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T 0204/05 (Granular detergent/UNILEVER) of 17.7.2006 C11D 17/06 A process for preparing a granular detergent UNILEVER PLC et al 01: Henkel KGaA 02: The Procter & Gamble Company Sufficiency of disclosure (main and auxiliary request): yes Novelty (main request): no - claim 1 not excluding intermediate processing steps not involving the build up of particles Novelty (auxiliary request): yes - clay is not a detergent builder Remittal: yes I. The present appeal is from the decision of the Opposition Division to revoke the European patent no. 0 876 474 concerning a process for preparing a granular detergent product. II. In their notices of opposition the two Opponents sought revocation of the patent on the grounds of Article 100(a) EPC, because of lack of novelty and inventive step of the claimed subject-matter, and of Article 100(b) EPC. The following documents were referred to inter alia in support of the oppositions: (4): EP-A-0340004; (13): WO-A-94/28099. III. In its decision, which was taken in respect of the Patent Proprietor's main request (patent as granted) and first and second auxiliary requests filed under cover of the letter dated 24 November 2004, the Opposition Division found that - the claimed invention was sufficiently disclosed; - claim 1 according to the main request and claim 1 according to the first auxiliary request lacked novelty inter alia in the light of documents (4) or (13); - claim 1 according to the second and to the third auxiliary request, respectively, did not meet the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC. IV. An appeal was filed against this decision by the Patent Proprietor (Appellant) on 14 February 2005 and the appeal fee was duly paid on the same day. The statement setting out the grounds of appeal was filed on 19 April 2005. Oral proceedings were held before the Board on 17 July 2006. The Appellant filed during oral proceedings two amended sets of claims to be considered as main and auxiliary request, respectively. Claim 1 according to the main request reads as follows: "1. A process for producing a granular detergent component or composition containing anionic surfactant having a bulk density between 350 and 1000 g/l comprising mixing a particulate starting material in a low or high speed mixer/granulator, adding a liquid binder to the mixer/granulator and subjecting the resulting mixture to partial granulation, to produce a partially granulated mixture, transferring partially granulated mixture to a fluid bed or rotating bowl mixer/granulator, adding further liquid binder to the mixture for a time sufficient to complete granulation and thereby to obtain the granular powder composition of desired bulk density, wherein: for a bulk density in the region of 350 - 650 g/l the process comprises the steps of: (a) adding from 5 to 75% by weight of the total amount of liquid binder to the low/high speed mixer/granulator; and (b) adding the remaining from 95 to 25% by weight of the total amount of liquid binder in the fluid bed or rotating bowl mixer/granulator, for a bulk density in the range 550 - 1000 g/l the process comprising the steps of: (a) adding from 75 to 95% by weight of the total amount of liquid binder in the low/high speed mixer/granulator; and (b) adding the remaining from 25 to 5% by weight of the total liquid binder in the fluid bed or rotating bowl mixer/granulator." Dependent claims 2 to 4 according to the main request relate to particular embodiments of the claimed process. Claim 1 of the set of 2 claims according to the first auxiliary request differs from claim 1 according to the main request insofar as it requires that the particulate starting material comprises a detergent builder and that the partially granulated mixture is transferred to a fluid bed. V. The Appellant submitted during oral proceedings inter alia that - the wording of the claims allowed the use of different binders in the two granulation steps and the use of low or high speed mixer/granulators not having cutting means; - moreover, the term "partial granulation" identified the granulation of a product to the desired extent; therefore, the terms "partial granulation" and "complete granulation" represented similar process steps; - the term "granulation", however, had to be interpreted as relating to the build up by agglomeration of particles having a greater average particle size and did not include the coating of particles wherein the particle size did not change substantially; - moreover, the claimed process required the direct transfer of the product obtained by granulation in a low or high speed mixer/granulator into a fluid bed or rotating bowl mixer/granulator without any intermediate processing step; - the particulate clay material used in documents (4) and (13) could not be considered to be a detergent builder as explained in document (20): Powdered Detergents, M.S. Showell, 1998, page 57, filed under cover of the letter dated 25 April 2006; - therefore, the claims of both requests were novel over the cited prior art. VI. The Respondents 01 and 02 (Opponents 01 and 02, respectively) submitted in writing and orally inter alia that - the claimed invention was not sufficiently disclosed; - the wording of the claims allowed the possibility of further processing steps between the two granulation steps; - the term "granulation" had to be interpreted as relating to the build up by agglomeration of particles having either a different average particle size or a different particle size distribution or a different density; - the clay material used according to documents (4) and (13) was a layered silicate having the capacity of exchanging ions; since layered silicates were indicated as detergent builders in the patent in suit (page 4, lines 52 to 53), this material had also to be considered as a detergent builder; - the subject-matter of claim 1 according to the main and to the auxiliary request, respectively, lacked novelty in the light of documents (4) and (13); moreover, the subject-matter of claim 1 according to the main request lacked novelty also in the light of document (4). VII. The Appellant requests that the decision under appeal be set aside and that the patent be maintained on the basis of the set of claims according to the main request or according to the auxiliary request both of them submitted during oral proceedings. The Respondents request that the appeal be dismissed. Respondent 02 requests also that, if the Appellant's main request or the auxiliary request is found to be acceptable under Articles 123, 83, 84 and 54 EPC, the case be remitted to the department of first instance for the assessment of inventive step. 1. Main request 1.1 Article 123(2) EPC The Board is satisfied that the claims according to the main request, as agreed by the Respondents during oral proceedings, comply with the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC. 1.2 Articles 83 and 84 EPC Claim 1 according to the main request relates to a process for the preparation of a granulated detergent product having a bulk density between 350 and 1000 g/l comprising the steps of mixing a particulate starting material in a low or high speed mixer/granulator, adding a liquid binder to the mixer/granulator and subjecting the resulting mixture to partial granulation; transferring the granulated mixture to a fluid bed or rotating bowl mixer/granulator, adding further liquid binder to the mixture for a time sufficient to complete granulation and wherein the amount of liquid binder used in these two granulating steps is selected in dependence of the desired final bulk density (see claim 1 in point IV above). As agreed by all the parties during oral proceedings, the binder material used in said two granulation steps can be different and the used low or high speed mixer/granulators may have no cutting means in the first granulation step; moreover, both the terms "partial granulation" and "complete granulation" identify the granulation of a product to the desired extent. Also, the claimed process may comprise additional steps not specified in the claim. As regards the term "granulation" itself all the parties agreed that it had to be interpreted as relating to the build up of particles by agglomeration. The Board finds that, in the absence of shearing forces, such an agglomeration would necessarily lead to the build up of particles having a greater size; this is, however, not necessarily the case when the mixer/granulator contains cutting means since the formed particles are continuously broken up to a smaller size. Moreover, as accepted by all the parties during oral proceedings, a granulation step is usually accompanied by sieving steps for eliminating particles of undesired size, which sieving step can be carried out at the same time as the granulation or separately. Since claim 1 does not exclude other processing steps in addition to the two specified granulation steps, the product obtained after granulation can differ from the product before granulation either in the average particle size or in the particle size distribution or in its density. This interpretation is in accordance with the disclosure of the patent in suit specifying that the granulation step produces, for example, particles having a different granulometry (see page 3, line 58 to page 4, line 5). Furthermore, the wording of the claims does not require in the Board's view the direct transfer of the product exiting the low or high speed mixer/granulator into the fluid bed or rotating mixer but allows further intermediate processing steps not involving the build up of the particles such as a drying step or a milling or sieving step; in fact, the granulated product exiting the low or high speed mixer/granulator (so called partially granulated mixture) remains a partially granulated mixture, also if it is additionally dried, milled or sieved separately. Finally, claim 1 and the description of the patent in suit give a clear teaching how to select the amount of liquid binder to be used in the respective agglomeration step in order to achieve a selected bulk density; however, for obtaining particles in the range of 550 to 650 g/l each of the two alternative ranges indicated in the claim can be used (see page 3, lines 34 to 41). Therefore, the Board finds that the wording of claim 1 is clear and that the claimed invention can thus be carried out by the skilled person by following the teaching of the patent in suit. Therefore, the requirements of Article 83 EPC are complied with. 1.3 Novelty Document (4) discloses a process for the preparation of particulate detergent components comprising an anionic surfactant in which 100 kg of bentonite (clay particulate material) is loaded into an O'Brien mixer/agglomerator, oversprayed with an aqueous slurry of sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (anionic surfactant) containing 50.4% of active surfactant, 3.4% sodium sulphate and balance water (anionic surfactant and water being liquid binders), and granulated. After completion of the agglomeration the particles are dried to a moisture content of 6% in a fluidized bed dryer, their particle size is reduced in a Stokes granulator and they are sieved to a particle size of between 12 to 100 or 12 to 120 sieve range. The dried agglomerated particles of desired particle size, i.e. particles which have been agglomerated in the first granulation step are then returned and thus transferred to the fluidized bed apparatus, wherein they are oversprayed with a 27% concentration, in water, of maleic-acrylic copolymer Sokolan CP-5 binder. Both water as well as Sokolan CP-5 are liquid binders able to agglomerate particles (column 4, lines 61 to 65 and column 5, line 57 to column 6, line 3). Therefore, the fact that Sokolan CP-5 additionally strengthens the obtained beads does not mean that agglomeration does not take place. The granulated product is dried and screened in the fluidized bed apparatus and half thereof is subsequently oversprayed with a dye solution in such a fluidized bed. Finally, the agglomerated product is milled and screened again to a particle size between 12 to 120 and 12 to 100 sieves, i.e. to the same range of particle size before the treatment in the fluidized bed apparatus. The resulting product has a bulk density of 0.7 g/l (see column 17, line 1 to column 18, last line). Since the particle size of the final product is comparable to that of the product entering the fluidized bed apparatus, the Board finds that the particles exiting the fluidized bed apparatus before screening and milling must necessarily have been of greater size than the starting particles and thus that an agglomeration must have taken place in the fluidized bed. The amounts of liquid binders used in the O'Brien mixer/agglomerator and in the fluidized bed apparatus can be derived from the information given in document (4) and are respectively 83% and 17% by weight, as correctly found in the decision under appeal (point 6.1 of the reasons for the decision). Therefore, document (4) describes a process having all the features of the process of claim 1 according to the main request. Therefore, the subject-matter of claim 1 according to the main request lacks novelty over the disclosure of document (4) (Articles 54(1) and (2) EPC). Since the main request fails already on these grounds there is no need to discuss document (13). 2. Auxiliary request 2.1 Article 123(2), 83 and 84 EPC The subject-matter of claim 1 according to the auxiliary request differs from that according to the main request insofar as claim 1 requires that the particulate starting material comprises a detergent builder and that the partially granulated mixture is transferred to a fluid bed. The Board is satisfied that the claims according to the auxiliary request comply with the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC and that the claimed invention is sufficiently disclosed for the same reasons put forward in points 1.1 and 1.2 above. The Board finds that some layered silicates are detergent builders. However, a clay material as used in documents (4) or (13), though being a layered silicate, would have not be considered by the skilled person to be a detergent builder, as clearly explained in document (20) which is a textbook representing the common general knowledge of the skilled person in this technical field (see page 57, lines 8 to 17). Since the particulate starting material of the process disclosed in document (4) and discussed above and that used in document (13) (claim 7 and examples) does not comprise a detergent builder, the subject-matter of claim 1 is considered to be novel over the disclosure of these two documents. 3. Remittal Although the claimed invention has been found to be sufficiently disclosed and the claims according to the auxiliary request have been found to comply with the requirements of Articles 84, 123(2) and to be novel over documents (4) and (13), it still has to be assessed whether these claims satisfy the other requirements of the EPC, in particular whether they involve an inventive step. In the present case the decision under appeal was based on the grounds of Articles 123(2) and 54 EPC only. Inventive step of the claimed subject-matter was discussed neither in the decision under appeal nor in the written submissions of the Appellant during the appeal proceedings which only indicated in the statement of the grounds of appeal the inventive purpose of the claimed process (see last five lines on page 4) but not why it had to be considered inventive over the cited prior art. The Board finds thus that it was not appropriate to discuss during oral proceedings inventive step of the subject-matter of a claim which had not been discussed at first instance and for which the starting point for the evaluation of inventive step as well as the technical problem underlying the claimed invention in the light of this starting point has still to be debated. Since Respondent 02 asked for the case to be remitted to the first instance for further prosecution and the other parties did not object to that, the Board finds that in order not to deprive the parties of the opportunity to argue the remaining issues at two instances, it is appropriate to exercise its powers under Article 111(1) EPC to remit the case to the department of first instance for further prosecution. 1. The decision under appeal is set aside. 2. The case is remitted to the department of first instance for further prosecution.

Maharashtra drought: People of Marathwada are angry with all parties, Prithviraj Chavan tells Firstpost Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in a freewheeling chat with the Firstpost team in Mumbai touched upon a number of subjects from Marathwada drought, what Devendra Fadnavis should do and how Narendra Modi should stop being a BJP's Prime Minister. hidden March 15, 2016 07:26:44 IST By Simantik Dowerah and Yael Ajgarni Editor’s note: Newsrooms and newsmakers feed off each other. There’s no life for the one without the other. Yet, newsrooms — the hub of news production operations — live in their own world of computers and keyboards, and newsmakers in their own. The twain rarely meet. This physical separation is not just a logistical necessity, but a professional virtue. It is a tenet that ensures that news-writers are free from the influence and impact of events on the ground, unlike news reporters who are in the thick of things. But interpreting and analysing newsmakers from a distance, just from the headlines they make, has its own set of problems. The separation from events and their complete dependence on secondary and tertiary sources of information can make newsrooms susceptible to facile stereotyping, labelling and, hence, bias. That is perhaps why rules come with exceptions. The occasional rub with newsmakers can have the refreshing effect of broadening the newsroom’s perspective. The Firstpost newsroom found that out when we invited Prithviraj Chavan, the former chief minister of Maharashtra - he preceded the incumbent, Devendra Fadnavis - for an interaction. An engineer from BITS, Pilani, and alumnus of the University of California, Berkley, the suave Chavan gave the newsroom a first person account of issues of politics and governance that can come only from a person who has run India’s biggest economy (Maharashtra) and the prime minister’s office. There were valuable learnings for the newsroom which today has better appreciation for, if not understanding of, the Marathwada drought, which will reflect very soon in our coverage of the issue. Chavan also broke the unitary mould we try to fit all our politicians into. The interaction with him made us reflect on how readily we label people and professions. So, once in a few weeks, the newsroom will chat up newsmakers for getting fresh perspectives on events past and current. Below are the highlights of the interaction with Chavan, the first in a new series of interviews we are kicking off on Firstpost called Firstperson. See, we are good at labelling! Maharashtra's accidental chief minister A mechanical engineer by training and dealing with not-so-politically-cool portfolios like science and technology, earth sciences apart from serving as a junior minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Prithviraj Chavan was content with whatever he was handling under prime minister Manmohan Singh's second innings in South Block. This went on until the time the Maharashtra government was shaken by the massive Adarsh scam which directly embroiled then chief minister Ashok Chavan into its vortex. Given the massive public outrage, the Congress top brass realised that the state should immediately have a new and clean chief minister to mitigate the crisis to some extent. As speculations continued, a phone call from 10 Janpath decided who's the next Maharashtra chief minister. "It is quite a surprise to me when one late night, almost about 3 o'clock, I got a phone call from Mrs (Sonia) Gandhi. And while the change in Maharashtra was on, because the chief minister had resigned and then new chief minister was being looked at, they were searching for a new name, and we were all curious to who'd become the next chief minister of Maharashtra," said former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in a freewheeling chat with Firstpost. "I had not formally applied or even discussed or shown interest in going because I was doing extremely interesting work in Delhi, a very very heavy responsibility in Delhi and my responsibilities grew by the year since I became a minister in Delhi in the May of 2004 when the UPA government came into power," he said. "The person told me that 10 Janpath was calling. Nothing else needed to be said as I knew what was happening. At 3 am who would call you? And the formality of informing me which Mrs Gandhi did, telling me that you will have to go tomorrow to Mumbai. We have decided that you'll be the next chief minister, and then I had to do the formalities, prime minister was leaving for a foreign country at 9 o'clock. I went and met him at 9 o'clock and resigned. He asked me what to do now, who is going to replace you? So we discussed some names, put some arrangement in place and I was sworn in the same day at 4 o'clock," Chavan said. A stranger in the midst Always known to be a clean politician, Chavan was a natural choice given the other Chavan allegedly sank the party's image with the high-profile Adarsh scam. However, the only question was the new chief minister's popularity quotient as he was considered among the elite. "I had never worked in Maharashtra before, and that was one thing that was held against me whenever any leadership issue was brought up. People used to say look he is not handled Maharashtra, never worked in Maharashtra, how will he work here, how will he deal with MLAs and local issues? So, that was fine. But Maharashtra was a very interesting exercise," Chavan said. Scorned in scorched Marathwada "I made a point to chief minister that he should take the initiative to bring the Opposition on board because the situation today, forget the ruling party, even we, MLAs cannot go to Marathwada now. We will be beaten up. It is that bad." Ironically, those who might beat up the MLAs are the same people who elected them in the Assembly polls in October 2014. Chavan uttered these words when he explained the seriousness of the drought situation in the state's Marathwada region. Suave, sober and sharply dressed, the former UPA government minister's spotless white attire was in stark contrast to the dark days Marathwada has been dealing with in the last few months. "And this drought, as we are sitting here today, there are at least three-and-half, four, four-and-a-half months to the next monsoon — 15 June. In some places, it is July and in Solapur and the southern regions, August. So how will you sustain? "The present drought and water crisis that Maharashtra is facing — and Marathwada in particular — is something the country has never seen before. Now MLAs are scared of going to Marathwada. I think this drought and the water crisis in Maharashtra is unprecedented in its magnitude. I hope I am wrong and that this is not a doomsday scenario," the legislator from the South Karad constituency said. Describing Maharashtra as the second largest Indian state in terms of land area and having the largest economy among equals, the former chief minister expressed concern over the poor percentage of irrigated farmland in the state. "And of the land that is tilled, only 18 percent is irrigated. Now if you compare that, Punjab is 98 percent irrigated, Haryana is 90 percent, UP is 60 percent, Bihar is 60 to 70 percent or in that range. The national average of land that is irrigated is between 45 and 46 percent. We're at 18 percent. Only Kerala is lower than us. But Kerala doesn't have any land, so Kerala is a small state compared to, irrigation and agriculture is concerned. 18 percent is just bad. And that's why, when we look at Maharashtra's agricultural output, Maharashtra's agriculture on the whole, that has to always be remembered," Chavan said. The geography of the state is such that conserving water offers challenges of its own. "It rains in the western ghats. But then all the water goes to the sea and very little comes to the eastern part of the state. And this is a plateau where it is very difficult to take water to higher altitude. And that is why when rains fail, we have a crisis of unprecedented magnitude," the former chief minister said. Sitting on a crisis? Rains are from the gods, but lesser mortals in power (read government) on earth have to face flak when showers are scanty. Chavan was quick to blame the Centre and the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government for the water crisis and the drought. "Somehow in the new governments in Mumbai and in Delhi, nobody has any ministerial experience or any administrative experience, barring a few — three or four in Delhi and one, perhaps two in Maharashtra. So there is also a sense of arrogance with getting a large majority in Delhi. In Maharashtra, also they got many more votes than any party previously got. And then this arrogance that they bring to the table: That previous governments didn't know anything, they are all fools, they took all decisions, they are all corrupt, so only we know what is right," he said. Chavan said that even the alliance partners are not happy with the manner the state is handing the drought crisis. "And in that arrogance they are taking decisions, taking things for granted and paying a huge price, so much so that even their alliance partner Raju Shetty from the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana, publicly acknowledged that the government of Ashok Chavan was much better in handling the drought. He is an alliance partner. He is one of the persons in line to become minister. People are openly taking about it now. The point is they have just not understood the gravity of water crisis in Maharashtra and why they have not done that is something I don't know," the former chief minister said. However, of late, the state government is making some moves to tackle the crisis. "We had a meeting in the Assembly this (8 March) morning, where both the Speaker and the chairman of the Assembly came to 15 or 20 of us. The entire cabinet went there (Marathwada). They had to hold meeting meetings virtually in a military camp. One person threw a pouch of milk on a minister, and then a personal assistant got angry and he beat up the person. And it's all on the records. It is bad," Chavan said. He felt that the government has pressed the panic button, but the cabinet visit was unnecessary. "They should never have done it and now the situation is such that they will not be able to go there at all. But that doesn't solve the problem," the South Karad MLA said. Congress can't be blamed Chavan, however, did not blame the governments run by his own party earlier for the watery mess. "It's not easy to fix for anybody. The point is when I came here, I realised that a paradigm shift was needed. That this large dam business was not workable for many reasons. And that large dam was deliberately chosen, and behind that was huge contractor pressure. I'm clear about that. A dam requires land acquisition; a dam requires rehabilitation of people. If there is forest land involved, the dam requires payment of compensation for afforestation. A dam requires money to build. The most lucrative part is building that dam. The contractors are only interested in that, nobody is interested in the dam," he said. Languishing in Latur Chavan was concerned that water scarcity was fast spreading to urban centres like Latur. "Latur district has given two chief ministers to this state: Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar and Vilasrao Deshmukh. Latur city is getting water every 25 days, today. And my assistant comes from Latur. His relations have migrated already. They are all well-to-do people. One has migrated to relations in Thane where his family lives and other has permanently decided to go to Pune," the Congress MLA said. "The state government should have thought of an alternate contingency plan — which they failed to do," the former chief minister said. 'Goodbye industry' Even as farm lands are rapidly turning into dry lands, the urban and industrial areas are also bearing the brunt of water shortage. "In Aurangabad, we wanted to promote the city as industrial belt which is a part of our Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. We wanted to propose Shendra in Aurangabad as one of the NIMZ (National Investment and Manufacturing Zones) places. I'm very fond of industrial townships and in my urban development policy, I tried to promote that concept. But what industrial development and what 'Make in India' and Rs 8 lakh crore investment is the Maharashtra government talking about? The commissioner of Aurangabad has said the city will not have any water for agriculture or for industries. It is only reserved for drinking. Which investment will come in then?" Chavan asked. "They (the investors) will bring bags full of dollars (in FDI). Please tell them to also bring a tanker-full of water," the former Maharashtra chief minister said. Chavan made it clear that big dams are no solution for Maharashtra's water woes. "The planning of dams was bad. The famous Jayakwadi dam in Aurangabad was politically built to a very large size and it never gets filled. Today, Jayakwadi is at the heart of Marathwada and without Jayakwadi, the whole of Marathwada will collapse. The water level today is, I think, minus 14 percent in Jayakwadi. So naturally, the commissioner had to say no water except for drinking. So, goodbye industry. How will industry come there without any water at all? So there is a serious crisis. And the government is not really looking at it," he said. Congress and climate change When asked if the Congress party discussed climate change in its meetings, Chavan smartly pushed the onus on the government. "Actually, what happens at the national level — particularly when you're in government — the environment minister would really drive the policy and what is to be done about climate change, what you will say in the COP meetings wherever they are being held and so on. Jairam Ramesh was piloting it for many years, then Jayanthi Natrajan came along. You know the Department of Environment has created the Conservation Act, Project Tiger and all that. So, you go back to Indira Gandhi's time, or Rajiv Gandhi's time, we were completely pro-conservation as much as possible," Chavan said. "In the climate change debate, the minister who is in charge of the environment portfolio, led the Congress policy. Now whatever briefings were required were done by that minister to the leadership or the closed group of working committee members. But that is largely a government position, not so much the party position. And the party position or the government position was that Indian interests must be protected," the South Karad MLA said. Advice to Devendra Fadnavis For a first time chief minister like Fadnavis, his predecessor also offered a word of advice on how to face this unprecedented water crisis. "There are two things. One is something immediate like what you do today in next four months. The second is what you do in the slightly long term. I realised that we have messed up the large irrigation projects completely. Technology has to be brought in. How do you make it so that that plants survive, what species should the plant be, where should it be planted? First, clean up all the government areas," Chavan said. "We have to complete the last mail large irrigation projects and for that we need money. And that money has to come from Delhi. One of the things the government could have done is to do away with debt right away," the former chief minister said. Ambushed by Narendra Modi No matter how critical the Congress is of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party however admits that it was caught unaware by the political tsunami from Gujarat. Apart from the tech-savvy Modi that took Congress by surprise, there was another area where the Grand Old Party was at a loss. "I think the whole Modi government is about lot of hype, lot of advertisement. Media publicity is used very effectively, including the use of Hindi, which we failed to do. All our leaders are not very comfortable in Hindi. You saw the Kanhaiya Kumar effect, you know what Modi did with it too. So I think we failed there and he succeeded and used the technology and all sort of things. We couldn't really meet his challenge frankly," Chavan said. But the South Karad legislator was quick to add a caveat. "I think he has oversold, obviously. He doesn't know where to stop. He somehow is not able to understand that he is the Prime Minister of the whole country. There is only one Prime Minister. He is Prime Minister of all of the country, not only BJP. He is still in the campaign mode. He doesn't miss one opportunity to make snide remarks against our leadership, which is not required," Chavan said. The former chief minister felt that most of the decisions taken by the Modi government at the Centre are superficial. "Now every single announcement that is made is flawed, without adequate planning, without adequate diligence. How do you succeed and what steps are required? Nothing! So every single step, whether it is Digital India or anything else includng the Smart City project — I am a very very strong critic of that particular project. It is completely ill-conceived. And I think it will be wound up and redone. But because of prestige they may not do it," Chavan said. The trade called Opposition Used to power too much? Perhaps. At least, Chavan thinks that the Congress party is yet to learn its business as an Opposition party. "The Congress in Maharashtra has not been a very effective Opposition and the only explanation that I can give is a lame excuse, but it is that we have been in power for 15 years. So we don't know how to be in Opposition. So we're learning. And one year on, we're just beginning to learn how to be in Opposition," he said. However, he is confident his party will put forward a stiff challenge in the ongoing Maharashtra Budget Session. Well, the 44 Congress MPs in Lok Sabha are stalling Parliament too often than not. "I think we'll now put up a strong challenge to the government. They are doing a very good job in Delhi. It's just 44 people out there," the former Maharashtra chief minister said. Although in the Opposition corridor, Chavan hopes that his party has a fairly good chance to return to power. "I'm not even sure whether the present Maharashtra government will last, because it is anyway only a minority government and we hear rumours that the Shiv Sena may not be with them during the BMC polls in Mumbai. Something else may happen," he said. In any case, there is a role for the Congress to play, even if it is on the opposite side of the treasury benches. "Congress also must play constructive role. There is not a doubt. The government must be arrogant to say that we don't need anybody and we have full majority and all of that. The beauty of the Indian Constitution is that the checks and balances that you've built into it — that's where it works. It can be done, a better relationship can be achieved. But one thing is certain, if the BJP continues with this Hindutva agenda, then I think there will be no meeting around whether it is GST or anything else," Chavan warned. Is Make in India a marketing gimmick? "For Make in India, openly I have said that I wish that programme succeeds. We owe it to our young people, the graduates, the engineers, the MBAs who are going out, who are not getting jobs today. Then if it succeeds, they get a job. But the way the government is going about it, it is not going to succeed. It's all again a marketing show," the former Union minister of state said. Chavan said that the Make in India event in February was nothing but a stunt. "From Day One, I have been telling them to place on their website the Rs eight-lakh-crore-worth of MoUs that they have got. Who is doing the breakdown? Which company, where, what investment, what job creation and what place and all that. They are not going to give this information. It's all fraud. They virtually caught hold of people and told them to sign some piece of paper," the former chief minister said. A staunch critic of the Make in India programe, the Maharashtra MLA made it clear that lots needs to be done for the programme to succeed. "I think a lot more is required for Make in India to succeed. Nobody invests because somebody went and shook hands or Modi went to America and visited the headquarters of a company. They invest only if you're going to make definite profit. I mean unless that is proven, there is a whole army of people there deciding location policy, whether to got to China or to India, whether to go to Bangladesh or build a textile unit here. So it won't automatically happen because you took a photograph at an event, a lot more has to be done," Chavan said. Limping economy, Budget baggage Expressing his opinion about the state of affairs in the Indian economy, the South Karad MLA did not appear appreciative of it. "There is a grave crisis in the Indian economy. Particularly the banking crisis, the NPA crisis. We don't know what the real numbers are. But perhaps you know, it worries me now personally, that entire growth story of India in last 8-10 years has been bloated because of these NPAs. Whose money was it? It is public money, bank money and then topline was shown in a huge profit, we don't know what the truth is," Chavan said. His comments for the latest Union Budget was bereft of praise as well. "This is Budget for Bharat, rural development budget, election budget. This is all nonsense. It is nothing at all like that. The budget is already prepared, and the way they wanted. Then somebody told Arun Jaitley to give it a rural twist, which he tried to do it in his speech. Otherwise it's fraud," the former Maharashtra chief minister said. Hope for Bankruptcy Code, but GST locked in ego tussle Chavan did not agree with the accusation that Congress is hell-bent on blocking reforms particularly the Goods and Services Tax, or GST. "I agree with you that the bankruptcy code and the GST are the two most important reforms that must happen in the country, without a doubt. But it also not true that Congress obstinately opposing. Let us ask, has anybody asked Mr Modi why he opposed GST for seven years when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. People conveniently forget that. Now, it doesn't mean because he opposed you should also oppose, not true. They brought in some new features just to make sure why they did oppose for seven years and why they are not bringing it up. Although GST would be the desirable change in the right direction," the former chief minister said. "After all it was our enactment, let's not forget that. Whether to write 18 percent in the Constitution or in the law that's the only difference. I think it's a matter of ego. The point is that it is the government's responsibility to pass government business, they should have walked across and they should've talked to somebody saying let's not sit on formality. But unfortunately the arrogance I talked about, the arrogance of 282 seats, that prevented. They've realised it now," Chavan said. A part of the culture The former chief minister was quite critical of the beef ban that the BJP government enforced in Maharashtra. "I don't know how many of you have lived in America, you see it is a part of their culture. When you're travelling anywhere, you carry dried beef called beef jerky. The mother would always put a small packet into the bag like in Maharashtra, tikhat mittache ladoo, in Marathi. We carry small ladoos and the mother will always put it in 'beta tumko khaneko nahi milega toh you eat this'. Similarly thats the part of their culture. It's dried beef. Six months imprisonment in Maharashtra, if you're caught with it. What nonsense!" Chavan said. Delhi was great but Maharashtra is... It was tough for Chavan to figure out where he liked the job more -- in Delhi or Mumbai. "That's a difficult question. So I'll tell you. Delhi I started out as a Union minister. After the new government came in power 2011 I got four more. As a PMO minister I had to look after atomic engineering space. Being a hardcore engineer is your first love. Then finally when election happened, I told prime minister, I've been a minister of state for five years. I deserve a promotion. You make me a cabinet minister. He said 'Mai kya karunga'. What do I do? So he found a unique answer to that while I continued to be MoS even after the 2009 election. He gave me whole independent charge of science and technology which has been a beautiful experience about one and a half year," the South Karad MLA said. "About seven portfolios I was looking at one time or the other and many of them science, which I loved. Not many people like science and technology because they're considered politically lightweight and they don't like why enjoyed it. So it was great fun. I travelled a lot. People don't realise because India science minister was such an important (position) that at any given time, almost 20 science ministers (around) the world wanted to meet and shake hands. Not because of what we are today but the potential that India had. The work that Indian scientists do in America. They had such an awe. I went to North Pole, the Norwegian minister accompanied me from airport to North Pole all the way. Three days she was with me," he said. Yes, the Delhi experience was great but the former chief minister did tell us what he thought was more challenging. "As I said, probably I would consider only few or four positions in the country more important than the (Chief Minister's Office) this state. So I enjoyed Delhi very much, but this was far too important," Chavan said. Updated Date: March 15, 2016 07:28:40 IST Bankruptcy Code IMF board approves $4.7 bln support program for Bangladesh The funding includes $3.3 billion under the IMF's Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility programs and $1.4 billion under the new RSF, which aims to help vulnerable middle-income countries and island states. US-China officials to meet on economy, aim to ease tension The Chinese economy is reopening after a COVID-19 resurgence killed tens of thousands of people and shuttered countless businesses IMF team to visit 'cash-strapped' Pakistan to pave way for release of next tranche of its assistance package IMF team would be in Islamabad from 31 January to 9 February to hold talks with the officials over the implementation of its conditions attached with the assistance package Budget 2023: Eyeing a paperless judiciary, Sitharaman allocates Rs 7,000 cr for Phase 3 of eCourts Project Phase three of the eCourts Project outlines a judicial system that is more accessible, efficient and equitable for every individual who seeks justice, or is part of the delivery of justice, in India Nirmala Sitharaman serves ‘middle-class bonanza budget’, opposition still unhappy Political leaders from both ruling and opposition parties have reacted to the budget with some saying it will provide support to farmers, women and marginalised sections while others said it failed to address questions like welfare for the poor and inflation Pakistan's deepening politico-economic crisis could fuel instability in region: Experts The risk for India would not only be instability in Pakistan with its fall-out of rising extremism in the region but also unpredictable actions which could include bids to divert domestic public attention by focussing on an external enemy. Budget 2023-24 Expectation: Government must consider rejigging tax system to assuage burden of middle class Since ‘two-thirds’ of the Indian population is tax-exempt and the ‘super rich’ in the population-pyramid being a handful, the claws of taxation squeeze the middle-class Union budget 2023: Govt roadmap needed for sustainable growth in logistics sector, says industry leaders Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget 2023-24 in the Lok Sabha on February 1. Brexit turns three. Why no one is celebrating it Brexit, according to some critics, is the dark thread explaining why Britain is suffering more than its neighbours in a country dealing with the same energy shocks and inflation pressures

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Which imaging modality is preferred for assessing the extent of endometriosis? output: Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) is the preferred first-line imaging modality for assessing the extent of endometriosis. This recommendation is based on its high diagnostic accuracy, widespread availability, and cost-effectiveness. TVUS is particularly effective in identifying ovarian endometriomas and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) in the pelvis, including the rectosigmoid colon.[1-4] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended as a complementary imaging modality when TVUS findings are equivocal or when there is a need for detailed preoperative mapping, especially in cases of extensive disease or involvement of the urinary tract. MRI provides superior soft tissue contrast and a broader field of view, which is beneficial for detecting lesions beyond the reach of TVUS, such as those located above the rectosigmoid junction.[1-2][5-7] In summary, TVUS should be the initial imaging modality for evaluating endometriosis, with MRI reserved for complex cases or when additional anatomical detail is required for surgical planning.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have had my blood drawn several times, each time the lab could not get results because my blood coagulated. After the third time my results came back with a low platelet count of 98. I have not seen the results, I have to have my blood drawn again and then see my doctor once again. What does a low platelet count signify. output: Hi, dear. I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. You may have low platelet count, or it may be due to EDTA sampling error. You should go for repeat platelet count with citrate blood. It will prevent clotting and give accurate results. If you still have law count then investigate further for cause. Viral infection is the most common cause. There are many other causes also there. If you have low platelet count again then consult your doctor and take treatment accordingly. Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer..

Olivier Messiaen and his Turagalila Symphony Posted on March 25, 2014 by homeschoolbookreviewblog | Leave a comment Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (December 10, 1908 – April 27, 1992) was a French composer, organist, teacher, and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. Messiaen was born on December 10, 1908, in Avignon, France, into a literary family, the elder of two sons of Cécile Sauvage, a poet, and Pierre Messiaen, a teacher of English who translated the plays of William Shakespeare into French. Soon after his birth the family moved to Ambert, the birthplace of Chabrier, where his brother Alain was born in 1913. At the outbreak of World War I, Pierre Messiaen enlisted and Cécile took their two boys to live with her brother in Grenoble. There Messiaen became fascinated with drama, reciting Shakespeare to his brother with the help of a home-made toy theatre with translucent backdrops made from old cellophane wrappers. At this time he also adopted the Roman Catholic faith. Having already taught himself to play the piano, he still took piano lessons. His interest included the recent music of French composers Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, and he asked for opera vocal scores for Christmas presents. Around this time he began to compose. In 1918 his father returned from the war and the family moved to Nantes. Olivier continued music lessons, and one of his teachers, Jehan de Gibon, gave him a score of Debussy’s opera Pelléas et Mélisande. The following year Pierre Messiaen gained a teaching post in Paris. Messiaen entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1919, aged 11. At the Conservatoire, where his teachers included Georges Falkenberg for piano, Noël Gallon for counterpoint and fugue, and professor Baggers for timpani and percussion, Messiaen made excellent academic progress. In 1924, aged 15, he was awarded second prize in harmony, having been taught in that subject by professor Jean Gallon. In 1925 he won first prize in piano accompaniment, and in 1926 he gained first prize in fugue. After studying with Maurice Emmanuel, he was awarded second prize for the history of music in 1928. Emmanuel engendered an interest in ancient Greek rhythms and exotic modes. After showing improvisation skills on the piano Messiaen studied organ with Marcel Dupré. Messiaen, having never seen an organ console, sat quietly for an hour while Dupré explained and demonstrated the instrument, and then came back a week later to play Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fantasia in C minor to an impressive standard. Messiaen gained first prize in organ playing and improvisation in 1929. After a year studying composition with Charles-Marie Widor, in autumn 1927 he entered the class of the newly appointed Paul Dukas. Messiaen’s mother died of tuberculosis shortly before the class began. Despite his grief, he resumed his studies, and in 1930 Messiaen won first prize in composition. While a student he composed his first published works—his eight Préludes for piano. The earlier Le banquet céleste was published subsequently. These exhibit Messiaen’s use of modes and palindromic rhythms. His public début came in 1931 with his orchestral suite Les offrandes oubliées. That year he first heard a gamelan group, sparking his interest in the use of tuned percussion. From 1929, Messiaen regularly deputised at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, for the organist Charles Quef, who was ill at the time. The post became vacant in 1931 when Quef died, and Dupré, Charles Tournemire and Widor among others supported Messiaen’s candidacy. His formal application included a letter of recommendation from Widor. The appointment was confirmed in 1931, and he remained the organist at the church for more than sixty years. He also assumed a post at the Schola Cantorum de Paris in the early 1930s. He married the violinist and composer Claire Delbos, daughter of a Sorbonne professor, in 1932. Their marriage inspired him to both compose works for her to play, such as Thème et variations for violin and piano in the year they were married, and to write pieces to celebrate their domestic happiness, including the song cycle Poèmes pour Mi in 1936, which he orchestrated in 1937. Mi was Messiaen’s affectionate nickname for his wife. In 1937 their son Pascal was born. The marriage turned to tragedy when Claire lost her memory after an operation and spent the rest of her life in mental institutions. From 1934 to 1939 he taught piano sight reading at the École Normale de Musique and an organ improvisation course at the Schola Cantorium. In 1936, along with André Jolivet, Daniel-Lesur, and Yves Baudrier, Messiaen formed the group La jeune France (“Young France”). In response to a commission for a piece to accompany light-and water-shows on the Seine during the Paris Exposition, in 1937 Messiaen demonstrated his interest in using the ondes Martenot, an electronic instrument, by composing Fêtes des belles eaux for an ensemble of six. He included a part for the instrument in several of his subsequent compositions. During this period he composed several multi-movement organ works. He arranged his orchestral suite L’ascension (“The Ascension”) for organ, replacing the orchestral version’s third movement with an entirely new movement, Transports de joie d’une âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne (“Ecstasies of a soul before the glory of Christ, which is its own glory”). He also wrote the extensive cycles La Nativité du Seigneur (“The Nativity of the Lord”) and Les corps glorieux (“The glorious bodies”). At the outbreak of World War II, Messiaen was drafted into the French army. Due to poor eyesight, he was enlisted as a medical auxiliary rather than an active combatant. He was captured at Verdun, taken to Görlitz in May 1940, and was imprisoned at Stalag VIII-A. He met a violinist, a cellist and a clarinettist among his fellow prisoners. He wrote a trio for them, which he gradually incorporated into his Quatuor pour la fin du temps (“Quartet for the End of Time”). The Quartet was first performed in January 1941 to an audience of prisoners and prison guards, with the composer playing a poorly maintained upright piano in freezing conditions. Shortly after his release from Görlitz in May 1941, Messiaen was appointed a professor of harmony at the Paris Conservatoire, where he taught until his retirement in 1978. He compiled his Technique de mon langage musical (“Technique of my musical language”) published in 1944, in which he quotes many examples from his music, particularly the Quartet. Among his early students were the composers Pierre Boulez and Karel Goeyvaerts. Other pupils included Iannis Xenakis in 1951, Karlheinz Stockhausen in 1952, Alexander Goehr in 1956–57, Tristan Murail in 1967–72, and George Benjamin during the late 1970s. In 1943, Messiaen wrote Visions de l’Amen (“Visions of the Amen”) for two pianos for Yvonne Loriod and himself to perform. Shortly thereafter he composed the enormous solo piano cycle Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus (“Twenty gazes on the child Jesus”) for her. Again for Loriod, he wrote Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine (“Three small liturgies of the Divine Presence”) for female chorus and orchestra which includes a difficult solo piano part. Two years after Visions de l’Amen, Messiaen composed the song cycle Harawi, the first of three works inspired by the legend of Tristan and Isolde. The second of these works about human as opposed to divine love was the result of a commission from Serge Koussevitsky. This was the ten-movement Turangalîla-Symphonie. It is not a conventional symphony, but rather an extended meditation on the joy of human union and love. The third piece inspired by the Tristan myth was Cinq rechants for twelve unaccompanied singers, described by Messiaen as influenced by the alba of the troubadours. Messiaen visited the United States in 1949, where his music was conducted by Koussevitsky and Leopold Stokowski. His Turangalîla-Symphonie was first performed in the US in 1949, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Messiaen taught an analysis class at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1947 he taught and performed with his wife for two weeks in Budapest. In 1949 he taught at Tanglewood. Beginning in summer 1949 he taught in the new music summer school classes at Darmstadt. He experimented with ways of making scales of other elements, including duration, articulation and dynamics, analogous to the chromatic pitch scale. The results of these innovations was the “Mode de valeurs et d’intensités” for piano (from the Quatre études de rythme). During this period he also experimented with musique concrète, music for recorded sounds. When in 1952 Messiaen was asked to provide a test piece for flautists wishing to enter the Paris Conservatoire, he composed the piece Le merle noir for flute and piano. While he had long been fascinated by birdsong, and birds had made appearances in several of his earlier works, for example La Nativité, Quatuor and Vingt regards), the flute piece was based entirely on the song of the blackbird. He took this development to a new level with his 1953 orchestral work Réveil des oiseaux—its material consists almost entirely of the birdsong one might hear between midnight and noon in the Jura. From this period onwards, Messiaen incorporated birdsong into all of his compositions, for example the collection of thirteen pieces for piano Catalogue d’oiseaux completed in 1958, and La fauvette des jardins of 1971 Messiaen’s first wife died in 1959 after a long illness, and in 1961 he married Loriod. He began to travel widely, to attend musical events, and to seek out and transcribe the songs of more exotic birds in the wild. Loriod frequently assisted her husband’s detailed studies of birdsong while walking with him, by making tape recordings for later reference. In 1962 he visited Japan, where Gagaku music and Noh theatre inspired the orchestral “Japanese sketches”, Sept haïkaï, which contain stylised imitations of traditional Japanese instruments. Pierre Boulez programmed first performances of Messiaen’s music at his Domaine musical concerts and the Donaueschingen festival ,included Réveil des oiseaux, Chronochromie, commissioned for the 1960 festival, and Couleurs de la cité céleste. Another work of this period, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, was commissioned as a commemoration of the dead of the two World Wars and was performed first semi-privately in the Sainte-Chapelle, then publicly in Chartres Cathedral with Charles de Gaulle in the audience. His reputation as a composer continued to grow and in 1959, he was nominated as an Officier of the Légion d’honneur. In 1966 he was officially appointed professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire, although he had in effect been teaching composition for years. Further honours included election to the Institut de France in 1967 and the Académie des beaux-arts in 1968, the Erasmus Prize in 1971, the award of the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal and the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 1975, the Sonning Award (Denmark’s highest musical honour) in 1977, the Wolf Prize in Arts in 1982, and the presentation of the Croix de Commander of the Belgian Order of the Crown in 1980. Messiaen’s next work was the enormous La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ. The composition occupied him from 1965 to 1969 and the musicians employed include a 100-voice ten-part choir, seven solo instruments and large orchestra. Its fourteen movements are a meditation on the story of Christ’s Transfiguration. Shortly after its completion, Messiaen received a commission from Alice Tully for a work to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial. He arranged a visit to the US in spring 1972, and was inspired by Bryce Canyon in Utah, where he observed the canyon’s distinctive colors and birdsong. The twelve-movement orchestral piece Des canyons aux étoiles was the result, first performed in 1974 in New York. In 1971, he had been asked to compose a piece for the Paris Opéra. While reluctant to undertake such a major project, he was persuaded in 1975 to accept the commission and began work on his Saint-François d’Assise. The composition was intensive as he also wrote his own libretto and occupied him from 1975 to 1979; the orchestration was carried out from 1979 until 1983. It was first performed in 1983. In the summer of 1978, Messiaen retired from teaching at the Conservatoire. In 1984 he published a major collection of organ pieces, Livre du Saint Sacrement; other works include birdsong pieces for solo piano, and works for piano with orchestra. He was promoted to the highest rank of the Légion d’honneur, the Grand-Croix, in 1987. Although in considerable pain near the end of his life requiring repeated surgery on his back, he was able to fulfil a commission from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Éclairs sur l’au-delà, which was premièred six months after his death which occurred in Clichy, near Paris, on April 27, 1992. My collection includes the following works by Olivier Messiaen: L’Ascension (1933). Turangalila Symphonie (1948). —material selected, adapted, and edited from several different sources Felix Mendelssohn and his Fourth Symphony, “Italian” Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (February 3, 1809–November 4, 1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period, who was born on February 3, 1809, in Hamburg, Germany, at the time an independent city-state. Mendelssohn’s father was the banker Abraham Mendelssohn, the son of the German Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. His mother was Lea Salomon, a member of the Itzig family and a sister of Jakob Salomon Bartholdy. Mendelssohn was the second of four children; his older sister Fanny also displayed exceptional and precocious musical talent. The family moved to Berlin in 1811. Abraham and Lea Mendelssohn sought to give their children – Fanny, Felix, Paul and Rebecka – the best education possible. Fanny became a well-known pianist and amateur composer; originally Abraham had thought that she, rather than Felix, would be the more musical. However, at that time, it was not considered proper for a woman to have a career in music, so Fanny remained an active, but non-professional musician. Abraham was also disinclined to allow Felix to follow a musical career until it became clear that he intended seriously to dedicate himself to it Mendelssohn grew up in an intellectual environment. Frequent visitors to the salon organized by his parents at the family’s home in Berlin included artists, musicians and scientists, amongst them Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt, and the mathematician Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet, whom Mendelssohn’s sister Rebecka would later marry. Abraham Mendelssohn converted from the Jewish religion. He and his wife deliberately decided not to have Felix circumcised, in contravention of the Jewish tradition. Felix and his siblings were baptized by a Reformed Church minister in 1816. The name Bartholdy was added at the suggestion of Lea’s brother, Jakob Salomon Bartholdy, who had inherited a property of this name in Luisenstadt and adopted it as his own surname. On embarking on his musical career, Felix did not entirely drop the name Mendelssohn as Abraham requested, but in deference to his father signed his letters and had his visiting cards printed using the form ‘Mendelssohn Bartholdy’. Like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart before him, Mendelssohn was regarded as a child prodigy. He began taking piano lessons from his mother when he was six, and at seven was tutored by Marie Bigot in Paris. After the family moved to Berlin, all four Mendelssohn children studied piano with Ludwig Berger, who was himself a former student of Muzio Clementi. From at least May 1819 Felix and his sister Fanny studied counterpoint and composition with Carl Friedrich Zelter in Berlin. This was an important influence on his future career. Mendelssohn probably made his first public concert appearance at age 9, when he participated in a chamber music concert accompanying a horn duo. He was also a prolific composer from an early age. As an adolescent, his works were often performed at home with a private orchestra for the associates of his wealthy parents amongst the intellectual elite of Berlin. Between the ages of 12 and 14, Mendelssohn wrote 12 string symphonies for such concerts. He wrote his first published work, a piano quartet, by the time he was 13. It was probably Abraham Mendelssohn who procured the publication of Mendelssohn’s early piano quartet by the house of Schlesinger. In 1821 Zelter introduced Mendelssohn to his friend and correspondent, the elderly Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was greatly impressed by the child. In 1824, the 15-year-old wrote his first symphony for full orchestra (in C minor, Op. 11). In 1824 Mendelssohn studied under the composer and piano virtuoso Ignaz Moscheles. At age 16 Mendelssohn wrote his String Octet in E-flat major, the first work which showed the full power of his genius. This Octet and his Overture to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which he wrote a year later in 1826, are the best-known of his early works. The year 1827 saw the premiere – and sole performance in his lifetime – of Mendelssohn’s opera, Die Hochzeit des Camacho. The failure of this production left him disinclined to venture into the genre again. Mendelssohn set a number of Goethe’s poems to music. His other compositions inspired by Goethe include the overture Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, (Op. 27, 1828) and the cantata Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis Night, Op. 60, 1832). In 1829, with the backing of Zelter and the assistance of actor Eduard Devrient, Mendelssohn arranged and conducted a performance in Berlin of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St Matthew Passion. The success of this performance, the first since Bach’s death in 1750, was an important element in the revival of J. S. Bach’s music in Germany and, eventually, throughout Europe. Over the next few years Mendelssohn traveled widely, including making his first visit to England in 1829, and also visiting amongst other places Vienna, Florence, Milan, Rome and Naples, in all of which he met with local and visiting musicians and artists. These years proved the germination for some of his most famous works, including the Hebrides Overture and the Scottish and Italian symphonies. On Zelter’s death in 1832, Mendelssohn had hopes of succeeding him as conductor of the Berlin Singakademie. However, at a vote in January 1833 he was defeated for the post by Carl Friedrich Rungenhagen. Following this, Mendelssohn divided most of his professional time over the next few years between Britain and Düsseldorf, where he was appointed musical director (his first paid post as a musician) in 1833. In the spring of that year Mendelssohn directed the Lower Rhenish Music Festival in Düsseldorf, beginning with a performance of George Frederick Handel’s oratorio Israel in Egypt prepared from the original score which he had found in London. This precipitated a Handel revival in Germany, similar to the reawakened interest in J. S. Bach following his performance of the St Matthew Passion. At the end of 1834, he resigned his position in Düsseldorf. He had offers from both Munich and Leipzig for important musical posts, and decided in 1835 to accept the latter. In 1835 Mendelssohn was named conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He chose this position although he had also been offered direction of the opera house in Munich and the editorship of the prestigious music journal, the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung. Mendelssohn concentrated on developing the musical life of Leipzig, working with the orchestra, the opera house, the Choir of St. Thomas Church, and the city’s other choral and musical institutions. A landmark event during Mendelssohn’s Leipzig years was the premiere of his oratorio St. Paul, given at the Lower Rhenish Festival in Düsseldorf in 1836, shortly after the death of the composer’s father, which much affected him. Mendelssohn married Cécile Charlotte Sophie Jeanrenaud (1817–1853), the daughter of a French Reformed Church clergyman, on March 28, 1837. The couple had five children, Carl, Marie, Paul, Lilli, and Felix. Mendelssohn also revived interest in Franz Schubert. Robert Schumann discovered the manuscript of Schubert’s 9th Symphony and sent it to Mendelssohn, who promptly premiered it in Leipzig on March 21, 1839, more than a decade after Schubert’s death. In 1843 Mendelssohn founded a major music school – the Leipzig Conservatory, now the Hochschule für Musik und Theater “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” or, in its own English self-designation, the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre. He persuaded Ignaz Moscheles and Robert Schumann to join him. Other prominent musicians, including string players Ferdinand David and Joseph Joachim and music theorist Moritz Hauptmann, also became staff members. On his eighth visit to Britain in the summer of 1844, Mendelssohn conducted five of the Philharmonic concerts in London. The Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (1844), written for Ferdinand David, has become one of the most popular of all of Mendelssohn’s compositions. When Friedrich Wilhelm IV came to the Prussian throne in 1840 with ambitions to develop Berlin as a cultural center. Mendelssohn spend some time in Berlin, writing some church music, and, at the King’s request, music for productions of Sophocles’s Antigone (1841) and Oedipus at Colonus (1845), Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1843), for which Mendelssohn also wrote incidental music, including the famous Wedding March, in addition to his Overture, and Racine’s Athalie (1845). Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah was premiered in Birmingham at the Triennial Music Festival on August 26, 1846, using an English translation by William Bartholomew, who served as his text author and translator for many of his works during his time in England. On his last visit to Britain in 1847, Mendelssohn was the soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and conducted his own Scottish Symphony with the Philharmonic Orchestra before the Queen and Prince Albert. Mendelssohn suffered from poor health in the final years of his life, probably aggravated by nervous problems and overwork. A final tour of England left him exhausted and ill from a hectic schedule. The death of his sister Fanny on May 14, 1847 caused him great distress. Less than six months later, on 4 November, Mendelssohn himself died in Leipzig after a series of strokes at the age of 38. His grandfather Moses, his sister Fanny, and both his parents had died from similar apoplexies. His funeral was held at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, and he was buried in the Trinity Church Cemetery No. 1 in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The pallbearers included Moscheles, Schumann and Niels Gade. At his death Mendelssohn left some sketches for an opera on the story of the Lorelei based on the legend of the Lorelei Rhine maidens. His orchestral music includes five symphonies, some concert overtures, and seven concertos. Mendelssohn wrote his first chamber music at the age of 10. Mendelssohn himself was both pianist and an organist, and composed solo pieces for both. He also produced some theater, vocal, and choral music. The following works by Felix Mendelssohn are contained in my collection: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Overture in DM (1828). Capriccio Brillant in BbM, op. 22 (1825/1832). (Piano) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in gm, op. 25 (1831). (Piano) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in dm, op. 40 (1837). Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Orchestra in dm (1823). Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra No. 1 in EM (1823). Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra No. 2 in AbM (1824). (Violin) Concerto for Violin and Strings in dm (1822). (Violin) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in em, op. 64 (1844). The Fair Melusine Overture in EM (1833). The Hebrides Overture in bm (Fingal’s Cave), op. 26 (1830). A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, op. 21 (1826)/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Incidental Music, op. 61 (1843). Rondo Brillant in EbM, op. 29 (1834). String Symphony No. 1 in CM (1821). String Symphony No. 2 in DM (1821). String Symphony No. 3 in em (1821). String Symphony No. 5 in BbM (1821). String Symphony No. 6 in EbM (1821). String Symphony No. 10 in bm (1823). String Symphony No. 11 in FM (1823). String Symphony No. 12 in gm (1823). Symphony No. 2 in BbM, op. 52, Lobgesang (1840). Symphony No. 3 in am, op. 56, Scottish. Symphony No. 4 in AM, op. 90, Italian (1832). Symphony No. 5 in DM, op. 107, Reformation; Jerry Herman and “Hello, Dolly!” Gerald “Jerry” Herman (born July 10, 1931) is an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway musical theater. Born on July 10, 1931, in New York City, NY, and raised in Jersey City, NJ, by musically inclined middle-class Jewish parents, Herman learned to play piano at an early age, and the three frequently attended Broadway musicals. His father, Harry, was a gym teacher and in the summer worked in the Catskill Mountains hotels. His mother, Ruth, also worked in the hotels as a singer, pianist, and children’s teacher, and eventually became an English teacher. After marrying, they lived in Jersey City and continued to work in the summers in various camps until they became head counselors and finally ran Stissing Lake Camp in the Berkshire Mountains. Herman spent all of his summers there, from age 6 to 23. It was at camp that he first became involved in theatrical productions, as director of Oklahoma!, Finian’s Rainbow and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Herman graduated from Jersey City’s Henry Snyder High School. At the age of 17, Herman was introduced to Frank Loesser who, after hearing material he had written, urged him to continue composing. He left the Parsons School of Design to attend the University of Miami, which had one of the nation’s most avant garde theater departments. While an undergraduate student at the University of Miami Herman produced, wrote and directed a college musical called Sketchbook. It was scheduled to run for three performances, but the show created an instant massive patron demand. Herman’s Sketchbook attracted packed houses for an additional 17 performances before it ended. It was the longest running show in the history of University on Miami theater. He was also a member of the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. After graduation from the University of Miami, Herman moved to New York City, where he produced the Off-Broadway revue I Feel Wonderful, which was made up of material he had written at the University. It opened at the Theatre de Lys in Greenwich Village on October 18, 1954, and ran for 48 performances. It was his only show his mother was able to see; shortly after it opened, she died of cancer at the age of forty-four. In 1957, while playing piano at a New York City jazz club called the Showplace, he was asked to write a show to replace one, Little Mary Sunshine, that had left the club. As well as supplying the music, Herman wrote the book and directed the one-hour revue, called Nightcap. He asked his friend, Phyllis Newman, to do movement and dance and it featured Charles Nelson Reilly, who later co-starred in Hello, Dolly!). The show opened in May 1958 and ran for two years. Herman next collected enough original material to put together a revue called “Parade” in 1960. The cast included Charles Nelson Reilly and Dody Goodman. It first opened at the Showplace and, expanded, moved to the Players Theatre in January 1960. During 1960, Herman also met playwright Tad Mosel and the two men collaborated on an Off-Broadway musical adaptation of Mosel’s 1953 television play, Madame Aphrodite. The musical of the same name, which starred Nancy Andrews in the title role, opened at the Orpheum Theatre on December 29, 1961, but closed after only 13 performances. In 1960, Herman made his Broadway debut with the revue From A to Z, which featured contributions from newcomers Woody Allen and Fred Ebb as well. That same year producer Gerard Oestreicher approached him and asked if he would be interested in composing the score for a show about the founding of the state of Israel. The result was his first full-fledged Broadway musical, Milk and Honey (starring Molly Picon), in 1961. It received respectable reviews and ran for 543 performances. In 1964, producer David Merrick united Herman with Carol Channing for a project that was to become one of his more successful, Hello, Dolly!, a musical adaptation of Thorton Wilder’s hit play, The Matchmaker. The original production ran for 2,844 performances, the longest running musical for its time, and was later revived three times. Although facing stiff competition from Funny Girl, Hello, Dolly! swept the Tony Awards that season, winning 10, a record that remained unbroken for 37 years, until The Producers won 12 Tonys in 2001. In 1966, Herman’s next musical was the smash hit Mame starring Angela Lansbury, which introduced a string of Herman standards, most notably the ballad “If He Walked Into My Life”, the holiday favorite “We Need a Little Christmas”, and the title tune. Although not commercial successes, Dear World (1969) starring Angela Lansbury, Mack & Mabel (1974) starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters, and The Grand Tour (1979) starring Joel Grey are noted for their interesting concepts and their melodic, memorable scores. In 1983, Herman had his third mega-hit with La Cage aux Folles starring George Hearn and Gene Barry, which broke box-office records at the Palace Theatre and earned Herman yet another Tony Award for Best Musical. La Cage aux Folles won the Tony Award for Best Musical (1983), is the only musical to win the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical twice (2005 and 2010), and therefore is the only show to win a Best Musical award for every staged Broadway production. He is honored by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 7090 Hollywood Boulevard. Other honors include the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, named after him by his alma mater. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1996 he provided the music for “Mrs. Santa Claus,” a CBS TV special starring Angela Lansbury. In 2011 Magnormos produced a triptych of his works in Melbourne, Victoria: “Milk and Honey”, “Dear World” and “Hello, Dolly!”. His string of awards and honors includes multiple Tonys, Grammys, Drama Desk Awards, the Kennedy Center Award, the Johnny Mercer Award, the Richard Rodgers Award, the Oscar Hammerstein Award, the Frederick Lowe Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Theatre Hall of Fame. My collection contains the following works by Jerry Herman: Hello, Dolly! (1964): Hello, Dolly! (Title Song). Mame (1966): Mame (Title Song). Jules Massenet and the Meditation from Thais Posted on March 8, 2014 by homeschoolbookreviewblog | Leave a comment Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (May 12, 1842 –August 13, 1912) was a French composer best known for his operas which were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he is ranked as one of the greatest melodists of his era, being admired for his lyricism, sensuality, occasional sentimentality, and theatrical aptness. Massenet was born on May 12, 1842, in Montaud, then an outlying hamlet and now a part of the city of Saint-Étienne, in the Loire, to the family of a struggling metal worker. When he was six, his family moved to Paris due to his father’s ill-health. There his mother, Adélaïde Massenet, née Royer, started taking piano pupils. She also taught Jules so well that at the age of 11 he became a pupil of Adolphe-François Laurent (piano), Henri Reber (harmony) and Ambroise Thomas (counterpoint) at the Conservatoire de Paris. He was still a student when his family moved from Paris to Chambéry, but Jules returned to Paris after a few months, living with a member of his father’s family. To support himself during his studies, he worked as timpanist for six years at the Théâtre Lyrique, playing also other percussion instruments in other theatres, and working as a pianist in the Café de Belleville. Although at first some of Massenet’s teachers had not predicted for him any career in music, this changed in 1862 when he won the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata David Rizzio and spent three years in Rome. There he met Franz Liszt, at whose request he gave piano lessons to Louise-Constance “Ninon” de Gressy, the daughter of a wealthy lady named Mme. Sainte-Marie. Ninon became Massenet’s wife in 1866. His first opera, La grand’ tante, was a one-act production at the Opéra-Comique in 1867. The composer’s First Orchestral Suite (originally entitled Symphony in F) premiered in 1867. This was the first of seven suites by Massenet, with programmatic subjects ranging from Alsace (Scènes alsaciennes, 1882) to Hungary (Scènes hongroises, 1871), and from Shakespeare (Scénes dramatiques, 1875) to Fairyland (Scènes de féerie, 1881). Massenet took a break from his composing to serve as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War, but returned to his art following the end of the conflict in 1871. His dramatic oratorio Marie-Magdeleine , first performed in 1873, won him praise from the likes of Tchaikovsky, d’Indy, and Gounod. His real mentor though was his teacher, the composer Ambroise Thomas, a man with important contacts in theatrical milieux. Another important early patron was his publisher, Georges Hartmann, whose connections with journalistic circles aided him in becoming better known during the difficult initial years of his composing activity. The most famous of Massenet’s orchestral suites, Scénes pittoresques (Picturesque Scenes), was first performed in Paris during March of 1874. In 1876 Massenet received the Légion d’honneur, In 1877 Massenet’s exotic opera Le Roi de Lahore (The King of Lahore) had a highly successful premiere at the Paris Opera, marking the beginning of his ascendancy as France’s most prolific and celebrated operatic composer. At the invitation of his former teacher Thomas, from 1878, when he was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, to the exclusion of Camille Saint-Saëns, and at only 36 was the youngest member ever elected to the Académie, he worked as professor of composition at the Paris Conservatory where his pupils included André Bloch, Gustave Charpentier, Ernest Chausson, Reynaldo Hahn, Georges Enesco, and Charles Koechlin. His greatest successes were Manon in 1884, Werther in 1892, and Thaïs in 1894. He was appointed a Grand Officer of the Legion in 1899. His only piano concerto was first performed in 1903 and receives occasional modern performances. Notable later operas were Le jongleur de Notre-Dame, produced in 1902, and Don Quichotte, produced in Monte Carlo 1910, with the legendary Russian bass Feodor Chaliapin in the title-role. His autobiography was entitled Mes Souvenirs (1912; My Recollections). Massenet died on August 13, 1912, in Paris at the age of 70, after suffering from cancer for a long time. A very prolific, hard-working composer, Massenet had over 25 extant operas to his credit. In addition to his operas, Massenet composed concert suites, ballet music, oratorios and cantatas and about two hundred songs, as well as chamber music and works for solo piano. He also wrote a considerable amount of incidental music for plays, including Sardou’s Le Crocodile (1886) and Racine’s Phèdre (1900). Some of his non-vocal output has achieved widespread popularity, and is commonly performed, such as the Méditation from Thaïs, which is a violin solo with orchestra, as well as the Aragonaise from his opera Le Cid, and the Élégie for cello and orchestra from his incidental music to Les Érinnyes. The latter two pieces are commonly played by piano students, and the Élégie became world-famous in many arrangements. The only known recording by Massenet is a scene from Sapho where he accompanies the soprano Georgette Leblanc on the piano. Soon after his death, Massenet’s style went out of fashion, and many of his operas fell into almost total oblivion. Apart from Manon and Werther, his works were rarely performed. However, since the mid-1970s, many operas of his such as Thaïs and Esclarmonde have undergone periodic revivals. The following works by Jules Massenet are included in my collection: Cendrillon (1899): Suite. Esclarmonde (1890): Suite. Manon: A Dispar Vision. Suite No. 1, op. 13 (1865). Thais: Meditation. Bohuslav Martinu and his 2nd Symphony Bohuslav Martinů (December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) was a prolific Czech composer who was born on December 8, 1890, in Polička, a small town in the highlands of Bohemia near the Moravian border. His father Ferdinand, a shoemaker, served as fire watchman who rang the town bell, and the family lived in the tower of the St. Jacob Church. When Bohuslav had hardly begun public school, his parents entrusted him to the care of the Policka music teacher. By the age of 10 he had written his first compositions, including songs, piano music, symphonic poems, string quartets, and ballets. As a young violinist, he developed a strong reputation, giving his first public concert in his hometown in 1905. The townspeople raised enough money to fund his schooling, and in 1906, he left the countryside to begin studies at the Prague Conservatory. Dropped from the violin program, Martinu was moved to the organ department, which taught composition, but was finally dismissed in 1910 and spent the next several years living back home in Polička attempting to gain some standing in the musical world. He had written several compositions by this time, including the Elegie for violin and piano, and the symphonic poems Anděl smrti and La Mort de Tintagiles, and submitted samples of his work to Josef Suk, a leading Czech composer. Suk encouraged him to pursue formal composition training, but this would not be possible until years later. In the meantime, he passed the state teaching examination and, exempted as a teacher from military service, maintained a studio in Polička throughout World War I, while continuing to compose and study on his own. It was during this time that he studied the music of the Bohemian Brethren, which would influence his style and musical voice. As World War I drew to a close, and Czechoslovakia declared an independent republic, Martinů composed a celebratory cantata Česká rapsodie (“Czech Rhapsody” for solo, chorus, and orchestra), which was premiered in 1919 to great acclaim. As a violinist, he toured Europe with the National Theatre Orchestra, and in 1920 became a second violinist of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, where he learned to master the composition of music for a large orchestra. in 1920. He also returned to the Conservatory and began formal composition study under Suk. Martinů’s modern style, including elements of impressionism and jazz, did not match the conservative styles in Prague, and he became determined to move to Paris. During these last years in Prague he completed his first string quartet, and two ballets: Who is the Most Powerful in the World? and Istar. Martinů finally departed for Paris in 1923, having received a small scholarship from the Ministry of Education. He sought out Albert Roussel, whose individualistic style he respected, and began a series of informal lessons with him. Roussel would teach Martinů until his death in 1937, helping him focus and order his composition, rather than instructing him in a specific style. During the first years in Paris, Martinů assimilated many of the trends at the time, including jazz, neoclassicism, and surrealism. Ballets were his favorite medium for experimentation, including The Revolt (1925), The Butterfly That Stamped (1926), Le Raid Merveilleux (1927), La Revue de Cuisine (1927), and Les Larmes du Couteau (1928). Martinu composed a remarkable number of works during his Paris years. Among these were Polocas (“Halftime”) and La Bagarre (“Tumult”), both for orchestra, and an opera Voják a tanecnice (“The Soldier and the Dancer”), as well as the ballets and chamber music. In Paris, Martinů was welcomed into the Czech artistic community living there at the time. He would retain close ties to his homeland, returning to Prague and Polička during the summer months and for premieres of his works. Along with new styles, Martinů would continue to look to his Bohemian and Moravian roots for musical ideas. The best known during this time is the ballet Špalíček (1932–33), which incorporates Czech folk tunes and nursery rhymes. In 1926, Martinů met Charlotte Quennehen (1894–1978), a French seamstress, and they married in 1931. In 1935 he was awarded a Czechoslovak State Prize for another of his operas, Hry o Marii (“The Miracle of Our Lady”). One of his most famous operas, Julietta aneb Snár (“Juliette, or The Key to Dreams”), was first performed before a Prague audience that same year. Other works from this period include the cantata Bouquet of Flowers, Tre Ricercari, and the relentless Double Concerto for two string orchestras, piano, and timpani. When the German army approached Paris early in the Second World War, Martinů fled, having been blacklisted for his connections to the Czech resistance. He and Charlotte journeyed first to the south of France, spending a short time in Switzerland, and then through Spain and Portugal, eventually reaching the United States in 1941 with the help of his friend and diplomat Miloš Šafránek. Even during these very trying times Martinu continued not only to compose daily, but also succeeded in writing music that is full of strength, vitality, hope, and joy. Among his works of this period are his Sinfonietta giocosa for piano and orchestra and Fantasia and Toccata for piano solo. Life in America was difficult for him. Martinu had to work hard to establish himself in the New World. However it was in America that Martinu mastered symphonic writing. A fall from a balcony in 1946 resulted in serious injury and high medical bills, and a temporary interruption in his ability to write music. Following his recovery, he composed a great deal and taught at the Mannes College of Music for most of the period from 1948 to 1956. Martinu also taught at Yale University and the Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood). His six symphonies were written in the eleven-year period 1942 to1953, the first five being produced between 1942 and 1946. Principally through these virtuoso symphonies, Martinu was to gain America’s respect. His notable students include Alan Hovhaness, H. Owen Reed, Jan Novák, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Howard Shanet and Burt Bacharach. In 1953, Martinů left the United States for France and settled in Nice, returning in 1955 to take up a teaching position at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia; by now he was again composing as prolifically as before his accident. In 1956, he took up an appointment as composer-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome, and the following year he gratefully took advantage of a generous offer by the Swiss conductor Paul Sacher and moved to Sacher’s estate in Switzerland.. During his last few years Martinu wrote an almost innumerable number of compositions. But, succumbing at last to a cancer that had been plaguing him for nearly a year, he died at a clinic in Liestal, Switzerland, on August 28, 1959. Along with Leos Janacek, Bohuslav Martinu was one of the twin giants of Czech music in the twentieth century. Martinů was an immensely prolific and varied composer. Harry Halbreich’s catalog of Martinu’s music, to which the composer did not assign opus numbers, lists nearly 400 compositions. His sixteen operas include The Greek Passion after Kazantzakis, Ariadne after Neveu, and the radio opera Comedy on the Bridge, and he produced fourteen ballet scores. An impressive list of orchestral compositions includes six symphonies. There are concertos for a variety of instruments, including five for piano and a useful Rhapsody-Concerto for viola and orchestra. A large amount of chamber music is represented by duos, trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, septets, octets and nonets. Among these the seven string quartets deserve particular mention, in addition to the works for violin and piano and three cello sonatas. In addition to a large number of shorter piano pieces of all kinds, Martinů wrote a Fantaisie and other pieces for two pianos, as well as music for harpsichord, leaving his organ Vigilia unfinished at the time of his death in 1959. Choral works by Martinů include the remarkable oratorio Gilgameš, based on the ancient Babylonian epic of that name. There are choral works of biblical derivation and a number of choral arrangements of traditional Czech, Slovak and Moravian material. His songs include Magic Nights, settings of poems translated from the Chinese. Well established in the repertoire, Martinu’s best works confirm Martinu’s status as an important twentieth century composer. Many of his works are regularly performed or recorded. My collection contains the following works by Bohuslav Martinu: Symphony No. 2 (1943). Cecil Milner and the Americana Suite Edward Cecil Milner (April 20, 1905-November 25, 1989) was a British composer, arranger and conductor who has sometimes been described as one of light music’s respected “backroom boys.” Born at Wimbledon in London, England, UK, on April 25, 1905, Cecil was the first born son of Ernest Edward Milner. Originally from Chesterfield, Ernest was involved with the Elder Dempster shipping business in Liverpool before coming to London in 1903 to help shape the future of Elders and Fyffes. Known as “The Great White Fleet,” the company’s ships, numbering over 100, transported passengers to the West Indies and imported bananas and fruit from the Caribbean and Cameroon. In whatever spare time he had in the 1920s, Ernest founded the Wimbledon Lyric Players, an amateur operatic group which still exists to this day. He married Marie Elizabeth Martindale, they had two sons, Geoffrey Ernest, who followed his father into the shipping business, and Edward Cecil, whose precocious talent made it inevitable that he would follow a career in music. As a youngster, Cecil took part in his father’s amateur dramatics. A family photograph shows him dressed up as Charlie Chaplin. Also, he would play piano with his brother on clarinet when the Lyric Players put on a production. The Milner family home was Orkney at Wimbledon. From an early age both brothers were keenly interested in music, Cecil playing classical piano at London music festivals at the age of nine, his brother at ten. In those early days Cecil was a guest at a meal given to honor Puccini at one of the London hotels. The brothers attended King’s College in Wimbledon, where Cecil obtained credits in History, Latin, English, French, German and Mathematics. He later attained a certain fluency in Spanish and Russian. During the General Strike of April 1926 Cecil volunteered to be a temporary special constable in the Wimbledon area. At this age, 21, he was already well known in London music circles, for a letter from the Wimbledon Conservatoire of Music, dated February 4, 1927, invited him to the formation of a local flute club. Funded by his father at 14 guineas a term, Cecil attended the Royal Academy of Music in Marylebone Road from 1924 until 1932. Tutored on piano by Ambrose Coviello, then Claude Gascoigne, he studied composition and harmony under Norman O’Neill, the noted composer. Following the ordinary curriculum at the Royal Academy, Cecil had two weekly lessons of one hour each on piano and one on composition. Harmony and counterpoint were also given as a one hour weekly lesson. Cecil, who possessed absolute perfect pitch, was instructed in aural training, too, as well as sight reading, score reading and transposition. As well as collecting half a dozen bronze and silver medals, he earned the highest awards, the Academy’s certificates of merit for aural training (1928), pianoforte (1929) and conducting (1932), the latter shared with Cedric King Palmer. He also shared the Oliveria Prescott Prize of full scores with Beryl Price in 1932 as a distinguished student of composition. Marking his success, his proud father presented him with a splendid Bechstein Boudoir grand piano, which is still in the possession of the Milner family today. One of Cecil’s first compositions, In a Pine Forest, a nocturne for orchestra, was performed at the Festival of British Music at the Royal Hall, Harrogate, on July 26, 1929, under the baton of Basil Cameron, the renowned conductor associated for many years with the Sir Henry Wood promenade concerts. Basil Cameron also conducted Cecil’s Pastoral Suite for Orchestra at Hastings on February 28, 1930, and performed another of his works, Spanish Rhapsody. As well as the Australian born Percy Grainger (1882-1961), Cecil was on friendly terms with other luminaries of light music including his life-long friend Clive Richardson (1909-98), also Roger Quilter (1887-1953), Richard Addinsell (1904-77), Vivian Ellis (1903-96) and Cedric King Palmer (1913-99), all of whom possessed a sound knowledge of classical music. For young Milner there were even more ambitious projects ahead. After translating G. Martinez Sierra’s Margarita en Ia Rueca from Spanish, he adapted the work into libretto for a two act opera Engracia, composed between 1930 and 1932. After Milner himself had conducted the aria from the opera at the prestigious Queen’s Hall in March 1932, Engracia was staged the following December in the Royal Academy of Music’s theatre under the baton of B. Walton O’Donnell. The well-known singer Janet Hamilton-Smith (later Bailey), who starred in the West End musical Song Of Norway in the 1940s, sang the aria on one of these occasions. Cecil’s other compositions of this period included a Quartet for Strings in D minor, a Fugue in A minor, three songs for sopranos, and a String Quartet no 1 in G (Variations for Orchestra) performed in the Duke’s Hall of the Royal Academy. In September 1930 he was offered a sub-professorship at the Royal Academy, but turned it down perhaps because he was too busy or because he did not wish to seek publicity. It comes as a surprise then to learn that while making his name as a classical musician Cecil was a member of the five piece Eclipse Dance Orchestra for some five years and was equally proficient on saxophone (alto, soprano and tenor), clarinet, violin and viola, timpani and, of course, piano. He supplied orchestrations for the band. Should he now follow a career in classical music or look elsewhere for opportunities? On leaving his alma mater he caused some ripples by starting to arrange and compose music for stage, concert hall, and film. This was undoubtedly where the money was to be made, and Cecil hastened to follow several of his contemporaries into the business of orchestrating black and white movies and newsreels produced by the Gaumont British Picture Corporation from studios at Lime Grove in Shepherd’s Bush. Milner was part of a team that included the likes of Hans May, Hubert Bath, Jack Beaver, and Mischa Spoliansky, all ultimately well known in light music circles. Cecil married Phyllis Platel, a fellow student at the Royal Academy of Music, just before the outbreak of war at St Paul’s RC Church, Dover on August 12, 1939. A trade publication, the British Film and Television Yearbook (1955-56) lists Cecil as the composer and orchestrator of about 50 movies, including Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, Hey Hey USA, Bank Holiday, The Citadel and They Drive by Night (all from 1938), Inspector Hornleigh, So This Is London, Murder Will Out, Confidential Lady (all in 1940), Dressed to Kill, The Good Old Days, Carnival, Neutral Port, For Freedom, I Thank You, George & Margaret, Two For Danger, That’s The Ticket, The Briggs Family, The Midas Touch, and Hoots Mon. He was associated, too, with Denham Studios for Busman’s Honeymoon and the Gilbert and Sullivan company for A Window in London, both in 1940. In his long career Cecil scored for British Lion, MGM, Twentieth Century, Errol Flynn Theatre movies and the Douglas Fairbanks Jr. series of TV films. His incidental music was used in Gaumont newsreels, Pathé Pictorials, BBC and ITV newsreels, documentaries and advertising features. Milner’s work for Louis Levy at Gaumont British continued in difficult circumstances throughout the War. In the early 1950s several of Cecil’s mood music library titles were extensively featured in American movie productions. Although film music was his forte, he was also part of the light music scene for many years, including a lengthy and successful association with Mantovani, whose career had taken off after Ronald Binge’s arrangement of Charmaine had become a roaring success in America. After Binge’s departure in 1952, Monty asked Cecil to join him. By now well known in music circles, Cecil probably felt that he was privileged to join Mantovani, as this would help keep him in full employment. Their first collaboration was the eventual million selling Strauss Waltzes album in September 1952. Cecil’s busiest period seems to have been in the late forties and early fifties when he composed and arranged for several mood music libraries. Between 1952 and 1974 Cecil scored over 250 pieces of music for Mantovani, some of these the more expansive classical interpretations he required, but others definitely more popular in style. Even so, he did not stop working in other directions. There was some routine work for bandleader Philip Green in 1952 before a letter in February 1953 from composer Donald Phillips of Skyscraper Fantasy fame confirmed Cecil’s arrangement of his Bathing Beauty Waltz. Some scores for Charles Brull followed in 1955 and 1956. By 1958 Mantovani was making more use of Cecil’s talents, requiring him to factor his skills on several more “popular” titles. Relations with Monty were invariably cordial and there was a fine business friendship between the two men. By now at the height of his powers, Cecil contributed seven titles to the American Scene album recorded in January and June 1959. The following year both Mantovani and Milner pooled their arranging talents to deal with a large recording schedule of show and film tunes such as Shall We Dance from The King and I, the Sundowners theme, and show songs of the calibre of Mr Wonderful and I Feel Pretty. Cecil also found the time to arrange The Carousel Waltz, Ascot Gavotte, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby and Seventy-Six Trombones. When Mantovani brought out his Italia Mia LP in February 1961, much of this beautiful album was drawn from the light classics, which gave Milner the opportunity to score seven titles, including the traditional Variations on Carnival of Venice which ends with a delightful fugue and Tchaikovsky’s Theme from Capriccio Italien. Throughout the sixties and into the seventies Mantovani, who was always very busy, had to rely greatly on first rate material from Cecil and his other main arranger Roland Shaw. In 1964 there were two substantial Milner medleys in Folk Songs Around The World. 1965 he wrote six arrangements for The Mantovani Sound and eight for Mantovani Ole, including Fiddler on The Roof, Spanish Gypsy Dance and Mexican Hat Dance. For later albums he excelled with the likes of Ben Hur, What Now My Love, My Cup Runneth Over, Hora Staccato, Gypsy Carnival, the Gypsy Dance from Carmen, If I Were a Rich Man, Theme from The Virginian, the Elvira Madigan Theme, I Will Wait For You, A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening, Isn’t It Romantic, and many more. In short, when working with Mantovani Cecil Milner never lost his touch. Sometimes in Mantovani’s concert programs Milner had the lion’s share of the arrangements. The most notable example was on the 1970 British tour when there were 15 of his scores in the 22 titles, among them the concert opener Night Out. Special concert arrangements he made down the years include a Fantasy on Brahms Airs, prepared with violinist David McCallum for the 1963 British and American tours, Fantasy on Nautical Airs and The Heart of Tchaikovsky, both from 1967, the Irish Washerwoman (1968) and a pot-pourri of show themes, Broadway Scene, from 1971. Cecil stopped working at the age of 69, leaving an impressive body of work produced over a period of forty years. Gradually, however, his familiarity diminished. Mantovani died in March 1980 after a long illness, and on November 25. 1989. Cecil died in relative obscurity aged 84, after suffering a heart attack at his home in West Wickham. Cecil’s arrangements for Mantovani of Onward, Christian Soldiers, Abide With Me and others were played at the funeral service on December 8, when he was laid to rest in a quiet corner of the St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe village churchyard. Although recognition of his worth has been slow in the past 20 years, the name of Cecil Milner has received more prominence in recent times. He was a most valued, prolific, and versatile member of his profession. His steadfast work for Mantovani alone would justify such a claim, but deserving of recognition, too, is his remarkable career a as a substantial force in film and concert music. In his prime Milner was a craftsman, his arranging and composing skills being among the best in the business. There are several hundred compositions, arrangements and incidental pieces of music, but to arrive at an accurate total is impossible. The reason for this is simply explained and it concerns his arrangements of other composers’ work. Music publishers paid Cecil a standard fee for each arrangement he made, and that was the end of it. He could only claim royalties for arrangements when scoring a non-copyright piece of music, and it is these that show up in his royalty statements. The others do not. His contributions to music fall into six main categories. Firstly, there were his early classical compositions; then a large amount of incidental music composed for films, interspersed with arrangements of other writers’ work. His own light music compositions were used for all sorts of purposes and there were also various pieces of cueing music devised for mood music libraries. Finally, there were his arrangements for Mantovani, a total of over 250 during a period of 22 years. Admittedly, the very nature of the man has contributed to his lack of modern day recognition. Like many of his associates, Cecil did not seek the limelight and never courted publicity. It was just not part of his nature; he really wanted none of that. He relied on his compositions and arrangements to enhance his reputation, leaving a variety of music publishers to distribute his own work around the world. In further considering why his worth has not been fully recognized, it is only in recent times that the arranger has been acknowledged as a craftsman in his own right. During Cecil’s main period of activity, which embraces much of his time with Mantovani, it was unusual for light orchestras to include the accredited name of an arranger on the record label or the album sleeve. Thus his name was rarely before the general public or even light music buffs. We should understand, too, that Cecil wrote a relatively small number of full-length (i.e. over three minute) melodies. He was just too busy arranging other work. Except for his earliest classical compositions which are bound in hardback, he did not keep any copies of his own work, preventing us from assessing its full volume. Additionally, his work was automatically retained by film companies and mood music libraries as their property. Until the 1970s it was unusual for the composer of a film score to be allowed to keep any of his sheet music after recording the score. Even so, one might assume that there would be a stockpile of Cecil’s film arrangements awaiting discovery somewhere or other, but the great studios in the USA and in England all burned pile after pile of original scores and sheet music, simply because they were always running out of space. Applying this same criterion to the smaller film studios, Cecil’s nephew, Timothy Milner, is convinced that many of his uncle’s film and incidental music arrangements were disposed of or thrown away. The following works by Cecil Milner are included in my collection: Carnival of Venice (arranged) Mexican Hat Dance (arranged) Nautical Airs. Stephan Foster Suite. Americana Suite (originally American Folk Song Medley). Home School Book Review News for 2/2014 Home School Book Review Blog contains book reviews, primarily of children’s and youth literature, from a Biblical worldview. The web address is http://homeschoolbookreviewblog.wordpress.com Browse through the archives, search for titles or authors, or find books according to categories. New books are added on a regular basis. Here are some of the books that were reviewed in February, 2014: February 23, 2014–Incredible Pirate Tales: Fourteen Classic Stories of the Outlaws of the High Seas February 21, 2014–Blue Jacket: War Chief of the Shawnees February 19, 2014–Protecting Marie February 11, 2014–A New Song: The Mitford Years, Book 5 February 9, 2014–History Mysteries: The Cases of James Harrod, Tecumseh, “Honest” Dick Tate and William Goebel Each month we give a “Book of the Month” Award. For February, 2014, the award goes to: History Mysteries: The Cases of James Harrod, Tecumseh, “Honest” Dick Tate and William Goebel by James C. Klotter Books that we are currently reading (or listening to as the case may be) and will be reviewed in the future include: Buccaneers and Pirates by Frank R. Stockton Pacific Crossing by Gary Soto The Bishop’s Shadow by I. T. Thurston Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel In This Mountain by Jan Karon

Globalization and the plan for New Word Order » Missing Children/Torture/Rape/Satanic Ritual Abuse (Moderator: egypt) » The Franklin Cover-Up Child Abuse, Satanism and Murder in Nebraska Author Topic: The Franklin Cover-Up Child Abuse, Satanism and Murder in Nebraska (Read 37638 times) robbinzo I came to this book by John W DeCamp after reading George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography by Webster G. Tarpley & Anton Chaitkin which can be found at http://www.tarpley.net/bushb.htm There is a documentary entitled Conspiracy fo Silence, which is on googe video http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=conspiracy+of+silence&emb=0&aq=f# The Franklin Cover-Up is horrifying but at the same time will give you a glimpse of how vile the NWO really is. Foreward " 'What do Ronald Reagan, President George Bush, former CIA Director William E, Colby, Democratic presidential candidate Bob Kerry, billionaire and second richest man in Americaand now head of Saloman Brothers - Warren Buffet, and Ronald Roskens, the current administrator of the Agency for International Development, all have in common?' I asked my close friend and advisor William Colby one day in 1991. 'I give up,' former head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Colby siad. 'What could that group have in common?' 'Three things,' I replied, 'All of them a burden at times for those who have to carry them. The three things are me (John DCamp), a case called Franklin and a man named Larry King. 'Are you serious?' Colby asked. 'Dead serious,' I responded. 'And I hope that word 'dead' does not turn out to be a prophetic pronouncement, as it has for at least fifteen other Franklin-related personalities.' My statement to Bill Colby was not made lightly. Colby and his wife, Sally Shelton Colby, a United States ambassador under President Jimmy Carter, were at that very moment warning me to get away from the Franklin child abuse investigation, Larry King, and anybody else linked with Franklin, as quickly as possible for the sake of my own life and safety. Sally and Bill had never talked to me like this before. They sat me down, made it clear that this was not one of our routine discussions about life and health and happiness, and emphasized to me the serious nature of what and whom I was dealing with. 'What you have to understand, John, is that sometimes there are forces and events too big, too powerful, with so much at stake for other people or institutions, that you cannot do anything about them, no matter how evil or wrong they are and no matter how dedicated or sincere you are or how much evidence you have." Re: The Franklin Cover-Up Child Abuse, Satanism and Murder in Nebraska The Franklin Cover-up Book http://www.scribd.com/doc/522042/FRANKLINCOVERUP-boystown-tragedy-John-decamo "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." ~ James Madison http://www.franklincase.org/timeline.htm "I was cautioned by an unknown person by telephone, that I was advised not to pursue the investigation, because it would lead, I was told, to the highest levels of the Republican Party. And I responded, that the investigation would go where it went." p.164 "A former security guard for (Larry) King has sworn that he saw (Oliver) North attend at least one of King's parties, a party at which children were also present." p.174 "Larry King adored Bill Casey, but what about one of Casey's predecessors at Central Intelligence - George Bush? Ever since July 23, 1989, when the lead editorial in the World-Herald said that 'one child...is said to believe that she saw George Bush at one of King's parties," King's connection with Bush has been a frequently asked question about the Franklin case. Anxiety on this account has run especially high in Omaha's black community, where in December 1990, one young lady stood up at a public meeting and proclaimed, 'I think George Bush is involved in this child abuse case, and that is why all these people have been dying.' " p.175 Freebird100 John DeCamp Interview http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2191775825470516271&ei=vikmSaWdLoWiqgKbyPnnBg&q=John+DeCamp "Stunning revelations from former Nebraska Senator John DeCamp. Followup to his book, the Franklin Cover-up, movie Conspiracy of Silence, and his other legal cases, including the Oklahoma City Bombing, Columbine High School shootings, and perhaps the biggest shocker of all--Henry Kissinger's confirmation to CIA Director William Colby of who Watergate's REAL Deep Throat was! Never before publicly disclosed!" "The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first." Rusty Nelson Interview/2009 Rusty Nelson, former Franklin photographer, tells horrific tales of life as a political prisoner, including false charges as a sex offender, forced injections, massive drugging, and sleep deprivation. The full 1hr 43min interview available at freerangehumans.net Pt.1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahhotahp8Ck&feature=channel_page Pt.2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThBpPvTn4nk&feature=related Pt.3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXa6mjXg-Go&feature=related Pt.4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeOU-EDnvFo&feature=related pagehall If anyone has any information or is interested in what went on in Omaha or would like to help bring justice you should contact David Shurter. This is his youtube http://youtube.com/user/DavidShurter and he also has aritcles up on nowpublic here: http://www.nowpublic.com/cbdave01 Geolibertarian 9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB! www.911truth.org Despite all of Obaaama's happy horseshit about "change," don't think for a second that the slimeball he appointed as Attorney General -- Eric "Gun Grabber" Holder -- has any intention of investigating this. Between (a) ordering his assault weapon-toting goons-for-hire to terrorize and persecute peaceful gun owners and pot smokers, and (b) covering up the crimes of his fellow criminals in government, he won't have time for anything else. http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=71693.0 http://www.prisonplanet.com/leaked-memos-reveal-holders-involvement-in-okc-murder-cover-up.html/print And as the second link illustrates, even if he did have time, he would make no attempt to investigate the issue of "missing" children. On the contrary, if any of his subordinates looked into it, he'd fire them. "Abolish all taxation save that upon land values." -- Henry George "If our nation can issue a dollar bond, it can issue a dollar bill." -- Thomas Edison http://schalkenbach.org http://www.monetary.org Bump - this is some messed up stuff - although I admit it doesn't surprise me And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM! arenegade KCXL Radio in K.C.MO. brought John DeCamp and Norene Gosh here about 10 yrs ago. What drives me nuts is that the TV is full of movies and news of the "little degenerate fish" but to try to tell people about the "gargantuan bigger picture" they don't believe or don't seem interested. I down loaded the documentary "Conspiracy of silence" mp4 file but I can not make copy's. jeremystalked1 Quote from: arenegade on March 31, 2010, 05:47:11 pm The little fish aren't being prosecuted for being degenerates, they're being prosecuted for not being connected. Same as with stalking vs. state-sponsored stalking, or solo terrorism vs. state-sponsored terrorism. The successful criminals are always connected. I was watching something on the F.B.I profiler Richard Ressler? and came across the serial killer John Joubert who murdered two paperboys both sexually motivated which involved kidnapping. Seeing that Nebraska seems to be a hot spot for child kidnappings it seemed to be too much of a coincidence with all the similar things happening in Nebraska. He was caught at the Offutt Air Force Base where he served as a low grade radar tech. I'm just wondering if anyone has thoughts on that and if there are any connections in your own opinions.? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Joubert_(criminal) Also some pop culture stuff on Nebraska, the comic villain Mr.Sinister ran an orphanage in Nebraska where he was physically and mentally abusive conducting torturous experiments on the children there. Maybe the creators of this character knew something. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Sinister Also why Nebraska? Quote from: batman on May 22, 2010, 11:29:16 pm The slavery and child abuse rings like privacy. They also like the appearance of wholesomeness and respectability. And finally, the midwestern boys/girls are the most in demand. There's a lakeside town in my area (I'm in Ohio) which is a cul-de-sac - there's no reason to go to this town unless you live there or work there - which is rumored to be saturated with pedophile rings. Lots of stuff happens on the boats at that lake. There's another couple of places my attention has been drawn to where Satanic cults have taken over an entire street (always safely away from the eyes of long term residents who aren't in on it) - they aren't such a well-kept secret, but nobody really knows what's going on there except the cult members and their victims. All this stuff is kept out of the public's awareness with the false fronts - the facade of respectability - and the corruption. Back-scratching deals, going along to get along, and mobbing people who are getting too close and who don't seem to be corruptible. n0n30fth3ab0v3 Did this topic die? Can we please get this out into the open again - this is EXACTLY what the media and politicians want! hevonperse You are ruled by hysteria not by reason. Much More info on the Pedophile Problem in America that does lead to Washington DC. Anyone who would do something like this is a very sick person and should have no role in government whatsoever or any authority over people, especially kids in any educational system or anywhere else: http://z4.invisionfree.com/The_Great_Deception/index.php?showtopic=9832 MAquino Baron of Rachane Grand Jury Exposé of Franklin "SRA" Scam See the Grand Jury Exposé of the Franklin "SRA" scam in this & the following posts. Michael A. Aquino, Ph.D. Lt. Colonel, PSYOP, USA-Ret. Live Free Or Die Trying! Re: Grand Jury Exposé of Franklin "SRA" Scam Quote from: MAquino on June 29, 2013, 02:13:46 pm I am not buying it. Please visit my website: https://www.theherbsofthefield.com/ H8n_S8n Some stuff on The Franklin Cover-up that might not show up in searches: http://spitfirelist.com/news/its-easier-to-develop-a-child-than-to-rehabilitate-an-adult-part-2/ In addi­tion, the late Penn State foot­ball head coach Joe Paterno hired coun­sel who rep­re­sented Bush dur­ing the Iran-Contra affair. (Not just “any­one” would have been selected to rep­re­sent the for­mer head of the CIA in con­nec­tion with the Iran-Contra affair–J. Sedg­wick Sollers can be assumed to be an “inside player.” Of note, as well, is the fact that Ray Gricar, a DA inves­ti­gat­ing the molesta­tion alle­ga­tions against San­dusky, dis­ap­peared from the face of the earth–his car was fished out of a river. His corpse was never found. H8n note: Co-Winky Dink? I bet someone here remembers the former FBI guy who came out with all these child abduction "tales" 15-20 years ago. Unable to remember his name I'm H8n S8n Quote from: robbinzo on September 09, 2008, 03:43:28 pm There is a documentary entitled Conspiracy of Silence, which is on googe video Now on youtube: Conspiracy of Silence Youtube http://educate-yourself.org/cn/franklincoverupexcerpt.shtml http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20Government/boys_town_abuse.htm all swept under the rug .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_child_prostitution_ring_allegations After investigation, a Douglas County grand jury determined the abuse allegations were baseless, describing them as a "carefully crafted hoax."[3] Later, a federal grand jury also declined to indict the alleged abusers, instead indicting two of their accusers for perjury.[4] One of them, Alisha Owen, was convicted and served 4-1/2 years in prison.[ Quote from: H8n_S8n on July 26, 2013, 10:38:27 pm Ted Gunderson ? http://educate-yourself.org/tg/ The Ted Gunderson Files Ted Gunderson passed away on July 31, 2011 from complications related to kidney failure. More information here: Ted L. Gunderson, Former FBI Bureau Chief, Passed Away on Sunday, July 31, 2011 at Age 82 (Aug. 1, 2011) http://educate-yourself.org/cn/tedgundersonpasses01aug11.shtml In November of 1999, I acquired an enormous amount of paperwork from retired FBI Senior Special-Agent-In-Charge Ted L. Gunderson who had compiled box loads of research and had assembled a number of reports in recent years which described unimaginable "operations" of treachery, sadistic savagery, degradation, abuse, and murder caused by intelligence agents of the United States government against its own citizens, especially children. America2 Romans 10:9-10 King James Version Dick Trump This is far more common than is reported. This must be discussed. My name is Matthew Libman. I am an only child. I was raised in Wisconsin. Today I live in Chicago, IL. I am a college graduate, a business owner, the founder of a national charitable nonprofit, and an animal lover. My adoptive mother’s name is Dinah Libman. Her maiden name is Dianna Nashban. Her sister’s name is Leslie Dee Dee Gooze. They are from Milwaukee, WI. My adoptive father’s name is xxxxx Libman. He is from Green Bay, WI. I was raised in Green Bay, WI. My mother’s first cousin is a man named David Rubin. Father of Shuvie, Shimon, and Joshua Rubin. During the early 1970s, David Rubin, while home visiting family in Milwaukee during his Israeli military service, committed an act of false flag. David Rubin unsuccessfully attempted - in the middle of the night - to burn down a Jewish-owned grocery store during the “black” riots of the 1960s-1970s. David was shot by police, arrested, and charged with arson. His father, Alex Rubin, was a well connected attorney and Mossad/KGB operative. Because of his “relationship” with the judge, the criminal charges were plead to nearly nothing. David Rubin immediately repatriated to Israel, moved his family into a disputed settlement in Palestinian territory, and continued the acts of terror against innocent, honest people. My life growing up was devoid of religion and god. We had no sense of faith, other than a general “naturalistic” view of the world. There was no love. No hugging. No cuddling. No nurturing. No encouragement. Only coldness, intellectualism, punishment, and greed. My mother had Lupus, a disease affiliated with witchcraft, and very common among witchcraft practitioners in Hati (I don’t believe in demons, but it appears Lupus lets “demons in,” I assume there is science behind this, but the hocus-pocus explanation is sufficient for purposes herein). Our home was filled with metal statues of horned beasts. This included elk, horned giraffes, and about 10-15 small statuettes of horned animals. Until I later read of Moloch, witchcraft, and satanic practices, I thought nothing of this. When my grandfather returned from serving the Nazi army in Europe, he used his banking connections to become a lithographer. He printed currency and bonds for member banks of the federal reserve. When gold and silver redemptions - something blamed ON German Jewish lithographers (as well as the government of France) - my grandfather died unexpectedly. My grandfather grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was the same age, and was friends with, Senator Joseph McCarthy. I have Native American blood, and was adopted. My adoptive mother would torture me on a near-daily basis. I was screamed at roughly 2-3 hours per day. I was beaten with a wooden brush or stick 3-4 times per week. I was never suspended from school, was well behaved, and got good grades. I was fairly popular, and have been pretty successful my entire life. I was never a bad kid, and never deserved to be punished at all, let alone tortured and abused. I have suffered many broken bones and countless bruises. On several occasions, my mother took an entire bookshelf filled with books, solid brass bookends, statues, and electronic equipment, and threw the entire, full bookshelf at my head. This probably happened once a month or so for a period of about 5 years during my early childhood. She only cooked in cast iron pots and pans. Additionally, my mother would drink my blood. In fact, I believe that was the purpose of my adoption - not family. I was sedated many times, and blood was taken from my body. My mother - with the help of a Milwaukee-based imune system doctor (who was at the same hospital I was surgically performed on for 3 months prior to my adoption from the Lutheran-owned teaching hospital MCW) who treated her Lupus. I was filled with allergens via allergy shots (I have no allergies, but would be filled with poison). My body would reject the allergens, and produce natural antibodies. My mother would then drain my blood from my body (you should see how anemic I look in early childhood photos), store the blood in the refrigerator, and drink my blood as a medical elixir. And guess what, IT WORKED!!!! She has outlived her original life span by 40 years. She was supposed to die in her late 20s/early 30s. When I became too old to drain blood from, she began cooking in a cast iron pan. Good for her. PS. The Children's Hospital in Chicago is the largest central location of children's blood in the world. It is controlled by majority donor, Chicago's wealthiest man, Equity Residential, Equity Lifestyle, Equity International owner and Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times bankrupter, Sam Zell. (Under the name of his former partner who died young.) Additionally, this same Sam Zell controls the worlds only central charitable food bank, The Greater Chicago Food Depository adding an extra leg of distribution between grocery stores and the needy, limiting charitable food supply, forcing food costs up, and pushing people towards more convenient, permanant food stamp programs. We stop Rupert Murdoch of FOX from buying the LA Times and Chicago Tribune: http://youtu.be/CIbj5CXJqwM Huge gift giveaway to mobile home residents: http://youtu.be/DeUuhh4HgeU Trying to help stop violence in Chicago ghetto: http://youtu.be/QH8L_E_IkrU Meyer-AllRightsReserved Dick Trump, is your blood type O positive? By: Charlane Meyer, all rights reserved. BluePhoenix729 `Don´t focus on death, for you won´t live life.` This case is new information for me, thanks well explained! rosewrites Want to re interate the importance of the work of David Shurter Davidshurter.com who was and still is in the midst of all this and the demonetization of therapists who treat victims by the false memory goons and the latest incarnation of doug meisner aka Lucient Greaves behind the installation of the satanic statue in Oklahoma city. A few years ago Wayne Madsen reported that Larry King ( big player banker for boys town account at Lincoln s+l) was "Mentoring young boys at the granville school for boys in suburban Va. after only being prosecuted for financial misdeeds and never touched for the real crimes and I emailed the school and received a response stating he was let go and wondered how in this dimension of reality that someone like him could saunter into a school for boys !!!!!!! Un-f....ing...believeable

The Town of Poughkeepsie has achieved initial Climate Smart Certification! Read the full press release detailing this exciting milestone. CSTF Agendas & Minutes Email the CSTF CSTF on Facebook The Climate Smart The Task Force meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm, and meetings currently take place via Zoom. Zoom meeting details are provided on the town calendar. Please see posted agenda for more information, and watch for us to return to the Town Hall. A summary of each meeting can be found below, and full minutes are available using the link above. Task Force Members Susan Karnes Hecht CSTF Committee Chair Katherine Espinosa CSTF - Member Joan Freeman Stanley Merritt Kristen E. Taylor, AICP Ann Shershin What are Climate Smart Communities? Cli mate Smart Communities is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Climate Smart Communities began in 2009 as an interagency initiative of New York State. The program is sponsored jointly by six New York State agencies: Department of Environmental Conservation; Energy Research and Development Authority or NYSERDA; Department of Public Service; Department of State; Department of Transportation; and Department of Health. The Department of Environmental Conservation acts as the main administrator of the program. The original focus of the program was on encouraging local governments to commit to act on climate change by passing a resolution containing the Climate Smart Pledge. The certification program was added in 2014 and provides specific guidance on how to implement the pledge. Certified communities are leaders, going beyond the pledge by completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level. Communities earn points toward certification for each action they complete. In addition to accumulating points, each community must complete a number of mandatory and priority actions at each level of certification. The Town of Poughkeepsie is one of almost 350 registered communities; together these communities represent more than 8 million residents. The Town Board pledged to become a Climate Smart Community (PDF) on 4-18-18 and passed a second resolution creating a dedicated Climate Smart Task Force (PDF) on 7-10-19. (Appointments to the Task Force have since been updated.) In September 2021 the Town became one of 72 Bronze-certified communities. Our town has committed to: Set goals, inventory emissions, and plan for climate action Decrease community energy use Increase community use of renewable energy Realize the benefits of recycling and other climate-smart solid waste management practices Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through use of climate-smart land tools Enhance community resilience and prepare for the effects of climate change Support development of a green innovation economy Inform and inspire the public Commit to an evolving process of climate action What actions has the Town of Poughkeepsie taken related to climate change mitigation and adaptation? Mitigation means making the impacts of climate change less severe by preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. Adaptation means adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change. The Town has… Committed to become a Climate Smart Community Adopted a Climate Change Education and Engagement Plan as a roadmap for public participation in this process. Created an updated Comprehensive Plan with sustainability elements. Completed a Natural Resources Inventory and is in the process of developing a resulting Open Space Plan with public input. Completed a climate change vulnerability assessment to support planning along with a climate change resiliency plan. Completed a set of Climate Smart Resiliency recommendations Installed LED street lights and a solar array on the Town Hall roof to save electricity and shift to clean, renewable energy. Completed a baseline inventory of its municipal fleet in order to support the process of transitioning to electric vehicles over time. Encouraged the preservation of open space and natural features through the implementation of a cluster subdivision policy Incorporated Smart Growth principles into land-use policies and regulations. Promoted Green Parking Lot standards in the Arlington Town Center District zoning regulations, Added infrastructure for biking and walking with the Raymond Avenue redesign and is currently working on the Main Street redesign. Provided both curbside and drop-off options for composting yard waste. Engaged in brownfield cleanup of three sites. Supported and participated in the Arlington Farmers’ Market Created this web page and related social media to inform and engage our community. Initiated a Solar for All campaign to support access to community solar for income-eligible households. Completed several actions that will qualify for Clean Energy Communities, a separate NYS program including adoption of the Unified Solar Permit to streamline permitting for installation of solar. How can residents and businesses participate in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build community resiliency? Attend public meetings to learn about and comment on the Open Space Plan. Volunteer for the Conservation Advisory Commission or Climate Smart Task Force. Contact your Town Board representative to request and help with efforts such as neighborhood park upgrades. Businesses that have installed EV chargers, or are interested in learning more about the how-to’s and available incentives, should contact the Climate Smart Task Force to get involved. Get involved in the Pollinator Pathway! Plant native pollinator plants, eliminate chemicals, and rethink your lawn. Income-eligible residents(owners and renters) can take advantage of the Solar for All Campaign: reduce your electric bill while supporting the transition to green energy - nothing to put on your roof! Email Danielle Salisbury or call 845-677-8223, x138 (se habla Espanol). Or visit the NYSERDA - Solar For All page. What individual actions can residents and businesses take to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions? What are some climate change resources? Contact your local Community Energy Advisor to learn how to save energy and money while making your home more comfortable. Visit Mid Hudson Energy Choicesor contact: English: Collin Adkins, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess 845-677-8223 x113 or Email Colin Adkins Espanol: Danielle Salisbury, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess 845-677-8223 x138 or Email Danielle Salisbury To learn more about easy ways to save energy and money visit NYSERDA - Learn More Consider driving an Electric or Hybrid Electric vehicle - more information for New York drivers at NYSERDA - Drive Electric Cars. Switch to LED light bulbs - more information at Energy Star Reduce and reuse! But if you must recycle, read this guide to learn about what can be recycled correctly in Dutchess County. Patronize a farmers' market like Arlington Farmers' Market, or join a CSA like the Poughkeepsie Farm Project Start home composting! Read this guide and purchase a backyard composting bin from the County. Educate yourself about climate change solutions at Project Drawdown Learn about the impact of sea level rise from our partners at Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson Monitor local drought conditions to help conserve water Join the Pollinator Pathway Help track invasive species Climate Smart Communities (Comunidades Climáticamente Inteligente) es un programa del Estado de Nueva York que ayuda a los gobiernos locales tomar acciones para reducir emisiones de gases de efecto invernaderos y adaptar a un clima que cambia constantemente. El pueblo de Poughkeepsie es uno de 313 comunidades registrado en este programa; juntas, estas comunidades representan mas que 8 millones de personas. ¿Qué puede hacer una persona o negocio para reducir su propio emisiones de gases de efecto invernaderos? ¿Qué son algunos recursos sobre el cambio climático? Contactar su Consejera Comunitaria de Energía y aprender como dueños de casa y los que rentan pueden ahorrar dinero y energía en la casa. Español: Danielle Salisbury, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess 845-677-8223 x138 o Mandar un email a Danielle Salisbury Otros recursos para ahorrar energía y dinero en la casa visita NYSERDA – Aprende mas (para ver la pagina en español, cambia el lenguaje donde dice “Change Language” abajo del bandera azul). Considerar manejar un carro eléctrico o hibrido eléctrico- más información para los de Nueva York: NYSERDA – Drive Electric en el estado de Nueva York (para ver la pagina en español, cambia el lenguaje donde dice “Change Language” abajo del bandera azul). Cambiar a bombillas/focos de LED - más información: ENERGY STAR Comprar alimentos y otras cosas en los mercados locales como Arlington Farmers' Market, o inscribirse en un CSA como lo de Poughkeepsie Farm Project Educarse sobre soluciones de cambio climatico con Project Drawdown Aprender sobre el impacto del aumento de nivel de mar desde nuestros compañeros de Riverkeeper (información en inglés) y Scenic Hudson Monitorear la condición local de sequía para ayudar a conservar el agua. Hacer un jardín en su tierra para los polinizadores y lee en inglés sobre los esfuerzos del Poughkeepsie en ayudar a los polinizadores en su programa de Pollinator Pathway Aprender sobre las especies invasoras y que puede hacer Arlington Famers' Market will return for the 2022 season. View previous virtual workshops in the "It Takes a Town" series sponsored by our CAC on the Town's YouTube channel: Pollinator Pathway Solar for Homeowner and Renter Invasive Species Prevention and Management Recycling and Single-Use Plastic Reduction View the public workshop series for the Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Plan View What's the Buzz: Creating Pollinator Friendly Communities (fall 2021 forum at Cornell Cooperative Extension in which our Town's project was featured). The presentation PDF's are also available on that page.. Climate Smart Task Force meeting summaries - look how far we've come! January 2022 Update The Task Force began the new year with a review of all in-process and planned actions to take the Town towards the next level (Silver) certification. These include: Reviewing the final, adopted Comprehensive Plan to determine details of its submission for Climate Smart credit Developing a Fleet Inventory maintenance policy as a tool for transitioning the town fleet to electric vehicles Supporting Town personnel to participate in updated NYSERDA Energy Code Enforcement Training, which will help us reach our Clean Energy Community action goal and position us for additional grants Monitoring adoption of the Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Plan and submitting the updated information for Climate Smart credit Monitoring grant application for installation of EV chargers on municipal property Outreach to our business community regarding charging station opportunites and other potential actions for a Green Business Challenge Clarifying issues related to recycling in our municipal offices Completing our Solar for All campaign and submitting it for both Climate Smart and Clean Energy Community credit In lieu of our monthly meeting, the Task Force members participated in the final public workshop for the Open Space Plan (see link to recording above). The Task Force is setting its sights on new, significant actions. This includes EV charging infrastructure on municipal property as well as supporting our business community with installation of chargers on private property. We are examining "Green Fleet" and municipal operations recycling policies adopted by other towns in preparation for developing both here in Poughkeepsie, Our Solar for All campaign is getting close to the finish line, which will position the town for significant grant money. Our Task Force members will participate in the upcoming third and final public workshop for our Open Space Plan and encourage all town residents to join us! This will be in lieu of our December meeting on 12/2. Watch town information for meeting information. This month we celebrated our huge achievement: Bronze certification! We reviewed all of the actions that we currently have in process to move forward towards the next level. The Town has completed the Comprehensive Plan update and should complete the Open Space Plan by the end of the year. We are still awaiting initiation of "CAPI Dutchess" - the Climate Action Planning Institute - in which we will partner with several other towns to complete an inventory of municipal greenhouse gas emissions. Each town will complete its own inventory, working together using proven strategies, which will lead to a plan for reduction.We are looking at ways to upgrade recycling in our municipal buildings. And we are especially focused on helping the Town to install EV charging infrastructure at municipal sites, for our residents as well as to facilitate the Town transitioning its fleet to EVs over time. Many of the actions being completed for Climate Smart also qualify the Town for credit in the Clean Energy Communities program, a separate NYS effort. Once we complete our SOLAR FOR ALL campaign (see info above on this page) we will qualify for a significant grant from the State that can be used to further our efforts. We continue to await a response to our application for initial certification; however, we know that several new or revised actions have been approved. In addition, the town’s NRI/Open Space Plan will be completed late 2021; the Comprehensive Plan will be voted on by the Board in the fall. Both of these major actions will go towards a higher certification level, as will the Unified Solar Permit (completed) and Solar for All campaign (when completed). We await the delayed initiation of CAPI Dutchess. The Task Force hopes to move forward regarding the town fleet, to start to identify opportunities for rightsizing and EV transition. The Hudson Valley Regional Council announced a Clean Energy Communities Institute, which will create a 12-month program with a monthly focus on one selected high impact action for which extra resources will be provided to communities. We have already fulfilled some of these actions; this fall we hope to learn more about the New York Stretch Code and Energy Code Enforcement Training. We are also looking into the possibility of partnering with other communities for an EV education and group purchase program coordinated by Sustainable Hudson Valley. August 2021 Update We anticipate a response to our Climate Smart Certification submission by 8/27/21 - we hope to receive good news and follow up with a press release. Our August meeting was our first in-person meeting in a very long time. We reviewed all of the actions in process that will potentially figure into the next certification level. In addition to existing plans for our Natural Resources Inventory/Open Space Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and CAPI Dutchess, we have been approached by Vassar College as a stakeholder for a community resilience assessment. In parallel with Climate Smart, the town continues to progress towards Clean Energy Communities goals by virtue of completing relevant actions, many of which overlap with Climate Smart (in fact, receiving initial certification is in and of itself a step towards the additional designation). We have also been approved for our Unified Solar Permit and LED Lights. Certain high-impact actions, as well as overall point totals, have the potential to bring a substantial amount of grant money to the Town. Our task force member Tom Lynch is now engaged with Hudson 7 (Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council). He reported extensively from the July meeting, where crucial and pressing issues impacting our drinking water were discussed. We are making plans to see you at the Arlington Street Fair, scheduled for 9/18. Following a month of focused work, we were thrilled and elated to submit our completed, updated application for initial “Bronze” level Climate Smart Communities Certification during our meeting. The group reviewed all of the updates and – although virtually – was present to click on the “submit” button in the New York State portal. We took a few moments to savor and celebrate all that has been accomplished! We then reviewed additional actions already in the Town pipeline that will bring additional points (which, we hope, will set us on the path to “Silver” level certification). These include: Participation in the Dutchess Climate Action Planning Institute which will begin shortly Working with the Town staff and board to adopt the Unified Solar Permit (also an action for Clean Energy Communities) Completion and adoption of the Comprehensive Plan with sustainability elements Completion of the Open Space Plan and adoption of the Plan and Natural Resources inventory Completion of the Solar for All community campaign The group also intends to begin working in earnest on supporting EV charging infrastructure in the Town and looks forward to hosting a public event for business owners later this year. It will be several weeks until we receive a decision on our application. Watch this space for news! Beverly Santero resigned from the Task Force due to her plan to move out of the area. Susan spoke with the Town Supervisor, we can work towards appointing a new member but in the meantime the focus is on resubmission. Our new liaison for Clean Energy Communities is Eleanor Peck; she was previously the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Beacon and functioned as the CSC Chair, so she is very familiar with the municipal end of the process. Susan met with Eleanor to review our CSC application following this meeting. Numerous updates are being made to our application at this time. We discussed the need to encourage the Town Board to follow through with approval of the proposed Climate Change Education and Engagement Plan and Unified Solar Permit, as well as to support the Solar for All campaign. We reviewed our initial certification submission. Currently we have 108 points overall of the 120 required, 2 of 2 mandatory actions, and 2 of 3 priority actions. The next submission date, and the final one for 2021, is 7/2/21. Our focus in the short term is on this deadline, and this meeting produced a “punch list” to accomplish this. The new Town website is expected to launch within days. Susan was given access and training and will be able to accomplish the needed updates to our page to qualify for this action. We discussed the need to move forward with planning an EV event for business owners particularly in light of the federal and state push to add infrastructure. Following resubmission, this should be our next focus. We already have extensive lists of existing charger locations and business types that should be approached. We will develop a script for reaching out to the former, first, to ask for their participation. We’ve collected more background information on local composting. April 2021 update The Climate Smart Task Force is moving forward in a robust fashion! This month, we reviewed the Office of Climate Change’s response to our initial application for certification, which was submitted in January. Due to pandemic-related delays, as expected, we were unable to complete several actions within their original time frames. However, we are optimistic about being able to revise and update several items, as well as provide additional actions, in time for a July resubmission. Our Solar for All community campaign has been approved by NYSERDA, and the campaign is formally launching on April 1st, to be completed by the end of June. We are doing an initial information push through town media channels and local partner organizations. This is an action for Climate Smart as well as a potential high-impact action for Clean Energy Communities which could lead to a grant for the town to pursue additional clean energy upgrades. Solar for All is a utility bill assistance program to advance the scale-up of solar and move NYS closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry. The program offers income- eligible households the opportunity to subscribe to a community solar project in their area without paying any costs or fees. Residents that have participated in Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and EmPower NY are already income-qualified for the program. For more information on Solar for All eligibility or to receive assistance with sign up, please contact Danielle Salisbury, Community Energy Advisor (Cornell Cooperative Extension) at (845) 677-8223 ext 138. We are participating in a county-wide discussion about the feasibility of collaborating on a composting site. Stay tuned for more as this develops. We continue to push forward to back the development of EV charging infrastructure not only on municipal property, but also in our business community. Our goal is to create a group of town business owners who either have experience with installing charging stations, or are interested in doing so, to support this process. If you are business owner with interest in this area, please contact us. March 2021 update We learned that our application for initial certification, while not yet approved, did qualify for 108 of the required 120 points for completed actions. Considering that several robust actions that would bring this to fruition have been delayed by up to a year due to Covid and other factors outside of the Town, task force members are very pleased with what has been accomplished so far. A great deal of specific feedback on our application was provided which will serve to inform our next submission, and we continue to anticipate reaching the requirement during this calendar year. This month the task force had a very productive meeting with a representative of NYSERDA’s Transportation Group. We learned a great deal about strategies and incentives to promote EV ownership and infrastructure in both public and private sectors and are enthusiastic about bringing this information to our Town Board and business owners. On 3/10/21 our Clean Energy Communities liaison from the Hudson Valley Regional Council will address the Committee of the Whole in order to help us all be educated about CEC opportunities, how they overlap with the Climate Smart program, and how they can position the town for grants. February 2021 update While awaiting feedback from the NYS Office of Climate Change regarding our application for initial “Bronze” certification, the Task Force continues to work on planning additional actions. One focus is the area of EV charging infrastructure, and how we can help to educate both our business community and our elected officials and town staff in this area. Next month, we’ll host a speaker from NYSERDA to help us identify appropriate steps. We’ve started to discuss Clean Energy Communities, a separate NYS program with its own actions and point system which can position us for grants to do further work. The CEC program has just been reissued with updated actions. Several Climate Smart actions overlap CEC, including obtaining our certification. We plan to invite our CEC liaison from the Hudson Valley Regional Council, who has extensive expertise, to address key town stakeholders in order to create shared context for any discussion of pursuing the separate designation. The Dutchess Climate Action Planning Institute, delayed several months, remains imminent. Currently the municipalities involved await completion of final contract steps involving the Dept. of Environmental Conservation. There is a beginning discussion about composting occurring across Climate Smart representatives from several communities in Dutchess…please stay tuned for an update. On the lighter side, we reviewed Climate Smart logo designs submitted by the Graphic Arts students in DCC’s Service Learning program. We have several strong contenders and will soon have our own logo gracing our web page and other communications. Opportunities for students to support us, while also honing pre-professional skills, are an added benefit to our work. A major milestone was reached at our January 7th meeting, when we submitted our application for initial “Bronze” certification to the NYS Office of Climate Change. The Task Force is extremely grateful to its members whose hard work has brought us to this juncture and to the Town personnel who supported our efforts. A period of several weeks is expected to elapse before we receive a formal response, and it is anticipated that some “completed” actions may require further documentation. It is also anticipated that we will have additional completions to add to our application at that point, in time for the next submission deadline in April. We will continue to move forward with planned actions nonetheless and look ahead to the next certification level. We’ll take some steps to publicize this wonderful accomplishment to our community. Despite unavoidable delays due to the pandemic, the Task Force is full steam ahead and still anticipates submission for initial “bronze” Climate Smart certification in January. Our expectation is that our application would be reviewed and feedback provided about any actions requiring more work or documentation, with the next deadline in April. To this end, we are focused on collecting needed documentation and uploading it into the NYS CSC portal. In the process we have discovered a few unexpected points for which we can apply, and are also continuing to envision next steps that we can pursue towards “silver”, taking our Town even further towards sustainability. Our hard-working Task Force personnel conducted a complete review of our draft application in the NYS Climate Smart Communities portal to pinpoint where work and documentation stand for each completed or planned action. The start date for our Solar for All campaign is on hold while we await NYSERDA’s update to this action, enabling us to proceed in a way that may make the town eligible for additional grants to support sustainability. In collaboration with the CAC, work has begun on our Pollinator Pathway, which will be part of the Northeast pathway (visit https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/). We have representation from our town committees, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Vassar Environmental Cooperative/Ecological Preserve, Peach Hill Park, Waterman Bird Club, the colleges and school districts that lie within the town, and others. In the near future, we will begin public outreach to enlist individual residential properties to join the Pathway. The amazing Visual Arts students at DCC will be designing new logos for both Climate Smart and our CAC during the spring semester. We look forward to this collaboration and to placing the new design on our page and social media. Task Force personnel are now in the process of reviewing our eventual application for certification, which occurs in a NYS online portal, and uploading required documentation for specific actions. Recently, some additional actions have become feasible thanks to the interest of student interns at Vassar College, particularly in the area of mapping. Progress is occurring on our town’s “fleet inventory” which is a critical data collection step that we need as a baseline for future planning of emission reductions. Town personnel are extremely supportive in partnering with the Task Force on this project. We hope in the near future to do an informational presentation on EV infrastructure for members of the Board, Planning Board, and department heads so that we can work together towards increasing infrastructure for both municipal and public benefit. Climate Smart certification will benefit from progress on the Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Plan, which is being managed through the Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC). CAC and Climate Smart work collaboratively on shared goals. We continue to prepare for our Solar for All campaign. Recently, we received updated guidance from the state that will allow us to proceed with this action in a way that may make the town eligible for additional grants to support sustainability. We are holding this campaign until the new information is complete in order to take advantage of this opportunity. On October 14th we will sponsor an updated presentation on Community Choice Aggregation and Community Solar for the Committee of the Whole at the Town Board. Finally, we continue to plan for the Pollinator Pathway and have numerous participants committed to an initial steering committee from our local school districts, colleges, and other relevant organizations. Interested town residents should contact the Task Force chair. At our September meeting we noted that the Town Board unanimously passed a resolution on 8/19/20 supporting the Solar for All Campaign. The required “scoping document” for NYSERDA has been completed, identifying how the campaign will be publicized to residents and what other groups will support that process. The document will now be submitted to NYSERDA for final approval before the campaign can be implemented. We continue to gather information about the town’s vehicle fleet for eventual inclusion in our greenhouse gas emissions inventory. We’ll be refocusing on efforts to bring EV infrastructure to both town and private business properties through providing education on types of installations and financial incentives. The Task Force now has an informative brochure. Look for a copy on your next visit to the Town Hall or other public settings. At our August meeting the Task Force took steps forward on the Solar for All campaign for our town. We’ll be submitting required information to NYSERDA, with the campaign itself happening a little later this year. While a formal resolution is not required, nonetheless our liaison to the Town Board will be presenting one. A Request for Proposals, to engage a consultant for our Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Plan, is going out. With the support of our Conservation Advisory Commission, we expect the project to come to fruition in 2021. Watch for news of public comment sessions on this important initiative. We have joined the Pollinator Pathway and are reaching out into the community for stakeholders interested in serving on a steering committee to develop a target pathway map and take next steps. One important collaborator will the Environmental Cooperative at Vassar College, and we will also be working with students in the Environmental Studies program. Please contact us if you have an interest in working with this committee. The Task Force is learning more about CCA: Community Choice Aggregation, prior to developing a consensus regarding whether or not we wish to recommend that the Town Board consider it. We’re excited to announce our new Facebook page. Please follow our page to stay abreast of our activities, events, and progress. Watch for our posts about other initiatives that we support such as Dutchess SUPPP (the Dutchess County Single-use Plastic Pollution Prevention Campaign). At our July meeting the Task Force reviewed the recent public meeting for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, which will contain sustainability elements required for certification. Participants were strongly in favor of climate smart actions such as increased renewables, local community solar, composting, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Our Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC) is in process on a new Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) as part of the Comprehensive Plan. The NRI will lead to an Open Space Plan for the town. Currently the town is engaging a professional consultant, with grant support, to assist in the NRI process. Completion of the NRI will provide points towards Climate Smart certification. We are excited to launch a Solar for All campaign in the coming months! This campaign is part of the overall NYS Solarize initiative and will assist low to moderate income town residents to participate in community solar, with grant funding to provide utility bill assistance under the program. We’re also thrilled to be joining the Pollinator Pathway! Watch for more information about how individual town residents and businesses can participate. The Task Force hosted a presentation about “Solar for All”, a community solar and utility bill assistance program provided by NYSERDA. Solar power for this pilot project in Dutchess County would come from the Underhill Farm solar array in the town. The committee supports participation, and the Chair and Board representative will discuss implementation with the Town Supervisor. We made additional edits to our new Climate Smart Task Force brochure and look forward to copies being available for residents in town offices when they reopen. Fun fact: the town has converted 82% of its street lights to climate-friendly LED’s! We’ll earn points toward certification thanks to this work. Lights that are not yet converted will be changed as the old bulbs burn out. We continue to dialog with Central Hudson regarding public education about Electric Vehicles. Normally the utility hosts an annual “EV summit.” This year, due to the pandemic, plans have not yet been confirmed. The Task Force, in partnership with the CAC (Conservation Advisory Commission), has expressed enthusiasm about the town participating in the regional “Pollinator Pathway” (learn more at https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/). We can partner with our friends at the Vassar Environmental Cooperative on this beneficial campaign, which will be a fantastic opportunity to engage the public. We are also exploring the possibility of a Green Business Challenge. Watch for more information on all of these efforts! The Task Force continues to meet virtually and to progress towards Climate Smart Certification! Currently we are documenting the Town’s conversion of street lights to LEDs and preparing materials for an inventory of the Town’s fleet that will be used to help craft a Climate Action Plan. We continue to plan for educational workshops on EV infrastructure for both businesses and residents. Members are enthusiastic about hosting a pilot “Solar for All” campaign in Dutchess County, which would make community solar participation more readily available to lower-income households. We’re also exploring the idea of creating a Green Business Challenge within the Town. Contact us with your ideas! Due to the health crisis, the Task Force met online and is working hard to maintain our momentum despite the pandemic. We eagerly anticipate initiation of the Dutchess County Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI). This 16-month program involves several municipalities working together to inventory our government greenhouse gas emissions and develop a plan to reduce them. The program will use the ICLEI ClearPath tool, already proven in use by many communities, to do inventory, analysis, and other processes. We are also continuing to develop plans for community workshops on EV infrastructure and want to address both public and private spaces. The Task Force will soon have social media. One thing you’ll see on our imminent Facebook page is information about the new Dutchess SUPPP program: the Single-Use Plastic Pollution Prevention Campaign. We’re discussing ways that we can help implement this campaign even during the pandemic. We’re also looking into the possibility of participating in a new Solarize campaign to support use of community solar. Climate Smart baseline assessments were presented to the Town Board on 2-19, providing a roadmap for our journey to initial certification. We expect to present to the Board again late in the year with more details on what is accomplished. Our Task Force chair participated in the annual Dutchess County Environmental Management Council Roundtable, at which representatives of all municipalities share ideas and progress on the environmental front. We are so proud that our town is one of the leaders in the county in seeking Climate Smart certification. We are now pivoting into the NYS submittal process. Task Force members will be gathering needed documentation for certification. We’re getting ready for the start of the Dutchess County Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI). This 16-month program involves several municipalities, working together to inventory our government greenhouse gas emissions and develop a plan to reduce them. We’re also preparing to offer community workshops on adding EV infrastructure to both public and private spaces. We want our town businesses to be able to take advantage of the significant financial incentives for setting up charging stations, which will attract both customers and prospective employees. Fun fact: did you know that the town has already converted the bulk of our street lights to LED bulbs? This high-impact action will count towards Climate Smart certification. Dutchess SUPPP – the Dutchess Single-Use Plastic Pollution Prevention Campaign – has been implemented. This grant-based initiative is intended for collaboration with municipalities and will provide us with educational resources for the community. Did you know that Dutchess County has a Recycling Coordinator? And a “Recycle Right” campaign. There will be workshops for local businesses about using alternative products and compostables. Later this year, Climate Smart will have a beautiful logo! Students in the DCC Service Program will be assisting us with design. This is a great way to engage our community. Climate Smart baseline assessment is complete! This will be presented to the Town Board on 2-19 and provides a roadmap for our journey to initial certification. We’ve identified actions that the Town has completed, those that are in progress, and others that should take priority for implementation. We’re excited that Poughkeepsie will be part of the Dutchess County Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI), working with several other municipalities as we each inventory our government greenhouse gas emissions and create related climate action plans. We’re planning our next steps to inform and engage town residents, so watch for new publicity outlets with information about our progress and events. In addition, the task force is in a robust discussion about EV (electric vehicle) infrastructure. We hope to support the town in this area, to make it easier for residents to transition to renewables and for employers and businesses to provide this amenity. Members of the Task Force participated in a presentation on Community Choice Aggregation. CCA is a policy, enabled by NYS legislation, that allows a municipality to source energy on behalf of its residents and businesses. By forming a large buying pool with other municipalities, customers can save money, opt to use renewable energy, and receive consumer protections. Our speaker was from Hudson Valley Energy, which is participating in the Hudson Valley Community Power aggregation involving several municipalities (City of Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Cold Spring, Fishkill, Marbletown, Red Hook, New Paltz, and others). The pilot project in NYS was Westchester Power, which aggregated several communities in that county. A municipal board can pass a law enabling exploration of CCA without making a commitment until the final stages of the process. Currently several municipalities in our region are exploring forming a new aggregation. Customers can also enroll in community solar through the CCA, resulting in the creation of a Sustainability Fund which the municipality can earmark for a selected purpose. The completed Climate Smart Planning Tool will be presented to the Town Board on 2/19/20. The Climate Smart Certification Assessment is in the final stages of completion and will also be presented in the near future. With completion of these two steps, the Task Force will be in a position to identify actions that are completed or in progress, prioritize next actions to implement, and begin documentation towards initial certification. We continue to benefit from our partnership with professional staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Task Force also received the good news that grants supporting the 2020-21 Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI Dutchess) were approved. CAPI will take participants (several municipalities including Town of Poughkeepsie) through development of the Local Government Operations GHG Emissions Inventory and draft Government Climate Action Plans (CAPs), which are key actions for the Climate Smart program. A similar project was deployed in Ulster County in 2018-19 and successfully walked eight communities through the process. The Task Force reviewed a draft of the Climate Smart Resiliency Planning Tool Summary and Recommendations, which will shortly be presented to the Town Board. Completion of the Planning Tool is a specific action towards certification for which the Town will earn points in the Climate Smart Communities program. The Planning Tool is an evaluation of existing Town plans and policies to identify risks and adaptation opportunities to reduce vulnerability to climate hazards. The Task Force will be providing the Board with feedback regarding prioritization of recommendations. We continued our work on the Climate Smart Assessment checklist with a discussion of possible approaches to prioritizing actions towards certification. Once the Assessment is complete, we’ll be full steam ahead towards initial certification. The Town has a number of completed actions as well as several already in progress. Actions have to be documented in accordance with the Climate Smart program, with the actual application for certification done once this is in place. We also talked about ideas for developing our presence in the community beyond this web page. Stay tuned for our outreach! At our November meeting, we reviewed the Climate Smart Planning Tool which is in draft form and will be finalized and presented to the Town Board within the next couple of months. The Planning Tool is one action within the overall Climate Smart Communities program and was developed based on a model created in New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy. It reviews a broad range of municipal functions in the context of climate issues such as community plans, means of public outreach, vulnerability, preparedness and recovery, and hazard mitigation. The final document will include specific, prioritized recommendations and provide essential information for our path forward. We also completed a review of our Climate Smart Assessment checklist, which correlates directly with the Climate Smart Communities program. The Assessment is a working document which helps us to establish a baseline for municipal status on the various pledge elements and specific actions as a starting point towards certification as well as to organize relevant documents, contacts, and responsibilities. Many of us, whether working on environmental issues or just reading the news, have noted the proliferation of confusing acronyms and buzz words denoting groups, legislation, scientific concepts, and numerous other terms. We’re developing a helpful guide to all of this terminology; look for it to be posted here in the near future and contact us if you have something that you’d like included. At our October meeting, task force members were provided with an update on the Dutchess County Task Force’s progress. The County recently achieved bronze-level Climate Smart Certification and is committed to moving forward and to supporting municipalities. We reviewed our participation in the recent Arlington Street Fair and ideas for increasing our public profile and outreach. We discussed the status of our certification assessment and continued to plan for obtaining the needed detailed baseline information that will enable us to make specific recommendations to the town and begin documenting our actions towards certification. At our September meeting, task force members benefitted from a discussion of the Comprehensive Plan process. They identified areas of interest and committed to pursue updating the town assessment in those areas. Note was made of our new webpage, direct email and linkage to the NYS Climate Smart portal, where our actions towards certification will be documented. We also established a liaison to the Dutchess County Climate Smart Task Force and, for the near future, the planned Dutchess County Climate Action Planning Institute. We discussed initial opportunities for public outreach and education. We’ll be at the Arlington Street Fair on 9/21 and the Peach Hill Park Cider Ramble on 9/28, along with the CAC. Who are our partners in local climate action? Town of Poughkeepsie Conservation Advisory Commission Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess The Dutchess County Climate Smart Task Force The Dutchess County Environmental Management Council The Northeast Pollinator Pathway The Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council or "Hudson 7" Riverkeeper Scenic Hudson

Tag: chief of air staff We Will Get Rid Of Terrorists In No Distant Time – Chief Of Air Staff The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, says the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will prioritise the welfare of its personnel to boost their morale in the line of duty. Photo: [email protected] Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has expressed confidence that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will oust the terrorists and other criminal elements in Nigeria in no distant time. He gave the assurance during an Easter Lunch with the personnel of 013 Quick Response Force Minna, where he commiserated with families and colleagues of the three Airmen who lost their lives in Allawa operations on 1st April 2021. Air Marshal Amao reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Air Force towards ensuring that insurgency and armed banditry are put to an end. READ ALSO: UPDATED: Five Of 39 Abducted Kaduna Students Regain Freedom The Chief of Air Staff who was represented by Air Vice-Marshal Remiqius Ekeh commended the 013 Quick Response Force and Air Component of Operation GAMA AIKI as well as the gallant officers, airmen, and airwomen urging them to remain resolute in the fight against insurgency and banditry. He told them not to relent in their dedication and hard work towards achieving the mandate of protection of lives and properties of Nigerians. The NAF boss stated that efforts are ongoing to recover the crashed NAF Alpha Jet Aircraft which was declared missing on 31st March 2021. According to him, the claim that the jet was shot down by the insurgents is false. He promised that available evidence will be made public when investigations are over. Posted on April 6, 2021 April 6, 2021 Author Soonest NathanielCategories HeadlinesTags Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, chief of air staffLeave a comment on We Will Get Rid Of Terrorists In No Distant Time – Chief Of Air Staff NAF Plane Crash: Burial Of Beechcraft King Air 350 Crew Holds In Abuja The burial ceremony of seven Airforce Officers who lost their lives on Sunday has held at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja. The officers were crew members of the ill-fated Beechcraft King Air 350 that crashed at Bassa village near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while on a reconnaissance mission to Niger State. A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigeria Airforce, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola says the Aircraft reported engine failure shortly after take-off from Abuja and were on their way back to base when the crash occurred. Present at the ceremony is the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi. Also Present are other Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor. The relatives of the late officers are also present at the cemetery where not an eye is left dry and the nation mourns the death of some of its finest soldiers. Speaking while the crew was being laid to rest, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Oladayo Amao asked officers and men of the Nigerian Airforce to remain committed to the fight against terrorism in a bid to ensure that the sacrifices of their comrades will not be in vain. READ ALSO: Safety Of Airspace Remains A Priority, Buhari Mourns Plane Crash Victims Below are some photos from the ceremony. Posted on February 25, 2021 February 25, 2021 Author Soonest NathanielCategories Headlines, LocalTags Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, Bashir Magashi, chief of air staff, chief of defence staff, major General Lucky Irabor, Minister of Defence, NAF, Nigerian Air ForceLeave a comment on NAF Plane Crash: Burial Of Beechcraft King Air 350 Crew Holds In Abuja Chief Of Air Staff Orders Investigation Into Military Plane Crash In Abuja Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has ordered an investigation into the military plane crash that led to the death of seven persons. The said Air Force plane, a Beechcraft KingAir B350i crashed on Sunday while returning to Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure en-route Minna, the Niger State capital. Confirming the development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola in a brief communique stated that all seven personnel aboard the craft died in the crash. The NAF spokesman further stated that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) urged the general public to remain calm and await the outcome of the investigation. The CAS also commiserated with the families of the deceased. READ ALSO: 7 Killed As Military Aircraft Crashes In Abuja Airport Posted on February 21, 2021 Author Soonest NathanielCategories LocalTags Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, chief of air staff, Nigerian Air ForceLeave a comment on Chief Of Air Staff Orders Investigation Into Military Plane Crash In Abuja President Buhari Replaces Service Chiefs A file photo of some of the service chiefs at Armed Forces Remembrance Day. PHOTO: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs and appointed new officers as replacements. The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff. This was announced on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who noted that the service chiefs have also retired from service. Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar. Senate Calls For Removal Of Service Chiefs After Insurgent Attack On Farmers Senators Lament Over Increased Insecurity, Call For Removal Of Service Chiefs Buhari Will Do What Is Best, Presidency Reacts To Call For Removal Of Service Chiefs President Buhari appreciated the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours. He congratulated the new Service Chiefs and urged them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities. – Repeated Calls For Removal – The replacement of the Service Chiefs by President Buhari comes after numerous calls for their sack over the increasing insecurity in the country. As far back as July, the Nigerian Senate had called on the service chiefs to step aside. The Senate reiterated its call in December after 43 farmers were killed in Zabarmari, Borno State, by Boko Haram terrorists. Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, in a Channels Television interview, stressed that the President was breaking the law by keeping the Service Chiefs, who had been in their positions since 2015. “The President is breaking the law, the law says if you are 60 you must go, it is automatic,” Shekarau said. “If you are 35 years in service, you must go. In fact, they are not staff of Mr. President, they are the staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and there is a rule.” Members of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, have also serially called for the top military officials to be replaced. The Presidency had said President Muhammadu Buhari would make the decision when “the time is right.” Faces of the New Service Chiefs Chief of Air Staff, Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao. Chief of Army Staff, Major-General I. Attahiru. Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo. Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor Posted on January 26, 2021 January 27, 2021 Author Ronke IdowuCategories HeadlinesTags Buhari replaces, chief of air staff, service chiefsLeave a comment on President Buhari Replaces Service Chiefs Buhari Mourns Former Chief Of Air Staff Nsikak Eduok Rtd Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok President Muhammadu Buhari is mourning a former Minister of Aviation, and 12th Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok. He described his death as a huge loss to the nation, particularly all those he inspired and mentored in tactical air operations. The President joins the military in mourning the passing of the highly decorated former officer, who spent more than two decades updating his pilot skills in the United Kingdom, United States, and then the Soviet Union, returning to the country to share his experience with colleagues and younger officers. President Buhari commiserates with his family and the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, friends and associates of the deceased, affirming that he lived a life of service to the nation and humanity, with distinguished results in all endeavours. The President prays for the repose of his soul and for God’s comfort over the family. Posted on January 8, 2021 January 8, 2021 Author oluchiCategories LocalTags Buhari, chief of air staff, Nsikak EduokLeave a comment on Buhari Mourns Former Chief Of Air Staff Nsikak Eduok Former Chief Of Air Staff Nsikak Eduok Dies At 74 A former Chief of Air Staff and one time Minister of Aviation, Rtd Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok, has died at the age of 74. Secretary to Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem announced the death of Nsikak Eduok in a statement on Thursday. According to the statement, he was said to have died of “end-stage kidney failure” on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Posted on January 8, 2021 January 8, 2021 Author oluchiCategories LocalTags chief of air staff, Nsikak EduokLeave a comment on Former Chief Of Air Staff Nsikak Eduok Dies At 74 FG Willing To Fund Community Policing, Says Chief Of Air Staff President Muhammadu Buhari attends a meeting with the service chiefs and others at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on January 17, 2020. The Federal Government has declared its support for community policing and its willingness to fund it. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on Friday in Abuja. Abubakar spoke to the reporters at the Presidential Villa shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the service chiefs ahead of his trip to the United Kingdom. He revealed that the National Security Council meeting reviewed the activities of the security agencies in the country. The air force boss noted that after a critical evaluation of the various operations, the meeting was satisfied with the progress being made. He highlighted some of the issues the meeting focused on, including banditry in some parts of the country. Abubakar disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force has taken possession of two fighter helicopters, as part of the equipment the military and police were expecting. He gave also gave an assurance that most of the other equipment still expected would be received by the end of February. The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), led the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, and other services chiefs to the meeting. Also present were the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas. Others included the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu; and Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Bichi. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha. Posted on January 17, 2020 January 17, 2020 Author Akinola AjibolaCategories HeadlinesTags chief of air staff, community policing, Sadique AbubakarLeave a comment on FG Willing To Fund Community Policing, Says Chief Of Air Staff Ex-Air Chief Dikko ‘Converted’ N1.2bn, Witness Tells Court The trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar Dikko (rtd), continued on Thursday at the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja. Dikko is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on seven counts bordering on money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of N9.7 billion. At the resumed trial before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, the anti-graft agency called the ninth prosecution witness (PW9), Hammadama Bello, who told the court that the defendant allegedly converted N1.2 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force to his personal use. Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Dr Onyeachi Ikpeazu, the witness who is an investigator with the EFCC alleged that funds meant for air force operational purposes were diverted by Dikko to his personal use. He disclosed that not all capital projects like building and equipping of hospitals, Comprehensive School, Kano; Comprehensive School, Yola; building of Conference Centre in Kado, Abuja and the renovation of barracks, as well as the Air Force barricade were sponsored from the tranche earmarked for them. “In addition to the project listed above, the defendant Air Marshal Umar Dikko, helped himself by carrying out some project for himself, like his house in Maitama, which amounts to almost a billion naira,” Bello was quoted as saying in a statement from the EFCC. READ ALSO: Court Dismisses Human Rights Violation Suit Against EFCC He explained that a case of alleged money laundering was established against the defendant following the results of investigations into properties linked to the former Chief of Air Staff. The witness also informed the court that all directives regarding the disbursement of NAF’s funds allegedly came from Dikko to the Director of Finance and Accounts, who was reportedly assisted by the CFO, Group Captain Bukar Abubakar. He alleged that Abubakar was in turn assisted by Squadron Leader, Emmanuel Agbor, and a number of other junior cashiers, adding that the former Air Chief gave directives in the absence of the Director, Finance, and Accounts. At the previous court sitting, Bello had told the court how some properties were allegedly purchased by the defendant. “Although the defendant (Dikko) claimed he bought the property for N35 million, investigations revealed that the property was originally a guest house of the Nigerian Air Force, which was sold to one AVM Lex. “Upon questioning, AVM Lex confirmed that he had been approached by one Yushau, who told him that the buyer preferred to stay anonymous and N85 million, was paid to AVM Lex, for the property and another N75 million paid for renovation of the same,” the witness added. According to him, investigations also revealed that the former Air Chief came from a humble background, rising from the position of a teacher, then a library assistant, before becoming a serving officer and then the Chief of Air Staff and wondered how he could have acquired such properties. “He (Dikko) was not a businessman while in service and would have to be Chief of Air Staff (at his last grade level) for 250 years to be able to afford the properties linked to him. “Investigations revealed that during Dikko’s tenure as Chief of Air Staff, he received N558,200,000 on a monthly basis, which he converted into dollars,” Bello told the court. He added that searches conducted on companies linked to the defendant at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and several bank accounts revealed that none of the accounts of these companies were used directly or indirectly for the purchase of the properties. Bello also informed the court on the outcome of the investigation into the monies transferred to the account of Capital Law Firm, the legal agent engaged for the purchase of the defendant’s Asokoro property. He said they uncovered a trail of about N900 million which was paid in cash as payment for the property and N40 million in legal fees while additional monies (in dollars) were paid to the agent’s account for the renovation of the property. With the conclusion of cross-examination, Justice Dimgba discharged the witness and adjourned the matter until Friday for the continuation of hearing. Posted on November 1, 2019 November 1, 2019 Author Akinola AjibolaCategories LocalTags chief of air staff, Court, EFCC, Mohammed Umar DikkoLeave a comment on Ex-Air Chief Dikko ‘Converted’ N1.2bn, Witness Tells Court Nobody Can Succeed In Undermining Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity, Says NAF Boss A file photo of Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar/ [email protected] The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, says there is a need for citizens to join the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the country. According to him, no individual or group of people can succeed in undermining the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Abubakar made the comments while celebrating the Eid-El -Kabir with officers, airmen, and women of the Air Task Force Command in Yola, the Adamawa state capital. He insisted that despite the recent attacks in parts of the county, substantial progress has been achieved in the fight against insurgency and banditry. READ ALSO: DSS Not Empowered By Law To Arrest, Says Babalola The military, according to him, will continue to work round the clock until the people of Nigeria and their properties are secured. He also called on the troops fighting Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east and others deployed elsewhere to remain focused on their task of securing the country. The air chief, however, commended the contributions of officers and men of the Command and cautioned them not to be distracted by what they get from social media. The event was organised for personnel deployed in the Task Force Command involved in the fight against insurgency, as well as to interact with and encourage the troops. Air Marshall Abubakar was received on his arrival in Yola by the Commander of Air Services Group, Air Commodore Mohammed Yusuf, and other senior officers. But he welcomed Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, who attended the event as the special guest In his address, the governor applauded the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies for the good job they are doing for the country. Earlier in his welcome address, Air Commodore Yusuf gave assurance that the NAF base in Yola would continue in its role in the fight against insurgency. The highlight of the event was a cultural dance from the Adamawa State Cultural Team. Posted on August 13, 2019 Author Akinola AjibolaCategories LocalTags chief of air staff, Nigeria, Sadique AbubakarLeave a comment on Nobody Can Succeed In Undermining Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity, Says NAF Boss Court Orders Forfeiture Of N2.2bn Linked To Ex-COAS, Adesola Amosu The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2.2billion recovered from a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun made the order after listening to an ex-parte application brought before her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge held that “An interim order is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the total sum of N2,244,500,000 found and recovered by the commission from the first respondent (Amosu) which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.” The judge also granted an interim order for the temporary forfeiture of another N190,828,978.15 recovered from a former Nigeria Air Force Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo, and another N101 million recovered from Solomon Enterprises, a company linked to Amosu. The EFCC told the judge that the various sums were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.” Justice Olatoregun also directed the EFCC to publish the interim order in two national dailies so that the respondents or anyone interested in the sums can show cause why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government. The judge then adjourned the case until June 29, 2018. The two respondents, Amosu and Adigun were said to have, between July 17 and September 16, 2014, allegedly removed over N663.4million from the Nigerian Air Force accounts to among other things purchase properties at 50-52 Tenterden Grove, London (NW4 1TH) and at 93B Shirehall Park, LondonNW4 2QU, United Kingdom. They were also accused of buying 40A, Bourdillon, Ikoyi, with N900million, and another property worth N1.5bn at Sinari Daranijo street in Victoria Island, Lagos. The EFCC also said they bought a property named Cappadol Mall at Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse II Abuja, for N750million, as well as a property worth over N1.7billion at Agobogba Street, Parkview, Ikoyi Lagos, using the airforce’s money. Other properties they allegedly bought using Air Force’s funds include one at Salt Lake Street, Maitama, Abuja; one at Agadez Street off Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja; 61A, Lake Chad Street, Maitama, Abuja; and one at 1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja. Between March 6 and April 30, the respondents allegedly used N428,139,539.00 removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to renovate and purchase medical equipment for Solomon HealthCare Ltd situate at 24 Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja Lagos. Posted on June 13, 2018 June 14, 2018 Author Rejoice EwodageCategories LocalTags Adesola Amosu, chief of air staffLeave a comment on Court Orders Forfeiture Of N2.2bn Linked To Ex-COAS, Adesola Amosu Alleged N22.8bn Fraud: Witness Testifies Against Amosu, Others File photo: Adesola Amosu An Investigator of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tosin Owobo, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that some of the funds allegedly diverted from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were meant for the purchase of aviation fuel and for “operations” related to fighting the Boko Haram insurgency. He revealed this on Tuesday while testifying in the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), and some others. The others are a former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, and a former NAF Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo. The EFCC accused them of converting about N22.8bn from the Air Force through various companies, namely Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd, and Solomon Health Care Ltd. In his testimony during the continuation of their trial on Tuesday, the EFFC investigator said the funds were transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the NAF operation account with various descriptions, including “Operation Lafia Dole.” He said a team of eight operatives from the anti-graft agency, including himself, investigated the sources of funds which flowed into NAF operation account. Owobo disclosed that there were inflows of N1billion on January 17, 2013; N100million on May 15, 2013, and N18.6million on June 12, 2013, from the Ministry of Defence Headquarters. Cross-examining the witness, counsel to the former Air Chief, Bolaji Ayorinde, asked, “While doing analysis during your investigations, did you discover what purpose the inflow was meant for?” In his response, the witness said, “After we began our investigations, the NAF officers we had a discussion with told us that money paid into this account was for operational activities.” Ayorinde further inquired, “Did you ask the Ministry of Defence why the N1billion was paid from the Ministry?” while Owobo responded that he cannot remember. Asked if he knew what the N18.6 million was also meant for, the EFCC investigator said they did not inquire. Owobo also claimed that another former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), was among those interviewed during the investigation and that he made a statement. Ayorinde then asked that Badeh’s statement, which was not frontloaded, be provided, stressing that he needed the statement for his client’s defence. The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, then prayed that the matter be stood down for 20 minutes to enable him to get Badeh’s statement. He also opposed Ayorinde’s application for an adjournment, saying it would further delay the case. However, all the other lawyers on the defence team rejected the application for a stand-down, insisting it was better to adjourn the case. In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris held, “Section 36 of the Constitution guarantees the right to fair hearing, which means that the rights and interests of parties to a dispute before the court should be protected.” “Where a party to a criminal trial has applied for documents in the possession of the state to enable him to prepare adequately for his defence, the state has a duty to make available to that party, duly certified copies of the documents upon payment of the required legal fees. “In the interest of justice, I think it is more convenient to adjourn in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. I know that while justice delayed is justice denied, justice rushed is justice crushed. We shall adjourn in the interest of justice.” The matter was consequently adjourned till May 15. Posted on May 16, 2018 May 16, 2018 Author Akinola AjibolaCategories LocalTags Adesola Amosu, alleged fraud, chief of air staff, EFCC, Nigerian Air ForceLeave a comment on Alleged N22.8bn Fraud: Witness Testifies Against Amosu, Others Killings: Nigerian Air Force Deploys Special Forces To Taraba The Nigerian Air Force has deployed Special Forces to Nguroje Community in Taraba State to curb incessant killings and attacks in the state. Taraba is one of the states affected by clashes between farmers and herdsmen, which has led to the death of many. Others states where the Nigerian Air Force has established various special units, include Goma, Nasarawa State and Agatu in Benue state. The Director of operations of the Nigerian Air Force, Napoleon Bali, who represented the Chief of Air Staff, urged the troops to collaborate with other security forces on ground for a successful operation. “The Nigerian Airforce has established various special units all over the country. You are here today for special duties. I urge you to partner with other security agencies here including the Nigerian Army, DSS, Police and other security outfits here in Taraba State,” Bali said. Since the beginning of the year there have been incessant attacks in various region in the country leading to the loss of lives. The troops who arrived in two waves from Kaduna, on board a c-130 aircraft are expected to camp in the community until the menace is curbed. Posted on May 14, 2018 May 14, 2018 Author Ronke IdowuCategories Crime WatchTags chief of air staff, Nigerian Air Force, TroopsLeave a comment on Killings: Nigerian Air Force Deploys Special Forces To Taraba

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hello doctor, My friend aged 30 had two drops of phenol mistaking for milk. He vomited and had lot of salt water. Please advice for any side effect. Please explain the poisonous effect of phenol ingestion. output: Hi. I want to assure you not to worry as everything is going to be fine if proper care and treatment is opted in for. I have thoroughly gone through your case and can well understand your genuine health concerns. 1. No, there is not much problem right now as he vomited and also had a lot of water. It is fine because it was only two drops. 2. We usually do not go for emesis (vomiting) for phenol poisoning cases. Because, it is a volatile compound and causes vapors entering the lungs through the airways. 3. As it was only two drops, I do not think it may cause much trouble. If he feels short of breath contact me back, otherwise fine. 1. He should avoid re-exposure. 2. Rule out if there is some sort of suicidal ideation due to depression or anxiety and take him to a psychiatrist for physical evaluation. For further follow up consult a general practitioner online.--->..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Iam having very bad pain in my right shoulder that has gradually gone down the arm to my hand. I ve been using heat to help and taking acetaminophen, but no releif. I don t know wht to do.b sleeping is out of question cause I wake in the middle of the night in tears. Can you help. output: Hi, As the pain is radiating in nature and not coming down with the medicine you're taking. I will advise to get checked of the cervical spine. As a nerve root entrapment will be the cause for pain to not stop. Using cervical collar will be good. Post that hot water fermentation to the neck and then shoulder. You should do well with 2-3 weeks of time. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Jay In.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What is Dermatofibroma and what kind of information can be offered about it? output: Dermatofibromas, or histiocytomas, are common noncancerous (benign) skin growths. They are firm to hard, and they are skin -colored or slightly pigmented. Dermatofibromas can be tender. These lesions usually persist for life, and they may heal as depressed scars after several years. Occasionally, dermatofibromas found in large numbers in grouped or linear clusters are seen in association with immune disturbances, such as leukemia, HIV, and lupus.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My Ddr. rang me this morning to say I had a problem with my haemaglobin which has been getting low since about 2007. This has come to light following routine blood checks due to my insulin dependent diabetes . She said she could give me tablets but they will probably make me sick and as I am otherwise feeling well, I have put this on hold. I am 74 and very active but wonder what to do next. output: Hi,it's already great realizing the hemoglobin levels are falling. Worthwhile investigating the type of anemia (inadequate blood quantities), characterizing it to know whether it is due to a bone marrow problem or other. This shall help in detecting exactly the cause of the low hemoglobin and therefore treating it. Consulting a hematologist for a proper evaluation is worthwhile. Thanks and fast recovery, Luchuo, MD..

