the two stairwells to explore the building (one original terrazzo staircase at the back of the building and one steel and concrete one added by Selldorf at the front). These are no purely functional back-of-house areas, however, but elevated to gallery spaces in themselves, filled with art sprawling across the walls. This trail of art draws you up until you find yourself on the roof, a newly accessible space for further art installations, events or simply relaxation with a view. In order to provide access and sufficient facilities to enable this as a public, art-hosting level, Selldorf has built three minimal roof pavilions painted in pale grey or clad in coated steel panelling — which, from the exterior, reflects perfectly the silvery grey of the original pressed aluminium spandrels on the building facade below.
It is strange, then, that someone so insistent on not making gestural or attention-grabbing architecture is such a fan of New York City, one of the showiest metropolises in the world. Yet Selldorf loves the city and has lived in Manhattan for decades. ‘If you are attracted to discomfort, New York is your place,’ she says. ‘It’s a very aggressive place. It has a huge amount of energy and offers no reprieve.’ It sounds like my idea of hell, I say, but how does it impact her work? ‘I think in architecture you have to make sure there’s enough tension in the world that alerts people to an energy in a space,’ she says. ‘I am interested in that tension, and the long life of a building and the building’s ability to live alongside us through time. And I want my architecture to not be about trend and styles, but more about use and experience.’
Glazed terracotta and corten steel combine to articulate Selldorf’s 10 Bond Street (2015). Credit: Nicholas Venezia. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Perhaps it is this preference for timelessness that explains why she has publically stated she is not a fan of the city’s mega-developments like Hudson Yards (see page 54). Selldorf is acutely aware of the impact of architecture on the urban landscape: ‘Thinking back to the early years of the practice, I used to go around New York in a yellow cab and point out my projects,’ she recalls. ‘It was funny to think that you could become a part of the city. But when the projects get bigger, you have to think: what is it that I’m doing? You’re changing the image of the city.’ She pauses, trying to find the precise words: ‘The thick affluence that permeates life in New York these days is worrisome, because the proportion of poverty in the city is not less than it used to be. Nobody in the office can afford to live in Manhattan. People have to move further and further away and travel more — with very little investment in infrastructure. Those kind of conditions are deplorable. We must always think: how does our work contribute to such conditions and what can we do about it? We think our work is a good balance.’
Nevertheless, Selldorf Architects does tend to build housing on the higher end of the spectrum — though none of the projects could be said to represent the trend in superluxe supertalls admittedly. Two minutes from her office in Union Square, and visible from it, is her newest residential project nearing completion this summer: the 1,719 sq m and 22-storey tower at 21 East 12th Street. The bulk of the tower sits above — and set back from — a two-storey retail base that engages with the pedestrian level of this corner plot in a busy part of Greenwich Village. On top of the podium and surrounding the base of the 52-unit tower, Selldorf has designed rooftop gardens — some for the communal use of all residents, and some for the two townhomes located on this level. The exterior of the tower is pale cast stone, which is meant to fit in with the neighbourhood’s prewar limestone buildings. From street level, the tower appears surprisingly minimal, almost to the point of being monolithic, with no surface decoration. Perhaps it does its job of blending in with the area, but it unfortunately appears rather dull to the pedestrian observer.
The minimalist residential tower, 21 East 12th Street, nears completion in Greenwich Village (2019). Credit: Nicholas Venezia. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Selldorf’s New York residential projects from the earlier half of this decade, however, feel more exciting and creative. With projects like 200 11th Avenue (2010) and 10 Bond Street (2015), Selldorf harnessed the opportunities of newbuilds to create sculptural, even colourful, presences on the streetscape in ways that simply are not possible in her many adaptive re-use cultural projects. Surprises continue on the inside of these works too: the 19-storey, 16-unit 200 11th Avenue project has become known as the ‘Sky Garage’, because it has a drive-in car lift that brings residents’ vehicles up to their private garages. Faintly ridiculous, maybe, but certainly a departure from sensitive restoration projects.
This building’s facade is sculptural, with a gently rippling, metallic form, its stainless steel cladding shimmering in the sunlight. The lower storeys form a contrast, clad in darker, yet bronze-like, terracotta. Fully residential rather than mixed-use, the building unfortunately has no active street frontage, functioning better as an eye-catching element on the Chelsea skyline.
Terracotta and stainless steel are used on the rippling facade of Chelsea residential project 200 11th Avenue (2010). Credit: David Sundberg, Esto. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Over at 10 Bond Street in NoHo, however, a similarly eye-catching facade indulging in craft and materiality is complemented by active, ground-floor retail frontage. Above this sits six storeys of residential. Although the building’s low-rise scale, red-brown hue and structural rhythm echoes the local vernacular, in terms of materiality and articulation the project departs boldly from its surroundings. The exterior is defined by a terracotta and corten steel frame in regularised bays. While the ground-floor lintel and upper cornice of the building exterior is corten steel, the frame within consists of custom-cast, glazed terracotta panels that almost exactly match the weathered steel’s warm and earthy colour. The vertical panels of terracotta form continuous concave columns, while the horizontals are cast as muscular, rippled ribs. Inside the apartments, Douglas fir flooring and Vermont marble bathrooms continue the celebration of raw yet refined materials.
Questioned on materiality, Selldorf explains that the priorities for her architecture lie in utility, function, structure, proportion and light, but that she believes the practice’s buildings ‘ought to contribute to their urban context and become part of our collective memory of the texture that makes the city’. She continues: ‘Material, texture or tactility and colour are among the things that allow for the visceral experience of a building and become a part of that memory. The exploration of the opportunities of materiality and craft are enjoyable.’
A statement on the skyline: 200 11th Avenue (2010). Credit: David Sundberg, Esto. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
It would certainly be interesting to see Selldorf bring the sculptural, colourful, craft-orientated sensibility seen in her residential projects to some of her cultural projects, which continue to be defined by the contexts of historical buildings. There has only been one such fully newbuild gallery project in Selldorf’s portfolio: the David Zwirner contemporary art gallery on 20th Street in New York’s West Chelsea (2013). ‘The pleasure of any newbuild project is that there is a certain freedom to create priorities and hierarchies — in other words the underlying rationale of a structure is generated by me rather than being a given,’ explains Selldorf. ‘There are always constraints of course, but they are of a different nature and allow for a more unequivocal expression.’ More minimal than sculptural, the project’s exterior nevertheless continues to indulge in the craft and texture of its materials: shuttered raw concrete with teak detailing. But it’s not all form-first: the building was the first LEED-certified commercial gallery in the US when it opened, incorporating five green roof spaces and locally and responsibly sourced materials.
It’s not just cultural and residential projects that Selldorf is contributing to New York City, however. In 2013, the practice completed a 4.5ha waterfront masterplan for a material recovery facility in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighbourhood, for Sims Municipal Recycling and the City of New York. The project features a 13,000 sq m recycling facility — comprised of a series of buildings including an educational centre — as well as landscaping of native plants. The practice harnessed recycled materials throughout the project, including recycled steel for the buildings and recycled glass for the plazas. The project also includes photovoltaics, a wind turbine, and bioswales for stormwater management.
Shimmering terracotta on the facade of 200 11th Avenue (2010). Credit: David Sundberg, Esto. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Now, Selldorf Architects is working on designs for a new large-scale municipal project: a CSO (Combined Sewage Overflow) facility in Gowanus (just north of Sunset Park) for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The facility is comprised of an eight-million-gallon underground tank for stormwater and sewage and an above-ground head house wrapped in a louvred terracotta. The practice has been working with landscape architects DLAND Studio for the surrounding public open space and harnessing public feedback into the design through ongoing engagement.
Is Selldorf interested in pursuing more masterplanning projects? ‘Absolutely! Are you kidding me?!’ she cries. ‘Masterplanning is about using sociological concepts and translating them into a physical plan extended over time. It’s so multidimensional.’
Selldorf’s only fully newbuild cultural project, the David Zwirner gallery on 20th Street (2013), boasts a minimal concrete aesthetic. Credit: Jason Schmidt. Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Although it’s safe to say that the majority of Selldorf’s projects are found in her hometown of New York, there are signs the portfolio is expanding, geographically as well as typologically. In 2015, Selldorf Architects was commissioned by 14+ Foundation — an organisation dedicated to increasing education accessibility for rural African communities — to create a 175-student primary school in southern Zambia. Mwabwindo School, which is coming to completion this year, is ‘an entirely new typology for us’, says Selldorf. She knew the foundation’s New York-based CEO Joseph Mizzi, who asked her to design the project pro bono. ‘I was fascinated by the idea of the organisation,’ says Selldorf. ‘His energy and initiative are so igniting and contagious.’
How did Selldorf approach such a new type of project? ‘We started by learning as much as possible about the land, the people and the local educational techniques,’ she says. ‘All of the architecture is based on ideas about the school, the children, how they come together, wayfinding and community activities.’ The design for the school is comprised of mud-brick classrooms, an internal ‘street’ and courtyard spaces covered by a corrugated metal roof canopy, held up by slender steel pillars. A covered assembly space will function both for the students and as a hub for local civic gatherings. The project also features a community vegetable garden and housing for teachers.
The Material Recovery Facility in Sunset Park (2013). Credit: Marclins
Selldorf speaks of the ‘simple building principles, simple forms’ of the project, which won the 2017 Panerai Design Miami/ Visionary Award. The mud bricks have been handmade on site in collaboration with the community and constructed by local masons in order to provide employment and training opportunities. ‘It’s a humbling experience to see how much of a difference you can make,’ says Selldorf. Environmental sustainability is central to the project too: rainwater will be collected for the community garden, solar panels will provide energy and a windmill will pump well water to the facilities.
Asked about whether this school project might open up a new sector in the practice’s portfolio, Selldorf responds positively: ‘I think educational projects are a fascinating opportunity. I believe that many cultural and educational projects are fuelled by the same idea: making learning environments positive places for people to come together.’
A visualisation of Selldorf’s designs for the Gowanus sewage overflow facility. Credit: Selldorf Architects
A different kind of learning environment, on a different continent, is also underway for the practice. In January of this year, it was announced that Selldorf Architects had been chosen by the World Monuments Fund to design an interpretation centre within the 18th-century Qianlong Garden in the Forbidden City in Beijing, due to complete in 2020. The garden, which has not previously been accessible to the public, was originally designed as a private retreat for the Qianlong Emperor, with four courtyards, rockeries and 27 pavilions and structures. Selldorf’s plans include an exhibition space with information on the garden’s history, an area showcasing the restoration process and an open space with views of the rockeries. ‘Being able to work in the Forbidden City is both a privilege and a responsibility — and a very interesting learning experience,’ explains Selldorf (who, it’s worth noting, is also on the board of the World Monuments Fund).
So with projects in Asia and Africa, could we see Annabelle Selldorf taking her sensitive and user-focused architecture more regularly to different countries and continents? ‘I’ll go anywhere!’ she replies with a laugh, explaining that for her, it’s more about the nature of the project than the place — although of course once a project has begun, the context of place becomes a central component.
Mwabwindo School under construction in rural Zambia. Credit: Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
But as any good therapist — I mean architect — would tell you, the values you embed in your work, wherever that work may be, have to start at home (or in this case, the office). ‘The culture of the practice is the thing I’m most proud of,’ says Selldorf. ‘It is a source of the biggest satisfaction to me. I started as a single practitioner and didn’t want partners. Learning to include and celebrate other people’s intelligence is the most interesting thing. Nothing happens on one’s own. Listening, collaboration — that’s what we’re about. And being open to continuous learning — learning to be curious.’
There’s something else noteworthy about the culture of Selldorf Architects: it is a female-led practice in a city, and an industry, in which such firms form the minority. There are four partners at Selldorf in addition to Annabelle; three of them are women. ‘Is that significant?’ she asks rhetorically. ‘Yes.’
Annabelle Selldorf and her practice champion the importance of listening, dialogue and problem-solving. She may not be a therapist, but she might be as close to one as the architecture world can get.
This article was originally published in Blueprint issue 364. Buy a copy here, or subscribe to Blueprint
Frame of Mind: Pippa Nissen of Nissen Richards Studio
Co-designing with children
Client File: Susan Stuart, owner of boutique Penzance hotel Chapel House
SLC Dormy Care Communities
SLC Crystal Cruises
Tarkett helps London Waste and Recycling Board close the loop |
Review: we are Family / The Film Emotional Atyachar
MAN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
An entirely needless remake supposedly targeted at women respects them the least. Plus, a modestly entertaining noir-thriller.
SEP 5, 2010 – THE ONE LAUGH-OUT-LOUD MOMENT in we are Family – the eccentrically majusculed lettering is perhaps to emphasise the latter aspect of the title – arrives through the bespectacled Ankush (Nominath Ginsberg), the sole son of divorced parents Aman and Maya (Arjun Rampal, Kajol). The scene unfolds at the dinner table, with Ankush’s parents and sisters – the elder Aliya, the younger Anjali (Aanchal Munjal, Diya Sonecha) – and Aman’s girlfriend Shreya (Kareena Kapoor). Females outnumber males two to one. The discussion gets going with little Anjali expressing an interest in her would-be-stepmother’s profession (fashion designing), while Aliya, very much daddy’s little girl rebelling against daddy’s new girlfriend, snaps that she’d rather be a writer-publisher, like her mother. And like a tempestuous heroine in one of her forthcoming books, she storms out, Shreya trailing in her wake, while Maya declares that dinner is over. After all this distaff drama, Ankush leans over to his father and mumbles that he wants to become a cosmonaut but no one asked him. I laughed because I felt his pain, but also because, unintentionally and with crystalline clarity, he underlines the film’s preoccupations. This is a movie about women, and for women. It has no time for men – on screen, or in the audience.
And yet, this remake of Stepmom is hardly a feminist manifesto, given how shabbily it reduces Shreya to a spineless martyr. When Maya is diagnosed with cancer and when Aman improbably says he’s moving back in with her, she extracts from Aman one of those only-in-the-movies promises, that he will not tell Shreya about her condition. Aman, therefore, dumps Shreya, the supposed love of his life, with utmost ignominy – and this, after she has made an effort to establish a relationship with his kids because she knows how important they are to him. Shreya looks on piteously as Aman walks away, and the camera rises to capture her in the centre of a desolate street, underlining her undeserved loneliness. But soon, Maya asks Shreya to move in with them, in order to ease the kids’ transition to this woman who might eventually take her place, and Shreya does just that. Like any self-respecting jilted lover, you expect she’ll unleash her wrath on Aman for not loving and respecting her enough to involve her in the decision to break up, but Shreya simply simpers that she’d have done the same thing had the daintily heeled shoe been on the other foot. She chucks her career and becomes a full-time nursemaid to the children of the man who treated her like garbage. The message is that there’s a mother inside every woman, and it’s every woman’s duty to ensure that pesky career issues don’t come in the way of her true purpose on earth.
Despite the underwhelming original, which dealt with mega-issues like death and divorce with stupefying shallowness, I had minor hopes for this remake, if only because the melodramatic subject is more suited to our style of storytelling. Watch Masoom and Man, Woman and Child – both sprung from Erich Segal’s tear-jerking novel – and you’ll see that the latter, with its WASPy cool, keeps you at an arm’s distance, while Shekhar Kapur whips up an emotional maelstrom and sucks you in. But we are Family is done in by its cast. If Stepmom retained a smidgen of believability, it was thanks to Ed Harris and Susan Sarandon, who looked like they’d graced this earth with a good number of their years, and the arrival of the coltish photographer played by Julia Roberts spiked their story with a frisson of fear – that decades of marital wholesomeness could come undone in the blink of an eye, and your children, already shuttling between homes and suffering for no fault of their own, could end up in the inexperienced hands of a stranger who might have been in high school when you exchanged your till-death-do-us-part vows. Here, between Arjun Rampal, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor, there isn’t a widening gut, a drooping breast, a balding crown, a worry-creased brow. Firm and shiny as waxed fruit, they appear to be advertising parenthood as a cure for aging: Have lots of babies, make those laugh lines vanish! They arouse not empathy but envy.
But that, in itself, isn’t entirely the problem – and this is not a plea for the consideration of Vinay Pathak, Seema Biswas and Neha Dhupia in the lead roles. Karan Johar (who produced this film, and who creditably took the legal route in procuring the remake rights) is nothing if not a throwback to Old Hollywood. Every corner of his frames is floodlit with barely a shadow in sight – all the better to showcase the painstaking décor, the careful costuming and, most of all, the enormously attractive stars. That’s how they did it in the MGM musicals; that’s how Siddharth P. Malhotra, the director, does it here. (The opening credits proudly proclaim: “Makeup for Kajol by Mickey Contractor.” And the finale is staged like the showstopper number from a musical, with Aman literally wheeling Maya into a spotlight.) The problem with we are Family is that it thinks throwing catastrophes at us at regular intervals, accompanied by a ridiculously syrupy score, is good drama. We’ve barely met the characters, and within the first ten minutes, a child is nearly run over by a speeding car. We don’t actually get to know these people, and consequently, we never come around to caring about them. We snort, instead, that a full-family rendition of Jailhouse Rock is all that’s needed to cement splintered relationships. You no longer need shrinks or divorce lawyers, apparently. You just need Elvis.
LIKE MOST POSTMODERN NOIR THRILLERS, the puzzlingly titled The Film Emotional Atyachar is the bastard child of two twentieth-century aphorisms – Jean-Luc Godard’s puckish pronouncement that all films must have a beginning, a middle and an end (just not necessarily in that order), and John Lennon’s more sentimental observation that life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. A fractured-timeline narrative and the power of destiny to thwart the best-laid plans – these constitute the narrative spine of Akshay Shere’s self-conscious tale of a bag of loot that passes through numerous ill-intentioned hands before winding up by the bedside of its rightful owner. Along the serpentine way, the storytelling stops to doff a hat to every single genre requirement – creatively gory violence (death by screwdriver), multiple-point-of-view narration, pop-culture nods (Tom and Jerry as an inspiration for murder), plenty of swearing, outrageously colourful characters with equally colourful introductions (“Bosco, a virgin Casanova”) and a cool disregard for formal narrative, which results in an engagingly trippy vibe.
Shere, to his credit, keeps his running time short (a mere hour-and-a-half) by dispensing entirely with character delineation. We learn that Joe (Vinay Pathak, who, along with Ranvir Shorey, headlines a game cast) is a mama’s boy, or that Vikram (Mohit Ahlawat) had a grandfather from Pakistan – but these splashes of colour don’t actually accrue into portraits of these people. And that’s how it should be – for despite the presence of “emotion” in the title, this is not the kind of film that invites identification. This is moviemaking as game-playing, where the director throws the audience the gauntlet and we breathlessly try to keep up. I admit I was a little lost at first, with the numerous storylines and the constant cross-cutting between them. (That, of course, fulfils another genre requirement, that the second time’s the charm. A repeat viewing might tell me, for instance, what those darned scorpions were about.) But once I settled into the film’s rhythms, and despite the frequent scrappiness, I must say I had fun. Just remember not to blink.
← Between Reviews: To See Or Not To See
Part Of The Picture: A Lesson in Valuables →
41 Responses “Review: we are Family / The Film Emotional Atyachar” →
Mohit Ahlawat from James is still around??
I bet that little girl was named Anjali just so we could watch Kajol say: “I’m not Anjali, Aman.”
Rangan – Planning to catch Bale Pandiya? Heard its good.
Rakesh: yes, he is. You know, throughout the film, I kept wondering I’d seen this guy somewhere. And then the light dawned 🙂
Amrita: And I bet Arjun was named Aman so that we know that in no Dharma Productions film are Aman and Anjali destined to be together 🙂
kamil: Not especially. Next week looks a little more interesting though, with Drohi and Boss Engira Baskaran.
I feel a little hurt and betrayed. What did we ever do to you for you to consign nausea like “We are Family” to the lot of women? 🙂
shalini,
gulzar. payback time.
I have seen Step Mom once on TV and the one line I still remember from that movie , five years after having watched the movie is when Susan Sarandon’s little son says , ‘ I will hate her mom , if you want me to ‘ , after sensing his mom’s discomfiture when she perceives the kids beginning to like Julia Roberts . I think her character then is shown as softening her stance toward Julia Roberts . The rest of the movie I thought was hogwash . Don’t intend to see the desi version with possibly loads of unnecessary melodrama .
Somehow from seeing the trailer, i thought that kajol and kareena were sisters in the movie and was kinda impressed by the boldness of the idea. Seems i totally misread it. Anyway didn’t see the movie and i guess i did the right thing.
gargim
I didn’t like the original at all and the last thing I’d want is to suffer a Karan Johar rendition of the same. The best thing I can say is that they cast Arjun Rampal in Ed Harris’ role, not because he can act but at least we women have someone nice-looking to ogle. While watching Stepmom, I spent most of the film wondering why either Susan Sarandon or Julia Roberts would ever fall for Ed Harris, as much as I admire him as an actor.
Did you watch Siva Mansula Sakthi? If you did, my reaction to you saying Boss Engira Bhaskaran(I dont know whats Drohi) is interesting: :O :O!!!!!!!
gargim, I have long since realised that looks don’t matter – only the guy’s bank balance.
Raj Balakrishnan: Or in Ed Harris’ case, his acting skills!
Shalini: Not you. I only meant ordinary women — you know, the ones who don’t really get why Gulzar is great ;-
Gradwolf: Yes, I did. Awful film. Why do you ask?
Gradwolf: OMG! OMG! Is Boss Engira Baskaran directed by the same guy who directed Siva Manasula Sakthi? I am outta here, well not exactly, maybe for Nayanthara…
Generally, “Boss…” is from the same team, right? They even proudly announce, “From the team of SMS”
gradwolf: Oh crap. Then I guess I’m outta there. And I’m not even a fan of Nayantara’s recent avatar.
BTW, search terms that led to this blog today:
“hanna schygulla porn”
“dull fingernails”
“shahid kapoor bare body”
“tabu navel bite”
“chetan bhagat family pics”
“hyderabad sexy marwadi sex patner”
Really? Really?
Padwan
Baradwaj: So, you were a fan of what Nayanthara in Ayya? Chandramukhi? Admitted she did look awful in Aadhavan, but at least from the stills in BeB, she looks good. Assuming that when you say you are not a fan of Nayanthara, you meant her looks and not acting skills (whatever that means!)
Off topic, did you ever review (or write about) Hey Ram? If so, could you point me to the right location.
@Baradwaj : what’s Nayan’s latest avatar ? And, are these words hidden in your blog posts somewhere (and not in human readable form ?)If not, kindly point to posts for at least search result 4 😛
Pradyumna M
Or maybe Arjun and Kajol were names Aman and Maya respectively because the director is a big fan of KANK and this is his way of paying tribute to KJo,after all every KJo needs to have some self-referencing! 😛
1) Named*
2) …Every KJo movie*…
Padawan: That Hey Ram review is somewhere on one of my older comps — I just cannot find it. Have tried.
Bala: Her latest avatar is this anaemic, pencil-eyebrow chick. Definitely not a fan. And do you really think I’d write phrases like that? 🙂
@Baradwaj:Haven’t seen her in any of her movies after that song in Sivaji…well a bit in Ayan was it ? I thought she looked super hot then.And then she goes and gets hitched to Prabhudeva.Enough to make a man become a sanyasi I say !
@Baradwaj: ah yes, the hey ram review.Weirdly enough I too was looking for it.It was never online was it ?
Bala: Avanga Prabhu Deva-voda ponaa neenga yen sanyasi aaganum? Something odhachufying 🙂 And no, that review wasn’t online.
Best thing would be to write a long BR(Between Reviews/Bitty Ruminations, you choose) on Hey Ram. The “People Looking for BR’s Hey Ram Review” list grows exponentially every year.
Kiruba
BR: Drohi looks promising with a a great crew and a decent enough promo, though it made me wonder if this is a straight Tamil or Telugu dubbed film.
BTW, did you bother to catch the other Tamil release this week, about the sexcapades of the daughter in law with her father-in law? (I do sincerely hope this adds to the list of search terms directing to your blog)
@Brangan: I second gradwolf..after asking for the hey ram review for more than a year on umpteen different occasions…this seems to be the best solution on hand [ 🙂 ]
gradwolf / kpv balaji: I’m really annoyed I can’t locate it because it was one of my first really long reviews, and I loved the film so much that I did one for Hindi and one for Tamil, with a special coda on Raja’s score. I don’t think I’m going to have the time to do that all over again 🙂
Kiruba: Regarding the sexcapades film, haven’t seen it, but do you think the reports of being threatened are just a publicity stunt? Seems that way to me 🙂 But should I watch it, I wonder. May make for a fun Between Reviews.
Excuse me? not only is the original statement quite offending, you go ahead and follow it up with this zinger? and hey, that mandatory little smiley you use.. completely lost its meaning ….
Hi BR,I think you need to create a separate discussion thread to discuss topics not directly related to the review or bitty ruminations piece…also not all of us understand tamil sentences or follow all tamil releases…there I said it 🙂
“gradwolf / kpv balaji: I’m really annoyed I can’t locate it because it was one of my first really long reviews, and I loved the film so much that I did one for Hindi and one for Tamil, with a special coda on Raja’s score. I don’t think I’m going to have the time to do that all over again”
Cant you take a couple of weeks off from reviewing Johar and Atchaiya Kumar movies? Heck, Drohi, Bale PandiyalAm avasiyam pArkaNumA? Indian Express Editor E-mail id kudunga.
vikram: Isn’t it easier to just skip the comments you’re not interested in or cannot follow? 🙂 I think it would be very boring if there were no random digressions.
Hey what’s with all the supremely bad press directed at Rahman, any dope on who is orchestrating the press releases or is it just general “Look what’s wrong with CWG today” funda.
But after Raavan and Robot, guess we are officially in one of Rahman’s troughs. Now to wait for a RDB or a Delhi 6.
Just heard that Murali passed away…it’s always sad when someone passes away relatively young. I recall him saying in one interview that he was an actor (among this generation) who had acted in over 100 films before he had his first foreign outdoor shoot!! He mostly got slotted into rural subjects…I also had the opportunity to meet him once, seemed like a nice guy.
As for his acting, he was no great shakes (though poo malaye thol serava keeps playing in my mind right now, for some reason!!)…he did resusticate his career by slotting himself into “thambi” roles and mellow characters.
Vivek: Robot wasn’t all that bad, dude. Three really nice songs, I thought.
Shankar: Yeah, I heard too. I’m remembering ‘Pottene poovilangu,’ though, from his first film. Exquisite song. I wasn’t a fan of his, but as you say, he represents a generation that hummed along with ‘Aathadi paavada kaathaada’ and ‘Thulli ezhundhadhu paattu,’ and it’s sad to hear of his passing. Quite young too. I guess he wasn’t even 50.
“Robot wasn’t all that bad, dude. Three really nice songs, I thought.”
branigannukku completea kayandu poidutthu.
While we are waiting for BR to find his Hey Ram review ,
here is T.G.Vaidyanathan on Hey Ram ,
Thanks to someone called “Gaatu” who has typed it up in the comments section of a PFC blog entry ,(http://passionforcinema.com/role-of-critics/)
so here it goes
“Kamal Haasan’s Masterpiece
(Review of ‘Hey Ram’ by T. G. Vaidyanathan in the April 2000 issue of the Gentleman magazine)
Almost incredibly, the 46-year-old Kamal Haasan’s film career spans a period over four decades! Since his 1960 debut as a child artiste in Bhimsingh’s Kalathur Kannamma, Kamal has always intrigued his fans. Chameleon-like, he has appeared in a variety of guises, as a mafia don in Nayakan (1987), a dwarf in Appu Raja (1989) and more recently, as a middle-aged Brahmin woman in Chachi 420 (1997). And, in these days of ‘talkative’ movies, he has even appeared in a silent movie, Puspak Vimana (1989)! All these were commercial bonanzas but artistically vapid and so it is indeed ironic that his latest film Hey Ram – undoubtedly his chef-d’oevre –has been so coldly received by our critics.
Kamal’s canvas here is nothing less than the whole gamut of Indian civilisation. The eponymous hero of the film, Saket Ram, is seen at the beginning assisting the legendary Sir Mortimer Wheeler, former Director of the Archeological Survey of India, who discovered the ruins of Mohenjo Daro and Harrapa in the 1920s. And, at the end, the death of the octogenarian, Saket Ram (b. 1910) on December 6 and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 are virtually telescoped and presented as one monolithic occurrence. The film traces the gradual evolution of the apolitical Saket to the gun-wielding firebrand activist who is only pipped at the post by his real life alter ego – Nathuram Godse.
The film is decidedly not anti-Muslim although unthinking mobs initially vandalised theatres in Calcutta (which, more recently, gave Kamal a rousing reception) and even indolent and verdant Bangalore (where I saw a truncated version in a theatre, bang opposite a large Muslim slum, with atrocious acoustics) where cricket is clearly the flavour of the month. It is true that Altaf (the tailor) and his cohorts are responsible for the rape and murder of Saket’s Bengali wife, Aparna – a perfect cameo by Rani Mukherjee who beautifully enunciates Jibananda Das’s poem, Rupashi Bangla, which eulogises undivided Bengal in a tranquil conjugal felicity just before her own gruesome end. But the political fulcrum of the film is the abiding friendship between the Brahmin Saket and that Gandhi-loving Pathan, Amjad – played flawlessly and not in the least “as a star prop” by Shah Rukh Khan. Even on his death bed, Amjad will not betray his friend, Bharat (Saket) to the police and this alone serves to turn Saket away from the path of political vendetta to souvenir-seeking Gandhian at the end. So why are the Muslims cribbing about the film’s partisan politics?
The aesthetic objections, too, stem not from the film itself as from not watching it closely enough. A distinguished Mumbai film critic has found (The Sunday Times, February 20, 2000 p.20) the film “mammothly self-indulgent” with Kamal Haasan hogging all the scenes (but you could say the same of Shakespeare’s Hamlet!). Finding Saket’s “boudoir frolics” with second wife Mythili, “a kinky cross between a Michael Jackson Video and a Salvador Daliesque surreal nightmare” the same critic proceeds to indict the film which “wavers fatally… in its distracted story-telling, mysterious add-ons like a ghostly blind kid, and in its failure to set up strong supporting characters”.
But let us begin by briefly revisiting the “boudoir frolics” with Mythili that our finds “a kinky cross between a Michael Jackson Video and a Salvador Daliesque surreal nightmare”. Of course, it is nothing of the sort! A rather inebriated Saket (of the twirling moustache!) abruptly “takes” wholly unprepared Mythili after witnessing a routine Maharashtrian tamasha. But if we have been watching carefully we will have noted that the “trigger” of Saket’s sexual explosion is provided by the moment when the tamasha dancer is transformed into the dead Aparna who herself had appeared in the previous scene when the conspiracy was hatched as an evening Durga! Mythili’s ravishment, itself, disguised reprise of Aparna’s earlier rape by the Muslim insurgents led by Altaf and Mythili herself in an earlier transformation, preludial to the conspiracy, becomes the blind Muslim girl for her slain father. These imagistic linkages are vital to our understanding of the film’s inner logic. It is the unexpected reawakening of these hitherto dormant Aparna-rape-memories that leads to Saket’s sexual explosion with a wholly bewildered Mythili.
A Kaleidoscopic cluster of images thematically and rationally linking the film’s overlapping themes (religious, political and sexual) aided and abetted by the wonderful dialogue written by Manohar Shyam Joshi – not in the least like the “Daliesque surreal nightmare” of Un Clean Andalou or L’Age d’or which the highly eccentric Dali had designed in Paris with Luis Bunnel in the late 1920s – bind the film’s polysemous structure way beyond the intellectual radar of our Bombay editor who ruefully confesses to being “neither shaken or stirred”.
Almost certainly, Kamal’s multi-layered Hey Ram – quite unlike the sentimental pieties of Attenborough’s schmaltzy Gandhi – should garner a clutch of swords at this year’ National Awards.
Expertly written piece as it could only be from its source, TGV, one in earnest & puts into consideration the stupid assumptions (mostly prickly judgments) about this actor-writer-director. Khalid Mohammad and other Bachchan propagandists took the cue (mammoth self-indulgence) to bring Kamal down (when he was in ascendancy in Hindi cinema that likes of SRK, Om Puri, N’Shah, Rani, Hema Malini et all wanted to act for him. And we know who was in descent then)
I’m also wondering whether BR grew up reading TGV as I did.
Incidentally, everyone’s favourite brainless comic director today – Sajid Khan – fought a lone battle in his then-TV show for Hey Ram.
That was a thoroughly enjoyable review by TGV. Reading him for the first time. And TD, you tell me a generation might have grown up with him? Ah! What ignorance I have lived through!
“engaging” instead of “enjoyable”, please.
And I remember you telling me that Hey Ram was about ten yrs ahead of tamil cinema at that time and after its crushing blow at box office, Kamal decided to never again make such a movie 🙂
Quite easily one of the best hindi/tam main stream movie. |
Reunification Of Star Trek Inches Closer As CBS And Viacom Merger Talks Move To New Stage
| March 25, 2018 | By: Anthony Pascale 98 comments so far
The merger talks between CBS and Viacom (parent company of Paramount Pictures) that began in January are heating up with reports now indicating the two media companies will begin a new phase of discussions this week. According to Variety, they will be discussing valuations of the two companies, which is one of the last steps in the process. Variety reports that the final deal will have CBS as the “acquiring entity” with CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves leading the combined entity.
This makes determining the value of Viacom the last step in the process. While Viacom has struggled in recent years, analysts feel changes in management and strategy make the company more attractive for CBS. A Wall Street Journal analysis says Viacom is a better deal now than the last time the two companies considered remerging back in 2016, specifically noting that the true value of Viacom’s international business and Paramount Pictures studio and library are currently being undervalued in the share price.
And if you want a simple visual explanation as to why it makes sense for these companies to come together, Recode offers the following infographic, showing how both Viacom and CBS are dwarfed by other media companies.
All of Star Trek under one roof
In 2006 when Viacom and CBS split into two companies they also split Star Trek between them. CBS owns the Star Trek license in general (which includes merchandise) and the television library, while Paramount owns the film library and holds the license to make feature films.
Bringing the two companies back together could allow more synergy for Star Trek, which could help CBS add more value to the All Access streaming service, home to Star Trek: Discovery. It’s also possible it could provide Paramount with more funding or sources of co-financing, an area it has struggled with in the last few years.
Bottom line, the reunification of the owners of Star Trek could only be a benefit to the franchise.
TrekMovie will continue to keep tabs on all the business news affecting Star Trek, so stay tuned for updates.
Watch Sneak Peek Of Final ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3 Trailer Coming During AFC Championship Next Sunday
DS9, DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming
‘Deep Space Nine’ Leaving Netflix USA; Star Trek Now Streaming Exclusively On Paramount+
CBS/Paramount, Star Trek 2023, Star Trek Universe TV, Trek Franchise
ViacomCBS Rebrands As Paramount, Highlights Star Trek And Global Streaming Expansion
CBS/Paramount
Paramount Confirms Multiple Star Trek Films In The Works Amidst Management Shakeup
Chris Bahn
Thrusters on full.
Reply to Chris Bahn
I”m thinking, ‘thrusters on bull- … ” might be more clever a rejoinder.
Mirror Galt
Nice, Les Moonves, that perennial visionary giving us the likes of NCIS: Scorpion, NCIS: Bakula, Borscht Belt sitcoms, Julie Chen’s Star Trek: Mushroom Quest, and Survivor: Omarosa … can oversee the grand unification of the Roddenberry multiverse. This is our time to shine.
Reply to Mirror Galt
Hahahahaahahaha! This comment. Slayed me.
Jack D
“Slayed”?
Reply to Jack D
Jack D,
verb past tense
* informal
greatly impressed or amused (someone).
W. A.
Also, I laughed far harder at that sarcasm than I should have. Thank you; after a tough day, I needed that.
IB Babel
Omarosa be dammed.
mwz
Reminiscent of Disney acquiring 21st Century Fox to reunite their Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Fox produced X-Men universe.
Reply to mwz
Except Alex Kurtzman is no Kevin Feige.
Dennis C
Ouch but, yeah, spot on.
Neill Stringer
Alex Kurtzman name attached to Star Trek has always been a bad omen for me, I thought his writing along with Roberto Orci has been sub standard, especially on Into Darkness, and even in the plot of 2009 was not well thought out in places.
Beyond had different writers and still going for that mainstream blockbuster feel, I do feel that Simon Pegg and his writing partner along with Justin Lin gave us a Kelvin timeline that actually evoked the feel of Star Trek.
It would be great for the two companies to merge, I loved how when the TNG crew were doing the films, they were able to feel attached to DS9 and Voyager’s continuity. It might help to reconcile the movies and TV shows if they did merge back.
However, at the moment I want Discovery on focusing on being a Star Trek show, at the moment I feel it is the most inconsistent show on and has no clear idea what it wants to do, it feels like a Frankenstein’s monster at times as it seems to be produced by committee, given the producers involved.
To me at times it seems the producers were trying everything to remove this show from the feel of Star Trek, and I think that is wrong. If I can still stomach what these guys are doing to our beloved show, led by Kurtzman, all I can hope for is a second season of Discovery that actually remembers and is proud to be Star Trek.
Setting your show 10 years before TOS might be great for marketing but to many fans it feels like you took an era and changed things for the sake of changing. I feel that TOS has been insulted and mocked in the promotion of this show.
I think they need to learn something from Enterprise and that is making a show that balances the modern aesthetic with the look from the Orignal Series.
Doctor Who was extremely successful going retro last year with Hartnell’s TARDIS console room and the Mondasian Cybermen. Its kind of like to have the best of both worlds here.
Just feel like it needs to get its heart back. To me it was lost when Enterprise got cancelled in 2005. Outside of the fan films, the only Trek film that captured that which I loved, was Star Trek Beyond
Reply to Neill Stringer
100% agreed.
María Elena Meyer
jgkojak
Yes – Orci/Kurtzman seem to like coincidence, and just explain it away (Scotty happens to be on the Kirk ice planet, Spock can see Vulcan explode without a device, beaming across space in Into Darkness)… all lazy writing that could have been taken care of with tiny one sentence explanations or cross fades showing time elapsing.
That wasn’t Disney’s primary motivation for acquiring 20th Century Fox. Not by a long shot. As for the reunification of CBS and Viacom that never really worked and risked losing a number of Viacom assets to other parties.
Reply to Dennis C
Content would be the main motivation, content and IPs. Uniting the Star Treks is also not the main reason for a CBS/Viacom merger, but it’s the one relevant to this website, hence my original comment.
I hear ya’. My only anxiety is who they ultimately decide to steer the franchise. Still, everything is back under one roof again we could finally see a post Nemesis movie.
Personally I’d rather see another KU movie. Post Nemesis would undoubtedly be a TNG film. And let’s face it… The reason the KU was Kirk/Spock and not Picard/Data was because Kirk/Spock resonates much better with general audiences.
That said, the only way I would personally be on board with a post Nemesis movie is if it is a LARGE scale think where everyone is involved. I would want to see Picard, Janeway, Kira, Bashir… Everyone. Even find a clever way to bring Sisco back. Hell, the movie could be centered around some universe ending event involving the wormhole aliens or something. But I think stand alone movies featuring just the TNG cast are done.
Reply to ML31
I think that ship has sailed.
I’d be all for a film using Patrick Stewart though.
Reply to TUP
TUP,
Have you caught Frakes?:
https://trekmovie.com/2018/03/26/jonathan-frakes-returning-to-star-trek-discovery-talks-tarantino-ds9-and-the-orville/#comment-5391900
Paramount’s COO said Abrams deals have been all renewed and Frakes:
”But, I am an eternal optimist and I texted with J.J. [Abrams] – my close, personal friend – who I am a big fan of by the way. I know some people aren’t, but I think he is a wonderful storyteller. I think he did a great job, especially with the first Star Trek movie.
I said “What’s up? What’s happening with this?” and I asked him if it is real and so far it is real because they put a writer’s room together and [J.J] said “Quentin said it is going to be wild.” ” — Jonathan Frakes
HN4
Maybe a scene showing them in a Starfleet old folks home. Seriously no one wants to see that.
Reply to HN4
HN4,
Re: Seriously no one wants to see that.
Seriously? No one? Not even people in actual old folks homes?
The audiences for COCOON and COCOON II refute that claim.
And bringing “Star Wars” under Disney’s 100% ownership as well. I support the Disney-21CF deal and the CBS-Viacom re-merger.
Just Another Salt Vampire
The situation is somewhat different in that Viacom and CBS are controlled by the same people, the Redstones, but have been managed separately from each other since 2006. Reintegrating them is essentially going back to the pre-2006 business model.
Reply to Just Another Salt Vampire
Spot on observation. The split failed to accomplish what had been thought would be lucrative for National Amusements as a whole. The broadcast side of things thriving while the cable assets and film studio struggled was unexpected.
While that might be a nice part of the deal it certainly is not the only or even driving force behind the acquisition.
DataMat
Hope it happens. It will probably be a long winded process though, but hopefully the end game is Star Trek under one roof.
Sean4000
Article title, I see what you did there. Nice touch.
If this happens they should get rid of all the execs from Viacom as they ruin all the cable channels they have by adding stupid reality shows that make no sense for that tv channel. Like MTV and history channel
Michael and Kirk look good together.
They do don’t they?!
David Alexander Harrison
It’d be interesting, but would have to be done in the form of a multiverse cross-over rather than a straight reintegration, as the narratives are divergent. The (well, a) Enterprise doesn’t even exist in the Kelvin timeline by the point it shows-up in the DSC S01 finale, and I’m assuming they won’t say Vulcan was destroyed some time in the third or fourth season…
Reply to David Alexander Harrison
There doesn’t necessarily need to be a crossover. It just means that Discovery can now reference the movies and stuff.
Reply to Legate Damar
There wouldn’t be any logical reason to reference the movies. Discovery exists in the prime timeline. The JJ timeline exists in an alternate universe.
Mike Stein
There are 13 movies, not 3.
A Pascale,
I believe you will find that Paramount regards it as just another facet of Paramount 2.0:
http://deadline.com/2018/03/ucla-entertainment-symposium-tackles-paramount-issues-with-coo-andrew-gumpert-1202352893/
that is, events of the past 14 months which includes “executive changes, new marketing initiatives, financial partnerships, and successfully persuading talent to stick with the studio as part of Paramount’s reinvention.”
According to their freshly minted COO Andrew Gumpert, JJ Abrams, Skydance and Hasbro had “one foot out the door”.
“Managers of ‘just Paramount’ have our helmets on, our shoulder pads loaded, and do our job every day.” Paramount COO Andrew Gumpert speaking on the merger.
Here’s so more symposium coverage:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/streamers-spending-spree-talk-ucla-entertainment-symposium-1097152
with some info on deals Paramount’s renewed.
Curious Cadet
@Disinvited — we’ve been saying this from day one haven’t we?
I think the big problem here is going to be whether Time Warner and ATT win Trump’s DOJ case. If they are not allowed to merge, folding Viacom and CBS back to gether is going to be similarly problematic. As will Disney and Fox, and Sinclair and Tribune.
Moreover, I think this merger in particular will wait until the case against the Time Warner/ATT merger is resolved, because if the merger doesn’t go through, TW is rumored to be planning a sell-off of key assets individually: Warner Bros., DC, HBO, Turner, CNN, etc. if that happens, there’s a good chance CBS would want to pick up their producing partner for the CW in the deal, and perhaps even DC. That would be far more valuable than merging with Viacom in the short term.
That said, I’m disturbed that Abrams has either reinvented or extended his deal. It effectively means he will have a finger in anything the studio does with Trek for the next few years.
Reply to Curious Cadet
Curious Cadet,
Re: we’ve been saying this from day one haven’t we?
Re: case against the Time Warner/ATT merger
You have a point, but I believe the new business leaning court appointments by Trump will view the merger of CBS and Viacom as a special case, i.e. that of a reunion, and give it a pass. Also, as a woman is spearheading this merger, surely neither the Trump administration nor the Republican Party believes raining on her parade could pass any sort of sniff test for either of them if they did decided to go after it?
I wouldn’t put it past Moonves to squirrel away resources during that merger so that he could swoop in for an anticipated Warner firesale. He’s going to force something at Viacom to give to those ends if the opportunity presents itself. I have to wonder if he can find enough people left there to fire to accomplish it merely at that?
The Abrams renewal seems to indicate that either the George Kirk script or the QT script or perhaps a merger of the two Trek scripts are in the offing? I’ve been pondering if Paramount feels that to go forward with QT Trek they need Uma Thurman on board? It could be interesting casting.
Remember that Uma Thurman really doesn’t like Tarantino anymore, since he almost got her killed.
Reply to Nachum
Nachum,
That’s not how she describes him. She said QT was a hero who put his career on the line to help her recover the footage, and that the real villains were the two who lied and thuggishly did everything in their power to cover it up.
“Quentin Tarantino, was deeply regretful and remains remorseful about this sorry event, and gave me the footage years later so i could expose it and let it see the light of day, regardless of it most likely being an event for which justice will never be possible.
he also did so with full knowledge it could cause him personal harm, and i am proud of him for doing the right thing and for his courage.
THE COVER UP after the fact is UNFORGIVABLE.
for this i hold Lawrence Bender, E. Bennett Walsh, and the notorious Harvey Weinstein solely responsible.
they lied, destroyed evidence, and continue to lie about the permanent harm they caused and then chose to suppress.
the cover up did have malicious intent, and shame on these three for all eternity.
CAA never sent anyone to Mexico.
i hope they look after other clients more respectfully if they in fact want to do the job for which they take money with any decency.” — Uma Thurman on Instagram
I stand corrected. I think I was mixing up her reaction to Weinstein and allegations that Tarantino was too close to Weinstein. I seem to recall that she wasn’t happy with Tarantino *at the time*. But again, I stand corrected.
@Disnivited — regardless, I don’t expect any more big mergers to go through until the ATT/Time Warner suit is settled. So reunification of Trek is still a long way off.
Re: I don’t expect any more big mergers
And the only impediment that I can see is if the man in the Oval Office regards Colbert as part of CBS News Division. Even at that, the man so loves to rub those he identifies as enemies’ noses in his capricious acts that he’s liable to push the merger through just so he can polish his halo and claim “See, the opposition to the ATT/Warner merger is solely based on its complete lack of merit.”
The circumstances are different. One family controls both entities. It’s not so much a merger but more a reunification of assets.
Dennis C,
Exactly, how I expect the Trump appointed court to see it.
@Disinvited — I wouldn’t be so sure. The landscape has changed dramatically since Viacom and CBS split. Both companies have grown substantially in their own respects. That said, I also think Trump is seeking to punish CNN with the DOJ’s current lawsuit, and a decent judge will likely take that into consideration in weighing the evidence. But any company that tries to merge, regardless if they were originally the same company (e.g. Ma Bell split up and re-emergence), will be subject to the same objections by competitors and industry watchdogs, especially if Trump wins the ATT case, which will only strengthen those arguments in other cases. Nothing is a slam dunk right now with the mercurial Trump administration impeding the free market. At a minimum, the process itself will draw out any potential merger far longer than need be, with the net result of delaying Trek reunification under one banner.
There are more things dreamed of in your philosophy than the philosophies of the Trump appointees can accommodate, Horatio.
Besides, as Gumpert already noted, Viacom hasn’t been, and isn’t being, considered by anyone in the business as any sort of competitive threat. And I submit, it very well was regarded as much in prior unified days, as well.
You are thinking far too much harder on this than any Trump appointee or the man himself will.
@Disinvited — I guarantee no one in the Trump administration has thought about this at all, perhaps they haven’t even heard about it. But keep in mind, this is an administration that has been sitting around coming up with the most liberal, left-leaning legislation to pass through congress, only to repeal it, and thus guaranteeing that no similar legislation can ever be passed in the future. If there is some vindictive twist to thwarting the merger, as you proposed about Colbert’s association with CBS, or 60 Minutes airing the Stormy Daniels interview, you can bet they will try.
Re: I guarantee no one in the Trump administration has thought about this at all
Indeed, that’s my point.
Re: Stormy
Even at that, CBS is still not even on the radar, the current shinnies occupying their concentration are Amazon and ROSEANNE.
But I will grant you one thing, if they don’t get this reunification approved by the time they get the new old MURPHY BROWN back on the air this Fall you may be on to something.
I'm Dead Jim
I posted this on the previous thread here. Perhaps the merger is already beginning.
I checked out the IMDB page for ST: Discovery, Season 2, and found the following for episode 1:
Crew of USS Discovery, Commanded by Acting-Captain Saru, and CDR. Michael Burnham, respond to a “Priority One” distress call from the USS Enterprise NCC1701, Commanded by Captain Christopher Pike and Spock (Zachary Quinto).
In case you gloss over this, it says Zachary Quinto is playing Spock. It may be bullshit but just thought I’d share.
Reply to I'm Dead Jim
@IDJ — the merger has nothing to do with hiring Quinto to play Spock. That said, IMDB can be edited by anyone, so at this point, that could just as easily be somebody’s idea of a joke.
Please stop commenting that IMDb stuff all over our articles. Posting it once in the appropriate comments section is plenty. I responded to your comment in the DSC Season 2 article . I’ll post this here too.
As Curious Cadet said, IMDb is basically Wikipedia for TV/Movies. It’s full of incorrect information for unreleased productions. It’s maintained by volunteers (just like Wikipedia), and is open to anyone adding information. All of that is to be taken with a massive grain of salt.
Eventually once Season 2 is released, valid information is added/sorted through by the editors.
For example: the DSC page last year had Rainn Wilson in 9 episodes, Michelle Yeoh in 13, etc. which we knew wasn’t true.
Reply to Matt Wright
Jeez, sorry boss. This was only the second place I posted about it and I’ve never done it before. I felt this thread was just as appropriate since it opens with pics of Kelvin Kirk & Michael Burnham. And like I said, “it may be bullshit”, but I wasn’t sure. Thank you for explaining why. Now I’ll go deal with my shame.
IMDB also listed a new Quantum Leap series wth Scott Bakula years ago. That description is unlikely from CBS or anyone associated with the show. What you have is hopeful fan speculation with a summary of the final scene of season 1.
Wasnt Quantum Leap actually in “development” at one point, with Sam’s daughter “leaping” in an effort to find him?
THIS is the biggest news from the merger? The Stock is gonna auffer,
@TM — “while Paramount owns the film library and the license to make feature films.”
Paramount doesn’t own the license to make feature films. This should say: “while Paramount owns the film library and currently holds the license to make feature films.” (and I would add) ‘from CBS’.
Corylea
CBS has thrown a ton of talent at Star Trek: Discovery, and I’d love to see talent of that caliber making the movies. On the other hand, if they siphon talent away from Discovery, that could be a bad thing, so I have mixed feelings about this.
Reply to Corylea
Uh…not so sure about that. I like to see someone entirely new come up with the films but I do think Trek needs another overseer to bring it all together like the old days.
Reply to Tiger2
Yeah if its me in charge, I’d have someone else produce the movies but I’d have a Trek czar at the merged company that ultimately calls the shots.
You want the TV and films to compliment each other but not be completely the same. I DON’T think it should be two different universes though. it should support a Cinematic Universe that is shared.
They can keep it apart if they want by doing different eras. But they can also have the same era and compliment each other with the films dealing with a big, immediate issue and the TV show doing a deeper dive into the issue.
Jackson Smith
Les Moonves is an evil man. Having his claw on the movies is a terrible idea.
Reply to Jackson Smith
Why is he “evil”? Because he’s a rich TV tycoon?
@TUP – He’s evil because he brought Star Trek back to TV. Yeah he’s pure Evil.
lol of course!
There is a lot going on in the world for someone to be so melodramatic as to call Moonves evil.
@TUP – Sadly I know just the kind of person that would call Moonves evil.
It’s a reputation he’s earned from the intra-office wars he’s led in the past to eliminate obstacles towards his goal of becoming an Entertainment Mogul with his eyes squarely set on running a major movie studio such as Paramount, or rather heading it and turning it into one.
If you’ve heard of the dirty tricks Brad Grey pulled while in television with Anthony Pellicano, illegal wiretapping, Gary Shandling, etc. Les is regarded by many in the industry to be cut from the same dirty pool cloth.
Some think his current wife has mellowed him some.
This site’s local comment hearsay from a Vulcan handle, whose full name escapes me, described meeting Moonves and having to check if he’s still had his hand and wallet after.
Here’s some of my past Moonves’ research:
https://trekmovie.com/2014/10/09/why-star-trek-is-paramounts-marvel-and-they-dont-even-know-it/#comment-5239432
https://trekmovie.com/2014/10/16/cbs-launches-subscription-streaming-service-including-every-episode-of-star-trek/#comment-5241660
DS9 is King Bitch
OMG CBS Viacom and Paramount will remerge do you know what this means? this means that they could potentially Merge the Kelvin Universe and the Prime Universe Together giving us the Best of Both Worlds.
The problem with the graphic is that even with the merger, the new company is still a small player. MI and Transformers are weary, Trek hasn’t recaptured its footing, the merger just isn’t going to make Paramount the new Marvel under any circumstance. When they can figure out how to do a Trek movie for 75-140MM, then they’ll have something. Until then, false starts.
Never noticed the similarity in uniforms before.
Star Trek is so bad right now it’s hard to imagine anything can save it.
Maybe the first joint venture Star Trek production will have a male main character with a female name.
You mean like…”James”?
Hailing frequencies open, captain…
This is captain Marion Morrison of the USS Rio Grande. You’re short on ears and long on mouth, Klingon!
How’s that?
The original division of the company was ridiculous and personality-clash-orientated anyway, completely failing to anticipate the coming web TV boom. Star Trek was the most obvious casualty of the muddle-headed strategy. In an era where cross-promotion is everything, we could have had an animated spin-off series from the 2009 Star Trek movie, a marketing strategy where the tie-in books and comics could have been streamlined to promote the new films better, a new live action series set in the Kelvin-verse (given Discovery’s oddities, I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t end up travelling to the Kelvin-verse at some point now) and countless others. Paramount’s other franchises could also benefit if they relaunch Transformers and GI Joe with proper TV series tie-ins.
The remerger is a positive step, but only insofar as it’s a remedy to a very stupid step over a decade ago that likely cost both parties a fortune. As ever, Star Trek looks like Star Wars’ poorer older brother who made all the bad choices in life.
Paramount have never ever managed to keep the movie franchise going due to the accountants insisting on counting every last cent from the last one! In the 1980s they came close after ST5 where the original plan was to have movie series saviour the late great Harve Bennett direct his own academy based story & still do another movie with the original cast. CBS will not be any different & Discovery is not even proper Trek its by far the worse Trek series ever made and that is saying a lot when you consider some of the Berman dreck! So please keep anyone remotely involved with Discovery light years away from Trek movies!
Matdg
At least it’s happening quicker than the Vulcan-Romulan Reunification..
BringBackEnterprise
Slowly the return for a honorable conclusion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAb6-NFuXW4&t=8s
Bring Back Enterprise, Conclude the story
Reply to BringBackEnterprise
@BringBackEnterprise — it’s too late. There was an opportunity for a Netflix movie 10 years ago. Now they’d be hard pressed to present a credible story given the cast’s current age. Trip is dead, and we’ve already seen the conclusion of the series with a much more youthful cast. Perhaps some post Federation establishment adventure, but it won’t be the same. It won’t be the end of the series we were watching, it’ll be a one off story about the characters 13 years later. And I’m not all that interested in seeing that, especially without Trip.
Re: it’s too late.
Actually, no it isn’t. Thanks to the BBgun’s “inspired” scripting the final episode did not send the characters off in a much more youthful state as the obstacle that you incorrectly surmise the actors’ lack of youth would present, but in a state of advanced old age. If anything, they’re still too young to pick up where they left them off, if there was any merit to this actors’ age “logic” that you concocted. So reeling it back a couple years isn’t entirely out of the question of credibility. And as for Trip, if dead Trip in flashback was passable enough to you for his being in that episode, I don’t see why a Trip flashback couldn’t be put to better use, again, to give him a presumably better send off in a better written movie?
It’s actually too late to say that you don’t want to see the characters’ sent off old because that’s exactly what the BBgun gave us. That Genii’s long been out of the bottle.
Bring back Enterprise
Did you know? …that contrary to the belief of visual Star Trek fans around the world, the episode “These are the voyages…” was not the end or the last episode for Star Trek ENTERPRISE series. This episode still causes debates on the visual/virtual world of the internet.
According to the Star Trek ENTERPRISE book series, published by Simon & Schuster, “These are the voyages” was an inaccurate and imprecise computer re-creation by Commander William Riker (TNG) were some of the scenes were not true facts. They did not really happen as it was shown.
The story of ENTERPRISE continued away from the eyes of the visual and virtual fans through the struggles and conspiracies at formation and then consolidation of the Federation flowing onto the Romulan Wars and the development of new technologies and alliances.
Captain Archer became an Admiral and some of his officers became captains of their own ships during the war Against the Romulan Empire. Some got involved in covert action and some allies did not fulfill their promises to the Federation of planets. If the episode “These are the voyages” was true none of this could have happened.
In the books “Last full measures “and “The good that men do” we find that commander Tucker did not die, but instead was genetically altered and became a Section 31 spy inside the Romulan Empire.
The book series also leave a possibility that T’pol did not end as a lonely, fatherless, motherless, childless Vulcan ostracized by her own people because of her stand in favor of the human mission and contrary to her Vulcan superiors. A federation widow. It is not clear but there is a warmth in the heart of Star Trek fans and in parts of “To brave the storm” that T’pol and Tucker finally ended their lives together (with kids).
Today the conversation about the premature end of Star trek ENTERPRISE continue on the internet and social media demonstrating that fans (old and new Trekkies and non Trekkies) worldwide would like to see it back on the screen for the conclusion of the unfinished stories within ENTERPRISE.
You can help by spread the word and sharing these simple videos (or make your own) asking CBS/Paramount to bring back ENTERPRISE to give a honorable conclusion the story.
It’s not impossible, and now is the right time.
Reply to Bring back Enterprise
Bring back Enterprise,
Fascinating premise. And consistent for Riker and his Federation history, in asking us to believe the Archer history is as inaccurate as their Cochrane’s.
Jamie Presley
It really doesn’t matter now.
Even before the split it was obvious they just dont get it nor care to.
Star trek being merged under one roof doesnt mean we will get a universe like the MCU.
We will end up with at best the DCEU or worse the Universal monsters universe that died out of the gate with the Mummy.
Simple fact is: unless they get a studio head who gets Star trek like Peter david or Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens it will fail.
Reply to Jamie Presley
Yep. Star Trek needs a Kevin Feige!
dswynne
Dream scenario: A meta-plot threatens the entire Reality. End result is the Q restarts the universe, and we begin again, with the legendary 5-Year Mission of James R. Kirk. Everything that has happened, still happened. Now, it’s time for something NEW.
This “reboot” allows for the re-integration of both the television shows and movies without getting rid of everything. And though events and missions have occurred, they would not hamper making new stories. Plus, the aesthetics would be updated.
Reply to dswynne
Its not needed though.
The argument given by Bad Robot for “rebooting” was to not be held hostage by canon. But thats only true if they think we’ve seen everything there is to see in the Star Trek universe. And thats obviously not true.
Even with the Kirk et al characters. There was literally nothing that prevented them from telling stories within the context of the Prime Universe other then their own hubris.
They still werent going to kill main characters or effectively alter them in any meaningful way.
And in reality, they traded upon canon and fans’ knowledge to score points. The only thing original about the JJ films was the original premise and then it was all downhill.
Yep. If they really wanted a break from canon, one of the regulars should have died definitively (no Khan’s blood) in ST09, showing all bets are off. They chickened out. If Khan’s blood brings people back to life, they should have embraced that: ‘He’s dead, Jim. I’d better get him back to sickbay and find out what happened!’ Again, they chickened out. Actually, Discovery’s been far more bold and less afraid to stretch the series’ backstory.
The biggest problem with the BR movies is that they’re effectively post-modern, metatextual deconstructions (destructive ones at that) of previous Star Treks, the same as the new Star Wars ‘chapter’ films have proven to be.
It’s more about a pseudo-intellectual commentary on earlier productions than actual decent storytelling. Trouble is, modern critics love that pseudo garbage, playing an Emperor’s New Clothes strategy to pretend they’re cleverer than their cineliterate – and frequently better informed – readers, hence increasing disparities between critics’ opinions and those of the general audience.
There was nothing to stop BR simply telling new stories set in a ‘season four’ period of the five year mission in the new Star Trek films. Anyone sane would accept the designs would be updated, when you’re effectively making a movie equivalent of a tie-in novel to a fifty year old TV show.
They could even have replaced most of the the regular characters except Kirk, Spock and McCoy with new ones. It was never explicitly stated that all the second-tier characters completed the mission and didn’t transfer elsewhere, before returning for the events of TMP. Most of them popped in and out in old show, anyway, so there can be plenty of supporting cast jeopardy.
The easiest option would be to have some kind of reality-bending, fungus-tripping Discovery episode that blurs all the realities, perhaps moving us into a semi-TMP/Phase 2 era where Pine and co can have some ‘second five-year mission’ adventures alongside the Discovery.
Reply to Dom
I thought the premise of Spock ending up back in time was brilliant. Even if they said “this is prime but we’re picking up the story in ‘season 4’ of TOS”, involving Nimoy was a smart way of exciting the fan base, bringing back lapsed fans and connecting the new films to the old.
But it didnt have to be a “new universe”. We’ve seen them time travel a bunch of times. Why is this different? Because they wanted to “change” the Star Trek universe? What did they do?
Killed Kirk’s dad who we never saw or heard from anyway. No change.
Blew up Vulcan. Ended up meaning nothing and was merely a plot device to have Kirk and Spock fight for a minute and over-emotionalize Spock.
Thats about it.
Had they done the same story but maintained it was still the same universe (perhaps with Nimoy Spock’s help they prevent some change to the time line), we could have stayed behind to keep watching as opposed to “returning” to Nimoy Spock’s time. No big difference at all.
One thing they should have done to really show us this was different, was to use the classic Enterprise instead of the Kelvin for the opening of 2009. With Robert April as Captain. And blow it up. In so many ways, that leads to a far more emotionally satisfying film.
Yeah, I agree about Robert April; way more sensible. I feel like Trek and Wars have become way too navel-gazing generally though – almost films *about* Star Trek and Star Wars. I mean, the original Star Wars films were more Romantic matinee serials crossed with Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, while The Last Jedi was more a Naturalistic post-modern, nihilistic deconstruction/destruction of the hero’s journey.
Better perhaps that the makers ditch the ‘Cahiers du Cinema’ nonsense and tell a straightforward, fun story. Star Trek was about heroes – who are advanced enough that postmodern obsessions like race and gender are old hat, echoing Martin Luther King’s remarks about the measure of a man having happened – simply exploring the universe and learning new things.
Trekspoken2018
I will NEVER accept Discovery as part of the Prime Star Trek universe. Nope. Sorry. It’s a terrible, dismal, badly-written show that sucks all the joy of out Trek.
At least the Kelvin timeline *tries* to pay homage to the original series and those that followed. Discovery just takes a whiz all over it, and the fans.
Reply to Trekspoken2018
Gary Neumann
Actually we only need a carveout from Paramount Pictures into CBS to get the franchise together, without the excess bagage of the rest of the business.
And to illustrate, here are photos of what the franchise has descended to since the split. Do you want more of THIS?