Episode 892: Welcome to Dunwich July 3, 2016 November 1969, Violet Wellesantique shop, hypnosis, incompetence, lovecraft, mystery box, narrative collision, the book, trumpDanny Horn “As you have become the chosen one, so has this room become the chosen room.” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And all we had to do is open this box, which is super convenient. Those reckless antiquers Megan and Philip Todd have apparently been chosen as the Chosen Ones by the choosing ones that choose Chosen Ones. The implication is that they’ve been chosen according to some ancient prophecy, which promises to guide the Leviathan people, whoever they are, toward a glorious future. Considering what I know about how this storyline plays out, those prophecies must have been made by some off-brand discount recruiting service, because this plan isn’t going anywhere except a stunning collapse on every level. I mean, if you’re going to go to all the trouble of peering through the mists of time to find the fastest route to global domination, you’re going to want to weigh a few different possibilities, right? Maybe interview people, hold auditions, map out some kind of basic strategy. You could imagine the Leviathans in a boardroom somewhere, hooded and solemn, while a facilitator walks them through a SWOT analysis. And yet they landed on the Todds. It’s baffling. Megan and Philip have no prior experience with apocalyptic death cults. They haven’t studied any mystic books, or explored mysterious jungles. They don’t have untapped psychic abilities to any noticeable degree. I don’t even think they have babysitting experience. But now their moderately successful antique shop has been chosen as the dwelling-place for a planet-crushing interdimensional space baby, which has been released from the mystery box and is now busily building itself some flesh somehow. As part of the doomsday cult introduction packet, the Todds also find an ancient book in the box, which must be bigger on the inside, because that book is clearly way bigger and heavier than it should be. They open it up, but it’s written in an obscure language that they don’t even recognize, so that looks like another flaw in the Chosen One selection process. Then they put the book down on a table in their antique shop, which means that it is now for sale. The incompetence here is simply staggering. The Leviathans need to stop counting on rallies and free media, and start developing a ground game. But there is a precedent for the half-remembered and the indecipherable, because H.P. Lovecraft stories are always about communication gaps. Lovecraft had the odd idea that everything degenerates over time — that people and animals and soceties and ideas and art forms invariably get worse, rather than more complex and more interesting, as is actually the case. For Lovecraft, the civilizations of the past were smarter and wiser and more aware of the fundamental facts of life, like for example which terrifying cosmic entities are going to rise up someday and eat the sun. Everything that happened since some arbitrary cut-off point — every conclusion, every invention, every advance — has just made us stupider and more out-of-touch. I don’t know why Lovecraft thought that was true, when all of the historical, anthropological and archeological evidence points in the other direction. He just did. So most of his stories are about investigations, often led by academics or naturalists, who try to piece together the stray bits of ancient wisdom that have managed to survive. There are manuscripts to decipher, fragments to glue back together, holes to be dug and peered into. They tried to warn us, these ancient smartypantses, but we’ve become so stupid and lame that we can hardly understand them. And most of the time, the moral of the story is to not even try. Lovecraft’s story At the Mountains of Madness is a report written by a geologist from Miskatonic University, describing an expedition in the Antarctic where they discovered an unbelievable treasure trove of information about prehistoric Earth. But the purpose of his story, he tells us over and over, is to discourage people from ever going back there, because there are horrible things that pose an immediate peril to humankind, and they should not be disturbed. So he describes, for example, an incredible set of wall carvings that document the entire history of an intelligent species we didn’t even know about, and he says, oh, how I wish we’d been able to take more pictures, and then he insists that nobody should ever go back and look at them again, because learning things is dangerous. And even that species got stupider over time, apparently. The explorers find a further set of carvings that were produced later, which show a “degradation of skill,” which means that techniques that passed from one generation to the next got worse with each iteration. Information is lost over time, and nobody can hope to improve upon their forebears’ work. So everything gets worse, and everybody gets stupider, and there is no hope for humankind, unless we unlearn and forget as furiously as we can. This is the mindset that made the Leviathans choose Megan and Philip. Finally, they said, rubbing their tentacles together in satisfaction, we have found the stupidest possible chosen ones. And then they fell off their chairs, because they’d forgotten how to sit. Once the shopkeepers have marked down the ancient artifacts and chucked them on the sale table, Megan and Philip call it a day. In their dreams, they’re visited by former vampire Barnabas Collins, who they now recognize as their master. The main take-home from this storyline, I think, is how easy it is to get people under your thrall. It happens almost instantly, with very little effort. The hooded figures managed to hollow out Barnabas’ skull and fill it up with Leviathan goop by doing a little dance routine. Then Megan and Philip open the box and read a poem, and bam, they no longer get a say in how they’re going to comport themselves. Apparently this broke-ass worldview pretty much sells itself; you just point and shoot. So now Megan is a Leviathan dittohead, wearing a trucker cap that says Make R’lyeh Great Again. Barnabas issues some instructions. “As you have become the chosen one,” he says, “so this room will become the chosen room. And now you must make it ready.” He pauses a moment, to let that sink in. “You must close off all the windows,” he continues, “so that no light may come in. The room must be dark, for darkness knows us, as we know darkness.” “Yes, master.” “You must remove all furniture, except that which is necessary. Do you understand me?” She says, “I do!” but I’m skeptical. Is he really going to leave the decisions about necessary furniture and unnecessary furniture up to Megan? Has he seen that junk pile downstairs they call an antique shop? Megan wakes up and discovers that Philip has had the same dream, so they both start hauling furniture around and nailing up lumber. They’re going to be busy for a while, so we might as well talk about The Dunwich Horror. Dark Shadows fans sometimes say that the Leviathan storyline is based on The Call of Cthulhu, because that’s the Lovecraft story that people remember the name of, but it’s actually an adaptation of The Dunwich Horror, which was published in the pulp sci-fi magazine Weird Tales in 1929. The story takes place in Dunwich, a fictional town in rural Massachusetts which is essentially cut off from the world — a disturbing patch of run-down homes and dilapidated farms, ringed with hills that are topped by mysterious stone circles. The people in the village have interbred for a while, and now they’re decadent and degraded, just like everything else in Lovecraft Country. There are strange noises in the hills that no one can explain. The whippoorwills crowd around when somebody’s dying, chirping in time with his final breaths, trying to catch the soul before it flies away. There isn’t much of a tourism industry. The Whateleys live on a farm four miles outside the village, and there are wicked doings that go on there. Old Whateley has a library stocked with forbidden volumes, and he communes with things that he shouldn’t. At the beginning of the story, his daughter Lavinia gives birth to an uncanny child — the thing that men call Wilbur Whateley. There are dark rumors about the boy’s paternity, and even the rumors don’t match up to the grim reality. Wilbur is dark and goatlike and inscrutable, and he grows much faster than he should. Within three months, he’s as big as a child should be after a year, and by eleven months, he’s already talking. Meanwhile, Lavinia’s father starts on a long-term solo carpentry project, restoring the abandoned upper story of their farmhouse. He boards up all the windows, and nobody is ever admitted upstairs; Wilbur has his own room downstairs, lined with bookshelves full of Old Whateley’s rotting reading material, including an incomplete edition of the dreaded Necronomicon. Wilbur will continue to grow at an alarming rate, reaching around eight feet tall by the time someone finally evaluates the situation, and takes appropriate action. That someone is a dog. So that’s the beginning of this gruesome tale — a mysterious child, an old book and a boarded-up room. There’s one big difference in this adaptation, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out — Old Whateley and Lavinia aren’t being controlled by anyone. They aren’t innocents dragged into this predicament by an all-knowing “master”. They came up with this terrible plan on their own. But Megan and Philip have no control over what’s happening to them; they don’t know where they’re going or why. All they have is a shared dream, and a book they can’t read. Too big to fit in the box, too silly to be from anywhere else, that book will reshape our little vampire soap opera into new and unguessable forms. All the Todds have to do is make sure nothing happens to it, by hiding it somewhere and not just leaving it on display in their shop, which is what they’ve done. And somewhere, beyond the stars, the Elder Things are tripping over rakes, and dropping their smartphones in the toilet. Tomorrow: Frequent Flyers. The sound effect for the spirit escaping from the box is different than it was in yesterday’s episode. Yesterday’s it sounded like a hiss; in today’s reprise it’s a long whistle. When Megan reads the poem from the scroll, she says “wedged between ancient sacred stone” — it’s supposed to be stones, to rhyme with bones. She passes the scroll to Philip to read the second half, which he clearly reads off the teleprompter. I would’ve thought they’d write the lines on the scroll, since he’s supposed to be reading it anyway. The colorful afghan makes another appearance on the show; it appears to have followed us back through time from 1897. We last saw it about three weeks ago in Tate’s studio, but luckily it disappeared from the cottage before the studio burned to the ground. Now it’s on Megan and Philip’s bed. ← Episode 891: Curious People Time Travel, part 9: Frequent Flyers → 19 thoughts on “Episode 892: Welcome to Dunwich” mizstorge says: H.P Lovecraft simply latched on to the Third Law of Thermodynamic as a theme before Michael Moorcock. It’s endlessly entertaining to try to decide who did a better job. I knew that Afghan was up to something! Last seen “healing” Count Petofi, and now it’s in league with the Leviathans! We KNOW that afghans are evil http://nationalreport.net/sarah-palin-wants-afghans-banned-americas-armchairs-sofas-beds-attics/ Actually it’s kind of weird because it was also used to cover whatever furniture that crib was standing on (to hide a person who was rocking it from underneath?) when it was used to hold Quentin’s twin babies. We should have seen it all along. It transcends time, it cannot be destroyed by fire; the Collinsport Afghan is the cause of all the evil in Dark Shadows. It poses as an innocent blanket, but that’s just a cover story… Evan Hawthorn says: that was bad. John E Comelately. and yet somehow, ’twas awful funny. I know, I know, it’s not a great story, but I do think the Todds were SUPPOSED to leave the book lying around because it’s SUPPOSED to be picked up by David. It’s all part of the plan, and I thought the plan was pretty interesting until they decided to change the whole thing around again and again. When I was growing up, one of the side effects of the late plague known as McCarthyism was a favorite horror/sci-fi trope of people losing their will to a a larger, evil force. This was one of my favorite storylines: it both terrified and thrilled me. Movies like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Invaders from Mars, It Conquered the World, and Children of the Damned hit me in some creative brain spot where vampires, werewolves, and (ugh, I hate those) zombies never approached. The Leviathan story hit me that way, too, at least at first. I have been defending it here for a week now. Since then, I’ve watched the whole thing, and it does get very bad, not always making sense, turning in on itself, etc. just like all DS stories do. And yes, the worst sin is that it does this while sometimes being a bit boring – a definite no-no. The final two weeks are a travesty in many ways, and I look forward to Danny’s blow-by-blow of the horrific “we don’t even care anymore” editing. But this first part, where people we care about start to become a part of this “thing” thrilled me as a kid, and I still enjoyed it. And I will say this: today, I watched episode 969, where we get our first glimpse of the Parallel Time room. And I got the same thrill I felt about THIS story as when I first watched. It’s an even better tale than the Leviathans, and considering that we are all witnessing the painfully slow death of Dark Shadows, we need to grab what good we may. (AND enjoy dissing the terrible parts!) Yeah, I haven’t really defined an aesthetic framework for this story yet, which is a brand new bit of lit-crit jargon that I just invented. The question of whether the Leviathan story is “good” or “bad” is going to become really pressing about four episodes from now, and I still don’t know how I’m going to handle it. This is an actual problem in my life this week. Per Danny’s suggestion, I read The Dunwich Horror and then re-watched the 1970 film of the same name. It’s interesting to me that Dark Shadows and the film went in the direction of having the creature trying to mate with a mortal woman in order for the race to continue. The book did not go in this direction at all. On another note, I wound up reading Lovecraft’s THE THING ON THE DOORSTEP which dealt with possession in a similar vein as Petofi possessing Quentin. It was, IMO, a better story. Well, the most important thing about H.P. Lovecraft is his legacy. Second only to Poe (from which he lifted themes and scenes for his stories) as an influential American “horror” [I prefer the term supernatural] writer. Rod Serling liked him, as Night Gallery threw in a few episodes and/or short sketches over the show’s run — but not before Dark Shadows, or the cinematic film adaptation of The Dunwich Horror (1970; Sandra Dee, Dean Stockwell, Ed Begley, Talia Shire). The film was released in January 1970, but Dark Shadows was getting it on TV a month or two before. Ah! And I should mention that Jimmy Sangster (you know, Hammer Films screenwriter) did a tribute to Lovecraft in one of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite all-time TV shows Kolchak: The Night Stalker (yes, also a Dan Curtis inspired production) in 1974 with the episode Horror in the Heights (alternative title The Rakshasa). I’ll have to check out the “Horror in the Heights” episode. I did see “Cool Air” on Night Gallery. I totally forgot about the Rakshasa! I always wondered if that ep inspired a certain AD&D monster with the same name. That ‘stuffed weasel pig thing’ you’ve mentioned (unless you mean something else) appears to be a bear cub. Megan probably wanted to put a bow tie on it and sell it as Boo Boo. Really? Huh. You’re probably right, although I don’t think I ever would have landed on bear cub. I’m still going to keep a side bet on pig weasel, just in case. Another guess would be a wild pig or a boar, I’d need a better look at it. Whatever it is, it’s creepy and doesn’t say ‘antique shop’ for me. They must have bought it because they got outbid on the two-headed calf. What they need are some china-head dolls that are showing teeth, with those eyes that seem to follow you. (There’s a theory that antique dolls are mostly unsettling because the ‘nice’ dolls got played with and broken through the years, so only the weird ones survived. Of course that theory ignores all the ‘Night Gallery’ evidence.) I like the insights into Carolyn’s psychology in this episode. She hangs up the phone after selling the cradle and thinks “You see Carolyn? There is someone for everything,” and later complains that the Todds probably think she’s just a rich girl hanging around their shop while they have important things to do (of course they’re really just distracted over the impending arrival of a Leviathan baby because, after all, this is Dark Shadows). I also get the feeling that the Todds are the first happy couple she’s seen in her life and she enjoys being around them simply for that reason. Garry Davis says: When she picked up the pink feather boa at the antique shop and had it on Maggie should have started singing “I’m gonna dance for you. Gonna dance your cares away. I’ll do the hootchie-coo. And the Ta-ra-boom-de-ay.” The cradle is straight out of “Rosemary’s Baby”. And that old book would not fit inside that box – no way. Leave a Reply to Coda Cancel reply

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Your access to the website is subject to our Terms Of Use . © 2000-2021 1Eighty Labs Inc. d/b/a/ CompleteCase.com, All Rights Reserved Online divorce in the News Web site offers point-and-click splits By Deborah Sharp, USA TODAY Couples can find a mate, fill out a bridal registry and plan a honeymoon on the computer. Now they can also divorce online. A Web site started last year by a Seattle attorney gives the unhappily wed in Washington, California, Florida and New York the option of dissolving their marriages online. Texas is next, and several other states are being considered. The site is the latest twist in a do-it-yourself trend. Changing trends in the USA Average age of first marriage Divorce year male female Divorced Americans Divorces granted 1970 23.2 20.8 4.3 million 0.7 million 2000 26.8 25.1 19.9 million 1.2 million Sources: U.S. Census; National Center for Health Statistics No national figures exist on self-representation. But some experts estimate that as many as half of 1.2 million couples divorcing annually in the USA do so without a lawyer representing at least one of the parties. The Web site, www.completecase.com, differs from the many self-help sites offering advice, referrals or downloads of documents needed to file for divorce in a particular state. For $249, the Web site prompts couples with questions on everything from dividing financial assets to deciding where the kids celebrate birthdays. The software then uses their answers to fill out the documents that a couple can download and submit to a court. Requirements vary by locale as to whether a couple must show up in court or can mail in or fax their divorce filing. But in all cases, a judge must still sign the order ending a marriage. Randy Finney, a family law attorney for 11 years and the founder of the Web site, says it was designed for uncontested divorces. It's not for couples with convoluted finances or for those fighting over child custody and who gets the dog. "The decision to get a divorce comes way before the decision about how to get a divorce," says Finney, 35, who is happily married. "I don't think anyone takes their wedding vows so frivolously that they're going to get a divorce just because they can do it for $249." Not everyone is thrilled with the notion of cyber-divorce. Judges and lawyers fret that couples who use the Web site may believe they've had legal counsel when they haven't. And leaders in the movement to save marriages complain that point-and-click divorce further undermines the institution's supposed sanctity. "I can only think of one use of the Internet that's worse and that's pornography," says Dennis Rainey, executive director of FamilyLife, a religious group based in Little Rock. "We're trying to do all we can to call people to keep their wedding vows." FamilyLife has joined with 30 other organizations since 1999 in drawing 175,000 spouses nationwide to "I Still Do" ceremonies that affirm marriage. Despite the marriage celebrations, about one-fifth of American men and women have been divorced at least once. A study released last month by the U.S. Census shows about 90% of Americans will marry at some point. For men, 54% married just once. For women, 60%. Serial marriage is rare: Only 3% of Americans have married three times or more; 13% have married twice. Finney estimates his Web site has helped 1,000 couples unhitch. Stacey Kiss of Seattle is among those who traveled to virtual Splitsville. The self-described "Internet junkie" says it took her and her husband of seven years about three hours one night to click through the Web site's detailed questions. "We never got along on anything through our entire marriage, but we still managed to come to an agreement," says Kiss, 36, a hospital business-services manager. "Why drag it out and make it complicated?" She says the online split was cheaper and easier than her first, traditional divorce. Now single, Kiss says she's comfortable with dot-com divorce, but she draws the line at cyber-dating. "I like surfing the Web," she says, "but not for men." Express Divorce Ernesto Gomez and his wife Blanca had been planning to get a divorce for three years. They had already separated and worked out custody and child support for their two kids. But they had stalled on filing because they didn't want to deal with the hassle and expense. Hiring a lawyer, they were told, would cost at least $1,500. Using a free service offered by the court would involve numerous meetings spread out over several weeks. So when Gomez heard an ad on the radio for a service called CompleteCase.com that would let him fill out the paperwork online for just $249, he decided to give it a try. Four days after he logged onto the site, he had the papers completed and filed in court. "CompleteCase gives you step-by-step instructions. You can't miss anything," says Gomez, a distribution-center manager in Miami. Gomez is not the only one turning to the Internet to simplify the process. Other services, like divorcewizards. com and divorcesyourself.com also offer quickie online divorce kits, usually for $300 or less. No lawyer is involved unless a client chooses to pay extra for a consultation by phone or e-mail. Brian Lee, president of legalzoom.com says his site has handled more than 30,000 divorces since its launch in 2001. Though people still have to convey their forms to the court, the process of filling out the paperwork can take less than an hour, thanks to simple online questionnaires that hand-hold customers through the process. Online divorce is not an option if the couple can't agree on the terms. Even when they can, not everyone thinks it's a good idea. "Instant divorce is the last thing we need," says Mike McManus, president of the marriage advocacy group Marriage Savers. Instead of a divorce, McManus says, couples often just need time to cool off before working out their differences. Still, such services are spreading. Utah and California offer do-it-yourself sites that let you fill the forms out online (for $20 at utcourts.gov/how to; free at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp) Traffic on the California site rose from 6,800 page views in May 2002 to nearly 17,000 in May 2003. --By Anita Hamilton Couples Can Untie the Knot Online; Divorce is a mouse click away, but not for everyone. The Los Angeles Times; Los Angeles, Calif.; Nov 19, 2001; MARTIN MILLER; Abstract: Californians can legally split from their spouses over the Web site www.completecase.com and never have to set foot in a courthouse or lawyer's office. Legal papers can be completed within anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the complexity of the split, according to Randolph Finney, a Seattle-based family law attorney who founded the site. For Californians, once the judge signs the documents, they are "legally binding and enforceable," says Finney, but per state law the divorce doesn't become finalized for six months. Full Text: (Copyright, The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times 2001 All rights reserved) The circle of online life is now complete. You can date online; you can marry online; and now you can divorce online. Californians can legally split from their spouses over the Web site www.completecase.com and never have to set foot in a courthouse or lawyer's office. Legal papers can be completed within anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the complexity of the split, according to Randolph Finney, a Seattle-based family law attorney who founded the site. For a flat fee of $249, the site walks divorcing couples step-by- step through such issues as community property and calculating child support payments. When the online form is completed, the applicant simply signs the papers and mails them to the courthouse. But it's not for everyone. It works only for those couples who are parting amicably and filing for an uncontested divorce. "If you can't agree on who gets the kids, our site is not for you," says Finney, a married 35-year-old. The site debuted earlier this year, but only to residents of Washington state. Last month, California was added, and soon Florida, New York and Oregon are expected to be added. So far, the site has helped process hundreds of divorces, says Finney. The site has drawn critics who denounce the online divorce as yet another blow to society's bedrock institutions. The very ease of the process, some contend, makes family and marriage as disposable as an old appliance. Indeed, a similar site in England was recently condemned by the pope as immoral because it made divorce too easy. Naturally, Finney disagrees. "I think our Web site has the opposite effect," he said. "If you're going to get divorced, let's do it in a civil manner. I really don't believe having something available that makes it easier and costs less money is going to encourage divorce." The inspiration for the project came from his law practice, where he primarily handles divorces. It took about a year to get the site up and running. "On almost a daily basis, I would get clients who said they needed a divorce but didn't have the money or the patience with the legal process to pursue it," he said. "These people are really stuck between a rock and a hard place." For Californians, once the judge signs the documents, they are "legally binding and enforceable," says Finney, but per state law the divorce doesn't become finalized for six months. "It isn't quite as fast as a Las Vegas divorce," he says. KSLA News 12 Analysis: Louisiana among states with most amicable divorces By KSLA Staff, KSLA NEWS 12 It's generally assumed that once any couple has reached the stage of divorce, things have reached a low point. But thankfully, divorce doesn't always have to be a bitter situation. Some couples manage to part ways as friends. Many couples manage to part ways quite amicably; just look at the blissful ‘conscious uncoupling’ of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, or observe how Demi Moore and Bruce Willis holiday together with their new partners. There’s even a hot new trend for former husbands and wives to take ‘divorce selfies’ just after leaving court. A recent analysis by CompleteCase.com found which states have the happiest and easiest divorces by comparing couples in each state who declared online that they were in agreement with each other against those who were not. Louisiana came in the top ten when it comes to an easy, amicable divorce. According to CompleteCase, which facilitates online divorces, completing divorce papers in the Pelican State, as well as other states from Oregon to Rhode Island can be a pretty painless process as this is where couples are more likely to have an uncontested divorce. Couples in these states might even remain friends afterwards. Things are likely to be pleasantly cordial in states stretching across the nation from Hawaii to New York; there might be a few conversations through gritted teeth, or a little bit of sniping back and forth, but generally divorcing couples in these states can politely get through it all without too many recriminations. However, if you live in Alabama, you’re not likely to have a quick or easy divorce; relationships which break down here can be the most disagreeable in the country when starting the divorce process. From bitter disputes over who owns what, to raging arguments over alimony, lawyers in the Yellowhammer state stand to do rather well. Blake Shelton Opens Up About 'Fast' Divorce From Miranda Lambert By Deborah Sharp, HUFFINGTON POST Country music star Blake Shelton has finally addressed why his split from Miranda Lambert seemed so quick. The two announced their divorce on Jul. 20, but according to US Weekly, it was finalized just hours after it was made public. Shelton had filed divorce papers two weeks earlier, TMZ reports. In a recent interview with "The Bobby Bones Show," Shelton shared how he kept their breakup quiet. "In Oklahoma, it happens so fast," said Shelton. "Like, Miranda and I didn't have any kids, and we had a prenuptial agreement, or whatever we had. So, it was like once we filed for divorce… it was like a nine or 10-day waiting period until it's over.” He said that he was not too worried about rumours, or whispers about infidelity. “By the time anyone knew anything, it was over.” The superstar couple were married for four years and famously met in 2005 while Shelton was still married to first wife Kaynette Gern. "I didn't know if it was just initial butterflies… I don't know what it was," Lambert told Hoba Kotb in 2011, about when she first met Shelton. "It was just this draw to each other." But while those butterflies may have faded for the couple, their speedy divorce may have helped them avoid any further drama. Oklahoma came in second in a ranking of states with the nicest divorces, according to new research from divorce form preparation service CompleteCase.com. Shelton told "The Bobby Bones Show" that he and Lambert are still on good terms. "Our whole thing was: You know, we're just going to be cool about this," said Shelton. "It is what it is. We're buddies." “I just want everyone to be friends,” Little girl has a heart-to-heart with mom about divorce by KFOR-TV & K. QUERRY, NEWS CHANNEL 4 Divorce can be difficult on everyone involved, especially children. 6-year-old Tiana decided that she had seen enough of her parents’ arguments and fights following their divorce. Instead of bottling up her emotions, the little girl decided to have a heart-to-heart with her mother. “Mom, are you ready to be his friend?” Tiana asks. “Just try your best. I don’t want you and my dad to be replaced… and mean again. I want you and my dad to be placed, and settled, and be friends. I’m not trying to be mean, I just want everyone to be friends.” While divorce is usually full of emotions, it doesn’t have to be a bitter experience. An analysis by CompleteCase.com found which states have the most amicable divorces by looking at the number of couples who declared online that they were in agreement with each other. In fact, researchers say Oklahomans tend to be pretty easy going when it comes to getting a divorce. Experts say people with the easiest divorces live in Vermont, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Oregon, Kansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Delaware, Ohio and Texas. The worst divorces tend to happen in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New Hampshire, Florida, Wyoming, Nebraska and Tennessee. I am so glad that I found completecase.com! It's great to have an option like this when dealing with an amicable, uncomplicated divorce - no need for attorneys when there's nothing to hash out. Andrea, Texas The customer service people were very nice and they made a tough time a little easier. They saved me a lot of money and the forms were perfect. I've told several co workers about this service. 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/** * @mainpage Bullet Documentation * * @section intro_sec Introduction * Bullet is a Collision Detection and Rigid Body Dynamics Library. The Library is Open Source and free for commercial use, under the ZLib license ( http://opensource.org/licenses/zlib-license.php ). * * The main documentation is Bullet_User_Manual.pdf, included in the source code distribution. * There is the Physics Forum for feedback and general Collision Detection and Physics discussions. * Please visit http://www.bulletphysics.org * * @section install_sec Installation * * @subsection step1 Step 1: Download * You can download the Bullet Physics Library from the Google Code repository: http://code.google.com/p/bullet/downloads/list * * @subsection step2 Step 2: Building * Bullet has multiple build systems, including premake, cmake and autotools. Premake and cmake support all platforms. * Premake is included in the Bullet/build folder for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. * Under Windows you can click on Bullet/build/vs2010.bat to create Microsoft Visual Studio projects. * On Mac OSX and Linux you can open a terminal and generate Makefile, codeblocks or Xcode4 projects: * cd Bullet/build * ./premake4_osx gmake or ./premake4_linux gmake or ./premake4_linux64 gmake or (for Mac) ./premake4_osx xcode4 * cd Bullet/build/gmake * make * * An alternative to premake is cmake. You can download cmake from http://www.cmake.org * cmake can autogenerate projectfiles for Microsoft Visual Studio, Apple Xcode, KDevelop and Unix Makefiles. * The easiest is to run the CMake cmake-gui graphical user interface and choose the options and generate projectfiles. * You can also use cmake in the command-line. Here are some examples for various platforms: * cmake . -G "Visual Studio 9 2008" * cmake . -G Xcode * cmake . -G "Unix Makefiles" * Although cmake is recommended, you can also use autotools for UNIX: ./autogen.sh ./configure to create a Makefile and then run make. * * @subsection step3 Step 3: Testing demos * Try to run and experiment with BasicDemo executable as a starting point. * Bullet can be used in several ways, as Full Rigid Body simulation, as Collision Detector Library or Low Level / Snippets like the GJK Closest Point calculation. * The Dependencies can be seen in this documentation under Directories * * @subsection step4 Step 4: Integrating in your application, full Rigid Body and Soft Body simulation * Check out BasicDemo how to create a btDynamicsWorld, btRigidBody and btCollisionShape, Stepping the simulation and synchronizing your graphics object transform. * Check out SoftDemo how to use soft body dynamics, using btSoftRigidDynamicsWorld. * @subsection step5 Step 5 : Integrate the Collision Detection Library (without Dynamics and other Extras) * Bullet Collision Detection can also be used without the Dynamics/Extras. * Check out btCollisionWorld and btCollisionObject, and the CollisionInterfaceDemo. * @subsection step6 Step 6 : Use Snippets like the GJK Closest Point calculation. * Bullet has been designed in a modular way keeping dependencies to a minimum. The ConvexHullDistance demo demonstrates direct use of btGjkPairDetector. * * @section copyright Copyright * For up-to-data information and copyright and contributors list check out the Bullet_User_Manual.pdf * */ #ifndef BT_COLLISION_WORLD_H #define BT_COLLISION_WORLD_H class btCollisionShape; class btConvexShape; class btBroadphaseInterface; class btSerializer; #include "LinearMath/btVector3.h" #include "LinearMath/btTransform.h" #include "btCollisionObject.h" #include "btCollisionDispatcher.h" #include "BulletCollision/BroadphaseCollision/btOverlappingPairCache.h" #include "LinearMath/btAlignedObjectArray.h" ///CollisionWorld is interface and container for the collision detection class btCollisionWorld { protected: btAlignedObjectArray<btCollisionObject*> m_collisionObjects; btDispatcher* m_dispatcher1; btDispatcherInfo m_dispatchInfo; btBroadphaseInterface* m_broadphasePairCache; btIDebugDraw* m_debugDrawer; ///m_forceUpdateAllAabbs can be set to false as an optimization to only update active object AABBs ///it is true by default, because it is error-prone (setting the position of static objects wouldn't update their AABB) bool m_forceUpdateAllAabbs; void serializeCollisionObjects(btSerializer* serializer); public: //this constructor doesn't own the dispatcher and paircache/broadphase btCollisionWorld(btDispatcher* dispatcher,btBroadphaseInterface* broadphasePairCache, btCollisionConfiguration* collisionConfiguration); virtual ~btCollisionWorld(); void setBroadphase(btBroadphaseInterface* pairCache) { m_broadphasePairCache = pairCache; } const btBroadphaseInterface* getBroadphase() const { return m_broadphasePairCache; } btBroadphaseInterface* getBroadphase() { return m_broadphasePairCache; } btOverlappingPairCache* getPairCache() { return m_broadphasePairCache->getOverlappingPairCache(); } btDispatcher* getDispatcher() { return m_dispatcher1; } const btDispatcher* getDispatcher() const { return m_dispatcher1; } void updateSingleAabb(btCollisionObject* colObj); virtual void updateAabbs(); ///the computeOverlappingPairs is usually already called by performDiscreteCollisionDetection (or stepSimulation) ///it can be useful to use if you perform ray tests without collision detection/simulation virtual void computeOverlappingPairs(); virtual void setDebugDrawer(btIDebugDraw* debugDrawer) { m_debugDrawer = debugDrawer; } virtual btIDebugDraw* getDebugDrawer() { return m_debugDrawer; } virtual void debugDrawWorld(); virtual void debugDrawObject(const btTransform& worldTransform, const btCollisionShape* shape, const btVector3& color); ///LocalShapeInfo gives extra information for complex shapes ///Currently, only btTriangleMeshShape is available, so it just contains triangleIndex and subpart struct LocalShapeInfo { int m_shapePart; int m_triangleIndex; //const btCollisionShape* m_shapeTemp; //const btTransform* m_shapeLocalTransform; }; struct LocalRayResult { LocalRayResult(const btCollisionObject* collisionObject, const btCollisionShape* collisionShape, const void * userData, LocalShapeInfo* localShapeInfo, const btVector3& hitNormalLocal, btScalar hitFraction) :m_collisionObject(collisionObject), m_collisionShape(collisionShape), m_userPointer(userData), m_localShapeInfo(localShapeInfo), m_hitNormalLocal(hitNormalLocal), m_hitFraction(hitFraction) { } const btCollisionObject* m_collisionObject; const btCollisionShape* m_collisionShape; const void * m_userPointer; LocalShapeInfo* m_localShapeInfo; btVector3 m_hitNormalLocal; btScalar m_hitFraction; }; ///RayResultCallback is used to report new raycast results struct RayResultCallback { btScalar m_closestHitFraction; const btCollisionObject* m_collisionObject; short int m_collisionFilterGroup; short int m_collisionFilterMask; //@BP Mod - Custom flags, currently used to enable backface culling on tri-meshes, see btRaycastCallback.h. Apply any of the EFlags defined there on m_flags here to invoke. unsigned int m_flags; virtual ~RayResultCallback() { } bool hasHit() const { return (m_collisionObject != 0); } RayResultCallback() :m_closestHitFraction(btScalar(1.)), m_collisionObject(0), m_collisionFilterGroup(btBroadphaseProxy::DefaultFilter), m_collisionFilterMask(btBroadphaseProxy::AllFilter), //@BP Mod m_flags(0) { } virtual bool needsCollision(btBroadphaseProxy* proxy0) const { bool collides = (proxy0->m_collisionFilterGroup & m_collisionFilterMask) != 0; collides = collides && (m_collisionFilterGroup & proxy0->m_collisionFilterMask); return collides; } virtual btScalar addSingleResult(LocalRayResult& rayResult,bool normalInWorldSpace) = 0; }; struct ClosestRayResultCallback : public RayResultCallback { ClosestRayResultCallback(const btVector3& rayFromWorld,const btVector3& rayToWorld) :m_rayFromWorld(rayFromWorld), m_rayToWorld(rayToWorld) { } btVector3 m_rayFromWorld;//used to calculate hitPointWorld from hitFraction btVector3 m_rayToWorld; btVector3 m_hitNormalWorld; btVector3 m_hitPointWorld; virtual btScalar addSingleResult(LocalRayResult& rayResult,bool normalInWorldSpace) { //caller already does the filter on the m_closestHitFraction btAssert(rayResult.m_hitFraction <= m_closestHitFraction); m_closestHitFraction = rayResult.m_hitFraction; m_collisionObject = rayResult.m_collisionObject; if (normalInWorldSpace) { m_hitNormalWorld = rayResult.m_hitNormalLocal; } else { ///need to transform normal into worldspace m_hitNormalWorld = m_collisionObject->getWorldTransform().getBasis()*rayResult.m_hitNormalLocal; } m_hitPointWorld.setInterpolate3(m_rayFromWorld,m_rayToWorld,rayResult.m_hitFraction); return rayResult.m_hitFraction; } }; struct AllHitsRayResultCallback : public RayResultCallback { AllHitsRayResultCallback(const btVector3& rayFromWorld,const btVector3& rayToWorld) :m_rayFromWorld(rayFromWorld), m_rayToWorld(rayToWorld) { } btAlignedObjectArray<const btCollisionObject*> m_collisionObjects; btVector3 m_rayFromWorld;//used to calculate hitPointWorld from hitFraction btVector3 m_rayToWorld; btAlignedObjectArray<btVector3> m_hitNormalWorld; btAlignedObjectArray<btVector3> m_hitPointWorld; btAlignedObjectArray<btScalar> m_hitFractions; virtual btScalar addSingleResult(LocalRayResult& rayResult,bool normalInWorldSpace) { m_collisionObject = rayResult.m_collisionObject; m_collisionObjects.push_back(rayResult.m_collisionObject); btVector3 hitNormalWorld; if (normalInWorldSpace) { hitNormalWorld = rayResult.m_hitNormalLocal; } else { ///need to transform normal into worldspace hitNormalWorld = m_collisionObject->getWorldTransform().getBasis()*rayResult.m_hitNormalLocal; } m_hitNormalWorld.push_back(hitNormalWorld); btVector3 hitPointWorld; hitPointWorld.setInterpolate3(m_rayFromWorld,m_rayToWorld,rayResult.m_hitFraction); m_hitPointWorld.push_back(hitPointWorld); m_hitFractions.push_back(rayResult.m_hitFraction); return m_closestHitFraction; } }; struct LocalConvexResult { LocalConvexResult(const btCollisionObject* hitCollisionObject, const btCollisionShape* hitCollisionShape, LocalShapeInfo* localShapeInfo, const btVector3& hitNormalLocal, const btVector3& hitPointLocal, btScalar hitFraction, const void* userPointer ) :m_hitCollisionObject(hitCollisionObject), m_hitCollisionShape(hitCollisionShape), m_localShapeInfo(localShapeInfo), m_hitNormalLocal(hitNormalLocal), m_hitPointLocal(hitPointLocal), m_hitFraction(hitFraction), m_userPointer(userPointer) { } const btCollisionObject* m_hitCollisionObject; const btCollisionShape* m_hitCollisionShape; LocalShapeInfo* m_localShapeInfo; btVector3 m_hitNormalLocal; btVector3 m_hitPointLocal; btScalar m_hitFraction; const void* m_userPointer; }; ///RayResultCallback is used to report new raycast results struct ConvexResultCallback { btScalar m_closestHitFraction; short int m_collisionFilterGroup; short int m_collisionFilterMask; ConvexResultCallback() :m_closestHitFraction(btScalar(1.)), m_collisionFilterGroup(btBroadphaseProxy::DefaultFilter), m_collisionFilterMask(btBroadphaseProxy::AllFilter) { } virtual ~ConvexResultCallback() { } bool hasHit() const { return (m_closestHitFraction < btScalar(1.)); } virtual bool needsCollision(btBroadphaseProxy* proxy0) const { bool collides = (proxy0->m_collisionFilterGroup & m_collisionFilterMask) != 0; collides = collides && (m_collisionFilterGroup & proxy0->m_collisionFilterMask); return collides; } virtual btScalar addSingleResult(LocalConvexResult& convexResult,bool normalInWorldSpace) = 0; }; struct ClosestConvexResultCallback : public ConvexResultCallback { ClosestConvexResultCallback(const btVector3& convexFromWorld,const btVector3& convexToWorld) :m_convexFromWorld(convexFromWorld), m_convexToWorld(convexToWorld), m_hitCollisionObject(0) { } btVector3 m_convexFromWorld;//used to calculate hitPointWorld from hitFraction btVector3 m_convexToWorld; btVector3 m_hitNormalWorld; btVector3 m_hitPointWorld; const btCollisionObject* m_hitCollisionObject; virtual btScalar addSingleResult(LocalConvexResult& convexResult,bool normalInWorldSpace) { //caller already does the filter on the m_closestHitFraction btAssert(convexResult.m_hitFraction <= m_closestHitFraction); m_closestHitFraction = convexResult.m_hitFraction; m_hitCollisionObject = convexResult.m_hitCollisionObject; if (normalInWorldSpace) { m_hitNormalWorld = convexResult.m_hitNormalLocal; } else { ///need to transform normal into worldspace m_hitNormalWorld = m_hitCollisionObject->getWorldTransform().getBasis()*convexResult.m_hitNormalLocal; } m_hitPointWorld = convexResult.m_hitPointLocal; return convexResult.m_hitFraction; } }; ///ContactResultCallback is used to report contact points struct ContactResultCallback { short int m_collisionFilterGroup; short int m_collisionFilterMask; ContactResultCallback() :m_collisionFilterGroup(btBroadphaseProxy::DefaultFilter), m_collisionFilterMask(btBroadphaseProxy::AllFilter) { } virtual ~ContactResultCallback() { } virtual bool needsCollision(btBroadphaseProxy* proxy0) const { bool collides = (proxy0->m_collisionFilterGroup & m_collisionFilterMask) != 0; collides = collides && (m_collisionFilterGroup & proxy0->m_collisionFilterMask); return collides; } virtual btScalar addSingleResult(btManifoldPoint& cp, const btCollisionObjectWrapper* colObj0Wrap,int partId0,int index0,const btCollisionObjectWrapper* colObj1Wrap,int partId1,int index1) = 0; }; int getNumCollisionObjects() const { return int(m_collisionObjects.size()); } /// rayTest performs a raycast on all objects in the btCollisionWorld, and calls the resultCallback /// This allows for several queries: first hit, all hits, any hit, dependent on the value returned by the callback. virtual void rayTest(const btVector3& rayFromWorld, const btVector3& rayToWorld, RayResultCallback& resultCallback) const; /// convexTest performs a swept convex cast on all objects in the btCollisionWorld, and calls the resultCallback /// This allows for several queries: first hit, all hits, any hit, dependent on the value return by the callback. void convexSweepTest (const btConvexShape* castShape, const btTransform& from, const btTransform& to, ConvexResultCallback& resultCallback, btScalar allowedCcdPenetration = btScalar(0.)) const; ///contactTest performs a discrete collision test between colObj against all objects in the btCollisionWorld, and calls the resultCallback. ///it reports one or more contact points for every overlapping object (including the one with deepest penetration) void contactTest(btCollisionObject* colObj, ContactResultCallback& resultCallback); ///contactTest performs a discrete collision test between two collision objects and calls the resultCallback if overlap if detected. ///it reports one or more contact points (including the one with deepest penetration) void contactPairTest(btCollisionObject* colObjA, btCollisionObject* colObjB, ContactResultCallback& resultCallback); /// rayTestSingle performs a raycast call and calls the resultCallback. It is used internally by rayTest. /// In a future implementation, we consider moving the ray test as a virtual method in btCollisionShape. /// This allows more customization. static void rayTestSingle(const btTransform& rayFromTrans,const btTransform& rayToTrans, btCollisionObject* collisionObject, const btCollisionShape* collisionShape, const btTransform& colObjWorldTransform, RayResultCallback& resultCallback); static void rayTestSingleInternal(const btTransform& rayFromTrans,const btTransform& rayToTrans, const btCollisionObjectWrapper* collisionObjectWrap, RayResultCallback& resultCallback); /// objectQuerySingle performs a collision detection query and calls the resultCallback. It is used internally by rayTest. static void objectQuerySingle(const btConvexShape* castShape, const btTransform& rayFromTrans,const btTransform& rayToTrans, btCollisionObject* collisionObject, const btCollisionShape* collisionShape, const btTransform& colObjWorldTransform, ConvexResultCallback& resultCallback, btScalar allowedPenetration); static void objectQuerySingleInternal(const btConvexShape* castShape,const btTransform& convexFromTrans,const btTransform& convexToTrans, const btCollisionObjectWrapper* colObjWrap, ConvexResultCallback& resultCallback, btScalar allowedPenetration); virtual void addCollisionObject(btCollisionObject* collisionObject,short int collisionFilterGroup=btBroadphaseProxy::DefaultFilter,short int collisionFilterMask=btBroadphaseProxy::AllFilter); btCollisionObjectArray& getCollisionObjectArray() { return m_collisionObjects; } const btCollisionObjectArray& getCollisionObjectArray() const { return m_collisionObjects; } virtual void removeCollisionObject(btCollisionObject* collisionObject); virtual void performDiscreteCollisionDetection(); btDispatcherInfo& getDispatchInfo() { return m_dispatchInfo; } const btDispatcherInfo& getDispatchInfo() const { return m_dispatchInfo; } bool getForceUpdateAllAabbs() const { return m_forceUpdateAllAabbs; } void setForceUpdateAllAabbs( bool forceUpdateAllAabbs) { m_forceUpdateAllAabbs = forceUpdateAllAabbs; } ///Preliminary serialization test for Bullet 2.76. Loading those files requires a separate parser (Bullet/Demos/SerializeDemo) virtual void serialize(btSerializer* serializer); }; #endif //BT_COLLISION_WORLD_H

Organic and Inorganic Internationalisation: Insights From Dr Reddy’s Labs Past Issues Strategy Jul-Sep 2013 Cover Story Raveendra Chittoor , G V Prasad in Past Issues, Strategy, Jul-Sep 2013, Cover Story Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) was promoted in 1984 by Anji Reddy, a pioneering scientist-entrepreneur, as a manufacturer of bulk drugs or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Over the last three decades, DRL has emerged as an integrated global pharmaceutical company offering a wide range of products including APIs, generics, biosimilars, and differentiated formulations. Nearly 80% of the company’s revenues are derived from overseas markets that include the United States (US), Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Europe, apart from other select geographies within emerging markets. G V Prasad is current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DRL and is widely considered the architect of the company’s successful global generics and API strategies. Following are select excerpts from a conversation on DRL’s organic and inorganic internationalisation strategy that he had with Professor Raveendra Chittoor of ISB. Before looking specifically at DRL’s journey, it is worth noticing the tremendous internationalisation of many Indian companies in the last decade or so. What do you think are the triggers for this rather sudden change? You say a lot is happening but I feel not enough is. We in India are in the early stages of this journey, so we are seeing a lot of activity. But honestly speaking, I think we are in the very early phases of globalisation. We have very few products which are global brands today. Of course, there are company brands in information technology (IT) services etc. But fundamentally, we are exporting commodities, and we have really not established our innovation capabilities in the world. Having said that, let me answer your question about why companies are going increasingly international. India was a closed market for many years. Just getting an industrial license was a huge process until the 1990s. Even now, doing business in India is very, very tough. We are ranked abysmally low in terms of the ease of doing business. Competing in a market like India really builds muscle. When a company is successful in India against all the odds, I think it is able to compete in very adverse circumstances. So it has a natural advantage when it goes international and competes in more favourable regimes. Successful companies in India are taking this strong in-built competitive advantage to the world today and finding better markets. Companies internationalise for different reasons. One is, of course, growth. It makes sense to market your product everywhere that you can. And access to customers and markets is one important element of globalisation. I think for the IT industry, the markets are in the West and they are seeing this huge labour – intensive work shifting to Asia – India and China. When a company is successful in India against all the odds, I think it is able to compete in very adverse circumstances. So it has a natural advantage when it goes international and competes in more favourable regimes. The other reason why we are going international is to access technologies, capabilities and infrastructure. In fact, we bought a factory in the US. We are shifting manufacturing from India to the US, and it is working quite well for us. So I think each industry, each sector is going international for different reasons. Can you describe the internationalisation process of your own company? Today DRL is a US$ 2.5 billion company. But it started in 1984 as an active ingredients manufacturer of what we call bulk drugs. The founder, Dr Reddy, was a chemical technologist experienced in the public sector unit of Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. From there, he emerged and started several entrepreneurial ventures and ultimately ended up with DRL. Sometimes, instability offers you an advantage. Venezuela today is a great market for us in a counter- intuitive way. A lot of western companies have moved out, creating a vacuum. Those were the days when India had import tariffs upwards of 100%. And people who could develop technologies and manufacture products could make good money. But with competition, companies had to look for growth internationally. So just after three or four years of our existence, we started exporting — first to traders. The pharmaceutical trade was centred around Hamburg. Then you had Switzerland and Spain as trading centres. These were places where traders used to import from India and then redistribute around the world. That is how the Indian pharmaceutical industry started its internationalisation journey. This happened in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Then, we started realising that these trading companies were really exploiting the information asymmetry. As we were looking at creating greater value for our companies, we started going directly to customers internationally. Today it all sounds very archaic – going to customers sounds like something we should have done in the first place. But in those days, it was pioneering to go international when we had limitations on everything, including the foreign exchange that we could draw. So the first step of internationalisation was primarily going and meeting customers. Then from there, we moved on to opening representative offices in key geographies, such as the US, Europe, Russia and so on. Along the way, we moved up the chain from pharmaceutical ingredients to finished dosages. India and Russia had a lot of very strong defence links and there was always this Rupee-Ruble counter trade. We always had a Ruble surplus because we used to buy a lot from the erstwhile Soviet Union. They also bought many goods from India – largely commodities such as coffee, tea, cigarettes, rice etc. Drugs and pharmaceuticals were then added to the list and Russia became a big market for Indian pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, the generics industry started growing in the US and they started sourcing products globally, active ingredients from India, China and other countries. The Soviet Union collapsed and moved to a free market economy. We started our internationalisation journey in the decade of 1990s, by setting up representative offices. Then slowly we moved up the value chain by beginning to acquiring internationally. I think we made our first international acquisition in the year 2002. This was a small company in the United Kingdom (UK). We did it to really get a foothold in the UK market, using this small acquisition as a base. After that, we started a series of acquisitions. We went and acquired a site in Mexico from Roche, and then we acquired a site in the US BASF. We acquired Betapharm, a big German generic company. We acquired the Dow Chemicals facility in the UK. It includes a research facility in Cambridge and a manufacturing facility near Manchester. Most recently, we announced a technology capability acquisition in the Netherlands called OctoPlus. Overall, this has been our globalisation journey. Initially, we started by exporting products. Then we moved to opening our own offices worldwide. After that is when we began our inorganic growth and commenced creation of global sales-forces. How do you decide which markets to enter? We look at markets which are attractive from an ease of entry perspective and at our own ability to compete. For example, the transparency of the regulation, the orderliness of the trade, the size of the market — all these make the US the most attractive market in the world. The US was a natural choice. Russia became very attractive to us for specific reasons. It was on the cusp of political turmoil and change as Gorbachev arrived on the scene and unrolled Glasnost and perestroika. A centralised economy was transforming itself to a market-driven one; we just rode the wave. Today it is a very, very attractive market for us, and we have a very strong brand presence in Russia. South Africa is another good example. It was another country in transition; we were there quickly after the transition. As the economy opened up, we participated in that. So ease of entry and our ability to make a difference are important factors, in addition to our ability to compete and the attractiveness and size of the opportunity. For example Indonesia is a very large market but there is no opportunity for us to make a big difference there. The local industry is well entrenched. So we did not enter Indonesia. We actually learnt our lessons as we started internationalising. In the first few years, we went haywire and went to about 40 countries. The complexity of serving so many markets became over whelming. Then we rationalised our international presence. We sharpened our attention on five main markets and ten secondary markets. That brought in a lot more focus and simplicity to our strategy and it has been working very well for us. Internally, we have decided that we will not be very broad-based in our product offering. We will remain narrow and target products with a high degree of scientific complexity. Largely, we are the first or the second to get into a segment, but not the tenth. There are a lot of generic firms, Indian as well as the rest, competing hard for global markets. How do you cope with this competition? We differentiate ourselves in the global market in two ways: basically through the choice of customers and the choice of products. We have customers of two kinds. One is the business-to-business (B2B) kind of customer – the distributors. Then we have the end- users as customers in the branded markets. In Russia, we go directly to the customer. In the US, it is B2B. In the B2B markets, we select customers who are long term in nature and who require a very high level of service. We avoid transactional customers, the ones who come only for price. In the branded markets, we choose therapeutic areas (TAs) where we can make a difference. So we select a subset of doctors in our TAs and we make a customer choice. We also make product choices. Internally, we have decided that we will not be very broad-based in our product offering. We will remain narrow and target products with a high degree of scientific complexity. So we tend to be in product markets where there are not many companies participating. Largely, we are the first or the second to get into a segment, but not the tenth. When it comes to actual mode of entry into different markets, you have adopted various approaches – exports, acquisitions and greenfield entry. How do you choose the appropriate entry mode, particularly acquisitions? The one big acquisition that we did for market entry was the acquisition of Betapharm in Germany. Everywhere else, we first established an organic presence or established a partnership and learnt more about the market before making an acquisition. The big bang acquisition in Germany was, in retrospect, a mistake. We acquired a company as an entry strategy without understanding the local markets and without fully understanding how the legislation was evolving. But now we very clearly know that we won’t acquire a company before we understand the market in great depth. So we invest in learning about the market, either through an organic presence or through a partnership. We build enough knowledge and only then, will we make our inorganic move. We plan to have direct presence in Tier I markets, and would be willing to invest in inorganic growth after learning about the market well enough. We will either work directly or through local relationships in Tier II markets. Then there is another group of markets where we are not present directly but we have partnerships. For example, we have a very broad partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. GlaxoSmithKline has the critical mass in many, many markets where we don’t have a presence and we probably never will. We are leveraging their presence by distributing our products with them. Acquisitions are very, very risky. The execution risk in acquisitions is much higher than in organic growth because there are very few factors that you can control once an acquisition is made. What in your view is the right way to do acquisitions? I am asking this question because acquisitions by many companies have been found to destroy value. Acquisitions are very, very risky. The execution risk in acquisitions is much higher than in organic growth because there are very few factors that you can control once an acquisition is made. First, I think the company should be very clear about why it is acquiring at all. Today, we spend a lot of time writing down the hypothesis for the acquisition and the rationale for it, without get carried away by the size. Acquiring for size is a stupid approach, according to me. I think you need to acquire only when you can take the asset and create much greater value than before. Two plus two can become six or seven if you have a very strong strategic rationale and approach for what you will do with the acquisition. I think our approach to acquisitions has changed post-Betapharm. We do a lot more thinking about why we should acquire, what we should acquire and then we go ahead and search for targets. Also we are clear and better prepared to react when an acquisition opportunity comes along. What I now say applies only to DRL and may not be applicable to other companies. We have done a series of acquisitions and every acquisition has added value for us, except Betapharm. The first acquisition in the UK was a very small acquisition, but it helped us to get a foothold in the UK market. In Mexico, we acquired an API company, which was an unloved asset. This asset used to belong to Roche to manufacture products whose patents had run out. They were just running it to maintain employment. So we got the facility for a song. We bought it for a quarter of what would have taken us a hundred million dollars to build. It was counter- intuitive to produce APIs in Mexico, so nobody bid for it. With this asset, we got huge capability, infrastructure and a portfolio of global customers. This whole acquisition paid for itself in six months and was a great success. Then we acquired a facility in the US from BASF, again an unloved asset. We wanted North American infrastructure to serve our customers better through proximity. Some customers were saying that they would like us to have local facilities to assure supply from a North American source. And so it fit into our business model very well and as a result of it, we got a lot of new business from existing customers. We acquired a technology centre in Cambridge, UK. This was a capability building acquisition. It constituted a portfolio of technologies, a group of scientists and a location that was a magnet for scientific talent. We have now made it a Centre for Excellence for DRL. We acquired Betapharm as we wanted to be a leading player in the European generic space. Betapharm was the fourth largest generic player in the German market, which was a branded market and also the largest generic market in Europe before it turned. After we acquired the company, the market started changing from being a branded market to a tender-driven, commodity market. We got caught in the downward spiral. Recently we acquired OctoPlus, which is a boutique pharmaceutical development house, located in Leiden outside Amsterdam. Leiden is a biotech hub. This acquisition is similar to the Cambridge one, for research and development (R&D) capability in the finished dosage space. If the Cambridge facility was in chemistry, OctoPlus was in drug delivery. We are creating a global network of R&D centres; we will leverage local talent and technologies to create unique products. This is our thinking today, acquiring for capability building. We are flexible about managing people, culture and so on. In some cases, we don’t integrate. We let them have their own culture because it is very valuable and we want to preserve that. This is especially true in the R&D acquisitions Thank you, that was very insightful. Do you have a standard process for post-acquisition integration, which is considered to have significant bearing on the value created by an acquisition? We standardise certain aspects but we don’t codify everything. For example, we have a strong process for integrating IT systems. We integrate the financial governance. As we are a US listed company, we are bound by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and we are very careful about compliances and corporate governance. These aspects are standard. We just get them done quickly, within a week. But we are flexible about managing people, culture and so on. In some cases, we integrate completely because it is important. In some cases, we don’t integrate. We let them have their own culture because it is very valuable and we want to preserve that. This is especially true in the R&D acquisitions where we want to preserve the work culture, the scientific temperament and the talent we have acquired. We draw people from various disciplines and put together a cross-functional team to integrate. We decide what to integrate and what not to integrate on a case-to-case basis. In fact, even before we make the bid, we decide how we will integrate. So when we have created the rationale for the acquisition and the hypothesis for value creation, we know exactly what we will do post- acquisition – whether we will go in and take costs out or go in and expand the group – and who will be responsible for integration etc. How do you address and prepare for the challenge of multiple cultures involved in internationalisation? We do have a large number of people with global experience today. This used to be a problem, but we consciously upgraded our managerial capabilities. Today, I think many members of our senior management understand global cultures. If an Indian company wants to become truly global, do you think a different, global mindset is needed in the leadership team? I will not call it “truly global” or Indian. But I think we have to be excellent at what we are doing. We have to be at the top of our game. And often times, this is a challenge. We are serving some of the top markets of the world where quality needs are higher than Six Sigma. your products need to be world class in every aspect. The biggest risk for Indian companies is the propensity to take a short cut and do something as an expedient, as opposed to working on the cutting edge and world class. I think a commitment to excellence is, very important for an organisation today if you want to succeed at the global level or even in domestic markets for that matter. Raveendra Chittoor Professor Raveendra Chittoor is Associate Professor of Strategy and International Business & Canada Research Chair in Global Economy, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Canada. G V Prasad Co-Chairman & CEO, Dr. Reddy's.

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Rolling Stone Australia Send us tip / op-ed / video Top 50 Aus Artists Share onFacebook Share onTwitter Share onInstagram Share onYouTube Share onSubscribe to our Newsletters The best in culture from a cultural icon. Subscribe now for more from the authority on music, entertainment, politics and pop culture. Home Music Music Lists July 2, 2020 12:27PM The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time From funk masters to prog prodigies and beyond, we count down the players who have shaped our idea of the low-end theory By JONATHAN BERNSTEIN & DAVID BROWNE & JON DOLAN & BRENNA EHRLICH & DAVID FEAR & JON FREEMAN & ANDY GREENE & KORY GROW & ELIAS LEIGHT & ANGIE MARTOCCIO & JASON NEWMAN & ROB SHEFFIELD & HANK SHTEAMER & SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON We count down the 50 greatest bassists of all time, from string-popping virtuosos to steady session heroes. Photographs used in illustration by AP/Shutterstock; Joseph Okpako/WireImage; Elaine Thompson/AP/Shutterstock “The bass is the foundation,” session legend Carol Kaye once said, “and with the drummer you create the beat. Whatever you play puts a framework around the rest of the music.” A great bass line, whether it’s Paul McCartney’s hypnotic “Come Together” riff, Bootsy Collins’ sly vamp from James Brown’s “Sex Machine,” or Tina Weymouth’s minimal throb on Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” is like a mantra: It sounds like it could go on forever, and it only feels more profound the more you hear it. Guitarists, singers, and horn players tend to claim the flashiest moments in any given song, while drummers channel most of the kinetic energy, but what the bassist brings is something elemental — the part that loops endlessly in your head long after the music ends. Bassists are often overlooked and undervalued, even within their own bands. “It wasn’t the number-one job,” McCartney once said, reflecting on the fateful moment when he took over the four-string after Stu Sutcliffe exited the Beatles. “Nobody wanted to play bass, they wanted to be up front.” And yet the instrument has its own proud tradition in popular music, stretching from the mighty upright work of Jimmy Blanton in Duke Ellington’s orchestra and bebop pioneers like Oscar Pettiford to fellow jazz geniuses like Charles Mingus and Ron Carter; studio champs like Kaye and James Jamerson; rock warriors like Cream’s Jack Bruce and the Who’s John Entwistle; funk masters like Bootsy and Sly and the Family Stone’s Larry Graham; prog prodigies like Yes’ Chris Squire and Rush’s Geddy Lee; fusion gods like Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius; and punk and postpunk masters like Weymouth and the Minutemen’s Mike Watt. The alternative era brought new heroes on the instrument, from Sonic Youth’s intuitive Kim Gordon to Primus’ outlandish Les Claypool, and more recently, a fresh crop of bass icons — including Esperanza Spalding and the ubiquitous Thundercat — have placed the low end at the center of their musical universes. As with our 100 Greatest Drummers list, this rundown of the 50 greatest bassists of all time celebrates that entire spectrum. It’s emphatically not intended as a ranking of objective skill; nor does it assign any one set of criteria as a measure of greatness. Instead it’s an inventory of the bassists who have had the most direct and visible impact on creating, to borrow Kaye’s term, the very foundation of popular music — from rock to funk to country to R&B to disco to hip-hop, and beyond — during the past half-century or so. You’ll find obvious virtuosos here, but also musicians whose more minimal concept of their instrument’s role elevated everything that was going on around them. “You grab it, slide around on it, and feel it with your hands,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea once said of his signature instrument. “You slap, pull, thump, pluck, and pop, and you get yourself into this hypnotic state, if you’re lucky, beyond thought, where you’re not thinking because you’re just a conduit for this rhythm, from wherever it comes from, from God to you and this instrument, through a cord and a speaker.” Here we pay tribute to 50 musicians who have found that same exalted state via the bass, and changed the world in the process. Rich Fury/Getty Images Survey the sounds that have defined the vanguard of hip-hop, jazz, R&B, electronica, and beyond during the past decade-plus — including records made by Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monáe, Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, Erykah Badu, Childish Gambino, and more — and you’ll land on one name again and again: Thundercat. Born Stephen Bruner, the bassist grew up in a musical family and landed a gig early on with thrash-punk veterans Suicidal Tendencies. From there he’s evolved into a larger-than-life musical superhero: a staggeringly proficient player who combines a deep love of classic funk and fusion with influences ranging from yacht rock to nu-metal and neosoul. Whether in his own playfully eccentric songs or in one of his countless guest appearances, his signature six-string sound — fat and buttery, but with plenty of bite — always shines through. “You can do all kinds of things with your instrument outside of its surface purpose,” he told Interview in 2013. “My bass is my crutch, but the best crutch I could have.” Dana Nalbandian/WireImage Prior to joining Guns N’ Roses, Duff McKagan had barely touched a bass. He was an ex-guitarist and ex-drummer who had come up in Seattle’s early-Eighties punk scene, and the combo of his background and his raw approach to playing gave Guns N’ Roses songs like “It’s So Easy” and “You Could Be Mine” a rough edge. To learn the instrument, McKagan binged on the bass lines of Prince (“I loved that R&B rhythm,” he once said), Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, the Clash’s Paul Simonon, Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, and, most surprising, Barry Adamson of the postpunk group Magazine. “In Magazine, those bass lines were so pronounced, he had the chorus pedal on the bass,” McKagan once said, referring to a device that gives the instrument a glassy, almost hollow sound, “and that’s really where I grabbed the chorus pedal for Guns.” That secret weapon helped McKagan push his bass to the forefront on Appetite for Destruction and the Use Your Illusion LPs, equaling the musicality of Slash and the grit of Axl Rose, making him an integral part of the band’s sound, and hard rock in the Eighties and Nineties — even if he’s unaware of his influence. “I don’t know where I’m rated,” he once said. “I don’t pay attention to that. I’m really so just all into my craft.” Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images Kim Deal Kim Deal was working as a receptionist at a doctor’s office in 1986 when she read a Boston Phoenix newspaper ad saying a band was looking for a “bassist into Hüsker Dü and Peter, Paul, and Mary.” She may have been the only one to show up, but her sugary singing voice and punk-rock bass chops made her the perfect fit for the Pixies. Try to imagine Doolittle’s opening track “Debaser” without her throbbing bass part at the beginning, or “Gigantic” (one of the few Pixies songs she wrote) without her hypnotically simple line — it propels the whole song. Deal chalks up her effectiveness as a bassist to her distinct lack of needless flash. “Some people cannot do that and will not do that, especially ‘real’ bass players,” she once said, reflecting on the simplicity of her part in “Where Is My Mind?” “They want to help push every little moment; they want to be involved. They won’t just pedal through something.” Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images The singer-songwriter movement of the Seventies called for backup musicians who could anchor ballads and midtempo rockers while never distracting from the singer or the song. Toward that goal, the likes of James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King, David Crosby, and Graham Nash regularly rang up Leland Sklar. “We understood that we were supporting them and accompanying them,” Sklar says of L.A. studio players of the era. “We weren’t pushing ourselves behind them, but we still crafted an identity.” Sklar’s understated, nonflashy but melodic bass can be heard on many Taylor classics (“You’ve Got a Friend,” “Handy Man,” “Your Smiling Face”) as well as on Browne’s “Doctor My Eyes” and all of Running on Empty, and Gene Clark’s cult classic No Other. In the Eighties, his bass became an integral part of Phil Collins’ records, heard on “Don’t Lose My Number,” among others, and Sklar even funked it up on the Weather Girls’ dance-club anthem “It’s Raining Men.” No wonder Crosby has called him “the best player in the world.” Though they come from different scenes and generations, Peter Hook has always been the Keith Richards of the bass — a groove master cranking out the definitive riffs of his era, with plenty of outlaw mystique. In Joy Division and New Order, he redefined the instrument for the postpunk Seventies and Eighties, and generations of arty kids have tried to copy his melodic pulse in “She’s Lost Control,” not to mention his badass slouch. Like so many Manchester musicians, Hook saw the Sex Pistols and instantly decided to start a punk band. His bass became the lead instrument in Joy Division, driving doom-y classics like “Transmission” and “No Love Lost.” He credits singer Ian Curtis for making him play high on the neck, for his distinctive tone: “My excuse for playing high was that I couldn’t hear the bass when I played low — our amps were that bad — but Ian liked it.” As Joy Division evolved into New Order, with dance-floor hits like “Age of Consent,” he became the era’s most-imitated bassman. As Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood said, “Hooky played a lot of stuff up high and got great tones up there — so I’ve always been one to move up and down on the neck a lot.” Always a louder-than-life personality, Hook has written three hilarious memoirs and — perhaps not unrelated — is not on speaking terms with the rest of New Order. Elaine Thompson/AP/Shutterstock Esperanza Spalding Take in any one performance by Esperanza Spalding and chances are you’re only hearing a fraction of what she can do, from crooning old-school standards to performing boldly futuristic originals that draw equally on smooth R&B and gnarly prog rock. Her virtuosic and consummately versatile bass playing is the engine that drives it all. She’s the rare player who can pluck out a super-funky cover of a song by her late friend Prince, anchor a band with her lithe electric lines, or hold her own onstage with master improvisers like Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jack DeJohnette, and Joe Lovano. Starting as a violin prodigy, Spalding found her way to the bass by accident in high school. (“It’s like waking up one day and realizing you’re in love with a co-worker,” she once said of picking up the instrument.) Since then, she’s evolved into one of the bass’s most visible 21st-century ambassadors, picking up four Grammy wins along the way. In a 2018 interview, Carrington, a drummer and Spalding collaborator, reflected on why it was unfair to compare Esperanza to jazz-bass virtuosos of the past. “Bringing a more feminine aesthetic into the music is mandatory at this point. Because [Fifties and Sixties jazz legend] Paul Chambers didn’t get around the instrument the way she does,” Carrington said of Spalding. “So she’s not digging in as hard; it gives her a kind of fleeting emotion that is beautiful.” Joseph Makwela Joseph Makwela practically invented South African bass. He was the heartbeat of the Makgona Tshole Band, who were Johannesburg’s version of Motown’s Funk Brothers or L.A.’s Wrecking Crew — the house band who played on countless hits in the Sixties and Seventies, creating the sound of mbaqanga. Makwela had the first electric bass in South Africa — he bought it from a white guy who imported it after seeing the Shadows live. In the racist oppression of the apartheid era, Makwela took that second-hand bass and completely remade South African music. He inspired players like Bakithi Kumalo, who anchored Paul Simon’s Graceland. “Joseph Makwela was the first person I saw playing an electric bass,” Kumalo told Bass Player in 2016. “He played melodies up high, which was a big influence when I picked up fretless.” His aggressive yet buoyant style defined the mbaqanga groove on classics from the Mahotella Queens’ “Umculo Kawupheli” to Mahlathini’s “Ngicabange Ngaqeda.” The Makgona Tshole Band reunited in the Eighties, when the world finally discovered mbaqanga via Graceland and the pivotal compilation The Indestructible Beat of Soweto. Karjean Levine/Getty Images Few musicians in any genre have put radical theory into musical practice quite like Mike Watt, who founded the Minuteman in San Pedro, California, during the late Seventies with singer-guitarist D. Boon and drummer George Hurley. “He wanted the bass way up front and the drums, too,” Watt said of Boon. “He wanted it like a redistribution of wealth … I was into that. Also it galvanized this idea in my head that any time you get more than one guy playing together in an ensemble, you try to make a conversation, an interesting one.” Taking that democratic maxim to heart, Watt helped rethink punk music from the ground up, creating short, sharp songs that incorporated funk, jazz, folk, blues, and even rap into their sound. Watt could hold his own with any bruiser on the hardcore scene — check out the thunderbolt attack that opens 1982’s “Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs.” As heard not just in the Minutemen, but also in Watt and Hurley’s next band, Firehose; Dos, a reflective duo with his fellow punk bass pioneer and onetime wife Kira Roessler; the reunited Stooges; and his own taut groups up to the present day, Watt’s always been at his best when pushing the bass to the forefront — much like one of his early heroes Jack Bruce of Cream — playing joyful, frenetic parts that reflected the hyper-loquacious personality of one of punk’s most tireless lifelong evangelists. Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images Tony Levin has contributed his unmistakable style to everyone from John Lennon to David Bowie to Cher. But he’s best known for his work with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, who calls him the “Emperor of the Bottom End.” Levin’s done more than anyone to make the Chapman Stick famous, playing the sleek, tapping-oriented guitar in Gabriel hits like “Shock the Monkey.” The Emperor got his start as a 1970s session guy — that’s him on Paul Simon’s Number One smash “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” He hooked up with Gabriel as soon as the artist quit Genesis, and has remained a crucial part of his music ever since — you can’t imagine “Big Time” or “Sledgehammer” without him. When Robert Fripp was reviving King Crimson after a seven-year hiatus, he recruited Levin for the classic Eighties lineup that made Discipline. (He holds the record as Crimson’s longest-serving bassist.) Levin plays soulfully on two of Bowie’s greatest late ballads, “Slip Away” and “Where Are We Now?” He invented “Funk Fingers,” a gadget for his percussive approach. He also keeps exploring the Stick with his project Stick Men, in tracks like “Not Just Another Pretty Bass.” “I’d venture to say that the way I heard Oscar Pettiford playing jazz bass … is similar to the way I would, much later, try to formulate rock and pop bass parts,” Levin said in 2013, reflecting on the origins of his unusual style. “It’s not so easy to describe exactly what it is, but, in simple terms, it’s finding just the right notes and playing them with just the right feel.” Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect/Getty Images George Porter Jr. Nothing exemplifies groove quite like the rhythmic interplay between Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, a relationship that required extreme tightness to evoke the laid-back party atmosphere of their New Orleans hometown. Thanks to his long tenure in one of popular music’s funkiest groups, Porter held down the low end on classic cuts like “Cissy Strut,” “Funky Miracle,” “Just Kissed My Baby,” and “Hand Clapping Song,” providing round, fluid riffs that strutted like a Second Line parade and rattled speakers with their heaviness — listen to the way he weaves his own syncopated path through the tiniest of spaces in “Pungee,” from the band’s near-perfect second album Look-A Py Py. Porter’s work with the Meters became a crucial building block for hip-hop, with scores of artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Cypress Hill, N.W.A, and Public Enemy sampling the group’s tracks, but he also shows up on numerous popular recordings by other artists such as Labelle, Dr. John, Robert Palmer, Lee Dorsey, and Ernie K-Doe thanks to being one of producer Allen Toussaint’s first-call studio musicians. Porter credited his unique style to a diverse musical background. “You see, because I had studied classical guitar I knew the bass formula, although the songs I was playing in lessons were country & western songs,” he said recently. “But I was learning how to play bass lines and chords at the same time. So, you know it was a natural thing that flowed from guitar when the time came.” Bill Black — Elvis Presley’s early bassist and part of the Blue Moon Boys, the singer’s famed trio with guitarist Scotty Moore — was never known as one of the flashiest instrumentalists of his era, but his innovative slap-bass technique was a cornerstone of Presley’s revolutionary rock & roll. “Bill was one of the worst bass players in the world,” Sun Records owner Sam Phillips once said, “but, man, could he slap that thing!” Black’s propulsive sound on the upright gave Presley’s earliest sides like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “That’s All Right” the thrilling drive of a full rhythm section despite the complete absence of drums. Paul McCartney was so obsessed with Black’s playing on “Heartbreak Hotel,” in particular, that his wife Linda McCartney tracked down Black’s original double bass from the session and gave it to him as a gift in the Seventies. Moore recalled Black’s role in Presley recording the country favorite “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” which became Presley’s first B side. “Bill jumped up and grabbed his bass and started slapping it, singing ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ in a high falsetto voice,” Moore said. “It was Bill doing what Bill did best. The song was recorded as a ballad, but Bill sang it uptempo, his bass lines thumping at a feverish pace. Elvis loved it.” David Corio/Redferns/Getty Images During their heyday as indie- and alt-rock pioneers, nothing about Sonic Youth was standard issue, from their arty videos to their preferred layers of weirdly tuned guitar scuzz — and even Kim Gordon’s bass parts. Gordon had never played the instrument before when she co-founded the band in the early Eighties, and by her own admission, her skills never reached virtuoso level. But her primitive style couldn’t have been a better fit for a band that valued the unconventional above all else, down to the broken and reconstructed guitars they played. “My bass playing always worked really well because it was minimal,” she says. “There were some songs where Thurston [Moore] would have a melody for the song so he’d want me to play root notes. I felt my job was not to become a good bass player.” Gordon’s signature sound — a guttural groove that sounds like an oncoming subway train — is heard throughout the band’s discography, from early, dark rumbles like “Brave Men Run (In My Family)” to tracks from their Nineties commercial highlight Dirty (“Youth Against Fascism,” “Sugar Kane”) and later, to more languid statements like “Jams Run Free.” Elma Okic/Shutterstock When John Entwistle died suddenly in 2002, the Who could have called up just about any bassist on Earth to replace him. They went with Pino Palladino. By that point, the Welsh musician had played with everyone from Jeff Beck and Elton John to John Mayer, Don Henley, and B.B. King. But his true wheelhouse was R&B and much of his greatest work appears on albums like D’Angelo’s 2000 masterpiece, Voodoo, and Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun from the same year. On both albums, Palladino laid down smooth, syncopated grooves much like James Jamerson, one of his heroes, did on Motown records back in the Sixties. His role in the Who give him the biggest platform of his career, and he went on to tour with Nine Inch Nails and Simon and Garfunkel. “When the call came to play with the Who I was working with Erykah Badu and D’Angelo, and I had to change my whole style,” he said. “The manager said, ‘John [Entwistle] is dead. Can you do a gig at the Hollywood Bowl in three days’ time?’ You don’t turn down something like that. It was only afterwards that I thought about the consequences. Pete Townshend’s direction was, ‘Play whatever you want, just as long as you play loud!’” Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images John McVie At the center of the emotional tempest that is Fleetwood Mac, sturdy, empathetic John McVie has mixed old-school rock solidity and California smooth, grounding the band’s sound for five peerlessly even-handed decades. McVie got his start with John Mayall and Bluesbreakers in the mid-Sixties, and he transferred that bedrock drive to Fleetwood Mac (a band co-named for him), forming an unshakeable bond with fellow band namesake Mick Fleetwood in their jam-heavy Peter Green days that carried over into the high-flying Buckingham-Nicks era. Hits like “Go Your Own Way” and “Rhiannon” have a subtle toughness that stood out among the band’s laid-back L.A. peers — “You’re a monster, John,” Fleetwood exclaimed when listening to a playback of McVie’s “Go Your Own Way” lines in the Classic Albums doc on Rumours — and it’s impossible to think of “The Chain” without getting that iconic McVie bass break stuck in your head. “I always try to get in with the kick drum,” McVie once said. “Mick [Fleetwood] knows where I’m going, and I know where he’s going, so the song locks — hopefully, anyway.” Paul Natkin/WireImage You could throw a rock in the Bay Area in the late Eighties and hit a thrash-funk bass player, but Les Claypool immediately stood out among the legion of aggressive slap-poppers. The lanky Primus captain treated the bass more like a lead than a rhythm instrument, driving songs with everything from hyperactive left-hand fretboard tapping (that Morse code-like intro to “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver”) to lightning-quick strumming (“Pudding Time”). “One of the big things I decided to do when I was starting out was to play with three fingers,” he once said. “A lot of guys play with two fingers, so I figured if I played with three, I could be faster.” And even though the man has a truly thunderous thumb, his playing draws as much inspiration from Captain Beefheart as it does Bootsy Collins, with an eclectic sound that complements his self-proclaimed “pirate ditties” about alpha-male felines, mythic fisherman, and murderous hillbillies. He’s incorporated everything from metal riffs — dig those muted triplets in “The Toys Go Winding Down” — to Middle Eastern ragas in his playing; his side projects in jam-band supergroups like Oysterhead and Colonel Claypool’s Bucket of Bernie Brains has honed some serious improvisational chops; and his current partnership with Sean Lennon allows him to take some prog-psychedelic detours into the Phil Zone. More than anything else, Claypool has liberated the bass from simply holding down the bottom. “I really got off on watching how he approached the instrument,” says Rush’s Geddy Lee, who toured with Claypool in the Nineties. “He used to say to me, ‘You’re a big influence on me,’ but … he’s got his own style. He has a sense of rhythm that I [find] very appealing.” Echoes/Redferns/Getty Images Louis Johnson If Louis Johnson had done nothing other than play the relentless, shuffling bass line that shapes and drives Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” he would still probably merit inclusion on this list. But as one of Quincy Jones’ go-to session bassists, Johnson played on slew of late-Seventies, early-Eighties hits, helping create some of the most sophisticated, propulsive pop in history. He was a master of James Jamerson’s melodic innovation — listen to the hook of Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” when Johnson plays a gliding line that’s as dashing and precise as Jackson’s zippy vocal. But Johnson also understood the value of Larry Graham’s window-rattling “thumpin’ and pluckin’” technique. There he is again on Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” this time playing low-slung, hardheaded parts — how many notes does he squeeze into the riff around the 10-second mark? — that would inspire a generation of hip-hop producers. “I sat with him and taught him how to deal with it from the best of my knowledge of what I had heard at the time,” Johnson’s brother and bandmate George, nicknamed “Lightnin’ Licks” to Louis’ “Thunder Thumbs,” once said of introducing his sibling to bass. “It was like being a star quarterback and passing the ball. Louis was so into it. He picked up the ball and ran with it for a touchdown every time.” Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Richard Davis Richard Davis’ Sixties résumé reads like a survey of some of that decade’s most challenging and enduring musical statements, from progressive-jazz landmarks like Eric Dolphy’s Out to Lunch! and Andrew Hill’s Point of Departure to Van Morrison’s free-folk masterpiece Astral Weeks. But that’s just a fraction of his overall output: During the past 60-plus years, he’s also elevated the bands, sessions, and performances of giants like Sarah Vaughan, Paul Simon, and Igor Stravinsky. Davis is at his best in intimate settings, where his profoundly empathic playing can shine, whether he’s playing stirring arco lines in a duet with Dolphy on Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday,” providing a warm rhythmic bed for Bruce Springsteen’s tale of a small-time criminal in “Meeting Across the River,” or conjuring impossibly poignant phrases to complement Morrison’s poetry on tracks like “Beside You.” “[F]or me, it was Richard all the way,” Astral Weeks producer Lewis Merenstein said, reflecting on the record 40 years later. “Richard was the soul of the album.” Motörhead’s most iconic song, “Ace of Spades,” opens with Lemmy Kilmister playing a tap-dancing lead bass line before falling into a melody that sounds like his Rickenbacker is headed straight to hell as he sings about feeling “born to lose.” Both in his poetry and his bass playing, Kilmister’s aesthetic was all about reckless abandon. Prior to Motörhead, he was a rhythm guitar player who switched to bass to play with space rockers Hawkwind. “[Bass] is just like playing the guitar without the top two strings,” Kilmister once said. “I just made chords out of what strings I had left. It’s unorthodox, but it works for us.” After his predilection for uppers got him ousted from that band, he developed his own gritty style. “Lemmy was an influence on me in the way he uses distortion — that was different, new, and exciting,” Metallica’s late bassist Cliff Burton once said. Kilmister’s approach perfectly matched his sandpapery voice and underdog wit, and it made him unique — a distinction he was proud of. “I think I play like nobody else does,” he once said. “I always wanted to be John Entwistle, but since that place was taken, I became a lesser version.” Peter Noble/Redferns/Getty Images Sting has received so much attention for his songwriting skills and singing chops over the years that his technique as a bassist sometimes gets overlooked. The former Police frontman learned to simultaneously sing and play by listening to records at 78 rpm, so he could hear the bass parts more clearly. “I had been a guitar player working in clubs, and then someone lent me a homemade bass, and I fell in love with it — the dimensions, the aesthetic — and I realized I could play bass and sing,” he told Bass Player. “I learned how to play Paul McCartney’s parts on Beatles songs and sing them at the same time.” With the Police, he contributed throbbing, melodic lines that cemented the band’s iconic blend of New Wave and reggae. You can hear his bass prominently on “Every Breath You Take” and “Roxanne,” where he supports Andy Summers’ guitar riffs without overpowering them. He’s continued to expand his creative horizons, as on 44/876, his 2018 album with Shaggy, where his tasteful, dubby performances anchor the songs’ relaxed grooves. “There was a golden ray of sunshine coming down from the heavens, through the roof of the building, through the ceiling and landing on this bass player,” Police drummer Stewart Copeland said of the first time he saw Sting onstage, in 1976. “And as a drummer in a band in those days, I didn’t even notice his singing.” Ebet Roberts/Getty Images Bernard Edwards “Look, have whatever in your collection at home, but everybody needs a little Friday night,” Chic’s Bernard Edwards said in 1979. Edwards built upon his devout study of jazz and classical to become disco’s most influential bassist, turning any minute into Friday night with his bandmate and longtime friend Nile Rodgers and soundtracking thousands of dance floors in the late Seventies and beyond. Had he recorded “Good Times” alone — one of the most sampled bass lines in history and the inspiration for hip-hop’s first mainstream hit “Rapper’s Delight” — he would’ve made this list. But as co-songwriter, producer, and bassist on Chic tracks like “Le Freak,” “I Want Your Love,” and “Everybody Dance,” alongside hits by Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”), Diana Ross (“I’m Coming Out”), and Madonna (“Like a Virgin,” “Material Girl”), Edwards turned instantly head-nodding riffs into dance and pop classics. When most bassists receded in the background, the effortlessly and perpetually stylish Edwards came to the front. He died in 1996 at age 43. But as long as there’s a wedding, party, or any other reason to celebrate literally anything, his catalog will remain immortal. Bob Moore As a primary member of Nashville’s famous A-Team, Bob Moore’s upright-bass work can be heard on hits by everyone from George Jones to Bob Dylan. Alongside fellow session legends like Charlie McCoy, Buddy Harman, Ray Edenton, and Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Moore’s sophisticated stylings helped transform Nashville into one of the nation’s musical power centers when artists like Patsy Cline, Chet Atkins, and Brenda Lee began to infuse country with piano-driven pop and jazz in the Fifties and Sixties. “I used to sit right beside Pig and I watched his left hand,” said Moore, “and I could tell every time he was going to move, and I’d move exactly right with him.” The opening bass strut in Roger Miller’s “King of the Road”? That’s Moore, who estimated he’s played on roughly 17,000 sessions throughout his career. Moore’s approach would help forever transform the role of the instrument in country session work. “In those days, a bass player was a comedian in the band,” Moore once said about starting out in 1940s Nashville. “I was something new; I was a player.” Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images Tina Weymouth The Talking Heads’ 1977 breakthrough single “Psycho Killer” sets an ominous mood before frontman David Byrne even sings a word. That’s because it opens with Tina Weymouth playing one of the most haunting bass parts in rock history. She’s unaccompanied for the first eight seconds, setting the stage for a tale of madness and fear that launched one of the great bands in history. And it’s a grave injustice that Byrne has always gotten the lion’s share of the credit for their accomplishments. Weymouth was a critical part of Talking Heads’ songwriting team — even if she didn’t always get credited — and she brought an effortless cool to everything they did. “Had there been no Tina Weymouth in Talking Heads,” said the band’s drummer and Weymouth’s husband of the past 40 years, Chris Frantz, “we would be just another band.” Gems/Redferns/Getty Images Aston “Family Man” Barrett As half of the rhythm section for Bob Marley’s Wailers, Aston Barrett and his younger brother Carlton played a primary role in introducing the sound of reggae’s one-drop rhythm to international audiences. But the influence of the self-proclaimed “Architect of Reggae” extended far beyond that genre into pop, R&B, and funk: His strutting bass line on the 1969 instrumental track “The Liquidator,” by the Harry J. All Stars, would end up serving as a direct template for the Staples Singers’ smash “I’ll Take You There” three years later. “The drum, it is the heartbeat, and the bass, it is the backbone,” Barrett once said. “If the bass is not right, the music is gonna have a bad back, so it would be crippled.” Barrett was deeply attuned to the storytelling of his Wailers bandleader, paying close attention to Marley’s songwriting before he came up with his own bass lines. “It’s like I am singing baritone,” he once said of his bass work. “I create a melodic line each time.” David Hood Some of the funkiest records of the Sixties and Seventies — the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There,” Etta James’ “Tell Mama,” Aretha Franklin’s “Oh No Not My Baby,” R.B. Greaves’ “Take a Letter, Maria” — had one thing in common: bass player David Hood. First working at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, before becoming part of the town’s legendary rhythm section at their own Muscle Shoals Sound in 1969, Hood was nicknamed “Little David” for his size; you can hear Mavis Staples call him that on “I’ll Take You There” during his supple solo. But his deep, pulsating bass lines made him part of “a rhythm section to die for,” Staples said. Working with his fellow Muscle Shoals players, like keyboardist Barry Beckett and drummer Roger Hawkins, Hood’s bass was equally at home in pop (Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome,” Rod Stewart’s “The First Cut Is the Deepest”), blues (Boz Scaggs’ “Loan Me a Dime”), and rock-R&B mergers (Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll”). His other legacy: his son Patterson, the Drive-By Truckers’ singer and songwriter. Hood remains modest about his accomplishments. Referring to another Staple Singers’ classic, “Respect Yourself,” he says, “That’s got a little bass solo in it too. It’s just a few bars in the beginning and the middle, but they’re just melodic hooks. We were just trying to make pop music.” Frans Schellekens/Redferns/Getty Images Israel Cachao López Though he made his primary innovation in the 1930s, Israel Cachao López has exerted an influence you can hear throughout pop music to this day. Working with his brother, pianist and cellist Orestes López, he hot-wired stately Havana ballroom music to create mambo, an Afro-Cuban fusion that would influence salsa, Cuban jazz, R&B, rock & roll, and by extension the entire constellation of Latin-influenced modern pop. “What’s Cuban in origin is also African,” he said years later. “The Africans had as much influence as the conquistadors on what is Cuban. Naturally, this being in the blood, many things have come into being always with an African influence.” His playing — a sumptuous rumble of crosscutting lines, probing yet elegant, gliding alongside the other instruments with relaxed precision — created a perfect backdrop for the rich, freewheeling improvisation that would become central to Cuban music thanks to another Cachao innovation of the 1950s, the descarga, a jazz-influenced jam session. Cachao moved to the U.S. in the Sixties, but didn’t find his widest recognition here until the 1990s and the release of the essential two-volume series Master Sessions. Ross Marino/Icon and Image/Getty Images When Metallica formed, all James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine, and Lars Ulrich wanted to do was rage on finger-breaking thrash metal — until they met Cliff Burton. The bassist had been playing with a rival metal group, and when they saw him play a jaw-dropping bass solo, they wanted him in Metallica so badly that they relocated from Los Angeles to his native Bay Area at his request. Once in the band, Burton introduced the guys to R.E.M., the Misfits, and Bach, opening them up to a new musicality, as he added orchestral flourishes and bass virtuosity to some of their hardest-hitting songs. His bass solo, “(Anesthesia) — Pulling Teeth,” on their 1983 debut, Kill ‘Em All, is an aggressive showcase of classical-music improvisation and wah-wah lyricism, while his delicate intro to “Damage Inc.” and the middle of “Orion” showed just how beautiful thrash could be. His concepts continued to resonate with the band after his death in a bus accident in 1986. “No disrespect to anybody else, but he was at a different level,” Ulrich once said of Burton. “When it came time to put [‘Anesthesia’] on a record, instead of it just being a bass solo, we turned it into more of a composition. It adds some different dynamics to it, almost like different acts — like, Act One, Act Two and Act Three.” That sensibility was so spot on that when Metallica collaborated with the San Francisco Symphony in 2019, the orchestra’s principal bass player wanted to perform “Anesthesia” in tribute to Burton. Onstage with Rush, Geddy Lee was always a master multitasker, playing keyboards and foot-controlled synths while nailing daredevil vocal parts. But his bass playing, tough and sinewy yet beautifully nimble and accented with just the right amount of daredevil flash, is what’s made him a legend to fans of forward-thinking rock, and one of the key links between Sixties pioneers like Jack Bruce and John Entwistle and Nineties innovators like Les Claypool and Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford. Lee’s playing added grit, flair, and surprising funkiness to every era of the band, from high-prog Seventies landmarks like A Farewell to Kings to New Wave–informed Eighties gems like Grace Under Pressure and streamlined, hard-hitting Nineties efforts like Counterparts. And his imaginative parts — the off-kilter strut that leads off “Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage”; the wiry 7/4 bridge riff in “Tom Sawyer”; the lean dance-pop vamp of “Scars” — often acted as hooks in and of themselves. “He was the one that when I was a 14-year-old fellow I thought, ‘Boy, I’d sure like to make those sounds,’” Claypool once said of Lee. “I’m still trying to do that.” Bill Orchard/Shutterstock “There must be hundreds of better bass players than me,” Bill Wyman told Rolling Stone in 1974. “I mean I could never play like Jack Bruce. If I was ambitious in that direction I’d practice, [but] I don’t.” But while he undersells his talent, his fellow Rolling Stones disagree. “Bill Wyman’s an incredible bass player,” Keith Richards once said. “I’m still always amazed by Bill’s tastefulness in his bass playing.… He’s a very sensitive musician.” Wyman earned Richards’ praise by playing smart harmonies under the guitarist’s iconic “Satisfaction” riff (playing a melody that goes down while the guitar goes up), a gentle rumble underneath “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and rhythms that wiggle underneath the boogie-woogie of “Rocks Off.” “I’m not a busy bass player,” Wyman once said. “I’m not a Stanley Clarke or anyone like that. To me, they should be playing guitar, not bass.… You need some balls in the bottom.… You leave the space for other people, you don’t fill it in with the bass. Leave lots of room and let the track breathe from underneath.” Christie Goodwin/Redferns/Getty Images The Red Hot Chili Peppers have gone through many drummers and guitarists since their formation in 1983. But Flea has been their sole bassist, a player whose signature sound — an earthy, wildly charismatic hybrid of punk, funk, and psychedelia — forms the backbone of the band. Born Michael Balzary, Flea was heavily influenced by his jazz-musician stepdad growing up. “My goal was to become a jazz trumpet player, but then I got into my early teens and I had to rebel against my parents,” he said in 2006. “All I wanted to do was be a punk rocker and play the bass.” Outside of the Peppers, he’s played on the Mars Volta’s 2003 debut, De-Loused in the Comatorium, and in spinoff group Antemasque. In 2009, he formed Atoms for Peace with Thom Yorke, showing his versatility on songs like “Before Your Very Eyes…” and the schizophrenic “Reverse Running.” But it’s his playing with the Peppers that’s made him so beloved, from his Bootsy Collins–inspired slapping work (“Higher Ground,” “Sir Psycho Sexy”) to his poignant melodic moments (“Soul to Squeeze,” “By the Way”). “The Red Hot Chili Peppers are Flea,” Anthony Kiedis told Rolling Stone in 1994. “He’s such an essential portion of this pie that it’s impossible to think that the band would exist without him.” Dick Wallis/Shutterstock Shortly after joining Black Sabbath, Geezer Butler switched from rhythm guitar to bass and divined his own freewheeling style. Since he’d never played the sort of four-on-the-floor bass that defined Sixties rock, he came to the instrument with a guitarist’s sensibility, adding harmonies and ornate filigrees to guitarist Tony Iommi’s parts. The secret to Black Sabbath’s impact is how Butler and Iommi stacked their instruments for a big, walloping sound. On “War Pigs,” Butler played a bluesy lead underneath Iommi’s drawn-out riffs, and by the middle of the song when Iommi solos, Butler plays his own jazzy, Jack Bruce–inspired fingerpicked solo whenever the guitarist holds a note. There’s also a sense of liberation in the way he plays, as on 1981’s “Slipping Away,” when he traded playful solos with Iommi, and on his own swampy, wah-wah–inflected solo “Bassically,” which leads off “N.I.B.” — a guitar trick he adopted long before other bassists. But despite his obvious skill, Butler has always downplayed his ability. “Because I was a rhythm guitarist, I’d fill in gaps left by the lead guitarist,” he once said. “I continued that with bass: being the rhythm player. I never rated myself as a bass player; I just played what I thought was necessary for each song.” Paul Natkin/Getty Images Rick Danko The legend of the Band centers on their down-home appeal, but revisit their classic records and it’s impossible to miss just how funky they were. Rick Danko’s bass work — spare, stylish, and always situated deep in the pocket — was crucial to the inimitable lope of tracks like “Up on Cripple Creek” and “King Harvest (Has Surely Come).” Danko grew up in rural Ontario listening to the Grand Ole Opry on a battery-powered radio and watching his dad play at barn dances. He joined future Band-mates Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm in Ronnie Hawkins’ Hawks in 1961, picking up crucial rhythm-section tips from the group’s then-pianist Stan Szelest. Within a few years, the group was backing Bob Dylan on his first plugged-in tour. Once the Band got underway, Danko established himself as the group’s trusty secret weapon, a position he’d hold during both their initial run and their prolific reunion era. Throughout his tenure, he complemented his signature warbling vocals with crafty four-string lines that always fit hand-in-glove with Helm’s swampy grooves. “I feel about bass playing as I do about background singing,” he told Bass Player in 1994. “It should be a hair behind. It’s nice to leave the top of the beat for the vocal and spread the other parts around the beat. That gives the music a sort of Ferris-wheel effect and carries it along.” Michael Putland/Getty Images Verdine White Maurice White, an accomplished singer-songwriter-drummer-producer, brought his brother Verdine out to L.A. to join a young Earth, Wind, and Fire in 1970. Verdine had studied under Louis Satterfield, whom he described as “the James Jamerson of Chicago,” and scrutinized jazz players like Ron Carter and Richard Davis. He brought it all to Earth, Wind, and Fire’s elegant, breathtakingly complex, million-selling albums. The group’s major singles tended to be speedy dance cuts, but there’s more room to appreciate White’s playing on the ballads: the darting, ascending rumble that opens “Can’t Hide Love”; the nubby, attacking runs in “Love’s Holiday”; the nimble, succinct riffs underpinning “After the Love Has Gone.” White left an impression on the uptempo numbers, too: Listen to him slash through “Beijo (Interlude),” making notes shiver and whine. White tends to be modest in interviews, throwing much of the credit for his playing style to others. “What I have to do on record is make sure that I’m complementing the singer,” he once explained. “If I don’t hear the singer, I’m gonna play it, but it won’t have any imagination.” Many musicians came and went from Yes over the decades, but the only constant (at least until his death in 2015) was bassist Chris Squire. The prog-rock giants could survive without titans like keyboardist Rick Wakeman and guitarist Steve Howe, but Squire’s work was the bedrock of their sound. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, and Paul McCartney, Squire had a thick, melodic tone that powered everything from Seventies prog classics like “Close to the Edge” and “Awaken” to Eighties pop hits like “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” “Chris took the art of making a bass guitar into a lead instrument to another stratosphere,” Wakeman wrote at the time of his former bandmate’s death, “and coupled with his showmanship and concern for every single note he played, made him something special.… We have now lost who, for me, are the two greatest bass players classic rock has ever known. John Entwistle and now Chris.” Robbie Shakespeare Robbie Shakespeare and his rhythm and production partner drummer Sly Dunbar have implanted their immediately recognizable imprint on decades of reggae. “It was the whole body of the bass, the sound and the way it flowed against the drummer,” Dunbar said of first hearing Shakespeare’s playing in the early Seventies. “At a certain part of a tune he’d play like three different lines, change the line on the bridge and the verses after that, and get four different lines.” The two went on to record with every major artist of reggae’s golden era, lending fluidly melodic yet implacably solid underpinning to classics like Culture’s Two Sevens Clash and Peter Tosh’s Equal Rights; they excelled in the rubbery negative space of dub, found a unique way to create an organic feel in a digital context as dancehall emerged in the Eighties, and brightened the grooves on rock and pop albums by Grace Jones, Talking Heads, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and others. No other musical entity in the post-Marley era has been so omnipresent in shaping the sound of Jamaica and bringing it to the world. Charlie Haden The first thing you hear in the opening seconds of “Lonely Woman” — Ornette Coleman’s 1959 out-jazz masterwork that captivated a young Lou Reed along with an entire generation of open-minded listeners — is Charlie Haden strumming a yearning, pulsing bass melody over Billy Higgins’ double-time ride cymbal. His intro makes the tune feel ancient and sturdily grounded, like it’s growing up out of the earth. That was Haden’s great gift as a bassist, to give even the most contemporary of styles — from Coleman’s joyously unfettered excursions to the outsider folk of Beck — a feeling of the eternal. Haden grew up in Iowa, yodeling country songs on his family’s radio show. Seeing Charlie Parker play sparked a love of jazz, and after moving to L.A. for college in the late Fifties, he met Coleman, the saxophonist who would spearhead the genre’s next radical breakthrough. Haden was an integral part of Ornette’s core concept, adding muscle and lift to live and studio bands for decades to come (including at a 1968 gig where they backed Yoko Ono) and carrying the Coleman torch in satellite projects like Old and New Dreams. Elsewhere, he could be found just about anywhere forward-thinking, openhearted jazz was being made, whether with Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, or Alice Coltrane, in his own politically driven Liberation Music Orchestra, or in a warm, empathic trio with Ginger Baker and Bill Frisell. He also fit in seamlessly working alongside Ringo Starr, K.D. Lang, or his son and triplet daughters. “Charlie Haden plays for the existence of the listener,” Coleman once wrote. “This reason alone makes him a musical guru.” Donald “Duck” Dunn Memphis native Donald Dunn — whose father gave him his lifelong nickname “Duck” while the two watched Disney cartoons together — wasn’t an original member of the influential Stax house band Booker T. and the M.G.’s. But when he took over bass duties from Lewie Steinberg in 1964, the group hit its stride. Dunn’s tenure with the band coincided with their creation of foundational Southern soul records by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam and Dave. “When it got more aggressive and syncopated … my style was more appropriate,” Dunn would later say. He anchored a dextrous, versatile rhythm section alongside drummer Al Jackson, mastering urbane pop balladry, country-soul shuffles, and uptempo gospel-infused soul all the same. Listen to his quietly descending bass line on the M.G.’s’ instrumental rendering of Sam and Dave’s “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” or the loping strut that opens Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay.” Dunn, who Bootsy Collins once called a “brick in our musical foundation,” would go on to play with a who’s who of rock and pop legends — Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Bill Withers, Neil Young — but it was his influential work with Booker T., Steve Cropper, and Al Jackson that redefined popular music. As Peter Frampton once said, Dunn “wrote the book on R&B bass playing.” John Paul Jones Although Led Zeppelin seemed to come out of nowhere, fully formed, in the late Sixties, both guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones had years of session playing behind them. Drawing inspiration from Motown records and jazz bassists like Charles Mingus, Jones played on recordings by Donovan, Jeff Beck, and Dusty Springfield, among others, and he arranged the strings for the Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow.” So when the time came for him to play the slow-stepping lead lines on “Dazed and Confused” and “What Is and What Should Never Be” or the charging rhythms of “Immigrant Song” and “The Song Remains the Same” — in harmony with Page — it was a cinch. His sense of musicality would guide him well past his time in Led Zeppelin, too. “John silently challenges everyone,” Dave Grohl said around the time he was playing with Jones in Them Crooked Vultures. “His presence makes you play the best you can possibly play, because you don’t want to let him down. And if you can keep up, you’re doing OK.” ARTCO-Berlin/ullstein bild/Getty Images Stanley Clarke A whole generation of bassists — from Dave Holland with Miles Davis to Miroslav Vitous and Jaco Pastorius with Weather Report and Rick Laird with the Mahavishnu Orchestra — helped to wed the sophistication of Sixties postbop with the power of arena-scale rock. But it was Stanley Clarke who truly defined the role of the fusion bass god. Clarke started on double bass and wanted to pursue a life in classical music; meeting Chick Corea on a gig set him on a different path. The two formed Return to Forever, one of the Seventies’ premier plugged-in jazz groups, and a band in which Clarke could both hold down the low end and have his say as a star soloist. Early solo LPs — and future bass-repertoire staples — like School Days found him moving further into funk, and showcasing his astonishing technique while always minding the groove. More recently, he’s moved into film and TV scoring, turned up on Beck’s understated Grammy winner Morning Phase, and inspired new-school luminaries like Thundercat (who recently said, “I thank God that there was a Stanley Clarke as a frame of reference to what is possible with the bass”). “Before I came along a lot of bass players stood in the back,” Clarke once said. “They were very quiet kind of guys who didn’t appear to write music. But many of those bass players were serious musicians. All that I did was just take the step and create my own band.” Although Willie Dixon is best remembered as one of history’s most influential bluesmen, whose songs were sung by Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, that’s just a portion of his legacy. He played bass on early rock recordings by Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, and tunes he wrote like “I Can’t Quit You Baby” and “I Ain’t Superstitious” have been covered by everyone from Led Zeppelin to Megadeth. Dixon’s first bass was a “tin-can bass,” and eventually he was able to save up $200 or so to buy an upright. Around 1939, he was “boxin’, workin’, and playin’, trying’ to learn how to play the bass,” by his own account, learning from locals Baby Doo Caston and Hog Mason, until he developed his own undulating, genre-defining style. “After two or three weeks, why, heck, I could play just about as good as I can now,” he said in 1980. When Berry first played him the song that would become “Maybellene,” Dixon thought it was too country & western, so “I felt that some kind of bluesy idea or feeling that wasn’t in there would make it a better song,” giving the tune a bit of rock & roll attitude. “Willie Dixon is the principal [influence on me]” the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman once said. “I always idolized Willie Dixon, particularly, because he was on [records] with Chuck Berry and Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, and many others at Chess.” Bob Minkin/mediapunch/Shutterstock In the same way that the Grateful Dead reconfigured how a rock band should sound — looser and jammier, incorporating equal parts jazz and country — Phil Lesh made us hear the bass in a new way. The Dead’s founding and longtime bassist grew up on experimental and classical music and played trumpet and violin in high school. He only took up his signature instrument when he was asked to join the Warlocks, the first version of the Dead. As a result, Lesh ignored standard walking-bass clichés: “I didn’t think that would be suitable for the music I would make with Jerry, just to do something somebody else had done,” he said in 2014. His idea — “play bass and lead at the same time,” his notes darting in and around the melody — became as recognizable a part of the Dead’s sound as Garcia’s guitar. His unconventional sound can be heard in studio recordings like “Truckin’,” “Shakedown Street,” and “Cumberland Blues,” the live version of “Scarlet Begonias” from the legendary Cornell 1977 show, and many live versions of “Eyes of the World” (start with 1975’s One From the Vault). “On the bass, that’s my man, Ron Carter,” Q-Tip says proudly on the outro to A Tribe Called Quest’s super-funky Low End Theory track “Verses From the Abstract.” A milestone for the intersection of jazz and hip-hop, the track was just another day at the office for the great Ron Carter, who’s been turning up on history-making sessions for 60 years and counting. With more than 2,200 credits to his name as of fall 2015, he earned a Guinness World Record a year later for the most recorded bassist in jazz history. Beyond the raw numbers, the range of Carter’s CV is astounding, from anchoring the Sixties Miles Davis quintet that reshaped jazz on a molecular level to bringing an unshakable drive to classic Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin sides, providing a plush rhythmic bed for bossa nova pioneer Antônio Carlos Jobim, and finding the swing in Bach. Whether in a low-key duo or buoyant big band, Carter always adds a touch of pure class. “I think Mr. Carter is one of the consummate listening musicians ever,” said collaborator and lifelong fan Pat Metheny in 2016. “He has played in literally thousands of unique settings and is always able to find something that brings out the best in his associates, while always remaining true to his own very strong sense of identity.” Express/Getty Images It’s hard to think of Paul McCartney as being underrated in any category. But for all the praise he’s earned as a singer, songwriter, and live performer, it’s quite possible he hasn’t gotten enough for his low-key low-end verve. He first took up the bass as a matter of necessity, after Stu Sutcliffe quit the Beatles in Hamburg in 1961. “There’s a theory that I maliciously worked Stu out of the group in order to get the prize chair of bass,” McCartney told biographer Barry Miles. “Forget it! Nobody wants to play bass, or nobody did in those days.” But he made the instrument his own, particularly as the Beatles’ studio adventures took off in the second half of the Sixties and he switched out his Hofner for a Rickenbacker. McCartney’s bass could be a cool, steady support, as on “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and “Dear Prudence,” or a colorful lead character in its own right — see “Paperback Writer,” “Rain,” and “A Day in the Life,” all songs where his playing conveys the yearning for a freer or more exciting life behind everyday lyrics. His playful, melodic style in that era owed much to Motown’s James Jamerson, whom he’s often credited as his biggest influence on the instrument; after 1970, McCartney kept up with the times, grooving regally into the disco era with “Silly Love Songs” and “Goodnight Tonight.” And while his interest in the four-string has waned and waxed over the years, he’s never stopped inspiring generations of kids to see the expressive potential of a great bass line. “My name is John Francis Pastorius III, and I’m the greatest bass player in the world.” That was Jaco Pastorius’ opening line to Joe Zawinul when he met the Weather Report keyboardist backstage at a 1974 Miami show. Zawinul scoffed at the time, but he wasn’t laughing a few years later, once Pastorius had joined the group and helped turn them into bona fide fusion superstars. Jaco’s 1976 self-titled debut, where he played high-speed bebop with ease and dazzled with chiming harmonics, set a new standard for electric-bass virtuosity; joining Weather Report the same year, he thrilled audiences with his signature fretless sound and cocky flair, and forever banished the notion that bass was a background instrument. As flashy a player as he was, he was also a stellar collaborator: From the mid-Seventies through the Eighties — preceding his tragic death at age 35 — Pastorius’ revolutionary four-string approach was a perfect match for everyone from Pat Metheny to Jimmy Cliff, and especially Joni Mitchell’s increasingly adventurous songwriting on albums like Hejira. “[I]t was as if I dreamed him, because I didn’t have to give him any instruction,” Mitchell once said of Jaco. “I could just kind of cut him loose and stand back and celebrate his choices.” Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Larry Graham As a member of Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham helped popularize the slap-bass technique with hits like “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Dance to the Music.” He developed the unmissable, percussive approach — Graham calls it “thumpin’ and pluckin’” — while playing in a trio with his mother in San Francisco. When the drummer quit, “I would thump the strings with my thumb to make up for the bass drum, and pluck the strings with my fingers to make up for the backbeat snare drum,” Graham remembered. These lines erupted in Sly and the Family Stone songs, inverting the traditional roles of instruments in popular music and making an indelible impression on future icons like Prince, a friend and frequent collaborator of Graham’s who once called Graham “my teacher.” “If you listen to records from the Fifties, you’ll find that all the melodic information is mixed very loud … and the rhythmic information is mixed rather quietly,” Brian Eno explained in 1983. “From the time of Sly and the Family Stone’s Fresh album, there’s a flip over, where the rhythm instruments, particularly the bass drum and bass, suddenly become the important instruments in the mix.” Graham had a simple explanation for it all: Playing with that much force ensures that “the dancers just won’t hide.” David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker got much of the attention in Cream, but Jack Bruce gave the group the thrust to make them a true power trio. When Clapton would play his soaring blues licks and Baker explored jazzy new strata behind his drum kit, Bruce, also the group’s lead vocalist, kept the band together with heavy bass lines that always seemed to be moving. “Jack Bruce definitely opened my eyes as to what a bass player could do live,” Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler once said. “I went to see Cream mainly because of Clapton … and I was mesmerized at Jack Bruce’s playing. I didn’t know a bass player could do those things, filling in where the rhythm guitar would normally be.” Bruce played jittery, tumbling lines under the trio’s group vocals on “I Feel Free,” smart harmonies on “Sunshine of Your Love,” and basically his own riff under Clapton’s on “Strange Brew.” “He was a small guy, but his playing was monstrous,” Mountain guitarist Leslie West, who played with Bruce later, once said. “He made his bass bark, and everything he did was so melodic.” Jasper Dailey/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Cutting her teeth in Fifties jazz clubs and breaking out as a studio guitarist for hitmakers like Sam Cooke, Kaye went on to become the most recorded bassist of all time — with more than 10,000 tracks under her belt. From the sunny swing of the Beach Boys’ 1965 track “Help Me, Rhonda” to Richie Valens’ now-classic 1958 version of “La Bamba” to Frank and Nancy Sinatra’s romantic 1967 rendition of “Somethin’ Stupid,” Kaye’s fingerprints are all over the history of modern pop. And that’s not even including her myriad movie and TV show themes — she gave the title songs for everything from Batman to Mission Impossible their uniquely groovy backbone. “I was a guitar player, and I thought, ‘God, that’s kind of a simple bass line,’” she told For Bass Players Only of the intuition that helped guide her playing. “I thought the bass could be moving around more and the music would sound better.” Her star collaborators evidently agreed. “He would keep my bass sound way up in the mixes,” she said of Brian Wilson in 2011. “On a song like ‘California Girls,’ at times you can hardly hear anything else. He just liked my sound and the way I moved around the fretboard.” Bootsy Collins — or “Bootzilla,” “Casper the Friendly Ghost,” or “The World’s Only Rhinestone Rock Star Doll, Baba,” depending on the song — redefined soul and funk bass playing in the Seventies and, by proxy, rap and pop in the Eighties and Nineties. Collins joined James Brown’s backing group, the J.B.’s, in 1970 and immediately latched on to Soul Brother No. 1’s concept of “The One,” hitting the first beat of a musical measure as hard as possible and filling the rest of it with funkiness. Later, he stretched out that concept into a trippy wonderland when he joined George Clinton’s cabal, playing mushy, wah-wah bass in Parliament and Funkadelic before becoming a solo star, fronting his own Rubber Band, wearing star-shaped sunglasses, playing a star-shaped bass, and singing cartoonish love songs with comic-book enthusiasm. You can hear his influence in practically every bass player to come since, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea to the records Dr. Dre liberally sampled to create the G-Funk sound. “Bootsy came along and all he added … was the emphasis on the one,” George Clinton once said. “You could add that to ‘The ABC’s,’ and it would be funk in two seconds. And from then on, everything we did was funky for real, no matter how pop we tried to be.” Dezo Hoffman/Shutterstock John Entwistle The Who’s John Entwistle had a lot of nicknames, including the Ox, due to his imposing build and endless appetites, and the Quiet One, because of his stoic demeanor. But the most apt was one Thunderfingers, a name bestowed upon him because every time he played a note on the bass it sounded like a vicious storm coming over the horizon. It was a style he developed to be heard while playing on the same stage as flamboyant showboats Keith Moon and Pete Townshend, but he brought a remarkable fluidity and grace to his role that was unlike anything anyone had ever heard before. Simply put, he treated the bass like a lead instrument and made it stand out as much as any guitar. And his chunky solo on “My Generation” inspired countless teenagers to pick up the bass, though emulating his playing was a near-impossible task. “Entwistle was arguably the greatest rock bassist of them all,” said Rush’s Geddy Lee, “daring to take the role and sound of the bass guitar and push it out of the murky depths while strutting those amazing chops.” Charles Mingus was so much more than a bass player — composer, conceptualist, classically trained cellist, social critic — that it’s sometimes easy to forget how much of a force he was on his instrument. But at the heart of his lush, kaleidoscopic pieces was a relentless rhythmic drive that flowed from his fingers through the strings and directly into his bands, making it sound as though the soloists were jumping on a giant trampoline. Listen to him chugging away on classic compositions like “II B.S.” and “Better Get Hit in Your Soul,” aligning with drummer and musical soulmate Dannie Richmond, and you’ll get a sense of the strength and grace of his playing, the way he could make a walking line sound both hulking and nimble. Mingus’ career spanned multiple eras of jazz, and his command on the instrument made stylistic divisions seem irrelevant: That’s why he sounds equally at home swinging with Lionel Hampton’s big band in the late Forties (on his own “Mingus Fingers”), jamming with fellow bebop royalty in the Fifties (on the famed Jazz at Massey Hall album, which featured bass parts overdubbed in the studio by the famously exacting Mingus), and carrying on a lively, percussive conversation with his musical idol Duke Ellington in the Sixties (on the immortal Money Jungle). Though he was known mainly for his contribution to jazz, he was never bound by it, as shown by his collaboration with Joni Mitchell and his influence on Sixties rock greats like Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts. Throughout his life, Mingus constantly spoke out against those would tried to limit or underestimate his artistry. Commenting on the unfairness of jazz critics’ polls, he once said, “I don’t want none of them damn polls. I know what kind of bass player I am.” Wikimedia(CC BY-SA 3.0) James Jamerson James Jamerson anchored the Motown rhythm section, expanding the possibilities for bass players with hit after hit after hit, all while remaining mostly anonymous, because session players were rarely credited on Sixties Motown recordings. “James Jamerson became my hero,” Paul McCartney once said, “although I didn’t actually know his name until quite recently.” When Jamerson started his career, the bass was largely seen as a utilitarian support instrument; most players stuck to “stagnant two beat, root-fifth patterns and post–’Under the Boardwalk’ clichéd bass lines,” according to Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson. Jamerson helped revolutionize the field, jolting his parts with extra syncopation, additional chords that added melodic depth and complexity, and tonal choices that evoked gospel harmony. His list of contributions to iconic records is impossible to sum up quickly, but his key Motown recordings include the Temptations’ “My Girl,” which surely has one of the most recognizable, instantly gratifying bass parts in all of pop; Gladys Knight’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” where he plays a suave, bubbly counter to the jittery piano; and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” which finds Jamerson at his hyper-melodic best. “James went a step beyond what bassists normally do,” explained Bob Babbitt, who also played bass on several What’s Going On tracks. “At first he took chances and let himself go, and then it just became natural for him, and in the process he changed the course of bass playing.” Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture. Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine The Famous Faces We’re Most Excited to See in The Stan Original Series ‘Poker Face’ Competition Ts & Cs Editorial Code RS Awards 22 Have you got Tip/Op-Ed/Video? 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instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi. I,m a 47 year old female with no heart issues that I,m aware of. I am very stressed, but not overweight, my cholesterol is fine and so is my blood pressure. I am experiencing short stinging pains on the left side of my chest off and on just today. It's happened maybe 4 or 5 times. I've also had a couple of small electrical shocks in the palm of my left hand. Would this be heart related.Thanks.Lynn t could cause chest pain? output: Hello. Thank you for asking on HCM. I read your concern.Now, chest pain coming from the heart can be of two types: angina, which is produced by a blockage in a coronary artery and is described more like a chest tenderness, heaviness that begins during physical activity, lasts 5-15 minutes and goes away after the physical activity is ceased or after using nitroglycerin under the tongue. The other type comes when the heart lining (pericardial sac) is inflammated and is described as a stabbing pain that worsens when lying down and decreases when sitting prone. My opinion is that this is not a chest pain with cardiac origin. It may be musculoskeletal or stress-induced pinching pain. I hope I was helpful. Take care...