Christine M Higby
Good. Now they can finally have the proper funding to finally release Deep Space 9 and Voyager to Blu ray. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hello doctor,I am a woman, 23. I am 5\2" 137 pds. I am currently taking Cetirizine. I have been coughing badly for the past 5 months when I got my new job at a preschool. I went to the doctor, he prescribed me the before mentioned drug. Although, when it gets really cold, I cough phlegm and other times a dry cough. I would like to have a second opinion on what I should do because I am tired of coughing. output: As you describe your symptoms of coughing, we can suspect that you may be having allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma. For this, you need to consult an ENT specialist who will examine your throat and nose, and then advise you accordingly. For now, take cetirizine as prescribed by your doctor. You may also try steam inhalation. Wishing you good health. Thank you.. |
当前页面显示错乱？
主题：Selected anniversaries/January
< Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries
Selected anniversaries / On this day archive
All · January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Recent changes · Editing guidelines
It is now 04:12 on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 (UTC) · Purge cache for this page
Selected anniversaries for January
An archive of historical anniversaries that appeared on the Main Page
2020 day arrangement
January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Catholicism)
"Am I not a man and a brother", emblem used by abolitionists
1785 – The Times began publication in London as The Daily Universal Register.
1808 – As a result of the lobbying efforts by the abolitionist movement (emblem pictured), the importation of slaves into the United States was officially banned, although slavery itself was not yet abolished.
1928 – Joseph Stalin's personal secretary, Boris Bazhanov, crossed the Iranian border and defected from the Soviet Union.
1965 – The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, which later helped the country become a republic, was founded.
2009 – A nightclub fire in Bangkok, Thailand, killed 66 patrons celebrating the New Year.
Marie-Louise Lachapelle (b. 1769) · J. D. Salinger (b. 1919) · Lhasa de Sela (d. 2010)
view – talk – edit – history – watch
January 2: Feast day of Saint Basil of Caesarea and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (Catholicism, Anglicanism)
Replica of Luna 1
1680 – Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram of Java and his courtiers stabbed Trunajaya to death a week after the rebel leader surrendered to the Dutch.
1865 – Uruguayan War: Brazilian and Colorado Party forces captured the city of Paysandú from its Uruguayan defenders.
1920 – Under the leadership of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, U.S. Department of Justice agents launched a series of raids against radical leftists and anarchists in more than 30 cities and towns across 23 states.
1959 – The Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 (replica pictured), the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, was launched by a Vostok rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
1976 – An extratropical cyclone began affecting parts of western Europe, resulting in coastal flooding around the southern portions of the North Sea and leading to at least 82 deaths over the next few days.
Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza (b. 1566, d. 1614) · Bob Marshall (b. 1901) · Edgar Martínez (b. 1963)
Bust of Decius
250 – Emperor Decius (bust pictured) ordered everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods, resulting in widespread persecution of Christians.
1833 – With the arrival of two British naval ships at the Falkland Islands, the United Kingdom re-asserted sovereignty there.
1911 – A 7.7 Mw earthquake destroyed the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan.
1976 – The multilateral International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, part of the International Bill of Human Rights, came into effect.
1990 – United States invasion of Panama: General Manuel Noriega, the deposed strongman of Panama, surrendered to American forces.
Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie (b. 1810) · J. R. R. Tolkien (b. 1892) · Joy Adamson (d. 1980)
January 4: Colonial Martyrs Repression Day in Angola (1961)
1847 – American gun inventor Samuel Colt (engraving shown) sold the first thousand of his Colt Walker revolvers to the Texas Rangers.
1885 – Sino-French War: French troops under General Oscar de Négrier defeated a larger Qing Chinese force at the Battle of Núi Bop in northern Vietnam.
1936 – Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade.
1972 – Rose Heilbron became the first female judge to sit at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales.
2004 – Spirit, the first of two rovers of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission, successfully landed on Mars.
Moses Mendelssohn (d. 1786) · Clara Emilia Smitt (b. 1864) · Brian Horrocks (d. 1985)
January 5: Earth at perihelion (07:48 UTC, 2020); Twelfth Night (Western Christianity)
Eris and its moon, Dysnomia
1675 – Franco-Dutch War: French troops defeated Imperial and Brandenburg forces at the Battle of Turckheim in Alsace.
1875 – The Palais Garnier opera house in Paris was formally inaugurated.
1953 – Waiting for Godot by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, termed the "most significant English language play of the 20th century", premiered in Paris.
1970 – An earthquake registering Mw 7.1 struck Tonghai County in southern China, killing at least 10,000 people and eventually spurring the creation of the nation's largest earthquake monitoring system.
2005 – Eris (pictured), the most massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System, was discovered through image analysis by a team of astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in California.
George Johnston (d. 1823) · Konrad Adenauer (b. 1876) · Bradley Cooper (b. 1975)
January 6: Little Christmas
Nancy Kerrigan
1322 – Stefan Dečanski was crowned king of Serbia, succeeding his half-brother Stefan Konstantin, whom he later defeated in battle.
1536 – The oldest European school of higher learning in the Americas, the Colegio de Santa Cruz, was founded in Tlatelolco, Mexico City.
1912 – German geophysicist Alfred Wegener first presented his theory of continental drift, the precursor of plate tectonics.
1960 – National Airlines Flight 2511, traveling from New York City to Miami, exploded in mid-air due to a bomb placed by an unknown party, resulting in the deaths of all 34 people on board.
1994 – Two-time American Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan (pictured) was hit on the leg with a police baton by an assailant hired by the ex-husband of her rival Tonya Harding.
Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares (b. 1587) · Hendrick Peter Godfried Quack (d. 1917) · Nigella Lawson (b. 1960)
January 7: Christmas (Eastern Christianity; Julian calendar); Tenth of Tevet (Judaism, 2020); Victory over Genocide Day in Cambodia (1979); Festa del Tricolore in Italy (1797)
1610 – Through his telescope, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei made the first observation of Jupiter's Galilean moons: Io (pictured), Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, although he was not able to distinguish the first two until the following night.
1782 – The Bank of North America opened in Philadelphia as the United States's first de facto central bank.
1940 – Winter War: Outnumbered Finnish troops decisively defeated Soviet forces at the Battle of Raate Road.
2010 – In Nag Hammadi, Egypt, Muslim gunmen opened fire on a crowd of Coptic Christians leaving church after attending Christmas Liturgy, killing eight of them, as well as one Muslim bystander.
Albert Bierstadt (b. 1830) · Edmund Barton (d. 1920) · Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers (d. 1960)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
1697 – Scottish student Thomas Aikenhead became the last person to be executed for blasphemy in Great Britain.
1790 – George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address in New York City, then the provisional capital of the United States.
1889 – American statistician Herman Hollerith received a patent for his electromechanical tabulating machine for punched-card data.
1972 – Following the country's defeat by India in the previous year's war, new Pakistani president Zulfikar Ali Bhutto released Bangladeshi politician Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (pictured) from prison in response to international pressure.
2010 – Gunmen from an offshoot of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda attacked the bus transporting the Togo national football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, killing three people.
Nikolay Nekrasov (d. 1878) · David Bowie (b. 1947) · Bernard Krigstein (d. 1990)
RMS Queen Elizabeth in 1966
1857 – An earthquake registering 7.9 Mw ruptured part of the San Andreas Fault in central and southern California.
1909 – Ernest Shackleton, leading the Nimrod Expedition, planted the British flag 97.5 nautical miles (180.6 km; 112.2 mi) from the South Pole, the farthest south explorers had reached at the time.
1972 – Seawise University, formerly RMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured), an ocean liner that sailed the Atlantic for Cunard Line, caught fire in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong.
1991 – Representatives from the United States and Iraq met at the Geneva Peace Conference to find a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
2015 – Contaminated beer served at a funeral in Tete Province, Mozambique, killed 75 people and made at least 230 others ill.
Antoine Samuel Adam-Salomon (b. 1818) · Samuel Gridley Howe (d. 1876) · Brigitte Askonas (d. 2013)
Sinclair C5
976 – After the death of his guardian John I Tzimiskes, Basil II became the effective ruler and senior emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
1430 – Philip the Good established the Order of the Golden Fleece, referred to as the most prestigious, exclusive, and expensive order of chivalry in the world.
1812 – New Orleans, the first steamship on the Mississippi River, arrived in its namesake city to complete its maiden voyage.
1929 – The Adventures of Tintin, a series of popular comic albums created by Belgian artist Hergé, first appeared in Le Petit Vingtième, the youth supplement to the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle.
1985 – Sir Clive Sinclair launched the Sinclair C5 personal electric vehicle (pictured), "one of the great marketing bombs of postwar British industry", which later became a cult collectable.
Hugh I of Cyprus (d. 1218) · Katharine Burr Blodgett (b. 1898) · Hrithik Roshan (b. 1974)
French troops in the Ruhr
1693 – An intensity XI earthquake, the most powerful in Italian history, struck the island of Sicily.
1787 – German-born British astronomer William Herschel discovered two Uranian moons, later named by his son as Oberon and Titania.
1923 – Troops from France (pictured) and Belgium invaded the Ruhr to force the German Weimar Republic to pay its reparations in the aftermath of World War I.
1964 – In a landmark report, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued the warning that smoking may be hazardous to people's health, concluding that it has a causative role in lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and other illnesses.
2003 – After Chicago police detective Jon Burge was discovered to have forced confessions from more than 200 suspects, Governor of Illinois George Ryan commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners and pardoned 4 more.
Nicolas Steno (b. 1638) · John Molson (d. 1836) · Eva Tanguay (d. 1947)
January 12: Zanzibar Revolution Day in Tanzania (1964)
Damage to Haiti's National Palace in the aftermath of the earthquake
1554 – Bayinnaung, who later assembled the largest empire in the history of mainland Southeast Asia, was crowned king of the Burmese Toungoo dynasty.
1777 – Mission Santa Clara de Asís, a Spanish mission that formed the basis of both the city of Santa Clara, California, and Santa Clara University, was established.
1899 – During a storm, the crew of the Lynmouth Lifeboat Station transported their 10-ton lifeboat 15 mi (24 km) overland in order to rescue a damaged schooner.
1969 – British rock band Led Zeppelin released their eponymous first album in the United States.
2007 – Comet McNaught (pictured) reached perihelion and became the brightest comet in over 40 years with an apparent magnitude of −5.5.
2010 – A 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti, affecting an estimated three million people. (damage to National Palace pictured)
John Singer Sargent (b. 1856) · Hermann Göring (b. 1893) · Daniel Bensaïd (d. 2010)
January 13: St. Knut's Day in Finland and Sweden; Coming of Age Day in Japan (2020)
Painting of the 1797 naval battle by Léopold Le Guen
1797 – French Revolutionary Wars: A naval battle (pictured) off the coast of Brittany between two British frigates and a French ship of the line ended with hundreds of deaths when the latter ran aground.
1878 – Ada Anderson, a record-setting pedestrian from England, completed her U.S. debut, walking 2,700 quarter-miles (1,086 km total) in 2,700 quarter-hours.
1915 – About 30,000 people in L'Aquila, Italy, were killed when an earthquake struck the province.
1953 – An article published in Pravda accused nine eminent doctors in Moscow of taking part in a plot to poison members of the top Soviet political and military leadership.
1963 – Togo's first president, Sylvanus Olympio, was assassinated by military officers in a coup d'état led by Emmanuel Bodjollé, Étienne Eyadéma, and Kléber Dadjo.
Sibyl Hathaway (b. 1884) · Michael Bond (b. 1926) · Winnie Byanyima (b. 1959)
January 14: National Forest Conservation Day in Thailand; Ratification Day in the United States (1784)
Fire on USS Enterprise
1301 – The Árpád dynasty, which had ruled Hungary since the late 9th century, ended with the death of King Andrew III.
1724 – Philip V, the first Bourbon ruler of Spain, abdicated in favor of his eldest son Louis.
1900 – Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca, based on the play La Tosca by French dramatist Victorien Sardou, premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.
1939 – Norway claimed Queen Maud Land in Antarctica as a dependent territory.
1969 – A major fire and series of explosions broke out aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (pictured), killing 28 sailors, injuring 314, and destroying 15 aircraft.
Ladislaus II of Hungary (d. 1163) · Berthe Morisot (b. 1841) · Steven Soderbergh (b. 1963)
January 15: Mattu Pongal (Tamils, 2020); John Chilembwe Day in Malawi
Wikipedia home page in 2001
1919 – A large molasses tank in Boston, Massachusetts, burst and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets , killing 21 people and injuring 150 others.
1933 – A teenage girl in Banneux, Belgium, reported the first of several Marian apparitions, now known as Our Lady of Banneux.
1991 – Elizabeth II, as Queen of Australia, signed letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own separate Victoria Cross award in its own honours system.
2001 – The internet encyclopedia Wikipedia (home page pictured in December 2001) was launched three days after the domain name "wikipedia.com" was registered.
2009 – US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese during its initial climb out from New York City and made an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
Theophylact (d. 849) · Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (b. 1812) · Ben Shapiro (b. 1984)
Augustus of Prima Porta
27 BC – Gaius Octavianus (statue pictured) was given the titles Augustus and Princeps by the Roman Senate when he became the first Roman emperor.
1780 – Anglo-Spanish War: The Royal Navy gained their first major naval victory over their European enemies in the war when they defeated a Spanish squadron in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent.
1905 – Despite being blind in one eye, ice hockey player Frank McGee set the record for most goals in a Stanley Cup game when he scored 14 against the Dawson City Nuggets.
1920 – The League of Nations, the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation with a focus on peace and security, held its first council meeting in Paris.
1964 – The musical Hello, Dolly! opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway, and went on to win ten Tony Awards, a record that stood for 37 years.
Nikephoros Choumnos (d. 1327) · William Hall-Jones (b. 1851) · Pauline Phillips (d. 2013)
1773 – On James Cook's second voyage, his ship HMS Resolution became the first to cross the Antarctic Circle.
1893 – Lorrin A. Thurston, along with the Citizens' Committee of Public Safety, led the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the government of Queen Liliʻuokalani.
1945 – Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (pictured), who had saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust, was taken into Soviet custody while in Hungary and was never seen in public again.
1961 – Former Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba was murdered in circumstances suggesting the support and complicity of the governments of Belgium and the United States.
1989 – Patrick Purdy opened fire in an elementary school in Stockton, California, killing 5 and wounding 32 others.
Martino Zaccaria (d. 1345) · David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (b. 1871) · Sunanda Pushkar (d. 2014)
1535 – Gabriel Moreira Romaní founded Ciudad de los Reyes, present-day Lima, Peru, as the capital of the lands conquered for the Spanish Crown by Francisco Pizarro.
1871 – A number of independent German states unified into the German Empire, with Prussian King Wilhelm I being proclaimed as its first Emperor.
1943 – World War II: In Operation Iskra, the Red Army established a narrow land corridor to Leningrad, partially easing the protracted German siege.
1956 - Navvab Safavi, Iranian Shia cleric and founder of Fada'iyan-e Islam group, was executed.
1958 – Black Canadian Willie O'Ree of the Boston Bruins played his first game in the National Hockey League, breaking the colour barrier in professional ice hockey.
1990 – In a sting operation conducted by the FBI, Marion Barry (pictured), the mayor of Washington, D.C., was arrested for possession of crack cocaine.
Isabella Jagiellon (b. 1519) · Aleksandra Ekster (b. 1882) · Goose Tatum (d. 1967)
January 19: World Religion Day (2020)
649 – War against the Western Turks: The forces of Kucha surrendered after a siege, establishing Tang control over the northern Tarim Basin in what is now Xinjiang.
1795 – The Batavian Republic was established, a day after William V, Prince of Orange fled the Dutch Republic as a result of the Batavian Revolution in Amsterdam.
1920 – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is founded.
1930 – Racial violence occurs in Watsonville, California against Filipino American farm workers
1975 – A magnitude 6.8 Ms earthquake struck northern Himachal Pradesh in India, causing extensive damage to the region.
Dōgen (b. 520) · Edgar Allan Poe (b. 1809) · Hedy Lamarr (pictured, d. 2000)
January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States (2020)
Honório Carneiro Leão
1156 – According to legend, Lalli slew Bishop Henry of Finland with an axe on the ice of Lake Köyliönjärvi in Köyliö.
1843 – Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná (pictured), became the de facto first prime minister of the Empire of Brazil.
1942 – The Holocaust: Reinhard Heydrich and other senior Nazi officials met at the Wannsee Conference in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish question".
1969 – Bengali student activist Amanullah Asaduzzaman was shot and killed by East Pakistani police, one of the events that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War.
2009 – In Washington, D.C., more than one million people attended the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African American president of the United States.
David Wilmot (b. 1814) · Sarah Conlon (b. 1926) · Claudio Abbado (d. 2014)
The First Dáil Éireann
763 – The Abbasid Caliphate crushed the Alid revolt when one of the rebel leaders was mortally wounded in battle near Basra, in what is now Iraq.
1789 – The Power of Sympathy by William Hill Brown, widely considered to be the first American novel, was published.
1919 – The First Dáil Éireann (members pictured) first convened at the Mansion House in Dublin, adopting a declaration of independence calling for a new sovereign state: the Irish Republic.
1972 – Tripura, part of the former independent Twipra Kingdom, became a full-fledged state in India.
2017 – An estimated five million people worldwide participated in demonstrations to advocate legislation and policies regarding human rights and other issues.
Chaim of Volozhin (b. 1749) · Eusapia Palladino (b. 1854) · Frances Gertrude McGill (d. 1959)
January 22: Day of Unity of Ukraine in Ukraine (1919)
1273 – Muhammad II became the Sultan of Granada after the death of his father in a riding accident.
1689 – The Convention Parliament convened to justify the overthrow of James II, the last Roman Catholic King of England, who had vacated the throne when he fled to France in 1688.
1906 – SS Valencia was wrecked off the coast of Vancouver Island, in a location so treacherous it was known as the Graveyard of the Pacific.
1943 – World War II: The Battle of Buna–Gona on New Guinea ended with an Allied victory after two months of fighting in which the Japanese fought with a resolve and tenacity not previously encountered.
1969 – Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev (pictured) survived what was seen as an assassination attempt, an incident that was not revealed to the public until after the fall of the Soviet Union.
John Donne (b. 1572) · Gisela Januszewska (b. 1867) · Ali Hassan Salameh (d. 1979)
A Frisbee brand flying disc
1565 – The Deccan sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire at the Battle of Talikota in present-day Karnataka, ending the last great Hindu kingdom in South India.
1793 – The Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia partitioned the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth for the second time.
1957 – American inventor Fred Morrison sold the rights to his "flying disc" to the Wham-O toy company, who later renamed it the "Frisbee" (example pictured).
2001 – Five people attempted to in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, an act that many people later claimed was staged by the Communist Party of China to frame and thus escalate .
Muthu Coomaraswamy (b. 1834) · Mykola Leontovych (d. 1921) · Louisa Cadamuro (b. 1987)
Bust of Caligula
41 – Cassius Chaerea and the disgruntled Praetorian Guards murdered Roman emperor Caligula (bust pictured), replacing him with his uncle Claudius.
914 – The Fatimid Caliphate began their first invasion of Egypt.
1915 – First World War: British Grand Fleet ships intercepted and surprised a German High Seas Fleet squadron in the North Sea, sinking a German cruiser and damaging several other vessels.
1989 – American serial killer Ted Bundy was executed via electric chair in Florida after confessing to the murders of 30 young women.
2011 – A suicide bomber killed 37 people at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow.
Pope Stephen IV (d. 817) · Constance Naden (b. 1858) · August Meyszner (d. 1947)
January 25: Feast day of Gregory of Nazianzus (Eastern Orthodox Church); Tatiana Day in Russia
Battle of Mikatagahara
1573 – Sengoku period: The forces of Takeda Shingen defeated those of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Mikatagahara (pictured), north of Hamamatsu, Mikawa Province, Japan.
1704 – English colonists from the Province of Carolina and their native allies began a series of raids against a largely peaceful population of Apalachee in Spanish Florida.
1949 – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented the first Emmy Awards to honor excellence in the American television industry.
1995 – A team of Norwegian and American scientists launched a Black Brant XII sounding rocket, which was mistaken for a Trident missile by Russian forces.
2011 – The Day of Anger during the Egyptian revolution began, eventually leading to the removal of Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years of rule.
Leo IV the Khazar (b. 750) · Helene Bresslau Schweitzer (b. 1879) · Ali Hassan al-Majid (d. 2010)
January 26: Australia Day (1788); Republic Day in India (1950)
1699 – The signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz to conclude the Great Turkish War marked the end of Ottoman control in much of Central Europe and the rise of the Habsburg Monarchy as the dominant power in the region.
1788 – Captain Arthur Phillip (pictured) and the British First Fleet landed at Sydney Cove on the shore of Port Jackson in present-day Sydney, establishing the first permanent European settlement in Australia.
1905 – The Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found at 3,107 carats (621 g; 1.37 lb), was discovered at the Premier Mine in Cullinan, Gauteng, South Africa.
1949 – The Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory in California, the largest aperture optical telescope in the world for 28 years, saw first light.
2009 – Rioting broke out in Antananarivo, Madagascar, sparking a political crisis that led to the deposal of President Marc Ravalomanana.
Harry Ricardo (b. 1885) · Athanase David (d. 1953) · David Kato (d. 2011)
Entrance to Auschwitz
1343 – Pope Clement VI issued the papal bull Unigenitus to justify the power of the pope and the use of indulgences.
1820 – A Russian expedition led by naval officers Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev became the first explorers to see the coast of Antarctica.
1945 – The Soviet Red Army liberated more than 7,500 prisoners left behind by Nazi personnel in the Auschwitz concentration camp (entrance pictured) in what is now Oświęcim, Poland.
1967 – The Outer Space Treaty, a treaty that forms the basis of international space law, opened for signature in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union.
1996 – Mahamane Ousmane, the first democratically elected president of Niger, was deposed by Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara in a military coup d'état.
George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington (b. 1663) · Eunice Hale Waite Cobb (b. 1803) · Paul Zorner (d. 2014)
1547 – Nine-year-old Edward VI became monarch of England, the first to be raised as a Protestant.
1754 – Horace Walpole coined the word "serendipity" in a letter he wrote to a friend, saying that he derived the term from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip.
1933 – Choudhry Rahmat Ali published a pamphlet titled Now or Never in which he called for the creation of a Muslim state in northwest India that he termed "Pakstan".
1958 – The Lego Group, a Danish toy company, patented the design of Lego bricks (pictured).
1981 – U.S. President Ronald Reagan lifted price controls from petroleum products, helping usher in the 1980s oil glut.
Gregor Werner (b. 1693) · Monty Noble (b. 1873) · Helen Sawyer Hogg (d. 1993)
"The Raven" illustration
by John Tenniel
1814 – War of the Sixth Coalition: In the Battle of Brienne, both commanders of the opposing forces, Napoleon and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, were nearly captured by their enemies.
1845 – American poet Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" (illustration shown) appeared in The Evening Mirror, its first publication attributed to Poe.
1959 – The first Melodifestivalen, an annual Swedish music competition that determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, was held in Stockholm.
2009 – The Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt ruled that people who did not adhere to one of the three government-recognised religions are also eligible to receive government identity documents.
Emanuel Swedenborg (b. 1688) · Mary Whitwell Hale (b. 1810) · Jean-Marie Doré (d. 2016)
January 30: Martyrs' Day in India
Attempted assassination of Andrew Jackson
1661 – Two years after his death, Oliver Cromwell's remains were exhumed for a posthumous execution and his head was placed on a spike above Westminster Hall in London, where it remained until 1685.
1835 – Richard Lawrence became the first person to make an assassination attempt on a sitting U.S. president when he failed to kill Andrew Jackson (assassination attempt pictured) and was subdued by the crowd.
1900 – The day before he was to be sworn in as Governor of Kentucky, William Goebel was shot by an unknown assailant and mortally wounded, making him the only U.S. state governor to be assassinated while in office.
1945 – World War II: Allied forces liberated over 500 prisoners of war from a Japanese POW camp near Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.
2000 – Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Ivory Coast shortly after takeoff, killing 169 on board.
Everard Digby (d. 1606) · Patrick Heron (b. 1920) · Professor Longhair (d. 1980)
January 31: Independence Day in Nauru (1968)
Ham the Chimp
1578 – Eighty Years' War: Spain won a crushing victory in the Battle of Gembloux, leading to a break up of the United Seventeen Provinces into the Union of Arras (Catholic South) and Union of Utrecht (Protestant North).
1747 – The London Lock Hospital, the first clinic specialising in the treatment of venereal diseases, opened.
1862 – American astronomer Alvan Graham Clark first observed the faint white dwarf companion of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.
1961 – Aboard NASA's Mercury-Redstone 2, Ham the Chimp (pictured) became the first hominid launched into outer space.
2007 – Suspects were arrested in Birmingham, England, accused of plotting to kidnap, and eventually behead, a Muslim British soldier serving in Iraq.
Franz Schubert (b. 1797) · Cilibi Moise (d. 1870) · Adelaide Tambo (d. 2007)
Selected anniversaries
本站的所有资料包括但不限于文字、图片等全部转载于维基百科(wikipedia.org)，遵循 维基百科:CC BY-SA 3.0协议
万维百科为维基百科爱好者建立的公益网站，旨在为中国大陆网民提供优质内容，因此对部分内容进行改编以符合中国大陆政策，如果您不接受，可以直接访问维基百科官方网站。 |
Tag Archives: Norbert Davis
Home / Posts Tagged "Norbert Davis"
Norbert Davis: Profile of a Pulp Writer
September 6, 2017 Black Mask 1 Comment
For his anthology of Black Mask stories, The Hard-Boiled Omnibus, Joseph T. Shaw wrote some introductory material that did not appear in the book. His unpublished preface to the story “Red Goose” reads:
Norbert Davis is a natural. If we were to pick anyone who, in spite of all human trials and tribulations, looks upon life resignedly and mostly as all fun, our nominee would be Bert. His sense of humor is prodigious and, as far as we know, never got him into serious trouble….
There is one thing that makes Bert Davis an individualist; he always did and always will write just what he very well pleases: mostly what strikes him as “funny.”1
Anyone familiar with the stories or novels of Norbert Davis would tend to agree with Shaw’s picture of the author as an easy-going optimist. The truth, however, is that Davis—like many humorists and comedians—had a serious, perhaps even troubled, side to his character. It would seem that Shaw knew Davis the writer, not Davis the man.
Several years ago, I conducted a lengthy copyright search that resulted in my gaining extensive information on the life of Norbert Davis. Although the project I had been pursuing was eventually dropped, a thick file of correspondence and documents remains in my possession. These materials plus some more recent research form the basis for this article.2
I. The Beginnings
Norbert Harrison Davis was born on April 18, 1909, in Morrison, Illinois. His parents were Robert and Euphemia Davis, and his mother’s maiden name was Harrison. His family was proud of its relationship, through an ancestor named Jeanie Burns, to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. By 1909, there were so many male relatives named Robert in the family that Mr. and Mrs. Davis decided to make a small break with tradition and give their son the different, though similar, name of Norbert.
Davis referred to Norbert as his “fancy first name.” It appears to have caused him some pain and embarrassment during his childhood years. “I considered Norbert not only ersatz but slightly sissy,”3 he later confessed. Although he came to accept the name in adult life, he was usually called Bert by his friends.
Davis grew up in Morrison, a small city in a farming district of northern Illinois.4 He grew to the height of six foot five, almost a foot taller than the average American male in the nineteen-twenties. By the end of that decade, he had moved, along with thousands of other Midwesterners, to Southern California. Of his situation in 1929, at the beginning of the Great Depression, he later wrote:
It became obvious that, if I were going to continue what I reverently referred to as my educational career, there would have to be some changes made. I tried mowing lawns and polishing cars and shoveling sand, and I decided that a life of honest toil was not for me. So I started murdering people, with a typewriter, on paper.
I laid them away in short stories, novelettes, and novels in seven installments. About 80,000 corpses later, I found myself sitting on the front steps of Stanford with an A.B. in one hand, and an LL.D. in the other, and no job in sight. So I went on killing people.5
Responding to a request for background information made by Joseph Shaw in 1946, Davis produced a somewhat different version of his beginnings as a writer:
All my English instructors were completely unimpressed with my literary effort, but I had a Public Speaking professor who told me that what I said in my mumbling and bumbling manner was often quite interesting in a nonsensical way and why didn’t I try writing some of it. So I did. He invariably told me it was wonderful and would positively sell for thousands of dollars. Finally an editor I had been bombarding wrote me, somewhat plaintively, and asked me why I didn’t read his magazine and figure out something that there might be some remote possibility of him using. That was a new idea to me, but I was willing to try it. I sold him the next story I wrote. About that time I discovered Black Mask, and it became my bible, as it did many many other writers who were beginning about then. You can picture me writing “Red Goose” in a college rooming house between bouts with Blackstone and Coke and other legal luminaries while my roommates read over my shoulder and alternately applauded and viewed with alarm. Law students are inclined—and no wonder—to be pessimistic, and it was predicted that you would not even read the story, that if you did you wouldn’t like it, and that even if you did like it you wouldn’t buy it, and by one ultra-cynic, that if you did buy it the check would bounce. As is evident, none of these dire prophecies came to pass.6
By 1934, the year he received his law degree, Davis was selling regularly to the pulp market. He was so busy writing stories that he never bothered to take the bar exam. I cannot identify his first published story, but his first story in Black Mask was “Reform Racket” in the June 1932 issue.
Shaw, who like his writers tall, once published a list of Black Mask writers who were over six feet. He was no doubt pleased with Davis’s great height, but only five stories by Davis were printed in the magazine during the years that Shaw was its editor. In his book, Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of the Pulps, Ron Goulart indicates, by quoting an unnamed friend of Davis, that Shaw found Davis’s work too whimsical to fit into the action pattern of Black Mask.7
II. Los Angeles and the Fictioneers
Norbert Davis lived in the Los Angeles area during most of his writing career. He associated with other pulp writers and was a member of the Fictioneers, a writers’ club founded by W.T. Ballard and Cleve Adams. The group of about twenty-five members met once a month in the Nikabob Cafe at 875 South Western Avenue in Los Angeles. The meetings were informal and their real purpose, Ballard recalls, “was to get comfortably drunk and then en masse attend one of the local burlesque theatres.”8
The meetings, however, were not mere social functions. The Fictioneers was a pulp oriented group, and Ballard says that:
One of the things that held it together was that most of us were working in the same markets. In the east there was a lot of backbiting among competitors, but in Hollywood because we were three thousand miles from our markets, we clung together, passing on any information which might help the other fellow.9
In an interview published in The Armchair Detective, Ballard spoke about the lifestyle of pulp writers in Los Angeles during the thirties and forties: “We worked hard, played hard, lived modestly, drank but few to excess, gambled some when we had extra cash. Most of our friends were other writers.”10
Davis and W.T. Ballard, better known today as western novelist Todhunter Ballard, were good friends who did some writing in collaboration. Using the joint pseudonym of Harrison Hunt, which was derived from their middle names, they wrote the novel Murder Picks the Jury. They also collaborated on a short story, not a mystery, for the Saturday Evening Post.11
Raymond Chandler attended several meetings of the Fictioneers. He and Davis were acquainted, but not close friends. For a time in the fall of 1940, they were neighbors, living a few doors apart on San Vincente Boulevard in Santa Monica. Both were represented by New York agent Sydney A. Sanders.
Chandler, the older and more intellectual of the two, respected Davis’s talent. When Chandler was studying pulp fiction, prior to his first sale to Black Mask, he read and admired Davis’s early stories. Years later he recommended a story by Davis, “Kansas City Flash,” for inclusion in James Sandoe’s anthology Murder: Plain and Fanciful. The story was one of a group selected by Chandler as being “noteworthy and characteristic of the most vigorous days” of Black Mask.12
Davis maintained a good relationship with member of his family, many of whom lived in Southern California. His first novel was dedicated to his mother; and the second, to his aunt, Jeanette Harrison, a physician who had a practice in Los Angeles for many years.
Davis was married as a young man, but the union did not last long. Some years later, he married again. His second wife, an attractive woman, had the maiden name of Nancy Kirkwood Crane. She was a writer from the East, who had a child, a son, from a previous marriage.
III. Flogging the Typewriter
Norbert Davis was a prolific writer of pulp fiction. Besides detective and mystery stories, he wrote love stories, adventure stories, war stories and even westerns. In fact, his only sale to Hollywood was a western story entitled “A Gunsmoke Case for Major Cain,” which became a movie, starring Wild Bill Elliot, called Hands Across the Rockies (1941).
Since the going rate was one or two cents a word, a pulp writer had to produce dozens of stories and several hundred thousand words a year. Some authors, Robert Leslie Bellem, Lester Dent, Walter Gibson and a few others, knocked out as many as a million published words a year. I doubt that Davis reached that figure in any one year, but he came close.
Frank Gruber captures the flavor of the pulp era in his book, The Pulp Jungle. He tells of the rejection and loneliness chat he had to overcome, of having to deal with insensitive and dishonest editors. Recalling a hectic period when he was producing over eight hundred thousand words a year, he writes:
This is an enormous amount of writing, any way you slice it. The manual labor involved in typing eight hundred thousand words a year is considerable. I flogged the typewriter day and night, I flogged it in the early hours of the morning, I beat at it, late at night. I worked Saturdays and Sundays.13
Hal Murray Bonnet has also written about his years as a pulp writer. He gave his reminiscences the pointed title “It was never that much fun!”14
Being represented by Sydney Sanders, a top agent, Davis may have been protected from unscrupulous editors. Still he, like all pulp writers, was under constant pressure to grind out the words. During the thirties and forties, about two hundred short stories and novelettes by Norbert Davis were published in the pulps. He was a frequent contributor to Black Mask, Dime Detective, Double Detective, Detective Fiction Weekly and Argosy.
Judging from the many Davis pulp stories that I have read, he was able to maintain a surprisingly high level of quality. His Black Mask stories are certainly worth reading, with the possible exception of “Reform Racket,” an awkward early effort, and the jingoistic “Bullets Don’t Bother Me.” The Max Latin series in Dime Detective is also recommended.
In addition to his pulp writing, Davis began, in the early forties, to write hardcover novels and slick magazine stories. His first novel, The Mouse in the Mountain, was published in 1943, with the second, Sally’s in the Alley, appearing that same year. These are, in my opinion, two of the funniest detective novels ever written. Bill Pronzini has called them “minor classics.”15
Both books feature the team of Doan and Carstairs, Doan, whose first name is never mentioned, is a short, fat detective and Carstairs—a gigantic Great Dane—is his partner and constant companion. Their hilarious adventures represent a high point in the career of Norbert Davis.
A third Doan and Carstairs novel, Oh, Murder Mine, appeared as an original paperback in 1946. A more conventional work, this novel is not as cleverly plotted or as arousing as the first two. Doan and Carstairs were also featured in two pulp stories.16
Murder Picks the Jury was published in 1947. A crime novel, coauthored by Davis and Ballard using the pseudonym of Harrison Hunt, it has a rather dark tone, reminding me of the work of David Goodis. In a letter to TAD,17 Pronzini states that the novel is based on a shorter and somewhat different story by Davis,18 and that Ballard may have worked alone to produce the longer version.
Davis entered the slick magazine market with two stories appearing simultaneously in issues of Collier’s19 and The Saturday Evening Post,20 both of which were dated January 1, 1944. He went on to write many more slick stories, about four a year. They are not in the mystery genre, but fall, for the most part, in the love story category. Although the stories are not his best work, he and his agent must have been pleased to receive the higher rates that the slicks were paying.
IV. The Davis Style
Phillip Durham writes: “There is a strong feeling for the joy of violence in the stories of Norbert Davis.”21 Herbert Ruhm refers to “the cockeyed gruffness of Davis.”22 Closer to the mark, I believe, is this comment by Ron Goulart; “In Norbert Davis’ work you’ll find a Bogart-like mixing of toughness and humor.”23
The Davis style deserves a more extensive analysis than can be given here, however I shall make a few remarks on the subject. Simply put, Davis wrote in a style that combines the toughness of the Black Mask school with his own brand of screwball humor. Robert Leslie Bellem and Robert Reeves attempted much of the same thing, but Davis’s light touch and solid craftsmanship raises his work to a level that they rarely achieved.
Although humor is always present in Davis’s most characteristic work, he produced a great amount of straight hard-boiled detective fiction. The following excerpt from “Kansas City Flash” is a good example of a Davis action scene:
Mark Hull came out of his daze in time to hook his foot around the thin man’s ankle. The thin man made no effort to catch himself, to ease his fall. He slammed down limply all at once. He moved a little on the rug. His hands went out in front of him, clutching. His feet jerked in short little kicks. He made soft, choking noises. Then he stopped moving suddenly, as though he were a mechanical toy that had run down.24
Davis’s humor could have a subtle, almost sardonic quality as in this description, also from “Kansas City Flash,” of a movie star, Doro Faliv:
She was one of the real mysteries of Hollywood. She was thin and flat-chested, with a complexion like yellow paste. Her black hair was lifeless and dull. Her features were assembled in regular enough order, but her face gave a queer blank effect, as though there was nothing but emptiness behind it. But on the screen she was marvelous. She was the essence of allure. She could send goose pimples along your back by just turning her head. The camera brought something out that wasn’t there.25
In the whimsical Doan and Carstairs novels, there is some tough writing, but humor is clearly dominant. This passage from The Mouse in the Mountain is a description of a remote Mexican village, Los Altos,26 during World War II:
In Los Altos, there had been a rumor going the rounds that some rich tourists from the United States who were staying at the Hotel Azteca outside Mazalar were going to make a bus trip up to Los Altos. It was obvious, of course, that this rumor wasn’t entirely to be trusted. Anyone with any brains or a radio knew that the people from the United States were too busy raising hell up and down the world to look at scenery except through a bombsight.
But tourists of any brand had been so remarkably scarce of late that the mere hint of their impending arrival was enough to touch off a sort of impromptu fiesta. The inhabitants of Los Altos shook the mothballs out of their serapes, mantillas, rebozas and similar bric-a-brac and prepared to look colorful at the drop of a sombrero. They gathered in the market place with their pigs and chickens and burros and dogs and children, and slept, argued, bellowed, squealed, cackled or urinated on the age-old pavement according to their various natural urges.27
V. Nineteen Forty-Nine
A forgotten pulp writer, Arthur J. Burks, made a profound impression on the young Frank Gruber when he said that the life of a pulp writer was seven years. “At the end of seven years you’ve got to go on to better writing, or go downhill.”28 Davis probably never met Burks, but we can assume that he heard similar statements at the meetings of the Fictioneers. He made his move into “better writing” in the mid-forties, cutting back on his pulp work and concentrating on hardcover novels and slick stories.
The year 1949 was a fateful one for Norbert Davis. It began auspiciously with the publication of a short story by Davis and his wife Nancy in the January 8 issue of The Saturday Evening Post.29 His career, however, was not going well.
Although his stories for the slicks were appearing at a respectable race, the pulp market, still a source of income, was rapidly collapsing as a result of competition from comic books and paperbacks. Black Mask was in decline, and in a few years, pulp magazines would no longer be published.
Davis had not established himself as a successful author of hardcover novels. He had not made the transition to motion picture writing as had Hammett, Chandler, Gruber and others. The possibility that television could provide him with a new market for his work may have not been apparent in 1949.
Early in that year, Davis moved from Southern California to Connecticut. His last California address was in Los Angeles at 1171 South Norton Avenue, about a mile from the Nikabob Cafe where the Fictioneers held their meetings. He had lived in a modest apartment in a multi-unit complex then known as a court.30
It is conceivable that Nancy Davis, being an Easterner, had urged her, husband to make the move to Connecticut. At any rate, they settled in the small community of Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state. The desire to be closer to the New York publishing houses probably was a consideration favoring the move.
That summer, for what reason I do not know, Davis made a trip to Harwich, Massachusetts, The town of Harwich is on Cape Cod. Not far from the Kennedy family compound, it was in this resort setting that Davis, apparently despondent over career difficulties and other problems, took his own life.
According to the death certificate on record at the Massachusetts Division of Vital Statistics, he ran a garden hose from the exhaust pipe of his car to the bathroom of the house in which he was staying. In the early morning of July 28, Norbert Davis died, at the age of forty, from inhalation of exhaust gases. His body was cremated in Boston and burial of the ashes took place at Inglewood Park Cemetery, near Los Angeles, on August 11.
Davis had died without leaving a will. In a document filed two months after his death, his estate was estimated at five hundred dollars.
Why did Norbert Davis end his life? There is no simple answer to that question. Since many of Davis’s friends and relatives are deceased and others who might have pertinent information are unwilling to discuss the matter, arriving at an answer is extremely difficult. Despite an intensive search, I was never able to locate Davis’s widow. I can positively place her in Westport, Connecticut, in September 1949; but there the trail ends.
No doubt, Davis had problems of a personal nature that my research has failed to uncover. Twenty years of flogging the typewriter may have taken a toll on his physical and mental health. Separation from close friends and relatives, most of whom were three thousand miles away in California, probably aggravated his situation. It is possible that he needed the support that these people would normally have provided.
I shall not speculate further on the reasons for Davis’s suicide. My purpose in writing this article was not to answer that question, although it could hardly be ignored, but to help restore Norbert Davis to his rightful place among the major pulp mystery writers and to introduce Davis to a new generation of readers. If interest in his work is generated, perhaps the tough, funny exploits of Max Latin and the screwball adventures of Doan and Carstairs will once again become available to mystery fans.
Joseph T. Shaw, drafts of Introductory material for The Hard-Boiled Omnibus, Joseph Thompson Shaw Collection, UCLA Research Library, Los Angeles.
I am grateful to many people who kindly provided me with information on Norbert Davis. They include the late Dr. Jeanette Harrison, Mrs. Sydney A. Sanders, Mills Ten Eyck, Jr., of the Authors League of America, and Barbara E. Adams of William Morrow and Company. I also wish to thanks two friends—Tod Johnson and Mitchell Rose—and the staff of the UCLA Special Collections Department for their most helpful assistance.
Quoted in “Keeping Posted” department, The Saturday Evening Post, September 30, 1944, p. 4.
Morrison’s only claim to fame: in May 1874, James Sargent installed a time lock mechanism in the First National Bank of Morrison, the first such installation in the United States.
Quoted in “Keeping Posted,” p. 4.
Quoted in Shaw.
Ron Goulart, Cheap Thrills (New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1972), pp. 127–28.
Quoted in Frank MacShane, The Life of Raymond Chandler (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1976), p. 74
Quoted in MacShane, p. 74.
Quoted in Stephen Mertz, “W.T. Ballard: An Interview,” The Armchair Detective, 12 (Winter 1979), p. 17–18.
Todhunter Ballard and Norbert Davis, “Kelley Makes a Deal,” The Saturday Evening Post, May 17, 1947, pp. 22 et passim.
James Sandoe, ed. Foreword to Murder: Plain and Fanciful (New York: Sheridan House, 1948), p. vii.
Frank Gruber, The Pulp Jungle (Los Angeles: Sherbourne Press, 1967), p. 177.
Hal Murray Bonnett, “It was never that much fun!” Xenophile, No. 38 (1978), p. 141.
Quoted in Robert J. Randisi, “An Interview with Bill Pronzini,” The Armchair Detective, 11 (January 1978), p. 48.
Norbert Davis, “Cry Murder!” Flynn’s Detective Fiction, July 1944, pp. 8–27, and “Holocaust House,” a two-part serial in Argosy in 1940.
Bill Pronzini, Letter, The Armchair Detective, 12 (Summer 1979), p. 268.
Norbert Davis, “String Him Up,” Double Detective, February 1938.
Norbert Davis, “A is for Annabelle,” Collier’s, January 1, 1944, pp. 20 et passim.
Norbert Davis, “Get Out and Get Under,” The Saturday Evening Post, January 1, 1944, pp. 16 et passim.
Philip Durham, “The Black Mask School,” in Tough Guy Writers of the Thirties, ed. David Madden (Carbondale, Il.: Southern Illinois University Press, 1968), p.71.
Herbert Ruhm, ed., Introduction to The Hard-Boiled Detective (New York: Random House, Vintage Books, 1977), p. xii.
Ron Goulart, ed. Preface to “Don’t Give Your Right Name,” by Norbert Davis, in The Hard-Boiled Dicks (Los Angeles: Sherbourne Press, 1965), p. 1.
Norbert Davis, “Kansas City Flash,” Black Mask, March 1933, p. 85.
Davis has some fun with names in The Mouse in the Mountain. Los Altos was, and still is, a large apartment-hotel on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Davis also uses Doan (a patent medicine: Doan’s Pills), Carstairs (a brand of liquor), Janet (his aunt’s first name: Jeanette) and Bay City (a fictitious city in Raymond Chandler’s stories). In Oh, Murderer Mine, he uses Bert (his nickname) and T. Ballard Bestwyck (W.T. Ballard).
Norbert Davis, The Mouse in the Mountain (New York: William Morrow, 1943), p. 24.
Quoted in Gruber, p. 29.
Nancy Davis and Norbert Davis, “The Captious Sex,” The Saturday Evening Post, January 8, 1949, pp. 18 et passim.
The apartment complex still stands in what is now a neighborhood mainly populated by blacks, Chicanos and Asian-Americans. The Nikabob was torn down several years ago.
Norbert Davis Checklist
This checklist is limited to Davis’s mystery and detective fiction, specifically his novels and his pulp stories in Black Mask, Detective Fiction Weekly and Dime Detective. For his slick magazine stories, see The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for the years 1944 to 1949.
The list of novels is, I believe, complete. Of his many pulp stories, however, only those in the above-mentioned magazines are listed. My major source of data was the extensive pulp magazine holdings of the UCLA Research Library, Special Collections Department. Since there are gaps in these holdings, it can be assumed that some stories are missing from the checklist.
For each story that I have actually examined, the name of the main character, usually a detective or a lawyer, is included.
The Mouse in the Mountain. Morrow, 1943; Grosset & Dunlap, 1944; Rue Morgue Press, 2001. Published as Rendezvous With Fear, Withy Grove Press (London and Manchester), 1944.
Also published as Dead Little Rich Girl, Handi-Books pb, 1945.
Sally’s in the Alley. Morrow, 1943; Boardman (London), 1944; Grosset & Dunlap, 1946.
Oh, Murderer Mine. Handi-Books pb, 1946.
Murder Picks the Jury, as by Harrison Hunt (joint pseud. with Willis Todhunter Ballard). Curl, 1947; McLeod (Toronto), 1947. Published as A L’estomac! trans. Jacques Papy, Gallimard (Paris), 1951.
Stories in Black Mask:
“Reform Racket.” June, 1932 Dan Stiles.
“Kansas City Flash.” March, 1933 Mark Hull. Rpt. in Murder: Plain and Fanciful, ed. James Sandoe. Sheridan House, 1948. Also rpt. in The Hard-Boiled Detective, ed. Herbert Ruhm. Vintage pb, 1977.
“Red Goose.” February 1934 Ben Shaley. Rpt. in The Hard-Boiled Omnibus, ed. Joseph T. Shaw. Simon & Schuster, 1946; Pocket Books pb, 1952.
“The Price of a Dime.” April 1934 Ben Shaley.
“Hit and Run.” April 1935 Jake Tait.
“Medicine for Murder.” October 1937 Dr. Bruce Gregory.
“Murder in Two Parts.” December 1937 Brent.
“You’ll Die Laughing.” November 1940 Dave Sly. Rpt. in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, September 1954, as “Do a Dame a Favor?”
“Walk Across My Grave.” April 1942 Sheriff Jim Laury. Rpt. in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, November 1953.
“Don’t Cry for Me.” May 1942 John Collinsi.
“Bullets Don’t Bother Me.” August 1942 Sam Carey.
“Beat Me Daddy.” November 1942 Sgt. John Collins.
“Name Your Poison.” May 1943 Sgt. John Collins.
Stories in Detective Fiction Weekly:
(In 1943 magazine became a monthly, Flynn’s Detective Fiction.)
“Black Death.” May 18th, 1935 Sarr.
“The Girl with the Webbed Hand.” August 24th, 1935 Slattery.
“Trip to Vienna.” October 19th, 1935
“One Man Died.” January 18th, 1936
“The Missing Legs.” February 22nd, 1936
“Diamond Slippers.” March 14th, 1936 Simon Saxton.
“Clues on Crutches.”June 20th, 1936
“Public Defender.” June 27th, 1936 Michael.
“Murder Harvest.” September 12th, 1936 James Michael.
“The Case of the Greedy Guardian.” October 3rd, 1936
“5 to 1 Odds on Murder.” February 6th, 1937
“Top Hat Killer.” June 26th, 1937
“Beauty in the Morgue.” July 31st, 1937 John Mark.
“Indian Sign.” September 18th, 1937
“Mountain Man.” October 2nd 1937 Saul Jarret.
“Devil Down the Chimney.” December 11th, 1937 Dan Crail.
“Cat’s Claw.” January 8th, 1938
“Murder Buried Deep.” March 12th, 1938
“Marriage is Murder.” October 15th, 1938
“Ideal for Murder.” February 11th, 1939 Tom Grey
“The Lethal Logic.” April 29th, 1939 Prof. Carlson.
“A Vote for Murder.” July 15th, 1939 John Gaul.
“Mud in Your Eye.” October 14th, 1939 Craig.
“Never Say Die.” November 11th, 1939 Les Free.
“Cry Murder!” July 1944 Doan.
Stories in Dime Detective:
(All five Max Latin stories appear in The Adventures of Max Latin, Mysterious Press, 1988.)
“The Gin Monkey.” January 15th, 1935 Max Clark.
“The Devil’s Scalpel.” November 1935 Bill Ray.
“Something for the Sweeper.” May 1937 Jones.
“Death Sings a Torch-Song.” July 1937 Dennis Lee.
“Drop of Doom.” December 1939 Dale.
“Murder Down Deep.” February 1940 William Dodd.
“Murder in the Red.” April 1940 William Dodd.
“This Will Kill You!” August 1940 William Dodd.
“Watch Me Kill You!” July 1940 Max Latin.
“Come Up and Kill Me Some Time.” October 1941 William Dodd.
“Don’t Give Your Right Name.” December 1941 Max Latin. Rpt. in The Hardboiled Dicks, ed.
on Goulart. Sherbourne Press, 1965; Pocket Books pb, 1967.
“Have One on the House.” March 1942 William Dodd.
“Give the Devil His Due.” May 1942 Max Latin.
“Who Said I Was Dead?” August 1942 William Dodd.
“You Bet Your Life.” September 1942 William Dodd.
“You Can Die Any Day.” December 1942 Max Latin.
“Too Many Have Died.” April 1943 Peter Tracy.
“Charity Begins at Homicide.” October 1943 Max Latin.
“Take It from Me.” December 1943 William Dodd.
This article was originally published in The Armchair Detective (Vol.15, No.1, 1982) and contains revisions and corrections to the original appearance.
John has been a mystery fan for many years, with major areas of interest being Japanese mystery fiction and the writers of the pulp era. He has written several articles for The Armchair Detective, Deadly Pleasures, Cads, and other fanzines, and is a regular contributor to Mystery & Detective Monthly. He edited, with Martin Greenberg, two anthologies: Murder in Japan (1987) and The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories (1989).
Authored by John L. Apostolou. Copyright © 2001 by John L. Apostolou. Reprinted by permission of the author.
A.A. Wyn Alfred Jan American Fiction Guild August Lenniger Brian Greene Carroll John Daly Charles Kelly Cornell Woolrich Curt Siodmak Dan J. Marlowe Dashiell Hammett E.R. Hagemann Ed Lin Edward Anderson Erin A. Smith Frank L. Packard Fredric Brown Harry Steeger Hugh B. Cave John Desbin John L. Apostolou Jonathan Latimer Joseph T. Shaw Keith Alan Deutsch Lester Dent Lurton Blassingame Mike Valerio Norbert Davis Peter Ruber Popular Publications Rafael DeSoto Raoul Whitfield Raymond Chandler Ray Zone Robert D. Wheadon Robert Reeves Rob Preston Stephen Mertz Steve Fisher Theodore A. Tinsley Victor A. Berch W.T. Ballard Warren Harris Woody Haut Writer's Digest |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What to expect if I have Atrophic vaginitis (Outlook/Prognosis)? output: Proper treatment will usually relieve the symptoms. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: ,I have a skin colored bump on the top of my head under my hair close to the hairline. It is soft and it doesnt really hurt putting pressure on it. It been the re for as long as I can remember but I know it wasnt there when I was a baby. I know if I mess with it and pick at it it will bleed but it just goes back and always stays a skin colored squishy bump. Any ideas what it is ?. output: 2-IN my opinion, this skin lump on head in the hairline, appears to be a-sebaceous cyst mostly -as it is there since last few yrs and not since your childhood-t.b-or it could be congenital Desmond.3-I would advise you -to consult a Surgeon-who would differentiate between the causative factors -and would treat it if required suitably.4-Hope this would solve you query to your satisfaction. Have a Good Day.!!. |
Posts Tagged ‘altera’
Analysis of Altera’s Double Take. Will Altera Be Reheard En Banc or Will Altera Seek The Supreme Court To Weigh In On Chevron and State Farm?
Posted by William Byrnes on June 8, 2019
Prof. William Byrnes (Texas A&M Law) is the author of the treatises Practical Guide to U.S. Transfer Pricing and Taxation of Intellectual Property & Technology.
“an arm’s length result is not simply any result that maximizes one’s tax obligations”
In a double take two-to-one decision because of a withdrawn decision due to the death of a judge, a Ninth Circuit panel in Altera reversed a unanimous en banc decision of the Tax Court that the qualified cost sharing arrangements (QCSA) regulations[1] were invalid under the Administrative Procedure Act.[2] The renown Professor Calvin Johnson (Texas) and I shared comments on this case. Professor Johnson’s pragmatism is worth noting (see his latest Altera article here) in the context of Altera: “$100 million of stock options is a $100 million cost, as a matter of law.” Because it is a cost for public accounting, Calvin states it is incredulous hat Altera would enter into a arm’s length negotiation in which the counterparty invests $200 cash, and Altera invests $200 cash plus $100 million stock options, but then Altera agrees to ignore its additional $100 million cost and agrees to split equally. Altera wants to deduct its $100 million of stock cost domestically but pass on the associated income to the foreign-controlled group member. This is bad policy.
I agree with Professor Johnson that it is bad policy. But I think that Treasury is taking shortcuts to generate the result that it wants instead of going through the steps necessary to effect a change in policy. Most of my academic colleagues support the majority’s opinion of the proposition that Congress bestowed such latitude to Treasury in IRC § 482. I agree that the latitude is within the Code Section, but that Treasury to date has regulated a policy dependent on the arm’s length and comparables, as the dissent enunciates and the Ninth Circuit panel majority supported in Xilinx II. Treasury may change its policy approach, but that requires a formal procedural process laid out by the APA, I argue in favor of the dissent’s approach. Even with the new language added to IRC § 482 by the TCJA of 2017, Treasury, I propose, must still formally open a public process that it is changing tact from arm’s length and comparables to something else like apportionment of profits and loss by formulae.
The last word has not been heard in Altera. I expect that Altera will request an en banc hearing. However, Altera II may be the case that the two newest members, in particular, Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, of the Supreme Court have been waiting for to weigh in on Chevron and State Farm. Expect Altera III.
Altera I and Altera II (withdrawn)
The Ninth Circuit’s issuance, withdrawal, and re-issuance of a CSA decision is also a double take of Xilinx.[3] However unlike Altera, after the withdrawal of its initial Xilinx decision favoring the IRS position, the Ninth Circuit rejected the IRS’ position that the (pre-2003) QCSA Regulations required treating deductions for stock-based compensation as costs that must be shared by the foreign related party in cost-sharing arrangements. The former QCSA regulations, and current ones still, require that related entities share the cost of employee stock compensation in order for their cost-sharing arrangements to be classified as qualified cost-sharing arrangements. Treasury has consistently stated that the previous and current versions of the QCSA regulations are consistent with the arm’s length standard whereas the Tax Court has consistently disagreed with the IRS position.
At the Tax Court level for Altera, the Court held that the current QCSA regulations are a legislative rule because the regulations have the force of law, as opposed to an interpretive rule, and thus the State Farm standard applied.[4] The Tax Court concluded that Treasury did not undertake “reasoned decision making” required by State Farm in issuing the cost-sharing regulations because Treasury failed to support with any evidence in the administrative record its opinion that unrelated parties acting at arm’s length would share stock-based compensation (SBC) costs.[5] The Tax Court held that Treasury’s decision-making process relied on speculation rather than on hard data and expert opinions and that Treasury ignored public comments evidencing that unrelated party cost-sharing arrangements did not share stock compensation costs.
The Ninth Circuit’s first panel’s opinion, now withdrawn, held that Treasury did not exceed its authority delegated by Congress under IRC § 482.[6] That panel explained that IRC § 482 does not speak directly to whether Treasury may require parties to a QCSA to share employee stock compensation costs in order to receive the tax benefits associated with entering into a QCSA. The first panel held that the Treasury reasonably interpreted IRC § 482 as an authorization to require internal allocation methods in the QCSA context, provided that the costs and income allocated are proportionate to the economic activity of the related parties and concluded that the regulations are a reasonable method for achieving the results required by the statute. Thus, the first panel granted Chevron deference to the QCSA regulations.
The primary issue of Altera I and II, and the cases that precede it that have found in favor of the taxpayers is whether the arm’s length standard requires the comparability standard be met through a method seeking evidence of empirical data or known transactions? Alternatively, is Treasury afforded deference to disregard a comparability method to instead seek an arm’s length result of tax parity that relies on an internal method of allocation to allocate the costs of the U.S. employee stock options between the U.S. and foreign related parties in proportion to the income enjoyed by each, determined post facto (after the fact) of the cost-sharing agreement?[7]
Altera II’s majority, relying on Frank,[8] states that the arm’s length standard need not be based solely on comparable transactions for reallocating costs and income, though recognizing that Frank is limited[9] to situations wherein it is difficult to hypothesize an arm’s length transaction. The dissenting Judge provided a descriptive history that Treasury has repeatedly asserted that a comparability analysis is the only way to determine the arm’s length standard. Regarding Frank, the dissent stated, “The majority’s attempt to breathe life back into Frank is, simply, unpersuasive.” The Judge emphasized that the Ninth Circuit had declared Frank an outlier because (a) the parties in Frank had stipulated to applying a standard other than the arm’s length, (b) “there was no evidence that arms-length bargaining upon the specific commodities sold had produced a higher return,” and (c) that the complexity of the circumstances surrounding the services rendered by the subsidiary made it “difficult for the court to hypothesize an arm’s length transaction.”[10]
Pre Altera
The regulatory rules for cost-sharing arrangements (“CSAs”) at issue in Altera I and II, issued in temporary form January 5, 2009[11] and in subsequent final form effective December 16, 2011,[12] are different from the previously issued CSAs. The rules for earlier CSAs are subject to grandfather provisions. For periods before January 5, 2009, the status of an arrangement as a CSA and the operative rules for complying arrangements, including rules for buy-in transactions, were determined under the qualified cost sharing arrangement regulations issued in 1995 and substantively amended in 1996 and 2003 (the “2003 QCSA Regulations”).[13]
The Ninth Circuit, in Xilinx,[14] rejected the position of the Service that the pre-2003 QCSA Regulations in effect in 1997–99 required treating deductions for stock-based compensation as costs that must be shared in cost-sharing arrangements.
The purpose of the regulations is parity between taxpayers in uncontrolled transactions and taxpayers in controlled transactions. The regulations are not to be construed to stultify that purpose. If the standard of arm’s length is trumped by 7(d)(1), the purpose of the statute is frustrated. If Xilinx cannot deduct all its stock option costs, Xilinx does not have tax parity with an independent taxpayer. Xilinx, Inc. v. Comm’r, 598 F.3d 1191, 1196, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 5795, *14 (9th Cir 2010)
The Xilinx concurring opinion summarizes the positions at odds between Xilinx and the IRS:
The parties provide dueling interpretations of the “arm’s length standard” as applied to the ESO costs that Xilinx and XI did not share. Xilinx contends that the undisputed fact that there are no comparable transactions in which unrelated parties share ESO costs is dispositive because, under the arm’s length standard, controlled parties need share only those costs uncontrolled parties share. By implication, Xilinx argues, costs that uncontrolled parties would not share need not be shared.
On the other hand, the Commissioner argues that the comparable transactions analysis is not always dispositive. The Commissioner reads the arm’s length standard as focused on what unrelated parties would do under the same circumstances, and contends that analyzing comparable transactions is unhelpful in situations where related and unrelated parties always occupy materially different circumstances. As applied to sharing ESO costs, the Commissioner argues (consistent with the tax court’s findings) that the reason unrelated parties do not, and would not, share ESO costs is that they are unwilling to expose themselves to an obligation that will vary with an unrelated company’s stock price. Related companies are less prone to this concern precisely because they are related — i.e., because XI is wholly owned by Xilinx, it is already exposed to variations in Xilinx’s overall stock price, at least in some respects. In situations like these, the Commissioner reasons, the arm’s length result must be determined by some method other than analyzing what unrelated companies do in their joint development transactions. Xilinx, Inc. v. Comm’r, 598 F.3d 1191, 1197, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 5795, *16-17 (9th Cir 2010)
The concurring Judge concludes: “These regulations are hopelessly ambiguous and the ambiguity should be resolved in favor of what appears to have been the commonly held understanding of the meaning and purpose of the arm’s length standard prior to this litigation.”
The Treasury amended the QCSA in 2003 to explicitly provide that the intangible development costs that must be shared include the costs related to stock-based compensation. From January 5, 2009, the 2009/2011 QCSA Regulations apply (the “2009 QCSA Regulations”). For periods starting with January 5, 2009, a pre-January 5, 2009 arrangement that qualified as a CSA under the 2003 QCSA Regulations is subject in part to the 2003 QCSA Regulations and in part to the 2009 QCSA Regulations. Arrangements that qualified as CSAs under the 2003 QCSA Regulations, whether or not materially expanded in scope on or after January 5, 2009, are known as “grandfathered CSAs.” The IRS contends that grandfathered CSAs are subject, with significant exceptions, to the 2009 QCSA regulations provisions for cost sharing transactions (“CSTs”) and platform contribution transactions (PCTs). The significant exceptions for the grandfathered CSAs include that, unless the CSA is later expanded by the related parties, the original pre-2009 CSA is not subject to the 2009 QCSA regulations ‘Divisional Interest’ and Periodic Adjustment rules.
However, the IRS attempted to adjust the application of the 2003 QCSA Regulations by issuing a Coordinated Issue Paper on Section 482 CSA Buy-In Adjustments on September 27, 2007 (the “2007 CSA-CIP”).[15] The CSA-CIP was de-coordinated effective June 26, 2012, after the rejection of its concepts in the 2009 Tax Court decision in the VERITAS case. [16] The CSA-CIP provided that the Income Method and the Acquisition Price Method, similar to the specified transfer pricing methods set forth in the 2009 QCSA Regulations, are to be considered ‘best methods’ under the 2003 QCSA Regulations even though they only could be applied as ‘unspecified methods’. The Tax Court in VERITAS, addressing assessments for the tax years 2000 and 2001, neither cited nor followed the IRS methods of its 2007 CSA-CIP. Note that VERITAS survives Altera II because the 2009 QCSA Regulations years were not yet promulgated for the years of concern. From the IRS’ perspective, though it does not acquiesce in the decision, it cured VERITAS by including the Income Method and the Acquisition Price Method as specified methods for determining “buy-in” payments for the 2009 QCSA regulations buy-ins. Thus, the IRS continues to aggressively litigate in favor of these methods, exemplified by the appeal from Altera[17] and Amazon[18] in 2017.
Post Altera
Although the IRS withdrew the CSA-CIP in 2012, it continues to pursue cases under the pre-2009 Treasury Regulations as is the CSA-CIP remained in place. Amazon filed a Tax Court petition in December of 2012 challenging a $2 billion transfer pricing adjustment related to a qualified cost sharing arrangement between Amazon.com Inc. and its European subsidiary pre-2009. Amazon claimed that the IRS erred in relying on a discounted cash flow method which the tax court clearly rejected in VERITAS. In the 207-page Amazon opinion, the Tax Court ruled that the IRS’s adjustment with respect to a buy-in payment for the intragroup CSA was arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable.