RB at the Finance and Expenditure Committee May 16, 2020 May 16, 2020 Michael Reddell Monetary policy, pandemic After each Monetary Policy Statement (and Financial Stability Report – there is another of those along very shortly), Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee invites the Governor and his colleagues along. They tend not to be particularly searching appearances – when times are more or less okay, MPs seem more interested in securing soundbites for media coverage than in serious scrutiny. In principle, the Committee takes the process seriously – they even hire a local economist as a part-time adviser to brief them and suggest questions – but any real scrutiny is pretty rare. I haven’t been along to one of the hearings in the time I’ve been writing this blog, and although I had become vaguely aware that the hearings were being livestreamed, I hadn’t even bothered to track down those. But some members of the Epidemic Response Committee had been willing to ask the Bank some fairly specific questions a few weeks ago (my write-up on the Bank’s responses is here). And many of the issues around the Bank’s handling of the current situation haven’t gone away, so I found the link to the footage of the Bank’s appearance on Thursday morning, As far as I could see, there was almost no subsequent coverage (the Budget and all that), which was a shame as some significant issues surfaced. In this post, I want to focus on the questions/comments by three MPs, and the responses of Bank officials to them. The first was a question from Labour MP Duncan Webb, who took a longer-term perspective and asked the Bank about the exit strategy from the Large Scale Asset Purchase programme. It was a good question, because it is easy to get into these things, and not always easy to get out again. The Governor’s response was also straight, and really the only one he could give. He noted that he would love to be in the position, a few years hence, where the economy was running strongly, inflation pressures beginning to build, when the Bank could sell its bond holdings gradually back into the market (“tapering”). That is clearly a first-best situation from here. On the other hand, the Governor noted that in other countries it has more usually been the case that the bulk of bonds purchased have been held by the central bank until maturity (the longest current New Zealand government bond matures in 2040). There is a variety of reasons for that observed behaviour, some defensible, others not. My point here is not to disagree with either the Governor or Mr Webb, but to welcome the fact that an MP raised the longer-term issues, and to hope that the Committee and the Bank continue to engage on the issue. It would not be ideal if the Bank ends up holding half of all the government bonds on issue for the next decade, and to support that has to maintain unusual liquidity management arrangements on the other side of its balance sheet. The most serious questions about the immediate situation were asked by National’s Finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith. He seems, reasonably enough, to have become a little troubled at (a) the lack of much sign of an easing in monetary conditions as they affect real people, and (b) the apparently rather relaxed approach the Bank has taken, and appear to continue to take, to the option of a negative OCR. This time he succeeded in getting a slightly more specific response from the Bank. You’ll recall that Orr has claimed that some banks are ‘not ready’, without ever being specific as to which banks, what the specific issues are, or even why some banks allegedly not “being ready” should hold back the entire economy. (On this note, I happen to have had credible reports of two bank chairs this week each stating that they don’t understand the issue either, and that of course their banks are quite ready.) As I’ve noted in previous posts, this “not ready” claim has always been a bit fishy. We never heard it a decade ago in other countries that dipped their toes into negative policy rate territory. And most of the banks operating here are part of overseas banking groups, at least parts of which will be operating in countries with negative policy rates. And if the issue was really about retail rates and retail systems, most of our retail rates are still so positive that any “readiness” issues wouldn’t arise even for OCR levels much lower than those at present. Anyway, Orr finally clarified his claim, which is now that “some banks” (“some” presumably being less than “most” or “a large number”) still had systems problems that meant they could not cope with “a negative OCR or negative wholesale rates”. He went on to add that banks were quite busy at present, but that only last week the Reserve Bank had written to banks, indicating that banks needed to show that they would be “ready to go” should negative rates prove to be needed, by “towards the end of the year”. It still somewhat defies belief. When much of the government bond markets in the rest of the world have been trading with negative yields for some time, when our first (indexed) bond yields went negative last year, surely every bank with any sort of wholesale operation must be capable of coping with negative wholesale rates – be it small (here) Chinese banks or big (here) Australian banks, or Citi, HSBC, JP Morgan or whatever. Is all this somehow about SBS and Heartland Bank (or even tinier NBDTs)? If so, isn’t that their problem, not something appropriate macro stimulus should be held back for? Anyway, I have now lodged a request for a copy of the letter sent to banks last week, and for the letter the Bank sent out in late January and responses (without names, or tabulated again anonymously) to it. In the meantime, here is the list of NZ-registered banks: perhaps some enterprising journalist could ring them each and ask if they have any systems obstacles to a negative OCR and if they do, what those obstacles are? Goldsmith also asked the Bank about the rather limited extent of the fall in retail interest rates (especially lending rates, whether for business and households), asking why the Bank had chosen to emphasise the large-scale asset purchase programme (LSAP) as its tool. In response, in addition to the alleged “operational problems” Orr ran through a litany of considerations: they looked, he claimed, at what would be most efficient, most effective. most easily operated, and with fewest distortions to markets and the LSAP had won ‘hands down’. He claimed – as he had on Wednesday at the release of the MPS – to be very pleased with the effectiveness of the LSAP so far. I went through some of the problems with that argument in my post on Thursday. But Goldsmith himself also persisted. The gist of his response was to say ‘well, yes, it is all very well to say you’ve lowered government bond rates – no one disputes that – but retail rates haven’t come down much at all have they?”. And at this point the Bank started floundering. The Governor turned for an answer to his chief economist Yuong Ha – who had been quoted in the Herald as recently as the 13 March observing that programmes like these don’t really achieve that much, buying just a little space, a little time etc. The gist of Ha’s response was “well, that isn’t really our issue is it? We don’t control the margins over wholesale rates banks set.” He went on to accept that wholesale rates had come down around 100 basis points – presumably here he meant the swaps yields I illustrated on Thursday – but that retail (deposit?) rates had only fallen by 20-30 points. He noted that the Bank “understood” the lack of passthrough so far”, but they would expect to see a lot more “as the economy recovers”. That didn’t seem to be much consolation, in an economy that needs monetary policy support now not in six or twelve months time? And, of course, Ha made no mention of the fact that – whether it is surveys or market prices one looks at – inflation expectations have come down a long way so that even real wholesale rates haven’t changed that much at all. Then Orr weighed in again suggesting that he was “very pleased” with the wholesale rate impact, but “less pleased” about the retail rate response. He too ran the line about ‘we can rationalise why that is” – as they did in the MPS, noting that effective marginal funding costs remain high. But neither he nor Ha seemed willing to entertain the otherwise-obvious conclusion that if wholesale rates had fallen but retail rates hadn’t much, and you can understand why that is, the usual – wholly conventional – response is some more easing in wholesale rates. That is exactly what happened in the 2008/09 recession, when funding costs also remained under heightened pressure. But not now: instead, there is just handwringing and hope. Goldsmith also challenged the Governor on his call to the banks to be “courageous”, suggesting that “courageous” lending might easily be rather risky or dangerous lending. The Governor had not much more than bluster in response, but it isn’t my focus. Then Goldsmith asked the Governor about those comments a few weeks ago that the Bank could consider buying government bonds directly from the Crown, rather than (as at present) in the secondary market. He seemed to just be wanting to close off the issue, but the Governor opened it up all over again, in a way that seems to have attracted no attention. The expected answer would probably have been along the lines that there were no plans at present, the secondary market was working well, but if there ever were dysfunction there was really no macro difference in the Bank buying direct, so long as the decision rested with the Bank, consistent with the inflation target. In backing the Governor on this point previously, that is what I have said. Instead, the Governor launched into a discussion noting that while the Bank did not rule out lending direct to the Crown, that was really fiscal policy not monetary policy, that the central bank can always lend as much as fiscal policy requires, but that that would be a matter for the government to decide, not the Bank. Goldsmith then challenged him on that, asking whether he was really saying that the Minister could decide whether the Bank would lend direct. Orr reiterated the possibility of market dysfunction, while noting that at present markets were functioning well, but then repeated that what he called “pure monetary financing” would be a matter for the Minister of Finance to decide. At this point, the Governor invited the Deputy Governor Geoff Bascand – usually the safe pair of hands in that senior management cohort – to comment. He indicated that it would be a matter of ministerial direction, but which would involve a substantial process including looking at whether what the minister might be directing would still be consistent with the existing price stability etc target. And then he tried to close things down by suggesting that this was all just an “esoteric discussion”. Reasonably enough ACT’s David Seymour reacted to that, suggesting that if the Bank was seriously saying the Minister of Finance could direct them to lend to the government, in any amount he chose, it was “anything but esoteric”. The thing is, I am not at all sure what the Bank is talking about. As I’ve noted here previously, in the 1989 Reserve Bank Act there were no prohibitions on the Bank lending to the government, directly or indirectly, but it was entirely a matter for the Governor to agree, or not. His constraint was the inflation target he was required to pursue, and he had the ability to adjust other instruments to offset any inflationary impact of lending to the government. Such lending has happened at the past, including through a priced overdraft facility at the Bank (although the Crown tends to prefer now to operate with credit balances). But there was no explicit power for the Minister of Finance to direct the Bank to lend to the Crown. I’m less familiar with the fine details of the 2018 amendments, but I cannot see any change to that position in the current legislation either. It is as it should be. I’m pretty sure that no modern advanced country central bank’s enabling legislation empowers the Minister of Finance to direct the central bank to lend to the government. The government can of course choose to spend (run deficits) as much as it likes, and as a technical matter the Bank can finance any amount, but if the initiative for fiscal deficits rest wholly with the government, the ability of the Bank to say no to funding those deficits is pretty foundational to modern central banking. There are two sets of directive powers in the (monetary policy bits of the ) Reserve Bank Act, one or other of which are I presume what the Governor and his Deputy were talking about. The Minister can direct the Bank to deal in the foreign exchange market and can even direct them to set a fixed exchange rate (sections 17 and 18) and if the MPC considers that giving effect to such directions would be inconsistent with the existing mandate (the Remit), it can (sec 19) require the Minister to either issue a new mandate consistent with the direction, or it does not give effect to the foreign exchange market directive. That sounds quite a lot like what the Deputy Governor was talking about – and every so often Bank officials refresh their understanding of these provisions (I recall writing at least one such paper myself) but………a direction under these sections of the Act has nothing at all to do with compelling the Bank to lend to the government. The other, better-known, directive/override power is section 12 of the Act. Under that provision – a directly parallel provision was in the 1989 Act as well – the Minister of Finance can, for up to 12 months at a time (and transparently), override and replace the existing Remit (the 1-3 per cent inflation target and requirement to support maximum sustainable employment) with one or more other “economic objectives” and the MPC is then required to conduct policy in accord with that new mandate. I’ve long held that this power could be used to directly compel the MPC to, say target short-term interest rates of -0.5 per cent (or even -5 per cent), or to target the nominal exchange rate at, say, 20 per cent below current levels, or to use monetary policy with the goal of getting the unemployment rate below, say, 5 per cent in two years’ time, or a variety of other alternatives. The Bank, the Governor and the MPC have no choice in the matter. They are required to run monetary policy consistent with devoting their best efforts to achieving the target the Minister has set. If they tried to avoid taking the new target sufficiently seriously, it would be clear grounds for the Governor and Deputy Govenor to be dismissed, and other members of the MPC to be removed from those statutory offices. But……there is no hint in this provision, or anywhere else in the Act, suggesting that the Minister of Finance can direct the Bank to lend to the government. Perhaps the Bank and its lawyers think/worry that “lend to the government at zero interest up to $…billion” is an alternative “economic objective” within the meaning of section 12 of the Act. But, at very least, it would be a stretch – it isn’t an “economic objective”, but an instrument, and favouring one specific party in the economy. And note that if a government did attempt to impose such an “economic objective” there would still be nothing to stop the Bank setting interest rates for the rest of the economy at a sufficiently high level to counter the inflationary effects of this coerced lending. I’m at a loss to know what the Governor and Deputy Governor mean. I’m tempted to lodge an OIA request, but am not sure I’ll bother, as they would find myriad ways to refuse to release anything. But journalists could directly ask the Bank what the Governor/Deputy Governor were on about? MPs could use parliamentary questions to ask the Minister of Finance whether (a) he has received any advice as regard his direction powers over the Reserve Bank, and (b) whether he or Treasury believe he has the statutory power to compel the Bank to lend to the Crown. Most everyone I’m aware of has always assumed they can’t – and took great reassurance in that – so if the powers that be now believe differently we deserve to know? (Of course, if the government just wants more inflation, it can always raise the inflation target, but that is a rather different issue). This post has gone on quite long enough, so I won’t devote the space I was going to to David Seymour’s extraordinary attempt to out-New Zealand First in defending old people. Weirdly, Seymour – who is usually quite wary of loose use of fiscal policy – declared himself all in favour of bigger government, aggressive use of fiscal policy – while expressing great concern about the way savers were being “penalised” by interest rate cuts, and currency being debased, all while accusing the Bank of deviating from its mandate. I thought the Governor showed commendable – admirable – restraint in his response, stepping through how monetary policy works (“one interest rate for all” etc) and even came close to (but couldn’t quite do so explicitly) pointing out to Seymour that real deposit rates are now HIGHER than they were a few months ago. That’s perverse, of course….but then the Governor and MPC could do something about that – this tool called the OCR. And there was the extraordinary claim late in the session from the Deputy Governor (with responsibility for bank regulation and financial stability) that there was “no reason for banks to tighten up credit” amid a really deep recession and huge uncertainty about the future, whether for individual sectors, firms or individuals, or for the economy as a whole. But perhaps I’ll come back to that breathtaking claim another day. Perhaps the banks could reply to Bascand with that old maxim Keynes invoked; “when the facts change, sir, I change my mind. What do you do?”. To repeat, if the Bank/Governor/MPC will not do their job, and act aggressively in ways that credibly keep forecast inflation, and expectations of future inflation, on target, the Minister’s extraordinary (but clearly specified, there for a purpose) powers should be used. But there should be no question of compelling the Bank to lend to the Crown.

Um pirata (do grego πειρατής, peiratés, derivado de πειράω, "tentar, assaltar", pelo latim e italiano pirata) é um marginal que, de forma autônoma ou organizado em grupos, cruza os mares só com o fito de promover saques e pilhagem a navios e a cidades para obter riquezas e poder. O estereótipo mais conhecido do pirata se refere aos Piratas do Caribe, cuja a época áurea, conhecida como Época Dourada da Pirataria, ocorreu principalmente entre os séculos XVI e XVIII. História da pirataria O primeiro a usar o termo pirata para descrever aqueles que pilhavam os navios e cidades costeiras foi Homero, na Grécia antiga, na sua Odisseia. Os piratas são aqueles que pilham no mar por conta própria, embora hoje em dia este termo já seja aplicado a qualquer pessoa que viola alguma coisa (como por exemplo os piratas do ar ou os piratas informáticos). Eles navegavam nas rotas comerciais com o objetivo de apoderarem-se das riquezas alheias, que pertencessem a mercadores, navios do estado ou povoações e mesmo cidades costeiras, capturando tudo o que tivesse valor (desde metais e pedras preciosas a bens) e fazendo reféns, para extorquir resgates. Normalmente esses reféns eram as pessoas mais importantes e ricas para que, assim, o valor do pedido de resgate pudesse ser mais elevado. Primeiramente a pirataria marítima foi praticada por gregos que roubavam mercadores fenícios e assírios desde pelo menos 735 a.C A pirataria continuou a causar problemas, atingindo proporções alarmantes no século I d.C., quando uma frota de mil navios pirata atacou e destruiu uma frota romana e pilhou aldeias no sul da Turquia. São considerados uns dos precursores dos conhecimentos de navegação marítima. Na Idade Média, a pirataria passou a ser praticada pelos normandos (que atuavam principalmente nas ilhas britânicas, França e império germânico, embora chegassem mesmo ao Mediterrâneo e ao mar Morto), pelos Muçulmanos (Mediterrâneo) e piratas locais. Mais tarde a prática pirata difundiu-se pelas colônias europeias e no Japão, nomeadamente nas Caraíbas, onde os piratas existiam em grande quantidade, procurando uma boa presa que levasse riquezas das colônias americanas para a Europa, atingindo a sua época áurea no século XVIII. Do fim do século XVI até o século XVIII, o Mar do Caribe era um terreno de caça para piratas que atacavam primeiramente os navios espanhóis, mas posteriormente aqueles de todas as nações com colônias e postos avançados de comércio na área. Os grandes tesouros de ouro e prata que a Espanha começou a enviar do Novo Mundo para a Europa logo chamaram atenção destes piratas. Muitos deles eram oficialmente sancionados por nações em guerra com a Espanha, mas diante de uma lenta comunicação e da falta de um patrulhamento internacional eficaz, a linha entre a pirataria oficial e a criminosa era indefinida. As tripulações de piratas eram formadas por todos os tipos de pessoas, mas a maioria deles era de homens do mar que desejavam obter riquezas e liberdades reais. Muitos eram escravos fugitivos ou servos sem rumo. As tripulações eram normalmente muito democráticas. O capitão era eleito por ela e podia ser removido a qualquer momento. Eles preferiam navios pequenos e rápidos, que pudessem lutar ou fugir de acordo com a ocasião. Preferiam o método de ataque que consistia em embarcar e realizar o ataque corpo a corpo. Saqueavam navios de mercadores levemente armados, mas ocasionalmente atacavam uma cidade ou um navio de guerra, caso o risco valesse a pena. Normalmente, não tinham qualquer tipo de disciplina, bebiam muito e sempre terminavam mortos no mar, doentes ou enforcados, depois de uma carreira curta, mas transgressora. No auge, os piratas controlavam cidades insulares que eram paraísos para recrutar tripulações, vender mercadorias capturadas, consertar navios e gastar o que saqueavam. Várias nações faziam vista grossa à pirataria, desde que seus próprios navios não fossem atacados. Quando a colonização do Caribe tornou-se mais efetiva e a região se tornou economicamente mais importante, os piratas gradualmente desapareceram, após terem sido caçados por navios de guerra e suas bases terem sido tomadas. Desde aí, a pirataria vem perdendo importância, embora em 1920 ainda tivesse a sua importância nos mares da China. Atualmente, a pirataria revela-se mais incidente no Sudeste Asiático e ainda no Caribe, sendo os locais de ataque espaços entre as ilhas, onde os piratas atacam de surpresa com lanchas muito rápidas. Norte da África – piratas e corsários berberes e corsários de Malta Os corsários da Berbéria (Norte de África) estavam divididos em duas classes, em Argel e Tunis, e eram equipados pelos mais ricos, que recebiam 10% do valor arrecadado. Os piratas usavam galeras até o século XVII, quando Simon Danser, um flamengo exilado, lhes deu a vantagem de navegar em barcos à vela. Esta pirataria ganhou importância política no século XVI, sendo a época de ouro da pirataria berbere desde o século XVII ao XIX. O líder mais importante do norte de África foi Barbarossa (ou Barba Ruiva), que uniu a Argélia e a Tunísia militarmente, sob o poder do sultanato otomano com o seu arrendamento da pirataria. Com a chegada de dos poderosos clãs mouros de Rabat e Tétuão, em 1609, Marrocos tornou-se um novo centro para os piratas e para os sultões Alawi, que rapidamente se apoderaram das duas repúblicas e encorajaram a pirataria como um rendimento rentável. No século XVII, os piratas argelinos e tunísios uniram forças, e em 1650 mais de 30 000 dos seus cativos foram aprisionados somente em Argel (ver: Escravidão branca). Os actos piratas foram a causa de várias guerras entre Tripolitânia e os Estados Unidos no século XIX (Guerras Berberes). Os britânicos fizeram duas tentativas para acabar com a ameaça dos piratas argelinos depois de 1815, e os franceses acabaram esta guerra em 1830. Depois da revolução americana (1775-1783), os EUA aceitaram pagar pela imunidade aos atacantes, mas mais tarde atacaram os estados dos piratas do Norte de África e ajudaram a acabar com a pirataria. Durante o resto do século XIX e do princípio do século XX, os estados europeus ganharam poder. Oriente Menos conhecidos mas também muito ativos foram os piratas do Extremo Oriente. Zheng Zhilong foi um pirata chinês que assumiu o poder durante a transição entre as dinastias Ming e Qing, no século XVII. Como um rapaz normal, Zheng encontrou emprego na colónia portuguesa Macau, onde foi batizado e recebeu um nome cristão: Nicolau Gaspar. Depois de deixar Macau, ele entrou num grupo de piratas que atacava as rotas comerciais chinesas e holandesas. Em 1628, ele foi induzido pelo governo para ajudar a defender a costa dos holandeses e piratas, e assim rapidamente adquiriu riqueza e poder. Muitos outros piratas surgiram no oriente. Assim, no fim do século XVII, com o crescimento da economia do Japão durante o Xogunato Tokugawa (1603-1867) e a dinastia chinesa Qing, a maior parte da pirataria desapareceu. Com o aumento do tamanho dos navios a vapor, inovações tecnológicas das comunicações, patrulha naval das principais rotas marítimas, uma administração regular da maioria das ilhas e áreas continentais costeiras em todo o mundo e a concordância internacional para com a eliminação da pirataria, esta entrou em declínio nos séculos XIX e XX. Portugal e a pirataria O corso português tornou-se comum no século XIV, altura em que dom Dinis contratou Manuel Pessanha, que ficava com um quinto da riqueza dos barcos e com os navios e as armas destes. A partir de 1443, os corsos portugueses passaram o tributo, tal como pagavam a dom Dinis, de um quinto das pilhagens efetuadas ao conde dom Henrique. Um dos principais objetivos dos portugueses era dominar o estreito de Gibraltar de modo a combater parte da pirataria e do corso sarraceno, assim como com o domínio deste espaço este se tornaria num importante entreposto comercial. O corso português destacou-se principalmente contra o reino de Granada, no sul de Espanha, enfraquecendo assim o domínio deste reino muçulmano na Europa. Em 1446, reuniram-se as cortes em Lisboa, onde os mercadores algarvios, representados pelos armadores de Tavira, queixaram-se das perseguições e pilhagens que compatriotas armados lhes faziam a eles e aos aliados cristãos (castelhanos, galícios, aragoneses, entre outros), fazendo assim com que o Algarve perdesse a sua importância como ponto de cabotagem. Entre os corsos portugueses desta época, destacaram-se Gonçalo Pacheco, Mafaldo, Lançarote, etc. Em 1498, o Reino de Portugal enviou Duarte Pacheco Pereira em uma expedição para saber se as 370 léguas das ilhas de Cabo Verde realmente existiam. Essa expedição é considerada um ato de pirataria e espionagem no Oceano Atlântico. Portugal no Oriente Quando chegou a Calecute, Vasco da Gama atacou três embarcações e fez diversos reféns, provocando, assim, a autoridade de Calecute. Calecute respondeu e perseguiu os navios portugueses, contudo Vasco da Gama fez uma ação de represálias e, ao se cruzar com a primeira esquadra naval, atacou-a. Antes de regressar, a frota portuguesa foi atacada por um importante corsário e pirata, Timoja, que foi repelido de imediato e que, mais tarde, veio a prestar grandes serviços aos portugueses. Para além destes violentos acontecimentos, os navegadores portugueses praticariam outros violentos e cruéis atos de corso no Oriente. Para oriente da costa do Coromandel, nomeadamente no Golfo de Bengala e no mar da China, onde o território marítimo era mais difícil de controlar, existiram vários piratas, que eram principalmente portugueses. Estes fora da lei eram foragidos, desertores e renegados. No Golfo de Bengala, em Dianga, existia uma comunidade corsária instalada em 1540, que era principalmente constituída por portugueses. Entretanto, o governador de Goa começou-se a sentir ameaçado por esta comunidade, e então fez-lhes um ataque onde matou seiscentos e expulsou os restantes, no entanto só veio a ser definitivamente exterminada em 1666. Além desta comunidade, ainda atuavam no extremo oriente corsos-mercadores portugueses, de onde se destacou António de Faria, mas também existiam salteadores nativos. Sabe-se que existiram muitos mais aventureiros do género na zona, no entanto não existiam narradores para testemunhar as histórias, sendo o principal narrador Fernão Mendes Pinto. O corso inglês e suas implicações Saque do Recife O Saque do Recife, também conhecido como "Expedição Pernambucana de Lancaster", foi um episódio da Guerra Anglo-Espanhola ocorrido em 1595 no porto do Recife, em Pernambuco, Brasil Colônia. Liderada pelo almirante inglês James Lancaster, foi a única expedição de corso da Inglaterra que teve como objetivo principal o Brasil, e representou o mais rico butim da história da navegação de corso do período elisabetano. A União Ibérica colocou o Brasil em conflito com potências europeias que eram amigas de Portugal mas inimigas da Espanha, como a Inglaterra e a Holanda. A Capitania de Pernambuco, mais rica de todas as possessões portuguesas, se tornou então um alvo cobiçado. Poucos anos após derrotarem a Invencível Armada espanhola, em 1588, os ingleses tiveram acesso a manuscritos portugueses e espanhóis que detalhavam a costa do Brasil. Um deles, de autoria do mercador português Lopes Vaz, veio a ser publicado em inglês e enfatizava as qualidades da rica vila de Olinda ao dizer que "Pernambuco é a mais importante cidade de toda aquela costa". A opulência pernambucana impressionara o padre Fernão Cardim, que surpreendeu-se com "as fazendas maiores e mais ricas que as da Bahia, os banquetes de extraordinárias iguarias, os leitos de damasco carmesim, franjados de ouro e as ricas colchas da Índia", e resumiu suas impressões numa frase antológica: "Enfim, em Pernambuco acha-se mais vaidade que em Lisboa". Logo a capitania seria vista pelos ingleses como um "macio e suculento" pedaço do Império de Filipe II. A expedição de James Lancaster saiu de Blackwall, na Grande Londres, em outubro de 1594, e navegou através do Atlântico capturando numerosos navios antes de atingir Pernambuco. Ao chegar, Lancaster confrontou a resistência local, mas se deparou na entrada do porto com três urcas holandesas, das quais esperava uma reação negativa, o que não aconteceu: os antes pacíficos holandeses levantaram âncora e deixaram o caminho livre para a invasão inglesa, e além de não terem oposto resistência à ação, terminaram por se associar aos ingleses, fretando seus navios para o transporte dos bens subtraídos em Pernambuco. Lancaster então tomou o Recife e nele permaneceu por quase um mês, espaço de tempo no qual se associou aos franceses que chegaram no porto e derrotou uma série de contra-ataques portugueses. A frota partiu com um montante robusto de açúcar, pau-brasil, algodão e mercadorias de alto preço. Dos navios que partiram do porto, apenas uma pequena nau não chegou ao seu destino. O lucro dos investidores, entre eles Thomas Cordell, então prefeito de Londres, e o vereador da cidade de Londres John Watts, foi assombroso, estimado em mais de 51 mil libras esterlinas. Do total, libras ficaram com Lancaster e foram para a Rainha. Com tal desfecho, a expedição foi considerada um absoluto sucesso militar e financeiro. Após a visita de Lancaster, a Capitania de Pernambuco organizou duas companhias armadas para a defesa da região, cada uma delas com 220 mosqueteiros e arcabuzeiros, uma sediada em Olinda e outra no Recife. Anos depois, o então governador Matias de Albuquerque procurou estabelecer posições fortificadas no porto do Recife. O corso francês e suas implicações De início, os países ibéricos fizeram frente ao corso europeu porque tinham espiões espalhados pela Europa. Já no século XVI, a França era coordenadora de atividades corsárias e piráticas, que eram o reflexo da tentativa de estabelecer um comércio ultramarino, na altura em que a França se tentava instalar no Novo Mundo. Quando a França começou a explorar os oceanos, já tinha praticamente de um século de atraso em relação aos países ibéricos. Este atraso ficou-se a dever à infração da ordem jurídico-política da época, nomeadamente do Mare Clausum, uma bula em que a exploração do oceano atlântico estava restringida aos estados ibéricos. Em 1503, um navio francês de grande tonelagem, o Espoir, partiu com o objetivo de chegar à Índia pelo oceano, ajudado pelos portugueses Sebastião Moura e Diogo Coutinho, bons conhecedores das rotas atlânticas e índicas. Contudo, apanhado por uma tempestade, o navio ficou impossibilitado de avançar e os aventureiros foram ter à costa brasileira, de onde levaram várias mercadorias exóticas. Teve sorte em não encontrar qualquer barco português, mas ao chegar, foi atacado por piratas, que lhe roubaram a mercadoria e fundearam o navio, e além deste infortúnio ainda foram punidos por violarem o Mare Nostrum. Vinte anos mais tarde, foi Verrazano a tentar, que falhou na primeira tentativa, e na segunda chegou à América do Norte. Contudo, apesar de tanto fracasso, o piloto genovês acabou por conseguir atrair capitais de áreas geográficas distintas mais uma vez, tal como nas duas anteriores. Desta vez, dois dos quatro barcos regressaram após uma tempestade, um naufragou e o outro continuou até Samatra e no regresso naufragou. Os dois que regressaram fizeram escala no Brasil, de onde levaram mercadorias. Após a motivação pelos lucros de Vezarrano, muitos outros armadores franceses aventuraram-se para chegar às terras asiáticas, e outros para o Brasil. Em 1528, chega, finalmente, um navio francês ao porto de Diu, onde é capturado, causando grande consternação no governador de Samatra. Na segunda metade do século XVI, os huguenotes, agora aliados com os cristãos franceses, lançaram sucessivos ataques à navegação ibérica, e devido ao motivo de estes serem protestantes, cada vez que se encontravam com embarcações católicas tornavam-se em assassinos sanguinários. Estes atos de violência são visíveis no episódio em que estes se encontraram com a nau Santiago, em que assassinaram brutalmente a sua tripulação de missionários jesuítas, e a situação repetiu-se, mais vezes. Após estes ataques, os reis católicos tomaram medidas para combater estes piratas e corsos, reforçando a guarda da costa portuguesa e brasileira. Alguns dos corsos franceses capturados da costa brasileira, eram entregues aos indígenas, que, por sua vez, os comiam (antropofagia). O saque do Funchal O saque do Funchal ocorreu no dia 3 de Outubro de 1566, quando uma expedição de Peyrot Monluc desembarcou perto do Funchal oitocentos a novecentos arcabuzeiros. Como a cidade não estava bem defendida devido à falta de armas e soldados, a ocupação desta foi fácil, tanto mais que um dos pilotos era português e conhecia bem o terreno, vindo a ser mais tarde enforcado em Lisboa por traição. Apesar da fraca defesa, Monluc foi ferido e morreu ao fim de três dias. Após dezasseis dias de permanência os piratas abandonaram o Funchal após vários atos de vandalismo, entre os quais contam-se duzentos moradores mortos, as moradias destruídas e pilhadas, destruíram os engenhos e plantações de açúcar e atearam incêndios e cometeram sacrilégios nas igrejas. Os reforços de Lisboa só chegaram ao fim de dezoito dias, já os piratas haviam partido. Os oito navios da frota francesa mais os dois que se encontravam presos no porto do Funchal partiram carregados de móveis, panos, jóias e trezentos escravos rumo às Canárias, onde se livraram da mercadoria roubada. O verdadeiro objectivo desta expedição nunca chegou a ser bem esclarecido. Os ataques franceses no Antigo Regime Por um período de cinco anos, desde 1706, os armadores maluínos tomaram, como primeiro alvo, os comboios do ouro do Brasil, mas agora, em vez dos habituais navio de tonelagem baixa (de 20 a 120 toneladas), ou do corso médio (fragatas de cento e cinquenta a trezentas toneladas) que atuavam isoladamente nas águas do Canal da Mancha ou da costa da Irlanda, passou-se a um novo tipo de corso, o grande corso. O grande corso requeria esquadras com um mínimo de quatro a cinco navios, com capacidade para combater a escolta das dos comboios. O primeiro ataque do género foi em 1706, contra a frota portuguesa de 150 naus e seis vasos de guerra fortemente artilhados, segundo J. S. da Silva e era a mais imponente e rica que entrara em Lisboa, quando vinte naus e um dos vasos de guerra se separaram dos restantes. Os corsos não se conseguiram apoderar na primeira tentativa, onde a aproximação foi feita com um pavilhão da Inglaterra (potencial aliada de Portugal), mas seguiram uma nau que ficara destruída na retaguarda e ficou para trás, mas quando René Duguay-Trouin a ia para tomar esta afundou-se com todo o tesouro. Mais tarde, Trouin foi chamado a Versalhes por Luís XIV, onde lhe foi concedida uma frota de dez navios com quatrocentos e sessenta canhões, mas desta vez o ataque foi planeado para os Açores. Mas como após três meses o comboio tardava a aparecer e a água escasseava, Tronuin decidiu atacar os navios que iriam fazer a escolta das ilhas até Lisboa. Decidiram atacar a ilha de S. Jorge, depois de desembarcados os setecentos homens e pilhados os armazéns de vinho e trigo, abateu-se uma grande tempestade sobre o arquipélago e estes foram obrigado a regressar, revelando-se assim esta expedição onde se gastara trezentas mil a quatrocentas mil libras um verdadeiro fracasso. Não contente com o fracasso da expedição, atacou alguns navios ingleses e a frota da Virgínia. O corso holandês e suas implicações Os neerlandeses fizeram várias incursões para conquistar o Brasil. Dado que os neerlandeses não conseguiram nenhuma autorização para praticarem o comércio no território brasileiro, tiveram de optar pela invasão do território, nomeadamente através do corso, tentando conquistar este. Mesmo durante as Tréguas dos Doze Anos, os ataques corsos às embarcações portuguesas não cessaram, assim como as ações piráticas. Em 1616, os neerlandeses apoderaram-se de vinte e oito navios à carreira do Brasil, e nos anos após o termo da paz, como é óbvio, estes números ainda aumentaram mais, como por exemplo em 1623, quando chegaram aos oitenta e quatro. Apesar de todos estes ataques, os neerlandeses não ficaram satisfeitos, e a Companhia das Índias Ocidentais em colaboração com os Estados Gerais resolveram implantar uma colônia no Brasil, o que vieram a conseguir mais tarde com a conquista da Baía de Todos-os-Santos (Bahia). Em 1644, após a restauração, Portugal deu início à recuperação de parte do seu território no Brasil. Após a recuperação do Brasil, dom João IV deu início às carreiras em comboio, tal como a Espanha fizera no caso da América Central com a Carreira das Índias Ocidentais. Navegar em comboio consistia em sempre que as embarcações, utilizando o exemplo português, partiam do Brasil eram escoltadas por navios de guerra até Portugal, combatendo assim a ação do corso. Para terminar com o corso holandês, Portugal reconquistou a Capitania de Pernambuco, e mais tarde Angola e São Tomé. Em 1649, foi fundada a Companhia Geral do Comércio do Brasil, que proporcionou condições para melhorar o tráfico marítimo entre Portugal e o Brasil. Uma das inovações da companhia era a existência de dói comboios por ano escoltados por dezoito navios de guerra, cada um com vinte a tinta pesos e para melhorar a defesa em caso de ataque os navios não deviam transportar carga em excesso, sendo assim suspensa a interdição de navegação para o Brasil de navios com menos de dezasseis pesos. Também apareceu o interesse de diminuir o risco de o comboio se encontrar com o inimigo tanto quanto possível, assim, sempre que a viagem fosse antes de 20 de Agosto era feita pelo norte dos Açores até ao paralelo de 42N e depois rumar ao Porto ou a Viana do Castelo, e caso fosse posteriormente deveria passar entre as ilhas da Madeira e Santa Maria em direção a Setúbal. Foram feitas coordenações para os navios comunicarem entre si através de sinais sonoros e visuais. A capitania deveria ser a primeira do comboio e a almirantada a última. É feito o controlo do uso do fogo a bordo, para reduzir o risco de incêndio. Graças a todas estas complexas medidas, a perda de navios vindos do Brasil diminuiu bastante, o que em parte também se deveu à desagregação e perda de territórios por parte da Holanda no ocidente e o conflito entre a Holanda e a Inglaterra. Ataque ao 5º Conde da Ericeira Dom Luís Carlos Inácio Xavier de Meneses, 5º conde da Ericeira e ex-vice-rei da Índia, após um furacão em sua viagem de regresso do Oriente a Portugal, aportou em Saint-Denis para reparar os estragos. Nos porões de sua embarcação, a nau Nossa Senhora do Cabo, era transportada uma rica coleção de manuscritos orientais, livros, moedas e armas, assim como uma grande quantidade de diamantes do rei, estimada entre três a quatro milhões de libras. Enquanto estava no porto, foi atacado por dois navios que, com pavilhões ingleses, lá entraram e, quando se encontravam a par do navio do Conde, trocaram-nos por pavilhões piratas e abriram fogo. O conde foi feito refém, sendo obrigado a pagar um resgate de duas mil piastras pela sua liberdade. A partir de La Buse, nasceu o mito da caça a este tesouro, uma vez que, ao ser condenado, La Buse deixou um criptograma na altura da sua morte na forca com a indicação do local onde teria enterrado o tesouro outrora roubado ao conde da Ericeira. Em 1934, um historiador francês (Charles de la Roncière) admitiu que o tão cobiçado tesouro se poderia encontrar no arquipélago das Seychelles, onde foi encontrado um dos pontos de referência: gravuras rupestres. Pirataria nas Ilhas Canárias Devido à situação estratégica deste arquipélago espanhol como uma encruzilhada de rotas marítimas e ponte comercial entre a Europa, África e América, este foi um dos lugares do planeta com a maior presença pirata. Nas Ilhas Canárias, destacam-se os ataques e a pilhagem contínua de corsários berberes, ingleses, franceses e holandeses; e por outro lado, a presença de piratas e corsários deste arquipélago, que fizeram suas incursões no Caribe. Piratas e corsários como François le Clerc, Jacques de Sores, Francis Drake, Pieter van der Does, Morato Arrais e Horatio Nelson atacaram as ilhas. Entre os nascidos no arquipélago destaca-se sobretudo Amaro Pargo, a quem o monarca Felipe V de Espanha frequentemente se beneficiou em suas incursões comerciais e corsários. Vestimenta A vestimenta popularmente conhecida dos piratas é: tapa-olhos - são famosos por usarem tapa-olhos, que, diferentemente do que pensa a crença popular (de que eles o usavam por falta do olho ou qualquer outro tipo de problema que o impedisse de enxergar normalmente), servia para manter um dos olhos sempre adaptado aos ambientes escuros; chapéu tricórnio, ou chapéu de três lados; Ganchos e pernas de pau - a pirataria era um trabalho difícil e perigoso; os piratas geralmente perdiam membros em batalhas e acidentes; Armamentos - os piratas geralmente usavam armas de pederneira, cutelos na forma de machado e adagas; Papagaios - os piratas geralmente capturavam papagaios para vender. Código de conduta As regras de cada capitão eram estabelecidas para cada um dos membros da tripulação. Aqui existia alguma incerteza acerca do comportamento aceitável entre os piratas num navio pirata normal. Quando as regras eram quebradas, a tripulação punia várias vezes sem dó nem piedade o infractor. Ainda assim, em alguns casos em que o pirata em questão desempenhava bem a sua função podia ser absolvido. Exemplo de um código de condutaː Todos os homens devem obedecer ao código civil; o capitão tem direito a uma parte e meia de todos os prêmios; o imediato, o carpinteiro, o mestre e o homem de armas têm direito a parte e um quarto do saque; Se alguém tentar fugir, ou guardar algum segredo do resto da tripulação, ele deve ser abandonado numa ilha deserta com uma garrafa de pólvora, uma garrafa de água (o suficiente para sobreviver dois ou três dias), uma pequena arma e munições; Se alguém roubar alguma coisa, ou jogar, no valor de uma pesos, ele deve ser abandonado numa ilha deserta com uma pistola contendo uma única bala; Se alguma vez nós nos tivermos de encontrar com outro pirata e esse homem seguir o seu código sem o consentimento do nosso capitão e da nossa tripulação, deve sofrer a punição como o capitão e a tripulação quiserem; O homem que desrespeitar estes artigos enquanto este código estiver em vigor, deve ser punido com a lei de Moisés (40 chicotadas sem faltar nenhuma) nas costas despidas; O homem que abocanhar as suas armas ou fumar tabaco no porão, sem uma tampa no cachimbo, ou carregar uma vela acesa sem lanterna deve ter a mesma punição que o artigo anterior; O homem que não mantiver as suas armas prontas para o combate, que ficar noivo, ou se esquecer da sua função, deve sofrer qualquer punição que o capitão e a tripulação quiserem; Se um homem perder o seu casamento, deve ganhar 400 pesos; se perder um membro, 800; Se alguma vez te encontrares com uma mulher prudente, e esse homem se oferecer a intrometer-se com ela sem o consentimento dela, deve sofrer morte certa; O homem que fica para trás é deixado para trás. Recompensas da pirataria Os piratas eram hábeis a recolher bens e riquezas espantosas nas suas incursões no oceano. As principais riquezas obtidas pelos piratas eram metais preciosos (ouro e prata), dinheiro, joias e pedras preciosas. Mas a maioria das pilhagens era feita aos mercadores, de quem roubavam linhos, roupas, comida, âncoras, cordas e medicamentos. A carga pilhada aos mercadores também incluía artigos raros, tais como especiarias, açúcar, índigo e quinina. Os tipos de bens pilhados variavam consoante os navios encontrados: assim, alguns piratas eram muito seletivos nos navios que atacavam, tendo a certeza de que o saque iria cobrir os riscos da batalha (era importante escolher uma boa área para atacar). Uma dessas áreas era o chamado Spanish Main (porção continental da América espanhola). Como se sabe, a armada espanhola ia frequentemente para Portobelo para carregar os tesouros do Peru, que eram duas vezes o rendimento do rei de Inglaterra e, muitas vezes, incluíam 25 milhões de pesos sob a forma de lingotes de prata e moedas. Cada tripulante do navio recebia uma só parte do butim, com exceção ao capitão, que recebia uma parte e meia. Escolher o navio certo e a carga certa para pilhar era um dever essencial de todos os capitães piratas, que, dessa forma, esperavam evitar motins a bordo. Outra preocupação era o método para dividir os tesouros pilhados. No código de conduta pirata, estava declarado que as pilhagens não eram divididas de forma igual. Por exemplo, algumas moedas, tais como pesos, eram cortadas para que houvesse uma partilha mais exata. Contudo, as joias não eram fáceis de serem divididas. As provas deste processo de partilha são as marcas de facas marcadas em alguns tesouros piratas expostos em museus por todo o mundo. A ideia dos tesouros enterrados é um mito, que está maioritariamente em livros com histórias de piratas. O pirata com o qual começou este mito foi o Capitão Kidd. Contudo, é possível que alguns piratas tenham escondido os seus tesouros deste modo. A maior parte dos piratas era extremamente gastadora e raramente acumulavam dinheiro suficiente para o enterrar ou esconder. Visto o perigo que estes viviam constantemente, estavam mais determinados em gastá-lo imediatamente que em guardá-lo para o futuro. Indenização por mutilações Pode-se dizer que a vida dos piratas era muito difícil, podendo estes, muito provavelmente, sofrer danos muito graves ou mesmo morrer. Além da morte, o maior medo de um pirata era vir a ser incapacitado. Quando perdiam um membro, os piratas eram recompensados pela sua perda, e eram recompensas perfeitamente adequadas para os tempos em que viviam. Se um pirata fosse ferido na perna, a amputação, muitas vezes, era a única saída para ser salvo. Os médicos não eram comuns a bordo de navios piratas, então, muitas vezes, o cozinheiro era chamado para fazer as amputações. Contudo, como as operações raramente tinham sucesso e como o cirurgião inexperiente podia não conseguir fazer parar a hemorragia, o pirata raramente sobrevivia e, mesmo que sobrevivesse à amputação, podia não passar de uma infecção posterior. Caso sobrevivesse, era necessário um substituto para a perna em falta, que, normalmente, era qualquer coisa que estivesse livre no barco, como, por exemplo, um pedaço de madeira comprido. Esta prática também poderia acontecer no caso de uma mão, tal como existe o vulgar exemplo do gancho. Na verdade, a maioria das tripulações piratas era organizada, razoavelmente sofisticada e com tratamento adequado aos seus membros feridos. Os piratas feridos não eram compensados apenas financeiramente, mas, muitas vezes, a eles, também eram oferecidos trabalhos não exigentes no navio. Trabalho este que podia incluir manobrar canhões, fazer os cozidos, e lavar o convés do navio. Num exemplo descrito por Exquemelin, a recompensa assumia os seguintes valores: pelo braço direito, seiscentos pesos ou oito escravos; quinhentos pesos pelo braço esquerdo (ou cinco escravos); por um olho, cem pesos ou um escravo; idêntica quantia por um dedo; pela perna direita, quinhentos pesos; e pela esquerda, quatrocentos. Em comparação com os valores atuais, um peso vale cerca de 96 cêntimos de dólar dos Estados Unidos, o que, para a altura, era muito. Legislação para piratas Podia ser uma frase verdadeira dizer que a felicidade durante o século XVIII era restrita à pirataria, mas a vida de pirata também tinha grandes objeções. Ao longo deste período, a morte chegava, muitas vezes, inesperadamente, no meio da batalha, por naufrágios, rixas na taberna, doença etc., mas existiam vezes em que a morte era na forca, que era o destino de qualquer pirata. Os julgamentos para a pirataria, eram muitas vezes influenciados por tribunais almirantados, tribunais que haviam sido fundados na década de 1340 na Inglaterra, para julgamentos que dissessem respeito a grandes crimes. Uma vez condenado, o pirata podia ser enforcado a qualquer hora dez dias depois do julgamento. No dia do enforcamento, os piratas eram os principais alvos de chacota na procissão realizada no dia até ao local do enforcamento, que era liderado por um oficial a carregar um Remo Prateado (símbolo da autoridade do Supremo Tribunal Almirantado). O destino final era a forca, que geralmente era situada numa praça pública junto à água, muitas vezes durante a maré baixa. Todo o acontecimento, como todos os enforcamentos, era um espetáculo que arrastava multidões. Antes do enforcamento, normalmente o pirata era ouvido por um capelão. Instigado, o réu declarava o seu destino, e arrependia-se antes de ser enforcado. Muitas vezes, o sermão também servia para pregar à audiência, usando os piratas como da degeneração da alma humana. Depois do sermão, o pirata admitia seus erros para as pessoas antes de ser enforcado e deixado a baloiçar na forca. Na sua última prece, antes da execução, alguns pareciam estar arrependidos, alguns assustados e outros rudes, enquanto que diziam grosseirismos para as multidões. Depois da execução, os corpos eram enterrados abaixo do nível de maré alta e deixados até que três marés tivessem passado sobre eles. Os corpos da maioria dos capitães mais famosos, eram muitas vezes embalsamados em alcatrão, encaixotados numa armação de ferro ou correntes, e pendurados, enforcados, num sítio visível à beira da água, onde eles oscilavam com o vento até nada restar. A punição por corso era a prisão, com a possibilidade de libertação na troca por um resgate. Contudo, a prisão não era uma alternativa favorável, pois muitas vezes os presos acabavam por ter uma morte demorada, em velhos navios prisão, que eram navios de guerra convertidos, que já não estavam aptos para o mar ou outros fins, onde, muitas vezes, o prisioneiro acabava por morrer por enfraquecimento ou doença. Castigos piratas A tortura, a queima e a mutilação eram castigos comuns que os piratas davam às suas vítimas, praticando verdadeiros atos de crueldade, e até gostavam de ver o sofrimento dos outros. Os piratas chineses prendiam as suas vítimas em gaiolas de bambu ou pregavam-nos ao convés. A tortura era utilizada para extrair rapidamente informação da vítima, acerca de navios com tesouros, rotas marítimas ou tesouros escondidos. Um exemplo da crueldade dos piratas, foi no caso dos inúmeros cercos feitos a Argel, em que os corsários berberes usavam prisioneiros franceses como munição contra os barcos destes. Existe apenas um relato de um jornal de 1829 de os piratas terem obrigado o seu prisioneiro a marchar sobre a prancha para se afogar ou ser comido pelos tubarões. Qualquer pirata que desobedecesse ao código de conduta ou brigasse com os colegas era chicoteado ou deixado à deriva num bote, ou caso um pirata roubasse outro membro da tripulação podiam ser-lhe cortadas a orelhas ou o nariz. Quando condenado à lei de Moisés, era a vítima que fabricava o chicote "gato de nove caudas". Os membros da tripulação de John Philips foram obrigados a jurar com a mão sobre um machado que os desertores e traidores seriam abandonados numa ilha deserta. Para se vingar de antigos oficiais, os piratas quando atacavam estes com sucesso castigavam-nos, como por exemplo cortando-lhes o braço ou qualquer outra parte do corpo. O capitão pirata irlandês Edward England foi punido pela sua tripulação por ser demasiado brando com eles. Vida em terra e no mar Quando os piratas regressavam das suas pilhagens, eles estavam prontos para a diversão. Se regressassem de uma viagem bem-sucedida, os piratas, rapidamente, esgotavam a sua riqueza nas tabernas e nas cervejarias locais. Muitas vezes, piratas bêbedos gastavam milhares de pesos numa única noite (nessa altura, com dez pesos, comprava-se uma pequena manada de gado). Prazeres como rum, comida, vinho e jogo faziam pobres tabernas ricas em uma noite. Em suma, os piratas gastavam nas tabernas tudo o que ganhavam. A vida na terra não era só diversão e jogo, no entanto. Para o sucesso, um pirata tinha bastante trabalho enquanto estava em terra. Depois de uma viagem longa, as lapas e as algas tinham de ser retiradas do casco do navio. Depois de uma boa batalha, o barco era reparado ou substituído. Uma das tarefas mais importantes era para abastecer bem o navio com provisões de água e comida para a próxima viagem. A vida no mar era muito árdua, os porões eram escuros, mal cheirosos, úmidos e sentia-se falta de ar. Também se pode presumir que a vida no mar era uma grande maçada para os piratas. Um grande contraste entre a vida no mar: navegam que dizer semanas de aborrecimento a procurar uma presa, e depois guerras muito duras quando encontravam vítimas. Com nada para distrair os piratas sanguinários, conflitos e lutas eram comuns. Era nessas alturas que o capitão intervinha e controlava-os com medo ou respeito. O capitão não tinha a última palavra, pois em muitos casos o navio pirata era dirigido democraticamente. Nas viagens de longa duração, o racionamento de comida era o maior desafio para os piratas. Os piratas muniam-se de cerveja engarrafada antes das viagens longas, pois a água rapidamente se deixava de ser potável., devido ao seu sabor salgado. De início, os piratas detestavam os biscoitos duros que duravam muito tempo; embora para as longas viagens se munissem de lima, como abastecedor de vitamina C. Se tivessem sorte, os piratas podiam ter algumas galinhas a bordo, que lhes davam ovos e carne. Aparentemente os piratas encontravam abastecimento ilimitado de carne nas tartarugas que crescem nas Caraíbas. Além de serem deliciosas, estas tartarugas eram facilmente apanhadas. Lista de piratas Klaus Störtebeker (corsário e pirata) Anne Bonny (pirata) Pier Gerlofs Donia - o "Grutte Pier" (Grande Pedro) (pirata) Bartholomew Roberts (pirata) Charles Vane (pirata) Grace O'Malley (pirata) Edward Teach – o "Barba Negra" (pirata) Sir Francis Drake (corsário) Henry Morgan (corsário e bucaneiro) John Rackham (pirata) Wijerd Jelckama (bucaneiro) L'Olonnais (bucaneiro) Martin Tromp (corsário) Mary Read (pirata) Capitão Kidd (corsário - pirata) Henry Avery (pirata) Edward Low (pirata) Roque Brasiliano (pirata) Ver também Abordagem Bucaneiros Corsário Flibusteiros Instrumentos marítimos Jolly Roger Piratas da Barbária Pirataria moderna Pirataria no Mundo Rádio-pirata Tortuga Piratas na cultura popular Ligações externas Corsários e Piratas Portugueses. Aventureiros nos Mares da Ásia, por Alexandra Pelúcia, A Esfera dos Livros, 2010

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have a small reoccurring lump under the skin at my tailbone. When it first comes on it is extremely itchy, then a few days it will become kind of slimy and smell really bad and then disappear. When it opens and becomes come what slimy it hurts. What could this be? output: HI, Dear, Thanks for the query from you for your painful lump in rt inner-thigh .1-I am happy that you are serious to know why this leg -lump is having painful spasms?2-In my opinion this lump at the tail bone with repeated cropping up with slimy discharge with bad smell and with itching, is -Colonial sinus.3-Though you have not told the duration, and how long it is recurring,4- In my opinion-possibility of infecting and re-infecting Colonial sinus-with slimy abscess is very strong, as from the facts provided by your query.5-I would advise Surgeons opinion.6-Hence You should be panicky and worried, and go Ugly go to ER -Surgeon doctor.7-You should haveX-ray of the area and the sinogram-to arrive at the cause of the recurring painful lump at the tail bone.8-Hope this would solve your worry of the painful rec curing tailbone lump.9-So ugly take -the advice from the ER Surgeon..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi doctor, I am trying to lose weight for about one year now. I used to weigh 75 kilograms. With proper diet and exercise, I was able to reduce my weight. Now, my weight is 65 kilograms. But I am unable to control my urge to eat. I am cheating on my diet every single day and it makes me frustrated. I am overeating again. I have stopped losing weight now. I take around 1200 calories a day. Please tell me how to control the urge to eat all the time. How can I control my urge to eat? output: Hi. You have reached your normal BMI (body mass index). So after this, weight reduction will be a very slow process. According to WHO (world health organization), you are weighing right for your height. Coming to the eating problem, divide your meals into six small meals. Eat veggies and fruits in between the meals. Whenever you are going to a party have a habit of drinking water first. Eat fibers like salads or fruits with proteins. Select carbohydrates or desserts in the last. By this way, you will be able to relish and enjoy the food. You can maintain your weight. Never eat food alone or in front of the television or laptop. Eat with your friends. Sharing will always make you eat less..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What are the symptoms of Hyponatremia? output: Common symptoms include: Abnormal mental status Confusion Decreased consciousness Hallucinations Possible coma Convulsions Fatigue Headache Irritability Loss of appetite Muscle spasms or cramps Muscle weakness Nausea Restlessness Vomiting

The Canvey Beat Ted Pugh The New Canvey Beat Banking On Essex Canvey Island Town Council Castle Point Borough Council Essex County Council First Bus Group Local Police Be Safe And Stay Safe NHS Symptom Checker Councilbust Echo News Gateway FM Local Political Parties Canvey Island Independent Party Castle Point Conservative Party Castle Point Labour Party Rayleigh Liberal Democrat Party 74,672 since 6 Apr 09 Hi Ted… Posted on June 15, 2010 by Ted Pugh HAVE YOU seen that C.C. Brian Wood has been welcomed back into the Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP)? Dave Blackwell says, in the Echo, it’s great to have a County Councillor in the Party. That’s not what was said when he wanted to stand for election as a CIIP county councillor! I wonder what has changed?.. Jim Robbins Filed under: Island focus, Letters | Tagged: Brian Wood, Dave Blackwell | Comments Off on Hi Ted… Never Mind The Cost To Residents, Just Keep Voting For An Increase Posted on June 5, 2010 by Ted Pugh YESTERDAY’S REVELATIONS regarding the Town Council’s finances exposes the myth behind the Canvey Island Independent Party’s slogan, ‘Canvey for Canvey.’ If residents want to separate Canvey Island from Castle Point: it is going to cost them – big time. With Bob Spink temporarily removed from the local picture, this week’s Echo coverage was the first, since this Blog’s inception, not to include any reports about protests on Canvey. Despite angling their Castle Point stories from protester viewpoints, the paper’s coverage has only been of Borough Councillors quietly getting on with the job of debating local matters and implementing their promises under the public’s eye. Nothing has changed in the Council chamber – residents have just not been confronted with Spink and Dave Blackwell posing for the Echo’s cameras and dispensing their stream of lies. Dave Blackwell, it seems – despite being an avid reader of this Blog – is back in hiding. When questions are raised here, he chooses not to answer – just as his party chooses not to be open about its separatist aims, or to be truthful about how much those ambitions would cost. But readers now know why the CIIP led Town Council has failed to publish an Annual Report on its Website since its first year in 2007/08 – to have done so would have revealed the extent to which pursuing un-costed policies have led to a pumped-up Parish Council’s imminent insolvency. But Blackwell and the Town Council’s chairman, Nick Harvey, are not concerned with bankruptcy; because, unlike any private organisation, they can simply vote for islanders to contribute more. They know that, next year, they can simply tell the Borough Council to increase Canvey’s Town Council levy by 84% – and there is nothing that anyone can do about it. (If you refuse to pay: you will simply be pursued through the courts and face possible imprisonment). It is a win-win situation for the CIIP – and one from which they have chosen to spend some three-and-a-half percent of the TC’s precept (over a quarter-of-a-million pounds) on their own remuneration. The Town Council ploughs on. Posted today, on its Website, is the Spring 2010 newsletter, finally announcing the Armed Forces Day Parade on 26th June and stating their intention to take-over the management of Canvey’s seaside pool from the Borough Council. Moreover, a statement by the new Town Clerk, John Burridge, hints at further plans by the Town Council: ‘to provide ever improving services to our residents.’ At the moment, the Town Council provides no services – they are all provided by CPBC – but it is clear that the TC has that ambition. Furthermore, it is becoming frighteningly clear that neither the CIIP, nor the Town Council, have any idea of how much their ambitions will cost. Islanders are being forced to write a blank cheque to a financially incompetent administration… Filed under: Government, Island focus | Tagged: Armed Forces Day, Bob Spink, Canvey Island Independent Party, Canvey Island Town Council, Dave Blackwell, John Burridge, Nick Harvey | Comments Off on Never Mind The Cost To Residents, Just Keep Voting For An Increase Has Canvey’s Armed Forces’ Day Been Abandoned? Posted on May 31, 2010 by Ted Pugh JUST LAST MONTH Bob Spink was announcing to residents that, through his efforts, Canvey Island would again be celebrating Armed Forces’ Day on Saturday, 26th June. Indeed, the recently filed accounts for Bob’s Independent Save Our Green Belt Party, financed by himself for some £2,500, uses an A4 reproduction of the event’s promotion poster – inviting anyone who has not received a Veteran’s Badge to contact him directly. But the only event promoted on the Town Council’s Website, for the 26th June, is its previously reported Night of Nostalgia (being sold for a limited audience at £7.50 per ticket). It seems that the Canvey Island independent Party (CIIP) has withdrawn into silent retreat regarding its ‘Fantastic Projects’ announced on its Blog in March. Despite promising further details, none have ever been forthcoming – just as promises regarding further information, made by Neville Watson, to contributors on the party’s message board have never been fulfilled. ‘They only come out at election time,’ was the criticism laid at the local Labour Party by the CIIP during the election campaign; but the latter’s Blog has only lasted the duration of the long campaign, beginning in March and ending on May 7th. There have been no further posts, nor any fulfilment of the party’s promise to keep residents ‘updated with our latest news right here on our blog.’ Following Spink’s defeat in the polls, the CIIP appears to be in some disarray. Unconfirmed sources suggest that the public claims of support declared by Watson and Anne Wood for Dave Blackwell are not shared by all the party’s councillors. And it also appears that some were dismayed over Wood’s handling of the Adizone matter last week. If the reports are true, Bob Spink may no longer be posing for photographs alongside CIIP councillors as the party tries to distance itself from the once MP. It is understood that an announcement regarding Canvey’s Armed Forces Day will be made once the organisers decide if Spink will be a welcome participant or not. Filed under: Island focus | Tagged: Anne Wood, Bob Spink, Canvey Island Independent Party, Canvey Island Town Council, Dave Blackwell, Neville Watson | Comments Off on Has Canvey’s Armed Forces’ Day Been Abandoned? Spink’s Gambit For An Elected Mayor In Question BOB SPINK and Dave Blackwell will be wondering what on earth they have done, this bank holiday week-end, to upset their tame poodle Colin Letchford. On Friday, the Echo reported that Letchford would prefer a return to the old committee system of local government – rather than having an elected mayor. He is reported as saying: ‘A system which involves the whole council making decisions has got to be more democratic.’ That Letchford should publicly come to this conclusion, now that he is so close to achieving the 3,364 signatures he requires to force a referendum on the issue, may well derail our two conspirators’ ambitions to create a lucrative position from which to engineer their separatist plans. The discredited committee structure In the same article, Blackwell is quoted as saying: ‘In Castle Point, we are desperate to put democracy back into the council. The leader and the cabinet should sit up and take note and bring back the very democratic committee system as soon as possible.’ ‘The leader and cabinet should… bring back the… committee system’? Blackwell cannot resist the temptation to allude that the cabinet holds all the power; but, as has been shown previously on this Blog, the most powerful body in the cabinet system is the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) – of which Blackwell just happens to be chairman. That the OSC can be abused by an opposition to undermine the elected majority is, however, not a good reason to return to the simpler, older system, in which all decisions are made by full council and in which all opposition members vote. Whilst it is true that, under the old system, Blackwell would not be able to sit back and watch as cabinet are forced to make unpalatable choices – like closing the Concord pool – and could not then ‘call-in’ the decision to make political capital from a situation he had allowed to take place, the fact is that Blackwell’s particular form of politics was born of the old committee system (so it should not come as a surprise to find that the Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) would still benefit from a return to the old, discredited, routine). So, how do the two systems differ? CPBC's Cabinet System Well, the cabinet system was imposed by the last Labour Government in an effort to streamline decision making. Rather than requiring all members to vote on every single matter that came before council, day to day matters were removed to a separate cabinet body consisting of a selection of between eight and ten majority members. Cabinet meetings were still held in public – and non cabinet members could ask questions regarding matters in hand; but they could not vote. However, their questions could always ask the cabinet to refer a certain matter to full council if they thought there were reasons for doing so – and any member could bring any matter debated in cabinet to the attention of another body, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which was given extensive powers to ‘call-in’ any cabinet decision; investigate the matter in detail and, if necessary, refer it to full council. Day-to-day decision making was made much quicker – because it removed the ability of an obstructive opposition to tie members up debating matters of little local concern – thereby frustrating the ability of the majority to move-on to policy matters. It was argued, by the then Labour Government, that too little was being done by local councils because necessary decisions were being purposely held-up in committees whose make-up did not represent the majority’s views. Under the old system, many majority election pledges found their way into political committee dungeons to never again see the light of day. The cabinet system broke the back of such obstruction by ensuring that a majority’s pledges could at least be rubber stamped by cabinet before being exhaustively scrutinised. Moreover, it laid the basis for any subsequent full council vote that would either approve or reject an intact proposal. (Committees were no longer able to tinker with original majority proposals in order to ensure their subsequent rejection). In short, the cabinet system breathed new life into councils where the majority was unable, through opposition obstruction, to implement the policies they had been elected to implement. It could be argued that the cabinet system is actually more democratic than the old committee system; because the majority is not clandestinely denied the means of implementing its manifesto. However, there is no doubt that many long serving members feel slighted by not being able to vote on every single matter – just as government back-benchers feel slighted that they have not been picked for a lucrative cabinet post. Of course, Blackwell and his cronies promote the idea that the cabinet holds all the power. But the fact is that the cabinet is just a means for the majority to filter matters into those that can be quickly dealt with and those that might need fuller debate. It is rather like a production line, overlooked by the opposition leader who has the power to remove any product from reaching the stores. But, of course, Blackwell will never admit to that. You see, Blackwell is not a willing production-line employee. He is not looking to remove faulty products from the conveyor belt before they reach the packing department. He is much more concerned with allowing faulty goods to pass unnoticed so he can complain about the firm’s management when they hit the stores. That is why you will rarely see opposition councillors attending cabinet meetings. If they did, the attending public might well ask why no CIIP member asked questions when a controversial decision was made. Just as Blackwell ensured he was not around to chair the scrutiny of the Concord pool decision, he and his CIIP councillors like to make themselves scarce when any decisions have to be made. After all, it is easier to join a protest than it is to launch one of your own (and take the risk of wrongly judging the public mood). And the CIIP’s absence has also helped to affirm the lie that cabinet takes all its decisions in ‘secret.’ Tuesday evening’s cabinet meeting was interesting, because it seems, at last, that the ruling group is finally aware of CIIP strategy. At that meeting, Pam Challis introduced an item for the council’s constitution to be modified to allow members of the general public to ask questions directly of cabinet. (At the moment they can only do so through an elected representative). The motion, calling upon officers to investigate the legal position and asking them to draw-up a revised constitution, was passed unanimously. The move will be warmly welcomed by residents – although CIIP members made no supportive noises when the decision was taken. Perhaps they took cabinets’ vote as a direct reflection of their own abilities to represent their constituents at cabinet – since the proposal would effectively make them redundant… Filed under: Castle Point, Government, Politics | Tagged: Bob Spink, Canvey Island Independent Party, Colin Letchford, Dave Blackwell, Pam Challis | Comments Off on Spink’s Gambit For An Elected Mayor In Question No Annual Town Meeting This Year, Dave? Dave Blackwell CANVEY ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL (CITC) has published a list of its meetings that will take place between 14 June 2010 and 23 May 2011; but the only Annual Town Meeting on the list is to take place on 9 May next year. Perhaps Dave Blackwell intends to ignore this year’s annual meeting – in the same way that he ignores answering questions in general. Perhaps he intends to ensure that no dissent over the Town Council’s policies and fiscal competence is provided with possible access to the press. (In an election year, you have to manage your coverage carefully). But Blackwell and his cronies do have questions to answer. In particular, what does the additional £200,000 expenditure, which suddenly appeared in January, consist of? And why has the 2010/2011 budget not been published? Why is CITC proposing to spend £489,400 this year? (Almost twice its existing annual precept). What are Town councillors trying to hide? And why is it taking so long for councillors to approve minutes and have them published on the Town Council’s Website for residents’ inspection? This year’s expenditure is HUGE, and residents have the right to know if this is to be a one-off – or whether, as many suspect, it simply denotes additional annual expenditure that will, in future, double islanders’ Town Council levy. Blackwell’s aim seems to be to re-establish the old Canvey Island Town Council, where his parents were once councillors, and which was once separate from the then Benfleet District Council. But, in those days, islanders did not pay Benfleet’s Council Tax. The Town Council has already taken control of Canvey Lake from the Borough Council (to which islanders will now be forced to contribute instead of the cost being shared amongst the whole borough). The Town Council is committed to taking-over responsibility for Canvey’s tidal pool (with similar arrangements being put in place) – and, in neither instance, are islanders to receive a reduction in their main Council Tax. The only thing that these changes have ensured is that islanders are worse-off financially, while mainlanders benefit from no longer being responsible for those assets’ repairs or maintenance costs – and yet continue to receive islander contributions to that previous arrangement. The policy is simply absurd. And constitutionally separating the island from the mainland would not help the situation either. Is Blackwell and his party seriously proposing to take-over all those island assets and services that the Borough Council currently provides? Waterside? The Paddocks?Refuse and Recycling? Meals on Wheels? School Transport? Home Services? Council Tax Benefit? Housing Benefit? Concessionary Travel? Housing? What Blackwell fails to realise is that, unlike his parents’ time, the island no longer consists of a few thousand residents without a town centre – and simply establishing suitable offices and recruiting the personnel necessary to administer a vastly scaled-up old regime would be a logistical nightmare. (That is aside from the enormous costs). Furthermore, back in the day, the island had few aged residents to care for – and no housing problem either. Residents now rightly expect a much greater level of services than they did in the 1950s. Blackwell’s delusions of grandeur have ensured that islanders, many of whom live in the most deprived areas of the borough, now pay some 9% more in Council Tax than their mainland counterparts. But, if the island were ever to separate itself politically from the mainland, the situation would be far worse. That is because Council Tax payers, as opposed to those receiving Council Tax benefits, are not evenly distributed throughout the borough. The majority of those who are in receipt of benefits, and do not pay Council Tax or their own rent, live on the island. In other words, if Canvey were to separate from the mainland, those fewer islanders who do pay council tax would have to contribute far more than they do now – to pay for those who pay nothing at all. In conjunction with the loss of large economies of scale (the fact that a large borough can provide services much more cheaply per unit than one smaller in size) some have it that an island Council Tax would have to be some 200% higher than the current CPBC level. Moreover, Blackwell and his Canvey Island independent Party have never denied that figure – nor countered it with one of their own. It would be a travesty if, in this its election year, the CIIP run Town Council did not hold its annual town meeting to address islanders’ concerns. Residents have a right to know what the objectives of the Town Council are – and how they will be paid for. It took a petition of just 10% of residents to establish the island’s Town Council. Next year will be the first time that the 90% majority will be able to have their say on the matter. Despite constant prodding by this Blog, Blackwell and his cronies have remained silent about their Canvey Island Independence ambitions. From amongst the local media, only this Blog revealed Bob Spink’s true conduct in the house and his fraudulent expenses. And it has been left to this Blog to pursue the matter of the Canvey Island Independent Party’s dishonesty in its separatist aims. But, like Spink, Blackwell chooses to neither confirm or deny the facts put forward in this publication. Must residents be forced to draw their own conclusions – as they did with Spink – or are you finally going to say something, Dave?.. Filed under: Editorial, Island focus | Tagged: Annual Town Council Meeting, Canvey Island Independent Party, Canvey Island Town Council, Dave Blackwell | 1 Comment » Dave Still Hasn’t Quite Got The Picture Dave Blackwell's grey policy Did you know that Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Island Independent Party; leader of the borough’s opposition; and chairman of Canvey Island Wildlife and Conservation Group, is actually a budding wildlife photographer? Furthermore, it must be said, he demonstrates some talent too; but, like his politics, Dave prefers grey images that obscure their more colourful details. Dave makes no mention of his political views (what’s to mention?) on his image site – and he is keen to protect his copyright, which is displayed at the foot of every page. Nonetheless, visitors are permitted to browse his galleries of wildlife pictures, which, it seems, have all been taken on Canvey Island. His site is well worth a visit. You have a raw talent Dave – not too dissimilar from the talent you show for politics. You have no problem focussing on a particular subject; but you are reluctant to use the bold blacks and whites, which would bring your image to life. That is a pity; from the point-of-view of your site’s visitors – and this island’s voters… Making a statement Filed under: Island focus | Tagged: Dave Blackwell | 2 Comments » Are We Any Wiser About Where The CIIP Stands? IT IS A WEEK NOW since this Blog published its Dave Blackwell: A Changed Man? piece, responding to Blackwell’s voluntary comment in the readers’ forum in which he stated: ‘[sic:] i have always tried to work with the ruling group for the benifit of the residents of canvey.’ But it seems that Blackwell has no intention of participating in a public interview, or responding to the legitimate concerns of voters. Instead he would rather hide behind an online alias or instigate the likes of Letchford to change the subject while the piece disappears from public view and hence from readers’ minds. Residents will remember that this is exactly the same tactic employed by Spink to deny constituents the right to an explanation regarding his fraudulent expenses. Small wonder then that this Blog now has another ‘Page That Will Not Go Away.’ Dave Blackwell and his Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) launched its Blog on March 8th this year. Its inaugural post was written by Neville Watson, ending with an appeal to residents to ‘watch this space.’ But were residents made any the wiser about CIIP policies and how they were to pay for them? Sadly the answer is no. Here is a list of CIIP posts and position statements upon which islanders voted:- The year so far, 08/03/2010: The CIIP is against over development and the closure of Canvey’s seaside pool. Silly season is here, 18/03/2010: The CIIP is against over development and the closure of Canvey’s seaside pool. Youth facility at the paddocks, 21/03/2010: A youth facility at the Paddocks would be a good idea (but we have no idea how we would pay for it). Fantastic projects, 22/03/2010: Who knows? The post provided no details. Kismet Park, 26/03/2010: The CIIP is against the Adizone. The Point, 27/03/2010: The CIIP says there are plans to build more houses on the Point and that they are against the plans. Website issues, 30/03/2010: The CIIP site was not targeted by hackers, their host’s server was. Full Council 30/03/2010, 31/03/2010: A spun report of the Full Council meeting in which the un-costed Paddocks youth facility and the Adizone motions put forward by the CIIP were defeated by the majority. What would Canvey Island be without opposition?, 04/04/2010: The CIIP is against the closure of Canvey’s seaside pool and over development. A little bit of info, 11/04/2010: The CIIP lists its candidates for the election; but does not say what they are standing for. Don’t trust the Tories!, 14/04/2010: The CIIP’s ‘first and foremost policy’ is to work for Canvey Island and its residents. (Other parties regard that as an obligation from their oath of office). Polling Stations – Important, 19/04/2010: It is David Marchant’s fault, here are the correct polling times. Do they think Islanders are fools?, 19/04/2010: Don’t trust the Tories. What a Day! 20/04/2010: The CIIP is not politically motivated (and yet they are standing for election?). Protecting our seafront, 29/04/2010: The Tories are incompetent. Fact NOT Fiction, 05/05/2010: The Tories are liars. Thank You Canvey, 07/05/2010: The CIIP wishes to thank all its supporters. Interesting is it not? Two whole months of posts and residents still have no idea what policies or spending plans the CIIP have. Their campaign was fought purely from a position of being against over development (the same position as the other main parties) and against the closure of Canvey’s tidal pool (the same position as Labour and local Conservative candidates). But, whereas the main parties were keen to discuss their approach to necessary spending cuts; a third road for Canvey; island congestion and the need for additional homes – the CIIP were not. That is because discussing local issues would force them into taking a position – and hence alienate some voters. The CIIP’s tactic continues to be that it is better to say nothing – and have voters think what they will. The CIIP’s form of politics is both arrogant and dishonest; but it has appealed to a slim majority of islanders because the party puts claim to representing Canvey. Just as the BNP wraps itself in the union flag to attract nationalist support, the CIIP’s support is mainly from those who love this island and believe CIIP propaganda that the borough’s majority is unrepresentative of their views The CIIP would never admit that the leading force behind the millions of pounds that have been invested in this island over the past few years – and many of those before it – is one Ray Howard, whom just happens to be a Conservative councillor. The CIIP have not, and never will, attract a single penny of external investment in the island – because no investor will provide funds where councillors have no policies or plans. Historically, of course, prior to the CIIP’s claims to represent islanders, the Labour Party dominated Canvey Island. Why that party is no longer held in high esteem probably has to do with the chaos ensuing from the borough’s Labour administration prior to 2003 – in which Blackwell was deputy leader. But, over the past six years, Blackwell’s CIIP have usurped Labour’s vote and replaced it with a party that can never hope to regain control of the Borough council. (The CIIP only fields candidates in 17 island seats and there are 24 on the mainland). So why do a slim majority of islanders waste their vote upon a party that is arrogant, dishonest, and can never hope to take control of council?.. Like many other islanders, I am bemused. Would anyone care to enlighten us?.. 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instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: i was attached with TB in 1984 & again it relapsed in 2011, I have taken 6months treatment . My throat coughing & occational fever still remains. After taking penicillin I have develioped imbalance in my legs . What treatment & where can i take my treatment output: I am DIMITRY answering your concern. Imbalance in the leg after a TB can be serious it requires a CT and MRI of the spine to rule out any lesion in the area. TB won't be treated with the penicillin. But till you undergo the investigation I would suggest you to take the vitamin B complex.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I recently started to feel a lump in the back of my mouth that I thought was on my tongue making it always feel like something was stuck to my tongue. When I looked in my mouth today, I noticed a pea sized lump in the back of my mouth near my uvula. I m a heavy smoker and have been for more than 15 years. I m concerned. output: Hi ! Good evening. With a history of chronic smoking for such a long duration, I would advise you to seek the opinion of an ENT specialist/general surgeon at the earliest to have a detailed clinical examination and related investigations to arrive at a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment without any delay. So, I would not consider it wise to opine on this problem of yours without a clinical examination. Till then, you could go for an antiseptic gargles only. I wish you an early recovery.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi I think I have spondilitis. I had a left shoulder dislocation some 13 years back. I was advised surgery but I did not do it. Later I developed pain in the neck, and hypertension. I work a lot on computer. Now I feel a pain from my neck right through my butt. Can you advise me pls abc output: Hi, Your main problem is this pain in the neck which is radiating down the back. Long hours in computer work is known to cause such type of neck and shoulder pains which can spread to the arm or back. You will be having spondylitis of the neck with a disc protrusion compressing nerves nearby. Please cut down the computer work or break it up into sessions of half hour each. In between stretch out the neck muscles turning it to the normal range of neck movement. An MRI will be necessary to confirm the disc location and size. You will need medications to relax the muscles, in addition to medications for nerve pain. Apply hot packs to the neck and upper back. Hypertension should be treated by your family physician. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I occasionally get dizzy with nausea, similar to food poisoning symptoms, but it s not that. It happened the other morning upon waking. I was not steady on my feet and my head was very fuzzy, almost like an inner ear thing, but I was nauseous as well. I drank some water, kind of made me more nauseous, then had a bit to eat and by late morning I was fine. Is it a blood sugar thing? I did not sleep well that night at all either. No pain, just could not fall into a sound sleep. It happened two other times at work, mid-afternoon. I had to put my head down and stay still and after 30-40 minutes, it passed. output: It may be acute gastritis, gastroenteritis, normal pressure HY DIMITRY . Use tab Vermin 16 mg thrice a day, tab Ondansetron twice a day, if still having problems please consult your doctor he will examine and treat you accordingly. I think I answered to your question if you have more questions please feel free to ask..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Dear doctor:t am almost 22 year old male patient with free medical history of any diseases,no drugs and surgery, i take all my vaccination,and no family history of any choronic diseases except diabets and hypertension for my ankle and my grandma, and right side hypertrophy for my granmother...my cheif complaint" recently for one month ago i start feel tightness on my chest without pain and it seem like my chest cant hold my lung inside it with a liite pressur to my heart,these feeling start with heavy excersion like football game, swiming... and last for 20-25 min,although i am athlete and i am practise on regular manner for ten year at least,please just if you can help i will aprociate that. thank you output: ... But as chest tightness complaint present after workout for safe side I suggest you to investigate with EKG and CBC.... If no Abnormality found then no need to worry If problem increasing then detail evaluation by pulmonologist with Auscultation and chest x-ray like investigation needed To Take care Hope your concern solved.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hello, my daughter has been having a fever off and on for 6 days now and a bad cold coughing runny nose and does not want to eat at all. I took her to see the doctor but all he said is to give her tylenol for the fever and that is all. I am afraind that she might be dehydrating what can i do? output: Dear user from your words I would like to tell you that your daughter get viral infection that causes common cold, and it was good behavior to see the doctor to role out bacterial infection that may need antibiotics for treatment.....the treatment of this case is Tylenol as antipyretic and may be cough sedative syrup helpful ...but you should know that viral infection causing common cold take course of few days and improvement occur gradually ...the treatment is only symptomatic...Tylenol has good effect against fever if the fever is mild but the most important step you should do is cold compresses.....cold compresses before any antipyretic treatment is very, very important to manage fever ...cold compresses is the first step in lowering fever, so you should do cold compresses for 10 minutes when the fever rise then give her Tylenol...you can put her gradually under running water for relief of fever as the high grade fever doe snot reduced without that even if you increased the dose of Tylenol......so you can take this simple step and get out your worry and your daughter will be fine.......wish you and her healthy life.

\section{Introduction}\label{intro} The motion for a compressible viscous, heat-conductive, isotropic Newtonian fluid is described by the system of equations \begin{equation}\label{1.1} \left\{ \begin{aligned} & \rho_t+\nabla\cdot(\rho\bm{u})=0 \\ & \rho\bm{u}_t+\rho\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\nabla p-\Big(\mu'-\frac{2}{3}\mu\Big)\nabla(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})-\nabla\cdot\big(\mu(\nabla\bm{u}+(\nabla\bm{u})^T)\big)=0 \\ & \Big(\rho\Big(\frac{|\bm{u}|^2}{2}+e\Big)\Big)_t+\nabla\cdot\Big(\rho\bm{u}\Big(\frac{|\bm{u}|^2}{2}+e\Big)+p\bm{u}\Big)-\nabla\cdot\Big(\mu(\nabla\bm{u}+(\nabla\bm{u})^T)\bm{u} \\ & +\Big(\mu'-\frac{2}{3}\mu\Big)\bm{u}(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\Big)=\nabla\cdot(\kappa\nabla T), \end{aligned} \right. \end{equation} where $t\geqslant 0$, $x=(x_1,x_2,x_3)\in\mathbb{R}^3$. $\rho>0$ denotes the density, $\bm{u}=(u_1,u_2,u_3)$ the fluid velocity, $T>0$ the absolute temperature, $e$ denotes the internal energy, and $p$ denotes the pressure. And the positive constants $\mu,\mu'$satisfying $$\mu>0,\quad \mu'+\frac{2\mu}{3}\geqslant 0$$ describe the viscosity. There are very rich results about compressible Navier-Stokes system, such as small classical solutions with finite energy by Matsumura-Nishida \cite{Matsumura-Nishida}, see also Huang-Li \cite{Huang-Li} about the case of vacuum, weak, finite-energy solutions by Lions \cite{Lions}, variational solutions by Feireisl \cite{Feireisl} and Feireisl-Novotn$\acute{y}$-Petzeltov$\acute{a}$ \cite{Feireisl-Novotny-Petzeltov} , solutions in Besov spaces with the interpolation index one by Chikami-Danchin \cite{Chikami-Danchin}, Danchin \cite{Danchin}, self-similar solutions by Guo-Jiang \cite{Guo-Jiang}, Li-Chen-Xie \cite{Li-Chen-Xie} (density-dependent viscosity) and Germain-Iwabuchi \cite{Germain-Iwabuchi}. There are also some literature related to the vacuum. Xin \cite{Xin} proved the non-existence of smooth solutions for the initial density with the compact support. Hoff and Smoller \cite{Hoff-Smoller} considered 1-D barotropic Navier-Stokes equations and showed that the persistency of the almost everywhere positivity of the density can prevent the formulation of vacuum state. Jang and Masmoudi \cite{Jang-Masmoudi} obtained local solutions of the 3D compressible Euler equations under the barotropic condition with a physical vacuum, see also \cite{Jang-Masmoudi2} about problems of vacuum state. Recently, Lai, Liu and Tarfulea \cite{Lai-Liu-Tarfulea} studied the derivation of some non-isothermal hydrodynamic models (including non-isothermal ideal gas) and established the corresponding maximum principle. In the classical paper of Matsumura-Nishida \cite{Matsumura-Nishida}, they proved the global existence of classical solutions with small data of $O(\varepsilon)$ in $H^s$, where $\varepsilon$ depends on $\mu$, $\mu'$ and $\kappa$. The main purpose of this paper is to improve the result of \cite{Matsumura-Nishida} in radial symmetry case. In this case we can take the small constant $\varepsilon$ independent of $\mu$ and $\mu'$, and only depends on $\kappa$. More precisely, we can set $\mu=\mu'=0$ and \eqref{1.1} will thus reduce to the following system \begin{equation}\label{Heat-Hydro} \left\{ \begin{aligned} & \rho_t+\nabla\cdot(\rho\bm{u})=0 \\ & (\rho\bm{u})_t+\nabla\cdot(\rho\bm{u}\otimes\bm{u})+\nabla p=0 \\ & \left(\rho\left(\frac{1}{2}|\bm{u}|^2+e\right)\right)_t+\nabla\cdot\left(\rho\bm{u}\left(\frac{1}{2}|\bm{u}|^2+e\right)+p\bm{u}\right)=\nabla\cdot(\kappa\nabla T), \end{aligned} \right. \end{equation} We assume the following conditions on \eqref{Heat-Hydro}: \begin{itemize} \item[1.] The gas is ideal : $p=RT\rho$, where $R$ is a positive constant; \item[2.] The gas is polytropic : $e=c_VT$, where $c_V$ is a positive constant which denotes the specific heat at constant volume. \end{itemize} Assume that the positive constants $R, ~ c_V, ~ \kappa=1$, then the system \eqref{Heat-Hydro} can be written in the following form \begin{equation}\label{Heat-Hydro-2} \left\{ \begin{aligned} & \rho_t+\nabla\cdot(\rho\bm{u})=0 \\ & \bm{u}_t+\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\frac{1}{\rho}\nabla(\rho T)=0 \\ & T_t+\bm{u}\cdot\nabla T+T(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})=\frac{\Delta T}{\rho}. \end{aligned} \right. \end{equation} Suppose that the initial data \begin{equation}\label{data small} \rho(0,x)=1+a_0(r),\quad T(0,x)=1+\theta_0(r),\quad\bm{u}(0,x)=\bm{u}_0(r)=u_0(r)\bm{\omega} \end{equation} satisfy $$\|a_0\|_{H^s}^2+\|\bm{u}_0\|_{H^s}^2+\|\theta_0\|_{H^s}^2\leqslant\varepsilon^2,$$ where $s>5$ is an integer, $r=|x|$ and $\bm{\omega}=\frac{x}{|x|}$, and $\varepsilon>0$ is a small constant. By the uniqueness of classical solutions, the solutions must have the following form $$\rho=1+a(t,r),\quad T=1+\theta(t,r),\quad \bm{u}=u(t,r)\bm{\omega},$$ as a result, we obtain $$\nabla\times\bm{u}\equiv 0.$$ So we may consider the follow system. \begin{equation}\label{Heat-Hydro-3} \left\{ \begin{aligned} & a_t+\bm{u}\cdot\nabla a+(1+a)(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})=0 \\ & \bm{u}_t+\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\nabla\theta+\frac{1+\theta}{1+a}\nabla a=0 \\ & \theta_t+\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\theta+(1+\theta)(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})=\frac{\Delta\theta}{1+a} \end{aligned} \right. \end{equation} with the condition \begin{equation}\label{irrotational} \nabla\times\bm{u}\equiv 0. \end{equation} Our main result can be stated as follows. \begin{theorem}\label{main} Consider the Cauchy problem of the three dimensional system \eqref{Heat-Hydro-2}-\eqref{irrotational} ( or \eqref{Heat-Hydro-3}-\eqref{irrotational}) with data \eqref{data small}. Then there exists a constant $\varepsilon_0>0$ such that for $\forall ~ \varepsilon<\varepsilon_0$, the system \eqref{Heat-Hydro-2}-\eqref{irrotational} ( or \eqref{Heat-Hydro-3}-\eqref{irrotational}) admits a global solution $$(a,\bm{u})\in L^\infty(\mathbb{R}_+;H^s(\mathbb{R}^3))\cap L^2(\mathbb{R}_+;H^s(\mathbb{R}^3)),$$ and $$\theta\in L^\infty(\mathbb{R}_+;H^s(\mathbb{R}^3))\cap L^2(\mathbb{R}_+;H^{s+1}(\mathbb{R}^3)).$$ \end{theorem} As Thm \ref{main} shows, heat conduction effect alone can prevent the formation of shock despite the lack of viscosity. \begin{remark} It's clear that the solution of \eqref{Heat-Hydro} have the following conservation laws $$\frac{d}{dt}\int a dx\equiv 0, \qquad \frac{d}{dt}\int (a+1)\bm{u}dx\equiv 0,$$ and $$\frac{d}{dt}\int\left(\frac{|\bm{u}|^2}{2}+\frac{a|\bm{u}|^2}{2}+a\theta+\theta\right)dx\equiv 0.$$ \end{remark} We set $$ \begin{aligned} E_{k,1}(t) & \triangleq\sum\limits_{|\alpha|\leqslant k}\sup\limits_{\tau\in[0,t]}\big(\|\partial^\alpha a(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2+\|\partial^\alpha\bm{u}(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2+\|\partial^\alpha \theta(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2\big) \\ & +\sum\limits_{|\alpha|\leqslant k}\int_0^t\|\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2d\tau \end{aligned} $$ for $0\leqslant k\leqslant s$, and $$E_{k,2}(t)\triangleq\sum\limits_{|\alpha|\leqslant k-1}\int_0^t\left(\|\nabla\partial^\alpha a(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2+\|\nabla\partial^\alpha\bm{u}(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2\right)d\tau$$ for $1\leqslant k\leqslant s$, where $$\partial=(\partial_t,\partial_{x_1},\partial_{x_2},\partial_{x_3}).$$ According to \eqref{data small}, it's clear that $\exists ~ M>0$ such that $$E_{s,1}(0)+E_{s,2}(0)\leqslant M^2\varepsilon^2.$$ Due to the local existence result, there exists a positive time $t_*\leqslant +\infty$ such that \begin{equation}\label{energy small assumption} t_*=\max\big\{t\geqslant 0 ~ \big| ~ E_{s,1}(\tau)+E_{s,2}(\tau)\leqslant\varepsilon, ~ \forall ~ \tau\in[0,t_*)\big\}. \end{equation} We have the following lemma. \begin{lemma}\label{entropy S lemma} Let \begin{equation}\label{entropy S} S=\ln\left(\frac{T}{\rho}\right)=\ln\left(\frac{1+\theta}{1+a}\right) \end{equation} denotes the entropy of unit mass, then the entropy of the system increases. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The entropy of unit volume is $$\rho S=\rho\ln\left(\frac{T}{\rho}\right)=\rho\ln T-\rho\ln\rho,$$ and we can establish the evolution equation of $\rho S$: $$\partial_t(\rho S)=\rho_tS+\rho S_t=-S\nabla\cdot(\rho\bm{u})+\nabla\cdot(\rho\bm{u})+\frac{\rho T_t}{T},$$ then the third equation of \eqref{Heat-Hydro-2} gives the result $$ \begin{aligned} \frac{d}{dt}\int\rho Sdx & =\int\rho\bm{u}\cdot\nabla S+\frac{\rho T_t}{T}dx \\ & =\int\frac{\rho\bm{u}\cdot\nabla T}{T}-\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\rho+\frac{\rho}{T}\left(\frac{\Delta T}{\rho}-\bm{u}\cdot\nabla T-T(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\right)dx \\ & =\int\frac{\Delta T}{T}dx=\int\frac{|\nabla T|^2}{T^2}dx\geqslant 0. \end{aligned} $$ This completes the proof of Lemma \ref{entropy S lemma}. \end{proof} \section{Basic Energy Estimate} By Lemma \ref{entropy S lemma}, we have \begin{equation}\label{Entropy increase} \frac{d}{dt}\int(1+a)\ln\left(\frac{1+a}{1+\theta}\right)dx+\int\frac{|\nabla\theta|^2}{(1+\theta)^2}dx=0. \end{equation} Making linear combination of \eqref{Entropy increase} and the conservation quantities, we obtain \begin{equation}\label{Basic L2 estimate} \frac{d}{dt}\int(1+a)\ln\left(\frac{1+a}{1+\theta}\right)+\left(\frac{|\bm{u}|^2}{2}+\frac{a|\bm{u}|^2}{2}-a+a\theta+\theta\right)dx+\int\frac{|\nabla\theta|^2}{(1+\theta)^2}dx=0. \end{equation} Making a Taylor expansion of \eqref{entropy S} with respect to $a$ and $\theta$, we have $$\ln\left(\frac{1+a}{1+\theta}\right)=a-\theta-\frac{a^2}{2}+\frac{\theta^2}{2}+r(a,\theta),$$ where the remainder $r(a,\theta)$ satisfies $$r(a,\theta)=O(a^3+\theta^3),\quad |a|+|\theta|\to 0.$$ Go back to \eqref{Basic L2 estimate}, we get $$ \begin{aligned} & \|a(t)\|_{L^2}^2+\|\bm{u}(t)\|_{L^2}^2+\|\theta(t)\|_{L^2}^2+2\int_0^t\|\nabla\theta(\tau)\|_{L^2}^2d\tau \\ = & ~ E_{0,1}(0)+\int a_0(\theta_0^2+|\bm{u}_0|^2-a_0^2)+(1+a_0)r(a_0,\theta_0)dx \\ - & ~ \int a(\theta^2+|\bm{u}|^2-a^2)+(1+a)r(a,\theta)dx+2\int_0^t\int\theta|\nabla\theta|^2\frac{(2+\theta)}{(1+\theta)^2}dxd\tau. \end{aligned} $$ By \eqref{energy small assumption}, we have $$\|a\|_{L^\infty}+\|\theta\|_{L^\infty}\leqslant C\sqrt{E_{2,1}(t)}\leqslant C\varepsilon^{\frac{1}{2}},$$ this gives the result \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate 0} E_{0,1}(t)\lesssim E_{0,1}(0)+E_{2,1}^{3/2}(0)+E_{2,1}^{3/2}(t), \end{equation} here and hereafter $A\lesssim B$ means $A\leqslant CB$ with a positive constant $C$. \section{The Estimate of $E_k$} Firstly, we write the equations of $a$ and $u$ in \eqref{Heat-Hydro-3} in the following form of symmetric hyperbolic systems. \begin{equation}\label{Heat-Hydro-Hyperbolic system} A_0(\bm{U},\theta)\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3A_j(\bm{U},\theta)\partial_j\bm{U}+\bm{F}=0, \end{equation} where $$ \bm{U}=\left( \begin{array}{c} a \\ u_1 \\ u_2 \\ u_3 \end{array} \right),\quad A_0=\left( \begin{array}{cccc} \frac{1+\theta}{1+a} & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1+a & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1+a & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1+a \\ \end{array} \right), $$ and $$ A_j=\left( \begin{array}{cccc} \frac{1+\theta}{1+a}u_j & (1+\theta)\delta_{1j} & (1+\theta)\delta_{2j} & (1+\theta)\delta_{3j} \\ (1+\theta)\delta_{1j} & (1+a)u_j & 0 & 0 \\ (1+\theta)\delta_{2j} & 0 & (1+a)u_j & 0 \\ (1+\theta)\delta_{3j} & 0 & 0 & (1+a)u_j \\ \end{array} \right),\quad \bm{F}=\left( \begin{array}{c} 0 \\ (1+a)\theta_{x_1} \\ (1+a)\theta_{x_2} \\ (1+a)\theta_{x_3} \end{array} \right). $$ By applying $\partial^\alpha$ to \eqref{Heat-Hydro-Hyperbolic system}, where the multi-index $\alpha$ satisfying $0<|\alpha|\leqslant k$, and the positive integer $k\leqslant s$, we obtain $$A_0\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3A_j\partial_j\partial^\alpha\bm{U}=\left(A_0\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_t-\partial^\alpha(A_0\bm{U}_t)\right)+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3\big( A_j\partial_j\partial^\alpha\bm{U}-\partial^\alpha\left(A_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)\big)-\partial^\alpha\bm{F}.$$ Then we take the $L^2$ inner product of the above equation with $\partial^\alpha\bm{U}$ and integrate with respect to $t$. By the symmetry of $A_j$ and $A_0$, we have the following energy estimate \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-1-1} \begin{aligned} & \int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}^TA_0\partial^\alpha\bm{U}dx \\ = & ~ 2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}^T\Big(\left(A_0\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_t-\partial^\alpha(A_0\bm{U}_t)\right)+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3\big(A_j\partial_j\partial^\alpha\bm{U}- \partial^\alpha\left(A_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)\big)\Big)dxd\tau \\ + & \int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_0^TA_0(\bm{U}_0,\theta_0)\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_0dx+\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}^T\left(\partial_tA_0+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3\partial_jA_j\right) \partial^\alpha\bm{U}dxd\tau \\ - & ~ 2\int_0^t\int \partial^\alpha\bm{F}\cdot\partial^\alpha\bm{U}dxd\tau, \end{aligned} \end{equation} where $$-2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{F}\cdot\partial^\alpha\bm{U}dxd\tau=-2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta+\partial^\alpha\bm{u}\cdot\partial^\alpha (a\nabla\theta)dxd\tau.$$ On the other hand, we make energy estimate of $\theta$ to obtain \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-1-2} \begin{aligned} & \int|\partial^\alpha\theta|^2dx+2\int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta|^2dxd\tau \\ = & ~ \int|\partial^\alpha\theta_0|^2dx+2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta dx+2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha(\theta\bm{u})\cdot\nabla\partial^\alpha \theta dxd\tau \\ + & ~ 2\int_0^t\int\frac{\partial^\alpha\theta\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta\cdot\nabla a}{(1+a)^2}+\frac{a|\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta|^2}{1+a}+\partial^\alpha\theta\left( \partial^\alpha\left(\frac{\Delta\theta}{1+a}\right)-\frac{\Delta\partial^\alpha\theta}{1+a}\right)dxd\tau. \\ \end{aligned} \end{equation} Adding \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-1-1} to \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-1-2}, we get $$ \begin{aligned} & \int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}^TA_0\partial^\alpha\bm{U}dx+\int|\partial^\alpha\theta|^2dx+2\int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta|^2dxd\tau \\ = & ~ \int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_0^TA_0(\bm{U}_0,\theta_0)\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_0dx+\int|\partial^\alpha\theta_0|^2dx \\ + & ~ 2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha(\theta\bm{u})\cdot\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta-\partial^\alpha\bm{u}\cdot\partial^\alpha(a\nabla\theta)dxd\tau \\ + & ~ 2\int_0^t\int\frac{\partial^\alpha\theta\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta\cdot\nabla a}{(1+a)^2}+\frac{a|\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta|^2}{1+a}+\partial^\alpha\theta\left( \partial^\alpha\left(\frac{\Delta\theta}{1+a}\right)-\frac{\Delta\partial^\alpha\theta}{1+a}\right)dxd\tau \\ + & ~ 2\int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}^T\Big(\left(A_0\partial^\alpha\bm{U}_t-\partial^\alpha(A_0\bm{U}_t)\right)+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3\big(A_j\partial_j\partial^\alpha\bm{U} -\partial^\alpha\left(A_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)\big)\Big)dxd\tau \\ + & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\alpha\bm{U}^T\left(\partial_tA_0+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3\partial_jA_j\right)\partial^\alpha\bm{U}dxd\tau. \end{aligned} $$ We have the following lemma from \cite{Li-Zhou} to deal with the nonlinear terms. \begin{lemma}\label{nonlinear lemma} For $\forall ~ N\in\mathbb{N}_+$, we have $$ \begin{aligned} \|fg\|_{H^N} & \lesssim\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\alpha_1|\leqslant\lfloor\frac{N-1}{2}\rfloor}\|\partial^{\alpha_1}f\|_{L^\infty}\bigg)\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\alpha_3|\leqslant N}\| \partial^{\alpha_3}g\|_{L^2}\bigg) \\ & +\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\alpha_2|\leqslant\lfloor\frac{N-1}{2}\rfloor}\|\partial^{\alpha_2}g\|_{L^\infty}\bigg)\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\alpha_4|\leqslant N}\|\partial^{\alpha_4}f \|_{L^2}\bigg). \end{aligned} $$ For any multi-index $\beta$ satisfying $|\beta|=N>0$, we have $$ \begin{aligned} \big\|\partial^\beta(fg)-f\partial^\beta g\big\|_{L^2} & \lesssim\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\beta_1|\leqslant\lfloor\frac{N}{2}\rfloor}\|\partial^{\beta_1}f\|_{L^\infty}\bigg) \bigg(\sum\limits_{|\beta_3|\leqslant N-1}\|\partial^{\beta_3}g\|_{L^2}\bigg) \\ & +\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\beta_2|\leqslant\lfloor\frac{N-1}{2}\rfloor}\|\partial^{\beta_2}g\|_{L^\infty}\bigg)\bigg(\sum\limits_{|\beta_4|\leqslant N}\|\partial^{\beta_4}f \|_{L^2}\bigg). \end{aligned} $$ \end{lemma} Recall that $A_0$ is a positive definite matrix. By Lemma \ref{nonlinear lemma} and the Sobolev imbedding theorems, we obtain $$ \begin{aligned} & (1-C\varepsilon)\int|\partial^\alpha\bm{U}|^2dx+\int|\partial^\alpha\theta|^2dx+2\int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\alpha\theta|^2dxd\tau \\ \lesssim & ~ E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\big). \end{aligned} $$ Thus we get \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-1} E_{k,1}(t)\lesssim E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\big). \end{equation} To estimate $E_{k,2}(t)$, we set $$B_i(\bm{U},\theta)=A_i(\bm{U},\theta)-A_i(\bm{0},0),\quad 0\leqslant i\leqslant 3,$$ then we can rewrite \eqref{Heat-Hydro-Hyperbolic system}, and apply $\partial^\beta ~ (|\beta|\leqslant k-1)$ to get \begin{equation}\label{Heat-Hydro-Hyperbolic system-2} \begin{aligned} & \partial^\beta\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3A_j(\bm{0},0)\partial^\beta\partial_j\bm{U} \\ = & \left( \begin{array}{c} \partial^\beta a_t+\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u}) \\ \partial^\beta\bm{u}_t+\nabla\partial^\beta a \end{array} \right) =-\partial^\beta\left(B_0\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3B_j\partial_j\bm{U}+\bm{F}\right). \end{aligned} \end{equation} Taking inner product of \eqref{Heat-Hydro-Hyperbolic system-2} with the following vector $$\partial^\beta\bm{V}\triangleq\big(-\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u}),\nabla\partial^\beta a\big),$$ and integrate with respect to $t$, we get \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-1} \begin{aligned} & \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta adx+\int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\beta a|^2-|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})|^2+\nabla\partial^\beta a\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta \theta dxd\tau \\ = & ~ \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}_0\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta a_0dx-\int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta a\cdot\partial^\beta(a\nabla\theta)dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\beta\bm{V}\cdot\partial^\beta\left(B_0\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3B_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)dxd\tau. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Taking inner product of \eqref{Heat-Hydro-Hyperbolic system-2} with the following vector $$\partial^\beta\bm{W}\triangleq\big(\bm{0},-\nabla\partial^\beta\theta\big),$$ we have \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-2-1} \begin{aligned} - & ~ \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}_t\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta\theta dx-\int\partial^\beta a\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta\theta+|\nabla\partial^\beta\theta|^2dx \\ = & ~ \int\nabla\partial^\beta\theta\cdot\partial^\beta\left(\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\frac{\theta-a}{1+a}\nabla a\right)dx. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Then we take inner product of the equation of $\partial^\beta\theta$, which is $$\partial^\beta\theta_t+\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})-\Delta\partial^\beta\theta=-\partial^\beta\left(\frac{a\Delta\theta}{1+a}+\nabla\cdot(\theta\bm{u})\right),$$ with $\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})$ to obtain \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-2-2} \begin{aligned} - & ~ \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta\theta_tdx+\int|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})|^2dx-\int\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\Delta\partial^\beta\theta dx \\ = & ~ -\int\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\partial^\beta\left(\frac{a\Delta\theta}{1+a}+\big(\nabla\cdot(\theta\bm{u})\big)\right)dx. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Adding \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-2-1} to \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-2-2} and integrating with respect to $t$, we get \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-2} \begin{aligned} & -\int\partial^\beta\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta\theta dx+\int_0^t\int|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})|^2-|\nabla\partial^\beta\theta|^2dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta a\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta\theta dxd\tau-\int_0^t\int\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\Delta\partial^\beta\theta dxd\tau \\ = & ~ -\int\partial^\beta\bm{u}_0\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta\theta_0dx+\int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta\theta\cdot\partial^\beta\left(\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\frac{\theta-a}{1+a} \nabla a\right)dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\partial^\beta\left(\frac{a\Delta\theta}{1+a}+\nabla\cdot(\theta\bm{u})\right)dxd\tau. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Adding \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-1} to \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-2}, we have \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-3} \begin{aligned} & \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta(a-\theta)dx+\int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\beta a|^2-|\nabla\partial^\beta\theta|^2-\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\Delta \partial^\beta\theta dxd\tau \\ = & ~ \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}_0\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta(a_0-\theta_0)dx-\int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta a\cdot\partial^\beta(a\nabla\theta)dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\beta\bm{V}\cdot\partial^\beta\left(B_0\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3B_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)dxd\tau \\ + & ~ \int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta\theta\cdot\partial^\beta\left(\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\frac{\theta-a}{1+a}\nabla a\right)dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\partial^\beta\left(\frac{a\Delta\theta}{1+a}+\nabla\cdot(\theta\bm{u})\right)dxd\tau. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Thus we have \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-4} \begin{aligned} \int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\beta a|^2dxd\tau\leqslant & ~ \int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\beta\theta|^2+\frac{1}{2}|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})|^2+\frac{1}{2}|\Delta \partial^\beta\theta|^2dxd\tau \\ + & ~ \int\partial^\beta\bm{u}_0\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta(a_0-\theta_0)dx-\int\partial^\beta\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta(a-\theta)dx \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\beta\bm{V}\cdot\partial^\beta\left(B_0\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3B_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})\partial^\beta\left(\frac{a\Delta\theta}{1+a}+\nabla\cdot(\theta\bm{u})\right)dxd\tau \\ + & ~ \int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta\theta\cdot\partial^\beta\left(\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\bm{u}+\frac{\theta-a}{1+a}\nabla a\right)dxd\tau \\ - & ~ \int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta a\cdot\partial^\beta(a\nabla\theta)dxd\tau. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Now go back to \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-1}, we have \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2-5} \begin{aligned} \frac{1}{2}\int_0^t\int|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})|^2dxd\tau\leqslant & ~ \int_0^t\int\frac{3}{4}|\nabla\partial^\beta a|^2+\frac{1}{4}|\nabla\partial^\beta\theta|^2dxd\tau \\ + & ~ \frac{1}{2}\int_0^t\int\partial^\beta\bm{V}\cdot\partial^\beta\left(B_0\bm{U}_t+\sum\limits_{j=1}^3B_j\partial_j\bm{U}\right)dxd\tau \\ + & ~ \frac{1}{2}\int\partial^\beta\bm{u}\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta adx-\int\partial^\beta\bm{u}_0\cdot\nabla\partial^\beta a_0dx \\ + & ~ \frac{1}{2}\int_0^t\int\nabla\partial^\beta a\cdot\partial^\beta(a\nabla\theta)dxd\tau. \end{aligned} \end{equation} Substituting \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-5} into \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-4}, by \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-1} we have \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-2} \begin{aligned} & \sum\limits_{|\beta|\leqslant k-1}\int_0^t\int|\nabla\partial^\beta a|^2dxd\tau \\ \lesssim & ~ E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t) \big) \\ \lesssim & ~ E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\big). \end{aligned} \end{equation} Substituting \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2} into \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2-5}, similarly by \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-1} we have \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k-3} \begin{aligned} & \sum\limits_{|\beta|\leqslant k-1}\int_0^t\int|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot \bm{u})|^2dxd\tau \\ \lesssim & ~ E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\big) \\ \lesssim & ~ E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\big). \end{aligned} \end{equation} Note that by \eqref{irrotational} and Hodge decomposition, we have $$\sum\limits_{|\beta|\leqslant k-1}\int_0^t\int|\partial^\beta(\nabla\cdot\bm{u})|^2dxd\tau=\sum\limits_{|\beta|\leqslant k-1}\int_0^t\int|\partial^\beta(\nabla\bm{u})|^2dxd\tau.$$ Adding \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-1}, \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-2} and \eqref{Key Energy estimate k-3}, one has \begin{equation}\label{Key Energy estimate k} E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\lesssim E_{k,1}(0)+E_{\lfloor k/2+5/2\rfloor,1}^{1/2}(t)\big(E_{k,1}(t)+E_{k,2}(t)\big),\quad 1\leqslant k\leqslant s. \end{equation} Note that $s>5$, by \eqref{Key Energy estimate 0} and \eqref{Key Energy estimate k} we arrive at \begin{equation}\label{Energy estimate s} E_s(t)\triangleq E_{s,1}(t)+E_{s,2}(t)\lesssim E_s(0)+E^{3/2}_s(0)+E^{3/2}_s(t)\leqslant C\big(M^2\varepsilon^2+M^3\varepsilon^3+\varepsilon^{\frac{3}{2}}\big). \end{equation} Now we give the proof of Thm\ref{main}. \begin{proof} Assume that $t_*<\infty$ in \eqref{energy small assumption}. We take $\varepsilon>0$ small enough, then \eqref{Energy estimate s} gives $$E_s(t_*)\leqslant 2C\varepsilon^{\frac{3}{2}}<\varepsilon,$$ this contradicts our assumption \eqref{energy small assumption}. Thus we have $$E_s(t)\leqslant\varepsilon, \quad \forall ~ t\geqslant 0,$$ which completes the proof of Thm \ref{main}. \end{proof} \par{\bf Acknowledgements.} Yi Zhou was supported by Key Laboratory of Mathematics for Nonlinear Sciences, Ministry of Education of China. Shanghai Key Laboratory for Contemporary Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, P.R. China, NSFC (grants No. 11421061). And we sincerely thank Dr. Yi Zhu for her kind help.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Which antipsychotic agents are associated with the highest risk of developing neuroleptic malignant syndrome? output: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially fatal adverse reaction associated with antipsychotic medications. The risk of developing NMS varies among different antipsychotic agents. First-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), particularly high-potency agents, are associated with the highest risk of NMS. Haloperidol and flupentixol are notable examples, with haloperidol having a reporting odds ratio (ROR) of 12.1 (95% CI: 11.1-13.3) for NMS. Flupentixol has an incidence rate of 0.61‰, the highest among FGAs.[1-2] Among second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), the risk is generally lower but not negligible. Risperidone and aripiprazole have been associated with NMS, with RORs of 6.2 (95% CI: 5.8-6.6) and 4.7 (95% CI: 4.4-5.1), respectively. Clozapine-induced NMS is characterized by a lower incidence of rigidity compared to FGAs, but it still poses a significant risk.[1][3] The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that while atypical antipsychotics have a lower risk of NMS compared to traditional neuroleptics, the risk is not entirely absent.[4] In summary, haloperidol and flupentixol are associated with the highest risk of developing NMS among antipsychotic agents, followed by risperidone and aripiprazole among SGAs. Clinicians should remain vigilant for NMS symptoms, especially when prescribing high-potency FGAs.

ARCHIVED - Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-206 This page has been archived on the Web Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. Archived Decisions, Notices and Orders (DNOs) remain in effect except to the extent they are amended or reversed by the Commission, a court, or the government. The text of archived information has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Changes to DNOs are published as “dashes” to the original DNO number. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats by contacting us. This page has been archived on the Web. See also: 2011-206-1 Ottawa, 23 March 2011 Proceeding to review network interconnection matters File number: 8643-C12-201105297 In this notice, the Commission initiates a proceeding to review the local, wireless, and toll network interconnection regulatory regimes. The principle objectives of this proceeding are to determine to what extent existing interconnection regimes can be simplified and consolidated, changes are necessary to enhance competition and, thus, benefit consumers, and changes are necessary to ensure technological neutrality. The Commission will consider each of these objectives in light of recent and any possible future industry developments. The proceeding will include a public hearing in Gatineau, Quebec, which will begin on 24 October 2011 and is expected to last approximately five days. Should additional time be required, the hearing may last until 4 November 2011. 1. Currently, there are three distinct regulatory regimes related to the interconnection of telecommunications networks for the purpose of exchanging voice traffic: (i) local network interconnection between local exchange carrier (LEC) networks, (ii) wireless network interconnection between wireless carrier networks and LEC networks, and (iii) toll network interconnection between toll (long distance) networks and LEC networks. 2. In Telecom Decision 2011-69, the Commission stated that it would initiate a proceeding to examine the following matters, which are related to one or more of the existing network interconnection regimes: a. Wireless Interconnection: Bill & Keep,[1] b. Review interexchange carrier interconnection, c. Review and streamline competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) interconnection obligations as they apply to small CLECs, d. Creation of CLEC-voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) category, and e. Administration of CLEC interconnection by incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). 3. In addition, as more fully discussed below, there have been many changes in the telecommunications industry since the Commission first established the local, wireless, and toll interconnection regimes. In particular, the Commission notes that networks are increasingly using Internet Protocol (IP) technology, and mobile wireless substitution is a growing trend. 4. Accordingly, the Commission considers that it would be appropriate to conduct a broad policy review of network interconnection matters. [2] The principal objectives of this proceeding are to determine to what extent 5. The existing local, wireless, and toll interconnection regimes are technology-specific and are based on the interconnection of circuit-switched networks. As explained in the following paragraphs, the main differences between each of these regulatory regimes relate to whether competitors are treated as customers of, or co-carriers with, the ILECs, and how network and interconnection facilities costs are recovered. Local network interconnection 6. The current local network interconnection regime was established in Telecom Decision 97-8 and modified in subsequent Commission decisions. The main principle on which the regime is based is that CLECs are equal carriers with the ILECs in the local exchange market. 7. As a result, the costs for interconnecting trunks between CLECs and ILECs are shared. The local network interconnection regime also includes two cost compensation mechanisms: bill and keep – in the event that traffic exchanged between two LECs is balanced; and mutual compensation – in the event the traffic is not balanced. 8. In addition, the Commission requires ILECs to make available to CLECs certain facilities and services – for example, extended area service (EAS) transport and transiting services, and local interconnection regions (LIRs). The Commission has also established various obligations[3] that CLECs must meet when operating in local service markets. 9. In the proceeding leading to Telecom Decision 2011-69, some parties submitted that further elimination of certain obligations, as they apply to small CLECs, would accelerate entry and expansion of facilities-based competition in many small and rural communities.[4] 10. Also in the proceeding leading to Telecom Decision 2011-69, some parties submitted that many of the ILECs impose unreasonable time frames and requirements on network interconnection, and that this results in unnecessary costs and delayed entry for competitors. Wireless carrier interconnection 11. The current wireless carrier interconnection regime was established in Telecom Decisions 84-10 and 84-29, and modified in subsequent Commission decisions. The main principle on which the regime is based is that wireless carriers are considered to be customers of, not equal carriers with, the ILECs. 12. As a result, the wireless carrier is responsible for (a) providing the interconnecting facility between its network and a LEC’s network, and (b) paying Commission-approved tariff rates to the LEC for traffic routed from the wireless carrier to the LEC, as well as for traffic routed from the LEC to the wireless carrier. The Commission does not require wireless carriers to meet the same obligations that CLECs must meet in local service markets.[5] 13. In the proceeding leading to Telecom Decision 2011-69, some parties submitted that without the ability to terminate traffic on a shared-cost basis – for example, on a bill and keep basis, wireless carriers would necessarily and artificially incur much higher traffic termination costs than other carriers. Other parties submitted that the option of obtaining shared-cost interconnection through CLEC status is currently open to all wireless carriers. Toll interconnection 14. The current toll interconnection regime was established in Telecom Decision 92-12 and modified in subsequent Commission decisions. The main principle on which the regime is based is that long distance service providers are considered to be customers of, not equal carriers with, the ILECs. 15. As a result, the long distance service provider is responsible for (a) providing the interconnecting facility between its network and a LEC’s network, and (b) paying Commission-approved tariff rates to the LEC for traffic routed from the long distance service provider to the LEC, as well as for traffic routed from the LEC to the long distance service provider.[6] 16. In the proceeding leading to Telecom Decision 2011-69, some parties submitted that the current toll interconnection regime is neither technologically nor competitively neutral. Changes in the Canadian telecommunications industry 17. The Commission notes that there have been significant market and technology changes in the telecommunications industry since the Commission first established its network interconnection regimes. For example, many service providers have evolved from single-market players to integrated local/toll/wireless operators, the networks are increasingly using IP technology, and mobile wireless substitution is a growing trend. 18. In Order Issuing a Direction to the CRTC on Implementing the Canadian Telecommunications Policy Objectives, P.C. 2006-1534, 14 December 2006 (the Policy Direction), the Governor in Council required the Commission to, among other things, rely on market forces to the maximum extent feasible to achieve the objectives set out in section 7 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act). The Policy Direction also requires that, when relying on regulation, the Commission ensure the technological and competitive neutrality of those arrangements or regimes, to the greatest extent possible, to enable competition from new technologies and not to artificially favour either Canadian carriers or resellers. 19. In the proceeding leading to Telecom Decision 2011-69, some parties submitted that the existing local, wireless, and toll regimes create barriers that make it difficult for some carriers to evolve to more neutral and cost-effective technologies such as IP-based interconnection, and that it no longer makes sense to mandate interconnection based solely on standards grounded on circuit-switched technologies.[7] 20. The Commission hereby initiates a proceeding to address issues associated with the matters set out in this notice. The proceeding will include a public hearing as set out below. 21. In their interventions, parties should provide full supporting rationale and all evidence on which they rely, and structure their submissions according to the questions identified in the Appendix. In addition, parties requesting or proposing changes to the existing network interconnection regimes are expected to demonstrate, as applicable, how such changes would improve regulatory, economic, and/or network efficiencies. Parties are also expected to demonstrate how the adoption of their respective positions would benefit service providers and/or consumers. 22. The Commission notes that it will review the matters in this proceeding in light of the telecommunications policy objectives set out in section 7 of the Act and the Policy Direction. 23. The Commission notes that the outcome of this proceeding may result in changes to various regulatory regimes applicable to some or all telecommunications service providers. 24. The new Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure SOR/2010-277 (the Rules of Procedure) will come into force on 1 April 2011 and will apply to this proceeding as of that date.[8] 25. Any interested person who wishes merely to file written comments in this proceeding, but does not wish to become a party to the proceeding, may do so by using the following comments link or by writing to the Secretary General (by mail: CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2; by fax: 819-994-0218) by 14 November 2011. Such persons will not receive copies of the various submissions, will not be permitted to ask or answer interrogatories, and will not have the right to appear at the public hearing. 26. Interested persons who wish to become parties to this proceeding must file an intervention with the Commission regarding the above-noted issues, by 12 May 2011. In accordance with section 26 of the Rules of Procedure, this intervention must explicitly state that the person wishes to be considered an intervener, and must indicate whether the person wishes to appear at the public hearing. Shortly before the public hearing, parties will be provided an opportunity to confirm whether they still wish to appear. 27. In addition, each person who files an intervention must register as a party using the Commission’s online form on or before 12 May 2011. The Commission will post on its website a complete list of parties containing the contact information provided in this registration shortly thereafter. All documents required to be served on a party or parties to the proceeding must be served using the contact information on this list. 28. The Commission and parties may request information in the form of interrogatories from any party to the proceeding. In accordance with sections 73 and following of the Rules of Procedure, the requesting party must file its request for information with the Commission on or before 17 June 2011, and must serve the request on the party to whom it is addressed. 29. Responses to requests for information from other parties or the Commission are to be filed with the Commission and served on all parties by 12 August 2011. 30. Requests by parties for further responses to interrogatories posed in their request for information, specifying in each case why a further response is both relevant and necessary, and requests for public disclosure of information that has been designated confidential, setting out in each case the reasons for disclosure, must be filed with the Commission and served on the relevant party or parties by 24 August 2011. 31. Written responses to requests for further responses to interrogatories and for public disclosure must be filed with the Commission and served on the party or parties making the request by 1 September 2011. 32. Determinations will be issued regarding requests for further information and public disclosure as soon as possible. Any information to be provided pursuant to such determinations must be filed with the Commission and served on all parties by 16 September 2011. 33. The Commission will hold a public hearing, beginning on 24 October 2011 at 9 a.m. at the Conference Centre, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec. The public hearing is expected to last approximately five days. Should additional time be required, the public hearing will continue at that location and may last until 4 November 2011. 34. The public hearing will consist of two phases: (i) Phase I for opening presentations; and (ii) Phase II for oral rebuttal argument. The Commission expects all parties that appear at Phase I of the public hearing to also appear at Phase II. Parties who participate in Phase II of the proceeding are requested to remain available until the end of Phase II to respond to any questions which the Commission may have arising out of other parties’ rebuttal submissions. There will be no cross-examination by parties. 35. Although the public hearing will be held in the National Capital Region, parties may participate from the Commission’s regional offices via videoconferencing. Parties interested in doing so are asked to indicate the regional office where they wish to appear at the time they are requested to confirm their intention to appear. A list of the Commission's regional offices is provided in this notice. 36. The Commission will issue, as soon as possible, the list of parties who have confirmed their intention to appear at the public hearing and their order of appearance. 37. Persons requiring communications support such as assistive listening devices and sign language interpretation are requested to inform the Commission at least twenty (20) days before the commencement of the public hearing so that the necessary arrangements can be made. 38. An organization and conduct letter, providing directions on procedure with respect to the public hearing, including the scope of the issues to be examined during the public hearing, will be issued prior to the commencement of the public hearing. 39. All parties may file final written arguments with the Commission on any matter within the scope of this proceeding, serving copies on all other parties, by 14 November 2011. Final arguments, including an executive summary, are not to exceed 15 pages. 40. The Commission expects to publish a decision on the issues raised in this notice within four months of the close of record. 41. The Commission will not formally acknowledge interventions or comments. It will, however, fully consider all submissions, which will form part of the public record of the proceeding. 42. Parties are reminded that, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, if a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by that date. A document must be filed with the Commission by 5 p.m. Vancouver time (8 p.m. Ottawa time) on the date it is due. 43. Parties may file their submissions electronically or on paper. Submissions longer than five pages should include a summary. 44. Electronic submissions should be in HTML format. Alternatively, Microsoft Word may be used for text and Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets. 45. Each paragraph of all submissions should be numbered. In addition, the line ***End of document*** should follow the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during electronic transmission. 46. The Commission encourages parties to monitor the record of this proceeding and/or the Commission’s website for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their submissions. 47. Note that all information that persons provide as part of this public process, except information granted confidentiality, whether sent by postal mail, facsimile, email, or through the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca, becomes part of a publicly accessible file and will be posted on the Commission’s website. This includes personal information, such as full names, email addresses, postal/street addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers, and any other personal information persons provide. 48. The personal information provided will be used and may be disclosed for the purpose for which the information was obtained or compiled by the Commission, or for a use consistent with that purpose. 49. Documents received electronically or otherwise will be posted on the Commission’s website in their entirety exactly as received, including any personal information contained therein, in the official language and format in which they are received. Documents not received electronically will be made available in PDF format. 50. Please note that the information persons provide to the Commission as part of this public process is entered into an unsearchable database dedicated to this specific public process. This database is accessible only from the web page of this particular public process. As a result, a general search of the Commission’s website with the help of either its own search engine or a third-party search engine will not link directly to the information that was provided as part of this public process. Location of CRTC offices 51. Submissions may be examined or will be made available promptly upon request at Commission offices during normal business hours. Toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-2782 Toll-free TDD: 1-877-909-2782 Les Terrasses de la Chaudière 1 Promenade du Portage, Room 206 Gatineau, Quebec J8X 4B1 99 Wyse Road, Suite 1410 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 4S5 205 Viger Avenue West, Suite 504 Montréal, Quebec H2Z 1G2 55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 624 Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2 275 Portage Avenue, Suite 1810 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B3 2220 – 12th Avenue, Suite 620 Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0M8 10405 Jasper Avenue, Suite 520 Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3N4 858 Beatty Street, Suite 290 Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1C1 Updated action plan for reviewing regulatory measures, Telecom Decision CRTC 2011-69, 4 February 2011, as amended by Telecom Decision CRTC 2011-69-1, 21 February 2011 Revised regulatory framework for wholesale services and definition of essential service, Telecom Decision CRTC 2008-17, 3 March 2008 Central office code obligations for competitive local exchange carriers, Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-49, 6 July 2007 IP-to-IP interconnection report - Follow-up to Decision 2006-13, Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-22, 12 April 2007 Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association - Part VII application regarding the application of some competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) obligations to certain CLECs, Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-58, 18 September 2006 IP-to-IP interconnection - Follow-up to Decision 2005-28, Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-13, 16 March 2006 Local competition, Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8, 1 May 1997 Competition in the provision of public long distance voice telephone services and related resale and sharing issues, Telecom Decision CRTC 92-12, 12 June 1992, as amended by Erratum 92-12-1, 28 August 1992 Cellular Radio Service, Telecom Decision CRTC 84-29, 19 December 1984 Radio Common Carrier Interconnection With Federally Regulated Telephone Companies, Telecom Decision CRTC 84-10, 22 March 1984 Questions for discussion in this proceeding Parties are to take into consideration and address the relevant aspects of the telecommunications policy objectives set out in section 7 of the Act and the Policy Direction, as applicable, when submitting their responses to the questions below. Parties are also to take into account the Commission’s principle objectives in this proceeding to determine to what extent Consolidated regime 1. Should the existing regulatory regimes for local network interconnection, wireless carrier interconnection, and toll interconnection be simplified and consolidated into a single more efficient and cost-effective regime that better reflects recent and future industry developments, such as the increasing use of IP technology by carriers? If so, how should this be done and to what extent? If not, explain why not. a. Should network and interconnection facility costs be shared? b. Should a cost compensation mechanism be included in the event that traffic between two carriers is not balanced? c. What should be the appropriate points of interconnection? d. What obligations should apply to interconnecting carriers? e. Should the network interconnection requirements based on circuit-switched technologies be phased out? If so, how should this be done and when? If not, why not? Distinct regimes 2. If a consolidated regime cannot be established for local network interconnection, wireless carrier interconnection, and toll interconnection, what changes, if any, should be made to the existing regimes? a. Should the existing regulatory regimes be modified to better reflect recent and future industry developments, such as the increasing use of IP technology by carriers? If so, how and to what extent? If not, explain why not. b. Are changes required to the existing cost compensation mechanisms for traffic exchanged between two carriers? c. Would changes be appropriate to the obligations[9] that LECs must currently meet when operating in local service markets? d. Should the network interconnection requirements based on circuit-switched technologies be phased out? If so, how should this be done and when? If not, why not? Network interconnection implementation 3. To what extent, if any, should standards be established by the Commission regarding implementation time frames for network interconnection implementation? [1] Bill and keep is a compensation method that allows the originating carrier to bill its customer for the call and keep the corresponding revenue; the originating carrier does not compensate the terminating carrier for call termination expense. Bill and keep assumes that traffic exchanged between carriers is generally balanced. [2] The scope of this proceeding is limited to matters related to wholesale services assigned to the interconnection category in Telecom Decision 2008-17. The appropriateness of these assignments is not within the scope of this proceeding. [3] While these obligations are referred to as CLEC obligations, they are, in general, based on obligations being met by all LECs. [4] The Commission has already granted small CLECs relief from certain obligations in Telecom Decisions 2006-58 and 2007-49. [5] In Telecom Decision 97-8, the Commission stated that a wireless carrier could become a CLEC and have the benefit of shared-cost interconnection with other LECs, as long as the wireless carrier accepted the CLEC obligations. [6] While both wireless and long distance service providers are responsible for interconnection facility and LEC network costs, the functionality and services provided by the LECs, as well as the corresponding costs, are different for each regime. [7] In Telecom Decisions 2006-13 and 2007-22, the Commission approved two CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee reports related to IP interconnection between service providers. [8] The Rules of Procedure set out, among other things, the rules for the filing, content, format and service of interventions and interrogatories, the procedure for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure, and the conduct of the public hearing. Accordingly, the procedure set out in this notice must be read in conjunction with the Rules of Procedure and its accompanying documents, which can be found on the Commission’s website under “CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure.” [9] The issue of LECs filing serving area and exchange maps with the Commission will be addressed in a subsequent notice.

Niẓām al-Mulk NIẒĀM AL-MULK (ah 408–485/1018–1092 ce) was a celebrated Persian vizier. Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī ibn Isḥāq al-Ṭūsī was born in Nawqān, a village near Ṭus in Khurāsān. He served two Saljūq sultans, Ālp Arsalān (r. 1063–1073) and his son Malikshāh ibn Ālp Arsalān (r. 1073–1092), and held the honorifics Niẓām al-Mulk (administrator of the realm), Qawām al-Dīn (upholder of religion), and Ghiyâth al-Dawla (mainstay of government). Niẓām al-Mulk was a Shāfiʿī in law and an Ashʿarī in theology. He befriended Ṣūfīs and built numerous educational institutions, known as madrasah s. He was assassinated in 1092 in a small village outside of Iṣfahān. In his seventy-four years, Niẓām al-Mulk rose from being a member of the bureaucracy of the provincial governor of Balkh (in present-day Afghanistan) to the de facto ruler of a vast empire, with a final apotheosis as the archetypal good vizier in the world of Islam. Modern appraisals of Niẓām al-Mulk, often based on an uncritical distillation of medieval sources, tend to cast him in the mold of later reformist but absolutist rulers, who promoted religious orthodoxy, particularly through the founding of religious institutions, to counter latent forces of anarchy inherent in a world of steadily disintegrating spiritual authority and ever increasing tribal incursions and political conflicts. But a reading of the same sources, shorn of these underlying assumptions, reveals other traits and priorities. The ideal medieval statesman emerging from the scattered references to Niẓām al-Mulk in chronicles, biographies of viziers, manuals of conduct, panegyrics of court poets, and other sources is not the homogenized single icon of a bureaucratic state-builder, but the emblematic site where seemingly discordant civic and personal virtues can be fused together in a concatenated bio/hagiographical account of a life depicted in distinct stages. Thus, as in the biographies of many an outstanding spiritual figure before and after him (including, for example, the Prophet himself or the great poet and mystic Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī), his precocious gifts are at once spotted and remarked upon, and so in a sense authenticated, by an outstanding contemporary luminary, in his case the great Ṣūfī master Shaykh Abū al-Saʿīd Abū al-Khayr (d. 1049). Later we see Niẓām al-Mulk climb up rapidly on the slippery bureaucratic ladder, stepping on his rivals' toes whenever necessary. Although biographical information in the medieval Islamic sources on Niẓām al-Mulk is sketchy and the sources often contradict each other, almost all concur on his arduous early years, fraught with financial and political difficulties, before he became a vizier. Although born to a dihqān (landed aristocracy dating back to pre-Islamic Iran) family, Niẓām al-Mulk (or his father, for here sources vary) witnessed several injustices in his youth, and the family possessions were confiscated several times when he (or his father) served Ghaznavid (r. 977–1186) officials in Khurāsān. But Niẓām al-Mulk's fortune changed when the Saljūqs entered Khurāsān in 1038. He was recommended to the new sultan either by the provincial governor of Balkh or by the imām al-Muwaffaq (d. 1048), the respected leader of the Shāfiʿī faction of Nīshāpūr, again depending on the source one uses. In so doing, al-Muwaffaq bypassed another student of his, the ʿamīd al-Mulk al-Kundurī. Although al-Muwaffaq recommended Niẓām al-Mulk, al-Kundurī also entered into Saljūq service, serving the governor of Khurāsān, who was the brother of the reigning sultan. In 1063, when Ālp Arsalān succeeded his father and uncle as the sole ruler of the Saljūq Empire, he kept al-Kundurī in office, as recommended by his father. Although initially a Shāfiʿī and Ashʿarī himself, al-Kundurī initiated the public cursing of Shīʿah and Ashāʿirah from the pulpits in Khurāsān in 1062, in retaliation for the imām al-Muwaffaq's support of his rival. Several eminent Ashʿarī/Shāfiʿī figures, among them the imām al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī (d. 1085) and the Ṣūfī master Abū Qāsim al-Qushayrī (d. 1072), left for Mecca in protest. They did not return until Niẓām al-Mulk reversed these divisive policies and brought the downfall of his rival. Even in the most sympathetic accounts of the life of Niẓām al-Mulk, he is held responsible for the execution of al-Kundurī in 1064, whose office he inherited. The dramatic aspect of the episode is enhanced in a number of sources by inserting al-Kundurī's oracular last words, addressed to Niẓām al-Mulk: "You have taught these Turks the practice of killing their viziers." The long years of Niẓām al-Mulk's administrative reign are regarded as the halcyon days of the dynasty he served, with his own personal retinue reflecting the opulence of the realm he managed. Al-Subkī's (d. 1369/70) entry on Niẓām al-Mulk in his Ṭabaqāt al-Shāfi ʿīyah al-kubrá suggests that he had a personal army of Turkic slaves numbering over eighty thousand men, that he was one of the richest men in the Islamic lands, and that he conducted the affairs of the vast empire with effortless ease. But worldly riches are nicely balanced in the sources by unworldly concerns, and many anecdotes depict him identifying himself with Ṣūfīs and their spiritual interests and taking an active part in religious debates of his time. In his Ghiyāth al-'umam fī iltiyāth al-ẓulam, written between 1072 and 1085, the imām al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī alludes to Niẓām al-Mulk as the most qualified and capable administrator of his time, clearly surpassing the reigning Abbasid caliph in both real power and spiritual legitimacy, a significant compliment, coming as it does from one of the leading jurists of the eleventh century. Niẓām al-Mulk's downfall also bears the teleological stamp of the didactic and polemical reading of history inherent in the sources. In spite of his long years in power, Niẓām al-Mulk finally fell victim to the arbitrary nature of medieval kingship, like so many of his predecessors and successors. Spearheaded by the sultan Malikshāh's favorite wife, Turkān Khātūn (d. 1094), and exploiting a succession dispute, his enemies at the Saljūq court succeeded in convincing the sultan that the old vizier harbored ambitions to rule the empire. The history of the demise of Niẓām al-Mulk is cast in the familiar medieval mold of heresy, the stealthy intervention of women in politics, and conspiracy at court. Turkān Khātūn, allied with the Ismāʿīlīs and others accused of being enemies of Islam, persuaded Malikshāh to charge Niẓām al-Mulk with nepotism and treachery. The vizier wrote back, reminding the sultan that his fate was intertwined with Niẓām al-Mulk's fate, and that God, who had given one the turban, had given the other the crown. Malikshāh replaced him with one of his wife's allies, the Shīʿī Tāj al-Mulk (d. 1093), a person of unsound religious views, according to the sources. A year later, Niẓām al-Mulk was assassinated, allegedly by adherents of another unorthodox creed, the Ismāʿīlīs. On that oft-evoked complicity, too, there is much disagreement in the sources, as some hold Malikshāh responsible for his vizier's death and some even claim that Malikshāh himself had, at the instigation of his wife, converted to Ismāʿīlism and was thus manipulated into arranging for the murder of his own vizier, the upholder of orthodox religion. Perhaps the only flicker of truth in this fog of conspiracy was the charge of nepotism, for the Vizier did, after all, secure the continuation of his policies by installing a number of his relatives in prominent positions. Five of his sons, two of his grandsons, and one great-grandson held the office of vizier to one or another of the rulers after him, though none could reach his eminence, as recounted succinctly in Ibn Funduq's (d. 1170) Tā ʾrīkh-i Bayhaq, a rich source on the rise and lingering influence of Niẓām al-Mulk's family in the Saljūq empire. The more general attribution that he lived and died a stalwart of orthodoxy, tacitly accepted by many modern scholars of medieval Islam, should be reconsidered. Nearly contemporary Shīʿī sources, such as ʿAbd al-Jalīl al-Qazvīnī (d. after 1189) in his Kitāb al-naqd (1164/65), and the poet Ibn al-Habbārīyah (d. 1115) in his anthology, have praised Niẓām al-Mulk for his evenhandedness, and it should be borne in mind that one of the vizier's daughters was married to the son of the prominent Shīʿī leader, Sayyid Murtaḍā al-Qummī. There is praise for his tolerance from opposing sides. In the annals of the year 1077 in his Al-Muntaẓam, the Ḥanbalī historian Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 1200) has preserved a letter from Niẓām al-Mulk to Shaykh Abū Isḥāq al-Shīrāzī (d. 1083), whom he had appointed to teach at the Niẓāmīyah in Baghdad. It concerns a series of riots by the Ḥanbalīs of Baghdad following fiery sermons by the Shāfiʿī professor at the Niẓāmīyah. Niẓām al-Mulk advises the professor to be prudent in his sermons, especially as many Ḥanbalīs lived in Baghdad, and the imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (d. 855), the founder of the legal and theological school that bore Niẓām al-Mulk's name, was among the most venerated figures of Islam. Niẓām al-Mulk also informed the shaykh that the Niẓāmīyah, in line with his overall policy, was conceived to facilitate learning, to protect the learned, and to discourage sectarian strife. Should the madrasahs fall short of this objective, he would have no alternative but to shut them down. This last cautionary statement is significant in the context of the persisting misapprehension that clouds modern scholarship on the madrasah s sponsored by Niẓām al-Mulk. The Niẓāmīyah were not generally perceived as instruments of government policy by medieval Muslim historians, nor did they succeed in transforming the highly personal structure of Islamic education. In fact, medieval histories preserve little to document a long-lasting effect of the Niẓāmīyahs, beyond their founder's lifetime, on the educational infrastructure of Islamic society. Similarly, and contrary to the tone of most modern studies on Niẓām al-Mulk, his authorship of a treatise on political and courtly decorum, the Siyar al-Mulūk, does not loom large in the medieval accounts. The Siyar al-Mulūk, rather than a treatise on political thought in the modern sense of the term, is essentially an ethical treatise, which bears more of a resemblance to the ninth-century pseudo-Aristotelian Secretum Secretorum than to Machiavelli's The Prince. For a general introduction to the life of Niẓām al-Mulk, see Neguin Yavari, "Niẓām al-Mulk Remembered: A Study in Historical Representation," Ph.D.diss., Columbia University, 1992. For sectarian strife, see Richard W. Bulliet, Patricians of Nishapur: A Study in Medieval Islamic Social History (Cambridge, Mass., 1972). For a critique of the Sunnī revivalist project, see Roy Mottahedeh, "The Transmission of Learning: The Role of the Islamic Northeast" in Madrasa: La transmission du savoir dans le monde musulman, edited by Nicole Grandin and Marc Gaborieau (Paris, 1997); see especially pages 65 and following. For the madrasa s, see Daphna Ephrat, A Learned Society in a Period of Transition: The Sunni 'Ulama' of Eleventh-Century Baghdad (Albany, N.Y., 2000). For the Siyar al-Mulûk, see Hubert Darke's "Introduction" in Niẓām al-Mulk, The Book of Government or Rules for Kings, translated and edited by Darke (London, 2d ed., 1978); and Charles-Henri de Fouchécour, Moralia: Les notions morales dans la littérature persane du 3e/9e au 7e/13e siècle (Paris, 1986). Neguin Yavari (2005) Encyclopedia of Religion "Niẓām al-Mulk ." Encyclopedia of Religion. . Encyclopedia.com. 17 Jan. 2023 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Niẓām al-Mulk ." Encyclopedia of Religion. . Encyclopedia.com. (January 17, 2023). https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/nizam-al-mulk "Niẓām al-Mulk ." Encyclopedia of Religion. . Retrieved January 17, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/nizam-al-mulk Al-aqsa Mosque , al-Aqṣā Mosque Aqṣā Mosque Muhammad Ibn Abd Al-wahhab , Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb, Muḥammad IBN ʿABD AL-WAHHĀB, MUḤAMMAD (ah 1115–1206/1703–1792 ce), Islamic fundamentalist teacher who established the Wahhābi mov… Hussein Ibn Mansur Al-hallaj , Al-Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj Al-Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj (857-922) was a Persian Moslem mystic and martyr. He reinforced ecstatic and pantheisti… Ale , ale •ail, ale, assail, avail, bail, bale, bewail, brail, Braille, chain mail, countervail, curtail, dale, downscale, drail, dwale, entail, exhale, fa… Umayyads , Umayyads UMAYYADS UMAYYADS , dynasty (660–750) under which the Arabs established their empire, extending from Central Asia and the Indian border to t… Al-kashi , Al-Kāsh Al-Kāshī (or Al-Kāshānī), Ghiyāth Al-Dīn Jamshīd Mas’ūd (b. Kāshān, Iran; d. Samarkand [now in Uzbek, U.S.S.R], 22 June 1429) astronomy, math… ʿAlī Ibn Abī Māwardī, Al- Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān Ibn Al-Nafīs, Al-Azhar Masjid al-ḥarām, al- ʿAbd Al-Jabbār Nizam al-Jadid, al- Niẓām al-Dīn Awliyāʾ Niza, Marcos de (?–1558) Niyya Niyazov, Saparmurat Niyazi (real name, Taghi-zade-Khadzhibekov) Niyabat-e ?Amma Nixson, Frederick Ian Nixon, United States v. 418 U.S. 683 (1974) Nixon, Tricia (1946—) Nixon, Roger Nixon, Rob Nixon, Richard Milhaus° Nixon, Richard M. (1913–1994) Nixon, Richard M Nixon, Resignation of Nixon, Queenie (ca. 1918-1989) Nixon, Pat(ricia) Nixon, Pat (1912–1993) Nixon, Mojo Nixon, Mignon Nixon, Marni 1930– Nixon, Marni 1930- (Margaret Nixon McEathron) Nizam Al-Mulk (C.1018–1092) Nizam of Hyderabad Nizamiye Courts Nizārīs nizatidine Nizer, Louis Nizhni Tagil Nizhyn Nizip, Battle of (1839) Niznik, Stephanie 1967– Niẓẓanah Niẓẓanim Niʿmat Allāh Walī, Shāh Nūr al-Dīn Niʿmatullāhi NJA NJAC Njau, Rebeka (1932–) NJC NJCC Njinga (c. 1580s–1663) NJNC

Winter Recap April 8, 2018 April 15, 2018 nytrianglewebmaster My first ever blog! I don’t know about you, but I am definitely ready for spring to come! As much as I like to look at the snow, I’m tired of it. Thankfully the snow has not stopped me from doing my job as I travel around New York State representing the Organization of Triangle’s as our State Representative. Just weeks before Triangle Convention began the members of the 2015-2017 Junior Advisory Council were still finishing some last minute touches for the weekend. And I, being the procrastinator that I am, was still being fitted and picking up my red gown for the weekend. Once Triangle Convention wrapped up, my work was only just beginning. Just four days after we left the Villa Roma, I was up in Binghamton to represent Triangle at the Order Eastern Star of the State of New York’s Grand Sessions where I spoke about 14 year old Sybil Ludington and her heroic 40 mile horseback ride during the Revolutionary War to warn her father’s local militia the British were coming. I have been a Triangle girl since I was twelve and I still get nervous speaking in front of large crowds. Nevertheless, I made it out alive and was so proud of myself. I feel so lucky to be able to talk about such an influential woman in history. When I came up with my my theme “Lead Like a Triangle Girl” I already had a list of women in my mind I wanted to talk about. Finding inspirational, courageous, life-changing and accomplished women of history was the easy part, but deciding who to speak about first was tough. I chose Sybil Ludington, not knowing we once had a Triangle named after her in Brewster, NY. I believe it was fate and the perfect start to my term! But wait it gets better: State Director Mrs. Turri lives just around the corner from Sybil’s statue which resides along the path she took during her ride. Taking a picture next to her statue was a great ending to my first event as State Representative, don’t you agree? Next I went to Glens Falls where members of DeMolay, Triangle and Rainbow met at Winterfest Weekend to hang out and have fun. With only a small group this year we went snow tubing Saturday morning at Tubby Tubing. This was our first timing at Tubby Tubing I believe everyone enjoyed going down the various trails. Saturday night we had dinner at Golden Corral and then everyone was very eager to head to Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park. For my next visit I squeezed back into my red gown on March 2nd when I spoke about Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross to the members of Royal Arch, while representing the Organization of Triangles, Inc. at their Grand Convocation. Clara was a battlefield nurse during the Civil War who traveled to Switzerland and brought back the idea of the Red Cross. She presented the idea to President Chester Arthur, who loved it and the American Red Cross was born. But wait, it wasn’t that easy for her! She had originally suggested the idea of an American Red Cross to President Rutherford B. Hayes years earlier and had been rejected. Thanks Clara for your perseverance and not giving up on something so amazing! Well that’s just the start of my travels as State Representative. Make sure to follow me on Instagram at @ootnystaterep as I travel around the state. Thanks for reading! Abby Forman State Representative 2017 – 2018 Powerful Women through History December 9, 2017 December 9, 2017 nytrianglewebmaster “I did not learn about many powerful women in my history classes. In fact, I have heard about more strong females in history this year, then I ever did in during my school career. I think it is important to learn the names and stories of the women who have paved the way for us to be here today. Women who have done things men have also done or were not willing to do, but do not always receive the same recognition. By telling the stories of women in the past, we are creating the future for a Finer American Womanhood. Although there are many powerful women in our lives today, we must also take the time to acknowledge the women who have came before us. Everyone has heard of Paul Revere, but few people know of Sybil Ludington, also known as a the female Paul Revere. On April 26th 1777, Sybil rode her horse 40 miles, twice the distance Paul Revere rode, at night, to alert the militia that the British were coming. Sybil rode to Putnam County, New York to inform 400 of her father’s military men that the British were on their way to attack Danbury, Connecticut. Did I mention Sybil was only 16 years old? (She was younger then I am today, but I would be more then willing to ride 40 miles horseback just to come speak to you today, it might take awhile for me to arrive considering I’ve never rode a horse, but I would definitely try). From nine at night till dawn, Sybil rounded up troops to send to Danbury and used nothing but a stick to protect herself from night bandits. Sadly, the troops were too late to save Danbury, but Sybil did not go unrecognized. General George Washington honored her for her heroic ride. And in 1935 a statue was placed in Carmel, New York to honor the courageous girl. Sybil’s story was not told for years because there was no evidence, but the words in her grandfather’s journal. The reason I am taking the time to tell you about this courageous girl is because my theme this term is Lead Like a Triangle Girl and although Sybil Ludington was not a Triangle girl, I do believe she shares the qualities that we value in Triangle. She selflessly volunteered to ride through the night to help defend her country. Our Organization even named a Triangle after her in Brewster, New York, but sadly closed in 1991. A big part of Triangle is giving back to our community through charitable arts. I believe that Sybil is an inspiration to young girls in Triangle and girls around the world. Triangle has taught me to not be afraid to speak up for what you think is right because this is OUR world, not just yours and not just mine and with the support from other Organizations, such as yours, we can create a finer american womanhood together. During my term I will be sharing more stories of other inspirational women in history, such as Sybil Ludington. I will also be selling pens and lollipops for $2 each. All proceeds will be given to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in hopes to find a cure for MS. For those who may not know, MS is a potentially disabling disease that effects the central nervous system and disrupts the processing of information between the brain and the body. Women are twice as likely to develop MS and most commonly affects people between the ages of 15 and 60. Please help me spread awareness of this horrible disease.” -Miss Abby Forman, State Representative 2017 – 2018, Organization of Triangles Inc., from her speech at Grand Chapter on October 14, 2017 Meet the New State Representative, Miss Samantha October 10, 2016 October 11, 2016 nytrianglewebmaster “When I first joined triangle I had no intention of becoming queen, because the crown looked too heavy. I went through the floor offices and started to see why the girls wanted to go through the line; they wanted to make a difference. I knew that I couldn’t do this alone so I leaned on the older members as well as supervisors and my parents. Progressing through the line I truly learned the importance of the three duties of triangle. After my first term as queen, I knew that I wanted to become a Junior Advisor, so that I could reach a broader audience to spread the word of our organization and help others. Some of my fondest memories are working together with other triangles and other organizations to raise money for charity or to just have fun. I learned our joy is doubled when we work together. You really do get out what you put in, and I can say that all the hard work is worth it. That is why the theme for my term is Together, because together we can achieve so much more than if we were to work alone. A triangle cannot succeed with only one person putting in the work, working together as members and supervisors is what makes us successful. We are taught at a young age, many hands make light work. As we grow we lose touch with this, we think that the weight of the world is on our shoulders and ours alone, but all we have to do is ask for help, and work together. I will be selling pens this term to raise money for Pediatric Palliative care in Hospice. Not only do they help the child but the family as well, sending in therapists for both, and helping the child through treatment or end of life care. My hope is to work together so that we can make a difference for these families at such a hard time in their lives.” -Miss Samantha Dugan, State Representative 2016 – 2017, Organization of Triangles Inc., from her in going speech on October 8, 2016 “You’re off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” -Dr. Seuss September 8, 2015 September 8, 2015 nytrianglewebmaster In just about one month Triangle girls from all over New York will be journeying to Kerhonkson for the 29th Biennial Convention for The Organization of Triangles, Inc. But, before we can talk about Convention, a lot has happened since my last post that I just have to catch you all up on. At the end of May, I attended the council meeting with all of the newly appointed Junior Advisors who will be installed at Convention and all the current Junior Advisors. We discussed how to make this Convention as SEUSS as possible for all the Triangle girls and came up with some great ideas as usual! A few weeks later was my Homecoming at Onistagrawa Triangle in Scotia, NY. Triangle girls from the Capital District and my home Triangle Bal-On-Sen made the day very special. The Alice in Wonderland themed Golden Afternoon was a wonderful success! Thanks to everyone who attended and helped to make my day golden! The very next weekend was Saint John’s Day at the Masonic Care Community in Utica on June 27th. I spent the day with a member of Onistagrawa Triangle at the Triangle table. Later that afternoon, she was presented with a new American Flag for her Triangle. In the evening I had the distinct privilege of speaking on behalf of our Masonic youth that day. It was an experience that I never thought possible and really shows a lot about how far the Masonic Youth has come in the eyes of our parent organizations. The next event was on July 25th at the Festival of stars of the Eastern Star Home’s campus. The day was full of cotton candy and 50/25/25 raffle tickets. I would say the day was a complete success since one of our very own Triangle girls one the raffle. That money will now go towards helping her pay for her school books. It is always fun when we can be around our Masonic Family. The next weekend was New York DeMolay Convention right in my backyard on the Onondaga Community College campus. I spent all weekend with the members of DeMolay and had a lot of fun from bubble ball soccer to the Mardi Gras dance. On August 9th was the International Triennial Grand Encampment for the Knight’s Templar. There were dignitaries from all over the world and the youth had the privilege of escorting each of them to the front of the room. Each of the youth leaders were asked to speak and I spoke about how leaders influence the youth. A few weeks later on August 22nd, I attended the banquet for the Grand Master of Cryptic Masons in New York. It was a wonderful evening with the members of Cryptic Masonry. Fidelity Triangle in Pittsford had an Installation of Officers on August 29th where Beloved Queen Kalli was given the crown with her new koala bear by her side. The ceremony was beautiful and Triangle girls from all over the state came out to help Fidelity. The day before Fidelity’s installation I stopped by Cassiopeia’s Potato Bake and fundraiser. It was a wonderful time with the members of Cassiopeia. This has been a busy year so far and it will only get busier as Convention quickly approaches. The Organization of Triangles’ Biennial Convention is from October 9-12th. Anyone is welcome for our public events on Saturday the 10th at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, NY. From the Lorax to the Grinch, this Convention will be all about Dr. Seuss. I can’t wait to see you all there!! In Triangle Love, Annie Parks Spring into Summer To the members and supporters of The Organization of Triangles Inc, Spring time was full of many new leaders stepping up to help Triangles around the State! The 2015-2017 Junior Advisory council was announced, a list of members is located on our home page. Many Triangles across the state installed new officers in the months of March and April. With all this new leadership I know we will be springing into a fun filled summer. Over the spring time I was able to attend quite a few events and Represent our Organization to many adult and other young leaders. On April 25th I attended The International Order of Rainbow for Girls (http://nyiorg.org/) 75th grand Assembly for their Installation of the New Grand Worthy Advisor Danielle. She spread her message of acceptance with her mascot Mr. Penguin and her theme “Find your heart song.” It is so nice to meet other young ladies who are part of such great Masonic youth Organizations. A week later I attended the Dignitaries dinner at Grand Lodge (http://nymasons.org/) . I spread my message of Communication with the youth Organizations, through the importance of youth as their future leaders. I also continued to sell my pens for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A couple of weeks later on May 16th I attended the Amaranth Grand Court (http://www.amaranthny.org/index.html) ceremonies. It was an enjoyable evening as the Grand Royal Matron and Patron retired and a new Grand Royal Matron and Patron took the throne. It is wonderful to learn about the Masonic Organizations that Triangle girls can be a part of when they are old enough. On May 23rd I attended the rededication of the Knights Templar building at the Masonic Care Community in Utica (http://www.masonichomeny.org/). The Rainbow and Triangle were tasked with presenting the hundred year old Trowel for the ceremony. It was a privilege to be trusted with such a monumental piece of history. For many of you Triangle girls Finals are almost over and it is slowly getting warmer. The time to relax outside in the sun or indoors on Netflix is quickly approaching. With the summer fun also comes a break from Triangle meetings for many of us. It also leaves the heart missing your Triangle sisters, which can be pretty unbearable. I encourage everyone to plan a summer sister date with one of your Triangle sisters that you may not know very well or is new in your triangle. Spread the triangle love with a splash of summer fun! Hope you have a blast! The Royal Surprise March 30, 2015 March 30, 2015 nytrianglewebmaster To the members, supervisors, and supporters of The Organization of Triangles, As winter draws to a close and spring is here, even though it may not feel that way in Syracuse, Triangle is coming out of hibernation and is about to spring into full bloom. March and April are a busy time for installations and all across the state there have been and will continue to be so many wonderful new leaders taking charge of our Organization. Although, I am over half way into my term, I have just recently attended my very first official visit. However, this has not stopped me from selling pens to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society over the past six months. I have attended many Triangle functions and exciting events since January and have continued traveling around the state visiting each Triangle. The first event I attended in January was the Masonic Family night at Fidelity Triangle where members from many Masonic Organizations such as Royal Arch, Amaranth, Eastern Star, and Masonry were in attendance to celebrate our family bond. Our very own Deputy State Director and the Grand Master acted as the matriarch and the patriarch of our family in the big family picture we took at the end. The evening was a wild success and showed just how much our parent organizations believe in and support us. The next event I attended was in Scotia at Onistagrawa Triangle where four girls were initiated. As this is one of the Triangles that are in my Capitol District, I am immensely proud of the members for doubling their membership over the past six months. Yet again our Masonic family came to celebrate this Triangle’s success. There were over a DOZEN Royal Arch Masons in attendance to congratulate the new members on becoming Triangle girls. I was also able to travel to Fidelity Triangle again to fill in as their Beloved Queen for a prospect meeting. Triangle girls from Cassiopeia came to help Fidelity put on a wonderful meeting with their newly Installed Junior Deputy Mrs. Jeannine Parks who took over for Ms. Kristina Brandt. They recently held an initiation of their newest member on March 28th. I attended the Convocation of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons in Albany, New York on March 6th. The day was finally here, my first official visit and I am finally able to represent our Organization. I arrived in the afternoon and the Masons were busy at work in their meetings and gatherings which gave the State Director and I enough time to get settled in and changed. At 2pm there was a conferring of the “Order of Deborah” which is a ceremony the York Rite created to honor the girls’ New York Masonic youth groups. The Grand Worthy Advisor for New York Rainbow Hannah Nelson and I were under the impression that the Supreme Inspector for Rainbow and our very own State Director were being honored at this ceremony. However, this was not the case as Mr. Roche awarded Ally Callaghan Junior Past State Representative, Samantha Hansen Junior Past Grand Worthy Advisor, Hannah Nelson Grand Worthy Advisor, and myself with the honorary Order of Deborah Award. This was a great honor and something for many Triangle girls to strive for in the upcoming year. That evening was equally exciting when the youth were able to speak at the banquet to all the Royal Arch Masons in attendance. I spoke about how our Masonic Family is always there for each other and also spoke about the many ways that Royal Arch has come to support us over the past few months. It was exciting to see so many people interested in our Organization and so willing to know more about us. I was so grateful to be able to represent our Organization at Royal Arch. After I had recovered from that long weekend, on March 15th I went to Long Island to attend Sunrise’s Installation of Officers. Beloved Queen Jessica Catapano concluded a very successful year and turned the crown over to Maggie Callaghan. Maggie has been a very successful Triangle girl so far and I know she will accomplish more than she could ever have imagined in this new endeavor. Good Luck Maggie!