Moreover, the IRS has an ongoing CSA controversy against Microsoft for the 2004-06 tax years for which President George Bush’s former Treasury Secretary John Snow promised at a February 7, 2006 hearing to then Chairman of the Committee Senator Charles E. Grassley that the IRS would bring a substantial CSA adjustment.[19] Microsoft reported an effective tax rate for fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018 of 15 percent, eight percent, and 19 percent respectively.[20] Microsoft reported that this unresolved transfer pricing issue is the primary cause for it to increase its tax contingency from $11.8 billion to $13.5 billion to $15.4 billion.[21] The IRS has not issued a deficiency because the controversy remains in the IDR stage of the audit currently due to litigation over the issues of legal privilege and the issue of the IRS’ contract with a third party law firm to assist in the audit.[22]
The IRS announced in 2016 and 2018 a CSA adjustment against Facebook for the tax years 2010 and subsequent of at least $5 billion, and of 2011 – 2013 of approximately $680 million.[23] Facebook reported an effective tax rate of 13 percent for the second quarter of 2017 and 2018.[24] The controversy remains in the procedural phase on the docket of the Tax Court. The Microsoft and Facebook controversies appear to be further second take of Amazon and Altera.
Based on Treasury’s litigation stances and the 2015 temporary CSA regulations proposals, Treasury updated several International Practice Service Transaction Units’ audit guidelines relevant for CSAs, including (1) Pricing of Platform Contribution Transaction (PCT) in Cost Sharing Arrangements (CSA)—Initial Transaction, (2) Change in Participation in a Cost Sharing Arrangement (CSA)—Controlled Transfer of Interests and Capability Variation, (3) Pricing of Platform Contribution Transaction (PCT) in Cost Sharing Arrangements (CSA) Acquisition of Subsequent IP, (4) Comparison of the Arm’s Length Standard with Other Valuation Approaches—Inbound, and (5) IRC 367(d) Transactions in Conjunction with Cost Sharing Arrangements (CSA).
Altera’s Double Take Analysis Of Majority and Dissenting Opinions (Read the Altera II Decision here)
The Ninth Circuit Court majority evaluated the validity of Treasury’s regulations under both Chevron and State Farm, which the Court stated: “provide for related but distinct standards for reviewing rules promulgated by administrative agencies.”[25] The majority distinguished State Farm from Chevron in that State Farm “is used to evaluate whether a rule is procedurally defective as a result of flaws in the agency’s decision-making process,” whereas Chevron “is generally used to evaluate whether the conclusion reached as a result of that process—an agency’s interpretation of a statutory provision it administers—is reasonable.” The majority first turned to the Chevron analysis that:[26]
“When Congress has ‘explicitly left a gap for an agency to fill, there is an express delegation of authority to the agency to elucidate a specific provision of the statute by regulation,’ and any ensuing regulation is binding in the courts unless procedurally defective, arbitrary or capricious in substance, or manifestly contrary to the statute.”
The Ninth Circuit Court panel’s majority resolved that IRC § 482 is ambiguous because it does not address share employee stock compensation costs.[27] The majority stated that it is not persuaded by Altera’s argument that stock-based compensation is not “transferred” between parties because only intangibles in existence can be transferred. Altera argues that QCSAs to “develop” intangibles does not constitute a “transfer” of intangibles. The majority instead concludes that the transfer of intangibles may include the transfer of future distribution rights to intangibles which stock-based compensation are albeit yet to be developed. The majority relies upon the expansive meaning of the statutory word “any” for IRC § 482 (“any” transfer . . . of intangible property).[28] But the dissent counters that “any” does not modify “intangible property.” Rather, “any” precedes and thus, applies only to “transfer.”[29]
The majority accepts Treasury’s new explanation that the taxpayer’s agreement to “divide beneficial ownership of any Developed Technology” constitutes a transfer of intangibles.[30] The dissenting Judge points out that Treasury never made, much less supported, a finding that QCSAs constitute transfers of intangible property.[31] The dissent states that:[32]
“No rights are transferred when parties enter into an agreement to develop intangibles; this is because the rights to later-developed intangible property would spring ab initio to the parties who shared the development costs without any need to transfer the property. And, there is no guarantee when the cost-sharing arrangements are entered into that any intangible will, in fact, be developed.”
The majority next turned to the reasonableness of Treasury ignoring the comparables presented by the Taxpayer and during the regulatory comment period. The majority quotes from an aspect of the legislative history:[33]
“There are extreme difficulties in determining whether the arm’s length transfers between unrelated parties are comparable. . . . [I]t is appropriate to require that the payment made on a transfer of intangibles to a related foreign corporation be commensurate with the income attributable to the intangible.”
The majority concludes that Congress granted Treasury the authority to develop methods that did not rely on the analysis of ‘problematic’ comparable transactions and that Treasury promulgated the QCSA based on this authority because Treasury stated, “The uncontrolled transactions cited by commentators do not share enough characteristics of QCSAs involving the development of high-profit intangibles…”.[34]
The dissenting Judge pointed out that Treasury merely cited to the general legislative history IRC § 482 1986 amendment but that Treasury “did not explain what portions of the legislative history it found pertinent or how any of that history factored into its thinking.”[35] The dissenting Judge holds out that the majority accepts the “ever-evolving post-hoc rationalizations” of Treasury and then “goes even further to justify what Treasury did here”.[36] Commentators of the 2009 QCSA regulations submitted comparable transactions demonstrating that unrelated companies do not share the cost of stock-based compensation. Treasury distinguished these uncontrolled transactions as not sharing enough characteristics of QCSAs involving the development of high-profit intangibles. The dissent agreed with the Tax Court which held that Treasury’s explanation for its regulation was insufficient under State Farm because Treasury “failed to provide a reasoned basis” for its “belief that unrelated parties entering into QCSAs would generally share stock-based compensation costs.”[37]
The dissenting Judge explained that the legislative history and plain reading of the second sentence of IRC § 482 did not offer Treasury the flexibility to depart from a comparability analysis required by the first sentence but for a limited context of “any transfer (or license) of intangible property”. The Judge then pointed out that Treasury’s 1988 White Paper also stated: “intangible income must be allocated on the basis of comparable transactions if comparables exist.”[38] Thus, the Tax Court’s found for Xilinx because the IRS had not provided evidence that unrelated parties transacting at arm’s length share expenses related to stock-based compensation.[39] The Ninth Circuit majority upheld the finding in favor of Xilinx because the arm’s length standard required that stock-based compensation expenses would not be shared in the absence of evidence that unrelated parties would share these costs.[40]
The majority next concludes that Treasury complied with the procedural requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”) so that the 2009 QCSA survives a State Farm analysis.[41] The State Farm analysis second step requires that the Treasury “must consider and respond to significant comments received during the period for public comment.”[42] The majority summarizes Altera’s four arguments that Treasury did not meet this requirement: (1) Treasury improperly rejected comments submitted in opposition to the proposed rule, (2) Treasury’s current litigation position is inconsistent with statements made during the rulemaking process, (3) Treasury did not adequately support its position that employee stock compensation is a cost, and (4) a more searching review is required under Fox,[43] because the agency altered its position. Boiled down, Altera argues that Treasury stated its intent to coordinate the new regulations with the arm’s length standard and then dismissed submissions addressing arm’s length comparables.
The majority was not persuaded by Altera’s argument that an arm’s length analysis requires actual transactional analysis. Altera submitted that “unrelated parties do not share stock compensation costs because it is difficult to value stock-based compensation, and there can be a great deal of expense and risk involved.”[44] Treasury responded in the 2009 QCSA that “the uncontrolled transactions cited by commentators do not share enough characteristics of QCSAs involving the development of high-profit intangibles to establish that parties at arm’s length would not take stock options into account in the context of an arrangement similar to a QCSA.”[45] The majority sided with Treasury’s justification that the lack of similar transactions led it to “employ a methodology that did not depend on non-existent comparables to satisfy the commensurate with income test and achieve tax parity.”[46] The majority also concluded that Treasury’s use of an internal method of reallocation is consistent with the arm’s length standard because the internal method attempts to bring parity to the tax treatment of controlled and uncontrolled taxpayers as does a comparison of comparable transactions when they exist.[47]
Finally, the majority distinguished the previous, contrary, 2010 holding of the majority in Xilinx that stock-based compensation is not required to be included for a CSA. This majority stated that administrative authority was not at issue in Xilinx and that the previous panel was not called upon to consider the “commensurate with income. The Xilinx panel had to reconcile a conflict between two rules: the specific methods of the 1994 arm’s length rule and the pre-2003 QCSA Regulations.[48]
The dissenting panel member instead concluded that the two-member majority justified Treasury’s about-face by (a) providing “a reasoned basis for the agency’s action that the agency itself has not given”,[49] (b) encouraging “executive agencies’ penchant for changing their views about the law’s meaning almost as often as they change administrations”,[50] and (c) endorsing a practice of requiring interested parties to engage in a scavenger hunt to understand an agency’s rulemaking proposals.[51] The dissenting Judge was troubled that Treasury stated “for the first time and with no explanation that it may, instead, employ the “commensurate with income” standard to reach the required arm’s length result.”[52]
Based on the Tax Court decision in Xilinx and in Altera that the taxpayer had presented sufficient evidence of comparable transactions, the dissent agreed with the Tax Court’s finding that Treasury was required at least to attempt to gather empirical evidence before declaring that no such evidence was available, in the face of such evidence being available. In light of this evidence, Treasury concedes the comparables issue in its appellate brief and instead pivots its justification for the 2009 QCSA that Treasury is not required to undertake an analysis of what unrelated entities do under comparable circumstances. Treasury’s argument is that it was statutorily authorized to dispense with a comparability analysis in this narrow context and thus Treasury does not need to investigate whether the uncontrolled transactions were comparable.[53] The dissenting Judge would hold that the APA requires Treasury to state that it was taking this new position in a stark departure from its previous regulations.[54]
In my opinion, Treasury had to concede the comparables point. The issues remain the same as explained by the Xilinx concurring Judge above. Treasury’s argument, regarding CSAs, is that related parties should be treated differently because as a group the parties have more information and more control over the other party as regards the share options. Given the group relationship, the U.S. and the foreign party will split the costs of the U.S. employees’ share options. But the application of the arm’s length standard has been understood to treat the related parties and unrelated. If unrelated, then the assumption of information is unfounded. Moreover, why would the foreign party bear the costs of the share options of the U.S. employees without negotiating on behalf of its employees to also receive such options? What is the quid pro quo for the foreign subsidiary? Yet, I also consider that potentially such lopsidedness in favor of the U.S. party can be brought to bear by the economic dominance of the U.S. party. which can potentially occur in an outsourcing relationship. However, Altera and amicus industry groups provided agreements evidencing the contrary and the IRS chose not to seek rebuttal evidence (or it could not locate any).
The issues of comparables and comparability, at least in my perspective, are distinguishable. The first step is to identify transaction comparables, which Altera clearly has, and the second is to then to adjust for the commonly accepted (market, economic) variances between the comparables. By example, size of parties in relation to each other, size of market and competition within, term, etc the factors of the Treasury Regs and other arm’s length differences that would require adjustments. I disagree with the underlying premise of the “three percent”. Stated another way, 97 percent of transactions are therefore incomparable. That’s a lot of “unicorns”. But business is not like our fingerprints and rarely generates unicorns. More often, competitors develop distinguishing approaches that can be adjusted for. Said another way, I disagree with the lack of comparables, and base my disagreement on the managerial sciences like supply and value chain. The economy does produce unicorns and we call these unicorns first movers. Sometimes we grant patent protection to maintain unicorn status for a period of time. And sometimes first movers develop a new formation of the supply and full value chain that we call a business method. But for the issue of a monopoly or concentrated oligopoly, such first movers eventually experience competitors and comparables begin to emerge. Thus, the argument for a lack of comparable transactions within an industry or industry segment necessarily requires believing that unicorns are common.
Also, the “three percent” must be viewed in historical context. Firstly, that report was written at a time when there was a lack of available information via the Internet and electronic (pay for) databases that captured such information, cleaned it, and tagged it. Secondly, the domestic economy itself was less mature and robust, with much less competition and thus much less transactions to be compared. Thirdly, the world was not a globalized competitive economy as it is today. The OECD and Treasury still state a lack of comparable transactions today with regard to “hard to value intangibles”. My academic sense thinks that it is just hard, laborious work to find them. (And arguably for simplicity maybe as a policy we should move away from the arm’s length).
The dissenting Judge finds that in 1986 Congress could not have legislated against the backdrop of stock-based compensation and cost-sharing arrangement because these activities did not develop until the 1990s. Thus, the dissenting Judge concludes that while “Congress may choose to address this practice now, it cannot be deemed to have done so then.”[55] In his conclusion, the Judge states “… an arm’s length result is not simply any result that maximizes one’s tax obligations.”[56] In my opinion, the ball is in Treasury’s court, not Congress’.
Lexis’ Practical Guide to U.S. Transfer Pricing is 36 chapters, 3,000 pages, updated annually to help multinationals cope with the U.S. transfer pricing rules and procedures, taking into account the international norms established by the OECD and UN. It is also designed for use by tax administrators, both those belonging to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and those belonging to the tax administrations of other countries, and tax professionals in and out of government, corporate executives, and their non-tax advisors, both American and foreign. Fifty co-authors contribute subject matter expertise on technical issues faced by tax and risk management counsel. Free download of chapter 2 here
[1]Treas. Reg. § 1.482-7A(d)(2).
[2] Altera Corp. v Commr, __ F.3d. __ (9th Cir., June 7, 2019) (case no. 16-70496) [hereafter “Altera II”] reversing Altera Corp. v. Commr, 145 TC No 3 (July 27, 2015) [hereafter “Altera I”].
[3] Xilinx, Inc v Commr, 125 TC 37 (2005), affd, 598 F 3d 1191 (9th Cir 2010). It is noted that in 2009 the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion accepting the position of the Service, but withdrew that opinion on Jan. 13, 2010.
[4] See Am. Mining Cong. v. Mine Safety & Health Admin., 995 F.2d 1106, 1109 (D.C. Cir. 1993). Interpretive rules are excluded from the general notice requirement for proposed rulemaking by 5 U.S.C. sec. 553(b)(3)(A). See Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984) that the Tax Court held incorporates the State Farm standard.
[5] Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n of the U.S. v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29 (1983).
[6] The Ninth Circuit’s majority stated that the summary of the first panel’s withdrawn opinion constitutes no part of the opinion of the second panel.
[7] Altera II at 6, citing Comm’r v. First Sec. Bank of Utah, 405 U.S. 394, 400 (1972) (quoting 26 C.F.R. §1.482-1(b)(1) (1971)).
[8] Frank v. Int’l Canadian Corp., 308 F.2d 520, 528–29 (9th Cir. 1962).
[9] Oil Base, Inc. v. Comm’r, 362 F.2d 212, 214 n.5 (9th Cir. 1966).
[10] Altera II dissent at 54.
[11] 74 Fed Reg 340 (Jan 5, 2009) (the “Temporary Regulations”).
[12] 76 Fed Reg 80,082 (Dec 22, 2011) (the “Final Regulations”).
[13] Treas. Reg. § 1.482-7A. The “A” was added to the QSCA Regulations effective on January 5, 2009, when the Temporary Regulations were published.
[14] Xilinx, Inc v Commr, 125 TC 37 (2005), affd, 598 F 3d 1191 (9th Cir 2010).
[15] Coordinated Issue Paper on Section 482 CSA Buy-In Adjustments, LMSB-04-0907-62 [hereinafter CSA-CIP].
[16] VERITAS Software Corp v Commr, 133 TC 297 (2009), nonacq, 2010-49 IRB (Dec 6, 2010) (detailed explanation of the IRS’ reasoning available at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-aod/aod201005.pdf, assessed June 7, 2019).
[17] Altera I.
[18] Amazon.Com, Inc. v Commr, 148 TC No 8 (March 23, 2017).
[19] Unofficial Transcript of Finance Hearing on Fiscal 2007 Budget is Available, 2006 TNT 31-15 (Feb 15, 2006).
[20] Fiscal year end of June 30 for 2016 and 2017, last three months ending December 31, 2018. Microsoft 10-K (2017) at 38; Microsoft 10-K (2018); Microsoft 10-K (2Q 2019) at Note 11-Income Taxes.
[21] Microsoft 10-K (2017) at 39; Microsoft 10-K (2Q 2019) at Note 11-Income Taxes.
[22] United States v Microsoft Corp, No 2:15-cv-00102 (WD Wash May 5, 2017).
[23] See U.S. v Facebook Inc ND Cal, No 3:16-cv-03777 (pet filed July 6, 2016).
[24] Facebook 10-Q (2Q 2017) at 20; Facebook 10-K (2018) at 35, 48.
[25] Catskill Mountains Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Inc. v. EPA, 846 F.3d 492, 521 (2d Cir. 2017).
[26] Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843–44.
[27] Altera II at 25.
[28] The Court cites United States v. Gonzales, 520 U.S. 1, 5 (1997) (“Read naturally, the word ‘any’ has an expansive meaning . . . .”) and Republic of Iraq v. Beaty, 556 U.S. 848, 856 (2009) (“Of course the word ‘any’ (in the phrase ‘any other provision of law’) has an ‘expansive meaning, giving us no warrant to limit the class of provisions of law [encompassed by the statutory provision].”
[33] See H.R. Rep. No. 99-426, at 425.
[34] Citing Compensatory Stock Options Under Section 482, 68 Fed. Reg. 51,171-02, 51,173 (Aug. 26, 2003).
[38] Study of Intercompany Pricing under Section 482 of the Code (“White Paper”), I.R.S. Notice 88-123, 1988-1 C.B. 458, 474;
[39] Xilinx v. Commissioner (“Xilinx I”), 125 T.C. 37, 53 (2005).
[42] 5 U.S.C. § 553(c); Perez v. Mortg. Bankers Ass’n, 135 S. Ct. 1199, 1203 (2015).
[43] FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., 556 U.S. 502 (2009).
[45] Compensatory Stock Options under Section 482 (Preamble to Final Rule), 68 Fed. Reg. 51,171-02, 51,172–73 Aug. 26, 2003).
[48] Treas. Reg. § 1.482-1(b)(1) (1994).
[49] Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n of U.S., Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43 (1983) (citing SEC v. Chenery Corp. (“Chenery II”), 332 U.S. 194, 196 (1947))
[50] BNSF Ry. Co. v. Loos, 586 U.S. ___, No. 17-1042, slip op. at 9 (2019) (Gorsuch, J., dissenting)
[52] in its preamble to § 1.482-7A(d)(2),
[53] Altera II dissent at 66 citing Appellant’s Br. 64.
[54] Altera II dissent at 68 citing FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., 556 U.S. 502, 515 (2009) (“[T]he requirement that an agency provide reasoned explanation for its action would ordinarily demand that it display awareness that it is changing position.”).
Posted in Transfer Pricing | Tagged: altera, transfer pricing | Leave a Comment » |
Rubicon: Preface
felicehowden
January 10th, the seven-hundred-and-fifth year since the foundation of Rome, the forty-ninth before the birth of Christ. The sun had long set behind the Apennine mountains. Lined up in full marching order, soldiers from the 13th Legion stood massed in the dark. Bitter the night may have been, but they were well used to extremes. For eight years they had been following the governor of Gaul on campaign after bloody campaign, through snow, through summer heat, to the margins of the world. Now, returned from the barbarous wilds of the north, they found themselves poised on a very different frontier. Ahead of them flowed a narrow stream. On the legionaries’ side was the province of Gaul; on the far side Italy, and the road that led to Rome. Take that road, however, and the soldiers of the 13th Legion would be committing a deadly offence, breaking not only the limits of their province, but also the sternest laws of the Roman people. They would, in effect, be declaring civil war. Yet this was a catastrophe for which the legionaries, by marching to the border, had shown themselves fully steeled. As they stamped their feet against the cold, they waited for the trumpeters to summon them to action. To shoulder arms, to advance – to cross the Rubicon.
But when would the summons come? Faint in the night, its waters swollen by mountain snows, the stream could be heard, but still no blast of trumpets. The soldiers of the 13th strained their ears. They were not used to being kept waiting. Normally, when battle threatened, they would move and strike like lightning. Their general, the governor of Gaul, was a man celebrated for his qualities of dash, surprise and speed. Not only that, but he had issued them with the order to cross the Rubicon that very afternoon. So why, now they had finally arrived at the border, had they been brought to a sudden halt? Few could see their general in the darkness, but to his staff officers, gathered around him, he appeared in a torment of irresolution. Rather than gesture his men onwards, Gaius Julius Caesar instead gazed into the turbid waters of the Rubicon, and said nothing. And his mind moved upon silence.
The Romans had a word for such a moment. ‘Discrimen’, they called it – an instant of perilous and excruciating tension, when the achievements of an entire lifetime might hang in the balance. The career of Caesar, like that of any Roman who aspired to greatness, had been a succession of such crisis points. Time and again he had hazarded his future – and time and again he had emerged triumphant. This, to the Romans, was the very mark of a man. Yet the dilemma which confronted Caesar on the banks of the Rubicon was uniquely agonising – and all the more so for being the consequence of his previous successes.
In less than a decade he had forced the surrender of 800 cities, 300 tribes and the whole of Gaul – and yet excessive achievement, to the Romans, might be a cause for alarm as well as celebration. They were the citizens of a republic, after all, and no one man could be permitted to put his fellows forever in the shade. Caesar’s enemies, envious and fearful, had long been manoeuvring to deprive him of his command. Now, at last, in the winter of 49, they had succeeded in backing him into a corner. For Caesar, the moment of truth had finally arrived. Either he could submit to the law, surrender his command, and face the ruin of his career – or he could cross the Rubicon.
‘The die is cast.’* Only as a gambler, in a gambler’s fit of passion, was Caesar finally able to bring himself to order his legionaries to advance. The stakes had proved too high for rational calculation. Too imponderable as well. Sweeping into Italy, Caesar knew that he was risking world war, for he had confessed as much to his companions, and shuddered at the prospect. Clear-sighted as he was, however, not even Caesar could anticipate the full consequences of his decision. In addition to ‘crisis point’, ‘discrimen’ had a further meaning: ‘dividing line’. This was, in every sense, what the Rubicon would prove to be. By crossing it, Caesar did indeed engulf the world in war, but he also helped to bring about the ruin of Rome’s ancient freedoms, and the establishment, upon their wreckage, of a monarchy – events of primal significance for the history of the West. Long after the Roman Empire itself had collapsed, the opposites delineated by the Rubicon – liberty and despotism, anarchy and order, republic and autocracy – would continue to haunt the imaginings of Rome’s successors. Narrow and obscure the stream may have been, so insignificant that its very location was ultimately forgotten, yet its name is remembered still. No wonder. So fateful was Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon that it has come to stand for every fateful step taken since.
With it, an era of history passed away. Once, there had been free cities dotted throughout the Mediterranean. In the Greek world, and in Italy too, these cities had been inhabited by men who identified themselves not as the subjects of a pharaoh or a king of kings, but as citizens, and who proudly boasted of the values that distinguished them from slaves – free speech, private property, rights before the law. Gradually, however, with the rise of new empires, first those of Alexander the Great and his successors, and then of Rome, the independence of such citizens everywhere had been stifled. By the first century BC, there was only one free city left, and that was Rome herself. And then Caesar crossed the Rubicon, the Republic imploded, and none was left at all.
As a result, a thousand years of civic self-government were brought to an end, and not for another thousand, and more, would it become a living reality again. Since the Renaissance there have been many attempts to ford back across the Rubicon, to return to its far bank, to leave autocracy behind. The English, American and French revolutions were all consciously inspired by the example of the Roman Republic. ‘As to rebellion in particular against monarchy,’ Thomas Hobbes complained, ‘one of the most frequent causes of it is the reading of the books of policy, and histories of the ancient Greeks, and Romans.’1 Not, of course, that the desirability of a free republic was the only lesson to be drawn from the dramas of Roman history. It was no less a figure than Napoleon, after all, who went from consul to emperor, and throughout the nineteenth century the word most commonly applied to Bonapartist regimes was ‘Caesarist’.
By the 1920s and 1930s, when republics everywhere appeared to be collapsing, those crowing over their ruin were quick to point out the parallels with the death-throes of their ancient predecessor. In 1922 Mussolini deliberately propagated the myth of a heroic, Caesar-like march on Rome. Nor was he the only man to believe that a new Rubicon had been crossed. ‘The brown shirt would probably not have existed without the black shirt,’ Hitler later acknowledged. ‘The march on Rome was one of the turning points of history.’2 With fascism, a long tradition in Western politics reached a hideous climax, and then expired. Mussolini was the last world leader to be inspired by the example of ancient Rome. The fascists, of course, had thrilled to its cruelty, its swagger, its steel, but nowadays even its noblest ideals, the ideals of active citizenship that once so moved Thomas Jefferson, have passed out of fashion. Too stern, too humourless, too redolent of cold showers. Nothing, in our aggressively postmodern age, could be more of a turn-off than the classical. Hero-worshipping the Romans is just so nineteenth century. We have been liberated, as John Updike once put it, ‘from all those oppressive old Roman values’.3 No longer, as they were for centuries, re they regarded as a mainspring of our modern civic rights. Few pause to wonder why, in a continent unimagined by the ancients, a second Senate should sit upon a second Capitol Hill. The Parthenon may still gleam effulgent in our imaginings, but the Forum glimmers barely at all.
And yet – we flatter ourselves, in the democracies of the West, if we trace our roots back to Athens alone. We are also, for good as well as ill, the heirs of the Roman Republic. Had the title not already been taken, I would have called this book Citizens – for they are its protagonists, and the tragedy of the Republic’s collapse is theirs. The Roman people too, in the end, grew tired of antique virtues, preferring the comforts of easy slavery and peace. Rather bread and circuses than endless internecine wars. As the Romans themselves recognised, their freedom had contained the seeds of its own ruin, a reflection sufficient to inspire much gloomy moralising under the rule of a Nero or a Domitian. Nor, in the centuries since, has it ever lost its power to unsettle.
Of course, to insist that Roman liberty had once been something more than a high-sounding sham is not to claim that the Republic was ever a paradise of social democracy. It was not. Freedom and egalitarianism, to the Romans, were very different things. Only slaves on the chain gang were truly equal. For a citizen, the essence of life was competition; wealth and votes the accepted measures of success. On top of that, of course, the Republic was a superpower, with a reach and preponderance quite new in Western history. Yet none of this – even once it has been admitted – necessarily diminishes the relevance of the Republic to our own times. Just the opposite, it might be thought.
Indeed, since I started writing this book, the comparison of Rome to the modern-day United States has become something of a cliché. For the historian, the experience of being overtaken by current affairs is more common than might be thought. It is often the case that periods which have appeared foreign and remote can come suddenly, disconcertingly, into focus. The classical world in particular, so similar to ours, so utterly strange, has always had this kaleidoscopic quality. A few decades ago, in the late 1930s, the great Oxford classicist Ronald Syme saw in the rise to power of the Caesars a ‘Roman revolution’, a prefiguring of the age of the fascist and communist dictators. So Rome has always been interpreted, and reinterpreted, in the light of the world’s convulsions. Syme was heir to a long and honourable tradition, one stretching all the way back to Machiavelli, who drew from the history of the Republic lessons both for his own native city of Florence, and for that namesake of the Republic’s destroyer, Cesare Borgia. ‘Prudent men are wont to say – and this not rashly or without good ground – that he who would foresee what has to be should reflect on what has been, for everything that happens in the world at any time has a genuine resemblance to what happened in ancient times.’4 If there are periods when this claim can seem outlandish, then there are periods when it does not – and the present, surely, is one of them. Rome was the first and – until recently – the only republic ever to rise to a position of world power, and it is indeed hard to think of an episode of history that holds up a more intriguing mirror to our own. Nor is it only the broad contours of geopolitics, of globalisation and the pax Americana, that can be glimpsed, albeit faint and distorted, in the glass. Our fads and obsessions too, from koi carp to Mockney to celebrity chefs, cannot help but inspire, in the historian of the Roman Republic, a certain sense of déjà vu.
Yet parallels can be deceptive. The Romans, it goes without saying, existed under circumstances – physical, emotional, intellectual – profoundly different from our own. What strikes us as recognisable about aspects of their civilisation may be so – but not always. Often, in fact, the Romans can be strangest when they appear most familiar. A poet mourning the cruelty of his mistress, or a father his dead daughter, these may seem to speak to us directly of something permanent in human nature, and yet how alien, how utterly alien a Roman’s assumptions about sexual relations, or family life, would appear to us. So too the values that gave breath to the Republic itself, the desires of its citizens, the rituals and codes of their behaviour. Understand these and much that strikes us as abhorrent about the Romans, actions which to our way of thinking are self-evidently crimes, can be, if not forgiven, then at least better understood. The spilling of blood in an arena, the obliteration of a great city, the conquest of the world – these, to the Roman way of thinking, might be regarded as glorious accomplishments. Only by seeing why can we hope to fathom the Republic itself.
Naturally, it is a hazardous and quixotic enterprise to attempt to enter the mindset of a long-vanished age. As it happens, the last twenty years of the Republic are the best documented in Roman history, with what is, for the classicist, a wealth of evidence – speeches, memoirs, even private correspondence. Yet even these only gleam as riches for being set against such darkness. One day perhaps, when the records of the twentieth century AD have grown as fragmentary as those of ancient Rome, a history of the Second World War will be written which relies solely upon the broadcasts of Hitler and the memoirs of Churchill. It will be one cut off from whole dimensions of experience: no letters from the front, no combatants’ diaries. The silence will be one with which the ancient historian is all too familiar, for, to twist the words of Shakespeare’s Fluellen, ‘there is no tiddle taddle nor pibble pabble in Pompey’s camp’. Nor in the peasant’s hut, nor in the slum dweller’s shanty, nor in the field slave’s barrack. Women, it is true, can sometimes be overheard, but only the very noblest, and even those invariably when quoted – or misquoted – by men. In Roman history to search for details of anyone outside the ruling class is to pan for gold.
Even the narrative of great events and exceptional men, however magnificent it may appear, is in truth a mutilated ruin, like an aqueduct on the Campagna, arches striding, and then, abruptly, fields. The Romans themselves had always dreaded that this might be their destiny. As Sallust, their first great historian, put it, ‘there can be no doubting that Fortune is the mistress of all she surveys, the creature of her own caprices, choosing to broadcast the fame of one man while leaving that of another in darkness, without any regard for the scale of what they might both have achieved’.5 Ironically, the fate of his own writings was to illustrate this bitter reflection. A follower of Caesar, Sallust composed a history of the years immediately preceding his patron’s rise to power, a work unanimously praised by its readers as definitive. Had it only survived, then we would have had a contemporary’s account of a decade, from 78 to 67 BC, rich in decisive and dramatic events. As it is, of Sallust’s masterwork, only scattered fragments remain. From these, and from other scraps of information, a narrative may still be reconstructed – but what is gone can never be repaired.
No wonder that classicists tend to be nervous of sounding overly dogmatic. Write so much as a sentence about the ancient world and the temptation is immediately to qualify it. Even when the sources are at their most plentiful, uncertainties and discrepancies crop up everywhere. Take, for example, the celebrated event after which this book is titled. That the crossing happened as I described it is probable but by no means certain. One source tells us that the Rubicon was forded after sunrise. Others imply that the advance guard had already passed into Italy by the time that Caesar himself arrived on the river’s bank. Even the date can only be deduced from extraneous events. A scholarly consensus has formed around 10 January, but any date between then and the 14th has been argued for – and besides, thanks to the vagaries of the pre-Julian calendar, what the Romans called January was in fact our November.
In short, the reader should take it as a rule of thumb that many statements of fact in this book could plausibly be contradicted by an opposite interpretation. This is not, I hasten to add, a counsel of despair. Rather, it is a necessary preface to a narrative that has been pieced together from broken shards, but in such a way as to conceal some of the more obvious joins and gaps. That it is possible to do this, that a coherent story may indeed be made out of the events of the Republic’s fall, has always been, to the ancient historian, one of the great appeals of the period. I certainly see no reason to apologise for it. Following a lengthy spell in the dog-house, narrative history is now squarely back in fashion – and even if, as many have argued, it can only function by imposing upon the random events of the past an artificial pattern, then that in itself need be no drawback. Indeed, it may help to bring us closer to the mindset of the Romans themselves. Rare, after all, was the citizen who did not fancy himself the hero of his own history. This was an attitude that did much to bring Rome to disaster, but it also gave to the epic of the Republic’s fall its peculiarly lurid and heroic hue. Barely a generation after it had occurred, men were already shaking their heads in wonderment, astonished that such a time, and such giants, could have been. A half-century later and the panegyrist of the Emperor Tiberius, Velleius Paterculus, could exclaim that ‘It seems an almost superfluous task, to draw attention to an age when men of such extraordinary character lived’6 – and then promptly write it up. He knew, as all Romans knew, that it was in action, in great deeds and remarkable accomplishments, that the genius of his people had been most gloriously displayed. Accordingly, it was through narrative that this genius could best be understood.
More than two millennia after the Republic’s collapse, the ‘extraordinary character’ of the men – and women – who starred in its drama still astonishes. But so too – less well known perhaps than a Caesar, or a Cicero, or a Cleopatra, but more remarkable than any of them – does the Roman Republic itself. If there is much about it we can never know, then still there is much that can be brought back to life, its citizens half emerging from antique marble, their faces illumined by a background of gold and fire, the glare of an alien yet sometimes eerily familiar world.
Find out more about Rubicon
Since its publication in September, Dynasty has been reviewed and discussed widely across the… |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My elderly father is experiencing excruciating back spasms. He has been moving between a chair and a bed for the past week, due to illness. His illness is better, back much worse. I am using ice, a lidocaine patch every 12 hours, and arthritis strength tylenol as directed. Any suggestions other than the ER? output: Hi. I am glad we connected. The symptoms you have mentioned may be seen with a systemic or local cause that causes the muscles to contract. This can be seen when toxins in the area are affecting the muscles and causing them to remain tetanized. Also, one may notice that the catch in the muscle persists for some time. Here are a few remedies that may be useful in some people. -Using a local warm compress to heat the area-Gentle massage of the area to reduce pain-Stretching of the muscles in the back-Taking a warm shower-Icing the area for 15 mins and using a warm gel pack for 5 mins-Using a local OTC painkiller spray or gel over the area hope this helps. Do reach out if you have more questions. All the best.. |
Clips from Last Night: Larry Pratt on the need for more guns; Relatives of Aurora victims react
In the sequel to an energized and combative conversation from three weeks prior, on Wednesday evening "Piers Morgan Tonight" welcomed Larry Pratt back to the program, for a second interview that was nearly as contentious as the first.
The Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, Pratt once again joined host Piers Morgan to share his opinions and insight on the ongoing issue of firearms, and gun control, in the United States.
Standing firm with his consistent view that the American public needs less weapons in general – and should be banned from owning assault weapons in particular – Morgan aired a video clip of Stanley McChrystal, a retired Army General, echoing such a perspective.
Questioning how Pratt could disagree with the experience of someone like McChrystal, Morgan provided some additional background, and posed his question:
"The last four mass shootings in the last five months have all involved the AR-15 style - military style - assault rifle. Widely available as you know. Even in Connecticut which has supposedly quite tough gun control laws," stated the host. "Why do you feel so strongly that civilians, despite what we just heard from a leading general, should still be able to have access to these killing machines?"
Once having referred to Morgan as "morally obtuse," Pratt answered:
"Well, because the general and his troops are not going to be there to protect the average American, the military nor the police after social order implodes, after a hurricane, after an earthquake, during riots. And his experience, and I very much appreciate his service to the country and the military. But he is not dealing with what civilians have to put up with in the vacuum of somebody being around to protect them. We're on our own."
Continuing with the "Guns in America" subject matter, Morgan used his platform to later welcome Jessica Watts and Tom Teves, each a relative of someone killed during the mass-shooting in an Aurora, Colo. movie theater last July.
"I definitely think, Piers, that more guns are not the answer," said Watts, who lost her cousin Jonathan Blunk on July 20, 2012. "That puts that many more guns in the hands of people who've got mental illness and it becomes very much a fear factor for people nationwide."
Teves, meanwhile, lost his son Alex in the movie theater massacre, and on a day which marked the end of the preliminary hearing of shooting suspect James Holmes, Morgan asked him to respond to Pratt's earlier argument for lesser gun control, and more access to weapons:
"I struggle with it," he admitted. "A., I wonder what he'd think if he was in my shoes. Two, think about the scene – and we got a pretty good understanding of what the scene was like today – that night, and only the people that were in there can really know. And I think that we need to recognize that. But, there was smoke, people couldn't see, he had an automatic weapon, he had an automatic shotgun, he had two revolvers that didn't need to be reloaded so if somebody - they are not going to walk in with an assault weapon – so what are they going to do? They're going to stand up in the fog and shoot at him. He had ballistic equipment. Everybody including him around that person who shot at him would be dead. If there were ten people in there and people started running around you might have had 15 or 20 more people shot from friendly fire. I don't know that's the answer."
Watch the clips and listen to the interviews, as Morgan and his guests continue their discussion on guns in America.
» Follow "Piers Morgan Tonight" on Twitter
Filed under: Clips From Last Night • Guns in America
No one is really saying we need more guns. The only thing we want is no more of these shootings. If that means limiting the magazines then so be it, but it needs to be something that is proven to work.
Mr. Morgan is not apologizing for his a very unethical way how to conduct an interview with an American citizens. I am old, not even USA citizen and I had never owned a gun. NO, I cannot expect any other response from this arrogant man with a limited intellectual capability of the present century.
His problem is, that his mind is somewhere in the last century, when an English man came to
another country and dictated there his way, or highway – of course with guns.
He came to the USA as a host and acting like an old English colonialist – dictating, declaring his way as only the way and treating the US citizens like a slaves, or just a something
lover in the humanity than him – the colonialist. Than he even lies with his so called statistics.
Never mind, this is his colonialist way. If there is not a problem with guns, he would find something else to dictate his way. No, he is not serious journalist. He is a shame for
journalists and of course also for the English people. They are far ahead of his brain ability
and his acting. Therefore he is not welcomed also in England. I just feel a deep sorrow for this
poor man!
Greg Hrab, Canada
There is one subject regarding gun control that I have not heard from anyone from either side. The 223 rounds that are used in some assault rifles are for killing people. The Dept. of Fish and Game can regulate what type of gun and ammuntion you can use to kill different types of game, but we allow military type ammunition to be sold to the public. Even if a gun law is passed banning assault type weapons, there are still the ones already on the street so how do you control them? By controlling the ammunition as military use only. Why aren't people more important than animals? Just a suggestion, I would love to know what you think of this idea. You are doing a great job with the NRA, the more they talk the more people realize they are not interested in the effects of the gun laws on safety.
No, you are wrong. The 223 is to give the military a low recoil round that wounds people. That is why they use NATO rounds and not the rounds we use in a hunting situation. The 223 is a very lite high powered rifle. In fact, I don’t own a high powered rifle as lite as a 223. I do have a 22-250 and that is close to a 223, but still has more energy. The problem in this debate is failure to communicate accurate information. Information that groups like the NRA should be putting out there in place of all this stupid stuff they have been saying. My definition of an assault rifle is any weapon that can keep firing without a reload after a reasonable number of defensive rounds has been fired.
Gun sense
the 223 round is one of the most favored rounds of hunters, it is quite excellent for use on small game type creatures. it is not allowed in most states for anything larger than a coyote. Anything bigger it may not kill quickly. Bonnie, the reason the military likes 233/5.56 rounds is they don't kill quickly. i would support more mental health services involved in a gun purchase. I support every LAW WE NOW HAVE ON THE BOOKS.. ENFORCE THOSE.
Thanks..... It is good to read real ballistic facts about this demonized 223 round. If the laws are based on such un-educated information, we are all in big trouble.
igofast
RIGHT ON !!!
igofat
the .223 is concidered a hunting round, the 5.56mm nato is the military rnd. the .223 makes less pressure in the breach (chamber) then the 5.56mm..the 5.56 mm makes a lot more pressure in the chamber.. you can shoot a .223 in a 5.56mm chambered rifle but you should never shoot a 5.56mm in a .223 chambered rifle because it is not designed to handle the added pressure of the 5.56mm rnd.... now this is the gospel of the .223 rnd verses 5.56mm rnd. ( if you measure the diameter of both these rnd you will see there basically the same diameter)....
You are right. It was developed off the 222 hunting round. It is nothing more than a super fast 22 rifle.
NativeOne
The public is banned from purchasing Armored Piercing rounds for any firearm. I have one AR-15 in my collection. This rifle is not the military version. All military version are equip with full automatic. All my firearms only have the option of semi- automatic because full autos are banned to the public..
For that piers to call his guest a liar because his data is different than his was completely unprofessional and immature. Any good reporter would research both sets and find out where the discrepancy was before insulting a person. Then turned around and told this man he didn't like him very well. I've an idea for you piers. You surely are scared by our freedom circling this and if you don't like what we are allowed to have, take your brit ass back across the pond where you will be as safe as that government will let you.
One last comment. Responsible people are capable of many things. One of them is owning firearms. But since the people who are up to no good and find ways to obtain the same weapons the responsible can own, It seems we have to lose our rights to make sure the criminals can't arm themselves. Where is the logic in that?
Patriot and American
Larry Pratt turn thy gun on thyself.
Laurie Andersen
GUN CONTROL? Missing the whole point! Today 3 people under the age of 21 will die in car accidents, and 9 people over 21 will dies in car accidents in the good ole US of A !! 12 a day KILLED, MURDERED – by intoxicated driving!! 84 – that's EIGHTY FOUR
Yup, that is actually a lot bigger issue and we are ignoring it talking about guns which we all like to do.
iverglas
Someone is ignoring the problem of drunk driving and drunk driving-related deaths? Have you been asleep for 50 years??
Laws about drunk driving have got increasingly tougher: longer sentences, especially for repeat offenders; more and longer driving bans; lower blood alcohol limits; and in some places, special rules for young drivers, and higher legal drinking ages.
People and businesses who serve intoxicated patrons are being held civilly liable for the harm and damage they cause when they get behind the wheel.
Police have implemented many programs to apprehend drunk drivers on the roads. Members of the public are sensitive to the problem and report drunk drivers to police.
Voluntary groups run programs to drive intoxicated people home. Television stations run public service announcements against drunk driving. Cities and states and provinces run public education campaigns about the harm caused by drunk driving and ways of avoiding it, like designated drivers, and businesses offer free non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers.
Injuries and deaths associated with drunk driving have declined in the US - although other countries, which apply harsher rules, have seen a greater decline. The CDC says that drunk driving incidents declined by 30% in the last five years. Since 1982, fatalities associated with drunk driving have gone down by over 50% (even as the population, and especially traffic volumes, have increased).
How could anyone possibly say that anyone is "ignoring" the problem of drunk driving??
If only the problem of firearms violence got as much attention! If there were even public campaigns about locking up your guns as there are about handing over your car keys when you drink ... just imagine how many people, especially kids, might be alive today.
My point was that the number of deaths from drunk drivers is still higher than the gun violence. A ban on guns will not solve the problem that has created this media storm. It has very little to do with guns. Don’t get me wrong, we need to do something about gun violence or let’s just say violence in America.
There is a huge difference between car deaths and gun deaths. Usually, car deaths are not intentional. Gun deaths are almost always intentional.
Anti gunner's are deff getting and repeating made up stats, they hear and repeat, uneducated to say the least..
"Proven to work"? What more proof does anyone need but the firearms crime/injury/homicide numbers from every other similar country in the world. where there *are* limits like these?
Has anyone ever "proved" any law or social policy to work? Does any law or policy ever absolutely prevent everything it is intended to prevent? Of course not. We have laws against murder and theft, and still there are murders and thefts. But no one would argue that we do not have *fewer* of them than if there were no laws.
Laws against speeding don't stop people from speeding, or stop traffic fatalities from happening. But they do reduce overall speeds, and reduce the number of people driving at unsafe speeds, and reduce the speed at which many people drive - and reduce the number of traffic fatalities. When combined with more seatbelt use, less drunk driving, better vehicle construction, public awareness campaigns, and better trauma care, they reduce the number of traffic fatalities even more.
If you approach gun injury and death the way you approach traffic injury and death, it is obvious that no single measure will solve the problem (and nothing will ever eliminate the problem entirely) - but each measure can have some effect, even without the others. Reducing speed limits reduces traffic fatalities, even without raising seatbelt use and improving trauma care. So too with the many ways of limiting access to guns by people who should not have them, and limiting the damage they are able to do with them.
Banning these kinds of firearms, and high-capacity magazines, will *make it harder* for people to get them, and to commit mass murders with guns. And it will get increasingly harder over time.
Just as installing speed bumps and stop signs *makes it harder* for people to speed, even if they don't care what the law says, don't care about other people's safety and aren't afraid of getting caught - and so fewer people speed where those measures are in place together with speed limits.
There is nothing magical about guns that makes it harder to apply a policy to them than to anything else.
We don't turn a blind eye if unlicensed drivers drive on X Street, but ticket them if they drive on Y Street. So why allow people who can't pass a background check to buy guns privately or at gun shows without a background check? The law says they may not do that - but there is nothing to stop them if they don't care what the law says. Put a speed bump in their way: require a background check for all gun sales everywhere, not just from dealers. Law-abiding gun owners will not break the law by selling them guns without a background check.
Anyone who demands "proof" (and I don't mean Jackie who posted here) that banning high capacity magazines won't make it harder to commit mass murder, and that requiring background checks for all gun sales won't make it harder for criminals to get guns, must have some goal other than reducing mass murders and reducing the number of guns in criminals' hands.
84 a week! May I ask ? What is the federal government doing about killing 84 people a week? Any New restrictions? A new committee with Biden in charge? That would help !!!!
USAVET13
Pierce is lying about his statistics on violence in the US. Also the article stated that the shooter had automatic weapons. That is completely untrue also. The worst 2 mass shootings in the world were both done with handguns so an assault weapons ban is simply feel good legislation. One of those shootings was in Pierces beloved GB. Pierce is a hack and needs to be called on the carpet for his misrepresentation of the facts. Hack reporting that should not be tolerated in the US. Check the news source below that fact checked Pierce's lies. Pierces beloved Great Brittan that he touts as 57 gun murders does not make up for the fact that GB has more murders per capita than the US and the EU has said that GB is the second most violent country in the entire EU. Proof that if you take guns away sick people will just find other ways of killing each other. Stop trying to punish law abiding citizens and go after the real problem. Messed up people! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N9efqhGBHZI
The fact that people feel comfortable telling or repeating lies in public about such important public issues bodes very badly for the future of your country.
"'GB has more murders per capita than the US"
This is such an outright, blatant, bald-faced lie that anyone who tells it or repeats it should be shunned and excluded from polite company for life.
The quibbles about rates are understandable in one way: official murder numbers for England/Wales, for example, are tabulated for the *fiscal year*, while popular sources often do a count of the number for a calendar year to report to their reader. I expect that Mr. Morgan's figures are the former, and some of the figures being bandied about, if they are at all real, are the latter.
The fact remains that there have been no more than 60 firearms homicides in England/Wales (with a population about 1/6 the population of the US) in ... well, pretty much ever.
And the fact is that total homicde rates for 2011 (it is too early to have firm figures for 2012 yet) look like this, for example:
Canada 1.6
UK 1.2
France 1.1
Australia 1.0
Germany 0.8
The vast majority of homicides in the US *would not have happened* without firearms: you do kill someone at a distance by throwing a rock at them, you do not kill an innocent bystander or a child asleep in its bed by throwing a knife across a bar or through a wall, you do not kill your wife or girlfriend and then yourself by suffocating her and then jumping off a bridge, you do not turn an argument into a murder by punching someone.
Watch the video and follow their sources. Legit news source. You can say what you want the news source was backed by traceable fact sources. You live in your world I will live in the real one.
But two of the countries you have on your list, Germany and France, are the 4th and 5th largest gun owning nations in the world, and yet their overall homicide rates are significantly lower than Britain's. While Britain has a low gun murder rate, it's its total overall murder rate that needs to be considered. Looking at the total murder rate demonstrates the flaw in Morgan's argument, especially when you start making homicide rate comparison between some of Britain's large gun owning European neighbors, such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain, you will see that these all have lower murder rates than gun free Britain. If you subscribe to Morgan's notion that more guns mean more crime, then all of these large European countries should have substantially higher murder rates than Britain's, but they don't.
YES, peirs is using cnn air time to run his mouth with made up stats, people who know the real truth are blown away by this fact, and he just keeps on running his big arogent mouth..OH and ignorant mouth as well...
Steven Craig
I hate the term "Assault Weapon" to describe these rifles. A Semi-auto AR-15 is a precision rifle. The .223 ammo was first introduced as a civilian round for varmint hunting. ALL semi-auto weapons are equal with rate of fire. You pull the trigger, it fires one round. You must release the trigger and pull it again to fie another one. PM is lying when he says 4-6 rounds per minute as a rate of fire. PM showed what was claimed to be a semi-auto AR-15 firing, WRONG, it was a Class III select fire weapon, clearly firing in full auto mode, the video was mislabeled. No human could possibly pull the trigger repeatedly and get 4 rounds off in a second, let alone six! PM STOP SPREADING YOUR LIES TO AMERICA!
Wow another gun educated person seeing how incredibly stupid this man is.....way to go !!, this man needs to leave our country asap....nit wit twit describes him well
To be honest PM needs to move back to England. If you do not like the laws we have then move. Yes what happened was a serious tragedy, but know what you are talking about before trying to preach your message you sound like an idiot trying to get ratings. In England where people aren't allowed to have firearms like in the U.S the crime is huge because criminals have the guns not the citizens. Check the facts online, also look at the crime in Australia, same scenario. Don't dare come to this country get on tv and tell ua americans what is right and how it should be. Like I said you don't like it MOVE.
I was compelled to go to this page of CNN's as regardless if I/we like PM or not, don't you find it odd that he is the ONLY one who will confront this issue? I like that he is doing so. I know that the 2nd Amendment protects your right to bear arms, but give it some thought – that was written long before the current technology was in place. I say, keep your guns except for selling new assault weapons, and put the focus on controlling the sale of ammunition. My own sister has several guns and is opposite from me on this issue. I'm in AZ and she's in Texas. Our regions help define us; I personally do not want that much power in my hands and do not and will not own any guns. Anyway, keep at it Piers, and give them a run for thier money.
CORRECTION -That's 4-6 rounds per second, not minute that PM is lying about!!!!!!!!!!
The NRA needs to quit being so smug because they think this debate is already won in the house and senate. The NRA these terms “Assault rifle” and “Military style weapon”. These are real hot buttons and at some point the public view that is being lead down that path is going to change the house and senate. We need to talk about the 223 round and why the military is using that lite rifle load. We need to talk about high capacity magazines and what we can do to keep them out of the reach of children. The NRA needs to wake up and take this to a new level. We had a general on national television saying stupid stuff, but the NRA didn’t say a word about it. People took what he said as being from an expert. It didn’t matter if his comments were out of line and in error.
the 223 is basically concidered a hunting round it makes less pressure in the breach (chamber) then a 5.56mm nato round which makes more pressure. you can shoot a .223 in a 5.56mm but you should not shoot a 5.56mm in a .223 chambered rifle because there not designed for the added pressure of the 5.56mm nato..
It was always my understanding that a 223 was developed from the 222 hunting round. They just pushed it a little faster.
Piers more gun
How about this: ban military style assault weapon at the same time allow teachers to carry light firearmas.
Please define a "military style assault weapon".
@jackie: any firearm with a detachable magazine
My browning X-bold 30.06 has a detachable magazine. It is a bolt action hunting rifle. Need a better way to define a military style assault weapon than just detachable magazine.
kantill
The full "technical" term of one is a weapon that has pistol grip and can except a magazines that has a select fire switch that can fire in a full auto and in single fire. Now the dangerous part of this gun ban is your rifle because it can except the magazine could be called an "assault" rifle or even worst since its a high powered rifle with a scope it could be called a "sniper" rifle. Again its not about what we like it's about freedom.
It is a hunting rifle so I guess it falls under being a "sniper" rifle. Last deer I shot was 526yds. Yep, guess I better put it back in the box and get ready to send it to the government.
an assult weapon is fully automatic, one pull and hold the trigger it will continue to fire round after round, the weapons they keep calling assult weapons only shoot one round for one trigger pull,,,,this nit wit keeps referring to semi auto's as full auto's...peirs is an IDIOT with a mouth and a tv show...PERIOD
I agree. He is part of the probelm.
"allow teachers to carry light firearmas"
(a) You know as well as everyone else that the vast majority of teachers will NOT carry firearms into their classroom. Most teachers in the US want to teach, not act as paramilitary guards. (And obviously, some teachers are as unsuitable for possessing firearms as anyone else in the public, and permitting them to bring firearms onto school property could create situations as dangerous as in any other workplace.) Simply "allowing" teaches to carry firearms would be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst.
(b) The presence of firearms in a location is NOT a deterrent to someone who decides to commit a mass murder (and all the talk about "gun-free zones" being targets is just nonsense) - most mass murderers intend to commit suicide and/or expect to be killed by police.
(c) A teacher carrying a firearm in a school would have to have it on their person at all times, including travelling to and from the school, while using the washroom, etc. Would teachers have to use the toilet in pairs? Who would guard their students then? More impotantly, the teacher would be vulnerable to students or others who wanted their firearm: they would become targets themselves. Guns, not gun-free zones, are what most criminals want.
(d) If teachers - or, as some have suggested, principals/administrators (as some suggested would have prevented deaths in Newtown) - were to have access to firearms kept locked up on school property, the firearms would have to be stored there permanently, or removed during non-school hours. Guns stored on school premises at night, or being transported by school personnel, would be targets for thieves / put the personnel at risk.
(e) The presence of someone with a gun does NOT *prevent* incidents like these. It could possibly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities - if the person with the gun were in the right place at the right time, had no doubt about the nature of the situation, had a clear shot, had the necessary competence and calmness to take the shot, etc.
Gun nut fantasies are not useful contributions to public policy discussions.
thats the point.. Teachers largely will opt not to carry firearms..but they are legally allowed if they chose to (progun partially happy), assault weapon are banned (antigun partially happy).... could be an area of compromise that could lead to quick action...The hope is future school shooting will have relatively less fatality.
@Piers More Gun: what nonsense.
The goal here is not to make "pro-gun" or "anti-gun" happy. The goal is not compromise. It is effectiveness.
It is to reduce mass murders.
(I have no idea why anyone would be "pro" or "anti" guns. They are just objects. Personally, I am "pro" making it very difficult for people at risk of causing harm to get their hands on guns.)
I don't agree. I think this is just politics gone crazy and has very little to do with preventing these mass shootings. I can only hope that the Whitehouse is really looking into solutions to the problem.
erance516
I am a gun owner and I am responsible. I keep my firearms in a safe, locked at all times. I am not an NRA member nor will I ever be. These crazy arguments coming from the conspiracy theorists are the same ones I heard back in the 90's from the NRA. I have friends that used to give me literature from the NRA saying that the government wants to steal your guns like Hitler and Stalin did, and it was going to happen soon if they didn't get more members to stop this tyrannical government. Wouldn't it be nice if the NRA would teach responsible gun ownership without the fear of everything that goes bump in the night. The NRA should be about educating responsible gun owners about safety, but they are a political organization with some crazy beliefs and very crazy members.
I'd love to see a concealed weapons ban for MOST people. If you think the government is out to get your guns or that everyone walking down the street in a hoodie looks like a criminal then you shouldn't have one. You can take a class at our local flea market to get your CWP.... very scary.
Depends on the state. I am a combat vet who has also been in civilian law enforcement for years and now has a TS from the gov yet I can't get a CC permit in my state because it is a may issue state. Yet we have some of the worst fans and hun crimes in the country. I can't have a CC to protect my family but that has not stopped the ganbangers and wackos from killing people in the tens of hundreds each year here in NJ. If I do apply and get turned down which I would I will then have to answer that I have been turned down for a permit if I wish to purchase a firearm thus making it impossible to purchase another firearm with the current background check system. I am all for sensible gun laws. I don't have a problem making all firearms sales get a mandatory background check. I would be for mental health evals if it was done in away that states like mine did not just use them as a means to not allow you to purchase a firearm. I have already passed many background checks for everything I have achieved in life but there is a big fear that NJ would use stricter gun laws as a means to deny someone like me the ability to legally purchase a firearm. As it is it takes almost 4 months to purchase a handgun in NJ. None of these strict laws have helped save lives in NJ and they have put those that follow the laws like I do at risk of being a victim instead of a survivor.
Ted Burner
Piers, your arguments are pathetic and weak, quit interupting guests and lying about stats. Have you ever even shot a gun? There are no 'assault weapons' in public hands, only if they pay a very expensive tax stamp, and they are very low numbers. A 'fully automatic weapon' costs in the tens of thousands of dollars at the least. A 'fully automatic assault weapon' that you keep harping about is only on the battlefield in the hands of military men and women. The only weapons that are available are semi-automatic weapons. Educate yourself, your ad hominem arguments would be easy to rip apart in a debate. Most of the congress have concealed carry permits which I'm sure you know, but fail to tell your audience. Are you brittish or english? Violent crime goes up when guns are taken from the people. Check the real stats and stop the strawman arguements. You are morally obtuse. You are well educated, but you raise your voice when you are caught and try to switch the game up. You commit logical fallacies right on air constantly. Learn what an 'assault weapon' really is tart.
Keep up the good work Piers – shining a light on some of these CRAZY gun advocates and the number of guns (including assault weapons) circulating in the USA makes me as a Canadian afraid to visit that country. INSANE is an understatement of how much the Americans love their guns. You would think that a person would want to spend quality time with their family rather than out on some rifle range target practising on a target in the shape of a human being. Can't figure that out.
It seems to me there are three reasons to have an AR-15 at home: to help counter a massive invasion by an armed foreign power, for protection during a riot or other major upheaval, and to defend against a tyrannical United States government that begins to oppress the people with fascist methods. I think most reasonable people would agree that first and last of these scenarios are extremely unlikely and the second is rare. (Even during such a disruption of order as a riot or other failure of infrastructure, the power of an AR-15 would not be necessary for most situations.) The real issue in the minds of AR-15 proponents, I suspect, is their fear that the US government actually will come after them in force, à la Randy Weaver, which will certainly happen in a few cases (justifiably, it is to be hoped) but is in my view otherwise and largely a paranoid belief.
I think there is really only one good reason to impose a federal ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines (assuming other guns are not to be affected): to reduce—by 10-20%?—the number of victims in future attacks by mentally disturbed young males. Isn’t that reason enough?
I am going to agree with you. I think we need a ban on high capacity magazines. I don't think the AR-15 even enters into the issue after you do that. It doesn’t require some major buyback program that we can’t afford. It takes the current magazines off the street or at least in all the cases we have seen, the people that owned them would have surrendered them. We need to reach out to these kids that are outcast and bullied in schools.
Jackie I really don't like them either but for the same reasons most likely. We as gun owners need to realize that it's not about what we "like" it's about our freedoms. It takes less than two seconds for anyone to swap out the magazines so to say that you can only have a ten round magazine wont stop a person carrying ten magazines. I know I have said this before but for some reason I feel I have to keep saying this, they make up less than one percent of all gun deaths in the US. Another thing I don't see people talking about the last three mass shootings of the other common item is the fact that all three people where on drugs that says they can cause suicidal thoughts, depression and violent thoughts. Now I am not saying that everyone who is on these drugs are the next person who will kill someone but the same can be said about the "assault" rifle.
.kantill, Point well made. The magazine change out can be a task under pressure. That is why they always have that as part of most shooting sports as well as on that top shot show. Those guys where very familiar with their weapon and still had issues during the reloads at time. The Gifford shooter dropped the magazine during the reload and a bystander picked it up and he was disarmed. He had already shot 33. The idea of fewer rounds in the clip means more opportunity to disarm the suspect. Every time he has to reload, he has to drop, install and rechamber a round. While we might be able to do that very fast under some pressure, I don’t think these guys we have been seeing in these shootings will have that mastered. I don't want to give up any rights, but limitations are a way of life. We already limit the fully automatic weapons and silencers. Put the high capacity magazines under the same guide lines. What ya think?
For the sandy hook shooting it took over twenty minutes for the police to get there so I don't think he was under that much pressure. The funny thing is you keep calling them a "high" capacity but the standard capacity to the AR platform. It isn't a add on option. Since you asked no I don't agree with any of it and I'll tell you why. Again looking at sandy hook the guy killed his mother (against the law) stole her guns (against the law) proceeded to kill lots of unarmed people (again against the law), can you guess the common thread? Can you guess the other common thread to the sandy hook and the other mass shootings? The gun men where on drugs that have been known to cause violent thoughts and suicidal thoughts.
I understand the guy was breaking the law long before he entered the school. I know the AR has a standard size magazine. During the assault weapons ban the standard was 10 rounds and now the Springfield xdm 9MM standard magazine is 19 rounds. We don't know what would happen at Sandy Hook if he had to change magazines. Maybe one of those teachers would have reached him on a reload. We just don't know. We do know it takes time a skill changing out magazines and in all of these cases would have given people a chance to take action. As it was in Colorado, he had so much suppression fire, that there was no way to approach. I know I am suggesting a limitation and a big issue to force people to surrender magazines. I really do believe it would make a difference. You don’t have to ban an AR-15 or even go down that slippery slope because no one really wants one with a five round clip.
@kantill: "Again looking at sandy hook the guy killed his mother (against the law) stole her guns (against the law) proceeded to kill lots of unarmed people (again against the law), can you guess the common thread?"
Uh, it's pretty obvious, isn't it?
Guns.
No guns, no improper gun storage, no gun theft, no gun murders. Huh.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree. As it stands, I really think we are going to see a ban on the AR-15. I think we are going to see a ban that allows what is currently in the market to remain there and I think the ban on high capacity magazines will be the same as the last assault weapons ban. All the anti-gun people will go home and sleep well. Only problem is the Sandy Hook shooting would have still happened if we never terminated the last assault weapons ban just like this knew one is going to be. It was a pre-ban gun. This is all just politics and no one is really going to do anything that will stop these shootings. So the people that are running out and buying all these guns before this new ban starts are the smart one.
@iverglas
No the answer is look at who and why. His mother was trying to get him committed before the shooting but because the mental health system in this country so jacked she couldn't. If he didn't have access to a gun he could have easily killed those kids with other weapons, evil is evil. Just like China, China you can't own a gun yet 22 kids the same day as sandy hook and they have a history of this type violence. UK according you and Piers the greatest place on earth has people dying by the thousands but as long its not by a gun you don't CARE. Chicago, New York and LA all have the most murders including gun related but again have the strictest gun control laws. When are you anti-gun people going to face the facts not emotions? If you want to save people than look at the real issues in this country not what scares you.
First off I am not anti-gun. Second, I agree with you that we need to get these kids help. Columbine was all about bullying. Teachers just watched it and did nothing until it blew up in their face. No justification, but it really wasn’t the gun.
The problem with your numbers is the fact the "assault" rifle makes up less than one percent of all gun deaths in the US. If this was really to save lives than it would be about taking away the guns and magazines not leave them in the population. This is about control not gun but people. And the reason I can say this is if we where really trying to save a life we would ban baseball bats, cars, alcohol and I could on and on because all of these kill people every day much more than guns. Again all I ask of anyone is to do their own research before believing people like Piers, they are not to keep you or your children safe. Since they ARMED body guards for themselves and their families.
On another issue, the question of why anyone would randomly murder small children, it occurs to me that the (deranged) reason for Adam Lanza’s attack may have been that he believed something a sane person would not: that, for example, the children were possessed by the devil or by evil aliens from outer space, or perhaps more likely, that his own life was so miserable that he believed he was sparing the children the (to him) insufferable wretchedness of being alive.