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What causes Acne vulgaris? output: The cause of acne is unknown. Doctors think certain factors might cause it: The hormone increase in teenage years (this can cause the oil glands to plug up more often) Hormone changes during pregnancy Starting or stopping birth control pills Heredity (if your parents had acne, you might get it, too) Some types of medicine Greasy makeup There are many myths about what causes acne. Dirty skin and stress do not cause acne. Also, chocolate and greasy foods do not cause acne in most people.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: well i dont konw if it has to do with bronchtis but tonight while sleeping i woke up to an intense pain right underneath my left breast. it is like an intense pain right underneath. it hurts more when i take deep breaths. i was wondereing if it could be from being sick cuz i do have the flu so whats going on?? im so scared!! bronchitis cause pain in chest? output: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. Yes, bronchitis can cause chest pain. Bronchitis can cause pleurisy (inflammation of pleura) and this can cause chest pain on breathing. But in my opinion, we should rule out heart diseases because you are having mid night left sided severe chest pain which is more common in heart diseases. So first get done ecg and 2d echo. If both these are normal then no need to worry for heart diseases. Take simple painkiller and anti inflammatory drugs for pleurisy related chest pain. Apply warm water pad on affected areas. This will also gives symptomatic relief.Don't worry, you 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...

Strategic Resets Under the New MAP and APA Revenue Procedures To view a PDF of this Alert, please click here » The IRS recently replaced Rev. Proc. 2006-54 for requesting assistance under the Mutual Agreement Procedure ("MAP") article of U.S. tax treaties, and Rev. Proc. 2006-9 for requesting Advance Pricing Agreements ("APAs"). The new Rev. Procs. (2015-40 and 2015-41, respectively) largely track draft procedures issued in 2013 (Notices 2013-78 and 2013-79), but with some changes deferring to stakeholder comments. This alert identifies some of the key changes and explains how they may affect your strategy for managing these processes. The new procedures reflect the recent integration of the APA program into the IRS Large Business and International Division, and manifest closer coordination between the APA and MAP programs. In general, they: (i) broaden access to the programs by expanding the scope of coverable issues; (ii) strengthen authority of the Advance Pricing and Mutual Agreement program ("APMA") over MAP and APA cases and over other IRS processes; (iii) expand submission requirements; (iv) implement stricter timelines; and (v) overall, add some transparency to APMA considerations. The clear subtext is that APMA wants to improve the efficiency of both programs in a time of severely limited resources and in anticipation of amplified cross-border uncertainty and disputes in a post-BEPS world. The revised procedural framework injects new demands – as well as opportunities – for taxpayers, and adaptation will require thoughtful strategic consideration. The new Rev. Procs. take effect immediately, except that taxpayers may elect to apply the old versions for MAP requests filed by October 30 and APA requests filed by December 29. Taxpayers contemplating MAP or APA requests should review the new Rev. Procs. to determine if there is merit to accelerating their requests. The key changes, and some strategic considerations they raise, are summarized below. I. Changes Common to MAP and APA Requests 1. Expansion of Coverable Issues – Ancillary Issues: The new Rev. Procs. provide that issues relating to interest on refunds and deficiencies and penalties regarding U.S.-initiated transfer pricing adjustments, collectively referred to as "ancillary issues," may be addressed in MAP and APA cases. This clarification is a positive change from APMA's previous tendency to shy away from such issues. However, the IRS dropped the 2013 proposal to include foreign tax credit issues – specifically, whether a payment is compulsory or not – presumably reflecting jurisdictional issues. 2. Mandatory Pre-Filing Conference ("PFCs") and Memoranda: Historically, it has been left to the taxpayer to decide whether to request PFCs and submit pre-filing materials, with the option to conduct PFCs on a no-name basis. Although the new Rev. Procs. still provide for optional PFCs and consultation on a no-name basis, pre-filing memoranda are now mandatory, and require taxpayer identification, in certain cases, and the IRS may require PFCs in these situations as well. These cases include: (i) a unilateral APA request for issue(s) that could be covered under a bilateral or multilateral APA, (ii) an abbreviated APA request, (iii) an APA request involving licensing of intangibles, global trading arrangements, business restructuring, unincorporated branches, pass-through entities, hybrid entities, or disregarded entities, and (iv) requests for MAP assistance for taxpayer-initiated positions. We generally advised taxpayers to request PFCs even under the old rules, as they enable early identification of complex and important issues and better use of IRS and taxpayer resources. Following APMA's implicit acknowledgement of the same benefits should help establish the cooperative working relationship that is so critical to successful APA and MAP proceedings. 3. Joint Competent Authority ("CA") Presentations: The new Rev. Procs. contemplate joint taxpayer presentations to all relevant CAs. These joint presentations may result from either a CA or a taxpayer request. APMA has, in the past, occasionally utilized joint presentations, but the new Rev. Procs. encourage them as a means to achieve mutual understanding of complex issues and to move cases forward in an efficient manner. To take advantage of this change, taxpayers must lay the groundwork for beneficial joint presentations with each of the CAs, which requires early coordination with the taxpayer's overseas offices and advisers and timely requests of the CAs. 4. Informal Advice to Taxpayers: The new Rev. Procs. offer "informal consultations" on any MAP or APA issue, and, of particular note, foreign tax credit issues. These consultations may provide a useful opportunity to assess the potential benefit of APMA assistance or to scope out procedural requisites relating to the creditability of foreign taxes. Such consultations will not be binding on the IRS or taxpayers, but it seems likely that APMA will communicate the substance of these discussions to the relevant IRS field team. 5. Covered Issue Diagrams: The new Rev. Procs. define "covered issue diagrams" as "[d]iagrams, charts, tables, or similar representations…that depict the structure and value chain of the proposed covered group as they relate to the proposed covered issue(s) and…interrelated issues." These diagrams are required in all APA requests and all mandatory APA pre-filing memoranda, as well as MAP requests that involve transfer pricing issues. We have long found such diagrams to be useful tools for conveying information in an understandable format. 6. Increased User Fees: User fees are increased under the new Rev. Procs. For MAP requests, the user fee for requesting discretionary LOB relief is increased from $27,500 to $37,000 (to be implemented in two phases). (No other user fees apply to MAP cases.) For APAs, (i) the user fee for an APA request is increased from $50,000 to $60,000, (ii) the user fees for small APA cases and for amendments are increased from $22,500 and $10,000 to $30,000 and $12,500, respectively, and (iii) a group rate of $60,000 plus $30,000 for each foreign CA involved beyond the first two will apply for multiple APA requests filed by the same controlled group within a 60-day period (previously, there was no add-on to the basic user fee in these cases). II. Changes for MAP Requests Under Rev. Proc. 2015-40 1. Taxpayer-Initiated Positions: One of the more important changes made by Rev. Proc. 2015-40 is the expansion of subject matter that may be addressed in a MAP request to include "taxpayer-initiated" positions – i.e., the reporting of intercompany transactions based on prices that differ from those initially reported in order to properly reflect an arm's length result. As written, the Rev. Proc. appears to permit self-initiated adjustments that either increase or decrease US income. APMA's approach to these cases is, however, expected to be cautious. For example, APMA may be unwilling to ignore Treas. Reg. § 1.482-1(a)(3) (which permits taxpayers to adjust transfer prices to reduce US income only on an original return), but might accept self-initiated adjustments made by amending foreign returns. More broadly, APMA likely will not assist with self-initiated adjustments that, in its view, constitute after-the-fact tax planning (e.g., to take advantage of a foreign loss). We'll hopefully know more after APMA begins implementing the new mandatory PFC rules. Self-initiated adjustments is one of the more obvious areas where taxpayers should have a plan, and potentially a long-range one. Later events often call into question the legitimate assumptions on which earlier transfer-pricing positions are based (e.g., a TPM inadvertently produces results that are inconsistent with expected outcomes). Keeping track of larger, more complex and more uncertain prices may be warranted until the years are closed in all pertinent jurisdictions. 2. No Forced Expansion of Scope of MAP Request: In Notice 2013-78, the IRS proposed to increase APMA's control over the scope of MAP requests by conditioning acceptance or continuation of a case on the taxpayer's agreement to expand its scope. The final Rev. Proc. abandoned this requirement, although APMA may still require taxpayers to produce information on interrelated issues, and may take that information into account in determining the relief to be granted (e.g., cases involving multi-part intangibles transactions). So, while APMA may request expansion of a MAP case, it remains obligated to try to reach a MAP resolution even if the taxpayer declines. In contrast (as discussed below), for APA requests, APMA has given itself authority to require expanded coverage. 3. Coordination With Other Administrative or Judicial Proceedings: Under Notice 2013-78, APMA proposed to accept cases involving U.S.-initiated adjustments (i) from IRS Exam, only if APMA had been consulted, and consented, prior to execution of a closing or settlement agreement (including a Form 870 waiver); and (ii) from IRS Appeals, only if a stringent 30-day request deadline was met and the taxpayer refrained from executing any settlement or closing agreement. Under the new rules, these conditions are scaled back, though to different degrees: • IRS Exam: To ensure taxpayers' access to MAP is not unnecessarily restricted, "standard" Form 870 waivers will not impede CA assistance. If the taxpayer previously signed some other form of closing or settlement agreement with IRS Exam, APMA will attempt only to obtain correlative relief from the foreign CA. It will not compromise the taxable amount set forth in such agreement. Access to MAP following resolution in the Fast Track Settlement Program is subject to the same rules. Given the markedly different MAP consequences, taxpayers should work with their advisors, and also consider consultation with APMA, to evaluate these distinctions. • IRS Appeals: APMA will completely deny assistance for MAP issues that are under Appeals jurisdiction unless the taxpayer "properly severs" such issues from its Appeals protest. To do so, a taxpayer must file a MAP request within 60 days after its opening conference with Appeals and refrain from executing a closing agreement or Form 870-AD settlement of the issue. The newly imposed 60-day window, although longer than the 30-day window proposed in Notice 2013-78, forces taxpayers to decide in a quick and possibly rushed manner whether to pursue a MAP issue in Appeals, MAP, or the Simultaneous Appeals Procedure ("SAP"). Taxpayers should, therefore, start considering this decision during audit, as soon as it becomes apparent that a transfer pricing adjustment may be made. The new Rev. Proc. also clarifies that APMA has jurisdiction in joint SAP proceedings, with Appeals assisting to facilitate APMA's unilateral consideration of the issue before presenting its position to the foreign CA. While elaborating somewhat on pertinent procedures, the Rev. Proc. is tantalizingly vague on the potential application of Appeals' normal "hazards of litigation" considerations. 4. More Restricted Access to Repatriation Benefits: Under Rev. Proc. 2006-54, APMA had discretion to provide Rev. Proc. 99-32-type repatriation benefits "in appropriate cases" to taxpayers who had already executed a closing agreement or settlement with the IRS. In contrast, Rev. Proc. 2015-40, though retaining "sole discretion to agree to or decline a request for Competent Authority repatriation," prohibits access to repatriation benefits as part of the MAP process for a taxpayer whose MAP request: (i) has been terminated by APMA on one or more grounds for denial of assistance, (ii) involves issues previously determined in litigation or covered by a closing agreement (or similar agreement), or (iii) was unresolved because the taxpayer rejected the resolution offered. Taxpayers unable to obtain repatriation benefits via the MAP process will be limited to whatever benefits might be available under Rev. Proc. 99-32 itself. 5. Additional Submission Requirements and Availability of Exceptions: Under Rev. Proc. 2015-40, taxpayers must submit, where applicable, (i) copies of section 6662(e) documentation or other documentation analyzing the MAP issues for the taxable years covered by the MAP request, (ii) certain financial data of the taxpayer's controlled group prepared for regulatory, statutory, or reporting purposes, and (iii) the income statements and balance sheets of the taxpayer itself, segmented to demonstrate the effect of the MAP issue(s) on taxable income for the taxpayer and the controlled group, for three taxable years ending before and after the covered years. Although APMA had the ability to gather these items of information through post-submission requests under Rev. Proc. 2006-54, the new Rev. Proc. requires taxpayers to produce them up front, providing APMA with more information at the beginning of the process. At the same time, under the new Rev. Proc., APMA "may permit exceptions to the filing requirements…on a case-by-case basis," potentially lessening the burdensome effect of the up-front information production. It remains unclear under what circumstances such an exception may be granted, and our experience has been that no amount of information presented in the submission will avoid at least some follow-on information requests. III. Changes for APA Requests Under Rev. Proc. 2015-41 1. Preference for Bilateral APAs: Rev. Proc. 2015-41 reinforces APMA's preference for bilateral or multilateral APAs over unilateral APAs by obligating a unilateral APA applicant whose issues are coverable under a bilateral or multilateral APA to explain its reasons for requesting a unilateral APA in a mandatory pre-filing memorandum. APMA has full discretion to decline the request after considering the reasons set forth by the taxpayer. Moreover, a taxpayer who enters into a unilateral APA may face rejection of a subsequent MAP request for an issue that could have reasonably been covered by a bilateral or multilateral APA. 2. Expanded Subject Matter - Covered "Issues": The potential subject matter of APA cases is enlarged from "covered transactions" to "covered issues." This expands the breadth of the subject matter that APMA may handle in an APA beyond section 482, to include issues arising under other sections of the Code or U.S. tax treaties that implicate transfer pricing principles. For instance, issues arising under section 367(d) of the Code would be coverable to the extent transfer pricing principles apply. 3. Forced Consolidation of Interrelated Matters: Rev. Proc. 2006-9 generally permitted taxpayers to request expansion of the scope of their APA requests, but APMA could not mandate such an expansion. Rev. Proc. 2015-41 drastically strengthens the authority of APMA over the scope of APA requests by conditioning the acceptance and continuation of a case on the taxpayer's agreement to expand the scope of the case as requested by APMA. Specifically, "APMA may condition its acceptance, continued consideration, or resolution of an APA request upon the agreement of the taxpayer…to expand the scope of the APA" to include interrelated issues, additional taxable years and additional treaty countries (collectively, "interrelated matters"). Although the new rule may promote more efficient resolution of cases, it could lead to more frequent denials of APA requests and in any event will require taxpayers to carefully consider related issues in deciding whether to pursue an APA. To avoid undesired consolidation of issues, an alternative to seeking an APA may be to take a self-initiated adjustment to MAP. APMA has indicated that it will not require issue expansion in MAP cases (as discussed above). This strategy would only make sense where the APA issues are driven by rollback considerations. 4. Deadline for Requesting Rollbacks: A taxpayer seeking to add rollback years to an APA now generally needs to make its rollback request in the APA request itself, i.e., at the beginning of its case, rather than at any point in time before the APA was executed as permitted under Rev. Proc. 2006-9. The earlier deadline eliminates the ability of taxpayers to assess the desirability of a rollback as negotiations of the APA terms progress. Alternatively, in appropriate cases, a self-initiated adjustment might provide access to MAP. 5. Section 6662(e) Contemporaneous Documentation Requirement: Rev. Proc. 2015-41 states that a complete APA request will be considered as "a factor" in determining whether the section 6662(e) documentation requirements have been met (which may be important if the APA process fails), but, contrary to commentators' urging, is not definitive in this regard. Thus, taxpayers who have requested an APA must pay heed to such documentation requirements for covered issues until the APA is finalized. To enhance the benefits of an APA request, taxpayers may consider evaluating its completeness with reference to the section 6662(e) documentation requirements, and achieving contemporaneousness by completing the APA request prior to the filing of the return for the first APA year and appropriately updating the request annually. 6. Starting the APA Process Sooner – "60 days within filing of foreign request": Previously, APA requests needed to be filed by the due date (including extensions) of the tax return for the first APA year. An additional 120-day extension was allowed for taxpayers who paid the user fee by the original deadline. Rev. Proc. 2015-41 potentially narrows this time frame for bilateral or multilateral APA requests by requiring a taxpayer to file within 60 days of filing its foreign request, if such date is earlier than that tax return due date. Under this new rule, taxpayers must consider filing deadlines imposed by foreign authorities to ensure the timely filing of their U.S. APA requests. Tardy U.S. filings will convert initial years into rollback, rather than "prospective" APA years (see 9. below), and extend the length of the expected APA term. 7. Deference to MAP Repatriation Rules: For repatriation issues that arise from bilateral and multilateral APAs, APMA generally will defer to the repatriation provisions of Rev. Proc. 2015-40. For all other APA cases, Rev. Proc. 99-32 treatment will govern the repatriation of funds. An important change, unfavorable to taxpayers, is that unlike Rev. Proc. 2006-9, Rev. Proc. 2015-41 no longer automatically eliminates interest charges on the resulting inter-company receivable. 8. Additional Submission Requirements: Taxpayers must now submit (i) additional financial information, including income statements and balance sheets, for certain companies if the proposed covered method is either the CPM or the TNMM, (ii) a draft of the proposed APA, and (iii) a copy of the most recent APA that the taxpayer or another member of the proposed covered group has entered into with the IRS and any other foreign tax authority regarding the proposed covered issues (in lieu of just a descriptive statement regarding prior APAs). Deference to the secrecy afforded foreign competent authority processes is no longer the standard in the latter situations. 9. Term of APA May Differ From Taxpayer's Request: Under Rev. Proc. 2006-9, a taxpayer was generally required to propose at least five prospective years as the term of its APA. In addition, the APA Program aimed to have at least three prospective years remaining unexpired in the APA term "upon…the completion of the APA Program's recommended negotiating position for Competent Authority" in bilateral or multilateral APA cases. Under Rev. Proc. 2015-41, APMA will now "seek to set the APA term so that there are at least three unexpired years…remaining in the APA term upon…the execution of the underlying competent authority resolution." As a practical matter, taxpayers likely will be required to include additional future years beyond those proposed in their initial APA request. 10. Taxpayer Review of APMA Position in Bilateral or Multilateral Case: Under Rev. Proc. 2006-9, the APA Program developed and provided a recommended negotiating position as a starting point for discussions with relevant foreign CAs. Prior to finalization of the position, the APA Program routinely conveyed tentative positions to taxpayers for comment. By contrast, Rev. Proc. 2015-41, states that in some cases "the APA team may issue the [position] simultaneously to the taxpayer and to the foreign competent authority(ies)" without providing the taxpayer an opportunity to comment. This change can only make the APA process more opaque and seems more advantageous to APMA than to taxpayers. IV. Conclusion Although the new Rev. Procs. generally impose greater information submission requirements and stricter deadlines, they also implement provisions aimed at broadening access to APMA assistance and creating a more interactive process for taxpayers. Whether the net effect of these changes will promote resolution of cases through more efficient and taxpayer-friendly MAP and APA processes remains to be seen. Moreover, many of the aspirational benefits, from scope to speed, are critically dependent on the cooperation of the relevant foreign competent authorities. Ongoing efforts at the OECD MAP Forum, conceived and led by the U.S. representatives, may help smooth the way and encourage complementary processes in other jurisdictions. For more information concerning this Alert, please contact a member of Caplin & Drysdale's International Tax Group. Neal M. Kochman nkochman@capdale.com Patricia Gimbel Lewis plewis@capdale.com J. Clark Armitage carmitage@capdale.com Sae Jin Yoon sjyoon@capdale.com Having celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2014, Caplin & Drysdale continues to be a leading provider of tax, tax controversy, and litigation legal services to corporations, individuals, and nonprofits throughout the United States and around the world. We are also privileged to serve as legal advisors to accounting firms, financial institutions, law firms, and other professional services organizations. The firm's reputation over the years has earned us the trust and respect of clients, industry peers, and government agencies. Moreover, clients rely on our broad knowledge of the law and our keen insights into their business concerns and personal interests. Our lawyers' strong tactical and problem-solving skills - combined with substantial experience handling a variety of complex, high stakes, matters in a boutique environment - make us one the nation's most distinctive law firms. -Complex Litigation -Corporate Law -Corporate, Business & Transactional Tax -Employee Benefits -Exempt Organizations -Political Law -Private Client -Tax Controversies -Tax Litigation -White Collar Defense One Thomas Circle, NW © 2020 Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered | Attorney Advertising | | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Print

Tag Archives: Emma Woodhouse November 22, 2019 by Moreland It’s Back!!! The dreaded TV show I can’t stand: Ugh-Austentatious (2015) Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Yes, I really, really do not like this show or how they portray the characters. But I started it, so I’ve got to finish it. So Austentatious is the story of Elinor, Marianne, Emma, Elizabeth, and Mr. Knightley being friends in modern times. In the last episode Marianne was trying to find a job, but kind of sucked, although she did manage to be a smoothie barista. Elizabeth went on a date with a guy and was crazily obsessing over it: Going mad! And they held a Girl’s Night/Mouse Killing Night: I know…I have no clue what the writer’s were thinking. I just…This is dumb! This is a dumb show!! Who wrote this? Who??? What were they thinking???!! Argh! Why did I ever watch this??!! NOw I have to finish!!! AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHH!!!!!! This episode is called Drive Me Crazy and Amazon says the air date is DECEMBER 30TH 1899. 1899? Did we just time travel? Time to go back… This show does drive me crazy, like Norman Bates crazy. Is that too mean? I’m not trying to be a jerk but I hate this show. I can’t believe the episodes are only 22 mins, they feel so much longer. It feels like hours of my life is being sucked away in watching this. Ugh! Really! Anyways here we go-ready or not. Pass on it! We start off with a tired Marianne making a mess in the kitchen-food is everywhere but Elinor doesn’t care. Crazy control freak Monk level of obsession Elinor does’t care about the messy hours-OMG she’s been abducted by aliens, joined a cult, is a zombie!!!! It has to be one of those things…or love. She could be in love as that is the extremely cliche way most TV will depict “love”. Thats not right! Yep, Edward is meeting with her-her dream man. With her books Collin approaches Elinor trying to reach Lizzie as he wants to date her. Elinor tries to dissuade him, but no dice. He’s after his prey. In the lobby of their apartment I can’t help but see a GIANT sign that says no lifeguard on duty. Like what? Even if the apartment has a pool there is no way they would have that posted in the foyer unless there is a pool in the foyer. Like that is one of the weirdest randomest things in this show. Lizzie goes to see Emma and is trying to avoid Darcy as he keeps calling and texting and emailing her about houses. Darcy is a total jerk in this, telling her what to do. Ugh I hate him. I know what I said=BELIEVE ME you would understand if you watched this show. They make him utterly terrible!!!! I hate this!!!!!! Elinor and Edward are traveling to the country to visit with an old lady who hasn’t filed her taxes for the last few years. Like the background is weird as it ranges from lush green to dry desert. Where are they? Behind them is green, but the sides are all arid and dry. I kinda tuned out what Elinor and Edward were saying as I couldn’t stop looking at the background. I don’t know. Does it really matter? Darcy stalks Elizabeth down the street and calls her name. He’s a jerk and buys her a hotdog when she tries to explain that she is in the middle of closing a house. UGH!!!!! Elinor and Edward are driving for a long time and talking. Elinor tells Edward how she decided on accounting because it was a safe choice- but then they get a flat and have to pull over. They are in lush fields and trees, where are they? What happened to the dry and arid area? This is ELINOR!! Don’t tell me the way they have been building Elinor’s character yeah right-she’d have five spare tires! Darcy stops being quite so jerky and admits that the house he’s looking for is a gift for a certain woman who plays piano-not mom or girlfriend. Obviously Georgiana. Flashback to Elinor and Edward-they have to walk to the city they passed-so where were they and where were they going if they were passing through another city? Elinor goes on and on about how nice Edward is-He shares a little about his company and that his family has a company in telecommunications, interesting choice. Darcy and Elizabeth make some headway but are interrupted by Collin who sits right between them on the bench to try and ask Lizzie out. How did he find her? She’s not at home? Or at work? She’s in a random park! Creepy!! Colin creepily hits on her and tries to feel her up, but Darcy interjects and walks off with Elizabeth. It stops Collin…for now. Flash to E& E walking and talking and being boring. Bleh-IRS, Accountant, IRS, accountant, IRS, accountant, statistics, bills, blah blah blah blah blah. I need to mop my floors. Like that is legit more interesting to me than this. Elizabeth meets with Emma at the smoothie shop and tells her about what happened. Darcy gets a kick out of Collin asking her out and can’t stop teasing her. Darcy drops that the house is a birthday gift for a girl next month so the house needs to be picked like NOW! Darcy offers to pay the commission earlier, but Elizabeth gets offended and angry. She becomes extremely upset and shares her feelings with Emma. I don’t think what Darcy did was that bad, I think she’s overreacting. I’m done What’s Marianne been up to-she’s been out of the game this whole episode except the cereal eating. Elizabeth keeps talking about Darcy and how he’s being rude or is he being nice? Meh! Marianne enters and goes on break with Elinor coming in to share what happened and how great it was with Edward although their conversations are super boring. Elinor does offer to make him her homemade lasagna. She then shares part of her power bar that she keeps in her purse! She-Miss Always Prepared has a power bar in her bag-she’d have more stuff in her car to fix the tire. Edward notices that she has a blister and puts a band-aid on her foot. Cute, but all I can think is her feet probably smell. Someone is running in the park? Oh it is Darcy and Collin just happened to find him?! What? HOw? Weird. Collin is super super creepy-like psychopath horror film creepy. Watch out Lizzie-“we are meant to be together”-he wants to be like creepy Ted in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and enslave you in his home or something. Yay! That’s the end of the episode. Although that was a super creepy ending. He’s watching her… How many more will I have to watch until it is over???? Let me check… Yay!!!! Only four more left!! Woohoo!!! I’ve been doing an episode a month but skipped September, October, and now we are in November-so if I catch up with those and the do one for December I should hopefully finish before the new year!!! But then if I do that, what Austen TV show should I review every month? Hmm….? I guess I’ll have to think about it. All I an say is YAY!!!!! Almost done!!! Woohooo!!! For more Austentatious, go to Call Me, Maybe: Austentatious (2015) For more Jane Austen film retellings, go to Mrs. Darcy Wants to Know the Truth!: Death Comes to Pemberley, Episode Three (2013) For more Sense & Sensibility, go to Rational Creatures: Elinor & Marianne Dashwood For more Pride & Prejudice, go to Rational Creatures: Elizabeth Bennet & Charlotte Lucas For more Emma, go to Rational Creatures: Emma Woodhouse, Miss Bates, & Harriet Smith Posted in Austenite, Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility Tagged Austentatious (2015), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Drive Me Crazy, Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, IRS, Marianne Dashwood, Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, Ted, Time Travel So this is something I started a while back. Sometimes you want more Austen books after you have read all her books. There are variations on her stories, but you don’t always want to read the same story. You want Austen-like works, but what to read or watch? That’s why I started this series. I will review books that have the things we love about the Austen novels, but in something fresher than a retelling. And Only to Deceive (Lady Emily Mysteries #1) by Tasha Alexander Lady Emily is a widow. But she isn’t sad as she never loved her husband. Emily Ashton is an only daughter and all her life her mother has been plotting and planning and maneuvering, etc to get her daughter married off to a wealthy and eligible bachelor. Emily chose Viscount Phillip Ashton for three reason: He seemed less chauvinistic than most men He appears to be someone she could live By marrying she would be free of her mother Phillip was interested in pursuing her, was ecstatic at capturing his quarry, and not long after they married went on a big game hunt to Africa were he became sick and died. Emily was actually happier after his death as: She didn’t really know her husband or spend time with him Was free of her mother Given freedom Has money Has large houses She had to absent from society for two years but that was okay as she didn’t really care for “society”. Life was solitary but it wasn’t bad. However, everything changed when her husband’s best friend came to visit after a year and a half. Mr. Colin Hargreaves came to speak to Emily about her Greek villa-all is in order, and she is free to go there anytime, just let him know and he will arrange the trip for her, Kallista. Emily is completely surprised as her husband never said any such thing about villas and he never called her Kallista. Emily is baffled by this and even more when her butler let’s her know that he fired a footman who was digging in her late husband’s desk. She starts looking to see if anything is missing, although how would she know as she has never been in there really, and discovers a threatening note. This is just the firsts in a series of instances that makes Emily realize she knew very little, if anything, about her husband. It turns out that he was an avid collector or Greek art and throughly knowledgeable of it and Greek history. She also finds his journals and reads about his love for her (in incredibly sweet journal entries). Emily’s interest is piqued and she begins reading Homer’s The Odyssey and researching into Greek art and mythology. She discovers more things do not add up and that her husband was caught up in a fake antiquary ring. Could it be that he was duped, with all his knowledge and expertise? Or was he the ringleader? Emily cannot believe the later, as she reads her husband’s journals, she starts to fall in love with him, and remembers the wonderful and romantic gestures he would do, but took for granted at the time. Emily isn’t sure who to trust, besides her old friend Ivy and new friend Lady Cécile du Lac. Colin Hagreaves spends a lot of time around her, and then she discovers that he has been watching her. Why? Could he be the ringleader? Emily meets another friend of her late husband, Andrew Palmer. Andrew is fun, light, sarcastic, and likes to party and go out. He gives Emily a lot of attention and she enjoys it, as anyone who has been sent to the sidelines would. He is from noble stock, but no money. Could he be after her wealth, or is he really interested in her? Colin and Andrew were both on the hunting trip with her husband, could one of them have killed him? Then Emily gets a note about her husband being alive! Is he a criminal hiding out? Or was he betrayed by a friend and desperately in need? Emily sets off a plan to Africa, and will she be happy with what she finds? Or is she heading into a trap? I really enjoyed this mystery as I liked that Emily was an independent woman with a strong personality and ideas about what she wanted, but at the same time she was still a woman of her times. I hate when people write historical fiction and the people are so much a product of our time. It makes zero sense. So why would an Austen fan enjoy this? Well first of all, Lady Emily’s mother could be Mrs. Bennet. Both are soooo similar in the way they try to maneuver and manipulate their daughters into getting a good match. Both are driven by fear-Mrs. Bennet of Mr. Bennet’s death and no home or income; and Emily’s mother fears that her daughter will grow old single and childless. Emily and her mother; along with Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet-do not have a very good relationship. The book has these wonderful journal etries of Phillip’s love and his pursuit of her. I LOVE how we see the total love he has for her. Those scenes were to me, very reminiscent of Captain Wentworth’s letter of love-both extremely romantic. One theme throughout the book is how we can see one view of a person and think we know them, when in reality we know nothing as to who they really are. With Emily-she believed her husband was a hunter and hunted her, she never took the time to see more of who he was, We see the same thing in Jane Austen from Marianne seeing Willoughby do a few “romantic things” to believing he had a completely different character: to Emma believing from the stories about Frank and his few letters that he was noble and true; to Elizabeth and everyone disliking Mr. Darcy and loving Wickham. All saw one side of a person and believed they knew his true character only to in the end be wrong as there was much more to this men that what was seen at first sight. Emily, Colin, and Andrew Palmer all remind me of several Austen triangles. Emily meets Colin and at first thinks him kind and interesting, but after he tries to warn her off her investigating she becomes angry and dislikes him. Instead she gives all her attention to Andrew Palmer, a pretty party boy who has name but no cash. He flatters, imbibes, resists tradition, has fun-but isn’t an honest or upstanding man. He paints a bad picture of Colin, something Emily should be wary of as she hardly knows Andrew, while Colin and Phillip were friends since boyhood. It reminded me of Elizabeth not liking Mr. Darcy, and believing Wickham’s view of Darcy instead of Bingley. A pretty party boy with no money-we see this in Willoughby, Wickham, and Frank Churchill. All men care about the dollars and any way to get them-and all are sarcastic, critical, full of laughs-but laughing at other’s expense. Plus, our main character loves Jane Austen: “Finally I [Lady Emily] happened upon a bookstall that had a ragged secondhand copy of Pride and Prejudice, which I promptly bought. Phillip, engaged in some business of some kind, did not accompany me. Back at the hotel, I showed him my purchase and settled in for a nice read. The next morning at breakfast, he presented me with a beautifully wrapped parcel containing a first edition of the book.” -pg 141 Sounds like my kind of gift! For more Non-Austen Reads for Austen Readers, go to Book Club Picks: Julie For more book reviews, go to Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper Posted in Non-Austen Reads for Austen Readers Tagged And Only to Deceive, Andrew Palmer, Antiquary, Antiquary Scam, Antiques, Bachelor, Colin Hargreaves, Elizabeth Bennet, Emily Ashton, Emma Woodhouse, Frank Churchill, Greece, Greek Art, Greek History, Greek Mythology, Greek Villa, Hunting, Jane Austen, Journal Entries, Kallista, Lady Cécile du Lac, Lady Emily Mysteries, Marianne Dashwood, Mean Mother, Mother Issues, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Willoughby, Non-Austen Reads for Austen Readers, Tasha Alexander, The Odyssey, Viscount Phillip Ashton September 5, 2019 by Moreland Rational Creatures: Emma Woodhouse, Miss Bates, & Harriet Smith Rational Creatures edited by Christina Boyd For those of you who might have missed the last post, Rational Creatures is an anthology of short stories on the different women of Jane Austen: But just not the main heroines-there are a few other side characters like Miss Bates-and of course a couple of bad girls like Mary Crawford and Mrs. Clay. Each story gives us a look at these rational creatures. So far we have reviewed Elinor and Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility with Self-Composed by Christina Morland and Every Past Affliction by Nicole Clarkston & Elizabeth Bennet and Charlotte Lucas from Pride and Prejudice in Happiness in Marriage by Amy D’Orazio and Charlotte’s Comfort by Joana Starnes. And I loved them!!!! This one is on Emma Emma is the story of a girl who has been mistress of her house and doted on by her father. After her governess marries (a match she believes she put together) she becomes bored and intends on trying her hand at matchmaking. She pygmalions Harriet Smith as she plans to set her up with the new minister. Things do not go according to plan as her matches do not take hold and her “creation” takes a life of her own. Oh Emma, some people hate her-others love her. With adaptaions, it has been a toss up for me. Half of them I have enjoyed, while the other half I haven’t liked how they portrayed Emma or Mr. Knightley. Emma is an interesting character and it can be hard really difficult to grasp who she is at the heart. Then I saw that we had a Miss Bates storyline. That deeply interested me as I haven’t read anything from her point of view-and I was interested in how her constant chatter was going to be interpreted. And then we have Harriet Smith. Were they going to make her silly, lonely, desperate, hopeful, or naive? Well, I can’t wait! Knightley Discourses by Anngela Schroeder So all the other stories thus far in the anthology have all started at some point in Jane Austen’s tale and then taken the author’s own flavor, twists, and turns. This is the first that takes the story in a completely new direction, years after the original Emma story ended. So the book starts off similar to Emma‘s beginning, except we have an Emma Knightley who is now 36 years old. She has been mistress of Donwell Abbey and Hartfield, until her father passed away a year ago, in which her sister Isabella and brother-in-law John took over the estate. She has been so busy managing the estates, her father, marriage, children, etc. But now she is in a state of restlessness. One estate managed by her sister and brother-in-law, opens a lot of extra time. The children are managed by a nanny, her husband spending more time with his brother-in-law who has moved back. She is feeling a little lost when she spots something that makes her remember the picnic on Box Hill all those years ago, and decides to go to visit Miss Bates. While she is visiting, she hears news from Jane (Fairfax) Churchill, all news that Jane already wrote her and read-until Miss Bates gets in a flurry over Jane’s acquaintance with the Winthrops. Emma has locked on to this and after bugging…interrogating…asking others, she discovers that there was the possibility of something between a Mr. Winthrop and Miss Bates. With the Winthrops planning on visiting, Emma starts thinking… Mr. Knightley tries to get Emma to promise to leave the two alone and she doesn’t plan to, but also doesn’t promise she won’t. Emma and Knightley also have a cute scene when they talk about their marriage and about poor Jane Churchill who’s marriage is not happy at all-what with Frank Churchill doing his own thing, being away, and caring only about himself. Slight pause on the story…I think it is AMAZING how the stories are written by two different authors, but the Frank Churchill storyline in Dangerous to Know, goes perfect with this one. Where that story ends is right where we pick up on Jane and Frank’s marriage. Emma visits Mrs. Weston who drops a bomb on her. Mrs. Weston met Miss Winthrop, Mr. Winthrop’s brother, and she should be what Emma focuses her attention on-not matchmaking. Miss Winthrop is after Mr. Knightley. Say what! Yes, she was carrying on about how she and Mr. Knightley were engaged at one time and that if she hadn’t had to leave they’d have kids and ever grandchildren by now. Forget you! Emma feels okay and secure in her marriage, plus she’s much younger but then she meets Miss Winthrop, Miss Winthrop-always-gets-her-man-Sanchez. She’s a hunter and she’s after Mr. Knightley. OMG! When I reached this part I was locked into this story. I had other things to do, but they were no longer important as I had to find out what happened next! Argh, Miss Winthrop! She’s a maneater, we all know the type and an excellent villain. The perfect foil for Emma. I loved this story. So far it has been my favorite as it captured the essence of Emma, presented the loved characters in a new, interesting, and adorable way (married Emma and Knightley are so cute). Plus women like Miss Withrop, they always get me going. And I adored the friendship between Jane and Emma. I HIGHLY recommend it, as I LOVED it!!! I’d start early as you won’t want to stop. You’ll notice that this is the one story I didn’t do a quote from, and that’s because I was reading so fast to finish it and find out what happened, I forgot to highlight. For more on Emma Woodhouse, go to Call Me, Maybe: Austentatious (2015) The Simple Things by J. Marie Croft So first of all, reading Miss Bates in Jane Austen’s Emma always gave me a major headache. I loved her, felt for her, but the endless chatter made my brain hurt. J. Marie Croft did a perfect, perfect, representation of her. You can tell she really studied Austen and the character and put her all into it. But, while the character in Emma was annoying-Croft did an excellent job not making her chatter unbearable. She would go on when speaking to people, but didn’t continue this within her mind, or with her close friends. Good job, this was not an easy feat. We start the book off with Miss Bates turning down a Mr. Franklin as she doesn’t love him. Even though he could answer all their family money woes. She knows Mr. Franklin doesn’t want a wife, but a nanny/nursemaid/cook/cleaning woman/housekeeper/etc and is not interested in becoming a free servant. “The sacred institution of matrimony is too often perverted, Patty. Perverted by men and women shackling themselves to a mate for whom they feel no special regard. No attachment. No affection. No ardent admiration. No that is not the life for me. I will not doom myself to a marriage of apathy, misery, or fear. I would rather live independently, if poor.” As Mr. Franklin was the landlord, they have lost their home and will have to find another cottage. But Miss Bates refuses to be shackled to a man she does not love. This makes her think back to her first love. This story was so cute and amazing in how it portrayed Miss Bates. We were able to see a new side of her-her touched by love, the care she had for her sister and best friend, her devotion as an aunt, I loved it. And how even through the suffering and the trials she goes through, she still remains an amazingly cheerful person. “And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good-will[sic].” –Emma, Jane Austen Croft did an amazingly good job. An excellent read! For more by J. Marie Croft, go to “The Art of Sinking” from Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues For more on Miss Bates, go to Should We Pity Miss Bates or Strive to Be Her? In Good Hands by Caitlin Williams This story picks up after Emma tried to match Harriet up with Mr. Elton, and failed. Then Emma thought Harriet was into Frank Churchill and tried pushing them together-but that failed. Harriet tried to get with Mr. Knightley and that failed. Harriet and Emma’s friendship broke up. And Mr. Knightley and Emma got engaged. Poor Harriet Smith and to top it off-she has a horrible toothache. Emma arranges for her to go to London, and stay with the Knightleys, while she sees the dentist. Harriet is exuberant as she wants to get away from it all and her embarrassment over what has happened. So embarressed Harriet tells Isabella what happened-all of it from Mr. Martin to Mr. Elton to Mr. Knightley. Isabella feels for her and has her stay longer, as Harriet is a great help with the children. Harriet is trying to figure our what to do next (and how to keep from returning to her embarrassment) when Robert Martin comes walking in. Harriet is embarrassed, tongue-tied, and a little scared at what to do or say. “Now the pretty decorated timepiece felt like an enemy, a thief robbing her of the opportunity to say something meaningful to Robert Martin before he went.” Will this be just more embarrassment to pile on, or a second chance? You know I really like this choice. I like the view into Harriet, her resolution to improve herself, and that we get to see how the two get together. Plus Mr. Knightley sent him, Mr. Knightley is matchmaking. So adorable! I loved how Harriet was written as well. She wasn’t desperate or dumb, but she was a pleasant, sweet girl, a pinch lonely and unexperienced. For more by Caitlin Williams, go to “Death of a Bachelor” from The Darcy Monologues: Part I, The Regency For more on Harriet Smith, go to Emma (1996) AKA the Kate Beckinsale Version These stories were just as great at the others, especially the Emma one. So we have had seven stupendous and striking stories. Will the rest be just as good? I guess I’ll just have to wait and see! 🙂 For more reviews of Rational Creatures, go to Rational Creatures: Elizabeth & Charlotte For more by Christina Boyd, go to Rational Creatures: Elinor & Marianne For more Emma, go to Austen Avengers Assemble! For more Austen book reviews, go to Little Literary Classics Mansfield Park Cloth Book Posted in Austenite, Emma Tagged Anngela Schroeder, Caitlin Williams, Christina Boyd, Dangerous to Know, Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues, Donwell Abbey, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Emma Woodhouse Knightley, Even Stevens, Friendship, Governess, Harriet Smith, Hartfield, In Good Hands, Isabella Woodhouse Knightley, J. Marie Croft, Jane Austen, Jane Austen Quotes, Jane Fairfax, Jane Fairfax Churchill, Knightley Discourses, Mandy-Always-Gets-Her-Man-Sanchez, Matchmaking, Miss Bates, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Knightley, Pygmalion, Rational Creatures, Rational Creatures: Emma Miss Bates & Harriet, Silverstein, The End, The Simple Things Call Me, Maybe: Austentatious (2015) Only one I’ll be calling is: But no, we aren’t talking about that. We are instead talking about: We are instead discussing-Austentatious (2015) So Austentatious is the story of Elinor, Marianne, Emma, Elizabeth, and Mr. Knightley being friends in modern times. In the last episode Marianne was trying to find a job, but kind of sucked although she did manage to be a smoothie barista. Elizabeth’s family were trying to take family pictures but she was having a hard time picking something out. I can’t decide And Knightley goes over his disaster dates: So on to today’s episode. It starts off with Knightly seeing Emma trying to thread a needle to sew back on her shirt and is dressed in gross sweats and her hair is crazy. What?! That’s so not Emma. She’s miserable but never would have her hair and clothes be so bleh-yuck. Proof: Knightley came to meet with Emma for lunch, but it slipped her mind. Knightley threads the needle and then sews the button on the shirt for her. Wow, a man who can sew. Elizabeth comes in to share about her awesome date with Andrew with Emma. Maybe it’s “Wickham”? After she shares that she leaves. Wait, why didn’t she just call or text like a normal person. Why come bug her at work? Elinor and Marianne are fighting about dirty dishes and Marianne not cleaning. They both see a mouse in the apartment and freak out. Again what does this have to do with Jane Austen! Elizabeth interrupts Elinor at work to share about her awesome date and the guy not calling back in two days. Again why doesn’t she call or text. You see we just spent the last few episodes with Elinor harping on and on about Marianne not working, but look at this. She then goes to Marianne’s job and shares her fears about him not calling and then again I ask why doesn’t she call or text instead of bothering her friends while they are working. Why doesn’t she meet up with them after work. Why isn’t she at work? Or plot! Marianne tries to make her feel better by sharing about this time she dates-And NO stop!!! This is so He’s Just Not that Into You. Like get it together Liz, he’s not interested. Don’t be harassing him or stuck on him. He’s totally a loser, I can feel it. She then goes and bothers Emma. OMG like what is this?!!!! I really don’t like this. This has like zero to do with Jane Austen. Like why even make a show based on the characters of Jane Austen when it has nothing to do with it at all. It’s amazing when you compare this to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and see how amazing that was with a modern adaptation that kept to the source material. Even Fall For You went on some other paths, but they kept the heart of the novels in there. What does any of this have to do with anything??!! I am so bored…. Let’s just turn the TV off… No we can’t do that? We have to finish? Fiiiiiiine, but I’m not happy… So…Emma wants to help her friend and she ropes in Mr. Knightley to give them a man’s perspective. Knightley isn’t into it, but dude just tell her the guy’s not interested and leave, Problem solved. Of course they probably won’t listen to you, so oh well. But at least you can say you tried. Elinor gets home and finds things a super mess. Mold? Rat poop? Not quite sure. Oh she complains to the exterminator it must be mouse poop. Marianne wants to get a cat to get rid of the mouse. But Elinor says no. But Elinor, cats are awesome. So the girls meet up on Elinor and Marianne’s apartment to have a girls night/mouse killing party. Did I just write those words. Have I said I really don’t like this show. And it has only been like seven mins. It feels like hours. Ugh. And speaking of mouse killing, the girls live upstairs, how did the mouse get up there? They should check with their neighbors, maybe it is a pet. So Emma, Elizabeth and Grant are sitting on the floor in a circle sharing. Why, when there are couches. I don’t know any 30+ people who do that unless they are playing with their children. I mean there is nothing wrong with it, but it looks really weird. What’s the heck? Elizabeth met Andrew at an open house and went to dinner. Knightly is being a total sarcastic dude, and good job writers, Very realistic. Elizabeth flashes back and shares about her wonderful dinner. Elinor finds trash in the couch. Okay I can believe under a couch or on the table but who throws trash-like banana peels and stuff in their couch that isn’t a four year old child. Like really? And why do they have to make her dumb and like a five year old. She wasn’t like that in the book! Omg this so boring. Elizabeth is just going on about him smiling and staring at her mouth and really? Who wrote this? I’m over it I just want to be done. It is so boring and who says that-“he was staring at my mouth.” Like if some guy is staring at my mouth while having dinner, I would think I had food on my face not that he was intensely trying to imagine kissing me. I feel like this is the bad discount version of Jane Austen. Like when you go to the Dollar Tree or 99 cent store and there is the discount version that is good, and then the discount, discount version with the weird name and logo and when you eat it it tastes like sawdust and you never forget and never buy it again. This is that. Like Jane Austen has wonderful romantic scenes that gripped your heart and tension. Elizabeth watching Darcy during the card game in torment, Captain Wentworth’s letter, etc.; and here we have “staring at my mouth”. Woohoo! Wow, real romantic! They ask Knightley’s opinion and he’s like I don;t know I don’t know him. Mr. Knightley tries to give them a reality check, but they aren’t having it. Mr. Knightley thinks it was just he wanted dinner while the girls are all he loves her! Knightley gives the girls the guy version. He says staring at mouth-probably had food in teeth (see-told ya!). Thinks looking at her smiling because farting or secretly getting the game scores on his phone. Marianne leaves the girls night to go on a date, a date with “Willoughby?” Let’s get this train back on track! So in this episode Emma is sarcastically calling Grant Mr. Knightley and all I can think is thank goodness because calling him Grant was dumb. George or Mr. Knightley-either one I will accept-but no Grant. For the thousandth time Mr. Knightley is back on roasting the date, telling Elizabeth “her date” probably touched her hand to keep her from sharing his dessert. Him saying he would call her, was probably just a brush off to get her to leave. Elinor says to stop freaking out and call him. I guess that is where the title comes from. Liz is going to call, but Grant stops her as he finds him “in a relationship”? How? On what? Facebook, Instagram? And how could he find him, I mean Andrew is a super popular name, Elizabeth never said his last name. Lazy writing, LAZY! Grant is a total dude, happy to have won over the girls-he called it, but on the end he gives the cupcake to Lizzie and they all eat the “mouse cheese”. When they go to get crackers they find the mouse in there. They all run out and the exterminator comes in to kill it. As they wait in the hall they run into Collin and it turns out to be his mouse-(I point you to my earlier comment about the mouse probably being a pet)-little Lizzie. CREEPY! And finally the episode is over and once again had zero to do with anything Jane Austen than the names and I once again question what were the writers thinking. I mean seriously! FOLLOW the PLOTS!!!!!!!!!!!! And this is only episode 5. It’s never ending, never ending. I’ve fallen into the Twilight Zone. And I can’t get out. For more Austentatious, go to Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Austentatious (2015) For more Sense & Sensibility, go to The Smart One and the Pretty One For more Pride & Prejudice, go to I Wrote Mr. Darcy a Letter Tagged 99 Cents Store, Austentatious (2015), Call Me Maybe, Dollar Tree, Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Girl's Night, He's Just NOT That Into You, Marianne Dashwood, Mouse, Mr. Knightley, Open House, Sewing, Star Trek, Star Wars July 19, 2019 by Moreland Five Jane Austen Adaptations That Should be Turned Into a Film or TV Show So I asked this question on Instagram and got a zero response. I feel that this had a lot of potential so I’m going to answer it myself. So I haven’t read every adaptation yet, I plan to, but haven’t yet. Out of the ones I have read these are one that I would love to see as a film or TV Show. 5) Jane Austen Academy Series by Cecilia Gray So in this Jane Austen inspired work, Cecilia Gray takes the characters of Jane Austen’s novels and puts them in a boarding school high school together, pairing up who would be friends and having them live in modern times. She chose the characters Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, Emma Woodhouse, Catherine Morland, and Anne Elliot. The drama comes when this boarding school goes co-ed! Gasp! Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham, and Captain Wentworth are coming and bringing all their dramas and the new owners want to change everything. Elizabeth has to save the school, help Anne get back with her love Wentworth, and deal with ugh Darcy. So I have only read the first book (and need to continue the series, but just haven’t had a chance) and I like the idea-although there were a few things I didn’t agree with (like deleting Marianne Dashwood, why?) that would need to be fixed. I think this would be a good TV show-all the Austen characters as teenagers going to school together and unlike Austentatious, this book if turned show would actually keep the themes from the books instead of making it random nonsense. For more on The Jane Austen Academy Series, go to Fall For You 4) Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries by Carrie Bebris So Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are married and happen upon stranger supernatural occurrences and start investigating-well, Elizabeth does and Darcy starts off along for the ride but joins in. In the first book they deal with the question of an insane or possessed Caroline Bingley. Has she gone mad? Is her husband gaslighting her? Or could she be posessed? In book two, Elizabeth’s sister, Kitty Bennet, is planning on marrying Henry Dashwood (John and Fanny’s son) but then he starts acting weird. Was he just pretending to be a nice guy and always a jerk? Or is he possessed by some malignant creature? Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy are crimesolvers? I’d watch it hands down. It would be something for those who loved Death Comes to Pemberley and Supernatural. Sounds like a win-win and can fill a new hole on TV. For more Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, go to Pride & Prescience (Or a Truth Universally Acknowledged) and Suspense & Sensibility (Or First Impressions Revisited) 3) The Darcy Monologues and Dangerous to Know edited by Christina Boyd and et. al So in The Darcy Monologues you have Pride and Prejudice envisioned fourteen different ways. Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues is eleven different stories on the “bad boys” of Jane Austen. So I still have to read Rational Creatures (I know shame on me, time just seems to slip away), but I think these would both be fun as a TV show, each story an episode. As The Darcy Monologues is about one subject you could do an episode from it and Dangerous to Know, to break it up, or just do a miniseries. I would love to see Mr. Darcy as the “Beast”, Pride and Prejudice as a Western, and of course Mr. Darcy Strikes Out as I LOVED Dandy Darcy and would love-love-love to see that. For Dangerous to Know I loved Henry Tilney’s older brother finding love and needing help from Catherine Morland, and when Colonel Fitzwilliam strikes a deal with an heiress to pretend to be interested in her so she can gain her inheritance. For more Darcy Monologues, go to The Darcy Monologues: Part I, The Regency and The Darcy Monologues: Part II, Other Eras For more on Dangerous to Know, go to Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues, Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MILD, Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MODERATE, and Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MATURE 4) Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale I Love, Love, Love, Love, Love this book. We all loved the film Austenland, so why not turn the sequel into a film as well!! You have a broken hearted woman who loves Jane Austen and heads to Austenland to get over her troubles. There she sees characters from the previous book along with getting mired in a mystery!!! It is a love story, a mystery, comedy, etc and so much fun. It wouldn’t quite work with how they ended the film Austenland, but you could always have Mrs. Wattlesbrook make a new one and try again. It would be FANTASTIC!! Please make it happen. For more, go to Midnight in Austenland 1)Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Kelly Doornebos Chloe Parker enters a contest to compete in a documentary about Austenites. Each contestant will live in a Regency-esque world where they will compete in answering Austen Trivia-the winner receiving $100,000. It’s easy right? Wrong! It turns out that this is a Bachelor Reality Show in Regency Flair, all constants competing to win a “Mr. Darcy”. I could see this being a movie, but even better as a TV Show. You make it in the style of a reality show, but all fake. It would be hilarious as they try and complete the Austen challenges while poking fun at real celebrity dating TV Shows. For more go to, Definitely Not Mr. Darcy So what do you think? Did I miss anything? Is there something out there you would love to see as a TV show or Film? Comment below to let me know! Posted in Austenite Tagged Anne Elliot, Austenland, Based on Jane Austen, Captain Fredrick Wentworth, Carrie Bebris, Catherine Morland, Cecilia Gray, Christina Boyd, Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues, Definitely Not Mr. Darcy, Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Fall for You, Fall for You (Jane Austen Academy), Instagram, Jane Austen, Jane Austen Academy, Jane Austen Adaptation, Kelly Doornebos, Midnight in Austenland, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham, Pride & Prescience, Pride & Prescience: Or a Truth Universally Acknowledged, Shannon Hale, The Darcy Monologues July 2, 2019 by Moreland Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Austentatious (2015) I wish we were talking about that awesome ’80s song, you know me… But alas, no. We are instead discussing-Austentatious (2015) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! So Austentatious is the story of Elinor, Marianne, Emma, Elizabeth, and Mr. Knightley being friends in modern times. In the last episode Collins (Mr. Collins from P&P) was trying to get with Elizabeth: Elizabeth is trying to find a home for the insufferable Mr. Darcy-like they right him really bad. Emma hired Marianne temporarily and she is back to looking for a new job. But not doing well in that at all…mostly because they make her a dunderhead. And Elinor got a promotion, had to deal with a mess at the office (she’s an accountant), and meet the handsome and fun Edward Ferras-IRS agent. So in this episode Elinor, Emma, and Lizzie are hanging out at the coffee ship and Elizabeth lets Elinor have some of her smoothie-all I can think is no!! Never!!! I never share drinks after I did with someone and they gave me a cold sore. Lizzie is picking out colors for a family photo. Now is this really a thing? They always show people doing this in movies and TV, but my family only did it twice when I was a baby and the when I was sixteen. Otherwise our photos were just at weddings and events, etc. Did anyone have a family where they took family photos every year? Elinor’s hair looks darker than the other episodes in the series, I wonder if she dyed it or if she wears a wig. Marianne is applying but no one will hire her because of her lack of experience. Elinor acts like Marianne must be making this up to get out of working, but I remember it being like that. It’s hard out there. But wait, Marianne does have some experience working for Emma and Darcy’s office. Why doesn’t she try a temp agency? Elinor finds out that the cafe is hiring and grabs an app for her sister. Lizzie mentions that they took a “jean on jean” picture years ago…first of all-yuck that has bad idea written all over it. And secondly, no flashback? Really? I know this didn’t have a humongous budget, bit still-now that you have said it I want to see it. Since we don’t have that I’ll gift you with this. And why is Lizzie looking at paint samples? Is that how you really choose a background? So every one in the Bennet family wants a different color and its up to Elizabeth to find a compromise. I have to say that one thing this show does right is name drop her sisters, we hear Jane, Kitty, and Lydia. A lot of retellings cut them out-making Elizabeth an only child, or just have one sibling. It just doesn’t work in my opinion, as anyone with a sister knows-you guys influence each other and make each other’s personalities. Elinor is thrilled that she scored Marianne an interview at the coffee shop. Marianne is still asleep, the call waking her up. Marianne is less than thrilled and asks about free milkshakes. Elinor is not amused, but I think it is a valid question and I would have asked the same thing. You know me and free… Marianne thinks food service is a bit lame, but agrees to come. Okay so Marianne finally has cute outfit, yes, they were putting her in some weird stuff. Blue lace dress, small rope belt at the waist, and knee high boots-I’d wear that in a millisecond. I love my shoes! She plans to wear that to work and Lizzie isn’t sure it will work, but doesn’t say anything. I think she definitely should wear more comfortable shoes, but every coffee shop and cafe that I’d ever gone to, if they don’t have uniforms, their staff have worn all kinds of things. So it isn’t too crazy or anything. The two are amazed at books that help you choose and coordinate colors and that people have “seasons”. I’m shocked they have never heard of this, I mean Marianne is supposed to be a fashionista girl. But I mean the terms “my color”, “having my colors done”, “what’s your season”, or “I’m a ___” are things people were saying before 2015. Although you know what I think: And how could they have missed these with all the different shows on HGTV or WE or Lifetime? Marianne is late for her first day and is all no big deal-really? Why do they always make Marianne so dumb. And Elizabeth is over at Elinor’s at 3:30? Doesn’t she have a job and work to do? And why would she think 9 to 5 Elinor would be home at 3:30? Elinor is trying to help Lizzie choose colors and patterns, but why? Didn’t we establish in the other episode that she has zero fashion taste? Why isn’t Lizzie asking Emma? Maybe because she is the only one doing her job. Lizzie is freaking out what color to pick and I’m just like go with Navy Blue. Navy blue is the best color that looks goos on everyone. I have never met a person that cannot pull of navy blue. So we hear a bit about Lizzie;s sisters. Mary is conservative (gray turtlenecks), Jane classic and sweet (pastels), Lydia wild (neon, ’80s, and animal print), and Kitty slightly less wild that Lydia (a tamer version). I have to say good job writer’s, it appears someone read the book or saw a movie as this is spot on. I can imagine their modern-day equivalents wearing these. Marianne bursts in, a mess and shares her day. She was told off by her boss, Eric, for being late, has to wear an apron, and messes up a lot. Well-jeez I don’t blame her. The guy didn’t even train her. Now I have never worked as a barista, but I think I would have a new employee come in early to show them how things are done and how to work the equipment. Do they just throw you into it? Can anyone chime in on this? Eric rushes her again and again, which is odd as she just started. You think he would cut the new girl, on her first day, with no barista experience, a break. Seriously, I mean you saw her resume-what were you expecting? Elinor is super controlling again and determined to make sure Marianne keeps her job and wants her friends to help. You can’t control the world Elinor. Bedsides, her boss Eric seems a bit of a jerk to me, he might just fire her. Is Elinor sitting on the Smoothie Shop’s couch with bare feet. Ew-that’s not your couch. That’s a public one. And why ARE YOUR SHOES off in a CAFE?? Anyways, Elinor convinces Emma and Lizzie to come by everyday and, make Marianne look good so that she can keep her job. So here we are and I’m thinking this has like zero to do with Jane Austen. Like why even make a show based on the characters of Jane Austen when it has like nothing to do with it at all. It’s amazing when you compare this to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and see how well done that was in a modern adaptation that kept to the source material. Even Fall For You went on some other paths, but they kept the heart of the novels in there. What does any of this have to do with anything. And why do they make Marianne so dumb and lazy. Marianne was a young rich girl, who suddenly lost everything one day, She never had to do anything as they had servants and she does’t adapt as quickly as Elinor. She also was a avid reader and a talented musician and had brains in her head. So back to the show, not only has Elinor got the girls into it she calls up George, uh no they changed the name to something else-Garrett? I think? Anyways Knightley comes too. How long has Elionr been sitting there? Doesn’t she have a job? I mean I know she was promoted but I thought that meant more responsibilities-like dealing with the IRS, not more time to sit shoeless in a coffee shop. Still not over that. So in the next scene Elinor is finally at work-finally. She complains about Marianne all the time not working, but hey you’ve been living in a coffee shop. She wears a t-shirt to work. I would expect a newly promoted accountant to wear something more professional, or at least not jeans-but whatever. Lizzie interrupts her with bunches of clothes-and I ask, doesn’t she have a job she’s supposed to be working at? Elinor listens to Lizzie as she complains no one is listening to her and actually gives good advice to her friend. They picked Lizzie to be in charge so she gets to make the decision and all have to live with it. Knightley discusses Elinor’s “great plan” with Emma and Emma wants nothing to do with it from moment one thinks its a bad idea but wants to support her friend, that’s sweet. Knightley talks to Emma–and hey, why isn’t he at work either, he has a job doesn’t he? I’m sorry I know I keep repeating myself, but its because of Elinor. She is always harping about Marianne not working, and in the other episodes we saw them all at their jobs-that them not doing that is a hundred times more obvious and in your face. Kinghtley asks Emma why someone who loves love so much would be working in divorce. That’s what I’ve been asking to! Out of all the thousand professions in the world they could have given her-why the heck a divorce lawyer. She says she is good at it even though it thoroughly depresses her. So Emma admits that is one of the reason she likes matching people up. Well if you hate it, why’d you pick that area of law. What the heck! Knightly complains about all disastrous dates he’s been on and all I have to say is why do we get this flashback, but no jean on jean? I really want to see that now. I’ll just to google it. I have to say Knightley’s reasons for why he doesn’t like the women were pretty shallow-what a jerk. One’s hair is too big, one talked too much too fast, and one mixed up her authors-okay not going to lie that last one I couldn’t deal with. If I had to talk to someone about Darles Chicken, Clom Tancy, and Sparkiles Nicks, I would go a bit cuckoo. Emma and Knightley argue over why Emma is looking for Knightley’s match…blah, blah, blah and all I can think is that on Emma’s computer are a bunch of videos as if she is on Youtube. Well call me Elinor because I’m going to say it again Is anybody working? And before you say well they are just meeting up at work or whatever, these scenes don’t have to be shot at the office. These all would have worked way better at a home, or a coffee shop, or park, etc. I can’t tell what type of video they are watching but one looks like a dog on a skateboard (but it looks more like an ad), another is something in a baseball field, and the third two people on a couch. Huhhhhhhh Next scene is Lizzie in the park, so see-they could have done this in the park! BOOM! Lizzie starts looking at the color book and says you are more important than my job, rent, or food-just kidding. She keeps looking at it and then just gives up. Back at the cafe, Elizabeth and Knightley are hanging out at the cafe. And Elizabeth asks Knightley fashion advice. Now I find it odd that out of all the people in this show she hasn’t asked Emma, Emma who loves to give advice and loves fashion. Weird choice writers, weird. Knightley thinks Mrs. Bennet’s choices are weird. He then listens to Lizzie and actually asks questions about it trying to help. Liz asks Knightly about his day and he tells her he has been doing nothing but what Emma says. Lizzie ask him why he doesn’t say no and he says its because it makes Emma feel good. She then asks him if he ever thought about asking Emma out- and I’m like writer’s 10 points for you. It was done in a great way. Good job. Its like boom, so obvious to everyone you like each other-but Lizzie is tactful in suggesting it. It’s funny, but it actually reminds me of that scene in Emma (1996) AKA the Gywenth Paltrow version when Emma is all after all we aren’t brother and sister and Knightley is all, yes we are not brother and sister. In this Knightley is all we are friends, and Lizzie is all well friends make the best romantic relationships. It’s not the same but still a cute nod, whether intentional or not. And then Knightley admits that he is interested in Emma. Cute. Marianne makes a smoothie for a customer and does a really great job, but then accidentally spills it on him. Eric is all mad at her-but the customer seemed cool and it was an accident. And it is only her second day. I don’t know-he seems extra harsh, but then again I have never worked food service so I can’t really say. There is a cute moment where we have a horrified Marianne who feels so stupid at her mistakes and Elinor actually comforts her and shares a time about when she messed up on the job as a janitor and caused a girl to break her arm as she forgot to put up the wet floor signs. How awful! And I can’t believe she didn’t get sued for that! Marianne tries to get her job back, but her boss is not buying it. Grant Kinghtley comes in and tries to convince the boss that Marianne is the best and should stay. Emma bosses Knightley around about how to “sell it” and they are so like in a relationship already. He really does “sell it” giving her $100 tip. Lizzie shares how she picked the colors from the spilled smoothie on the guys sweater, and while she’s talking I noticed she looks really cute too-a blue and black gauzy shirt and her hair in a bun with front pieces curling. Finally! They had someone stepping it up on set with these outfits. You are on TV not radio, where what you wear matters. Marianne comes bursting in excited that it worked and she has her job! Grant tries to get his money back, but no dice. He should just have Emma pay him back. The cute guy Marianne spilled the drink on comes back as he thinks she is cute, and asks her out to dinner. Aw. But he’s not Colonel Brandon, so is he Willoughby? If he is, then this show might get interesting-we have been missing a villian(s). I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned… For more Austentatious, go to I’ll Be Watching You: Austentatious (2015) For more Pride & Prejudice, go to I Met Mr Darcy Tagged Austentatious (2015), Coco Chanel, Edward Ferras, Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Emma, Emma (1996), Emma Woodhouse, Fall for You, Family Photos, Grant Knightley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Jane Bennet, Kitty Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Marianne Dashwood, Mary Bennet, May Vanderbilt, Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, Pat Benatar, Pride and Prejudice, Raising Hope, Sarah Dessen, Sense and Sensibility, Smoothie, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries June 17, 2019 by Moreland I’ll Be Watching You: Austentatious (2015) So this title of course references The Police song, even though it has nothing to do with the episodes plot. Sorry, anytime I think of Sting and The Police I think of that scene from Footloose. But yes, the song: I’d rather not be watching this. I have already watched two episodes and have not been impressed. I can see why it was canceled after one season. I know harsh, but I speak the truth. Basically, the story is that Marianne and Elinor Dashwood live together and are friends with Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, and Grant/George Knightley. All live in modern times and are an accountant, jobless, real estate agent, divorce lawyer (!!! I know Emma, really?), and I don’t know what “Grant” does. So we start off this episode with Marianne trying to make eggs and falls of course because she is a dumb blonde. Why do they make her that way? Elizabeth is over and complains about the awful Darcy, who she has been emailing and she can’t stand him. I am with her, they make him too jerky-seriously I hate him. I know, I know This series killed me okay. It made me utter what never should be uttered and then I died. It is a ghost of my former self that is writing this. An angry ghost And I’m sure if Jane was around, she sure wouldn’t appreciate what you writers did! Elizabeth gets a call about a house and it is Collins looking for a realtor. Remember in the last episode he had his date where he tried to pump Elinor. See Hook agrees with me. Elinor, the accountant, has to deal with a tough client, who’s angry that she has to pay so much. I actually like this part of the episode because that’s what I have to deal with sometimes at work. It feels very real and it isn’t silly or stupid like a lot of other parts of these shows. What I wish I could say to some people. Poor Elinor, that sucks. Yes, Elinor I know exactly how you feel. She’s complaining to Knightley, I find that interesting. I like that he has taken that friendship role with all the girls. Plus in Sense and Sensibility, Elinor and Colonel Brandon talk quite a bit (as everyone feels the need to confide in her) so it kind of meshes that with this. Good job TV show, there are two things you are doing right. Elinor has a promotion, woohoo! Meanwhile, Marianne is shopping online and Emma hires her as the receptionist at her firm. Marianne is thrilled to be around hot lawyers, but down about that she has to be there at 8. So Elinor’s promotion, she doesn’t get much time to settle in. Not only does she have to start her new job that afternoon, the IRS is coming and she has to deal with them. I know the show is trying to add drama, but I really don’t think that is how it works. I don’t think they would just “throw you in”. And certainly not throw you to the IRS, I mean I think she could defintely complain about that to HR. An IRS agent is coming and all I can think of it it kinda makes me think of Parks and Rec when Ben comes and Leslie’s all mad about it and then they fall for each other-I just have a feeling Edward Ferrars is to be the IRS agent. But seriously, you have a giant IRS dilemmea with your firm and you are going to promote someone from lower to take care of it. I mean I get they are probably trying to set up a fall guy, but wouldn’t you want someone who knows to take care of it and make sure all is good? Woohoo, gold star theIRS agent is Edward Ferrars-did I call it or what? Edward is like really cool and collected…I never pictured him that way since he was so controlled by his mama. Anyways, the two hit it off and he acts really sweet and gets command of the situation and calm a freaking, babbling Elinor down. Interesting, a very different portrayal… Hmmm…I don’t know of I like it. All the girls meet up and Emma complains about Darcy, And oh my gosh he is so awful. No wonder this TV show was canceled. Like can we just sock him in the face. Please leave. I know, I know-I said the dreaded words again-but I’m already dead inside from watching this. Marianne offers to get revenge by mixing up his messages, but then she will get fired, so I’m not sure that is a good revenge idea. So not fun… So Elinor and Edward are eating breakfast and hanging out-telling stories and it is pretty cute. I like their interactions. Elizabeth meets with Collins to discuss “houses” but its a total date. Like seriously Lizzie, he has you meet at a restaurant for DINNER!!! Liz is all business and Collin is all let me try and get info because I want to date you. The vibe is as strong as a 7th grader spraying himself with AXE for the first time-super ob. Emma is working and Darcy is throwing a full on B.F. Ugh I hate him. Like I want to STOP WATCHING. If I could I would throw my fist into the TV and punch him in the face. UUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! I hate you, I hate this series, I hate the writers… Back to Liz and Collins, nothing is getting done and Collins is all yeah she’s into me. Uh no. Emma and Darcy fight some more-ugh Marianne is too dumb to know the difference between a fax machine and a copy machine. Although, I have to admit that happens a lot at the library. So Liz goes to Elinor’s home and she’s all “glad you are home” So Liz lives with her? I thought in the first episode Elinor was all “it’s my apartment Marianne” and going on and on and on about how it was her home and she wasn’t sure she wants to share with her and she has everything just how she likes it, blah blah blah. But if Liz lives there too, shouldn’t she have a say in her home? And shouldn’t she have spoken to her about Marianne living there? This makes no sense within the context of the first episode, but I guess it explains why all the girls are there all the time. I thought they were just limited on sets, I mean Collin takes Liz out to the same place he took Elinor. Which does work for his character. Liz complains-and Elinor knows why he is flirting-but doesn’t tell her. Bad friend. Finally she spills and Liz is so angry- and she’s right, she been wasting her time getting her chained yanked while he is just goofing around pretending to buy. I’d be so angry. Marianne is on the hate Darcy train as well after dealing with him. You jerk! Marinne tears a message for him, hmm… Darcy is all blah, blah Emma I’m an angry stupid prick and I want you to do all this work even though I’ve complained that this is my area of expertise and I don’y want you touching it. I can’t find a file and its all your fault ad I hate how they make him. Do I have to finish this series, because I don’t want to. Why did they make Darcy so awful, he was not that awful in he book. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Or TV show in this case. Emma is angry and justifiably. She should report him to HR. He should not treat her that way. Liz is walking and Collin surprises her. They meet to discuss her dropping him. And he’s infuriating . Liz is pretty nice, I think I would have been more upset. Marianne and Emma are walking and eating. Marianne left Darcy fake messages to the movie theater and weather station. She tells him, sorry the numbers came in too fast, maybe try a few combinations. It’s pretty funny, but Emma warns her he could her fired for it. Marianne does’t care as it is only a temp job. Marianne shares some backstory on her family, and the writer’s got it right, thank goodness. When their dad died, Elinor took over taking care of everything, and making sure things were done-causing her to quickly grow up and adopt the “sensible persona”. And how her mom just let Marianne be herself, she’s always been the one taken care of versus taking care of others like Elinor. Edward and Elinor grow closer together, and they are very cute. I like it! More Edward please and less Darcy. I think a thousand fangirls died over that statement. Darcy starts acting like a human being and actually tells a not really apology which makes me still want to punch him. WHAT!!!! They have a loooooooooooooong way to go to fix him. Collins stops by Elinor to see Liz. He wants her to show him a house as he has settled on an idea of what he wants. Liz gets mad an tells him he needs boundaries. True dat. Good job Liz-stick to your guns. Collin leaves and calls her on the phone to set an appointment. Ugh! This dude! For more Austentatious, go to Big Girls Don’t Cry: Austentatious (2015) Posted in Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility Tagged Austentatious (2015), Based on Jane Austen, Collin, Edward Ferras, Eggs, Elinor Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Footloose, Grant Knightley, IRS Agent, Jane Austen, Lawyers, Leslie Knope, Marianne Dashwood, Modern Twist on a Classic, Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, Parks and Recreation, Pride & Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Sting, The Police, White Chicks

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: we have done iui last month, it failed, I want to know what should be the time gap after collecting the sperm and the iui treatment, does the external atmosphere effect the quality of the sperm output: Hi, thanks for query. Timining of collection sperm is not important. Even cases when husband is not available on particular days frozen sperm can also be used. The sample should process in same premises only if possible. After collection of semen the sperm septation normally takes around 1-2 hours, after the GUI can be done. The husband should observe at least 3 days of abstinence before giving sample for good results. Wishing you good health..

in Goal is to “land a man", PIV-centric narrative, Support patriarchal institutions (medicine/religion/law), Woman as "useful object" Critique of Sociological Images post ‘The Hunger Games, Hollywood, & Fighting Fuck Toys’ Today, Dr. Caroline Heldman writes for Sociological Images that Hollywood execs are missing out on revenues because Hollywood continues to depict female action heroes as “Fighting Fuck Toys” (FFT) which are not believable or compelling protagonists. She notes that the recent blockbuster “The Hunger Games” has been a box office success, despite its heroine being a “believable, reluctant hero” who “isn’t objectified once.” Heldman, who is a regular political commentator for Fox News, Fox Business News, RT America, and Al Jazeera English, seems genuinely confused as to why Hollywood so routinely spits out box office flops like Elektra, Catwoman, and Sucker Punch portraying hypersexualized female protagonists when the FFT action heroine-genre doesn’t seem to be particularly lucrative. Could it be that money really isn’t the point? And, are we completely sure that the female protagonist in “The Hunger Games” is not objectified? Heldman writes that The Hunger Games‘s protagonist, Katniss Everdeen succeeds with audiences where other women heroes have failed because she isn’t an FFT. Fighting fuck toys are hyper-sexualized women protagonists who are able to “kick ass” (and kill) with the best of them — and look good doing it. The FFT appears empowered, but her very existence serves the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer. In short, the FFT takes female agency and appropriates it for the male gaze. First of all, media analyses centering “the male gaze” are just completely misguided generally, not to mention an utter bore. There is no analysis of what is meant by “the male gaze” because it is a “Feminism 101” concept; we are directed to educate ourselves about the “Male gaze” on the “Finally, a feminism 101 blog”. There we fall asleep reading about how, although the concepts of the gaze and the male gaze were first introduced as part of film theory, the term can and is often applied to other kinds of media. It is often used in critiques of advertisements, television, and the fine arts. The male gaze in advertising is actually a fairly well-studied topic, and it — rather than film — is often what comes to mind when the term is invoked. This is because, more than just being an object of a gaze, the woman in the advertisement becomes what’s being bought and sold: “The message though was always the same: buy the product, get the girl; or buy the product to get to be like the girl so you can get your man” in other words, “‘Buy’ the image, ‘get’ the woman” (Wykes, p. 41). In this way, the male gaze enables women to be a commodity that helps the products to get sold (the “sex sells” adage that comes up whenever we talk about modern marketing). Even advertising aimed at women is not exempt: it engages in the mirror effect described above, wherein women are encouraged to view themselves as the photographer views the model, therefore buying the product in order to become more like the model advertising it. Okay, but since liberal analysts generally agree, being liberals, that the commodification of women’s sexuality is okay, and that prostitution and pornography themselves are okay, why do they continuously take issue with women in advertising images becoming what’s bought and sold? Literally selling women’s sex, including their sexual labor and their very bodies is not a problem for liberals ethically or politically, so why can’t they stop talking about it? It gives them something to say, and supports the patriarchal institution of the academy by giving film-school students something to wank about, but this criticism does not provide any meaningful analysis of patriarchal power structures, or get to the root of women’s oppression by men. If liberal analysts actually had a problem with porn and prostitution in real life, they might then point out that commodifying female sexuality and bodies in advertising normalizes porn and prostitution — which it does — and that observation would be based in an actual political theory and be relevant to sexual politics; alas, it does not and it is not. Seriously, what the hell? Liberal media analysis is so boring, but the real problem with it is that it’s a theoretical dead-end. As is this: Heldman seems genuinely confused as to why Hollywood generally refuses to produce content that does not very obviously, overtly and gratuitously objectify women, when there might be money to be made there, and she uses the commercial success of “The Hunger Games” as evidence that this is true. She seems completely unaware — or rejects the idea — that the patriarchal media is a propaganda machine that deliberately turns out anti-woman, pro-patriarchal political propaganda first and foremost; and that money is important, because money and the money system supports male power, but money in and of itself is not the whole purpose of Hollywood filmmaking or of any media imagery or of anything. Supporting male power is the point. But interestingly, at the same time Heldman seems to believe that the female protagonist is not objectified, she notes this: While the movie arguably plays up the romance angle more than the books, The Hunger Games is still squarely an action thriller, set in a dystopic future world where teens fight to the death in a reality show. It plays up the romance. The heterosexual romance between our heroine Katniss Everdeen and not one but two male hunters, Peeta and Gale. Where heterosexual romance centers PIV and the domestic, sexual and reproductive servitude of women to men, and where women are mere “useful objects” to men, serving male interests and male power literally until the women are used up, and then tossed out like so much garbage. I have news for Dr. Caroline Heldman: Katniss Everdeen is objectified in “The Hunger Games.” The Fighting Fuck Toy is not the only way female heroines are objectified, and it’s not the most insidious either. And “The Hunger Games” can easily be read as supportive of male institutions and male power because it is supportive of male institutions and male power. Being a product of the patriarchal propaganda machine, it is that by definition, but how it is supportive of male power is readily ascertained if one only performs an honest critical analysis of it. In other words: that this image and all media images support male power is demonstrable. But you do need a theoretical foundation from which to start, meaning that one must first articulate the mechanisms of women’s real-life oppression and the foundations of male power, and then plug in the facts, to see which male-power-supportive themes are represented in any particular image, film, or genre. And that is precisely where liberal media criticism falls flat. Tags: Caroline Heldman, featured posts, Sociological Images, The Hunger Games 35 responses to “Critique of Sociological Images post ‘The Hunger Games, Hollywood, & Fighting Fuck Toys’” Caroline Heldman says : April 10, 2012 at 4:32 pm As a radical feminist, I think this is a great analysis of the other ways in which Katniss is objectified/supports male power structures. I’m saddened by the tone of your critique and your misreading that this is a liberal feminist critique, that I support porn (read “hypocrite”), or that I am “confused” (read “stupid”) because I address one layer in an easily accessible way instead of writing an academic piece that addresses the many ills of this film. FCM says : April 10, 2012 at 4:49 pm hi caroline! thanks for reading, and sorry you dont like the tone. regarding your statement that you are a radical feminist, and that your critique was not liberal, or liberal feminist, the proof that your analysis is a liberal analysis is in the pudding. words have meaning, and “radical feminist” means something and is based in a specific ideology that is different from liberal politics and liberal feminism. if you would like to clarify what your non-liberal or radical feminist points were (or are) please do so. radical commentary is always appreciated. also, whether you personally support porn does not negate the fact that liberal ideology supports porn. but if you wish to set the record straight, do you support it or not? and if not, why didnt you clarify that in your critique? it would have made more sense to ground it in an analysis of the harms of porn; as it is, it is grounded in nothing (or in an analysis of the “gaze” which is not much more than nothing, really). i also disagree that your piece was not academic. critiques of the gaze and the male gaze are very academic and rooted in “film theory” and actually are not accessible at all, if you mean that academic and accessible are mutually exclusive. again, the proof is in the pudding. Did you seriously just tell that there’s a difference between radical and liberal feminists? Again, tone. You’re “conversing” with someone whose Ph.D. focuses on feminism and who has been writing radical feminist critiques for over ten years. What makes your reply even more ridiculous is that it arrived in the middle of editing a piece about how radical feminists were right (which I, along with maybe Robert Jensen and Gail Dines have been saying for years). I have many replies to your response, but you’re so condescending that I won’t take the time to engage. the proof of liberalism versus radicalism is in the pudding, and you have yet to make a radical feminist point or retract any of your obviously liberal points. and you havent added anything to this conversation at all. BTW academic-credential-dropping isnt very radical and it definitely doesnt support your claim that you are being accessible and nonacademic. neither is the tone-argument radical. you say “again, tone.” i say again, pudding. witchwind says : April 10, 2012 at 9:36 pm Great to see a critique of the film hunger games, even if it’s a critique of a critique. I only saw the trailer but it so struck me as so archetypical of patriarchal war myth-making that I thought I might write something about it, although I’m not sure I could endure the whole mind-polluting film, well, definitely not on big screen and I don’t want to pay for that. So here is what I had in mind, sorry if it’s long Having studied (endured) theories of (male) international relations, what immediately struck me about the trailer is that the world the film depicts was like a by-the-book copy of basic 19th cent. International relations realpolitik with an additional gladiator-like twist, and a spice of male necro(techno)logy. It’s basically men treating the world like a square, flat, zero-sum chess-game, where some men who think they’re gods move around their dead pawns. 1. The pawns in reality refer to male (sometimes female) subordinates that rulers send away as cannon fodder in their disputes against other pal rulers over “territory”. 2. According to this male world-view, the round earth is a flat, fragmented, cross-ruled “territory” that is meant to be controlled from above like a rat-lab, invaded and pillaged. Every bit of life is objectified, that is, made dead, or kept barely enough alive to be exploited and then chucked away like garbage. This also fits all patriarchal western biblical views of the world, with a male God towering over his square garden, his “game”. These wars are always dick-centered: controlled and organised by men or token women possessed by men, they “penetrate territories” and “penetrate bodies” and kill with their phallus-shape weapons and canons that “ejaculate” death. Just like PIV!! 3. In apparence the god-like pawn-moving men are playing against each-other, but as all divisions between men this division masks the fact that both are men, whose common enemy and target is women. 4. This film supports and glorifies a male system of war, which is THE insititution by which men as a class manage to hold power over women, without which they couldn’t maintain the constant terror and threat of death necessary to keep women under constant control, since they as a class monopolise the use and production of weapons. It also glorifies modern means of patriarchal control over women: technology and images, both being different modes of mind and body rapism and a way of gradually attempting to replace women and life by dead robots. 5. The heroïne couldn’t be more objectified: she herself is an object to be conquered between two men (romance in patriarchy is a lie for rape and death) and she’s also an objectified pawn put to death in a game she has no control over. She is prodded by robots, moulded like clay according to the sadisitic interests of the rulers, brainwashed… And she’s also objectified by the spectators who are supposed to wank off to the thrill of seeing her in such distress – this is only possible if her body is eroticised in patriarchal terms. 6. To finish, the trailer also reminded me of a passage of Mary Daly in Gyn-Ecology, p.7: “The walls of Patriarchal Pleasure Park represent the condition of being perpetually parked, locked into the parking lot of the past. A basic meaning of park is “game preserve”. The father’s foreground is precisely this: an arena where the wildness of nature and of women’s Selves is domesticated, preserved. It is the place for the preservation of females who are the “fair game” of the fathers, that they may be served to these predatory Park Owners, and service them at their pleasure.” Lysandra says : April 10, 2012 at 10:28 pm I am so glad to see this here! I was hoping this blog would take on that post, because when I read it I really found it wanting but I couldn’t articulate why. But you do need a theoretical foundation from which to start, meaning that one must first articulate the mechanisms of women’s real-life oppression and the foundations of male power, This right here–this is pure gold. It’s what was leaving me unsatisfied about that original Soc Images post, and really what leaves me unsatisfied about so much of liberal feminism, but I hadn’t been able to put it into words. So thank you for this post, and also thanks to witchwind for fleshing out the radical analysis of this film even more. In my family, on my Facebook page, and in my community, everyone and their second cousin is gushing about this story. I haven’t read the books or seen the movie (yet?) and I was hoping for some Radical Feminist critique before making a decision whether to do so. As a final note, I am shocked that anyone would think there’s no difference between liberal feminism and radical feminism, especially someone with a PhD focusing on feminism. I sure as hell have no PhD in feminism–I’ve never even taken a single women’s studies class–but it’s clear as day to me that there’s an enormous gulf between the sex-positive, postmodernist, relatively fun and non-threatening liberal feminism and the incisive, no-holds-barred, absolutely threatening (to patriarchy) radical feminism. And I’m still relatively new to radical feminism. FCM says : April 10, 2012 at 10:51 pm hi lysandra i think caroline was saying that she knows theres a difference, and the way we are supposed to know she knows theres a difference is because she SHOULD know, seeing as how she has a doctorate and work experience. which is a spurious claim a best. and what she has yet to do, of course, is to make an actual radical feminist point. but in all seriousness, if my *tone* was really so egregious, i will apologize for it, rather than doubling down, i mean why not right? even though thats completely subjective and irrelevant to the validity of my actual points, fine. i will play nice. meanwhile, caroline is doubling down on her claim that her article was not liberal, and that she is a radical, and doubling down on her assertion that we are supposed to accept thats true BECAUSE SHE SAYS SO. sorry, but “because i said so” is not feminist analysis. its not! theres a widget in the sidebar to that effect. its offensive, pathetic and aggravating all at once. and the credential dropping! wow. that went over like a lead balloon didnt it? which is exactly what academic credentials are worth in radical space, and when discussing and imagining real freedom for women. funny she wouldnt have anticipated that. credentials are worthless here mkay? its what you DO that counts, and academented cred is at least as likely to hurt your analysis as help it. if you are a radical, prove it. its not that hard. SHOW DONT TELL. its also possible that she is a radfem who wrote a libfem analysis for publication. shit happens. but dont double down on the assertion that its radical and not liberal when thats completely baseless; just admit you capitulated to get published. not that hard. or is it? 🙂 therein lies the rub. having anything whatsoever to do with liberalism is antithetical to the truth. it is completely poisoned. the branches, the roots, the fruit, and the soil are all poison. Oh! I see that now, I was reading Caroline’s comment wrong. The tone argument is interesting. I mean, I suppose at the end of the day maybe tone matters a bit in how palpable something is and how likely we are to reach certain audiences, but the way that some people talk about it you’d think it was the only thing that matters. I think it’s just a diversion tactic, to avoid addressing the substance of what’s being said. I mean, I can say some really nasty shit in a nice tone and it’s still nasty shit. Or I can speak truth in an abrasive tone, but the tone doesnt doesn’t take away the fact that the substance of what I’ve said is the truth. But I’m a little surprised that this is one of Caroline’s main points in her comments to you. Isn’t “the tone argument” one of the biggest liberal feminist talking points? Having spent several years wrapped up in the liberal feminist blogosphere, it became quite clear to me that it was a major feminist faux pas to even mention tone. But it’s been 6-9 months since I read anything from that sphere (except Sociological Images since I’m a sociology nerd, which is why I was so excited to see THIS blog spring up!) so maybe I’m out of that loop now. In any case, none of this really matters as much as the substance of the argument, does it? So far it seems to me like you (FCM) have made a very solid case for what you are saying. I’m curious to see if Caroline has anything of substance to say about it. yes, libfems know not to use tone argument on each other, and some of them even know why its invalid yet they use it on radfems all the time. radfems are very MEAN, you see. its as far as they ever get in responding to our analysis. its disappointing. witchwind says : April 11, 2012 at 12:54 am The truth can never be separated from the messenger though. It’s always incarnated by someone. We each have our own way of saying the truth and when we say the truth, in the way we say it we also say something about ourselves and how we relate to that truth, how we relate to the person we’re talking to and what this truth means to us, and why we need to say it this way and not another. This is what makes radfem discussions so interesting because every women saying the truth brings something new to our worldview, opens something further, adds a brick in the radfem spiral. Maybe if someone else did a radfem critique of her article it might have been done in such a way that she would have said “thanks for the critique, it changed the way I see the film / liberalism, next time I’ll take that into account”. Or maybe not, and maybe she’s not ready to go that far yet. This is an interesting discussion because the question of how to tell the truth is something I’ve being thinking about very hard the last few weeks. I’ve been thinking about it because I do presentations in which the aim of the presentation is to tell the truth about patriarchy and its tools of oppression against women to people who aren’t at all feminist, children and adults alike. And I quickly realised that while I could tell the truth in blogs, in real life it’s not the same, and you have to convince people in very little time and the way I do it matters, whether I like it or not – this really pissed me off at first but I had no choice if I wanted to continue without exposing myself to retaliation that could risk my health, sanity, etc. Without compromising on one inch of radfeminism, I have to think of ways they can relate to it personnally to accompany them at their own pace through the stages of radfem analysis. This only works for women by the way. I still don’t know what to do about the men in the room, unfortunately I can’t kick them out. Noanodyne says : April 11, 2012 at 5:50 pm Caroline Heldman was never going to be able to have this discussion here. A look at how she got where she is professionally, politically, and ideologically will tell us why. She has an undergraduate degree in Business Management and worked as the General Manager of Bio-Energy Systems and Research Manager for Consumer Health Sciences, which collects market research data from consumers regarding the use of pharmaceuticals on behalf of major manufacturers. Shilling for pharmaceutical companies is not the classic foundation for a radical feminist, since they are one of the most destructive of women of all the patriarchal institutions. But let’s give Dr. Heldman the benefit of the doubt and imagine that work is what radicalized her. She then got both her MA and Ph.D. in Political Science — which virtually always means mainstream politics — and her dissertation was on Consumerism in American Politics. But she did a comprehensive exam in Women and Politics. Hmmm, also sounds mainstream since no one even approaching a radical feminist viewpoint has taken part in American Politics, but let’s keep looking. She is now an Associate Professor of Politics where she specializes in “the American presidency and systems of power” (let’s remember how many females have been U.S. president and what happened to the handful of women who tried for it; that’s a lesson in trying harder to fit in, not in overthrowing the entire system, and she studies and comments on that process for a living). She has taught two courses perhaps related to some version of “feminism”: “Gender and American Politics” and “Controversies in Sexuality,” the latter of which is described this way: “This course introduces four theoretical perspectives on sexuality: biology (sexuality is a matter of sexual bodies and chemistry), psychological (sexuality is a matter of mental states and processes), social constructionist (sexuality is a cultural and historical product), and conflict (sexuality is a contested arena in which different groups vie for power). With these perspectives in mind, we explore four broad questions: How should we regulate sexual behavior? What is sexual consent? Who’s responsible for the fact that sex makes babies? And, what is good sex?” I don’t think we have to wonder too hard what “good sex” is in a class being taught as part of a core liberal arts track in a classically liberal college. We can look at the rest of her curriculum vita for more clues (like that there is ONE publication with the word “feminist” or “feminism” in it, but I get to that farther down). She gave a conference presentation: “Consumer Culture and the Gaze” (with Jennifer Holmes) — that was a paper given during a session about “New Generation: Feminism, Activisim, and Political Participation Among Young Women” — she’s got that “gaze” thing down pat. Heldman is a journal referee for the “Journal of Women, Politics & Policy” which is part of The Institute for Women’s Policy Research. The Journal “explores women’s roles in the political process—as voters, activists, leaders in interest groups and political parties, and office holders in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, including the increasingly relevant international bodies such as the European Union and the World Trade Organization. It examines the impact of public policies on women’s lives,examining areas such as tax and budget issues, poverty reduction and income security, education and employment, care giving, and health and human rights, including violence, safety, and reproductive rights. This multidisciplinary, international journal presents the work of social scientists—including political scientists, sociologists, economists, and public policy specialists—who study the world through a gendered lens and uncover how gender functions in the political and policy arenas. Throughout, the journal places a special emphasis on the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, class, and other dimensions of women’s experiences.” We can give her this one, who knows what radical stuff could sneak in from time to time. So she may have at least seen some radical analysis at some point. She co-edited the anthology (you know, other people’s ideas and writing) “Rethinking Madame President: Is the US Ready for a Woman in the White House?” the description of which makes it sound like a mainstream political science text and it’s doubtful that it’s heavy on radical feminist analysis. But much more tellingly, Heldman has been political commentator for Fox News and Fox Business News — obviously two of the most reactionary, pro-patriarchal media organizations that have ever existed. It’s not hard to imagine she’s the feminist token there. And being a token in institutions that have the destruction of your sex class close to their heart can do things to you. Ahem, moving on. She seems to be a go-to spokesperson for what mainstream feminist media critics think about what other mainstream feminist media critics are doing (cough SocImages), but did get it right for one statement when she was interviewed for The Huffington Post to get her comments about the film “Miss Representation”: “The root cause of the vast under representation of women in positions of power is patriarchy.” But in the whole rest of the interview she gives us the liberal professor version of how sexist the U.S. media is, but never gets to the big issue of WHY the media treats women as sex objects, etc. That’s a pattern for her, keep that in mind as we continue on. She’s written for Ms. magazine and seems to have written the same kind of liberal-feminism article over and over for a while now. This abstract is from an article she wrote for them in 2008: “On a typical day, you might see ads featuring a naked woman’s body tempting viewers to buy an electronic organizer, partially exposed women’s breasts being used to sell fishing line, or a woman’s rear-wearing only a thong-being used to pitch a new running shoe. […] Dove beauty products launched a much-lauded advertising campaign that used “real women” (i.e., not super-skinny ones) instead of models, but then Dove’s parent company, Unilever, put out hypersexual ads for Axe men’s body spray that showed the fragrance driving scantily clad women into orgiastic states.” This is instructive for anyone who hasn’t been following this discussion over time. If you’ve just arrived, this should give you a very clear indication that “feminists” like Heldman have been providing this kind of analysis for at least four years without ever saying anything new. Those of us who have been following know that this has been going on much longer, but let’s just cut to the point: When exactly will it not be enough to simply point out the obvious and take a paycheck for doing so? I’m sure Heldman isn’t paid for every single thing she writes — or for every interview — she is a woman talking about feminist concepts after all. But she’s been putting herself out there as an expert in various places for a while now and it’s completely valid to ask whether she’s doing the cause of women’s liberation any damn good. As this post on Radfem-ological Images does. For the Ms. Magazine Blog Heldman has an impressive list of posts, but reading all of them, you see her same pattern (and even less). [You can search for the titles to read the originals.] In “When the Missing are Prostitutes, Police Let Trail Go Cold” (Ms. Blog, April 27, 2011) the title says it all, literally, no analysis of why that is, just reporting. “No Comment: Tilly’s Teaches Women How to Listen.” (Ms. Blog, December 17, 2011) has a little bit better analysis than the usual bland liberal stuff, but the word “pornography” is never used, hence the obvious association is never made. Then there’s “Where are the Feminists for Bristol Palin?” (Ms. Blog, September 21, 2011), wherein she takes “feminists” (well, actually strawfeminists because we actually never find out who specifically she is addressing) to task for liberal male behavior. Makes perfect sense when you put that together with the fact that she “ran into Bristol at a television studio a few days ago.” Heldman had no trouble taking up Sarah Palin’s attempted shaming of “feminists” for not doing enough on behalf of patriarchal handmaidens. Heldman provided questions for the blog post “The Real Story on Human Trafficking.” (Ms. Blog, April 11, 2011) and they were answered by an expert in trafficking and prostitution. Heldman not only provided no analysis or input herself, but didn’t even bother to take part in the discussion in the comments section of the post, where some pro-prostitution tropes were never addressed. Her post “Was the Shooting of Giffords a Hate Crime?” (Ms. Blog, January 19, 2011) is one of the most telling of all. She uses the word “misogyny” right away, so you have the feeling that she might be about to reveal something important. But no, the conclusion is basically this: “So it is not unreasonable to assume that Loughner targeted Giffords because she is a woman in a position of power.” No doubt she was happy to have just pointed out the obvious, pretty surely congratulating herself for doing so because “few media reports note the obvious misogyny at play in this case [which] is a testament to the fact that sexism is so ingrained in U.S. culture that it’s not even worth mentioning.” That smug feeling Heldman gives herself for doing just enough to carry the mantle of “feminist” while never going anywhere near the main source of women’s misery is why she chose to ignore the very large elephant in the room that her lazy analysis pointed out, but didn’t address: “If so, his crime falls under federal hate crime legislation, which regulates crimes that target members of protected classes (i.e., race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability).” Note to Dr. Heldman: The difference between your brand of feminism and radical feminism is that a radical feminist would have noticed instantly and commented on the fact that the U.S. plainly does not protect women based on their sex. And that makes your wishing for Uncle Sam to save the day rather pathetic. Heldman’s article “In Hostess Club Raid, Did Police Arrest the Victims?” (Ms. Blog, December 2, 2011) is the one exception that I found to her propensity for shallow, relatively light-weight analysis. This article connects the dots to show how the trafficking of women for sex creates overlaps of immigration and prostitution policy, law, and politics. Of course, she could have gone much farther in WHY the police arrested the women and not those who traffick the women and use and abuse them, as well as the obvious links between all the patriarchal institutions involved, but I doubt that would have gotten published in any form of mainstream media that would do Heldman’s career any good (even Ms. magazine). Because in the end, it’s very obvious that liberal analysis of “sexism” in and around media, politics, and major news events is Heldman’s bread and butter. More examples in this list: http://works.bepress.com/caroline_heldman/ And more in any one of the articles on her blog that have “feminism” as a category give the exact same impression of a fairly lazy kind of liberal feminism — hey, if they’ll pay you for this level of analysis, why bother going deeper? http://carolineheldman.wordpress.com/category/feminism/ We can easily see that she worries about her image. Here she is making sure that no one will think she’s too scary or too fringe, but has her proper womanly priorities in place (she gushes about finding the right —“much younger” — man): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-heldman/gender-roles-defying-gend_b_603681.html But is self-aware enough as a “feminist” spokesperson that she feels she must reassure us that she’s in full control of how people see her, and even if that’s scary to some people, she can handle it: http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/05/12/blond-joke/ Here we see that her awareness of herself as a feminist and her form of feminism is as lazy and shallow as her analysis. And beyond that, that article that should give anyone who really cares about feminism pause — including Dr. Heldman — and especially around her supposed knowledge of radical feminist analysis. In the article she states, “I chose to dye my hair platinum blond about a decade ago when I realized that, for most of my feminist life, I had been bowing to the golden cow of masculinity.” I’ll let someone else work some analysis on that, but wow, radical, not so much. And finally, this is a direct quote from Dr. Heldman’s blog: “Professor Heldman encourages her students in particular to dialogue and disagree with her blog posts, and hopes that they will find their own political voice, if they haven’t already.” You know, except mean radical feminists who don’t show the proper deference to liberal feminists who play “radicals” on Fox News and in the liberal media alike. Linda says : April 11, 2012 at 11:02 pm The stupidity of the tone argument aside, I can’t even see how your tone could have even been perceived as in any way extreme here; could it be the fact that “radfem” is in the title of the blog by any chance? Cos everyone knows radicals are rude and mean and unsmiling. It’s ok to take pride in a hard-earned qualification but we have to remember that it’s still a patriarchy-based qualification from a patriarchal institution. It’s certainly not radical or even helpful for feminist struggle to then use that qualification to attempt to oppress and silence other women – that’s what men and libfems do – it should instead be used to further the feminist struggle and help other women. If this Caroline Heldman was radical she would have identified all the hard work that you, FCM, put into feminist discourse for free. She would be acknowledging this and seeing the huge gap between this and the relatively less threatening (to patriarchy) work that she accepts money for doing. I’ll take this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for all your hard work here and elsewhere on the nets, FCM. And thanks witchwind and noan for taking the time to post such enlightening comments. thebewilderness says : April 12, 2012 at 2:27 am I have not read the books or seen the film. I read a critique that said that the protagonist did not actually physically and truly kick any ass whatsoever, which would be a terrible disappointment to me, but not a surprise. Can anyone tell me if this is correct? I know I said I wouldn’t respond to you anymore since you’ve chosen to be nasty for no apparent reason, but I feel an obligation to do so since you’re so poorly informed about the difference between radical and liberal feminism. Liberal feminists seek gender equity through legal and governmental means, not movie reviews that focus on how representations of sexuality reflect and uphold patriarchy. The very project is a radial feminist project, and the fact that you don’t know that but feel confident enough to “school” an expert on the subject speaks volumes about your intellectual immaturity. LOL we have our own resident liberal troll. awesome. thebewilderness says : April 12, 2012 at 7:10 pm Wow Caroline. If you reread the comment you left in a week or so I think you are going to ask yourself how the eff did I let myself say that. There should be a rule about how many logical fallacies a person can load into three sentences without their head explody and their computer melting down. are we seriously supposed to believe that the fun-fem blogs, when they arent obviously and actively “seeking gender equity through legal and governmental means” that they consider themselves to no longer be liberal, or that they consider themselves to be radical? or we are supposed to think that? or that soc images is a radical project? or what? what in the hell is she talking about? The description of SocImages never mentions “feminism” or “feminist” — those are sociologists who specialize in gender and sexuality for liberal arts institutions. There is nothing “radical” about them, their work, or their ideas. Unless Dr. Heldman thinks that bucking the patriarchy on a little blog is scary radical. More likely an example of when too much education is a bad thing — a PhD can do terrible things to one’s ability to see beyond her tiny specialty. No, Dr. Heldman, the definition of “liberal” that you learned during your political science degree programs is not what we’re talking about here. Thanks for filling in the blanks where we were wondering if you’d ever read any Dworkin or Daly. delphyne says : April 12, 2012 at 9:36 pm Feminism as a term was co-opted by anti-feminists in the 90s to mean anything they decided it to mean, with the upshot being rubbish like pro sex industry feminism or right wing women attempting to take the feminism out of feminism whilst claiming to be feminists. It was inevitable with the resurgence of real radical feminism at the beginning of this century that there would be a group trying to steal the term for themselves in order to dilute its effectiveness. Shame the thieves this time have turned out to be ill-informed liberal feminists who think they’re rad, man. LOL @ soc images being scary radical. scary maybe, radical not so much. of either kind. hopefully she will sic bill oreilly on me. although it would be difficult to distinguish his insults from hers, that would be awesome. Noanodyne says : April 13, 2012 at 12:03 am The anti-sexism denizens of SocImages think they are bucking the patriarchy on their mad scary radical blog, because so many liberal-dood trolls come out to mansplain how wrong, wrong, wrong they are. I’m sure they get tons of nastier comments as well, being the go-to place for media critics of the professor variety to send their students, especially the boy ones. FCM says : April 13, 2012 at 2:07 am I can’t believe she flat out insulted me. That was hilarious. Wtf Linda says : April 13, 2012 at 8:16 am Caroline Heldman said: “Liberal feminists seek gender equity through legal and governmental means, not movie reviews that focus on how representations of sexuality reflect and uphold patriarchy.” No no no, you’re conflating ideologies with aims and goals here. The ideology is the lens through which the problem is seen; the aims and goals are the desired outcomes. Equity through legal and social policy reform may be a goal of libfeminism, but that goal is informed by the ideology – liberal feminism, which, I have to inform you, is much more liberalism than feminism. It’s the way that the problem is understood and it is vastly different to the radical lens. Just because your article was about something besides the main goals of libfeminism (legal and policy reform) does not mean that it was not informed by your liberal feminist lens. You can apply that lens to anything, and the lens you use will be reflected in your writing, as has been pointed out to you. Your misunderstanding of the ideologies/lenses needed to be corrected. You should know that PhD students are not the only women to have an excellent grasp of feminist ideology. Having said that, I have seen other (obviously) liberal feminists, on very liberal feminist blogs and forums, claim to “identify” as radical feminist. I don’t think it means what they think it means. I wonder if this is part of identity politics: I identify as X therefore I am X and don’t you dare imply otherwise. DavinaSquirrel says : April 13, 2012 at 2:45 pm I couldn’t agree more Delphyne. There are a few libfems that are anti-porn, and they think this alone makes them a radfem. I have even seen some idiot claim he is a ‘radical transfeminist’ too (newsflash, radical feminism is opposed to gender, so-called sex-change, and genderqueer nonsense). I skimmed a few other pieces by Dr Heldman, and yes, very liberal. The next post here, The Male Gaze covers exactly what is wrong with the libfem analysis – they always stop far short of what the problem is. And tsk tsk really, the name-dropping, cred-dropping, to try to authenticate your authority on feminism in a radfem space – it actually has the opposite effect. Most of the best radfems have no formal qualification in women’s studies (now ‘gender studies’), and one reason is that the graduate then has to unlearn a lot of the rubbish taught in most places. And radfems all get better with age – unlike liberal feminists who suddenly find they are too old for the hipster world of liberal feminism. Whilst I don’t wish Dr Heldman ill with her toyboy relationship, I think she will find out eventually he is just a sponge that wants a replacement mommy. It is what 99% of the toyboy relationships are. Sargasso Sea says : April 13, 2012 at 9:27 pm Speaking of “intellectual immaturity”, Ms. Heldman is behaving as if we are all in the 7th grade here. But that’s the way her mainstream paymasters like it: shallow, “catty” and insulting. By the way, I’ve had a fundamentalist christian, quiverful woman insist that she is a radical feminist, too. Her explanation was that she is “radically feminine”. I don’t know, but maybe Ms. Heldman considers herself radical for saying anything that might be construed as critical of males… Seriously. An attempted catfight on a radfem blog…and me without my scrunchee. No fair! Yisheng Qingwa says : April 15, 2012 at 11:32 pm Oh, WOW. Just… WOW. Yeah, she’s a real “expert”. In what, I cannot possibly fathom. Maricruz Villalobos Zamora says : July 15, 2012 at 4:12 pm Deliberate? Look I’m no expert, but in my personal experience men (and women who have internalized sexism) are not deliberately oppressive of women. Most of them do things that they consider to be “normal” without realizing that it’s sexist or even misogynistic FCM says : July 15, 2012 at 4:36 pm hi, when we discuss “intent” and whether something is deliberate or not, we often mean it in the terms mary daly described it — as in, if you know what the outcome will be, and you do it or continue to do it anyway, its because you desired that result. your comment was not specific so i dont know what you are saying is not deliberate, but this theory of causation and intent applies across the board. men know what they are doing when they do what they do. they know that PIV causes unwanted pregnancies for example, and that medical events are a drain on womens time and resources — yet men continue to demand and center PIV anyway. therefore, bringing about these kinds of female-specific harms is deliberate on mens part. its also often “deliberate” in the more obvious sense too, which is to say that there is conscious sadism involved. but not always. ‘The Male Gaze’ in liberal media analysis « Radfem-ological Images - April 12, 2012 On liberal media analysis of “The Sexualization of Young Girls” « Radfem-ological Images - June 13, 2012

How to convince someone they are being scammed? Re: How to convince someone they are being scammed? original pic stolen from SSGT Mike M. Would the victim listen to the FBI? Hi Mysterylady, Thank you. The victim's niece should have shown the links of FBI and military sites warning about military scams which tells about exactly the same pattern of stories, valuables stuck at custom. But the victim did not take it. Hopefully victim listens to authorities face to face ... Now the daughter is going to talk to bank and I suggested her to talk to police too. I will ask the victim's niece if she would like to have contact from someone works for internet security. At this moment, I do not have direct contact to the victim. My correspondence with the victim's niece is limited because the SNS we are using have some rules such as no links to external sites and no email address attach to the messages. . Mariko, you and everyone else who's trying to help this victim see the light, have done all that is humanly possible. She obviously isn't ready to accept the truth - but we all know it will come. What you have done is plant the seeds of doubt. She may not overtly demonstrate that she's understanding, but you've given her plenty of information to fall back to when she is ready. The last thing anyone can do for this woman is let her know she's loved and that she has people who care that she can turn to when her bubble world collapses. I wish I could connect with the victim. I went through alot of denial when I was scammed. My family tried to convince me but I refused to listen. It was only after I lost 1200 and talked to the FBI and my bank I finally realized they were right and I was wrong big time. Hi Pinky and all, thanks for advises and thoughtful inputs. Now the victim's relatives are trying to do as advised. No update I heard so far, but probably they need to take time. Hopefully the daughter and niece work together to let her eyes open and show their true relatives love to her. I am currently going through the same thing with my 68 year old mom. Mom started receiving these friend requests on Facebook out of the blue from who she thought were military soldiers looking for companionship. This all started the middle part of last year. Once they started talking to her they find out that she has a soft spot for children and animals therefore their stories are modified to accommodate those interests. She has thrown away a 40 year marriage to my dad because of promised made by her scammers. I have a list of 24 names. When she came to me and asked for help with stopping one of them from calling and harassing her, I had lots of questions. I went into investigative mode at that point. She gave me the names of several (7) of the ones that kept bothering her and she said she had blocked them on Facebook. I went on Facebook and showed her how they were still in her friends list and showed her how to block people and asked her if that is what she did. Her response was, "No." She gave me her login info at that time to go into her account and block those people. That is where I discovered several of her scammer conversations. I saved the links to each profile before I blocked them so I could report them. Every one of them fall in love with her within a day and often within hours of first communication. They also get her switched over to WhatsApp because all messages are encrypted so that they cannot be traced. Each and every one that she talks to she tells her life story. She tells them where I live, where my brother lives, where my nephew lives and that he is an army medic, the value of my dad's property, what my dad's 401k is worth, and sends pictures of my new granddaughter. She is now asking for an $87,000 settlement in the divorce. I have advised my dad against this. One of her scammers used a stolen image of a 10 year old red-headed boy, saying he was his son whose birthday was coming up. So then mom was suddenly talking to him as well. He gave her a list of what he would like. (Xbox or PS4) She told him to be looking for a surprise package. The stories they tell are wild. They are always on peacekeeping missions in war torn areas, from the states, high-ranking officers, and parents are other nationalities. Their children are always adopted and injured in bombings. They all always have accents and when she questions that, she is told that it is because they work over in those regions so long that they pick up those accents. I had to stop sending links to her showing her that they were not who they said they were because she was just confronting them and forwarding the links to them. The RSN and SCARS groups that I am a member of advise against sending links to the scammer or confront them EVER. It only teaches them how to get better at what they do. The RSN site has their site closed to any IP address coming out of that region. They cannot post anything or add or make any changes to anything on their site. There are 3 that stand out though. The first was a General who claimed to be an FBI agent. The credentials he used to prove that was a receipt that he had on his end from Western Union with my mom's name, my dad's address, her new phone number, and the name of the person who picked up the money. That is how I knew that she had sent money to Ghana. At that time she admitted to $1700. We have since learned that this amount turned out to be closer to $6000. This could actually climb higher because we think this has been going on longer, now that records are being pulled and closely scrutinized in the divorce. Another claimed to be an agent working for the DOD and wanted to hire her to be an agent as well. She would be assigned three countries. She was sent an application via Facebook message that she filled out and sent back via a private email. At this point is where she gave this one all her info; banking, SS#, DOB, address, etc. They deposited a total of 4 checks into her account over the course of 2 weeks totaling $1900. Each check came with a charge. She is in arrears with the bank for $3400. This one conned her into bank fraud/money laundering/muling. But he also loves her and wants to marry her. I am not sure what more I can do for mom. I am going to try the 'sending info from an anonymous sender about the scammer' and see if that works. I would never know because she has cut me out of her life. She refuses to see me, answer my calls, respond to my texts, etc. On the plus side, I have gotten closer to my dad. He is recovering beautifully after having brain surgery a month ago to have a pipeline and coil put in an aneurysm behind his right eye. I am also working on putting together a workshop to educate people on the safety of using the internet, Facebook, smartphones, computers, and all associated dangers etc. I figure if I cannot help my mom, I might be able to prevent someone else's mom, dad, loved one, friend, etc. from going through this. I just feel like I need to do something. Thank you for the post. We are very sorry for the scam. Unfortunately people who fell lonely and forgotten look for companionship online not knowing what kind evil is hiding behind stolen photos, videos, fake businesses etc. I hope mom wasn't able to send them anything. It would only start the demanding more and more as they never would quit. Please keep checking her devises and keep blocking all unknown. Scammers feel that she is willing to send them whatever they request and they won't go away. We truly need those to save others . Thank you and be safe online. Hello anewnash and welcome to R.S. Your story about your mother is so sad and very tragic. I've been a survivor of this crime for nearly eight years now. And in that time I have known more victims then I can remember. And they had all came from different backgrounds, different situations, and different levels of education. I've known doctors, lawyers, laborers, farmers, homemakers, and even a collage professor of English literature. And out of them all there are victims I can never forget. A young man that was wheelchair bound because he was paralyzed from the waist down from a car accident for instance. Or there was a grandmother who had been in a continuous scam for over two years. And ended up losing everything, including her home. But I have to say your mother is something new for me. A victim that keeps getting involved with mutable scammers one after another. And even after all of the evidence you have showed her will still not except the truth. If you have read through this thread then you have come across my post about the internal conflict victims tend to go through before they will listen to reason. But after reading your story I have no idea as to what I can say that will help you get through to her. Perhaps someone else here with more experience then I have maybe able to provide some sort of insight. As for me, I have to admit I'm baffled. But what I did come here to say is that I think your wanting to take scam education to the public is very admirable. This crime has been around for a long time. And it has already been the topic of several news and talk shows programs over the years. If I'm not mistaken I do believe even Dr. Phil did a show on the subject of romance scams. But as far as I'm concerned there can not be enough warnings and awareness sent out to the unsuspecting public. So if you want to hit the bricks for not only the countless romance scam victims, but also with the intent of educating the public. I say God Bless You. This has got me thinking as well. With all of the trouble romance scammers have been causing over the years. I'm a bit surprised that internet dating sites have not started any type of internet safety programs that must be complete and passed before new members can have the full use of their sites. Now this would be near impossible to implement on social media like Facebook. But you would think a dating site would consider the idea. First it would show it's membership that the site is trying to be responsible for the safety of it's members. And it would also be a good marketing idea. But in all seriousness. I really do wish you luck with your mother. And I pray that you can find a way to finally get through to her. In this case I would try one last thing, to arrange a meeting with some policeman who is an expert on online fraud (personally, online or phone), where she would tell the story and maybe she would listen to an authority, it´s different than hear it from you. Show her some documentaries on youtube about romance scam, web pages of police and other authorities writing about internet scams. If this didn´t help or there´s no way to do that, I would do something radical, even forceful, when somebody is already so far in being manipulated, nothing else can help than step forcefully between her and a scammer, I would do everything to prevent her get into conversation with the scammers and sending money. I think I would borrow the same weapon as the scammers use, that means fake some messages - from your mother to the scammer, the scammer to your mother, a 3rd person, I would do everything to separate them, maybe arrange that your mother would think that he has a loving wife, or other things. Maybe she doesn´t tell you the whole truth, maybe she feels threatened, so she can´t and won´t tell you, but if you isolate her for a few days from the scammer, she will see nothing is going on. In your place I would really take her to the hospital voluntarily or even involuntarily and declare her temporarily incapable, there she would feel safe if she is threatened (not tell the scammer where she is!) and most of all she would gain distance from scammers´ manipulation. I think I would even take her electronic devices, ID and bank cards, I don´t know. I think the only thing that helps in this case is time spent without scammers. Maybe she percieves this also as a burden but doesn´t know how to get out of it, so by stepping into it you give her excuse for the scammers. Or if you don´t want to do things behind your mother´s back, try to convince her to lie the scammer that she must go to the hospital and there she can´t have any electronic device, she will see how the scammers react, maybe they will react in a way that your mother will know that they are inconsistent. Or make up another story, use their weapons. Write to the scammer in the name of somebody else that your mother had an accident and now she needs surgery, she lost consciousness, she needs money urgently or another sob story, she will see if the scammer is really that caring if he will see that your mother can´t help him for a while! Or if the scammer really sends her money, than go with the address from where the money came to the police and you will find out that the money was sent from a mule, maybe that will convince your mother. Or if she already received money, than report that people, your mother will see that the scammers lied to her, that the people are not those who the scammer claimed they were. You know the story, so you know what is the best option. Also read this web and learn what are the scammers´ practices. But think through carefully what you will do, because it can end up also in your mother´s even bigger belief in the scammer. So I really think the safest is to stop every communication, she must not even read their messages. When she has pause from them, she will be more open to rational arguments. I was thinking about this and read once more what you wrote. In another thread you wrote that your mother also muled, that means she already committed crime, she sent other unsuspecting people´s money to scammers, so if she doesn´t want to stop this, in your place I would report it to the police, I´m not familiar with these things but I suppose you are a witness of the crime, you saw that she sent them money by muling, so hopefully the police will take you seriously. The longer you wait, the more harm she will do, unconsciously. I think you should stop this and save your family´s money and your mother´s mental health. Maybe if the police starts to investigate her, she will understand how serious this is, and maybe they will take her devices, which will be just good for her. If she is an honest woman, after she understands who they are she will be grateful to you, now she doesn´t know what she is doing and who she is dealing with. I know what I´m talking about, I´m a victim too and after I sent them money and they terrorized me for more money, I tried to persuade some people to report me to the police, even some workers of the Western Union, but nobody wanted. I tried to persuade also friends, but they said they don´t have evidence, the police would not take them seriously. But I was afraid, because I didn´t want to be the one who turns them in, I was so afraid of them! And I didn´t have evidence by that time yet that they are cheating on me, or better to say I didn´t know that I have evidence, I was very confused about what was happening, that was just my feeling based on their behaviour, that they acted like cheaters hungry for money. So maybe this is your mother´s case too, maybe she already knows there is something wrong, but she is afraid of them and they are manipulating her, so don´t leave her alone in this, take that burden off her and report it to the police, that is how you can help your mother. She sent roughly $6000 across the pond and was roped into committing bank fraud, muling, at $3400. She has an agreement to pay the bank back. She has left my dad after 40 years of marriage because of promises made by her scammers. She gave me her login info ,,,, That is where I discovered several of her scammer conversations. Every one of them fall in love with her within a day and often within hours of first communication. They also get her switched over to WhatsApp because all messages are encrypted so that they cannot be traced. There are 3 that stand out though. The first was a General who claimed to be an FBI agent. Her current scammer is using photos stolen from Christian Ciocan and goes by "Ben Miles." Hello keira. I know your heart is in the right place. But sometimes a victim will not listen no matter how much evidence you show them, or how hard you try. And unless anewnash's mother is a danger to herself, or others. Or lacks the mental capacity to take care of herself, or her day to day affairs. Family members can't just have someone they love locked up just because they think it is for the better good. It just dose not work that way. And even if it did. Locking up her mother would most likely result in creating a rift between mother and daughter that will never heal. When it comes to victim support we can only work with what information is given by the poster. Sometimes it's very little, others the post is more complete and contains more information to provide a clearer picture to work with. And anewnash's post is packed full of information I hate to see, but it is inevitable. It's a post about a victim that will not listen to reason no matter what you do or try. Mom knows about getting pulled into bank fraud. She is still paying for the last mistake. Mom knows the warning sign of how fast they fall in love. Still she maintains contact. Mom knows that “Ben Miles” sent her stolen photos. She still will not listen. Mom is maintaining contact with multiple scammer giving her the same line. Still no good. Unless there is more going on here then we know anewnash has done everything she can do to try and get through to her mother. Now it is never easy for me to simply throw in the towel with a victim. Unfortunately there comes a point where the victim has basically become an incurable addict. The mom has walked away from a mirage that had lasted for over 40 years. She knows she has burned bridges with her husband that may not be repairable. So now she may feel her course is now set in the direction it is on. Then there is how scammers make us feel in the beginning. Special, warm, loved like no other. It could all boil down to mom being addicted to that feeling. And simply not caring about what kind of damage it is doing. Just like any other incurable addict. This is extremely sad, but it dose happen. The first time I came across a victim like this I took it fairly hard and I did not want to just give up. But at the same time it was braking my heart to see what the victim was going through. But no matter what I or others who were trying to helped said. The victim still kept going back to their scammer. A senior member of the victim support staff at the site I was with passed on some good words of advice that were given to her when she was feeling the way I was at the time. And now I'm going to pass those same words onto you. “The best we can do, is the best that we can do. The rest is up to them” ie. The victim. In other words we can't save them all no matter how much we want to. There is also the real possibility that this whole mess is more for the daughter and not the mother. If not for the mother becoming scammed the way she is the daughter (aka anewnash) would not now be inspired to become a public speaker for scammer awareness and education. We don't always understand it. But God has a plan for each and everyone of us. And this could be his plan for anewnash. At least this is the though I am holding onto. thank you for your reaction to my post, if I understand it correctly, you emphasize the addiction. You are right, if the family separates the addict from the object of his addiction, it won´t help. Although sometimes, very rarely, it happens that the addict is first forced to be in the sanatorium and then after a certain time he decides himself to abstain, and I know people who have been abstaining for many years after such experience. But usually the addict can heal only if it´s his own decision. Maybe you are right, maybe this is just pure addiction in the case of anewnash´s mother, and we have to deal with the fact that we cannot save everyone. But what I want to say is, that what if this is not just about the addiction, but there´s something more, what if the scammers are threatening her, she would never admit it to her daughter, because she is afraid. We don´t know how the scammers are manipulating her, maybe she separated herself from the family just to protect them. I don´t think she would go to prison, because she is a victim, but at least she would be investigated and she would meet a real policeman and she would get rational advice from him and she would be forbidden to communicate with the scammers from an authority, maybe they would take her electronic devices from her, and as a result of all this she would have an "excuse" why not communicate with the scammers and she wouldn´t blame herself to turn in her beloved scammer. I don´t believe the fake FBI agent and the fake DOD agent talked to her rationally, they wanted her money, so of course they fed her with nonsense, maybe they forbade her to go to the real police, that it would cause unwanted problems, I don´t know what. After such a long time of manipulation her perception can be so distorted, that she is not aware of that nonsense anymore. I remember what nonsense the fake "professionals" were feeding me with, it was pathetic from the beginning, not professional at all, I bet if this continued, they would place a fake policeman there too. Now when I say it loud for myself, the course of the events that led me to send money, that´s such a nonsense too! Sending so much money to a complete stranger who orders me to do things what another complete stranger orders me to do? Wow. Fortunately it lasted only few days, the unprofessional banker irritated me from the beginning, so after he started to be really greedy, I couldn´t stand it anymore and it showed me that my admirer was false too, everything clicked into place. But If she talked to so many scammers for such a long time, she must be totally confused. So I still hope that if she meets a real policeman, it will be such a difference, that it will wake her up. That if she tells the story to a real authority, she will hear how absurd it will sound. Secondly, it sounds that the relationship between the mother and daughter is bad already because of the scammers, and I suppose until the mother is with the scammers it will not be repaired, but doing what I wrote can help. This is my opinion and even if it proves to be not right, I think it´s good that we are talking about it, because at least we clarify the pros and cons of the interventions. Maybe you are right, maybe this is just pure addiction in the case of anewnash´s mother, and we have to deal with the fact that we cannot save everyone. Yes this was a point I was trying to make. It's sad, but it dose happen. But even still I like to think there is always hope. You never know what the future will hold. what if the scammers are threatening her, she would never admit it to her daughter, because she is afraid. If true you could be right about the mother not sharing the threat with the daughter out of fear. But unfortunately because this is not mentioned in the post this possibility is just an assumption. As I had said in my previous post with victim support we have to work with what is in the post. If not then we just start filling in the gaps based on our own experiences which very from victim to victim. I could make an assumption that has some of it's bases from the post, but not all. The mother gave anewnash her login information so the daughter could help block profiles that were harassing the mother. This could suggest that the mother was aware they were scammers after all. But the mother never mention the other three she was maintaining contact with. Why? It could be said that two out of the three could have been a source of new excitement she needed in her life. A General who claimed to be an FBI agent. There is no specifics mention about what Ben Miles did. Should we also assume he brought some excitement to the table as well. And if so could it have been this lack of excitement and adventure that was missing in the mothers life which lead her to leave her husband of more then 40 years? Answer; It could have been, but we do not know this is how things really are. Why? Answer: It's not written in the post. keire as I said before I know your heart is in the right place and I also know you are trying to help other victims. This is why I am trying to help you now. There is another aspect of victim support. We have to work with what the poster tells us. If the poster fills in some of the missing blanks, great. Then, if we can, we help with the new information. But if we try and fill in those missing blanks ourselves and we are wrong. We could end up doing more harm then good. Now I hope I have not hurt your feelings. That is the last thing I would want to do. I'm just trying to help you help others. If I may offer some details that may help those who are trying to lend some support. My mother is Bi-polar and in 2005 we lost my sister, who suffered with the same disorder, to suicide. This is something that mom has struggled with ever since it happened. She has either spent money that she really didn't have or uses Facebook in an addictive manner to make herself feel better. She refuses to take the medicine prescribed by her doctors and refuses to see a therapist. Now, Facebook had become a point of contention in my parent's marriage. Mom had begun to get up and run off to the other room for an hour or more at a time to talk. When she would return, dad says she would have a story about how sorry she felt for someone at church or work because her husband mistreats her so. They were going somewhere one evening and she left her phone on the bed and it chimed and came on. It was a message and the name that popped up was a man's name, Peter James Theodore, one of her scammers. One that she asked me to help her block. At this time she was still with dad. One week later, she had moved out, my wrecked his semi loaded with an anhydrous ammonia tank, and diagnosed with a brain aneurysm that needed operated on. I have since learned about all of these scammers and that it has actually been going on since the end of last year. She gave me her login information for Facebook and asked for my help in blocking the names that she gave at the time. She could not understand why she was still seeing them when she had blocked them. It was not registering with her that they were creating new pages with the same name and or photos and coming at her again. I blocked one name she gave me 5 times! While I was in there blocking names, she got a message from one of her scammers to which she answered almost immediately because she is doing so from a smartphone and I was on my laptop. I was watching this conversation take place in real time. This particular conversation was with Nelson Manning. It was a new friend request with a soldier's image and she accepted, of course. This guy told her the General was his boss, that she didn't need to talk to him anymore. He was from Arizona but was stationed in Kabul on peacekeeping mission. That he loved her and could not wait to be married to her. He had a son, Michael Dotson. (10 yr old red headed boy- also stolen photo) He was calling her mommy and she was calling him son. He had a birthday coming up and had told her he wanted either an Xbox or PS4 and she told him to expect a surprise in the mail. I do not know if she really sent anything. I have not seen any conversations in which she has been threatened in any way. I have seen where they tell her that she does not need to tell anyone about their conversations but no threats. They usually try to get her switched over to WhatsApp to talk. I do not have access to that so I do not know about her activity there. The Ben Miles character had not asked for any money as of the last conversation that I had seen before she cut me off. He had only fed her false information. The photos he is using are from Christian Ciocan, Romanian Police Commissioner. She asked for his address in one of their conversations and when I google mapped (street cameras) it, it turned out to be an empty lot with an orange fence around it as if it was just demolished or something. I am happy to provide any information that I can to help fill in any blanks. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. you absolutely don´t hurt my feelings, I appreciate very much your advice and I know I´m not experienced in victim support, so I consider your advice, I understand why you say we have to be patient, I have to learn and I thank you very much for advice. I know that what I wrote is just pure fiction and I often derive them from my own or other victims´ experience, but all I wanted to say is, that things can be different than they seem to us, I wanted to show in few examples that it´s maybe a mistake if anewnash will ignore what her mother is doing and rely on her mother´s decision what to do with her life. maybe your mother knows many things, but maybe there are many things she doesn´t know and maybe exactly those things are the crucial information that would change her attitude to the whole thing. The fact that she wanted to block some scammers who harassed her does not prove that she knows they are organized criminals who destroy people´s lives. An annoying admirer and organized criminal is an entirely different thing. Also the fact that they were nice to her when you were in contact with her doesn´t prove they are still nice to her, and then even if there are not outright threats, sometimes it´s enough if there are hints or just the whole context implies that there is some threat, these scammers are manipulators, they know how to do it. But I don´t want to say your mother is threatened, I just want to say that we can´t know the whole truth, only your mother knows what is the content of the communication and what are her thoughts about it and her expectations. But if there is an FBI and DOD agent I think it´s very likely that she is manipulated to keep some secrets and if she believes they are really agents, I can´t imagine that she is without any tiny piece of fear. But again, I know it´s just what I think and it doesn´t necessarily correspond to reality, I´m just trying to advocate the mother and prevent the family from throwing her to the winds. I want to add that I appreciate very much that you decided to involve yourself in public education about romance scam!