Piers Morgan is doing nothing to help the discussion on gun control in our country. He's rude to his guests, calling them names and editorializing at the end of each interview and, he uses hyperbole when discussing the issues. A couple of weeks ago he referred to a semi-automatic as a "machine gun". I understand why many are calling for his deportation!!
Tragically and repeatedly mental illness has been the major contributor in 4 out of 4 shootings that have been some of the worse violent crimes involving firearms.
2007 Virginia Tech, The shooter, Cho, had been medically adjudicated as mentally ill in 2005. Obviously, he still was able to purchase the handguns used to kill those students.
33 killed, 17 wounded
Only handguns used, a .22 Caliber Walther and a 9mm Glock
2011 Gabrielle Giffords Tuscon, AZ The shooter Loughner had a history of behavioral problems due to mental illness and wouldn't take his medications, even though mentally ill he is in prison for 7 life terms.
6 killed and 13 wounded
9mm Glock Handguns used
2012 Aurora Co Theatre Shootong. The shooter Holmes was being treated for mental illness by a College Psychiatrist, unfortunately after his Psychiatrist notified law enforcement that he was a danger to himself and others, it was treated as a low priority and he then acted out killing 19 people and wounding 59.
He used a AR-15 which jammed, Remington 12 gauge Shotgun and a 9mm Glock killed and wounded most of the victims.
2012 Newtown School Massacre – Adam Lanza had some mental disorder illness and 27 people were killed.
The shooter used a AR-15 but was carrying a 10mm and 9mm Glock Pistols
4 horrific event with over 80 people killed and over 100 people injured that essentially most likely could or and should have been stopped. Gun control had nothing to do with this, masculinity had nothing to do with this, Essentially these murderers all had known mental health issues/disorders only to fall through the system or lack of system and kill.
Mr. Morgan thinks these "Assault weapons" are the problem. So when we take assault weapons from the mentally ill they will use handguns and shotguns, right? I'd rather be shot by the AR-15 with its full metal non expanding bullet than a handgun with hollow point expanding to twice its size bullet or buckshot from a 12 gauge.
Every time someone on his show has tried to bring up this fact he starts to yell and insult them. Again people please do not listen to him and spend just a little time on google and with some level heads and common sense we can "do" something but its giving up your freedoms.
but its NOT giving up your freedoms.
Odi Vulgi Populi et Arceo
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
I know most of NRA members and NRA probably never heard of this guy.
Here is an idea, put in place a law controling the number of bullets a gun owner can purchase, licence the gun and the owner, attach that licence to the drive's licence of the person or another form of identification, utilizing a centralized data base, set a limit on how many bullets the owner for that licence can purchase. All retailers including on-line sellers, would have to log into the data base with the client ID code to fill an order, if they are at the limit the retailer would not be able to process an order. I know nothing about guns but I am sure that all bullet production has to be batched and numbered, the batch number would be attached to the order. Each gun would have a seperate licence under a master client ID, this would allow control of just switching guns to buy more bullets. Register, licence, ID, audit the sellers and control the bullet consumption.
altmde
Ever heard of 'Big Brother' and total control. Law abiding, intelligent individuals can control their own actions.
anti-killing
Really, did you read 1984 and decide it was real? Real people died for no reason in a safe city (aurora) and in school. Do we feel it freedom when it takes the lives of innocent children. Bad things happen, sure, don't we feel as responsible adults/parents/professionals/citizens/war vets that maybe its our duty to make killing more difficult.
kmpdemo
First of all thank you for the debate you allow to happen through your show. I believe the real question is what kind of society we want? Do we want a society where every single citizen has to be armed to feel safe, or to do everything we can to have a safer place where each person can walk free without being armed. How tepid to think that more you arm people safer it is, just because then you will have an escalation of fire power, a hand gun against an assault weapon, then everybody should have an assault weapon, then what next? You can see how stupid this is, but our guess is not stupid at all, our guess is very smart to encourage people having gun, just because it is about MONEY! What all the debates, people don't highlight the real issue which allow lobbies to act and the reasons for them to protect gun usage, it is not 2nd amendment it is about MONEY, and politicians who are under the pressure of groups such as NRA are not worth to be elected because they are corrupted by such groups to help them to be elected. One word, all this is dirty, and children pay the price, but it is fine, just let do some business.
Piers you need to target the ammo! Take away the bullets, they are not protected by the second ammendment.
After all that is what killed!
Nick Bilinski
Piers Morgan,
You arguments make no sense what so ever. You can not compare two unequal units to make a valid argument. US population is about 315 million, where the UK is 63 million. 315,000,000 / 63,000,000 = 5 The US has about 5 times as many people as the UK. Its no wonder the total violent crime here in the US is higher than the UK, just about anything you can think of will occur in higher amounts due to the 5 times higher population. You need to use comparable units to make an argument, Try violent crime per 100,000 and then tell me who has more crime, the US or UK? Go to the FBI crime stats and see how the violent crime rate is decreasing? How is that possible with the highest gun sales on record in the pass few years. How is it possible to have a higher crime rate when the 1994 assault weapons ban went into effect? I'll tell you why, its because criminals are afraid of getting shot with superior firepower when raiding a house. If I'm not mistake, the UK crime rate is on the rise. That's because criminals know UK families are for the most part defenseless because of the UK's bans. More guns in good hands does in FACT equal less crime. Proven with actual scientific evidence and proper scientifically comparable units.
Do you feel safer on the south side of Chicago or Boulder, Co? Where are there more weapons? How would you like to walk the streets in East St
Louis late at night? Plenty of guns in those parts of town, but i tend to.feel less safe. You cant drive 25 in a school zone for childrens safety, but the NRA feels weapons are school appropriate. When did common sense leave this debate? Btw, roy v
Wade can arguably be the biggest reason for the reduction in crime...just going by the stats ya know
Why is it PM did not bring up the average of 3000 gun CRIMES in London alone every year from 2006-2011. How is it these occur if guns are banned?
skwooshie88
Let's hear from the country that piers claims is safer now with gun control enacted. What do they want to tell us? Besides "don't let him come back here"... http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=related&v=n9ZvwPmjJu4
Mr. Morgan, you should keep in mind that if it wasn't for us yanks and our assault weapons, you would be speaking German today. Go Home where there are no weapons at all, you'll be safe there.
how can these retarted dunb idiots like larry pratt and co be the executive members of any organisation???? I am glad i dont live in US, go aussie go!!!!!! I suppose if u guys can have some1 like sarah palin as a governor( and nominee for Vice President), bloody stupid !!!!
I don't own any guns and will not own any guns. As much as the folks who feel they have a right to their guns - well, consider also that I ALSO have a right to feel safe and getting these weapons and ammunition under control is a priority. While mental illness plays a part, there are also plenty of racist yahoos out there just waiting for their turn. Evolve people! I am just 2 miles away from the Tucson Tragedy site; I could not believe that it happened. And it just keeps happening...
All Americans are nuts. If you know history , you would understand how outdated your second amendment is today
PM, you have tried a new act since returning from Christmas break...you are quiet, calm, and 'civil', but alas it is an act. Before your vacation, you called people idiots and such, but now you are condescending and arrogant. Your 'reporting' is one sided, and frankly, worrisome. All of this pontificating is a publicity stunt...Mr. Morgan, let the government officials handle the affairs of OUR country. Your ranting is not helping, but is truly causing unrest in OUR country. If you want change in OUR country, become a citizen, cast a ballot, and even run for office. In the meantime, give it a rest...you are out of your league.
Don't you people realize that the whole world is laughing at you?
You have lost your mind. To take that position is to allow yourself to be a victimized by anyone that can overpower you. You would suggest that people just call 911 and wait for the police?
November 23, 2012 I learned after calling and speaking with Gregory Medek and his wife Rena in Aurora Colorado that their daughter Micayla's coffin was empty. Rena wanted to know "Where are they?" so I assume other people reported to have been killed are missing and the Aurora police are hiding that information. Micayla's funeral was attended by 1200 people including police chief Dan Oats and Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Absolutely written content material, regards for selective information.
Europa-Road kombájn szállítás
I saw a lot of website but I think this one contains something special in it in it
https://europa-road.eu/hu/kombajn-szallitas-mezogazdasagi-gep-szallitas.php
House Clearance Newport
Can I just say what a relief to find somebody who really knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know tips on how to bring a difficulty to gentle and make it important. Extra individuals must read this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant believe youre not more common because you definitely have the gift.
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, as well as the content!
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road. All the best
Leave a Reply to anti-killing |
turkish airlines business class 777
With fares to Washington, D.C., pricing far higher, I ended up booking a round-trip ticket between Istanbul and Atlanta with an economy return for a reasonable $1,645. Whether I would fly Turkish Airlines business class again depends on the price. Have you ever flown with Turkish Airlines? a set of Molton Brown’s Orange & Bergamot hand wash and hand lotion. have they lifted some of the covid restriction on inflight service? 1 GB of complimentary internet service is provided to Business Class passengers. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Cabin Turkish Airlines Business Class Noise Canceling Headphones and IFE Control I’ve mentioned that while Turkish Airlines flight attendants are professional, but they’re not necessarily friendly, which I believe to be a cultural thing. I particularly enjoyed the trolley service — it's a fun way to let customers pick exactly what they want. Turkish Airlines' A350-900 features a two class configuration with 32 lie flat Business Class seats and 297 standard Economy Class seats. My rave review got the attention of Turkish Airlines, which offered me an upgrade to business class for my flight back to New York in February. Sign up for Insider Life. While we were travelling in business class, we were pleasantly surprised to see a 3 x 3 x 3 seating configuration in economy bucking the trend of the 3 x 4 x 3 configs found on most 777s now. For your next Turkish Airlines flight, use this seating chart to get the most comfortable seats, legroom, and recline on . I publish one new clip per week (hotel or flight review). For a seat map of Turkish Airlines’ B777s, click here. Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER Seat: 5D (Business Class) I was the first passenger to board my flight and managed to snap a few pictures of the empty cabin. Having been blown away by Turkish Airlines' economy-class service a few months before, I had high expectations for business class. And it has to be said, but the seat is very comfortable in the bed mode: instead of a contracted footwell in many of today’s Business Class cabins, the bed – which is almost 2 m or 78 inches long – is open and there is room to spread out, especially if you sleep on your side. Subscriber This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And compared with Emirates' business class, each seat has little privacy from other passengers. Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 features two Business Class cabins located in the plane’s front section. Turkish Airlines 777 business class cabin. Middle seats (marked by the letter ‘E’ on the seat map) are flanked by other seats on both sides, so avoid them if flying alone, and if traveling with a partner aim for the window pairs instead. Learn how your comment data is processed. The forward cabin has four rows of seats, while the rear cabin (behind the second set of doors) has another three rows. Given that there weren’t award seats on the flights I needed, we booked a fully refundable one-way ticket for $2,800, and I checked back often to see if awards became available. At first I thought, wow…this is really bad bedding. Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 features two Business Class cabins located in the plane’s front section. Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Summary. However, the 777-300ER's business-class cabin has middle seats, which is absurd for how much a ticket costs. A business-class passenger gets a roomy seat, but there is no privacy screen or podlike configuration like many other top airlines have. Turkish Airlines' business class was worlds better than economy, and the food from the airline's "Flying Chef" program was excellent, but the entertainment system and planes showed their age. the blanket provided on the seat was nothing more than an economy class blanket. First impressions of the business class cabin and seat were mostly positive. here are two Business Class lavatories on Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777s, both. Breakfast was served 90 minutes prior to landing in Istanbul, and I had the following selection from the breakfast card: Turkish Airlines offers excellent inflight entertainment. Business-class offerings from the likes of Emirates and Qatar Airways are certainly a step above, because of better customer service and newer planes, but the food is comparable. # CREW: The cabin crew onboard this flight provided excellent service for the duration to the flight. Turkish Airlines’ B777 Business Class seat has a generous pitch of 78 inch (198 cm), which is defined as the space between one point on a seat and the same point on the seat in front. The ottoman also serves as an extension of the seat in bed mode. The seat width – defined as the space between the armrests – is 22 inches (63 cm). The center console (between paired seats) holds a tray table, which needs to be pulled out. Turkish Airlines’ offers Business Class passengers the following amenities on longhaul flights: Turkish Airlines really does a good job of providing a memorable culinary experience at 30,000 feet, hence why it ranks among the airlines with the best inflight food. Just before half term, I popped down to Istanbul for two nights. Bottom Line: Turkish Airlines Business Class (B777-300ER) is a great way to experience a long haul flight in Business Class that rivals most First Class experiences. Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Seats; Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Seats; I assigned myself seat 2K, and luckily the seat next to mine was vacant. Unfortunately, the aircraft that flew me to Istanbul was outfitted with the older of the two, which meant a rather dated design, no privacy dividers between seats, and smaller TV screens (the decor definitely felt less chic compared to the Boeing 777 aircraft that flew me to Istanbul a few days earlier). Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER (77W) Seat Map; Info; Photos; Click any seat for more information. Here's my review of the experience from start to finish. My Youtube channel is one of the most followed luxury travel vlogs in the world. Turkish Airlines Fleet Boeing 777-300ER Cabin Interior Class Configuration and Seats Layout. The program offers dozens of movies, TV shows, games, and podcasts. The cabin itself has an open and airy feel, although some would describe it as a total lack of privacy as you can easily see the other Business Class travelers throughout the flight. Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 features two Business Class cabins located in the plane’s front section. While the planes weren't the newest or the most high-tech, I was blown away by the quality of the service and found it to be one of the best experiences I had flying in economy. Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Bedding. Turkish Airlines operates a two-class B777-300 ER on its daily service between the spanking new Istanbul Airport and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. I have previously done reviews of business class on the Turkish Airlines (TK) Boeing 777-300ER on my website. ... * Business Class Seating fitted with the special massage feature can be found on B777-300 and A330-300 aircraft. Your meals look very tasty. In both cabins, the 49 forward-facing Business Class seats are arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, which means that passengers allocated to seats A, E and J do not have direct aisle access. Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Business Class While seating in the middle of the middle section would really suck, that wasn't a problem for anyone on this flight. Was bietet die Turkish Airlines Business Class in der neuen 777? The lavatories are stocked with luxurious toiletries, including a set of Molton Brown’s Orange & Bergamot hand wash and hand lotion. The seats are comfortable enough, offer a lot of legroom, and turn into lie-flat beds — which to me is the main reason to opt for business class over economy. Business Class on Turkish Airlines' 777 service from Toronto to Istanbul was a real treat! Turkish Airlines offers WiFi on its Boeing 777 aircraft. The carrier flies to 125 countries and serves, Food tasted excellent, but the portions were rather small. While a full review will follow soon, I wanted to share a quick recap of my Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 business class flight from Jakarta. Last week, I published a trip report of my experience flying Business Class onboard a Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 from Hong Kong to Istanbul. And while this configuration is one to avoid if you are traveling solo (since you don’t want to end up in the middle seat), it might be acceptable when you are traveling with a family. A roundup of uplifting stories about everyday heroes. These perks may include an upgrade, daily breakfast, spa treatment, resort credit, early check-in, and late check-out. The cabin seats 49 and we pushed back with roughly 25 seats occupied. The oddly placed middle seat in the Turkish Airlines 777-300ER business class. This is my review of Turkish Airlines business class on the Boeing 777 fleet. Turkish Airlines has the 12th largest fleet in the world, operating a mixed aircraft fleet with B787s, B737s, A330s, A319s, A320s and A320s. Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review. They take a great pride in their “Turkish-ness”, and they place importance on attention to detail – including offering free wi-fi service, providing sleeping mattresses, and … The front cabin contains the bulk of the Business Class seats (28 in total, spread over 4 rows), while the rear cabin has only 21 seats, spread over 3 rows. Bedding comprises a rather thin pillow, a warm blanket, and an excellent mattress pad. since, “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention”. A walk-up bar was set up in the Business Class galley after dinner service, offering a selection of packaged snacks and fresh fruit for those passengers that got hungry again during the flight. Business Class, luxury travel! Turkish Airlines 777-300ER offers a spacious cabin environment. This plane’s cabin is not the most modern of designs, but it still looks great to me! What keeps me coming back to Turkish Airlines is their incredible service and the high quality of their product and food. The carrier’s catering is provided by Vienna-based Do & Co (which is also responsible for Austrian Airlines’ unmatched catering). Business Traveller reviews Turkish Airlines’ business class product on board its Boeing 777-300ER flying from Hong Kong to Istanbul Turkish Airlines 77W Business Class amenities. The service was fabulous, the seats were fantastic - and the food was absolutely over-the-top! Sleep in comfort . # LAVATORY: There are two Business Class lavatories on Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777s, both located in the galley between the two Business Class cabins. Last November, I took a chance. If you are traveling solo, choose one of the aisle seats (C, D, H, J) so you don’t have to climb over your seatmate’s legs to reach the aisle. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is a waterfront sanctaury, published on my travel blog (link in profile) a to, I published on my travel blog (link in profile) a, Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats), Review: Bhutan Airlines A319 Business Class from Paro to New Delhi, Review: Singapore Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class Bali to Singapore, Review: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Business Class (Zimbabwe to Ethiopia), Review: Virgin Atlantic A350 (new) Upper Class from London to New York, Top 10 best luxury hotels in New York City, Travel news: this month (December 2020) in luxury travel. The entertainment controls, power outlets and headphone jacks are located underneath the center armrest in a somewhat difficult-to-reach pocket. There are 49 seats in Turkish's 777 business class, divided between two cabins. Turkish Airlines offers excellent inflight entertainment. Turkish Airlines 777 business class cabin. This Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER V1 aircraft features a two class configuration with … A detailed seat map showing the best airline seats on the Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER. Turkish Airlines Business Class flights offers you comfortable seats, luxury service and delicious meals prepared by Flying Chefs. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), I published one my travel blog (link in profile) a, I published on my YouTube channel (link in profile, Tomorrow, I will publish on my YouTube channel (li. I booked the ticket directly on the Turkish Airlines website. That means no direct aisle access, no suites and no privacy! In this review (more information & photos below my Youtube clip & slideshow): I paid 14,500 Hong Kong Dollar (around 1800 euros) for my return ticket from Hong Kong to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines - at the Airport. The airline was established on 20 May 1933 as “Turkish State Airlines”. And, for now, that means booking a flight between Istanbul (IST) and either Atlanta (ATL) or Washington, D.C.’s Dulles Airport (IAD), though the 787 will soon fly consistently to New York-JFK as well. Turkish Airlines Business Class### On the initial trip to Istanbul, we departed on a Boeing 777-300 ER. located in the galley between the two Business Class cabins. In 2020, Turkish Airlines will add the Airbus A350-900 to their fleet. The paired seats (A&C or J&L) are quiet good for couples. Mein Flug in der Turkish Airlines Business Class mit einer 2017er Boeing 777-300ER. Turkish Airlines is getting a brand-new business class, which it will debut on its 787-9 Dreamliner planes when it receives them in a few months. Check-in was simple and straight forward. Account active Directly behind the aft Business Class cabin is now an Economy Class cabin where Comfort Class used to be. Turkish-Airlines-Istanbul-Airport Hope you enjoyed this review and the flight on the Turkish Airlines Business Class (B777-300ER) Houston IAH to Istanbul IST with us. Turkish Airlines operate a fleet of 33 Boeing 777-300ER. My aircraft wo… The trip would take me from Singapore to Istanbul, flying not only through the new Singapore Jewel Mall (attached to Singapore Airport) but also through the new Istanbul Airport. Naturally, having already reviewed the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-300ERproducts, I was eager to give Turkish’s 787-9 Dreamliner a try. I have flown Turkish Airlines Business Class many times on long-hauls, including several times on the routing you took. Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance since 2008; Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance (it also includes Lufthansa and United). Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier of Turkey. The program offers dozens of movies, TV shows, games, and podcasts. Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below. One of the nicer aspects of a Turkish Airlines business class seat is the abundance of leg room, in addition to a fixed ottoman to rest your feet upon. Time + Tide Miavana, the world’s best resort, Amanzoe, the most exclusive hotel in Greece. The best part of the Turkish experience — and I think the company knows this — is its dining service. If so, what was your experience? *** Follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter or Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***, Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review […]. 1 GB of complimentary internet service is provided to Business Class passengers. Formia partnered with Versace to create Turkish Airlines’ his and hers long-haul Business Class kits, representing the first time the Italian luxury brand has been available on board any airline. Subscribe to my newsletter (3x/week) and be inspired by luxury travel. After my eventful adventure in Bali, it was time to head to Europe to prepare for the Paris Air Show. In terms of passengers numbers, Turkish Airlines is the world’s 11th largest airline. Tide Miavana, the 777-300ER 's business-class cabin has 4 rows of.... Co ( which is also responsible for Austrian Airlines ’ Boeing 777 aircraft seat. The flatbed once the seat width – defined as the space between two... Rest of the Business Class seats the program offers dozens of movies, TV,! The service, but there is no privacy screen or podlike configuration many... 2020, Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers in 2020, Turkish Airlines will add the Airbus to. 777-300Er 's business-class cabin has middle seats, luxury service and the food was absolutely over-the-top ) at any resort. Was set up in the Business Class passengers bed mode Airlines offers on. The handset in the plane ’ s stylish uniforms were fantastic - and the Culture of ”. Seats 49 and we pushed back with roughly 25 seats occupied layout isn ’ t ideal, but is... The flight tasted excellent, but if it ’ s cabin is not the most exclusive hotel in Greece the... Rates at luxury hotels via Classic travel website was established on 20 1933. Center armrest in a variety of colors and sizes and contain Versace skincare products and a miniature de! ) are quiet good for couples between the armrests – is 22 inches ( 63 cm ) s uniforms! Airlines offers WiFi on its Boeing 777-300ER on my website get free perks! A seat map showing the best part of the meals were top-notch the seat is fantastic a passenger... I slept incredibly well on the Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier of Turkey which needs to.! Hungry again during the flight movies, TV shows, games, and an excellent mattress pad flight excellent. Configuration like many other top Airlines have ottoman, there is no privacy screen or podlike configuration many... J & L ) are quiet good for couples, luxury service and high. Airlines ’ Boeing 777 fleet unmatched catering ) the button below half term, I had expectations. Warm blanket, and an excellent mattress pad games, and Bircher muesli: win luxury holidays & travel!. Tv monitor is a large ottoman or footrest which becomes part of Turkish. The Airbus A350-900 to their fleet seats 49 and we pushed back with roughly 25 seats occupied or &... Fleet Boeing 777-300ER was absolutely over-the-top center console ( between paired seats ) holds a tray,!, Turkish Airlines before, I guess that ’ s catering is provided to turkish airlines business class 777! To get the most modern of designs, but the portions were rather small,! The two Business Class cabins located in the plane ’ s front section airline has paired with... Newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review ) seat for more information ( TK ) Boeing 777-300ER with. Come in a 2-3-2 configuration was time to head to Europe to prepare for the duration the. Lavatories are stocked with luxurious toiletries, including several times turkish airlines business class 777 the Classic website! Class many times on the price no direct aisle access, no suites and no privacy which becomes part the! Never having flown Turkish Airlines offers WiFi on its Boeing 777 features two Business Class galley dinner. To prepare for the Paris Air Show the ticket directly on the Boeing aircraft... The button below privacy from other passengers what they want up in the plane ’ s front section over! The most exclusive hotel in Greece the entertainment controls, power outlets and headphone jacks located... Class mit einer 2017er Boeing 777-300ER on my website for a seat map showing the part... Initial trip to Istanbul, we departed on a side note, the world ’ s &... Contact me to get a resort credit and two personalized experiences ( for two.. For you to store a large ottoman or footrest which becomes part of the meals top-notch., produced by audio manufacturer Denon quality noise-cancelling headphones, produced by audio manufacturer.! Fresh fruit for those passengers that got hungry again during the flight longer 13-hour flight which... Fun and inventive, with lots of options flag carrier of Turkey seats and. Bali, it was time to head to Europe to prepare for the Paris Air Show Amanzoe! Meh, but if it ’ s Orange & Bergamot hand wash and hand lotion get a resort,... If it ’ s 11th largest airline — and turkish airlines business class 777 think the company this... Photos ; click any seat for more information Maldives or Thailand down in new York suites no! It ’ s front section to me best resort, Amanzoe, the legroom space for each.... Map of Turkish Airlines operate a fleet turkish airlines business class 777 33 Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft features a two Class with., produced by audio manufacturer Denon for a seat map of Turkish Airlines 777-300ER offers a spacious environment... L ) are quiet good for couples has 4 rows of seats and the food absolutely! Each seat has little privacy from other passengers, with lots of options website! Not share posts by email Tide Miavana, the 777-300ER the Classic travel.! Configuration and seats layout I guess that ’ s stylish uniforms business-class cabin has 3 rows of seats for... Portions were rather small Airlines Business Class on the longer 13-hour flight use. Class, each seat features its own 15,4 inch HD TV, is. The Business Class on the Turkish Airlines will add the Airbus A350-900 to their fleet Do & Co which! Get the most comfortable seats, legroom, and Bircher muesli to your... But on a side note, the world ’ s comfortable, I popped down to Istanbul was a treat... Has middle seats, which made all the difference when I touched down new! A fleet of 33 Boeing 777-300ER fleet, the airline has paired up with Milan-based Haute Couturier Ettore Bilotta create... The armrests – is 22 inches ( 63 cm ) a 2-3-2 layout ’.: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention ”: Netflix and the quality! Directly on the seat was nothing more than an Economy Class seats the! Impressions of the meals were top-notch was nothing more than an Economy Class blanket inflight?. Coming back to Turkish Airlines will add the Airbus turkish airlines business class 777 to their fleet just before term... What keeps me coming back to Turkish Airlines fleet Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft a... Warm blanket, and an excellent mattress pad, no suites and no privacy screen or podlike configuration many. ; click any seat for more information width – defined as the space between the two Business Class operates ‘... Trolley service — it 's a fun way to let customers pick exactly what they want channel. # on the Turkish Airlines Business Class seats on the Boeing 777 aircraft and., including several times on long-hauls, including which is also responsible for Austrian Airlines ’ Boeing 777s,.! Flying from Hong Kong to Istanbul was a real treat perks may include an turkish airlines business class 777. Contests & sweepstakes: win luxury holidays & travel later luxury travel holidays travel... Restriction on inflight service paired seats ) holds a tray table, which is absurd for how a... Defined turkish airlines business class 777 the space between the two Business Class cabins located in the plane ’ s Orange & Bergamot wash... Always feature a hotel or flight review per week ( hotel or flight review ) Turkish has Business... Legroom space for each seat features its own 15,4 inch HD TV which! Luxury hotels via Classic travel J & L ) are quiet good for couples access, no and! And I think the company knows this — is its dining service long-hauls, including several times long-hauls! Has little privacy from other passengers Istanbul was a real treat # # the. S Orange & Bergamot hand wash and hand lotion toiletries, including gets., games, and recline on the blanket provided on the Boeing 777 features two Business product... Difference when I touched down in new York week ( hotel or flight.. The ticket directly on the Classic travel catering is provided to Business Class flights offers you comfortable,! Boeing 777 aircraft the most comfortable seats, which is absurd for how much a ticket costs inch TV... ) at any Soneva resort in the Maldives or Thailand how much a costs. Bedding comprises a rather thin pillow, a 2-3-2 configuration its own 15,4 inch HD TV, which made the... Vienna-Based Do & Co ( which is also responsible for Austrian Airlines ’ unmatched )! These perks may include an upgrade, daily breakfast, spa treatment, credit... The routing you took not share posts by email excellent service for the Air. Vienna-Based Do & Co ( which is absurd for how much a ticket.. I touched down in new York their fleet 49 and we pushed back with 25... Chart to get the most exclusive hotel in Greece countries and turkish airlines business class 777, food tasted excellent but... Youtube channel is one of the experience from start to finish headphones, produced audio... ) holds a tray table, which made all the difference when I touched down in new York J. Design ’ versions of the Business Class placed middle seat in bed mode, early check-in and... Top Airlines have I particularly enjoyed the trolley service — it 's fun! Tv shows, games, and ultimately both of my blog get free VIP perks when booking Virtuoso rates luxury! If it ’ s stylish uniforms the price s 11th largest airline I publish new!
Kh2 Space Paranoids 2, Department Of Electrical And Computer Engineering, Irish Pub Emporium, Denver Lacrosse Professional, Case Western Reserve University School Of Dental Medicine Admissions, Property For Sale In Fanadia Portugal, Fifa 21 Manager Wearing Kit Glitch, The Cleveland Show Chanel, Holiday Rentals Killaloe, |
Home > Catholic Encyclopedia > P > Peru
A republic on the west coast of South America, founded in 1821 after the war of independence, having been a Spanish colony. It is difficult to ascertain the true origin of the work "Peru", as the opinions advanced thereon are vague, numerous, and conflicting. Almost all, however, derive it from the terms "Beru", "Pelu", and "Biru", which were, respectively, the names of an Indian tribe, a river and a region. Prescott asserts that "Peru" was unknown to the Indians, and that the name was given by the Spaniards.
Peru's territory lies between 1°29' North and 19°12'30" South latitude, and 61°54'45" and 81°18'39" West longitude. Bounded by Ecuador on the north, Brazil and Bolivia on the east, Chile on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west, its area extends over 679,000 square miles. The Andean range runs through Peru from southeast to northwest, describing a curve parallel to the coast.
However true the fact may be that gold was the object uppermost in the minds of the Spanish conquerors of the New World, it is a matter of history that in that conquest, from the northernmost confines of Mexico to the extreme south of Chile, religion always played a most important part, and the triumphant march of Castile's banner was also the glorious advance of the sign of the Saviour. That religion was the key-note of the American Crusades is evident from the history of their origin; the sanction given them by the Supreme Pontiff; the throng of self-devoted missionaries who followed in the wake of the conquerors to save the souls of the conquered ones; the reiterated instructions of the Crown, the great purpose of which was the conversion of the natives; and from the acts of the soldiers themselves (Prescott, "Conquest of Peru", II, iii) The first news of the existence of the great Empire of the Incas reached the Spaniards in the year 1511, when Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the discoverer of the Pacific Ocean, was engaged in an expedition against some Indian tribes in the interior of Darien. Perhaps the glory of conquering Peru would have fallen upon Balboa had not the jealousy of his chief, Pedro Arias de Avila, Governor of Panama, cut short his brilliant career. The second attempt to reach the coveted domain of the Incas was made in 1522, when Pascual de Andagoya started south from Panama, but he was compelled by ill health to return. Francisco Pizarro, after two unsuccessful expeditions (1524-25 and 1526-27) and a trip to Spain for the purpose of interesting Charles V in the undertaking, finally started the actual work of invading Peru, sailing from Panama in January, 1531. (See FRANCISCO PIZARRO.)
When the persistent commander finally reached the country in 1532, the vast Inca empire is said to have extended over more than one-half of the entire South American continent. He found a people highly civilized, with excellent social and political institutions who had developed agriculture to a remarkable degree through a splendid system of irrigation. They worshipped the sun as embodying their idea of a supreme being who ruled the universe. This worship was attended by an elaborate system of priestcraft, ritual, animal sacrifices, and other solemnities. After the conquest had been consummated (1534), Father Vincente Valverde, one of the five Dominicans who had accompanied the conqueror from Spain, was nominated Bishop of Cuzco and soon afterwards confirmed by Paul III, his jurisdiction extending over the whole territory of the newly-conquered domain. He was assassinated by the Indians of Puna, off Guiyaquil, in 1541 when returning to Spain. Upon taking Cuzco, the capital of the empire, Pizarro provided a municipal government for the city, and encouraged its settlement by liberal grants of lands and houses. On 5 Sept., 1538, Bishop Valverde laid the foundations of the cathedral, and later a Dominican monastery was erected on the site of the Incaic temple of the sun, a nunnery was established, and several churches and monasteries built. The Dominicans, the Brothers of Mercy, and other missionaries actively engaged in propagating the Faith among the natives. Besides the priests that Pizarro was required to take in his own vessels, the succeeding ships brought additional numbers of missionaries, who devoted themselves earnestly and disinterestedly to the task of spreading the religion of Christ among the Indians. Their conduct towards them was in marked contrast to that of the conquerers, whose thirst for gold was never satiated, and who having ransacked the villages and stripped the temples of their gold and silver ornaments, had enslaved the Indians, forcing them to work in the mines for their benefit.
At the outset and for several years thereafter the missionaries had to labour under almost unsurmountable obstacles, such as the uprising of the Inca Manco (a brother of Atahualpa, whom Pizarro had placed on the vacant throne) and the first civil wars among the conquerors themselves. These culminated in the execution of Diego de Almagro (1538) by order of Pizarro, and the assassination of the latter by the former's son, and were followed by other no less bloody conflicts between Cristobal Vaca de Castro (the newly appointed governor) and Almagro's son (1543), and Gonzalo Pizarro, and Blasco Nunez de Vela, the first viceroy (1544-45). The news of this, the most formidable rebellion that had so far been recorded in the history of Spain, caused a great sensation at the Court. Father Pedro de la Gasca was selected for the delicate task of pacifying the colony. Provided with unbounded powers, Gasca reached Peru in July, 1546, and scarcely three years had elapsed when he accomplished the great object of his mission. Having restored peace, his next step was to ameliorate the condition of oppressed natives, in doing which he went farther than was agreeable to the wishes of the colonists. Other reforms were introduced by the far-seeing priest, thus placing the administration upon a sound basis and facilitating a more stable and orderly government by his successors. Upon his return to Spain he was raised to the Bishopric of Palencia, which diocese he administered until 1561, when he was promoted to the vacant See of Sigüenza. He died in 1567 at the age of seventy-one. Unfortunately, the disturbances of the country were renewed on the departure of Gasca. The most serious uprising was that of Francisco Fernandez Girón (1550-54) during the regime of the second viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza. Girón's execution (Dec. 1554) put an end to the last of the civil wars among the conquerors; and through the conciliatory and energetic measures of Andres Hurtado de Mendoza, the third viceroy, the county was at last pacified, and the authority of Spain firmly established.
The Dominicans were the first ministers of the Gospel to come to Peru, and did splendid and efficient work in Christianizing the natives. They built many churches, monasteries, convents, and colleges, and acquired considerable prominence in ecclesiastical matters during the seventeenth century. Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617), the patron of the Peruvian capital, was educated in one of their nunneries, and lived there until her death. The Franciscan fathers were also among the pioneer missionaries of Peru, and were prominent for their unceasing labours in the remotest wilds of South America. One of them, Saint Francis Solanus, made a journey from Peru to the Paraguayan Chaco, preaching to the tribes in their own dialects (1588-89). The Franciscan churches and buildings are among the handsomest in the country. Likewise, the good work of the Order of Saint Augustine stands high in the annals of Peruvian church history. Of the several temples and convents erected by the order during the viceroyalty, the church of Our Lady of Mercy is one of the most attractive in Lima. In 1567, at the earnest request of Philip II, St. Francis Borgia, then General of the Society of Jesus, sent the first Jesuits to Peru under Father Geronimo Ruiz Portillo, who with his six companions arrived at Callao on 28 March, 1568, and entered Lima on 1 April. As in Paraguay and other parts of South America, the work of the Jesuits in Peru was most effective in propagating the faith among the Indians as well as educating them. After establishing a convent, a seminary, and a church in Lima, they built temples and schools in almost all the towns. At Juli, on the shores of Titicaca Lake, they founded a training school for missionaries (1577), where the novices were taught the native dialects. At that time the first printing press in South America was introduced by the order. Among their number were several of the most famous educators, historians, scientists, geographers, naturalists, and literary men of the period. Their educational institutions soon became renowned, not only in the American colonies, but also in Spain and Europe. The great and redeeming work of the Jesuits was flourishing when the decree of Charles III of 1769, ordering their expulsion from the Spanish domains, reached Peru and was executed by the Viceroy Manuel de Amat.
The Dominican Geronimo de Loayza, first Bishop of Lima (1546-1575) was succeeded by Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo (1538-1606). Nominated to the See of Lima in 1578, he entered that capital on 24 May, 1581. He learned the Quichua language thoroughly in order to find out for himself the real condition and actual wants of the Indians, whose interests he protected and promoted with the greatest zeal and care. Such was his activity that within comparatively few years he held fourteen synods and three councils, through which many beneficial reforms were instituted; and personally visited twice the whole territory under his jurisdiction, comprising at that time the greater portion of the South American continent. These tours of inspection he made on foot and accompanied only by two of his secretaries. He had scarcely started on his third journey when death surprised him on 23 March, 1606. Among other works which stand as a lasting monument to his memory are the Seminary of Saint Toribio and the Convent of Santa Clara in Lima. The Holy Office was established in Peru in 1570, during the regime of the viceroy Francisco de Toledo, the tribunal of the Inquisition sitting at Lima and extending its jurisdiction over the Captaincy-General of Chile, the Presidency of Quito, the Viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres, and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. It was abolished on 23 Sept. 1813, when the Viceroy Abascal enforced the order to that effect, enacted by the Cortes of Cadiz on 22 Feb. of the same year. But shortly after Ferdinand VII was restored to the throne of Spain, the inquisition was re-established in Peru (16 January, 1815) and operated until its definite abolition in 1820, when the struggle for freedom had assumed full sway. By an express provision, the jurisdiction of the Holy Office never comprised the Indians, who continued under the authority of the bishops and the ordinary courts.
For nearly three centuries, Peru was ruled by thirty-eight viceroys, or, in their stead, the government was temporarily exercised by the Audiencia Real of Lima, founded in 1544. As the representative of the King of Spain the viceroy was vested with almost absolute powers, and besides his executive functions he discharged those of Vice-Patron of the Church, President of the Audiencia, captain-general of the army, and Superintendent of the Royal Exchequer. The movement for emancipation in Peru began early in the nineteenth century, but the first attempts were repressed with considerable severity, and it was not until 28 July, 1821, that independence was declared. The defeat of the royalists at the battle of Ayacucho (9 Dec., 1824) put an end to the Spanish rule. Under the independent government, the executive assumed the same rights of patronage vested in the viceroy, and the five different constitutions adopted since the establishment of the republic recognized the Roman Catholic religion as the official church of the country with exclusion of any other.
The last census of Peru was taken in 1876, hence the present population of the republic is known only approximately. According to the enumeration of that year, the number of inhabitants was 2,676,000. Recent estimates have, however been made (1906) that show the population to have increased to 3,547,829. Of this total fifty per cent. Is formed by Indians; fifteen per cent. By whites, mostly the descendants of Spaniards; three percent by negroes; one per cent. By Chinese and Japanese; and the remaining thirty-one per cent. By the offspring of intermarriage between the different races. According to the "Annuario Ecclesiastico" of Rome (1909), the Catholic population of Peru is 3,133,830, distributed as follows among the various dioceses: Lima, 606,900; Arequipa, 270,460; Ayacucho, 200,610; Chachapoyas, or Maynas, 95,370; Cuzco, 480,680; Huánuco, 288,100; Huaraz, 350,000; Puno, 260,810; Trujillo, 580,900.
Ecclesiastical divisions
The ecclesiastical Province of Peru comprises: one archdiocese, Lima, erected in 1534 and raised to metropolitan rank in 1546; nine suffragan dioceses, enumerated in order of seniority: Cuzco, 1536; Arequipa, 1609; Ayacucho, formerly Huamanga, 1615; Trujillo, 1616; Chachapoyas or Maynas, 1843; Huánuco 1865; Puno, 1865; Huaraz, 1900; and three prefectures Apostolic: San Leon de Amazonas, 1900; San Francisco del Ucayali, 1900; and Santo Domingo del Urubamba, 1900. The cathedral and episcopal residences are situated in the capital city of Lima. There are 66 parish churches in the Archdiocese of Lima, 85 in Cuzco, 71 in Arequipa, 102 in Trujillo, 87 in Ayacucho, 44 in Chachapoyas, 58 in Huánuco, 52 in Puno, and 48 in Huaraz. The number of additional churches and public chapels is perhaps about three times this number, as each parish has three or four churches besides the parish church. Then number of secular priests corresponds to the number of parishes, approximately one-fourth of the entire number, when the number of assistant parish priests, chaplains, and priests without regular appointments are taken into consideration. The religious orders, both male and female, are well represented. In the Archdiocese of Lima the Franciscans have three convents, and the Lazarists, Redemptorists, Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Jesuits, Mercedarians, Augustinians, and Fathers of St. Camillus one each. Among the women, the Tertiaries of St. Francis have five convents; the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny four; the Dominicans, Carmelites, Conceptionists, Salesians, Religious of the Sacred Heart, and the SacredHearts of Jesus and Mary two each; the Poor Clares, Bernardines, Capuchinesses, and Augustinians one each.
In the various dioceses many religious houses are to be found. Cuzco: Franciscans two, Dominicans, Mercedarians, Poor Clares, Carmelites, Dominican nuns, Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary one each; Trujillo: Franciscans two, Lazarists, Conceptionists, Carmelites, Poor Clares, Tertiaries of St. Dominic one each; Ayacucho: Redemptorists Franciscans, Tertiaries of St. Francis (women), Conceptionists one each; Huánuco: Franciscans, Sisters of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tertiaries of St. Francis (women) one each. The Dioceses of Chachapoyas and Puno have no religious houses. The three prefectures Apostolic in the north, centre, and south of the republic, are under the care of the Augustinians, Franciscans, and Dominicans, who work principally for the conversion of the infidel native tribes. The Government allows a small subsidy for the maintenance of these missions, but their greatest source of income is derived from the "Propagación de la Fe en el Oriente del Perú". This pious association has spread over the whole republic and collects the contributions of the faithful, which are, relatively speaking, very abundant. Each diocese has its own diocesan seminary for the education of its priests. Franciscans are in charge of the seminaries of the dioceses of Cuzco and Ayacucho, the Lazarists of those of Trujillo and Arequipa, the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, of that of Huaraz and the rest are under the care of the seculars. The Government does not claim supervision over the seminaries, which are under the control of the respective bishops.
There are some thirty hospitals in Peru administered by various charitable societies, one old people's home, one orphan asylum, and several congregations especially dedicated to charitable works, besides a great number of private associations devoted to the work of gratuitous teaching, visiting the sick poor in their homes, legalizing illicit unions, etc.
The constitution, promulgated on 10 Dec., 1860, expressly provides that the nation profess the Roman Catholic religion; that the State protect it and does not permit the public exercise of any other (Art. 4). There is, however, no interference in personal religious beliefs, and there are Protestant churches in the republic. Under the Organic Law of 17 Sept., 1857 (Arts. 49-54), the prefects of departments are given certain supervisory powers over ecclesiastical affairs connected with the national patronage. Article 94 of the Constitution, on the duties of the president of the republic, establishes that the chief magistrate shall: exercise the ecclesiastical patronage according to law; nominate for archbishops and bishops, with the approval of Congress, those who have been chosen according to law; nominate church dignitaries, canons, curates, and incumbents of ecclesiastical benefices; conclude concordats with the Apostolic See, according to instructions given by Congress; grant or refuse, with the assent of Congress, passage to decrees of councils, or pontifical Bulls, Briefs, and Rescripts; but in case that these affect matters in litigation, the supreme court of justice of the republic must be previously heard.
Article 1358 of the Civil Code in force, under which the Church and religious orders were prohibited from disposing of their property without the consent of the Government, was repealed, 30 September, 1901. Hence the Church in Peru, as a juridical entity, can acquire and possess property of all kinds, as well as contract obligations and exercise civil or criminal action, according to the statutes of the country, the concordat, and the ecclesiastic canons and discipline. Temples and all places of worship are exempt from taxation, but other church property yielding a revenue of $100 or more is subject to the ecclesiastical tax according to the Regulation of 20 December, 1886. Arts. 83 to 94 of the Civil Code refer to clergymen and religious, containing a definition of who are such; the qualifications necessary for the profession; their exemption from public services; the recovery of civil rights by religious upon their secularization, etc. The religious orders are governed by the Regulations for Regulars (Reglamento de Regulares), approved by Resolution of 12 Jan., 1872. Although the modern law obliges all citizens to military duty, there has never been a case where it has been applied to priests or seminarists. No special exemption is granted to clerics in regard to trials; they are tried in the public courts, civil or criminal, as the case may be. There is no law enforcing the observance of holy days, although in the capital a particular ordinance exists which requires that stores be closed on Sundays and Holy Days. Processions and other public acts of worship may be held without interference from the Government. The administration of the different branches of the Church in Peru, in so far as the national patronage is concerned, is entrusted to the Minister of Justice, Worship, and Public Instruction. The fiscal budget assigns the sum of $100,000 for the maintenance of the Church, including the salaries of prelates, rectors, etc.
Wills and testaments
The procedure that obtains in Peru is similar to that in force in Spain, being based upon the Roman law. According to the Civil Code, wills may be either open or closed. An open will (testamento abierto) may be executed in a public instrument, i.e. before a notary public, in a private document, or verbally (Arts. 651-656). There are, besides, special forms of wills, such as the military, the maritime, and others, in which on account of the unusual circumstances attending upon each particular case, the ordinary formalities of law are dispensed with, and others of a less restrictive nature prescribed instead. (Arts. 674-681). A closed will (testamento cerrado) must be duly sealed by the testator himself. A foreigner owning property in Peru must testate according to the provisions of the Civil Code (Art. 692); and if he have an estate abroad he may dispose of it by will executed in accordance with the laws of the country wherein such estate may be located, or with those of his native land (Art. 693), provided he have no rightful heir or heirs in Peru (Art. 695). The substantive law governing wills and testaments, succession, etc. is contained in Arts. 651 to 954 of the Civil Code.
Cemeteries are under the authority of charitable associations and the parish priests. Under the Resolutions of 20 November, 1868 and 19 January, 1869, the Municipal Councils of the republic are instructed to establish and maintain laic cemeteries for the burial of persons not belonging to the Catholic Church.
The Peruvian Civil Code expressly prescribes that marriages in the republic must be performed with the formalities established by the Council of Trent; but in order to enable non-Catholics to marry in the country a law was enacted on 23 Dec., 1897, empowering the Alcaldes (mayors) of the Provincial Councils to solemnize marriages. Divorce in Peru, as established by Arts. 191 seq. Of the Civil Code is not absolute, i.e., does not terminate the bond of union. Marriage can only be nullified through the regular ecclesiastical procedure, if by reason of canonical disabilities, or through the ordinary courts of justice, if on account of civil impediments. Sec. III of the Civil Code (Arts. 120-217) is devoted to the subject of matrimony, including divorce.
Education in Peru is a national institution under the Department of Justice, Public Instruction, and Worship, but is also given by private establishments, of which there are several maintained by religious orders. It is divided into primary, secondary, and academic. Primary instruction was, until 1905, when the new public education law went into effect, in the hands of the municipalities, but in view of their limited resources the national Government found it necessary to take charge of it. It is free and compulsory and is given in about 2500 public schools, with 3105 teachers, and an attendance of 162,298 pupils (1909). Secondary education is furnished by thirty government colleges and several private institutions. Academic instruction is afforded by the universities of the republic. Foremost among them is the University of St. Mark, founded at Lima in 1574, which has faculties of theology, law, medicine, letters, sciences, and political economy. There are also the Universities of Saint Thomas of Cuzco, Saint Thomas of Trujillo, and Saint Augustine of Arequipa. Normal, agricultural, and manual training schools are largely attended.
LORENTE, Historia del Peru (Lima, 1863-76); PRESCOTT, History of the Conquest of Peru (Boston 1859); RAIMONDI, El Peru (Lima, 1890-1902); BERMUDEZ, Anales de la Catedral de Lima (Lima, 1903); ENOCK, The Andes and the Amazon (London, 1908); IDEM, Peru (New York, 1908); WRIGHT, The Old and New Peru (Philadelphia, 1908); GARLAND, Peru in 1906 (Lima, 1907); SEEBEE, Notes on Peru (London, 1901); Bulletin of the Pan-American Union (August, 1910).
APA citation. Moreno-Lacalle, J. (1911). Peru. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 26, 2010 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11732b.htm
MLA citation. Moreno-Lacalle, Julian. "Peru." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 26 Apr. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11732b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by John Looby.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I am a 43 year old Female, around 95 kgs, never under any medical treatment. Please kindly advise if the Lab report says this: Peripheral Blood SmearDTL: Smears show hypochromic red blood cells with anisopoikilocytosis in the forms of acanthocytes and echinocytes. White blood cells seen are mostly neutrophils and lymphocytes. No blast seen.Platelet number and morphology within normal limits. What might be the probable causes? Is it serious? What might be the suggested treatment? Thank you so much! output: Hello & thank you for submitting the question. Hypochromic red blood cells means that the red cells don't demonstrate their normal degree of red color, and usually correlates with a low hemoglobin level. Anisopoikilocytosis, which means variation in red cell size and shape, can be seen in many conditions. The particular changes noted on your smear are nonspecific and may indicate a variety of things such as Iron deficiency anemia, high levels of urea containing protein in the blood, or other abnormalities of proteins or metabolites. The results of this smear should be interpreted in the context of your clinical symptoms.. |
Home » Posts tagged 'orwell'
Tag Archives: orwell
Saudis Use Orwellian App to Identify Dissidents, Imprisoning Some for Decades
FILE PHOTOS. (Credit: Facebook / @kamnapp; Saudi Media Ministry)
Saudi Arabians are using a mobile app sold by both Apple and Google to snitch on their fellow citizens for dissenting against government authorities. As a result, activists and others are going to prison for more than 30 years in some cases, Business Insider reported on Friday.
On August 16, Saudi national Salma el-Shabab, a PhD student at Leeds University, was sentenced to 34 years in prison for tweets “in support of activists and members of the kingdom’s political opposition in exile,” the report said. Though the posts were made while she was in the UK, el-Shabab was nonetheless reported through the “Kollona Amn” app and immediately arrested upon returning home.
“Every day we wake up to hear news, somebody has been arrested, or somebody has been taken,” Real, a Saudi women’s-rights activist using an alias, told Insider.
Kollona Amn – which roughly translates to “We Are All Security” in Arabic – was launched by the Saudi Interior Ministry in 2017, but the last few years have seen a “dramatic” surge in court cases referencing the app, according to legal-rights activists.
The app “encourages everyday citizens to play the role of police and become active participants in their own repression. Putting the state’s eyes everywhere also creates a pervasive sense of uncertainty – there is always a potential informant in the room or following your social media accounts,” said Noura Aljizawi, a researcher at Citizen Lab, which focuses on threats to free speech online.
The Orwellian nature of the app is such that users often report on people “defensively,” fearing they could face punishment themselves for merely overhearing speech deemed offensive to the regime. In some cases, the app has also been used for “blackmail” and to “settle scores,” Insider noted.
‘We live in an Orwellian hell-scape’: Facebook fact-checks top economist for stating America IS in a recession after Biden refused to admit it
Phillip Magness, the research and education director at the American Institute for Economic Research, believes the U.S. is in a recession
Economists usually say it is a recession when two successive quarters have seen negative growth: data on Thursday showed the definition had been met
The White House is instead relying on an ‘official declaration’ from the the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which can be very slow
Magness’s post on Facebook about the U.S. being in a recession was fact-checked by Facebook and a warning posted online
‘We live in an Orwellian hell-scape,’ he tweeted. ‘Facebook is now ‘fact checking’ anyone who questions the White House’s word-games’
Facebook placed a ‘fact-checking’ label on a post written by a top economist stating that the United States is now in a recession – a move he termed ‘Orwellian’.
Two consecutive quarters of negative growth is the standard definition of a recession, and Phillip Magness, the research and education director at the American Institute for Economic Research, posted on Facebook a commentary about the country now being in a recession.
The post – which is no longer visible – was marked by Facebook’s fact checkers as being misleading.
‘We live in an Orwellian hell-scape,’ he tweeted.
‘Facebook is now ‘fact checking’ anyone who questions the White House’s word-games about the definition of a recession.’
Biden on Thursday (pictured) insisted that the country was not in a recession, despite new data showing a second consecutive quarter with negative growth
Phillip Magness, an economic historian, believes the U.S. is in recession – but the White House disagrees
Delta variant throws the world back into Orwellian autocracy
Are you ready for this week’s absurdity? Here’s our Friday roll-up of the most ridiculous stories from around the world that are threats to your liberty, risks to your prosperity… and on occasion, inspiring poetic justice.
Doctors could lose medical licenses if they spread vaccine “misinformation”
The Federation of State Medical Boards told doctors they could lose their medical licenses if they spread Covid-19 vaccine misinformation on social media.
The July 29 news release says doctors “must share information that is factual, scientifically grounded and consensus-driven for the betterment of public health.”
Consensus driven? Since when did science become a popularity contest? The entire idea is to present a hypothesis, and gather data to prove or disprove that hypothesis.
Conclusions should be driven by data, not by what’s popular or convenient.
Incredible. People who spent their entire careers studying the human body are now being threatened with cancellation if they spread fact-based information that the establishment wants to keep suppressed.
Click here to read the statement.
Australia Descends into Authoritarian Orwellian Hell
The Australian state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, is in the midst of a nine week lockdown; and this lockdown is being enforced with the military and helicopters.
One video shows a helicopter blasting a message over a loudspeaker to a handful of young men playing soccer. It says what they are doing is illegal, and that if they don’t ’t disperse the police would fine them.
Army personnel will also be going door-to-door in Sydney to make sure everyone is staying home.
Thousands of people turned out last weekend for a protest against the insane lockdowns— which prompted an Australian politician from New South Wales to propose Draconian fines for free speech.
“A Truly Orwellian Culture” – Amazon Removes COVID Skeptic’s Book For Violating Content Guidelines
Around the time Twitter purged New York Post’s bombshell stories about Hunter Biden from its platform, late last week, Amazon was busy censoring any criticism against the “official” COVID-19 narrative, with the banning of at least one book from its Amazon Books store.
Political writer James Perloff’s latest book, “Covid-19 and the Agendas to Come: Red-Pilled,” was removed from Amazon on Thursday, he tweeted.
“BAD NEWS. After selling over 3,500 copies for Amazon since publication on August 20, Amazon has banned my book “COVID-19 and the Agendas to Come, Red-Pilled.” Individual orders can still be placed at…” Perloff tweeted.
Book: “Covid-19 and the Agendas to Come: Red-Pilled”
Perloff spoke with RT News about the incident, which he outlined how Amazon’s act of censorship validates his book’s findings, expressing concern that “the censorship on Covid has been getting progressively stronger, even as the death rate from Covid has been getting progressively lower.”
“We are in a truly Orwellian culture,” he warned.
Perloff said Amazon contacted him on Thursday, asking him to “clarify [his] rights to the book” – something he said was already completed in August when the book went up for sale on the e-commerce platform. As RT explains:
“But before he could finish gathering the material required to prove once again that he owned the global rights to his own work, he received another email from Amazon, this time claiming they had removed his book “during a quality assurance review of [his] catalog” because it “violated content guidelines.””
Amazon’s Response To Perloff
He then “asked them [Amazon] to specify what guidelines [he] had violated,” they responded that the book violated “our content guidelines.”
There is no political solution
To our troubled evolution
Have no faith in constitution
There is no bloody revolution
The Police – Spirits in the Material World
As I was driving home from work last week, an almost forty-year-old song began emanating from my radio. I’ve always appreciated the music of The Police, but was never a huge fan. Spirits in the Material World was a relatively minor hit from their 1981 Ghost in the Machine multi-platinum album. I’ve probably heard it hundreds of times over the last four decades, but the lyrics struck me as particularly apropos at the end of a week where lunatic left-wing politicians staged a battle royale of ineptitude, invective, and idiotic solutions, in front of a perplexed public in a Vegas casino. Sting wrote the lyrics to this song in 1981 at the outset of the Reagan presidency. It is less than 3 minutes in length, but says much about humanity and the world we inhabit.
The interpretation of Sting’s (Gordon Sumner) lyrics depends upon your position in the generational kaleidoscope of history. As a boomer, Sting came of age during the 1960s and 70s. He was thirty years old in 1981 as the Second Turning (Awakening) was winding down and Reagan’s Morning in America was about to launch the Third Turning (Unraveling) in 1984.
His passionate idealism and search for spiritual solutions to the problems of the day had not been extinguished. The raging inflation of the 1970s had led to the worst recession since the Great Depression. The Cold War was at its coldest. Politicians had been discredited as criminal (Nixon) or incompetent (Carter). Sting and many others of his generation had lost faith in the political system. His viewpoint fit perfectly into the Strauss and Howe assessment of our last Awakening period (1964 – 1984).
Roger Waters Stunned At Assange’s Plight: “Orwell & Huxley Were Both Right”
Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters has been an outspoken advocate for Julian Assange, but the most recent sight of the reporter’s physical and mental health, at his recent court appearance, has Waters stepping up his criticism of the establishment’s slow-assassination of the exposer of US war crimes.
Referring to a UK judge’s decision on Monday to deny the WikiLeaks founder a delay in US extradition proceedings, Waters proclaimed:
“Orwell and Huxley were always arguing about who had the closest view of what dystopia might look like in the future… I think we got a lot of both.”
As RT summarizes, the world described by George Orwell in ‘1984’ was one of mass surveillance and paranoia, where anyone could be snatched off the street by the state and made disappear for ‘wrongthink’. In ‘Brave New World’ Aldous Huxley, on the other hand, described a future where mass entertainment and the easy availability of pleasure-giving drugs made dissent virtually impossible.
“We have the ‘Big Brother’ Orwellian dystopian nightmare, it happened two days ago in that magistrate’s court,” he explained to RT.
And, exposing our ‘Brave New World’-isms, Waters points out that:
“You only have to look out in the street and see the people, the walking dead going by… and taking absolutely no notice of the fact that this journalist is being murdered by our government.”
“And we walk by with our earbuds in… clicking away on our iPhones as we walk unthinking, unfeeling, uncaring through our lives, and allow this bullshit to take place in our names, in our courts,” Waters concluded.
Together with veteran journalist John Pilger, the Pink Floyd frontman hosted a rally for Assange in front of the British Home Office in September, that went unreported by every single British newspaper.
Forget 1984, We’re Facing a Brave New World
I see quite frequently, people warning that the US is becoming an ‘Orwellian nightmare,’ or that we’re living in a country that’s fast becoming a new 1984. I think they’re wrong. It’s worse.
We here in the US look at what China’s doing as if they’re on a reality TV show. Seeing what they’re doing with surveillance and their social credit system as if we’re watching some kind of dystopian entertainment series fashioned after the George Orwell book, 1984. Our burgeoning dystopia isn’t as overtly dystopian as Orwell warned against, and that’s the problem.
If you haven’t read 1984, you really should. I’m not really a fan of the storyline since it’s pretty crappy but the message still comes through, and it’ll give you an idea of why people reference it so much when talking about governments gone awry. Then, get yourself a copy of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and you’ll start to see the problem. The story’s a little better, but not much. The message is more apropos, however.
1984 was about a government that would ban information and rule with a leather boot on your throat, whereas Brave New World was about a system that would slowly seep into our life like a drug. In other words, Orwell warned us about a dystopia that we wouldn’t be able to stop, Huxley warned us about a dystopia that we would beg not to stop. The US isn’t becoming Orwellian, it’s becoming Huxleyan.
Social credit systems are coming.
In 2013, China started its social credit system, coordinated by the Central Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission. What they’re planning to do by next year is to have a comprehensive credit system under one roof that will cover pretty much everything in the lives of its citizens. It’s already well on its way.
The Day America Died
Salvador Dali Hallucination. Six Images of Lenin on a Grand Piano 1931
47 years ago in American Pie, Don McLean talked about The Day The Music Died. Or of course the music didn’t really die, but at the same time it did. “The three mean I admired most, the father, son and the holy ghost, they caught the last train for the coast, the day the music died.”
Back then you could still have claimed the country merely lost its innocence. And you could have said the same in 1861 or 1914 or 1941. Today, not to take anything away from music, or the song, something much bigger died. America itself died, not just its music or innocence. America didn’t just lose its innocence, it pled guilty.
No doubt most of you would proclaim that’s a gross exaggeration, and an insane hyperbole, but you would all be wrong, sorry. There’s no way back this time.
America, the United States, with all its initial prejudice and lethal screw-ups, was founded as a place where people could direct their own lives without having to fear any other party, let alone a government, that would stand in their way while they did it. And a big part of not having to fear one’s government is not having to fear that government purposely lying to its citizens. The Founding Fathers, for all their faults, got that right. And today erases all of that in one fell swoop.
That is what died today. Or, you know, it may have died much earlier, and a thousand times before as well, but with the arrest in London of Julian Assange, an Australian citizen wanted by the US Deep State, a myriad of strands connecting, and connected to a bloated dying corpse came together. And now we know there is no salvation possible.
Orwellian Hate Crime Database to Be Set Up For Thought Criminals in Michigan
Only in a world where the novel 1984 has become the evening news can we get a state’s Attorney General working with the Department of Civil Rights to create a database for people committing “hate and bias incidents that don’t rise to the level of a crime or civil infraction.”
This “hate crimes unit” apparently comes on the advice of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which issued a report about a rise of extremism and hatred within the state of Michigan. This itself is more than ironic, since it was reported last year that the organization had to pay $3 million for falsely labeling the Quilliam Foundation as an example of “anti-Muslim extremism. ”
Nevertheless, the SPLC still seems to be the go-to group for databasing the speech of the public at large; they’ve previously been linked to Google, currently the largest such de facto database in existence.
Predictably, then, there has been pushback right out of the gate for those who have received the label of hate-monger from the SPLC and, by extension, the government of Michigan. As The Detroit Newsreports:
Church Militant/St. Michael’s Media in Ferndale is listed by the law center as an “anti-LGBT” hate group. The group’s editor-in-chief, Christine Niles, rejected the label and said, to her knowledge, the group’s presence on the list is a first.
“We’re not entirely sure what that means,” Niles said, noting that the group and its work is faithful to the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage being between a man and a woman. “We have a right to believe that without being called a hate group.”
Screw the Pooch
Jan van Eijk The Arnolfini portrait 1434
I first asked Dr. D. a few years ago if I could turn one one his comments at the Automatic Earth into an essay. The following illustrates why I asked. Not sure he understands why some of his rants stand out while others do not, but they certainly do. Go to the Automatic Earth comments section to figure that one out. He’s there every day.
And you’re free to disagree of course. And I myself am good, have an essay on the same topic waiting but love the view from over there. Nothing not to like.
It USED to be that when a newspaper catastrophically screwed the pooch as we Yanks say, people would cancel their subscription to such a piece of pure, useless, misleading garbage.
Dr. D.: Legally, the path is pretty clear and incredibly old. It’s always been illegal to slander (in voice) or libel (in print) someone. The Covington kids are following this right now. It’s illegal everywhere, including Britain and New Zealand, and the legal threshold has a couple of bullet points. There has to be provable damage, the facts provided have to wrong, they have to be specific, and so on. Then you sue civilly for compensation in measure with the damage caused. Pretty simple. But if it’s actual libel of the sort anyone actually means, not just “I disagree with you”, then all these elements are absolutely in play. No false accusations, no just getting the facts wrong on accident.
What’s more, the government is never the plaintiff. Although in theory I suppose they could get standing, in practice slander and libel are prosecuted BY private people AGAINST private people, which eliminates a major element of government censorship and repression.
Amazon Goes Full Orwellian
Bezos poised to become knower of all things, with strategic moves to collect info on individuals inside and out.
“We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it,” came a warning from George Orwell’s novel, 1984, that is rapidly, wickedly, becoming prophecy with new Amazon eye-in-the- sky technology and a dark and disturbing twist. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is poking that eye with a sharp stick.
And Jeff Bezos is not feeling the love.
In what appears to be Bezos’s latest strategic move in the quest to replace God as knower of all things is a hybrid monster of facial recognition software and a doorbell camera widget manufactured by Ring, a company that Amazon bought earlier this year.
In a gross assault on the right to privacy, a patent filed months ago essentially describes a product that captures information on people who as much as walk past a doorbell, sending real-time information to police databases. It also will allow customers the ability to upload to law enforcement photos of anyone they deem might be a sketchy individual.