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My 6 year old girl is lactose intolerant, she is a really good eater with a healthy appetite. On saturday she had stomach pain and vomited, she has since had stomach pain ever since and doctor said glands in her neck were up, on tuesday she started with foul smelling watery diarrhea, she is still having loose stools, foul smelling flatulence & her stomach is very swollen. She seems well in herself but is refusing to eat and gagging, she has never lost her appetite before. t is the treatment for diarrhea in a child? output: hi, most probably the child is suffering from stomach infection or acute gastritis. In stomach infection or acute gastritis, there are vomiting fever and loose stools. The first thing that you have to take care is of dehydration. Give child more Fluids and ORS solution. also start prebiotic like enterogermina ampule once a day for 3 days. For vomiting, you can give syrup containing ondansetron 0.2 milligram per kg 3 times a day for one day. If child does not improve or loose stools and vomiting persists, then child should be started on antibiotics like metronidazole. However, dose of antibiotic is based on weight of child. I advise you to meet the local doctor for needful. avoid food from outside and give liquid diet to child. take care...

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Who needs Endometrial biopsy? output: The test is done to find the cause of: Abnormal menstrual periods (heavy, prolonged, or irregular bleeding) Bleeding after menopause Bleeding from taking hormone therapy medications Thickened uterine lining seen on ultrasound The test is usually done in women over age 35. This test can also be used to test for endometrial cancer. Sometimes, it is used as part of the diagnosis in women who have been unable to become pregnant (see infertility).

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi, i'm 2o years old and about 9 1/2 stone. For as long as i have known i have had a very horrible cough and constantly produce mucus with my cough. No matter how much i clear it it will reproduce. It's pretty embarassing for me as i feel i cannot be around my friends for long without coughing. It is indeed green mucus. I have been to see the doctor about this a number of times but after check up, he has said he hears nothing and my breathing is clear. My sister has asthma and my mother and brother also have a mild case not too severe. t causes horrible cough with green mucus? output: Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic. I can understand your concern. In my opinion, you should definitely consult pulmonologist. By your history and description, possibility of asthma or lung infection is more. Asthma runs in family and you are having positive family history for asthma. So consult pulmonologist and get done 1. Clinical examination of respiratory system 2. Chest x ray. 3. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). Chest x ray is needed to rule out lung infection. PFT is must for the diagnosis of bronchitis. It will also tell you about severity of the disease. And treatment of asthma is based on severity only. You may need antibiotics, antihistamines, anti allergic drugs, inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). So better to first diagnose yourself and then start appropriate treatment.Hope I have solved your query. Wish you good health. Thanks...

SDS Sustainability Crash Course 2014 Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Host: Pratt Institute Type: Training/Workshop Link: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/center-for-sustainable-design-studies-at-pratt-1959123535?s=22530757 Imagine being able to spend one amazing day immersed in learning about sustainable design—and meeting the people who have pioneered new thinking and practices. On Saturday, March 29, 2014, Pratt’s CSDS will present the third annual Sustainability Crash Course, a day-long series of workshops with a host of experts from Pratt’s sustainable design faculty and elsewhere. With over 20 speakers, it is sure to be a fantastic day of exploration and inspiration! Registration required. Space is limited. Featured Presentations: Keynote Discussion: Generate, Incubate, Accelerate Rhonda Schaller, Brynna Tucker and Debera Johnson This discussion focuses on three stages of transforming from student to entrepreneur. 1) How can develop a career as an artist, architect or designer with sustainability as a part of my portfolio? 2) What skills do I need to be and entrepreneur? 3) What should I do if I am thinking of starting my own business? New York City’s Food Waste Challenge Elizabeth Balkan Elizabeth Balkan focuses on solid waste policy and sustainable procurement at the City of New York Mayor’s Office. She was responsible for the development, and now oversees implementation, of the Food Waste Challenge, a voluntary program that invites NYC restaurants to join the city in preventing food waste from going to landfill. She also leads city legislative initiatives including the commercial organics mandate. Before working for the Mayor’s Office, she researched solid waste planning in China, which took her to landfills, incineration facilities and recycling markets. Balkan also created a specialized consulting firm, Emergence Advisors, whose clients included the New York Power Authority, the United Nations Environmental Programme, United States Agency for International Aid and the Climate Group. She has worked extensively with cities to make sustainable development a viable option for both developed and emerging economies. Her educational background is in public policy and economic development. She holds a masters degree from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and a Bachelors from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and lives in Brooklyn. RiDE: Turning Your Ideas Into a Business Participants in Pratt’s Incubator and Accelerator Entrepreneurs in Pratt’s Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator and student entrepreneurs in the new on-campus Design Incubator will present their aspirations for creating exciting new business ventures from ideas that started in Pratt classrooms and studios. Additional presentations on what you need to know to be an entrepreneur will be presented by Debera Johnson, founder of the Incubator and the BF+DA. The Great Work of Our Time: Picturing the Ecological Age Angela Manno Whether we realize it or not, those of us alive today are laying the foundation for the next thousand years. And within our midst, out of our modern industrial society, ecological civilization is forming around the globe, in a dazzling display of variety and creativity. Through the lens of four primary approaches — the Confrontational, the Legislative, the Creative and Consciousness Changing — internationally acclaimed artist and activist Angela Manno illustrates this transition to global ecological culture encompassing all areas of human endeavor — from law, practical ecology, ecovillages and non-violent direct action to new art and ceremonial forms designed to regenerate our connection to the Earth and the larger Universe. Come “Get the Picture” and celebrate the heroic times in which we live . . . and consider what is yours to do in the Great Work of Our Time! Angela Manno is an educator, activist and internationally exhibited artist who has been exploring the pattern that connects personal and planetary healing for nearly 30 years. She studied Earth Literacy at Genesis Farm and is a graduate of the School of the Spirit Quaker Ministry On Being a Spiritual Nurturer. She brings her many years of teaching the creative process as applied to daily life to the crucial work of Earth restoration. Angela teaches Eco-spirituality and Action, developed under the auspices of New York Friends in Unity With Nature (Quakers), which was instrumental in the formulation of New York Yearly Meeting’s “Peace with Earth” declaration. Angela’s art and teaching are dedicated to the vision of humanity and the Earth living as one, and “the Earth restored to her pristine beauty and full regenerative capacities.” To learn more about Angela as an artist and to see her award-winning art, please visit www.angelamanno.com. Plastic Baskets and Neveruses: a Facture Show The ubiquitous presence of plastic bags is as amazing as it is upsetting. Josh Blackwell makes objects from these scavenged items called Plastic Baskets. Transient and provisional, the plastic bag is a contemporary cipher. It symbolizes consumption, comfort, convenience, and planned obsolescence. Yet is also practical and durable, easily repurposed or recycled, effortlessly ingratiating itself into daily life. Thus, the paradoxical meaning and status of the plastic bag: it is both totally superfluous and utterly necessary. In this lecture and presentation, artworks will be worn and used by live models, addressing the surplus of stuff at large in the world today. Originally from New Orleans, Josh Blackwell is an artist and teacher based in Brooklyn. He received a BA from Bennington College in Vermont and an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. He has participated in exhibitions at PS1/MoMA, Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, and EAST international. In 2004-05 he received an International Fellowship from the Delfina Studio Trust in London, and has received two fellowships from Yaddo, (2004, 2006). He teaches in the Department of Social Sciences and Cultural Studies at Pratt Institute. Artisan Collaboration and Snorkeling with Biologists Rebecca Welz Rebecca Welz is a sculptor and educator. The June Kelly Gallery in New York represents her as well as galleries on the west coast. Her work is included in many private and public collections. She is currently working in welded steel, exploring and developing new forms that are inspired by jellyfish, the growing patterns of trees and vines and the evasiveness and mutability of smoke or vapor. She teaches three -dimensional design and a class for incoming graduate students in the Industrial Design department at Pratt which focuses on the thought process of design. She has developed a course in Biomimicry and has taken students to snorkel in the Caribbean and to work with biologists in the field. We study how nature solves problems, sometimes looking at the Nano-scale and observing how that information is being translated into ideas and useful forms. Another travel program she has developed is traveling with students to non -industrialized countries to collaborate with artisan weavers, carpenters, woodcarvers, and welders making products. This is a rich experience exploring indigenous culture and craft and learning about traditional skills. It is also an opportunity to experience another place and get to know some people who live very differently that we do. The Tailor Project Amy DuFault The Tailor Project is a year-long mending and design collaboration between sustainable fashion writer, Amy DuFault and her local tailor Kathryn Hilderbrand. Amy has taken a vow of fashion abstinence for a year where she won’t be buying any new clothing, jewelry or shoes and instead, will be re-designing her existing clothes. The project is also a call to arms for old friends, new friends and colleagues to join in supporting and exploring their local tailor, an age-old profession being pushed out for cheaply made and priced clothing- garments more cost-effective to just throw away than to mend. In addition to visually documenting the project online, Amy is writing about her own psychological observances from not consuming fashion, which has already proved challenging and enlightening. Amy DuFault is a sustainable fashion and lifestyle writer found often on Ecouterre,The Guardian and other online and print publications. She is also a Sustainable Fashion Strategist for Pratt’s Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator and consults and runs social media for natural dye guru, Kathy Hattori ofBotanical Colors. Passive House Panel Discussion Presented by LEAP – Leaders in Environmental Advocacy at Pratt Ken Levenson & Marty Rowland The Passive House concept represents today’s highest energy standard with the promise of slashing the heating energy consumption of buildings by an amazing 90%. Widespread application of the Passive House design would have a dramatic impact on energy conservation. The Passive House panel will discuss applied concepts of the passive house design throughout the speakers’ career. We will have two insights of the entrepreneurship path of the building performance industry from the architect, founder of 475 High Performance Building Supply and President of the NY Passive House, Ken Levenson; and the civil-environmental engineer and certified passive house designer Marty Rowland. Ken Levenson Ken Levenson is a registered architect in New York State with 20 years experience as a practicing architect, including 10 years as principal of Ken Levenson Architect PC, based in Brooklyn, NY. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Ken became a Certified Passive House Consultant in 2010, incorporating the Passive House standard into projects, including several historic building renovations in “Brownstone Brooklyn”. Ken is a founding partner in 475 High Performance Building Supply, a company dedicated to providing those products that help transform green building into high-performance building across the US. Ken is also president of NY Passive House, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the Passive House standard, and a founding board member of the North American Passive House Network. Ken regularly lectures on the Passive House standard and building science. Marty Rowland Marty Rowland is a certified passive house designer, currently working with the NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation, and as an adjunct professor of environmental science at Pace University. He is also a licensed professional civil and environmental engineer who worked in the aerospace industry for 28 years. Dr. Rowland is an expert in collective use of common natural resources, having researched water management in Tampa and Baton Rouge. The point of view he will be expressing today concerns how the passive house movement necessarily needs to become the rule rather than the exception in the American construction industry; he has ideas on how that could happen. Paddling Down the Toxic Stream: Classroom-Community Partnerships for Field Experiences on Polluted Waterways Carl Zimring Sustainability educators use a wide variety of field experiences to engage students with issues discussed in class. This session discusses the benefits and logistics of partnering with community organizations to bring students out of the classroom and onto polluted waterways. Carl Zimring has partnered with local groups to run field trips as part of the sustainability courses he has taught at Roosevelt University and Pratt the past six years. Today’s talk will discuss how partnerships with Friends of the Chicago River for trips on Bubbly Creek (infamously described as Chicago’s “Great Open Sewer” by Upton Sinclair in 1906’s The Jungle) and Gowanus Dredgers for trips on the Gowanus Canal (designated a Superfund site by the EPA in 2010) have enriched student experiences in specific courses on sustainability, waste, and water, and how these partnerships may inform course development in the future. For more info: Friends of the Chicago River: http://www.chicagoriver.org, Gowanus Dredgers: http://www.gowanuscanal.org Carl Zimring is an environmenta historian interested in the ways in which attitudes concerning waste shape society and institutions. His first book, Cash for Your Trash: Scrap Recycling in America (Rutgers University Press, 2005) documents how changing ideas about material reuse from colonial times to the end of the twentieth century shaped the scrap recycling industry. He is general editor of The Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste: The Social Science of Garbage (Sage Publications, 2012), and serves as associate professor in the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies at the Pratt Institute, where he founded the Sustainability Studies minor in 2013. Prior to arriving at Pratt, he co-founded the Sustainability Studies program at Roosevelt University and taught environmenta history for several years at Oberlin College. His doctorate in history is from Carnegie Mellon University and he has been an Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results fellow, an American Society for Environmental History Samue P. Hays research fellow, and a scholar-in-residence at the Smithsonian Institute Libraries. Sustainability in Scandinavia Brent Porter Brent M. Porter is completing his 41st year at Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture and has been a practicing architect with his own firm since 1982. He was selected by the Pratt student body as Distinguished Teacher in 2004-2005. Prof. Porter has pioneered in the research and application of energy conscious design and planning in work in the New York City region and abroad. He headed one of the four design teams in the Summer Energy Conscious Design Institute at Harvard University’s School of Architecture as early as 1983. His Pratt research group received one of the first national solar access research grants from the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Dept. of Energy. With the late William H. Whyte, well-known author and urban planner, the Pratt Environics Design Studio established by Porter won the first victory for “sun rights” in NYC from the City Council and the Board of Estimate. Additional floors proposed for a new high rise at 505 Third Avenue were shown to cast much shadow on the adjacent Green Acre Park at East 51st St. The commission for the first “Solar Access Study for NYC” was granted to Porter’s team shortly after by the Dept. of City Planning. Public successes followed and began in defense of St. Bartholomew’s Church from a new high rise’s shadowing, then led to similar studies at Union Square and the Upper East Side. The simulation of shadowing was featured on PBS’s “Innovations” program. Proposals for Atlantic Yards housing as well as for the Navy Yard’s Admirals Row Housing have been simulated with community groups support. Work to defend sun rights and lessen shadowing continues. Prof. Porter now heads the Christina Porter Lighting Lab of the School of Architecture. Current studies include simulation of various configurations of photovoltaic material within double glazing with shading devices within the glazing to both generate electricity and admit daylight but concentrate that available natural lighting on the ceiling of various types of spaces. In both his teaching and his practice, the pursuit of environmentally sensitive and passive solar implementation has been a major goal. Strategies to lessen the environmental impact to Machu Picchu and its town below have been pursued for twenty years with a new commitment due to the mudslides in 2010 and the contribution of a broad, multidisciplinary team headed by Porter to study planning, environmental, civil engineering and structural engineering in the lower Royal Inka valley of the Urabama River. Porter has served as a consultant for such sustainable projects in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, India and Japan. But perhaps his popular Czech and Slovakian beergarten known as Radegast Hall in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is a special accomplishment. With its sustainable design measures and materials used throughout, its naturally ventilated skylights and its planned photovoltaic roof, this Eastern European eating and drinking establishment has been named one of the ten best facilities of its kind in the USA. Frank Millero Designers have a long history of collaboration with the makers that bring their ideas to life. This session will explore opportunities for designers to work with artisans from around the world to develop new products while supporting the artisans, their culture and their communities. Frank Millero is a designer, consultant and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a Bachelors degree in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of California at Berkeley. He began his career and spent ten years at the Exploratorium museum in San Francisco where he developed numerous biology-based exhibits and programs. After attending the graduate program at Pratt, he has developed products for a variety of commercial brands including West Elm, Urban Outfitters, One Kings Lane and the Canadian retailer Indigo. Since 2004, Frank has developed curricula and taught in the Industrial Design department at Pratt Institute. He is currently teaching “Artisan Made”, a product design studio that links students to artisans from around the world. He is a member of the board of directors for SERRV, a nonprofit whose mission is to eradicate poverty through fair trade. He provides strategic advice on product development, merchandising and marketing and has also designed products and conducted training workshops for SERRV’s partners in Cambodia and Nepal. What I Live By (WILBy) and The [Ethical] Sweatshop Elana Langer What I Live By (WILBy) and The [Ethical] Sweatshop offer a new type of shopping experience, one that promotes the greatest luxury item of all; thoughtfulness. With a live manufacturing area to construct the ‘Made-In-USA’ bag, a range of products that reflect the ethics of NYC and Brooklyn based designers, a ‘Do-Gooder’ bag that supports former sex traffic victims in Cambodia, or the ‘I-Don’t-Need-Another Bag’ bag, this pop-up shop/art installation hybrid invites shoppers to articulate what they live by through their consumption choices. During the Green Week workshop/discussion Elana will be presenting her [Ethical] Sweatshop concept, along with the ethnographic findings from her pop up/installation at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, and an invitation for professor and industry professionals to get involved and share mindful consumption and empathic life-art practice to students and beyond. The installation that will be running at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg from March 10 through April 7. After a decade working for international development agencies in Africa and Central Asia including UNICEF and the Center For Disease Control (CDC), Elana began looking for ways to communicate the complicatedness she experienced in our global, digitally connected, capitalist-based reality. In 2013 she launched What I Live By (WILBy) and the Pop Up [Ethical] Sweatshop, a hybrid of business, art, and education that promotes mindful consumption and thoughtfulness as a first step toward positive global change. Her work can be found online at www.whatiliveby.com Have questions about CSDS Sustainability Crash Course 2014?

Oofda, today wuz not for pooslings. I yumped in da lake, ya betcha I did. Woke up before 6:00 am so as to help with my cousin Bekah's wedding. Eighteen hours later the work is through and I'm sleepy. Bekah was so beautiful and her husband Josh, a stud. He wore a Scottish kilt during the ceremony and swingdanced Bekah to high-heaven at the reception. I was supposed to be an usher, but didn't do my duties so well. In the middle of the day I went swimming at Flathead Lake and visited a cowboy bookstore and bought a book called: Sand, (by Will James). Driving home, the dry sky produced, as yet, the finest electrical display I've seen in months. I presume we'll have forest fires soon. In Montana! Prettier than you might expect. Violet sunsets and garter snakes and lurching, blue mountains and, also, a bad case of hay fever plus mean, swarming mosquitoes. Sort of a hazy, lazy day so far as I peer out at the big fields and quarter-horses. Hungry. Achy. Muddled. Waiting to work harder at something than this. test, test, test. Alas, my amazing winning streak in poker has ended. It had to happen sooner or later. I have only myself to blame as I broke my three cardinal rules to card-playing (which must remain a secret, for now). This, of course, nullified my secret, luck-enhancer (which also can't be spoken of, at this time). I was up $20 for the first hour, but then the fellas decided to craftily switch the game around to no-limit Texas Hold 'em, and within forty minutes I'd lost everything I'd won including the $20 I'd bought in for. All is ruined; my empire has crashed around me. Hee, hee. Here's a morale-boosting quote from a woman in Nashville who wrote today: "Most of the bands/musicians I k'now are so focused on representing themselves the way they want to be seen that they lose track of what they set out to do... I don't get that from you. I think you're real. I, also, don't see many that are willing to traverse musical genres in order to create a well rounded song/album- it's all about the target audience to most folks..." Okay, I feel better now. What about this for a title for the new cd: A Year in the Life of the Magical, Wonderful, Quite Wealthy, Middle-Aged American Business-man Known to His Servants and Mistresses as... Slippery Goodstuff! Posted by Chris Sand at 12:21 AM 0 comments Ahhh, finally poker has returned but oh, so brief. After missing out on the last four or five nights we played again and now I leave. In fact, I won't be playing again until late July. I had another night of victory and domination at the tables. In the first hour I was up $50, only to foolishly start lending it out to the players who were bankrupt, who lost to other sharks, so that in the end I was left with only $38.25. That will pay the gas to Montana, though, and put my tally, since returning two weeks ago, at $115.00. I'm making minimum wage, more or less, when you total up all the hours spent playing. In other words, I need to go to Gambler's Anonymous. Today has been filled with frustrations which started yesterday. I have a lot of work to do which involves a computer and it has taken a full day to secure one. Even now I'm without a printer which I also need, and I'm sitting on the floor of Goose's apartment with a sore back. But beggars ought not to complain, as they say. Catching up with Goose has been good as he just returned from a few weeks in Bogota, Colombia. He shaved his head and it suits him. For all out there who remember my muttonchops, they too, have been sheared. I'm now just a normal, clean-cut, 32-yr-old, starving artist without a girlfriend or recording contract which seems less romantic than the handsome, mustachioed, age-ambiguous rappin' cowboy of yestermonth. My mom used to say this phrase in reference to my dad: "Cowboy, thy name is vanity". I must admit it, though, I'm older today than I was, say, last February. Also, slightly depressed for some reason. I made up a song yesterday about heartbreak, and such, but there's nothin' new, there, except that in this song my request is for the lover to "break me open to the moon and stars/ to the Big Sky and the Silver Dollar bars/ to the beautiful women, and men who play guitars/ and to the whole world, baby, hit me harder..." In other words, I want her to break my heart so that I might feel something/ free something. Is this masochism or an advanced emotional response to a looming, painful abandonment restimulation experience? Feel me? (insert smily face ; ). ...I'm unsure. I think I want to leave Olympia. Tomorrow I actually do leave, for Montana, for a couple weeks to help my mom move to the prairies of North Dakota from her Charlo, Montana casita. I'll also watch my cousin, Bekah, get married later in the week. On the 4th of July, or thereabouts, I'll perform in Charlo's all-school reunion. On July 9th, I'll return West via Spokane where I'll play a show with Little Wings and Bobby Birdman. Now I must find some food to devour. Oh journal, I've missed you. I've been recording my latest cd and hangin' out with my cousin, Kirby. As for the new cd, it's almost complete! Shawn's been working overtime to help me produce it and it sounds amazing. I haven't come up with a title for it yet, but the contenders are: 1) Spermalicious: A Year in the Life of Slippery G. 2) The Revolution Will Be Sexualized and 3) Another Side of Bob Dylan. I'm not jokin'. The only song that's not finished (or started) is one where I try to seduce Cindy Wonderful and get rejected. You're all gonna love this thing. My pops sent me this article my Grandpa wrote last week about horses and I copied a couple paragraphs that I found interesting: "Freedom is fundamental for me in assessing my own devotion to horsemanship. Even to this day when my years have added up to four score and more, I can ride to the top of the highest butte, race across the flats, jump washouts, and even swim some rivers if I wanted to. This kind of freedom, I cherish greatly, and I owe to my horses." "We claim we are Cowboy Country. At the last two 4th of July parades in Killdeer, there were not enough horses entered to wrangle the milk cows. Good horseman, and, most unfortunately comely and very capable horsewomen and girls - all in street clothes, watching the parade go on without them. Lots of good horses had to stay at home and not be seen and appreciated." Bob Sand, guest writer for this month's Dunn Center Herald (North Dakota) Restlessness. I mowed the lawn today which is an epic project as my house's property takes up 1/2 a city block and hasn't been mowed since last Fall. Sadly, no poker tonight nor tomorrow. I skipped last night's game to go to my friend Reva's graduation/ hot-tub party. The previous night, however, I won $11, which for the third night running made me the night's big winner. Now I'm up $77 post-tour and up $177 post-2002. I'm lonely for women, tonight. And gambling. I'll read a book or maybe watch t.v. with my house-mates. Ice cream is said to have healing qualities. Here's a friendly review from Performer Magazine: "The Sandman has long been associated with mystery and legend. From the comic book character, to the guy who puts gunk in your eyes while you sleep, to Metallica songs, he is a strange character of uncertain origins. Olympia, Washington's Sandman, a.k.a., Chris Sand, is an equally mysterious character. A white guy raised on a Montana Indian reservation and as a musician in part of the Nashville and Olympia scenes, it's difficult to pin Sand down. This mixture is evident in Sandman's unusual take on the singer/songwriter genre, in which he successfully winds folk, rap, country-western, and R&B beats into one tidy bundle. This eclectic mix is pretty standard for the Olympia diaspora of which Sand is a part. He has several connections to the K Records/Calvin Johnson scene (although who doesn't in Olympia?) and shares its spartan, D.I.Y ethic by doing his own publicity and selling tapes and CDs directly from his home. His fourth full-length album The Long Ride Home takes a more folk-driven singer/songwriter turn from 2000's hip-hop collaboration with fellow Olympian Camo Davi, Until the End of Time. Several themes are explored over the course of the LP's fifteen songs, including carpentry, September 11th, sick pets, and bearded ladies. Sand's clever, insightful and sometimes-hilarious lyrics keep the jig running throughout, but the strongest songs come when the instrumentation is expanded beyond spare vocals and guitar. Opener "Radio Works Fine" weaves intricate acoustic guitars with LL Cool J samples and a galloping drum beat. "Hammer and Screw" tugs some genuine heartstrings, with its musings on self-confidence and loneliness. "Imaginary World" layers several string tracks along with a banjo and Sand's decidedly Dylan-like vocals. The album closes out in grand fashion, with a tribute to Martin Luther King called, "Folk Legend (MLK)". The Gospel-style back up vocals make it an appropriate conclusion for an album with influences that fall all over the textured, musical landscape. Like most men of mystery, Sandman's motivations and origins may be obscured, but his stories are well worth a listen." Rob Thomson http://www.performermag.com/wcpReview.php3 Last night I broke my own record by netting $61. I'm up $66 since returning... Now everyone's out to get me. They'll seek revenge; they'll try to pick my bones clean... tonight... but I'll leap around nakedly and snarl and drool and win again... and again... forever! It's mine, my precious, all mine... MINE!!! On a less disturbing, note, Olympia is cool and grey today. I met my new 5-day-old house-mate, Fiona, earlier. She's exquisitely beautiful, but sharp-tongued. She insulted me twice; once for my provincial vocabulary, and another time for my funny-shaped head. Oddly she didn't complain when I tried to nurse her mom's left breast. (Joking, again, for those who don't know). I'll shut my trap now. Here's an article, about yours truly, that some people might enjoy. Oh boy, the fortune has changed! I broke our small-stakes record tonight, I think, by winning $43. That means I erased my $37 debt which had accrued since returning. The cards just kept a-comin' and I wasn't as foolish as I have been lately. Luck o' the Irish, perhaps... I skipped poker tonight and I'm probably richer for it. My luck seems to run better during the Winter months; I was up a hundred for January and February as I recall. Today I finished an amazing book called-- Cowboy. It's about a young cowpuncher learning the ropes of buckarooing in Arizona and Ron Santee is the author and illustrator of it. He wrote it in 1911. I stole it from my grandpa last month and now I'm thinking of sending it back to him as a Father's Day gift. Yesterday I attended my 2nd ex-fiance's 29th birthday party. Her name's Nina and she has a lot of friends who love her potlucks and bar-b-ques. I brought a watermelon that didn't turn out too sweet and lacked seeds and didn't get eaten as fast as everything else. The burger I grilled was so big, it took two-and-a-half buns to contain it! A surreal moment occurred when Rebecca Potasnik handed out various, xeroxed Nina masks to the fifty or so revelers while she was inside. When she emerged we sang the birthday song behind our cut-outs. I couldn't tell if she was traumatized or just embarrassed, but she laughed a lot. I was in the front section and when I turned around and saw all those ghosty, paper-faces of Nina I understood her shrieking laughter. Everybody wanted me to stay and hot-tub but I had a rap concert to see. At the Capitol Theater I wasted four hours wading through mediocre underground hip-hip bands 'til 2 a.m. when the rapper, Busdriver, got onstage. He made the wait worth it, for he is a lyrical titan and the best underground prophet I've seen. Actually, the fellow before him was excellent, too-- an hispanic rhymer named Sleep. His partner, Josh Martinez, was good too, but I couldn't feel it as well. Have I mentioned that my house-mates, Jen and Pat, gave birth to a little girl named Fiona this morning? Well, they did or at least one of them did. Jen's belly probably isn't so big anymore. Now I have to figure out how to be supportive and useful. I spent the afternoon playing with my 3-yr-old friend, Hollis. He can't get enough of me, which feels good for the first hour but then I get my fill soon afterwards. Parents deserve medals for what they do! Now I'll briefly recount the last show of the tour in Spokane. Jeremy Hadley greeted me in style by treating me to a delicious meal at the Elk. Then we went to the Tryst coffee house and Larron Wolford opened up the show. He is unique. Then I played for an hour or more and it was over. The crowd was small but generous and I sold many cds and zines. A journalist named Melissa Amos, for the Local Planet, wrote a dandy article. The staff art-director even put my picture on the front of the weekly, in the bottom left corner. The whole Spokane package raised my morale considerably and I'm excited to return in mid-July for another show in that ragged metropolis. The next morning I drove to my friend Aaron Galloway's house in Cle Elum and spent the day hiking and throwing rocks at railroad signs with him. We laugh hard together and I was pleased to get some tensions off my shoulders before finally arriving back home last Tuesday. The night before I left, he and I enjoyed a hearty meal of pasta and deer meat, which my folks had canned for me. I'd dropped the jar of venison earlier and so we had to pick the shards out, but we both agreed it was well worth our time (and the risk of stomach lacerations). Nothing is better than good venison. (continued): So the show with Chris Cunningham was swell. He harmonized and played harmonica on "Radio Works Fine". Jen harmonized on a couple too. After the show I drove to Basin, MT where I stayed with my aunt (and mom). Now, gentle reader, we will pass through the wormhole and revisit my last days in the town of Indiana, Pennsylvania and afterwards... The three days there went like a blur and every night was filled with festivity. I made many friends, ate sushi, became reaquainted with my cousins, and even performed a little. One highlight was befriending a Palestinian fellow named Ahmad (pronounced Ahmed). He is a neighbor to my cousins and happened to see my impromptu show at their house. He ended up buying three shirts and a CD or two. The shirts he liked partly because of the word "Sand" buried in the name Sandman. He's been receiving racist jabs from people about being Arabic, like getting called 'sandnigger', and finally he decided to reclaim the word. He appreciated my lyrics a lot, too. A day or two after that my 17-yr-old cousin, Karel, and I went to his restaurant which he calls "Habashi" and ate some great middle-eastern food. While there we wrote a rap about it and Karel recorded it on his computer. Ahmad loves it and apparently still plays it often in the cafe. The day I left, Ahmad and his wife gave me a 50-pc. box of baklava to take on my road trip. Ummm. The next town I played was only three or four hours away-- Canton, Ohio, which is home to both the Football and Christian hall of fames. My wondrous friend Rhonda Baughman set up a house concert for me. I stayed there two nights and a lot happened. Rhonda is a prolific poet and novelist, and a horror movie buff. She manages a XXX video store. She has a boyfriend named Joe who manufactures credit cards for various companies. She has a writer-friend, whose pen-name is Martha, who read erotica to us and spoke of a passion for espionage. Rhonda's 85-yr-old Grandma, Mrs. Beaver, has a picture of me in her bedroom from the last time I rolled through two years ago. All in all Canton is a trip and I look forward to returning. Rhonda's mom packed me a humongous lunch of peanut butter, bread, cookies, spaghetti, popcorn, and six hardboiled eggs and these lasted me all the way to Madison, Wisconsin. Before that though I played scandalous Chitown-- home of Sammy Sosa and R. Kelly. I spoke of this a little in an earlier entry, but never got around to describing the shows. The first Chicago show took place in a punk rock bowling alley called the Fireside Bowl. In the rush to get to the second show that night I neglected to get paid, but did make a lot of new fans and sold several cds and shirts. I can't remember the name of the second place, but I did get paid there and had fun singing more of my mellow countryesque numbers. The drive to Madison the next morning was uneventful. The show was memorable. I finally met the legendary Ivan Okay who performed with a fake beard and called himself "Ghosty Rhodes". He's a true talent and we'd make a good touring combo if it ever happens. I stalled the show for over an hour so we could all watch the lunar eclipse outside. During the middle of my set I decided to carry out a ceremony with the remaining five hardboiled eggs that Rhonda's mom made for me. I promised someone in the crowd a free shirt and cd if they would eat all five eggs in five minutes; eclipse them so to speak. The guy who submitted asked for an assistant to feed him and I supplied the music and got the crowd chanting: "moon, moon... egg, egg..." By the fourth one he was gagging and during number five he puked all his hard-won glory into an upside down drum. I gave him his rewards anyway. After the show he and his girlfriend and her friend and my friend, Ben, went to a bar and got drunk and passed out in their living room. The next day I leisurely drove to Prairie du Chien which is on the western border of Wisconsin. I spent at least three hours in some farming town which was having a garage sale weekend. I visited thirty or forty houses and bought dozens of cheap, vintage shirts and other items. I found a Michael Jackson belt-buckle, a tiny, antique, porcelain mermaid, a Don Quixote book, and other chotchkas. The shirts are a real treasure and I need to now silk-screen the whole batch while I have the time. Once in Prairie du Chien I set up shop and rocked. The venue was a blues joint called the Main Entrance and was literally a stone's throw from the Mississippi River. Magic did ensue that night perhaps due to the cleansing effect of the eclipse the night before and the extremely high-rising tide of the enormous Mississippi. Two or three shows ended up getting cancelled in Iowa and Minnesota and I ended up loitering in Prairie du Chien during that time. I fell in love with a young bartender named Shelly Ann. C'est l'amour, c'est la guerre, c'est la tour, c'est la vie! Shit happens. Good shit. The rest is private for now. Eventually I ambled to Winona, Minnesota for a coupla shows during a long afternoon outside, and inside, a bar called the Hei n' Low. Jack Norton, who set up my midwest mini-tour, also played along with Brian Ebbinger. My pal Alex Stevens has been priming this community for my arrival for years and it was a real treat to know that half of the drunken audience members were familiar with my songs. I got plenty o' requests and didn't have to work hard to have their rapt attention. The bar still owes me $50 though, but who's keeping track? The next show was in Minneapolis at the Bryant Lake Bowl theatre. I played between Jack Norton's Wizard Oil Vaudeville and puppet show extravaganza. I sang six songs during my fifteen-minute slot and ended up selling fourteen cds after the show! This show was classy and I was proud to be part of it. Alex and I crashed at his friend's Elle and Kari's house that night. They made us fresh-squeezed, organic orange juice for breakfast and sent us south with smiles. South of Minneapolis is the town of Le Seur where my friend Lisa and her husband Marty reside. They set Jack and I up with a dandy yard concert. Beforehand people played croquet and bocci ball and drank mint juleps. Tiki torches lit the stage and Jack played a beautiful set before handing it off to me. If y'all haven't heard of Jack Norton before, search him on the internet. He's a phenomenally gifted and well-studied troubadour for his twenty-four years. He's a throwback to the minstrels of yesteryear and a helluva songwriter, too. Most exquisite, though, is his voice and guitar work. He and I plan to tour in October. I played on the radio in Mankato, MN earlier in the day which I forgot to mention. The next venue was in Winona again at the Green Lantern coffee house with folk legend Larry Penn and Jack. We sang round-robin style and did two shows. Larry's 75-yrs-old and a former hobo and truckdriver. He penned the classic children's song, "I'm a Little Cookie" as well as plenty more humdingers. He's a close friend of Utah Phillips. He invited Jack and I to perform at the annual Memorial Day hobo hootenanny in Bangor, Wisconsin the next day. I don't want to go into it because it is now 2:10 am but these old hobos and tramps loved us and invited us both to play each and every year we can. I met the current king of the hobos, "Redbird Express" and former ones such as "Preacher Steve" and "Songbird". Alex was there and Shelly, too. It was a glorious moment for me as I realized that I, too, have been tramping for a fair amount of my life and could sort of consider myself one of them. All my songs about hitchhiking and being poor and travelling in general resonated keenly with this crew and they let me know it. Larry Penn called me a "rubber tramp" which is the new version of a saddle bum, I suppose: minus the bridle and plus a greasy steering wheel. After me came a roughneck who sang a karaoke version of "Proud to Be an American" which seemed odd but charming, somehow. The food they dished up was cheese-injected hot dogs and beer. Shelly and I soaked up our last hours together and she spent the night with me at Alex's mom's house in Winona. Shelly left early to give me space to clear out of Alex's and head west to Fargo, but Alex talked me into taking my time and having lunch with he and Jack. By 12:45 or so I was on the road, after auspiciously bumping into an old Olympian buddy Samuel in a health food store. My horse could smell the green pastures of Montana and I drove fourteen hours, ignoring Fargo, to the western border of North Dakota before waking my folks up in Dunn Center and falling asleep in the guest bedroom... Maybe I'd better take a hint from myself and catch some z's now. I'll fill you in on the Spokane show tomorrow, and then I'll be caught up. I recently received an email requesting a summary of the show I played with Chris Cunningham and Jen Grady at the Gallatin Gateway Inn, near Bozeman, Montana. I plan to recount all of the shows, but I might as well start with that one. I began the day in my grandparent's bunkhouse located in the beautiful Killdeer Mountains of western North Dakota. My Dad currently lives there and my mum is in the process of moving there. She joined my westward ride (and fed me and paid for gas!). We arrived at the show and I collapsed on the grass for ten minutes before going in to meet Chris. It was a long, hot drive. Mr. Cunningham greeted us warmly and I joined him and his friends for dinner. Soon after Jen Grady arrived with her wonderful aunt, uncle and cousins who live in Big Sky. Jen and I have had a stormy, scary, passionate, on-again/off-again relationship for the last fourteen months and it was good and challenging to see and hear her again. Our farewell that evening didn't turn out too friendly but I think that deep down we still care for and admire each other. At least I do her. She sure can sing and play guitar, too! Her bevy of new songs, by the way, are her best yet. As for Chris Cunningham, he's a master musician as well as a gentleman. He pulled in a great local audience and then gave us most the money! (to be continued)-- poker time! (poker update: I lost $2.00 which is actually a huge leap from the negative $34.00 from Thursday's game. I figure at this rate I'll be out of credit card debt by October.) Hello World, how's it hangin'? The tour is over, and Olympia is sweltering. First, though, before I say anything more, let's give a hand to 319 JOE: The little Suburu that could. After 10,000 miles, more or less, s/he sounds and runs better than ever. I must also give thanks to the Virgin Mother Mary on her Birthbed for guiding me all the way home without any fender benders or even a speeding ticket. This latter detail is actually crucial as I lost my driver's license during the first show of the tour in Vancouver, B.C. The miracles were daily and this odyssey was not unlke the great Ulysee's (sp.?) or perhaps, Don Quixote's or even Frodo Baggins'. Dragons, maidens, innkeepers, hobbits, wizards, naked mermaids, horned goat-people, angel dust... (kidding.) Oh, it's good to be back though... and not. Olympia's much more temperate than when I left. I cleared the cobwebs out of the Jack Shack and moved in four days ago. Squirrels frolic on the mossy roof and ferns lick my ample windows. Fat flies die daily. Most welcomlingly of all I received a two-page write-up in the Olympian with a big picture of my pale, sad face w/ firecracker danglingly limply from lip. This followed a previous full-page write-up with same image in the rad Spokane weekly; The Local Planet, promoting a show I did there. My press-kit is not so sparse now. Both interviews shown a flattering light unlike a review I came across in an online rag called The Nerve (March issue) which claimed I had no vocal range and that some of my songs were embarrasingly dorky. The final sentence went something like, "Not an exceptionally terrible release." I still don't know how to take that. They also called me "a little white kid" or something like that which I actually don't mind so much. Yesterday, my pal Christian took me boating. We motored around Squaxin Island, got yelled at by some tribal members for peeing on their island (damn), pulled into Boston Harbor for a lunch of smoked salmon, and then cruised home. The water was so clear and the Olympic mountains loomed high: paradise for sure. I sunburned my shins, though, of all places. Shin cancer? Speaking of cancer, last night I played a benefit show at the Capitol Theatre for breast cancer research. Other acts included Jim Page, Scream Club, Betsy Holt, and Andras Jones. I sold over $200 in CDs! In fact, it's a shame I didn't bring any more because I basically sold out. Carl Dexter joined me on the stage and we ripped through some rarities like, "Out of Place" and "Olympia's the Capitol (of Rock and Roll)". He played bass, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar on "Love's Hangover Sale". Right now my house mate, Kristina, has invited me to go swimming. I'd better go, I suppose. Life is hard here in Olytown during the Summer. To be honest, though, I am looking for a job-- and soon! I've lost $35 from atrophied poker skills since I've returned to the tables. The shame... my tour profits have been annihilated. p.s. Stay closely tuned. I plan to recount the last three weeks of tour in detail (as suits the myth-building process). Oofda, today wuz not for pooslings. I yumped in d... In Montana! Prettier than you might expect. Viol... Alas, my amazing winning streak in poker has ended... Ahhh, finally poker has returned but oh, so brief.... Today has been filled with frustrations which star... Oh journal, I've missed you. I've been recording ... Restlessness. I mowed the lawn today which is an ... Last night I broke my own record by netting $61. ... Here's an article, about yours truly, that some pe... Oh boy, the fortune has changed! I broke our smal... I skipped poker tonight and I'm probably richer fo... (continued): So the show with Chris Cunningham wa... I recently received an email requesting a summary ... Hello World, how's it hangin'? The tour is over, ...

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1904 openbios@openbios.org

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Answer the following question from the document below. ##Question: What was the patient's response to the treatment? ## Document: 73 yo F with multiple medical problems, recent PNA in 11-19, had CP x 2-3 days. Also with SOB and cough. Got up to stand at home, syncopized but did not strike her head. Per discussion with her daughter, Johnny Arias, pt had been feeling poorly for approximately 4 days. She had been prescribed Robitussin with codeine 3 days PTA. At baseline, she is mildly 'out of it' 2-13 hydrocodone, clonazepam and gabapentin. This AM, daughter went to her house when she did not answer the phone. She found her naked and on the floor, unable to rise. EMS called, checked BP / temperature and thought she was okay to go to PCP. Ivan Miller went home but then returned approximately 3pm and found her half-out of bed, very weak and appearing unwell. This time she also called EMS and she was then brought to Climax city hospital . Of note, pt recently had a similar episode in 11-19 in State 503. Also recently had steroid injection 7 days prior for sciatica and has had poor glucose control in this setting. . On arrival to ED her VS were notable for. T99.3, RR 30-35, 114/84, tachcardia 127, 95% 3L via NC. Very increased WOB. Given this, she was intubated for respiratory distress and concern for impending respiratory fatigue. Given Etomidate, Succinate, Versed total 2mg x 3, 4mg x 2. Fentanyl 50mcg x 1, 100mcg x 1. Lowest blood pressure SBP 60s per ED resident report. Given 8L IV NS. Started on Levophed and at 0.24 mics/kg/min. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS, Acute Lung Injury, Beltran) Assessment: Received the pt on vent AC/450/16/5/100%. Pt was breathing in mid 30 s. Temp 100.4. Lungs ronchrous and diminished @ bases. PO2 70% on 80% fio2. Action: Midazolam GTT increased upto 8mg/hr and fentanyl GTT started @ 50mics/kg/hr but increased to 300 mics/hr in order to sedate and give better ventilation . Suctioned for bloody thick sec. Multiple ABG s and vent changes done Response: Still unable to ventilate her because of her respiratory drive. Unable get good pleth on the SPO2 extremities are cold. Has low grade temp 100.4 blood cultures and sputum c/s sent. Plan: Hypotension (not Shock) Assessment: Pt came from ED on levophed 0.24mics/kg/min, Able to wean down to 0.05mics/kg/min @ around 0245 she dropped her BP to 80 s. Attempted to change the vent settings to PSV but failed because of her BP was labile fluctuating from 70 s to 110 Action: Started on vasopressin GTT 2.4 units/hr Response: Plan: output: The patient was still unable to be ventilated due to her respiratory drive, and had cold extremities with a low-grade temperature.

The present invention will be described as set forth in exemplary embodiments described below in connection with FIGS. 1-11. Other embodiments may be realized and other changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts a memory array 100 containing a plurality of PCRAM memory cells (e.g., 108). Memory array 100 also includes a plurality of column (bit) lines (e.g., 104), row lines (e.g., 106) and sense amplifiers (e.g., 102). Also depicted in memory array 100 is a first precharge circuit 116 for precharging all row lines to a common initial voltage (e.g., a diode threshold voltage Vt plus a predetermined voltage V (e.g., 0.2 v)) and a second precharge circuit 118 for precharging all column lines to the same predetermined voltage as the row lines (e.g., Vt+V). For reasons of simplicity, only two row lines and two column lines are depicted as being respectively coupled to the precharge circuits 116, 118. Precharge circuit 116 contains a first transistor 177 and a second transistor 179. A first source/drain terminal of transistor 177 is coupled to a first source/drain terminal of transistor 179. A gate terminal of transistor 177 is coupled to a gate terminal of transistor 179 and also to a voltage source for providing the precharge voltage (Vt+V). The second source/drain terminals of transistors 177, 179 are respectively coupled to row lines 106, 107. When the precharge signal is received by the precharge circuit 116, all rows are precharged to the predetermined voltage (e.g., Vt+V). Similarly, with respect to the second precharge circuit 118, a first source/drain terminal of transistor 181 is coupled to a first source/drain terminal of transistor 183. A gate terminal of transistor 181 is coupled to a gate terminal of transistor 183 and also to a voltage source for providing the precharge voltage (Vt+V). The second source/drain terminals of transistors 181, 183 are respectively coupled to column lines 104, 195. Both precharge circuits 116 and 118 may also contain equilibrate circuits, which are not shown for purposes of simplicity. Each memory cell 108 contains a programmable conductor memory element 114, a first terminal of which is coupled to column line 104. A second terminal of programmable conductor memory element 114 is coupled to one side of a pair of reverse connected diodes 110, 112 which form an isolation diode pair. The isolation diode pair 110, 112 is also coupled at the other side to row line 106. Each sense amplifier contains two inputs: a first input is received from an associated column line 104 and a second input is received from a Vref line 194 coupled to Vref precharge circuit 192 for precharging the Vref line 194 to Vref when a read operation is initiated. Alternatively, the Vref line 194 may be coupled to precharge circuit 116 and then modified from Vt+V to Vref (e.g., decreased from Vt+0.2V to a lower value such as Vt+0.1V) with a voltage adjusting circuit as known in the art. Turning to FIG. 2( a), a simplified schematic diagram of the memory cell 108 is depicted. Memory cell 108 is associated with column line 104 and row line 106. One terminal of the programmable conductor memory element 114 is coupled to column line 104. Another terminal of programmable conductor memory element 114 is coupled to an input of diode 110 and an output of diode 112. An output of diode 110 is coupled to an input of diode 112 and also coupled to row line 106. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, to initialize a read operation, both column line 104 and row line 106 are held to the same voltage (e.g., Vt+V). In fact, in an initial state of the memory array 100 prior to a read operation, all row lines and all column lines are held to the same voltage (e.g., Vt+V), thereby preventing any current flow in any memory cell. Turning to FIG. 2( b), voltages applied during a read operation of memory cell 108 are depicted. For the read operation the column line 104 of memory cell 108 remains at the initial predetermined voltage (e.g., Vt+V), however, a selected row line is brought to approximately zero volts (e.g., ground). Bringing row line 106 to approximately zero volts creates a voltage potential difference across the memory cell 108. As a result of the voltage potential difference across memory cell 108, diode 110 begins to conduct and current flows from column line 104 to row line 106 through the programmable conductor memory element 114. When current begins to flow from column line 104 to row line 106, the voltage at column line 104 begins to discharge and there is a voltage drop of Vt (e.g., 0.3 volts) across the diode pair 110, 112. Assuming that V=approximately 0.2 v, a voltage potential of approximately 0.2 volts remains across the programmable conductor memory element 114. A voltage of approximately 0.2 v is sufficient to read the resistance of the programmable conductor memory element 114, but insufficient to program or change a resistance state of the memory element 114. The initial voltage to which the column line (e.g., 104) and row line (e.g., 106) are precharged (Vt+V) is selected so that when the row line is brought to approximately zero volts the voltage remaining across the programmable conductor memory element 114 is sufficiently high enough to read the contents of programmable conductor memory element 114, but insufficient to program the programmable conductor memory element 114. It should be readily apparent that although specific voltages are described above in connection with the read operation, other voltage combinations may be used as long as a read voltage is applied across the memory element 114 which is sufficient to read the element, but insufficient to program it to a particular resistance state. Turning to FIG. 3( a), an alternative embodiment for the PCRAM cell 108 is depicted. PCRAM cell 305 is identical to PCRAM cell 108; however, PCRAM cell 305 contains a single zener diode 300 rather than a reverse connected diode pair 110, 112. Using a single zener diode 300 has some inherent advantages over a reverse connected diode pair 110, 112 including the fact that a memory cell containing a zener diode 300 has a less complex construction. In addition, since the zener diode's 300 breakdown voltage is much greater than that of a conventional diode, it provides greater stability over a wider voltage range. The greater stability means the diode is less susceptible to being activated by system noise or similar interference. As shown in FIG. 4, that range of stability for the reverse connected diode pair 110, 112 is approximately 0.6 volts (i.e., from −0.3 v to +0.3 v). However, as further shown in FIG. 5, the range of stability is much wider at higher voltages, such as approximately 2.3 volts where the range of stability is from −2.0 v to +0.3 v. Although the zener diode 300 configuration has several advantages including greater stability, less complex construction, etc., it still requires a greater operational voltage than may be desired in certain applications. Therefore, either the diode pair 110, 112 configuration or the zener diode 300 configuration may be used depending on the characteristics of the particular circuit within which the memory array 100 operates. For purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the zener voltage Vz is approximately −2.0 volts. As described above, the initial voltage to which all columns and rows are set must be approximately equal. In this case, the initial voltage to which all columns (e.g., 104) and rows (e.g., 106) are set must be approximately Vz+V (e.g., approximately −2.2 volts). As depicted in FIG. 3(a), initially, column line 104 and row line 106 are charged to the same voltage, e.g., Vz+0.2 v and therefore there is a voltage potential difference across memory cell 305 of approximately 0 v and no current flows through programmable conductor memory element 114. Turning to FIG. 3( b), a read operation is depicted whereby row line 106 is brought to ground, thereby introducing a large voltage potential difference across memory cell 305 and current begins to flow through the programmable conductor memory element 114. For example, when row line 106 is brought to zero volts a difference of potential of Vz (e.g., −2.0 v) is registered across zener diode 300 leaving a voltage drop of approximately 0.2 v across programmable conductor memory element 114. As described above, approximately 0.2 v is sufficient to read the contents of the memory element 114; however, it is insufficient to program the memory element 114. FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart of an operational flow for performing a read operation on a memory cell (e.g., 108), in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention. At segment 600, the process flow begins. At segment 605, all rows and columns are held to an initial voltage (e.g., Vt+V, where V is a voltage suitable for reading a memory element, but insufficient to program it; one exemplary V value as described above is 0.2 volts). The initial voltage may be introduced to all rows and columns via precharge circuits 116 and 118. This mar be followed by equilibrating the voltages at the rows and columns. At segment 610, a reference voltage Vref for a sense amplifier 102 connected to a selected column is set to approximately Vt+0.1 v (assuming V=0.2 v). At segment 615, a desired row is selected by bringing the row line 106 voltage to approximately zero volts (e.g., ground). At segment 620, current begins to flow in the selected memory cell associated with the row line, 106. At segment 625, the voltage on the column line, e.g., 104, of the desired cell 108 discharges from approximately Vt+V through the memory element 114 to the grounded row line. At segment 630, an N-sense amplifier portion (700 of FIG. 7) of sense amplifier 102 is enabled a predetermined time (e.g., 10-20 ns) after segment 615 brings the desired row line voltage to approximately zero volts. At segment 635, the resistance level of memory cell 108 is initially recognized by comparing the voltage at column line 104 with Vref when the N-sense amplifier 700 is enabled. At segment 640, a determination is made as to whether column line 104 voltage had discharged below Vref. If yes, at segment 650, the voltage at column line 104 is driven to approximately ground and a low resistance level is recognized at the programmable conductor memory element 114. If not, at segment 645, a high resistance level is recognized at the programmable conductor memory element 114. At segment 655, a P-sense amplifier portion (800 of FIG. 8) of sense amplifier 102 is enabled a predetermined time (e.g., 10 ns) after the N-sense amplifier 700 is enabled at segment 630. At segment 660, if a high resistance level was recognized at segment 645, column line 104 is boosted to approximately Vdd and a logic HIGH state is read for the programmable conductor memory element 114. If a low resistance level was recognized at segment 650, a logic LOW state is read for the programmable conductor memory element 114. If a low resistance level (e.g., logic LOW state) is read for the programmable conductor memory element 114 at segment 665, the row line 106 is boosted to approximately Vdd so as to introduce a voltage potential across the programmable conductor memory element 114 sufficient to program the low resistance level back into the element. That is, by boosting the row line 106 voltage to Vdd while the voltage at the column line 104 is approximately grounded, a voltage sufficient to program the programmable conductor memory element 114 is introduced across the element 114. At segment 670, all column lines and all row lines are returned to the same initial voltage (e.g., Vt+V) for the next read cycle. The process flow ends at segment 675. Turning to FIG. 7, an N-sense amplifier portion 700 of sense amplifier 102 (of FIG. 1) is depicted. N-sense amplifier 700 contains two inputs. A first input receives Vref. A second input receives the voltage at column line 104. The first input (from Vref) is coupled to a first source/drain terminal of a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistor 702 and also coupled to a gate of CMOS 704. The second input of N-sense amplifier 700 is coupled to a source/drain terminal of CMOS 704 and a gate of CMOS 702. A second source/drain terminal of CMOS 702 is coupled to a second source/drain terminal of CMOS 704, and both in turn are coupled to a first source/drain terminal of CMOS 706. A gate of CMOS 706 receives a Fire N control signal, the receipt of which enables the N-sense amplifier 700 to determine whether the voltage of column line 104 is greater or less than Vref. A second source/drain terminal of CMOS 706 is coupled to ground. During operation of N-sense amplifier 700, if the voltage at column line 104 is greater than Vref, then CMOS 704 is off and CMOS 702 is on and Vref is driven to ground and the voltage at column line 104 remains floating while discharging from its initial level of Vt+V. Alternatively, if the voltage at column line 104 is less than Vref, then CMOS 704 is on and CMOS 702 is off, and the voltage at column line 104 is driven to ground and Vref remains steady. Turning now to FIG. 8, a P-sense amplifier portion 800 of sense amplifier 102 (of FIG. 1) is depicted. A first input of P-sense amplifier 800 receives Vref, and a second input receives the voltage at column line 104. A first source/drain terminal of CMOS 802 is coupled to Vref. A gate of CMOS 804 is also coupled to Vref. The voltage at column line 106 is coupled to a gate of CMOS 802 and also coupled to a first source/drain terminal of CMOS 804. A second source/drain terminal of CMOS 802 is coupled to a first source/drain terminal of CMOS 806 and a second source/drain terminal of CMOS 804 is also coupled to the same source/drain terminal of CMOS 806. A second source/drain terminal of CMOS 806 is coupled to a predetermined voltage level (e.g., Vdd). A gate of CMOS 806 receives a Fire P control signal, the receipt of which enables the P-sense amplifier 800 to further compare its input voltages. During operation, the P-sense amplifier 800 is enabled a predetermined time after the N-sense amplifier 700 is enabled. That is, an initial determination has already been made as to whether the voltage at column line 104 is greater than or less than Vref and one of the voltages at column line 104 and Vref has been driven to ground. For example, if the voltage at column 104 was less than Vref for the input of N-sense amplifier 700, then the column line input to the N-sense amplifier 700 would have been driven to ground and would thus be considered a logic LOW for purposes of the input to P-sense amplifier 800. Vref would remain at its initial voltage. As a result, CMOS 804 would be inactive and CMOS 802 would be active, thus, increasing Vref to a predetermined voltage level (e.g., Vdd). If, however, as described above the voltage at column line 104 is greater than Vref, then Vref has been driven to ground and the column line input to the P-sense amplifier would be considered a logic HIGH and Vref would be considered a logic LOW. In this case, CMOS 802 would be off and CMOS 804 would be on and the voltage at column line 104 would be driven to the predetermined voltage (e.g., Vdd). Turning now to FIG. 9, a timing diagram describing a read operation in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described. FIG. 9 is a timing diagram for reading a high resistance value in the programmable conductor memory element 114. Initially, all column lines and row lines of memory array 100 are at the same voltage (e.g., Vt+0.2 v). At time t1, a selected row line (e.g., 106) is brought to zero volts and the voltage at column line 104 discharges through the programmable conductor memory element 114 of the selected memory cell 108. At time t2, the N-sense amplifier 700 is enabled and a comparison is made between the voltage at column line 104 and the voltage on the Vref line 194. If, as depicted here, the voltage at column line 104 is greater than Vref, then Vref is driven to ground and the programmable conductor memory element 114 is recognized as having a high resistance value. At time t3, the P-sense amplifier 800 is enabled and compares Vref with the voltage level at column line 104. As mentioned earlier, since Vref was driven to ground and the voltage of column line 104 is floating, voltage at column line 104 is driven to a predetermined voltage (e.g., Vdd) and a logic HIGH state is read for the element 114. Since the voltage at row line 106 remains at zero volts, a large enough voltage potential difference is seen across programmable conductor memory element 114 so as to enable a reprogramming of its contents, if necessary. Subsequently, all row lines and column lines are brought to the same voltage value for a next read operation via precharge circuits 116 and 118. In addition, Vref is returned back to Vt+0.1 v from ground, where it was driven to by the N-sense amplifier 700. As described above in connection with FIG. 1, this may be achieved with Vref precharge circuit 192. Turning to FIG. 10, a timing diagram for reading a low resistance value in programmable conductor memory element 114 is depicted. As in FIG. 9, and as described above, all columns and rows are initially at the same voltage (e.g., Vt+0.2 v) and at t1, a selected row line (e.g., 106) is brought to zero volts. When the selected row line (e.g., 106) is brought to zero volts, a current flows through the programmable conductor memory element 114 of the selected memory cell 108 and the voltage of column line 104 discharges. At t2, the N-sense amplifier 700 is enabled and compares the voltage at column line 104 with Vref. As depicted here, the voltage at column line 104 is lower than Vref (indicating that the programmable conductor memory element 114 contains a low resistance level) and therefore column line 104 is driven to ground and Vref remains at Vt+0.1 v. At t3, the P-sense amplifier is enabled and compares Vref (Vt+0.1 v) with the voltage at column line 104 (now grounded). As a result, Vref is driven to a predetermined voltage, e.g., Vdd) and the voltage at column line 104 remains at ground. Here, the zero volts at column line 104 may be read as a logic “LOW” state. The voltage at row line 106 is then raised to a predetermined voltage (e.g., Vdd) in order to enable a re-programming of the logic LOW state of the programmable conductor memory element 114. That is, by raising row line 106 to approximately Vdd, a sufficiently high voltage is seen across the programmable conductor element 114 so as to enable a programming operation. Subsequently, as described above, both the voltage at row line 106 and the voltage at column line 104 are brought to the same initial voltage (in fact, all column lines and all row lines of memory array 100 are brought to the same initial voltage), e.g., Vt+0.2 v, for a next read operation via precharge circuits 116 and 118. Similarly, the Vref line 194 is returned back to e.g., Vt+0.1V. This may be achieved with Vref precharge circuit 192. FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a processor system 1100 containing a PCRAM semiconductor memory as described in connection with FIGS. 1-10. For example, the PCRAM memory array 100 described in connection with FIGS. 1-10 may be part of random access memory (RAM) 1108 and may be configured as one or more PCRAM memory circuits provided in a plug-in memoir module. The processor-based system 1100 may be a computer system or any other processor system. The system 1100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1102, e.g., a microprocessor, that communicates with floppy disk drive 1112, CD ROM drive 1114, and RAM 1108 over a bus 1120. It must be noted that the bus 1120 may be a series of buses and bridges commonly used in a processor-based system, but, for convenience purposes only, the bus 1120 has been illustrated as a single bus. All input/output (I/O) device (e.g., monitor) 1104, 1106 may also be connected to the bus 1120, but is not required in order to practice the invention. The processor-based system 1100 also includes a read-only memory (ROM) 1100 which may also be used to store a software program. Although the FIG. 11 block diagram depicts only one CPU 1102, the FIG. 11 system could also be configured as a parallel processor machine for performing parallel processing. As known in the art, parallel processor machines can be classified as single instruction/multiple data (SIMD), meaning all processors execute the same instructions at the same time, or multiple instruction/multiple data (MIMD), meaning each processor executes different instructions. The present invention provides a PCRAM cell 108 and a method for reading the logic state of a programmable conductor memory element 114 of the memory cell 108. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory cell 108 consists of a first terminal of a programmable conductor memory element 114 coupled to a reverse connected diode pair 110, 112. Another terminal of the programmable conductor memory element 114 is coupled to a column line associated with the PCRAM cell 108. Another end of the reverse connected diode pair 110, 112 is coupled to a row line associated with the PCRAM cell 108. Initially, all rows and columns of the memory array 100 are precharged to the same voltage potential (e.g., Vt+V). A row line is selected by bringing it to ground (e.g., approximately 0 v). V is selected so that when Vt is across the diode pair 110, 112, a voltage sufficient to read the contents of the memory element 114, but insufficient to program the memory element 114, is across the memory element 114. A predetermined time after a selected row line is brought to 0 v and current begins to flow through the programmable conductor memory element 114, a comparison is made between the voltage of the column line (e.g., 104) and the reference voltage, Vref. If the voltage at the column line is greater than Vref, then Vref is driven to ground and a high resistance level is recognized for the memory element 114. If the voltage at the column line is lower than Vref, then the column line is driven to ground and a low resistance level is recognized for the memory element 114. A predetermined time after such comparison is made, another comparison is made between the same two values and the contents of the programmable conductor memory element 114 are read. For example, if Vref was driven to ground, then the voltage at the column line 104 is driven to Vdd and e.g., a logic HIGH level is read for the programmable conductor memory element 114. If the column line was driven to ground, then Vref is driven to Vdd and e.g., a logic LOW level is read for the programmable conductor memory element 114. The voltage across the PCRAM cell 108 is then raised so as to increase the voltage potential difference across the memory element 114 to a level sufficient for programming (e.g., reprogramming a low resistance level for programmable conductor memory element 114 after a read operation). While the invention has been described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments known at the time, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the invention has been described in connection with specific voltage levels, it should be readily apparent that any other voltage levels can be selected to achieve the same results. In addition, although the invention has been described in connection with specifically placed n-type and p-type CMOS transistors, it should be readily apparent that the inverse of these CMOS transistors can be used instead. Furthermore, although the invention is described in connection with a reverse connected diode pair 110, 112 coupled between the programmable conductor memory element 114 and the row line 106, the reverse connected diode pair 110, 112 can be moved to a location between the programmable conductor memory element 114 and the column line 104. In addition, although an exemplary embodiment of the invention depicts the zener diode 300 with a certain orientation in the circuit, that orientation may be reversed and the location of the zener diode moved to the other side of the programmable conductor memory element 114. Furthermore, although the invention is described as reducing the voltage at a selected row line to approximately zero volts, it may be the column line that is reduced to approximately zero volts. In the alternative, either one of the row low or column line may be increased to create a voltage potential difference across selected memory cell 108. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the foregoing description or drawings, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims. comparing the voltage on the one of said row line and said column line that is being discharged with a reference voltage to determine a logical state of said memory element. 5. The method of claim 2 further comprising discharging a voltage level at one of said row line and said column line through said memory element and an isolation diode. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said act of setting comprises setting said row line and said column line to a voltage level approximately equal to a threshold voltage of said diode plus an additional voltage sufficient to enable a read operation of said memory element. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of setting comprises precharging said row line and said column line to said respective voltage levels. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein said act of setting comprises precharging said row line and said column line to said common voltage. 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising equilibrating said voltage on said row line and said column line. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of changing comprises changing sad voltage level at one of said row line and said column line such that a potential voltage difference across a programmable conductor memory cell containing said programmable conduct memory element is at least equal to a threshold voltage of an isolation diode of sad memory cell coupled to said programmable conductor memory element plus a voltage sufficient to enable a read operation of said memory element. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of comparing comprises discharging a voltage level, at the one of said row line and said column line that did not change, through said memory element. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of comparing comprises comparing a voltage at said column line with said reference voltage a predetermined time after said act of changing. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of comparing comprises comparing a voltage level at said column line with said reference voltage in order to determine said logical state. 14. The method of claim 2 further comprising discharging a voltage level at one of said row line and said column line through said memory element and a zener diode. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said act of setting comprises setting said row line and said column line to a voltage level approximately equal to a threshold voltage of said zener diode plus an additional voltage sufficient to enable a read operation of said memory element. 16. The method of claim 1) wherein said act of changing comprises changing said voltage at one of said row line and said column line in order to have a voltage potential difference across said memory, element sufficient to read said logical state, but insufficient to program said memory element. 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising reading a high resistance level for said programmable conductor memory element. 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising reading a low resistance level for said programmable conductor memoir element. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising reprogramming said low resistance level into said memory element. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said act of reprogramming comprises raising a voltage at one of said column line and said row fine to a level sufficient to place a programming voltage across said memory element sufficient to program said element to a low resistance state. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said act of changing comprises changing the voltage at a selected row line to approximately zero volts such that current flow is initiated from a column line associated with said memory element through said memory element and through a reverse connected diode pair coupled to a said memory element. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said act of changing comprises changing the voltage at a selected row line to approximately zero volts such that current flow is initiated from a column line associated with said memory element through said memory element and through a zener diode coupled to a said memory element. reducing said voltage at said row line to a level such that a diode circuit coupled to a programmable conductor memory element of said cell is activated and such that a voltage potential difference across said memory element is sufficient to read a logical state of said memory element, but insufficient to program said memory element. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said act of reducing comprises reducing said voltage at said row line to a level such that a reverse connected diode pair coupled to said programmable conductor memory element of said memory cell is activated. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein said act of reducing comprises reducing said voltage at said row line to a level such that a zener diode coupled to said programmable conductor memory element of said memory cell is activated. 28. The structure of claim 27 further comprising precharge circuits for respectively precharging said column line and said row line to a common predetermined voltage level prior to said read operation. 29. The structure of claim 28 further comprising equilibrate circuits for respectively equilibrating voltages at said column line and said row line to said common predetermined voltage. 30. The structure of claim 28, wherein said common predetermined voltage is approximately equal to a threshold voltage of said diode circuit plus an additional voltage sufficient to read said logical state of said programmable conductor memory element. 31. The structure of claim 27, wherein said programmable conductor memory element comprises a chalcogenide glass having first and second electrodes. 32. The structure of claim 31, wherein said chalcogenide glass has a Ge:Se glass composition which is doped with Ag. 33. The structure of claim 27, wherein said diode circuit comprises a reverse connected diode pair. 34. The structure of claim 27, wherein said diode circuit comprises a zener diode. 35. The structure of claim 27 further comprising a switch between said row line and said precharge circuit for switchably coupling said row line to said precharge circuit before said read operation. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein said semiconductor memory structure further comprises precharge circuits for respectively precharging said column line and said row line to a common predetermined voltage level prior to said read operation. 38. The system of claim 37, wherein said semiconductor memory structure further comprises equilibrate circuits for respectively equilibrating voltages at said column line and said row line to said common predetermined voltage. 39. The system of claim 37, wherein said common predetermined voltage is approximately equal to a threshold voltage of said diode circuit plus an additional voltage sufficient to read said logical state of said programmable conductor memory element. 40. The system of claim 36, wherein said programmable conductor memory element comprises a chalcogenide glass having first and second electrodes. 41. The system of claim 40, wherein said chalcogenide glass has a Ge:Se glass composition which is doped with Ag. 42. The system of claim 36, wherein said diode circuit comprises a reverse connected diode pair. 43. The system of claim 36, wherein said diode circuit comprises a zener diode. 44. The system of claim 36, wherein said semiconductor memory structure further comprises a switch between said row line and said precharge circuit for switchably coupling said row line to said precharge circuit before said read operation.

<?xml version="1.0" ?><!DOCTYPE TS><TS language="vi_VN" version="2.1"> <context> <name>AboutDialog</name> <message> <location filename="../forms/aboutdialog.ui" line="+14"/> <source>About MJCoin</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+39"/> <source>&lt;b&gt;MJCoin&lt;/b&gt; version</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+41"/> <source>Copyright © 2009-2014 The Bitcoin developers Copyright © 2012-2014 The NovaCoin developers Copyright © 2014 The MJCoin developers</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+15"/> <source> This is experimental software. Distributed under the MIT/X11 software license, see the accompanying file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php. This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/) and cryptographic software written by Eric Young (eay@cryptsoft.com) and UPnP software written by Thomas Bernard.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> </context> <context> <name>AddressBookPage</name> <message> <location filename="../forms/addressbookpage.ui" line="+14"/> <source>Address Book</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+22"/> <source>Double-click to edit address or label</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+27"/> <source>Create a new address</source> <translation>Tạo một địa chỉ mới</translation> </message> <message> <location line="+14"/> <source>Copy the currently selected address to the system clipboard</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="-11"/> <source>&amp;New Address</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="-46"/> <source>These are your MJCoin addresses for receiving payments. You may want to give a different one to each sender so you can keep track of who is paying you.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+60"/> <source>&amp;Copy Address</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+11"/> <source>Show &amp;QR Code</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+11"/> <source>Sign a message to prove you own a MJCoin address</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+3"/> <source>Sign &amp;Message</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+25"/> <source>Delete the currently selected address from the list</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="-14"/> <source>Verify a message to ensure it was signed with a specified MJCoin address</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+3"/> <source>&amp;Verify Message</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+14"/> <source>&amp;Delete</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location filename="../addressbookpage.cpp" line="+65"/> <source>Copy &amp;Label</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+2"/> <source>&amp;Edit</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+250"/> <source>Export Address Book Data</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Comma separated file (*.csv)</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+13"/> <source>Error exporting</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+0"/> <source>Could not write to file %1.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> </context> <context> <name>AddressTableModel</name> <message> <location filename="../addresstablemodel.cpp" line="+144"/> <source>Label</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+0"/> <source>Address</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+36"/> <source>(no label)</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> </context> <context> <name>AskPassphraseDialog</name> <message> <location filename="../forms/askpassphrasedialog.ui" line="+26"/> <source>Passphrase Dialog</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+21"/> <source>Enter passphrase</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+14"/> <source>New passphrase</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+14"/> <source>Repeat new passphrase</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+33"/> <source>Serves to disable the trivial sendmoney when OS account compromised. Provides no real security.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+3"/> <source>For staking only</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location filename="../askpassphrasedialog.cpp" line="+35"/> <source>Enter the new passphrase to the wallet.&lt;br/&gt;Please use a passphrase of &lt;b&gt;10 or more random characters&lt;/b&gt;, or &lt;b&gt;eight or more words&lt;/b&gt;.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Encrypt wallet</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+7"/> <source>This operation needs your wallet passphrase to unlock the wallet.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+5"/> <source>Unlock wallet</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+3"/> <source>This operation needs your wallet passphrase to decrypt the wallet.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+5"/> <source>Decrypt wallet</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+3"/> <source>Change passphrase</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Enter the old and new passphrase to the wallet.</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+46"/> <source>Confirm wallet encryption</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Warning: If you encrypt your wallet and lose your passphrase, you will &lt;b&gt;LOSE ALL OF YOUR COINS&lt;/b&gt;!</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+0"/> <source>Are you sure you wish to encrypt your wallet?</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+15"/> <source>IMPORTANT: Any previous backups you have made of your wallet file should be replaced with the newly generated, encrypted wallet file. 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</message> <message> <location line="+251"/> <source>Synchronizing with network...</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="-319"/> <source>&amp;Overview</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Show general overview of wallet</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+17"/> <source>&amp;Transactions</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Browse transaction history</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+5"/> <source>&amp;Address Book</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> <source>Edit the list of stored addresses and labels</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="-13"/> <source>&amp;Receive coins</source> <translation type="unfinished"/> </message> <message> <location line="+1"/> 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ARTIST HANNAH FOX “For me, art is a process of exploration - a way of seeing, thinking and problem-solving,” says Melbourne artist Hannah Fox. “My most recent paintings have been abstract which enables me to be fully immersed in the act of painting. This is incredibly freeing!” Hannah completed a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting at Monash University and was an intern with Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, and worked at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. Her first solo show was a sell-out, and she will exhibit at Collingwood Gallery in Melbourne from May 10 to 21. “Once I called myself an artist - whether I believed it or not! - I found opportunities started to come my way,” Hannah says. “I was open to it.” Hannah is the great grand niece of Australian Impressionist Emanuel Phillips Fox. Which five words best describe you? Introverted, extroverted - yes, both! - imaginative, organised, tall. How did you get your career started and what path have you taken since? Sometimes the term “career” seems out of place. My art is just there, it always has been, I suppose. Creativity came naturally from an early age and I was encouraged by my family to pursue it which I am grateful for. I travelled after school and then completed a Fine Art degree at Monash University. I absolutely loved this course, it opened up my mind. At the same time, it made me utterly petrified. Graduating young, I didn’t feel confident I could take on the art world. I pursued further study in design, ran an events business and worked in graphic design. Not entirely satisfied, I also worked in galleries to try to connect back into the art scene. Eventually my path lead me back to painting. My hop scotch “career” has all been worth it. I am a better artist for it. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? This time next year you’ll wish you started today. So, start now! What’s your proudest career achievement? My first solo show was a huge hurdle for me. Emotionally, physically - I was eight months pregnant - and career wise. I forced myself to be brave. It was a sell-out success and gave me the self-belief and courage to continue with my art practice. What’s been your best decision? To stop seeking some other creative corporate career in design that would have been great, but not really for me. The moment I pulled out my paints again was heaven. Who inspires you? Many artists: Fred Williams, Yvonne Audette, Mark Rothko, Ben Quilty, Guy Maestri, Kate Tucker, to name but only a few. Musicians and people who speak many languages. I am inspired and jealous! Anyone who works from home whilst raising kids. It’s madness! Positive people. They are gold. What are you passionate about? Melbourne. I love everything this city offers — its cultural diversity, its architecture, the food on offer, coffee, sport, parks, gardens... the list goes on. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Definitely Emanuel Phillips Fox, my Great Grand Uncle. He was one of the most gifted colourists and figure painters among the Australian Impressionists. Sadly, he was perhaps not as recognised here as some of our other late 19th/early 20th century artists. Emanuel was too busy mixing it with the greats over in Paris. Oh, the stories he could tell. What dream do you still want to fulfil? My dream is to keep painting. I am lucky right now, so if I can keep it up and develop my art practice further I will be happy. I am keen to see where my art goes and what opportunities arise. I am open to change. I would love to try my hand at ceramics, sculpture, welding... Travel wise, my dream is to get to New York. What are you reading? A complete mixed bag. Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph. I have three boys under five and they are a mystery to my all-female upbringing. Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. images courtesy of hannah fox Posted by Natalie Walton at 06:00 No comments: Links to this post Labels: art, artist, australia, melbourne CERAMICIST KIM JAEGER While Melbourne-based Kim Jaeger has a Masters in graphic design, she has often worked in different areas within the arts - from sound to video and photography. “Ceramics was just another medium I was trying out,” she says. Kim took a wheel course in 2007 but didn’t return to working with clay until 2011 when she started to hand build. That was when the interest was really ignited. While ceramics are still a part-time occupation for her, she has managed to exhibt in LA, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Kim also works with several retailers who stock her retail-based art. “My work sits in a funny place,” she says. “Somewhere between retail and artwork because they are one-offs. So the stockists who have taken on my work I really appreciate and trust that they understand my work. I am really appreciative of that.” Her current exhibition, Nearness at Mt Kitly gallery, a collaborative show with Anna Varendorff, runs until May 3. Which five words best describe you? Curious, hardworking, impatient - which is a terrible combination with ceramics! - honest, proactive. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I’m a trained graphic designer but somehow got into arts management/events/marketing somewhere along the way but kept up my art practise during evenings and weekends. I’m not very good at sitting still. It’s something I’m trying to work on. As far as ceramics goes, initially I approached stockists I thought might understand my work to have a look and see if it would be a fit with their retail spaces. Because I see them a little differently than normal mass-produced pieces the retailers I approached I felt had an understanding of this. From there it’s grown into exhibitions, collaborations, projects and teaching. All of which I’m very grateful and excited about! What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To be open to everything but to only work with people who you respect and that in turn respect you and your work. What’s your proudest career achievement? I don’t know if I have just one event that I’m most proud of. Maybe teaching? I really enjoy passing on skills and encouraging people to make art. What’s been your best decision? In my life? To become a mother. By far the best and most challenging thing I have done. Also to live overseas for a time. I hope I get the opportunity to do that again. Who inspires you? Lots of people for lots of different reasons. My partner Andy for his patience and humble nature - amongst other things, my daughter for her zingy way in the world, my excellent circle of friends and family that support me and other artists who work hard at their practise and don’t stop experimenting and pushing their work. What are you passionate about? My family, my friends, making, art, equality, travel, good design, the ocean, home environments. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? This is a hard one. Maybe David Attenborough? I’ve seen him talk a few years back and he was quite entertaining, plus I hear he has quite a collection of ceramics - maybe he’d let me take a peek? What dream do you still want to fulfil? I’d love to build a house with my family one day with a studio for my partner and I to work in - currently my studio is in our laundry/my kitchen table. I’d also love to do a residency overseas. Do more teaching. More collaborations. Is this too many dreams? I have lots more. What are you reading? I just finished - last night - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. I can’t stop thinking about what it means to have everything you need emotionally and then the next your world is completely changed; grief is a big, big thing to sit with. Wow. What a way to end an interview. Let’s all ponder our own fate. It’s a good thing to do once in a while though, I think. It makes you not sweat the small stuff. images courtesy of kim jaeger; portrait andy hutson Labels: australia, ceramics, melbourne TEXTILE DESIGNER MARY BERGTOLD MULCAHY The chance discovery of block-printed bedcovers in a Unicef store led fashion turned interior stylist Mary Bergtold Mulcahy on a long yet fulfilling journey. After an extensive search to find a way to making this type of fabric, she was able to find a craftsman, Srinivas Pitchuka, in a small village in southern India who could create what she was after, using the ancient printing technique of Kalamkari. In 2002 Mary launched Les Indiennes from her base in New York state and has been busy designing and selling her textiles ever since. Yet despite the growth of her business, she says the production of her fabric doesn’t use any electricity in the village where it is made, create any pollution or disrupt the traditional way of life. Les Indiennes is also a Fair Trade employer for more than 50 families. Which five words best describe you? Original, inquisitive, visual, bohemian, mom. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, I became an editor at Harper’s Bazaar. When I married and had children, my interests turned to home and interior design. I made the switch to styling interiors. This was second nature as my mother was a very talented decorator, and I grew up in an artistic environment. I’ve always been interested in textiles and discovered some block-printed bedcovers at the local Unicef store. I looked everywhere for similar cottons, but found nothing so I posted an ad in TradeIndia (a B2B message board). After receiving many mediocre samples, Pitchuka Srinivas, my current business partner, sent pieces which stood out from the rest. He is a traditional Kalamkari artisan. Through his work I discovered the parameters that began to define my vision. Using only natural dyes on organic cotton, I changed the background colour from a dark beige to a creamy white, a treatment unheard of in the Kalamkari tradition. Taking complex Indian patterns, I edited, enlarged, and spaced them further apart. With my new interest in Indian block prints, I proposed an editorial to a shelter magazine. After the story was published, I was deluged with inquiries about my textiles. This launched my business named Les Indiennes, a title the French gave to this type of fabric in the eighteen century. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Never be afraid to take risks, and stick to your own vision. What’s your proudest career achievement? Perhaps winning the International Design Award for interiors in 2008? Designing textiles is a joy. What’s been your best decision? To not change the way artisans traditionally work in India. Who inspires you? Brigitte Singh, Ines Boesch, Nigel Cabourn, Rei Kawakubo of Commes des Garçons. What are you passionate about? Design, interiors, historical visual reference and, of course, shopping. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Marie Antoinette. What dream do you still want to fulfil? To create a foundation that supports independent traditional artisans of India. What are you reading? The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple and Nancy Lancaster by Robert Becker. images courtesy of les indiennes Labels: design, textile design, usa PHOTOGRAPHER DANIEL SHIPP “Photography is where maths and logic can result in feeling and emotion,” says Daniel Shipp, who started his working life in the film industry but felt life as a photographer gave him a unique opportunity. He could be his own production unit, bringing together all the elements under his direction. After studying at art school, he assisted fashion photographers and then moved to Canada, where he began shooting his own work. On his return to Sydney he established a client base, and started to gain traction. “It was when I started to notice that my weird obsessive ways that I felt self-conscious about were actually valued by some people.” Daniel won the Luxe Prize in Quebec, Canada for an editorial portrait series in 2007, was a finalist in the Josephine Ulrick Award in 2005 and was the Photo Technica New Australian Photo Artist of the Year in 2001. He has exhibited several times over the past 15 years, and will show Botanical Inquiry at Saint Cloche from April 25 to May 2. Which five words best describe you? Mischievous, curious, intuitive, Virgo, observational. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I left school in year 11 “to go work in the movies”. I’m not sure what I thought would happen. I ended up as the office junior at Liz Mullinar Casting; it was the end of the eighties and they were casting so many Aussie films, TV dramas and commercials. I loved being around all the producers and directors and watching how they worked, it was a very exciting place for a 16-year-old boy to be at that time and I was right in on the action. I ended up doing Standby Props on Home and Away for a while, and continued to work in film/TV for the next few years after that. Gradually the jobs I got were becoming less interesting to me because I really wanted to start being a bigger part of the creative decisions. Photography was like being a whole film crew in one person, and that really appealed to me because I had gained insight into how all the different departments did their jobs. I put more and more energy into photography and was accepted into Sydney College of the Arts. After four years of wonderfully indulgent conceptual time at art school I decided I wanted to experience the more commercial aspects of photography. I started assisting some well-respected fashion photographers that really knew how to work with light. I had a great time assisting, moving to Canada to work over there for a while and gradually easing into shooting my own work and moving back to Sydney. I did some big portrait project collaborations with Fashion Week and Future Classic Music to get myself back on the map here and I was lucky enough to pick up some regular commercial clients shooting objects and interiors in the meantime. Having loyal clients allowed me the space to take a small studio and work on my own projects. This is where I think I began to hit my stride because I could apply all of my technical experience to more conceptual ideas and come up with work like Botanical Inquiry. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be as authentic as you can be, even if that means feeling like a weirdo. Embrace it, that’s where your point of difference is. What’s your proudest career achievement? Botanical Inquiry is easily the highlight of my career to date. What’s been your best decision? Going to art school and developing a critical eye. Who inspires you? Cinematographers like Roger Deakins (No Country for Old Men) and Hoyte Van Hoytema (Let the Right One In). What are you passionate about? Light and storytelling working together. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My grandmother, who passed away before I was born. She would have been a fine woman. What dream do you still want to fulfil? I’ve love to photograph a feature film. Not sure if it will ever happen but the thought of it keeps me hungry. What are you reading? American Cinematographer Magazine is always on the bedside table. Sexy, right? images courtesy of daniel shipp; portrait carine thevenau Labels: photographer, photography, plants INTERIOR DECORATOR + STYLIST JILLIAN MIDDLETON Life took a swift turn for Jillian Middleton when she landed in New York in early 2000. After falling in with the interior styling crowd, she became the assistant for Carlos Mota (interviewed here), who is currently Architectural Digest’s international style editor and the former editor-at-large for Elle Decor. Her work with him included creating events and styling the pages of The New York Times Magazine. But even up until then Jillian had been busy in interiors in Sydney. She started off with work experience with Adelaide Bragg and Gretel Packer, which lead to work with Deanne Rooz, and setting up her own interior design business. Jillian worked across a range of projects from penthouse suites to residential blocks and hotel fitouts. She also designed the interiors for restaurants such as Otto and Chicane. When she returned to live in Australia, she relocated to the far north coast and is now based in Byron Bay, where she continues to work on design projects. However, Jillian also lives for about five months a year in Bali, where she creates large-scale pendants for her clients. She has now turned this into the business Gypset Cargo. Which five words best describe you? Spontaneous, creative, dynamic, happy, genuine. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started with work experience and then I studied and worked for Deanne Rooz in Bellevue Hill Sydney. She is a wonderful interior designer who is still working today. I have stayed a decorator and have branched into my own lighting/product range/brand. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To be honest and firm. Don’t cover up: say it like it is and always fix what you can. What’s your proudest career achievement? Probably styling the den at grand Central Station for Eddie Baur clothing in NYC. What’s been your best decision? My tea-cup maltese toy poodle, Dana Doodle! Ah, seriously? Well, that is serious but remaining true to myself always. Who inspires you? My best friend David Katon, best architect ever. What are you passionate about? Yoga, holistic views and healing. Art. The ocean. Music. Fashion. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My lil' brother. He died when he was five and a half years old. What dream do you still want to fulfil? Morocco, India, South America, Mexico, Turkey, Spain. Still lots to see for me. What are you reading? The Power of Now by Ekhart Toll. images courtesy of jillian middleton Labels: design, interior design, lighting, styling CERAMICIST KATIA CARLETTI Katia Carletti always envisaged herself as an artist - but a different one to the one that emerged. Born and raised in Adelaide, she had been studying painting at art school but it was starting to frustrate her, and after returning home from the studio she would spend the rest of her day making things with clay, she says. “I found it so enjoyable, and it sustained my interest so much more readily, that soon the clay took over completely, and I haven’t looked back,” Katia says. “I am predominantly self-taught in ceramics, and make all my work with a pinched, hand-building technique, so there is always something new to experiment with and learn.” Her interest is in objects that get used every day. “There’s something very intimate about creating forms that are to be cupped in your hands and raised to your lips,” she says. “I love the feeling of pinching a piece of clay up into a shape that is both beautiful and functional, and knowing that when it is finished someone else will be able to welcome it into their lives to hold and use as part of their everyday practices.” Which five words best describe you? Quiet, focused, homebody, baker, maker. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? When I went through art school I had this idea in my head that I was going to be a painter. It’s what I had always done, and so it seemed the most logical path to take. It wasn’t until my honours year, when I was making work about the every day as sacred, and the rituals associated with this idea, that I started to incorporate clay into my practice. From those initial experiments - simple hand-pinched forms bearing traces of the process used to create them, my ceramics practice grew. Soon I found I didn’t want to just make work about everyday rituals, I wanted to make things that could actually be used the quiet, sacred gestures of a normal day. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To trust myself and allow my work to follow the path it is meant to lead. Also, to be open to new ideas and opportunities, even if they aren’t the ones I thought would present themselves. What’s your proudest career achievement? I am constantly astounded that I get to spend each day making things I love. What’s been your best decision? To put painting aside and focus on clay. There was a bit of an internal struggle for a while, as I figured out what I wanted, but I’m so glad I made the change. Who inspires you? Creative people who are passionate about the things they make, and work hard to push themselves into new directions. At the moment I particularly love the paintings of Elizabeth Barnett and the ceramics of Bridget Bodenham. Both very talented and lovely ladies! What are you passionate about? Coffee in nice handmade cups, indoor plant jungles, bunny cuddles. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Perhaps Nick Drake? His music has stayed with me for a very long time, and makes me feel at home. What dream do you still want to fulfill? I am constantly dreaming of a house in the countryside with a sunlit studio and my own kiln. What are you reading? When am I ever not listening to Stephen Fry, read Harry Potter to me! images courtesy of katia carletti; photography lana adams Labels: adelaide, australia, ceramicist, ceramics, south australia ARTIST JULIAN MEAGHER “Art is addictive and in my blood,” says Sydney-based artist Julian Meagher. “My mum is a great artist, and I grew up surrounded by people making and appreciating art. It has always been part of my life.” However, up until about seven years ago, Julian was a practising doctor. But he made the switch after deciding he didn’t want to regret not giving his art a chance. While Julian took a year off his medical degree to study portraiture at Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy, his artistic career has been a “slow burn of momentum”, he says. In 2009 and 2012 he received the New Work Grant from the Australia Council of the Arts, and over the years has been a finalist for multiple times in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize and the Blake Prize, among others. In 2014 he was a finalist in the Archibald Prize. As to when he felt he was on the right path? “When I knew I was going to paint forever, no matter what,” he says. Julian is a founding director of the artist-run gallery Chalk Horse. (Read interviews with fellow directors Jasper Knight and Oliver Watts.) His first solo show at Olsen Irwin opens on April 22. Which five words best describe you? Considered, soft but stubborn, lanky, perfectionist. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Artist-run spaces were the early stepping stones. We need more of them, they are important non-commercial platforms in the first five years or so of any artist's career. I am proud to be a director of Chalk Horse Gallery, which is one of these. I am lucky enough to be represented by some really good galleries now who provide a great deal of support and opportunity. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Turn up and work hard every day, sounds easier than it is when you are a creative. There is no pay cheque at the end of each week. Endurance, risk-taking and pushing yourself creatively with each painting are all must-have traits, I believe. Failure is part of the process. What’s your proudest career achievement? Probably exhibiting internationally, although I was very happy to be hung in the Archibald last year with a portrait of John Waters. What’s been your best decision? Allowing the paint to do some of the work, learning not to overwork things. Who inspires you? My mum. And anyone who is passionate about something, doesn't matter what it is. What are you passionate about? All the little moments that lighten the world, not focussing on the shadows. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My Dad when he was my age. What dream do you still want to fulfil? The unattainable perfect work. What are you reading? The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan. It is a powerful book, but it his style that I really love, it is in the same emotive class as Tim Winton. images courtesy of julian meagher Posted by Natalie Walton at 06:00 3 comments: Links to this post Labels: art, artist, australia, sydney ARCHITECT + FURNITURE DESIGNER THERESA ARNS It was a good sign when Danish design company Menu and its head of design - from Norm Architects - met Theresa Arns and decided to put some of her designs into production straight away. The architect and furniture designer, who is based in Copenhagen but was born and raised in Cologne, Germany, had a few of her pieces selected for production, including a jewellery box, a turning coffee table and a Private Desk - a writing desk meet dressing table combination. Scheduled for release is a sofa series and a bar trolley. Theresa completed her studies at the Peter Behrens School of Architecture in Germany, and moved to Berlin to work as an architect, focussed on exhibition design. “But I always felt that what I love to work with the most is furniture,” she says. To this end, Theresa moved to Denmark to gain a Masters in Architecture and furniture design at The Royal Danish Academy of Arts. “Design comes quite natural to me,” she says. “I pay a lot of attention to all the everyday objects around us and I love to form, improve and change them. I think that the atmosphere of the spaces we live and work in and the objects we use and surround ourselves with, influence our mood, mindset and the way we feel a lot. It is a lot about worshipping good quality and handcraft.” Which five words best describe you? Passionate, thoughtful, subtle, critical, focused. How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started to work a lot with interiors and I love to work with space, but working with objects and furniture, where I can concentrate on the small details, is what makes me the most happy and therefore I decided to concentrate more on that. What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To trust in myself - it is gonna be fine! What’s your proudest career achievement? It really makes me happy to see and know that there are people using my designs in their everyday lives and that they are glad for them. What’s been your best decision? To move to Copenhagen and to work independently. Who inspires you? Other passionate people like my boyfriend, who also is an architect and designer, inspire me a lot. As I am the most inspired when I am travelling, the best combination is to go on travel adventures with him. What are you passionate about? Form-giving, travelling, nature and food. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I would love to meet my grandmother again, who died when I was a child. She was a very loving and inspiring person, who I didn’t get to know good enough. What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would like to build my own home and have a family. What are you reading? Haruki Murakami, Onna no Inai Otokotachi - in German, though. images courtesy of theresa arns NEWS/UPDATES are now on our recently relaunched Facebook page. Labels: architect, design, furniture, interiors DESIGNER CAITLIN DOWE-SANDES ARCHITECT HANNAH TRIBE DESIGNER ANNIE ABBOTT ARTIST AGNETA EKHOLM WRITER, STYLIST + PHOTOGRAPHER VICKI LILEY CERAMICIST MILLY DENT INTERIOR DESIGNER + STYLIST ANDREA MOORE DESIGNER HEIDI SEMETKA ARTIST ABBEY MCCULLOCH CERAMICIST KEIKO MATSUI CLOTHBOUND BY JULIE PATERSON

NP LP MBE Native name فَیض احمد فَیض (1911-02-13)13 February 1911 Kala Qader, Narowal District, Punjab, British India (present-day Faiz Qader, Punjab, Pakistan) 20 November 1984(1984-11-20) (aged 73) poet, journalist and Army officer British Indian (1911–1947) Pakistani (1947–1984) B.A., MA Murray College at Sialkot Government College University Ghazal, Nazm Revolution, justice, love, respect Progressive Writers' Movement Communist Party of Pakistan Subh-e-Azadi Naqsh-e-Faryadi Dast-e-Sabah Zindan-nama Notable awards Nigar Awards (1953) Lenin Peace Prize (1962)[1] HRC Peace Prize Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1990)[1] Avicenna Prize (2006) Alys Faiz Salima (b. 1942) Muneeza (b. 1945) Shoaib Hashmi (Son in Law) Humair Hashmi (Son in Law) Adeel Hashmi (Grandson) Military career Service/branch British Indian Army Lieutenant-Colonel 18 Garhwal Rifles Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE, 1945) Faiz Ahmad Faiz MBE, NI (Punjabi and Urdu: فَیض احمد فَیض ‎), (13 February 1911 – 20 November 1984) was a Pakistani poet, and author in Urdu and Punjabi language. He was one of the most celebrated writers of the Urdu language in Pakistan. Outside literature, he has been described as "a man of wide experience" having been a teacher, an army officer, a journalist, a trade unionist and a broadcaster.[2] Faiz was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature and won the Lenin Peace Prize.[3] Born in Punjab, British India, Faiz went on to study at Government College and Oriental College.[4] He went on to serve in the British Indian Army. After Pakistan's independence, Faiz became the editor to The Pakistan Times and a leading member of the Communist Party before being arrested in 1951 as an alleged part of conspiracy to overthrow the Liaquat administration and replace it with a left-wing government.[5] Faiz was released after four years in prison and went on to become a notable member of the Progressive Writers' Movement and eventually an aide to the Bhutto administration, before being self-exiled to Beirut.[5] Faiz was an avowed Marxist, and he received the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union in 1962. His work remains influential in Pakistan literature and arts. Faiz's literary work was posthumously publicly honoured when the Pakistan Government conferred upon him the nation's highest civil award, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 1990.[6] 1.3 Marriage 2.1 Academia and literacy 2.2 Military service 2.3 Internationalism and communism 2.4 Rawalpindi plot and exile 2.5 Return to Pakistan and government work 3.1 Accolades and international recognition 4 Plays, music, and dramatic productions on Faiz Faiz Ahmad Faiz was born into a Jat family[7] on 13 February 1911, in Kala Qader (present-day Faiz Nagar), District Narowal, Punjab, British India.[8][9] Faiz hailed from an academic family that was well known in literary circles. His home was often the scene of a gathering of local poets and writers who met to promote the literacy movement in his native province.[9] His father Sultan Muhammad Khan was a barrister[8] who worked for the British Government, and an autodidact who wrote and published the biography of Amir Abdur Rahman, an Emir of Imperial Afghanistan.[9] Although his family were devoted Muslims, Faiz was brought up in a secular tradition of Islam.[8] Following the Muslim South Asian tradition, his family directed him to study Islamic studies at the local Mosque to be oriented to the basics of religious studies by Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti, an Ahl-i Hadith scholar.[10] According to Muslim tradition, he learned Arabic, Persian, Urdu language and the Quran.[8][9] Faiz was also a Pakistan nationalist, and often said "Purify your hearts, so you can save the country...".[8] His father later took him out of Islamic school because Faiz, who went to a Madrassa for a few days found that the impoverished children there, were not comfortable having him around and ridiculed him, as much as he tried to make them feel at ease. Faiz came to the Madrassa in neat clothes, in a horse-drawn carriage, while the students of the school were from very poor background and used to sit on the floor on straw mats[11] In 'Faiznama', his close friend Dr. Ayub Mirza recalls that Faiz came home and told his father he was not going to attend the Madrassa anymore. His father then admitted him in the Scotch Mission School, which was managed and run by a local British family. After matriculation, he joined the Murray College at Sialkot for intermediate study.[9] In 1926, Faiz enrolled in Department of Languages and Fine Arts of the Government College University (GCU), Lahore. While there, he was greatly influenced by Shams-ul-Ulema, Professor Mir Hassan who taught [Arabic] and Professor Pitras Bukhari .[9] Professor Hasan had also taught the renowned philosopher, poet, and politician of South Asia, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal. In 1926, Faiz attained his BA with Honors in Arabic language, under the supervision of Professor Mir Hassan. In 1930, Faiz joined the post-graduate programme of the GCU, obtaining MA in English literature in 1932. The same year, Faiz passed his post-graduate exam in the 1st Division from Punjab University's Oriental College, where he obtained a master's degree in Arabic in 1932.[9] It was during his college years that he met M. N. Roy and Muzaffar Ahmed who influenced him to become a member of the Communist Party.[8] In 1941, Faiz became affectionate with Alys Faiz, a British national and a member of Communist Party of the United Kingdom, who was a student at the Government College University where Faiz taught poetry.[12] While Alys opted for Pakistan citizenship, she was a vital member of Communist Party of Pakistan, played a significant role in Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case when she brought together the communist fwa .Together, the couple gave birth to two daughters Salima and Moneeza Hashmi.[12] Academia and literacy[edit] In 1935 Faiz joined the faculty of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Amritsar, serving as a lecturer in English and British literature.[9][13] Later in 1937, Faiz moved to Lahore to reunite with his family after accepting the professorship at the Hailey College of Commerce, initially teaching introductory courses on economics and commerce.[9] In 1936, Faiz joined a literary movement, (PWM) and was appointed its first secretary by his fellow Marxist Sajjad Zaheer.[8] In East and West-Pakistan, the movement gained considerable support in civil society.[8] In 1938, he became editor-in-chief of the monthly Urdu magazine "Adab-e-Latif (lit. Belles Letters) until 1946.[8] In 1941, Faiz published his first literary book "Naqsh-e-Faryadi" (lit. Imprints) and joined the Pakistan Arts Council (PAC) in 1947.[8] Faiz was a good friend of Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko who once said "In Faiz's autobiography... is his poetry, the rest is just a footnote".[14] During his lifetime, Faiz published eight books and received accolades for his works.[14] Faiz was a humanist, a lyrical poet, whose popularity reached neighbouring India and Soviet Union.[15][self-published source] Indian biographer Amaresh Datta, compared Faiz as "equal esteem in both East and West".[15] Throughout his life, his revolutionary poetry addressed the tyranny of military dictatorships, tyranny, and oppressions, Faiz himself never compromised on his principles despite being threatened by the right-wing parties in Pakistan.[15] Faiz's writings are comparatively new verse form in Urdu poetry based on Western models.[15] Faiz was influenced by the works of Allama Iqbal and Mirza Ghalib, assimilating the modern Urdu with the classical.[14] Faiz used more and more demands for the development of socialism in the country, finding socialism the only solution of country's problems.[15] During his life, Faiz was concerned with more broader socialists ideas, using Urdu poetry for the cause and expansion of socialism in the country.[15] The Urdu poetry and Ghazals influenced Faiz to continue his political themes as non-violent and peaceful, opposing the far right politics in Pakistan.[15] Military service[edit] On 11 May 1942, Faiz was commissioned in the British Indian Army as a second lieutenant in the 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles.[16][17][9][13] Initially assigned as a public relations officer in the General Staff Branch,[17] Faiz received rapid promotions in succession to acting captain on 18 July 1942, war-substantive lieutenant and temporary captain on 1 November 1942, acting major on 19 November 1943 and to temporary major and war-substantive captain on 19 February 1944.[16] On 30 December 1944, he received a desk assignment as an assistant director of public relations on the staff of the North-Western Army, with the local rank of lieutenant-colonel.[18][13] For his service, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, Military Division (MBE) in the 1945 New Year Honours list.[19] Faiz served with a unit led by Akbar Khan, a left-wing officer and future Pakistan Army general. He remained in the army for a short period after the war, receiving promotion to acting lieutenant-colonel in 1945 and to war-substantive major and temporary lieutenant-colonel on 19 February 1946.[20] In 1947, Faiz opted for the newly established State of Pakistan. However, after witnessing the 1947 Kashmir war with India, Faiz decided to leave the army and submitted his resignation in 1947.[13] Internationalism and communism[edit] Main article: Communism in Pakistan Faiz believed in Internationalism and emphasised the philosophy on Global village.[8] In 1947, he became editor of the Pakistan Times and in 1948, Faiz became vice-president of the Pakistan Trade Union Federation (PTUF).[8] In 1950, Faiz joined the delegation of Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan, initially leading a business delegation in the United States, attending the meeting at the International Labour Organization (ILO) at San Francisco.[8] During 1948–50, Faiz led the PTUF's delegation in Geneva, and became an active member of World Peace Council (WPC).[8] Faiz was a well-known communist in the country and had been long associated with the Communist Party of Pakistan, which he founded in 1947 along with Marxist Sajjad Zaheer and Jalaludin Abdur Rahim.[21] Faiz had his first exposure to socialism and communism before the independence of State of Pakistan which he thought was consistent with his progressive thinking.[14] Faiz had long associated ties with the Soviet Union, a friendship with atheist country that later honoured him with high award. Even after his death, the Russian government honoured him by calling him "our poet" to many Russians.[14] However his popularity was waned in Bangladesh after 1971 when Dhaka did not win much support for him.[14] Faiz and other pro-communists had no political role in the country, despite their academic brilliance.[21][self-published source] Although Faiz was a not a hardcore or far-left communist, he spent most of the 1950s and 1960s promoting the cause of communism in Pakistan.[21] During the time when Faiz was editor of the Pakistan Times, one of the leading newspapers of the 1950s, he lent editorial support to the party. He was also involved in the circle lending support to military personnel (e.g. Major General Akbar Khan). His involvement with the party and Major General Akbar Khan's coup plan led to his imprisonment later. Later in his life, while giving an interview with the local newspaper, Faiz was asked by the interviewer as if he was a communist. He replied with characteristic nonchalance: "No. I am not, a communist is a person who is a card carrying member of the Communist party ever made. The party is banned in our country. So how can I be a communist?...".[22] Rawalpindi plot and exile[edit] Main article: Rawalpindi conspiracy The Liaquat Ali Khan's government failure to capture Indian-administered Kashmir had frustrated the military leaders of the Pakistan Armed Forces in 1948, including Jinnah. A writer had argued that Jinnah had serious doubt of Ali Khan's ability to ensure the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan.[23] After returning from the United States, Ali Khan imposed restrictions on Communist party as well as Pakistan Socialist Party. Although the East Pakistan Communist Party had ultimate success in East-Pakistan after staging the mass protest to recognise Bengali language as national language. After Jinnah founded it, the Muslim League was struggling to survive in West-Pakistan. Therefore, Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan imposed extreme restrictions and applied tremendous pressure on the communist party that ensured it was not properly allowed to function openly as a political party. The conspiracy had been planned by left-wing military officer and Chief of General Staff Major-General Akbar Khan. On 23 February 1951, a secret meeting was held at General Akbar's home, attended by other communist officers and communist party members, including Marxist Sajjad Zaheer and communist Faiz.[24] General Akbar assured Faiz and Zaheer that the communist party would be allowed to function as a legitimate political party like any other party and to take part in the elections.[24] But, according to communist Zafar Poshni who maintained, in 2011, that "no agreement was reached, the plan was disapproved, the communists weren't ready to accept General's words and the participants dispersed without meeting again".[24] However the next morning, the plot was foiled when one of the communist officer defected to the ISI revealing the motives behind the plot. When the news reached the Prime minister, orders for massive arrests were given to the Military Police by the Prime minister. Before the coup could be initiated, General Akbar among other communists were arrested, including Faiz.[25] In a trial led by the Judge Advocate General branch's officers in a military court, Faiz was announced to have spent four years in Montgomery Central Jail (MCJ),[26] due to his influential personality, Liaquat Ali Khan's government continued locating him in Central Prison Karachi and the Central Jail Mianwali.[27] The socialist Huseyn Suhravardie was his defence counselor.[27] Finally on 2 April 1955,[9] Faiz's sentence was commuted by the Prime minister Huseyn Suhrawardy, and he departed to London, Great Britain soon after.[27] In 1958, Faiz returned but was again detained by President Iskander Mirza, allegedly blamed Faiz for publishing pro-communist ideas and for advocating a pro-Moscow government.[25] However, due to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's influence on Ayub Khan, Faiz's sentence was commuted in 1960 and he departed to Moscow, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; he later settled in London, United Kingdom.[27] Return to Pakistan and government work[edit] Faiz in London in 1983. In 1964, Faiz finally returned to his country and settled down in Karachi, and was appointed Rector of Abdullah Haroon College.[9] Having served as the secretary of the Pakistan Arts Council from 1959 to 1962, he became its vice-president the same year.[14] In 1965, Faiz was first brought to government by the charismatic democratic socialist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was tenuring as Foreign minister in the presidency of Ayub Khan.[9] Bhutto lobbied for Faiz and gave him an honorary capacity at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) working to rallying the people of West-Pakistan to fight against India to defend their motherland.[9] During the 1971 Winter war, Faiz rallied to mobilise the people, writing patriotic poems and songs that opposed the bloodshed during separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.[28] In 1972, Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto brought him back when Bhutto appointed Faiz as Culture adviser at the Ministry of Culture (MoCul) and the Ministry of Education (MoEd).[8][14] Faiz continued serving in Bhutto's government until 1974 when he took retirement from the government assignments.[8][14] Faiz had strong ties with Bhutto, and was deeply upset upon Bhutto's removal by Chief of Army Staff General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, in a military coup codename Fair Play.[29] Again, Faiz was monitored by Military Police and his every move watched.[24] In 1979, Faiz departed from Pakistan after learning the news that Bhutto's execution had taken place.[24] Faiz took asylum in Beirut, Lebanon, where he edited the Soviet-sponsored magazine Lotus and met well-known Arab figures like Edward Said and Yasser Arafat,[30] but returned to Pakistan in poor health after the renewal of the Lebanon War in 1982.[31] In 1984, Faiz died in Lahore, Punjab Province, shortly after hearing that he had received a nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature.[31] Although living a simple and restless life, Faiz's work, political ideology, and poetry became immortal, and he has often been called the "greatest poet" of Pakistan.[32][33] Faiz remained an extremely popular and influential figure in the literary development of Pakistan's arts, literature, and drama and theatre adaptation.[34] In 1962, Faiz was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize which enhanced the relations of his country with the Soviet Union which at that time had been hostile and antagonistic relations with Pakistan.[35] The Lenin Peace Prize was a Soviet equivalent of Nobel Peace Prize, and helped lift Faiz's image even higher in the international community.[35] It also brought Soviet Union and Pakistan much closer, offering possibilities for bettering the lives of their people. Most of his work has been translated into the Russian language.[35] Faiz, whose work is considered the backbone of development of Pakistan's literature, arts and poetry, was one of the most beloved poets in the country.[35] Along with Allama Iqbal, Faiz is often known as the "Poet of the East".[36] While commenting on his legacy, classical singer Tina Sani said: Faiz Ahmad Faiz... (was) like a comrade, his thoughts were soft but effective and inspired the classical singers as it did others in the plays we did... Faiz's poetry never gets old because the problems and situations in this country have not changed. Today we sing him because of his beautiful poetry, missing out on the reasons behind his poems that had predictions... —  Tina Sani, commenting on the legacy of Faiz, [34] Accolades and international recognition[edit] Faiz was the first Asian poet to receive the Lenin Peace Prize, awarded by the Soviet Union in 1962.[37] In 1976 he was awarded the Lotus Prize for Literature.[37] He was also nominated for the lenin Prize shortly before his death in 1984.[38] At the Lenin Peace Prize ceremony, held in the grand Kremlin hall in Moscow, Faiz thanked the Russian government for conferring the honour, and delivered an acceptance speech, which appears as a brief preface to his collection Dast-i-tah-i-Sang (Hand under the rock): Human ingenuity, science and industry have made it possible to provide each one of us everything we need to be comfortable provided these boundless treasures of nature and production are not declared the property of a greedy few but are used for the benefit of all of humanity… However, this is only possible if the foundations of human society are based not on greed, exploitation and ownership but on justice, equality, freedom and the welfare of everyone… I believe that humanity which has never been defeated by its enemies will, after all, be successful; at long last, instead of wars, hatred and cruelty, the foundation of humankind will rest on the message of the great Persian poet Hafez Shiraz: ‘Every foundation you see is faulty, except that of Love, which is faultless.... —  Faiz Ahmad Faiz, 1962, [24] In 1990, he was belatedly honoured by the Pakistan Government when ruling Pakistan Peoples Party led by Prime minister Benazir Bhutto, accepting the recommendation, and posthumously awarded Faiz, the highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 1990.[1][39] In 2011, the Pakistan Peoples Party's government declared the year of 2011 "as the year of Faiz Ahmed Faiz".[39] In accordance, the Pakistan Government set up a "Faiz Chair" at the Department of Urdu at the Karachi University and at the Sindh University,[40] followed by the Government College University of Lahore established the Patras, Faiz Chair at the Department of Urdu of the university, also in 2011.[41] The same year, the Government College University (GCU) presented golden shields to the University's Urdu department. The shields were issued and presented by the GCU vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Khaleequr Rehman, who noted and further wrote: "Faiz was poet of humanity, love and resistance against oppression".[36] In 2012, at the memorial ceremony was held at the Jinnah Garden to honour the services of Faiz by the left-wing party Avami National Party and Communist Party, by the end of the ceremony, the participants chanted his name: "The Faiz of workers is alive! The Faiz of farmers is alive...! Faiz is alive....!".[42] Translations[edit] Faiz Ahmad Faiz's poetry has been translated into many languages, including English and Russian. A Balochi poet, Mir Gul Khan Nasir, who was also a friend of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, translated his book Sar-e-Wadi-e-Seena into Balochi with the title Seenai Keechag aa. Gul Khan's translation was written while he was in jail during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's regime for opposing the government's policies. It was only published in 1980, after Zia-ul-Haq toppled Bhutto's government and freed all the political prisoners of his (Bhutto's) regime. Victor Kiernan, British Marxist historian translated Faiz Ahmed Faiz's works into English, and several other translations of whole or part of his work into English have also been made by others;[43] a transliteration in Punjabi was made by Mohinder Singh.[44] Faiz Ahmad Faiz, himself, also translated works of notable poets from other languages into Urdu. In his book "Sar-i Waadi-i Seena سرِ وادیِ سینا" there are translations of the famous poet of Dagestan, Rasul Gamzatov. "Deewa", a Balochi poem by Mir Gul Khan Nasir, was also translated into Urdu by Faiz.[45][46] Plays, music, and dramatic productions on Faiz[edit] "Hum Dekhenge" ھم دیکھیں گے by Iqbal Bano[47] Sheeshon ka Maseeha شیشوں کا مسیحا by Omer Khawaja and Shabana Azmi.[48] Dard Aayega Dabe Paon درد آئے گا دبے پاؤں by Sheela Bhatiya.[49] Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam کچھ عشق کیا کچھ کام written by Danish Iqbal and staged by IPTA Delhi. This multi-media Stage Production was premiered at the Sri Ram centre, New Delhi on 11 November 2011. The Play is a Celebration of Faiz's Poetry and featured events from the early part of his life, particularly the events and incidents of pre-independence days which shaped his life and ideals. Directed by K K Kohli the musical Production featured Artists like Shamir Abadan, Jaishri Sethi, Dr Naseem, Izhar, Minhaj, Prateek Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna and Amit Bajaj in lead roles. The script was the first part of a Faiz trilogy written by Danish Iqbal on the occasion of the Faiz Centenary Celebrations.[50] Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan چند روز اور میری جان – A dramatised reading of Faiz's letter and letters written by his wife Alys Faiz. This Production was initially done at the start of his birth centenary celebrations at India Habitat Center, New Delhi by Danish Iqbal and Salima Raza. 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' was also done at Amritsar Faiz Festival organised by Preet Ladi, at Punjab Natshala, Amritsar, on 6 October 2011. This time it was done by Suchitra Gupta and Danish Iqbal.[51] 2011 Drama Festival of Delhi Urdu Academy is basically devoted to Productions about Faiz. Apart from 'Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam' by IPTA, Delhi and 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' by Wings Cultural Society,[52] this Festival will also feature Plays by Peirreot's Troupe on Faiz, namely 'Jo Dil Pe Guzarti Hai'. The festival also presented, for the first time on stage 'Tera Bayaan Ghalib', directed by Dr Hadi Sarmadi and performed by Bahroop Arts Group,[53] which was an adaptation of one of Faiz's few plays for the radio.[54] Ye Dagh Dagh Ujala یہ داغ داغ اُجالا A profound piece of poetry, written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz inspires Raj Amit Kumar to make a film Unfreedom which was released on 29 May 2015 in North America. The idea behind Unfreedom came from the desire to express the lack of freedom in the socio-economic structure of India's contemporary times.[55] Jatt and Juliet یہ داغ داغ اُجالا A profound piece of poetry, written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz inspires Raj Amit Kumar to make a film Unfreedom which was released on 29 May 2015 in North America. The idea behind Unfreedom came from the desire to express the lack of freedom in the socio-economic structure of India's contemporary times.[55] A collection of some of Faiz's celebrated poetry was published in 2011, under the name of "Celebrating Faiz" edited by D P Tripathi. The book also included tributes by his family, by contemporaries and by scholars who knew of him through his poetry. The book was released on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary in the Punjab province in Pakistan.[56] List of Urdu-language writers ^ a b c "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016. CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), Faiz Ahmad Faiz's Nishan-e-Imtiaz Award info on aaj.tv website, Retrieved 3 June 2016 ^ Sisir Kumar Das, History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy, Sahitya Akademi, 2005, p. 476 ^ Faiz, Faiz Ahmed (3 January 2007). "Faiz Ahmed Faiz". Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. ^ Faiz, Faiz Ahmed (3 January 2007). "Faiz Ahmed Faiz". Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017. ^ a b Dryland, Estelle (1992). "Faiz Ahmed Faiz and the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case". Journal of South Asian Literature. 27 (2): 175–185. JSTOR 40874124. ^ "Faiz Ahmed Faiz: Life and poetry". Dawn. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017. ^ "His family". Dawn. 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Rahman, Sarvat (2002). 100 Poems by Faiz Ahmad Faiz (1911–1984). New Delhi India: Abhinv Publications, India. p. 327. ISBN 81-7017-399-X. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Faiz Ahmad Faiz". Official website of Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012. ^ Andreas Rieck, The Shias of Pakistan: An Assertive and Beleaguered Minority, Oxford University Press, 2016, p. 57 ^ Faiznama ^ a b Arif Azad (25 March 2003). "Obituary: Alys Faiz". The Guardian, 2005. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2012. ^ a b c d Kanda, K.C. (2009) [2005]. Masterpieces of patriotic Urdu poetry: text, translation, and transliteration. New Delhi, India: Sterling Publishing Pvt. Ltd. pp. 341–355pp (total 434 pp). ISBN 978-81-207-2893-6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rizwan (PhD; Biological sciences), Riz (2008). In English: Faiz Ahmad Faiz; A renowned Urdu poet. Chicago, Illinois: Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4363-7313-5. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) ^ a b c d e f g Datta, Amresh (1995). The Encyclopedia of Indian Literature. New Delhi, India: Wellwish Publishing ltd. pp. 1258–1259. ISBN 81-260-1194-7. ^ a b The Half-Yearly Indian Army List (April 1945, Part I). Government of India Press. 1945. p. 610. ^ a b The Half-Yearly Indian Army List (October 1943, Part I). Government of India Press. 1943. p. 610. ^ The Half-Yearly Indian Army List (April 1945, Part I). Government of India Press. 1945. p. 31. ^ "No. 36866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1944. p. 14. ^ The Indian Army List (Special Edition, August 1947). Government of India Press. 1947. p. 610. ^ a b c Bhargva, G.S. (2005). Star crossed India: let down by leadership. New Delhi India: Kalpaz Publications. pp. 153, 193. ISBN 81-7835-422-5. ^ NPT. "Faiz Ahmad Faiz". 2010. Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012. ^ Wirsing, Robert (2005). Kashmir in the shadow of war: regional rivalries in a nuclear age. United States.: M.E. Sharpe publishing Co. pp. 173–75. ISBN 978-0-7656-1089-8. ^ a b c d e f Zafar Ullah Poshni (15 February 2011). "My Jail Mate". The Dawn Newspapers, 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ^ a b Chandran, K. Narayana (2005). Text and their Words II §A prison evening. New Delhi: Foundation Book Pvt. Lmtd. pp. 159pp. ISBN 81-7596-288-7. ^ Cohen, Stephen Phillip (2004). The Idea of Pakistan. U.S.: Brookings Institutions, 2004. pp. 102–150pp. ISBN 0-8157-1502-1. ^ a b c d Hasan Zaheer (1998). he times and trial of the Rawalpindi conspiracy 1951: the first coup attempt in Pakistan. U.K.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-577892-2. ^ "Bangladesh Genocide and Faiz Ahmed Faiz". Southasiatimes.com. 26 March 1971. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012. ^ Dr. Ali Madeeh Hashmi (23 February 2011). "Faiz Ahmed Faiz: Life and poetry". The Dawn Newspapers, 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ^ Arif Azad (1 September 2019), "ESSAY: FAIZ, PALESTINE, LOTUS AND BEIRUT", Dawn. Retrieved 3 April 2020. ^ a b Academy of American Poets. "Faiz Ahmed Faiz". 1997. Academy of American Poets. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012. ^ Staff report; Editorial (3 February 2012). "Remembering Faiz". Dawn Newspapers. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) ^ Khursheed Hyder (25 December 2011). "Tribute: Tina Sani pays homage to Faiz". Dawn Newspapers, 25 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ^ a b Our Correspondents (14 February 2011). "Tributes paid to Faiz". Dawn Newspapers, 14 February 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ^ a b c d Asif Farrukhi (17 February 2011). "Among his contemporaries". Dawn Newspapers, 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ^ a b Our Staff Reporter (28 July 2011). "GCU pays a tribute to Faiz". Dawn Newspapers, 28 July 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ^ a b Arana, R. Victoria (2008). The Facts on File companion to world poetry: 1900 to the present. Infobase Publishing. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-8160-6457-1. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2011. ^ "Faiz Ahmad Faiz – Urdu Poet: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project (Library of Congress New Delhi Office)". Loc.gov. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012. ^ a b Staff report (2011). "Bhutto, Faiz embraced gallows for human dignity, ideals: President". Dailymail news, 2011. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2012. ^ Staff Report (19 November 2011). "Preserving culture: Govt to set up Faiz Chair at Karachi and Sindh University". Tribune Express, 19 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012. ^ Our Correspondents (13 December 2011). "Patras, Faiz remembered". The News International, 2011. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2012. ^ Staff Reporter (13 February 2012). "A tribute to Faiz's 'progressive' spirit". Pakistan Today. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2012. ^ Omer Tarin, Faiz Ahmad Faiz: The Living Verse and its English Translators, in Punjab Journal of the Humanities, Lahore, Pakistan, Vol 3, 2008, pp. 21–23 ^ "advancedpoetry – Faiz Ahmed Faiz". Advancedpoetry.livejournal.com. 30 March 2008. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012. ^ "Warsa-i Nasiriyat ورثۂ نصیریات" by Abdul Sabur Baloch, p 166. ^ "Shairi-iShar Gadaari شاعری اشعار غداری" by Mir Aqil Khan Mengal in Maahnaama Balochi, December 1987, p 11. ^ Khan, M Ilyas (22 April 2009). "Pakistani singer Iqbal Bano dies". BBC News. ^ "Oops! Something went wrong. - YouTube". www.youtube.com. ^ Bajeli, Diwan Singh (20 December 2012). "Poetry of Pain". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 February 2008. ^ "From the Diary". The Hindu. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2018. ^ Bhambri, Vaishali (3 September 2011). "Urdu lessons on stage". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 February 2018. ^ "Wings Cultural Society". Ourwingss.blogspot.in. 22 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012. ^ "Bahroop Arts Group". Bahroop.blogspot.in. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012. ^ Correspondents-Nidhi Gupta (13 November 2011). "A tribute to Urdu and Faiz". The Sunday Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2012. ^ a b "Unfreedom Official Website". Unfreedommovie.com. 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2012. ^ Devi Prasad Tripathi (2011). Celebrating Faiz. Vij Books India. ISBN 978-93-81411-08-7. Dryland, Estelle. "Faiz Ahmed Faiz and the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case." Journal of South Asian Literature 27.2 (1992): 175–185. Online Faiz, Ahmad, Jamil Jalibi, and Fahmida Riaz AMINA YAQIN. "Variants of Cultural Nationalism in Pakistan: A Reading of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Jamil Jalibi, and Fahmida Riaz." in Shared Idioms, Sacred Symbols, and the Articulation of Identities in South Asia (Routledge, 2009). 123–148. Works by or about Faiz Ahmad Faiz in libraries (WorldCat catalog) Research Based Segregation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz Poetry- The website segregates the Selected poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz into Love, Romance, Sad, Social, Political and Religious Poetry Indian politician's tribute to Faiz Ahmed Faiz A tribute to Alys Faiz Mushaira.org entry on Faiz Ahmed Faiz Faiz Ahmad Faiz at Kavita Kosh (Hindi) Selected poetry of Faiz Kuch Ishq Kya Kuch Kam Kya' English translation by Qazi Muhammad Ahkam Audio recitation and ghazals, nazms, qitaat of Faiz in Roman transliteration Selected poems of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, translated by Azfar Hussain Hum Dekhenge Poetry of Faiz MBA: b64f6005-a537-4351-ab08-33533f2740c3 NTA: 07392847X SNAC: w6gq7r6v Trove: 818902 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Faiz_Ahmad_Faiz&oldid=1000744784" Communist Party of Pakistan politicians People from Sialkot Poets from Lahore Urdu poets from Pakistan Pakistani communists Pakistani Marxists Lenin Peace Prize recipients Recipients of Nishan-e-Imtiaz Punjabi academics Pakistani scholars Government College University, Lahore alumni Nigar Award winners Poets from Punjab, Pakistan Pakistan Movement activists Pakistani progressives Communist writers Communist poets Pakistani revolutionaries Writers from Lahore 20th-century poets Oriental College alumni Murray College alumni Pakistani poets Pakistani lyricists Pakistani songwriters Pakistani prisoners and detainees British Indian Army officers Members of the Order of the British Empire Indian Army personnel of World War II Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y EngvarB from November 2015 Use dmy dates from February 2018 Pages using infobox military person with embed Articles containing Urdu-language text All articles with self-published sources Articles with self-published sources from December 2017 Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers Wikipedia articles with NLI identifiers Wikipedia articles with NLP identifiers Wikipedia articles with RERO identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers

A detailed analysis of the origins of the building known as the "Barracks". Why it does not have military origins. The Sifton Cook Heritage Centre aka " the barracks" is located on lot 18, concession B, at the corner of Orr and Durham Streets, southwest of the centre of the town of Cobourg. The limestone building has become derelict over the years and been in the process of restoration since 1999. There are plans to turn this mysterious and fascinating building into a museum. Lakeshore concession B, also termed the Broken Front on early maps as its southern border consists of the irregular Lake Ontario shore, terminates just west of Factory Creek ( now known as Cobourg Creek) at lot 20, near Tremaine Street. The northern border of the concession follows partly along present King Street in Cobourg and in 1799 the area to the south was a cedar swamp. Lake Ontario was higher than it is today, creeks were much larger and teeming with fish, and it is said that once one could paddle up Midtown Creek as far as James Street. There was only a blazed trail a mile or so north according to historian Edwin Guillet. Although Elias Jones is said to have built a store on King St. in 1802 most of the road was reported to be a "founderous morass". In her reminiscences Katherine (Chrysler) White says she saw only three houses when she landed at the small wharf in 1813 and only a rough corduroy road to the lake. Katherine Chrysler had come to Hamilton Township as the bride of Josiah Charles White, one of the first grantees of land in the area, who had established a mill on the upper reaches of Factory Creek. Due to its swampy terrain most of the early houses in the area were built, not at the lakeshore, but on the higher outskirts and near the courthouse at Amherst, located in the north west section of present Cobourg. Amherst was the centre of business activity until after the War of 1812. But by 1819 the village on the lakeshore had been named Cobourg and the business centre moved from Amherst to Cobourg. By 1825 it was slowly becoming a town and two streets, Division and George leading to the lakeshore, had been laid out. The town eventually grew until it occupied lots eleven at the east to twenty-two at the west and stretched north including part of concessions B and A, up to present highway 401 where it crosses concession one. The town continues to spread east and west as subdivisions proliferate. Nathan Williams and his sons, John ,William, Joshua, Ebenezer and Richard are listed in Percy Climo's research (available at the Cobourg Library), as occupying lot 18, concessions B and A, in the first census of 1804. Nathan William's grant application for lot 18, concession B, was approved in 1820. There is no evidence Williams was an United Empire Loyalist or a military man. Ordinary settlers had to pay patent and surveys fees and were required to perform settlement duties before their grants were approved. These involved building a log cabin, cutting down enough trees to make five large brush heaps and paying twenty five dollars for the deed. The settler had to swear before a magistrate that these had been done before a grant was approved. Because of the many applications grant approval was often delayed for many years. It was improbable there were any military buildings in existence on lot 18, concession B, in 1810 because the land along the lakeshore was a swampy wilderness. Any army land movement during the War of 1812 was to the north along the Danforth Road constructed in 1800 through Hamilton Township. Highway two was not built until 1817. Zaccheus and Asa Burnham emigrated from New Hampshire c.1798 and were acquiring extensive properties in both concessions one and two in the Amherst area by 1801. Zaccheus built a distillery and inn there that he operated until the war began. He was appointed officer in charge of transportation during the War of 1812-14. Edwin Guillet wrote in The Pioneer Farmer and Backwoodsman, "Mr. Burnham's farm was the only one along the road where supplies could be obtained and the troops of the line quartered there". Niram Burnham, a relative of Zaccheus, first worked, and later purchased, the farm owned by Zaccheus on lot 18, concession two. This farm was located on the Danforth Road near Ontario Street. A broken tombstone was ploughed up in a field on the property saying "In memory of two infant sons of Niram and Mary Burnham who died 1812". Also there is a tradition that Halfway House on the Danforth Road, lot 4, concession one, was used by General Sheaffe and the British Army after the burning of York in 1813. In the census of 1804 there were over 40 names listed as resident in Hamilton Township, which included the fledgling settlement on the lakeshore. But only half a dozen of these appear on the Militia Roll Call of 1812. Another half dozen, at least, have been left off. Any veteran of the 1812 war received $20 annually from the government. Asa Burnham operated a sawmill at that site as early as 1801 but there was no grist mill there until Robert Henry, a new arrival, built a large flour mill in 1817. Ebenezer Perry, a veteran of the 1812 war, built his stone mill in 1815 at what is now known as Pratt's Pond. Josiah White was the earliest miller in the area and he built his grist mill c. 1812 further up Cobourg Creek, west of present Hull's Corners. Zaccheus Burnham of neighbouring Amherst was involved with supplies for the troops so it is most likely that White's mill is the one in question. The nearest military post was at Carrying Place near Belleville. A portion of a map of Hamilton Township as it was in 1878.There are a number of letters concerning the War of 1812-14 on file at the Ottawa Archives and officers often mentioned connected with Hamilton Township were: Captain Zaccheus Burnham, Major Elias Jones and Major David Rogers, who owned Halfway House on the Danforth Road. The inn where the troops had meals was that of James Williams, located at present Elgin and Division Streets. It appears that any military activity was near the Amherst area and further north on the Danforth. Researchers should remember that the town of Cobourg did not exist during the War of 1812 and it is a disservice to other researchers to use the name in connection with the war. Letters concerning military matters to and from the area were simply addressed "Hamilton". It was recorded in his diary, The Life and Times of Anson Green (1877), that he was present in 1825 when Peter's Robinson's first contingent of Irish settlers, bound for Peterborough, arrived in Cobourg: "I saw the beach west of Division Street covered with small white tents filled with Irish immigrants. There was no wharf in Cobourg then, and the landing was somewhat difficult. These tents presented a beautiful and attractive appearance, They stretched along on the sand beach lying between the lake and a forest of small cedars which covered the worst part of the swampy ground east of Ham's mills". Actually at that time the grist mills at lot 20, on the west side of Factory Creek, were owned by Robert Henry. In 1830 a Mr. Ham of Bath, England, purchased Henry's mills and estate for 6000 pounds. Note that Nathan Williams owned 18 to the east. Anson Green mentioned no buildings being present on the swampy lots east of Cobourg Creek in 1825. Records show that after receiving his grant Nathan Williams disposed of lot 18 and farmed in other locations. There was no action on the property until 1826 when Ebenezer Perry appeared on assessment rolls. Perry would have probably spent the next five years clearing, draining and filling swampy lot 18 preparing it for sale or lease. He paid the taxes on lot 18 for some years and had extensive holdings in the town, in lots 15 and 16, as well. He is listed on assessment rolls on concession B, lot 18, until 1837. Ebenezer Perry (1788-1876) was a U.E.L descendant, born in Ernesttown, who served in the War of 1812, probably at Fort Henry, Kingston, only a few miles way. He was a prominent Methodist, merchant and miller. After the war he came to the Amherst area and his stone mill, built in 1815 on present Pratt's pond, burned down in the 1850s and was re-erected in brick. It also burned in 1942 and only the exterior was saved. The mill has recently been restored and is now a restaurant. Perry also built a brick store with a stone facade in 1832 on King Street in Cobourg. Perry had his finger in most of the enterprises around early Cobourg. He was on the building committee of Victoria College in 1832 and first president of the Board of Police in 1837. He was involved in both Cobourg railway enterprises and, it is said, a strong supporter of the Reform movement of 1837. Perry later served in the Legislative Assembly and was a senator there until his death. In early days Cobourg was at one time called "Hardscrabble", and according to Senator Perry, "hard scrabbling it was". N.B.- Wanted, 5,000 bushels of good malt barley for which the highest cash price will be paid on delivery. The subscriber having erected a distillery on the Irish and Scotch plan, in connection with his Brewery, and which he has now in full work begs to offer to his Friends and the Public: Pure Copper Distilled Malt Whisky of superior strength and flavour and which he will sell on such terms as will ensure him a share of their patronage. Superior Ale for Bottling and draught Ale on hand, as well. James Calcutt, Cobourg Brewery and Distillery. Calcutt's home, "Lakehurst", is located on Durham Street just south of the Heritage Centre. It is improbable that Calcutt would have built the imposing brick house in 1832, the year he arrived in Cobourg. Assessment rolls show he and his large family were living elsewhere in town while his house was being built. It was 1841 before Calcutt was assessed as paying taxes on town lot 18. One of Calcutt's sons, Kingsley, carried on the brewery but had financial difficulties in the late 1850s like others at the time. James Calcutt was forced to sell his home, Lakehurst, and the brewery, which sat idle for some years. The Calcutts moved to Port Hope in 1859. James Calcutt Sr. (1792- 1869) was buried at St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery, Cobourg. Here in part is his obituary printed in the Cobourg Sentinel: "In all his dealings he was scrupulously honest, from the largest to the smallest transactions, and he endeavoured as a leading citizen to give a tone of fairness to every important event in our municipal history." Henry Calcutt, the fifth of James' eleven children from his three marriages, began brewing on his own in the Peterborough area at the age of eighteen, having learned the business from his father. At first he leased premises but after eight years he built his own stone brewery in 1865, located in Ashburnham, where the ill-fated Cobourg-Peterborough railway had a turn-around. It is said he was involved in the railway. He might have had stock but was not the founder and owner, nor responsible for its failure, as one writer erroneously states. Henry Calcutt invented a method of cooling beer quickly that is still used today. He was granted the patent in 1895. Dubbed "Commodore" Henry Calcutt, he was involved in steamboats starting in the 1870s and had several built and operating on Rice Lake, besides several hotels around the shore. Transportation to and from Gore's Landing and picnic excursions to Peterborough were popular around the turn of the last century. The "Calcutt's Steamers" , mentioned in a Cobourg World news item, refers to the Commodore's steamboats, not a steam mill at Calcutt's brewery in Cobourg, as another writer speculates. Charles Mackechnie, one of three Scottish brothers, bought the Calcutt property in 1863 and opened the "Victoria Brewery". A scribe for the Cobourg Sentinel of February 13, 1864, was very impressed with the "New Brewery" and devoted a whole article to its superiority, claiming, "It is as far removed from the old fashioned style of brewing as the steam engine is removed from the old oak ship. In capacity his malt house alone would make a large brewery." He enthused that the new building being erected was nearly as capacious as the old one, intended for a malt floor and kiln. The kiln was 25 by 25 feet, with a barley loft on the same flat, 6 tubs containing 15,000 gallons each, a 20 horse-power boiler, coolers, a newly patented refrigerator and a mash tub big enough to mash 100 bushels at a time, being fitted up with new mashing and sparging machines. There were also 5 fermenting tubs kept at regular temperatures by a constant volume of steam. The beer cellar was lined with about 4,000 gallons and the stock cellar contained 6,000 gallons. Mr. T. Duncan from Edinburgh was the superintendent of the brewery and distillery. The old limestone building was probably used for storage. The Cobourg Sentinel writer was told the New Brewery could produce 1000 pure, unadulterated, wholesome gallons of beverage a day and he urged hotel keepers to buy locally rather than from Toronto or Kingston. The "barracks" name originated in 1930 when someone writing in the Cobourg Star put forth the unfounded story it could have erected for an army barracks and that myth has been perpetuated to this day. Even in 1930 there was no evidence presented of military use but since then some have become enamoured of the story, speculating that the limestone building had something to do with the War of 1812. Seduced by this romantic idea they have tried to manipulate the facts to fit. Others have refuted the "barracks" story as a fairytale for children. But much of what has been written about the early history of the Calcutt brewery site has no foundation in fact and is not backed by research. The building bears no resemblance to an early military shed but looks like a small malting house (like the one at right in Mountmellick, Ireland). Stone buildings were common in Ireland, from whence Calcutt emigrated. If there were such an unlikely building on the premises in 1832 why would Calcutt not have used it rather than build a new one? It was certainly large enough to have accommodated a malting house immediately. The brewing of beer requires a fair amount of space and the size of the original building, number of windows, and the chimneys at both ends denotes a far more important usage than just as a storage shed for grain. The 90'x 20' limestone building has five 6 over 6 windows and two doors all on the south wall with a brick chimney at each end of the roof. It has been suggested that Calcutt wanted the building facing his house so he could keep watch on the premises. There is a long rectangular opening high in the west wall; it apparently was an access door to a loft. There are bricks in the east wall that appear to be repairs to a crack. Archaeologist Dr. Laurence Jackson has found no evidence of fireplaces and discovered the remains of burned coal. In pioneer days in Upper Canada buildings were heated with fireplaces so the use of stoves points to a later date than 1810. Stoves were necessary because the brewing process required steam. One thing that has always been puzzling about the building are the large holes on the end walls, surrounded with bricks laid in a fan pattern, just below each chimney at either end of the roof. The west one has been filled in with bricks. It has been suggested that the holes were meant for owls, presumably to catch rats, or even that the "owl holes" were punched in later. There is a far more prosaic explanation: Matt Howell, a master brewer, explained to this writer that breweries must have ventilation due to heat and gases generated during the malting process and the temperature needs to be kept fairly constant all year round. Early malting houses had louvered vents or large chimneys. There is an old malting house in Hertfordshire, England, (photo at right) that is very similar to the Cobourg building. Although it is much larger and constructed of brick, it has the same shed roof, a number of windows and a round aperture under the eaves. That would account for the so-called "owl holes" and the presence of stoves and chimneys in the primitive first building and the bricks appear to have been included during its construction. There were no brickyards reported to be operating in Cobourg before 1830. Certainly there were none in 1810. It is said that Calcutt's house was the first in Cobourg to be built of brick. When the McKechnies bought the brewery property in 1863 and constructed "a new building nearly as capacious as the old" the Cobourg newspaper contrasted the primitive, old brewing operation with the new modern machinery and fittings. That lends even more credence to the premise that James Calcutt built the original stone malting house. It does not make sense there would be three large malting houses built on the same property and there has never been a description of the exteriors of any of the buildings. There is a story that there was an old stone windmill in the vicinity of Calcutt's property and that the stone from that demolished windmill was used to build his malting house. Apparently there is also a basement nearby built of the same stone. The building material is thought to be local limestone from the lakeshore. There were few granite boulders in swampy Cobourg but the limestone walls could have been constructed by either bricklayers or stonemasons. There is another possibility: Fort Henry in Kingston was built 1812-14. The old fort was constructed of timber and earth and faced with limestone. In 1832-37 it was demolished and replaced with the fort that still stands in Kingston today. It is said the new fort bore no resemblance to the old one and that it was constructed of limestone blocks. It is possible that in the summer of 1832 Calcutt had limestone transported from Fort Henry to Cobourg by boat. There was a great deal of traffic on Lake Ontario between the two towns. The material would probably be of the same composition as Cobourg limestone and the time period is right. Then there is Calcutt's connection with Ebenezer Perry, a veteran from Fort Henry, who sold him the property. Perry built a store on King Street with a stone facade that same year. Possibly, too, this could be the origin of the persistent barracks legend and the connection to the War of 1812 . Dr. Jackson never found any evidence of buttons or coins to support the barracks myth nor of early human habitation upon excavating portions of the building's present sandy floor. He did discover some artifacts from later in the 19th century such as animal bones, china, toys etc. and that the original floor and a later one had been constructed of wood. He found evidence of a stable and it is said that the Amours, later owners of Lakehurst, used the building for stabling their horses. It is known that a blacksmith once had a forge at the east end and that at one time there was a laundry operation there. Within living memory items from demolished buildings were sold from the premises. One must remember 1832 was still very early in the development of commerce and business in Upper Canada. When one discounts the improbable "barracks" story, there can be no other conclusion than that the primitive limestone building was built for Calcutt during the four months after his arrival. Why not use brick in the beginning? No doubt a stone building would have been more familiar to an Irishman, more secure from fire and rodents than frame and perhaps cheaper to build than brick. Thirty years later his son, Henry, also built his brewery of stone in the Peterborough area. One writer states that in 1901 the brewery burned to the ground in a "mysterious fire" and that the limestone building survived but had the roof damaged. That makes a dramatic ending to the brewery saga but there is no confirmation of a 1901 fire. After 1899 the ownership of the brewery property is lost in a sea of mortgages until the Cobourg Museum Foundation took over the building one hundred years later. By the process of elimination and taking all the present evidence into consideration, there can be no doubt the limestone building was constructed by James Calcutt in 1832. A more appropriate name than the "barracks" would be "The Old Brewery". Whatever its age it remains a fascinating building and it is a miracle that Calcutt's old limestone brewery has avoided fire or demolition and is still standing. Kudos to those who, with vision and hard work, are endeavouring to restore the building and planning a future museum. A suggestion has been made that a display of early brewing methods and artifacts, even some hops growing around the entrance, would be interesting. Historical facts gleaned from Edwin Guillet in Cobourg 1798-1948, assessment rolls 1804-1845, internet articles on breweries, Fort Henry, James and Henry Calcutt, newspaper files at the Cobourg Library, Burnham family history, Gore's Landing and the Rice Lake Plains by Martin, Milne and McGillis.

Posts tagged "最新上海龙凤419XZ" Tag: 最新上海龙凤419XZ North of tree The North is the North where I grow. The North can also grow many trees. The poplar and poplar trees in the north are the most common trees in the north. Poplar is a fast growing tree species, wu liu nian can become useful. Both the field ditch and the roadside door can survive. Poplar and Canadian poplar are common in the north. In early spring, poplar trees were covered with caterpillar-like things first. When we were young, we called Yang Mao Mao. We often went to the tree to pick up the fallen Yang Mao, and mother copied it with hot water when she went home, then crush the steamed potatoes and mix them together, which is not difficult to eat. Before long, Yang Mao would fall out. Later, when I was in college, I knew that it was actually the flower of Poplar. Later, some green spots of stars will burst out from the gray bodies of these poplar trees. In fact, it can’t be called Green, it is a kind of goose yellow. Those green buds grow carefully. The leaves stretch slowly in the cold breeze of early spring. The leaves are fresh and tender. Pick a piece and cover it between your hands. In the bright spring, you can whistle loudly. These tender leaves, boiled in boiling water, have bitter taste, which is also edible, but bitter. No matter how few the leaves are, the leaves will turn green and the trees will grow dense. There will be strings of green beads hanging between the branches. After a while, those beads burst out, and white beads flew out. This is Yang Hua. When spring comes, Yang Hua wins the snow, flying around and confusing people. There are not so many poetic people in the countryside, and they just feel a little annoyed. Sometimes Yang Hua piled up too much on the ground and was blown by the wind. The children were so happy that they grabbed a box of matches in their hands, one in the east and one in the West, once the Yanghua is on fire, it will be dried up. In fact, each piece of Yangxu is covered with a seed. They will take root in suitable soil and grow young saplings in the next year. In summer, poplar trees are luxuriant, and sunshine and rainwater are hard to leak from their huge leaves. Birds build nests among the branches of trees to rest and have children. The crisp birds’ cries hide among the branches and leaves of poplar trees. Hearing the sounds, it is hard to find them. On the summer night, after eight or nine o’clock, there was no light in the mountain village. The wind comes from the south and passes through the rows of Poplar shoots. The leaves collide with each other. The wind passes through the cracks of the branches and leaves, just like a sudden rain into a river, falling down along the mountain. Sleep with the sound of pillow, but sleep soundlessly. (When I returned home a few years ago, those tall and robust poplar trees which had experienced decades of wind and rain in my childhood and young life were finally cut down. A river in the village has not been repaired for a long time, and the river has not flowed through the village for a long time. There were also several rows of poplars and willows on the riverbank in the west of the village. In the past summer noon, people often lay under the trees to enjoy the cool. Now the trees have also been cut down, while the riverbank is covered by cement foam, but no one goes there to enjoy the cool.) In autumn, especially in late autumn, every poplar tree is golden. When a gust of wind comes, two or three pieces of poplar trees stagger down. When the leaves of the whole tree fell off, my eyes gradually extended to the blue and white sky along the treetop, and occasionally one or two clouds drifted by, I was really worried that I would be pulled by the pointed treetop. The dense branches point straight to the sky like swords. If it is just dusk, the setting sun is bleak, and the meager sunshine is scattered on the treetops in the forest, soaking in the dusk. At this moment, only then did I realize what autumn is bleak. In the northern Loess plateau, there are patches of poplar forests called Old Man trees. These trees were originally ordinary poplar and Canadian poplar, which should be tall and straight branches and leaves exhibition. But there, they were no more than one person, less thick than children’s forearm, and the image was obscene. The reason is that the soil here is too barren and lacks nutrition. Looking at them, sometimes it is not only pity, but also a kind of solemn pain and solemn respect. There are not even a few grasses in this place, and other trees cannot survive at all. But after all, they took root. After all, they survived and guarded a side of soil. All people should pay full respect to life, especially this kind of life. There are usually several fruit trees planted in the apricot farmyard of Northern trees, such as apples, pear trees, peach trees and plum trees. But apricot trees are the most. Apricot trees are drought-resistant and suitable for growing in the north. In the farm, the shadow of spring is usually the first to be seen from the tip of apricot tree. In the early spring, the branches of apricot trees sprouted fluffy buds, either red or white. After one or two spring rains, your heart is not ready yet. It is already full of flowers and spring is full of branches. Song Qi, a person of Song Ci, has a sentence of red apricot branches in spring, which is praised by later generations. But I think it is not vivid enough, and the words are too heavy, which makes me feel that the scenery is harmful to the spring. The small building listened to the spring rain all night, and the tenderness and charm of apricot flowers sold in the Ming Dynasty in the deep alley could not be seen in the north. However, walking in the country village, occasionally behind the dilapidated tiles or a short soil low wall, a fresh red apricot twigs poked out of your head, giving you a sudden delight and feeling the sky blue and the wind soft immediately, inject new spirit into your body, and make your steps lighter. But spring is always very short. A few days later, apricot flowers fall out, and there are all hairy apricot exposed. Carefully pinch them down and throw them into the mouth, which is a kind of fresh astringent acid. In autumn, when the apricot was ripe, the naughty child held a long pole under the tree and hit the ripe one specially picked. There was a more stubborn boy, riding on the trunk with his legs, climbing up the branches and leaves in a flash, picking a bunch of yellow apricot with leaves on the tree, under that tree, there was a young girl with two short braid staring eagerly. The East of my hometown is next to the mountain. When learning Dazhai in the past, many terraces were built on the mountain. However, because there is little rain and the land is not fat, it is often planted in spring and less than two buckets in autumn harvest, so the land is deserted and nobody grows. But some apricot trees planted at that time survived a lot. In spring, the mountain is white and tender, which is a rare beautiful scenery in this small mountain village. It also bears many fruits, but it is often picked up by others when it turns blue in summer. Occasionally, there were several ones growing in higher or hidden places, which could turn yellow when they were ripe in autumn, and were found by the latecomers, which was a very exciting thing. In deep autumn, the leaves were frosted, but the red was old. The red was smelly. The Frost leaves were red in the February flowers. Looking down from the foot of the mountain, the world was green and gorgeous, just like a rush of fire on the mountain. When I was seven or eight years old, there was an apricot tree beside the house where my grandfather lived. Because there were houses on the left and the passageways on the back and forth, people often walked around, so they didn’t look good, the fruits are also sparse, clear and countable. When the fruit is ripe, it is also boring with less juice. But after all, he gave me a lot of hope in my childhood. Later, the tree was sawed for the convenience of opening to traffic, which was almost twenty years ago. The Willow of the Northern trees the common willow in the north includes weeping willows and dry willows. Weeping willows or river banks, long strips like hair, like daughter’s makeup near the river, make people feel infinite love immediately. Or stand on the side of the road and walk in the spring breeze, with the feeling of the emperor returning to the court. Or independent of the wild wind, the end of the world can be seen, where to recruit people? Compared with the willow, the dry Willow seems not to be dressed up, and the hair is unkempt, just like the village woman and the wild woman. Compared with weeping willow which only plays a decorative role in nature, dry Willow still has some practical use in life. Tao Yuanming is known as Mr. Wu Liu. But in my place, willow trees can’t be planted in the yard or behind the door. This is because, however, when there is a funeral, some willow branches will be cut and wrapped with white paper. This is a sad and sorrowful stick, and a longer one will be needed, and a string of hemp paper will be pulled at the top, is evocation streamer. There were also some people who could not choose a willow tree as a coffin because they died suddenly or their families were poor. This is the reason why people taboo Willow. But Willow is a common thing in the works of ancient poets. Liu tongliu, the ancients often borrowed Liu to bid farewell. I used to go, Yang Liuyi, now I go, rain and snow are falling. When I saw Yang liuchun on the roadside, I felt a lot of twists and turns. This year also fold last year at, do not send last year parting person. In ancient poetry, Willows mostly refer to Willows. Willow branches are weak, which used to be compared to women’s delicate figure. Early Spring Willow. The sky is drizzling and crisp, and the grass color is far away but there is nothing. It is the best spring in a year, and the best is that the smoke Willow fills the imperial capital. The Willow Tree which just peaked out the tender buds of the fur began to wake up and start to shake and dance lightly in the wind in the cold wind of early spring. The silky white fluff of the tender Bud seemed to cover a layer of light smoke which could be blown off by a breath from a distance. Maybe it was the laziness of the Willow just woke up at this time, or a kind of melancholy. When the tender buds with melted fur grow into slender yellow leaves inadvertently, it is a kind of color that is so delightful that you want to care for. The soft and tender leaves are transparent and glittering in the sun, the world is so clear and tranquil, trembling gently in the breeze, against the blue sky of early spring. In ancient Zhanghui novels, women are often described as Willow eyebrows and apricot eyes, but I think sometimes it really makes me express my love for Willow and apricot flowers in spring, then I can only use beautiful women as metaphor: willow leaves are like eyebrows, apricot flowers are like eyes. Poplar has poplar flowers, Willow has catkin. At first, a string of pearl-like green particles were hung, and then white floc burst out. After a while, they couldn’t bear loneliness and flew out one after another. Yanghua catkin is a rootless thing, which has always been criticized by literati. But some people also sigh that its weak quality is noble, but why does it often fall down? In summer, farmers often enjoy the cool and summer under willow trees. Willow is not as tall as poplar, and the shade can be covered around the tree body. In summer, you can put a straw hat on your face and put a hoe under the tree, so you can rest easy and have a leisurely nap. Every time I went back to the village, due to the continuous expansion of the village several years ago, the willow trees beside the ditch at the entrance of the village were hard to be seen again. Even if one or two trees survived and wanted to learn from Tao Gong to lie high, in this world, unless there was not a wisp, how could you sleep soundly beside the road? The northern tree of locust locust, also known as locust, is the most elegant tree I have ever seen. It is said that locust originated from Germany in the 18th century and took root in Shandong first. It is quite similar to my Chinese climate, and its rich harvest is better than that in Germany. Later, its traces spread all over the northern China. The crown of acacia tree is very layered, and each layer is well-proportioned, which keeps a lot of space between each other. Each layer is like a tilting round cover. The leaves are compound leaves and wings, and the leaves are light and translucent. The Chinese native is called locust tree, and its fruit is pods. I am saw Acacia when I was studying in Beijing. There are several trees in front of the new teaching building of the school, and there are many teaching buildings whose crowns are higher than four floors. The locust tree is not like a foreign devil, but like an ancient madman, with long clothes and wide sleeves, who is eager to fly. The expression is a kind of free and unrestrained stretch, but there is no deliberate publicity. Looking at the sky with locust trees, the sky is higher and the trees are lighter. A supplementary note: I wanted to write these trees more than ten years ago, and I started at that time. I remembered that it was also at that time that I met a woman on TV. A woman who planted trees with her life in the Maowusu desert. For 18 years, an oasis was cultivated with youth and life in the desert raging with no one. There, she planted not only trees, but also grapes, tomatoes and sunflower. Because of the trees in the originally desolate desert, foxes, rabbits, pheasants and so on also settled down there. Because of the trees, there are six or seven rains there every year than in the past. God also has long eyes. When the leaves turn yellow, God will rain. This woman named Yin Suzhen said so. More than ten years later, I wanted to find some information and recent situations about her on the internet. Except for a little information about her mentioned in a teacher’s article, there was no other information. I couldn’t help thinking of a sentence, which was called human heart is not old, but I didn’t expect that the computer network also learned this person’s bad habits. Good people are easy to forget, but few people think about it. The world is like this, and it can only be like this. Like (prose editor: Jiangnan wind) change the way to continue to stay with this city I went out at 6 o’clock in the morning and came back at almost 8 o’clock in the evening. From beginning to end, I only welcomed myself with silence; Since I went to college, on weekends… [Original essay] string words Since winter, the sky is dry and the snow is misty. The whole earth is desolate and empty. Whether your mood is like a year, or… Forever military dream Forever military Dream (Ma Xiaochun, Kangle county, Gansu province) memories are like meteors, passing through the unmarked and blurred eyes, and the outline gradually… Spring rain I like spring rain like everything on the Earth. Just after the new year, the sky began to rain. I really like the spring in Jiangnan… Plucked the snowflakes of Dreams (modified) Near the new year, the first snow fell. I was surprised to read a long scroll in the morning, the white one is snow, and the gray one is tree… Self The fashion is transient, and the style is permanent. Things that can shine on others may not be put here. In… Categories: yqkvhcTags: 上海娱乐地图A,大上海油压,最新上海龙凤419XZ,阿拉爱上海B

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi I have received reply from dvla regarding my medical, as I refused to give breath speciman last year. They say need more information from my GP, I duly contacted him and he has assured me that I should get my driving license back. Apparantly my liver gamma count was 70 I am not sure about other results . I am very worried now that dvla will refuse my driving application I am a 62 year old widow and lead a very active life I do not smoke but enjoy a couple of glasses of red wine. I regard myself as fit and work part time. Losing my licence has made life very hard as I live on my own. I just want to move on with my life and I am losing sleep now terrified I will not get driving license back in September help !!!! gest methods of maintaining a healthy liver output: Hi and welcome to Healthcaremagic. Thank you for your query.It seems like you have fatty liver and there are two main types of fatty liver disease so treatment depends on this: Alcoholic liver disease and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. You can get alcoholic liver disease from drinking lots of alcohol. It can even show up after a short period of heavy drinking, other causes are obesity and hepatitis B and C.If you have alcoholic liver disease and you are a heavy drinker, quitting is the most important thing you can do. Talk to your doctor about how to get help. If you don't stop you could get complications like alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Even if you have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, it can help to avoid drinking. If you are overweight or obese, do what you can to gradually lose weight -- no more than 1 or 2 pounds a week.Eat a balanced and healthy diet and get regular exercise. Limit high-carb foods such as bread, grits, rice, potatoes, and corn. And cut down on drinks with lots of sugar like sports drinks and juice. This should lead to improvement. You should repeat your liver markers in 3-4 weeks.I hope I have answered you query. If you have any further questions you can contact us in every time...

Home » Blog » Beyond Banksy- Bristol Street Art in Three Neighborhoods Beyond Banksy- Bristol Street Art in Three Neighborhoods Last updated May 15, 2019 By Carol Guttery Go beyond Banksy in Bristol England and discover eye popping murals in three different neighborhoods. This tour will show you a Bristol street art scene full of world class urban art. A very angry mother nature by Guy Denning Bristol’s Street Art Culture “I find 90% of this art form to be boring, banal and unimaginative. Images far too ordinary to be exhibited in art galleries are admired because they are on the street” ——Jonathan Jones, art critic and chief curmudgeon at The Guardian Well, I disagree Mr. Jones and fortunately, so does Bristol. It wasn’t always that way of course. In the ’80’s and ’90’s, when street art was more about tags than murals, the city tried to crack down on the “perpetrators”. In 1989, they launched “Operation Anderson”, which raided the homes of suspected graffiti artists, confiscating sketchbooks and materials. They then attempted to match the Bristol graffiti with samples from the artist’s schoolwork using handwriting experts. Well, that didn’t fly and most of the kids were let off with a slap on the wrist. Fast forward twenty years and Bristol street art has been institutionalized with the Upfest festival and a city culture that embraces street art in all of it’s forms. The array of creativity in Bristol street art is pretty staggering and it takes on all forms and materials. You’ll find tagging, throw ups, graffiti, stencils and murals using creative materials like charcoal, power washing, sketching markers, metal works, spray paint, ceramic tiles and (not kidding here) small wads of chewing gum. Bristol has been hosting Upfest since 2009 and every year it takes over the Bedminster neighborhood with a blast of fresh works from 300 artists. The city also supports media interest in their street art scene and I was fortunate to have the Visit Bristol team host part of my stay and help me with access to Bristol street art tours and insider access at the festival. Mural in the Tobacco Factory yard Read More: Spend some extra time in Bristol and explore with this guide for things to do there. Banksy in Bristol Banksy and Bristol go hand in hand. He is, unarguably the most famous street artist of our time and he’s one of Bristol’s favorite sons. Banksy guards his anonymity pretty fiercely but it is known that he was born in Bristol in the ’70’s and was part of Bristol’s early graffiti scene. He experimented with graffiti and freestyle but in the early 2000’s he discovered Blek le Rat’s stenciling technique and the rest is history. Banksy’s brand of highly satirical, politically charged street art and his willingness to execute pranks and stunts, has given him notoriety in the broader culture. He has worked all over the world but Bristol is Banksy’s home base and the city does what it can to preserve his works in situ. Banksy in Bristol: The Girl with the Pierced Ear Drum Banksy’s Girl with the Pierced Ear Drum is a great example of how he makes use of the surrounding environment to inform his work. In this instance, he makes clever use of a fire alarm as an earring. Hence the broken ear drum. Banksy’s The Grim Reaper This very early Banksy Bristol piece was painted into the side of a fishing boat. After Banksy’s reputation skyrocketed and the boat had outlived it’s usefulness, the owner cut out the piece and donated it to the MShed museum. This sort of removal and preservation is a thing with Banksy’s works, and not just in Bristol. There is some serious loot to be made by carefully removing and restoring Banksy art from the sides of buildings. Of course, he doesn’t get any of that money but he has done well enough for himself by selling prints so I don’t think he needs to worry about paying for his beer and beans. The Well Hung Lover In another case of ironic street art, he stenciled this message onto what was originally a sex health clinic. In 2009, the stencil was defaced by blue paint balls, which add an ironic and mildly dangerous element to the piece. In the spring of 2018, it was defaced again with graffiti. There is a (false) rumor that the blue paint was meant to symbolize a rival futball team’s color. There are a lot of false rumors about Banksy, including one that he is actually the front man for Massive Attack (I heard he isn’t). Banksy in Stokes Croft: Mild Mild West This anti-establishment, pro-cuddle piece typifies the Banksy Bristol ethic and is well-regarded by the residents of Stokes Croft. Read further to find out how where to find these and other works on the Banksy walking tour. Beyond Banksy: Bristol Mural Neighborhoods Banksy may be popular, but he isn’t the only game in town. Bristol was Europe’s vanguard for urban art and the streets are full of pieces from both local and world artists. You can find it tucked away all over the city but there are three particular neighborhoods worth checking out. I’ll review the neighborhoods first and at the end, you’ll find information on how to find murals on your own and a recommendation for a Bristol street art tour. Central Bristol Street Art There are both tall buildings and lurking alleyways housing graffiti and murals in Central Bristol. Most of the large pieces shown here were part of the See No Evil Bristol street art festival in 2012. The local artist Inkie (who was one of those arrested in 1989), worked with the arts council to spruce up what were otherwise some pretty drab mid-century buildings and parking lots. The smaller, grittier pieces are largely illegal works that Bristol graffiti artists and muralists have been throwing up in the alleyways for many years. By Connor Harrington Connor Harrington specializes in staged set pieces. He photographs his friends in 17th century swashbuckling poses and then creates the mural, using paint thinner to drip and “age” the images. You can also find his work on my Belfast street art guide. Disco Dog by ARYZ by El Mac El Mac’s portraits are so interesting because they are photo realistic but he gives the murals additional texture by pixelating them with dots and swirls. Right down the street from this mural is the nearby Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. They had local artists create pieces for their lobby and the halls also have prints from local urban artists. by JPS This sweet stencil from JPS is reminiscent of Banksy. In fact, JPS credits a visit to Bristol’s Banksy spots for turning around his life and setting him on his art career. This piece is located on Frogmore, not far from Banksy’s Well Hung Man stencil. JPS also has another piece featuring a buff gladiator around the corner. by Stik Like JPS, Stik also made a comeback from a rough existence and he now self-funds these large scale murals all over the world while also raising money for charitable causes. You can also find some very touching Stik murals in New York City. By Mariusz Waras (green industrial piece), Nick Walker (the Vandal), and Tats Cru (Bristol skyline) by Pixel Pancho This steam punk version of a Hippogriff is simply delightful and it’s a great add to what is otherwise a very dreary parking lot. Found in Leonard Lane Leonard Lane features quite a few pieces with unconventional materials including the mosaic above, the bronze tile below and the chewing gum painting below that. The bronze piece was installed by Jonsey. He is based in London’s Brick Lane where he has installed a series of whimsical creatures on top of street posts. You can find more of his work in my Shoreditch street art guide. By Jonesy By Ben Wilson Wilson specializes in painting on flattened chewing gum. While even thinking about it makes me want to reach for an wet wipe, I appreciate the challenge he has created for himself by choosing such a small canvas and the Quixotic nature of putting art where it’s not likely to be seen. This is one of the more subtly brilliant displays of street art that I’ve ever seen. Unauthorized painting, stenciling and the like are still illegal in Bristol. However, in a big f-off to the very police station that arrested those kids in the 90’s, someone has used wooden stencils to power wash images onto the police building. As my Where the Wall tour guide guide so wryly put it, “you can’t be arrested for cleaning things”. Stokes Croft Street Art Street art thrives in rough and ready neighborhoods, like San Francisco’s Mission District or Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood and Stokes Croft is right up there with the best. As recently as 2008, the neighborhood was characterized by boarded up store fronts and massage parlors. Forgotten neighborhoods like this often become hubs for street artists who want a cheap place to live and walls to practice on. Community organizations like Hamilton House have mindfully cultivated rejuvenation and a creative entrepreneurial spirit so the neighborhood has tipped toward an urban renewal hipster vibe. That said, things are still gritty in Stokes Croft and as a result, you can find a lot of off-the-books graffiti and murals there. This piece was done by our Where the Wall tour guide The Bear Pit Stickers, graffiti and smaller murals cover the inside of the Bear Pit and the pedestrian tunnels leading into it. Be sure to look down as well as there are pieces built into the paving bricks. There are a lot of commissioned pieces that travel up the buildings in Stokes Croft, as you see in the pic above and several below. The Full Moon Hostel The Full Moon Hostel not only commissioned the outside of their building, but they have street art in the rooms and sculptures on their deck. You can also find a lot of horizontal guerilla works located down Moon street and on City road. Be sure to peek into the alleyways and car parks. Bristol graffiti along Moon Street Bedminster Street Art Bedminster is our third stop on the Bristol street art tour. While you will find spots of guerilla graffiti (mostly in the Dame Emily skateboard park), most of the works in Bedminster have been commissioned as part of the Upfest street art festival. Upfest is a bacchanalia of spray paint that goes on every July in Bristol. The ten year old festival has an ethic of inclusion and is fueled by volunteers. They feature 300 artists on a range of platforms including multi-story buildings, side streets and small-scale boards. During the festival, nearly every building, side yard, park and parking lot is used. They invite world renowned artists like Nomad Clan, Kobra and Mr Cenz but they also give space to local and emerging artists. The festival is also a big party with food trucks, bands and beer. Each festival has a theme (or two) and the lead artists are asked to design to the theme. But the rest of it is a free for all of creative expression. “What do you think of Upfest?” “I love it. But it has to be the good stuff because some of it is bollocks” —- Gruff local character from Bedminster whom you wouldn’t think would care for street art Upfest from above featuring Saker working on a pink Simpsons inspired piece You can see the murals in Bedminster any time but I do recommend trying to visit during Upfest where you can watch the works in progress. The next three shots show the evolution of a mural by Louis Masai. He creates pieces featuring endangered species and his colorful coral reef at Upfest centered around a hawksbill turtle. This is a very complicated mural, which took him longer than the three days of the festival but as you can see by looking at the final work on his Instagram feed, his efforts were worth it. Day 1 of the festival A post shared by Louis Masai (@louismasai) on Aug 13, 2018 at 3:13am PDT And the final piece. Doesn’t it make you want to go snorkeling? by Jody Art By Nomad Clan The 2018 Upfest had a female empowerment theme and they also partnered with Matt Groening to feature the Simpsons. Pretty gutsy of Groening to let loose the copyright for his iconic brand so that the artists could riff on it. I wish Disney would do that. By Nol By L7M L7M paints faster than the hummingbirds that he features. He easily finished two sizeable pieces by the second day of Upfest. Skateboard park at Dame Emily park Steam Crane Pub mural by Loch Ness By China Girl Austrian ceramic artist China Girl painstakingly constructed this giraffe over three months and then delicately delivered it to Bristol via secure diplomatic pouch. You can find it and quite a few murals in the yard of the Tobacco Factory. The yard of the Tobacco Factory While you are in Bedminster, you should also visit the Upfest Gallery. They have street art supplies, prints and exhibitions. It’s located on North street right in the middle of all of these murals. You can find the exact spot on the map below. Bristol Street Art Tour Wandering around seeing street art on a self-guided tour can be a great way to get to know a neighborhood. Alternatively, taking a guided tour will give you much more background on Bristol’s street art culture. If you have time, do a mix of both. I recommend Where the Wall for a guided tour of the Central Bristol and Stokes Croft locations. The tour is a steal at £10 and the guides are knowledgeable local artists who can give you a deep dive behind the pretty walls. You can also do an add-on that includes a stenciling session with your own take-home piece of art. Where the Wall starts in Central Bristol and ends in Stokes Croft, so you can spend some additional time revisiting some murals, checking out their quirky shops or getting a late lunch. The Bedminster neighborhood doesn’t have a tour so you’ll need to do it self-guided. Give yourself at least a few hours to wander Bedminster. There are plenty of pubs and cafes to fortify you along the way. Use my Bristol street art map below. It highlights the main streets of Central Bristol, Stokes Croft and Bedminster with the most murals. The map flags Banksy art in those neighborhoods as well as those in outlying areas. There is also self guided paid app called the Banksy Bristol Trail which gives background and locations for his pieces. Where the Wall also has a Bristol street art map that calls out some specific pieces with exact address locations, however the UI is a bit clunky. The easiest thing to do is bookmark this page and use this map on the fly while you are in Bristol. (Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission) Learn More About Street Art You can learn more about street art by viewing Banksy’s documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. You can also purchase a street art encyclopedia like the New Street Art, Street Artists 2: The Complete Guide, the World Atlas of Street Art & Graffiti or Lonely Planet Street Art. In fact, if you have an Amazon Prime account, you can get the Lonely Planet for free as an ebook on Kindle Unlimited. If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, you can get a 30-day free trial HERE. Study great street art in other cities by checking out my guides to: Top Street Art Cities in the World | Buenos Aires | San Diego | San Francisco | Los Angeles | Chicago | London | Reykjavik | Havana | Belfast | Paris | Nashville | Estonia | New York City | Victoria Australia You can also find fresh articles from other bloggers on my Pinterest street art board. Bristol is ground zero for a street art movement that has brought urban art out of the shadows and into the wider public consciousness. It’s a great street art city and one worth devoting a lot of time to seeing. Happy Trails! Stay up to day and subscribe to the Wayfaring Views newsletter. Share Bristol street art with your friends and pin this post: Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: England, Europe, Street Art, United Kingdom james quintanilla says Great article and amazing pics too. There’s nothing like street art to give your trip that extra something. I think its pretty awesome to explore a great artists backyard! I did a similar thing when I went to Paris… I looked for Invader around every corner. Good times! Those little tiles are everywhere once you know to look for them. Ruth Holt says I love taking photos of street art too but had no idea Bristol was such a good place for it! We drive past each year to go to Cornwall. I must actually visit one day! Try visiting in July when they are having Upfest- then you can see the street art in-the-making Wow, I’ve only briefly visited Bristol and got the impression it was a pretty cool city, but I didn’t realise just how cool. I’d love to go back and spend some time hunting out all this street art. The whole city has a very cool vibe

by GrundyILGW | Feb 6, 2015 | Deaths, Newspaper, Obituaries | 0 comments N. J. Comerford, a prominent citizen of Minooka and Joliet, collected obituaries and newspaper articles during his lifetime for placement in his scrapbook. Michele Roberts, historian at Three Rivers Public Library in Minooka, photocopied his books for transcription. That transcription is included on this website in a series of articles called N. J. Comerford’s Scrapbook. Dr. Brinckerhoff Dead Prominent Minooka Physician Succumbs After Minor Operation Newspaper Unknown J.J. Brinckerhoff, prominent Minooka physician, died at St. Joseph’s hospital late yesterday following an operation on his throat. His death was sudden. A few minutes before he had sent his nurse for a glass of milk. When she returned, Dr. Brinckerhoff was dead. Dr. Brinckerhoff was operated upon at 9 o’clock yesterday morning for removal of his tonsils. The operation was a success. Following the operation embolism developed and was the cause of death. Embolism is defined as a particle of a heart valve being carried by the arterial current and lodging in a blood vessel of the brain, where it stops the flow of blood. This is an unavoidable complication sometimes which follows surgical operations, it is stated by physicians. Dr. Brinckerhoff practiced in Minooka for twenty years. He was prominent in municipal and school politics. He was secretary of the Desplaines Valley Poultry association. Dr. Brinckerhoff was 47 years old. He leaves a widow and four children: John, 17 years old; Eva, 16 years old; Rachel, 9 years old; and Gertrude, 7 years old. The funeral will be held Friday morning at 10:30 o’clock from the home, and by motor to Oakwood cemetery. Lived Here 48 Years; Leaves 13 Children Mrs. Sarah Jane Paul, 64 years old, who came to Joliet when she was __ years old, died at 8:30 o’clock in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Earl Lumley, 200 Cagwin avenue. Mrs. Paul who was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Eaton, was born in Hamilton, Canada, in 1855, and with her parents came to Joliet in 1871. ______ 23, 1876, she was married to Matthew H. Paul of Troy. Thirteen children, of whom thirteen survive, were born. They are James and Harold, of Troy, Oliver of Joliet, Pvt. William of Brest, France, Mrs. Joseph Nelson, of Chicago, Mrs. Charles Jones of Fargo, N. D., Mrs. Earl Lumley, Mrs. Ray E. Curtis, Mrs. Fred Fahrner and Mrs. Fred Rhine, all of Joliet; Mrs. Edward Smallwood of Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. Neil Murphy of Lockport. Until four years ago, when they retired from farming, Mrs. Paul resided on a farm in Troy. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. Seward Pioneer Dies at Residence in Joliet Northern Seward, May 3 – James Platt, one of Seward’s pioneer citizens, died at his home in Western avenue, Joliet, Monday night at 9 o’clock. Death was caused from cancer of the stomach. James Platt was born in England August 13, 1848. When he was 10 years old, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Platt and family, he came to America. They settled in Seward. He was married Sept. 14, 1868, to Ellen Skinner. Three children were born: Fremont Platt, of Plainfield and Luella Brown of Joliet… Young Mother Dies in Morris; Ill 12 Months Mrs. James Brady Leaves Husband and Two Children to Mourn From Her Death Mrs. James Brady passed away Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at her home on East Jackson street and although her death was expected yet it has cast a great sorrow over her little family to whom is extended the sympathy of many friends. Julia Agnes Sharp was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sharp. She was born in Morris on June 30, 1878 and was in her thirty-eighth year. She was reared to womanhood here and on Oct. 21, 1903 she was married to James Brady, of Minooka, the ceremony taking place in Morris. The couple lived on a farm near Minooka for some time and finally moved to Morris where they resided since Mrs. Brady contracted tuberculosis a year ago, and for eight months was a patient at Naperville with the hope of being restored to health but it was not to be and last October she came home. Of her marriage to James Brady were born two children who with the grief stricken father are left to mourn. They are Bernice, aged 11 years and James, one year old. There is also her aged mother in Morris and the following brothers and sisters: By first marriage – Will O’Brien (obit ends). O’Brien – Michael O’Brien, 69 years old, died in his home, 800 Oneida street, last night at 11:30 o’clock. Besides his widow he is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Michael Brannick of Minooka, Mrs. Edward Briscoe of Manhattan, and Miss Mary, Miss Henrietta and Miss Catherine of Joliet; and four sons, Thomas, John, Joseph and Michael of Joliet. The funeral will be held from the home Saturday morning at 7:45 o’clock to St. Patrick’s Catholic church at 8:15 o’clock. The body will be taken on the 10:10 o’clock C. & A. train to Wilmington for burial. (newspaper unknown) Kelly – M. L. Kelly, 71 years old, died in his home, five miles west of Wilmington, last night. He is survived by his widow, three daughters, Mrs. Agnes K. Donahue, Mrs. T. M. Cannon and Miss Esther Kelly of Chicago; and two sons, A. J. Kelly of Wilmington and Dr. J. R. Kelly of Chicago. The funeral will be held from the home Saturday morning to St. Rose’s church, Wilmington, at 10:30 o’clock. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. (newspaper unknown, dated Feby. 7, 1918) Fitch Dies in California 1915, newspaper unknown Noted Editor and Humorist Killed by Operation Berkeley, Cal., Aug. 10 – George Fitch, noted Illinois author and humorist, is dead today following an operation for appendicitis. Mr. Fitch was taken ill Saturday. He had been visiting at the home of his sister, Miss Louis Fitch, who is a student at the University of California. Mr. Fitch came to California early in June with Mrs. Fitch who was with him at the time of his death. The body will be removed to Peoria for burial after services have been held here on Friday. Mr. Fitch was born at Galva, Ill., on June 5, 1877. He graduated from Knox College at Galesburg and in 1897 began his newspaper career on the local paper at Galva. He became editor of the Herald-Transcript in Peoria in 1905. He was president of the American Press Humorists and a member of many other clubs. He was married to Miss Clara Gatrell Lynn, of Kansas City, Mo. George Fitch, author and humorist who died at Berkley, Cal., yesterday following an operation for appendicitis, was known to many Joliet people. Fitch visited Joliet two years ago, and in company with Representative William R. McCabe, met many people at the Commercial club. He was a close friend of Attorney Paul Prutsman, of Lockport. They were school mates at the Galesburg school. While in Peoria in May, Representative McCabe was the guest of the Fitch family at dinner. Seward Pioneer Buried Sunday September 23, 1912, newspaper unknown William BedFord, a resident of Illinois for sixty-eight years, died at his home in Seward Township on Friday. The funeral services were held from the home with Rev. A. Beddoes of the Plainfield Congregational and Rev. Mr. King of the Seward church, in charge. Interment was in Seward Mound Cemetery. Sept. 18, 1840 – Oct. 20, 1914 A. O. MARSHALL (newspaper unknown) Band Leader, Fever Victim For Months, Loses Fight August 2, 1915, (newspaper unknown) ______ A. BOYNE Mrs. R. Pilcher Taken by Death February 22, 1921, newspaper unknown Mrs. Nora Pilcher, donor, with her husband, Robert Pilcher, of Pilcher park, died last night at 9 o’clock in her home, 407 South Raynor avenue. Active Social Worker Noted for her philanthropic and social work, Mrs. Pilcher, who was 70 yeas old at the time of her death, has been an active worker on Silver Cross hospital board and in the Silent Workers’ Circle of King’s Daughters. With her husband and son, Ray, Mrs. Pilcher affixed her signature to the deed which made the Forest of Arden the property of the people of Joliet. She has been an active booster for the city of Joliet and endorsed the proposal of her husband to make the gift to the community in order that it might be a garden spot for the public of today and of the future. Born in New York, Mrs. Pilcher, who was Miss Nora M. Anson before her marriage, was married to Robert Pilcher at her home in Ottawa, Ill., where she went as a young girl. Lived in Marseilles For a year Mr. and Mrs. Pilcher made their home in Marseilles, where he was interested in a paper mill. Returning to Joliet, he was with Young and Reibling for two years, having charge of their mill, after which he accepted a position as superintendent of the mill at Marseilles. Three years later they returned to Joliet and Mr. Pilcher took a similar position in F. Reibling’s mill. The presentation by Mr. and Mrs. Pilcher and their son, Ray, of the 327 acres to be used as a public park, came as a climax in a history of generous giving to the community by both Mr. and Mrs. Pilcher throughout their residence in Joliet. Surviving her are her husband, her son Ray, a grandson, Robert Pilcher, Jr., and a brother, W.W. Anson, of Joliet. For more than a decade Mrs. Pilcher has been a member of the women’s advisory board of Silver Cross hospital. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home, the Rev. T. DeWitt Tanner, pastor of Christ Episcopal church, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst cemetery. Hold Funeral of Mrs. Pilcher Here Tomorrow Members of the force of the Robert Pilcher paper and woodwork establishment, will be active pallbearers at the funeral of Mrs. Robert Pilcher, 407 Raynor avenue, tomorrow afternoon. An honorary escort will also be provided. The Rev. T. DeWitt Tanner, pastor of Christ Episcopal church, will officiate at the services to be held at 2:30 o’clock at the home. Burial will be in Elmhurst. Mrs. Pilcher died after a long illness Monday night at her home. With her husband and son Ray, she presented Pilcher park to the city of Joliet last summer. Honorary pallbearers will be H.B. Banks, Col. Fred Bennitt, N.J. ComerFord, Henry Leach, E.W. Willard and Jonathan Mather. Active pall bearers are J.A. Thomas, J.B. Ireland, Frank Wylie, W.J. Frederick, Edward A. Rafter and John Callighan. James Moran Born July 23, 1803 – Died Nov. 7, 1914 Funeral Service for “King of Waupecan” Many People Attend the Last Rites for the Late James Moran Who Died Saturday The funeral of the late James Moran, “King of the Waupecan”, was held Monday morning at the Catholic church. There was a large attendance of relatives, friends and citizens. Rev. J. J. D’Arcy celebrated requiem mass and delivered the funeral sermon. Music was rendered by the children’s choir. Pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased – Thomas, William and Harry Marshal, of Blue Island, Henry, Louis and Wilbur Webber, of Morris. Mr. Moran lived to the extraordinary age of 111 years. His cottage on the banks of the Waupecan has in late years been visited by many people who desired to see him and talk with a man of his extraordinary age. Miller – The Funeral of Celia Miller, 15-year-old daughter of the late William Walsh, of Joliet, was held yesterday afternoon from the Methodist Episcopal church, Minooka, with burial in Chapman cemetery. The young girl, who was raised by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller, took their name upon her adoption. Sixteen flower girls lead the way from the church and assisted in the service of their girlhood friend. Rev. H. A. Snyder officiated. (Source: Herald, Oct 4, 1915) Girl Auto Victim Returned Home Miss Rose Riley The body of Miss Rose Riley, 606 Webster street, who was struck by an automobile at West Adams and South Halsted streets, Chicago, Sunday night, was brought to Joliet last night, by Heaps and Conklin, undertakers, and removed to the home of her father, Lawrence Riley, 902 North Broadway. While the body had been dragged for almost a block before the automobile was brought to a stop, there were no marks on her face or hands to show that she had been dragged along for such a distance. That Noble L. Biddle, the manufacturers’ agent, who was driving the car at the time of the accident, had done all within his power to avoid the accident, and had given the girl all the assistance possible after running her down, was testified to at the inquest by witnesses. Coroner Hoffmann exonerated Mr. Biddle after all of the evidence had been heard. The funeral will be held from the residence of her father, 902 North Broadway, to St. John’s German Catholic church, Wednesday morning, at 10 o’clock. Father Daniels will officiate. Interment will be in St. John’s cemetery. Woman is Killed by an Auto Miss Rose Riley Victim of a Machine Driven by Noble L. Biddle Miss Rose Riley, 29 years old, 606 Webster street, Joliet, was fatally injured last night, as she was struck by an automobile owned and driven by Noble L. Biddle, a manufacturers’ agent, 4547 Sheridan road. The accident occurred at West Adams and South Halsted streets and Miss Riley died a few minutes after her arrival at the Jefferson Park hospital. Two men and a woman were riding in Biddle’s car, which was going at a moderate rate of speed, according to the police. Miss Riley apparently failed to notice its approach and was struck. One lung was punctured by a broken rib and her collar bone was fractured. Detectives were sent to Biddle’s home to arrest him after the police received word of the victim’s death. Viscount Northcliffe Most Powerful Unofficial Resident of England Victim of Mysterious Malady August 15, 1922, newspaper unknown, (By Associated Press) London, Aug. 14 – Viscount Northcliffe, noted British publicist, died this morning. News of his death was given out by the doctors who have been attending him, in this bulletin. “Viscount Northcliffe died at 10:12 o’clock. The end was perfectly peaceful.” The death of no other unofficial person could have made a deeper impression in England than that of Lord Northcliffe. The news was not a surprise, as the bulletins issued by the doctors for the last week plainly indicated that their patient was dying. The nature of the fatal disease has not yet been revealed, but it is expected the public will soon be told. Lord Northcliffe was by far the most noted figure in British journalism and the first question on everyone’s lips was as to what effect his death will have on the policies of the Times and his other newspapers, which, since the end of the war, have strongly opposed the Lloyd George administration and its principles with the notable exception of its dealings with Ireland, which the Northcliffe press supported throughout. Later it was stated that the cause of Lord Northcliffe’s death was suppuration, or the production of pus within the heart, which was followed by acute blood poisoning. Lord Northcliffe will be buried on Thursday in the St. Mary-Le-Bow cemetery, Finchley. The funeral service will be held in Westminster Abbey. Editor at Seventeen Viscount Northcliffe, the son of an Irish barrister, became an editor at 17 years, owner and publisher of the London Times and Daily Mail, the moulder of public opinion, a man of powerful influence in the making and unmaking of British cabinets and, who with David Lloyd George, contributed in a great measure of arousing England to a more vigorous action in the war. He was created Baron of the Isle of Thanet in 1905 and made a viscount in 1917 after he had served with distinction as head of the British mission to the United States to consolidate British interests here during the war. ………………….. the arousing of the British public to a knowledge of the fact that the British army in France was insufficiently equipped with high explosive shells, that British guns on the French front were short of ammunition and that Lord Kitchener, then secretary of state for war, was sending the British gunners shrapnel while Sir John French, as commander, was appealing for the same kind of high explosives that Germany was hurling over the lines in vast quantities. This exposure has been characterized as one of the outstanding journalistic feats of the war. It resulted in the appointment of David Lloyd George as the first British minister of munitions and put him on the road to become prime minister. Eddie Gardner Eddie Gardner, of Plainfield, famous throughout the country for his dare devil flying, died at Lincoln, Neb., today from injuries received yesterday when his airplane crashed from a tail spin during an aviation tournament at Holdrege, Neb. Gardner, who was formerly with the air mail service, following his discharge from the United States air service, in which he served as a lieutenant during the war, is credited with having carried the first mail by airplane between New York and Chicago. Mother Lives Here Mrs. John Schaaf, the pilot’s mother, lives at 336 Stone street, Joliet. His sister, Mrs. George Spangler lives in Plainfield. Word of the airman’s death was received by his relatives this morning. Details of the accident in which Gardner was injured, are lacking. All that was reported today was that while attempting a tail spin yesterday, Gardner lost control of his ship and crashed. Quit Mail Service About 18 months ago Gardner resigned his post in the mail service and became affiliated with the Nebraska Aircraft Corporation at Lincoln, Neb., testing machines and doing stunt work. Gardner has flown several times in Joliet and Plainfield, while he was employed in the mail service. It was his custom after completing a flight that brought him into Chicago, to fly to his mother’s home, then in Plainfield, for a short visit with his relatives. He flew here last August from Milwaukee after delivering the prize pig of the University of Nebraska’s agricultural college to the governor of Wisconsin. That was the last time Gardner was at home. He was a dependable pilot, while employed in the mail service, but when making exhibition flights would take any chance in order to give the spectators a thrill. Thomas H. Riley Whereas, the council learns with deep regret of the death of the Honorable Thomas H. Riley, and Whereas, Mr. Riley was a member of the City Council of the City of Joliet in the early years of ____ City Life beginning in 1877 and served, though not continuously until _____, and Whereas, Mr. Riley had served this City and legislative district as a member of the House of Representatives for a number of years, and Whereas, Mr. Riley’s past life was characterized by high and lofty ideals and a deep consciousness of his duty to the people who had placed him in office, resulting in many beneficiary results both to the City and this District, and Whereas, In his death this community has lost a representative citizen and public servant whom we had reason to respect and be proud of Therefore, Be it Resolved by the City Council of the City of Joliet in regular session assembled that we extend to the family of the Honorable Thomas H. Riley our sincere condolences on his death, and Be it Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be spread on the records of the Council and a copy thereof sent to the family of the deceased. J. B. Brown, M. S. Harney, F. X. Berscheid Patrick Ford Many words are not needed to eulogize Patrick Ford. Let these suffice: He loved Ireland and he spent himself in its service. That should be the epitaph on his grave. He helped lead his people through the wilderness of oppression. It is a pity that he could not have lived to see them enjoying the promised land of Home Rule. May the earth lie light on his body and God give peace and rest and bliss to his brave soul! Famous Editor Dead Patrick Ford Passes Away at His Home in Brooklyn – Power at Home and Abroad Patrick A. Ford died Tuesday of pneumonia at his home, 350 Clermont avenue, Brooklyn, after an illness of four days. He was the founder and for forty-three years the editor of the Irish World. Mr. Ford was known on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the foremost champions of the Irish cause. His name is a household word wherever there are representatives of the Irish race. In England he has been regarded for a generation and more as the personification of Irish opposition to English rule. In the United States he enacted no unimportant part in American politics. Under his leadership thousands of voters in 1884 broke away from the Democratic party and cast their ballots for Blaine, his personal friend. How Burchard’s “Rum, Romanism and Rebellion” saved the day for the Democratic party is a matter of history. His influence exerted through the medium of the Irish World continued to be felt in subsequent Presidential elections. While doing this work on this side of the Atlantic he was inspiring his countrymen in Ireland with his own irreconcilable hostility to Irish landlordism. Gladstone in a speech delivered in the House of Commons on April 18, 1882, declared “But for the work of the Irish World is doing with the money it is sending across the ocean there would be no agitation in Ireland.” Equally emphatic was the testimony of famous Irish patriots. Born in Galway, Ireland, April 12, 1837, he emigrated to America with his parents in 1846. Boston was the field of his early activities. As a boy he obtained employment in the printing office of William Lloyd Garrison, who at the time was editing and publishing the Liberator. In 1855 he began his journalistic career by writing for the Boston newspapers. In 1860 he was the editor and publisher of the Boston Sunday Times. When the war came Mr. Ford enlisted in the Ninth Massachusetts. He took part in the desperate charge at Fredericksburg. After the civil war he removed to Charleston, S. C., where he founded the Charleston Gazette. Four years later he issued in New York the first copy of the Irish World, with which his name was to be identified for the next forty-three years. When the Land League came into existence in 1879 he founded 2,600 branches of it in the United States. Through the Irish World he collected and forwarded to the treasurer of the Land League in Ireland almost half a million dollars. He is survived by twelve children – Robert E. Ford, Austen J. Ford, Patrick J. Ford, Edward J. Ford, Ellen J. Ford, Mrs. Mary Mooney, Thomas J. Ford, James B. Ford, Paul Ford, Francis S. Ford and Mrs. Leo R. O’Brien. Mrs. Ford died eighteen years ago. William C. Mason Born July 7, 1850 – Died June 16, 1921 (newspaper unknown), (By a Staff Correspondent) Washington, D. C., June 16 – [Special] – Representative William E. Mason, congressman at large from Illinois and former United States senator, died here today in his apartment at the Congress Hall hotel. He was 71 years old. Sketch of Mr. Mason William E. (“Billy”) Mason was esteemed to be one of the nation’s wittiest citizens, one of its old line stump speaking, story telling orators, and one of its fighters. A politician since he was 6 years old, he was born in the village of Franklinville, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., on July 5, 1850. He was one of ten sons of Lewis J. and Nancy (Winslow) Mason, and he had four sisters. The elder Mason was a wagon maker and a pioneer. He moved west to Bentonsport, Ia., in 1858. Mason got but 75 cents a day for his labor, and yet he managed to feed those fourteen children and two others whom he and his wife had adopted. During the evenings he made furniture, and after a time he became the proprietor of a hotel and stocked it with the home made furniture. Teaches School at 15 Mason was 15 when his father died. He was thrown on his own resources. He got a job teaching school at Bear Creek and after he had thrashed the biggest boy had little difficulty. In 1868 he went to Des Moines, Ia., and began studying law in the office of Thomas Wethrow, who soon after was appointed general solicitor of a railroad, and moved to Chicago. Mason came with him, remained in his office a year, then studied in the office of John N. Jewett. He was admitted to the bar when he was 21 years old, was elected to the Illinois legislature before he was 30, and was elected state senator in 1882. It was in these years that Mason became known around the stump circuit as an orator, a humorist, a story teller, When he would walk out upon the platform and shake his long black hair and lift his eyebrows, shrug his shoulders, and start in telling yarns – there was nothing to it. Begins Career in Congress He was elected to congress in 1889 and was reelected for the second term. But on this third attempt he was buried in a Democratic landslide. Five years later; in 1897, he was elected to the United States senate by the Illinois Legislature by a strict party vote, receiving 125 votes against 78 for John P. Altgel. He became a spectacular figure in the senate, taking first rank as a ready debater. His reputation, won in the house, helped to establish him at once. Mr. Mason was a persistent advocate of the rural free delivery bill, and championed all bills favoring the rights of labor and attacking trusts and combinations of capital. He was one of the first to advocate the freeing of Cuba. Champions Irish Republic After his defeat for reelection to the senate in 1903 he was out of congress for a number of years. He came back as congressman-at-large for Illinois, put himself over without an organization, without money, without even a headquarters. And he was twice reelected – with the aid of the Thompson-Lundin crowd, with which he affiliated. Following the war Congressman Mason became one of the active champions of the Irish republic, and was the author of resolutions directing American recognition of that republic, and the exchange of diplomatic and consular representatives. In 1873 Mason married Miss Edith Julia White of Des Moines, Ia., and they had seven children. The Mason home has their pictures in a stained glass window. There are many, perhaps, who will point to Mason’s war record and call him anything but patriot. The G. A. R., the Loyal Legion, preachers, editors, and fellow members of congress thundered at him, but did not move him. He opposed the declaration of war, the draft, the taking of national guard troops to France. His attitude was somewhat in line with Thompson’s. However, he pointed to a son on the firing line to show that at the last he worked for the prosecution of the war. Illness Fatal to Mrs. Henry Bale Mrs. Henry B. Bale, 55 years old, prominent in Joliet club and social circles, died this morning at 3 o’clock at her home, 207 Union street, following 10 days illness with pneumonia. She was born in Joliet, Oct. 26, 1867, and was educated in the Joliet schools, graduating from the high school. In June 1897, she was married to H. B. Bale. Before her marriage her name was Cora Ann Schrader. Surviving her are her husband, three daughters, Alexandra, Anna and Tekla and one son, Henry Schrader Bale. Mrs. Bale has been active in club circles taking a prominent part in the Woman’s club and many church societies. She also leaves a brother, Alfred C. Schrader and a sister, Meta DeSoland of Chicago. The funeral will be Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Christ Episcopal church with the Rev. T. DeWitt Tanner officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery. Friends are asked to omit flowers. Second Oldest Pioneer of Will County, Who Dies Mrs. Sarah Tierney, 100 Years Old, Passes Away Pioneer Resident of Will County Succumbs at Her Home Near Wilmington Mrs. Sarah Tierney, aged 100 years, second oldest resident of Will County, died Sunday morning at 10 o’clock in her home three miles north of Wilmington, following a general decline. She had resided in the home where she died for more than sixty-five years. Mrs. Tierney was a native of Ireland. Her husband, Michael Tierney, died 25 years ago. She is survived by two sons, William and John, who live in Wilmington township, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The other children of the pioneer woman died years ago. The funeral will be Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock from the home to St. Rose’s church at Wilmington. Burial in the Wilmington Catholic cemetery. Orasmus Page, age 106, the oldest newsboy in the world, is the only resident of Will county known to be older then was Mrs. Tierney. Page lives on Eastern avenue, next to the abandoned Rock Island right-of-way. Rev. Patrick F. A. Byrne The Rev. Patrick F. A. Byrne, former pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Chicago, died yesterday at RockFord, Ill., after a long illness. He also had served as pastor of churches at Grand Crossing and Highland Park. He was 50 years old. September 1915, newspaper unknown. Long Illness Ends in Death for Man Whose Life Was Busy John Theiler August 12, 1915, newspaper unknown Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, Famous Neurologist, Who is Dead. January 1914, newspaper unknown Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, noted physician and author, was buried yesterday. Simplicity marked the funeral service, which was held in Philadelphia. There were no honorary pallbearers, but St. Stephens’ Protestant Episcopal Church, where the public services were held, was crowded, many distinguished men attending. Interment was in Woodland Cemetery. Heroes of 1918 March 7, 1918, newspaper unknown Private Bruno Silakowski Private Frank Walczak Double Memorial for 2 Joliet Boys Killed in Fight on West Front To Citizens of Joliet: Memorial services in honor of Privates Bruno Silakowski and Frank Walczak, who died in action in France, will be held tomorrow morning at Holy Cross Polish Catholic church at 9 o’clock. A requiem high mass will be solemnized at 9 o’clock in the church and during the services, between 9 and 10 o’clock, the Will County Auxiliary of the Council of the Defense asks that flags be flown at half-mast throughout the city in honor of the two heroes. Holy Cross church is located at Ross and Elizabeth streets. Take a Hickory street car to Ross street and walk two blocks west, or take a Granite street car to Elizabeth street and walk one block north. Sir Laurens Alma-Tadema, Who Died in Germany Chicago Record Herald, [By the Associated Press], June 26, 1912 Painted our “Under _olian Skies” Alma-Tadema is Dead Famous British Painter, Decorated Often in England, Expires at Wiesbaden Made Own Place in Art Wiesbaden, Germany, June 25 – Sir Laurens Alma-Tadema, famous English painter, died last night. He had been under treatment for ulceration of the stomach. Alma-Tadema was born at Dronryp in the Netherlands, Jan. 8, 1836, the son of a notary, and was educated at the gymnasium at Leeuwarden, at the Royal Academy in Antwerp. Taking up residence in England as a naturalized citizen, he received the honors A. R. A. in 1876, R. A. in 1879, Litt. D. at Dublin in 1892, and D. C. L. at Durham in 1893. He was knighted in 1899 and received numerous other honors. As a painter he occupied a place of his own in English art, being an eminent scholar and archaeologist, and a man of the world, in addition to his gifts as an artist. No other painter of his age equaled him in a certain style and the painting of things, which belong to the classic in art. He painted portraits in his groups of figures in his larger pictures with the exquisite care of a miniaturist. Among his best-known works which have been exhibited widely are “Clothilde at the Tomb of Her Grandchildren,” 1858; “The Education of the Children at Clovis,” 1861; “How the Egyptians Amused Themselves 3,000 Years Ago,” 1864; “Tarquinius Superbus,” 1867; “The Juggler,” 1870; “The Vintage,” 1870; “A Roman Emperor,” 1871; “Unconscious Rivals,” “The Roses of Holiogabalus,” 1888; “The Woman of Amphissa,” 1887; “The Spring,” 1898; “The Conversion of Paula,” 1898; and “The Thermae Antoininianae,” 1899. Head of College Dies After Short Illness at Home Dr. Booker T. Washington Newspaper unknown, 1915 Tuskegee, Ala., Nov. 15 – Who is to succeed Booker T. Washington as the leader of the Negro race in America, was the question uppermost in the minds of student and faculty at Tuskegee Institute for Negroes, today following the death yesterday of the founder of the institute. Dr. Washington was born a slave on a plantation, near Hales Ford, Va., in 1858 or 1859, worked his way upward from coal miner to the head of a $2,000,000 educational institution, in which several thousands of Negroes are being educated. He became more than nationally famous, when he was the guest at dinner of President Roosevelt in the White House. He had honorary degrees from Harvard and Dartmouth and frequently was called upon to address his educational associates. Farmer Killed by Train Seward Man Dies in Grade Crossing Crash Newspaper & Date Unknown Minooka, March 1. – James Laird, 42 years old, wealthy Seward farmer, was instantly killed at 5:45 o’clock last night when the horse he was driving became frightened and dashed in the path of a speeding east-bound Rock Island passenger train. Laird was returning to his home when the tragedy occurred. He drove a wagon loaded with merchandise. The whistle of the passenger train warned Laird of the danger and he slowed his horse to a walk to wait for a clear track. As the train came on the horse jumped and dashed ahead. The horse was thrown forty feet and instantly killed. Laird was hurled to one side, dead, and the wagon was demolished. Laird’s wife and 15-year-old daughter survive him. He was one of the most prominent farmers in Seward township.

On the Outside Corner A (mostly) historical blog dedicated to the St. Louis Cardinals The 2018 Cardinals Trade Deadline Changes or Things Are Not as Bad as Some Might Think Posted on August 1, 2018 by Bob Netherton A few months ago, I had told Daniel Shoptaw that I wanted to begin writing again and asked to be included back into the United Cardinal Bloggers community. With so many good writers out there today, especially in this group, it is very difficult to find a unique voice worthy of asking you to spend the time it takes to read the words that I struggle to put on this page. A lot has been written, tweeted, blogged and said about the Cardinals in the last 24 hours. Goodbyes have been said to players traded, often lamenting the perceived value in the players acquired. I totally understand the cathartic value of a good emotional rant on Twitter as I have done so many times. I would also be the last person to tell another one how to “fan”. But is that really the the best way to welcome a new player into an organization that prides itself on having some of the best fans in the sport ? And are things really as bad as some might suggest, even allowing for the ever present Chicken Little’s ? Evaluation Criteria – Front Office How do you evaluate the performance of the front office, and ownership for that matter ? A proclamation of just success or failure is not good communication as it implies a common set of evaluation criteria that just may not exist. My definition of success may be completely irrelevant to you. So let’s expand on that a little bit, but keep the scope to just the trade deadline. We all know that the goals of any for-profit business is to make money (they do, and lots of it), promote a good brand (they have), invest in their business (they do in spite of some poor returns of late) and to have consistent success year over year (they have). But what about the product on the field as that is what most of us care about ? Trade Deadline Priorities – Buyers, Sellers, Neither or Both ? Let’s be honest here – the Cardinals are a .500 team. It is what they are. The roster is largely made up of a friendly group of “jack of all trades, masters of none” utility players. There are a few exceptions, such as Kolten Wong, Harrison Bader and the most important position player on the roster, Yadier Molina. The rest are a collection of interchangeable parts. They have a right fielder with a weak arm which the other teams exploit regularly who should be playing left field if at all but can’t because they have a cleanup hitter with a bad shoulder with an OPS of a middle infielder, a setup man performing admirably as a closer, nobody in the bullpen that can get a left handed hitter out in a game critical situation, two designated hitters in a league without the designated hitter, and I could go on. We do love them, but we have to admit that the Cardinals are a .500 team and are more than just one or two players away from seriously contending for a playoff spot. Well, the front office can’t really be short term buyers then, can they ? Not for the 2018 season at full market pricing, no. Let’s go to the words of the President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak. "We still feel like we are in a place where we can still be competitive. We feel, unlike you, that we are in an OK spot". Those comments have certainly provoked some ire on social media. That is actually a polite understatement if my Twitter timeline is any indication of the larger group opinion. But let’s take a look at the actual words Mr. Mozeliak said and see if the pitchforks and demands for his resignation are really warranted. The team could have gone on a complete talent dump as some others have done. When you are sporting a .400 winning percentage, there isn’t really much farther to fall in the standings. But that is not the Cardinals situation. By keeping players such as Matt Carpenter, Carlos Martinez and Bud Norris, the Cardinals are competitive. That doesn’t mean they are contenders, but they will still win their share of games. Half of them to be exact. Mr. Mozeliak is not being disingenuous with his comment. It is factually correct. Maybe some of these players aren’t part of the Cardinals future, but their dismissal would have made the present team quite unpleasant to watch. While I am surprised that the Cardinals could not get enough value to move Norris, his staying means that baseball will continue to be watchable, at least for the next two months. The “we are in an OK spot” comment seemed to rankle more than a few fans, but again, it is not disingenuous especially if you consider the future of the franchise. If they aren’t buyers or sellers, what should the front office have done at the deadline ? Since they aren’t in an all in for 2018 position like the Dodgers or a just on the outside looking in spot like the Pirates, they should look to the future and start filling in some gaps in the farm system. What exactly would those be ? Fix the bullpen Clear the logjam of outfielders in Memphis – goodness, Randy Arozarena in destroying the Texas League just to get playing time Raise the ceiling – take some risks to develop some big talent to make up for lack of draft slots or less than desirable drafting position Left handed starting pitching – what was once an abundance has all but dried up due to attrition (injuries, changing roles to relief work, failing to deliver consistent performance) Left handed power bat – the Oscar Taveras void still exists to this day Players with multiple plus tools (hitting, power, arm, glove, speed) it is OK for your RBI guy to run the bases and make defensive plays. A jaw dropping defensive shortstop Spread the talent out across multiple levels of the farm system to prevent the very same logjam that exists in Memphis today. How did the front office do ? Not terribly well if all you care about is the season you are currently watching. But Mr. Mozeliak did change the bullpen. It remains to be seen if it is, in fact, better than it’s predecessor, but it doesn’t take much imagination to believe it will be. Gone are Greg Holland (DFA), Tyler Lyons (DFA), Brett Cecil (DL), Luke Gregerson (DL) and Sam Tuivailala (Trade). Replacing them is some combination of John Brebbia (R), Daniel Poncedeleon (R), Dakota Hudson(R), Austin Gomber(L), Tyler Webb(l) and Chasen Shreve(L). Webb was a late June waiver pickup and Chasen Shreve came over in the Luke Voit deal. The major league bullpen looks very different than it did at the All Star Break. If the bullpen can protect a few more late inning leads, the Cardinals may play August and September at a slightly better than .500 clip. Probably not enough to climb over the three teams between them and the second wildcard spot, but you never know. It is when you look at the rest of the franchise, you start to feel better about things. I believe it was Bing Devine that said that a good General Manager always deals from what he has in excess to fill areas in which he has a void. For the 2018 Cardinals organization, those excesses are high level mid-to-low ceiling outfielders and right handed pitching. That is what Mr. Mozeliak traded away, though the Tommy Pham situation is a bit different. More on him in a later article. What the Cardinals received were left handed power hitting outfielders in 22 year old Justin Williams (AAA), 21 year old Conner Capel (Adv A) and 18 year old right handed hitting Jhon Torres (DSL). While Williams is struggling a little bit adjusting to AAA this year, both Williams and Capel have good defensive skills to complement their offensive potential. These are exciting young kids and it will be fun to watch their development. In addition to the three outfielders, the Cardinals picked up a quality MLB left handed reliever in Chasen Shreve, a hard throwing left handed starter Genesis Cabrera (AA), right handed reliever Seth Elledge(AA), right handed starter converted to reliever Gio Gallegos (AAA) and right handed reliever Roel Ramirez (AA). There are some exciting arms in this group, and a couple of them (Gallegos, Elledge) will fly through the Cardinals system, perhaps landing in the Cardinals bullpen next year. It is easy to get excited about this young batch of players and they clearly make the future of the Cardinals brighter. About that “we are OK” comment, I am inclined to agree. If you are singularly focused (the nice way of putting it) or obsessed (the not so nice way) with making the playoffs this year and don’t care about anything else, you will clearly disagree. What was done at the trade deadline had absolutely nothing to do with the 2018 season, other than patching the obvious holes in the bullpen. It was all about making “systematic improvements in the organization” to paraphrase Mr. Mozeliak. So Why Care ? The Cardinals are not likely to make the playoffs this year, but that doesn’t mean they won’t play increasingly better baseball. For one thing, Mike Shildt is auditioning for a job in 2019. As are several other players, including the oft criticized Dexter Fowler. I can’t see a future with Mr. Fowler wearing the Birds on the Bat with the level of defensive skills ready to be promoted from Memphis, but that is what August and September baseball will tell us. There is also the little game within the game that happens every night. Will Tyler O’Neill prove that he is an every day outfielder and does he have the range to play center field opposite a pair of iffy defenders ? Will Harrison Bader hit enough to warrant a spot in the batting order every night. Certainly his glove and general hustle do, but sometimes that is not enough. Will Adolis Garcia, down in Memphis, become the Cardinals version of Yasiel Puig ? And will Randy Arozarena become the best of all of those outfielders and turn heads next March in Florida ? We will miss Tommy Pham, both on and off the field. While fans of the Memphis Redbirds will certainly miss Oscar Mercado, getting Randy Arozarena back will take away the sting faster than a quart of Bactin. And who didn’t love the story of Luke Voit, overachieving and busting through every ceiling the projection experts put above him. But he was never going to be the every day first baseman in St. Louis. Back to John Mozeliak. I feel like what we are trying to do is put ourselves into a position to get a peek at the future. That is exactly what Mr. Mozeliak and Mr. Girsch did at the trade deadline. They broke up a log jam of outfield talent at the top of the farm system, did not trade away any player that looked to play a key role in the Cardinals future, filled several holes in the organization by adding some high risk – high ceiling talent at all levels and slowed, if not completely stopped, the leaking in the major league bullpen. Was it enough ? To make the 2018 playoffs, unlikely. To make the Cardinals competitive enough to win their share of ballgames in August and September, probably. To make baseball interesting to watch again, where it really hasn’t been since mid-May ? I think so. Certainly if you are interested in watching some of these young arms mature and estimating the distances when Tyler O’Neill launches the baseball deep into the nighttime skies. But what about 2019 and beyond ? No, but it is a good start. The organization is better off today than it was at the All Star Break. If that is how you judge the front office performance, and I believe it should be a large part of your assessment, then give Mr. Mozeliak and his team a pass on the trade deadline, perhaps even a bit of a pat on the back. Ever so slightly. But keep an eye on this winter because the Cardinals are still a .500 team, even with these changes. The 2019 roster must look very different or we will find ourselves having this very discussion, though not as jovially, next August 1. Thanks for taking the time to read. Please leave any comments or suggestions below. Posted in 2018, 2018 Season | 3 Comments What to do About the Upcoming Trade Deadline ? Posted on July 13, 2017 by Bob Netherton New Cardinals General Manager, Michael Girsch, has quite a task a head of him. So much for an easy transition period allowing the new exec to come up to speed, eh ? The first salvo in Battle 2017 has been fired by the Cubs. The Cubs sent two of their top prospects, power hitting outfielder Eloy Jimenez (1 in the organization and 8 overall) and right handed pitcher Dylan Crease (4 in the organization and 63 overall) plus a pair of infielders to their cross-town rivals for left handed starter Jose Quintana. That seems quite a lot to give up for a sub-.500 starter with an elevated ERA. A deeper look at both sides of this deal begin to show it as a winner for each team. In his last 7 starts, Quintana is 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, opponents are hitting .213 against him, and he has logged more than a strikeout (45) per inning pitched (40). Quintana has also logged 200 innings in each of his last 4 seasons and there is every reason to believe 2017 will be his fifth. As for what the Cubs gave up, all four players were in A ball, with Jimenez in High A. That means all four are still 2 to 3 years away from playing in Wrigley, though some optimistic (overly so) projections have Jimenez making his MLB debut in 2019. Not only are they a long way away from the big club, each is currently blocked though a lot can change in those 2-3 years. So how will the Cardinals match this move ? They won’t. At least not directly. There is nothing the front office has said or done that suggests 2017 is an all in type of season for them. Sure, they want to remain competitive, or at least appear to be competitive, but the Cardinals are more than one or two players away from making a serious postseason run. We will talk about this in more detail in the coming weeks. That doesn’t mean they will sit by idly at the trade deadline. They have several players that are now more valuable to other teams than the Cardinals. Top of that list is Lance Lynn. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Cardinals are not going to re-sign Lance Lynn, nor should they at this point. The money they will save by using internal options to replace Lynn next season can go to other areas where the needs are greater, such as first and third base. Sueng-Hwan Oh is another possible victim of his contract situation and could be moved in the next few weeks. Kolten Wong’s return could be the straw that strained the oblique muscle, in this case making former All Star Matt Carpenter the odd man out. All this trade speculation is fun because few of the rumors or preposterous ideas ever happen. That said, there is one deal out there, that should it become available, Girsh and the Cardinals need to go all in and end their string of second place finishes. That deal is Giancarlo Stanton, and there are two words that explain why this deal is perfect for the Cardinals. Oscar Taveras. Simply put, Oscar Taveras is what the team is missing in 2017. Taveras was to be the centerpiece of the post-Pujols era. Taveras and Carlos Martinez were supposed to dominate the National League for the next decade and strike fear in the hearts of the NL Central. Sadly, that did not go as planned and the loss of Taveras is still felt in the farm system and on the big league roster today. In 2015, then General Manager, John Mozeliak, felt that Braves slugger, Jason Heyward, might be the guy, not to fill Taveras shoes, but to build that next core around. As the 2015 season played on, many fans began to believe that as well. Sadly, that was not to be as Heyward opted for free agency and signed with the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs. Though his contributions there were on the meager side, the Cubs did win it all in 2016. Like the Cardinals, the 2017 Cubs are more than one player away from standing up to Washington or Los Angeles in a short series, though the acquisition of Jose Quintana improves their chances to prove everybody wrong. So who would be an Oscar Taveras like player to anchor the next round of talent expected in 2019 ? That would be Giancarlo Stanton. Though this is his eighth season in the big leagues, Stanton is only 27 years old, two years younger than Matt Holliday was when Mo made his blockbuster deal in 2009. Though he has an opt-out after the 2020 season, Stanton is under contract where Matt Holliday was potentially a summer rental. Let’s first address the reasons not to do this. It will cost too much! Perhaps not as much as you might think. The Cardinals are in a perfect position to absord Stanton’s entire contract. If you add what the Cardinals were prepared to spend for David Price and Jason Heyward two years ago, and subtract what they will be paying Dexter Fowler, you will have money left over after paying Stanton. In other words, the team has already been willing to spend that much and in the case of Jason Heyward, for a fraction of the player that Stanton is and likely will be. With the Marlins being sold, cleaning off future salary debt might be just the opening the Cardinals need to get this done. By taking on that financial obligation, it might only take an exciting cost controlled near-MLB-ready outfielder like Adolis Garcia. If the Marlins want something more or different, perhaps a three way team deal could be structured with Lance Lynn heading off to a post-season contender, sort of like the Ludwick-Kluber-Westbrook type of trade. That contract is an albatross! Is it really though ? I balk at what major league players make these days, but is $25M next season really that much more than the $17M Matt Holliday made in 2010 when he signed his contract extension. When when you look at the $32M in some of the latter contract years for Stanton, that is where any free agency deal for Manny Machado or Bryce Harper will start. The team has a new TV contract that will start showing up on the books, and Adam Wainwright’s contract will soon be coming off those same books. And as I said before, the team has already mentally spent that money once before. The injuries! Yeah, OK, but we are not talking Tommy Pham type of injuries here. Stanton is a physical beast and his injuries have largely been freak accidents you don’t expect to happen again. Now let’s look at the reasons to do this deal. There is no power or RBI bat coming up in the minor leagues. None. There are plenty of speedy table setters, but the Cardinals still need that cornerstone offensive player – the one that Mo had hoped Taveras would be by now. Stanton’s 58 RBIs would lead the Cardinals by 13. Put Magneuris Sierra, Dexter Fowler, Tommy Pham or Oscar Mercado on base ahead of Stanton and it will be Jack Clark all over again, maybe not to the ridiculous running of 1985, but certainly a more dynamic and fun offense than we have seen in St. Louis in a long time. The contract is a big one, but the Cardinals can absorb it and still have room to add other needed players. It will take more than Stanton, to be sure, but with Stanton on the roster, Girsch’s has many options to fill out the 2019 roster. It also keeps the Cardinals out of the Machado or Harper bidding war. Sure, I’d rather have Machado but a bird in hand, so to speak. The outfield will be set for years. Stanton’s career OPS is .899, his OPS+ is 145. Wouldn’t that look good in the Cardinals side of the box scores ? Giancarlo Stanton would be the perfect deadline deal for the 2017 Cardinals. It would be big and bold and silence a growing number of fans that are getting frustrated by the recent front office failures in free agency. It would be a big step forward in the type of rebuilding the team needs to do over the next two or three years. The price is right and the risk is low. The only thing stopping it would be Jeffrey Loria waking up and not being Jeffrey Loria. Thank you for reading. Please let me know what you think, yes or no, in the comments. Posted in 2017 Season | 5 Comments Hechavamissed Opportunity Posted on June 28, 2017 by Bob Netherton When the news broke on Saturday that the Miami Marlins were actively shopping shortstop, Adeiny Hechavarria, and the Cardinals were rumored to be one team showing interest, armchair general managers, myself included, took to Twitter to voice their opinions. The overwhelming concensus, much to my surprise, was negative. And not just a little bit, but actually somewhat hostile. Comments ranged from “Hechavarria is just another Pete Kozma” to “Cardinals General Manager, John Mozeliak, should be waterboarded and then fired”. I think I got the order right in that last part, but I’m not sure it really matters in the end. And the waterboarding may have been an exaggeration, but Mo has come under a lot of criticism of late. I have to tell you, I was truly shocked at the negative reactions. Apparently some of you are not watching the same team that I am. Please tell me what channel that team is playing on because the one I have been watching for months is not very good. Over the winter, John Mozeliak (Mo), spoke repeatedly about increasing the athleticism of the 2017 Cardinals. The signing of Dexter Fowler was an indication that Mo was serious about actual improvements in team speed and defense in spite of a roster that still had the likes of a Jhonny Peralta among the twenty five names. We can argue about the reasons, and likely will in a future post, but the fact remains that the 2017 Cardinals are not good with the glove nor are they good when on the bases. Another working story entering the 2017 season was the continued defensive improvement in shortstop, Aledmys Diaz. For the entire 2016 season, Diaz actually posted a slightly positive dWAR of 0.2, which ranked 28th of the 67 men that played shortstop in the National League (Greg Garcia was 16th, Jedd Gyorko at 11 and Jhonny Peralta was 63rd, albeit with a very small sample size). So far this season, Diaz has dropped to -0.6 which ranks 50th. There are only two names below Diaz this year. Ouch. Sadly, the eye test seems to back this up. At least Diaz hit enough in 2016 to compensate somewhat for lack of range and occasionally wild arm. The decline in defense this year is nothing compared to his struggles at the plate. Diaz has gone from an OPS+ of 134 last year to an 80 this year, significantly below league average. And if you think Diaz is getting better at the plate lately, think again. His last 28 day slash line was .266 / .293 / .392, 14 days .250 / .289 / .250 and last week plummeted to .188 / .188 / .188. But it is not just Diaz. Infield defense has been a complete nightmare for the Cardinals this season since opening day. Matt Carpenter fields first base like his cleats are full of cement. Recently promoted Paul DeJong, a career third basemen, is playing out of position and looks like it. That is not completely fair to DeJong as he was a pretty good third baseman before moving to shortstop this year in Memphis. Kolten Wong, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable 2017 season so far, can make some of the most spectacular plays and then turn into Charlie Brown on a routine grounder. The Cardinals infield defense is bad, people, especially with Kolten Wong on the disabled list. So why all the negativity about adding Hechavarria to the roster ? For the first time in about a decade, the Cardinals would have a shortstop with an actual shortstop arm. Maybe that’s it. It has been so long since the Cardinals have had a good shortstop, people have forgotten what one looks like. Well, they did have one in 2013 with Pete Kozma (1.6 dWAR, 7th in the National League), but all fans did was criticize the lack of offense and Kozma became a social media punching bag. And then there was Brendan Ryan. There are two very good defensive shortstops in the Cardinals minor league system right now, and neither appears to be a liability at the plate. While he got off to a slow start this spring in Palm Beach, MLB Pipeline’s 13th Cardinals prospect, Edmundo Sosa, seems to have righted the ship and was enjoying a solid season in the Florida State League. He has recently been promoted to Springfield where he joins a very good defensive ballclub. Sosa is still two years away from playing with the big club, which is one reason Paul DeJong was moved to shortstop this spring. The other is Delvin Perez. Perhaps the most exciting prospect in the Cardinals minor league system, the 18 year old will spend the summer of 2017 in Johnson City, the Cardinals rookie league affiliate in the Appalachian League. Many expect him to fly though the Cardinals system, but he is at least three years away from even making an appearance. Outside of Mr. DeJong, there is no help coming any time soon from the minors. Why wouldn’t Mo want to add Hechavarria as a bridge to these prospects, allowing DeJong to return to his normal position ? If you think shortstops are thin in the minor leagues, try to find a power hitting third baseman. No, go ahead, I’ll wait. Still waiting. The New Cardinals Way One of the other criticisms voiced on Twitter was that Hechevarria was a dumpster dive and the real target should be Andrelton Simmons. Other than insulting the current Cardinals shortstops, I think the proper response here is …. There is a bit of a problem with this. If the Angels decide to put Mr. Simmons on the market, every team that thinks they will be in contention will be calling and offering prospects that the Cardinals either don’t have or would be unwilling to part with (Delvin Perez, Magneuris Sierra and Jack Flaherty). While it works with trading baseball cards, you just can’t unload half a dozen players you don’t want and somehow acquire the top player in the league. I’m sorry, baseball just does not work like that. Back to Hechavarria. Look at what the Bay Rays gave up to get the shortstop. Two fringy prospects that weren’t even in their top 30. Goodness, the Cardinals got more than that for Jaime Garcia in an almost embarrassing winter fire sale. Come on people, the price here was right. The Cardinals are loaded in fringy prospects and hardly any of them would have been missed. Non-Offensive My favorite reason against the acquisition of Hechevarria was his lack of offense. While this is absolutely true, there are several ginormous flaws with this line of reasoning. Though the offense is a bigger concern, improving the defense has nothing at all to do with fixing the offense. Mo can, and should, do both. Considering what Tampa gave up for Hechavarria, Mo still has plenty of resources to kick the Cardinals offense into a higher gear, should he find the right opportunity. But even more distressing is the notion that the Cardinals are going to somehow hit their way out of their current state by adding more low average high strikeout rate power hitters. The Cardinals already have plenty of those. They have so many that they just traded one away and sent another one down to Palm Beach to work with their hitting guru to see if he could be less of a low batting average and high strikeout rate guy. Swing and a Miss I hate to be the contrarian here, but this is one deal that Mo should have made. While it is unlikely to have changed the NL Central standings in any meaningful way, it would have taken some pressure off of a pitching staff that is beginning to look more like extras from The Walking Dead than a professional baseball team. It also would have started the systematic upgrade program that Mo will need to do if he expects this team to be any better next year. More on that in a future post, but the bottom line is that any upgrade, even one as marginal as this one, would have been welcome. Unless something changes, the Cardinals may be looking up at the Reds in the standings before this season is over. Once again, thanks for reading. Please leave any comments or suggestions as they are always welcome. Posted in 2017 Season | Leave a comment A Practical Look at the June 25 Roster Moves There are far too many thoughts on this one to try to share on Twitter, so this minor set of transactions have become the proverbial straw that got the camel up to dust off the covers of this derelict blog, if you don’t mind the string of mixed metaphors. I am a little bit out of practice. Medic!!!! Let’s start with the givens as we have little control over these transactions. Kevin Siegrist has gone on the disabled list with a back injury. That does not sound terribly promising, but does explain some of what we have seen of late. Let’s hope this is not a chronic condition that impacts the career of the Cardinals young left-hander. While reading comments today on Twitter, it became apparent that some people out there that don’t know basic human anatomy. The cervical portion of the spine is at the top, the thoracic portion is in the middle and the lumbar at the bottom. A cervix is a completely different part of the anatomy, and not to be found anywhere on Mr. Siegrist unless you are speaking metaphorically. And not terribly nice. Dexter Fowler will be joining Siegrist with a recurrence of a right heel spur. If you have not experienced that particular injury, you have no idea how painful that can be. As with Mr. Siegrist, let’s hope the rest will help that area settle down and that this does not become more serious. Calm Down Already Given those two holes in the roster, what does Cardinals General Manager, John Mozeliak, do to fill them. Let’s be reasonable here. Mo is not going to trade Greg Garcia for Giancarlo Stanton, so please limit the discussion to things Mo can do before, say, game time ? To backfill Fowler, the answer is obvious. Randal Grichuk is the next guy on the depth chart, is already on the 40 man roster, and has played in St. Louis. Since being sent to Palm Beach to clear his head and work on his batting approach, Randal Grichuk has played like, well, Randal Grichuk. In 14 games with Memphis, Grichuk has slashed a .270 / .313 / .603 line, thanks to some recent power and a couple of good days at the plate. His strikeout rate is still 30% and he rarely walks. Let’s not pretend that Grichuk has turned anything around and earned this promotion back to St. Louis. At the same time, let’s not pretend that the Cardinals front office has any better choices, other than Magneuris Sierra – but that is a topic for another blog post. With Grichuk in St. Louis, where is manager Mike Matheny going to bat him ? IT DOESN’T MATTER. With Matt Carpenter cemented in the leadoff spot and at first base, Tommy Pham occupying the second or third spot and Stephen Piscotty in right field, your only good choice to hit cleanup, Jose Martinez, will be on the bench. So Grichuk is your cleanup hitter. It is not a good choice, but Mike Matheny is rather void of better ones. Complaining about this latest Grichuk situation seems rather silly. Should Mo do something about the gaping holes in the roster ? Yes. Has he done the best he could to field a 25 man active roster for a 7pm game. Yes. That brings us to the subject of Mike Mayers, who will replace the injured Kevin Siegrist. Oh, this one has gone over well on Twitter 🙂 Once again, take a step back and see how the pieces all come together and see if you have any better ideas. First, Brett Cecil has already taken the spot we think of as Kevin Siegrist’s. Few probably saw the turnaround happening this quickly, but Cecil has been one of the best out of the bullpen of late. In the last two weeks, Cecil has been a rock. Opponents are hitting just .136 against him and slugging, if you can call it that, a mere .182. At the UCB Blogger event a few weeks ago, Mo said that he believed Cecil’s issues were mechanical and very minor. Recent observations say Mo might have been right. Tyler Lyons will step up to fill the other lefty spot in the bullpen. Expect to see him getting more playing time which will make Daniel Shoptaw happy. The real hole in the bullpen once the shifting around is complete, is for a long man. That is the role Lyons had been performing. When you look down in Memphis for likely candidates, the list becomes rather short. Sorting the pitchers by WHiP (Walks and Hits per inning Pitched), you get Sam Tuivailala and John Brebbia, who are already on the active roster. Next is Mark Montgomery, who we should keep an eye on for the next time an arm is needed in the Cardinals bullpen. Then comes Luke Weaver who will likely be called up soon to replace Michael Wacha in the rotation. Jack Flaherty is next, not on the 40 man roster. Neither are Artie Reyes or Ryan Sherriff, who probably deserves a consideration at some point this summer. Marco Gonzales needs innings more than the Cardinals need him in the bullpen. Trey Nielsen and Josh Lucas are not on the 40 man roster. We’ve seen John Gant and were less than impressed. Rowan Wick is injured. The next name is Mike Mayers. Hmmm, so yes, he is the 14th guy on the WHIP list, but the ones ahead are either not on the 40 man, injured, or recovering from injury. If you only remember Mayers from getting shelled by the Dodgers last season, that is not the Mike Mayers that has been throwing a ton of quality innings for Memphis. His 3.74 ERA doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but remember that the Pacific Coast League is one the most hitter friendly in the minors. Mayers is throwing strikes and not getting himself into trouble with walks. Considering the role of long relief, likely in a mop up situation, Mike Mayers is the right guy to be called up. Let Tui and Brebbia handle the higher leverage innings, Mayers is the innings eater for the next time Lance Lynn or Michael Wacha can’t get out of the fourth inning. Can we all calm down about this now ? Welcome Luke Voit ! That brings us to the final roster move made today. Chad Huffman has been optioned to Memphis and the Cardinals have purchased the contract of right handed slugging first baseman, Luke Voit. Is this really a question here ? Is there anybody that would rather see Chad Huffman come in to pinch hit in a game situation than Luke Voit (.322 / .406 / .561, 12 home runs, 48 RBI) ? Once again, we need to be realistic here. The Cardinals offense has been anemic and rendered nearly inert when it faces good teams. Luke Voit is basically a right handed Matt Adams without the goofy nicknames and social media baggage and won’t cure the Cardinals offensive woes, but he does give Mike Matheny a bat that might put the ball in play. For those of you that will still complain that this is just a lateral move, continue to dream on about Mo signing Manny Machado, Bryce Harper or somehow cobbling together enough of a package to get Marcell Ozuna away from the Marlins (like every other team is trying to do). None of those were going to happen today. More important, nothing Mo did today keeps those unlikely deals from happening, save the unlikeliness of them actually happening. What John Mozeliak has done is improve the roster, albeit marginally, with the talent he had at his disposal. Instead of complaining about all of the things Mo hasn’t done since the beginning of time, most of which are not realistic in the first place, how about acknowledging an effort to patch some holes in a very leaky battleship. It is a step, a tiny one. With the trade deadline quickly approaching, perhaps there will be more. And some big ones would be very welcome. Thanks for taking the time to read. Please share any ideas in the comments. Go Cardinals. Intentional or Just Irresponsible Posted on September 19, 2015 by Bob Netherton Not that either team needed it, but tensions were raised a notch as the final 2015 regular season series between the Cardinals and Cubs got under way in Chicago. The first of two linked events occurred in the top of the fifth inning, when Cubs starter Dan Haren hit pinch hitter Matt Holliday in the head. Holliday appeared to be OK but left the game immediately, for precautionary reasons. The second happened with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, when the game was all but over. Cardinals reliever, Matt Belisle threw behind Anthony Rizzo, just clipping his uniform behind the knee. Belisle was immediately ejected. Reading some social media comments both during and following the game have led me to an observation that I will call Bob’s Razor, in homage to the common interpretation of the famous Occam’s Razor. With all other things being equal, a sports fan will look at any given play and see what they want to see. Applying this to these two game events, Cardinals fans are convinced that Dan Haren intentionally threw at Holliday and Cubs fans are outraged at Matt Belisle’s retaliation. It doesn’t really end there as Joe Maddon referred to the Cardinals as vigilantes with Tony Soprano calling the shots in the dugout. Following the game, he offered this comment, “But you don’t do that under those circumstances. We don’t start stuff, but we will finish stuff.” Anthony Rizzo piles on with this postgame gem, “at that moment, I want to kill someone because I know it was intentional.” OK, let us all take a step back and take a deep breath. Try to watch the two plays with as much detachment as you can muster and tell me what you see. It is a fact that we don’t know what either pitcher was trying to do, on their own or following orders from the dugout. All we have are our eyes and hopefully some common sense. It is easy to overlook the previous batter that Dan Haren faced before hitting Matt Holliday. An 0-1 pitch sailed high and inside to Tony Cruz, causing him to spin out of the way and step out of the batter’s box. With that image fresh in your mind, what is the most likely scenario that led to Dan Haren hitting Matt Holliday – that it was intentional, hitting a player that has not had an at bat in a game since late July or that the pitch just got away from him, like the one thrown to Cruz ? Unless Haren has taken acting lessons in the off season, his reaction to the pitch should tell us all that we need to know. Sorry Cardinals fans, the most likely scenario here is that it was not intentional. It was a careless pitch that probably should not have been thrown. Oh, it is fine to be outraged over lack of control, but that is a different situation that needs a bit less venom. Now let’s look in on Matt Belisle in the seventh inning. Again, what is the mostly likely scenario here ? Yeah, that one was intentional. But sorry Cubs fans, it is exactly the type of “retaliation” that you should have expected and not the type of thing to get your undies all in a bunch. If you look very carefully at the next few frames of the video above, you will see that the ball does clip Rizzo in a part of his uniform behind his knee. The lack of deflection of the ball’s trajectory tells you that Rizzo was just grazed, if anything. Was it poor sportsmanship on the part of Matt Belisle ? If Bob’s Razor was not in play here, no, it is not. The same can be said of the Chris Coughlan slide a few days earlier that ended the season of Jang Ho Kang of the Pirates. We often talk about old school retaliation and much of what is discussed is more folklore than actual history. Pitchers like Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver had such pinpoint control, they could knock a mosquito off the uniform of an opposing batter. When they wanted to send a message, it would be behind a player or at least heading towards the lower part of the hitter’s body. Sandy Koufax refused to throw at hitters, causing his catcher, Johnny Roseboro to buzz Juan Marichal in the famous incident in August 1965. When these guys hit a batter, it was almost always to regain control of the inner part of the plate, not some vigilante act of revenge. The problem today is that most pitchers don’t have the control of a Gibson, Drysdale, Koufax, Seaver, Feller or even Bob Veale (who did have a bit of a mean streak). Most have no business throwing inside even though the opposing batters are wearing more armor than the Knights of the Round Table. When they do and hit a player, as happened to Matt Holliday 17 times last season, a bit of careful retaliation might prevent number 18 and perhaps a career impacting in jury. As for Maddon and Rizzo’s comments, it all just If either team need comments like these to be fired up at this point in the season, they don’t belong in postseason. The same should be said of the fans. BFIB and the Myth of “The Cardinals Way” The two phrases that will make a baseball fan’s head spin the fastest today might be “The Best Fans in Baseball” and “The Cardinals Way”. With the Cardinals unexpected, and mostly unexplainable, success heading into the 2015 All Star Break, it is understandable how these words that Cardinals fans say with genuine pride are often linked to a deep loathing of the team. Instead of being upset about this, Cardinals fans should embrace the angst because it means that the team, and by proxy, the fans are relevant. I fear the day that nobody is talking trash about the Cardinals because that means they have fallen from the headlines to the forgettable. But are the Best Fans in Baseball and The Cardinals Way a real thing or just something invented to give us comfort in the face of all this disrespect ? Well, they are real, but maybe not in the way that you might think. Let me explain. The Cardinals Way The Cardinals Way is very much a real thing, dating back to the days when the Cardinals minor league farm system was spreading faster than the latest Kardashian selfie on Twitter. The phrase is often associated with George “The Professor” Kissell, a minor league infielder in the 1940s and then manager and later coach in the Cardinals system. It may mean different things to different people over the years, but the essence is paying attention to details, execute the fundamentals, honor the game (written and unwritten rules), honor the uniform (those that came before you) and work together as a team. Nobody in baseball taught it better and to more players than George Kissell. Is this unique to the Cardinals ? No, that’s absurd. But it is one of the few things that ties together the various managerial and ownship eras of the last half century, from Johnny Keane to Mike Matheny, the Busch family to the DeWitts. Bill DeWitt, Jr. clearly understands how much Cardinals fans value The Cardinals Way as an identity and has made it a very public part of the team culture and marketing programs to this day. That is not to say that everybody wearing the uniform has followed the code. Those that didn’t were frequently shown the door, often in a hastily arranged deal. Once such example was during the cocaine scandal of the 1980s. That hit the Cardinals very hard and cost them fan favorites such as Lonnie Smith, Keith Hernandez and Joaquin Andujar. But the Cardinals Way persisted and good times returned, albeit for just a little while. The big misunderstanding here is that The Cardinals Way is no secret handshake ritual that is guaranteed to win a championship nor is it somehow unique to the Cardinals. Over the long haul, it has been a recipe for success, and thanks to the stewardship under the current owners, it remains that way today. It is also good to remember that it has not always been that way. While an entire generation of Cardinals have have never experienced a time when the Cardinals have not been successful, the truth is that there have been many dark times over the last half century. Woeful times in fact. I am referring to 1965-1966, the entire decade of the 1970s, first half of the 1990s and curiously 2007-2009. While those teams were abysmal, almost laughable at times, they were every bit The Cardinals Way as the team that just swept the Cubs in some of the scrappiest baseball that any Busch Stadium has seen. It just didn’t work for other reasons – a critical injury or two, players aging and not being replaced or the front office not spending the money needed to lock up or acquire key talent needed to compete. It is hard to believe, but that is true, especially under the Fred Kuhlmann era. Apparently it takes more than just “The Cardinals Way” to win – it actually takes some talent. And a front office that cares about success. Perhaps we should be talking more about “Mo’s Way” today as that probably has a bigger impact to the Cardinals recent success than the teachings of George Kissell, Johnny Keane, Hub Kittle or any of the other legends from the Cardinals past. Best Fans in Baseball So what does The Cardinals Way have to do with The Best Fans in Baseball ? If you have been following along, quite a bit actually. Showing up every night cheering on a winning team is easy to do – ask the Washington Nationals or Atlanta Braves. In October. There are a number of aspects to the Best Fans in Baseball that should bring a touch of respect to Cardinals fans. Sure, giving a standing ovation to Shane Robinson or Daniel Descalso is the kind of thing St. Louis is known for. Again, the big stars are easy to cheer for, but Cardinals fans love their scrappy overachievers just as much, if not more. It may not be logical, but it is so St. Louis. The interesting truth is that the Cardinals haven’t really lost all that many impact players to free agency or unpopular trade deadline deals, so we sort of have to cheer for the little guys. Albert Pujols is the only big name player in recent years that “took the money and ran”. Larry Walker and Chris Carpenter retired as a Cardinal, Jim Edmonds was injured and in late career decline as were Carlos Beltran and Lance Berkman. I’m hoping that some of that is not lost on Jason Heyward as he ponders over his first free agency contract. Of the current core of players, only Lance Lynn seems likely to take an early walk out of St. Louis. Maybe that’s why we get so attached to the little guys. But it’s more than that. Cardinals fans gladly cheer for an opponent player when he makes a great play on the field. There is no tradition of throwing back home run balls, though some careful observation shows that Cubs fans may actually be keeping those balls, throwing junkers back on to the field. None of this is unique to Cardinals fans, it is just the rule in St. Louis and not the exception. Oh, there have been times when Cardinals fans were poor sports – the 1985 NLCS against the Dodgers was one such time, but those have been few and far between. Heck, we even learned to embrace Will Clark though Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto still seem to rankle Cards fans. I think the real essence of Best Fans in Baseball lies in remembering when times were not as good as they are now but treating the team with the same respect and admiration. That certainly required some effort in the early 1990s when Joe Torre always seemed an inning too late in making pitching changes and Germimo Pena could not stay out of the hospital. The other day, one of my Twitter buddies sent out this little reminder @cigarmike In 1995, Rich DeLucia led the St. Louis Cardinals with 8 wins. 8. Those were dark days. #stlcards Mike forgot to mention that DeLucia was a relief pitcher! Dark times, indeed. Yet the memories of that era are fond ones, not downing in angst. And the fans did not stay away from the ballpark as they have been doing in places like Houston. Let’s also not forget the 1970s when Gussie Busch traded away Willie Montanez, Steve Carlton, Jerry Reuss, Bake McBride, Mike Torrez, Richie “Dick” Allen, Reggie Smith and Jose Cruz. Yet we came back night after night to watch the ones that remained, such as Silvio Martinez, John Fulgham, Jerry Mumphrey, haplessly playing the game until Whitey Herzog came along and rebuilt the team into a new generation of winners. Maybe it is during those bad times that you really learn to appreciate the beauty of the game and not just the outcome – the game within the game. For a couple of decades, that’s all we had. Best Fans in Baseball does sound a terribly pretentious, but it is sure easier to say than Least Bandwagonny Fans in Baseball. At the end of the day, both are true. Not that there aren’t great fans of every team – there certainly are and we members of The Best Fans in Baseball should remember that. Red Sox Nation and Yankees fans are just as rabid, though perhaps more on the bandwagon side of things and certainly with a more abrupt vocabulary, but I would never question their enthusiasm. Dodgers fans buy tickets and either show up late to the games or not at all. Giants fans kill all others with their use of social media and swarming the All Star Voting system. Perhaps they are worthy of the title of Best Fans of their Team, sure. Of baseball as a game, maybe not as much. As with The Cardinals Way, BFIB is not an exclusive club. It is, though, an accurate description of the unique relationship between the fans and players in St. Louis. If George Kissell was the architect of the Cardinals Way, who turned Cardinals fans into the Best Fans in Baseball ? That one is easy, thanks to a wonderful comment from Wayne Grote (thanks, Wayne!). For decades, the broadcast team of Jack Buck and Harry Caray taught us how to be fans of the game, not just the home team. Harry was the emotional fan, with his voice and word choice matching what he was seeing on the field while Jack was the technician, carefully describing every little detail and explaining why it was important. They were both quick to praise opposing players when they made a great play as they were to criticize the home team when they did something wrong. As with The Cardinals Way, Jack and Harry were not unique to St. Louis. Mel Allen, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell, Bob Prince, Harry Kalas, Jack Brickhouse and Vin Scully were legendary broadcasters and equally loved by their listeners, but there is something different about how the lessons stuck with Cardinals fans. Once we can all admit that the Cardinals Way has not always worked and that there are fans of other teams that love their players as much, though perhaps differently, than in St. Louis, we can move past all of this silliness and get back to watching and appreciating the game of baseball. April 21-23, St. Louis at Washington Posted on April 21, 2015 by Bob Netherton The Cardinals start their second road trip of the 2015 season with a three game series against the Washington Nationals. It will be the first time this season that the Cards face an opponent outside of their division. Both teams were pre-season favorites to make the playoffs, so this could be something a preview of a divisional or league championship series in October. In the 13 regular season games since the 2012 NLDS, the Cardinals have an 11-2 record against the Nationals. With a series win, the Nationals (6-7, 4 games out) can improve to .500 for the first time since April 8, the second game of the season. After losing their first three series, the Nats are coming off a strong home series against the struggling Phillies, winning three of the four games. It is a bit early to draw too many conclusions about Washington’s offense, except that they will strike out. A lot. That should help the Cardinals pitchers as they tend to be around the strike zone. Ryan Zimmerman leads the team with 11 RBIs while Bryce Harper leads the Nats with 4 home runs. As a team, they have already belted 14 long balls, compared to just 6 by the Cardinals. On their pitching side of the game, it is something of a contrast of extremes. New comer, Max Scherzer (1-1, 0.83 ERA) and former Tigers rotation mate Doug Fister (1-0, 0.69 ERA) have been sensational. Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez have been touched up for more than a few runs in their starts. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they will face both Scherzer and Fister in the series. While the loss of Craig Stammen is a huge blow for the Nationals bullpen, they have been very effective in holding leads so far in the season. Closer, Drew Storen, is 4 for 4 in save opportunities and has only allowed 1 run over 5 innings. Felipe Rivero, a 23 year old left hander, will take Stammen’s spot in the bullpen, at least for now. For the Cardinals (8-3, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs), the story is pitching, pitching, pitching and more pitching. The staff enters the series with an ERA of 1.91. Only two pitchers, Seth Maness and Randy Choate, have an ERA over 3. This is not a sustainable way to win games over a long stretch, but the pitching has carried the Cardinals in the early going. Whether last weekends series sweep of the Reds was more the Cardinals bats finally waking up or the continued struggles of the Cincinnati pitching staff, Matt Carpenter made a huge impact as the catalyst at the top of the batting order. For his efforts, he was named the NL Player of the Week (Apr 20). Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta continue to hit with regularity. Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Cardinals fans is that Yadier Molina is heating up after a slow start to the regular season. Mitch Harris For the second time this season, the Cardinals will have a player on temporary leave to attend the birth of their child. This time it is center fielder, Peter Bourjos. The Cardinals have purchased the contract of Mitch Harris to take Bourjos spot on the active roster. If you are not familiar with the Mitch Harris story, it is an incredible one. The Cardinals drafted the hard throwing right hander out of the Naval Academy in 2008, but Harris served his military commitments. The Cardinals held a spot for him and five years later, Harris began his professional baseball career with the State College Spikes (short season A). Two years and nearly 100 innings later, Harris will on the major league roster. He features a fastball that can get into the mid to upper 90s, so don’t be surprised if we seen him often this season. Speedy center fielder, Gary Brown, has been designated for assignment to make room for Harris. Brown was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants a few weeks ago. Probable Pitchers Tuesday, Apr 21 – 6:05 pm CDT Lance Lynn (1-1, 1.64) vs Gio Gonzalez (1-1, 5.11) Lance Lynn has given up just a single run in each of his first two starts this season. If there is a criticism in Lynn’s game so far it is pitch count. Lynn did pitch into the seventh inning in his first start, but pitch count limited him to just five innings almost a week ago. This will be the 100th career start for Lynn (50-29, 3.43). While the lefty dominated Cards batting order should give Gio Gonzalez an advantage, St. Louis has done well against him in his career. Gonzalez was the starting pitching in the now famous (or infamous in Washington) Game Five of the 2012 NLDS. Control still seems to be the big issue for the Nationals left hander. If the Cardinals are patient, and can drive up his pitch count, it could be a short night for Gonzalez. This will be the debut StatCast broadcast on the MLB Network. StatCast uses a set of high resolution cameras to measure detailed items in the game, such as the speed of a baseball off a hitters bat. For the stats heavy fan, this should provide a cornucopia of new information to absorb. Since you will need there, here is a glossary of StatCast terms. Key to the game: Lance Lynn going 6+ innings. TV: Fox Sports Midwest, MASN, MLB Network Radio: KMOX (1120 AM), WJFK (106.7 FM) Wednesday, Apr 22 -6:05 pm CDT John Lackey (1-0, 2.77) vs Doug Fister (1-0, 0.69) After a rough debut to start the 2015 season, John Lackey was a textbook on efficiency in his last start, going seven strong innings. There is nothing much more to say about Doug Fister other than he has been brilliant so far in 2015. On paper, this should be a low scoring game, which means it will probably be a 10-8 slugfest. If John Lackey pitches as he did in his last start, this should be a thrilling pitching duel, decided by the bullpen in the late innings. Key to the game: John Lackey keeping the game close Thursday, Apr 23 -3:05 pm CDT Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.35) vs Max Scherzer (1-1. 0.83) Michael Wacha has been lights out to start the 2015 season. Longevity and load will remain a question as he approaches 150 and then 200 innings, but when healthy, Wacha is one of the most exciting right handers in the game today. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, he will be facing a veteran that is just as stingy and not likely to break down any time soon. As with the Lackey/Fister game, this should be a thrilling pitching duel, decided by a run or two late. Key to the game: Michael Wacha’s velocity Radio: KMOX (1120 AM),WJFK (106.7 FM) Injury Update – Washington Craig Stammen (RHP) – the 31 year old right hander had surgery to repair two torn flexor tendons (forearm) and will likely miss the remainder of the season. Casey Janssen (RHP) – right shoulder tendonitis. Janssen has recently started throwing again, but has not begun a minor league rehab program. He is expected to return in late April or early May. Erik Davis (RHP) – recovering from Tommy John surgery last spring. No timetable for his return has been set. Yunel Escobar (SS) – missed the last series and is listed as day to day. He is expected to play in the Cardinals series. Nate McLouth (OF) – may be activated soon. He is recovering from shoulder surgery last August. He has not yet started a minor league rehab assignment. Anthony Rendon (3B) – sprained left knee. Has just started throwing and light batting activities. Should be starting a minor league rehab assignment soon. Injury Update – St. Louis Randal Grichuk (OF) – has been placed on the 15 day DL with a lower back sprain. He is expected back in early May. Infielder Dean Anna has been called up to replace Grichuk on the roster. Jaime Garcia (LHP) – continues to recover from season ending shoulder surgery last May. Garcia pitched effectively early in spring training, but had difficulty in recovering in time to make his next start. He will remain in extended spring training for a while but is expected to start a minor league rehab assignment with a possible return to the majors in late May. Tommy Pham (OF) – has recently been cleared to resume baseball activities following a left quad strain. There is no timetable for his return. This series preview has been written by Bob Netherton, from the mostly historical blog On the Outside Corner, You can also find Bob on Twitter during game time at @CardinalTales. We hope that you have been enjoying these Cardinals series previews. If you are not already receiving these by email, please see the Bird’s Eye View Registration. Posted in 2015 Season, Bird's Eye View, United Cardinals Bloggers | Leave a comment X-Men Unleashed: Fixing the Cardinals Offense I am reminded of a Tony La Russa interview in April 2011 when he asked reporters, “are you telling me Yadier is not going to get a big hit” ? Yes, that was also the first week of the season and it was a fair question. We also know how that story ended, with the Cardinals celebrating their 11th World Championship. But if Mike Matheny were to ask that question in a post-game press conference today, the responses might be something like “yeah, Mike, that is exactly what we are saying.” So what are a manager and general manager to do ? The first thing is to admit that while this is the first week of the season, it sure looks a lot like long stretches of last season and most of the spring. To be honest, the best parts of spring training were when kids like Charlie Tilson were on base, running and helping manufacture runs. None of that seems to be happening now that the games count. It is early, but not too early to make a couple of changes. Let’s take a look at a few. Mark Reynolds Stays on the Bench We can argue endlessly about whether or not Mark Reynolds should have been signed this winter, but the fact is that he was and it is too early to give up on that decision. At the same time, a long look at his numbers when playing regularly last season in Milwaukee (.196 / .287 / .394 in 433 plate appearances, 22 HR, 45 RBIs and 122 Ks) should convince you that he is not a realistic platoon partner for the struggling Matt Adams. While this will probably end in the same way as the Ty Wigginton experiment, he has to be given a fair opportunity to produce. ed note: Mark Reynolds is 2-3 in the current game and has just driven in his first run of the season. Xavier Scruggs has driven in 9. Call up Xavier Scruggs As the Cardinals start play on April 16 (game number 8), Xavier Scruggs has the same number of home runs (4) as the Cardinals do as a team. Some will be quick to point out that Scruggs is doing that in the homer friendly Pacific Coast League and completely miss that he has done that in 24 plate appearances where the Cardinals as a team have 275 (and add another dozen or so as the game is now in the sixth inning and no big flies have been seen yet). In his minor league career, Scruggs has the typical power hitter splits, tearing up left handers and struggling against righties. That would make him the ideal platoon partner for Matt Adams, keeping a power bat on the bench regardless of who is getting the start. Who would be optioned to Memphis to make room for Scruggs ? Easy. Option Randal Grichuk Oh, you can’t send Randal Grichuk to the minors ? In this case, we do have some good comparison data between Grichuk and Scruggs and the results may surprise you. Randal Grichuk .259 / .311 / .493 (.805 OPS), 25 HR, 71 RBIs, 108Ks in 472 plate appearances. Xavier Scruggs .286 / .370 / .494 (.864 OPS), 21 HR, 87 RBIs, 114 Ks in 538 plate appearances Scruggs out hit, out slugged, drove in more runs – basically outproduced Randal Grichuk last year. This is on the same team, in the same ballparks and against the same pitching. Most of the season, Grichuk hit second, Scruggs cleanup or fifth. Grichuk did hit more home runs, but that’s it. Scruggs is also 28, Grichuk is 23, so which of the two can benefit more from consistent playing time in the minors ? Mike Schildt should play Grichuk every day in center field, giving him some much needed experience at the position. If the Cardinals do sign Jason Heyward to a long contract extension, Grichuk will have to take center field away from Jon Jay or wait for Matt Holliday to retire. Seeing him play for a summer in Memphis would go a long way in figuring out where his future lies, not to mention a ton of at-bats to improve his pitch recognition against right handers. Swapping Grichuk for Scruggs is about a break even in the offensive production, based on last year in the PCL. It doesn’t really leave the outfield short as Peter Bourjos is still available as is Pete Kozma. It leaves the bench largely unchanged, but gives Mike Matheny a more balanced lineup against left handed pitching. If I was the general manager, Xavier Scruggs would already be heading north on I-55. What would you do, if anything, to get the Cardinals offense going ? Let me know in the comments. As always, thanks for reading. Posted in 2015 Season | 1 Comment What to do About Jon Jay ? Posted on January 16, 2015 by Bob Netherton Now that the Lance Lynn contact has been taken care of, and both Tony Cruz and Peter Bourjos have avoided arbitration, we can turn our attention to the last piece of the Cardinals 2015 puzzle, Jon Jay. There may not be a more polarizing figure on the current Cardinals roster than Jon Jay. There is no question that he is a likeable player and has developed a strong fan base just on his personality alone. In addition, fans that favor offensive production first will tend to side with Jay and point to his consistency in batting average (career .295 without much deviation) and on-base percentage (.379 last year, .359 for his career). They will also be quick to point out his lack of errors, some to the point of suggesting he is worthy of a Gold Glove. Perhaps that is going a bit overboard, but Jon Jay does have a good glove and catches any ball that he can get to. The other side quickly dismisses those claims by using his slugging percentage to show (rightfully) that he is a singles only hitter as well as a lack of stolen bases (6, down from 10 and 19 the previous two seasons), proclaiming him a base clogger, thus not a good choice for the top of the batting order. The persecution of Jay continues with a deeper look into his defensive performance, specifically below league average range and less than impressive defensive runs saved. It is hard to argue with this after watching Billy Hamilton score from third on a short fly ball. That video should come with a parental warning. The fact is that all of this is true and just demonstrates the wide diversity of how fans look at and evaluate a player in the game today. Perhaps it would be different with a more critical approach to broadcasting on television and radio, but that is not the product being offered at the moment. How does this affect Jon Jay ? Simple – of all the players on the roster today, Jon Jay should be the last to face an actual arbitration hearing. All of the positives from his 2014 season (taking the every day center fielding job away from Peter Bourjos, an improved offensive year, better base running) will be shattered by a cold hard examination of his defensive performance, which will be the basis of the Cardinals case to the arbitration committee. The two sides have not disclosed any numbers publicly, but we do have some information start forming a basis for a possible resolution. Jay avoided arbitration last year by signing a one year $3.25M contract. Based on his 2014 season, and both sides should agree with this, he surpassed the previous performance that earned him that contract. As a result, he should expect some raise above the league inflation, and the Cardinals should be expected to do at least that. That puts a number like $4.5M in play and will likely be near the midpoint of the two sides. What to do ? The proper play here is for a one year contract for $4.5M. His fans can rejoice that they will have another season with the young man while his critics will wince at nearly $5M spent for a player that they don’t think should be an every day player and would rather see him not even on the roster. The outcome of an arbitration hearing could make that a reality sooner rather than later. The thing that should not happen is a multi-year deal, buying out Jay’s last two years of arbitration and any free agency years. Unlike the Lance Lynn situation, the Cardinals have quite a bit of depth in the position, though nobody particularly stands out, including Jon Jay. Right now, Tommy Pham can play better defense, though he hasn’t demonstrated the ability to hit major league pitching. Peter Bourjos has a slightly better track record than Pham, though he can’t be viewed as anything more than competition to push Jay for another year. Randal Grichuk remains a curious possibility, especially if Jason Heyward is up for a move to center (unlikely). Stephen Piscotty squelches any thoughts about Jay as a long term play in left field. Down in the minor leagues, Charlie Tilson continues to move up and could soon be pushing his way into consideration. The point here is that the Cardinals do not have a clear cut answer for the center field situation, and that should keep the front office from offering an extended contract to Jay. The upside here is that if viewed as a non-punitive course of action, that could be exactly the fire Jon Jay needs under his feet to prove his critics wrong. A one year $4.5M contract is the answer that both sides should be able to live with. That is what I would work to if I were the Cardinals front office or Jon Jay’s agent. The next few days should be interesting as the deadline for submitting arbitration offers has passed. Unless the two sides are finalizing some sort of deal, it appears as if Jon Jay will be the first Cardinals player to reach arbitration since Darren Oliver in 1999. Oh, the Cardinals won that case – and non-tendered him at the end of the season. What would you do about Jon Jay ? Let me know in the comments or yell at me on Twitter What to do about Lance Lynn ? I knew it would take a special topic to get me blogging again, and this one is as good as it gets. For the record, I have been an unapologetic Lance Lynn fan since his days with the Springfield Cardinals, way back in 2009. He went 11-4 that year with an ERA just under 3 runs per game – in a very hitter friendly league and park. What to do about Lance Lynn The question of what to do about Lance Lynn brings out all sorts of responses, but they tend to fall into one of three categories. Let’s look at each and try to figure out what the right answer is. 1. Trade him at peak value I believe this is the stance from one of my favorite bloggers and sports buddies, Bill Ivie. We have had many fun conversations about Kyle Lohse over the years, and this feels very much like one of those, for a number of reasons. Let’s start with the pro side of the argument. There is no question that Lance Lynn’s value has never been higher. In spite of posting records of 18-7 and 15-10 in his first two seasons as a starter, there still seems to be some lingering doubt about how much of that was Lance Lynn and how much was the Cardinals offense blowing out opponents in his starts. Some of those critics were silenced with another 15-10 record last year where the big guy shaved more than a run off his ERA, while others will point to his relatively unchanged FIP, suggesting he was just more lucky than actually good. Perhaps more important than his wins and losses, Lynn has now gone back to back seasons with 200 or more innings pitched. He pitched into the seventh inning in 14 of his 33 starts last year, including two complete games (one was a shutout). The last Cardinals pitcher to have back to back 200 inning seasons, not named Adam Wainwright, is Chris Carpenter (2010-2011). You have to go back to 2005 to find another name, and that was Jason Marquis. No, really. While all of this Lynning stuff might make for fun debate on Twitter or one of the various message boards, it really doesn’t matter. The con side won this debate on Nov 17. 2014. That was the day Shelby Miller was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Jason Heyward. The depth of the Cardinals rotation, once an almost embarrassing abundance, was impacted significantly by this deal. So much so that Lance Lynn becomes nearly untouchable. He is now one of the veterans in spite of just entering his first year of salary arbitration. Even with the rumors of the Cardinals pursuing big name pitchers, such as Cole Hamels, Max Scherzer and David Price, those are all about adding depth to supplement the existing rotation, not to replace any of the core members (Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha). Shelby Miller’s departure just means you can write Lance Lynn’s name in to the Cardinals 2015 rotation in ink, not pencil. 2. Let’s take it one year at a time This should be a non-starter for a number of reasons, the foremost being that the Cardinals want to avoid salary arbitration at nearly all cost. On one hand, it is a contentious process that the front office views as destructive to the relationship they have worked so long and hard to build with a young player. It sends a message that the player is not a core member of the roster, but a commodity. That is a sure way to push a player, such as Lance Lynn, into testing the free agency market at their first opportunity. Another risk for the front office is lack of salary control in subsequent years. The two sides could enter the process next year, differing by millions of dollars, dollars that the team would much rather spend courting new free agents early in the next signing period instead of holding in reserve should they lose in arbitration. If that is not enough, there is even more risk on Lance Lynn’s side of this negotiation. While he has made steady improvement in his first four seasons, he is also one pitch away from a season or career ending injury. While fans may dismiss this rather quickly, this is Lynn’s career and he has an opportunity right now to guarantee a lifestyle for his family that many fans can only dream about. The end result is that both sides benefit by avoiding yearly arbitration. So much that it leaves us with 3. Sign Lance Lynn for __________________ This is ultimately the right answer, though opinions on “how long” and for “how much” vary significantly. Fortunately we have some examples in recent Cardinals history that should help us sort this out. Just before the start of the 2008 season, Adam Wainwright signed a 4 year $15M deal. It was structured as $750k signing bonus, $500K (2008), $2.6M (2009), $4.65M (2010) and $6.5M (2012). It also included options for 2013 and 2013, valued at $9M and $12M respectively. This was for a former first round draft pick (Braves, 2000) that had lived up to and probably surpassed many expectations. In other words, Adam Wainwright was seen as a future top-of-the-rotation-face-of-the-franchise guy. Midway though the 2011 season, Jaime Garcia signed a 4 year $27M deal. Like Adam Wainwright’s, it bought out his last team controlled year as well as all of his arbitration eligible time. It was structured as a $500k signing bonus, $3.25M (2012), $5.75M (2013), $7.75M (2014) and $9.25M (2015). It also included two option years at $11.5M and $12M, respectively. At the time of the signing, Jaime Garcia was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA after a rookie season where he went 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. In other words, he was the left handed young stud to pitch alongside Adam Wainwright for the foreseeable future. For the risks the Cardinals took in both of these deals, they were rewarded with what turned out to be discounts later in the later (free agent) years as salaries escalated pretty quickly, thanks to some gargantuan deals elsewhere. The players got some security, which turned out to be bigger benefits than the team discount as both missed significant playing time. Given where Lance Lynn is today, these two deals should serve as something of a floor for a forward looking deal, for two reasons. First, and most significant, all of the years in a potential long term contract will be at arbitration rates, not the league minimums where Garcia and Wainwright started. The other factor is overall rise of salaries in the major leagues, which makes Adam Wainwright’s 2008 deal look like a huge bargain. The ceiling for such a deal could be Kyle Lohse’s contract from the end of the 2008 season. In his case, he was already a free agent thus his contract extension reflected that escalated yearly salary. He signed a 4 year $41M extension which was split out as a $1.25M signing bonus and $7.125M (2009), $8.875M (2010), $11.875M (2011) and $11.875M (2012). Lohse is a particularly interesting case as he went to arbitration in his first two eligible seasons with Minnesota, winning both times. He was traded to Cincinnati in the last of those as the two were unlikely to work out any long term deal. That is not how the Cardinals would want to proceed with Lance Lynn, especially now with Shelby Miller in Atlanta and Michael Wacha not anywhere close to 150 innings, let alone the 200 mark that Lynn has turned in the last two years. Any deal that the Cardinals make with Lance Lynn, other than a year at a time, will buy out all three years of arbitration. In order to get something of a discount to compensate for their risks, it should also include his first year of free agency, some of which can be front loaded as an incentive. Going beyond that, remembering that Adam Wainwright just signed a 5 year extension, would be in the way of options, protecting both parties. Using the Lohse and Garcia deals as bookends, you get something that might look like $1M signing bonus, $5M (2015), $7M (2016), $9M (2017) and $14M (2018). Adjusted for salary differences, this is not all that far off Adam Wainwright’s deal back in 2008. This would provide an incentive up front while not blowing out any arbitration comparisons for the next round of pitchers that will go through the process. What will they actually do ? Time will tell, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Lance Lynn and the Cardinals announce a 4 year contract in the vicinity of $36M in the next few days. What would you do ? Please share your ideas in the comments. Thanks for reading. Go Cardinals. ps: All contract information is courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Posted in 2015 Season | Tagged Adam Wainwright, arbitration, cardinals, Chris Carpenter, free agency, jason marquis, Lance Lynn, salary, Shelby Miller, st. louis, stlcards | 5 Comments Memphis (listen alternate) Springfield (listen alternate) Palm Beach (listen smartphone) Peoria (listen smartphone) State College (listen) Johnson City (listen smartphone) Minor League Gameday Audio (free) Minor League Scores 2010 Season (27) Baseball Bloggers Alliance (9) Bird's Eye View (6) General History (54) Minor Leagues (15) The Atlas Awards (8) Unforgotten Cardinals (22) United Cardinals Bloggers (25) What If ? 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instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I recently bruised my ribs (6 days ago) doctors at a&e were happy my organs were OK. Today, I started feeling rattling on left side of chest, right below my breast. I can feel it when I out my hand there too. It only happens when I take deep breaths, in and out. I do a lot of running and exercise, which I m adament I won t stop doing. Is there any need to worry about this? output: Hello I have read your query. Physiotherapy like IT And TENS will help you. Another possibility of rib contusion. CT scan will help you in diagnosis. I hope I have answered your questions. If you have further questions please feel free to contact us. I will be happy to answer. Take care..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What are the primary clinical conditions that can lead to elevated C-Reactive Protein levels? output: Elevated C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels are indicative of various clinical conditions, primarily those involving inflammation or tissue injury. The most common conditions associated with elevated CRP levels include: 1. Infections: Bacterial infections are a significant cause of elevated CRP levels. This includes conditions such as sepsis, pneumonia, and bacterial endocarditis.[1-2] 2. Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vasculitis are known to cause elevated CRP levels due to chronic inflammation.[1-3] 3. Cardiovascular Diseases: Elevated CRP is a marker for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and is associated with an increased risk of acute coronary syndromes, including myocardial infarction and unstable angina. The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry highlights the role of CRP in acute coronary syndromes.[1][4-5] 4. Malignancies: Various cancers, including urologic cancers, can lead to elevated CRP levels. CRP can be used to predict disease characteristics and prognosis in cancers such as renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer.[2][6] 5. Trauma and Surgery: Major trauma and surgical procedures can cause a significant rise in CRP levels due to tissue injury and the subsequent inflammatory response.[1-2] 6. Chronic Inflammatory Conditions: Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also associated with elevated CRP levels.[1][3] 7. Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes: Elevated CRP levels are associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and related conditions such as dyslipidemia.[7] In summary, elevated CRP levels are a non-specific marker of inflammation and can be elevated in a wide range of conditions, including infections, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, malignancies, trauma, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: i am 50 years old, present i am suffering from severe cough & phlegm in my chest. one week back i went a doctor. After investigations there is no trouble in blood tests. But in chest x ray found heavy phlegm. Doctor gave some medicine like 1. tab. Xaria (night time) 2. Blukof Cough syrup for 5 days 3.tab.Doxi flo (Half morning & Half night) 4. Tab.Cefoloc (200 mg) 5 days 5. Lupihaler 6. Budamate (inhaler capsules) Also Doctor told that I have to use the xaria tab & Lupihaler long time. Please tell me how long i can use the both medicine. kindly inform any side effect for usage of long time. output: Depending upon the condition we have to use steroids. For example bronchial asthma and COPD patients they have to use long term inhaler therapy. Right now what is your X-ray chest report, how frequently you're getting breathing difficulty and what about your lab reports and spirometry. Generally in acute bronchitis and acute asthma attack we don't advice inhaler more than 2 weeks. Most commonly this inhaler steroids and bronchodilators cause repeated pharyngitis, peptic ulcer, osteoporosis, weight gain, tremor, palpitations. Use mouth gargle every time after inhaler use. Plenty of liquids, avoid alleged that causes your problem..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I have been suffering recurring bouts of dizziness and vertigo, sometimes with headaches and nausea too, for the last month. I feel like my head is spinning constantly and my balance is slightly off. My physician took blood for testing and after checking my reflexes and eyesight (all normal), referred me for an MRI brain scan with IAMS. In the referral letter, he said he wanted to rule out demyelineation. Can you please explain what this is? Does it relate to MS? Thank you. urring bouts of dizziness, vertigo, headaches, nausea, balance problems. Referred for MRI. Opinion? output: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Myelin is a sheath that is seen over nerves in the brain, spinal cord and in other areas of the body.This sheath allows impulses to travel quickly along the nerve.In demyelination this sheath is destroyed or damaged.MS is one cause of demyelination but there are others causes.Though demyelination can cause the symptoms that you are experiencing there are also more benign causes of vertigo and dizziness, your doctor is ruling out the more serious causes first which is understandable.Vertigo is commonly caused by inner ear conditions such as meniere's disease, BPPV and vestibular neuronitis.Wishing you the best..