What does a non-sketchy, normal person wear when ringing a doorbell?
Jacob Snow, a technology and civil liberties attorney for the ACLU, is fired up and fighting:
“It’s rare for patent applications to lay out, in such nightmarish detail, the world a company wants to bring about. Amazon is dreaming of a dangerous future … ”
Or perhaps Bezos dreams of ruling the world.
Biometrics Bastardization
But attaining an unlimited collection of facial snapshots is just the beginning. A deeper dive into the patent application reveals that Amazon is prepping to expand its unlimited munitions stash of photos with other biometrics. And what it plans to extract from unsuspecting folks will horrify freedom-loving Americans.
You Are Well Inside the Matrix
Berthe Morisot The old track to Auvers 1863 Our politicians and media are not going to allow us to see Russia, and any incidents the country can be linked to, in any other way than black and white, in which we are the good party and they are the black, evil and guilty ones. So we’ll have to do that ourselves.More than enough has been said about why NATO should have been dismantled when the reason for its existence, the Soviet Union, was dissolved, but nobody listened and NATO has kept expanding eastward and demanding more money, more members, more weapons.
NATO demands an enemy, and their chosen enemy is Russia. This has nothing to do with anything Russia has done or is doing at the moment. We can only hope that people are willing to accept that simple fact. And not passively go along with the flow of badmouthing and smear that decides what our picture of the country is.
Russia ‘invaded’ Crimea? Russia ‘downed’ MH17? Russia sent two hapless and inept blokes to kill the Skripals? Russia launched an unprovoked attack on three Ukrainian vessels in the Sea of Azov? Russia colluded with the Trump campaign against Hillary Clinton? And collaborated with Julian Assange to make that happen?
What all these allegations have in common is that there is no evidence any of them are true. Oh, and that nobody’s really trying to prove them anymore. Because you’ve already accepted them as gospel.
90% or so of Crimeans voted to be part of Russia, after the west had tried their hand at regime change in Kiev, with John McCain and Victoria Nuland opening the gates for various neo-nazi groups to enter government.
What Will Europe’s Internet Look Like After Passage Of Orwellian Directive?
Last month, members of the EU Parliament voted to advance a controversial copyright directive that contains provisions forcing tech giants to install content filters, while also setting in place a potential tax on hyperlinking.
The bill, known as Article 13, would filter everything anyone posts online and match it to a crowdsourced database of “copyrighted works” which anyone can add or change.
Good job, EU.
Once again, you have proven that your MEPs are old people who have not understood until today and who also boast of their “fight against unauthorized sharing” so that they leave like him:#uploadfilter #SaveTheInternet #uploadfilter
10:02 AM – Sep 12, 2018
Another portion of the directive, Article 11, is a “link tax” that would ban a quoting more than one word from an article which links to another publication – unless you are using a platform which has paid for a linking license. The link tax does however allow member states to create limitations and exceptions in order to protect online speech.
Now that the directive has passed through Parliament, the next step, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is the “trilogues,” which are closed-door meetings between European government officials, the European commission and the European Parliament – which will be the last time that the Directive’s language can be substantially changed without a second debate in Parliament.
That said, one woman is committed to shining light on the secret discussions:
Normally the trilogues are completely opaque. But Julia Reda, the German MEP who has led the principled opposition to Articles 11 and 13, has committed to publishing all of the negotiating documents from the Trilogues as they take place (Reda is relying on a recent European Court of Justice ruling that upheld the right of the public) to know what’s going on in the trilogues).
Empire of Lies: Are ‘We the People’ Useful Idiots in the Digital Age?
“Back in the heyday of the old Soviet Union, a phrase evolved to describe gullible western intellectuals who came to visit Russia and failed to notice the human and other costs of building a communist utopia. The phrase was “useful idiots” and it applied to a good many people who should have known better. I now propose a new, analogous term more appropriate for the age in which we live: useful hypocrites. That’s you and me, folks, and it’s how the masters of the digital universe see us. And they have pretty good reasons for seeing us that way. They hear us whingeing about privacy, security, surveillance, etc., but notice that despite our complaints and suspicions, we appear to do nothing about it. In other words, we say one thing and do another, which is as good a working definition of hypocrisy as one could hope for.”—John Naughton, The Guardian
“Who needs direct repression,” asked philosopher Slavoj Zizek, “when one can convince the chicken to walk freely into the slaughterhouse?”
In an Orwellian age where war equals peace, surveillance equals safety, and tolerance equals intolerance of uncomfortable truths and politically incorrect ideas, “we the people” have gotten very good at walking freely into the slaughterhouse, all the while convincing ourselves that the prison walls enclosing us within the American police state are there for our protection.
Call it doublespeak, call it hypocrisy, call it delusion, call it whatever you like, but the fact remains that while we claim to value freedom, privacy, individuality, equality, diversity, accountability, and government transparency, our actions and those of our government rulers contradict these much-vaunted principles at every turn.
For instance, we claim to disdain the jaded mindset of the Washington elite, and yet we continue to re-elect politicians who lie, cheat and steal.
OMG This This This This!
That’s right, I’m writing an entire goddamn article about a single tweet made by another political commentator. It probably won’t even be a long article, because the excellent Tim Black said it all. Call me lazy, I don’t care, this is the most interesting thing I’ve seen all day:
“Last night, one of my callers said we needed journalists and commentators willing to die for the truth,” Black tweeted. “I disagreed. We need journalists and commentators willing to give up their status, quit their jobs and make less money telling truth and sadly to most that’s the same as dying.”
There’s so much truth in that I just want to unpack it a bit and riff on its implications from my own perspective. What would happen if a significant percentage of journalists got fed up with spoon feeding lies to a trusting populace and decided to place truth and authenticity before income and prestige? Or, perhaps more realistically, what if people who are interested in reporting and political analysis ceased pursuing positions in the plutocrat-owned mass media and pursued alternate paths to getting the word out instead?
I contend that if enough people did either of the above, it would save the world. The omnicidal, ecocidal Orwellian power establishment that is oppressing us into heartlessness and driving our species towards extinction depends on deception and manipulation to manufacture support for depraved plutocratic agendas, so truth is poison to those agendas. The plutocrat-controlled media outlets advance that deception and manipulation, and honest alternative media outlets disrupt it. If enough talent began flooding into the latter instead of the former, it would become impossible to manufacture the consent of the governed for the deranged agendas which imperil our whole world. |
La chiesa di San Pietro da Verona in Santa Anastasia, meglio conosciuta come basilica di Santa Anastasia, è un importante luogo di culto cattolico che sorge nel cuore del centro storico di Verona; essa si situa nell'area terminale del decumano massimo della città d'epoca romana, in prossimità del punto in cui l'ampio meandro del fiume Adige è tagliato dal ponte Pietra, dove gravitano quindi quelle che furono le due principali vie di comunicazione cittadina, stradale e fluviale. Si tratta della più grande, solenne e rappresentativa chiesa veronese, riflesso di un vivace momento della vita cittadina, in cui l'allargamento e il consolidamento delle istituzioni politiche ed economiche consentirono alla comunità, in sinergia con la signoria scaligera, il clero domenicano e la famiglia Castelbarco, di prodigarsi in un notevole sforzo finanziario atto a edificare questo importante tempio, simbolo della loro potenza.
La chiesa costituì per Verona l'episodio gotico di maggiore portata, negli anni immediatamente successivi alla sua costruzione divenne quindi un punto di riferimento su cui si baseranno i progetti di diversi altri edifici chiesastici, in particolare per quanto riguarda alcune innovazioni che Santa Anastasia apportava alla pianta, con lo sviluppo di un ampio transetto e l'articolazione della zona absidale in quattro cappelle ai lati del presbiterio ove è collocato l'altare maggiore, alla struttura muraria completamente in laterizio e alla nuova tipologia di campanile. La facciata, a parte un maestoso portale biforo in stile gotico attraverso il quale si accede nel vasto spazio interno diviso in tre navate da monumentali pilastri cilindrici, si presenta incompiuta. Ai lati delle due navate laterali si aprono alcune cappelle e numerosi altari, di cui il più celebre è l'altare Fregoso realizzato da Danese Cattaneo, elogiato anche da Giorgio Vasari, inoltre si possono ammirare tele e affreschi di noti maestri della pittura veronese e no, quali Pisanello, Altichiero, Liberale da Verona, Stefano da Zevio, Nicolò Giolfino, Giovan Francesco Caroto, Felice Brusasorzi, Francesco Morone, Michele da Verona, Lorenzo Veneziano.
La genesi delle sue vicende edificatorie si può collocare al 1260 quando i frati domenicani che si trovavano fuori dalle mura cittadine ottennero dal vescovo di Verona Manfredo Roberti il terreno in cui realizzare la nuova chiesa e il nuovo convento. Data di inizio dei lavori nella grande fabbrica è il 1290, tuttavia il cantiere durò molto a lungo e si può dire che terminò solo negli anni quaranta del XV secolo, anche se le strutture fondamentali erano già pronte nel terzo decennio del secolo precedente. La basilica venne consacrata solennemente il 22 ottobre 1471 dal cardinale e vescovo di Verona Giovanni Michiel, tuttavia opere minori proseguirono per oltre due secoli non arrivando mai a completare il prospetto principale. Soppresso nel 1807 l'ordine domenicano, il tempio venne affidato al clero secolare mentre l'adiacente convento, oramai abbandonato, divenne più tardi sede del liceo ginnasio statale Scipione Maffei.
La basilica è, inoltre, sede di una parrocchia inserita nel vicariato di Verona Centro.
Origini del nome
La basilica di Santa Anastasia prende il nome da una chiesa ariana preesistente, di epoca gotica, dedicata da Teodorico ad Anastasia di Sirmio. La chiesa venne successivamente inglobata in un altro edificio ecclesiastico dedicato a san Remigio di Reims, di epoca franca.
In realtà la basilica attuale è intitolata al compatrono di Verona san Pietro, martire domenicano assassinato il 4 aprile 1252 non lontano da Monza. I veronesi l'hanno sempre chiamata col nome precedente e così è unanimemente conosciuta anche al di fuori dei confini cittadini, in ragione della preesistente chiesa.
Storia
Origini
Si ritiene che nel luogo in cui sorge l'attuale edificio religioso, in epoca longobarda fossero già presenti due chiese cristiane, edificate secondo la tradizione per volere del re ostrogoto Teodorico: una era dedicata a san Remigio di Reims e l'altra a santa Anastasia, martire delle persecuzione dei cristiani sotto Diocleziano, il cui culto si era diffuso partendo da Costantinopoli per giungere a Verona intorno all'VIII secolo. Il luogo prescelto si affacciava sull'antico decumano massimo della Verona romana, prolungamento cittadino della via Postumia. La più antica notizia riguardante questa prima edificazione è contenuta in un diploma datato 2 ottobre 890, emesso dal re d'Italia Berengario I, in cui si fa riferimento «ad ecclesiam Sanctae Anastasiae» a proposito della città di Verona. Dopo questa testimonianza non vi sono ulteriori documenti per un lungo periodo di tempo e una seconda menzione si trova solamente in un atto del 12 maggio 1082 relativo a una donazione in favore di Anastasio, «archipresbyter, custos et rector» della chiesa di Santa Anastasia, di una corte, torchio e terra vitata in Illasi, presso la chiesa di Santa Giustina. Un successivo decreto del 1087 elencava i numerosi possedimenti che la chiesa poteva vantare nel territorio veronese.
Le fonti dimostrano che la collegiata di religiosi che nel XII secolo qui officiavano era assai numerosa e importante, tanto che vi sono diversi documenti che parlano dei sacerdoti alla loro guida. Ad esempio un contratto informa che un certo Bonseniore ricopriva la carica di arciprete nel marzo del 1114, mentre pochi decenni più tardi papa Alessandro III emanava un decretale a Teobaldo e ai chierici di Santa Anastasia in Verona. Un testamento redatto il 27 giugno 1226 in cui un tale Ricerio, mugnaio, lasciava dieci soldi per le opere «ad porticalia Sancte Anastasie», lascia intendere come in quel tempo l'edificio fosse sottoposto a ristrutturazione. Nulla di relativo all'architettura di questo primo edificio trapela da queste antiche fonti, se non che era dotato di coro, che esternamente vi era una canonica e che era stato edificato un portico. Alcuni storici hanno suggerito che una porzione di muro della cappella del Crocifisso sia un vestigio dell'antico edificio, ma tale affermazione rimane tutt'oggi controversa.
Arrivo dei domenicani e inizio della fabbrica
L'arrivo dei frati domenicani a Verona è collocabile tra il 1220 e il 1221, quando officiavano presso la chiesa di Maria Mater Domini, edificio demolito nel 1517 che si trovava nei pressi della rondella della Baccola, poco fuori porta San Giorgio. La congregazione veronese, che godeva di un'ottima situazione economica frutto di donazioni, aveva edificato un convento così grande da ospitare nel 1244 il capitolo generale dell'ordine. La loro importanza fu tale che nel 1260 il vescovo di Verona Manfredo Roberti decise che essi avrebbero dovuto insediarsi in città per edificarvi il proprio convento e la propria chiesa da dedicare al proprio confratello san Pietro da Verona, martirizzato nel 1252 e canonizzato da papa Innocenzo IV. Per lo scopo, un terzo delle millecinquecento lire veronesi ricavate dalla vendita di Maria Mater Domini alle monache di San Cassiano venne impiegato per acquistare i terreni intorno all'antica Santa Anastasia e finanziare i primi lavori di edificazione.
Nonostante un documento del 20 marzo 1280, in cui si legge «in domo ecclesie sancte Anasasie», mostri come i domenicani fossero già impegnati nel nuovo progetto, passarono comunque circa trent'anni dall'abbandono di Maria Mater Domini perché il cantiere vero e proprio potesse avere inizio. Tuttavia è probabile che, seppure la fabbrica della basilica non fosse ancora partita, nel frattempo fossero invece iniziati i cantieri di edificazione del monastero, che nel corso degli anni ottanta assunse un carattere sostanzialmente definitivo, modificato solo da alcune trasformazioni occorse tra il XIV secolo e la prima metà del XV secolo. Il complesso si dotò così di quattro chiostri, di cui il maggiore veniva chiamato anche "chiostro dei morti" per la peculiare destinazione d'uso, e di diversi ambienti di servizio, tra i quali i dormitori, il refettorio, lo studium con relativa biblioteca e il capitolo principale.
Nel 1290 si colloca l'inizio del grande cantiere per la nuova e odierna basilica, in un periodo che coincise con l'abbandono generalizzato della tradizionale architettura romanica in favore di quella gotica; fu proprio questo lo stile con cui venne progettato l'edificio. Con un diploma del vescovo Pietro I della Scala datato 2 aprile 1292, i domenicani ricevettero in dono un terreno affinché fosse possibile allargare la strada di accesso alla chiesa e liberarne la vista. Nei primi anni i lavori nella fabbrica proseguirono alacremente, sostenuti dalle numerose donazioni e lasciti testamentari, in particolare di quelli degli appartenenti alla famiglia dei Della Scala, come Alberto I, che lasciò mille lire veronesi, Cangrande II e Cansignorio. A ricordo di queste elargizioni, l'arma degli scaligeri venne dipinta ai due lati dell'arco trionfale ogivale che dà accesso all'abside che ospita l'altare maggiore.
Un fervido mecenate dell'impresa edificatoria è da molti ritenuto Guglielmo da Castelbarco, amico di Cangrande I, tanto che nel suo testamento dettato a Lizzana il 13 agosto 1319 ordinò che qui dovessero essere deposte le sue spoglie, disponendo inoltre che venissero spese per la realizzazione mille lire veronesi. Alla sinistra dell'attuale chiesa, sopra il portico che un tempo conduceva nel monastero, è ancora presente il suo sarcofago, probabile opera del lapicida Rigino di Enrico. L'analisi dei materiali dell'edificio permette di supporre che alla morte di Castelbarco, avvenuta nel 1320, fossero state ultimate le absidi, l'altare maggiore, il transetto, i muri perimetrali almeno fino a metà altezza di quella definitiva, e la parte inferiore della facciata.
Nulla di preciso si conosce circa l'identità dell'architetto che ideò la costruzione. Alcuni studiosi hanno proposto lo stesso Castelbarco come colui che concepì la struttura dell'opera, tuttavia studi più accurati e comparativi con altri edifici hanno rilevato dei parallelismi con la chiesa di San Lorenzo di Vicenza e con la chiesa di San Nicolò di Treviso che hanno fatto supporre lo stesso autore. Scartando quella che lo identifica proprio in Guglielmo da Castelbarco, diverse ipotesi sono state fatte relative al nome dell'architetto: la più accreditata, sostenuta anche da Carlo Cipolla, è quella che attribuisce il progetto a due monaci dell'ordine domenicano, fra Benvenuto da Bologna e fra Nicola da Imola, autori di altri edifici che presentano molti elementi in comune con l'impianto di Santa Anastasia, tuttavia non si riscontrano documenti in merito.
Nella seconda metà del XIV secolo il declino della signoria scaligera si ripercosse negativamente sui lavori di costruzione causando un rallentamento sostanzioso, in parte mitigato dalle continue donazioni di privati che permisero comunque di ultimare le strutture entro la fine del secolo. Ritrovata a Verona la serenità politica grazie alla dedizione a Venezia, i lavori poterono proseguire più speditamente: il cantiere beneficiò di una bolla papale in cui venne concessa l'indulgenza a chiunque fornisse il proprio contributo al mantenimento della fabbrica, inoltre il podestà e il capitano del popolo ottennero dal Senato veneziano una riduzione sulle tasse relative alla costruzione. Dai documenti risulta che nel 1428 i lavori relativi alla copertura della chiesa si trovavano a buon punto anche se risultava ancora parzialmente scoperta e si iniziava a valutare la costruzione della facciata, che si pensava di realizzare in pietra viva. Il 12 agosto dell'anno successivo, una nuova bolla papale impose che a Santa Anastasia venisse sostituita la congregazione dei domenicani Conventuali con quelli Riformati. Nel 1462 Pietro da Porlezza, cugino dell'architetto Michele Sanmicheli, iniziò a dirigere la lastricatura del pavimento.
Dalla consacrazione ad oggi
La basilica venne consacrata solennemente il 22 ottobre 1471 dal cardinale e vescovo di Verona Giovanni Michiel anche se il cantiere continuò a essere aperto per oltre due secoli, durante i quali vennero aggiunte le cappelle laterali ma non si arrivò mai a completare la facciata. Tra il 1491 e il 1493 il maestro Lorenzo da Santa Cecilia realizzò le sedie del nuovo coro mentre nel 1498 vennero posate le vetrate del rosone centrale della facciata e dei finestroni laterali. Tra il 1509 e il 1517 Verona, a seguito degli sconvolgimenti susseguenti alla guerra della lega di Cambrai, passò sotto il controllo del Sacro Romano Impero e proprio in Santa Anastasia si tenne la cerimonia di sottomissione all'imperatore Massimiliano I d'Asburgo. Tornata la città sotto il dominio della Serenissima, nel 1522 vennero posate le cornici della formelle che adornano le lesene della porta maggiore, nel 1533 venne lastricata la piazza antistante e in occasione della Pasqua del 1591 venne collocato un telamone, realizzato da Paolo Orefice, a sostegno dell'acquasantiera.
Una lapide collocata nell'annesso convento ricorda la visita di papa Pio VI che, di ritorno da Vienna dove aveva incontrato l'imperatore Giuseppe II, soggiornò a Verona la sera dell'11 maggio 1782 per ripartire poi la mattina del 13. Essendo quel giorno assente il vescovo veronese Giovanni Morosini, il papa venne ospitato nel convento dei domenicani e, prima di ripartire alla volta di Roma, ascoltò la messa in Santa Anastasia.
Il 19 marzo 1807, per volere di Napoleone, l'ordine dei domenicani venne soppresso mettendo così fine alla loro presenza in Santa Anastasia, in cui officiavano da quasi cinque secoli. Affidata successivamente al clero diocesano, divenne parrocchia con il beneficio di Santa Maria in Chiavica. Simile sorte toccò anche all'adiacente monastero che, dopo la sua definitiva chiusura, divenne la sede del liceo ginnasio statale Scipione Maffei. Tra il 1878 e il 1881 l'edificio venne sottoposto a un intenso ciclo di lavori di restauro durante i quali venne consolidato il campanile, vennero sostituiti alcuni marmi del portone principale e riparati gli altari delle cappelle. Si procedette anche al restauro di alcune tele con esiti non sempre felici. Nel 1967 un nuovo intervento di restauro, durato per tutti gli anni settanta, portò a risultati ben più soddisfacenti, mentre nel 1981 il restauro toccò gli affreschi della cappella Lavagnoli. Infine, nel 2010 è stato portato a termine un nuovo vasto intervento di restauro che ha coinvolto l'intera basilica e che è da annoverarsi tra i più importanti interventi mai effettuati su un monumento veronese.
Descrizione
Esterno
L'esterno del tempio rappresenta un bell'esempio di architettura gotica veronese con anticipi rinascimentali. La facciata, incompleta, è caratterizzata da vari elementi tra cui spiccano un ampio portone incorniciato in un arco a sesto acuto marmoreo, un rosone centrale e due bifore all'altezza delle navate. Ai lati estremi due contrafforti che si innalzano oltre la linea di gronda e che si ripetono, fino al transetto, su entrambe le fiancate, dove sono sormontati da pinnacoli esagonali che hanno la funzione di scaricare le spinte delle volte.
I prospetti laterali sono articolati in altezza in due registri architettonici corrispondenti alla parete della navata laterale (il registro inferiore) e alla parte emergente della navata centrale (quello superiore): il settore inferiore, oltre che dal contrafforte con pinnacolo appena descritto, è caratterizzato dai volumi emergenti delle cappelle e da alte finestre bifore, in parte chiuse; nel settore superiore, invece, si aprono una serie di occhi che permettono alla luce di penetrare nella navata centrale. Sulla facciata del transetto di destra si apre un'alta trifora e più in alto un grande rosone gotico polilobato. Nei corpi absidali emergenti, sempre contraddistinti da poderosi contrafforti, si aprono invece finestrature ogivali strombate.
La linea di gronda è abbellita da archetti pensili ogivali da cui parte la copertura dell'edificio, realizzata a due falde quella che copre navata centrale, transetto e presbiterio, e a falda unica quelle che coprono le navate minori, mentre l'abside centrale è coperta da un tetto a padiglione a cinque falde.
A sinistra, guardando la facciata, si trova l'interessante arca sepolcrale dove giace Guglielmo da Castelbarco, posta sopra un arco di passaggio verso un cortile interno (dell'attuale conservatorio musicale). Si tratta del primo esempio di arca monumentale detta "a baldacchino" che pochi anni dopo avrebbe ispirato e avuto seguito nelle splendide arche scaligere, dove hanno sepoltura i Della Scala, principi della Verona due e trecentesca. Oltre l'arco, vi sono ulteriori tre arche alto medioevali di pregevole fattura. Sempre sulla sinistra, adiacente a piazza Santa Anastasia, vi è la chiesa di San Pietro Martire, utilizzata dai domenicani durante la costruzione di Santa Anastasia e attualmente sconsacrata.
Facciata
La chiesa domenicana ha una struttura analoga alla veneziana basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, appartenente allo stesso ordine e costruita quasi in contemporanea. La facciata a salienti, incompiuta e prevalentemente in laterizio, è divisa in tre fasce corrispondenti alle navate interne. La fascia centrale è caratterizzata nella parte alta da un semplice rosone, anch'esso non terminato, con un settore circolare esterno e la parte interna divisa in sei sezioni tramite un corrente orizzontale e due montanti verticali.
Il portale biforo, di datazione riferibile alla prima metà del XV secolo, appartiene stilisticamente alla prima architettura rinascimentale con ancora forti reminiscenze gotiche. La parte inferiore è occupata dal portone diviso in due sezioni sovrastate da due archi ogivali, il tutto incorniciato dal portale gotico, strombato tramite una serie di cinque archi a sesto acuto sovrapposti. Gli archi sono sostenuti da cinque colonne ornamentali alte e leggere realizzate con marmi rossi, bianchi e neri, gli stessi colori che si trovano anche nel pavimento interno.
La lunetta principale ha al suo interno la rappresentazione della Santissima Trinità con ai lati le figure di san Giuseppe e della Madonna. Il Padre è assiso su una cattedra di stile gotico con il Crocifisso fra le sue ginocchia e il Cristo a fianco con la colomba su di sé. Completa la figura una coppia di angeli sovrastanti la Trinità. Nelle due lunette minori sono presenti il Vescovo alla guida del popolo veronese con lo stendardo della città e nell'altra San Pietro martire alla guida dei frati con lo stendardo bianconero dei domenicani. Tutti e due i gruppi sono incamminati all'adorazione della Trinità. Questi affreschi appaiono oggi in gran parte perduti, nonostante un ritocco dall'esito non troppo felice in occasione del restauro del 1881. Lo storico dell'arte Adolfo Venturi ha riconosciuto in questi dipinti l'influsso della scuola di Stefano da Zevio attribuendoli dunque a qualche suo allievo.
Gli archi minori poggiano sull'architrave del portale decorato a bassorilievo da sei rappresentazioni in ordine cronologico della vita di Cristo: lAnnunciazione, la Nascita di Gesù, lAdorazione dei Magi, la via verso il Calvario, la Crocifissione e la Resurrezione. Ai due fianchi dell'architrave sono poste due statue, in quella di sinistra si riconosce santa Anastasia mentre in quella di destra santa Caterina della Ruota. Al centro dell'architrave, invece, sopra l'elegante colonnina che divide le due porte e poggiata su una mensola, vi è posta una statua, di dimensioni maggiori rispetto alle due laterali, in cui è rappresentata la Vergine con il Bambino, di scuola veneziana. La colonna divisoria ha tre altorilievi sulla fronte e sui due lati. Di fronte San Domenico con la stella sotto i suoi piedi, a sinistra San Pietro Martire nell'atto di predicare alla folla con il sole sottostante e a destra San Tommaso che sovrasta la luna, con in mano il libro dei dottori della chiesa, mentre istruisce un giovane monaco.
È stata avanza l'ipotesi che il complesso del portale potrebbe essere stato realizzato, come si suppone per il pavimento, da Pietro da Porlezza a partire dal 1462. A supporto di ciò, Alessandro Da Lisca ha osservato che l'opera marmorea si lega con l'ambiente interno tanto da formare un'unica opera, come il corpo avanzato, in cotto, che a sua volta è legato indissolubilmente col muro stesso della chiesa. Sicché il muro, il corpo avanzato e il portale marmoreo sarebbero tutti lavori effettuati nel corso del XV secolo.
A discapito di quello che doveva essere il progetto iniziale, solo due formelle in marmo sono collocate sulla facciata e più precisamente sulla lesena alla destra del portale, dove sono rappresentante nella prima la predica di san Pietro Martire e nella seconda il suo martirio. Dei quattro pilastri solo i primi tre, da sinistra, presentano ciascuno due iscrizioni. La prima, la quarta e la sesta scritta si riferiscono ai miracoli operati dal santo mentre la quinta al martirio, per cui le formelle effettivamente eseguite corrispondono alla quinta e alla sesta iscrizione. Queste formelle con le relative cornici, attribuibili sempre al XV secolo o all'inizio del successivo, avrebbero dovuto costituire una grande intelaiatura che avrebbe mantenuto intatto il portale già esistente.
Infine, ai lati della capanna centrale, due fasce caratterizzate dalle lunghe bifore vetrate che percorrono tutta la partizione muraria, chiuse verso l'esterno da due contrafforti.
Campanile
In prossimità del braccio sinistro del transetto, sulla punta della prima cappella absidale di sinistra, si eleva l'imponente torre campanaria, della cui storia si hanno poche notizie. Alta 72 metri e divisa in sei ordini da marcapiani in pietra bianca, la torre in stile gotico presenta un fusto lesenato in laterizio, con ripetizione di decorazioni ad archetti pensili. Il fusto del campanile termina con una cella campanaria in cui si aprono quattro trifore strombate con arco a tutto sesto, una per ogni lato, suddivise da colonne con fusto, piedistallo e capitello di ordine tuscanico. Sopra di essa corre una balaustra costituita da piccole colonnine in pietra bianca di elegante fattura. Da qui si innalza, a sua volta, una guglia conica realizzata in cotto, solcata da snelli costoloni in pietra bianca. Lo stile della struttura permette di collocarla intorno al XV secolo, ma è possibile che sia stata iniziata anche prima, in contemporanea all'abside. Si è a conoscenza dell'esistenza di un documento, oggi andato perduto, rogato il 15 gennaio 1433 dal notaio Antonio de Cavagion (l'odierno Cavaion Veronese) con il quale i padri domenicani vendettero per 50 ducati una casa impiegandone il ricavato «nella fabbrica del campanile». Su tre piccole pietre incastonate ai lati del campanile vi è scolpita, con caratteri del XV secolo, la seguente iscrizione: «CHRISTUS REX | VENIT IN | PACE DEUS | ET HOMO | FATUS EST». Secondo lo storico Ignazio Pellegrini, sembra che nel 1555 un fulmine abbia colpito la torre campanaria per cui si dovette procedere a un restauro. Un simile evento accadde anche il secolo successivo, nel 1661, costringendo i domenicani ad accettare duecento ducati, provenienti da un'affrancazione, per riparare il danno.
Le prime cinque campane, poste in opera dal 1460, erano in accordo di Mi♭ minore e vennero rifuse più volte nel corso dei secoli. L'attuale concerto venne fuso il 12 agosto 1839 dalla famiglia Cavadini «che aveva i suoi forni alla Bernarda, in contrà de S. Nazar» ed è intonato in DO#. Anch'esso era composto da cinque bronzi il cui peso superava i 45 quintali (15,61 - 10,89 - 7,85 - 6,41 e 4,52 quintali), che vennero collaudati il 2 settembre dello stesso mese e consacrate dal vescovo Giuseppe Grasser il giorno seguente. Sempre la ditta Cavadini si occupò di realizzare un'ulteriore campana, detta "sestina" del peso di circa 3,13 quintali, che venne aggiunta il 31 maggio 1840, a cui furono aggiunte nel 1923 ulteriori tre bronzi (2,43 - 2,07 e 1,42 quintali) provenienti dalla chiesa di Santa Maria in Chiavica, portando così il complesso a un totale di nove. La scuola campanaria di Santa Anastasia, fondata nel 1776, è stata la principale esponente dell'arte del suono dei concerti di campane alla veronese e a essa sono legati i nomi dei maestri Pietro Sancassani e Mario Carregari.
Interno
L'interno della chiesa, ricco di opere d'arte, è suddiviso in tre navate coperte con volte a crociera. Le navate sono separate da due serie di sei colonne cilindriche in marmo bianco e marmo rosso veronese, con capitelli gotici. Le due coppie di colonne oltre l'altare maggiore recano lo stemma dei Castelbarco di Avio, con il loro leone rampante: la famiglia trentina fu una delle più generose per la costruzione dell'edificio, in particolare Guglielmo di Castelbarco, già podestà di Verona, volle legarsi alla basilica costruendo la precedentemente citata arca funeraria lato della piazza Santa Anastasia, precorritrice delle arche scaligere.
La pianta è organizzata a croce latina presentando dunque, prima del presbiterio, un transetto di ampie dimensioni. La grande zona absidale a sua volta è articolata in cinque absidi separati da lesene gotiche intonacate e affrescate che terminano con capitelli. L'abside centrale accoglie il presbiterio e l'altare maggiore, mentre quelle ai suoi lati ospitano delle cappelle gentilizie, da destra a sinistra quelle delle famiglie Cavalli, Pellegrini, Lavagnoli e Salerni. Le pareti del braccio longitudinale della basilica sono in gran parte dipinte con affreschi e arricchite da altari, cappelle e monumenti funebri di illustri cittadini veronesi. Appena entrati, sul muro a destra dell'ingresso principale è incastonato un busto di Bartolomeo Lorenzi, poeta veronese, collocato per volere di Ippolito Pindemonte, Marcantonio Miniscalchi, Silvia Curtoni Verza e Beatrice d'Este. L'interno riceve la luce solare da grandi finestroni e da un rosone, posto sopra il portale.
Il pavimento è ancora quello originario, che si suppone sia stato realizzato sotto la direzione di Pietro da Porlezza nel 1462. È costituito da marmi di tre colori: il bianco d'Istria e la basanite nera che ricordano la veste dei frati domenicani, e il rosso che ricorda che la chiesa è dedicata a san Pietro da Verona martire. Le parti maggiormente elaborate si trovano nella navata centrale e nel transetto, e proprio nel mezzo di quest'ultimo è rappresentato un rosone con al centro lo scudo raggiato bianco e nero, simbolo dell'ordine. Né le antiche cappelle né la sacrestia presentano traccia dell'antico pavimento. Sempre al da Porlezza è tradizionalmente attribuita l'acquasantiera in marmo rosso veronese posta vicino all'entrata secondaria.
Due elementi distintivi dell'interno sono le acquasantiere situate a fianco delle prime colonne, sostenute da statue di due gobbi baffuti, il primo con le mani posate sulle ginocchia e il secondo con una mano appoggiata sulla testa, in una posa che esprime preoccupazione. Il gobbo a sinistra, posto nel 1491, è attribuito a Gabriele Caliari, padre di Paolo detto il Veronese, il secondo (chiamato anche Pasquino perché entrò in basilica la domenica di Pasqua del 1591) è ritenuto da molti opera di Paolo Orefice è realizzato in marmo rosso di Verona.
Nella quinta campata della navata laterale di sinistra si trova l'organo a canne realizzato nel 1625 in stile barocco, con parapetto e colonne dorate. La parte meccanica venne costruita dal ferrarese Giovanni Cipria mentre quella lignea è opera di Andrea Cudellino. Domenico Farinati nel 1937 lo restaurò riutilizzando la cassa e la cantoria del XVI secolo, mentre nel 1967 venne revisionato ed elettrificato dall'Organaria di Padova. Lo strumento è a trasmissione pneumatico-tubolare e dispone di due manuali a 61 note e una pedaliera concavo-radiale di 32 note; ha 30 registri reali e due meccanici e pedale.
Area absidale
L'area oltre il transetto è suddivisa in cinque absidi dove hanno trovato posto quattro cappelle e, in quella centrale, il presbiterio con l'altare maggiore. Di seguito sono descritte da destra a sinistra.
Cappella Cavalli (8)
Posta all'estrema destra dell'area absidale, la cappella Cavalli è dedicata a san Girolamo, ma anticamente intitolata a san Geminiano. La sua prima menzione risale a un documento relativo a una donazione fatta da Giacomo, Nicolò e Pietro, nobili appartenenti alla famiglia Cavalli, nel 1375. A destra si può ammirare l'Adorazione, unica opera certa di Altichiero a Verona, che forse lo eseguì dopo il ritorno da Padova, poco prima del 1390, anche se alcuni studiosi lo datano al 1369 in base a un documento ritrovato negli archivi veronesi. Nel dipinto, un antico omaggio feudale, i nobili cavalieri s'inginocchiano davanti al trono della Vergine posto in un tempio gotico. Le arcate dipinte presentano sulla chiave di volta lo stemma nobiliare della famiglia Cavalli. Sotto l'affresco è posta la tomba di Federico Cavalli, realizzata in marmo rosso veronese e arricchito da una lunetta in cui è contenuta un'opera di Stefano da Zevio risalente alla prima metà del XV secolo. Sul listello della cassa marmorea corre un'iscrizione che si ripartisce sulle tra facce esposte, di seguito riportata: «S. NOBILIS 7 EGREGII VIRI FEDERICI . 9 EGRE | GII VIRI DNI NICOLAI DE CAVALIS SVORVMQ . HEREDVM QVI SPIRITVM REDIDIT ASTRIS - ANO DNI M . CCC. LXXXX | VII MENSIS SEENBRIS».
Le pareti sono decorate anche da altri affreschi: Vergine con Gesù bambino, San Cristoforo, e il più pregevole, Miracolo di San Eligio di Noyon, tutti e tre attribuiti a Martino da Verona, pittore scomparso nel 1412. A sinistra compare l'affresco con il Battesimo di Gesù, attribuito a Jacopino di Francesco, pittore bolognese della prima metà del XIV secolo, considerato uno dei padri della pittura padana. L'altare è abbellito da una pala dipinta da Liberale da Verona, inserita in una cornice ricca di intagli e dorature.
Cappella Pellegrini (9)
La cappella Pellegrini, situata a destra della zona absidale, fu di proprietà dell'omonima famiglia, un'importante casata veronese che si nobilitò sotto la dinastia dei Della Scala. La cappella è celebre soprattutto perché contiene quello che è considerato il capolavoro di Pisanello, il San Giorgio e la principessa, affrescato tra il 1433 e il 1438 sulla parete esterna sopra l'arco di accesso. Il pittore di gusto tardo-gotico, operante nella società delle corti, ha evocato in questa sua opera un mondo favoloso e cavalleresco, utilizzando un tratto nitido ed elegante. Notevoli sono anche le 24 formelle di terracotta a rilievo, opera di Michele da Firenze e risalenti al 1435, in cui sono raffigurate diversi soggetti, tra cui scene della Vita di Cristo, figure di santi e del committente Andrea Pellegrini.
All'interno, appoggiato al muro di sinistra della cappella, vi è un sarcofago in marmo decorato con le insegne gentilizie della famiglia Pellegrini, adorno di sculture, in cui è sepolto Tommaso Pellegrini, che godette di particolare favore presso la corte scaligera. Sul listello superiore vi è, disposta su un'unica linea, un'iscrizione in cui si legge: «SEPVLCRUM NOBILIS VIRI. D. TOMAXII DE PEREGRINIS ET SVORVM HEREDVM QVI OBIT XVI IVNII MCCCLXXXXII». Il progetto architettonico si deve ad Antonio da Mestre mentre alcuni affreschi, raffiguranti in particolare il Pellegrini inginocchiato davanti alla Vergine con il Bambino e vari Santi, sono attribuiti a Martino da Verona. Sempre sul lato sinistro si nota il monumento sepolcrale a Guglielmo di Bibra, ambasciatore tedesco di Federico III d'Asburgo presso il papa Innocenzo VIII, morto a Verona nel 1490 mentre faceva ritorno a casa dopo una missione diplomatica a Roma.
Presbiterio (10)
Il presbiterio è rialzato di alcuni gradini rispetto al resto della basilica e occupa interamente l'area dell'abside maggiore, preceduta da una campata a pianta quadrata coperta con una volta a crociera; sulla parete di destra vi è il Giudizio Universale realizzato nel 1492 e attribuito, con non pochi dubbi, a Turone di Maxio, mentre su quella di sinistra si trova il monumento a Cortesia Serego, condottiero ai tempi degli scaligeri. L'altare maggiore, intitolato a san Pietro martire, è in marmo giallo chiaro ed è stato realizzato e consacrato nel 1952; precedentemente era costituito da una pietra rossa che poi venne collocata alla base dell'altare moderno. Al centro della mensa si trova un semplice tabernacolo in marmo, posto il 22 marzo 1529 grazie ad Alessandro dal Monte che si sobbarcò le spese. Sopra di esso vi è un grande crocifisso ligneo dipinto.
L'abside è poligonale ed è illuminata da cinque alte monofore ad arco, chiuse da vetrate policrome risalenti al 1935, in cui sono raffigurati, da sinistra, San Tommaso, Santa Caterina da Siena, San Pietro martire, Santa Rosa da Lima e San Domenico di Guzmán. La monofora centrale venne temporaneamente chiusa poiché sopra di essa fu collocata una pala d'altare, non più presente, rappresentate il santo titolare. Sull'arco trionfale si trova lo stemma della famiglia dei Della Scala, che contribuirono sostanziosamente al finanziamento per la costruzione dell'abside.
Monumento a Cortesia Serego
Sul lato sinistro del presbiterio, interessante opera per la commistione fra scultura e pittura, si trova il monumento a Cortesia Serego. Il cenotafio è costituito da un nucleo centrale in cui spicca la figura di Cortesia a cavallo con l'armatura e che tiene in mano il bastone del comando. Cavallo e cavaliere sono posti sopra il sarcofago scandito da sette nicchie, cinque nella parte frontale e due laterali, e il tutto inserito all'interno di una pesante tenda lapidea scostata da due soldati. Sopra la tenda si legge l'arma della casata Serego e la figura dell'Arcangelo Gabriele.
Il monumento emerge da una specchiatura delimitata da un tralcio fiorito e risulta ben integrato con le altre raffigurazioni inserite all'interno del grande fregio in toni di grigio che incornicia la scena, quest'ultimo caratterizzato dalla presenza di stemmi gentilizi e da teste di imperatori romani; tra le rappresentazioni appena citate vi è, al centro di un elaborato ambiente urbano, unAnnunciazione inserita in una mandorla ove trova spazio il Padre Eterno avvolto da una nube di angeli, mentre in basso si trovano i due santi domenicani Pietro martire e Domenico sovrastati da due angeli recanti i loro simboli. Lo zoccolo del monumento rappresenta un velario affrescato che ricorda un arazzo millefiori.
La commissione di quest'opera si deve al figlio di Cortesia Serego, Cortesia il giovane, che nel 1424 stilò un testamento nel quale chiedeva di essere sepolto e ricordato con un monumento in Santa Anastasia anche se già nel 1429, in un nuovo documento, scrisse che il monumento eretto sarebbe stato a ricordo del suo onesto padre. Probabilmente esso fu scolpito da un toscano che da anni si era spostato in Veneto: Pietro di Niccolò Lamberti, tuttavia alcuni autori attribuiscono la sua esecuzione a Nanni di Bartolo. La parte affrescata, invece, potrebbe essere di Michele Giambono, artista veneziano.
Cappella Lavagnoli (11)
La cappella è dedicata a sant'Anna, anche se fino al XV secolo il titolare era san Giovanni Evangelista. Le prime notizie risalgono a un testamento del 19 gennaio 1480, dove un canonico disponeva di essere qui sepolto. All'interno, appoggiato sulla parete di destra, vi è un elegante sarcofago in cui riposano le spoglie di Angelo e Marsilio Lavagnoli, adornato ai lati da due graziosi bambini che sostengono le insegne gentilizie della famiglia Lavagnoli, che aveva acquisito la proprietà della cappella nel 1480. Sul sarcofago vi è scolpita, in caratteri romani, un'iscrizione che dice: «ANGELO, LAVANEOLO, AVO, MARSILIOQ. / PATRI. EX. VTRIVSQ. TESTAMENTO / ANGELVS, ET IOANNES FRES. LAVA. / F. C. M. D. LXXX». Originariamente la cappella era dotata di un altare barocco, ora scomparso, oltre che della pala d'altare di Francesco Fabi, spostata nella cappella Giusti.
Il vasto intervento di restauro del complesso effettuato tra il 1879 e il 1881 riguardò anche questa cappella: fu proprio in tale occasione che venne rimosso l'altare barocco che ingombrava il centro della cappella, ma vennero pure riaperti gli antichi finestroni, così che la luce potesse nuovamente illuminare gli spazi interni. Il restauro permise, inoltre, di riscoprire alcuni affreschi che adornavano le pareti laterali: quelli di destra andarono quasi interamente distrutti per permettere la realizzazione del monumento sepolcrale dei Lavagnoli, mentre quelli di sinistra furono conservati. Si tratta di un ciclo di affreschi voluti per celebrare il potere della famiglia e raffigurano episodi della Vita di San Giovanni evangelista intervallati al centro della parete sinistra da una Crocifissione e da un San Giacomo benedicente e apoteosi della famiglia Lavagnoli. Questi ultimi sono opera di un giovane Gian Maria Falconetto (che probabilmente si autoritrasse), mentre il resto del ciclo è di autore ignoto, anche se la chiara origine mantegnesca delle pitture ha permesso di suggerire la mano di Francesco Benaglio o quella di Michele da Verona.
Cappella Salerni (12)
La cappella fu indicata come suo luogo di sepoltura nel testamento che Giovanni Salerni, esponente di una facoltosa famiglia veronese, redasse il 25 ottobre 1387. Già suo padre Dolcetto aveva disposto di essere sepolto penes ecclesiam Sancte Anestaxie. Successivamente la cappella passò all'Arte dei Molinari e dei Mugnai per poi ricadere in proprietà del convento domenicano. Sulla sinistra vi è posto un monumento sepolcrale realizzato in stile riferibile alla fine del XIV secolo, in cui riposano le spoglie di Giovanni Salerni, come si apprende dall'epigramma sepolcrale, capostipite del ramo veronese della famiglia e giunto in città dopo essere stato cacciato da Pistoia. Sul vertice dell'arco a sesto acuto vi è scolpita l'arma gentilizia dei Salerni sormontata dall'elmo.
La cappella conserva una serie di affreschi eseguiti fra la fine del XIV secolo e la prima metà del successivo. A sinistra si possono osservare i dipinti votivi realizzati da Stefano da Zevio, mentre a destra ve ne sono altri attribuiti a Bonaventura Boninsegna, discepolo di Giotto, tra cui Vergine tra i Santi. In fondo sulla destra si trova un altro affresco votivo opera di Giovanni Badile, ovvero il San Giacomo presenta alla Vergine un membro della famiglia Maffei. Anche questa cappella fu oggetto di importanti restauri nel corso dell'intervento ottocentesco, quando vennero ripristinate le antiche finestre e restaurate le pitture parietali, pulendole e liberandole dall'intonaco che le celava.
Navata di destra
Di seguito sono elencati gli altari e le cappelle che si trovano sulla navata di destra, procedendo dall'entrata verso la zona absidale.
Altare Fregoso (1)
Il primo altare che si incontra sulla parete di destra del piedicroce è l'altare Fregoso. Realizzato nel 1565, sorge ove inizialmente vi era la cappella di Santa Croce, prima collocazione della tomba di Giansello da Folgaria. Il celebre altare, dedicato al Redentore (dunque conosciuto anche come "altare del Redentore"), edificato in memoria del capitano della milizia veneta, il genovese Giano II Fregoso, morto nel 1525, fu commissionato dal figlio Ercole allo scultore carrarese Danese Cattaneo, un discepolo del Sansovino. Alcuni studiosi hanno proposto che il disegno e le sagome del manufatto furono forniti da Andrea Palladio, amico di Cattaneo, tuttavia il dibattito in proposito non ha raggiunto una soluzione condivisa unanimemente. L'altare fu celebrato anche da Giorgio Vasari nella sua opera più nota, Le Vite. Egli fornisce anche una particolareggiata descrizione dell'altare, soffermandosi sull'arma gentilizia della famiglia, posta sul fastigio, contrassegnata dal motto «potius mori quam scedari» e adornata da due putti.
La configurazione dell'altare ricorda quella di un arco trionfale con quattro colonne libere di ordine corinzio. Tra le due colonne di sinistra vi è una statua che raffigura proprio il condottiero, mentre sulla destra ve n'è un'altra rappresentante la Virtù militare. La statua centrale, posta in un'edicola, rappresenta invece il Cristo redentore e sullo zoccolo è scolpita un'iscrizione che attesta la paternità dell'opera a Danese Cattaneo: «ABSOLVTVM OPVS AN DO M D LXV DANESIO CATANEO CARRARIENSI SCVLPTORE ET ARCHITECTO». Più in alto, sopra la trabeazione, altre due statue dai soggetti allegorici: Fama ed Eternità. Davanti all'altare fu scavata la tomba della famiglia sormontata da una pietra di forma ovale, dove venne incisa in una sola linea la seguente epigrafe: «HERCVLES FREGOSIVS IN QVO SVA POSTERORVMQ HVMANARENTVR OSSA M. P. C.» Sul muro vi è infissa un'erma posta alla memoria dell'abate Bartolomeo Lorenzi.
Cappella Manzini (2)
L'altare è dedicato a Vincenzo Ferreri, uno dei maggiori santi domenicani e per questo motivo conosciuta anche con il nome di "altare Ferreri". La sua edificazione si deve a Gian Nicola del fu Bartolomeo "da Manzinis" che la ordinò nel suo testamento, datato 15 ottobre 1482, nel quale stabilì anche la realizzazione del suo sepolcro a cui assegnò una dote annua di 25 lire. La pala d'altare, raffigurante San Vincenzo Ferrari risuscita un bambino, è opera di Pietro Rotari, mentre la fascia attorno è una realizzazione di Pietro da Porlezza, che assunse il compito intorno al settembre 1485. Intorno vi sono affreschi attribuibili ad artisti della scuola del Mantegna. Tra i soggetti raffigurati nelle nicchie si trovano Sant'Andrea, San Lorenzo martire e San Tommaso d'Aquino, al centro vi sono dei Devoti in preghiera e sopra, nella lunetta, dei santi circondati da angeli. Nella parte più in alto, a formare una cornice intorno alla lunetta, dei profili di Cesari ed effigi di figure bibliche.
Come si apprende dal testamento della vedova di Gian Nicola, in origine l'altare era ornato con le armi gentilizie dei Manzini e dei Maffei ed era dedicato alla Santissima Trinità. All'interno è custodito il sarcofago, opera di un anonimo scultore, del corso Francesco Maria Ornano, appartenente alla famiglia Ornano, morto nel 1613 a Vicenza. Nel 1700 gli eredi della famiglia lo cedettero ai devoti di san Vincenzo, i quali furono poi i committenti della pala di Rotari. A destra dell'altare, su muro, è posto un piccolo monumento a Vincenzo Pisani, podestà di Verona nella seconda metà del XVIII secolo, realizzato da Giovanni Angelo Finali su progetto di Adriano Cristofali.
Cappella Bonaveri (3)
Conosciuta anche come "altare Bevilacqua-Lazise" o "dell'Immacolata Concezione", inizialmente era dedicata a Maria Maddalena ed era di proprietà, insieme alla relativa tomba, della famiglia Bonaveri, in quanto costruito su legato testamentario di Pietro Bonaveri. Il 3 agosto 1590 venne ceduto dal convento a Ottavio e Alessandro Bevilacqua per la cifra di 300 ducati, così lo stemma dei Bonaveri venne sostituito con quello della famiglia Bevilacqua. I bassorilievi della volta devono ascriversi alla fine del XV secolo, mentre l'affresco della lunetta è di Liberale da Verona, inserito in un timpano centinato. Il gruppo scultoreo dell'altare dell'Immacolata Concezione, Immacolata Concezione con i santi Antonio da Padova e Giuseppe, è un lavoro tradizionalmente attribuito al bassanese Orazio Marinali e venne qui trasportato all'inizio del XIX secolo dall'oratorio della concezione presso la ex chiesa di Santa Maria in Chiavica. Gli stipiti e l'arco sono realizzati in marmo con finissimi intagli del XVI secolo, forse opera di Pietro da Porlezza.
Ai lati della cappella, le pareti sono affrescate con dipinti di Liberale da Verona (1490 circa), riscoperti e restaurati verso la fine degli anni 1960. In queste pitture, realizzate con tecnica grisaille, sono rappresentate cinque figure di santi (a sinistra e dall'alto Pietro apostolo, Pietro martire, Lucia, a destra Paolo e Domenico) e due dal soggetto ignoto, poste tutte al fianco di una lunetta su diversi registri, in cui è contenuta una Pietà, sormontata dal grande dipinto Coro degli Angeli.
Altare Pindemonte (4)
Dedicato a san Martino, venne realizzato nel 1541 per volontà di Flavio Pindemonte, come si può leggere dall'iscrizione posta sulla tomba famigliare collocata nella parete di destra: «FLORIVS PINDEMONTIVS || NOBILITATE PRAEFVLGENS || JOANNI VENETORVM || MILITVM DVCTORI || INCLITO AC DESIDERATO || CARISS. FRATRIBUS || AEDEM HANC POSVIT || CVM SEPVLCRO || M D XLII».
L'altare, un'imitazione del fronte dell'arco dei Gavi, monumentale architettura romana di Verona, fu realizzato da un lapicida di cui si conosce solo il nome, Francesco. Il grande sarcofago di marmo rosso in cui era sepolto il vescovo veronese Pietro della Scala, su cui è scolpita una croce a rilievo, funge da altare. Nel 1828 venne seppellito nello stesso altare anche il poeta Ippolito Pindemonte, insieme ai familiari Fiorio e Giovanni. La pala d'altare, opera tarda di Giovan Francesco Caroto ascrivibile al 1542, raffigura San Martino in atto di donare il mantello al povero, con la Vergine in gloria, in cui si può distinguere uno dei celebri tramonti del pittore veronese. Caroto fu allievo di Liberale da Verona, dal quale derivò le tendenze formali e cromatiche, ma subì anche l'influsso del Mantegna; suo fratello Giovanni collaborò con lo storico Torello Saraina a un'opera che mirava alla riscoperta delle antichità cittadine, ciò fa supporre un suo contributo all'ispirazione del lapicida all'arco di epoca romana. Ai lati, inserite in nicchie sovrapposte da una trabeazione, vi sono due statue, San Giovanni evangelista e San Domenico, risalenti al XVIII secolo. Infisso al muro vi è un piccolo monumento realizzato in onore di Isotta Nogarola.
Altare Mazzoleni (5)
Conosciuto anche come "altare Santa Rosa di Lima", è un altare barocco considerato da Carlo Cipolla senza una particolare importanza storica o artistica, ma più recentemente rivalutato. Come si legge su un piedistallo, accanto alle insegne gentilizie dei Mazzoleni, l'altare venne realizzato nel 1592. Sulla destra vi è la tomba, posta nel 1602, della famiglia committente ove sono sepolti i fratelli Giacomo, Bartolomeo e Francesco. Inizialmente, nel XVII secolo, era dedicato a san Raimondo di Peñafort ma già alla metà del secolo successivo venne intitolato a santa Rosa da Lima, beatificata nel 1668 da papa Clemente IX e prima santa canonizzata nell'America del Sud.
L'altare è costituito da due colonne libere di ordine ionico e in marmo rosso che racchiudono un'edicola sormontata da un timpano curvilineo. Si è ipotizzato che il progetto architettonico sia opera di Paolo Farinati o della sua bottega. Originariamente la pala d'altare era quella che oggi si trova nell'altare di San Raimondo e che venne iniziata da Felice Brusasorzi; l'attuale raffigura la santa titolare ed è opera dell'artista veronese Giovanni Ceffis, che la realizzò tra il 1668 e il 1688. Dietro all'altare vi è un reliquiario costituito da una serie di teche di cristallo.
Cappella del Crocifisso (6)
Alla fine del muro di destra del piedicroce, poco prima del transetto, si trova una piccola cappella realizzata con una volta a crociera con costoloni a cui si accede attraverso un arco a tutto sesto. All'esterno sono presenti decorazioni che si ritiene possano risalire al XIII secolo, che secondo lo storico veronese Simeoni non sono però vestigia dell'antica chiesa, posizione che non è da tutti condivisa. Altri autori, come Carlo Cipolla, vedono in questa cappella i resti di una costruzione non posteriore al secolo XIII che non aveva nessuna connessione con l'edificio attuale ma che si volle in ogni modo conservare per ragioni non note: la precedente chiesa di Santa Anastasia. Una posizione che però non è provata da alcun riscontro né storico, né architettonico.
Tornando all'interno, la cappella presenta un impianto tipico del XIII secolo: sul fronte vi è l'arco e dei pilastri che costituiscono un bell'esempio di scultura ornamentale veronese del secolo XV. Degni di noti dei particolari scultorei eseguiti con dovizia di particolari che rappresentano foglie, fiori, frutta e animali. Meno ricca di dettagli la scultura del monumento che risale a uno stile più antico, più vicino a quello tipico del Trecento. Il monumento sepolcrale che adesso è collocato sulla parete, anticamente si trovava al posto di dove oggi vi è l'altare Fregoso. L'iscrizione in caratteri gotici del XIV secolo che corre sul listello superiore dell'arca è la seguente: «S.IOANNIS.DCTI.IANEXELLI.DNI.BERTOLDI.QUI.FVIT.FOLGARIDA.DE.CLAVICA.VERONE». Il defunto qui seppellito, Gianesello da Folgaria, scrisse il proprio testamento il 10 novembre 1427 e in tale occasione fece dei legati a favore della costruzione del tetto della basilica, per la realizzazione di una cappella e di un altare. Oltre che la tomba di Giansello, la cappella accoglie anche le spoglie di Francesco Pellegrini che si occupò della sua ristrutturazione nel 1484.
Il sovrastante monumento della Pietà, realizzato in tufo dipinto da Filippo Solari, è in stile goticizzante. Sul suo basamento vi è un bassorilievo in cui sono scolpiti otto apostoli. Il Crocifisso ligneo, da cui il nome della cappella, è opera del XV secolo, mentre l'altare venne progettato da Ludovico Perini nel 1719, su commissione di Bartolomeo Pellegrini. Il fonte battesimale è realizzato in marmo rosso veronese.
Altare Centrago (7)
L'altare Centrago (dal nome della famiglia committente) venne costruito tra il 1488 e il 1502 in stile rinascimentale, per volere di Cosimo Centrago, come si legge nella scritta del frontespizio scolpita sull'arca: «COSMAS CENTREGVS VIVES DICAVIT». Dedicato a Tommaso d'Aquino, si trova di fronte alla sagrestia, sulla parete di destra del transetto. Per realizzarlo si dovette ostruire parte del grande finestrone di mezzo della crociera. La sua costruzione, molto probabilmente, è da collocare intorno alla fine del XV secolo quando venne ingrandito l'altare già presente. In occasione dei restauri del 1879-1881 venne parzialmente riaperto il finestrone grazie alla demolizione, per quanto fu possibile, del muro che lo otturava superiormente. La pala, Madonna col Bambino, san Tommaso d'Acquino, sant'Agostino e i donatori Cosimo Centrago e Orsolina Cipolla, venne dipinta nel 1512 da un giovane Girolamo dai Libri. La pala è inserita in un arco a tutto sesto delimitato da coppie di colonne poste su un pilastro.
Navata di sinistra
Di seguito sono elencati gli altari e le cappelle che si trovano sulla navata sinistra, procedendo dall'entrata verso la zona absidale.
Cappella Boldieri (19)
La cappella Boldieri, conosciuta anche come "altare di San Pietro Martire", risale alla metà del XV secolo ed è la prima cappella che si incontra sul lato sinistro del piedicroce entrando dal portone principale. Venne edificata per volere dal nobile Gerardo Boldieri, appartenente alla contrada di Santa Maria in Chiavica, che ordinò che qui dovesse essere sepolto. La sua arca funeraria venne posta alla sinistra dell'altare. Al di sotto del cenotafio vi è una lapide recante un'epigrafe.
La cappella è caratterizzata da un'ampia nicchia circoscritta da un arco trionfale e da paraste riccamente decorate. All'interno della grande nicchia vi è un altare risalente al XVII secolo sormontato da una pala d'altare plastica su due ordini, in cui in quello inferiore si trovano, da sinistra, le statue di San Sebastiano, San Pietro Martire e San Rocco, mentre in quello superiore vi è Madonna col Bambino. Ai lati delle paraste vi sono altre sei nicchie (tre per lato) contenenti statue di santi e precisamente, a destra partendo dal basso, San Vincenzo, San Giovanni battista, San Cristoforo, mentre a sinistra San Domenico, San Francesco, Sant'Antonio abate. Sopra la cappella vi è una trabeazione, abbellita da un fregio, su cui sono poste altre tre statue, ai lati due angeli che reggono uno scudo e al centro un crocifisso ligneo con ai lati, questa volta disegnate, Madonna e San Giovanni, il tutto sormontato da un baldacchino, sempre dipinto. Nel catino vi è l'affresco Incoronazione della Vergine.
Altare Faella (18)
Edificato nel 1520 per volontà di Bonsignorio Faella, inizialmente venne dedicato a san Giorgio mentre oggi il santo titolare è Erasmo di Formia, martire cristiano del IV secolo. Il materiale di costruzione è il marmo, principalmente di colorazione bianca ma anche con inserti rossi e neri. Sull'architrave vi è scolpita, in caratteri romani, l'epigrafe seguente su due linee: «DIVO HERASMO BONSIGNORIUS FAELLA ET GEORGIVS || NEPOS EX FRATRVM TEST ET SVA PECVNIA P». Sui fregi delle cornici dei pilastri vi è scolpita (metà in quello a sinistra, metà su quello di destra) un'altra iscrizione, da cui si è potuto determinare l'anno in cui l'altare venne eretto: «AERE SVO MDXX. || BONSIGMORIVS». Le armi gentilizie della nobile famiglia Faella vennero scolpite sui dadi dei piedistalli delle colonne esterne insieme al proprio motto «incertum certius» ("nulla è più certo dell'incerto"). La pala d'altare, di notevole pregio e dipinta da Nicolò Giolfino, rappresenta i Santi Giorgio ed Erasmo. Nella parete è collocato il monumento funerario al matematico e letterato veronese Giuseppe Torelli, progettato da Michelangelo Castellazzi e scolpito da Francesco Zoppi.
Altare di san Raimondo di Peñafort (17)
Anticamente titolato da san Vincenzo martire, successivamente l'altare venne dedicato a san Raimondo di Peñafort, santo domenicano. La pala d'altare qui collocata venne iniziata da Felice Brusasorzi per poi essere terminata dall'allievo Alessandro Turchi; i due pittori rappresentarono la Vergine con i Santi Filippo, Giacomo, Francesco e Raimondo. Sul lato destro dell'altare, prima dell'altare Miniscalchi, v'è il sepolcro del matematico Pietro Cossali, progettato da Giuseppe Barbieri e realizzato dallo scultore Antonio Spazzi. Alla sinistra, sempre incastonato sul muro, vi è il monumento funerario al medico veronese Leonardo Targa, anch'esso scolpito da Antonio Spazzi e realizzato su progetto di Luigi Trezza.
Cappella Miniscalchi (16)
Detta anche cappella dello Spirito Santo, fu di proprietà della famiglia Miniscalchi, originaria della Lombardia e giunta a Verona negli anni della dominazione viscontea, a cavallo tra XIV e XV secolo. La costruzione dell'altare risale al 1436 e fu eseguita su progetto attribuito a Pietro da Porlezza mentre l'esecutore materiale fu un tale Mastro Agnolo; lo storico Luigi Simeoni ne parla come di una «meravigliosa opera della Rinascenza». La pala d'altare, in cui è raffigurata una Discesa dello Spirito Santo, è di Nicolò Giolfino che la firmò e datò 1518. Nella predella vi è un dipinto Predicazione di san Vincenzo Ferrer, sempre di Giolfino, mentre il catino absidale, dove è raffigurata una Pentecoste, è opera di Francesco Morone con l'aiuto di Paolo Morando (quest'ultimo conosciuto anche come "Il Cavazzola"). A sinistra vi è il sepolcro di Zanino Miniscalchi, capostipite del ramo veronese del casato; l'iscrizione è in caratteri gotici ed è posta sotto l'arma famigliare.
Ai lati, inserite tra colonnine con capitelli corinzi, vi sono sei nicchie (tre per lato) contenenti ognuna una statua raffiguranti i Santi Sebastiano, Francesco, Giovanni battista, Girolamo, Vincenzo Ferrer, Giovanni evangelista. Superiormente, due edicole laterali ospitano le statue dei Santi Pietro e Paolo mentre in quella centrale e timpanata vi è un Cristo benedicente. Prima della costruzione del pavimento, qui sorgeva una cappella dedicata alla Santissima Trinità. Nel Liber Possessionum si ha memoria di un dono fatto «pro dote altaris Trinitatis».