Statement on Monetary Policy – May 2010 International and Foreign Exchange Markets Sovereign Debt Markets Concerns about the Greek Government's public finances have been at the forefront of developments in financial markets this year. Greece has a large funding requirement, reflecting both its sizeable budget deficit (13½ per cent of GDP in 2009 and likely to be at least 8 per cent of GDP in 2010) and the need to refinance large volumes of maturing debt (outstanding debt at end 2009 was 115 per cent of GDP) (Graph 12). During April, Greece's credit rating was downgraded by all three rating agencies; S&P downgraded Greece in late April to below investment grade. All rating agencies have Greece under review for a further downgrade. Several Greek banks also had their credit ratings downgraded because of the poor economic outlook and their large holdings of Greek government debt. In early May, the Greek Government agreed to the terms of financial support from other euro area countries and the IMF. Under the three-year program, €80 billion in bilateral loans will be provided by euro area countries and €30 billion by the IMF; up to €30 billion will be provided in 2010 by euro area countries at interest rates reportedly around 5 per cent, which is well below recent market rates for Greek government debt (see below). The Greek Government aims to reduce its budget deficit to 3 per cent of GDP by 2014 by reducing government spending and increasing revenue. The concerns about Greece saw spreads between yields on Greek and German sovereign debt widen to be the highest of any euro area country since the European Monetary Union was formed in 1999 (Graph 13). With the caveat that the market has become very illiquid and pricing is at best indicative, in early May the yields on 2-year and 10-year Greek bonds were around 15 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. Sovereign bond spreads for several other euro area countries with large budget deficits have also widened recently. Fitch and S&P downgraded Portugal's credit rating in recent months, citing increased medium-term fiscal challenges. Subsequently, the Government brought forward additional measures to cut its budget deficit in 2010. In late April, S&P also downgraded Spain's credit rating. In addition, Ireland's budget deficit for 2009 was revised higher by 2½ percentage points. Longer-term bond yields in the United States and United Kingdom had risen in recent months to the top of their trading range over the past year, reflecting in part the better macroeconomic outlook (Graph 14). Recently, however, yields in major bond markets have fallen, reflecting safe-haven demand due to concerns over sovereign credit risk in some euro area countries. Short-term government bond yields in the major economies have remained low as policy rates are expected to remain low for some time. Spreads of emerging market debt have only been modestly affected by the concerns about some euro area countries and have narrowed considerably over the past year or so as these economies have improved (Graph 15). Spreads are now similar to, or lower than, those prevailing prior to the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 and are well below their decade average. In mid April, Argentina announced a debt restructuring plan for around US$20 billion of bonds outstanding from the Government's 2001 debt default. In emerging Asia, Moody's upgraded South Korea's credit rating from the equivalent of A to A+, citing its ongoing resilience to the financial crisis. S&P revised India's credit rating outlook from negative to stable citing its fiscal consolidation. A number of emerging European countries also had their credit outlooks raised. Credit Markets In money markets, spreads between LIBOR and the expected cash rate (a measure of bank risk) have remained broadly stable since mid to late 2009 (Graph 16). Conditions in other credit markets have generally improved further in recent months, despite having experienced some repercussions from the deterioration in several euro area sovereign debt markets. Reflecting the improvement in global economic conditions, the global corporate speculative-grade default rate has declined from its peak in December 2009. Although corporate bond spreads in the United States and euro area have widened slightly in recent weeks, they remain around low levels (Graph 17). Bond issuance by US non-financial corporates, including by those rated below investment grade, has strengthened a little in recent months, although issuance by non-financial corporates in the euro area has moderated after being strong in 2009 (Graph 18). In recent months, bond issuance by financial institutions has been around its average of recent years in the euro area but below average in the United States. Some Irish, French and Spanish financial institutions continue to issue government-guaranteed bonds, although aggregate issuance has continued to decline (Graph 19). The aggregate stock of government-guaranteed bonds in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe is likely to begin falling this year as bonds start to mature, although the majority of government-guaranteed bonds will mature in 2011 and 2012. Central Bank Policy Central banks in most advanced economies have kept their policy rates unchanged at low levels (Table 2). Financial markets continue to expect that the major central banks will not raise rates until at least the end of the year, with the exception of the Bank of Canada which is expected to tighten policy in coming months. Monetary policy has been more of a mixed picture outside the major advanced economies. A number of Asian central banks (China, India, Malaysia and Singapore) have tightened monetary policy in recent months as the economic outlook has improved and/or as inflation has risen. The Bank of Israel raised its policy rate by 25 basis points in March, taking its cumulative tightening to 100 basis points since August 2009. The Central Bank of Brazil increased its policy rate by 75 basis points in April. The Central Bank of Norway increased its policy rate by 25 basis points in May. In contrast, several central banks in emerging Europe have further reduced their policy rates. The South African Reserve Bank also lowered its policy rate by a further 50 basis points in March. In the United States, the Fed has completed its asset purchases designed to ease monetary policy and support the US mortgage market. Final purchases of agency mortgage-backed securities and agency debt occurred in March. Spreads on these securities to US Treasuries as well as 30-year fixed mortgage rates have remained relatively low following the completion of asset purchases (Graph 20). The European Central Bank (ECB) has purchased more than four-fifths of its target of €60 billion of covered bonds, which will be completed by end June 2010. The Bank of England has maintained the stock of financial assets it purchased at £200 billion since reaching this target in early 2010. Most central banks have closed the majority of their temporary liquidity facilities, reflecting falling demand in line with the improvements in credit market conditions. In the United States, the sole remaining facility, the Term Asset-backed Securities Loan Facility, which aims to support issuance of commercial mortgage-backed securities, will end by 30 June. The Fed also increased the interest rate (the ‘discount rate’) it charges on emergency loans to banks by 25 basis points to 0.75 per cent in February and reduced the term of such loans to overnight. The Fed emphasised that this was not a tightening of monetary policy but rather a normalisation of its liquidity operations. In March, the ECB announced that it will keep the minimum allowable rating on collateral accepted for its market operations at investment grade (BBB– or equivalent), rather than reverting to A– at the end of 2010 as previously anticipated. Subsequently, the ECB suspended the application of the minimum credit rating threshold to Greek government debt used as collateral. The ECB has also announced other changes to the collateral framework for its market operations: from 1 January 2011 higher haircuts will be imposed on certain private-sector securities while some other securities, including those not denominated in euros, will cease to be eligible collateral. The Bank of Japan announced at its March policy meeting that it will double, to ¥20 trillion, the amount of liquidity provided at the policy rate through its 3-month loan operations, with a view to lowering longer-term money market interest rates. Consistent with the scaling-back or completion of asset purchases and liquidity facilities, central bank balance sheets are close to peaking (Graph 21). Government Financial Policy In the United States, negotiations over financial reform legislation are close to resolution. Key proposals contained in the current draft legislation include: new capital and leverage requirements for financial institutions; the ability to break up large companies if they pose a threat to financial stability; a study of the feasibility of the proposed ‘Volcker rule’ restricting banks' proprietary trading activities; greater use of centralised clearing and exchange trading for derivatives currently traded over the counter; and the creation of a new consumer protection agency. In April, the Securities and Exchange Commission also proposed new rules for issuing asset-backed securities, aimed at providing better protection for investors. The US Treasury continues to unwind its assistance to financial institutions under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Over 70 per cent of the banking-sector support programs have been repaid, and the US Treasury ultimately expects to earn a profit on these investments. However, reflecting the large losses expected from assistance to insurer American International Group and the auto industry, as well as the cost of the housing affordability program, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the total cost of the TARP will be more than US$100 billion in present value terms. The US Treasury also announced it will sell its 27 per cent stake in Citigroup during 2010, subject to market conditions. At current market prices, the Government's profit on these shares would be around US$7 billion. The housing finance agency Freddie Mac reported further losses in the March quarter, resulting in a request for an additional capital injection of more than US$10 billion from the US Treasury as part of the terms of its conservatorship. This would take the total contribution from the US Treasury to more than US$60 billion. Fannie Mae's total funding from the US Treasury at the end of 2009 was around US$75 billion. The IMF has approved measures to ensure that it has adequate resources to lend to member countries through its crisis prevention and resolution measures. The Executive Board approved a significant expansion of the IMF's New Arrangements to Borrow – where participants commit resources to IMF lending when needed to supplement the IMF's regular quota resources – from around US$50 billion to almost US$600 billion. The IMF has also discussed two proposals in which additional taxes on the financial system might be levied: a Financial Stability Contribution that would be predominantly based on specific liabilities of financial institutions; and a Financial Activities Tax that would be levied on the remuneration and ‘excess’ profits of financial institutions. Responses to these proposals have been mixed, with many countries not seeing a need for a special tax on their financial institutions. A number of governments and regulators have proposed banning ‘naked’ credit default swap (CDS) transactions referencing sovereign debt where the protection buyer does not own the underlying asset. Activity in the sovereign CDS market, however, is much smaller than the underlying market for government bonds (Table 3). Ireland's National Asset Management Agency, set up to buy non-performing loans, began its first loan purchases in March. Loans with a nominal value of €16 billion are being purchased at an average discount of nearly 50 per cent. In total, €81 billion of loans (6 per cent of credit institutions' assets) are expected to be purchased by end 2010. Several institutions will be required to raise capital to offset the effects of the loan write-downs. Global equity prices reached a 19-month high in mid April, supported by generally better-than-expected earnings reports for the March quarter and steady improvements in the global economic outlook (Table 4, Graph 22). However, recent developments in the euro area have resulted in global equity prices falling by around 5 per cent and European equity prices by around 10 per cent. Global equity prices remain well below their peak in October 2007. In the United States, first-quarter earnings reports from major US financial institutions continued to show investment banking and trading operations, particularly fixed-income activities, as the main sources of profit. Net income from retail operations was a little higher as loan-loss provisions, which peaked in mid 2009, declined further due to reported improvements in credit quality. While US financial institutions' earnings have improved significantly, they remain below their pre-crisis levels. Reported profits of non-financial companies also improved in the March quarter compared with a year earlier. Equity prices have not increased at the same rate as expected earnings with the result that the forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has fallen to be slightly below its long-run average (Graph 23). Volatility in the US equity market has recently increased to be slightly above its long-run average. Equity prices in most emerging economies have broadly tracked those in advanced economies this year, with the notable exception of China where uncertainty surrounding the pace of policy tightening and the effect of measures implemented by authorities to cool property market activity have weighed on equity prices. The continuing improvement in financial markets has been reflected in global hedge funds' returns, which averaged 3 per cent in the March quarter and 23 per cent over the year. Hedge funds as a group have recovered the sharp losses suffered in 2008, with unit values now around levels seen before the financial crisis. Despite this recovery in returns, funds under management in the industry are still 14 per cent below the peak in mid 2008, reflecting large redemptions during the crisis. Developments in major foreign exchange markets have primarily been driven by the sovereign debt concerns in Europe, while emerging Asian and South American currencies have generally appreciated in line with the relative strength of economic recovery in these regions. With the exception of heightened volatility in the euro, foreign exchange markets have been relatively stable in recent months with volatility around its long-run average and well below the peaks recorded in 2008. In trade-weighted terms, the US dollar has appreciated since the previous Statement, and at the end of April was around 12 per cent above the record lows in March 2008 and around 10 per cent below its peak in March 2009 (Graph 24, Table 5). The dollar has appreciated against the other major currencies, owing largely to the response of investors to the sovereign debt problems in the euro area, but has depreciated against emerging market and commodity currencies, which have been buoyed by the strengthening global recovery and capital inflows. Concerns over the fiscal position of a number of euro area countries, particularly Greece but also Ireland, Spain and Portugal, have seen the euro depreciate by around 15 per cent against the US dollar since late 2009 (Graph 25). Despite this, the euro remains over 10 per cent above its long-run average in effective terms. The UK pound sterling has continued to depreciate, affected by economic and political uncertainty in the country. In effective terms the UK pound sterling remains around its lowest level for at least 30 years. The Swiss National Bank has continued to intervene at times to constrain appreciation of the Swiss franc against the euro. Despite market discussion of a possible revaluation of the Chinese renminbi, the current peg to the US dollar, in place since July 2008, remains unchanged. The non-deliverable forward market suggests that market participants have expected an upward revaluation of the renminbi relative to the US dollar since late last year. Although Premier Wen cautioned that the currency will remain basically stable in the near term, Chinese President Hu stated recently that China will move towards a floating exchange rate regime. In effective terms the Chinese exchange rate has appreciated from the start of 2010. It is around 8 per cent below its peak in February 2009, but remains around 20 per cent above its trough in 2005 (Graph 26). Other emerging Asian currencies have generally appreciated against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, consistent with strong capital inflows and the strength of the recovery in the region (Graph 27). The Malaysian ringgit has experienced a particularly strong appreciation in response to strong trade data and higher domestic interest rates. Most currencies in the region with flexible exchange rates appreciated following the decision by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to raise the target band for the Singapore dollar and to allow the currency to gradually appreciate. In early May, however, most emerging Asian currencies depreciated in response to sovereign debt concerns in some euro area countries. The Australian dollar has appreciated against most major currencies in recent months, reflecting the general strength in commodity prices and associated strength of the domestic economy (Graph 28, Table 6). On a trade-weighted basis the Australian dollar has appreciated by over 35 per cent since the trough in February 2009 and is just 4 per cent below the post-float high achieved in July 2008. It has reached a new high against the euro of over 70 euro cents and a decade high against the NZ dollar. Intraday volatility in the Australian dollar has declined sharply in recent months to its lowest level since mid 2007. Private capital flows have largely returned to their pre-crisis configuration. Official data to the end of 2009 show that, following a short period of repatriation flows during the crisis, both foreign investment in Australia and Australian investment abroad have returned to levels similar to those seen prior to the crisis (Graph 29). Net equity inflows, which rose sharply following the crisis, reflecting repatriations and domestic equity raisings, have declined recently, while strong offshore debt financing by banks and other corporates has seen a recovery in net debt inflows.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: How does vestibular dysfunction contribute to the sensation of nausea? output: Vestibular dysfunction contributes to the sensation of nausea primarily through the integration of vestibular and autonomic signals in the brainstem. The vestibular system, which includes the semicircular canals and otolith organs, provides critical information about head motion and spatial orientation. When there is a mismatch between expected and actual sensory inputs, such as during motion sickness, this can lead to nausea. Key brainstem areas involved in this process include the nucleus tractus solitarius, the dorsolateral reticular formation of the caudal medulla, and the parabrachial nucleus. These regions integrate vestibular inputs with gastrointestinal signals, coordinating the autonomic responses that precede and accompany nausea and vomiting.[1] Additionally, vestibular stimulation has been shown to modulate sympathetic nerve activity, particularly skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA), which is associated with nausea. For instance, sinusoidal galvanic vestibular stimulation (sGVS) can increase SSNA in individuals who report nausea, indicating a differential autonomic response.[2] Moreover, the vestibular system's role in autonomic regulation is highlighted by the vestibulosympathetic reflex, which can lead to symptoms such as epigastric discomfort, nausea, and vomiting during vestibular dysfunction or motion sickness.[3] This reflex involves the integration of vestibular and autonomic information in the brainstem, contributing to the unpleasant visceral sensations associated with nausea. In summary, vestibular dysfunction contributes to nausea through the integration of vestibular and autonomic signals in the brainstem, leading to autonomic responses that manifest as nausea and vomiting. This process involves key brainstem nuclei and the modulation of sympathetic nerve activity.[1-3]

Not so very long ago, an interviewer asked me what I would change if I could go back and do my first book all over again. I laughed, not because it was a silly question, but because, bizarrely, I found myself in the position of doing just that. My publisher was reissuing my first book in mass market paperback and they had just offered me the opportunity to make any changes I felt necessary. How often does one get to go back and do it all over? I began writing The Secret History of the Pink Carnation in 2001 as a wee little twenty-four year old grad student (naturally, I thought I was old and wise and sophisticated), finished it in 2003, and saw its release as a hardcover in 2005 as an elderly and jaded law school 2L. It’s 2010 now. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge. I firmly believe that any work is the product of its circumstances, rooted in a specific place and time. I couldn’t write The Secret History of the Pink Carnation today, any more than the girl I was then could have written the much more cynical Betrayal of the Blood Lily. Read any author’s work and you’ll see marked divergences as she changes and as society changes around her. Are there things I would have done differently about Pink if I were to write it now? Probably. Would I go back in my magical Reissue Time Capsule and change them now? Absolutely not. Except for one small thing. Yes, I admit it. Despite all my philosophical convictions, I did go back and change one line. It wasn’t a particularly big or important line—it was what I think of as a throwaway line—but it had been a thorn in my flesh since the book’s publication in 2005. Contemplating the prospect of an evening at Almack’s Assembley Rooms, my hero muses, “The prospect was enough to send anyone into a precipitate decline that would make the consumptive Keats and drugged Coleridge look like strapping specimens of British manhood.” The line was intended as a deliberate nod to the Blackadder III silly poets episode, Ink and Incapability. (Hello, my name is Lauren, and I’m a Blackadder addict). Sure, I knew that in spring of 1803, Keats was only seven years old, but, hey, people knew this was all tongue in cheek, right? It was a nudge nudge wink wink between me and the reader. Besides, who would care? You can see the train wreck coming, right? My little throwaway line blew up into a huge internet firestorm as the electronic lines started clacking. Before I knew it, people—who hadn’t read the book—were claiming that my hero had engaged in a whole discussion about Keats, in which, and I quote, he had called Keats a “pantywaist” for refusing to engage in the war effort against Bonaparte. ?!?! (My hero, Lord Richard, would like me to point out that he would never have used the word “pantywaist”. He is deeply offended by the implication and would demand satisfaction if he weren’t currently busy being reissued.) That experience taught me a cardinal rule of historical fiction writing: no matter how clever you think you’re being, never throw the reader out of the story. It didn’t matter that I’d done it deliberately or that I knew exactly how old Keats was in 1803; the minute I lost the reader’s trust, the game was over. It wasn’t a fun lesson, but it was a valuable one. And, in the end, I cut the line. What about you? If you had the chance to go back, what would you change? posted by Lauren Willig | 9:17 AM | 6 comments Music to Make the Book Sing I always try to involve music in my books: my heroes and heroines have theme songs, I listen to music while I write, and I try to weave music into each book’s scenes whenever possible. Okay, that’s easier in some books than others. Rodrigo, my medieval Spanish knight in BOND OF BLOOD, is an accomplished musician. But Morgan and Rosalind, THE SOUTHERN DEVIL's hero and heroine, traveled through the high Rockies of 1870's Colorado, a beautiful place but hardly overflowing with orchestras, opera houses, and street musicians. This does give an extra zing! to the research. Tracking down sources of music or what historical music sounded like is both challenging and fun. I bounced for joy when Milladoiro, a band I already liked, recorded some 13th Spanish songs – which Rodrigo would have considered contemporary pop tunes. Nineteenth century Mississippi riverboats hired topnotch singers to perform Negro spirituals and work songs, especially as advertisements when they entered ports. Their owners actually competed for the finest singers, since antebellum passengers flocked to these ships. KISSES LIKE A DEVIL is set in 1900 Europe, a time of rapidly changing music and dance tastes. Some royal courts displayed their liberal tendencies by allowing modern dances like the turkey trot, while others emphasized their conservatism by enforcing more traditional dances, like Strauss waltzes. Ragtime’s syncopated rhythms mixed African-American rhythms with classical melodies and became wildly popular on both sides of the Atlantic. Jazz, its child, is still powerful today. I had so much fun researching the music for this book that I was glad I patterned its setting after Prague, a centuries-old mecca for artists and musicians – and especially the home of Dvorak. How could I forget his New World Symphony or Slavonic Dances? Then there’s music used for characterization. William Donovan, THE IRISH DEVIL’s hero, is Irish and quite romantic so, yes he does serenade his beloved. Figuring out which Stephen Foster song to turn to was intriguing! The heroine definitely does not speak Gaelic so I needed 1870’s American popular songs to express his sentiments. (Oh it’s lovely dealing with lyrics from the pre-copyright era!) Of course, there’s a place for cacophony, too. Viola, the heroine of THE IRISH DEVIL, was born and raised a Southern belle but suffered a life of privations in Arizona Territory during the Apache Wars. Her goal at the book’s beginning is to become a piano teacher in San Francisco and spend the rest of her life listening to small girls massacre Beethoven and Chopin on the piano. Do you like to include music in your books? What do you find the hardest part to research? What’s your favorite scene in a book or movie that involves music? Labels: Diane Whiteside, music posted by Diane Whiteside | 2:00 AM | 8 comments Jane Austen In Boca, Maryland, New Jersey... and Coming Soon to Media, Pennsylvania I wrote at some length in my last hoyden post about Ann Herendeen's smart and original take on Pride and Prejudice, by way of summarizing my recent presentation at the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance Conference. So enough with the Jane Austen, you'd think -- at least for a while. And yet here she is again, refusing to let me out of the clutches of her genius. Because I'm going to be speaking about her next month -- three times, as it happens, but most directly in the talk I'm giving at the assisted living community where my mother lives, in Media, Pennsylvania. With its population of energetic culture vultures (my mom runs the community's excellent lending library, so I know it'll be a readerly audience), community residents can choose from an ongoing festival of films and lectures, discussion groups and classes. Lifetimes of love and work deepen the quality of attention brought to the table, especially now that this (perforce largely female) audience has the time a go-round of self-education. The location in the greater Philadelphia area permits access to a wealth of local intellectual talent. But what -- especially for this group -- could be better than a son or daughter strutting his or her area of expertise? My Brother the Cardiologist and My Sister the Acupuncturist have both given lively presentations to appreciative audiences. And since I visit pretty regularly (and will be doing so after the two erotic writing workshops I'll be giving this October for romance writers -- more about that later), my mom kept wondering if there mightn't be something I could get up and spritz about. Just not "that sexy stuff you write about, please." Not that my mom isn't a huge fan of my writing -- or hasn't tossed back a chaser or two of Amanda Quick herself, along with her favorite Ann Perry. But mostly we share a more sedate set of literary pleasures, qvelling over Cranford (I introduced her to Mrs. Gaskell) or delighting in Geraldine Brooks's wonderful March. It was Mom, of course, who gave my writing caree its first and biggest boost when she introduced me to L ouisa May Alcott when I was seven. And she still helps me, even unknowingly, as when, a few years ago when I was with her for an extended visit while she was recovering from back surgery, I ran across a taped-from-TV copy of the Andrew Davies version of Emma on her shelves (the one with Kate Beckinsale). So late one night when I couldn't sleep I put it on the VHS player she still has, and knew that I'd found the feel of Regency English village life I needed for The Slightest Provocation. Which I was gratefully remembering when... Hey, wait a minute, I thought. "How about," I said, "I give a talk about Jane Austen and why everybody is still making such a fuss about her?" And that's what I'll be doing. With this particular audience in mind, I'll be trying to explicate Austen's themes and why we still care so deeply about them. And also (being me) I'll endeavor to explain how, in her effort to represent love, family, and community from a woman's point of view, this spinster daughter of a Georgian county vicar pretty much invented the novel as we know it (and hardly broke a sweat defining the parameters of popular romance fiction along the way). I'll mention modern adaptations and usages, of course -- from Bridget Jones's Diary to Clueless to Bespelling Jane Austen (a lively recent paranormal novella collection by popular romance writers including our own Janet Mullany, whose contribution, according to Publisher's Weekly, "sparkles with genuine wit"). And of course I'll include the book that many audience members have doubtless already read -- and that you should read as well: Paula Marantz Cohen's Jane Austen in Boca, which brings Pride and Prejudice to a Jewish retirement community in Boca Raton, Florida, in the stories of three widows, sweet May, acerbic Flo, and hungry-for-love, pressed-for-cash Lila. The Austen parallels are executed as lovingly as they are deftly, with a fine clear eye for what's most important in life when life grows short. I won't give away any of the plot, except to say that the situations of Charlotte Lucas and even Mrs. Bennet are viewed with rare understanding and compassion -- from a contemporary feminist point of view but still, you'd have to say, as the story of "two or three families in a country village." But also, because I can't resist, to indulge myself here in one quote -- from the end of the novel after May, Flo, and Lila have all actually read Pride and Prejudice: "Once you get used to the Old English," noted Lila, "it reads very fast." May said... that the tone of the book put her in mind of Flo. "I didn't know they were sarcastic back then," she commented, "but I guess being sarcastic isn't necessarily modern." And isn't that how some of the best classic fiction always strikes us? A voice from far away and long ago brings us back to the ways of being we've somehow convinced ourselves that we've invented. I do hope I'm able to communicate some of that. While as for the other ways I'm thinking about Jane Austen -- well, here (sorry, Mom) I do have to get back to that sexy stuff I always write about, because I just might be the only erotic writer on the planet who uses Austen as a muse for the naughty bits, for her clear-eyed, meticulous use of voice and p.o.v. -- as I'll be explaining both at a Maryland Romance writers meeting and at the New Jersey Romance Writers Put You Heart in a Book Conference next month, when I give erotic writing workshops at both venues. Check the events listing on my web page for more details and hope to see you there. But meanwhile, do you share reading with your loved ones? What do each of you bring to the discussion and what do you learn from it? And what's your favorite Austen updating and why? Labels: Jane Austen, Jane Austen in Boca posted by Pam Rosenthal | 7:20 AM | 7 comments What Do You Read As You Write? Most writers would say, if pressed to discuss how they work, that they have a system. If they're feeling lofty at the moment they might refer to it as a "process." And all of us are avid readers as well as writers, or chances are, we wouldn't have ended up facing the business end of the computer in the first place. Since my career began a little over a decade ago I've written in three genres (four if you count the 1940s mystery in my desk drawer). I've been published in women's lit (some of the titles would fall under the "chick lit" category), historical fiction, and historical nonfiction. And I've tended to make it an unwritten policy not to read other people's titles from the same genre I'm writing in at the time. My rationale is that I don't want to be influenced, even subconsciously, by my colleagues' plotlines, characters, or twists. And when I'm working on a nonfiction title, it's always such a scramble to get all my research accomplished that I don't have time to read anything else. That said, my self-imposed policy has been difficult to maintain at times because historical fiction in particular is like "literary crack" to me. So this past summer I decided to try something new: every night before I went to bed I would read Someone Else's Fiction for a half hour or so. And I discovered that rather than have another author's words gumming up my own "process," the act of reading right before bedtime ended up calming my brain into a sedate trot, slowing my blood pressure, and enabling me to sleep more fully and awaken with a clearer, less stressed head. And before you comment about my choice of reading matter providing a soporific, I will hasten to add that I knew my selections were going to be marvelous; they were books at the top of my TBR pile just waiting for me to find the time to grab them. Plus, they were all written by personal friends. Indeed, every title has proven to be "unputdownable." I began with my friend Sharon Pomerantz's stunning literary fiction debut, RICH BOY, then moved on to Leanna Renee Hieber's THE DARKLY LUMINOUS FIGHT FOR PERSEPHONE PARKER. Then it was on to our own Lauren Willig's THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY (and now I'm catching up on THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE.) Just waiting to have their spines gently cracked are C.W. Gortner's novels THE LAST QUEEN and THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI (I love reading historical fiction about the women I cover in my nonfiction Royal series for NAL and both "Juana the Mad" and Catherine de Medici merit chapters in NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES. ) And after Gortner, comes the latest from Susan Holloway Scott, THE COUNTESS AND THE KING. How do you work? Do you read other authors while you're researching and writing your own books? Is there a method to your madness? Do you steer clear of pleasure-reads in the same genre as your wip, or do you dive in? Do you tend to read within the same genre as you craft your own books, or are your literary tastes more eclectic? I apologize for writing a quickie post; multiple deadlines are claiming my attention this month. But in this economy, that's a good thing, so I'm not complaining. posted by Leslie Carroll | 1:00 AM | 11 comments Everything has a story One of the geekier things I do--and one of the few things that doesn't involve parking my butt in front of a computer--is volunteering as a docent at Riversdale House Museum. It is writing-related since the house dates from the federal era and was built by the Stier family, immigrants fleeing the French revolution, who wanted their home to reflect a grand European style and sensibility. I am lucky enough to be able to pick the brains of the museum staff on period food and clothes, since we have two experts in those fields working there. But last week I had the pleasure of attending a symposium for museum guides and ushers, and what I learned there relates so much to writing fiction that I thought I'd share it. First some odd stories came up: in one historic house, which shall remain anonymous, the visitors were led around by a strange-looking person, as darkness fell, who at one point opened a creaking door and pronounced, "This is a closet. Would you like to see inside?" Overwhelmed by the gothic overdose, the visitors fled. When you give a tour of a historic building, your aim is above all to engage the visitor. You have to establish some rapport with them: why did they come, what interests them about the house, how does their life relate to that of people two centuries ago? Several mentions were made, as an example of museum excellence, to the Tenement Museum in NYC, which I am now longing to visit. And I really think that's what we try to do as writers--look, these people are like us in so many ways. We have shared experiences. Surveys taken by museums reveal that people really enjoy walking through a site on their own, able to soak up the atmosphere and create their own experience. Yet the Tenement Museum only gives guided tours, as do many places that have a delicate structure and fragile artifacts. The secret of their success is that they relate the museum to people's lives and family stories ("Where did your family come from? When? Do you know where they lived?..." and so on). When we take visitors at Riversdale to the building where open hearth cooking demonstrations are given, even if no one is cooking that day the smell of wood smoke brings back memories ("my grandmother had a nutmeg grater like that!") and stimulates the imagination. Even seeing someone cook from scratch is a new experience for many people. I gave a tour last week to a woman who was raised in the Appalachians by her grandmother whose house had no electricity and who basically cooked 18c style; she taught me a lot. People love to use all five senses; I encourage people to smell the spices, and pinch and sniff the herbs growing outside. Above all, holding and touching an item, even a replica or even stuff which is essentially the trash of the past, like these ceramic fragments (which aren't from Riversdale but are very typical of the sort of items found during excavations) brings history to life. What was the story behind these? Was the blue and white import a treasured possession? Who broke it and what happened to them? Every artifact, every building, has its story and it's the docents' job to bring that to life and make the visitor excited about the past. And that's what good fiction should do--we engage the reader, stimulate their imagination, and make our story part of their lives. It's an amazing process. Have you visited the Tenement Museum or any other place that fired your senses and imagination? And now for the obligatory self-promotion and news: Win a copy of Jane and the Damned at goodreads.com--less than a week to go before its release! And I'm happy to announce that my Regency chicklit Improper Relations is a finalist in NJRWA's Golden Leaf contest. Labels: Riversdale House Museum, Tenement Museum, writing posted by Janet Mullany | 9:04 AM | 10 comments Historical Rejections As a writer, I've had my share of rejections, but like most of us, I keep pitching. So here I am on a Friday night, waiting for my muse and surfing the net, procrastinating about writing those "next five pages", when I came across this list of rejection letters sent to some now very famous writers. I take solace in these biting, and sometimes hilariously off-base critiques of pre-published classics. I'm glad these authors never gave up. I have enjoyed so many of their stories. To writers everywhere, take heart, I've posted some of monumentally incorrect rejections ever made public: Madeleine L'Engle's A WRINKLE IN TIME was turned down 29 times. And THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT was turned down so many times, Beatrix Potter initially self-published it. (She was soooo ahead of her time!) "I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language." Editor of the San Francisco Examiner to Rudyard Kipling. Mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark recently received a $60 plus million dollar advance on her next five books, but this is what happened when she was sending out her manuscript "Journey Back to Love" in the early 1960s: "We found the heroine as boring as her husband did." Classic writer Colette was told in a letter of rejection: "I wouldn't be able to sell 10 copies." A rejection letter to Pierre Boulle about his "Bridge Over River Kwai" said, "A very bad book." Jean Auel, author of "The Clan of Cave Bear" was told, "We are very impressed with the depth and scope of your research and the quality of your prose. Nevertheless ... we don't think we could distribute enough copies to satisfy you or ourselves." "Jonathan Livingston Seagull will never make it as a paperback." From the publisher of a magazine refusing an offer to bid on the paperback rights to Richard Bach's best selling novel. Avon Books eventually bought those rights and sales totaled more than 7.25 million copies. H.G. Wells had to endure the indignity of a rejection when he submitted his manuscript, "The War of the Worlds" that said, "An endless nightmare. I do not believe it would "take"...I think the verdict would be 'Oh don't read that horrid book'." And when he tried to market "The Time Machine," it was said, "It is not interesting enough for the general reader and not thorough enough for the scientific reader." Jacqueline Susann's "Valley of the Dolls" received this response, "...she is a painfully dull, inept, clumsy, undisciplined, rambling and thoroughly amateurish writer whose every sentence, paragraph and scene cries for the hand of a pro. She wastes endless pages on utter trivia, writes wide-eyed romantic scenes ...hauls out every terrible show biz cliché in all the books, lets every good scene fall apart in endless talk and allows her book to ramble aimlessly ..." When Irving Stone sent his manuscript, "Lust for Life," this is what came back in the mail: "A long, dull novel about an artist." I guess that meant "No thanks." Before Ayn Rand became known as an intellectual and her books as classics, she had to get past this from one publisher: "It is badly written and the hero is unsympathetic." And this from another: "I wish there were an audience for a book of this kind. But there isn't. It won't sell." So much for "The Fountainhead." Fourteen years later she was sending "Atlas Shrugged" on its publishing rounds and reading in the return mail: "... the book is much too long. There are too many long speeches... I regret to say that the book is unsaleable and unpublishable." To writer Samuel Johnson (though I don't know which book the editor was referring to): "Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good." Regarding "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" it was written "(this book has) no future ..." Did you know that only seven of Emily Dickinson's poems were ever published during her lifetime? A rejection early in her career said, "(Your poems) are quite as remarkable for defects as for beauties and are generally devoid of true poetical qualities." Edgar Allen Poe was told, "Readers in this country have a decided and strong preference for works in which a single and connected story occupies the entire volume." Herman Melville, who had written a manuscript entitled "Moby Dick," was told, "We regret to say that our united opinion is entirely against the book as we do not think it would be at all suitable for the Juvenile Market in (England). It is very long, rather old-fashioned..." Jack London heard, "(Your book is) forbidding and depressing." Ernest Hemingway, regarding his novel, "The Torrents of Spring" was rejected with, "It would be extremely rotten taste, to say nothing of being horribly cruel, should we want to publish it." Ouch! William Faulkner may be a classic writer to this, as well as prior, generation, but back when he was trying to crack the publishing market, he had to read letters like this one, "If the book had a plot and structure, we might suggest shortening and revisions, but it is so diffuse that I don't think this would be of any use. My chief objection is that you don't have any story to tell." This was kinder than the rejection he would receive just two years later, "Good God, I can't publish this!" According to the terrific little book, "Rotten Rejections" (Pushcart Press, Andre Bernarnd, 1990), "Auntie Mame" went through fifteen rejections over a period of five years before finding a home at Vanguard Press. Crash by J G Ballard ‘The author of this book is beyond psychiatric help.' The Deer Park by Norman Mailer 'This will set publishing back 25 years.' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos 'Do you realize, young woman, that you're the first American writer ever to poke fun at sex.' Lust for Life by Irving Stone (which was rejected 16 times, but found a publisher and went on to sell about 25 million copies) ‘ A long, dull novel about an artist.’ Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope 'The grand defect of the work, I think, as a work of art is the low-mindedness and vulgarity of the chief actors. There is hardly a lady" or "gentleman" amongst them.' Carrie by Stephen King 'We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.' Catch – 22 by Joseph Heller ‘I haven’t really the foggiest idea about what the man is trying to say… Apparently the author intends it to be funny – possibly even satire – but it is really not funny on any intellectual level … From your long publishing experience you will know that it is less disastrous to turn down a work of genius than to turn down talented mediocrities.’ The Spy who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré ‘You’re welcome to le Carré – he hasn’t got any future.’ Animal Farm by George Orwell ‘It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA’ Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde ‘My dear sir, I have read your manuscript. Oh, my dear sir.’ Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov ‘... overwhelmingly nauseating, even to an enlightened Freudian … the whole thing is an unsure cross between hideous reality and improbable fantasy. It often becomes a wild neurotic daydream … I recommend that it be buried under a stone for a thousand years. The list makes me smile.I found it at http://susiesmith13.tripod.com/id12.html. I know the list is far from complete, but I had to post. Do you have more to add? Anyone have quotes from rejection letters sent to other great writers? Jane Austen maybe? Others? posted by Kathrynn Dennis | 9:18 PM | 16 comments The Palm Palace My wonderful, innovative web designers and friends, Greg and jim, had the idea a couple of years back of filming an interview of me talking about the background to my books, which they then edited into clips that I could post on my website. The interview we filmed for Vienna Waltz, my April 2011 release, deals a great deal with the historical background. So it occurred to me that these clips might also be of interest to History Hoydens readers. Here's one where I talk about the Palm Palace, where two real historical women, Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan, and Princess Catherine Bagration, both had lodgings during the Congress of Vienna. In Vienna Waltz, my fictional Princess Tatiana Kirsanova (who was called Tatiana Volkonsky at the time we filmed the interview) also lodges in the Palm Palace. Like Wilhelmine and Catherine, Tatiana is also involved with both Tsar Alexander and Prince Metternich. I couldn't, unfortunately, figure out how to embed the video in Blogger the way I do in Wordpress, so here's a link to the clip on You Tube. What real life buildings play an important role in your favorite historical novels? Do you ever look for information about the buildings in which scenes from an historical novel are set after you finish reading the book? Writers, what historical houses and other buildings have you particularly enjoyed writing about? How do you go about researching them? Labels: Catherine Bagration, Congress of Vienna, Palm Palace, Tracy Grant, Vienna Waltz, Wilhelmine of Sagan posted by Tracy Grant | 12:00 AM | 8 comments Whenever I give a costume workshop, there is always one topic that catches fire and sets off almost endless questions. In Orlando, this topic was gloves. When were they worn? When were they taken off? What were the "rules"? This is the kind of minutia that writers obsess about. It's entirely possible that someone out there has an etiquette guide from the 18th or early 19th century. I've never encountered one, so what you'll find here is simply my understanding of "the rules". One tiny thing to clear up first: During the Georgian and Regency era, gloves do not have that tiny, pearl-buttoned opening at the wrist that we all associate with long opera gloves. That sexy little detail is Victorian (and late Victorian from what I understand). On to "the rules" . . . If a lady expected to be outside her own home, she wore gloves. So, if she's riding, traveling, visiting, shopping, going to a ball, or the the theatre, she's should be wearing gloves. Inside her own home, the only time she would normally wear them is if she was hosting a ball or party (gloves being a traditional part of formal wear). When does she take them off in public? To eat. If she is at a ball and is taken in to supper, she removes her gloves and sets them in her lap. If she is visiting a friend and is served tea, the same "rule" applies. Why? Because gloves are expensive and stain easily. If she's visiting a friend and intends to stay for a long period of time, she might also remove them, and leave them with her hat and coat. Try to think of it as the difference between being formal and being relaxed. A relaxed gossip with your best friend does not require gloves. So, any questions?Anyone want to point me at an early etiquette book? posted by Isobel Carr | 8:14 AM | 10 comments The joy of paper patterns My current work in progress is a western set in 1870 Oregon. In that time, a dress was sewed by taking an old, worn-out garment apart at the seams, laying the pieces flat on the selected yard goods, and cutting around them! That might explain why styles in the Old West didn’t change much over time: the pattern template could have come from one of Grandma’s old dresses. In 1863, Ebeneezer Butterick changed all that by inventing the tissue-paper sewing pattern in various sizes. It all started when his wife, Ellen, spread out a piece of blue gingham on her dining room table and drew her design using wax chalk. If you couldn’t draw well, your clothes looked funny.... There were patterns that could be used, but they came in only one size; the maker had to enlarge or reduce as needed. Ebeneezer watched his wife struggle with the chalk and the blue gingham and a lightbulb flashed. He experimented, using heavy cardboard templates that turned out to be unsuitable for folding or shipping. Then he found that tissue paper was easy to package. The first “graded” (in various sizes) sewing patterns were cut and folded by the Butterick family at home in Sterling, Massachusetts. Business grew and they later moved it to New York City. Originally, paper patterns were available only for men’s and boy’s garments. But after three years of successful sales, in 1866, Butterick began to make and sell women’s dress patterns. Then came patterns for jackets and capes in 13 sizes and skirts in 5 sizes. This revolutionized the clothing industry. Dressmaking became easier and fashionable garments became available to men, women, and children of all classes all over the world. In 1867 Butterick introduced Ladies Quarterly of Broadway Fashions, a showcase magazine for Butterick home-sewing patterns. Patterns could be purchased by mail order and by 1876, E. Butterick & Co. had 100 branch offices and 1000 agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. The patterns were also introduced in Paris, London, Vienna, and Berlin. In fact, more Butterick patterns were purchased in Paris than anywhere else in the world. In 1929, with the Great Depression, Butterick stock fell along with the rest of the market, but they continued to produce and sell patterns; home sewing turned out to be the backbone of the company and served as the means of pulling the company out of the slump. In 1961, Butterick licensed the name “Vogue Patterns” from Conde Nast Publications, Inc. and bought their pattern division. Readers of Vogue magazine could buy patterns by clipping a coupon and mailing it in with 50 cents. Demand for Vogue and Butterick patterns increased and when 1914 and World War I came and the Paris couture business halted. New York became the new fashion center, and Vogue patterns were carried in stores across the country and in Canada. Home sewing continued to be popular throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and as early as 1937 the pattern books began to feature “couturier” patterns. This was the first time originals from Paris had been duplicated in pattern form, and Vogue Patterns was the only company licensed to produce these designs until the mid-1970s, when Italian and English designers were added. In 2001 The McCall Pattern Company acquired both Vogue and Butterick patterns. Sewing machine sales must have soared. My grandmother sewed dresses for my mother on an old treadle Singer sewing machine. My mother sewed endless skirts and blouses and formal dresses for me on her portable Singer, all the way through high school. And when I grew up and got married, naturally my sewing machine went with me. One of my most treasured memories is going to the yardage store with Mom, running our fingers over the bolts of challis and cotton and flannel, and sitting down at a small table loaded with pattern catalogs to choose a pattern. It still makes my fingers itch to walk through a fabric store. Labels: Butterick, dress patterns, sewing, Vogue posted by Lynna Banning | 3:52 PM | 9 comments History Hoydens Welcome Hope Tarr Hope Tarr is the award-winning author of thirteen historical and contemporary romances as well as a co-founder of Lady Jane’s Salon, New York City’s first and so far only monthly reading series for romance fiction. "Tomorrow's Destiny," Hope’s first novella, will release November 10th in a single title Christmas anthology, A HARLEQUIN CHRISTMAS CAROL, with Betina Krahn and Jacquie D'Alessandro. Here to join us today, without further preamble, the one, the only Hope Tarr! Second chances at love, don’t you just…love them? A ROGUE'S PLEASURE, my romance debut novel originally published in print with Berkley/Jove, is getting its own second chance at love as an e-book release with Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint and like any proud mama I couldn’t be more pleased. The reissue, which sports gorgeous new cover art and an editing facelift, went live on August 16th, two weeks short of what would be the book’s tenth anniversary. How cool is that!?! A ROGUE’S PLEASURE is a Regency romp that I’m thrilled to be able to share with a new generation of romance readers. To get the soiree started, close your eyes—okay, don’t close them since you need them open to read this—or better yet open your mind to the clip-clop of horses hooves instead of sirens and honking cars. It is Regency England, 1812. Napoleon is wreaking havoc in Europe, including Spain and Portugal where ousting the rightful royals and setting his sibling, Joseph Bonaparte, on the Spanish throne has catalyzed a sweeping grassroots national resistance supported by Britain and its Allies. On the home front, private coaches traveling between the countryside and London are prime targets for the rogues of the road: highwaymen. Put yourself in the shoes, or rather the Wellingtons, of my hero, Lord Anthony Grenville. You are in your private coach en route to London for The Season. To drown out the droning of your soon-to-be mother-in-law, you think not great thoughts but rather mundane ones. Will the inn’s beef be soured again? Sigh. Might there be a decent claret to be had in lieu of the usual ale. Must I really marry this pretty but deucedly dull girl? You are not only thinking such thoughts but lost to them when a shout of "Halt! Stand and deliver!" freezes the blood in your veins. In A ROGUE’S PLEASURE, Anthony is a war hero newly returned from The Peninsular Campaign and traveling to London with his fiancée, Lady Phoebe Tremont, and her mother. As you may have supposed, pretty but dull Lady Phoebe is not the heroine. Chelsea Bellamy must raise the sum of 500 pounds to ransom her beloved brother. Having exhausted all other avenues, she has taken to the road disguised as the highwayman One-Eyed Jack, accompanied by her faithful manservant, the real One-Eyed Jack. Outnumbered though he is and hampered with womenfolk, still Anthony isn’t going down easily. He isn’t going down at all. Beneath his fancy frock coat, embroidered waistcoat, and frothy shirt, he has a soldier’s spine of steel—and a heart in need of saving. Enjoy the excerpt below and, I hope, the book. One-Eyed Jack’s gaze darted between Anthony and the coach. “W-why are you still standing ’ere?” He gestured to the coach with his pistol. “Go…now.” Smiling, Anthony advanced a step. “But I’ve no wish to end this encounter…just yet.” Anthony lunged. Locking both arms around the boy’s spare torso, he slammed him to the ground. He pinned One Eye’s slender wrists above his head and squeezed. The pistol slipped from the highwayman’s grasp. Even for a stripling, the boy was delicate as a sparrow, not nearly sturdy enough for such rough pursuits. Easily securing the joined wrists with one hand, Anthony pocketed the pistol. He smiled maliciously into the frightened face, just inches below his own. “Well, my fine lad, alone at last.” He clamped his palm over the boy’s mouth. “What, nothing to say?” The taunt seemed to bring his captive to life. His fingers curled into fists, his arms straining to break Anthony’s hold. Laughing, Anthony remarked, “Well, One-Eyed Jack, for a fierce knight of the road, you certainly fight like a girl.” Like a girl. Anthony stared down at his prisoner, examining the small, flushed face beneath the hat with a critical eye. The features were as finely wrought as those of a Dresden china figurine, the uncovered eye lushly lashed and set beneath a delicately arched brow. Could it be that Jack was really a Jacqueline in disguise? The body beneath his felt soft in all the right places. He uncovered his captive’s mouth in order to better examine the softly curving lips. “Get off me this instant, y-you…you big bully!” The high-pitched voice, nearly drowned by the din of shrieking horses, could belong to an adolescent boy…or to a woman. Intrigued, Anthony replied, “All in good time, my little highwayman. But first, I think I’ll have a closer look at you.” With his free hand, Anthony groped for the lantern. His fingers brushed the toe of a large boot instead. “Set ’im free as ye value yer life.” Cursing, Anthony rolled off the boy and stood. Ignoring the pistol prodding him, he offered One-Eye a hand up. “Bugger off.” Staring at his hand as thought it were a snake, the boy scrambled to his feet and took off toward a chestnut mare tethered to a tree branch. Anthony started to follow, but the hulk blocked him. “I’d save me strength if I was you.” He gave Anthony a hard shove toward the coach. Anthony swung around. Raising the lantern, he saw that the traces hung empty. Only his lead horse had not shied away. It stood nearby, ears flattened and nostrils narrowed. Young One-Eye, you shall rue this day. Anthony whirled in time to see the object of his wrath push a booted foot into the mare’s stirrup and throw a shapely leg over. Mounted, the thieves galloped past him, kicking up clouds of dust. Coughing, he brushed the soil from his shoulders. We shall meet again, One-Eyed Jack—or Jacqueline. And when we do, you shall either dance to my tune or at the end of the hangman’s rope. If you'd like to hear more, you can visit Hope online at www.HopeTarr.com or find her on Twitter and Facebook. Hope has also generously offered to give away a copy of her Victorian-set novel, Vanquished, to one person who comments on this post. Thanks for joining us, Hope! posted by Lauren Willig | 6:45 AM | 12 comments Another Take on Pride and Prejudice: Queer Theory in Brussels I posted last time about the fun we had on our trip to Brussels and Amsterdam, not to speak of our misadventures getting there and getting up in the morning of the day I was supposed to deliver my paper (called "The Queer Theory of Eve Sedgwick at the Edges of the Popular Romance Genre") at the second International Conference on Popular Romance in Brussels. While as to why I spent countless hours preparing this presentation -- well, sometimes I find myself so fascinated to be writing in the popular romance genre (such a huge market! so little respect from the outside world! such amazing women writing! about what's so incredibly important!) that I have to take a big bite of literary theory, season it for romance, and chew on it for a while. But if I don't commit to having something to share with a roomful of people (particularly in an attractive conference venue), it's a lot less likely I'll take that first bite. So Brussels sounded like a great opportunity to think hard about something I've been wanting to understand better for a while now: the hot new trend of male/male or male/male/female romance -- written by women for women. I'm hardly saying this is a majority taste in the genre. But -- hyper-hetero clinch covers notwithstanding -- it is remarkable to contemplate the speed (not to speak of the general humaneness) with which popular romance fiction has come to include same-sex love as a viable and sympathetic theme (and see also Romance Writers of America's "genre overview": the main plot centers around two individuals falling in love...). My aim in this paper, however, wasn't self-congratulation. Of course the romance genre is smarter than the conventional wisdom would have it (well, it could hardly be dumber than it's generally thought to be, could it?) I took on this project because I wanted to understand more specifically how this new development of male/male love works in individual texts, and most particularly in Ann Herendeen's recent tour de force, Pride/Prejudice. Yes, that's Pride Slash Prejudice: as in Slash Fiction, longtime home for a cult of fans (largely female) writing fantasy narratives that pair up their favorite pop-culture characters in plots that won't be made into major motion pictures any time soon. The most popular early Slash Fiction sub-genre portrayed Star Trek heroes Kirk and Spock in hunky, explicit, extra-terrestrial sexual couplings. They got the slash from the one in Kirk/Spock. But when I read Pride/Prejudice, it seemed to me that Herendeen had gone where no one had before (and at warp speed) -- addressing what's always been the vexing question of what Mr. Darcy ever saw in Mr. Bingley, by putting a famous truth universally acknowledged into Darcy's mouth, between kisses (and more) exchanged in Mr. Bingley's bed. I think it works -- never, of course, as a replacement for the original, but as smart, sly commentary on the beloved and compelling world Jane Austen built (and that along the way made today's popular romance novel possible). But what is this world that Pride/Prejudice is seeing anew? To answer t his question, I need to introduce an area of literary criticism brought to us by another smart woman whose work I'd long been wanting to understand -- the late Professor Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, one of the originators of what's now called Queer Theory. Which body of thought does not say (as some sloppy readers think it must) that every heterosexual love story has a queer attraction hiding, as it were, beneath the sheets. But which does probe the question of what Sedgwick, in her first statement of Queer Theory, Between Men, called "male homosociality," that vast continent of "male friendship, mentorship, entitlement, rivalry, and hetero- and homosexuality [...] in an intimate and shifting relation to class..." The boundaries of these loci of interaction are slippery and highly dependent upon context (as when a pat on the butt is legit on the football field and lethal just about anywhere else). The lonely, anxious business of male-dominated society, Queer Theory asserts, is the every-man-for-himself struggle for dominance over this world of shifting context and meaning (can you say tortured hero?). Which struggle is facilitated by competition for money, status, and position in the form of rivalry for women who are necessary for male position and its continuance (and who, through history, have by and large been treated as little more than objects and tokens in this struggle). Men might or might not be sexually attractive to each other -- sometimes they might not even know if they are, having sacrificed whatever coherent self-understanding they might have had to the struggle for dominance (and self-dominance as well). Queer theory, then is often a matter of untangling the fascinating incoherencies in literary texts about men (Sedgwick is terrific on Billy Budd and Gothic novels). Of course not all literary texts were written by men, nor are they solely about men. But it's certainly true that men and their fortunes have a certain primacy in very many stories (and particularly in novels, which take as their subject the real world); if this weren't true we wouldn't need the term "women's fiction," to differentiate if from the other stuff which is most usually just called "fiction." While as for men and their fortunes, since, as is "universally acknowledged [...] a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife" -- particularly in Georgian landed society, where power, position (and every attribute of upper-class male selfhood) depended upon the perpetuity of family ownership, what of those wives or potential wives? Does the author -- does the reader -- view them merely as objects and tokens? Of course she -- and we -- do not. And it's part of Jane Austen's genius that the opening words of Pride and Prejudice, though syntactically "about" that "single man,"are quite evidently about the wife he is in want of and how such potential wives must feel to occupy such a contingent position. Tracy recently pointed to the wonderful immediacy of this opening, and I couldn't agree more. Or as I put it in my talk: ...if we smile when we read the words in Austen, I’d suggest that we aren’t merely smiling at Mrs. Bennet’s crude, déclassé overreaching. We’re smiling in rueful recognition of an unstated dynamic in the structure of these sentences and the structure of their society: that even if the man in question constitutes the subject of the assertion, the counter-truth of every ironic syllable in that opening is that the author is always and already engaging her reader with the irrepressible subjectivity of female characters who simply refuse to be relegated to contingency. In the centuries since Austen, the romance novel (and sometimes the literary novel as well) hinged upon a simple, but incendiary, paradox: that a man occupies a primacy of position in the public world, but the power of the female subjectivity cannot be denied. Until the 20th century, perhaps -- when in romance this changed again. when male power began to be understood as a fraught and painful thing -- with, I think, the tortured heroes of the 70s to the 90s. My own untested theory is that this occurred in a parallel development to Second Wave Feminism. We started seeing tortured lonely hero subjectivities in deep third person (Dr. Sarah Frantz of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance has often written and spoken on this, and I was delighted that she and I were on the same panel in Belgium). But unlike the big intellects behind Queer Theory, the creative minds writing popular romance did more than let a bunch of fictional heroes stew in their own juicy macho agonies (or, as Eve Sedgwick had it, their texts' "productive incoherence.") Romance fiction isn't incoherent. It's hardworking, pragmatic, empathic -- it sees a problem and it tries to solve it in the interest of a happy ending. AND it draws upon a wonderful camaraderie between authors, readers. and sometimes characters. Committed to pleasure, it wants to share, rather than compete. So if Ann Herendeen saw the possibility of a love affair between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, not only did she share the pleasure she took in this fantasy with her readers, but with Lizzy Bennet as well, who -- during her stay at Netherfield when Jane had a headcold -- (in Ann's version) gets a glimpse of other doings through a door to Mr. Bingley's bedroom that won't stay shut. Lizzy is fascinated; she's aroused; and (in a section of the book that follows Austen's happy ending) sees no reason why her husband still can't have the pleasures she's enjoyed witnessing (especially during what bids well to be a long series of pregnancies for Mrs. Darcy and her sister Mrs. Bingley as well). (Sorry for spoiler: read it anyway, for the wit, intelligence, and marvelous writing.) The idea that male heroes shouldn't have to be lonely -- that their relationships with other men can be more than competition for power and for women -- and that this freedom can be facilitated by the very women who love these heroes (authors, heroines, and even readers) seems to me to be new, fascinating, wonderfully subversive. And -- outside of the pages of Queer Theory -- the place you're most likely to find it these days is at certain margins of the romance world. Of course it's in the male/male and male/male/female erotic e-books, but you can find it in more mainstream, best-selling venues as well. Because the male/male relationships don't have to be homoerotic (I stand by Sedgwick's term "homosocial," and I take her at her word that it can mean a wide continuum of relationships). Male romance heroes tend to come in big bunches these days, and not only to facilitate the sequels beloved by readers. Think of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, bound in fealty to the female principle of the Scribe Virgin. Think even of the power wielded by Julia Quinn's Viscountess Bridgerton... And do also think of the ways I've doubtless oversimplified these things. Tell me what you think... ...though I have to admit (as an amateur literary critic) to being all theoried out for a while and ready to turn my attention to fiction writing again. And yes (you read it here), that's a commitment. Labels: Ann Herendeen, Eve Sedgwick, IASPR, Queer Theory posted by Pam Rosenthal | 7:47 AM | 12 comments A Fellow Artist as Muse: Inspiration or Imitation? Currently at The Clark art musuem (one of America's loveliest temples to fine art, located in idyllic Williamstown, Massachusetts), is a baby blockbuster exhibit titled PICASSO LOOKS AT DEGAS. It is an exploration of the way in which the work of the two major artists intersected, although they were born two generations apart. The following paragraph is taken from the exhibition's brochure: Throughout his long and prolific career, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) obsered, absorbed, and competed with the works of other artists, from his student days in Spain to his first encounters with the art world of Paris and into his last years. One of the artists Picasso particularly admired was Edgar Degas (1834-1917). His response varied over time from emulation to confrontation, and parody to homage. By justaposing paintings, sculpture, and works on paper that have never before been exhibited together, PICASSO LOOKS AT DEGAS explores the younger artist's lifelong fascination with the work and personality of Degas. Here's what the New York Times wrote about the exhibit in the Escapes section of the paper on Friday, August 27, (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/arts/design/27picasso.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=picasso&st=nyt) I can only speak for my own experience, but I have seen many museum exhibits devoted to Picasso including the recent ecerything-but-the-kitchen-sink blockbuster at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And in this latest look offered by the Clark in conjunction with the Art Institute and the Museu Picasso, Barcelona, I encountered a Picasso I was surprised never to have seen before, even though I am passionate about Art History. Perhaps I am showing my ignorance by stating that I had no idea that, as a teen in the mid 1880s, young Pablo Picasso demonstrated a precocious talent for classical draftsmanship and and already keen and probing eye that was able to capture the inner life of his subjects with several deft strokes of a pencil. I will have to find the portrait of his father that he drew as a teen, which is such a brilliant psychological study that I could have stood there all afternoon marveling at it. It is no surprise that during Picasso's spectacularly long career he experimented with many, many forms, and summoned as many muses (Cubism, for example, was born of his fascination with African art forms). But the Clark exhibit also charts an artist finding his identity -- and doing so in public -- as the works are exhibited. How often are we, the viewer, the audience (or the reader -- I'm getting there), privy to an artist discovering him- or herself? In the show's earliest works that bear a signature, we read "P Ruiz Picasso" and even the handwriting is different from the way the artist will eventually sign "Picassso" to his works. Both Degas and Picasso were fascinated by the female form -- Degas, most notably for his numerous depictions in several media, of young ballet dancers. But the two artists were also intrigued by prostitutes, bathing or otherwise. They were both self-taught sculptors. Both saw something in the sad little lives of the overworked Parisians who gazed dejectedly at their glasses of absinthe in the cafes of late 19th c. Montmartre. Yet, when it came to women in the flesh, their personalities could not have been more opposite: Picasso, with his outsize appetite for sex, his numerous wives and mistresses; and Degas, rumored to have been quite celibate -- with the voyeur's fascination for la vie gaie. Exhibited in one room at the Clark is Picasso's postmodern series of prints set in a brothel (simultaneously grotesque and whimsical) that he made toward the end of his life, depicting Degas as just that -- a voyeur, as captivated by the whores and their greedy madam or Celestina, as he is repulsed by them. And now we come to you. Writers: Have you ever written a deliberate homage to a fellow author (dead or alive) in any of your books, whether it was including the writer as a character, or using a name they made famous (e.g. Holden, Darcy), or something deliberately intended to tonally evoke your literary inspiration? Something else? Readers: What are your feelings when you discover homages (as I write this sentence I'm thinking that the Harry Potter books, for example, are chock-full of them) to other authors in a book you are reading? posted by Leslie Carroll | 1:00 AM | 5 comments

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instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What medications can be prescribed for a teenage girl who has recently gotten an IUD and is experiencing pelvic pain, uterine bleeding, and focal necrosis of the tissue on pelvic exam? output: In this case, Gentamicin and Clindamycin can be prescribed as antibiotics. The symptoms described could be indicative of an infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can occur after the insertion of an IUD. Gentamicin and Clindamycin are commonly used together to treat PID, as they have broad-spectrum coverage against the bacteria that commonly cause this condition. However, it's important to note that the appropriate treatment will depend on the specific cause of the symptoms, and a thorough evaluation by a healthcare provider is necessary to determine the most appropriate course of action.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I was 30 years old. recently i have surgery of my vulval fibroma. i was married last 3 year ago but i have no child, my all reports are normal. it is possible due to vulval fibroma, i became not a mother? There is any problem in future due to vulval fibroma?Please answer my queries output: Thanks for writing to DIMITRY The vulval fibrous had nothing to do with infertility as long as it doesn't interfere with intercourse. The reasons for not conceiving are multiple. Husbands semen analysis should be done first. You will need basic scan and blood tests to check any infection, uterus and ovarian function including ovulation. Usually by these simple tests we can decide where is the problem and treat accordingly. Please write back with any doubts. Thanks.

Revision as of 14:53, 29 December 2014 by Hotc1733 (Talk | contribs) 1 MARINE LODGE 1.1.1 MEMBER LIST, 1802 1.2 PAST MASTERS 2 REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS 2.1 ANNIVERSARIES 2.2 VISITS BY GRAND MASTER 2.3 BY-LAW CHANGES 2.4.1 125TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1923 2.4.2 200TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, APRIL 1998 2.4.2.1 LIFE IN FALMOUTH 1798 2.6 GRAND LODGE OFFICERS 2.7 DISTRICTS MARINE LODGE Chartered By: Josiah Bartlett Charter Date: 03/13/1798 II-126 Precedence Date: 03/13/1798 Current Status: Active Charter restored 1821; returned to Grand Lodge 1832 or 1833, per 175th Anniversary History, Page 1973-199. MEMBER LIST, 1802 From Vocal Companion and Masonic Register, Boston, 1802, Part II, Page 27: R. W. Elijah Swift, M. W. Timothy Crocker, S. W. W. Stephen Swift, J. W. Franck Wicks, P. M., Tr. Lewis Parker, Sec. No. of Members, 18. Prince Hatch Major Hatch Thomas Gifford Need living PMs Frank Wicks, 1798, 1899, 1801, 1802, 1808 Elijah Swift, 1800, 1803-1805, 1821-1823 Joseph Percival, 1806 Major Hatch, 1807 Timothy Parker, 1809 DARK 1810-1821 Aaron Cornish, 1824-1829 unknown 1830-1832 George Swift, 1857 George W. Donaldson, 1858 Benjamin F. Tucker, 1859, 1860 William Hewins, 1861, 1865, 1869 Joshua C. Robinson, 1866-1868, 1872, 1873 Erasmus Gourd, 1870, 1871 Almon P. Sturgis, 1874-1876 Charles E. Davis, 1877, 1878, 1882 William H. Hewins, 1879-1881; Mem George W. Fish, 1883-1885 Browning Swift, 1886, 1887, 1891 Prince D. Swift, 1888-1890 George A. Merrithew, 1892, 1893 Levi A. Howes, 1894, 1895 Andrews W. Davis, 1896, 1897 Henry C. Coggins, 1898, 1899 Edward A. Bragg, 1900, 1901 Leland B. Lane, 1902 Cranston F. Godfrey, 1903 Asa L. Pattee, 1904, 1905; SN Charles A. Bailey, 1906, 1907 Amasa W. Baxter, 1908, 1909 James Nicol, 1910, 1911 Levi Howes, 1912, 1913 Leonard R. Parkinson, 1914 George H. Green, 1915, 1916 Howard L. Pierce, 1917, 1918 Austin F. Lawrence, 1919, 1920 J. Edward Nickerson, 1921, 1922 Sidney W. Lawrence, 1923 John M. Howe, 1924 Rawson C. Jenkins, 1925; N Sumner I. Lawrence, 1926; SN Arthur G. Cushman, 1927 Charles F. Miller, 1928 Charles E. L. Gifford, 1929 Milford R. Lawrence, 1930 William Chambers, 1931, 1947 Charles F. Holden, 1932; N Leroy S. Davis, 1933 John Donald, 1934 Richard H. Hopkins, 1935 Cornelius P. VanTol, 1936, 1937 Arnold W. Dyer, 1938, 1939 Joseph R. Hall, 1940, 1941; N Delmar R. Jenkins, 1942 Harry L. Crooks, 1943 Milton E. Williamson, 1944, 1945; SN Gustave E. Anderson, 1946 George H. Bigelow, 1948 William W. Peters, 1949 C. Edward Hall, 1950 Ray D. Wells, Jr., 1951 Harold L. Baker, Jr., 1952, 1973 George H. Potter, 1953 Samuel H. Wright, 1954 Roger L. Savery, 1955 Sumner G. Baker, 1956 Russell H. Brown, 1957 Robert J. Tilden, 1958 Frank L. Nickerson, 1959 Frederick W. Womnelle, 1960 Robert C. Tait, 1961 Richard C. Baker, 1962, 1964 Evan W. Moore, 1963 Rollin A. Kirtley, 1965 Howard R. DeLano, 1966; SN F. Gordon Jaynes, 1967 Joseph P. Gerace, 1968 Elisha Robbins, 1969 Alfred G. Irish, 1970 Kenneth C. Smith, 1971 Harold W. Hammond, 1974 James A. Stevens, 1975 Stephen L. Baker, 1976 George A. Marken, 1977 Charles A. Peterman, 1978 Frederick F. Jones, 1979; N Ralph R. Romkey, 1980 J. Paul Thompson, 1981, 1982 Kenneth R. Ilg, 1983 E. Joel Peterson, 1984 Andras J. Nyari, 1985 Clifford C. Goehring, 1986 Donald G. Fuller, 1987 Rodney O. Thrasher, 1988 Willard A. Plummer, 1989 Edgar L. Kleindienst, III, 1990 Richard W. Seychew, 1991 Robert A. Walker, 1992, 1997 Robert A. Greenfield, 1993 Steven M. Loyd, 1994 Alan R. DeRemer, 1995 Sidney L. Bearon, 1996; PDDGM Robert Arthur Walter, 1997 William Richard Sproles, 1998, 1999 William R. Chaston, 2000 Arne Grepstad, 2001; PDDGM James M. Howe, 2002 John E. Huguenin, 2003 Gary E. Travis, 2004 Glen J. Barkley, 2005, 2006 Brian D. Baker, 2007 Donald A. Lans, 2008 Sean E. LeBlanc, 2009; DDGM E. David Doe, 2010, 2011 Kevin A. Thayer, 2012 REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS Petition for Charter: 1797 (Granted 1798) Constitution of Lodge: 1805 Surrender of Charter: 1810 Restoration of Charter: 1856 1924 (125th Anniversary) VISITS BY GRAND MASTER 1873 (Nickerson) 1886 (Howland; installation) 1923 (Ferrell; 125th Anniversary; Special Communication) 1932 (Chipman; Past Masters' Night) 1935 (Allen; Falmouth cornerstone laying; Special Communication) 1936 (Allen; Falmouth hall dedication; Special Communication) 1948 (Keith; 150th Anniversary; Special Communication) 1967 (Booth; Sojourners' Night) 1973 (Vose; 175th Anniversary; Special Communication) 1981 (Berquist) 1986 (Richardson) 1989 (Ames) 1990 (Darling) 1993 (Lovering; 2 visits, including installation) 1995 (Lovering; installation) 1996 (A. Johnson; reception for Senior Grand Warden E. Joel Peterson 1998 (A. Johnson; 200th Anniversary; Special Communication) 2005 (Hodgdon) 2008 (Pageau) 2012 (Stewart) BY-LAW CHANGES 1923 (125th Anniversary History, 1923-292; see below) 1948 (150th Anniversary History, 1948-95) 1973 (175th Anniversary History, 1973-197) 1998 (200th Anniversary History, 1998-33); see below 125TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1923 By R. W. William H. Hewins. On a petition to the M.W. Grand Lodge, and signed by Frank Wicks, Joseph Webb, Robinson Dimmick, Isaac Parker, Prince Hatch, Davis Swift, John P. Caswell, Hugh Donaldson, Timothy Crocker, Richard Bunker, James Wing and Lewis Parker, praying that a charter be granted to constitute a Masonic Lodge in Falmouth, to be known as Marine Lodge, A. F. & A. M. (Note: The Swift and Donaldson families have been represented in the Lodge for four successive generations.) The petition was duly presented and was granted on the date of March 13, 1798. It was signed by the following Grand Officers: Josiah Bartlett, M. W. Grand Master; Samuel Dunn, R. W. Deputy Grand Master; Joseph Laughton, R. W. Senior Grand Warden; William Little, R. W. Junior Grand Warden; Daniel Oliver, Grand Secretary. The first meeting, dated March 26, 1798, was at the house of Stephen Swift, being the old house next east of the Town Farm. At this time the following officers were chosen: Frank Wicks, Worshipful Master Hugh Donaldson, Senior Warden Richard Bunker, Junior Warden Frank Wicks, Treasurer pro tem. Hugh Donaldson, Secretary pro tem. James Wing, Tyler. During this meeting the following vote was passed: "Voted that every visiting brother should be allowed to make one visit free of expenses, but every other visit he should pay 25 cents, unless otherwise determined by vote. They continued to meet at Brother Swift's until sickness in his family compelled them to meet elsewhere. They next met at the house of Samuel Shiverick, in the southwest upper chamber. Brother Shiverick's house is the old house next west to the Post Office in Falmouth Village. They continued to meet in dwelling houses in various parts of the village until the new building was completed in 1801. A meeting of the subscribers for the new building was held September, 1798. "We the subscribers jointly and severally agree and engage to pay the sums annexed to our names by us subscribed into the hands of the committee who may be appointed to carry on the building of a School-house where the old one now stands. "Which is divided into eighty shares, in company with the Masonic Society if they choose to join us, also the town so far as they may agree for the benefit of a town house. A list of subscribers for building a School House in the town of Falmouth and what number of shares each one has and money paid one whole share being $7.42. Timothy Crocker, 2 Frank Wicks, 2 Elijah Swift, 2 Weston Jenkins, 2 Ichabod Hatch, 2 Thomas Shiverick, 1 Zimri Tobey, 2 Timothy Parker, 2 Lot Price, 2 Samuel Lewis, 2 Thomas Jones, 2 Samuel Shiverick, 2 Parnel Butler, 1 Paul Price, 2 Silas Lawrence, 2 Shubael Hatch, Jr., 2 Thomas Bourne, 2 Joseph Snow, 1 Robinson Dimmick, 1 Joseph Crocker, 2 Joseph Hatch, 2 Zimri Bourne, 1 Joseph Mayhew, 1 William Nye, 1 Timothy Crocker, Jr., 2 David Swift, 2 Hugh G. Donaldson, 2 Consider Hatch, 2 Braddock Dimmick, 2 Major Hatch, 1 Temperance Palmer, 1 Thatcher Lewis, 1 Job Parker, 1 Prince Dimmick, 2 Joseph Palmer, Jr., 1 Benjamin Palmer, Jr., 1 Ebenezer Weeks, 1 Nathaniel Lewis, 2 Joseph Bourne, 2 Stephen Swift, 1 Richard Lake, 1 Henry Lincoln Warren, 2 Gifford Benjamin Butler, 2 Moses Hatch, 1 Matthew Price, 2 David Wood, 2 Ephraim Parker, 1 Joseph Parker, Jr., 1 Eighty Shares, Total $592.80. The Proprietors of the Schoolhouse met at the house of Shubael Hatch, Innholder in Falmouth, on Tuesday, October 1, 1799, and passed the following votes: "Voted, that the Proprietors of the Schoolhouse and the Masonic Society complete the outside of the building and lay the floors equally between them. "Voted, One half of the money be paid down, and the other half when the outside of said house is completed. Elijah Swift's proposal being the lowest he was awarded the contract, it being for $675. "Voted, that Capt. Timothy Crocker receive the money and pay it over to Elijah Swift, and sign the agreement with the said Swift for completing the building agreeable to contract." At a Proprietors' meeting, held at the Inn of Shubael Hatch, August 19, 1800, it was voted that the sum of $15 that the old building sold for, be paid to Elijah Swift for two feet in addition to the width of the new Schoolhouse. On completion of the new building the Town occupied the lower rooms for school purposes. The Lodge occupied the upper room, and continued to occupy it until about 1810, and then for some reason not given, they returned their Charter to the Grand Lodge, where it remained until 1820. ("A communication was received from the officers and members of Marine Lodge, at Falmouth, representing the situation of that Lodge; requesting leave to return their Charter to the parent Grand Lodge, and offering as reason for so doing, the impoverished state of their finances, the absence of many of their Brethren, and other inabilities which prevented their meeting at present and discharging their regular dues. The members of Marine Lodge were mostly seafaring men." — F. W. H. September 10, 1810; I Mass. 442. Then it was again returned to the Lodge and they continued to meet until about 1832 or 1833. Then the Charter, working tools, and jewels were again returned to the Grand Lodge and remained there until 1857. After giving up their Charter the building was sold to Thomas Swift who rented the lower rooms for store purposes, and the upper hall for a school room. It was so occupied until a new Schoolhouse was built. In 1857 a petition was drawn up by the old members of the Lodge and forwarded to the Grand Lodge asking that their Charter and records be returned and permission given to reorganize once more. The petition was granted and a new Lodge was formed under the old Charter. The first meeting of the Lodge after the Charter had been returned was held at the house of Bro. Albert Nye, opened on the first degree. His house was the one now owned by Harry V. Lawrence. Applications having been received from James T. Dillingham, Thomas L. Swift and Solomon II. Baxter, wishing to become members, they were balloted for and accepted, and came forward and received the Entered Apprentice degree. A dispensation having been granted for sufficient reasons by the District Deputy Grand Master, who was present, the above named persons were Passed and Raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons. The officers chosen were regularly installed by the District Deputy Grand Master; George W. Swift, Worshipful Master; Benj. F. Tucker, Senior Warden; George W. Donaldson, Junior Warden; William Hewins, Treasurer; Frederick Davis, Secretary; James P. Garvin, Senior Deacon; Thomas L. Swift, Junior Deacon; Solomon H. Baxter, Tyler. Visiting Brothers present: B. S. Pope, District Deputy Grand Master; George Marston; Major S. B. Phinney of Barnstable; Silas J. Bourne; Ferdinand G. Kelley; Bro. Childs; Bro. Hallett; Bro. Bearse; Bro. Simmons; Bro. Baker; all from James Otis Lodge, Barnstable. Brother Nye was very active in getting the Charter returned and after the first few meetings at his house the Lodge hired and fitted the rooms over what is now the Falmouth Coal Office. They remained there a few years, when they bought this present building, the same that they had occupied in 1801. Marine Lodge has now the original Charter granted by the Grand Lodge, dated 1798. It owns the building it now occupies. It has a Charity Fund of a few thousand dollars. It has one hundred and eighty-six members. It has sixteen Past Masters, and two Past District Deputy Grand Masters living at the present time. 200TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, APRIL 1998 By Wor. Robert A. Greenfield. We learn from Falmouth tradition, as well as from the archives of Grand Lodge, that it was in the heart of a few outstanding men consisting of a Doctor and a few Sea Captains to build a Masonic Lodge here in Falmouth. These men petitioned M. W. Paul Revere to constitute a Masonic Lodge in the small town of Falmouth. However, it was M. W. Josiah Bartlett who finally granted Marine Lodge its Charter on March 13, 1798. Marine Lodge is the twenty-fifth oldest lodge in the State of Massachusetts and the third oldest on Cape Cod (King Hiram's Lodge in Provincetown and Adams Lodge in Wellfleet being the oldest on the Cape.) The first meeting of Marine Lodge was held on March 26, 1798 in the home of Stephen Swift, who was probably the only member of the Craft to be chosen Senior Steward in his own living room. A granite monument, which sits on the grassy knoll in front of the Gus Canty Recreation Center, was erected to the memory of the first meeting place. On the monument is a brass plaque stating that the first meeting site sat 200 hundred feet to the east of the marker. The place is now the site of Falmouth Inn, across the street from the Dairy Queen. A sickness in the Swift family made it necessary to move the meeting place to the home of Samuel Shiverick, where it remained until 1801. The site of his home is now occupied by the Falmouth Post Office. The construction of the first Lodge building was a joint venture between the members of Marine Lodge and the Town of Falmouth. Shares in the building were sold; fifty Marine Lodge members bought eighty shares. In 1801, the Falmouth School Board agreed to share in the cost of the building with the Masonic Society. Wor. Elijah Swift, the second Master of Marine Lodge, received the contract to build the structure. Bro. Timothy Crocker received the money from the subscribers and co-signed the contract on their behalf, with Wor. Swift. The Lodge occupied the upper floor and Falmouth School District used the lower floor. The period between 1801 to 1820 were the first years of darkness for Marine Lodge, largely due to the fact that most of the members were seamen and, therefore, not in town often. Our Charter was returned in 1820 and there is no record of meetings held until 1824. In 1832 or 1833, the Charter, jewels, and working tools of Marine Lodge were returned to the Grand Lodge and remained there until 1857. In 1857, some of the older members of Marine Lodge petitioned the Grand Lodge to have the Charter restored. After it was returned, meetings were held in Albert Nye's home, which is now known as Mostly Hall. The members were unable to meet in the original Lodge building as it had passed into private hands. At that first meeting, with the District Deputy Grand Master present, three applications were accepted. With dispensation having been given, the Lodge proceeded to confer all three degrees on the three candidates. In addition, the Lodge elected and installed the new officers. After moving from Bro. Nye's home, Marine Lodge met over the Falmouth Coal Company's office. In 1862, Marine Lodge bought the original Lodge building from the International Order of Odd Fellows, bringing us home at last. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, Marine Lodge experienced a resurgence in membership as did Masonry nationally. Many believe that the agonies of the Civil War played a part in this resurgence causing men to reestablish their Masonic ties. Since the establishment of Camp Edwards and Otis Air Force Base, Marine Lodge has conferred degrees to many military men stationed away from home as a courtesy to other Lodges. Many servicemen joined Marine Lodge and an untold many others visited regularly. This spirit of brotherhood continues today. In 1935, construction of the present lodge building was started and a cornerstone was laid by M. W. Claude L. Allen, who returned a year later to dedicate the new building. In 1987, Wor E. Joel Peterson and a committee of fellow Marine Lodge members, developed a plan to promote Masonic Awareness. The purpose was twofold: to inform the general public of the Masonic heritage that existed in Falmouth and to inform potential candidates of the procedures to become a member of this or any well governed lodge. They sponsored a Pre-Candidate breakfast, which explained the workings of Freemasonry. This breakfast produced 22 candidates for 1988 and has become the model and foundation for Masonic Awareness in Massachusetts. The Lodge hall provides facilities for the meetings of the Order of Eastern Star, the Order of Rainbow Girls, and the order of DeMolay, as well as other groups that have had the need to use the building for various meetings throughout the years. We have two commercial tenants also that have helped to make it financially possible for us to remain on Main Street. Physically, the Lodge continues to occupy the same site as the original building which was lovingly constructed in 1801 and reconstructed in 1935-1936. In 1990, the building was greatly enhanced by the addition of air conditioning in the Lodge room. In 1991, new vinyl siding and new thermal windows were added to the beauty of the building. Many Masters have given much of themselves and their time in effort to keep the building beautiful and in good repair. Wor. George H. Peters brought us new lighting; others brought us heating, ventilation, and a dining room. In 1972, Wor. Kenneth C. Smith did a renovation of the inside of the building.
In 1988, Wor. Willard A. Plummer gave our building a new face lift. Each of
the other Past Masters have provided his own unique contribution in
providing us with wisdom, strength, and beauty. In 1923, the 125th anniversary of Marine Lodge, we boasted 186 members; in 1948, the 150th anniversary, we had grown to 268 members; in 1973, the 175th anniversary, we had expanded to 416 members. Today, we
remain essentially at the same number, with 402 members. About half of our
members reside in the Falmouth and the surrounding area; the others are
dispersed over the face of the earth. By 1992, Marine Lodge has had eleven District Deputy Grand Masters of which three are still living: R. W. Frederick F. Jones, R. W. Howard R. Delano, and RW E. Joel Peterson. We have thirty-two living Past Masters, most of whom are still living in the Falmouth area and attend Lodge meetings regularly. December 27th, 1992, Marine Lodge saw the advancement of one of our own members elevated to the position of Grand Master, Most Worshipful David W. Lovering. During his term of office, March 8, 1994 we saw the recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Masons. In 1996 our own R. W. E. Joel Peterson was elected to office of Grand Senior Warden for the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. In 1997 another one of our members, R. W. Peter R. Smith, was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge. We cannot forget the Master who received us into the Craft and the Brethren who have spent many long hours instructing us during our arduous undertaking of learning what it takes to become a good Mason. Let us not forget, but be ever mindful, that all of us, no matter to what plateau we ascend, we are all but workers in the temple, in our own way. LIFE IN FALMOUTH 1798 By Bro. Ted Huguenin. In order to understand what life was like in the town of Falmouth at the time of the founding of Marine Lodge, it is necessary to go back to the turbulence of the Revolution and its aftermath. The Revolution was particularly hard on Falmouth for a number of reasons. A lot of its wealth was expended during this period due to the negative impacts of the war on many of its maritime means of livelihood and contributions to the war effort. Livestock was also depleted due to British plundering. Falmouth was literally on the front lines, with British warships and landing parties in the immediate area for much of the war. British interest was due to Falmouth's strategic position as a chokepoint for sea-borne communications and shipping (there was no railroad, highway system or Cape Cod Canal). Falmouth was also the strategic staging point for patriot political and military efforts to hold Martha's Vineyard, the Elizabeth Islands and even Nantucket. The British bases in the immediate area were in Tarpaulin Cove and Vineyard Haven, from which smaller vessels called "shaving-mills," of up to three masts, with a cannon on the bow and well-armed crews of about 25, roamed the coast looking for provisions and livestock, as well as patriot shipping. They were fast and maneuverable. They often landed to raid individual farms and homesteads. Falmouth has a long coast line, which was very difficult to monitor and protect. It was a war of long uneventful watches, false alarms, raid and counter raid, ambush and mixed loyalties. Only a fraction of these events were even recorded (usually due to some noteworthy or particular actions of an individual). There were clearly Tories who knew well the area and its people that sided with the British. These problems were compounded by the fact that the town was not self-supporting with respect to food staples. Some of the firefights involved ships with food stuffs, which sometimes changed hands several times. The local militia, under the superb leadership of Major (later General) Joseph Dimmick, was usually successful in these endeavors, which involved both land and sea actions. British frustrations with Falmouth led to the planned attack of April 3, 1779. Without prior warning from a known "Tory" on Pasque Island, the town would have been taken and burned. Four militia companies responded, Falmouth Center, North Falmouth, Sandwich Center and Sandwich Snake Pond, totaling about 200 men opposing an assault force of about the same number. It was a one-sided affair. There were no local casualties. The cannonading of the defenders and the town did little real damage and started no fires (believed due to the spring thaw). The assault forces being in open boats, while the militia was behind earthworks, were reported to have taken fifteen killed and twenty wounded, including the Tory commander. Interestingly, a very similar scenario was to be repeated during the war of 1812, involving the British warship Nimrod with about the same results. The situation in Falmouth after the revolution mirrored the rest of the country but was probably somewhat worse due to the proximity and duration of local war activity. There were huge national and state debts, confused and changing national governmental structure and a war ravished economy. The general confusion was great, there were disagreements and conflicts about what should be done (demonstrated by Shay's rebellion of 1786 in this state). Economic recovery did not start immediately. The new Constitution was ratified in 1788; Wor. George Washington was sworn in as the first President in 1789; and Congress passed in 1790 an act to redeem war-time paper money at $1 for $100 of paper. The State forgave Falmouth's unpaid Revolutionary War assessments, due to particular hardship. Falmouth was one of only four towns on the Cape to be so designated. These events worked to stabilize the situation and 1790 started a decade of prosperity for Falmouth. The first U.S. Census of 1790 (comparable 1800 census data are in parenthesis) lists 217 (268) families, 783 (910) free white males, 816 (931) free white females, with 38 (41) "free other" for a total of 1,637 (1882) free souls in Falmouth. The 1790 Census summary lists no slaves in Massachusetts, but there is reason to believe that this may not be completely true for Falmouth (detailed records indicate 2). The national numbers in 1790 were a total of 3,893,635 people, which included 694,280 slaves. The town's population was divided up pretty much as it is today, with a town center around the Green and eastward along Main Street, population clusters in Woods Hole, West Falmouth, North Falmouth and East Falmouth. The number of families indicates the number of houses in the whole Town. A road map of 1795 shows the Town's main roads as they are today, with Route 28 and Woods Hole Road, Main Street, Route 28 to Hyannis, Sandwich Road and Old Barnstable Road. The economic activities in the town involved agriculture, hay production of about 500 tons/yr (1802), sheep, cattle and orchards particularly being noted. There were eight mills in the town (1800), one a fulling mill and the others grist and possibly saw mills. Most were wind powered. There was also substantial salt production of 35,000 bushels/yr (1800), mostly located around Salt Pond, and maritime industries. There were 60 vessels owned in Falmouth averaging 55 tons in 1800. Six were fishing vessels (two fishing the Straits of Belle Isle and four fishing the shoals) and the rest were coasters. The majority of the coasters were involved in lumber and trade with the southern states, especially the ports of Charleston, Beaufort and Savannah. During this era many "mechanics" from the town went to the South in the fall and returned in the spring or early summer. These were the original "snow birds." "Mechanics" were skilled workers primarily in wood. They were probably mostly ship/house wrights, and carpenters. There are also indications that "prefabbed" houses may have been shipped south during this period along with the workers to assemble them. These winters in the South were stated to be a lucrative enterprise for the skilled craftsmen involved. The ship building era associated with offshore whaling hit Falmouth much later, starting about 1820. However, Nantucket had begun whaling about a hundred years before Falmouth. Men from Falmouth undoubtedly shipped out on ships from Nantucket and other ports. There was local shipbuilding. A shipyard did exist in Quissett harbor in 1802 and West Falmouth and Waquoit are also mentioned in this regard. The substantial amount of coastal shipping vessels used during this era had to be built somewhere in the area, but specific information is lacking. The religious life of Falmouth during the 1790's was dominated by only two sects: the "official" Congregational Church and the Quakers. Prior to the revolution there were only two exceptions Cape-wide, both Baptist, one in Harwich (1756) and the other in Barnstable (1771). The Methodists did not appear in Falmouth until the start of the 19th century, with the first meeting house in 1808 and first church in 1811. The first Episcopalian Church in Falmouth was The Church of the Messiah started in Woods Hole in 1852. The first Catholic Church, St. Joseph's in Woods Hole, wasn't founded until much later in 1872. It was not religious freedom but rather religious tolerance, and Falmouth was more tolerant than many other New England towns. It wasn't until the 19th century (petition to the General Court and a town vote, both in 1810) that Quakers and Episcopalian/Methodists were relieved of having to pay a church tax to support the local Congregational Church. However, as late as 1825 Congregational Church records tell of a committee appointed "to look up delinquents and bring them back to their duty." The decade saw a number of innovations in the Town. The first Post Office was established in 1795. The first Postmaster was Capt. Joseph Palmer, a former Revolutionary War Militia Company Commander. An inoculation Hospital for smallpox was established by Dr. Francis Wicks (Charter Member and first Master of Marine Lodge) at Nobska Point in 1797. It was isolated, due to the skepticism about the viability of the new procedure, with the nearest population being about ten houses in Woods Hole. There had been a smallpox hospital on Great Hill (Falmouth Heights), as early as 1777. Presumably it was an isolated site at that time. It was run by Dr. George Hugh Donaldson (Charter member and first Senior Warden of Marine Lodge) who came from England in about 1776. Dr. Donaldson was instrumental in bringing the vaccination technique to Falmouth by his correspondence with Dr. Jenner in England. Tradition says he overcame opposition by inoculating his own children and sending them to stay with small pox patients. On a different line, the first Poor House in Falmouth was established on Shore Street in 1800. There were a few contentious town issues during the 1790's. One issue involved problems resulting from animals running free. This got to the point that a town ordinance was passed in 1795 to ban pigs running lose. A town "Hog Officer" was appointed to enforce this statute. An other recurring issue involved the "center" of town. The town had grown eastward from the Town Green extending along Main Street. The controversy was about where to place the new meeting house and Congregational Church. The issue was finally settled by building two meeting houses, although the East End Meeting House was not a separate congregation until 1821. The first was completed on the Town Green (actually on the green, not its present location) in 1796 and the "town bell" made by M.W. Paul Revere was bought and installed the same year. In 1799 a town ordinance was passed to ring the bell at 6 AM, noon and 9 PM. This bell is presently in the tower of the church. The East End Meeting House was completed in 1797. Another issue involved the herring fishery, which was used primarily as a source of bait and was of some economic consequence. The controversy involved the damming of the streams for mills or other purposes, preventing the fish from going upstream to multiply. The core of the issue was conflicting rights of property owners versus public rights of access to the common resource fishery. The General Court in 1798 passed a law "regulating the fishing of alewives in Falmouth". Feelings got so high that in 1800 some town's people loaded a town cannon on the Green and then filled it with herring (aimed at someone's house maybe?). Unfortunately, when fired the canon burst, killing one person. There were also sufficient disagreements and unhappiness with town policy that the northern part of the town petitioned in 1797 to be allowed to secede from Falmouth and join Sandwich. This was strongly opposed by the rest of the Town in the General Court and the petition was denied. Interestingly, these issues are not that different from current town politics. Falmouth had been criticized by the State for deficiencies in its educational system both before and after the Revolution. The first permanent schools were not established until 1767. Before this time a teacher rotated around Falmouth teaching for 3 months in each "quarter" of the Town. The 1767 change established both a "man's school" and a "woman's school". The women's school was a form of "lower" school for younger less-accomplished students. The town in 1788 voted 140 pounds for a grammar school. However, The first specifically built school building of record in the town was built by private subscription in 1800 by Wor. Elijah Swift (second Master of Marine Lodge) for $675. It was a combination school and Masonic Temple for the newly chartered Masonic Lodge of Falmouth. This building still exists and forms the rear part of the current Marine Lodge. Well, what was the year 1798, the year Marine Lodge was Chartered, specifically like in Falmouth? The second President, John Adams, was in national office. The Governor of Massachusetts was Increase Sumner, elected the year before and destined to die the year after. The Selectmen of Falmouth were Jonathan Robinson, Samuel Nye, Paul Swift, Nathaniel Shiverick and Joseph Hatch. The Town was well into an era of prosperity, largely based on coastal shipping and other maritime endeavors. This era was to go on until about 1805 when European wars started affecting American maritime activities leading to the War of 1812 with Britain. There was a disquieting short quasi-war at sea with revolutionary France during the year of 1798, involving privateers on both sides. Capt. Rowland Crocker of Falmouth, in command of an American privateer, fought a battle at sea with a superior French vessel. He was severely wounded and his First Officer surrendered. He survived, was taken to France as a prisoner and got to shake the hand of Napoleon. He later had a long and distinguished maritime career as a ship's Captain. Rowland Crocker was the son of Bro. Timothy Crocker,(Charter Member of Marine Lodge) probably the Towns most influential citizen of the era who lived on The Green in the house later bought by Wor. Elijah Swift. Marine Lodge was founded during a period of growth, prosperity and relative peace. This was a Falmouth whose form and structure were not fundamentally different from the present time. The main differences today are — much greater scale, with greater diversity and a large number of tourists. Recommended References Freeman, Frederick, 1858. The History of Cape Cod: The Annals of Barnstable County and of its Several Towns, Including the District of Mashpee, Vol. I (803 pages), Vol. II (803 pages), Geo. C. Rand & Avery, Boston, (Chapter in Vol. 11 on Falmouth, pp. 415 - 488). Geoffrey, Theodore, (Dorothy Wayman), 1928. Suckanesset: A History of Falmouth Massachusetts, 188 pages, Reprinted by Falmouth Historical Society with Index, 1992. Jenkins, Charles W., 1889. Three Lectures on the Early History of the Town of Falmouth Covering the Time from its Settlement to 1812, Lectures Delivered in 1843, 113 pages and Index, published by L. F. Clarke, Steam Printers (The Local Press), Falmouth, MA Smith, Mary Lou, 1986. The Book of Falmouth, A Tricentennial Celebration 1686-1986, 582 pages, Published by Falmouth Historical Commission. Deyo, Simeon L., 1890. History of Barnstable County. 1010 pages, published by H.W. Blake $ Co., N.Y., Chapter XX — Falmouth (pp. 632 - 706) 1924 (Participation in Hyannis cornerstone laying, 1924-371) GRAND LODGE OFFICERS Sidney L. Bearon, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 2000, 2001 Howard R. DeLano, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1971, 1972; SN Arne Grepstad, DDGM, District 20, 2006, 2007 Joseph R. Hall, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1951, 1952; N Charles F. Holden, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1941, 1942; N Rawson C. Jenkins, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1927, 1928; N Frederick F. Jones, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1984, 1985; N Sumner I. Lawrence, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1931, 1932; SN Sean E. LeBlanc, DDGM, District 20, 2014, 2015 Asa L. Pattee, DDGM, District 31 (Nantucket), 1913; SN E. Joel Peterson, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1990, 1991; Grand Marshal 1993-1995; Senior Grand Warden 1996 Milton E. Williamson, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1961, 1962; SN 1803: District 3 (South Shore and Cape Cod) 1821: District 11 1856: District 8 1867: District 14 (New Bedford) 1883: District 27 (Nantucket) 1927: District 32 (Hyannis) Lodge web site Massachusetts Lodges Retrieved from "http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Marine&oldid=52849"

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: my husband has had two neck surgeries and is fused from c-3 to 3-7. he has pain, tingling and numbness radiating down his arms and his fingers are very painful and the skin is peeling. He says it feels like needles stabbing into his fingers. What do you think this might be. they said it could be carpal tunnel, but i refuse to believe that. Any direction would be appreciated. output: Hi Went through your post as you have mentioned that your husband has known cervical vertebral disease and underwent for its surgery, and now has neuropathic pain in arms, it is obvious that he has compressive cervical neuropathy, I would suggest you start him on sustained release pregabalin 75 mg bet, although it may cause giddiness in early few days but will improve symptoms, and secondly he should avoid prolonged neck bending. Regards.

Articles » Findings & Discoveries Super Metroid & Other English Games with Japanese Text Options A reader named Ryan sent me a question a while back that I’ve had on my mind for a while, so I’ll share it with everyone! Hi there. As long as you are on a Metroid streak with your last few posts, I thought I’d bring this up. I recently dusted off Super Metroid and played through it (beating it in a little over 5 hours — I think it took me the better part of a year when I was a kid). On a whim (and after reading your site), I turned on “Japanese text” mode for the first time, expecting it to replace everything with Japanese localization. I was surprised when I found literally all of the UI and gameplay text was still in English, with a little (but not all) of the story and announcement text subtitled in Japanese. If I didn’t know better, I would have guessed Super Metroid was developed by an American team, then hastily given a Japanese once-over. Were there any other games of the time given this sort of treatment? I was actually pleasantly surprised when I first realized that Super Metroid had a Japanese text option. I had juuust started to get into studying Japanese, but with so little Japanese stuff available where I lived I took whatever scraps I could find. As a result, the Japanese word for “Metroid” was probably among the first few dozen Japanese words I learned 😛 Anyway, to briefly recap, Super Metroid has an English language option and a Japanese language option: I’m not 100% sure since I don’t have my Japanese copy anymore, but I was under the impression that the Japanese version of Super Metroid is THE exact same as the English version, with every single bit and byte the exact same in both versions. If so, this was probably done to save on manufacturing costs, and because there’s so little text in the game to begin with, having a text option in both versions wasn’t a hassle. I might be wrong, though, so if I am please let me know! So, when you select the Japanese text option, you’d think the game would change all the text and audio into Japanese… but it doesn’t. Instead, it adds Japanese subtitles to the bottom of the screen whenever special English text appears on the screen. Here are some examples from the intro story: Even the present-day stuff gets this treatment, including text that appears while you play: It looks like the only time Japanese text fully replaces English text is in the config menus: The equipment menu and all that remains in English regardless of the language setting, as we’ve seen before. So, in all, the Japanese text option is basically the exact same as the English option but with Japanese subtitles added to the bottom. From a Japanese player’s standpoint this actually gives it a really cool, cinematic vibe, like you’re playing/watching a Hollywood sci-fi movie or something. It’s pretty neat! And the English text compared with the simplified Japanese text does make me wonder if big parts of it were developed or written outside of Japan. Anyway, the question is, “Are there any other games from this time that do this sort of thing too?” Off the top of my head, I can’t really think of any. The very first thing that came to mind was Super Punch-Out and its secret name registration screen – if you hold X and A when you start a new game, you can enter your name in Japanese instead of just English. And since it was a Nintendo-made game from the same time, this dual-language thing probably wasn’t a coincidence. But this trick doesn’t change the game’s language or add subtitles or anything, so it’s not quite the same. …So it’s time to open this question up to everyone! Do you know of any Japanese games that are basically entirely in English but have a Japanese option that still keeps everything mostly in English? There’s gotta be some more out there, so I’m really curious to know! If you enjoyed this article and know any other fans of Metroid or Punch-Out, let them know about it. Thanks for the support! Explore the history of bad game translation and weird fighting game quotes! Was Samus Called a He in Japanese Metroid Too? Players around the world were surprised to learn Samus was a woman. Was it a surprise in Japan too? How the Metroid Series’ “Varia Suit” Was Originally a Mistranslation The Varia Suit is a key power-up throughout the Metroid series, but the name is actually a mistranslation. Is Ridley from Metroid Really Native to Zebes? Is this powerful foe really the source of all life on Planet Zebes? Or was there a mistranslation somewhere? Doctor Fedora September 13, 2013 at 4:29 pm Funny you should mention Super Punch-Out!! in this context, as I’m fairly certain it never even got a Japanese release outside of the Nintendo Power cartridges. Wow, that’s interesting. It was one of my favorite games, but now that I look back I don’t really recall seeing it in Japanese game shops. fergzilla September 24, 2014 at 12:35 pm Fight Night Round 2’s Gamecube version had Super Punch-Out as a bonus game within a game. It even had a Japanese release: http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B000AMCV5U/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=466449256&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000A6CIJ0&pf_rd_m=AN1VRQENFRJN5&pf_rd_r=1BDQ7E02WG6VFVA6XB3R So, yeah, only common way to get a physical release of Super Punch Out in Japan is to buy that boxing game. It did recently have a Wii U release, though… Dragonsbrethren September 13, 2013 at 4:33 pm The entire game isn’t in English like this, but Rockman X does similar subtitles under English during Dr. Light’s warning in the intro. Not exactly the same I think, but I remember reading that the Japanese version of the SNES shadowrun keeps all the dialogue the same but adds Japanese subtitles and an extended intro for whatever reason. Nora September 13, 2013 at 5:25 pm I believe the Silent Hill games have only English voices with your choice of English or Japanese (or FIGS?) subtitles–presumably because the games take place in the States and the characters would naturally be speaking English. I don’t remember what happens in the menus, though. a September 13, 2013 at 8:30 pm Same with Resident Evil SLEEPY September 13, 2013 at 5:54 pm In the EU versions of Super Metroid, I think all other languages subtitle the English like this as well. I’m not sure though, been a while since I checked. I am Christina Aguilera May 29, 2014 at 12:07 am It does. Similar to the Japanese Super Metroid subtitles, the French and German subtitles are also shortened/abbreviated paraphrasing, rather than full sentence-for-sentence translations. spaanoft September 13, 2013 at 6:00 pm Since the Metroid series was done as a bit of an homage to the Aliens movies… any thought that maybe since they probably saw the movies originally as English movies with Japanese subtitles, they wanted the same experience in the game for the Japanese market? It’s probably unlikely, but I just kind of wonder. That was actually the same vibe I was getting when watching the Super Metroid intro in Japanese earlier today. I dunno if it was meant to be like Aliens or just movie-like but I immediately thought of Aliens too. The way bosses are introduced in the 3D Zeldas also reminded me a lot of Japanese subs of American movies too, but I need to get my hands on some Japanese Star Wars tapes to explain it well. Maybe for a future update! ILDC September 13, 2013 at 8:36 pm Are you talking about the “Character (Dub Actor)” subtitles used in Japanese versions of Hollywood movies? Apparently they’re what inspired Metal Gear Solid’s “Character (Voice Actor)” subtitles. Captain Jistuce September 13, 2013 at 8:10 pm I hadn’t thought about the cinematic angle. When I first saw the option, I remembered a Nintendo Power preview saying the game was developed primarily for western audiences because Metroid’s not that big a deal in Japan, and assumed they did it that way so they wouldn’t have to make a separate ROM for the few sales they’d get in Japan. Not in the case of Zelda but that’s definitely another thing I noticed after watching lots of Japanese movies. With Zelda, the way it introduces bosses with their names + a little tidbit of info is sometimes done with movies, like I remember watching the Japanese version of Empire Strikes Back and whenever there’d be a new robot or character it’d give the thing’s name + info the first time you see it. Even if it wasn’t important, like the little search droid that scans the snowy area at the start of the movie. I think it’s just a Japanese convention in general but seeing it applied to games and foreign movies is so strange. Aroduc September 14, 2013 at 1:02 am I personally imagine that it’s born out of a common way they handle foreign terms in general, especially in light novels although I’ve seen it a lot in fantasy/sci fi games as well. Which is to say the kanji describing it and then the pronunciation as the furigana. Reversed I imagine to make the proper noun clear, but since it’d just be a random foreign word splashed on screen, the description is required to explain what it’s referring to. And it kind of just spread stylistically from there. In Star Wars case, it is a very effective way of also transferring information that isn’t translated very obviously. R2D2’s name, for example, is obviously distinctly strange in English, but that doesn’t translate directly in itself to Japanese. Kouban December 10, 2014 at 12:35 am I think what you’re talking about harkens back to action anime: When the monster of the week was first shown, they’d usually show its name onscreen, possibly with a title or descriptor attached. This dates at least to the early 70s, if not earlier. fool September 13, 2013 at 9:35 pm Funnily enough I was just playing around with the Japanese text option today. One interesting thing is that the backstepping was “localised” as “moonwalk” in the special settings It wasn’t called “moonwalk” in the English? That’s definitely what we all called it. My SNES isn’t hooked up, but I just checked the Wii U VC version, and it totally says “moon walk.” Or is that what you mean — that it’s “moon walk” in the English but not in the Japanese? That sort of makes sense; was Michael Jackson a big deal in Japan? I don’t have any idea. Mato September 13, 2013 at 10:41 pm Oh, fool is saying that it’s “Moon Walk” in the English version but it’s “backward slide-shoot” or something like that in Japanese. Michael Jackson is HUGE in Japan, incidentally. Even impersonators are well-received there, from what I hear 😯 Darien September 14, 2013 at 12:21 am Huh, interesting. Now to complete the circle: what was Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk dance (and film, and game, and…) called in Japanese? Did they still call it Moonwalk? Or was it… backward slide-shoot? 😉 Mato September 14, 2013 at 11:06 am It looks like the dance and film are still called Moonwalk/Moonwalker, written in katakana. I’m guessing for the English version of Super Metroid they needed to fit a term in such little space that they got creative and decided on Moon Walk. That would certainly explain that video of Weird Al doing his Jackson parody on a Japanese tv show where people in giant lobster suits danced around him. I can’t find the video at the moment (he used to have it on his own youtube channel), but in it, the man looked very confused. Leave it to the Japanese to out-weird Weird Al. ILDC September 14, 2013 at 10:33 am Impersonators in blackface? I’m not really sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. Yes, Naoto Ohshima (Sonic original designer) said Sonic shoes was based of the shoes MJ uses in the “Bad” videoclip. In the PAL version of Super Metroid, these two options are replaced with “French subtitles” and “German subtitles”. And you HAVE to pick one! There’s no “English only” option, and certainly no Japanese option! This was kept the exact same for the Wii U release, and some people on Miiverse were commenting about it of course. And as for something about Japanese options in localised games: I know that in Sonic Adventure for GameCube, you can name your Chao in the Chao Garden using kana if you wanted. Sonic Advance for the GBA had English and Japanese options in all versions In fact, I think the ONLY difference between the USA and JPN versions of Sonic Advance is which of the two languages the cursor defaults to at the beginning. Interestingly, the EUR version has other language options available, but the options menu, title screen and zone names are only changed to something different when selecting Japanese. The German, French and Spanish options seem only to affect the language your Chao will speak in the Chao garden. Also interesting in Sonic Advance is that there’s always Kana used in the title cards for the stages and the title screen, even when set to English. ZettaiRyouiki September 14, 2013 at 9:53 am That’s right about EUR Super Metroid. Nintendo had not one but two chances to fix this failure but didn’t, and same goes for many PAL releases they botched. Being an European gamer sucks. More on topic, the incoming Pokémon XY lets worldwide players choose from Japanese, Korean, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. I’m picking Japanese for practice, and because our local translation is lame :p. Whoa, that’s awesome! I wish I had such big language options when I was a kid and learning the language… Yamato-san January 26, 2014 at 5:05 pm yeah, ever since the Dreamcast, the majority of Sonic games have been EXACTLY the same worldwide, sporting both a Japanese and English audio option and a multilingual text option (the latter of which also supports various European languages along with the two voiced languages). In Sonic Adventure DX, you can even play both the English and Japanese versions of the Game Gear games depending on the text you have set (though admittedly, this doesn’t do too much; I think the only game to have a considerable amount of in-game text is Tails’ Adventure, and a couple games use different titles and thus drastically different title screens between regions, like “Sonic Triple Trouble” being “Sonic & Tails 2” in Japan). KingMike September 14, 2013 at 12:22 pm I swear when I was a kid I rented the game a few times from Blockbuster with Spanish replacing the Japanese option (localization including the in-game text), but cannot find any record of it ever being released. I even emailed Nintendo a few years ago and they just said their current database doesn’t have any record of release languages. Keltik September 14, 2013 at 12:54 pm Probably not exactly the same thing, but the Japanese DS rereleases of the Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney games contained the entire English script, which you could change to at the title screen. This made them great import titles. Weren’t they also early, less localized translations of the Japanese text? I seem to remember reading they were, and if that’s the case, it makes them even more interesting, since you can see the revisions the script went through, like a prototype. Stoppableforce September 26, 2013 at 3:00 pm The only one I have experience with is Gyakuten Saiban 2 (which I imported because I was impatient), and my initial reaction with the script was that it needed a lot more editing time – there’s lots of grammatical and punctuation errors, especially in (going by my memory alone here) the third case, the one with the Big Berry Circus. Cut to two months later and a friend of mine picked up the American version, only to find the script was … pretty much unchanged, as far as we can tell. GS2’s kinda-crappy script made it Stateside. 名無し September 17, 2013 at 1:04 pm I can’t believe no one’s mentioned it, but Treasure’s Sin and Punishment is all about this. Despite having been released only in Japan, it has English voice acting with Japanese subtitles. Playing it you can tell it was supposed to be like a foreign movie to Japanese audiences. It was also a very common import title because of it’s accessibility. For me, it was this really cool thing during my very early period of studying Japanese. Is the English voice acting good? I remember a few times in subtitled anime where they have characters who are speaking English, and sometimes it sounds pretty terrible. JadePharaoh September 22, 2013 at 12:10 am I have a Japanese Super Metroid cartridge, and as far as I can tell it is indistinguishable from the North American version. SpecLad September 22, 2013 at 6:43 am The Japanese release of Super Metroid is indeed exactly the same as the American release. You can see they’re the same entry in, e.g. the No-Intro database: . That was supposed to be http://datomatic.no-intro.org/?page=show_record&s=49&n=2773 Oersted September 30, 2013 at 6:14 am http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/shadowrun/shadowrunj-1.png Yup, Shadowrun is pretty much the same. 🙂 Popful Frost August 3, 2016 at 11:28 am I was just about to mention that! 😮 It’s funny, too, since Shadowrun’s setting is kind of a relic from back when everyone though Japan was going to take over the world. XD It’s pretty neat to see an honest-to-God kitsune in a western game, though, especially one from back then. Freezair November 20, 2013 at 1:03 am I know of three more games–well, one of them is a sequel–that have English-language voice acting despite being made in Japan. No More Heroes and its sequel are supposed to take place in a fictional SoCal town called “Santa Destroy,” and as a result, they’re entirely in English. The Japanese version just has subtitles. (Although I think the 360 rerelease of the game might have added in Japanese voice acting? Hmm…) Similarly, Deadly Premonition (called Red Seeds Profile in Japan) takes place in a fictional Washingtonian town (and was also heavily influenced by early 90’s TV show Twin Peaks) so all the voice acting is in English. Although the game’s script was clearly written in Japanese first, since there’s a lot of odd lines in it that were clearly translated weirdly! though, unless the text options are the same between regions, the games aren’t “exactly” the same between regions, as Mato was talking about. This honestly kind of intrigues me; when it comes to audio, you’ve got several Japanese games that used English acting to begin with, you’ve got several English localizations that keep Japanese acting, and in some cases, you even have both regions having options for each respective language with the only real change being the default setting. When it comes to text, however, it’s usually just limited to the language of whatever region it’s being released in, and I recall there being cases where even a simultaneous global release managed to fail that. I also feel I should bring up Square-Enix, which seems to have developed an odd habit of REMOVING language options that were already in the Japanese release, so now a game with Japanese and English becomes a purely English game. They’ve done this with Chrono Trigger DS and, I think, Kingdom Hearts HD (though to be fair, I imported Chrono Trigger DS, and the bilingual feature isn’t all that great; while the English script is there, it seems they didn’t compensate for the character-naming options, so you’ll have Japanese names showing up in English script regardless of whether you chose the characters’ default names or not). Nightsail January 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm Shadow of Destiny/Shadow of Memories is another such game. It’s a 2001 PS2 game from Konami. I played the American version first, then bought the Japanese version because I was curious to hear what they sounded like in the Japanese version… only to find that they were the same. Putting the Game in Japanese mostly only affects the subtitles! mandi February 7, 2014 at 12:01 am Though it’s not a Japanese text “option”, the game I immediately remember for having Japanese text was Mario Paint. There wasn’t much in-game text, but there were stamps for writing in both Japanese and English even in the American version. I guess they didn’t see the need to make different versions of the game for the different regions when the only Japanese text was the stamps. But the really amazing thing about it was that in the instruction manual they had actually explained that these were Japanese letters, and explained how to read hiragana, katakana, and a few basic kanji. As a kid, this was so amazing to me, and was my first step in learning Japanese! A shot of the pages: http://puu.sh/6MVH6.jpg Yeah! I first started teaching myself katakana from a book I bought on a vacation to San Francisco, “decoding” everything to English sounds/letters kana by kana, and I’d completely forgotten about it, but I stumbled across those pages of the Mario Paint manual once I returned home and wound up using it to check my re-transliterations for accuracy. Man! Things I haven’t thought about in years. If you forces the emulator to Japan, Sonic 3 changes Tails’ name to “Miles” =) Carmen June 29, 2014 at 3:50 pm Late post, but this seems not all that uncommon in games. Alien Soldier and Ninja Warriors Again off the top of my head are two games like this. Also you have games like Einhander and Biohazard that prefer to use foreign voice overs with Japanese subtitles rather than Japanese voice overs. My feeling? I feel that the foreign text is used to give the game a more western/futuristic feel… the same way games set in old Japan use a lot of archaic Japanese. Its actually a pretty cool touch I feel! Alexander September 20, 2014 at 7:19 am Another game that has a completely Japanese option is Astro Boy – Omega Factor. Intresting, actually, because when the game was released in NA and EU, it was balanced up. I haven’t checked if the game gets “debalanced” when you choose the Japanese option, but once when I tried it, I accidentally pressed the “Delete All Data” button – wiping my almost-complete save. YellowYoshi398 August 2, 2015 at 11:22 pm The “cinematic” presentation of the game text in Japanese makes me appreciate the Japanese commercial for Super Metroid even more. It’s a live action reenactment of the backstory to the game, in the same vein as the Alien movies that inspired Metroid. You can really tell they were going for a movie-like experience with this game, something that was mostly lost on foreign players! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWdJBIo3yk4 AAA July 7, 2016 at 8:37 am Wario Land 3 on Game Boy Color works similar to Super Metroid. The game let you choose the language at the beginning in both US and Japanese copy, although you can’t change the language afterwards unless you delete your save data. The only places the language setting matters are the dialogues of that large statue guy and the level names. The “Now Saving” screen shows both language regardless of the setting. Everything else, like the pause screen, remain in English. Jeff Jacobson January 1, 2017 at 10:50 pm There was a Transformers PS2 game made by Atlus that was only released in Japan. All of the dialog was in English, though, and the language options only added subtitles and changed on-screen text. Unfortunately, they did not use the original voice actors from the cartoon, the actors they did hire weren’t very good actors, and the game itself wasn’t very good, either. http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Transformers_(PS2) Jesse January 14, 2017 at 3:17 pm Tetris Attack has a Japanese option too Matthew A Capps March 23, 2017 at 5:36 pm Way late to the party, but the Japanese remakes of the Wizardry games include the entire English script from the original PC games. This makes them great imports, as with a little bit of fiddling with menus you can play Wizardry 1 through 5 with updated graphics, and the convenience of auto mapping. MSoldier June 2, 2017 at 4:29 am Actually, Super Monaco GP on the Genesis/Megadrive also have a Japanese option for the World Championship mode. mmKALLL July 28, 2017 at 3:08 pm I was blown away when I first saw the Japanese version of F-Zero GX, which actually had English voice acting and just subtitles. Seems like a similar case? Some of the cinematics also had English text in various places (such as the newspaper cover in Blood Falcon’s movie), would be interesting to find out if those were localized or not. Leave a Reply to Mato Cancel reply You know how when couch potatoes watch sports, some get angry and yell at players as if they were genuine super-experts who could do better? That same thing happens with translators all the time, so my hope is that the Legends of Localization series will help explain what it's like to actually be in the translation trenches.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I m Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patient had chemotherapy in 2001 from Rashid hospital in Dubai when my age was 14 today I’m 25 actually i have a question at the moment I’m unmarried and if in future I’m planning to get married means in my blood relation to my first or second cousin will my disease will affect my wife or my children. Respectful doctors I need best suggestion from you I will really appreciate….. Matloob Muhammad Aslam t are the chances of leukaemia in progeny from mother with lymphoblastic leukaemia? output: Hi,Thanks for writing in.Leukemia in the mother can rarely be transmitted to progeny but more research is required. There is a gene known as the BCR-ABL fusion gene, or the Philadelphia chromosome which if present in the mother’s cancer cells can cross over to the baby. This is not fully understood.If the patient of leukemia is the father then the sperm DNA is not affected by the leukemia to cause the disease in next generation. However, as he might have got chemotherapy or radiation therapy at that time then it will help to get a semen analysis done to know if there is any condition like sub normal fertility due to cancer treatment.Fertility impairments among men treated during childhood for cancer are known to occur after some, but not all, types of anti-cancer therapy. Majority of survivors show no evidence of fertility impairment after cancer treatment of leukemia. However, men treated at a young age with high dose head radiation therapy may have impaired fertility...

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Burrage LC, Charng W-L, Eldomery MK, Willer JR, Davis EE, Lugtenberg D, Zhu W, Leduc MS, Akdemir ZC, Azamian M, Zapata G, Hernandez PP, Schoots J, de Munnik SA, Roepman R, Pearring JN, Jhangiani S, Katsanis N, Vissers LELM, Brunner HG, Beaudet AL, Rosenfeld JA, Muzny DM, Gibbs RA, Eng CM, Xia F, Lalani SR, Lupski JR, Bongers EMHF, Yang Y. De Novo GMNN Mutations Cause Autosomal-Dominant Primordial Dwarfism Associated with Meier-Gorlin Syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2015 ;97(6):904-13. 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Exome sequencing identifies rare LDLR and APOA5 alleles conferring risk for myocardial infarction. Nature. 2015 ;518(7537):102-6. Yuan B, Pehlivan D, Karaca E, Patel N, Charng W-L, Gambin T, Gonzaga-Jauregui C, V Sutton R, Yesil G, Bozdogan STug, Tos T, Koparir A, Koparir E, Beck CR, Gu S, Aslan H, Yuregir OOzalp, Rubeaan KAl, Alnaqeb D, Alshammari MJ, Bayram Y, Atik MM, Aydin H, B Geckinli B, Seven M, Ulucan H, Fenercioglu E, Ozen M, Jhangiani S, Muzny DM, Boerwinkle E, Tuysuz B, Alkuraya FS, Gibbs RA, Lupski JR. Global transcriptional disturbances underlie Cornelia de Lange syndrome and related phenotypes. J Clin Invest. 2015 ;125(2):636-51. Wangler MF, Gonzaga-Jauregui C, Gambin T, Penney S, Moss T, Chopra A, Probst FJ, Xia F, Yang Y, Werlin S, Eglite I, Kornejeva L, Bacino CA, Baldridge D, Neul J, Lehman ELev, Larson A, Beuten J, Muzny DM, Jhangiani S, Gibbs RA, Lupski JR, Beaudet A. Heterozygous de novo and inherited mutations in the smooth muscle actin (ACTG2) gene underlie megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome. PLoS Genet. 2014 ;10(3):e1004258. Wang F, Wang Y, Zhang B, Zhao L, Lyubasyuk V, Wang K, Xu M, Li Y, Wu F, Wen C, Bernstein PS, Lin D, Zhu S, Wang H, Zhang K, Chen R. A missense mutation in HK1 leads to autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 ;55(11):7159-64. Rainger J, Pehlivan D, Johansson S, Bengani H, Sanchez-Pulido L, Williamson KA, Ture M, Barker H, Rosendahl K, Spranger J, Horn D, Meynert A, Floyd JAB, Prescott T, Anderson CA, Rainger JK, Karaca E, Gonzaga-Jauregui C, Jhangiani S, Muzny DM, Seawright A, Soares DC, Kharbanda M, Murday V, Finch A, Gibbs RA, van Heyningen V, Taylor MS, Yakut T, Knappskog PM, Hurles ME, Ponting CP, Lupski JR, Houge G, FitzPatrick DR. Monoallelic and biallelic mutations in MAB21L2 cause a spectrum of major eye malformations. Am J Hum Genet. 2014 ;94(6):915-23. Lindstrand A, Davis EE, Carvalho CMB, Pehlivan D, Willer JR, Tsai I-C, Ramanathan S, Zuppan C, Sabo A, Muzny DM, Gibbs RA, Liu P, Lewis RA, Banin E, Lupski JR, Clark R, Katsanis N. Recurrent CNVs and SNVs at the NPHP1 locus contribute pathogenic alleles to Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2014 ;94(5):745-54. Morrison AC, Voorman A, Johnson AD, Liu X, Yu J, Li A, Muzny DM, Yu F, Rice K, Zhu C, Bis J, Heiss G, O'Donnell CJ, Psaty BM, L Cupples A, Gibbs RA, Boerwinkle E. Whole-genome sequence-based analysis of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Nat Genet. 2013 ;45(8):899-901. Lu JT, Wang Y, Gibbs RA, Yu F. Characterizing linkage disequilibrium and evaluating imputation power of human genomic insertion-deletion polymorphisms. Genome Biol. 2012 ;13(2):R15. Campeau PM, Kim JC, Lu JT, Schwartzentruber JA, Abdul-Rahman OA, Schlaubitz S, Murdock DM, Jiang M-M, Lammer EJ, Enns GM, Rhead WJ, Rowland J, Robertson SP, Cormier-Daire V, Bainbridge MN, Yang X-J, Gingras M-C, Gibbs RA, Rosenblatt DS, Majewski J, Lee BH. Mutations in KAT6B, encoding a histone acetyltransferase, cause Genitopatellar syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2012 ;90(2):282-9. Kozlitina J, Boerwinkle E, Cohen JC, Hobbs HH. Dissociation between APOC3 variants, hepatic triglyceride content and insulin resistance. Hepatology. 2011 ;53(2):467-74. Schaaf CP, Sabo A, Sakai Y, Crosby J, Muzny DM, Hawes A, Lewis L, Akbar H, Varghese R, Boerwinkle E, Gibbs RA, Zoghbi HY. Oligogenic heterozygosity in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Hum Mol Genet. 2011 ;20(17):3366-75. Murdock DR, Clark GD, Bainbridge MN, Newsham I, Wu Y-Q, Muzny DM, Cheung SWai, Gibbs RA, Ramocki MB. Whole-exome sequencing identifies compound heterozygous mutations in WDR62 in siblings with recurrent polymicrogyria. Am J Med Genet A. 2011 ;155A(9):2071-7. Wang H, Chattopadhyay A, Li Z, Daines B, Li Y, Gao C, Gibbs R, Zhang K, Chen R. Rapid identification of heterozygous mutations in Drosophila melanogaster using genomic capture sequencing. Genome Res. 2010 ;20(7):981-8. 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instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What is the recommended empiric antibiotic therapy for acute, unilateral lymphadenitis? output: The recommended empiric antibiotic therapy for acute, unilateral lymphadenitis is typically with clindamycin. This condition is characterized by inflammation of the lymph nodes on one side of the body, and can be caused by a variety of bacterial or viral infections. Clindamycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be effective against many of the common bacteria that cause lymphadenitis. However, the specific treatment plan may vary depending on the underlying cause of the infection and other factors such as the patient's medical history and allergies. It is important to seek medical attention promptly if you experience symptoms of lymphadenitis, as early treatment can help to prevent complications and improve outcomes.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: My pain is constant though worse at times. Feels like balloon under left rib and constant feelings of movement stronger than carrying a baby. Told an awful lot of bile down their after loss of gallbladîder. Stomache feels very heavy I an on amittiptyline and mevebrin tried buscapa n . IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE SO PAINFUL RUINING MY LIFE ing constant pain near ribs. Lost gall bladder. Stomach feels heavy. On amittiptyline and mevebrin. Suggestions? output: Hi and thanks for the query,These symptoms could actually rarely be explained by these drugs. It might be important to exclude other serious causes of disease before taking these into . may be the context of side effects.A clinical review is required. the pain could be coming actually from the chest region (Lungs), heart of from most probably from the abdominal (liver/gall bladder) regions. Other symptoms like family history of asthma, heart disease, breathlessness on effort or at rest, reflux, nausea and vomiting might be necessary to be noted.A chest X ray, cardiac ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound and liver function tests, coupled with a good clinical review are main initial steps for a proper diagnosis, follow up and management. I suggest you consult an internist for a more holistic evaluation and care. Kind regards.Bain LE, MD..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: sir i am using foracort inhaler 200. can it cause hands shivering after taking it through mac spacer my heart beats (i think) increases & my hands starts shivering. i take twice at morning & in the night output: The reason is you are taking a combination of Foretell+Budesonide where foretell is a bronchodilator and budesonide is a steroid. The problem you have is due to Foretell and the common side effects are headache;tremors;FM like symptoms;dizziness;palpitations;increase in heart and pulse rate;nausea;muscle cramps etc. Please consult your doctor, and he may either reduce the dose or shift to some other medicine. Thanks.

No Limit to Washington’s Criminal Hegemony By: pcr3|31 March, 2020|Categories: Guest Contributions No Limit to Washington’s Criminal Hegemony https://apnews.com/26688c9f86f7154cf3f8a3f34cf48ed0 America Unhinged: Washington’s Foreign Policy Is Insane, Inhumane, and Criminal America Unhinged: Washington’s Foreign Policy Is Insane, Inhumane, and Criminal http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/54081.htm With a Quarter of the World’s Population Under US Sanctions, Countries Appeal to UN to Intervene With a Quarter of the World’s Population Under US Sanctions, Countries Appeal to UN to Intervene http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/54085.htm Here Is the Common Sense Missing in All Western Capitals Here Is the Common Sense Missing in All Western Capitals https://www.rt.com/op-ed/484517-china-us-disastrous-pandemic-response/ A light in the Darkness By: pcr3|31 March, 2020|Categories: Articles & Columns A light in the Darkness Paul Craig Roberts Diana Johnstone’s just published book, Circle in the Darkness: Memoir of a World Watcher, is the best book I have ever read, the most revealing, the most accurate, the most truthful, the most moral and humane, the most sincere and heartfelt, and the best written. Her book is far more than a… Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sarah Cody May Have Saved One Million American Lives Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sarah Cody May Have Saved One Million American Lives by Ron Unz “Under a decaying and decadent political system, there is often a dangerous tendency to select public officials based upon ideological factionalism or the blandishments of self-interested lobbies. During normal times, this may lead to the sort of inefficiency and corruption that… Marc Wathelet, a virologist and specialist in coronaviruses and respiratory diseases explains why Asia was successful in containing Covid-19 and why the West is not. Marc Wathelet, a virologist and specialist in coronaviruses and respiratory diseases explains why Asia was successful in containing Covid-19 and why the West is not. My dear fellow citizens, I am the virologist, specialist in coronaviruses and respiratory diseases, whose views differ significantly from the experts who advise the government on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation… A Report on Successful Treatment of Coronavirus Dr. Vladimir (Zev) Zelenko Board Certified Family Practitioner 501 Rt 208, Monroe, NY 10950 845-238-0000 March 23, 2020 To all medical professionals around the world: My name is Dr. Zev Zelenko and I practice medicine in Monroe, NY. For the last 16 years, I have cared for approximately 75% of the adult population of Kiryas Joel, which is a very… The Saker Reports that Washington Does Not Compare Well to Its Chosen Opponents The Saker Reports that Washington Does Not Compare Well to Its Chosen Opponents https://www.unz.com/tsaker/a-few-recent-political-developments-which-should-not-go-unnoticed/ Eric Striker concurs https://www.unz.com/estriker/italy-must-never-forget-or-forgive/ Amusement vs. Informative Information By: pcr3|29 March, 2020|Categories: Announcements With so many people worldwide now at home playing video games and watching movies posting on the website might become difficult. Amusement might crowd out informative information. Destruction and Revival of the Common Good Destruction and Revival of the Common Good by Michael Marder After decades of neoliberal policies that have resulted in the privatization of utility companies and pension funds, erosion of workers’ rights, divestment from public healthcare and other vital sectors and services, the experience and the notion of the common good have been rendered hollow. Terrifying and tragic as it is, the… A medical research professor at Oxford University describes what can be done immediately A medical research professor at Oxford University describes what can be done immediately: I would prefer hydroxychloroquine to the use of mefloquine unless mefloquine is dramatically better. MQ can cause neuropsychiatric problems. In vitro experiments have shown that chloroquine and better hydroxychloroquine inhibit viral replication in cells but also can be preventative. No-one is allowed to talk about this officially… Escape From New York According to news reports New Yorkers are leaving the city transporting with them the virus to other states, principally Florida. President Trump announced that he was considering locking New Yorkers in place but said he hoped not to do that. Trump’s indecision has forced Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo to hunt down New Yorkers seeking… Over 45 Countries Ask Cuba for Interferon to Treat Covid-19 Over 45 Countries Ask Cuba for Interferon to Treat Covid-19 U.S. government urges nations to reject medical aid from Cuba https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!msg/newsfromunderground/YMKFF5V-kCc/2Ag2FSbhBQAJ The Truth About Bill Gates? The Truth About Bill Gates? https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!msg/newsfromunderground/6Q8EOZg5kto/iMe_BXbgBQAJ Are the Nevada Governor and President of France in the Pay of Big-Pharma? Are the Nevada & Michigan Governors and President of France in the Pay of Big-Pharma? Paul Craig Roberts This question is invited by news reports that they are preventing the use of the anti-malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus patients. According to experts, the anti-malaria drugs are effective if used early enough in the infection. But the drugs… The Never Ending Insanity In Washington The Never Ending Insanity In Washington In the midst of an economic and health crisis this: Pentagon Plans War to Wipe Out Iraqi Militias Jason Ditz Posted on March 27, 2020 The Pentagon has issued a secret directive, as of last week, calling on the military commanders in Iraq to plan a massive campaign against Iraqi Shi’ite militias, with an… The Key Question: Increase Debt or Write It Down? THE Key Question Ignored by Economists and Policymakers Is: Should the Fed be increasing debt — https://finance.yahoo.com/news/feds-cure-risks-being-worse-110052807.html — or writing it down — https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2020/03/25/a-brady-bond-solution-for-americas-unpayable-corporate-debt/ ? Will the One Percent in a futile attempt to save its own paper wealth doom us all? The Fed is socializing debt without writing it down. Socialization or nationalization of companies should be used to… Russia presents Covid-19 TREATMENT based on anti-malaria drug Russia presents Covid-19 TREATMENT based on anti-malaria drug https://www.rt.com/russia/484364-russian-drug-treatment-covid19/ First train with medical supplies for Europe leaves Wuhan as China eases Covid-19 lockdown https://www.rt.com/news/484344-china-wuhan-first-train/ Bob Dylan Sings Truth About JFK Assassination Bob Dylan Sings Truth About JFK Assassination https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/03/edward-curtin/dylan-sings-truth-about-the-jfk-assassination/ Pepe Escobar comments: https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/midnight-on-planet-lockdown-dylan-strikes-again/ Adverse consequence of long running constant Democrat and Media Attacks on Trump Adverse consequence of long running constant Democrat and Media Attacks on Trump Paul Craig Roberts An unfortunate consequence of the attacks on Trump, whether justified or not, is that it is difficult for President Trump to acknowledge the severity of the health and economic crises. If he timely acknowledges the seriousness of the situations, the result is that more blame… Coronavirus Profiteers Are Worse Than War Profiteers By: pcr3|27 March, 2020|Categories: Articles & Columns . Guest Contributions Coronavirus Profiteers Are Worse Than War Profiteers France is being intentionally destroyed. Are pharmaceutical companies mass murderers? Is the same thing happening in the United States? Didier Raoult is Professor of Microbiology and the leading world specialist in treatment of infectious diseases. He is the director of IHU Mediterranee Infection Institute. He was part of a clinical trial in which… 100% of Gilead’s Profits Went to Company Executives and Shareholders 100% of Gilead’s Profits Went to Company Executives and Shareholders Another reason for a single payer health care system. https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-gilead-profits-20171023-story.html Not Even Major Crises Can Awaken Morality in Washington Washington Persists in Seeking Hegemony During Virus and Economic Crisis Not even two massive crises can awaken morality in Washington which persists in its determination to destroy Venezuela and Iran. The charges against Maduro are obviously as false as the charges against Iran. The sins of Venezuelan and Iranian governments are that they do not submit to the will of… Washington in the Age of Domition Washington in the Age of Domition I wonder if this is a metaphor or a literal description. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/54065.htm University Study Finds Fire Did Not Cause Building 7’s Collapse on 9/11 University Study Finds Fire Did Not Cause Building 7’s Collapse on 9/11 It is unfortunate that such an important report was released during a health and economic crisis when it will be overshadowed and neglected by two simultaneous crises. On March 25, 2020, researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks issued the final report of a four-year computer modeling study… A Brady Bond solution for America’s Economic Crisis and Unpayable Corporate Debt A Brady Bond solution for America’s Economic Crisis and Unpayable Corporate Debt* by Michael Hudson and Paul Craig Roberts Even before the Covid-19 crisis had slashed stock prices nearly in half since it erupted in January, financial markets were in an inherently unstable condition. Years of quantitative easing had loaded so much money into stock and bond prices that stock… New York the Center of the Virus Outbreak with 56% of the National Cases Is Allowing People Out to Spread the Virus New York the Center of the Virus Outbreak with 56% of the National Cases Is Allowing People Out to Spread the Virus It appears that US authorities are unwilling and/or unable to control the spread of the Virus https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/489341-trump-officials-advise-people-leaving-new-york-to-self-quarantine-for-14 President Trump vs. Reality President Trump vs. Reality Here Is Reality: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/489281-italys-suffering-offers-potential-terrifying-coronavirus-preview-for-us?userid=439965 Here Is Trump: Trump Calls for U.S. to Be Open ‘by Easter’ New York Times Updated March 24, 2020, 3:58 p.m. New York, now the center of the outbreak in America, braces for a flood of patients. President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence confer before a Fox News town hall in the… Democrats Are Behaving Irresponsibly Democrats Are Behaving Irresponsibly Democrats have blocked the aid bill in order to insert a wish list unrelated to the crisis. Only one of their 10 demands—relief for student loans—makes sense for the aid bill. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/03/23/nancy-pelosi-proposes-1120-page-coronavirus-bill-stuffed-with-pork/ Washington Uses Coronavirus to Punish Iran & Venezuela while Russia & Cuba go to the Aid of Italy Washington Uses Coronavirus to Punish Iran & Venezuela while Russia & Cuba go to the Aid of Italy https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/punishing-americas-enemies/ https://www.rt.com/news/483897-italy-eu-coronavirus-solidarity-russia/ Doctor Claims 100% Virus Treatment Success with Hydroxychloroquine Doctor Claims 100% Virus Treatment Success with Hydroxychloroquine Despite the caution updated to the original report on the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine, a NY docter reports 100% success treating patients with Hydroxychloroquine. Hopefully, health authorities will interview him and if this is not a hoax adopt the treatment. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/stunning-ny-doctor-vladimir-zelenko-finds-100-success-rate-in-350-patients-using-hydroxychloroquine-with-z-paks-video/ Can Democracy Handle a Dual Health and Economic Crisis? Can Democracy Handle a Dual Health and Economic Crisis? https://www.rt.com/usa/483887-stimulus-democrats-block-virus/ All the Senate can do is to squabble. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/489040-tensions-boil-over-on-senate-floor-amid-coronavirus-debate?userid=439965 Democrats should be careful or their obstructiveness will give us the President as dictator. Quick action is imperative. If it is true that the Democrats are obstructing because they are determined to use the aid bill in order to include their… Italian Virologist Says Concerns Over “Racism” Crippled Italy’s Coronavirus Response Italian Virologist Says Concerns Over “Racism” Crippled Italy’s Coronavirus Response https://www.zerohedge.com/political/italian-virologist-says-concerns-over-racism-crippled-italys-coronavirus-response China Uses the Michael Hudson/Paul Craig Roberts Solution for the Economic Crisis China Uses the Michael Hudson/Paul Craig Roberts Solution for the Economic Crisis China Braces for Further Economic Shockwaves by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman) For the past 40 years, China achieved sustained high-level economic growth, experiencing short-term bumps alone along the way. On a purchase price basis, what a basket of goods costs compared to the US,… Debt Forgivness and Nationalization Are the Answers to the Economic Crisis Debt Forgivness and Nationalization Are the Answers to the Economic Crisis Paul Craig Roberts The US airline companies have bankrupted themselves by buying back their stock in an enrichment scheme for CEOs and board members (https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/03/david-stockman/the-crony-capitalist-thieves-are-back/). With the impact of the virus on their revenues, Congress is handing them a $50 billion bailout. Instead of being bailed out they should… David Stockman Identifies the Self-inflicted Harm Airlines Did to Themselves But the Solution is Nationalization Not Bankruptcy David Stockman Identifies the Self-inflicted Harm Airlines Did to Themselves But the Solution is Nationalization Not Bankruptcy https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/03/david-stockman/the-crony-capitalist-thieves-are-back/ Rudyard Kipling, The Gods of the Copybook Headings The Gods of the Copybook Headings (edited for brevity) Rudyard Kipling AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race, I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place. Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all. So we worshipped… Everything Accomplished During the Great Depression to Make Capitalism Workable Has Been Taken Away Resulting in Economic Crisis that Only Debt Forgiveness Can Mitigate Everything Accomplished During the Great Depression to Make Capitalism Workable Has Been Taken Away Resulting in Economic Crisis that Only Debt Forgiveness Can Mitigate Paul Craig Roberts Below are an interview I gave to the Herland Report prior to the coronavirus explaining our precarious economic situation and Michael Hudson’s article today explaining that the way out of the economic crisis… Russia Sanctioned and Demonized Offers Help to the West Russia Sanctioned and Demonized Offers Help to the West https://www.rt.com/russia/483743-italy-russia-coronavirus-putin/ Progress in Virus Testing Progress in Virus Testing https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/fda-coronavirus-test/index.html An Effective Treatment for Coronavirus Apparently Has Been Found. Update: allmedicinedata.info gives these side effects for Hydroxychloroquine: Blurred vision or any other change in vision—this side effect may also occur or get worse after you Stop taking hydroxychloroquine convulsions (seizures) increased muscle weakness mood or other mental changes ringing or buzzing in ears or any loss of hearing sore throat and fever unusual bleeding or bruising More troubling is… For the New York Times Every Crisis Is an Excuse for Anti-Putin, Anti-Trump Propaganda For the New York Times Every Crisis Is an Excuse for Anti-Putin, Anti-Trump Propaganda https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!msg/newsfromunderground/8ERlRV2elbY/_d6G2NYjAwAJ DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU Iranians to Western nations: We will never do what you did to us in hard days! March 17, 2020 – 21:27 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/446249/Iranians-to-Western-nations-We-will-never-do-what-you-did-to We Desperately Need Leadership and None Is in Sight We Desperately Need Leadership and None Is in Sight https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/a-tale-of-two-foreign-policies-the-train-wreck-abroad-is-bipartisan/ Modern Weapons Make War No Longer an Option and Critics No Longer Produce Reforms Modern Weapons Make War No Longer an Option and Critics No Longer Produce Reforms Paul Craig Roberts The World Was Insane to Produce Nuclear Weapons, the Use of Which Destroys Us, and Bioweapons, the Use of Which Destroys Us https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8127997/Nuclear-war-using-1-worlds-arsenal-spark-global-food-crisis-experts-warn.html In the midst of the coronavirus assault on humanity, the US still has sanctions affecting medical supplies to Iran. What… A Collection of Readings for You A Collection of Readings for You https://www.hannenabintuherland.com Michael Hudson Describes What Is Wrong With Our Financial System Michael Hudson Describes What Is Wrong With Our Financial System This is a really good read https://www.unz.com/mhudson/interview-our-neo-feudal-system-is-on-the-verge-of-collapse/ George Galloway’s Version of My March 14 Article George Galloway’s Version of My March 14 Article: Economic Effect of Coronavirus Could Be Revolutionary http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/54031.htm Hopeful Reports on Virus Treatment and Detection Hopeful Reports on Virus Treatment and Detection This is a repost as there were dysfunctional links in the original post a few minutes ago. Don’t give up and don’t give up on your website. Support it as it supports you with good information. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/03/18/japanese-flu-drug-effective-against-coronavirus-in-clinical-trials-chinese-officials-say/ https://abcnews.go.com/Health/chloroquine-malaria-drug-treat-coronavirus-doctors/story?id=69664561 https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/03/19/trump-says-fda-approved-anti-malaria-drug-chloroquine-to-test-as-coronavirus-treatment/#30ba29b2303d https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-johnson-te/uk-in-talks-to-buy-game-changer-coronavirus-antibody-test-idUKKBN2163AM https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/488410-us-testing-two-generic-drugs-as-possible-coronavirus http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/17/c_138792545.htm

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Have weird sensation in my chest I m a smoker for 40 years I m 53 years old some of like a tingling sensation I had a cold or chest infection felt like a cold that s when I started feeling like this in my chest and I figure well maybe it s time to quit smoking not sure what to think output: Hi. I can understand your concern. It would be advisable for you to get a chest x-ray done. If it is normal then get a PFT done which will tell us how much your lungs are functioning and what is the effect of smoking on them. Consult a pulmonologist for the same. STOP SMOKING before it causes more harm to you. You may need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)Don't worry, you will be alright. Hope I have solved your query. Wish you good health. Thanks..