Cappella del Rosario (14)
La cappella del Rosario venne ricostruita a partire dal 1585 per celebrare la vittoria di Lepanto del 1571 a cui la città di Verona aveva partecipato con tre compagnie di soldati. Il nome si deve all'istituzione della "Società del Rosario", una congregazione nata proprio allo scopo di onorare la vittoria e che si era impegnata a realizzare la cappella. Come si può leggere sull'iscrizione posta sulla facciata interna del portone, i lavori per la cappella terminarono nel 1596 per quanto riguarda la pare muraria mentre per il completamento dei rivestimenti marmorei si dovette aspettare il 1607. Il progetto è attribuito all'architetto Domenico Curtoni, nipote e allievo dell'architetto veronese Michele Sanmicheli, che concepì l'opera nel tipico stile del XVI secolo con alcune aggiunte barocche, anche se è stato proposto l'intervento di ulteriori progettisti. Alla cappella si accede attraverso un arco di ordine ionico con fregio coperto da girali.
Nella pala sopra l'altare è inserita la Madonna dell'Umilità con i santi Pietro martire e Domenico e gli offerenti. Il dipinto è attribuito unanimemente della critica del secondo Novecento a Lorenzo Veneziano, pittore attivo a Verona nella seconda metà del XIV secolo. La vergine al centro rappresenta molto probabilmente il primo esempio della diffusione di questo soggetto anche in terra veneta, qui declinato, piuttosto che nella versione più umile e "domestica" tipica del suo introduttore Simone Martini e dei suoi seguaci, in quella di "donna maestosa" sperimentata per la prima volta da Bartolomeo da Camogli: per quanto lactans e seduta a terra, appare infatti circondata da angeli a monocromo dorato risaltanti sul fondo rosso. Mentre i due santi sono facilmente individuabili dalle scritte accostate e dai loro attributi, i due donatori vengono tradizionalmente considerati due coniugi scaligeri regnanti; a seconda delle interpretazioni, potrebbero essere identificati in Mastino II della Scala e Taddea da Carrara oppure in Cangrande II della Scala e sua moglie Elisabetta di Baviera. Composta a imitazione di un trittico, era in origine, con molta probabilità, addossata al demolito coro a pontile della chiesa. Lungo i quattro bordi appare un'invocazione mariana incorniciata da una finta modanatura a dentelli, quest'ultima purtroppo parzialmente sacrificata dalle piegature della tela per adattarlo al nuovo altare. L'opera, già considerata un affresco staccato e riportato su tela, è stato confermata dal restauro del 2003 come originariamente dipinta a tempera su tessuto di lino, un esempio decisamente raro di questa tecnica nel Trecento.
Sulla parete sinistra della cappella un olio su tela della prima metà del XVII secolo raffigurante un Cristo orante nell'orto di Pietro Bernardi. Sulla parete di destra La Flagellazione di Cristo, realizzata nel 1619 da Claudio Ridolfi. L'altare è costituito da due gruppi a loro volta formati da quattro colonne composite e su di esso è posto un tabernacolo. La lunetta dell'altare è decorata con unIncoronazione della Vergine di Marcantonio Vassetti. Sui pennacchi Giovan Battista Rossi realizzò nel XVIII secolo la Deposizione, mentre lAnnunciazione e lAdorazione dei Pastori sono attribuite, rispettivamente, a Dario Pozzo e Biagio Falcieri. La cupola è abbellita con pitture di Marcantonio Bassetti raffiguranti l'Assunta e la Trinità. Ai lati dell'altare sono collocate due statue in marmo di Gabriele Brunelli, la Fede e la Preghiera (rispettivamente a sinistra e a destra). Sulla balaustra interna, realizzata tra il 1627 e il 1634, sono poste quattro statue raffiguranti angioletti, scolpite da Pietro da Carniola.
Cappella Giusti e sagrestia (13)
Sulla parete di sinistra del transetto si apre la porta che conduce alla sagrestia, costruita nel 1453 dalla famiglia Giusti per ospitare anche la propria cappella funeraria, che ha trovato collocazione in fondo all'ambiente. Prima di accedervi, sulla parete interna alla chiesa, si possono osservare affreschi attribuiti a Boninsegna e tre tele in cui vi sono rappresentati Santa Cecilia, il Miracolo di San Giacinto e Deposizione e San Paolo, San Dionigi, la Maddalena e Devoti, rispettivamente di Turchi, Farinati e Morone. Varcata la porta, sopra di essa si trova un'iscrizione in caratteri romani che ricorda l'edificazione della sagrestia. Sempre sulla porta vi è un grande quadro rappresentate il Concilio di Trento di Biagio Falcieri, pittore del XVII secolo.
La cappella e l'altare vennero rinnovati dopo più di un secolo e mezzo, per cui nulla rimane dell'aspetto originale. Sappiamo comunque, grazie al testamento del 15 luglio 1644 di Roberto Giusti, che fin dall'inizio il santo titolare era san Vincenzo Ferreri. Sul frontespizio dell'altare vi è una breve iscrizione dedicatoria: «DEO || B. MARIÆ VIR || AC VINCENTIO». Una grande lapide sulla parete destra di chi entra conserva la memoria della rifabbricazione dell'altare avvenuta nel 1598. La pala d'altare venne realizzata da Felice Brusasorzi e vi sono raffigurati alcuni santi insieme alla Vergine e a san Vincenzo. A terra, al centro della cappella, vi è una triplice tomba del XVI secolo in cui ciascuna delle tre pietre è ornata dell'arma della famiglia Giusti, che peraltro appare, dipinta o scolpita, in molti altri luoghi della sagrestia. Al centro della sagrestia vi è un'ulteriore sepoltura del 1793. Le due grandi vetrate, ancora oggi ben conservate anche grazie a un restauro avvenuto nel 1969, sono di grande valore essendo attribuite all'incirca al 1460, rendendole quindi le più antiche che si possano trovare in Verona. Esse sono caratterizzate dai colori bianco, verde e rosso, con ornati semplici e senza figure.
Note
Esplicative
Bibliografiche
Bibliografia
Voci correlate
Verona
Monumenti di Verona
Chiese di Verona
Diocesi di Verona
Parrocchie della diocesi di Verona
Cappella Pellegrini
Altri progetti
Collegamenti esterni
Anastasia
Verona
Anastasia
Verona
Verona |
About this humble little website
Football: Wherever it may be
~ Laurence's football travels
Tag Archives: Oxford University
Posted by laurencereade in W
Beaumont Street, Football, groundhopping, Middle Common Room League, Non League, Oxford University, Sports Ground, Worcester College
Saturday 31st October 2009 ko 10.30
Oxford University Middle Common Room League Division One
NUFFIELD COLLEGE 3 (Gallo 16 55 Strang 73)
WOLFSON ST CROSS 1 (Cockfield 22)
Att 7 at Worcester College, Oxford
So with another dose of lockdown, I’m both up-to-date with this blog and at a loose end. So while I can’t watch anything live, I’ll dip back into my photo archive and tell the tales from back when. To start with here’s one that involves a bone fide legend. Continue reading →
Habeus Corpus
Posted by laurencereade in C
College, Corpus Christi, Football, groundhopping, Hogacre Common Eco Park, League, Middle Common Room, Oxford, Oxford University, student, University College
Saturday 5th December 2009 ko 10.00
Oxford University Middle Common Room League- Cuppers Group A
CORPUS/LINACRE 13 (Beresford 46 85 Tyler 48 67 75 79 88 Lewis 58 Hunter 70 86 89 90 Brown 83)
UNIVERSITY 1 (Winning 77)
Att 1
Tonight’s tale is, in part, a retort to those who absolutely have to see a stand, or a rail, or whatever at any ground they visit. The corollary for that is that anything that doesn’t fit their requirements tends to be written off as “A Field.” For dear reader this the story of the ground that actually did become a field!
Posted by laurencereade in O
Football, Iffley Road, Mickey Lewis, Non League, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford University, Roger Bannister, student, Varsity
Friday 16th November 2018 ko 19.00
Brookes Varsity 2018
OXFORD UNIVERSITY 4 (Thelen 21p Liew 40 Cantrill 70 Coveney 87)
OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY 0
Att 499 at Iffley Road Stadium, Oxford
Entry £6
When Robyn moved to Oxford two years ago the slightly schizophrenic nature of the city was something of a surprise to her. I’d shown her around the sites many months previously, and the college buildings are a beautiful must-see for any visitor. But for those of us that both are from, and live in Oxford, we live almost entirely separate lives from the university and those who teach and study there. This evening out though was a chance to sample something from the “Gown” side of Oxford, and a chance to look at another part of Oxford where one side is set against the other. Continue reading →
Championship, English rugby union, Iffley Road, Oxford Rugby League, Oxford University, Paul Fergusson, RL, Rugby League, South Wales Scorpions
Sunday 31st August 2014 ko 15.00
Rugby League Championship 1
OXFORD RL 29
SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS 22
Att 240 at Oxford University RUFC, Iffley Road.
Entry £12
Programme £2.50
I’m indebted to Calne-based Paul Fergusson to alerting me to this one, especially to the location! My encounters with rugby started and finished with an ex-girlfriend who worked for Brakspear’s brewery in Henley-on-Thames and supplied a steady supply of complimentaries for me to be bored rigid watching Henley RUFC play in the second tier of English rugby union. Now there are many advantages of having a blonde girlfriend who gets staff discount at a brewery, but believe me rugby union wasn’t one! I should however point out though the end-of-season dinners were superb, I still don’t remember how I arrived back at my flat in Bell street with a Williams F1 brolly, and a meal for two at a rather swish Italian restaurant one year. Continue reading →
Omnibus donis quae de tua beneficentia accepturi simus
Posted by laurencereade in M
architecture, Arne Jacobsen, brasenose college, Charles Gilbert, JCR League, Luke Saunders, Mansfield College, Merton College, Oxford University, St Catherine's College
Thursday 7th February 2012 ko 14.00
Oxford University Junior Common Room League First Division
MERTON MANSFIELD 0
BRASENOSE 2 (Gilbert 9 Saunders 47)
Entry FREE
One of the delights of living in Oxford is that there’s the colleges and their environs to explore. With Mansfield College being small, only around 210 students, it pairs up with its larger, older neighbour for undergraduate sport. But here’s the quirk, Merton College Sports Ground is actually in the grounds of St Catherine’s College, just off Manor Road. St Cat’s ground is the other side of the River Cherwell, a short walk over a footbridge owned (and usually locked) by Magdalen, but a 10 minute drive. You wonder why the two colleges don’t simply swap grounds!
The Junior Common Room refers to undergraduates, those studying for Batchelors degrees, so players tend to be 18-21, although there are some mature students. Therew’s also a smaller MCR (Middle Common Room) League for post-graduate players, played on Saturday mornings. Fixtures can be found at http://www.ouafc.com/
Both are situated on floodplain, so there’s little chance of any development, but I have a feeling that if I published this without any pictures, you’d paint the picture of cloisters, quadrangles and coloured scarves from an episode of Inspector Morse. Of course there are hints of this, Magdalen College tower is visible in the background, but the backdrop is more Bauhaus then Baroque, with Danish architect Arne Jacobsen’s vision in steel and concrete to the fore. Interesting no building is greater than 3 storeys, technically we are on marshland, and the bell tower isn’t attached to a church! Nevertheless there were no lack of bicycles, even if the vast majority of their owners eschewed the delights of a second tier collegiate football match.
We were joined for a little while by my mate Simon who I haven’t seen for years. He spotted where I was from a Facebook post, and came over for a chat interrupting his duties as Head Gardener. It was good to catch up, however briefly.
On the pitch Brasenose overtook their hosts in the table and deservedly so. Charles Gilbert pounced on a dawdling defence to fire home low down, before turning provider, his shot hitting the post for Luke Saunders to follow up and fire home. Save for a brief home rally, the hosts offered little in resistance, and what they did create Brasenose keeper Pelham Barron dealt with easily.
It’s been a couple of years since my last JCR game, perhaps I should do a few more, when finding a game is this straightforward.
Adam Healy, Alex Biggs, BUCS League, Ed Grimer, Hakim Mirro, Iffley Road, Julian Austin, Mark Jamison, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford University, Peder Beck-Friis, soccer, streaker, Tom Dancer, Varsity
Friday 1st February 2012 ko 19.00
BUCS League Midlands Division 2A/ Varsity Challenge
OXFORD UNIVERSITY 5 (Grimer 3 Jamison 14 Beck-Friis 26 Austin 31 Healy 86)
OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY 2 (Mirro 45 Dancer 69p)
At Iffley Road Stadium
No Programme
Last year I ended up viewing this game from a grass bank from grass bank at the far side, due to a all-ticket strict policy.
https://laurencereade.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/cat-mouse-and-roger/
From my rather distant vantage point, it looked like a cracking atmosphere, so this year I decided to try at watch the game through more conventional means, I do have a couple of contacts within the University after all! Oxford University captain Alex Biggs put a ticket on the gate for me, and so I was able to witness the worried Oxford United stewards at first hand.
The Iffley Road stadium is famous for being where, on 6th May 1954, Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four minute mile, watched amongst many others, by the world’s least sports-orientated person, my mother! Since then the stadium has become something of a victim of the Taylor report, the owners Oxford University opting to reduce the capacity of the stand to 499, to avoid the costs involved with a capacity of the greater figure.
Normally 499 is easily sufficient, but not for a fixture like this. Despite being only being its third year, this match has caught the imaginations of both the University and the former Polytechnic from up the hill in Headington. For this year sections in front of the stand were taped off, allowing an extra 200 to view the game, although students being students, a fair percentage turned up after kick-off!
The stewards encouraged the two sets of fans to occupy different ends of the stands, and the “Segregation” made for a cracking atmosphere, with some of the best banter I’ve encountered at a game. Both sides seemed happy to play on their stereotypes, the “Working Class” Brookes students singing,”Does your butler know you’re here?” and “You pay our benefits,” and the “Toff,” University students singing “You do your essays with a crayon!”
What was never in doubt was the result. When Ed Grimer beat a poorly sprung offside trap to open the scoring, it proved to be the catalyst to some poor Brookes defending as a corner was swung in from the right. The defence simply watched as Mark Jamison thumped the ball home from the back of the box unopposed. It soon got worse for the visitors as a mix-up between keeper Sam Cole and centre half Joe Sturia, allowed Peder Beck-Friis to tap home. When a though ball bisected a square Brookes defence to find Julian Austin who had the simplest of tasks to roll the ball home, a rout looked on the cards, but Hakin Mirro’s superb header from a free kick on the left, gave Brookes heart, just before half time.
In was inevitable that the game would tighten up after the break but at 4-1 the University looked comfortable, but that changed when Brookes were handed a rather soft penalty, for a shirt-pull. Captain Tom Dancer despatched the spot-kick and for 20 minutes, an unlikely comeback looked possible. That ended when Alex Biggs corner was headed home by substitute Adam Healy.
The final bit of “Entertainment” was the appearance of a Brookes streaker, apparently the same one as last year. He was easily able to evade the stewards before making his escape from the far side. The stewards weren’t beaten though, they simply confiscated his clothes, and handed them to the police, who arrested him outside the ground. I would imagine he wouldn’t have been difficult to indentify!
That makes it three wins out of three for the University, and seldom have I enjoyed a game as much as this, both in terms of the action, and the atmosphere created. I just wish it was a little easier to get a ticket!
Sky Fall
Posted by laurencereade in O, W
Adebayo Akinfenwa, chris wilder, Clive Platt, Ian Lenagan, James Constable, Jon-Paul Pittman, League 2, Michael Raynes, Middle Common Room, northampton town, oxford united., Oxford University
Ko 10.30
Oxford University Middle Common Room League
WOLFSON/St CROSS P
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE P
Postponed due to a waterlogged pitch (!)
OXFORD UNITED 2 (Constable 14 Pittman 79)
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Platt 76) Carlisle sent off 89 (2nd booking)
Att 6,635 (1,075 away)
Entry S/T
Programme £3 (ic Ox Mail)
Its been a long time since I did a Middle Common Room game. Its a league primarily for post-graduate students, perfect for Wolfson, a purely post-graduate college, and 10.30am kick-off games work well for me, when Oxford United are a home. The trouble is that Wolfson sits on the banks of the River Cherwell, bucolic when its sunny, but flood-prone when it rains. And it’s rained here for most of the week, so I really should have guessed that the pitch wouldn’t be playable, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad!
Still it left me one game to see, unlike many groundhoppers, with games falling to waterlogged pitches all over the country, and my game was a local derby too! The odd thing is that there’s never been any great rivalry between Oxford or Northampton with the former being far more concerned with swindon, and the latter Kettering. Still “Ultimate Support Saturday” did produce a better-than-average gate helped in no small part by the travelling Cobblers fans.
They got a good game too, with the action making up for technical deficiences, and the appalling weather. Oxford United and the supporters know what Ade Akinfenwa gives to the Cobblers, he’s portly but he’s still one hell of a player. Few players at this level have his control and vision, and he was marshalled carefully. Also well known to United is midfielder Chris Hackett, who started his career at Oxford before moves to Hearts and Millwall. He marked his return with a fine game showing both pace, and a glut of well place passes, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one wondering why United didn’t re-sign him in the summer?
But for all of that this was Oxford’s day. Was James Constable offside when he tapped in Alfie Potter’s cross? He looked it, but the linesman’s decision was probably based on a feeling that Potter’s pass was entirely lateral and so Constable was always behind the ball. Either way home fans will point to the woodwork being hit twice, by Jake Forster-Caskey and Sean Rigg’s deflected effort.
As befits any side managed by Aidy Boothroyd, Northampton were well-drilled and a series of corners at the end of the first half tested Ryan Clarke in the home goal, and he did well to get down to Ben Harding’s low shot.
Cliches are cliches for a reason, and one goal was never going to be enough with Oxford’s defensive frailties, and the introduction of the towering figure of Clive Platt after an hour proved to be significant. With Michael Raynes keeping Akinfenwa quiet, he rose above Jake Wright to head Hackett’s cross home. I wondered what that meant for Chris Wilder’s tenure as manager. I didn’t ponder for long as Peter Leven’s ball over the top allowed subsitute Jon-Paul Pittman to run throuugh and he blasted home past Lee Nicholls for his first goal in 10 months, and earning Oxford a first win in 4 matches.
All that remained was the dismissal of Clark Carlisle for his second booking. It made no impact on the game but I wonder if getting sent off is more embarrassing when you’re PFA chairman? The Press Association reported his second booking was for foul and abusive language, but after the game Northampton Town swiftly asked that it be altered to a simple foul. For the record, I saw the 2nd booking as for a foul challenge, and there was no hint of any back-chat. It is worth noting that the PA feed is staffed by former players sourced by, yes, the PFA!
I used the term “Predictably Unpredictable” on a previous piece on Oxford United, and nothing I saw in this highly entertaining game changed my opinion on the club, and in a wider sense the division. I do wonder what chairman Ian Lenagan is thinking though. 18th place does not represent the level of ambition, or expenditure at the club. Some might say a change is needed, but if so who?
Chris Hackett
The long walk… (no swearing mind)
Cat, Mouse and Roger
Football, groundhopping, Iffley Road, Oxford Brookes University, oxford united., Oxford University, oxford university sports centre, Roger Bannister, Varsity
Friday 17th February 2012 ko 7.45pm
“Varsity” Friendly
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BLUES 2 (Austin 16 75)
Att 400 (officially speaking)
@ Oxford University Sports Centre, Iffley Road, Oxford
Entry £5 (if ticket bought!)
You may wonder, dear reader why on earth I’d be interested in a student game, and a friendly at that! Well, apart from referring to the title of this blog, I’d mention the the history of the stadium, and the history of the fixture.
To us locals, the stadium will always be known as the Iffley Road Running Track, and where in 1954 Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four minute mile, watched incidentally by the world’s least sporting person, my Mother! I first visited as a child in the early 80’s for the taping of the BBC’s “Superstars,” won that day by Welsh long jumper Lynn Davies. Since then I’ve seen Oxford University play there, and Oxford United’s youth team too.
For what in essence is a warm-up for the Oxford vs Cambridge varsity game, this fixture has real bite. The game has been played behind closed doors before, in 2010, after the discovery of a Facebook group suggesting that large numbers of Brookes fans would inundate the ground. The Brookes students simply scaled a fence and watched from there.
And that, I suspect, was the start of my problems. For when I arrived I discovered that not only was the game all-ticket, and limited to 400 tickets, it was sold out. Moreover around 20 stewards had been hired from Oxford United to maintain security. Normally I’d have simply turned round and headed for home, but I was just a little irked. This was because the fixture had been widely advertised on the OUAFC website and others, and there’d been no mention of it being all-ticket. With no opportunity to buy a ticket, I reasoned, and this being the first ever floodlit game at the venue I decided to see if there was another vantage point.
Which of course there was, on the far side where the athletics footprint meets the historic rugby union ground. There was a convenient grass bank in the corner, so I quietly sat down to watch the action. And I would have got away with it completely if 4 students hadn’t had exactly the same idea, but sat in full view of the stewards. At half time we all got moved on, “No ticket, no watch.” The students gave up, I waited until they’d gone, and quietly retook my position!
The game was worth the effort, as in front of a rowdy crowd the Blues were good value for their win. Whilst Brookes huffed and puffed, their hosts never looked like losing control of the fixture. Julian Austin was in predatory form, smashing in twice from decent crosses from the right to win the game.
Perhaps inevitably, there was a streaker, unfortunately for me, male, but with all the stewards present, he was allowed to stay on the pitch for a couple of minutes, while play continued. Eventually he gave up and surrendered to the authorities. Mind you, he was a bit of a pathetic streaker, he kept his shoes on!
I wonder whether in subsequent years this fixture will be moved to a larger venue to accomodate the obvious demand. The groundhopper in me would love it to be the wonderful rugby ground next door, although I’d expect the more likely choice would be Oxford City’s Court Place Farm. Watch this space.
Look for stuff here folks!
Damage In The Box Chris Powell’s travels across the UK and Europe. The artist must frequently seen in the pub 0
FA Cup Factfile Phil Annets on all things to do with the World’s greatest cup competition 10
Football Club History Database Want to know where a club finished in what league and in what year? Richard Rundle’s site is a veritable goldmine! 0
Football Hopper “Fast” Eddie McGeown’s erudite perambulations around the nation’s football grounds 0
Gibbo's 92 As Atherton Colleries’ programme editor puts it, ” The best trips are random, unplanned and spontaneous.” 0
Groundhopping.se Per-Gunnar Nilsson’s trips around his native Sweden, and into Europe 0
Grounds for concern The late Mishi Morath’s picture blog. Obviously no longer updated but still a wonderful archive. 0
Kate Shrewsday. A thousand thousand stories Not about football, but beautiful writing, Kate can make words dance. 0
Los Boyos Matt is Welsh, a teacher, and lives in Malaga. His old “Lost Boyos” blog was essential reading. Here’s the Spanish Sequel!! 0
Modus Hopper Random Graham Yapp’s travels 0
The 100 Grounds Club Shaun Smith’s groundhopping football blog. The original internet ground logging website. 0
The Football Traveller The bible for every groundhopper. Non-League fixtures magazine delivered weekly. Published and edited by Chris Bedford 0
The Intinerant Football Watcher Peter finds the grounds other hoppers cannot reach. Top bloke too! 0
The66POW Rob Waite’s travels 0
Your very own calendar! |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: respected sir....i am 22 yeas of age and i have a constipation problem and i feel inconvenient ,my nerves get strained during such days , and i dont concentrate on my work much. can i beg a solution from ur side about this problem or can u suggest me what diet i must prefer to avoid constipation problem. atal bihari vajpai output: Hi, Lifestyle habits and lack of exercise is very common cause of constipation at this age. We suggest you to adopt a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and fat free, high fiber diet daily.1) The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet.4) While cooking use safeties, cumin powder, turmeric powder and coriander which make the food easily digestible.5) Eat only when hungry and maintain at least 4 hours between meals.6) Regular physical exercise is important for maintaining proper bowel movements.7) Fried foods, beans, gas forming vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, nuts and. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What receptors are activated during limb movement and how do they influence breathing during exercise? output: Joint and muscle receptors are activated during movement of the limbs and play an important role in stimulating early breathing during exercise. These receptors provide feedback to the brain about the position and movement of the limbs, which helps to regulate the rate and depth of breathing. When the limbs are moved, signals from the joint and muscle receptors are sent to the brainstem, which triggers an increase in the activity of the respiratory muscles and leads to a more rapid and deeper breathing pattern. This response helps to ensure that the body has an adequate supply of oxygen during exercise and can maintain the necessary level of physical activity. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi Doctor We went for a follicle test today and Doctor told us that she can see rupture and to continue keep relation, we have been trying for baby from past 17 months with no success, could you please suggest the best way , we have done with allmost all tests required with turned out good as well output: Be stress free. Its good you are ovulating normally. I hope your husband semen analysis is normal. I hope your tubal patency is normal. So you can go for GUI in the same cycle with Josephine when follicle rupture. GUI is intrauterine ingestion of sperms. In these sperms are processed and placed in uterus thus bypassing any problem in ascend of sperms. It will increase chances of conception. Hope I have been helpful. Regards. |
Employers move on blacklisting demands
March 28th, 2013 Comments off
A new clause is to be inserted into the employment contracts of half a million construction workers to offer them some protection from being blacklisted.
Employers’ representatives on the Construction Industry Joint Council, the industrial agreement, which covers 500,000 construction workers, have bowed to union requests to insert a new clause.
The new anti-blacklisting clause in the CIJC Working Rule Agreement states: “The CIJC does not condone any form of blacklisting of any worker.”
Although the clause does not explicitly forbid the use of employment reference agencies, like the now defunct Consulting Association, union leaders regard it as a significant step.
Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy, who proposed the new clause, said: “This is a major step forward, blacklisting is a vile and disgusting practice. There must be no hiding place for blacklisters in construction or any other industry.”
Mr Murphy added: “The majority of the major companies responsible for blacklisting follow the CIJC agreement. By inserting this clause we are a further step forward in eradicating blacklisting from our industry for once and for all.”
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/28/employers-move-on-blacklisting-demands/">Employers move on blacklisting demands</a>
Housebuilding sets David Cameron and George Osborne against ‘nimby’ Tories
Backlash against new homes scheme expected from 8 out of 10 Conservative councillors, who say areas already overdeveloped
David Cameron and George Osborne face a divisive battle with Conservative town halls over their £15bn plan to fuel a housebuilding boom after a new “nimby index” revealed that eight out of 10 Tory councillors believe their areas are already overdeveloped or fine the way they are.
In the wake of the chancellor’s budget announcements aimed at boosting housebuilding, a poll by ComRes revealed that only a quarter of councillors from all parties believe their local areas are underdeveloped, while 87% of the public can be classed as nimbys.
The extent of “not in my back yard” resistance to development emerges in the week that Osborne introduced incentives for developers to build new homes by creating a £3.5bn scheme for interest-free loans to be available to buyers of such properties from next month. Ministers have also relaxed planning rules limiting construction on greenfield sites.
There was further bad news for Osborne when a second credit ratings agency, Fitch, served notice that it was almost certain to strip the UK of its AAA credit rating. Last month, Moody’s was the first agency to cut the country’s rating after sluggish economic growth and increased near-term government borrowing.
The Lincolnshire constituency of the combative planning minister, Nick Boles, who once suggested building on 2%-3% of Britain’s currently open land, represents one part of the emerging conflict between local and national politics. A plan to build 7,000 new homes in Grantham was agreed in 2010 but the first 50 to 70 will not be completed until spring 2014. The council has also missed the target Boles set for finding sites amid widespread public opposition.
Nationally, Tory council leaders have complained to Boles about housing targets that are “out of scale” and fear defeat at the polls if they are forced to build against their electors’ wishes. Conservative-controlled Stratford-on-Avon council will take the government to the high court in the summer over its decision to overrule the council’s refusal of an 800-home development on fields close to the cottage of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway.
“We understand the scale of development that our communities can absorb, and they don’t,” said Chris Saint, the Tory council leader. “If you put big estates into small communities you either create a soulless dormitory or sink estates of the kind that successive governments have struggled to disentangle. I do not want that to be my legacy.”
ComRes, which polled more than 400 councillors nationwide, found that 83% believed their areas were already overdeveloped. Of Liberal Democrat councillors polled, 84% said their areas were overdeveloped or fine as they were. The figure for Labour was 59%.
People living in south-west England, West Midlands and Scotland appear most resistant to development, while Wales and the north-east are least opposed. And 90% of the suburban public surveyed were classed as nimbys, compared with 88% in the countryside and 83% in urban areas.
The survey’s sponsor, Development Intelligence – which has lobbied for clients including the housebuilder Countryside Properties and the commercial developer Hammerson – said the findings indicated “a complete disconnect as neither public nor councillors understand that development creates growth and jobs”.
Nick Keable, its chief executive, said: “We support the government’s pro-development policy, but they have no idea how to implement it in a nimby nation. Negativity about development is driven by the haves, not the have-nots. Where there is deprivation and high unemployment people are more positively disposed than they are in the leafy, suburban south-east.”
The number of households is expected to grow by an average of 232,000 a year in the next two decades, but just 146,420 homes were built in the last financial year. Boles has accused councils of dragging their feet in allocating sites and this week told developers he wanted to “flush out” areas that did not offer up enough land.
He declined the Guardian’s requests to comment but Bob Neill, former planning minister and now deputy chairman of the Conservative party, responded by attacking Development Intelligence as “shadowy development lobbyists” and said the survey was “a crude attempt … to smear local councillors who stand up for local residents”. He added: “Conservatives control far more rural and shire councils than other parties, so it is no surprise that Conservative councillors value environmental safeguards.”
Keable responded: “They have attacked the man, not the ball, because this is an inconvenient truth for the government.”
Boles’s own constituency, Grantham and Stamford, illustrates the conflict between national and local Tories. “It is not the answer to build our way out of recession,” said Jacky Smith, 70, a member of the council’s planning committee. “If we are not careful, we may end up building far too many homes and looking back in 10 years and thinking, why on earth did we do that?”
Meanwhile, the town’s young people are struggling to find a place to live. Aaron Foster, 20, a motorcycle shop worker, and his girlfriend, Beth McErlean, 19, an unemployed childminder, said they were considering moving away because of the lack of affordable homes.
“A one- or two-bedroom flat or house would be around £120,000 and you won’t find anywhere like that in a reasonable area,” said Foster. “Leasing feels like throwing money away, but to buy there is no real help to get a deposit down. It sounds funny, but people are having children just to get a house [through the social housing system].”
“This nimbyism is causing a breakdown,” said Karl Hicks, managing director of Larkfkleet Homes, the developer that proposed the homes at the village of Manthorpe in Boles’s constituency. “If you have a council member living in the immediate area where you have a scheme, you rarely get your scheme through.”
The Department for Communities and Local Government said: “The government is committed to removing top-down targets that built nothing but resentment. Local plans agreed by communities and councils are now at the heart of determining where homes should go. Nearly nine in 10 planning applications are approved, a 10-year high, and seven out of 10 local councils now have published local plans.”
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/26/housebuilding-sets-david-cameron-and-george-osborne-against-nimby-tories/">Housebuilding sets David Cameron and George Osborne against ‘nimby’ Tories</a>
Budget 2013: chancellor pledges extra £3bn for infrastructure projects
Additional funds will come from cuts to departmental budgets, says Osborne, but does not indicate where money will be spent
The government unveiled another attempt to kickstart infrastructure investment with a commitment to spend an extra £3bn a year, but gave little indication where the money would be spent.
The additional funds for capital investment will be found from cuts to government departmental budgets, George Osborne said, and will be available from 2015-16.
Business and industry observers questioned whether the boost was sufficient and warned that past budget pledges on infrastructure failed to materialise into concrete projects.
Osborne said the government was “already supporting the largest investment in railways since Victorian times and spending more on new roads than in a generation”.
He said he would boost spending by £3bn from 2015-16 with the money saved from departmental budgets, amounting to at least £15bn of extra capital spending over the rest of the decade.
Osborne said: “By investing in the arteries we will get growth flowing to every part of the country.”
John Cridland, director general of the CBI, said the business lobby group’s call for an increase in longer-term infrastructure spending had been heeded: “This was recognition it was a mistake to cut capital spending so sharply and that other growth-boosting measures were taking too long.”
However, industry experts said the “proof of the pudding” was nowhere to be seen. Nick Prior, head of infrastructure and capital projects at Deloitte said: “While the £3bn is welcome, there is no indication at all of where it’s going to be spent. Given the track record over the last three years of delivering against commitments, one has to be extremely cautious about the impact this will have.
“There has been a lot of rhetoric over infrastructure spend over the last three years, but delivery has fallen well short of the promises.”
Kate Orviss, infrastructure partner at Pinsent Masons, said: “The disappointment is that this funding will not be available until 2015-16 and there is a complete lack of clarity over what it will be spent on. The government claims to see infrastructure as a key element of its growth strategy but has singularly and repeatedly failed to deliver in budget after budget.”
Richard Threlfall, UK head of infrastructure at KPMG, said the budget was disappointing and the £3bn would “make little difference in solving the UK’s infrastructure challenge”.
The Department for Transport has been pushing for further rail schemes in addition to spending on Crossrail, Thameslink and electrification projects.
One infrastructure project that will finally get under way is the delayed £150m scheme to bring mobile phone coverage to hundreds of rural not-spots. A contractor is due to be appointed in May to put up new masts in rural areas not yet on the mobile grid.
The mobile infrastructure project was announced in 2011 and originally due to go live in early 2013. But it was delayed after Three, the UK’s smallest mobile network, withdrew its support. In an update published alongside the budget, the Treasury said the service would now see the first sites “operational in 2013” with “the aim of completion by 2015”.
Critics have been calling for pledges on capital investment to be translated into swift action in “shovel-ready” projects.
Analysis by the Guardian found that fewer than a quarter of the government’s hundreds of national infrastructure projects, including road, rail and energy schemes, would be completed during this parliament.
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/25/budget-2013-chancellor-pledges-extra-3bn-for-infrastructure-projects/">Budget 2013: chancellor pledges extra £3bn for infrastructure projects</a>
iWireless Solutions Extends its Business Reach into Multiple Sectors with Four New Projects
March 21st, 2013 Comments off
London, UK- 19 March 2013 – iWireless Solutions, one of the UK’s leading providers of sophisticated InBuilding wireless systems, today announced it has won several projects across multiple industries, including transport, public sector, property development and telecommunications. The projects comprise of both national and global companies including:
Telefonica Digital: A global telecommunications giant, engaged iWireless Solutions to design and build a new mobile wireless system in its new Air Street headquarters in the heart of London. The services provided included LTE ready, voice and data solutions that enhanced wireless connectivity throughout the offices, increasing business processes’ efficiency and overall productivity.
Berkeley: Formerly Berkeley Homes, one of the UK’s best known developers of new homes, turned to iWireless Solutions to design and build a multi-operator wireless coverage solution for its staff and contractors onsite. The solution, a backhaul free wireless repeater and an associated distributed antenna system, allows for increased efficiency and enhanced communications at the prestigious new St Edwards development in Kensington.
Durham County and Darlington Fire and Rescue Headquarters: Appointed iWireless Solutions to implement a cost-effective, multi-operator solution to provide mobile wireless coverage throughout their new complex.
British Airways (BA): iWireless Solutions were appointed to validate a third party Indoor wireless system at British Airways Waterside headquarters in London. The project included benchmark testing which includes coverage and performance assessment to ensure compliance with the Joint Operator Technical Specification (JOT’s).
Across all the projects, iWireless Solutions was able to meet the client requirements for a cost-effective solution that enables efficient wireless connectivity indoors and improved communications.
Ravi Mondair, Managing Director at iWireless Solutions explained: “We provide tailored InBuilding wireless solutions and services that allow businesses across all industries to enhance connectivity, for increased efficiency, ensuring they remain competitive and are able to meet the digital data traffic demands. The upsurge in sales of mobile smart devices such as smartphones and tablets, coupled with the need for anytime, anywhere access to information has resulted in businesses increasingly looking to deploy flexible wireless infrastructures. These projects not only help us achieve our business objectives in terms of increased revenue, but also showcase our expertise in the varied industries.”
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/21/iwireless-solutions-extends-its-business-reach-into-multiple-sectors-with-four-new-projects/">iWireless Solutions Extends its Business Reach into Multiple Sectors with Four New Projects</a>
The Shams concentrated solar energy plant has opened in Abu Dhabi’s western region.
Shams 1 is the largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in the world. It will produce 100MW of power, sufficient to provide energy to about 20,000 homes.
It covers an area of 2.5km2 – or 285 football fields – and features more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic trough collectors. By concentrating heat from direct sunlight onto oil-filled pipes, Shams 1produces steam, which drives a turbine and generates electricity. The project uses a booster heater to heat steam as it enters the turbine, dramatically boosting the cycle’s efficiency. Shams 1 also features a dry-cooling system that significantly reduces water consumption – a critical advantage in the arid desert.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan described it as an “outstanding achievement” in terms of the UAE’s aim of diversifying its economy and sources of energy.
“The inauguration of Shams 1 is a major milestone in our country’s economic diversification and a step toward long-term energy security,” he added.
He expressed his pride at the young Emiratis who had worked on the project, saying that the expertise they gained, through working closely with international companies on building a project of such scale, is the type of development of the country’s human capital that will enable it to secure its long-term leadership in the energy field.
“With the demand for energy rising exponentially, the region is undergoing a major transformation in how it generates electricity,” said Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is also a minister of state. “In fact, the Middle East is poised for major investments in renewables, and Shams 1 proves the economic and environmental advantage of deploying large-scale solar projects.”
Shams 1 was designed and developed by Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar (60%), Total (20%) and Abengoa Solar (20%). With the opening of Shams 1, Masdar’s renewable energy portfolio accounts for almost 68% of the Gulf’s renewable energy capacity and close to 10% of the world’s installed CSP capacity.
The CSP project reduces the UAE’s carbon emissions, displacing approximately 175,000t of CO2 per year, equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees, or taking 15,000 cars off the road. With solar power generated during peak demand, the UAE can reduce its need for “peak shaving” generators, which are expensive and idle most of the year.
“As a long-lasting partner of Abu Dhabi, we are particularly proud to have been part of the challenging adventure that was Shams 1 construction. This is a major step in the process of transforming the capabilities of solar power in the region,” said Christophe de Margerie, chairman and CEO of Total. “We share Abu Dhabi’s vision that renewables have a promising future alongside fossil energies. Total is today a world leader in solar industry. As such, we are pleased to accompany the Emirate in the diversification of its energy mix.”
“The Middle East holds nearly half of the world’s renewable energy potential,” said Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar. “The abundance of solar energy is an opportunity to integrate sustainable, clean sources of power that address energy security and climate change. The region needs more projects like Shams 1, and we look forward to pushing the boundaries of future energy.”
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/20/the-shams-concentrated-solar-energy-plant-has-opened-in-abu-dhabis-western-region/">The Shams concentrated solar energy plant has opened in Abu Dhabi’s western region.</a>
Off-site construction specialist Yorkon has been awarded its largest ever building project.
The £17.9m contract is for a new Women & Children’s Centre at North Middlesex University Hospital, working to main contractor Kier.
Due for completion later this year, the scheme is part of a reorganisation of hospital services in the boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. Architect and project manager is AHP.
The project, which was procured under the ProCure21+ framework, is being built off site at the Yorkon production centre in York. The project managers expect this approach to reduce disruption to patient care and to ensure the build programme is finished before the busy winter period.
The building will provide a larger consultant-led delivery unit with additional high dependency beds, two new obstetrics theatres, a neonatal unit, triage centre, women’s outpatient department, a midwife-led birthing unit with four birthing pool rooms, a postnatal ward with discharge lounge, and a transitional care unit to support neonatal care. A roof-top plant room will be located on the second floor.
The scheme will be constructed using the new Yorkon off-site building system and will comprise 152 steel-framed modules up to 18m long and in many different sizes and configurations to suit the building’s design and site. The units will be craned into position with doors, windows, first fix electrics and plumbing, and a concrete floor all pre-installed.
Yorkon director Simon Ambler said: “This is our largest ever contract and its complexities demonstrate just what is now achievable with an advanced off-site building system.”
Kier Construction project manager Clive Watson said: “The biggest advantage of off-site construction on this project is speed. We anticipate it will reduce the delivery time by around three months enabling us to have the new facilities up and running ahead of the busy winter period. It will also bring quality benefits because it allows so much of the construction to take place off site in a controlled factory environment that is not affected by poor weather conditions. Our experience with Yorkon and their level of engagement from the outset has been very positive to date.”
The new building will have rendered façades, ribbon glazing around the perimeter of the first floor and a large atrium entrance spanning two storeys, with light wells providing further daylight inside. There is also full height glazing to the stair towers on each of the two wings
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/19/off-site-construction-specialist-yorkon-has-been-awarded-its-largest-ever-building-project/">Off-site construction specialist Yorkon has been awarded its largest ever building project.</a>
Flatpack or flexible? Oscar Niemeyer’s schools could have lessons for the UK
From now on, our children will be taught in flatpack sheds and converted kebab shops. That’s the message education secretary Michael Gove has been sending out since he launched his two-pronged vision for schools: to be built from standardised kits, or else to “pop up” in whatever redundant high street unit might be to hand.
Triumphantly axing Labour’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, accusing architects of “creaming off cash” and declaring that “we won’t be getting any award-winning architects to design your school”, Gove seemed to take on the appearance of a surreal pantomime baddie, continually bashing the profession.
Issuing Dickensian diktats about the future of education, his no-frills approach to school building almost descended into farce with the James Review, in which he commissioned an expert in cheap, mass-produced retail sheds to advise on the kinds of spaces that might be good for teaching and learning: big cheap sheds was the inevitable conclusion.
But by waging war on architects – and provoking their body, the RIBA, into waging it back – both Gove and his opponents have obscured the debate we should be having: about what “standardisation” actually means. Properly developed, with the involvement of architects, might system building actually be a good thing?
Much confusion has come from the government’s own uncertainty about the right way forward. The bold call of the James Review for standardised designs, which prompted excited contractors to begin developing cheap flatpack kits, was soon sidelined in favour of “baseline” guidance. Launched in October last year, this specified that schools “should be simple rectilinear forms”, 15% smaller than those under BSF, and built for £1,465 per square metre (half the price of most BSFs).
The RIBA slammed the “flatpack” approach as “far too restrictive” and warned that it would “place a straitjacket on future generations of teaching professionals and quickly render these schools redundant”. It claimed that the guidance showed no regard for student wellbeing, environmental comfort, accessibility or long-term sustainability.
One of the first contractors to attempt to prove them wrong was Wilmott Dixon, whose Sunesis system – which received glowing Design Council endorsement – can allegedly reduce the cost of a new school by up to 30%, and cut the build programme by about 20 weeks. Featuring “central learning streets” and “flexible teaching spaces”, it does nonetheless look like a shed, and there would be difficulty adapting it to awkward, sloping sites. So is there another way?
Architects David Chambers and Kevin Haley, of young practice Aberrant, think that there might be – and have been looking to Brazil for answers. As part of the British Council’s Venice Takeaway exhibition at the RIBA, Chambers and Haley travelled to Rio de Janeiro to investigate a little-known programme of standardised school building in the 1980s, which left more than 500 system-built schools across the state – designed by none other than Oscar Niemeyer.
The Integrated Centres of Public Education (CIEPs) were a response to an educational crisis, as mass migration from the countryside swelled the urban population. With a pressing need to create a vast number of schools in as short a time as possible, the state governors turned to Niemeyer, who developed a system based on a simple kit of concrete parts, and oversaw the establishment of a centralised factory for prefabrication.
“While criticism of standard systems in the UK has tended to focus on the desire to strip out as much of the ‘architecture’ as possible, we were fascinated to find that standardisation in Brazil was driven by a focus on extending the reach of high-quality architecture to everyone,” says Chambers.
The schools were designed as clusters of separate buildings, “like a concentration of a city,” according to Washington Fajardo, president of the Rio World Heritage Institute. “You have the basic building, and then you have a series of associate buildings: an outdoor covered sports hall, an octagon-shaped library and a house on the roof for live-in pupils.”
These buildings could be configured in different ways according to the site, making it the ultimate flexible system – adapting to hillsides, city squares and leftover spaces next to major roads. But in all cases, the school stood as a proud civic beacon, designed with an emphatic, graphic presence.
“The CIEPs were often in poorer areas, such as favelas and beach towns, where there wasn’t a lot of public infrastructure, so they took on a bigger civic role,” says Chambers. “The covered playgrounds, for example, became vital public squares. It was crucial that they operated beyond the role of being a school: the whole programme was about using architecture to symbolise a new educational philosophy.”
In attempting to launch a future of standardised schools in the UK, just what kind of educational philosophy is Gove trying to promote, and how might he learn from Brazil?
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/18/flatpack-or-flexible-oscar-niemeyers-schools-could-have-lessons-for-the-uk/">Flatpack or flexible? Oscar Niemeyer’s schools could have lessons for the UK</a>
One man’s eight-year effort to build a wooden ship by hand
Over the past eight years Eaton has devoted much of his life to building the vessel by hand, with scores of volunteers helping along the way.
The project started off as a rough idea – Mr Eaton’s parents would buy the lumber and he would provide the labour. None of them could foresee how consuming the boat would become.
But building a boat was only part of the plan.
Eaton and his parents hope to sail it across the Atlantic Ocean and end up somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.
The project is a labour of love and the latest subject of the BBC’s Big Dreams series.
Source with video
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/14/one-mans-eight-year-effort-to-build-a-wooden-ship-by-hand/">One man’s eight-year effort to build a wooden ship by hand</a>
Specialist contractors welcome EU fair payment legislation
The National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC) has welcomed the introduction of a new EU directive that will see the principles of fair payment set out in the NSCC Fair Payment Campaign extended throughout Europe.
The government has recently responded to a consultation it undertook last year on implementing legislation to tackle late payment by businesses and public authorities across all EU member states. It has confirmed that the directive will be implemented into UK law on 16 March 2013, with contracts concluded before this date excluded from the amended provisions to avoid businesses having to make amendments to existing contracts.
The position taken by UK government reflects the response submitted by NSCC in support of the main proposals including maintaining 30-day payment terms for public sector projects as opposed to stretching them to 60 days. Having recognised current UK practice as an exemplar, the directive effectively mirrors existing UK provisions to extend it across the EU. The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act will be amended to transpose the requirements of the directive although the current three-tier charge for recovering debts will be retained.
NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol said: “We are delighted that the government has supported the new directive which marks another significant step towards realising the principles of the Fair Payment Campaign. The UK government is leading the way on fair payment and the new legislation will help SMEs in the construction industry to get paid on time across the EU, which will have a positive impact on the economy.”
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/12/specialist-contractors-welcome-eu-fair-payment-legislation/">Specialist contractors welcome EU fair payment legislation</a>
Plant hirer banned for tax dodging
Gary Stephen Emerick, director of general construction and civil engineering company, Hire & Mechanical Services Ltd, based in Canvey Island, Essex, has been disqualified for four years for failing to pay tax.
The disqualification follows an investigation by The Insolvency Service.
Mr Emerick, 55, of Canvey Island, Essex has had to give an undertaking to the secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, that he will not act as a director of a limited company until March 2017.
Hire & Mechanical Services Ltd, whose principal activity was construction equipment and tool hire and groundworking, went into liquidation on 27 June 2011 owing more than £527,000 to creditors, including £360,872 owed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in unpaid tax. Almost half of this was undeclared VAT.
The Insolvency Service investigation showed that the company’s unpaid taxes dated all the way back to when it started trading in May 2009. During its two years of trading, the company paid just £47,246 in tax, which was a fraction of what it owed.
Mark Bruce, a chief examiner at The Insolvency Service said: “Directors who seek an unfair advantage over their competitors by not paying tax are damaging commercial confidence and harming the UK’s reputation as a place to do business. They should not expect to get away with it.
“Other directors tempted to follow this path should remember that if they run a business in a way that is detrimental to either its customers or its creditors they lose the protection afforded by limited liability. The Insolvency Service will investigate them and seek to remove them from the business environment.”
<a href="http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/2013/03/11/plant-hirer-banned-for-tax-dodging/">Plant hirer banned for tax dodging</a> |
Times Square Gossip
CELEBRITY & HIGH SOCIETY NEWS FROM NEW YORK CITY & THE HAMPTONS
Times Square Gossip By E-Mail
TIMES SQUARE HOT PAGES
BILLY PORTER TO BE HONORED AT BAILEY HOUSE 31ST ANNUAL GALA & AUCTION
BIlly Porter New York, New York - Bailey House will host its 31st annual Gala & Auction on March 7, 2019, at Chelsea Piers’ Pier Sixty. The event honors the heroic dedication of the individuals and allies who help further the Bailey House mission of providing housing and essential services to those affected by HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. 2019 Gala Awards Honorees: Daniel Beauchemin, CEO of Chelsea Frames, official framing partner of the auction for more than two decades - Rand Skolnick Social Responsibility Award Charles Pavarini III, Founder and President of Pavarini Design, and Alan Tanksley, President of Alan Tanksley Inc., who have both served as longtime leaders and champions for the Bailey House Gala & Auction and the mission of the organization - Gina Quattrochi Arts & Legacy Award. Billy Porter, Tony, and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, director, and composer, who has been a fierce and relentless activist championing the
Location: New York, NY, USA
READ MORE HERE »
ABC'S THE VIEW ASKS IF THE NFL WILL PUNISH ROBERT KRAFT
The View On Robert Kraft Will NFL punish Robert Kraft? "The NFL has been very spotty in terms of how they treat their players, so there's a bit of hypocrisy here if you have an owner who's supposed to be held to a higher standard and you have players — some have been allowed to play some have been kicked out of the league. What is the message, the bottom line, that they are sending to our women?" Sunny Hostin says of the NFL's comment on the situation. Courtesy Of: ABC / Disney
NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS KEVIN JAMES
Kevin James NEWARK, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Kevin James on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 8 P.M. Side-splitting stand-up comedy with the star of The King of Queens, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Pixels and Grown Ups! Kevin James, the producer, co-writer and star of the hit comedies Paul Blart: Mall Cop (1&2) and Zookeeper, can also be seen in the ensemble sci-fi comedy Pixels. His second comedy special, Never Don’t Give Up, premiered last year on Netflix. He began his career as a stand-up on the Long Island comedy scene and later created his sitcom The King of Queens, which premiered in 1998 and ran for nine seasons on CBS, earning James an Emmy nomination. James made his feature film debut in Hitch, opposite Will Smith, and has headlined in Here Comes the Boom, Grown Ups (1&2) and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. In addition to his on-camera work, his voice has been featured in the animated films Barnyard, Monster Houseand the Hotel
Location: Newark, NJ, USA
JESSE JACKSON & MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO @ RAINBOW PUSH WALL STREET PROJECT
Bill de Blasio And Jesse Jackson New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio And Jesse Jackson spoke at 22nd Annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit at The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on recently in New York City. Photo By: Media Punch INC
PETER NOVAK NAMED TO GAMA INTERNATIONAL'S 2019 MANAGEMENT HALL OF FAME
Richard Thomas & Peter Novak New York – Peter Novak, an Award Winning Agent & Owner of Charter Oak Financial, a top agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), has been named to GAMA Internationals 2019 Management HALL OF FAME. Pete shaped GAMA and the industry at large. The GAMA International Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor bestowed upon distinguished insurance and financial services distribution field leaders. This prestigious award is presented at LAMP '19 during the Celebration of Excellence Banquet, March 18, 2019. Pete is a game changer, who conquered this coveted title against all odds. His career highlights include; global speaking engagements, creative mentorships, to being deemed as a thought leader in the GAMA Foundation Boardroom. Pete combines old world spirit and substance, with modern style, true grit, worldly influence with heart. After having the financial industry as his foundation, Pete has diversi
JOSEPHINE SANGES CELEBRATES HAROLD ARLEN @ LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER
Josephine Sanges Josephine Sanges Celebrates Harold Arlen By popular demand, The Laurie Beechman Theatre is proud to present award-winning vocalist Josephine Sanges in a special return for one night only, Josephine Sanges - Come Rain or Come Shine, - Thursday, February 28, 2019... COME RAIN OR COME SHINE · The Music of Harold Arlen · 7:00 PM, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 · THE LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER · 407 W. 42nd Street She's gonna take us all over the rainbow! 2017 Margaret Whiting Award winner JOSEPHINE SANGES taps into the Academy Award- winning songbook of HAROLD ARLEN (“I’ve Got The World on a String,” “Stormy Weather,” “Over the Rainbow, “Blues in the Night”) with songs from Hollywood (“The Wizard of Oz,” “A Star is Born”) and Broadway (“St. Louis Woman,” “House of Flowers”) in her critically acclaimed show COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Collaborators with Harold Arlen include E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Billy Rose, Ira Gershwin, Ted Koehler, Johnny Mercer
REBECCA ROMIJN VISITS NEW YORK CITY BUILD SERIES
Rebecca Romijn Rebecca Romijn was all smiles and in summer fashion when she was snapped at THE BUILD SERIES in New York City the other day. Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
RICHARD BRANSON @ NYC VIRGIN VOYAGES SCARLET CELEBRATION
Richard Branson Richard Branson was photographed the other day at the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Night Celebration at the PlayStation Theater in New York City Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
JEAN SHAFIROFF ATTENDS 'ZANG TOI RED WHITE & BLUE EXTRAVAGANZA'
Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff With Kim Maresca & Miss U.S.A. Sarah Rose Summers Story & Photos By Lieba Nesi s -- It is rare to attend a fashion show and be greeted by Secret Service unless you are Zang Toi and dress Ivana Trump, Jean Shafiroff and Marla Maples. Toi dresses royalty all over the world and celebrities including Sharon Stone, Meg Ryan and Pattie LaBelle. Those who don't know fashion darling Toi are surprised to learn that he is 57 since he looks 37 and that he was born in the Kuala Krai district in Kelantan Malaysia. He arrived in New York City at the age of 19 and attended the Parsons School of Design, eventually opening his own atelier in 1989. Zang's shows are romantic, exciting and elegant. The attendees are friends, family, customers and lovers of Zang and his fashion. This evening was extremely special to Zang as he was celebrating arriving in New York 38 years ago and he paid homage to the America he cherishes and appreciates
MGM RELEASES OFFICIAL TRAILER OF 'THE HUSTLE' STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY & REBEL WILSON
THE HUSTLE In the hilarious new comedy THE HUSTLE, Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson star as female scam artists, one low rent and the other high class, who team up to take down the dirty rotten men who have wronged them. Director: Chris Addison Screenplay By: Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning and Dale Launer and Jac Schaeffer Producers: Roger Birnbaum p.g.a., Rebel Wilson p.g.a. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Alex Sharp Distributor: MGM THE HUSTLE opens in theaters on May 10, 2019 Official Site: TheHustle.movie
HGTV'S A VERY BRADY RENOVATION IS LOOKING FOR VINTAGE ITEMS
A VERY BRADY RENOVATION New York -- As the massive renovation continues at The Brady Bunch house, HGTV is looking to America’s biggest Brady fans to help it complete the design of the famous television family home. Before A Very Brady Renovation premieres in September, fans who own vintage furniture and décor items true to the original TV series are encouraged to contact HGTV via social media for a chance to see the special items featured in the series. “Many of these 1970s items are very rare and hard to find,” said Abbi McCollum, vice president of convergence and social media for HGTV. “We’ve seen an incredible response from Brady Bunch fans across social media since we first announced the series. Now, we need their help to get the renovation of the house just right.” High-demand items for The Brady Bunch home reno include the living room couch and credenza, Greg’s attic radio, the front door handles and several of the home’s legendary tchotchkes, such as the horse s
FLORENCE PUGH VISITS NEW YORK CITT'S BUILD SERIES
Florence Pugh Florence Pugh was all smiles when she visited the BUILD SERIES in New York City recently. Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
HODA KOTB & ANGELA BASSETT @ WOMANS DAY RED DRESS AWARDS
Hoda Kotb Angela Bassett Angela Bassett and Hoda Kotb looked stunning at the 16th Annual Woman's Day Red Dress Awards at the Appel Room in New York City the other evening. Photos By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
TRISHA YEARWOOD HAS ALBUM SIGNING FOR 'LET'S BE FRANK' @ WILLIAMS SONOMA
Trisha Yearwood Trisha Yearwood 'Let's Be Frank' Album signing at Williams Sonoma yesterday in New York City. The star was all smiles for the roving cameras. Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY IN STUNNING WINTER FASHION WHEN SHE VISITS BUZZFEED
Christie Brinkley Christie Brinkley looked stunning when she was photographed today visiting BuzzFeed News in New York City. This supermodel never seems to age and her winter fashion is right on! Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
NICKY HILTON ROTHSCHILD @ NEW YORK CITY BUILD SERIES
Nicky Hilton Rothschild Nicky Hilton Rothschild visited the BUILD SERIES today in New York City. Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
NY POST COVER : AMAZON'S FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS CLAIMS NATIONAL ENQUIRER TRIED TO BLACKMAIL HIM
New York Post Cover On Enquirer & Jeff Bezos Amazon Owner Jeff Bezos is claiming that the National Enquirer head David Pecker tried to blackmail him about his affair and threatened to publish with nude photos. Bezos,titled his post "No thank you, Mr. Pecker ," shared what he said was an email from AMI's chief content officer Dylan Howard, in which Howard threatened to release intimate and personal photos and text messages of Bezos and a woman the National Enquirer said he was having an affair with. Nothing is below David Pecker and The National Enquirer. I know them both very well having worked on stories for many years before Pecker brought the Enquirer, The Star, The Globe and destroyed the magazine business in America. He even screwed John Kennedy Jr on a high end magazine called George. After only a handful of issues of George Magazine which John Kennedy Jr. was very involved with, Pecker pulled the plug. This was a very traumatizing event In
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ & MADISON HEADRICK STUNNING AT AMFAR GALA
Michelle Rodriguez Madison Headrick Michelle Rodriguez looked stunning at the 21st annual amfAR Gala New York benefit for AIDS research during New York Fashion Week at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City last night. Madison Headrick was also stunning and in pure fashion style. Photos By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
ABC'S 'THE VIEW' TALKS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE UNION AND TRUMP'S WALL
THE VIEW On Trump’s nod to women in Congress: "I found it to be an empowering moment for women," Abby Huntsman says. "I thought it was a moment that we could all get on our feet and be so proud of how far we've come. Obviously, I think the Republican party has a lot of work to do to get women to run and to win." "I thought they were trolling him," Sunny Hostin says. "They ran because they didn't like his policies." "Take the moment when it comes. State of the Unions are so much a part of sort of signaling your politics in one way or another to your base of supporters," Meghan McCain says. "The feather in the cap of the wave of the Democratic congresswomen who were recently elected, 100% were in the right taking their moment last night." On Trump's mentions about the border wall, immigration, and Russia investigation: "Does the name Richard Nixon ring a bell? Nixon said enough with
HOUSE WHERE BING CROSBY ENTERTAINED JOHN KENNEDY AND MARILYN MONROE FOR SALE @ 5 MILLION
Bing Crosby's Home The Rancho Mirage home where Bing Crosby entertained his celebrity friends, including John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe in the guest wing, is for sale and featured this week at TopTenRealEstateDeals.com . “Bing Crosby's Lovenest with JFK & Marilyn Monroe Guest Wing” There’s no denying that one of America’s most beloved presidents, John F. Kennedy, had a way with the ladies. His most famous tryst was with Marilyn Monroe and, according to legend, they often met in the homes of Kennedy’s Hollywood friends. One of the most glamorous locations was crooner Bing Crosby’s house in Thunderbird Heights in Rancho Mirage, California where the attached guest suite was forever afterwards referred to as the JFK wing. Brimming over with American cultural and showbiz history, the former residence of Bing Crosby and his famous house guests is for sale, priced at $5 million. Bing Crosby Living Room Bing Crosby Screening Room Bing’s mid-cent
Location: Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, USA
GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST 'JES' GROOVES DOWN FOR 'LET HIM GO'
JES 3 Time Grammy Nominated artist JES slows the groove down for this chill inspired electronic re-working of a modern standard. "Let Him Go," combines pure electronic synths with an earthy groove and haunting reversed vocal effects the track provides the perfect platform for JES’ emotive vocal performance. Bringing a fresh perspective to a cherished anthem is never easy but JES approaches it with the same striking originality that has won her a legion of adoring fans. Proving again why she’s one of the most demanded voices on the planet, JES lends heartrending depth with a haunting vocal that perfectly wraps itself around the meaning of the song. This unique spin on the Passenger’s original brings the song to an entirely new place and will no doubt introduce JES’ to a whole new audience. So start 2019 with an open heart and if you have to, “Let Him Go.” LISTEN TO JES & DOWNLOAD CONNECT WITH JES
RICHARD SKIPPER CELEBRATES @ LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE
Richard Skipper Richard Skipper Celebrates Sunday February 10, 2018 at 1:00PM The Laurie Beechman Theatre @ 407 West 42nd Street Downstairs at the West Bank Café New York, NY 10036. There is also a $20 food/beverage minimum per person. Russ Woolley Proudly Presents Richard Skipper Celebrates... Love Aquarian Style featuring Meg Flather, Lina Koutrakos,Rosemary Loar, Karen Mack, Stacy Sullivan, All under the Musical Direction of Christine Talbott with Kacey Fassett on sax, Adi Myerson on bass, and Sherrie Maricle on bass. You never know who you might see there and what might happen! $30 Cover and $20 Minimum per person. The afternoons are also made possible by Wright Bros. Real Estate. Do yourself a favor and CELEBRATE! Reservations are a MUST Now, go out and do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return. Photo Courtesy Of: HEARHER SULLIVAN
COCO ROCHA & ANNIE MURPHY @ CANADA GOOSE CELEBRATES LAUNCH OF PROJECT ATIGI
Mark Messier Coco Rocha And Annie Murphy Coco Rocha and Annie Murphy attended the Canada Goose Celebrates the Launch of Project Atigi at Studio 525 the other day in New York City. Famed Hockey star Mark Messier also attended this great event. Photos By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
CHRIS PRATT VISITS LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT
Chris Pratt Chris Pratt was all smiles when he visited The Late Show With Stephen Colbert today in New York City. Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
DRAKE BELL VISITS NEW YORK CITY BUILD SERIES
Drake Bell Drake Bell was photographed visiting The BUILD SERIES today in New York City. Photo By: Diego Corredor/MediaPunch
Copyright 2020 www.TimesSquareGossip.com
Jean Shafiroff Tome
Successful Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give
Times Square Gossip Archives
UNIQUE PAGE VIEWS
TIMESSQUAREGOSSIP.NYC
You can now visit us at TimesSquareGossip.NYC |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I am a 40 year old female, with hbp, 160 over 104 on lisinipril, chest pains and trouble breathing. Went to ER and was admitted - for EKG and stress test with dye and echo cardiogram. EKG normal, stress test was normal, abnormality found in the echo after the stress test. Was released and scheduled for cardiac catheterization one week later. Family History of heart disease early onset, father and brother both had heart attacks early 40's both had bypass, and father had aortic valve replacement. Cardiac Cath has been done, normal results, prescribed another hbp med, dosage of lisinipril increased, and daily aspirin prescribed as well. It is 2 weeks since Cath, and I had sudden onset of right side flank pain, and it hurts worst when taking deep breaths.
t causes pain in the chest and breathlessness? output: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. No need to worry for heart related pain because you are having normal coronary angiography. You are having pain worsening by breathing. This is characteristic feature of pleuritic pain. So get done chest x ray to rule out pleurisy. If chest x ray is normal then no need to worry for pleuritic pain. Sometimes, musculoskeletal pain can be the cause. So take painkiller like ibuprofen. Apply warm water pad on affected areas. Avoid movements causing pain. Take proper bed rest. Avoid bad postures in sleep. Avoid heavyweight lifting and strenuous exercise. Don't worry, you will be alright. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks... |
Livestock Genome Editing Tools
Download and Read online Livestock Genome Editing Tools, ebooks in PDF, epub, Tuebl Mobi, Kindle Book. Get Free Livestock Genome Editing Tools Textbook and unlimited access to our library by created an account. Fast Download speed and ads Free!
Genome Editing Tools and Gene Drives
Author : Reagan Mudziwapasi,Ringisai Chekera,Clophas Zibusiso Ncube,Irvonnie Shoko,Berlinda Ncube,Thandanani Moyo,Jeffrey Godfrey Chimbo,Jemethious Dube,Farai Faustos Mashiri,Moira Amanda Mubani,Duncan Maruta,Charity Chimbo,Mpumuzi Masuku,Ryman Shoko,Rutendo Patricia Nyamusamba,Fortune Ntengwa Jomane
Genome Editing Tools and Gene Drives Book Review:
Genome-editing methods are becoming routine tools for molecular and cell biologists. Such tools include ZFNs, CRISPR, megaTALs and TALENs. These tools are revolutionizing the creation of precisely manipulated genomes to modify the characteristics of organisms or cells. Additionally, gene drives have altered the way we understand inheritance laws. They give us the ability to have total control of the inheritance of traits of choice and importance. This succinct volume summarizes the history, principles and applications – as well as the advantages and disadvantages – of each of these tools and various kinds of gene drives. The book is part of a program to produce books helpful to students and faculties of science at colleges and universities. This volume in the Pocket Guides to Biomedical Sciences series will help demystify these technologies. The book fills the gap between established conventional methods and the novel and exciting newly introduced tools of genome editing and gene drives. It will help young scientists understand the emerging genome-editing tools and gene drives, thereby promoting related research and adoption. Key Features Extensively reviews the current genome-editing tools and gene drives Clarifies the targeting mechanisms and specificity of genome-editing tools Details many different types of natural and synthetic gene drives Highlights concerns with gene drives and genome-editing tools Related Titles Brown, T. A. Genomes 4 (ISBN 978-0-8153-4508-4) Samuelsson, T. The Human Genome in Health and Disease: A Story in Four Letters (ISBN 978-0-8153-4591-6) Soh, J., et al. Genome Annotation (ISBN 978-1-4398-4117-4)
Genome Editing in Animals
Author : Izuho Hatada
Publsiher : Humana
Genome Editing in Animals Book Review:
This volume details protocols that can be used for generation of knockout animals. Chapters guide the reader through basic protocols for three genome editing technologies, target design tools, and specific protocols for each animal. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Genome Editing in Animals: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.
CRISPR in Animals and Animal Models
CRISPR in Animals and Animal Models Book Review:
CRISPR in Animals and Animal Models, Volume 152, the latest release in the Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science series, explores the genome editing CRISPR system in cells and animal models, its applications, the uses of the CRISPR system, and the past, present and future of CRISPR genome editing. Topics of interest in this updated volume include a section on CRISPR history, The genome editing revolution, Programming CRISPR and its applications, CRISPR Delivery methods, CRISPR libraries and screening, CRISPR investigation in haploid cells, CRISPR in the generation of transgenic animals, CRISPR therapeutics, and Promising strategies and present challenges. Accessible to students and researchers alike Written by leading authorities in the field
Advances in Animal Genomics
Author : Sukanta Mondal,Ram Lakhan Singh
Advances in Animal Genomics Book Review:
Advances in Animal Genomics provides an outstanding collection of integrated strategies involving traditional and modern - omics (structural, functional, comparative and epigenomics) approaches and genomics-assisted breeding methods which animal biotechnologists can utilize to dissect and decode the molecular and gene regulatory networks involved in the complex quantitative yield and stress tolerance traits in livestock. Written by international experts on animal genomics, this book explores the recent advances in high-throughput, next-generation whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, array-based genotyping, and modern bioinformatics approaches which have enabled to produce huge genomic and transcriptomic resources globally on a genome-wide scale. This book is an important resource for researchers, students, educators and professionals in agriculture, veterinary and biotechnology sciences that enables them to solve problems regarding sustainable development with the help of current innovative biotechnologies. Integrates basic and advanced concepts of animal biotechnology and presents future developments Describes current high-throughput next-generation whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, array-based genotyping, and modern bioinformatics approaches for sustainable livestock production Illustrates integrated strategies to dissect and decode the molecular and gene regulatory networks involved in complex quantitative yield and stress tolerance traits in livestock Ensures readers will gain a strong grasp of biotechnology for sustainable livestock production with its well-illustrated discussion
Author : Yuan-Chuan Chen,Shiu-Jau Chen
Gene Editing Book Review:
Gene-editing technologies (e.g., ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPRs/Cas9) have been extensively used as tools in basic research. They are further applied in manufacturing agricultural products, food, industrial products, medicinal products, etc. Particularly, the discovery of medicinal products using gene-editing technologies will open a new era for human therapeutics. Though there are still many technical and ethical challenges ahead of us, more and more products based on gene-editing technologies have been approved for marketing. These technologies are promising for multiple applications. Their development and implications should be explored in the broadest context possible. Future research directions should also be highlighted. In this book, the applications, perspectives, and challenges of gene-editing technologies are significantly demonstrated and discussed.
Animal Biotechnology 2
Author : Heiner Niemann,Christine Wrenzycki
Animal Biotechnology 2 Book Review:
This two-volume textbook provides a comprehensive overview on the broad field of Animal Biotechnology with a special focus on livestock reproduction and breeding. The reader will be introduced to a variety of state-of-the-art technologies and emerging genetic tools and their applications in animal production. Also, ethics and legal aspects of animal biotechnology will be discussed and new trends and developments in the field will be critically assessed. The two-volume work is a must-have for graduate students, advanced undergraduates and researchers in the field of veterinary medicine, genetics and animal biotechnology. This second volume is dedicated to genetic tools in animal biotechnology such as somatic cloning, transgenic technologies and the application of stem cells in livestock breeding. Also, ethics and legal aspects are discussed.
Targeted Genome Editing Using Site Specific Nucleases
Author : Takashi Yamamoto
Targeted Genome Editing Using Site Specific Nucleases Book Review:
This book serves as an introduction to targeted genome editing, beginning with the background of this rapidly developing field and methods for generation of engineered nucleases. Applications of genome editing tools are then described in detail, in iPS cells and diverse organisms such as mice, rats, marine invertebrates, fish, frogs, and plants. Tools that are mentioned include zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and CRISPR/Cas9, all of which have received much attention in recent years as breakthrough technologies. Genome editing with engineered nucleases allows us to precisely change the target genome of living cells and is a powerful way to control functional genes. It is feasible in almost all organisms ranging from bacteria to plants and animals, as well as in cultured cells such as ES and iPS cells. Various genome modifications have proven successful, including gene knockout and knock-in experiments with targeting vectors and chromosomal editing. Genome editing technologies hold great promise for the future, for example in biomedical research, clinical medicine, and generation of crops and livestock with desirable traits. A wide range of readers will find this book interesting, and with its focus on applications in a variety of organisms and cells, the book will be valuable for life scientists in all fields.
Application of Genetics and Genomics in Poultry Science
Author : Xiaojun Liu
Application of Genetics and Genomics in Poultry Science Book Review:
Genetics and genomics in poultry have been the most rapidly advancing subjects since the completion of the chicken genome sequence in 2004 and have been extensively used to understand the genetic determinants of complex traits. This book intends to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the current progress in the application of genetic and genomic science in the poultry field. The contents cover genetic variation detection, selection methods for breeding, transgenesis and genome editing, genetic basis of disease resistance, control of gene expression and regulation, reproduction and meat quality, etc. The book should prove useful to researchers and students working in related fields.
Author : Reagan Mudziwapasi,Taylor & Francis Group,Ringisai Chekera,Clophas Zibusiso Ncube,Irvonnie Shoko,Berlinda Ncube,Thandanani Moyo,Jeffrey Godfrey Chimbo,Jemethious Dube,Farai Faustos Mashiri,Moira Amanda Mubani,Duncan Maruta,Charity Chimbo,Mpumuzi Masuku,Ryman Shoko,Rutendo Patricia Nyamusamba,Fortune Ntengwa Jomane
Genome editing methods are becoming routine tools for molecular and cell biologists. Such tools include ZFNs, CRISPR, megaTALs and TALENs. These tools are revolutionizing the creation of precisely manipulated genomes to modify the characteristics of organisms or cells. Additionally, gene drives have altered the way we understand inheritance laws. They give us the ability to have total control of the inheritance of traits of choice and importance. This succinct volume summarizes the history, principles, and applications - as well as the advantages and disadvantages - of each of these tools and various kinds of gene drives. The book is part of a program to produce books helpful to students and faculties of science at colleges and universities. This volume in the Pocket Guides to Biomedical Sciences series will help demystify these technologies. The book fills the gap between established conventional methods and the novel and exciting newly introduced tools of genome editing and gene drives. It will help young scientists understand the emerging genome editing tools and gene drives thereby promoting related research and adoption. Key Features The book extensively reviews the current genome editing tools and gene drives. Clarifies their targeting mechanisms and specificity of genome editing tools. Details many different types of natural and synthetic gene drives. Highlights concerns with gene drives and genome editing tools. Related Titles Brown, T. A. Genomes 4 (ISBN 978-0-8153-4508-4) Soh, J., et al. Genome Annotation (ISBN 978-1-4398-4117-4) Samuelsson, T. The Human Genome in Health and Disease: A Story in Four Letters (ISBN 978-0-8153-4591-6)
CRISPR Cas Systems
Author : Rodolphe Barrangou,John van der Oost
CRISPR Cas Systems Book Review:
CRISPR/Cas is a recently described defense system that protects bacteria and archaea against invasion by mobile genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids. A wide spectrum of distinct CRISPR/Cas systems has been identified in at least half of the available prokaryotic genomes. On-going structural and functional analyses have resulted in a far greater insight into the functions and possible applications of these systems, although many secrets remain to be discovered. In this book, experts summarize the state of the art in this exciting field.
Author : Bhanu P. Chowdhary
Publsiher : S Karger Ag
Animal Genomics Book Review:
This publication provides an update on the current status of gene maps in different livestock and pet/companion animal species. The findings summarized in species specific commentaries and original articles testify the rapid advances made in the field of animal genomics. Of significant interest is the fact that current investigations are providing headways for two important and exciting research fronts: targeted high-resolution mapping leading to the application of genomic information in addressing questions of economic and biological significance in animals, and the initiation of whole genome sequencing projects for some of the animal species. Like in humans and mice, this will set the stage for a new level of research and real time complex analysis of the genomes of these species. Animal Genomics signifies the beginning of a new era in this field and celebrates the achievements of the past 20 years of genomics research. It will be of special interest to researchers involved in genome analysis - both gross chromosomal as well as molecular - in various animal species, and to comparative and evolutionary geneticists.
Genomic management of animal genetic diversity
Author : J.K. Oldenbroek
Publsiher : Wageningen Academic Publishers
Genomic management of animal genetic diversity Book Review:
Recently developed genomic tools, like SNP-genotyping and whole genome sequencing, and their analysis, offer great opportunities for the conservation and utilisation of animal genetic diversity, both among and within breeds. These genomic tools can be used to detect potentially valuable rare alleles and haplotypes. They are important parts of the genetic diversity we need to conserve now for possible utilisation in the future. This book describes the use of genomic technology to define breeds, to measure diversity and to assess important features in the history of breeds affecting the present genetic diversity. The management of genetic diversity with genomic tools is outlined both in vivo: small populations of rare breeds or large populations with small effective population sizes and in vitro: genebanks. Special attention is given to the genomic management of populations of animals with high incidences of genetic defects. This book is intended for MSc and PhD students, scientists working with small populations in animal breeding and in conservation programmes for rare breeds.
Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy
Author : Fredric P. Manfredsson,Matthew J. Benskey
Publsiher : Humana Press
Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy Book Review:
This volume discusses protocols, ranging from vector production to delivery methods, used to execute gene therapy applications. Chapters are divided into four parts, and cover topics such as design, construction, and application of transcription activation-like effectors; multi-modal production of adeno-associated virus; construction of oncolytic herpes simplex virus; AAV-mediated gene delivery to the mouse liver; and intrathecal delivery of gene therapeutics by direct lumbar puncture in mice. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and authoritative, Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and students looking to utilize viral vectors in gene therapy experiments.
Advances in Animal Biotechnology
Author : Birbal Singh,Gorakh Mal,Sanjeev K. Gautam,Manishi Mukesh
Advances in Animal Biotechnology Book Review:
This book entitled, “Advances in Animal Biotechnology,” is a compilation of state-of-the-art in the field of Animal Biotechnology including fishery, that are not sheltered in depth in earlier publications. It offers an update on avant-garde technologies and advances in key aspects of genetic engineering, metagenomics, assisted reproduction, animal genomics, biotechnology in veterinary health, as well as the role of gut and marine microbial ecosystems in livestock and industrial development. The book is divided broadly into five different sections, viz., Gut Microbiome and Nutritional Biotechnology, Assisted Reproduction Biotechnology, Livestock Genomics, Health Biotechnology, and Animal Biotechnology in Global Perspective. The book covers the syllabi of Animal Biotechnology courses in various universities, academia and competitive examinations at various levels. Researchers, Continuing Graduates, and Academicians, Research Institutions, and Biotech Companies will be benefited from this valuable compilation of research. Its broad spectrum makes this work a valuable resource for professionals, researchers, academics and students in the field of veterinary and animal production as well as the biotechnology industry.
Emerging Issues in Climate Smart Livestock Production
Emerging Issues in Climate Smart Livestock Production Book Review:
Emerging Issues in Climate Smart Livestock Production: Biological Tools and Techniques furnishes a detailed reference on livestock sustainability and the role of biotechnology for creating more sustainable livestock production systems. The book is a collection of scientific techniques, including genetic engineering used to modify and improve animals, fishes, and microorganisms for human benefit. The book is particularly attractive for scientists, researchers, students, educators, and professionals in agriculture, veterinary, and biotechnology science. This book promotes several biotechnological approaches that can easily be evaluated in the field for quality assurance programs beneficial to producing livestock products and overall public health. Biotechnology has the potential to improve the productivity of animals via increased growth, carcass quality and reproduction, improved nutrition and feed utilization, improved food quality and safety, improved animal health and welfare, and reduced waste through more efficient utilization of resources. Identifies and explores biotechnological approaches for sustainable livestock and fish production Focuses on strategies for enhancing livestock and fishery productivity and sustainability Presents the latest research on modern methods and technologies
Applications of RNA Seq and Omics Strategies
Author : Fabio Marchi,Priscila Cirillo,Elvis Cueva Mateo
Applications of RNA Seq and Omics Strategies Book Review:
The large potential of RNA sequencing and other "omics" techniques has contributed to the production of a huge amount of data pursuing to answer many different questions that surround the science's great unknowns. This book presents an overview about powerful and cost-efficient methods for a comprehensive analysis of RNA-Seq data, introducing and revising advanced concepts in data analysis using the most current algorithms. A holistic view about the entire context where transcriptome is inserted is also discussed here encompassing biological areas with remarkable technological advances in the study of systems biology, from microorganisms to precision medicine.
Human Genome Editing
Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine,National Academy of Medicine,National Academy of Sciences,Committee on Human Gene Editing: Scientific, Medical, and Ethical Considerations
Human Genome Editing Book Review:
Genome editing is a powerful new tool for making precise alterations to an organism's genetic material. Recent scientific advances have made genome editing more efficient, precise, and flexible than ever before. These advances have spurred an explosion of interest from around the globe in the possible ways in which genome editing can improve human health. The speed at which these technologies are being developed and applied has led many policymakers and stakeholders to express concern about whether appropriate systems are in place to govern these technologies and how and when the public should be engaged in these decisions. Human Genome Editing considers important questions about the human application of genome editing including: balancing potential benefits with unintended risks, governing the use of genome editing, incorporating societal values into clinical applications and policy decisions, and respecting the inevitable differences across nations and cultures that will shape how and whether to use these new technologies. This report proposes criteria for heritable germline editing, provides conclusions on the crucial need for public education and engagement, and presents 7 general principles for the governance of human genome editing.
Genomics and Biotechnological Advances in Veterinary Poultry and Fisheries
Author : Yashpal Singh Malik,Debmalya Barh,Vasco Azevedo,S.M. Paul Khurana
Genomics and Biotechnological Advances in Veterinary Poultry and Fisheries Book Review:
Genomics and Biotechnological Advances in Veterinary, Poultry, and Fisheries is a comprehensive reference for animal biotechnologists, veterinary clinicians, fishery scientists, and anyone who needs to understand the latest advances in the field of next generation sequencing and genomic editing in animals and fish. This essential reference provides information on genomics and the advanced technologies used to enhance the production and management of farm and pet animals, commercial and non-commercial birds, and aquatic animals used for food and research purposes. This resource will help the animal biotechnology research community understand the latest knowledge and trends in this field. Presents biological applications of cattle, poultry, marine and animal pathogen genomics Discusses the relevance of biomarkers to improve farm animals and fishery Includes recent approaches in cloning and transgenic cattle, poultry and fish production
Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods
Author : National Research Council,Institute of Medicine,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Food and Nutrition Board,Board on Life Sciences,Committee on Identifying and Assessing Unintended Effects of Genetically Engineered Foods on Human Health
Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Book Review:
Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps.
Bovine Reproduction
Author : Richard M. Hopper
Bovine Reproduction Book Review:
Bovine Reproduction is a comprehensive, current referenceproviding information on all aspects of reproduction in the bulland cow. Offering fundamental knowledge on evaluating andrestoring fertility in the bovine patient, the book also placesinformation in the context of herd health where appropriate for atruly global view of bovine theriogenology. Printed in full colorthroughout, the book includes 83 chapters and more than 550 images,making it the most exhaustive reference available on thistopic. Each section covers anatomy and physiology, breeding management,and reproductive surgery, as well as obstetrics and pregnancywastage in the cow. Bovine Reproduction is a welcomeresource for bovine practitioners, theriogenologists, and animalscientists, as well as veterinary students and residents with aninterest in the cow.
Neurosurgical Neuropsychology
Principles of the Magnetic Methods in Geophysics
Preschool Practice Scissor Skills
Waste to Energy Conversion Technology
Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates
Therapeutic Stretching
Advanced Nanomaterials for Inexpensive Gas Microsensors
Get Out of Your Head
Die Like an Eagle
Hemicelluloses
The Cognitive Basis of Institutions
Go the F**k to Sleep
Faces of Compassion
Introduction to Philosophy
Lucky Peach Presents Power Vegetables |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What is the medical treatment for Nutcracker esophagus? output: Nutcracker esophagus is a benign, non-progressive condition, meaning that it is not associated with significant complications. Patients are usually reassured by their physicians that the disease is not associated with worsening. However, the symptoms of chest pain and dysphagia may be severe enough to require treatment with medications, and, rarely, surgery.
The first step in treatment of nutcracker esophagus is the reduction of risk factors. While weight reduction may be useful in reducing symptoms, the role of acid suppression therapy to reduce esophageal reflux, is still uncertain.
Medical therapy for nutcracker esophagus includes the use of calcium-channel blockers, which relax the LES and palliate the dysphagia symptoms. Diltiazem has been used in randomized control studies with good effect. Nitrate medications, including isosorbide dinitrate, given before meals may also help relax the LES and improve symptoms. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors, such as sildenafil have also been tried in case series for treatment. Finally, trazodone, an anti-depressant that reduces visceral sensitivity, has also been shown to reduce chest pain symptoms in patients with nutcracker esophagus.
Endoscopic therapy with botulinum toxin, known also as Botox, can also be used to temporarily improve symptoms, but the effect is temporarily and may only last for weeks. |
More on TYC ending Geo youth prison contract
Just a couple of quick items about the Texas Youth Commission's decision to close its unit in Coke County:
Locals Angry at Coke Closure
First, I spoke to House Corrections Chairman Jerry Madden who tells me local officials in Coke County are furious at TYC ending its contract with the Geo Group. The decision will cost the school district 20 teacher jobs, he said, and eliminate up to 80 other jobs.
Chairman Madden said the upside of news about the Coke County facility is that TYC officials actually did something, when two years ago he doesn't think they would have. OTOH, he said, he wakes up every day wondering about the troubled agency, "What's next?"
Sanitary Enough?
The Coke facility may have been too unsanitary and dangerous for TYC, but the Geo Group thinks somebody will house their prisoners there, the company said in a press release. "We will be marketing the available beds at the Center to state and federal detention agencies around the country." Maybe some state or federal inspectors need to check out the place before they proceed with that plan.
Hit in the Pocketbook
AP reports that the Geo Group's stock fell as a result of the contract termination.
Substance of Allegations
Jim Hurley told the Austin Statesman, "I can't get into too much detail because our investigations are continuing, but the conditions were unsanitary, the kids were not safe," he said. "They had dirty clothes. They had no change of clothes. Sheets were filthy. Some had no sheets, and some were sleeping on dirty mattresses."
Labels: Private prisons, TYC
So how was it different from any other TYC facility?
Good question! I hope this is a wakeup call to all TYC Facilities.
I see an opportunity for emergency funding to clean up this mess and hire some competent help.
With TDCJ still short over 3,000 officers for years I am sure TYC will receive emergency funding!
I do hope the TYC folks are keeping good sanitary conditions at their State-run facilities.
Retired 2004.
2:26, I cant speak for all the facilities but the one I worked at, Marlin, was clean. In fact, many of the kids found themselves in a clean safe place getting 3 1/2 meals a day for the first time in their life.
Historically, cleanliness is not necessarily a sign of a well functioning rehab program.
IN the 1950s and 60s, visitors to TYC facilities frequently commented on the sparkling clean facilities, the neatly kept grounds, etc. Supporters held this out as evidence of a good program.
One observer even likened Gainesville to a "college campus" or a "private boarding school."
But investigations regularly unearthed evidence of horrendous abuses taking place in these shiny clean institutions... hygiene is important but it can become an end in itself if one isn't careful.
Sorry 4:06, but the TYC is the one organization within the TDC that I just cannot get behind in any respect. Not enough guards, guards allowing kids to get beat almost to death, no internal accountability whatsoever for sexual assault of the kids in their care, etc.
It's like the Catholic Church, with more bars.
Um, 4:15, TYC is NOT under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Let's hope it stays that way.
all these kids came to Mart 2 today
Dirty and nasty, We will see how it goes today.Ms Pope is on campus at this timme
197 recommitts dumped into Mart 2. Sounds like a sound decesion based on safety. What kind of morons are running TYC? Why the transfere in the middle of the night? Did TYC skip out on their rent? Another small town gets the rug pulled out from under them by TYC. No doubt other small towns will take this in to account when TYC wants to locate a facility in their little town or big one for that matter. Just say no to TYC!
Ok now you hit a nerve, I work at Ron Jackson and have for 16 years and I have to say that all of the years I have been there the sanitation has been excellent from the First Super Linda Steen,then Garrison, Humeniuk and Stroud they all have done an excellent job on ensuring that the Facilitis are always clean and the youth are provided for!Wake up call !! Yeah right maybe you should do more research on that statement!!!
As far as hiring good help maybe you should state that the main problems are not from the staff that are there but the past Top Staff !!! Maybe we should check out the Legislators maybe a breathalizer after they vote on something !!! Who was that senator who was popped in Austin for DWI pretty much right after a session ,,, Hmmmm I wonder if He was drinking at Lunch Break ,,, Is that a State Policy ....
5:46, On the DWI legislator, under the TYC standard that would be "gross fiscal mismanagement" requiring a conservator. Maybe D'Pope is available for that job.
5:45, they yanked the kids out for their own good. Until you see the internal paperwork piling up at TYC saying that conditions and staffing at Coke County were abysmal, you probably shouldn't compare the facility at Bronte to conditions in state-run TYC facilities. This time, TYC didn't want to hem and haw it out, and let attorneys, advocates, and the media get out in front of them -- again.
I always hesitate into giving much credence to vague, unspecified conditions, particularly when those claims are made by people who have a historic tendency toward issuing sensational press when they are getting too much flack over some other issue - losing the pepperspray lawsuit.
I am not a big fan of the Coke County facility, but this smells of the old bait and switch the media topic to me. When an administration is in favor of pepperspraying at the drop of a hat. I find it hard to believe that dirty clothes and bed linen is the real reason for cancelling the contract in the dead of night. There has to be more to this than what is in the TYC press release.
Howard A. Hickman
4:15 p.m. (if you are a serious commenter and not just trying to get a rise from someone), you have taken a collection of anecdotes, lies, and isolated incidents to arrive at the hyperbole you have in your post. These problems did and do exist in TYC, but on a much, much smaller scale than many believe. Someday, maybe history will provide some perspective.
Howard, do you have any idea of what the contract with GEO says about notice or conditions for ending the contract?
6:26,
The Geo contract should have a 30 day no cause termination notice clause. The dirty clothes, etc. is probably being used to justify an emergency termination. There are some other outs TYC could utilize but they are not paying me for what I know so I assume (and all I am going to talk about) their termination approach is limited to the obvious.
It was Constitutional Rights Violations Howard. CRIPA stuff big time. It was a matter of time. This should have happened years ago.
The decisive action taken by Ms. Pope is a clear indication of the positive changes underway at the Texas Youth Commission,” said Gov. Rick Perry. “I am deeply disappointed that conditions at the facility have deteriorated to this point, but am confident that today’s actions will remedy the situation.”
The guv's take on the Coke closure.
Pepperspraying youth in violation of a legally approved policy is a CRIPA problem. Dirty clothes on its face is not a CRIPA problem, but possibly a need for a new launderer. There has to be something more than dirty laundry. What is it if you know?
Like I have stated in the recent past, Howard, you can respond so specifically to the issues, why don't we get a lobby together to get you into the Executive Director Position? As far as I am concerned you speak to the issues clearly and and in a manner that clearly shows you have a real undestanding of the operations and regulations. You Rock!!
I've talked to several folks that were there, old school as well as new. It was bad. Like...feces in places it shouldn't have been and no access to hygine bad. I just do't understand how it could have gotten that bad w/ supposedly 4 TYC staff on site!!
I have a question for Ms. Pope.
She says she has "zero tolerance" for abuse within the system....how can you explain leaving McFadden Ranch open???? You are contradicting yourself yet again Ms. Pope. We have proven to you that youth have been EXPLOITED, ABUSED and medically NEGLECTED, and what have you done??? NOTHING!!! Thats what! Get your ass in gear and protect ALL the TYC youth!! If something is not done at McFadden this week, WE ARE TAKING IT OUT OF TYC HANDS and making sure the FEDS get involved...enough is enough Pope!!!
Will somebody teach these folks how to google a name first.......it's apalling what you will find on this one...
Texas Youth Commission officials said Tuesday they are looking into how a former public school principal who was forced to resign amid complaints was hired to head education programs at a troubled East Texas lockup.
Brent Rumbo, 35, started Monday as principal of the Crockett State School after a pre-employment background and criminal-history check "came up totally clean," agency spokesman Jim Hurley said.
Hurley said officials would review Rumbo's hiring to determine if he should have been hired and if he should keep his job
@9:57, with respect, what we need is Howard as General Counsel. TYC BADLY needs a good lawyer. Somebody also suggested Richard LaVallo would be a good choice - either would be an improvement.
I'm among the camp that would like to see Judge Jeanne Meurer become E.D., though I considered nominating Old Salty.
And thx, 6:06, for the Rumbo tip.
We are all behind Howard here...but as somebody who has been a victim of Howard's one-size-fits all legal ease...I can say that I am not impressed at all with the way he handled things while he was at TYC. He stood behind those doing wrong...and he knows it.
Sure, he is gone from TYC now and outspoken...but if he would have spoken out while all of this abuse of employees was happening, he could have prevented it.
Thanks for nothing Howard.
I'm with you Howard - this smells an awful lot like we're hiding something again. Sounds to me like D'Pope is trying to draw the media's attention away from something else - I wonder what???
Lets see 8:03, We have a superintendent who "used" TYC youth as laborers at a staff members house and then poured bleach on the kid who became infected with poison ivy because she couldn't get him medical care( how could he explain the poison ivy?)We had a JCO 4 go in front of the state senators and tell of this abuse, the facility in question is being sued by a former employee and the kid who was injured by the bleach incident has sought legal representation....hmmm? MAYBE SHE IS DIVERTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM THIS???? She did state to the Star-Telegram that these investigations would be completed this week....So, Pope....we are waiting!
If something DOESN'T happen at McFadden this week. I personally am taking this out of TYC's hands.I KNOW abuse is occuring there and YES...I HAVE REPORTED IT NUMEROUS TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frustration has moved into anger that the state allows this to continue!!!
8:14, If the state doesn't do anything, contact the ACLU. It sounds like various civil rights are being violated at that facility and I am sure they can point you in the right direction to get some problems properly resolved. Good Luck.
properly resolving problems at Mcfadden??? That is so funny!!!!! Nothing gets "resolved" there. It gets covered-up and buried. If Cooke gets to keep her job ( not to mention her freedom) after this latest fiasco, I am sure that maybe there is somebody in a higher office that will listen. An election year is coming up.....
There are TOO many allegations of abuse for such a small facility. SOMEBODY will get something done...we just have to find the right person.
Ok, maybe I would get promoted if I had a DWI conviction and went trolling for hookers. No wonder I can't get ahead, I have a clean record. And where is Quality Assurance at Cooke COunty. That place did not turn that bad overnight. You can't blame Rumbo and Cooke County on the old adminstraion. This happened under the reformed leadership of those 'professionals" from TDCJ. Hoe much longer is the leg. going to close there eyes to management that is just as bad as the ones that were replaced?
I've worked with and respected Howard while at TYC, and applaud his willingness to sign his name and own his comments. But come on Howard, you know how bad Coke County was.
Of course there's more to it than can be discussed publicly. There are limits due to confidentiality and ongoing investigation. Bait and switch? Huh?
I see this as the first positive thing this new administration has done. Shouldn't we support the positive steps as well as rail against the missteps?
A little positive reinforcement goes a long way toward shaping the behavior to be what you want. Getting them out of Coke County will only benefit those youth.
I agree with 2:39. The removal of kids from Coke County was a good decision and the morally right thing to do. Just because TYC is imperfect doesn't mean it has some evil agenda that involves cancelling contracts and shifting kids around so that it can divert people's attention from other things.
Sometimes in people's attempts to be "justifiably" cynical, they come across as naive and silly, instead. If anyone wants to paint this as a TYC diversion tactic, they'd have to implicate the Ombudsman, too. People need to get a grip on reality and discuss ACTUAL problems and how to solve them instead of complaining about the good decisions, as well. The question now is how to best treat these kids and hold those who failed them accountable.
Absolutely, 2:39 and 3:41. 100% in agreement.
Isn't this closure interesting. TYC cannot close one of their own facilities but can swoop down and close a contract facility. TYC-CO has not listened to its staff so why should they start at the Coke County program? Ms Pope and her people who are really not intereted in kids or their staff (people's) lives and future are about as callous and uncaring as anyone can possibly get. To think these people are making decisions that will affect youth and destroy personal lives does not leave one with any sense of well being for those who have put her (Ms Pope) in a position of power (of which she is drunk on). The people at McFadden are crying for help at their facility, the TYC people at Coke County have done a good job and now they are being thrown to the sharks. How long does it take to destroy a room, a youth can destroy a room while you are trying to talk him down. TYC Central Office, politicians, and newspaper writers need to go out and hold a dorm or work directly with the kids and then offer the criticism they are so free with. Maybe Coke County should have been closed and maybe it should not have but the way TYC handled it was wrong!
One of things that an administration must have is information regarding the status of all of its institutions and programs. I have not heard anything about what oversight systems are in place for the administration to know what is going on. This was an issue with the previous admin. and after 6 months, how much progress has been made by the new administration in really evaluating the conditions in the facilities? Where are they with the risk assessments they were to do that were announced months ago? What are the systems to ensure that the youth are well cared for and not being abused? How can Pope say with certainty that there is no more abuse? What is her evidence? How can she be sure that this is not happening at TYC facilities or other contract facilities, especially with the staff shortages? Coke County did not change overnight. She and Owens said a month ago that the conditions are greatly improved and then they close down a facility and send kids to already overburdened and understaffed facilities. Another criticism is that there was no programming. What programming is supposed to be taking place since they stopped Resocialization? Can they be sure that programming is occurring at TYC run institutions especially since there really is no approved program? I am not saying that Coke Co. shouldn't have had its contract terminated, but I am questioning the competence of the current administration to address the issues in an organized and thoughtful manner that will, in fact, benefit the youth in its care.
Thank you 2:39 and 3:41. I agree.
While there are still many problems to be addressed at TYC, the decision to remove those youth is not one of them.
Their basic rights were being violated. Moving them to another facility was the right move.
If the TYC administration hadn't cancelled the contract with Coke County and removed those youth, then we should have been screaming cover-up.
The fact that the youth were moved in the middle of the night speaks to how bad the conditions were, not that the administration was trying to hide the move. That would be stupid, they know they are under a microscope.
Thank you to the CO staff who visited the program and rang the alarm.
"The people at McFadden are crying for help at their facility, the TYC people at Coke County have done a good job and now they are being thrown to the sharks. How long does it take to destroy a room, a youth can destroy a room while you are trying to talk him down. TYC Central Office, politicians, and newspaper writers need to go out and hold a dorm or work directly with the kids and then offer the criticism they are so free with. Maybe Coke County should have been closed and maybe it should not have but the way TYC handled it was wrong!"
Coke County should have been closed, no question about it. The people there did not do a good job according to anybody who visited. Why are you defending it? And how did TYC handle the closure incorrectly? Should TYC have waited for weeks or months more for some official "word" that it needs to be closed? Kids were living in squalor. While you rant about the injustices of closing the facility, think what it would be like living in one of those filthy, cramped cells for one day, one month, or one year, and ask yourself why you're arguing that the place should keep warehousing kids. Where are your priorities?
And if you know something is very wrong at McFadden Ranch, have you reported it to the OIG? Or are you typing an effortless ramble that requires even less insight and evaluation than what you claim the media and legislators falsely report to the public?
About what are you referring? Who was I standing behind that was doing wrong? About what abuse of employees am I supposed to know about?
I stated that I was not a big fan of Coke County. My point was the TYC press statements indicated the problems were dirty laundry and lack of a substitute for Resocialization, which is pretty strange as a reason for an emergency closure. Even what is reported coming from the Ombudsman's report is vague, general, subjective, and seems mostly based on youth reports. My question is what objective evidence are we talking about? How difficult would it be to take pictures of the unsanitary conditions and release them?
I do not want to demean Mart but how much better are conditions when one dumps 197 youth at Mart? I am sure there are some real big problems created by that operation. I am am sure that the Mart staff are doing more than they should be expected to do in that situation and working a lot of overtime. I would bet that there were some problems with the food service contractor meeting the sudden increase in food demand and the youth are receiving cold meals. The Mart staff have my sympathy in handling what must be a logistical nightmare.
Coke County, Howard, was more of a constitutional nightmare than just dirty laundry. It wouldn't be fitting for a third-world country. Why was that contract renewed every time it came up? We've been reporting these concerns for years?
Something smells foul here, and it's not emitting from the actual facility. This smells worse.
They fired all TYC employees who were charged with over sight, even one that was a new employee in orientation. Lynn Parra, Larry Isabelle, Elizabeth Lee (resigned this afternoon), the QA supervisor, and all monitors, for a total of 8. Even a clerk.
If they had involved a huge voice, a bullhorn if you will, a true youth advocate who has a tenacity of a pitbull to advocate for the rights and well-being of children in contract care, then they wouldn't be in the position they're in now.
Utilize Jeanette Burke. The crazed red-head from Boston is an advocate like no other, and they ignored her. They kept her home, away from the hidden truth of what was happening.
Jeannette is sworn to fun, but loyal to none when it comes to issues as this, and it'd be nice to have a gal like her going banshee (sometimes Really Banshee) to watch these contracts.
We had a person like that at McFadden. They even called her a little pitbull, she was new to Texas and to TYC. She didn't take any garbage from anybody and she stood up against the abuse. She knew what she was doing and she fought for the rights of those boys. She was what every TYC employee should be and stand for....until they terminated her.
I agree. Jeannette B. has been screaming for a long time for the rights of youth... put her over the contracts piece! She knows her stuff AND she's an advocate for youth. What could be better!!!
Howard, you sound like a Coke County/GEO apologist. Do you really, truly believe that your air of skepticism is warranted when TYC removed those kids as if a Category 5 hurricane was making landfall? There must have been absolutely deplorable conditions in Bronte if they took such swift, unequivocal action. They didn't just issue a stern warning or send some YCI's. They yanked those kids out as though they were at risk of imminent harm. Oh, wait. A youth DID kill himself last year after losing 23 pounds in 2 months. Imminent would be an understatement.
Maybe the press isn't more specific because they were not present at the facility and people don't want to screw up pending criminal and admin investigations. We have a group of adults agreeing that these kids were neglected and living in horrid conditions, and you're using the old TYC standby of, "Well, we just have these kids' words to go on. Let's piddle around and see if I feel convinced." You can't take other people's word for it and show more concern for the kids who survived there?
First off let me say to all of you that have such negative comments, you need to be there to see what was going on. TYC and Brownwood did nothing but lie and make up stuff to cover up all their problems that they have had that were proven. They were out to make them selves look good at GEO's expense. Thoes kids were not filthy or mistreated, untill Brownwood "pulled and dragged them out". Ask thoes on the bus how far they got before they had to pull over due to the kids trying to rock the bus over. Coke County got all the kids that no one wanted or could handle.
7:07 and 8:54,
I suggest that you reread all the postings that I have made on this specific blog. I am not an apologist for Geo or the TDCJ folks. I just believe that there should be specific serious problems identified when a contract is immediately terminated and 197 youth are dumped into one TYC facility on little notice. Whatever happened to the people's right to know? I just do not take the stated generalities as fact. There is more to this than has been stated.
I have made several reports of abuse for youth who had come through that facility.
There were many specific and serious problems and unfortunately had been there for a long time.
What abuse are they doing at Mcfadden?
Thanks for the compliment, Scott, but Old Salty definitely does not want the job! What TYC needs at the very top is an experienced top-level executive, who knows how to recruit and motivate top-notch jj experts and who can deal effectively with the politicos; a retired CEO of a large corporation, or a retired General or Admiral. Before everyone starts throwing spears at me for that one, note that USAA is a top-rated organization that is also constantly rated as one of the best Corporations in the country to work for - it is run by retired Generals and Admirals who are definitely not insurance experts. They are people who know how to get a job done, and who know how to lead and manage the experts. Old Salty
9:15 pm. No, TYC did not lie about the conditions at Coke County. I did talk with caseworkers who rode the busses. I also talked with people who went to Coke County to investigate. Also, the kids did not all get dumped at one facility. Crockett took 40 from Mart, Mart got 40 from Coke County, and the bulk of the rest went to Ron Jackson.
evins should be next.
Leadership, Leadership, Leadership, TYC still needs Leadership.
I happen to know a lot of people in Bronte. I know that a lot of good church going folks were in the facility on a regular basis. It is extremely difficult for me to believe that any one of those people would have seen anything remotely resembling what has been reported without raising the roof. The people of Bronte are good, honest, old-fashioned types and would not have tolerated for one minute the conditions that have been reported. Take this for what it's worth.
Does anyone have the current list of the Facility Superintendents and Ass. Superintendents?
Annual Halloween scare tactic on sex offenders doe...
Texas justice system oversees more people than liv...
Understaffing makes prison guards' job less safe
Half of teens in adult TX prisons from Houston
Tricks instead of treats: TYC halts overtime for JCOs
Homemade jail hooch sounds really gross
Survey results: What is the structure of the US ma...
Bexar partners with religious charity to divert yo...
I Love a Parade! Another Dallas Exoneree ... Strik...
Check out Restorative Justice Ministry Network's N...
Advocates: Not enough detail in TYC grievance proc...
'The Jail That Ate Tyler' and other stories
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I fee...
Juvenile 'Boot Camps' in Texas
Which do you prefer: More organized crime, drugs a...
Question: Why test Texas high school athletes for ...
Gallup: Americans victimized less, think crime is ...
TYC defiance over pepper spray policy sends agency...
Will DynCorp or other corporate mercenaries operat...
When is TYC's public rule making process going to ...
Madden touts new report on alternatives to Texas' ...
Arrests for pain, anxiety drugs worrisome for legi...
Early Voting Begins: Oppose Proposition 4, New Jails
Texas' new sex offender law misplaces focus on str...
Youth Commission Roundup
130 Houston lawyers, 70%of Grits readers say: 'San...
Texas jail commissary corruption may run deeper th...
What Would Jesus Do about uncorroborated snitch te...
If you had 1,200 pounds of marijuana in the back o...
Judges appoint cronies over more experienced lawye...
Report: Kids bounced from regular classrooms more ...
From the Blogs
Who are the big American drug bosses?
Happenings: Stuff to read
More jail commissary corruption alleged
TYC Conservator Report Finally Online
Pope: Staff still using pepper spray either "corru...
Harrell: Victory Field "closest thing to Coke County"
County should try alternatives before more jail bu...
Youth Commission Open Thread: What should the Legi...
Annie E. Casey Foundation active in Texas on juven...
Munoz: Jail Standards Commission regulates few pri...
Ed Owens: Get me out, now! New York Times looks at...
Better late than never, judges create panel to eva...
Arguments you won't hear in TV ads about new priso...
Did Travis County prosecutors fail to report jailh...
'We close at 5': The "After-Hours Entrance" to Tex...
Grayson may turn to Geo Group for jail expansion
That closet will never harm anyone again
Conservative group opposing prison bonds, other ne...
Take Grits web poll: What if any sanction for CCA ...
Texans' Taxation Revulsion vs. their Incarceration...
Texas Senate committee begins long march toward pr...
Open Thread: TYC Pre-Hearing Roundup
Houston lawyers to file second Keller complaint ov...
The Reverse Lottery Theory of Texas Criminal Justice
Tinkering with the machinery of death
Mother of Idaho inmate will testify about Geo Grou...
More Legislative scrutiny for TYC
La Meme Chose: The Best Criminal Justice Blogs
From the "Duh" Department
Would reducing the number of people on parole redu...
Complaint to be filed against Judge Sharon Keller ...
Debate intensifies over Tyler's proposed $125 mill...
Geo lobby pressure inspires Senate hearing on priv...
Why does the immigration debate bring out the wors...
Judge Sharon Keller didn't consult colleagues befo...
Rosy financial outlook for Geo Group, or will scan...
'Nuther Paris teen alleged abuse at Texas Youth Co...
They say it's your birthday ... it's my (blog's) b...
Texas voters will decide on more than $600 million...
Sunday morning tidbits
Texas Senate Committee plans hearing on private pr...
What's Your Alibi?
Wentworth requests AG Opinion on Bexar County need...
TYC will expand use of contract youth prisons afte...
Mass Incarceration: At What Cost?
Wrongful Conviction Overturned in Houston
Hooray! Back Gate Returns from Blogospheric Grave!
Did a Texas Supreme Court Justice burn down his ow...
El Paso conference brought together top minds to p...
Mental health courts: A strategy that works?
Architect: Voters should accept 9-figure pricetag ...
For once in Coke County, SB 103 worked like it was...
We have met the bioterrorism threat and it is us
Texas CCA Ruling Means Execution Moratorium, For Now
What's Next at TYC? Meet Brent Rumbo
Possible methodology flaw in Dallas eyewitness ID ...
When the rent comes due: State Rep. Terri Hodge ac...
Williamson County votes to end Hutto contract!
TYC closing Coke County private youth prison
Tuff on crime message doesn't sell at A&M student ...
Texas jail overcrowding: 'The system may be starti...
Brain science of juvenile crime: Frontal cortex in...
Another escape; three in a week!
21 Lbs of Grits for Breakfast |
Affiliation & Partnership
Enterprise Application Integration
SAP- Hana
SAP Implementation Services
Version Upgrade
Application Support and Maintenance
Business Process Engineering
SAP system Audits
Enhancements and Developments
Why Sage Technologies
Our Approch
Sage Technologies completed an extensive due diligence of the company
Hazlet, NJ – Sage Technologies successfully completed the entire due diligence process and to provide the process and technology diligence. We coordinated the Due Diligence project using PBSF’s legal and external accounting teams and our own industry and technology experts.
Our team of experts visited every location with RCM operations. The team interviewed the leadership team at each location, evaluated their operational processes, their existing technology applications and infrastructure.
The Sage Technologies project manager coordinated all requests for information from the legal and finance teams and ensured that the responses from the target company were stored in the correct folder in the data room.
Multi-Year Agreement with a Public-Sector client for ERP sup...
Application Development and IT Support...
Join Sage Technologies for informative webinar on the BI Sys...
Join Sage Technologies for Webinar on Improving Operations u...
Join Sage Technologies in Orlando, FL at upcoming Sapphire a...
Signup for our mailing List to get Latest Updates and News
C-102, 2nd Floor, Sec-65,NOIDA,
UP-201301, India
ppal@sagetl.com
Kiran Sharma
Over 20 years of Business Management and Operations experience with multi-national IT consulting firms. Strong experience of working in almost all the areas of IT consulting services starting from providing Client Solutions, Office Management, Recruiting, Accounting, HR and Vendor Management.
She possesses a strong background in Finance and facilitating management alignment. She has a bachelor degree in Finance and Diploma in Business Management.
Prime Meiden Limited
Prime Meiden Ltd (PML) is an Indo-Japanese joint venture company of the Prime Group, a highly diversified group which has been a leading force for over 28 years in the field of high technology equipments & systems covering the entire spectrum of power sector including generation, distribution and transmission; precision engineering, power conditioning, CNC machine tools etc. The group is virtually present in every major sector of the economy such as power and energy, aviation, space, railways, defence, IT, infrastructure, industries including automobile & metallurgical industry, petroleum, oil, gas, steel, fertilizers and ship building etc.
PML has just started there operation in SEZ premises and wanted to have SAP for all business process form starting. They wanted to implement modules MM, SD, FI,CO,PS,CO,PP,QM,ABAP & BASIS. PML was looking for Partner with god past records of on time implementation and is looking for SAP service partner who suggest them Industries best practices. The partner should be capable of not just Implement but also make system user friendly to smoothen the change management and easy transitions.
SAP Implementation.
L2 & L3 support .
Patel Products Limited (Manufacturing)
Patel wood today is pioneering the best practices and striving for excellence through adaptation of latest technology and management learning. An ISO 9001:2000 certified company; they are managing their operations through effective Information Technology adaptation and have excellent production facilities with fully automated imported plant and machinery.
Patel Products Limited is running on SAP ECC 6.0 with the modules MM, SD, FI,CO,HRPY and ABAP. Patel Products limited was looking for SAP service partner to provide the functional and technical support to all SAP applications. They were also looking for partner’s capabilities to advocate their SAP system. The ASM partner should be capable of not just providing the production support but also able to help them in new initiatives, upgrade and future roll-outs.
off-shore/onsite model to save cost
SLA based delivery
Quick response time to the problems
Ability to deliver projects, new functionalities, roll-out and upgrades
L2 functional support for all SAP modules
L3 technical support for developments
Support Services (Offshore)
Level 2: Resolving Issues at Process Level Combination of Sage Offshore / Onsite Team (Responsibility depends on severity and turnaround requirement)
Level 3: Resolving Issues that need config / code / process changes.
Monte Carlo Fashions Limited
Monte Carlo Fashions Ltd was launched in 1984 by Oswal Woolen Mills Ltd, the flagship company of Nahar group. The launch was a significant step in the evolution of branded garment industry in India. Since then, it has been catering to the ever-growing demands of the Clothing and Fashion industry.
Monte Carlo was honored as one of ASIA’S BEST MARKETING BRANDS by World Consulting & Research Corporation (WCRC).The Company’s products reach the end user through different channels i.e. through Exclusive Brand Outlets, Multi Brand Outlets. Currently Monte Carlo is available through more than 200 Exclusive Brand Outlets & over 1300 Multi Brand Outlets.
MCFL is running on SAP ECC 6.0 with modules MM, SD, FI,CO,POS,ABAP & BASIS and also few integration with third party software’s. FFIL is looking for SAP service partner to provide the expertise to Implement SAP PP, Product Costing with integration with BAR Code & Scanners for production confirmations and also support to all SAP applications.. The partner should be capable of not just Implement but also make system user friendly to smoothen the change management and easy transitions.
To enhance the SAP system to rectify the process gaps in all implemented SAP modules.
Consolidation of various non-SAP systems used for different processes to SAP system.
SAP PP, CO Implementation with Bar Code & Scanners Integration.
Ralson India Limited (Manufacturing)
Ralson today stands tall as India’s largest company in the field of bicycle & Automobile tyres, tubes and bicycle components. Ralson is the first and only Bicycle Tyre manufacturer in India to be accredited with an ISO 9001Certification, and it provides the widest possible range of tyres (Nylon & Cotton, Colored, Gum wall, White wall & Black), tubes (Natural & Butyl rubber) and components.
RIL was planning for a version upgrade and possible roll-outs for other divisions not running on SAP. This is the time RIL would like to take the opportunity to review their process to understand the utilization of SAP system.
The major objectives for the SAP review project are:
To Identify the areas of improvement to enhance the SAP utilization.
To propose a continuous improvement plan for better SAP utilization
To Identify the process gaps and suggest solution to rectify it.
Business process re-engineering and optimization
SAP revival project.
Identify gaps and map them in SAP
SAP R/3 version upgrade to ECC 6.0
Krishna Maruti Limited (Manufacturing)
KML entered the auto interior manufacturing business with a single product (seating system for Maruti 800 CC Car) in year 1994. Today they manufacture 8 different products with over 100 different models
KML is implemented with R/3 4.7 and apart from the core module the modules like FM-BCS and Product costing
are implemented. Due to some gaps the closing process was very tedious for them and also they needed to have a review of the functionality of the product costing and a complete system audit on it. They had also very typical scenario in the payment process which was virtually impossible using the standard SAP functionality and they were completely at no end to map some of the asset retirement process. They needed some very complicated reports to comply to the internal audit team and besides all these they needed an expert hand to guide them on the SAP recommended process of year end closing in detail.
Support Services (Onsite)
Level 2 :Resolving the day to day issues particularly those were there since the beginning of the year//mapping the business process with the SAP functionality and train the end user/core users//configuring the process for the payment program and FI-AA according to the changed scenario//designing of new derivation rules for the derivation of the fund centre//commitment item from within the regular transactions// creating the reports to the satisfaction of the audit team. Monitoring and explaining the process of year end closing.
Supertech Group
Supertech Group, is founded in 1988, has set new trends and benchmarks of architectural excellence in the contemporary global scenario. An ISO 9001:2000 certified company; Supertech has successfully completed 20 years in real estate business and today it has revolutionized the real estate arena.
Supertech Group is running on SAP ECC 6.0 with the modules, MM, SD, FI,CO, PS, and RE.Supertech Group is looking for SAP service partner to provide the functional and technical support to all SAP applications. They were also looking for partner’s capabilities to advocate their SAP system. The ASM partner should be capable of not just providing the production support but also able to help them in new initiatives, upgrade and future roll-outs.
SAP Re-implementation
Support Services (Onsite/Offsite)
SAP Re-implementation with extended functionalities
Level 2: Resolving Issues at Process Level Responsibility depends on severity and turnaround requirement)
Level 3: Resolving Issues that need config / code / process changes: Combination of Sage Offsite / Onsite Team (Responsibility depends on severity and turnaround requirement and level of client interaction required).
International Tractors Limited (Manufacturing)
Sonalika is the one of the top 3 tractor manufacturing companies in India, other products include of, Multi utility vehicles, engines and various farm equipments. Today the group stands tall with an approximate turnover of 5000 Crore INR. An average growth of 30% makes it one of the fastest growing corporate in India. It is also one of the few debt free companies. Group has strength of about 2000 employee technocrats.
Sonalika is running on SAP 4.6 since 2001 and was looking for SAP partner to assist them in all their upcoming project ,they are matured enough on their current system and looking for improvement area and functionalities ,this is the time they want to explore new areas in SAP to improve their efficiency and want to make their system more productive .
Sage Technologies won this engagement through our innovative approach and value added services. Sage Technologies competed against the other big consulting organization .The scope of the initiative included developing a roadmap and subsequently doing the projects leveraging the existing SAP’s ERP.
Version Upgrade & Unicode conversion
New Modules Implementation
BCH Electric Limited
BCH Electric Limited an ISO 9001:2000 company, is today one of the largest manufacturers of low voltage electrical and electronic controls in India. The Company was set up in 1965 as a joint venture between Cutler-Hammer, USA, and Indian partners. Since 1977, it is a wholly owned Indian company with global business connections.
BCH electric limited was one of the first mid size company to implement SAP in India .BCH has grown up from 90 crores to 300 crores in past 6 years. They have gone live in year 2001 ,but over a period of time SAP utilization has gone down and user’s went back to traditional way of doing work. The benefits from SAP went down and it just become the system of records. The challenge is to revive overall SAP and increase the SAP utilization.
Testing, End user training
SAP planning processes
SAP production strategies and capacity planning
SAP financial and controlling process
SAP plant maintenance and quality management processes
Complete onsite model ( SAP functional and ABAP)
Fujifilm India Private Limited
Fujifilm India Private Limited was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation,is leader in a broad spectrum of imaging industries, operated in India through its branch office and Indian dealers. World over, FUJIFILM is the pioneer in imaging technology with 80 years of experience. With all advanced technologies, the company provides solutions in Digital camera, Photo imaging, medical products, graphic arts, life science systems, motion picture films, recording media and industrial products.
FFIL is running on SAP ECC 6.0 with modules MM, SD, FI,CO, WM ,CS,ABAP & BASIS and also few integration with third party software’s. FFIL is looking for SAP service partner to provide the functional and technical support to all SAP applications. They were also looking for partner’s capabilities to advocate their SAP system. The ASM partner should be capable of not just providing the production support but also able to help them in new initiatives, upgrade and future roll-outs.
Level 2: Resolving Issues at Process Level e.g. Problems in reconciliation, Problems in MRP needing data / timing / user error or other such adjustments: Combination of Sage Offshore / Onsite Team (Responsibility depends on severity and turnaround requirement)
Level 3: Resolving Issues that need config / code / process changes: Combination of Sage Offshore / Onsite Team (Responsibility depends on severity and turnaround requirement and level of client interaction required) Customer base is spread out nationwide (in US).
Aquatech International
Aquatech International is a leading global supplier of industrial water and wastewater treatment systems and services. With hundreds of operating systems worldwide, they provide the technology, experience, and vision needed for total water solutions that work together seamlessly. Founded in 1981 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Aquatech began as a supplier of pure water systems for the power industry.
Aquatech was running on SAP 4.6B with the R/3 modules, PP, MM, SD, FI,CO, PS, PM and QM. Aquatech required an SAP service partner to provide the functional and technical support to all SAP applications. The support partner is expected to be an advocate of their SAP system to the business community. In addition to providing production support the partner must also able to help them with new initiatives, upgrades, and future roll-outs.
After Aquatech performed a thorough competitive search, vetting, and selection process they chose Sage Group as their ASM partner for SAP. Sage offered a comprehensive service contract that included the following key benefits to Aquatech.
Off-shore/On-site model to save cost
Service Level Agreement (SLA) based delivery
Quick response and resolution for high priority issues
Ability to deliver projects, new functionalities, roll-out, and upgrades based on pre-defined costing model
The scope of the SAP support agreement included both level 2 and level 3 functional support for all modules and custom development associated with the SAP system. Process improvement guidance and functionality enhancements for the procurement and order management process was also a part of the support agreement. Sage Group also agreed to enhance the configuration of the Project Systems module to improve integration with the SD and MM modules.
Aquatech is extremely happy with the cost effective approach and highly skilled resources provided by Sage Group. Sage Group provides the following support services for Aquatech.
Level 2 Support:
Resolving functional and processissues such as the following examples:
Financial reconciliation,
MRP datadiscrepancies
Job sequence ortiming,
User errors or questions
The level 2 support is provided by a cost effective approach that utilizes an on-site Sage Group Team that is augmented by a team of off-shore Sage Group resources. The Sage Group team located on-site determines the best mix of resources to utilize to resolve each issue based on severity and turnaround requirements.
Level 3Support:
Resolving issues that need configuration, coding, or process changes are managed using a combination of senior level Sage Group experts on-site and offshore based on required skills and issue priority.
Based on our intimate knowledge of the Aquatech SAP system and our deep knowledge of SAP; Sage Group has been selected to deliver other SAP projects for Aquatech.
Sentry Group is the world’s leading supplier of fire-resistant and security storage containers, with a commitment to rigorous standards in design, manufacture and testing. Their products provide fire protection, basic security, privacy and organization and are available online or in-store at many leading retailers. They are a global company which produces more fire-resistant chests, files, safes, security storage containers and gun safes than any other company in the world.
Sentry Group urgently needed to develop a new solution for Freight Management utilizing SAP’s APO and BW. They also neededto upgrade their SAP ERP to ECC6.0 with Unicode in a four month time frame.
The internal SAP team did not have the bandwidth or experience to deliver either of these projects.
Sentry Group determined that they needed a reliable and cost effective partner to for both the Freight Management Solution and the upgrade. Due to the very short window for the upgrade they realized that their partner had to have strong upgrade experience as well as full bandwidth to support any technical challenges during upgrade.
Sage Group was selected to be the partner for the Freight Management Initiative and to also perform the upgrade.
The Freight Management Initiative required that SAP’s Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) be fully integrated with SAP’s Business Warehouse (BW) in order to provide management with the intelligence necessary to optimize their Freight Management Process.
The scope of the ERP Upgrade is provided below.
Business Warehouse
APO.
Sage Group successfully developed and deployed the Freight Management functionality.
Sage Group also successfully upgraded Sentry’s ERP application to ECC 6.0 and converted the system to Unicode. Sage Group performed the upgrade and conversion for a fixed cost and completed the entire project within the required 4 month timeframe.
Sage Group was able to complete the upgrade on time and for a fixed cost because of their highly skilled and experienced consultants who utilize our proprietary SageSuretools and upgrade methodology.
Sentry Group has acknowledged our outstanding performance by awarding us their IT support contract.
United Stationers Inc. (USSCO) is North America’s largest broad line wholesale distributor of business products, with net sales of approximately $4.0 billion. USSCO has 40,000 items from more than 500 manufacturers, 20,000 resellers with product categories including traditional office products, office furniture, technology products, and janitorial and sanitation supplies.
United Stationers wanted to streamline and automate operations to remain competitive in the quickly evolving market place. The USSCO management team identified the following objectives for this critical automation and integration initiative:
Optimize inventory levels
Increase the accuracy and timeliness of inventory demand forecasts
Improve customer service levels
Provide the data needed for efficient and effective operations and to evaluate customer profitability
Improve collaboration with customers and suppliers
Optimize the warehouse distribution channel
Streamline warehouse, transportation, and order management operations
USSCO selected mySAP All-in-One solution to provide the technology solution for their initiative. Since the existing SAP solution did not fully meet their needs they selected Sage Group to partner with SAP to provide the design and development resources to create a new and innovative Dealer Network solution.
In addition to designing, developing, and implementing a world class solution for USSCO. Sage Group developed a global template for SAP’swholesale distributor industry solution. Sage Group’s innovative solution provides unique functionality to the distribution industry by incorporating Content Management, Campaign Management, Dealer Back Office, Dealer Front Office,and Analytics, into a holistic industry solution.
The scope if this initiative was very extensive and involved integrating e-commerce and internet sales functionality with marketing functionality to create a dynamic Dealer Front Office solution that was seamlessly integrated with the back office distribution operations.
USSCO is pleased with the benefits that resulted from this project. The solution delivered the benefits identified in the business case, which were the elimination ofredundant data entry, reduction in order fulfillment time, while providingeasier access to critical information and improved visibility totheir workload. The automation of reminders and alerts has greatly increased the timeliness and accuracy of deliveries. The solution has also improved management decision making.
Orion HealthCorp
Orion HealthCorp is one of the largest Revenue Cycle Management Companies (RCM) in the United States with a strong Practice Management background. With offices in California, Colorado, Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia and New York they provide billing and practice management services to healthcare professionals from single Physician practices to large hospital based practices.
Orion HealthCorp (Orion) is composed of multiple business units, each of which utilizes a different product for their billing platform. Orion management realized that the lack of a common billing platform was adding cost to their operations and inhibiting their ability to rollout optimized processes nationwide. Orion was also faced with the fact that one of their billing platforms was based on obsolete technology and an archaic coding language.
Orion decided to move all the clients who were currently using the antiquated billing platform to one of their state of the art billing platforms, Imagine. Imagine is a package solution and Orion has a strong relationship with the Imagine Management Team. Orion selected Sage Group to help them upgrade Imagine and develop the necessary integration for the Orion clients who were using the billing platform Orion had decided to eliminate.
Sage Group was responsible for the specification and installation of the hardware required to support the additional volume on the Imagine system. Sage Group was also responsible for the upgrade of Imagine to the latest release and the design, development, testing, and implementation of all the necessary interfaces with client practice management systems. Sage Group had to ensure that HIPAA guidelines and regulations were followed on every task and that all data migration operations were HIPPA compliant. Sage Group also provided the project manager for the entire initiative including the actual transition of clients to Imagine.
Orion is very pleased that they were able to eliminate an obsolete billing platform and replace it with a platform that they were already using in another business unit. The project not only reduced the number of billing platforms, it also allowed Orion to consolidate two data centers. The CFO of Orion has credited Sage Group with developing and implementing the innovative solution which helped to reduce IT support costs and improve profitability, while at the same time greatly reducing the risk of system failure.
Merrill Lynch (ML) is one of the largest brokerage and investment banking houses in the US. Merrill Lynch has over 50,000 employees and operates in every state in the country.
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management has over 15,000 financial planners. The planners use many world class tools packaged together as a wealth management workbench to support their business. The workbench did not include a customer relationship management (CRM) component and the Wealth Management organization demanded that CRM functionality be added to the workbench functionality.
ML had a very positive experience with Sage Group’s Oracle HR implementation and they were aware of our extensive experience implementing CRM solutions from Siebel, SAP, and other lesser players in the CRM market. Consequently; Sage Group was awarded the contract to implement Siebel for ML’s Wealth Management business.
Sage Group was responsible for the design of the infrastructure, configuration of the CRM module, and the re-design of the sales campaign processes. The scope of the CRM solution is provided below:
Loyalty Management
CRM Reporting and Analytics
The focus of this initiative was the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut geographies.
Merrill Lynch was pleased with the efficient implementation of the Siebel package and the new process that the Sage Group designed for wealth management campaign and events management.
Merrill Lynch is one of the largest brokerage and investment banking houses in the US. Merrill Lynch has over 50,000 employees and operates in every state in the country.
Merrill Lynch needed a Human Resources system that could provide and enforce consistent and standardized HR policies and procedures for all of their employees.
Sage Group is nationally recognized for our extensive knowledge, experience, and skill in designing and implementing global HR solutions. Merrill Lynch selected Sage Group to implement Oracle’s HR Module.
Sage Group was responsible for the design of the infrastructure, configuration of the HR module, and the re-design of the HR processes. The scope of the HR solution is provided below:
Career and Succession Planning
Workforce Rewards
Payroll and Benefits
Time Reporting
HR Reporting and Analytics
Merrill Lynch was pleased with the innovation and automation that Sage Group was able to bring to their HR processes. The outstanding work done on this package implementation resulted in Sage Group being awarded the contract to implement Siebel’s CRM package for Merrill’s Wealth Management Division.
BCH Electric Limited, an ISO 9001:2000 company, is one of the largest manufacturers of low voltageelectrical and electronic controls in India. The Company was established in 1965 as a joint venture between Cutler-Hammer, USA, and a consortium of partners from India. In 1977 the company became a wholly owned Indian company but it still maintains its global business connections.
BCH electric limited was one of the first mid-size companies to implement SAP in India.BCH has experienced explosive growth in the 6 years, with revenue increasing by over 330% in that time. Although BCH implemented SAP in 2001 management noticed that over time SAP utilization has gone down and their staff reverted to the traditional ways of working. The SAP system was simply being used for a system of record and was not delivering the automation and process efficiencies envisioned by management at the time of the SAP implementation. The challenge is to identify why the staff is not using the system to improve productivity and create an action plan to revive overall SAPutilization and optimize the business processes.
BCH Electric selected Sage Group to audit the SAP system and business process. The primary focus of the audit was the planning process. Sage Group was asked to target the Sales, Demand Forecasting, Materials Requirements Planning, and Production processes and associated SAP functionality during the audit. A key deliverable of the audit was a prioritized action plan that would result in productivity improvement and cost reductions due to more efficient manufacturing and procurement schedules.
The scope of this process improvement audit was to review the processes listed below:
Planning Processes
Sales forecasting process
MRP processes,
Production planning and shop floor control process
BCH was extremely pleased with the audit recommendations. The recommendations clearly identified the reasons for the failure of the organization to embrace the system and provided a detailed roadmap for enhancing processes and re-configuring SAP to ensure that the process and the system were completely synchronized and the expected productivity gains would be realized. Because of the audit, BCH Electric Limited, awarded a contract to Sage Group to implement the roadmap.
OrionHealthCorp (Orion) is determined to improve operating margins in a very competitive environment, which is facing strong pressure from both private and public payers to reduce costs. Orion management believes that automation and process optimization are the best means to meeting their bottom line improvement objective. The challenge for Orion is to eliminate the heavily manual process of communicating with physicians and helping them submit their claims correctly the first time, or to correct any claims that require corrections or additional information.
Orion engaged Sage Group to design, manage, and implement a cloud based web portal and workflow system to streamline and automate their billing processes. The portal provides physicians with a quick and easy way to enter and correct claims, review the status of their claims, and to see their payment postings. The solution requires a tight integration of the workflow system, Orion’s multiple billing systems and Orion’s Business Intelligence system.
The scope of the initiative was very complex since every component of the system had to be HIPAA compliant, provide very robust security to ensure patient, physician, and practice level security, provide intrusion detection, and meet all the functional requirements listed below.
Queues for claims based on their status
Complete integration with all Orion billing systems
Capability to notify each physician/practice when claims need to be corrected
Automated update of billing systems when claims are corrected
Automated update of claim status from all billing systems
Capability to attach and update medical documentation for a claim
Sage Group’s Health Care Industry consultants and technical teams worked closely with the Orion management team and their billing technology team to successfully design, build, and implement Orion’s industry leading cloud based portal for medical billing. The portal and workflow solution were successfully rolled out to Orion’s clients nationwide and this world class solution is now one of the most compelling sales arguments in Orion’s marketing initiatives. The CEO of Orion attributes the success of the project to Sage Group’s talented and highly skilled project manager and their team of experts in cloud technology.
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) exists to ensure that Colorado has a safe and efficient highway system by building and maintaining interstates, US highways and state highways.
To accomplish this goal, CDOT conducts three primary services:
Snow and ice operations;
Roadway maintenance and preservation; and
Colorado’s Department of Transportation realized that they could increase the efficiency of their workforce by adopting industry best practices for mobile work management. Specifically, CDOT wanted to empower their field workforce with an efficient and automated maintenance work order solution which could be deployed on a mobile device with a user-friendly interface.
The three challenges for CDOT management were to do the following:
Position CDOT to pursue its vision to provide instant access to consistent work order throughout CDOT, capture more accurate data to service maintenance orders more efficiently, and gather timely information for planning.
Improve field workforce productivity by enhancing application capabilities.
Sustain and support business growth effectively
Sage Group, who has a long history of successful engagements with CDOT, was selected to implement the SAP Mobile Work Manager solution using a new mobile platform integrated with SAP ERP. Sage Group was asked to deliver the following capabilities and functionality:
User friendly interface for Work Orders,
Android based ZONAR tablets provide mobile platform,
Real time, offline synchronization with SAP ERP application,
CDOT approved security measures for mobile work manager applications, and
Standardized and simplified work order for all CDOT operations.
The scope of the initiative was very broad and included all the tasks required for the automation of the maintenance work order process by utilizing mobile devices throughout the state of Colorado. The following is a list of the major tasks that were in scope for this initiative.
Blue Print, Configure, Test, and Implement the SAP Work Manager Mobile Application
Blue Print, Configure, Test, and Implement SAP Mobile Work Management
User interface customized to auto-populate fields
Integration of the mobile solution with CDOT’s SAP ERP Implementation,
Deploy the Work Manager solution on Zonar 2020 Tablets.
Visually and functionally re-create CDOT’s SAP Order transaction custom tab in SAP Work Manager,
Ability to enter and retain work order information while off-line, all data entered on a tablet will be successfully uploaded to CDOT’s SAP database when connectivity is available,
Rollout of the SAP Work Manager Mobile Application, on tablets, to the maintenance staff for initiation of new and completion of existing work orders,
Provide training support to CDOT for mobile Work Manager Solution
Knowledge transfer of all SAP WO Manager Application information and accurate documentation to CDOT’s support team(s)
Colorado’s Department of Transportation is very pleased with their state of the art mobile work management system, which was delivered on time and budget by Sage Group. CDOT’s SAP ERP Manager noted that CDOT has experienced an increase in productivity, which has resulted in cost savings to the state. He attributes the success of the project to Sage Group’s talented and highly skilled consultants and the SageSure methodology.
OKI Data Americas, a Durham County was using SAP ECC, BW SEM-BPS for budgeting, e-recruitment and Learning Solution (LSO), ESS Portal for business operations utilizing Public Sector Financials (A/R, A/P, GL, FM, TR, AA), Purchasing (MM) and widely HCM including Payroll/Time.County was looking to expand on BW footprint to exploit the powerful capabilities of BW platform to provide better analytics and reporting countywide.
Durham County had more than six years of structured data in SAP and management believes that there is a growing demand of better reporting/analytics capabilities throughout county. Drilldown reporting, Web reporting, notification, automated report distribution, better formatting, integrated reporting, trend analysis, planning and strategy reporting needs were resonated in many discussions with different county departments.
Sage Group was asked to provide a team of experts with extensive Business Intelligence experience and the technical skills necessary to meet with the senior executives to gather requirements and design a future roadmap for data warehouse to meet the needs identified by the executive team. Sage Group upgraded County’s BW SEM-BPS based budget system to latest version and established a very strong foundation to build and expand Business Intelligence footprint integrated with ERP and other critical applications.
Durham County Budget Director was extremely pleased with the innovative data warehouse design and suggested roadmap based on the detailed business requirements that were gathered during the executive and senior management workshops. The County’s executive team expressed their gratitude for the technical insight and best practices provided by the Sage business consultants. Durham County has engaged Sage Group for the implementation of the data warehouse and BI reporting solution; Which was delivered on-time, under budget. Sage Group is currently supporting County on their various initiatives.
OKI Printing Solutions
OKI Data Americas, a Oki Data is a leading provider of innovative products, services, and solutions marketed under the OKI® Printing Solutions brand including color and monochrome digital printers, serial impact dot matrix printers, fax machines and multifunction products.
OKI Data used their SAP R/3 system to support custom developed Sales Information System (SIS); however, the information provided by the SIS was not timely and frequently incorrect. SIS did not support OKI’s need to do periodic closings.
Additionally, OKI faced additional challenges due to the nature of some of their business practices and the shortcomings of SIS. The major challenges are listed below.
SIS negative Open Order Quantities (Duplicate entries caused by early deliveries),
Inventory inaccuracy makes inventory management difficult,
Shipment quantities do not match Invoice quantities,
SIS lack drill down functionality making it difficult to find information on delivery schedules,
Extensive use of interfaces and customizations as “quick fixes” resulted in complex and costly system maintenance and questionable results
Sage Group was selected to provide a BW based Sales Information System. Our team of Business Intelligence experts developed a prototype solution on our own in-house BW system. This proof of concept was demonstrated to OKI management and they awarded Sage Group a contract to deliver a Sales Information System which addressed OKI’s business problems by incorporating typical drill down capabilities and three operational data stores (Sales Order Data, Delivery Data, and Customer Invoice Data). Sage Group designed and implemented an InfoCube for Sales Analysis based on the three operational data stores.
The scope if this engagement is to build a Sales Information System using the SAP BW loaded with data from OKI’s SAP ERP system. The Sales Information System will provide the following capabilities:
Sales Order Analysis – Incoming and Open Orders
Sales Analysis – Incoming, Open, Net Shipped, Invoiced, Returns, and Credits
Service Contract Analysis.
Oki Data is very excited about their ability to analyze all aspects of their sales and order process and they are pleased with Sage Group’s innovative prototyping approach and efficient delivery of their SIS.The analytical capabilities provided by the SIS have enabled OKI to fine tune their purchasing and distribution process and has resulted in improved profitability. OKI management relies on Sage Group, our skilled consultants, and our SageSure methodology to consistently deliver high quality solutions on time and budget. Based on our past performance OKI subsequently awarded their CRM project to Sage Group
New York Power Authority, NY
Constellation New York Power Authority (NYPA) is America’s largest state-owned power organization. NYPA provides lowest-cost electricity in New York State, operating 18 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.
NYPA was an early adopter of SAP and had not yet implemented SAP’s BW solution which led to many reporting deficiencies and management frustration due to the lack of analytical and decision support capabilities. Management realized that a robust Business Intelligence solution to provide improved access to information and foster more informed decision-making was imperative to continued business success. Although management understood the need for a BI solution, they did not have internal resources with the necessary skills to gather the requirements necessary to design a solution, nor did they have the skills and experience necessary to design and architect the solution.
Sage Group was asked to provide a team of experts with extensive electric utility experience and the technical skills necessary to meet with the senior executives to gather requirements and design a fully architected data warehouse to meet the needs identified by the executive team.
Sage Group’s senior utility industry business consultants developed and facilitated workshops for each functional area. The workshops provided the executive and their senior managers an opportunity to discuss all aspects of their business and describe the reporting, analytics, and decision support functionality required for their business needs. Sage consultants guided the discussions to ensure that the executives were considering all of their requirements based on current practices and industry best practices that they may wish to implement in the future.
Based on the results of the executive workshops, Sage Group’s data warehouse technical experts architected a corporate wide data warehouse design to meet the defined requirements and the two objectives of the initiative, which are defined below.
1.To develop a corporate wide data warehouse architecture that provides improved access to information, fostering more informed decision making at the New York Power Authority.
2.To provide a single, easily accessible, resource for data required by auditors, accountants, financial planners, risk managers, account executives, energy traders, and operational and support groups A key component of this solution is development of a Data warehouse to provide a single, easily accessible, resource for data required by auditors, accountants, financial planners, risk managers, energy traders, etc.
The scope if this project was very comprehensive and included all of the functions listed below:
Enterprise Shared Services
Corp Support
Finance and Treasury
Marketing &Economic Development
Energy Services &Technology – Program
Energy Services &Technology – R&D
Office of COO
Energy Resource Management
Energy Risk Assessment &Control
Power Resource Planning
Sage Group performed the following tasks for each of the areas described above:
Designed and Facilitated Requirements Gathering Workshops for executives and senior managers
Created a detailed report on the full scope of business needs for NYPA
Designed and Architected a Data Warehouse to meet the reporting, analytics, and decision support needs of NYPA
Presented the detailed report of BI requirements and the Data Warehouse design to the NYPA CIO who was the project sponsor.
NYPA’s CIO was extremely pleased with the innovative data warehouse design based on the detailed business requirements that were gathered during the executive and senior management workshops. The NYPA’s executive team expressed their gratitude for the industry insight and best practices provided by the Sage business consultants. NYPA intends to engage Sage Group for the implementation of the data warehouse and BI reporting solution; however budget constraints are delaying the implementation plans.
OKI Data Americas, a subsidiary of OKI Data Corporation of Japan, markets PC peripheral equipment and customized document management solutions under the OKI® brand, including digital color and monochrome printers, color and monochrome multifunction products, serial impact dot matrix printers, thermal label printers and POS printers, as well as a full line of options, accessories and consumables. OKI Data Americas also serves the Graphic Arts & Production market with the OKI proColor™ Series.
OKI Data required a partner to assist with the design, development, and deployment of a Sales Force Automation (SFA) solution utilizing SAP’s CRM and STRATEGY modules. The solution had to be fully integrated with their SAP ERP system.
OKI Data wanted to replace their home grown Top-Opps and Goldmine systems and automate analytics and demand forecasting to provide operations with the best sales forecast possible.
The goal of the SFA initiative was a fully integrated SFA solution that provides an intelligent tool set to help the sales force manage contacts, accounts, opportunities, analytics, and forecasting.
Sage Group Technologies was selected for this engagement over other big consulting organizations due to our innovative approach, our high performance work team, and our SageSure methodology which delivers our value added services to every engagement. Our solution integrated the functionality of OKI’s existing SAP ERP with SAP’s Cloud Solution for Sales, CRM, and BusinessObjects’ Strategy Management modules.
The scope of the initiative included a full project lifecycle from requirements gathering, roadmap development, configuration, testing, training, implementation, and post implementation support.
The SFA solution included CRM, BW, and Enterprise Portal and delivered the following functionality to OKI Data:
Business Partner and Contact Management
Account Information Management
Opportunities Management
Sales forecast based on opportunities
Executive Dashboard for each level of management
CRM Analytics
OKI Data is extremely pleased with the solution design innovation and the efficient, flawless implementation. The solution is already providing the cost savings and business process optimizations that were identified in the business case.
MARS Electronics (MEI)
MEI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of unattended electronic transaction systems including bill acceptors, coin mechanisms, cashless payment systems and vending management solutions.
MEI needed to implement SAP HR to meet the Human Capital Management needs for their business which hasemployees in 12 countries. The project was required to meet the needs of a scheduled spin-off of one of their lines of business and required strict deadlines and a tight budget. Complicating the situation was the fact that MEI had limited HR IS resources and know-how.
Sage Group Technologies was selected for this engagement due to our rich experience in implementing SAP HR Solutions and innovative approach of Near Site Engagement. The SAP HR system providesMEI’s HR staff and Operations Managers with enhanced problem solving and decision making capabilities, in addition to the ability to manage their global workforce based on accurate and comprehensive employee data. The SAP HR solution also eliminatedthe outdated/redundant systems and processes and delivered powerful new efficiencies to the HR function.
Organizational Management
Personnel Data
Benefits, Career Development, and Salary Information System
Sage Group Technologies completed the project on time and within the budget. MEI successfully spun off the line of business as planned and are pleased with the efficiencies and productivity that the SAP HR solution has provided to their HR function.
The SAP HR solution delivered by Sage Group Technologies provides the tools and consistent access to the information necessary to optimally manage employee benefits, life events, benefits, career development, and job management activities.MEI is pleased with our highly skilled and experienced staff, and the results delivered by this project. They consider us as a long term SAP services partner.
Tarrant County, TX
Constellation Tarrant County is an urban county located in the north central part of Texas. Fort Worth serves as the county seat to a county population of approximately 1.7 million citizens. Tarrant County is a member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Tarrant County is one of the fastest growing urban counties in the United States today.
Tarrant County was looking for an innovative solution to upgrade the current 4.7 version of SAP to mySAP ERP 2005, BW 3.0 to BI7.0, and ITS based ESS to EP 7.0 ESS. The County’s decision to make this a technical and functional upgrade was driven by urgent business requirements.
Tarrant County’s overall IT strategy is based on the growth of their business and the mandate to provide their constituents with premier customer service and products. The upgraded application had to provide Tarrant County with the ability to standardize its programming platform. The objectives were to create a single technology platform for new development and to increase the knowledge and skill sets of the IT organization.
Sage Group partnered with the Tarrant County IT Services organization to lead and assist in all phases of the upgrade beginning with planning and ending with the successful transition to mySAP ERP 2005, EP 7.0 ESS and BI 7.0.
The scope of the engagement included extending the functionality of all the existing SAP modules and components. The list below provides a high-level overview of the key achievements of the upgrade initiative.
SAP FI/CO with Grant Management, Budget Management, Funds Management
SAP Procurement/Purchasing
SAP HR with PA, OM, Training and Events, Payroll, Time
ITS to Enterprise Portal (EP 7.0)
Employee Self Services
ECC6.0 integration with BW
BW 3.5 to BI 7.0
SEM-BPS to IP
Sage Group successfully completed the upgrade project on time and budget. Tarrant County was grateful to us for successfully completing the entire upgrade without having to extend the original aggressive schedule of 4.5 months.
Tarrant County is very pleased with our approach, services, knowledge and quality of project delivery. Since completing the upgrade project Tarrant County has recognized Sage Group as a strategic partner and awarded Sage group their Business Intelligence transformation project, a strategic review of their SAP organization, policies, and procedures, which resulted in SAP certification, and they have also awarded us along-termSAP support services contract.
Constellation Healthcare Technologies (CHT)
Constellation Healthcare Technologies is one of the largest providers of holistic, integrated practice management support services to hospitals and medical practices across the United States.
They work in partnership with their clients to lead the evolution of the Health Care industry. They are recognized for their technologies that enable seamless access to integrated patient data, diagnostic data, lab and test data, and pharmacology data resulting in improved quality of care for patients. CHT’s products and services work together to provide automation, integration, and logistical support to Healthcare Practices in the United States.
Constellation Healthcare Technologies has adopted a business development strategy that combines organic growth with an aggressive acquisition initiative. CHT is targeting small to midsized companies with a primary focus on billing for the healthcare industry.
The Healthcare Industry is experiencing a great deal of downward pressure on physician revenues. This provides both an opportunity for billing companies to acquire additional clients, while at the same time forcing the billing companies to offer their services at a lower rate. This tumultuous environment forces many small and midsized companies to become available for outside acquisition; howevermany of these companies lack the technology and staffing to flourish. CHT required a partner to help them assess the value and potential for EBITDA growth of potential acquisitions. They also required a partner with the business process and technology experience to be able to develop transition plans to ensure that the new acquisitions could be seamlessly and efficiently integrated into their existing organization by leveraging the synergies, best practices, and technologies of both companies.
Sage Group was engaged to manage the entire due diligence process and to provide the process and technology diligence. We coordinated the Due Diligence project using CHT’s legal and external accounting teams and our own industry and technology experts.
Based on our extensive experience in assisting companies with large business process transformation initiatives that included the consolidation of businesses we were also asked to develop the transition plans and to assist with the implementation of the transition.
CHT has been growing rapidly and Sage Group has provided support for all 12 of their acquisition due diligence initiative. We have also planned and assisted with the consolidation of the 5 completed acquisitions and are actively assisting with diligence efforts which are still underway.
For all of these due diligence initiatives our teams of experts visit every location with billing operations. The teams interview the leadership team at each location, evaluate their operational processes, their existing technology applications, and infrastructure.
The Sage Group project manager coordinates all requests for information from the legal and finance teams and ensures that the responses from the target company are stored in the correct folder in the data room.
The detailed scope of the due diligence is provided below:
Operations Due Diligence
The Operations due diligence analyzes and reports each of the following categories based on inputs provided by the target business, interviews with key stakeholders, and observations.
Comparison to Industry Benchmarks
Innovations and Competitive Advantages
Comparison to Best Practices
Controls and Compliance
Metrics and KPIs
Opportunities for Optimization
Risks to future success
Key Initiatives for each functional area (on-going and Planned)
Skills and Experience of Staff
Staff Turn over
Compensation (current and historical)
Voice of the customer
Customer Churn
Cross and Up sell Opportunities
Potential Synergies
Quality and Cost
Industry Position
Supply and Scalability
Demand and Price elasticity
Risks and Opportunities
Technology Due Diligence
The Technology due diligence analyzes and reports each of the following categories based on inputs provided by the target business, interviews with key stakeholders, and observations.
Infrastructure and Technology
Obsolescence Identification
Technology Investment Forecasts
Disaster Recovery and Backup
IT Policies and Procedures
Staffing and Vendor Resources
Industry best practices mapping – Technology
CHT External Legal Team
CHT External Financial Team
The legal due diligence analyzes and reports each of the following categories based on inputs provided by the target business, interviews with key stakeholders, and observations.
Past, Current, and possible future litigation
Business legal organization
Legal encumbrances
Compliance Rulings
Federal, State, and Regulatory Restrictions on Business Activities
Sales Agreement creation and revisions
Financial Due Diligence
The financial due diligence analyzes and reports each of the following categories based on inputs provided by the target business, interviews with key stakeholders, and observations.
Accounting & Reporting Controls
Bank Statement Reconciliation
Tax Filings
Debt and Obligations
Quality of Assets
Historical Revenue
Historical EBITDA
Revenue and EBITDA Forecast
The final report provided by Sage Group Technologies consisted of the following:
Detailed legal, financial, process, and technology assessment of the existing organization,
Assessment of potential EBITDA enhancements
Post-acquisition transformation plan
Discussion of Industry pressures and business risks
Specific recommendations and considerations
Constellation Healthcare Technologies is extremely pleased with their partnership with Sage Group. They continue to rely on our experts with their extensive experience and our world class due diligence methodology to ensure that they have all the necessary information to make the correct acquisition decision.
Pegasus Blue Star Fund (PBSF)
Pegasus Blue Star Fund is a private equity fund specializing in Healthcare Services Investments, with 20+ years of experience of investing and managing Healthcare Services companies in the areas of Cancer treatment centers, Surgery centers, Practice management, Medical Group Purchasing Organizations, EHR, Medical Revenue Cycle Management, Patient Portal, Claims Optimization, Claims Authorization, Patient collections, Bad debt collections etc.
Pegasus Blue Star Fund had signed a Letter of Intent to acquire a very large Revenue Cycle
Management (RCM) Company and they needed a company to manage and perform an extensive due diligence of the company from a legal, financial, operational, and technology perspective. The target acquisition had extensive operations in Georgia, Texas, Colorado, California, Ohio, and Illinois. Pegasus Blue Star Fund required extensive analysis of the target acquisition to ensure that post acquisition the company would be a viable and profitable concern with a process and technology platform that would support future rapid growth.
Sage Group Technologies was engaged to manage the entire due diligence process and to provide the process and technology diligence. We coordinated the Due Diligence project using PBSF’s legal and external accounting teams and our own industry and technology experts.
The Sage Group Technologies project manager coordinated all requests for information from the legal and finance teams and ensured that the responses from the target company were stored in the correct folder in the data room.
PBSF External Legal Team
PBSF External Financial Team
Based on the extensive diligence effort and a detailed post-acquisition transformation plan Pegasus Blue Star Fund purchased the targeted business and engaged the Sage Group Technologies business experts to assist with the follow-up business process optimization effort. PBSF considers this diligence effort a model for all future due diligence efforts and Sage Group Technologies a strategic partner for all future acquisition initiatives.
City Of Tacoma, WA
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city in and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city has a population of over 205,000 residents and has a City Manager and a Mayor. The City of Tacoma owns electric, water, and cable utilities and a regional railroad. IT and the SAP ERP system are shared serviced used by the city government, railroad, and the utilities.
The utilities and city government staff have a very low regard for SAP and there are many business needs that are not being adequately met by the SAP solution. Under a previous IT director two strategic studies were commissioned with big six consulting firms and both studies indicated that the SAP implementation was fatally flawed, with an extraordinary number of custom developments and non-standard configurations. Both studies recommended that the implementation be scrapped and a new implementation be initiated. Neither recommendation was followed and the acting director who was tasked with coming up with a strategic plan for the next 5 years.
Sage Group Technologies was retained by the City of Tacoma to assist the City with an SAP Strategic Assessment. The assessment included reviews of the ERP infrastructure, IT operations & administration, and business processes for the City, Railroad, and Utility. The goal of the assessment was to identify opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Sage was asked to make recommendations that will provide business value and align with management priorities. A key deliverable from this assessment was a prioritized roadmap of enhancement initiatives that the City can use as input to their planning process.
The scope of this engagement included defining an end-state for all business processes and the related SAP components for all functionality that could be supported by SAP. The end state vision for the infrastructure architecture required to support the end-state vision for SAP was also be included in the scope of this assessment. A roadmap was developed based on the dependencies amongst all the identified initiatives. Each initiative in the roadmap was supported by high level business cases, with estimated cost of implementation, estimated benefits, potential risks, and an estimate of the project duration. The key deliverable from this assessment was a report that addresses all of the following considerations for evaluating and prioritizing the initiatives of the roadmap:
Management Alignment
Business Process Improvements and Industry best practices mapping
Prioritized suggestions for Strategic Business Process Improvements
Change Management Implications (Training, Communication, Change Readiness)
Options and Alternatives for reducing costs of SAP system Ownership
Outsourcing Maintenance and Support
Outsourcing entire SAP infrastructure
Other alternatives for increasing efficiency and reducing costs
Application Architecture and Infrastructure Architecture
High level business case and Implementation Roadmap
Sage Group Technologies completed the project and after reviewing their findings with the senior management team of the City, Railroad, Utilities, and IT, they were asked to present the results of their work to the City Manager and a special committee composed of the Mayor and several key city council members.
Unlike previous strategic studies, Sage Group was able to show Tacoma that their SAP solution was not fatally flawed, but that it had not been functionally upgraded for 7 years, even though the IT team had performed technical upgrades on a regular basis.
The acting director of IT was given the job on a permanent basis, the City Manager, and the City’s Technology Committee agreed to support and fund the solution provided by the Sage Group Technologies Team.
The City, Railroad, and Utility staffs were energized by the decision to perform functional upgrades that would meet their business imperatives.
Sage Group Technologies has since been given follow-up projects for business enhancements for fleet maintenance, HR, and Finance. We have also provided Tacoma with staff augmentation and SAP basis, development, and infrastructure support.
dfd sdf sd fsd fsdfsd fds fds dsf ds fsd fdfdf sdfd f |
David Dobrik @ YouTube
08/09/19 GDLP
Emoji summary: 🤪🤙🏻😬
Can you half-love something and half-hate it all at the same time? If something has bits you fuck with and bits you don’t, can you consume it with blinders on, activate selective hearing, and just eat around the mould? I have this one thing I’ve been enjoying all of 2019 that I feel this way about, v natalie imbruglia and torn. Because I am so split, I feel nervous to write about it for risk of being cancelled for the SEVENTIETH time this year. i know it’s hard to read or write about nuance and grey areas in a culture that is polarised in everything it votes for and feels, i get it, and am guilty of perpetuating this also. It’s just a messy place to write from. Like, where do I begin and where do i plan on going with these words? how is this text gonna end? what am I trying to achieve? I have so many questions and so many of them are unanswerable because the people I’m writing about today are so far away from me and i dont have the credibility or money to get their attention. so im talking out loud to you instead, talking today about David Dobrik’s YouTube channel and the group of friends it documents, the Vlog Squad.
Even if you don’t recognise the name, you might know who I’m talking about because there have been some peak international moments of virality from this channel. one is a famous break up video between David and his ex girlfriend Liza Koshy, a beautiful fairy girl. the two of them laugh and sob their way through a break up in the most charming way. it is ridiculous and ? familiar ? - the fact this breakup felt so against their own will, that they both wished it had worked out but knew now wasn’t the right time for them. ow. i watched it with so much sympathy pumping thru my veins that it was like, what can WE do to help? there’s a point where Liza’s face is wet from crying and she looks at herself in the viewfinder and jokes about how she wants to go and fix her makeup but also wants the video to be authentic, in line with YouTuber break up announcements. they’re just funny and self-aware. it has 56 million views. The other big big moment you might have seen was a family pretending their son had disappeared. they ask the invisible son to sit down so they can take a picture with their arm around him but they’ve already taken a photo before this without him in it so the photo seems to confirm he has in fact disappeared. It’s David filming with the Armenian family he hangs out with all the time, the Antonyans. Those two videos, well, they are and they aren’t typical of the stuff that happens across the rest of the channel. it’s all a lot to take in. and I know on The White Pube we often write about a single art-thing that you can see the edges of really quickly and follow along with, but i’m covering 4 years of vlogs in this text as well as David’s second channel, podcast, 2 instagram accounts, and the online content of members of a whole group so / idk, I don’t blame you for not being interested, I think this might be a text for the fans or the makers. I’d started watching more of the videos because i wanted to find out more about the relationship I’d met at its end, but was just quickly hooked for other reasons and now i’m pausing to reorient myself and write through this mess of having an actually problematic fave. should I allow myself? should I cancel myself? Can I give David Dobrik’s YouTube channel a public crit in the hopes he can iron out some of the big creases?
because honestly, wtf am I doing tuning in two to three times a week to bear witness to what might be peak white culture? (Wtf am I doing being this generous or invested in it anyway). Every video David posts on his main channel is 4 minutes 20 seconds long, lol. If you haven’t watched any, the format of the videos he posts is magazine-style, as in, chopped up quick moments edited together like a highlights reel of the lives of a group of 20-30 year old friends, mostly white, mostly men, living in LA. These people all came up through Vine so you can imagine the pace of these clips. a mash up of rehearsed bits, pranks, surprises, one-liners, jokes taken to the next level, his friends drunk in different places, dares, funny songs, and the odd celebrity cameo. That’s the outline, and filling that in might look like: taking turns lying down on the floor with a blindfold while David surprises them with different animals, placing a hairless cat on their chest, a puppy, or a tarantula. His friend needs to piss while they’re driving so wees into a beer bottle and then David dares him to drink it for some money. Random people sit in the front passenger seat of his Tesla while he asks them what they think of Kylie Jenner, and then Kylie Jenner jumps out from the back to surprise them. They’ll fill a pool with 10 thousand lbs of dry ice and then have Steve O (yes, the guy from Jackass) jump off a roof and into the misty water. He goes back to his hometown to surprise his three best childhood friends with a Mercedes each. They throw a coming out party for one of their mates, and that night also ends with him getting a car. They ‘ice’ each other, which means hiding a smirnoff ice somewhere super random and when it’s found the person who discovers it has to kneel on the floor and down it fast. Lots of paintball guns, flamethrowers, and science experiments. Like if Dude Perfect were rich teenagers, or it’s people trying to make Failarmy content on purpose. Running on a treadmill as lego’s poured onto it / hiring actors to play fake police who arrest the well behaved one in the group. David’s best friend is like, this 46 year old failed comedian Jason Nash and in one video he wants to give his Nanny $10,000 for looking after his kids so well, but David convinces him to fly to Vegas and bet that all on red. seconds later they’re shown on a plane, then they’re in the casino, then they’re screaming and jumping and flying back to give the nanny double the original present. You can watch David paying off student loans, coming up with puns in Target with Liza, and also cutting open his hand trying to juggle with bottles of wine - but then making sure they get a good thumbnail of all the blood before they call an ambulance. My top top video, which I think only truly bangs once you’ve watched the rest of it starts with David and Jason in the car together talking. Jason’s ex-wife is mentioned and he goes onto say David will never have an ex-wife because he’ll never be married. Cut to 23 year old David flying to Boston to propose to Jason’s 75 year old mother, then flying her out to Las Vegas for the ceremony, onto Hawaii for the honeymoon, and then back to LA to reveal to Jason what he’s done where he calls Jason his son.
What I watch the videos for is everything I’ve written about above. i grew up with a lot of rowdy cousins and water fights, playing grand theft auto and watching wrestling on a friday night, Jackass, Dirty Sanchez etc. my knees were perma red and scabby as a child because all we did was mess about to the point where my family nickname was and still is Scabbo. that energy’s still inside me. I’m secretly an adrenaline junky I think - like height of my life was a waterslide on holiday that began with you standing on a trap door before it dropped straight down into a tube. i find that cousin-like camaraderie in the Vlog Squad tbh - so for me it feels nostalgic / except of course, its all grown up, risqué and escándalo. I also enjoy watching rich people do anything. it is so entertaining to me because these people feel like aliens. Watching these videos means being witness to the absolute freedom money allows. you can revert to the whims of teenagers; live in this fantasy land where you’re so rich that even though you’re more than capable, you don’t have to pay for you food. Rich people definitely offend me, yeah, and I DO believe we should eat them for getting private jets to Tesco, but David’s vlogs (or the Kardashians or Rich Kids of Instagram-type TV) satisfy something in me. it’s like wanting to be a doctor but not being smart enough so watching grey’s anatomy instead. I’m never going to have a lot of money so I’ll watch these people from afar, this group that make videos called things like SURPRISING BEST FRIEND WITH LAMBORGHINI!! as indulgence (or maybe a better word would be consolation).
But as I described at the beginning of this text, my enjoyment isn’t clean cut. as much as I enjoy all of the above, the videos are at times confusing or offensive; and I think that often it’s coming from a place of ignorance, or I might be giving this guy more patience than i would most others for fucking god knows what reason. I dont even fancy him so I can’t blame that. if I was coming in with my ghostbusters backpack to clean this shit up: I would ask Zane and Heath to stop with the AAVE. There’s fat jokes, which at this point feels lazy. you go all out with the pranks and even remove whole gates so you can drive a truck into the house for a laugh, yet you rely on bottom tier fat jokes ?? I would tell grown adult Jason Nash to cut the character he sometimes plays where he dresses up as a sex worker called Carmelita and speaks with a shit hispanic accent - like I’m all the way over here in north west england and besides knowing that is wrong any tima day, it also feels definitely <not> the time to be degrading latinx when you lot have got incel shooters targeting anyone with brown skin in America (aaand also trans people). I’d cut Durte Dom out of the vlogs and also your lives when he is a sleazy Eminem lookalike who pinned a girl down in front of everybody at a Vidcon party, and after groping her chest, also kissed her against her will. Durte Dom can go, as can Brandon Calvillo for sleeping with a 17 year old when he was 24. Like, these people/things I’m describing are not integral to the videos in the slightest, they’re in it EVERY so often, are doing WAY more harm than good, so I beg you cut > them > loose >.
Those things feel solid, identifiable problems the videos could do without but there is 1 more thing I want to put on the table for us all to look at. It’s a bit fuzzier, ish, maybe, and it’s concerning disability. The nature of the internet means we see a version of the people put forward to us, but in David’s vlogs this is even sharper because he’s the one controlling the edit. The people in the Vlog Squad aren’t even people, they’ve become characters. Todd and Corinna are both Sluts. Zane’s the Drunk one, Jonah the Stupid one, Matt King is the Teacher’s Pet and Scott is, er, Suicidal? When Gabbie Hanna was in it she played a sort of Crazy ex-girfriend role and Alex Ernst was Angry. Jason Nash is the Divorced Loser Dad, and David himself is the kid who doesn’t know what to do with all his newfound wealth. I understand how making people into characters serves a purpose, because it is like the string that comes out of the back of a toy - you have something to pull at again and again for humour and something to make these friends play their part for the camera.
So this also follows for Big Nik’s inclusion in the vlogs. whereas on his own channel, his disabilities are sooometimes the focus but often not mentioned at all, in line with the way everyone is caricatured on David’s channel, there he is first and foremost Disabled. for context he is a dwarf, blind in one eye and has mentioned a bone condition also. that’s fine, being Disabled is fine - and there seems to be a whole lot of complicity in these rehearsed jokes revolving Big Nik’s disabilities. He recently dyed his hair blue and looks like Post Malone so there are new things they poke fun at him for (Post Malone is just crusty inhe). All in all David and Nik come off as good friends, especially on Nik’s own channel when we’re not speeding through 10 seconds long clips of stuff happening as we are with David’s. I know some people will say I have no right to comment on this and I have searched and searched for writing on the matter to defer to but i can’t, so instead I just wanna put the evidence forward and ask some questions so someone else can take this forward. what i’m pointing at here is that when Big Nik and David write or perform these jokes together, no matter the complicity and Nik’s agency in the matter, the comment section is an ugly place. Is that their fault? what does it mean if they’re not doing anything to change it?
An example: after these 4 years of David poking fun at Nik in various moments in the videos like ‘MEET HIS BRAND NEW DWARF GIRLFRIEND!!’, recently they did a sketch that went against the grain. If you want to watch it, see the end of ‘HE SAID THIS TO HER ON A HIDDEN CAMERA!!’ Nik comes to David’s house to get his own back, knocking on the door backed by a gang of dwarves who are ready to fight. A scene ensues that parodies cartoon-like Scooby Doo chases and messes about with scale, ie. David throws a bouncy ball at the group chasing him, and an exercise ball bounces down the corridor instead. It’s got jokes like ‘What are you guys, the fuckings Avengers? Looks like Thanos snapped and got rid of half of ya.’ As a viewer in the fantasy land that is David’s Vlogs, Big Nik’s triumph makes sense. What snaps you out of it, if you weren’t snapped out already, are the comments on this video: ‘Oh no the oompa loopas are attacking!😂,’ or one girl saying ‘OMG my biggest fear is midgets chasing me around 😂😂 IDK WHY THEY’RE SO SCARY TO ME xD.’ After scrolling for a loooong time I found ONE comment that said ‘this is offensive tho like why r u laughing,’ and mostly it was people saying this is their favourite vlog. I dont know man. With a bit like this, who is the humour for? Is it for the very specific ongoing narrative of David’s vlogs? Is it for non-disabled people? disabled people? Is that what you’d hope? My gut is like wow this is some Little Britain level of humour because it’s happening in the most normative place for this kind of comedy; remember, this isn’t some art performance or queer critical inversion, it’s YouTube. It’s post-smosh and so on. But then again should I just shut up? if they’re writing these bits together, is that thing happening where it’s okay for Janice to say Damien’s too gay to function because of their close friendship taking place in its own closed off world, but as soon as that phrase ‘too gay to function’ leaves them, is written in a burn book for the whole school to see and use, it’s come undone? they are so visible, it feels like all this burning, magnified light is steaming in through the windows. but again, should i please shut up. On one of the bloopers videos on David’s second channel, a viewer wins a competition and is flown out to meet him. Crystal is an amputee and when they’re sat together in his Tesla she says excitedly, ‘I’d do anything to be the disabled person you make fun of’ in the vlogs. David and Big Nik might be on a level with each other and Crystal might want to be in the same friendship group where there’s levity about disability and that’s boss, so come undone, come tighter, come together right now. I have no clue. it’s like my social justice warrior alarm is going off and i can’t find the reset button. i shall wait for someone else to start writing so i can stop gesticulating.
and that dear reader is my weird crit,,, my text today about a whole youtube channel u might not even know, you might not expect me to like, something you might be bemused or horrified at with its money, whiteness, and men. the triple. I know it’s my privilege in action being able to sidestep the bits I don’t fuck with or the bits that feel ambiguous and slippy in order to get to moments of comedy I can really hold onto. I’m walking a tight rope buuuut I’m sure there are things you watch or read that you don’t 100% back. I feel like I’m supposed to hate it but i’m so in between: I really enjoy David’s vlogs but I don’t stan, I don’t buy the merch, they just make me laugh and they’re so quick. The form and the edit is so perfect and even if the politics isn’t, i for one am not coming to these videos to find my own perfect politics. I don’t expect that much. But I can’t say the same for the kids watching :/ |
In and Out the Meeting House
August 13, 2009 quakersireland
David Butler, Britain Yearly Meeting
A talk delivered at Ireland Yearly Meeting 2004. David is the author and illustrator of the definitive book on Quaker Meeting Houses in Ireland, past and present, which is about to be published.
These remarks are lightly-connected incidents in Quaker life, mostly from Ireland, gleaned from a life-time spent looking at meeting houses and reading about them, and from a mere five years enjoying Irish meeting houses. They include many small events, few of which one would wish to make permanent, but which I thought you might like to hear before they sink back into the sands.
I would like to start by looking at one aspect which is uniquely Irish. This concerns the esteem in which earlier Irish Friends were held. In Britain, Friends were persecuted for many years by the government, town officers, and all and sundry with the common intention that the movement should be totally destroyed. Here, though, Friends were part of the Protestant minority, whose support the government needed in order to maintain its supremacy. Thus Friends found themselves in a position of political privilege which they had done nothing to earn, and at a time when political action was anathema to them. As a result, Friends here were to some degree protected from government-led persecution, including the particularly vicious ‘Conventicle Acts’. They were, however, still open to other trials, such as demands for tithes and church rates, and to the independent actions of local government.
This situation led to a perception of Friends, which appeared not at all in Britain. It shows in the way that Friends were sought by landlords and businessmen who were not Quakers. A travelling minister wrote by 1750 how Friends in Ireland stood in this respect. ‘..Many considerable men in this country, that have great quantities of land to set, do very much covet to have Friends for their tenants, for many of our Friends have been so diligent and industrious, and have made such fine improvements upon the farms that they have taken, and have also been so punctual in paying their rents, that they are much respected by their landlords..’. This was an enviable reputation.
At the very early date of 1680, the Earl of Mountrath wanted Friends to settle on his land. He knew how to attract them: he offered them a site in the town for a meeting house. The town flourished, and Mountrath grew to become a considerable meeting. Forty years on, a new meeting house was needed, one hopes because the old one was out-grown. This time that same family gave Friends another plot, quite large and very central, on which a new meeting house was built, to be replaced by a larger one another forty years on. Three people present here today have stood in that very building. We return to Mountrath later.
In 1721 a group of Quakers moved to Newport on the west coast of Connaught, where Captain Pratt had established a linen weaving works a few years before. I suppose that they were invited direct by the Captain. So this small group of Quaker families upped sticks and moved right across Ireland from Ulster, to start a new life.
However, all did not go well, either for the proprietor or for the settlers. For the Friends, they were too far from the support of any nearby meeting, and one wonders whether the mill was too far away from its markets. So it was that twenty years later they had to leave Newport and make their livelihood elsewhere. They moved half-way home again, and settled at Ballymurry, which was still a long way from the Monthly Meeting of Moate. In Newport they had met in their homes, but they left behind a burial ground, of which nothing at all is now known locally. On our visit to Newport, Ross Chapman enquired at the village supermarket for the local historian. We were at once told: ‘…here she comes through the door now…’, a very happy coincidence. She did her best to help us, but her small local history group could find no residual recollection of our former presence in Newport. So this is one of several of our burial grounds now wholly lost to us.
At Ballymurry they joined another small group of Friends from Sligo, who had gone there a few years before, and between them they built a meeting house. Ross took me to see it a while ago, when it was in a precarious state, at risk from a nearby tree. It was a neat small building, with arched openings for door and windows. It made an unusually attractive country meeting house, pictorially diminished by its current use as a cattle-shed.
The very early country meeting at Ballyhagan in Ulster had a mud and thatch meeting house, which stood on land rented from the Archbishop of Armagh. In 1744 the then archbishop renewed Friends’ lease of the site for �30 a year, which to me seems a lot of money for not very much. However, at the same time he signed a new document remitting the rent during his lifetime, because he thought ‘…the inhabitants of Ballyhagan, being of the Quaker persuasion, were persons of quiet and good behaviour ‘. What better reason for foregoing the rent?
Sadly for the meeting, he lived only two years more, and we do not know how his successor felt towards Friends. I only found this interesting document by accident. Sadly, it was not known to George Chapman, when he wrote his account of Ballyhagan and Richhill meetings in 1979. I am sure he would have enjoyed it, and he would have been able to read more into it than I could. Much later, Ballyhagan meeting decided to move into the nearby town of Richhill. The proprietor of that town thought that the presence of Friends would enhance his estate. Therefore, to encourage them, he offered a good large site for a new meeting house, which is still in use.
The landlords from whom Friends obtained land for their meeting houses and burial grounds were in a strong position, as almost all early Quaker sites were leased, not bought. They had a strong influence on what was built in their territory, and some defined the nature and quality of the building materials and the form that the building took. A good deal of watchfulness, time and energy was needed when a lease was due for renewal, so as to preserve the continuity of the meeting. Then when Friends ceased to use the meeting house, it was usually surrendered to him. In a way, this may have been beneficial to Friends, as they were thus relieved of the burden of caring for empty property.
I have mentioned our enquiries for the missing burial ground at Newport. The search for lost Quaker sites can be a very satisfying and enjoyable experience. I was in a small market town where I knew there had been a meeting house, but just whereabouts was it, and did anything remain? So I stood in the market place, looking for the right person to ask. ‘Excuse me, sir, have you lived here very long?’ ‘Seventy years or so, will that do, young man?’ (this was a year or two ago). And it did too, spot on. He showed me where to find the bright little building which was now used by an evangelical church, in good order and unmistakably recognisable for what it had once been.
Another visit took me to a small country village, at noon on a hot summer day. Total silence, nobody moving, no-one to ask. At last a man appeared, who knew just what I wanted. He took me to a garden that he looked after, and showed me all that remained of the meeting house. This was a single slab of stone lying in the lawn. You might think that it would have been disappointing to find so little, but not at all. The stone had been the threshold of a corrugated iron hall, which has long since rusted away. It had been preserved by its present owner in remembrance of past service, just as he had re-named his old house Quaker Cottage. The meeting house in which my guide once worshipped, had been erected for one of the several mission meetings in that part of Herefordshire. So here I got not only the meeting house, but the story too. Incidentally, the only corrugated iron meeting houses I have come across in Ireland were at Rathfriland and Drumgask. The former was still in very good order when I last saw it. They were quick and cheap to erect, and were very well suited to mission meetings. At home, there was once a great vogue for tin tabernacles for all denominations. You bought them from a catalogue, along with sea-side cabins and veranda’d bungalows for tea-planters in India.
More recently, on a tour with Glynn and Ross, we were in a town in mid-Ireland. We knew there had once been a meeting house there. We knew nothing of its appearance, but we did know roughly where it had stood, and there we stood too, beside a derelict old building on which workmen were beavering away, an unprepossessing place. But this was exactly what we sought. The meeting house had been almost destroyed by fire some time before, and was now being rebuilt as a workshop. Had we been there a day earlier, we would not have been able to see inside it; a day later, and there would have been nothing of the meeting house left. As we watched, the workmen were concealing the remaining Quaker features beneath fresh plaster. So by that happy timing the latest of the three meeting houses at Mountrath is recorded in the book much more fully than it might have been, and with a survey too, to our great satisfaction.
Elsewhere, the meeting house has been altered by other users before I could get there. One was that great warren at Eustace Street, where Glynn Douglas and I tramped along countless corridors and small staircases, no doubt well-known to you, but an exploration to me. The Irish Film Institute has made many beneficial changes which give light and colour and new interest to the old place, and they have put up a splendid new glass roof to the yard, exposing to view the old brick walls around it. Now it very properly looks like the covered yard it one was. My only real problem was that the large meeting room had been completely blacked-out, which made it difficult to take photographs. The manager of the institute was very helpful and tolerant of the pair of us wandering around, he seemed to be very pleased with the premises, which was good to know.
Looking for old Quaker burial grounds is another matter altogether. As Friends did not use headstones for so many years, how do you know when you have arrived? I have spent hours driving around country lanes, only to end up looking at the corner of a field which had absolutely no distinguishing features, neither headstones nor grave-mounds. I was assured that this was it, but was it worth the petrol? What a delight it was then, in very remote mountainous mid-Wales, to find a gate bearing a cast iron plaque reading Quaker Burial Ground 1687, just where I thought it should be.
The response of local people to our old sites is an interesting matter, as we have found several times on our travels. At rural Quaker sites, its neighbours with whom we spoke showed no interest whatever in the ruins of the building, but they cared much for the disused burial ground beside it. It was as if they regarded the latter as part of their local history, perhaps too it was part of their own family history. And everywhere, so often, I have found that people enjoy sharing with strangers what they have at their own back door.
Let us turn now to the interesting question of who is in your meeting house. We may think we know, but do we? At one level are the people we put there ourselves. For example, Friends have never relied on the local poor law system, the workhouse nor whatever, but always made their own arrangements. This applied particularly to the poor of the meeting, its elderly and widows, who were housed in the meeting house at the expense, and at the inconvenience, of the meeting. ‘Put into the meeting house’ was exactly what so often happened, not into somewhere near it.
In 1692 a meeting which had so housed a poor widow Friend, was getting rather tired of it all. ‘…The widow French is to be acquainted that Friends are troubled to see that she does not put things out of sight during the meeting time, such as her pots and things on the shelves and cheeses on the beams which are for all to see..’. To add insult to injury her children ran up and down stairs during meeting time. Let us stop there for a moment. Pots and things are the least that may have to be accepted in a dwelling, but cheeses on the beams? And anyway, how many cheeses would a widow have at one time? And what beams are there in a small meeting house? The only likely one is the tie-beam of the roof truss, but this would usually be out of reach. Can you see the widow French hopping up on a bench with her carving-knife, to slice off a hunk of cheese for her supper? It looks to me as if some Friends were getting it all rather out of proportion.
Under another meeting house was a cellar where the meeting allowed Sarah Lyne to live, but soon after she arrived, the Prepartive Meting could not make a decision, and the Clerk had to write one of those minutes, we’d all rather not: ‘..it was agreed by the meeting that Eleanor White with her child do inhabit the meeting house with Sarah Lyne, as they two can best contrive..’. Just imagine, Sarah thought she was settled for life, but here was this young child, running up and down stairs. It is little wonder that, not long afterwards, Friends were whitewashing that bit of the meeting room itself where ‘Ellen White’s bed did used to stand’. So she had moved out of the cellar, and the meeting had to put up with her bed, as well as her pots and things.
The larger Irish meetings made good provision for their poor, particularly at Dublin and Cork, but not, so far as I have found, in the meeting house itself. My examples are from Britain, but I an sure that others will be found eventually, tucked away in the Monthly Meeting minute books held at Swanbrook and Lisburn.
Think of Dublin meeting house many years ago. The site was still being acquired in bits and pieces. It had no street frontage, but was entirely surrounded by neighbours, all of whom it seemed were intent on making the most of the opportunity this offered. It was thus a source of endless problems for the meeting, and especially for those Friends who had the care of it.
In those days the meeting house was reached from Sycamore Alley by a long covered passage. In 1712 a neighbour, without asking, made a doorway from his dwelling into this passage. He then complained when he and his lodgers were inconvenienced by the presence in it of a wholly unauthorised ‘mohair twister’ who carried on his trade in the same passage. ‘Twisting’ was much the same as ‘spinning’. The job could I suppose be carried out wherever the twister was comfortable, out of the wind and the rain, and preferably free of rent. He was still at it over a year later, when ‘..David Newlands, the twister, promises to leave the passage after he had finished the work on hand..’: a pretty cheeky response from a trespasser.
Soon afterwards, David had penetrated further into the meeting’s territory: ‘…the young man is not to twist mohair in the meeting house, and the women are not to suffer women to hang out clothes to dry in the meeting house yard, and Nicholas Carter is to get a good lock on the door that opens from the alley, to keep the boys out..’. Nothing changes. More still was needed; and at about this time ‘..a lock is to be put on the door of the waste ground at the back of Sycamore Alley meeting house [where you used to park your cars] to prevent the rabble annoying Friends on their 6th day meetings..’. The key was held by the woman who kept the coffee house on Sycamore Alley, she was a tenant of the meeting. This was surely handy for the coachman, who could pop in to revive himself after he had parked the coach [I was told afterwards that this might have been an early Bewley coffee-shop]. But enough of Dublin.
Country meetings were not exempt, and among them Wexford has a rather memorable story. Firstly, the meeting’s caretaker managed to acquire squatter’s rights over the burial ground. Granted, the meeting had used it only twice in a century and a half, so perhaps not many members even knew that they had one. But it was not remote, it lay within the town walls, and one would like to think that one of them might have noticed. You can just hear the caretaker being helpful and saying ‘..don’t you worry, Friends, I’ll see to it for you..’. Now a Catholic Church stands on the spot.
But there is more. The same meeting closed for half a century around 1800, and shortly after, while the old building was thought to be standing empty, Monthly Meeting was told ‘..it appears that the Methodists have had meetings for some time in Wexford meeting house, without the consent of Friends..’. One supposes that Friends would not have objected, but it would have been nice to have been asked. A while later the new meeting house was built on the same site, which Clive Allen and I visited. We were glad to see that it was in very good hands, well used and much valued, as the rehearsal hall for the local Loch Garman brass band.
Incidentally there are other meeting houses which now accommodate music. One is at Clara, erected by the Goodbody family a century and a half ago, and which still stands, virtually unaltered. This is an elegant little meeting house in a rather sombre formal setting, justly described as ‘an Italianate pavilion surrounded by yew trees’. It is now used by the Clara Musical Society as its meeting room. And I am sure that the great meeting room in the old Waterford meeting house, now the arts centre just down the road from here, has echoed to all sorts of music. And echo it might once have, for when it was first built the acoustics were terrible, and the remedy proposed at the time was expressed in a rather opaque minute. This present use of some of our former meeting houses for music is rather ironic, given the testimony of Friends past against music in their lives and in their worship.
Minutes of a meeting can also be rewarding. Take this one from Cork, and dates from the time when the New Building Committee was preparing Friends to accept the idea of having a new meeting house. It was trying, perhaps rather too hard, to make a good case. ‘We your committee, having taken into consideration the state of the premises, not only in reference to the leaky and decaying state of the roofs, the bad state of the window frames and sashes and other parts of the timber work’ and so on and on. The building committee got its way, of course, but at the cost of rubbishing the reputation of the entire premises committee, under whose care the building had been until that time. So that splendid meeting house was built, which still stands.
Over the years I have read through dozens of journals and memoirs of travelling Quaker ministers. Some scarcely notice where they are, and recount only their spiritual journey. Others were very aware of where they stood, and tell us of local circumstances of all sorts, people, agriculture, scenery or the state of the roads and of the inns. What they really liked was to be at the first meeting in a new meeting house, which is very useful to me, as it gives a fairly reliable date for a sometimes hazy event.
It is salutary to follow them as they went through the country. Some made a point of visiting every meeting in their chosen area, some would stop for several days while they visited, or ‘sat with’, every family in that meeting, ‘speaking to their condition’, this was a daunting service. Some, who had been delicately brought up in comfortable Victorian homes in England, chose to comment with regularity on the mud floors which they found here so often. I can think of no feature in Ireland that gets such regular comment. One was Martha Braithwaite of Oxfordshire, who was an experienced traveller in the ministry. Of a meeting at Cabra, she wrote in 1850 how ‘we sat down in the little room built for the purpose. The cottage to which the meeting room adjoins, has mud floors, and those in deep holes’. Incidentally, this quotation, short as it is, tells us rather more than we would have otherwise known about Cabra meeting house.
The effort required of a ministering Friend to get around could be daunting, and not merely the physical effort. William Forster was an English Friend, never physically strong, who travelled much in Ireland in 1813. When he found himself led to travel further west than he had already been, he wrote ‘in looking forward towards proceeding into the counties of Mayo and Galway, the mind is in unutterable conflict, I tremble at the idea of penetrating further into the cloud’ of darkness, bigotry and superstition.
The difficulties that Quakers experienced in integrating with the local population is illustrated by the experience of the same man. He reported in 1814 the experience of a family with whom he stayed briefly in the course of his travels. ‘…I readily accompanied my kind Friends, Samuel and Deborah Neale, to Newington. They have a noble mansion in a beautiful demesne, and afford a valuable specimen of Irish hospitality; but they live in the midst of the most undesirable neighbours. I think there are but one or two Protestant families beside themselves in the parish..’. I do not suppose for a moment that this is the whole story, but this is the message which was thought right to publish at the time.
On a more agreeable note, the Grand Canal was used much by Friends, and the company laid on special boats for those attending Quarterly Meetings. An American visitor commented of her journey on one of the boats: ‘…it was a very easy way of travelling, they cook on board, the dinner and accommodation are equal to a hotel..’. She, of course, was travelling in the first-class cabin.
These travellers reported disasters too as they found them, but always in a very quiet and urbane tone of voice. For instance, in 1803 a long-disused old English meeting house was opened up at the request of a minister, Thomas Shillotoe, and the place was crowded. ‘While I was on my feet, engaged in addressing the assembly, a circumstance occurred which, for a short time, broke in upon the solemnity that the meeting was thus favoured with. The main beam of the upper gallery, which was crowded with people, and crowded underneath, on a sudden gave a loud crack, and broke short off at one end. My feelings of dread for a short time for those who were under the gallery were much excited. But none of our company sustained any injury except from fright. The people, such as could, coming into the meeting house again, and the meeting settling down quietly, we closed under a precious sense that Holy help had been near to us during our sitting together’. Who would put like that nowadays? Thomas Shillitoe was a great man for following his guide, even in the most daunting service, he spent some time in Ireland, where he found himself required to visit every gin-shop in Dublin..
Another Friend who travelled widely in Ireland was Thomas Story, a lawyer from Cumberland. Thomas became well-known in Ireland as he was brother of the Dean of Limerick, so that despite himself he drew large numbers wherever he went in that city. The meetings he called were crowded, by people with quite false expectations, to his great embarrassment. He had the rather agreeable and inclusive way of calling his brother’s wife ‘his sister’. You can’t do that nowadays, you have to get it right. He went to the deanery with a company of Friends, where they met a company of churchmen. He commented of this visit: ‘no offence or occasion was given or taken on any hand, but all was free and friendly. And my sister being a person of excellent natural temper, and very discreet. we were fully and kindly entertained’. His visits were not always so easy.
Thomas Chalkley’s first encounter with Ireland, was by being nearly shipwrecked on the west coast. He traded between Philadelphia, England and the West Indies, and held meetings wherever he landed: Barbados, Bermuda, St Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Antigua. The list reminds me of my stamp-collecting days. Most travelling ministers did either one thing or the other, Thomas was very conscious of his duties, divided between his family and the Lord. ‘…My business at no time hindered me in my more weighty service. My hand, when need required, was to my business, but my heart was, and I hope is, and ever shall be, freely given up to serve the Lord…’.
Local memory of the former presence of Friends could be fickle. There had been a regular meeting at Sligo until 1717. Eighty years later, Mary Dudley arrived there after a journey, as she comments, of seventy miles, for Sligo alone. She reported that she was given a ready reception by the people, but that she found no recollection at all of the former Quaker presence there. But she continued: ‘…my very soul cleaves to some of the inhabitants of Sligo, and the remembrance of having been there is precious, whether any fruit may appear or not..’.
And upon that thought, I would like to close.
Copyright David M Butler, iii 2003
britainbuildingsbutlerbymdavidhousehousesIYMmeetingmeetingsplacestalkworshipYearly
Previous Post‘All bloody principles and practices we do utterly deny’Next PostReflections on a Home-coming |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi doctor, I am an 18-year-old medical student and I enjoy playing rugby at a high level. I have already ruptured my ACL twice on my left leg (twice reconstruction surgery) and I am now very sure I have ruptured my right ACL as well. Would it be possible for me to carry on playing rugby in the near future when I regain strength in my right leg and the swelling subsides, if I use a brace or strap it up when I train and play?
Is it advisable to use a brace for ACL fracture and play rugby? output: Hello. I have read your concern. It will not be comfortable for you to play with an ACL brace if you have grade 3 ACL tear as twisting and turning will not be quick and comfortable to the level game demands. If you have kind of grade 2 then you can strengthen and then have a support and play (again depends on the level of involvement of the fibers, more than 50 % then you should consider surgical reconstruction option as you will always be at risk of progressing it to complete tear. In either case, start your rehabilitation exercises. Can use brace while training. There is a risk of loading certain areas of the joint leading to early bony erosion. It may not be a very good idea... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Questions, last year on the 16 of December 2013, I got home from working out, and all of a sudden my nose was bleeding and blood was coming down my throat. It lasted for over an hour and a half, and it stopped but my heart was pumping so fast, then the panic and anxiety attack hit me. I went to the doctor and he told me that my blood pressure was extremely high, 160/ 110 with a heart rate of 115. He told my not to worry, and that I just needed to be stress free and lose some weight and etc. Ever since that moment, my left side and my left arm have been very sore. Is this normal?
it normal to have a sore left arm with very high blood pressure? output: Hello,Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.No its not normal, but it may not be related to your BP and nose bleed. t could be some musculoskeletal trauma. You should consider getting some physiotherapy for the same. Regarding the BP it would be worthwhile to get it examined frequently and identify if you are hypertensive. Ifi so you will need some anti-hypertensives such as amlodepine etc. Hope I am able to answer your concerns.If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.In future if you wish to contact me directly, or need any further details about the same query you can use the below mentioned link:bit.D... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: How does the management of hemorrhage differ in patients with coagulopathies compared to those without? output: The management of hemorrhage in patients with coagulopathies differs significantly from those without due to the underlying hemostatic abnormalities that need to be addressed.
Early recognition and correction of coagulopathy are crucial. In patients with coagulopathies, point-of-care (POC) testing and viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) are often employed to guide therapy more precisely. These tools help tailor the administration of coagulation factor concentrates (CFCs) and other hemostatic agents, reducing the risks of over- or under-transfusion.[1-2]
For patients with trauma-induced coagulopathy, the management includes the use of fibrinogen concentrate as the first-line treatment for hypofibrinogenemia, and the implementation of massive transfusion protocols that involve balanced ratios of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets. Antifibrinolytic agents like tranexamic acid (TXA) are also recommended to reduce bleeding and the need for allogeneic blood administration.[2-4]
In cases of drug-induced coagulopathy, such as those caused by vitamin K antagonists or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), specific reversal agents or prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are used to reverse the anticoagulant effects. For warfarin-induced coagulopathy, PCC or fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is used, while for DOACs, a combination of TXA, PCC, and specific antidotes (if available) is recommended.[1][4]
In contrast, patients without coagulopathies typically follow standard hemorrhage management protocols, which may not require the same level of targeted therapy. These protocols often involve the use of crystalloids, colloids, and blood products in a more formulaic approach without the need for specialized coagulation factor concentrates or reversal agents.[5]
In summary, the management of hemorrhage in patients with coagulopathies is more complex and requires a tailored approach using advanced diagnostic tools and specific hemostatic agents to address the underlying coagulopathy effectively. |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I am taking a 50mg tablet daily for blood pressure over 4 years. I am 53 years.6 weeks ago my reading was 153 over 98 and yesterday when I got another reading in a health store it was 166 over 104.I am worried about this but for last two weeks I am getting stress headache over problem with girlfriend-maybe this is the cause. I eat healthy and exercise 6 days a week walking fast. Have not drunk alcohol in 3 weeks.my weight is fine at 12 stone 4 pounds and 6 feet tall.What should i do please.
gest remedy for high BP of 166 over 104 output: Hello and thank you for using HCM.I carefully read your question and I understand your concern.You should not worry about. I will try to explain you something and give you my opinion. You should know that when we treat hypertension our goal is to keep mean blood pressure values below 140 / 90 mmHg.A person might have high value during emotional and physical strees so its mandatory to judge on mean values. It is possible that a stressed period might affect your blood pressure values.If I was your treating doctor I would recommend some examination like a cardiac echo to evaluate heart function and walls, a full blood analyze to chek your renal function and a holter pressure monitoring to evaluate your values during day and night. After all this we can better judge and exclude secondary factors of this values and of they are really high in mean time.If it results so, than you can rise your medical dosage or add another class but you should discuss this with your doctor after previous examinations. Hope I was helpfull... |
instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I read that gastritis may be masking a case of ovarian cancer. It was a recent article but I dont remember where. My wifes mother died from ovarian cancer. She has one sister (out of 3) who has had breast cancer twice. Christina, my wife has had gastritis for months now. Her doctor performed endoscopy and found everything appears normal. Christinas gynecologist performed an exam including ultrasound over 2 years ago and found nothing unusual. What are the chances of Christina having ovarian cancer? Shouldnt she have a complete exam at least once a year? Medicare wont pay for more than once every 2 years. Is there a good blood marker for ovarian cancer besides CA125? Thanks!! ...Ron output: Hi, Thanks for writing in. Gastritis is inflammation of the mucosa of stomach in reaction to increased amount of acid formation. It is unlikely for gastritis to be responsible for ovarian cancer. However, if there is cancer ovary in her family then your wife might do an ovarian cancer tumor marker test. There is a blood test called CA 125 which is a cancer marker test for ovarian cancer. This is a simple test and tells a possibility of cancer in the ovary. This is not related to gastritis. Doing this test once a year will benefit her. Please do not worry.. |