\section{Introduction} The blue compact dwarf emission-line galaxy I\,Zw\,18 is famous for being the most metal poor galaxy known so far. Its oxygen abundance is about 2\% the solar value, as first shown by Searle and Sargent (1972), and then confirmed by many studies (e.g. Lequeux et al. 1979, French 1980, Kinman \& Davidson 1981, Pagel et al. 1992, Legrand et al. 1997, Izotov et al. 1997b, V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo 1998). Because of this, I\,Zw\,18 has played an essential role in the determination of the primordial helium mass fraction. Also, due to its extreme properties, I\,Zw\,18 has been a choice target for studies of star formation history in blue compact galaxies (Dufour \& Hester 1990, Hunter \& Thronson 1995, Dufour et al. 1996, De Mello et al. 1998, Aloisi et al. 1999), of the elemental enrichment in dwarf galaxies (Kunth \& Sargent 1986, Kunth et al. 1995) and of the interplay between star formation and the interstellar medium (Martin 1996, van Zee et al. 1998). An important clue is the distribution of the oxygen abundance inside the H~{\sc ii}\ regions (Skillman \& Kennicutt 1993, V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo 1998) and in the neutral gas (Kunth et al. 1994, Pettini \& Lipman 1995, van Zee et al. 1998). Another clue is the carbon and nitrogen abundance (Garnett et al. 1997, V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo 1998, Izotov \& Thuan 1999). On the whole, there is a general consent about an intense and recent burst of star formation in I\,Zw\,18 - which provides the ionizing photons - following previous star formation episodes. How exactly has the gas been enriched with metals during the course of the evolution of I\,Zw\,18 remains to be better understood. Much of our understanding (or speculations) on the chemical evolution of I\,Zw\,18 (and other galaxies in general) relies on the confidence placed in the chemical abundances derived from the lines emitted in the H~{\sc ii}\ regions. These are generally obtained using standard, empirical, methods which have been worked out years ago, and rely on the theory of line emission in photoionized gases. Photoionization models are, most of the time, used merely as a guide to evaluate the temperature of the low excitation regions once the characteristic temperature of the high excitation zones has been obtained through the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio. They also serve to provide formulae for estimating the correction factors for the unseen ionic species of a given element. Direct fitting of the observed emission line spectrum by tailored photoionization models provides more accurate abundances only if all the relevant line ratios are perfectly reproduced by the model (which is rarely the case in model fitting history) and if the model reproducing all the observational constraints is unique. One virtue of model fitting, though, is that it permits to check whether the assumptions used in abundance determinations are correct for a given object. For example, there is the long standing debate whether so-called ``electron temperature fluctuations'' (see e.g. Mathis 1995, Peimbert 1996, Stasi\'{n}ska 1998) are present in H~{\sc ii}\ regions to a sufficient level so as to significantly affect elemental abundance determinations. If a photoionization model is not able to reproduce all the temperature sensitive line ratios, the energy balance is not well understood, and one may question the validity of abundance determinations. Also, photoionization models are a potential tool (see e.g. Esteban et al. 1993, Garc\'{\i}a-Vargas 1996, Stasi\'nska \& Schaer\-er 1997, Crowther et al.\ 1999) to uncover the spectral distribution of the ionizing radiation field, thus providing information on the ionizing stars, their evolutionary status and the structure of their atmospheres. These two points are a strong motivation for a photoionization model analysis of I\,Zw\,18. There have already been a few such attempts in the past (Dufour et al. 1988, Campbell 1990, Stevenson et al. 1993). None of those models were, however, able to reproduce the He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ line, known to exist in I\,Zw\,18 since the work of French (1980). The reason is that, in those models, the spectral distribution of the ionizing radiation was that of a single star whose radiation field was interpolated from a grid of plane-parallel, LTE model atmospheres for massive stars. Recently, Wolf-Rayet stars have been identified in I\,Zw\,18 through the characteristic bump they produce at 4650~\AA\ (Izotov et al. 1997a, Legrand et al. 1997). Spherically expanding non-LTE model atmospheres for hot Wolf-Rayet stars with sufficiently low wind densities (Schmutz et al. 1992) do predict an output of radiation above the He~{\sc ii}\ ionization edge, which might, at least qualitatively, provide a natural explanation for the narrow He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ line observed in I\,Zw\,18. Schaerer (1996) has, for the first time, synthesized the broad (stellar) and narrow (nebular) He~{\sc ii}\ features in young starbursts using the Geneva stellar evolution tracks and appropriate stellar model atmospheres. He then extended his computations to the metallicity of I\,Zw\,18 (De Mello et al. 1998). In this paper, we use the emergent radiation field from the synthetic starburst model presented in De Mello et al. (1998) to construct photoionization models of I\,Zw\,18. One of the objectives is to see whether this more realistic ionizing radiation field permits, at the same time, to solve the electron temperature problem encountered in previous studies. Former photoionization models predicted too low a [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio, unless specific geometries were adopted (Dufour et al. 1988, Campbell 1990), which later turned out to be incompatible with Hubble Space Telescope ({\em HST}) images. The synthetic starburst model we use is based on spherically expanding non-LTE stellar atmosphere models for main sequence stars (Schaerer \& de Koter 1997) and for Wolf-Rayet stars (Schmutz et al.\ 1992). These models have a greater heating power than the LTE model atmospheres of same effective temperature (see Fig.\ 3; also Schaerer \& de Koter) The progression of the paper is as follows. In Section 2, we discuss in more detail the photoionization models proposed previously for I\,Zw\,18 and show in what respect they are not consistent with recent observations. In Section 3, we present our own model fitting methodology, including a description of the computational tools. In Section 4, we describe the models we have built for I\,Zw\,18, and discuss the effects of the assumptions involved in the computations. Our main results are summarized in Section 5. \section{Previous photoionization models of I\,Zw\,18} The first attempt to produce a photoionization model for I\,Zw\,18 is that of Dufour et al. (1988). Their observational constraints were provided by spectra obtained in an aperture of 2.5\arcsec $\times$ 6\arcsec of the NW region combined with IUE observations yielding essentially the C~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$1909\ line. Using Shields's photoionization code NEBULA, they modelled the object as an ionization bounded sphere of constant density $n$ = 100~cm$^{-3}$\ and adjustable volume filling factor $\epsilon$ so as to reproduce the observed [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007/[O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727\ ratio. The ionizing radiation was provided by a central source of radiation, represented by the LTE model atmospheres of Hummer \& Mihalas (1970), modified to take into account the low metallicity of I\,Zw\,18. Discarding the He~{\sc ii}\ problem, they obtained a model that was reasonably successful except that it had an O$^{++}$\ temperature, T(O$^{++}$), marginally smaller than observed (17200~K) compared to the value of 18100 (+1100, -1000)~K derived directly from their observed [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ = (2.79 $\pm$ 0.35) $\times$ 10$^{-2}$ (the errors quoted being 2$\sigma$) \footnote{A summary of various measurements of [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ and corresponding electron temperatures is shown in Fig.\ 2.}. This model was obtained for an effective temperature of 45000~K. These authors showed that, because of the dominant role played by Ly$\alpha$ cooling in I\,Zw\,18, it was impossible, for the adopted geometry, to produce a model with noticeably higher T(O$^{++}$), by varying the free parameters at hand. Even increasing the effective temperature did not raise T(O$^{++}$) appreciably, because then the ionization parameter had to be lowered in order to maintain [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007/[O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727\ at its observed level, and this resulted in a greater H$^{0}$\ abundance, thus enhancing Ly$\alpha$ excitation. Dufour et al. then proposed a composite model, in which the [O~{\sc iii}]\ line would be mainly produced around high temperature stars (T$_{eff}$\ $>$ 38000~K) and the [O~{\sc ii}]\ line would be mainly emitted around stars of lower T$_{eff}$\ ($<$ 37000~K). Alternatively, one could have, around a star of T$_{eff}$\ $<$ 45000~K, a high ionization component emitting most of the [O~{\sc iii}]\ and a low ionization component emitting most of the [O~{\sc ii}]. Since then, the {\em HST} images (Hunter \& Thronson 1995, Meurer et al. 1995, Dufour et al. 1996, De Mello et al. 1998) have revealed that the NW region appears like a shell of ionized gas about 5\arcsec\ in diameter, encircling a dense star cluster. Thus the geometries proposed by Dufour et al. (1988), although quite reasonable a priori, do not seem to apply to the case under study. Campbell (1990), using Ferland's photoionization code CLOUDY, constructed models to fit the spectral observations of Lequeux et al. (1979) obtained through a slit of 3\arcsec.8 $\times$ 12\arcsec.4. These observations were giving a [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio of (3.75 $\pm$ 0.35) $\times$ 10$^{-2}$. With a constant density, ionization bounded spherical model and a LTE Kurucz stellar atmosphere with metallicity 1/10 solar, in which the adjustable parameters were O/H, T$_{eff}$, $n$ and $\epsilon$, Campbell obtained a best fit model that had [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ = 3.07~10$^{-2}$, i.e. much lower than the value she aimed at reproducing. She then proposed a density gradient model, in which the inner regions had a density $n$ $>$~10$^{5}$~cm$^{-3}$, so as to induce collisional deexcitation of [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007. Applying standard abundance derivation techniques to this model yields an oxygen abundance higher by 70\% than the input value. This led Campbell to conclude that I~Zw18 was not as oxygen poor as previously thought. The density gradient model of Campbell (1990) can be checked directly using the density sensitive [Ar~{\sc iv}] $\lambda$4741/4713\ ratio. The only observations giving this line ratio are those of Legrand et al. (1997), and they indicate a density in the Ar$^{+++}$\ region lower than 100~cm$^{-3}$ . Direct images with the {\em HST} do not support Campbell's density gradient model either, since, as stated above, the appearance of the H~{\sc ii}\ region is that of a shell surrounding the excitation stars. Stevenson et al. (1993), using a more recent version of CLOUDY, constructed a spherical, ionization bounded constant density photoionization model to fit their own data. They used as an input an extrapolation of the Kurucz LTE model atmospheres. Their modelling procedure was very similar to that of Campbell (1990) for her constant density model. Their best fit model had O/H = 1.90~10$^{-5}$ and returned [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ = 2.79~10$^{-2}$, to be compared to their observed value of (3.21 $\pm$ 0.42) $\times$ 10$^{-2}$. What complicates the discussion of the three studies above is that they use different codes with probably different atomic data, and they aim at fitting different sets of observations. Nevertheless, it is clear that all those models have difficulties in reproducing the high [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ observed. They have other weak points, as noted by their authors. For example, Dufour et al. (1988) and Stevenson et al. (1993) comment on the unsatisfactory fitting of the sulfur lines. However, the atomic data concerning sulfur are far less well established than those concerning oxygen, therefore the discrepancies are not necessarily meaningful. Besides, it is not surprising that, with a simple density structure, one does not reproduce perfectly at the same time the [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ and [S~{\sc iii}]/[S~{\sc ii}]\ ratios. The most important defect shared by the three models just discussed is that they predict no He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ emission. This is simply due to the fact that they used an inadequate input stellar radiation field. With the presently available stellar population synthesis models for the exciting stars of giant H~{\sc ii}\ regions which make use of more realistic model atmospheres (Schaerer \& Vacca 1998), and especially models that are relevant for the Wolf-Rayet stages of massive stars, it is interesting to reanalyze the problem. Using simple photon counting arguments, De Mello at al. (1998) have already shown that a starburst with a Salpeter initial mass function and an upper mass limit of 150~M$_{\odot}$\ could reproduce the equivalent width of the Wolf-Rayet features and of the narrow He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ emission line in I\,Zw\,18. It is therefore interesting, using the emergent radiation field from such a synthetic stellar population, to see whether one can better reproduce the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio observed in I\,Zw\,18, with a model that is more compatible with the density structure constrained by the {\em HST} images. \section{Our model fitting methodology } \subsection{Computational tools and input parameters} As in the previous studies, we concentrate on the so-called NW component, seen in the top of Fig.\ 1, which shows the WFPC2 H$\alpha$\ image of the {\em HST} (cf.\ Fig.\ 1 of De Mello et al.\ 1998). Throughout the paper, we adopt a distance to I~Zw~18 of 10 Mpc, assuming $H_{o}$ = 75 km~s$^{-1}$~Mpc$^{-1}$, as in many studies (Hunter \& Thronson 1995, Martin 1996, van Zee et al. 1998) \footnote{Izotov et al. (1999) have submitted a paper suggesting a distance of 20 Mpc to I Zw 18. Should this be the case, the conclusions of our paper that are linked to the ionization structure and the temperature of the nebula would hardly be changed. The total mass of the ionized gas would be larger, roughly by a factor 2$^{3}$.}. \subsubsection{The stellar population} We use the same model for the stellar population as described in De Mello et al. (1998). It is provided by a evolutionary population synthesis code using stellar tracks computed with the Geneva code at the appropriate metallicity (1/50~Z$_{\odot}$). The stellar atmospheres used are spherically expanding non-LTE models for WR stars (Schmutz et al.\ 1992) and O stars ({\em CoStar} models at $Z=0.004$, Schaerer \& de Koter 1997), and Kurucz models at [Fe/H]=-1.5 for the remainder. More details can be found in De Mello et al. (1998) and Schaerer \& Vacca (1998). We assume an instantaneous burst of star formation, with an upper mass limit of 150~M$_{\odot}$\ and a lower mass limit of 0.8 ~M$_{\odot}$. Since all observational quantities considered here depend only on the properties of massive stars, the choice for $M_{\rm low}$ has no influence for the results of this paper. It merely serves as an absolute normalisation. The total initial mass of the stars is adjusted in such a way that, at a distance of 10~Mpc, the flux at 3327~\AA\ is equal to 1.7~10$^{-15}$ ~erg~s$^{-1}$~cm$^{-2}$~\AA$^{-1}$, the value measured in the flux calibrated WFPC2 F336W image of De Mello et al.\ (1998) within a circle of 2.5\arcsec\ radius centered on the NW region (see Fig.\ 1). This flux is dominated by the latest generation of stars in I\,Zw\,18, so that our normalization is hardly sensitive to the previous star formation history in the NW region of I\,Zw\,18. It yields a total stellar mass of 8.7~10$^{4}$~M$_{\odot}$, at a distance of 10~Mpc. Actually, most of the flux comes from a region much smaller in size, and our photoionization modelling is made with the ionizing cluster located at the center of the nebula and assuming that its spatial extension is negligible. We consider that the observed ultraviolet flux is only negligibly affected by extinction \footnote{A direct fitting of the ultraviolet stellar continuum by population synthesis models, of which we became aware after the paper had been submitted, yields C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) $<$ 0.06 (Mas-Hesse \& Kunth 1999).}. For an extinction C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) of 0.04, such as estimated by Izotov \& Thuan (1998), the corrected flux would be only about 10\% larger, which is insignificant in our problem. Other observers give values of C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) ranging between 0. and 0.2. If C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) were as large as 0.20, as estimated by V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo (1998) and some other observers, the true stellar flux would be a factor two higher. However, all the determinations of C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi), except the one by Izotov \& Thuan (1998), do not take into account the underlying stellar absorption at \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\, and therefore overestimate the reddening. A further cause of overestimation of C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi), which applies also to the work of Izotov \& Thuan (1998), is that the intrinsic H$\alpha$/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio is assumed to be the case B recombination value, while collisional excitation of H$\alpha$\ is not negligible in the case of I\,Zw\,18 as noted by Davidson \& Kinman (1985). We will come back to this below. \subsubsection{The nebula} The photoionization computations are performed with the code PHOTO using the atomic data listed in Stasi\'{n}ska \& Leitherer (1996). The code assumes spherical geometry, with a central ionizing source. The diffuse radiation is treated assuming that all the photons are emitted outwards in a solid angle of 2$\pi$, and the transfer of the resonant photons of hydrogen and helium is computed with the same outward only approximation, but multiplying the photo-absorption cross-section by an appropriate factor to account for the increased path length due to scattering (Adams 1975). The nebular abundances used in the computations are those we derived from the spectra of Izotov and Thuan (1998) for the NW component of I\,Zw\,18, with the same atomic data as used in the photoionization code. For helium, however, we adopted the abundance derived by Izotov \& Thuan (1998) for the SE component, as stellar absorption contaminates the neutral helium lines in the NW component. The nominal value of the temperature derived from [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ is 19800~K. This value was used to compute the ionic abundances of all the ions except O$^{+}$, N$^{+}$\ and S$^{+}$, for which a value of 15000~K was adopted (this is the typical value returned by our photoionization models for I\,Zw\,18). The electron density deduced from [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ is 140~cm$^{-3}$, and this density was adopted in the computation of the ionic abundances of all species. The ionization correction factors to compute the total element abundances were those of Kingsburgh \& Barlow (1994), which are based on photoionization models of planetary nebulae and are also suitable for H~{\sc ii}\ regions. They give slightly smaller oxygen abundances (by a few \%) than the traditional ionization correction factors which assume that the O$^{+++}$\ region is coextensive with the He$^{++}$\ (we did not iterate on the ionization correction factors after our photoionization model analysis since this would have not changed any of the conclusions drawn in this paper). The carbon abundance used in the computations follows from the C/O ratio derived by Garnett et al. (1997) from {\em HST} observations of I\,Zw\,18. The abundances of the elements not constrained by the observations (Mg, Si) and (Cl, Fe) have been fixed to 10$^{-7}$ and 10$^{-8}$ respectively. Table 1 presents the abundance set used in all the computations presented in the paper. As already noted by previous authors, at the metallicity of I\,Zw\,18, the heavy elements (i.e. all the elements except hydrogen and helium) play a secondary role in the thermal balance. Their role in the absorption of ionizing photons is completely negligible. Any change of abundances, even that of helium, compatible with the observed intensities of the strong lines, will result in a very small change in the electron temperature, and we have checked that the effect they will induce in the predicted spectra are small compared to the effects discussed below. \begin{table} \caption{Input abundances relative to hydrogen for the models of I\,Zw\,18 (by number).} \begin{flushleft} \begin{tabular}{rr} \hline He & 7.60 10$^{-2}$\\ C & 3.03 10$^{-6}$ \\ N & 3.89 10$^{-7}$ \\ O & 1.32 10$^{-5}$ \\ Ne & 2.28 10$^{-6}$ \\ S & 3.72 10$^{-7}$ \\ Ar & 9.13 10$^{-8}$ \\ \hline \end{tabular} \end{flushleft} \end{table} We do not include dust in the computations. While it is known that, in general, dust mixed with the ionized gas may absorb some of the ionizing photons, and contribute to the energy balance of the gas by photoelectric heating and collisional cooling (e.g. Baldwin et al. 1991, Borkowski \& Harrington 1991, Shields \& Kennicutt 1995), the expected effect in I\,Zw\,18 is negligible, since the dust-to-gas ratio is believed to be small at such metallicities (cf.\ Lisenfeld \& Ferrara 1998). The case of I\,Zw\,18 is thus very interesting for photoionization modelling, since due to the very low metallicity of this object, the number of unconstrained relevant parameters is minimal. \subsection{Fitting the observational constraints} In judging the value of our photoionization models, we do not follow the common procedure of producing a table of intensities relative to \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ to be compared to the observations. A good photoionization model is not only one which reproduces the observed line ratios within the uncertainties. It must also satisfy other criteria, like being compatible with what is known from the distribution of the ionized gas, and what is known of the ionizing stars themselves. On the other hand, many line ratios are not at all indicative of the quality of a photoionization model. For example, obviously, two lines arising from the same atomic level like [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007\ and [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4959 have intensity ratios that depend only on the respective transition probabilities. In H~{\sc ii}\ regions, the ratio of hydrogen Balmer lines (if case B applies) is little dependent on the physical conditions in the ionized gas, and this is why it can be used to determine the reddening. The ratios of the intensities of neutral helium lines do depend somewhat on the electron density distribution and on selective absorption by dust of pseudo-resonant photons, (Clegg \& Harrington 1989, Kingdon \& Ferland 1995), and these are introduced in photoionization models. In the case of the NW component of I\,Zw\,18, the observed neutral helium lines are affected by absorption from stars or interstellar sodium (Izotov \& Thuan 1998, V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo 1998), and cannot be easily used as constraints for photoionization models. Generally speaking, once line ratios indicative of the electron temperature (like [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007, [N~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$5755/6584), of the electron density (like [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717, [Ar~{\sc iv}] $\lambda$4741/4713) and of the global ionization structure (like [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007/[O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727\ or [S~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$9532/[S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6725) have been fitted, the ratios of all the strong lines with respect to \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ are necessarily reproduced by a photoionization model whose input abundances were obtained from the observations. The only condition is that the atomic data to derive the abundances and to compute the models should be the same. Problems may arise only if the empirical ionization factors are different from the ones given by the model, or if there is insufficient information on the distribution of the electron temperature or density inside the nebula (in the case of I\,Zw\,18 no direct information is available on the temperature in the low ionization zone, but we adopted a value inspired by the models). Therefore, intensity ratios such as [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi, [Ne~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$3869/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi, [N~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6584/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi, [Ar~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$7135/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ or C~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$1909/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ are not a measure of the quality of the photoionization model. To judge whether a photoionization model is acceptable, one must work with outputs that are significantly affected by the physical processes on which the photoionization model is based, i.e. the transfer of the ionizing radiation, the processes determining the ionization equilibrium of the various atomic species and the thermal balance of the gas. Table 2 lists the quantities that can be used in the case of I\,Zw\,18, given the observational information we have on the object. The value of the \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ flux is derived from the H$\alpha$\ flux measured in a circle of radius $\theta$=2.5\arcsec\ (shown in Fig. 1), assuming C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) = 0. The line ratios He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi, [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007, [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717, [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007/[O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727, [S~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$6312/[S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6725\ and [O~{\sc i}] $\lambda$6300/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ are the values observed by Izotov \& Thuan (1998) in the rectangular aperture whose approximate position is shown in Fig. 1. It is important to define in advance the tolerance we accept for the difference between our model predictions and the observations. This must take into account both the uncertainty in the observational data, the fact that the spectra were taken through an aperture not encompassing the whole nebula, and the fact that the nebula does not have a perfect, spherical symmetric structure. This latter aspect is, of course, difficult to quantify, and the numbers given in Column 3 of Table 2 are to be regarded rather as guidelines. In Column 4, we indicate which is the dominant factor determining the adopted tolerance : the signal-to-noise, or the geometry. For example, such ratios as He~{\sc ii}/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi, [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}], [S~{\sc iii}]/[S~{\sc ii}]\ or [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ are obviously more dependent on geometrical effects than [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007. Note that, even for that ratio, the tolerance given in Table 2 is larger than the uncertainty quoted by Izotov \& Thuan (1998). The reason is that the many observations of the NW component of I\,Zw\,18 made over the years, with different telescopes, detectors, and apertures, yield distinct values for this ratio, as shown in Fig. 2. In view of this figure, a tolerance of 10\% with respect with the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio measured by Izotov \& Thuan (1998) seems reasonable. The status of the [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ ratio is somewhat different. It indicates the average electron density in the zone emitting [S~{\sc ii}]. This is very close to an input parameter, since photoionization models are built with a given density structure. However, because the density deduced from [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ is not the total hydrogen density but the electron density in the region emitting [S~{\sc ii}], and because the density is not necessarily uniform, it is important to check that the model returns an [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ value that is compatible with the observations. For the total \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ flux, we accept models giving F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) larger than the observed value, on account of the fact that the coverage factor of the ionizing source by the nebula may be smaller than one. \setcounter{table}{1} \begin{table*}[htb] \caption{Observables that a photoionization model of I\,Zw\,18 should fit (references in Sect.\ 3.2). } \begin{flushleft} \begin{tabular}{llllll} \hline Quantity & Value & Tolerance & Major source of uncertainty & Symbol in Figs.\ 4--6 \\ \noalign{\smallskip} \hline \noalign{\smallskip} F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) [erg~cm$^{-2}$~s$^{-1}$] & 4.0~10$^{-14}$ & + 0.5 dex & geometry (see text) & circle\\ angular radius $\theta$ [arc sec ] & 2.5 & $\pm$ 0.08 dex & geometry & cross \\ He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi & 0.034 & $\pm$ 0.2 dex & geometry (see text) & square \\ [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ & 3.28~10$^{-2}$ & $\pm$ 0.04 dex & S/N & open triangle\\ [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ & 1.3 & $\pm$ 0.04 dex & S/N & diamond \\ [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007/[O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727\ & 6.82 & $\pm$ 0.1 dex & geometry & filled triangle \\ [O~{\sc i}] $\lambda$6300/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ & 0.007 & $\pm$ 0.3 dex & geometry & plus \\ [S~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$6312/[S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6725\ & 0.173 & $\pm$ 0.2 dex & geometry & asterisk \\ \noalign{\smallskip} \hline \end{tabular} \end{flushleft} \end{table*} Thus, in the following, we compute photoionization models with the input parameters as defined in Section 3.1, and see how they compare with the constraints specified in Table 2. We will not examine the effects of varying the elemental abundances, since, as mentioned above, they are negligible in our problem. Uncertainties in the measured stellar flux have only a small impact on our models, and are therefore not discussed here. Similarly, we discard the effects of an error in the distance $d$ to I~Zw~18. These are not crucial on the ionization structure of a model designed to fit the observed flux at 3327\AA, since the mean ionization parameter varies roughly like $d^{2/3}$. What we mainly want to see is whether, with our present knowledge, we can satisfactorily explain the observed properties of I\,Zw\,18. As will be seen, the gas density distribution plays an important role. \section{Climbing the ladder of sophistication} \subsection{The ionizing radiation field } Before turning to proper photoionization modelling, it is worthwhile examining the gross properties of the ionizing radiation field of the synthetic stellar population model we are using, and compare it to single star model atmospheres. Two quantities are particularly relevant. One is $Q({\rm{He^{+}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$, the ratio of the number of photons above 54.4 and 13.6~eV emitted by the ionizing source. This ratio allows one to estimate the He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ that would be observed in a surrounding nebula, by using simple conservation arguments leading to the formula: He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ = 2.14 $Q({\rm{He^{+}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ (taking the case B recombination coefficients given in Osterbrock 1989). As is known, this expression is valid if the nebula is ionization bounded and the observations pertain to the whole volume. It is less commonly realized that it also assumes the average temperature in the He$^{++}$\ region to be the same as in the entire H~{\sc ii}\ region. This is may be far from true, as will be shown below, so a correction should account for that. Another assumption is that all the photons above 54.4~eV are absorbed by He$^{+}$\ ions. This is not what happens in objects with a low ionization parameter. There, the residual neutral hydrogen particles are sufficiently numerous to compete with He$^{+}$. In such a case, the expression above gives an upper limit to the nebular He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio. In spite of these difficulties, $Q({\rm{He^{+}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ remains a useful quantity to estimate the intensity of the nebular He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ line. Fig. 3a shows the variation of $Q({\rm{He^{+}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ as a function of starburst age for the synthetic model population we are considering. As already stated in De Mello et al. (1998), the strength of the He~{\sc ii}\ nebular line in I\,Zw\,18 indicates a starburst between 2.9 and 3.2~Myr. Another important ratio is $Q({\rm{He^{0}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$, sometimes referred to as the hardness parameter of the ionizing radiation field. It provides a qualitative measure of the heating power of the stars. We have represented this quantity in Fig. 3c. We see that, as the starburst ages, its heating power gradually declines, and shows only a very mild bump at ages around 3~Myr, where the Wolf-Rayet stars are present. As we will show below this modest increase of the heating power is not sufficient to explain the high electron temperature observed in I\,Zw\,18. For comparison, we show in Figs.\ 3b and d respectively, the values of $Q({\rm{He^{+}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ and $Q({\rm{He^{0}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ as a function of the stellar effective temperature for the LTE model atmospheres of Kurucz (1991), the {\em CoStar} model atmospheres corresponding to main sequence stars (Schaerer \& de Koter 1997) and for the model atmospheres for Wolf-Rayet stars of Schmutz et al.\ (1992). The {\em CoStar} models show an increased He$^{+}$\ ionizing flux compared to Kurucz models which have a negligible flux even for very low metallicities ([Fe/H]$=-1.5$). The reasons for this difference have been discussed in Schaerer \& de Koter (1997). In addition to the $T_{\rm eff}$\ dependence, $Q({\rm{He^{+}}})$\ from WR models depend strongly on the wind density. He$^{+}$\ ionizing photons are only predicted by models with sufficiently thin winds (cf.\ Schmutz et al.\ 1992). Figure 3d shows the increase of the hardness of the radiation field, at a given $T_{\rm eff}$, between the spherically expanding non-LTE models for O and WR stars and the traditional Kurucz models (see discussion in Schaerer \& de Koter 1997). This provides a greater heating power which, as will be shown later, is however still insufficient to explain the observations. \subsection{I\,Zw\,18 as a uniform sphere} We start with the easiest and most commonly used geometry in photoionization modelling: a sphere uniformly filled with gas at constant density, occupying a fraction $\epsilon$ of the whole nebular volume. The free parameters of the models are then only the age of the starburst, the gas density and the filling factor. Each model is computed starting from the center, and the computations are stopped either when the [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ ratio has reached the observed value given in Table 2, or when the gas becomes neutral. In other words, we examine also models that are not ionization bounded, in contrast to previous studies. Figure 4 shows our diagnostic diagram for a series of models having a density $n$= 100~cm$^{-3}$\ and a filling factor $\epsilon$=0.01. The left panel shows the computed values of log F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) + 15 (open circles), log He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ + 2 (squares), angular radius $\theta$ (crosses), [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ $\times$ 100 (open triangles), [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ (diamonds), log ([O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]) (black triangles), log ([S~{\sc iii}]/[S~{\sc ii}]) (asterisks) and log [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ +3 (plus) as a function of the starburst age. The black circles correspond to the value of log F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) + 15 that the nebula would have if it were ionization bounded. Thus, by comparing the positions of an open circle and a black circle, at a given abscissa, one can immediately see whether the model is density bounded and how much diffuse H$\alpha$\ or \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ emission is expected to be emitted outside the main body of the nebula. In the right panel, the observed values are represented on the same vertical scale and with the same symbols as the model predictions. The tolerances listed in Table 2 are represented as vertical error bars (the horizontal displacement of the symbols has no particular meaning). We readily see that the age of the starburst is important only for the He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ line, the other quantities varying very little for ages 2.7--3.4 Myr. Therefore, for the following runs of models, we adopt an age of 3.1~Myr. In principle, one can always adjust the age for the model to reproduce the observed He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio exactly. Figure 5 shows the same sort of diagnostic diagram as Fig. 4 for a series of models with $n$ = 100~cm$^{-3}$\ and varying filling factor. For a filling factor around 0.1 or larger, with the adopted electron density, the model is ionization bounded, and its [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ is larger than observed. For filling factors smaller than that, the gas distribution is more extended, so that the general ionization level drops. The observed [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ can then only be reproduced for a density bounded model. In such a case, the \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ radiation actually produced by the nebula is smaller than if all the ionizing photons were absorbed in the nebula. A filling factor of 0.002 -- 0.05 gives values of [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}], F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) and $\theta$ in agreement with the observations. But such models give [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ too small compared with the observations, and [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ below the observed value by nearly two orders of magnitude. It is interesting, though, to understand the qualitative behavior of these line ratios as $\epsilon$ decreases. [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ decreases because the model becomes more and more density bounded in order to reproduce the observed [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\, and levels off at $\epsilon$ = 0.1, because the ionization parameter of the model is then so small that the [O~{\sc i}]\ is gradually emitted by residual neutral oxygen in the main body of the nebula and not in the outskirts. [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ decreases as $\epsilon$ decreases, because of the increasing proportion of L$\alpha$ cooling as the ionization parameter drops. One can build other series of models with different values of $n$ that are still compatible with the observed [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717. Qualitatively, their behavior is the same and no acceptable solution is found. Interestingly, Fig. 5 shows that models with $\epsilon$ $\ge$ 0.1 have [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ marginally compatible with the observations ( [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ = 3.03 10$^{-2}$ for $\epsilon$ = 0.1), but such models have too large [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}] ($>$ 10 compared of the observed value 6.8) and too small angular radius ($<$ 1.6\arcsec\ instead of the observed value 2.5\arcsec). Note, by the way, that such models, being optically thick, return a rather large [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi, actually close to the observed value, and a [S~{\sc iii}]/[S~{\sc ii}]\ compatible with the observations. However, we do not use [S~{\sc iii}]/[S~{\sc ii}]\ as a primary criterion to judge the validity of a model, since experience with photoionization modelling of planetary nebulae shows that it is difficult to reproduce at the same time the sulfur and the oxygen ionization structure of a given object, and, in principle, one expects the atomic data for oxygen to be more reliable than those for sulfur. The strongest argument against models with $\epsilon > 0.1$ is their angular size, which is definitely too small compared with the observations. This remains true even when considering a reasonable error on the distance since, with the condition that we impose on the flux at 3327~\AA\ to be preserved, the angular radius of a model goes roughly like $d^{1/3}$. This illustrates the importance of taking into account other parameters in addition to line ratios to accept or reject a photoionization model. \subsection{I~ Zw~18 as a spherical shell } The series of models presented above had mainly a pedagogical value, but they are obviously incompatible with the observed morphology in H$\alpha$. The next step is to consider a model consisting of a hollow, spherical shell of constant density, similar to the one constructed by Garc\'{\i}a-Vargas et al. (1997) for NGC\,7714 for example. In such a case, there is an additional free parameter, $R_{in}$, the radius of the inner boundary of the shell. It is fixed, more or less, by the appearance of the H$\alpha$\ image. Figure 6 shows a diagnostic diagram for a series of models with $R_{in}$ = 2.25 10$^{20}$~cm (corresponding to an angular radius of 1.5\arcsec), $n$ = 100~cm$^{-3}$\, and varying $\epsilon$. The qualitative behavior is similar to that seen for the uniform sphere models presented in Fig. 1, but the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio is now even lower (it never exceeds 2.5~10$^{-2}$ in this series). This is because of the enhanced role of L$\alpha$ cooling, which is strong in all the parts of the nebula, while for the full sphere model, in the zone close to the star, the ionization parameter is very high and consequently the population of neutral hydrogen very small. Apart from the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ problem, models with $\epsilon$ = 0.002 -- 0.05 are satisfactory as concerns the main diagnostics ([O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}], F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) and $\theta$). The models become progressively density bounded towards smaller values of $\epsilon$ $<$ 0.02, meaning that there is a leakage of ionizing photons. From Fig. 6, one sees that these photons are enough to produce an H$\alpha$\ emission in an extended diffuse envelope that is at least comparable in strength to the total emission from the dense shell. This is in agreement with Dufour \& Hester's (1990) ground-based observation of extended H$\alpha$\ emission surrounding the main body of star formation. \subsection{Other geometries} Closer inspection of the {\em HST} H$\alpha$\ image shows that the gas emission is incompatible with a spherical bubble. This is illustrated in Fig.\ 7, where the observed cumulative surface brightness profile within radius $r$ (dashed line) is compared to the expected profiles for constant density spherical shells of various inner radii (solid lines). The theoretical profiles are obtained assuming that the temperature is uniform in the gas, but taking into account a reasonable temperature gradient in the model hardly changes the picture. Clearly, the observed profile is not compatible with a spherical density distribution. The column density of emitting matter in the central zone of the image is too small. One must either have an incomplete shell with some matter stripped off from the poles, or even a more extreme morphology like an diffuse axisymmetric body with a dense ringlike equator seen face on. Such geometries are actually common among planetary nebulae (Corradi \& Schwartz 1995) and nebulae surrounding luminous blue variables (Nota et al. 1995), being probably the result of the interaction of an aspherical stellar wind from the central stars (Mellema 1995, Frank et al. 1998) and are also suggested to exist in superbubbles and supergiant shells and to give rise to the blow-out phenomenon (Mac Low et al. 1989, Wang \& Helfand 1991, Tenorio-Tagle et al. 1997, Oey \& Smedley 1998, Martin 1998). Does the consideration of such a geometry help in solving the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ problem? In the case of a spherical shell with some matter lacking at the poles, our computations overestimate the role of the diffuse ionizing radiation, which is supposed to come from a complete shell. Since the heating power of the diffuse ionizing radiation is smaller than that of the stellar radiation, one may be underestimating the electron temperature. As a test, we have run a model switching off completely the diffuse radiation, so as to maximize the electron temperature. The effect was to increase the O$^{++}$\ temperature by only 200~K. In the case of a ring with some diffuse matter seen in projection inside the ring, the gas lying close to the stars would be at a higher electron temperature than the matter of the ring, and one expects that an adequate combination of the parameters describing the gas distribution interior to and inside of the ring might reproduce the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ measured in the aperture shown in Fig. 1. However, we notice that the region of high [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ is much larger than that. It extends over almost 20\arcsec\ ( V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo 1998) and [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ is neither correlated with [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ nor with the H$\alpha$\ surface brightness. Therefore, one cannot explain the high [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363\ by the emitting matter being close to the ionizing stars. In passing we note that the observations of V\'{\i}lchez \& Iglesias-P\'{a}ramo (1998) show the nebular He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ emission to be extended as well (although not as much as [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363). If this emission is due to photoionization by the central star cluster, as modelled in this paper, this means that the H$\alpha$\ ring is porous, since He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ emission necessarily comes from a region separated from the stars by only a small amount of intervening matter. In summary, we must conclude that, if we take into account all the available information on the structure of I\,Zw\,18, we are not able to explain the high observed [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio with our photoionization models. In our best models, [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ is below the nominal value of Izotov \& Thuan (1998) by 25 - 35\%. \subsection{Back to the model assumptions} Can our lack of success be attributed to an improper description of the stellar radiation field? After all, we know little about the validity of stellar model atmospheres in the Lyman continuum (see discussion in Schaerer 1998). Direct measurements of the EUV flux of early B stars revealed an important EUV excess (up to $\sim$ 1.5 dex) with respect to plane parallel model atmospheres (Cassinelli et al.\ 1995, 1996), whose origin has been discussed by Najarro et al.\ (1996), Schaerer \& de Koter (1997) and Aufdenberg et al.\ (1998). For O stars a similar excess in the {\em total} Lyman continuum output is, however, excluded from considerations of their bolometric luminosity and measurements of H~{\sc ii}\ region luminosities (Oey \& Kennicutt 1997, Schaerer 1998). The hardness of the radiation field, which is crucial for the heating of the nebula, is more difficult to test. Some constraints can be obtained by comparing the line emission of nebulae surrounding hot stars with the results of photoionization models (Esteban et al.\ 1993, Pe\~{n}a et al.\ 1998, Crowther et al.\ 1999), but this is a difficult task, considering that the nebular emission depends also on its geometry. Although the hardness predicted by the {\em CoStar} O stars models permits to build grids of photoionization models that seem to explain the observations of Galactic and LMC H~{\sc ii}\ regions (Stasi\'nska \& Schaerer 1997), the constraints are not sufficient to prove or disprove the models. To check the effect of a harder radiation field, we have run a series of models where the radiation field above 24.6~eV was arbitrarily multiplied by a factor 3 (raising the value of $Q({\rm{He^{0}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ from 0.33 to 0.59, corresponding to $T_{\rm eff}$\ from $\ga$ 40000 K to $\sim$ 100\,000~K or a blackbody of the same temperature (cf.\ Fig.\ 3d). This drastic hardening of the radiation field resulted in an increase of [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ of only 10\%. It is only by assuming a blackbody radiation of 300\,000~K (which has $Q({\rm{He^{0}}})$/$Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$\ = 0.9) that one approaches the observed [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007. A model similar to those presented in Fig. 6 but with such a radiation field gives [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ =3.15 10$^{-2}$. But is has a He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio of 0.53, which is completely ruled out by the observations. Of course, a blackbody is probably not the best representation for the spectral energy distribution of the radiation emitted by a very hot body, but in order to explain the emission line spectrum of I~Zw~18 by stars, one has to assume an ionizing radiation strongly enhanced at energies between 20 -- 54 eV, but not above 54.4 eV, compared to the model of De Mello et al.\ (1998). If this is realistic cannot be said at the present time. We have also checked the effect of heating by additional X-rays that would be emitted due to the interaction of the stellar winds with ambient matter (see Martin 1996 for such X-ray observations), by simply adding a bremsstrahlung spectrum at T = 10$^{6}$ or T = 10$^{7}$ K to the radiation from the starburst model. As expected, the effect on [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ was negligible, since the X-rays are mostly absorbed in the low ionization regions (they do raise the temperature in the O$^{+}$\ zone to T$_{e}$ $\simeq$ 16\,000~K). As already commented by previous authors, changing the elemental abundances does not improve the situation. Actually, even by putting all the elements heavier than helium to nearly zero abundance, [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ is raised by only 7\%. Varying the helium abundance in reasonable limits does not change the problem. The neglect of dust is not expected to be responsible for the too low [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ we find in our models for I~Zw~18. Gas heating by photoemission from grains can contribute by as much as 20\% to the electron thermal balance when the dust-to-gas ratio is similar to that found in the Orion nebula. But, as discussed by Baldwin et al. (1991), it is effective close to the ionizing source where dust provides most of the opacity. Besides, the proportion of dust in I\,Zw\,18 is expected to be small, given the low metallicity. Extrapolating the relation found by Lisenfeld \& Ferrara (1998) between the dust-to-gas ratio and the oxygen abundances in dwarf galaxies to the metallicity of I\,Zw\,18 yields a dust-to-gass mass ratio 2 to 3 orders of magnitudes smaller than in the solar vicinity. It remains to examine the ingredients of the photoionization code. We first stress that the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ problem in I\,Zw\,18 has been encountered by various authors using different codes, even if the observational material and the points of emphasis in the discussion were not the same in all the studies. As a further test, we compared the same model for I~Zw~18 run by CLOUDY 90 and by PHOTO and the difference in the predicted value of [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ was only 5\%. One must therefore incriminate something that is wrongly treated in the same way in many codes. One possibility that comes to mind is the diffuse ionizing radiation, which is treated by some kind of outward only approximation in all codes used to model I~Zw~18. However, we do not expect that an accurate treatment of the diffuse ionizing radiation would solve the problem. Indeed, comparison of codes that treat more accurately the ionizing radiation with those using an outward only approximation shows only a negligible difference in the electron temperature (Ferland et al.\ 1996). Besides, as we have shown, even quenching the diffuse ionizing radiation does not solve the problem. Finally, one can also question the atomic data. The most relevant ones here are those governing the emissivities of the observed [O~{\sc iii}]\ lines and the H~{\sc i}\ collision strengths. The magnitude of the discrepancy we wish to solve would require modifications of the collision strengths or transition probabilities for [O~{\sc iii}]\ of about 25\%. This is much larger than the expected uncertainties and the differences between the results of different computations for this ion (see discussion in Lennon and Burke 1994 and Galavis et al. 1997). Concerning L$\alpha$ excitation, dividing the collision strength by a factor 2 (which is far above any conceivable uncertainty, see e.g. Aggarwal et al. 1991) modifies [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ only by 2\% because L$\alpha$ acts like a thermostat. We are therefore left with the conclusion that the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio cannot be explained in the framework of photoionization models alone. \subsection{Condensations and filaments} Another failure of our photoionization models is that they predict too low [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ compared to observations. This is a general feature of photoionization models and it is often taken as one of the reasons to invoke the presence of shocks. However, it is well known that the presence of small condensations of filaments enhances the [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio, by reducing the local ionization parameter. Another possibility is to have an intervening filament located at a large distance from the ionizing source, whose projected surface on the aperture of the observations would be small. In order to see under what conditions such models can quantitatively account for the observed [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio, we have mimicked such a situation by computing a series of ionization bounded photoionization models for filaments of different densities located at various distances from the exciting stars. For simplicity, we assumed that there is no intervening matter between the filaments and the ionizing source. The models were actually computed for complete shells. The radiation coming from a filament can be simply obtained by multiplying the flux computed in the model by the covering factor $f$ by which the filament is covering the source. \begin{table*} \caption{Line intensities relative to \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ for models of filaments. } \begin{flushleft} \begin{tabular}{l|l|lll|ll} \hline \noalign{\smallskip} & Main body & \multicolumn{3}{l|}{Filaments of various $n$} & \multicolumn{2}{l}{Filaments at various distances} \\ \hline \noalign{\smallskip} $n$ [cm$^{-3}$] & 10$^2$ $^a$ & 10$^4$ & 10$^5$ & 10$^6$ & 10$^2$ & 10$^2$ \\ $\theta_{\rm in}$ [\arcsec] & & 1.5 & 1.5 & 1.5 & 20. & 100. \\ \noalign{\smallskip} \hline \noalign{\smallskip} F(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi)$^b$ & 2.02e-13 & 3.33e-13 & 3.32e-13 & 3.35e-13 & 3.41e-13 & 3.47e-13 \\ [O~{\sc i}] $\lambda$6300\ & 1.04e-4 & 5.28e-2 & 1.57e-1 & 3.83e-1 & 6.90e-2 & 2.81e-1 \\ [O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727\ & 2.15e-1 & 2.41e-1 & 5.39e-2 & 1.19e-2 & 4.71e-1 & 2.85e-1 \\ [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363\ & 3.46e-2 & 3.63e-5 & 1.12e-6 & 1.04e-7 & 1.20e-5 & 1.74e-7 \\ [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007\ & 1.42 & 3.76e-3 & 1.41e-4 & 1.25e-5 & 1.41e-3 & 3.08e-5 \\ [S~{\sc ii}]\ $\lambda$6717 & 5.58e-4 & 5.20e-2 & 5.23e-2 & 5.27e-2 & 1.87e-1 & 5.70e-1 \\ [S~{\sc ii}]\ $\lambda$6731. & 4.19e-3 & 8.04e-2 & 9.16e-2 & 1.03e-1 & 1.35e-1 & 3.96e-1 \\ \noalign{\smallskip} \hline \noalign{\smallskip} \noalign{\small $^a$ The model for the main body is density bounded (see text)} \noalign{\small $^b$ The total \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ flux is given in erg s$^{-1}$ for a covering factor $f$=1. } \end{tabular} \end{flushleft} \end{table*} Table 3 presents the ratios with respect to \ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ of the [O~{\sc i}] $\lambda$6300, [O~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$3727, [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007, [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6717 and [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731 for these models. The first column of the table corresponds to a photoionization model for the main body of the nebula with $R_{in}$ = 2.25 10$^{20}$ cm (corresponding to $\theta_{\rm in}=$ 1.5\arcsec), $n$=100~cm$^{-3}$, and $\epsilon$=0.01, and density bounded so as to obtain the observed [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ (this is one of the models of Fig. 6). It can be readily seen that, for an intervening filament of density 10$^{2}$~cm$^{-3}$\ located at a distance of 500~pc from the star cluster, or for condensations of density 10$^{6}$~cm$^{-3}$, one can reproduce the observed [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ line ratio without strongly affecting the remaining lines, not even the density sensitive [S~{\sc ii}] $\lambda$6731/6717\ ratio, if one assumes a covering factor $f$ of about 0.1. This explanation may appear somewhat speculative. However, one must be aware that the morphology of the ionized gas in I\,Zw\,18 shows filaments in the main shell as well as further out and this has been amply discussed in the literature (Hunter \& Thronson 1995, Dufour et al. 1995, Martin 1996). Our point is that, even in the framework of pure photoionization models, if one accounts for a density structure suggested directly by the observations, the strength of the [O~{\sc i}]\ line can be easily understood. We note that the condensations or filaments that produce [O~{\sc i}]\ are optically thick, and therefore their neutral counterpart should be seen in H~{\sc i}. Unfortunately, the available H~{\sc i}\ maps of I\,Zw\,18 (van Zee et al. 1998) do not have sufficient spatial resolution to reveal such filaments. But these authors show that the peak emission in H~{\sc i}\ and H$\alpha$\ coincide (in their paper, the peak emission in H$\alpha$\ actually refers to the whole NW component), and find that the entire optical system, including the diffuse emission, is embedded in a diffuse, irregular and clumpy neutral cloud. In such a situation, it is very likely that some clumps or filaments, situated in front of the main nebula, and having a small covering factor, produce the observed [O~{\sc i}]\ line. By using photoionization models to explain the observed [O~{\sc i}]/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio, one can deduce the presence of density fluctuations, even if those are not seen directly. Such density fluctuations could then be, more directly, inferred from density sensitive ratios of [Fe~{\sc ii}] lines, such as seen and analyzed in the Orion nebula by Bautista \& Pradhan (1995). \subsection{A few properties of I\,Zw\,18 deduced from models} Although we have not built a completely satisfactory photoionization model reproducing all the relevant observed properties of I\,Zw\,18, we are not too far from it. We describe below some properties of the best models that may be of interest for further empirical studies of this object. Tables 4 and 5 present the mean ionic fractions and mean ionic temperatures (as defined in Stasi\'{n}ska 1990) for the different elements considered, in the case of the best fit models with a uniform sphere and a spherical shell respectively, with $n$=100~cm$^{-3}$, and $\epsilon$=0.01. It can be seen that, while both geometries yield similar ionic fractions for the main ionization stages, the relative populations of the highly charged trace ions are very different. In the case of the uniform sphere, the proportion of O$^{+++}$, for example, is twice as large as in the shell model. Also, the characteristic temperature of ions with high ionization potential are much higher in the case of the filled sphere, for reasons commented on earlier. As a result, the OIV]1394/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio is 9.7~10$^{-3}$ in the first case and 8.6~10$^{-4}$ in the second. This line is too weak to be measured in I\,Zw\,18, of course, but it is useful to keep this example in mind for the study or more metal rich objects. It is interesting to point out that, in the case of the uniform sphere, the total flux in the He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ line is smaller than in the case of the shell model (3.1~10$^{-15}$ vs. 3.3~10$^{-15}$ erg~cm$^{-2}$~s$^{-1}$) despite the fact that the ionic fractions of He$^{++}$\ are similar. This is because the He$^{++}$\ region is at a much higher temperature (25\,000~K versus 18\,000~K). Tables 4 and 5 can be used for estimating the ionization correction factors for I\,Zw\,18. Caution should, however, be applied regarding especially the ionization structure predicted for elements of the third row of Mendeleev's table. Experience in photoionization modelling of planetary nebulae, where the observational constraints are larger, shows that the ionization structure of these elements is rarely satisfactorily reproduced with simple models (Howard et al. 1997, Pe\~na et al., 1998). The total ionized mass in the NW component is relatively well determined, since we know the total number of ionizing photons, the radius of the emitting region and have an estimate of the mean ionization parameter through the observed [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]. Indeed, at a given $Q({\rm{H^{0}}})$, for a constant density sphere with a filling factor $\epsilon$, $n^{2} \epsilon$ is proportional to the cube of the radius, while $n \epsilon^{2}$ is proportional to the cube of the ionization parameter. Of course, we have just made the point that the NW component of I\,Zw\,18 is not a sphere. Nevertheless, we have an order of magnitude estimate, which is of 3.~10$^{5}$~M$_{\odot}$\ at $d$ = 10~Mpc (this estimate varies like $d^{3}$). Finally, it is important to stress, as already mentioned above, that H$\alpha$\ is partly excited by collisions. In all our models for the main body of the nebula, H$\alpha$/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ lies between 2.95 and 3, while the case B recombination value is 2.7. This means that the reddening of I\,Zw\,18 is smaller than the value obtained using the case B recombination value at the temperature derived from [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007. If we take the observations of Izotov \& Thuan (1998), who also correct for underlying stellar absorption, we obtain C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi)=0. \section{Summary and conclusions} We have built photoionization models for the NW component of I~Zw~18 using the radiation field from a starburst population synthesis at appropriate metallicity (De Mello et al. 1998) that is consistent with the Wolf-Rayet signatures seen in the spectra of I~Zw~18. The aim was to see whether, with a nebular density structure compatible with recent {\em HST} images, it was possible to explain the high [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio seen in this object, commonly interpreted as indicative of electron temperature $\simeq$ 20\,000K. For our photoionization analysis we have focused on properties which are relevant and crucial model predictions. For the observational constraints we have not only used line ratios, but also other properties such as the integrated stellar flux at 3327~\AA\ and the observed angular radius of the emitting region as seen by the {\em HST}. Care has also been taken to include tolerances on model properties which may be affected by deviations from various simple geometries. We have found that [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ cannot be explained by pure photoionization models, which yield too low an electron temperature. We have considered the effects due to departure from spherical symmetry indicated by the {\em HST} images. Indeed these show that the NW component of I~Zw~18 is neither a uniform sphere nor a spherical shell, but rather a bipolar structure with a dense equatorial ring seen pole on. We have discussed the consequences that an inaccurate description of the stellar ionizing radiation field might have on [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\, as well as additional photoionization by X-rays. Finally, we have considered possible errors in the atomic data. All these trials were far from solving the electron temperature problem, raising the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio by only a few percent while the discrepancy with the observations is on the 30\% level. Such a discrepancy means that we are missing a heating source whose power may be of the same magnitude as that of the stellar ionizing photons. It is also possible that the unknown energy source is not so powerful, but acts in such a way that small quantities of gas are emitting at very high temperatures, thus boosting the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363\ line. Shocks are of course one of the options (Peimbert et al. 1991, Martin 1996, 1997), as well as conductive heating at the interface of an X-ray plasma with optically visible gas (Maciejewski et al. 1996). Such ideas need to be examined quantitatively, and applied to the case of I~Zw~18, which we shall attempt in a future work. What are the consequences of our failure in understanding the energy budget on the abundance determinations in I~Zw~18? It depends on how the electron temperature is distributed in the O$^{++}$ zone. As emphasized by Peimbert (1967, 1996) over the years (see also Mathis et al. 1998), the existence of even small zones at very high temperatures will boost the lines with high excitation threshold like [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363, so that the temperature derived from [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ will overestimate the average temperature of the regions emitting [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$5007. Consequently, the true O/H ratio will be larger than the one derived by the standard methods. The C/O ratio, on the other hand, will be smaller than derived empirically, because the ultraviolet C~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$1909\ line will be extremely enhanced in the high temperature regions. Such a possibility was invoked by Garnett et al. (1997) to explain the high C/O found in I~Zw~18 compared to other metal-poor irregular galaxies. Presently, however, too little is known both theoretically and observationally to estimate quantitatively this effect, and it is not excluded that the abundances derived so far may be correct within 30\%. Obviously, high spatial resolution mapping of the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio in I~Zw~18 would be valuable to track the origin of the high [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363\ seen in spectra integrated over a surface of about 10~\arcsec $^{2}$. Beside demonstrating the existence of a heating problem in I~Zw~18, our photoionization model analysis led to several other results. The intensity of the nebular He~{\sc ii} $\lambda$4686\ line can be reproduced with a detailed photoionization model having as an input the stellar radiation field that is consistent the observed Wolf-Rayet features in I~Zw~18. This confirms the results of De Mello et al. (1998) based on simple Case B recombination theory. By fitting the observed [O~{\sc iii}]/[O~{\sc ii}]\ ratio and the angular size of the NW component with a model where the stellar radiation flux was adjusted to the observed value, we were able to show that the H~{\sc ii}\ region is not ionization bounded and about half of the ionizing photons are leaking out of it, sufficient to explain the extended diffuse H$\alpha$\ emission observed in I~Zw~18. While the [O~{\sc i}]\ emission is not reproduced in simple models, it can easily be accounted for by condensations or by intervening filaments on the line of sight. There is no need to invoke shocks to excite the [O~{\sc i}]\ line, although shocks are probably involved in the creation of the filaments, as suggested by Dopita (1997) in the context of planetary nebulae. The intrinsic H$\alpha$/\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi\ ratio is significantly affected by collisional excitation: our photoionization models give a value of 3.0, to be compared to the case B recombination value of 2.75 used in most observational papers. Consequently, the reddening is smaller than usually estimated, with C(\ifmmode {\rm H}\beta \else H$\beta$\fi) practically equal to 0. Our models can be used to give ionization correction factors appropriate for I~Zw~18 for more accurate abundance determinations. However, the largest uncertainty in the abundances of C, N, O and Ne ultimately lies in the unsolved temperature problem. It would be, of course, of great interest to find out whether other galaxies share with I~Zw~18 this [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ problem. There are at least two other cases which would deserve a more thorough analysis. One is the starburst galaxy NGC 7714, for which published photoionization models (Garc\'{\i}a-Vargas et al. 1997) also give [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ smaller than observed. However, it still needs to be demonstrated that this problem remains when modifying the model assumptions (e.g. the gas density distribution, possible heating of the gas by photolelectric effect on dust particles etc...). In the case of NGC 2363, the photoionization models of Luridiana et al. (1999) that were built using the oxygen abundances derived directly from the observations yielded a [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio marginally compatible with the observations. These authors further argued that, due to the presence of large spatial temperature fluctuations, the true gas metallicity in this object is higher than derived by empirical methods. In such a case, the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ ratio becomes even more discrepant. It might well be that additional heating sources exist in giant H~{\sc ii}\ regions, giving rise to such large temperature variations and and enhancing the [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363\ emission. As mentioned above, such a scenario needs to be worked out quantitatively. Further detailed observational and theoretical studies of individual objects would be helpful, since we have shown that with insufficient observational constraints, high [O~{\sc iii}] $\lambda$4363/5007\ may actually be produced by photoionization models. The effort is worthwhile, since it would have implications both on our understanding of the energetics of starburst galaxies and on our confidence in abundance derivations. \begin{acknowledgements} This project was partly supported by the ``GdR Galaxies''. DS acknowledges a grant from the Swiss National Foundation of Scientific Research. We thank Duilia De Mello for providing the {\em HST} images and Jean-Fran\c{c}ois Le Borgne for help with IRAF. During the course of this work, we benefited from conversations with Jose V\'{\i}lchez, Rosa Gonz\'{a}lez-Delgado, Enrique P\'{e}rez, Yurij Izotov, Trinh Xuan Thuan. Thanks are due to Valentina Luridiana, Crystal Martin and Claus Leitherer for reading the manuscript. \end{acknowledgements}

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: What are the common symptoms of brucellosis caused by Brucella spp.? output: Brucellosis caused by Brucella spp. typically presents with undulant fever (a recurring fever that rises and falls), anorexia (loss of appetite), and fatigue. Other symptoms may include joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and sweating. Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or animal products, such as unpasteurized milk or cheese. Treatment may involve a combination of antibiotics, and prevention involves proper handling and cooking of animal products.

Copyright © 2012 E. Tiralongo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Objective. To identify whether a standardised Echinacea formulation is effective in the prevention of respiratory and other symptoms associated with long-haul flights. Methods. 175 adults participated in a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial travelling back from Australia to America, Europe, or Africa for a period of 1–5 weeks on commercial flights via economy class. Participants took Echinacea (root extract, standardised to 4.4 mg alkylamides) or placebo tablets. Participants were surveyed before, immediately after travel, and at 4 weeks after travel regarding upper respiratory symptoms and travel-related quality of life. Results. Respiratory symptoms for both groups increased significantly during travel ( ). However, the Echinacea group had borderline significantly lower respiratory symptom scores compared to placebo ( ) during travel. Conclusions. Supplementation with standardised Echinacea tablets, if taken before and during travel, may have preventive effects against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights. Intercontinental air travel can be stressful, adding extra strain on passenger’s physical and psychological health . Studies have investigated the occurrence of nasal dryness , the increased risk of developing upper respiratory disorders such as allergic rhinitis and dry coughs , and attracting virus- or bacteria-induced respiratory infections such as the common cold during long-haul flights [1, 4]. Almost 50% of travellers experience some kind of illness while abroad, the most common being an upper respiratory infection, typically leading to 3-day debilitation during a 14-day trip . Acute respiratory tract infections like the common cold are mostly caused by rhinoviruses and respiratory viral infections are also recognised as the most frequent cause of acute exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . To reduce adverse reactions to long distance flights, various interventions such as air humidification and oxygen supplementation have been trialled ; however, no research has investigated the possible benefit of a herbal medicine. Herbal medicines, amongst other complementary and alternative medicines, are used by over half of the population worldwide [9–11], and amongst the most widely used herbal medicines is Echinacea, with millions of units sold annually. Due to Echinacea’s in vitro anti-inflammatory [12, 13], antiviral [14, 15] and immuno-modulating effects [16, 17], numerous clinical trials have investigated its efficacy for the treatment of the common cold. Although most studies demonstrated positive effects such as decreased severity and duration of symptoms of the common cold when Echinacea is given at first sign of infection [18–20], outcomes are inconsistent because of the variations in treatment protocols, applied outcome measures, and Echinacea preparations [19, 20]. Preparations from three different species, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, and Echinacea pallida, are generally referred to as Echinacea preparations; however their phytochemical profile and activity can differ significantly . Clinical trials mainly support efficacy for preparations from E. purpurea and partially E. angustifolia to treat symptoms of the common cold and to have an effect on stress-induced factors: hsp70 and white blood cell counts . Alkylamides are considered to be part of the active constituents in Echinacea as their bioavailability was confirmed by human pharmacokinetic studies with alkylamides detectable in plasma of healthy volunteers 30 minutes after Echinacea tablet ingestion [24, 25]. They have shown to affect the immune response through cannabinoid type 2 dependent and independent pathways, modulating the production of cytokines such as TNFα and IL-2 . Echinacea’s preventative effects for respiratory illness are still debated [19, 27, 28] and difficult for consumers to ascertain . Some previous studies used artificial rhinovirus inoculation or were not blinded and placebo controlled . The aim of our research was to identify whether an alkylamide-standardised, bioavailable Echinacea formulation [23, 30] is safe and effective in the prevention of respiratory and other travel-related symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights. A randomised, double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted between February 2009 and May 2010 in Australia with economy class passengers travelling back, for a period of 1 to 5 weeks, from Australia to America, Europe, or Africa on commercial flights with a flying time of 15–25 hours and less than 12-hour stopovers. The clinical trial received ethical approval from the institutional Human Research Ethics Committee (PHM0608HREC) and was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.anzctr.org.au/ (ANZCTR 083687)). Figure 1 outlines the study design for a participant travelling for 35 days. For all participants treatment would commence 14 days before flying overseas and would complete 14 days after returning to Australia. The actual treatment time varied between participants depending on their travel duration. It ranged from a minimum of 5 weeks (if 7 days/1week of travel) to 9 weeks (if 35 days/5 weeks of travel). Figure 1: Study design of the trial for a travel time of 35 days. Each participant completed three surveys: at 14 days before travel (baseline), <1 week after travel (return), and at 4 weeks after returning from travel (followup). The surveys contained questions relating to upper respiratory symptoms, jet lag duration, headache, sleep disturbances, and cold sore covering a period of the previous 4 weeks at each individual time point (baseline, return, and followup). Participants were recruited through travel agencies, radio, newspaper, and TV advertisements, and emails circulated to all staff and students at a university and a teaching hospital on the Gold Coast, Australia. Volunteers were included if they were 18–65 years of age, in good general health and suffered from no previous or current serious illness. Volunteers were excluded if they had a known plant allergy, were suffering from respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, COPD), had any other condition that could compromise the study or the participants health (e.g., autoimmune disease, cystic fibrosis), had received flu vaccination within 20 days of starting the trial, were lactating, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, or were on regular treatment with Echinacea, antibiotics, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and immunosuppressants. One hundred and seventy-five volunteers met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to trial tablets. The random allocation sequence provided by the sponsor was computer generated using a randomisation plan from http://www.randomization.com/ with randomisation in blocks of 10. A list of consecutive study numbers was generated. Treatment groups were allocated by trial staff, but the allocation was concealed by providing each participant with a number. Participants, chief investigators, and trial staff were blinded to group allocation. To confirm that blinding was effective, a subgroup of participants ( on placebo and on Echinacea) were asked to speculate whether they were taking Echinacea or placebo. Eleven participants identified themselves correctly, whereas 12 identified themselves incorrectly. There was an even distribution of mismatches in the placebo and Echinacea group providing further evidence of effective randomisation. Upper respiratory symptom-related quality of life (QoL) was measured using the questions from the 44-item Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-44), which was the primary outcome variable . The WURSS-44 is a responsive, reliable, and valid instrument for evaluating QoL outcomes related to respiratory illness, measuring all significant health-related dimensions that are negatively affected by the common cold [31, 32]. It has been shown to be a more powerful instrument for assessing respiratory-related QoL then the general-health-related QoL, instrument SF-36 and measurements correlate well with laboratory-assessed biomarkers . The WURSS-44 includes 1 global severity item, 32 symptom-based items, 10 functional QoL items, and 1 global change item, all of which are based on 7-point Likert-type severity scales. A previous validation of the instrument showed that a cumulative score should be calculated by summing the severity scores of the first 43 items with high severity scores indicating high symptom load . The median WURSS-44 score was calculated and compared for both treatment groups using the nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for median differences in independent samples. Symptoms in our survey were assessed over the past 4 weeks rather than for the past 24 h to accommodate the travel trial setting. A minimal important difference (MID) is the term generally used to quantify the minimum amount of positive change that patients perceive and would accept an associated treatment as being beneficial or worth taking—a clinically significant effect . For the WURSS-44 score, an MID of 16.7 points was determined . Therefore, individuals that presented with a respiratory disorder symptoms score of 17 and above (RDS+) were compared in both groups at baseline, return, and followup. Difference in the prevalence (or proportion) of RDS+ individuals between groups at followup was statistically compared using a 2 × 2 chi-squared test of independence and the Odds Ratio. The amount of missing data was different among variables but on average was less than 10%. We analysed observed data, only that is, did not impute data or conduct missing at random analyses. In addition 15 questions were designed and assessed as secondary outcome measures for occurrence and duration of jet lag, headache, sleep pattern, and herpes simplex sores. t-tests and chi-square tests were used to analyse differences between groups regarding headache, cold sore, and sleep disturbances. Results were considered significant when the value was ≤0.05. All statistical analysis carried out was based on intention to treat (ITT) using the program PASW Statistics (SPSS) version 18.0. Study participants were asked to complete a diary during the trial to record any upper respiratory symptoms, possible travel stress symptoms such as jet lag duration, headache, sleep disturbances, cold sore, headache, administration of sick dose, as well as additional health issues or disease symptoms and additional medication taken. The diary helped participants with recalling information when completing the surveys and allowed researchers to identify possible inconsistencies in data documentation. Participants were contacted by trial staff via phone a couple of days before leaving Australia and following their return to Australia, to ensure participants well-being, correct dosing, compliance, diary completion and to make final appointments. Participants were provided with an emergency phone number which they could contact 24 hours, 7 days a week, especially while being overseas. Studies estimate the incidence of respiratory problems from 11%—in flight emergencies—based on respiratory problems to 50% health-related problems with the 2nd most common cause being respiratory problems . For this study it was estimated that 4 out of 10 participants in the placebo group (40%) will be RDS+ at followup compared to 20% in the Echinacea group, which equates to a clinically significant decreased risk of RDS (OR~2). It was also previously reported that using the WURSS-44 to assess symptomatic patients a two-armed RCT would require 92 participants in total to detect an MID as being statistically significant . We concluded that a sample size of approximately 180 would yield at least 80% power to detect a treatment effect as statistically significant at the 0.05 alpha level. The Echinacea tablet preparation used was the commercially available Echinacea Premium tablets (MediHerb brand) manufactured by Integria Healthcare Pty Ltd. (AustL no. 75124) standardised to 4.4 mg alkylamides. The tablets contained 112.5 mg Echinacea purpurea 6 : 1 extract (equivalent to 675 mg dry root) and 150 mg Echinacea angustifolia 4 : 1 extract (equivalent to 600 mg dry root). Phytochemical profiles for these tablets were established for previous batches [25, 30] and also determined for the batch used in this study (Table 1). Placebo tablets were manufactured to match the Echinacea tablets in size, excipients, and colour. Both sets of tablets were coated with a brown colour and hypromellose to make them indistinguishable. Tablets were packed in identical amber glass bottles with identical labelling. Labelling only identified the patient number. Table 1: Alkylamide content per Echinacea tablet used as trial medication. For our study medication, the manufacturer recommends for adult patients one tablet three times daily (3825 mg dry root equivalent/day) and if required an increase to two tablets three times daily. This lies within the dosage range commonly recommended for Echinacea formulations. For ease of adherence and compliance with the dosing schedules whilst travelling and experiencing time zone changes, dosing was undertaken twice daily, either as one tablet (priming, overseas, and after-travel dose) or two tablets during the stressful flying time (flying dose). An example of the protocol for 5 weeks of travel is given below in Table 2 (also see Figure 1 for study layout), with Day 0 being the first day of travel and Day 35 being the return day. For shorter travel periods, the period for the overseas dose between days 8 and 32 was shortened, reflecting the time the participant was spending abroad. All other dosing, before and after travel including during the washout period, remained the same for each participant. Participants were allowed to take a sick dose (three tablets twice a day) if cold- or flu-like symptoms occurred. The sick dose could only be taken for up to 8 consecutive days or twice for 4 days during the whole travel period. Compliance was assessed by calculating the percentage of tablets taken against total tablets expected to be taken of the treatment period. The flow of participants through the trial between February 2009 and May 2010 is summarised in Figure 2. Six hundred and fifty-eight people were screened, with a number deemed ineligible by inclusion criteria: plant allergy, inappropriate destination, and/or extended stopovers during travel (>12 h). Reasons for declining participation included not wanting to be on placebo, travel cancellation, tablet size, and personal circumstances. Of the 175 trial participants, 170 completed the initial survey. Thus ITT analysis was performed on 170 participants. All three completed surveys were returned by 143 participants while 27 were lost to followup. Figure 2: Flowchart of participants in the trial. Of the 170 participants analysed, 85 were assigned Echinacea tablets and 85 were assigned placebo. Sixty-seven percent of participants were women. Table 3 shows the baseline characteristics of the trial groups. On average, participants were 43 years old, weight 76 kg, had normal blood pressure, and travelled for 23 days. Travel was mostly holiday related. There were no statistically significant differences between the Echinacea and placebo group for the test variables at baseline (Table 3). Thus, the two treatment groups can be considered reasonably well balanced at baseline. Table 3: Comparison of demographics and outcome measures of trial groups at baseline (before travel). Figure 3 shows the median WURSS-44 symptom scores for the placebo and Echinacea group at each time point. Compared to baseline (before travel), the average WURSS-44 scores for both groups increased during travel (measured retrospectively at return) ( ). When comparing both groups with each other at each individual time point, the WURSS-44 scores did not differ significantly before travel (baseline) ( ) and during the 4 weeks after travel (measured retrospectively at followup) ( ). However, at during travel (measured retrospectively at return), the placebo group had significantly higher WURSS-44 scores on average compared to the Echinacea group (26 versus 13, ). Figure 3: y-axis shows average WURSS-44 scores for each treatment group at the 3 time points surveyed (x-axis), . When comparing the percentage of participants considering themselves to be affected by respiratory illness (score > 17), there was no significant difference between both groups at baseline (before travel) ( ). However, the results from the survey completed immediately after return from travel showed a significantly reduced percentage of RDS+ affected participants in the Echinacea group compared to placebo (43% versus 57%, ) during travel. This difference was further substantiated during the 4 weeks after travel (survey at followup) where there was a significantly lower percentage of illness in the Echinacea-treated group compared to placebo (i.e., 25% versus 39%) which corresponds to ~50% relative reduction ( ). This implies that patients will be 50% less likely to suffer respiratory disorder symptoms scores of 17 and above (RDS+), which they consider treatment worthy. Given Echinacea’s anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects we also investigated whether this herbal medicine could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of headache and cold sores, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between the placebo and Echinacea group with regards to sleep disturbances and the prevalence of headache and cold sores at any of the time points (data not shown). Treatment compliance was high in both groups with no significant difference in their compliance to the study medication (Echinacea = 92.5% versus Placebo = 95%, ). Similarly, the use of sick doses was not significantly different between both groups (Echinacea = 47% versus Placebo = 53%, ). Overall, treatment was well tolerated. Adverse events such as (i) vomiting and headache, (ii) heartburn, and (iii) diarrhoea were reported by only 3 participants, respectively, but a causal relationship between Echinacea and the events could not be established. The participant who reported headache and vomiting was later unblinded as taking placebo tablets and the participant who reported heartburn and diarrhoea were later unblinded as taking Echinacea tablets. However, the participants who reported heartburn was also taking aspirin and several other medicines such as sleeping tablets. However, two participants, who were later identified as taking Echinacea, reported symptoms that were regarded as potential adverse effects from Echinacea. Both participants reported tingling and burning of the tongue and mouth immediately after taking tablets. While one participant stopped the tablets immediately and the symptoms disappeared within 24 h, the other participant continued the trial medication for over 3 weeks while symptoms worsened (sore throat, achy head, swollen legs, fever, rash, redness and itchiness on feet and legs, and a general feeling of being unwell). Following the cessation of the trial medication, symptoms disappeared within 1–21 days depending on severity and affected areas. A full blood count was normal for all parameters 3 weeks after stopping the tablets. In this study, both placebo and Echinacea groups experienced respiratory illness during travel, which was indicated by raised upper respiratory symptom scores and a higher percentage of respiratory disease symptom-affected participants. This is an expected outcome as previous research has reported increased medical issues including respiratory symptoms associated with commercial flights independent of aircraft types . Studies estimate the incidence of respiratory problems between 11% as in flight emergencies based on respiratory problems and 50% as health-related problems with the 2nd most common cause being respiratory problems . Importantly, this study provides some indication that, at return from travel, participants using Echinacea displayed a lower respiratory symptom score and the overall percentage of participants affected by respiratory disease symptoms was marginally lower in the Echinacea group compared to placebo. This suggests that the Echinacea treatment may had a protective effect against the development of respiratory symptoms during the period of travel. This study is the first prevention trial for Echinacea use that employs the recommended WURSS-44 as an outcome measure for respiratory-illness-related QoL. In contrast to a recent prevention trial it describes a well-powered, high-quality, placebo-controlled study. Moreover, it uses a common scenario of travel as a risk factor of attracting respiratory illness rather than artificial virus inoculation . The reported discrepancy in previous clinical trial results for Echinacea is attributed to variations in applied outcome measures, treatment protocols, and, most importantly, varying Echinacea preparations [19, 20]. Specifically, the evaluation of herbal study medications is essential for the interpretation of clinical trial results , and the evidence of efficacy (and safety) for herbal medicines should be considered to be extract specific . This study utilised a standardised Echinacea formulation for which a phytochemical profile and pharmacokinetic data exist and which has been marketed for reducing the incidence and symptoms of cold- and flu-like symptoms in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Canada, and South Africa. Similar to the three previously mentioned prevention and inoculation trials where they used 7–14-day pre- and 5-day postinoculation treatment [18, 28], participants in this study were treated 14 days prior to travel, during travel, and 14 days after travel, thus using a similar pre-, but slightly longer posttreatment. During travel (measured at return from travel) the differences between the Echinacea and placebo group were borderline significant for symptom scores and the number of participants who suffered from treatment worthy respiratory disorder symptoms (scores of 17 and above (RDS+)). This difference was further substantiated during the 4 weeks after travel (measured at follow-up), as a ~50% relative reduction of illness in the Echinacea treated group compared to placebo was observed. Our results suggest that 1 in 2 patients who suffer RDS+ would have benefited from Echinacea supplementation during travel. Of note, an influence of travel duration on the results is excluded as no significant difference was found between both treatment groups. Preparations and dosing schedules used in previous treatment and prevention trials vary widely [18, 19, 28]. Our results indicate that the dosing chosen in this study will be sufficient to have a beneficial effect on respiratory health while travelling. The WURSS-44 originally developed for the assessment of patients affected by cold and flu was strongly recommended for Echinacea trials and was therefore utilised in this study. Whether Echinacea will benefit general QoL is still debated , and whether it affects headache, sleep pattern, jet lag, and herpes simplex duration should be investigated by future studies using appropriate outcome measures. Numerous human trials have found that Echinacea is well tolerated with a slight risk of transient, reversible adverse events involving mainly gastrointestinal upsets and rashes [20, 40]. In rare cases, Echinacea can be associated with allergic reactions that may be severe or exacerbate asthma . Hence, plant allergy and asthma became exclusion criteria in this trial. As expected, Echinacea was generally well tolerated in this trial. We observed only two adverse events which displayed a highly likely relationship to Echinacea as they classified as allergic reactions and mimic description of allergic reactions previously described for Echinacea . Importantly, both participants recalled mild reactions to some weeds in the past. Given these findings, it should be considered to alert consumers and patients to the possibility of allergic reactions to Echinacea if they are allergic to plants in general. It is also important to note that one participant had taken other Echinacea products previously without experiencing adverse effects. This again highlights the importance of well-characterized and standardized herbal products to be able to compare efficacy and safety outcomes. As with all RCTs, this study had several limitations. Whilst diaries were used to document events during participants’ travel and help with the recollection of dosing, symptoms, and compliance, a certain amount of recall bias has to be expected when the surveys were completed at return and followup. This study used travel including long-haul intercontinental flights, time zone, and climate change as a model to see whether Echinacea is effective in preventing upper respiratory symptoms. Whether these findings can be generalised for other populations is debatable. In addition, the appropriateness of Echinacea use needs to be established for each individual traveller, especially those suffering from respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, asthma, pneumonia) or immune disorders as they belong to the group of people who were excluded from this trial. Although respiratory symptoms for both groups increased significantly during travel periods associated with long-haul flights, the increase of these symptoms for the Echinacea group was significantly lower than for the placebo group. This highlights a beneficial effect from Echinacea supplementation in adults if tablets contain 4.4 mg alkylamides from E. purpurea and E. angustifolia and are taken 14 days before and during travel. The incidence of adverse effects was low and may be predicted by thoroughly assessing the patient’s medical history for plant allergies and counselling on the above-mentioned signs and symptoms of allergy thus enabling consumers to stop Echinacea formulations at the onset of an allergic response. The authors thank Ms. Sharon Quinlan for trial design discussions and Ms. Nancy Taylor for additional help with recruitment. E. Tiralongo and R. Griffiths received industry funding from Integria Healthcare Pty Ltd. for the trial, which was leveraged from an AusIndustry Grant COM04049 through the Australian Government.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: I am having pain on right side back area above my buttock, stabbing pain at times and painful upon raising from seated position. I have diabetes also, could this possibly be a kidney infection? I do not drink carbonated drinks often, and drink plenty of water t causes recurring right sided lower back pain? output: Hello,There are so many causes of back pain including kidney infection but we will have to rule out the cause of pain whether there is disc arthritis,spinal infection,spine injury as muscle strain or sprain,kidney infection,calculus or kidney stone,spine nerve compression etc? if you suspect there is pain due to kidney infection or stone then you must be confirm that you are doing proper urination,no burning micturition,excessive urination or pain radiation from front to back.because you are a diabetic patient so must be the rule out exact cause of pain.but it seems to me spinal arthritis of L4 L5 region thats why are having pain after standing from sitting.but it is also possibilities of other causes of pain.anyways consult the ortho and get some test like x ray of spine or MRI...

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: There was a boy who tried to have sex with me but he wasn t protected so I said no. He made contact for a VERY short time and never came in me. I ve heard he could have secreted, though, and there s a pregnancy possibility. I ve never had sex before, so I m scared and paranoid, for sure. I took the Next Choice pill like 5 days after it happened and I have light bleeding . I took a pregnancy test today and it said I was not pregnant. Am I just paranoid? output: Hello, Pregnancy is possible if unprotected sexual contact occurs around the ovulation period, even with a pre-ejaculate as it contains sperms. The emergency pill is mostly effective when taken within the stipulated time only. The pill contains high dose of hormone and can cause breakthrough bleeding as a hormonal disturbance is created. You should see a doctor if you do not get a period within ten days of your expected date and exclude pregnancy. In the future, practice safe intercourse. Take care..

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi there I was diagonised by acute bronchitis do I have been coughing for ovrt three weeks, when I cough it feel like my breath is taken away I gasp for air . Doctor prescribed celery isle dosage is 2 tabs for times a day and brazenpam 2 three times a day output: In my opinion you should consult pulmonologist and get done1. Clinical examination of respiratory system. 2. Chest x-ray. 3. PUT (pulmonary function test). Chest x-ray is needed to rule out lung infection. PFT is needed to for the diagnosis of bronchitis. It will also tell you about severity of the disease. And treatment of bronchitis is based on severity only..

twitter facebook youtube Listen Current Death Notices Previous Death Notices Listen Back Bingo Sessions Local Vacancies Jobwaves 5 more deaths and 527 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed Published: Saturday, 19 December 2020 19:11 527 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed here and 5 more people with the virus have died. 191 infections are in Dublin, with 54 in Cork, 44 in Donegal, 32 in Wexford and 27 in Kilkenny - the rest are spread across 20 other counties. There are 11 new cases in Galway, 5 in Sligo, with less than 5 in Mayo, Roscommon and Leitrim. The Republic's 14 day incidence rate has risen to 102.4. Covid lead with the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Mary Favier, says reporting symptoms early will be key in fighting the current surge. 2,121 new Covid cases and 8 additional deaths reported this evening There has been a further 2,121 new Covid-19 cases and 8 additional deaths reported this evening. This includes 55 new cases in Mayo, 84 in Galway, 15 in Roscommon, 14 in Sligo and less than 5 in Leitrim. There are now 1,975 people in hospital with the virus… Mayo University Hospital outlines its Covid-19 vaccination programme Midwest News contacted the Saolta Hospital group today, to ask if any family members of staff at Mayo University Hospital, received a Covid 19 vaccine - in light of the news that emerged earlier that the Coombe Hospital in Dublin vaccinated 16 family members… New online portal launched for people seeking to retrain or upskill A new online portal has been launched today for people seeking to upskill or retrain. The online portal - www.gov.ie/therightcourse - is a one-stop-shop for businesses, employees or unemployed people, and outlines the options available to them for further… HSE West says hospitals will be under significant pressure for the next 2 weeks The number of people with Covid-19 being treated in intensive care units has reached 200. The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is warning the situation in the country's hospitals is "stark". The total number of Covid-positive patients in hospitals across… LISTEN: Maura Ginty from Gintax talking about the bills issued by Revenue. Maura Ginty from Gintax talking to Tommy Marren about the bills issued by Revenue for payments received in 2020. Listen back to the full interview below and find out what it means for you. MidWest · Maura Ginty - GINTAX - 2021 Tax Bills from Revenue Coroner confirms surge in Covid related deaths reported to him in Mayo over the weekend 12 Covid related deaths in east and south Mayo were reported over the weekend to the Coroner for Mayo, Patrick O’Connor. Mr. O’Connor confirmed to Midwest News today that the deaths notified to him predominantly occurred in nursing homes in the south and east… SIPTU calls for ambulance crews to be prioritised for excess Covid-19 vaccines There are no vaccination doses available to the National Ambulance Service crews across the region at present. That’s according to SIPTU’s Health Division Organiser Ciaran Sheridan. This means that the National Ambulance service crews across Mayo, Galway and… Archbishop Neary pays tribute to Fr Michael Kenny who died suddenly in Ballyhaunis A post-mortem examination is being carried out today on the body of a retired priest, who was found near a railway line outside Ballyhaunis yesterday. Fr Michael Kenny, who was aged 74 and a native of Ballyhaunis, had taken early retirement as a priest of the… Significant jump in Covid-19 patient numbers at Mayo University Hospital 2,023 people with Covid-19 are being treated in Irish hospitals - the first time the figure has risen over 2,000 since the start of the pandemic. Latest HSE figures show that there are 131 covid-19 patients at GUH- up two, 98 at MUH- up 18, 39 at SH- down 4… Concerns in the Castlebar /Turlough areas over proposed new telecommunications masts in the locality There is some concern in the Castlebar area over a number of different planning applications by telecommunications companies seeking to erect masts. Large signs opposed to these masts have been erected along the main roadways in the Turlough area and on both… Two Mayo NUIG students awarded Intel Scholarships Two NUI Galway students have been awarded scholarships by multinational technology company Intel as part of its programme to encourage the next generation of high-achieving women. The successful students are Eimear McDonnell, from Westport, in third year BSc… Plea from HSE West - Work from Home, Stay at Home Across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, there continues to be a very high level of infection in our communities. The 14 day incidence in Mayo now stands at 1635 per 100,000people, the figure for county Galway is 1095 per 100,000, while its 925 per 100,000… 179,000 euro announced for small scale walking trails across Roscommon/ Galway Roscommon/Galway deputy Denis Naughten, has welcomed the allocation of €179,000 for the small-scale enhancement of local walking trails across Roscommon & East Galway. “Funding has been allocated for the improvement of trails in Ballygar, Glenamaddy,… 160,000 euro in funding announced for eight outdoor recreation projects in Mayo Funding of €159,800 has been awarded to Mayo for eight outdoor recreation infrastructure projects. The funding was confirmed by Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon following this morning’s announcement by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather… Claremorris Post Office temporarily closed this week Claremorris post office is closed temporarily this week due to circumstances beyond the control of An Post. Public Affairs Manager with An Post Angus Laverty told Midwest News this morning that in the interim payments from the Department of Social Protection… Stay at Home, urges Dr Tony Holohan A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team believes not enough is being done to stop the spread of Covid-19, and there is too much movement nationwide. It comes as the the Chief Medical Officer has once again appealed to employers to allow staff… Warning a bad outbreak of Covid-19 in a nursing home could put the hospital system over the edge An infectious diseases specialist says a single bad outbreak of Covid-19 at a nursing home could put the hospital system over the edge. 2,944 more people have tested positive for the virus, and thirteen more patients have died. Across the region there are 181… Over 30 people fined for breaching travel restrictions in Roscommon yesterday Hundreds of people have been fined after being caught more than 5km from home over the weekend. Many more were given cautions and sent home after being stopped at Garda checkpoints, as the force ramped up enforcement of the Public Health Act. Gardai had only… Rainfall warning issued for Connacht tonight Met Éireann has issued a rainfall warning for Connacht and six other counties across the northern half of the country. The Status Yellow warning covers the five counties in Connacht, as well as Longford, Louth, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. It comes… Railway line reopens at Ballyhaunis following the discovery of a body nearby The Westport/Dublin railway line reopened at Ballyhaunis yesterday evening following its closure to deal with an incident near the track. Gardai confirmed that the body of a man was found on land near the line yesterday afternoon. The man's remains were… 2,944 new cases of Covid-19 and 13 further deaths 2,944 more people have contracted Covid-19, and thirteen more patients have died here. Across the region there are 181 new cases in Galway, 95 in Mayo, 24 in Sligo, 16 in Roscommon and 7 in Leitrim. The Chief Medical Officer says the chance of catching the… Post mortem to be carried out on body found near Ballyhaunis Gardai have confirmed that the body of a man was found on land near the railway line outside Ballyhaunis earlier today. The man's remains will be removed this evening to Mayo University Hospital where a post-mortem will be carried out the determine the cause… Gardaí appeal for assistance in tracing a man missing from Galway Gardaí are seeking the public's help in tracing the whereabouts of 34-year-old Luke Davoren, who is missing from the Galway area. Luke was last seen in the University Road area of Galway in the early hours of the 30th of December 2020. He is described as… Government requests early deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine The Health Minister says government's in talks to secure early delivery of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Stephen Donnelly says an advanced shipment would allow vaccinations to start as soon as granted EU approval. The European Medicines Agency's due to meet… Children's Minister believes 'forced adoptions' were thrust upon survivors of Mother and Baby Homes The Minister for Children says he believes women who gave birth in Mother and Baby Homes had no choice in agreeing to adoption for their children. However, the Commission has taken what Roderic O'Gorman calls a 'legalistic' approach to the term 'forced… Emergency Services are at the scene of an incident on the railway line near Ballyhaunis Gardai and emergency services are attending the scene of an incident along the railway line outside Ballyhaunis. Midwest News understands that a body has been found on lands near the line on the Castlerea side of the town. Investigations into the incident are… Headford councillor appointed to town regeneration advisory group Galway councillor Mary Hoade has been appointed to a new government advisory looking at regenerating town centres in rural Ireland. The President of the Association of Irish Local Government, Headford based cllr Mary Hoade has been appointed to the new… Delays on the Westport/Dublin rail line as Gardaí deal with an incident at Ballyhaunis Passengers intending to travel on Westport/Dublin train services today will encounter a delay. Irish Rail issued a statement on social media indicating that Gardaí have requested the line be closed at Ballyhaunis to deal with an incident. No further… EPA competition encourages teens to become environmentally aware Secondary school students are being asked to become more aware of the environmental impact of their belongings. The "Story of Your Stuff" competition is inviting teenagers from right across the region to investigate the life cycle of household items and… Almost €2.5 million allocated to Mayo and Galway businesses under the Trading Online Voucher Scheme Over €2.45 million was allocated to Mayo and Galway businesses under the 2020 Trading Online Voucher Scheme Galway based Senator Seán Kyne says the Scheme, which is administered by the Local Enterprise Offices on behalf of the Government, provides grant… Councillor calls for swift negotiations with landowners on extension of the Great Western Greenway A Westport Councillor is calling on Mayo County Council officials to begin talks as soon as possible with landowners and property owners, regarding the extension of the greenway from Murrisk to Lecanvey. Independent Councillor Christy Hyland says funding for… Woman arrested in connection with an assault in Sligo A shop worker has been seriously assaulted with a hammer in Sligo Town. The incident happened after a woman entered a store without a face covering yesterday evening. At around 6.45, a woman in her early 20s entered the premises without the required face… Drop in Covid-19 patients at Mayo University Hospital Almost 2,000 people with Covid-19 are in hospitals around the country, with 195 in intensive care. There were 19 admissions to ICU over the last 24 hours. There are 11 hospitals without any critical care beds - there are currently 24 critical care beds… Roscommon TD raises Covid concern over multiple pen use in Post Offices Concern has arisen over the use of electronic signatures for those collecting their social welfare entitlements in Post Offices. Roscommon Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane says people are concerned at using an electronic pen when collecting their pension, while… Up to 130,000 mother & baby home survivors could be eligible for upcoming compensation scheme Up to 130,000 mother and baby home survivors could be eligible for the upcoming compensation scheme. The Government estimates 60,000 mothers and 70,000 children who went through the institutions are still alive, according to the Business Post. The paper… Covid-19 lockdown could last beyond April Ireland's Covid-19 lockdown could last beyond April, with only schools and construction expected to be allowed reopen before March. According to the Sunday Independent, government's privately warning it could be summer before hospitality can open again while… UK variant of Covid-19 will become dominant There's a warning the UK variant of Covid-19 has adapted and become better at moving from person to person. The Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory says it will become the dominant variant in Ireland. Dr Cillian De Gascun is urging people to… 60 more people have died from Covid-19 & 3,231 new cases 60 more people with covid 19 have died and 3,231 new cases have been confirmed. 931 cases are in Dublin, with 388 in Cork, 238 in Louth, 155 in Waterford and 151 in Limerick. In this region there are 132 cases in Galway, 101 in Mayo, 29 in Roscommon, 26 in… ESB crews restore power supply to customers in Belmullet Power has been restored this evening to some 719 premises in the Belmullet area that experienced a loss of supply this afternoon. The outage occurred just before 2 o’clock due to a fault in the system, according to the ESB powercheck app. ESB crews worked to… Sligo Deputy says new Remote Work Strategy presents huge opportunities for the region The Government has announced a new strategy to make working from home a permanent option for workers right across the region. That's the view of Fine Gael Deputy Frank Feighan who says the strategy represents huge opportunities for the western region The… Mayo University Hospital records critical care covid admission An intensive care consultant says ICU numbers shouldn't be used to determine when to lift Covid-19 restrictions. There's concern critical care capacity could be used up by this weekend. There are currently 191 people with the virus being treated in ICUs… Man arrested following drugs and cash seizure in West Mayo A quantity of drugs and cash were seized in West Mayo yesterday following the arrest of a man. Gardaí attached to the Mayo Divisional Drugs Task Force stopped and searched a 24 year old man in a vehicle in Westport Town. He was found in possession of cocaine… Over 700 premises without power supply in Belmullet this afternoon Up to 719 premises in the Belmullet are experiencing a loss of power supply this afternoon. The outage occurred just before 2 o’clock due to a fault in the system, according to the ESB powercheck app. ESB crews are currently working to repair the fault and… First Choice Credit Union approved for Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme First Choice Credit Union has been approved for the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme to boost local SME & Agri community lending. Seven of Ireland’s largest Credit Unions, including First Choice Credit Union approved under the scheme. First Choice Credit… Local Councillor praises programme highlighting uncertainty about the future of Lough Carra Agriculture, in particular phosphates entering Lough Carra, are the cause of the rapid deterioration of the water quality in the Mayo lake. This was highlighted earlier this week by environmental experts on the RTE One TV programme produced by Eco Eye that… Works progressing in Foxford to enhance the drinking water supply Irish Water, working in partnership with Mayo County Council, is progressing with essential works to enhance the drinking water supply for homes and businesses in Foxford. The works are being carried out in accordance with the current Level 5 Covid-19… HSE says rollout of Moderna vaccine is a priority as three mass vaccination centres open The HSE says its priority is to roll out the Moderna vaccine as soon as possible but it depends on supply. GP teams will receive the first doses of it today at three mass vaccination centres in Galway, Dublin and Portlaoise. 1,800 GPs and nurses will be… Irish Patients' Association say waiting lists figures are 'fairly horrendous' The Irish Patients' Assocation says Covid-19 is putting a huge strain on the health system as elective surgeries are being cancelled. It's describing new hospital waiting list figures as 'fairly horrendous'. It says the number of patients waiting to get… Travel agents welcome extension of Covid testing Travel agents are welcoming the fact all travellers to Ireland now need to test negative for Covid-19 to be allowed into the country. From today, people from all countries need to produce a negative PCR test, which is no more than three days old. The rule… CMO highlights danger the Brazilian Covid-19 variant poses The Chief Medical Officer's warning of the danger of a Brazilian variant of Covid-19 arriving in Ireland. Dr Tony Holohan says new strains of the virus have been identified there, but there has been no case in Ireland so far. However, he's asking anyone who… Fórsa says no agreement reached to reopen special schools It will not be confirmed until Tuesday whether special needs children can return to school next week. The Department of Education wrote to principals last night to tell them to prepare for these schools to reopen on Thursday. It would allow 20,000 children in… 50 more people have died from Covid-19 with 3,498 new cases 50 more people who were diagnosed with Covid-19 have died. The Department of Health has also reported 3,498 more cases of the coronavirus. 1,182 are in Dublin, 421 in Cork, 258 in Limerick, 187 in Galway, 164 in Waterford, and the remaining 1,286 cases are… Bord na Mona peat briquettes will no longer be made after 2024 Peat Briquettes will no longer be made after 2024 while Bord Na Mona has ended all its peat harvesting operations in Ireland. Bord Na Mona has announced it will no longer harvest peat on its lands. The decision comes after the company suspending operations… Mass vaccination centre for GPs opens in Galway tomorrow As of this afternoon Ireland is at the top of the EU league for administering the Covid 19 vaccine, per 100,000 population. It’s welcome news according to Mayo Fianna Fail Senator Lisa Chambers. The Senator told Midwest News today that in addition all GPs are… LISTEN: Galway GP says lessons must be learned from the Covid-19 surge in Belmullet A Galway GP says questions should be asked about the sharp rise in Covid-19 infection rates in the Belmullet LEA. Dr Martin Daly says that the region is ‘not just an outlier’ in terms of increasing rates of infection, but an ‘extreme outlier’. The… People in Belmullet are afraid of Covid 19 and grieving the loss of life, according to local deputy People in Belmullet are afraid, there are many people in the area sick at present and the community is grieving the loss of life related to Covid 19, particularly over the past two weeks. That’s according to local deputy Rose Conway Walsh. The fact is that… Mayo Gardaí warn of increase in fraud incidents Mayo Gardaí are warning the public that there has been an increase in fraud incidents with bank debit cards, credit cards, online shopping and buying from trade magazines. People have calls purporting to come from their bank saying that fraudulent activity… Increase in Covid-19 patients at Galway and Mayo University Hospitals Thirteen hospitals nationwide have no ICU capacity left. These include hospitals in Galway, Letterkenny, Portlaoise, Navan and Naas, according to statistics from the HSE. 32 intensive care beds are available nationwide across both adult and pediatric units.… Mayo winner among this year's Coca-Cola Thank You Fund Belmullet Swimming Club was one of the thirteen community groups nationally awarded funding from this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. As young people across Ireland face an extended period of remote learning, community groups working directly with those most… President Higgins issues statement on Mother and Baby Homes report The President, Michael D Higgins says the Commission of Investigation's final report into Mother and Baby Homes shows how far short Ireland came in fulfilling the promise of a Republic. In a statement, he said the focus now should be on meeting the needs of… Plans to resume special needs education will be finalised today A meeting is taking place this morning to finalise plans for special needs education to resume next Thursday. Department of Education officials will update disability, autism and carers' organisations after an agreement was reached yesterday. Special needs… Covid-19 infection rate soars in the Belmullet local electoral area One in every 17 people in Belmullet local electoral area in Co Mayo tested positive for Covid-19 in the space of two weeks. The region had by far the highest incidence rate in the country. This data reflects on the 14-day incidence rates of confirmed cases of… NPHET says there'll be 'significant' deaths linked to Covid in the coming weeks NPHET says there will be a "significant" number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in the days and weeks ahead. A further 28 deaths were confirmed last night, bringing the total this month to 208 - and some of those who've died have been as young as 25. Health… Thousands of workers to receive tax bill for Covid-19 payments Thousands of workers who have received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme are set to face tax bills today The payments were not taxed in real-time and instead are liable to income tax and USC at the end of the year.… Two HSE facilities in Mayo among the first in the Gaeltacht to be immunised Two HSE Older People’s facilities in Belmullet were among the first in the Gaeltacht to receive the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. 100-year-old Mary Philbin, of Rossport, Ballina and Michael Gaughan of Mullaghroe Blacksod were two of all residents… Just under 4,000 new confirmed cases of Covid 19 this evening in the Republic The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 28 additional deaths related to Covid 19 in the Republic. 26 of these deaths occurred so far this month. The date of death for 2 of the reported death remains under investigation. As of… Legal advice is expected shortly on the official spelling of the Sligo seaside town of Enniscrone/Inishcrone Legal advice is expected shortly on the official spelling of the Sligo seaside town of "Enniscrone/Inishcrone" , according to Minister Frank Feighin He told Midwest News this evening that the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media,… Bishop of Achonry apologises to survivors of Mother and Baby Homes The Bishop of Achonry, Paul Dempsey has apologised to anyone treated in an undignified and demeaning manner, as highlighted in the Commission Report into Mother and Baby Homes. In part of his statement this afternoon he writes: “I am conscious as I write… Special need students to return in phases to primary classrooms from next week Special schools and special needs students in primary schools will be able to return to classrooms from next week. Special students will be able to access in-person education on a phased basis from Thursday January 21st. This will also apply to children who… Deputy Mac Sharry calls for "side deal" to secure more Covid vaccines here The Health Minister should look at doing a new deal outside of the EU’s combined deal to secure Covid 19 vaccines, according to Sligo/Leitrim TD Marc Mac Sharry. He has called on Minister Donnelly to do a side-deal to get greater quantities of the vaccine… Gardai make drugs seizure following discovery of a grow house in Westport Gardaí have seized €18,500 worth of suspected cannabis plants and cannabis herb following the discovery of a cannabis grow house at a property in Westport yesterday. The detection was made at approximately 12.30pm when Gardaí attached to the Mayo Divisional… An Post free postcards to be delivered again to every household from next week An Post is inviting the nation to Brighten up January with a two new free postcards to be delivered to every home from next week. The large format postcards are postage paid for delivery within Ireland and each household will receive two cards – one with a… "Shocking and repulsive"- Galway West TD critical of Mother & Baby Homes report "Shocking, disturbing and repulsive" - some of the words used by Galway West TD Catherine Connolly yesterday evening, when speaking in the Dáil about the report from the Commission for Investigation into Mother & Baby Homes. The Independent TD addressed the… House prices in Mayo set to rise by 6% this year House prices in Mayo are set to rise by 6% this year. That's according to a new survey carried out by Real Estate Alliance, which shows the price of an average three-bed semi in Mayo is expected to increase by 6% over the next 12 months. Prices in the county… LISTEN: PJ Haverty - Tuam survivor recalls tracking down birth mother PJ Haverty was born in Tuam in 1951 and recalls tracking down his birth mother. PJ gave a very honest and heart-rending interview on The Tommy Marren Show this morning. (14-1-2021) Listen back to the full interview below. Photo Credit: Ray Ryan MidWest · PJ… Sligo TD calls for staff in special education to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccines Special needs assistants are set to return to classrooms on a phased basis, if a range of Covid-19 safety measures are rolled out. Their union Forsa has set out the measures it says are necessary to make classrooms and other schools areas safe - including… Tomorrow is deadline for submissions on N17 Knock-Collooney upgrade 5pm tomorrow is the deadline for sending in submissions on the proposed routes for the N17 upgrade between Knock and Collooney. A number of different route options are being considered, and members of the public in Mayo and Sligo are being urged to give their… IDA Ireland plans to build new advance building in Mayo IDA Ireland is planning to build a new advance building in Mayo. That's according to Mayo FG Deputy Alan Dillon who says IDA's four-year strategy commits to investing in a new advance building in Co Mayo, as well as investing in IDA parks across the west, and… NPHET meets today to discuss deteriorating Covid-19 situation in hospitals The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet later to discuss the deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the country's hospitals. Latest figures show there are 1,770 patients with the virus in hospitals, which includes 176 in ICU. Yesterday saw the second… 63 Covid-19 related deaths & 3,569 new cases A further 63 Covid-19 deaths have been reported - the second highest daily figure ever recorded, and the highest since the end of April. Five of the deaths occurred in November, one in December and 56 this month - while the date of one further death remains… Mayo University Hospital Manager says Capacity & staffing remains it's biggest challenge The number of patients in hospital with the virus has hit another record high. 1,750 patients are being treated in hospital with Covid 19 and 158 of these patients are in ICU. In this region, there are 124 patients with Covid being treated at University… Taoiseach apologises on State's behalf over Mother & Baby Homes The Taoiseach has made a formal state apology to the victims and survivors of Mother and Baby Homes. Micheál Martin told the Dáil that basic kindness was not shown to vulnerable women by either church or state. The Taoiseach described the treatment of these… 102,000 euro worth of drugs seized by Gardai in Ballina €102,000 worth of suspected cocaine and cannabis herb was seized by Gardai in Ballina yesterday. As part of an intelligence led operation targeting the sale and supply of illegal drugs Gardaí attached to the Mayo Divisional Drugs Unit carried out searches of… Bon Secours Sisters apologise for treatment of women & children at Tuam Mother & Baby Home The Sisters of Bon Secours, who ran St Mary's Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, says they're willing to participate in a redress scheme for survivors. In a statement, the Order has apologised for its part in the scandal and says that it did not live up to its… "Close contact" healthcare workers called back to work Healthcare workers, who are deemed close contacts of someone with Covid 19, are being asked to return to work if they have no symptoms. It comes as the number of patients in hospital with the virus hits another record high. 1,750 patients are being treated in… "Deflated and confused" is the reaction of Catherine Corless to Report on Mother and Baby Homes “Deflated, disappointed and confused” is how Tuam based historian Catherine Corless described her reaction to yesterday’s webinar where survivors of Mother And Baby Homes got their first glance at the 3000 page Commission Report into Mother and Baby Homes.… Sally Rooney's third novel will be published in September The third novel from bestselling Castlebar author Sally Rooney will be published later this year. Publishing company Faber has confirmed that Sally's new novel "Beautiful World, Where Are You", will be available from the 7th September next. The Castlebar… Mayo Coroner will not hold inquests in January or February, due to Covid-19 No inquests will be held in this area for January or February, due to the deteriorating Covid situation. The Coroner for Mayo Pat O'Connor has confirmed that will not be holding any inquests this month or next, while the Coroners' Society of Ireland has… Aldi is hiring now at its Mayo and Sligo stores Aldi Ireland today announced that it is seeking to recruit 18 new employees for its stores in Counties Mayo and Sligo. Opportunities available include 16 permanent positions. The supermarket chain is recruiting more than 1,050 new store employees across the… Galway records highest number of new Covid-19 cases Galway recorded the highest number of new cases of Covid-19 in the country yesterday at 604. The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Councillor James Charity says he's disappointed but not surprised to see such high numbers. While the picture nationally… Taoiseach to make State apology today to Mother & Baby Home survivors The Taoiseach will make a formal state apology to Mother and Baby Home survivors in the Dáil later today. It follows yesterday's publication of the long-awaited Commission of Investigation report, which found an "appalling" level of infant mortality among the… Over 1,000 new Covid-19 cases this evening across Galway & Mayo There's a huge increase this evening in the number of new Covid-19 cases in Galway and Mayo. The Department of Health has reported an additional 46 deaths related to the virus - two of which occurred last month and the remaining deaths this month. There have… Mayo Senator Paddy Burke one of three senators readmitted to FG Mayo Senator Paddy Burke is one of three Fine Gael senators who have been readmitted, after being stripped of the party whip over their attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Clifden last August. Senators Paddy Burke, Jerry Buttimer and John… Investigation into Mother & Baby Homes found "appalling" level of infant mortality A five-year investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has found an "appalling" level of infant mortality among children born in the homes. Out of the 18 homes examined by the Commission of Investigation, - including the Tuam Mother & Baby Home - a total of 9… Candles lighting in the homes of survivors of Mother and Baby Homes today and tomorrow A candle has been lighting throughout the day today and will light again throughout the day tomorrow in the homes of the survivors of Mother and Baby Homes who this afternoon got their first glimpse of the 3000 page Report of the Commission of Investigation… Mayo University Hospital says rising Covid cases putting pressure on bed availability, and ambulance delays The Saolta Hospital Group has confirmed that some ambulances have been delayed at Mayo University Hospital's Emergency Department, due to the pressure on bed availability in the hospital - particularly for Covid-19 patients. In a statement to Midwest News… Chaplain denied entry to Castlerea Prison, due to his beard It's emerged that the chaplain at Castlerea Prison has been denied entry to the prison, due to his beard. Deacon Seamus Talbot - who's a part-time chaplain - refused to shave his beard which he has worn for years, while the prison governor ordered that anyone… Dept of Education Inspectorate to check in with schools weekly during Level 5 Restrictions The Department of Education Inspectorate will engage with schools on a weekly basis during Level 5 restrictions. That's according to the teacher's union the INTO. It's over concerns raised by parents that some schools have not as yet set up remote learning… Ambulances delayed for several hours at Mayo University Hospital As rising Covid-19 cases puts increasing pressure on the health service, Midwest News has learnt that up to 5 ambulances were backed up at Mayo University Hospital last night, and it took several hours before the ambulance personnel could transfer the… Adoptee rights group says commission report will not sufficiently tell stories of Mother and Baby Homes survivors Well as anticipation builds ahead of the Commission of Investigation report into Mother and Baby Homes, an adoptees identity rights group says it will not sufficiently tell survivors’ stories. Aitheantas founder Maree Ryan O’Brien argues that the report remit… Increasing number of Covid patients being treated at Mayo University Hospital The HSE CEO Paul Reid has confirmed that the number of Covid patients being treated in hospitals across the country has increased to 1,700, with 158 of these patients in ICU - a new record. 13 hospitals have no intensive care beds free, as the third wave of… Lough Carra features on RTE One programme at 7pm tonight Tonight at 7pm Lough Carra features on an RTE One Television programme "The Last Lake". Eco Eye filmed the county Mayo lake in 2020 and the programme investigates the extensive changes threatening one of Europe's last remaining maerl lakes. The water has… Staffing levels at SUH hit by Covid related issues 30 percent of staff in the Emergency Department at Sligo University Hospital are unavailable for work at present due to Covid 19. That includes staff who have Covid-19, who have symptoms of the virus or are close contacts of a positive case. This is putting… Covid-19 cases continue to rise at MUH 13 intensive care units nationally are full, while there are 30 adult ICU beds available. 1,700 people with Covid-19 are being treated in Irish hospitals this morning, including 144 patients in ICU. Galway University Hospital has 116 patients with confirmed… Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes get first view of Commission Report this lunchtime At 1.30 this afternoon survivors of Mother and Baby Homes will get their first glance at the long-awaited report by the Commission of Investigation into the institutions. The survivors and supporters will be joined by the Minister for Children Roderic… Weather warning remains in effect across Mayo and Sligo A Status Yellow rainfall warning remains in effect for Mayo and Sligo today. Persistent and occasionally heavy rainfall caused some localised flooding in places overnight, with an ongoing risk of spot flooding this morning. The warning remain in effect until… Record number of patients in hospitals nationally with Covid 19 overnight The number of patients with Covid-19 in hospitals has increased to 1,620. Thirteen hospitals nationally are now listed as having no intensive care beds free. There are 30 ICU beds available in the system for adult patients, according to overnight figures from… Commission report into Mother and Baby Homes comes before Cabinet later The Commission of Investigation's final report into Mother and Baby Homes will be brought to Cabinet later. It's expected to show 9,000 children died in the institutions - around 1 in 7 of the babies born there. The commission was set up in 2015 following… Erris councillor calls for a pop-up Covid-19 test centre for Belmullet A pop-up Covid-19 test centre should be set up in Belmullet, an area with extremely high levels of the virus at present - that's according to Erris-based Fianna Fail Councillor Sean Carey. Figures published late last week showed the Belmullet electoral area… NPHET says hospitals remain under threat as current Covid wave begins to stabilise NPHET says the country's "beginning to turn a corner" in tackling the current wave of Covid-19 - but that hospitals will remain under threat in the weeks ahead. A further 8 deaths linked to the virus were confirmed last night with 4,929 new cases. In this… Director of Public Health at HSE West calls on public to stay home amid soaring infection rates The Director of Public Helath at HSE West is urging people across Mayo, Galway and Roscommon to stay at home amid soaring infection rates across the region. The current 14 day incidence is 815 per 100,000 in Galway; 1303 per 100,000 in Mayo and in 821 per… 8 further deaths from Covid-19, with 4,929 new cases confirmed 4,929 Covid cases have been confirmed this evening and 8 additional deaths. In this region, there are 225 new cases in Galway, 185 in Mayo, 72 in Roscommon and 22 in Sligo. As of this afternoon, 1,582 patients are in hospital with 146 patients with the virus… Taoiseach says new UK variant of Covid-19 found in almost half of most recent samples here The new UK variant of Covid-19 has been found in nearly half of the most recent cases examined here. Last week, the strain - which can spread much easier - was detected in 25 per cent of samples tested, but accounted for 45% of the most recent 92 samples that… Local groups react to EY report on Western Rail Corridor A new report has concluded that extending the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Tuam and onto Claremorris would not provide value for money, and would do little to reduce traffic congestion. The report was carried out by accountancy firm EY, and has been… An Post warns of delays in delivering Christmas cards & parcels People will be getting Christmas cards and parcels delivered throughout January. An Post says the number of international flights continues to be severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, with only limited space available for letters and packages. As a result… Search for missing Galway man stood down, following discovery of a body Gardai have confirmed that the search for a missing Galway man has been stood down, following the discovery of a body yesterday. A search had been ongoing since 29th December for 43-year old Fergal Guilfoyle, who was last seen in the Newcastle Road area of… Tuam survivor group echoes Minister's anger at leak of Mother and Baby Homes report The Taoiseach says it's "regrettable" that details of the Mother and Baby Homes report were leaked before survivors were told about the findings. The report will come before cabinet tomorrow and the Taoiseach is to issue a state apology in the Dáil later this… Reports conclude extending Western Rail Corridor would not provide value for money A new report has concluded that extending the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Tuam and onto Claremorris would not provide value for money, and would do little to reduce traffic congestion.The report was carried out by accountancy firm EY, and was… LISTEN: Ann Lynch - "18 years since my last alcoholic drink" Ann Lynch wrote: "It’s been 18 years today since I had my last alcoholic drink. That date on January 6th , 2003 what seemed the saddest day of my life has actually turned out to be the best day of my life....from that day I started to truly live life. Blessed… 82 patients with Covid-19 are being treated at Mayo University Hospital 1,575 people with Covid-19 are being treated in Irish hospitals this morning. It's an increase of 149 patients since yesterday morning. In the past 24 hours there have been 104 admissions and 26 discharges from hospital. Across the region there are 102… Weather warning issued for Mayo and Sligo Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow rainfall warning for Mayo and Sligo. Persistent and occasionally heavy rainfall may cause some localised flooding in places. The warning comes into effect at 12 noon today and will remain in effect for 24 hours. Over 70’s driving licence medical report exemption extended The exemption that allows over 70's to apply for a driving licence without the need to provide a medical report will be extended until June. That has been announced today by the Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton T.D. The… Leaking of Mother and Baby Homes report met with disappointment from survivors Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes are disappointed that details of the Mother and Baby Homes report were leaked over the weekend. It's expected to show that 9,000 children died in 18 facilities investigated. A copy of the document is to be given to survivors… Regulations restricting price promotions for alcohol products introduced From today, customers will no longer be able to earn loyalty card points when buying alcohol. The measure is part new regulations under the Public Health Act, which looks to restrict price promotions involving drink. Price promotions which apply to other… Warning that Ireland has almost the highest rate of Covid-19 globally A public health expert says Ireland has almost the highest rate of coronavirus in the world. 6,888 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Republic along with 8 more deaths. There are 2,088 infections in Dublin, 862 in Cork, 469 in Limerick, 405 in… 6,888 new cases of Covid-19 6,888 new cases of covid 19 have been confirmed, which is higher than yesterday's figure of 4,842. Eight more people with the virus have died. There are 2,088 infections in Dublin, 862 in Cork, 469 in Limerick, 405 in Wexford and 320 in Waterford - the rest… HSE Chief says the health system is under 'increasing strain' The head of the HSE says Ireland's health system is under 'increasing strain'. Paul Reid's comments come as 1,421 people are now being treated in hospital for Covid-19, while 121 are in intensive care. There are 69 people with the virus being treated at Mayo… New HSE Medical Hub set to be located in Castlebar A new state of the art, HSE medical hub, is to be located in Castlebar. It’s one of three such developments about to be approved for funding by the Minister for Health for counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon. That’s according to the Cathaoirleach of the… Farmers plagued by criminal activity throughout 2020 despite the pandemic Criminals have continued to plague rural Ireland despite the pandemic, with trailer and cattle thefts reaching record levels, according to the Irish Farmers Journal. The paper reveals that over 1,000 cattle nationally were reported stolen or missing last year… Report into Mother & Baby Homes set to reveal 9,000 children died in the institutions investigated The Commission of Investigation report into mother and baby homes is set to reveal 9,000 children died in the institutions investigated. The Sunday Independent says the report, due to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday, found 56,000 women were sent to the 18… Almost 1,300 people with Covid-19 currently in hospitals The HSE plan to take emergency control of up to 30 percent of private hospital capacity could come into effect within days. Under the terms of the contract, seen by the Business Post, it could be triggered if key indicators, such as an ICU number of more than… 197 new Covid-19 cases in Mayo The Department of health has been notified of nine further deaths of people with Covid-19, 4,842 new cases and the number of people in ICU has risen to 119. 1,049 of the cases are in Dublin, 530 in Cork, 514 in Waterford, 405 in Wexford, 247 in Louth and the… Mayo Community Call line open 7 days a week - to assist during the pandemic Peter Duggan, CE (Interim) of Mayo County Council said, “We must work together to curtail the spread of COVID-19. This is a critical time. I would urge everyone across Mayo to stay at home. You’re not just protecting yourself and your family, but you are… Additional garda checkpoints to ensure travel restriction adhered to across the region Garda Chief Supt in Mayo Tony Healy is asking the public to follow the restrictions imposed under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with Covid-19 amid rising numbers in Mayo and across the country. He said, “An Garda Síochána has also introduced a range of… Saolta appeals to Mayo Public to stick to public health advice re prevention of Covid Tony Canavan, CEO of the Saolta Group which has responsibility for the hospitals in the West and North West says they have seen a very significant increase in the number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Mayo University Hospital. In one week from… Dr Smyth highlights significant increase in people contracting Covid 19 in Mayo at present The HSE has joined with the Mayo County Council and the Gardaí in the county to appeal to the people of Mayo to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The three agencies have come together to appeal to people to follow the public health advice and stay… Clare Lake /McMahon Park committee concerned about youth skating on icy lake The Clare Lake / McMahon Park committee in Claremorris say they have become aware of young adults skating on the ice in Clare Lake during the present cold spell. PRO for the committee Austin Garvin told Midwest News today that this is a highly irresponsible… Icy canals, ponds and lakes pose danger to children A warning's going out to parents not to let their children play on icy canals, ponds and lakes. Water Safety Ireland's making the call as ice can be quite thick in one area but much thinner close to the same area. It's advising parents to supervise their… Two awards for Mayo students at the 2021 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition Mayo students were recognised and commended at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2021 Awards Ceremony yesterday. Two awards were presented to students in the county for their impressive projects entered in this year’s virtual exhibition. Caoimhe… The Mayor of Boston, with strong Galway connections appointed as US Secretary of Labour The Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, has been appointed by US President-elect Joe Biden as Secretary of Labor. Marty’s parents, who emigrated to Boston in the 1950s, are from county Galway and he has been a frequent visitor to Ireland. Making the announcement… Councillor baffled as birds given precedence over human safety An Erris councillor says he is baffled and bemused on hearing that work on the construction of a seawall along the Mullet Peninsula cannot start because it may interfere with wintering birds. Councillors approved a plan by Mayo County Council to carry out… St Augustine's resident urges everyone to take vaccine The first vaccinations by Community Healthcare Wests’ COVID-19 vaccination campaign in residential facilities in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon got underway on Thursday last. (Ellen) Agnes Bourke a native of Rathall, Crossmolina, was the first resident at the HSE… 130 new cases of the virus confirmed yesterday in Mayo The number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 across the country is now 1,285, up 134 on yesterday. Of these 107 are in intensive care. The latest numbers were tweeted this morning by the head of Health Service Executive Paul Reid. There were 20… 20 further deaths from Covid-19 with 8,248 new cases There have been 20 further coronavirus-related deaths and 8,248 new cases of the disease notified to the Department of Health. Three cases of the new Covid-19 variant that originated in South Africa has been found in Ireland. 3,013 of the cases are in Dublin,… Westdoc received almost 6,500 calls in a 15 hour period last weekend In a 15 hour period last weekend the Westdoc telephone system received over 6480 calls. GP contacts increased by almost 400% with Over 60% of calls for Covid testing. Systems normally manned by 12 operators had up to 30 lines in operation and were unable to… Man arrested after drugs seized in Roscommon Town Gardaí have arrested a man and seized €4,300 worth of suspected cannabis herb in Roscommon town. The detection was made shortly before 7pm yesterday evening when Gardaí attached to the Roscommon/Longford Divisional Drugs Unit stopped a car at The Walk… Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council implores people of Mayo to redouble our efforts As Covid-19 spreads rapidly throughout every village, town and parish in Mayo, we must double down in our efforts as a response to the growing tide of confirmed cases in the county. That's the message from Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Richard Finn.… Mayo county council to close a number of public car parks from 6pm this evening Mayo County Council has announced this afternoon that a number of local authority car parks in the county will be closed to the public from this evening. Following a request from local Gardai, the council Car Parks at Lough Lannagh (both at Lake and new… Temperatures could drop to -8 degrees tonight Met Eireann is advising that tonight could be the coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures in places dipping to -8 degrees. Widespread icy conditions are being reported across the region again today. Particular care is needed on secondary and minor… 54 patients with Covid 19 being treated in MUH today The number of people with Covid-19 being treated in intensive care units nationally has passed 100. There are 1,151 people in hospitals across the country with Covid-19 - an increase of 108 from yesterday - with 101 patients in ICU as of this morning. The… As Construction sites close this evening, cllr calls for sites to be adequately closed off A Castlebar based Councillor has called on all construction site operators who have to close sites from this evening due to new Covid restrictions to ensure that these sites are fully secured from a health and safety perspective. Fine Gael Councillor Ger… Galway County Council services gone online Galway County Council is advising that public access to our offices is now restricted, in line with recent Covid-19 measures, to an appointment only service for exceptional circumstances where essential business can only be conducted in person. As providers… Emergency services at collision on the N26 Foxford to Swinford Road Emergency services are the scene of a single vehicle collision on the N26 road, the Foxford side of Cloonguillane bridge. That's along the main Foxford to Swinford road. Motorists are advised that road conditions in the area are treacherous at present. Localised curfew and vaccine priority for healthcare staff called for in Belmullet A curfew from 9pm to 6am daily now needs to be considered by government for hotspot covid 19 areas like the Belmullet Electoral area at present. That’s the view of local GP Dr Keith Swanick. In addition he is calling for priority vaccination for the area,… NPHET says the number of Covid 19 cases nationally may be starting to level off NPHET says there's a possibility Covid-19 case numbers may be starting to level off. A further 6,521 new cases were confirmed last night and 10 further deaths. 184 new cases were reported in Galway yesterday, 119 in Mayo, 85 in Sligo, 31 in Roscommon and 13… 7 Mayo projects to share 780,000 euro under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme €780,000 in total has been allocated to seven Mayo projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This news has been confirmed by Fine Gael Deputy Michael Ring who says the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key part of the Government’s plans for rural… Treacherous road conditions reported across the region this morning A Status Yellow Low temperature/ice warning is in place for the entire country until 11 this morning. Widespread icy conditions are being reported across the region again this morning. Particular care is needed on secondary and minor roads. Gardai are… One in every 50 people in Belmullet Electoral Area contracted Covid 19 over the last 14 days The Belmullet Electoral area has the highest number of Covid 19 cases per 100,000 population in the country over the last two weeks. About one in every 50 people had Covid-19 in the region over the last 14 days. A new report also shows some border regions… Government abandon plans for leaving cert students to attend school three days a week Schools will not reopen for leaving cert students next week after a major U-turn by the government tonight. The pupils will continue to study remotely for the rest of the month, like other students. Leaving cert students were due to resume classes in school… Another 6,521 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland. Another ten people have also died with the virus. The number of people in hospital with coronavirus has risen once again, to 1,043, with 96 in intensive care. There are… Parish Priest of Knock welcomes RTE's apology this evening for their sketch about God RTÉ has found a satirical sketch about God that aired on New Year's Eve did not meet a number of its own standards and regulations. Its Editorial Standards Board says the piece, which depicted God as a rapist, caused undue offence and failed to respect… 15,000 people have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine Over 15 thousand people across the country have been vaccinated against Covid 19 so far. The HSE says its target is to administer 35 thousand doses by the end of this week. Its CEO Paul Reid says an agreement to use private hospitals is being finalised and… Icy conditions persist across the region as Bus veers off road in Achill Bus Eireann have confirmed to Midwest News that one of their buses went off road earlier in the Bunnacurry area of Achill. Extremely icy road conditions have been reported right across the region today. There were no passengers on board the Dooagh to… Man with Mayo roots quits his role as US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney has resigned following violence at the US Capitol last night. Donald Trump's former Chief of Staff told CNBC he couldn't stay in his position. Mr Mulvaney said that others, who are choosing not to resign, are… Another Weather Warning issued for tonight A status yellow ice warning has been issued for the entire country again tonight. Snow has fallen on the ground in many areas today, for the first time this year. With temperatures dropping to minus 4 overnight mountains, fields and roads were covered in… Erris Councillor pleads with the community to stay at home as the virus is described as prevalent in the area An Erris Councillor is pleading with the community to stay at home and stay safe. Gerry Coyle says the infection rate is at its peak in the Erris area at present and now more than ever people need to adhere to the public health guidelines. His plea comes as… Roads and footpaths remain lethal this lunchtime across county Mayo Mayo county council is this lunchtime advising all road users across the county to be very aware of black ice on roads and footpaths today. While council teams are out regritting many of the main routes today , having gritted many of the same routes overnight… Ballymote to Castlebaldwin road closed to traffic The Ballymote to Castlebaldwin road is currently closed due to a HGV blocking the road. Extremely icy conditions mean the road will be closed for a number of hours. Garda Supt in Claremorris appeals to road users to slow down this morning due to black ice across the region High visibility Garda patrols and covid-19 checkpoints have resumed this morning across the region to coincide with the increased Covid restrictions. The checkpoints are on national and local roads but not motorways. Garda Supt in Claremorris Gabriel Moran… Man with strong Mayo ties has been formally certified by Congress as winning the US Presidential Election Hours after hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol, Congress has formally certified Democrat Joe Biden's election victory. Immediately after the certification, the White House released a statement from Donald Trump in which he… Road users warned of icy conditions in places this morning Black ice could be a major issue this morning for roadusers , according to the Road Safety Authority. Temperatures dropped to minus 4 in parts of the country overnight, with two status yellow weather warnings for ice and snow in place. Met Eireann says the… Taoiseach to brief cabinet today on new restrictions The Taoiseach will brief Opposition leaders at Government Buildings later today on the Cabinet's new plan to increase public health restrictions. The new measures, which are aimed at reversing the recent rise in cases of the virus, apply to schools,… Country is likely to see increasing numbers of deaths and ICU admissions in the coming days with Covid spread NPHET will discuss the country's record number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations when it meets this morning. There are now 954 people in hospital with the virus and 7,836 new cases of Covid 19 were confirmed yesterday - with both figures the highest… 4 people died during violent protests in Washington yesterday Four people have died - including one woman who was shot - during violent protests yesterday, after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol building. Politicians were to formally declare Joe Biden the winner of November's election, which Donald… Anyone living within 5km of Enniscrone beach can access it under present restrictions Anyone living with 5km of Enniscrone beach, or any Sligo beach, can continue to access the beach despite the present Level 5 pandemic restrictions. Yesterday Sligo county council updated its information concerning the closing of beaches in the county to the… Deputy Naughten claims up to 20 percent of nursing home staff will not be vaccinated with their colleagues and residents Roscommon/ Galway deputy Denis Naughten has sought clarity from the Minister for Health on claims that up to one fifth (20%) of staff in long stay homes for older people will not be vaccinated with their colleagues and nursing home residents due to a failure… Additional Garda Checkpoints to return tomorrow morning Garda Covid-19 checkpoints will return from 7am tomorrow morning. An Garda Síochána is to introduce a range of additional measures to support the policing of level 5 restrictions. Additional Gardaí will be deployed to the frontline along with 70 Garda… Record number of Covid-19 cases confirmed this evening A record 7,836 cases of Covid 19 have been reported today and 17 additional deaths. 2,263 of the cases are in Dublin, 1,373 in Cork, 496 in Louth, 345 in Limerick, 340 in Meath and the remaining 3,019 cases are spread across all other counties. There are 178… Cabinet agrees tighter public health measures New restrictions have been unveiled by the Government to contain the spread of Covid 19 and will remain in place until at least the end of January. All schools are to remain closed, with an exception for leaving cert students, who will attend classes three… LISTEN: Mayo University Hospital administers its first dose of the Covid Vaccine The roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign began in Mayo University Hospital today. Mary Neary Clinical Nurse Manager 2 on C Ward was the first staff member in the hospital to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. Mary received the vaccine from her… First Covid-19 vaccine administered at Mayo University Hospital A clinical nurse manager today became the first staff member at Mayo University Hospital to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Mary Neary, a clinical nurse manager on C Ward, received the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine from her nursing colleague Padraig O'Lúanaigh,… Two weather warnings in place for snow and icy temperatures Two separate weather warnings for snow and low temperatures have been issued for the entire country. From 8 o'clock tonight a low temperature/ice warning will come in to effect for all 26 counties, with temperatures set to dip to lows of minus four. A status… Deputy wants clarity over vaccines for elderly, vulnerable and home carers Vulnerable and elderly people living in communities need some clarity regarding when they will be able to access the Covid-19 vaccine, according to Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice. He is calling for the vaccination programme to be expedited, pointing… Record number of Covid patients in hospital, as Justice Minister tests positive A record number of people with Covid-19 are being treated in Irish hospitals today. There are 921 patients on wards - up from 817 yesterday morning - and includes 76 people in ICU with the virus. The latest available figures show 51 patients with Covid are… Met Eireann forecasts dusting of snow in Connaught counties this evening into tomorrow morning Met Eireann is advising that this evening, overnight and into tomorrow morning Connaught counties may get a dusting of snow, as rain is likely to fall as sleet and snow from sunset this evening into tomorrow. Temperatures dropped as low as -6 degrees in parts… Two new classrooms for Mountpleasant NS, Ballyglass Funding has been awarded to Mountpleasant National School in Ballyglass, county Mayo. The grant was awarded under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021. According to Mayo Fine Gael deputy Alan Dillon the new accommodation will comprise of two 15metre… Funding granted for new construction room at St Nathy's, Ballaghaderreen St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, has been approved for funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021 The allocation will allow for the provision of a construction studies room. Local Fianna Fail Senator Eugene Murphy has welcomed the news from… Students from five Mayo schools participating in first-ever virtual Young Scientists & Technology Exhibition Students from 5 Mayo secondary schools are taking part in the first-ever virtual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, which was launched online at 8am this morning. It's the 57th annual exhibition, and the first ever to take place virtually. President… Temperatures not expected to rise today above zero in parts of Connaught As temperatures dropped as low as -6 degrees in parts of Connacht and Ulster last night, road users this morning across the region are advised to take due caution. Gardai say there are no reports of any collisions so far this morning, nonetheless they are… Mayo County Council's car park at Croagh Patrick is now closed to the public Mayo County Council’s car park at Murrisk, Croagh Patrick is now closed to the public due to Level 5 Covid 19 Restrictions. A spokesperson for the local authority told Midwest News that as a result of a request from local Gardai, the car park is closed for… 100 new jobs announced for Genesys in Galway 100 new jobs have been announced this morning for Galway city. Tech company Genesys - a global leader in cloud customer experience and contact centre solutions - has announced it's creating 100 new software jobs, as it expands its workforce in Galway. The… Sub-zero temperatures across Connacht, with drivers urged to take caution on roads Drivers across Connacht are being warned about icy conditions this morning, after temperatures dropped to minus-five degrees overnight. A status yellow low temperature alert is in place for all of Connacht, along with Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford and… Cabinet meets later to sign-off on closing schools and construction until end January Government ministers will sign-off later today on closing schools and construction sites until the end of the month. It comes amid a surge in Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions. 5,325 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported yesterday evening, along with… Face to face outpatient clinics and elective surgery deferred for 2 weeks at Mayo University Hospital Face to face outpatient clinics at Mayo University Hospital are being deferred for the next 2 weeks. The hospital is reverting to virtual outpatient clinics only, and most elective procedures at the Castlebar hospital have also been deferred - apart from… 17 further deaths from Covid-19, and 5325 new cases confirmed 5,325 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported this evening, along with 17 further deaths. This includes 140 new cases in Co Galway, 99 new cases in Mayo, 50 in Sligo, 29 in Roscommon and 13 in Sligo. The 14 day incidence is now 674 cases per 100,000… Historic first online meeting of Galway County Council today Today was a historic day for Galway County Council, as the local authority held its first online meeting. The meeting of the county's 39 councillors, executive, staff and members of the media was held online, to consider issues pertaining to the new County… Ice /low temperature warning in place for Connacht from 6pm this evening A status yellow low temperature & ice warning has been issued for Connacht and 5 other counties from 6pm this evening. Met Eireann is warning of a very cold night tonight, with temperatures dropping to between -2 and -5 degrees, possibly colder locally, with… Chief Medical Officer warns of sharp increase in Covid-19 deaths in the coming weeks The Chief Medical Officer has warned that there will be a sharp increase in Covid 19 deaths in the coming weeks. 817 people with Covid-19 are being treated in the country's hospitals this afternoon and 76 are in ICU. There are 50 patients with Covid are being… Number of public amenities in Sligo closed to the public as Covid 19 rampant in the community Sligo County Council is closing a number of public amenities in an attempt to reduce crowds gathering during the present Level 5 Covid Restrictions. On the local authority’s website today the following is stated Arising from concerns expressed by the… Search stepped up for man missing from north Mayo since November The search for a man missing from north Mayo since November has been stepped up today. The man, who's in his late 60's and from the Lacken area, has been missing since mid-November. An extensive search operation got underway after his car was located at… Dr Smyth says the growth rate of Covid 19 in Mayo at present is very significant There is an alarming increase in the growth rate of Covid 19 in county Mayo over the past seven days, of over 100 percent. From New Year’s Eve until Sunday the 3rd of January, the number of new cases of the virus in the county went from 278 to 576. These… Galway Minister insists Special Schools need to be re-opened despite pandemic With it looking unlikely that schools will reopen on Monday next due to the pandemic, Galway Minister calls for an exemption for special schools. The Minister for Disability, Galway East deputy Anne Rabbitte says that she is supporting her colleague Minister… Carrabeg Estate Residents call for answers from MCC on anti social behavior policy Residents of the Carrabeg Estate in Swinford say they are angered and disappointed that Mayo County Council has “failed to answer or adequately respond” to their concerns about anti social behavior by local authority tenants in housing estates. The residents… Coldest night of the winter so far recorded in Roscommon on Saturday last Motorists are being warned to take extra care on the roads as some of the coldest temperatures so far this winter are forecast for tonight, with the likelihood of some snow over the coming days. This morning gardai across the region are advising road users to… NPHET says levels of Covid infection in population now higher than first wave peak NPHET says the levels of Covid-19 in the community is now higher than the peak of the first wave last spring. The 14-day incidence is now 582 per 100 thousand - but it's estimated to be as high as 800. It's due to thousands of new cases which haven't been… Senior government ministers will meet later to consider closing schools until the end of the month Senior government ministers will meet today to consider closing schools until the end of the month. The cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 will discuss the proposal before a final decision is made tomorrow. It comes as 6,110 new cases of the virus were… 73 adults abused as children awaiting social workers in Galway and Roscommon Over 560 adults who were abused as children have not been allocated a social worker. They include 70 'high priority' cases. The second highest total nationally is in Galway and Roscommon. The term 'retrospective abuse' refers to abuse an adult experienced as… Aurivo Marts defer reopening for one week due to Covid Aurivo Marts have decided to defer the reopening of its Marts for one week from the previously scheduled dates. The move comes in light of the rising Covid-19 numbers and in the interest of the health and safety of their customers and staff. The following… Investigation underway following raid of suspected shebeen in Mayo Gardai have raided a suspected shebeen in Co Mayo, and seized a large amount of alcohol. It's the latest one discovered by the force as they enforce Covid-19 laws on indoor gatherings. Gardai found this suspected shebeen when they searched an outhouse in… Covid-19 daily figures continue to rise with 6,110 cases reported this evening There were 6,110 new Covid-19 cases reported this evening and 6 additional deaths. In this region, there were 111 new cases in Mayo, 116 in Galway, 33 in Sligo, 24 in Roscommon and 12 in Leitrim. The 14-day incidence rate of the virus is now 582 per 100,000… Reopening of schools to be discussed at Cabinet sub-committee meeting tomorrow The reopening of schools on Monday is expected to be discussed when the Cabinet Sub-committee on Covid 19 meets tomorrow. The three party leaders along with the Health, Finance and Public Expenditure Ministers will attend as well as senior health officials.… Elective surgery and outpatient clinics being deferred at Galway University Hospitals Elective procedures and outpatient appointments are being cancelled at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park Hospital in response to the growing numbers of Covid-19. The Saolta Hospital group has confirmed to Midwest News this evening that face to face… Mayo hospital manager urges public to stay at home to curb rapid spread of Covid-19 The number of daily Covid 19 cases is likely to hit 7,000 in the coming days. The head of the HSE Paul Reid says non urgent healthcare in hospitals is going to be cancelled as a result. 744 people are in hospital with the virus at present and it's rising at a… MCC responds to complaints over its closed Civic Amenity Centres on Saturday last A number of listeners to Midwest News today questioned why the recycling facilities / dumps at Derrinumera, outside Castlebar and Rathroeen in Ballina were closed to the public on Saturday last. Saturday last was more than a week since Christmas Day, and many… Government to undertake a Strategic Rail Review of the Rail network of the island of Ireland Minister Eamonn Ryan’s intention to undertake a Strategic Rail Review of the rail network to examine the strategic context for investment in the rail network on the entire Island of Ireland, is very welcome according to Tuam Independent deputy Sean Canney.… Wesport Post Office remains closed, while Newport reopened this morning An Post has confirmed that the Westport Post Office remains closed. Both Westport and Newport Post Offices were closed for several days last week. The Post Office in Newport has reopened this morning. However, An Post says it appears the Westport post office… Investigation underway after light aircraft crash in Killala Bay An investigation is underway following an incident in Killala Bay yesterday, where a light aircraft crashed. It's understood the two occupants of the aircraft walked away from the scene without any visible injuries. The Air Accident Investigation Unit of the… Sage Advocacy calls for clarity on nursing home vaccination protocols The vaccination of nursing home residents and staff has gotten underway today. The inoculation process begins in Mayo on Monday next and will be concluded on the 29th of January. Anyone in the facilities who is Covid-19 positive will have to wait four weeks… 51 patients with Covid-19 being treated at Mayo University Hospital There are currently 51 patients with confirmed Covid-19 being treated at Mayo University Hospital. This is the third highest figure among Irish hospitals - after the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and Cork University Hospital. Elsewhere in this region, there are… Questions on why MCC recycling facilities closed at the weekend A number of listeners to Midwest News have questioned why the recycling facilities / dumps at Derrinumera, outside Castlebar and Rathroeen in Ballina were closed to the public on Saturday last. This was the Saturday week after Christmas Day, and many… Councillor appeals to public to stop blaming people with Covid 19 on social media A Westport councillor is appealing to people to stop on social media blaming anyone who has contracted Covid 19. Cllr Brendan Mulroy insists now is not the time to be blaming anyone for the spread of the virus, rather he is appealing to people to take a step… Teenager who died in Kerry fall yesterday was a native of Salthill The teenager who was tragically killed in a hill walking accident in Kerry yesterday afternoon was a native of Salthill, Galway. 17 year old James Harrison was walking with his parents at Bull’s Head at Lispole in the Dingle Penisula when he slipped and fell.… Gardai across the region urge motorists to take due caution with icy conditions on roads this morning Gardai across the region are advising road users to be aware of icy and slippery conditions on roads this morning. With freezing temperatures overnight, there are no reports of any particularly dangerous locations so far this morning, but generally motorists… Warning to take care on icy roads as cold snap set to continue Galway County Council crews have been busy gritting approximately 1250km of primary, secondary, regional and local roads overnight. That’s according to the Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council James Charity, as the entire country feels the effect of a cold… Chief Medical Officer warns current virus trends are not sustainable The current Covid-19 trends are not sustainable for the health system, according to the Chief Medical Officer. There are fears the HSE may not be able to provide tests to people with symptoms due to demand, instead focusing on vulnerable groups. 4,962 more… The vaccination of nursing homes residents begins Vaccines will start to be given to nursing home residents today. Sage Advocacy says it's looking forward to the rollout to protect residents and staff from the coronavirus. The Health Minister Stephen Donnelly plans to give people in the country's 580 nursing… 540 staff at University Hospital Galway receive Covid-19 vaccine Well over 3,500 people have had their first vaccine shot against Covid-19 in the last week -- with clinics to be extended nationwide in the coming days. It's after two thousand health workers were vaccinated in Cork City hospitals in the last three days… Woman due in court charged in connection with a fatal hit and run in Galway A woman in her mid 50s is due in court today charged in connection with a hit and run in County Galway last month. A woman was killed when she was knocked down near a pub in Furbo. This hit and run happened while a woman in her mid 50s was walking on the… 4,962 new cases of Covid-19 with seven additional deaths The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 7 additional deaths related to COVID-19 and 4,962 new confirmed cases. 1,260 of the cases are in Dublin, 652 in Limerick, 350 in Cork, 321 in Louth, 238 in Meath and 2,141 spread across all… Repairs completed to burst watermain affecting the Galway Clinic Repairs to a burst watermain impacting water supply of customers on the Monivea Road have now been completed. This watermain burst on the Monivea Road, near the Clayton Hotel, occurred last night and the Briarhill & Doughiska areas were affected, leaving up… Young Mayo country singer bids for stardom on The Voice UK A young country singer from Mayo is bidding for stardom on the new series of The Voice UK. Chantelle Padden, from Binghamstown near Belmullet, is the only Irish contestant who gets the opportunity to sing for Tom Jones, Will.i.am, Anne-Marie and Olly Murs on… Mayo priest hits out at skit broadcast on RTÉ depicting God as a 'rapist' A Mayo priest has labelled a satirical skit broadcast on RTÉ branding God a rapist as 'an ignorant act of offensive material masked in the form of comedy.' Father Richard Gibbons, the rector of Knock Shrine, hit out at the New Year's Eve countdown programme… Sligo Deputy says more urgency is needed with the rollout of the Covid vaccine Sligo Fianna Fail TD Marc McSharry says the rollout of the Covid vaccine isn't being treated with the urgency required. He says only 5 per cent of the 40 thousand doses received here were administered by Friday night. He says the Government must contact… Irish Water dealing with a burst watermain which is affecting the Galway Clinic Irish Water working in partnership with Galway City Council wish to advise that a burst watermain will cause an impact to the supply of customers on the Monivea Road. This watermain burst on the Monivea Road, near Clayton Hotel, occurred during the night and… Westdoc has reported over a thousand calls a day this weekend An unprecedented number of calls to out of hours services nationally regarding Covid 19 tests had led to delays for others needing urgent medical treatment In Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, the Westdoc service has reported over 1,000 calls a day this weekend… Warning that there could be up to 3,000 Covid-19 hospital admissions by the end of the month The HSE's Chief Clinical Officer's warning there could be up to 3,000 Covid-19 hospital admissions by the end of the month if the current growth rate continues. Dr. Colm Henry says if this plays out, it will result in the health system being overrun. 673… Status Yellow Low Temperature & Ice Warning in place this morning A cold snap is gripping the whole country this morning, with a status yellow low temperature and ice warning in place until 10am. Met Eireann's warning of icy roads, with potentially dangerous conditions nationwide. The cold snap is expected to continue into… There are 3,394 new cases of coronavirus in the Republic - that's nearly double the previous record. 4 more patients have died and Cork has the most cases with 389. Dublin has 355 new infections, while Donegal has 339 and there are 258 in Louth and 233 in… Water outage affecting a number of Foxford residents this afternoon The water supply is currently off for a number of homes in the Foxford area this afternoon. The outage was caused by a burst to a water main earlier today. It occurred at the Chapel Road area of the town. Mayo County Council water restoration crews working on… Low temperature and ice warning issued for the country tonight A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning has been issued for the country this evening. Temperatures will fall to minus 3 or 4 degrees tonight, colder locally away from coasts. This will lead to a widespread hard ground frost and icy surfaces, with… N26 reopens to traffic in Mayo following lorry crash overnight Gardaí attended the scene of a single vehicle road traffic collision on the N26 earlier today. The incident occurred on a stretch of the road between Foxford and Swinford at around 1.30am this morning. An articulated lorry lost control during severe weather… Number of Covid-19 cases at MUH increases The head of the HSE says we have yet to see the worst impacts of the recent surge in Covid-19 on the health service. Paul Reid is appealing to the public to play their part to protect the system. There are 581 people with the virus in hospital nationwide - an… Galway City Council prompted to close public amenities by Gardaí Galway City Council has announced the closure of a number of amenities across the city to help curb the spread of Covid-19 following a request from Gardaí. The Blackrock Diving Tower, all parking along the Salthill Promenade and vehicle access to Silverstrand… Gardaí attended the scene of two road traffic collisions at Raheenbar yesterday Gardaí attended the scene of two road traffic collisions in Raheenbar, Castlebar yesterday morning. The incidents occurred at approximately 7.15am and 7.30am respectively. Two cars left the road in icy conditions during these separate incidents. No injuries… Gardaí urge motorists to take care due to icy conditions this morning Gardaí are urging motorists to take care on roads across the region this morning. Black ice has been reported on secondary and local routes following frosty conditions overnight. Slow down, drive carefully and allow extra time for your journey. Meanwhile,… Prolonging interval between Covid vaccine shots to aid rollout speed examined The period between the two required doses of the Covid-19 vaccine could be extended, in order to accelerate the rollout. The chair of the vaccine taskforce says they're exploring the issue following a formal request from the Chief Medical Officer. Speaking to… 9 more cases of UK Covid-19 variant detected in Ireland 9 further cases of the UK variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Ireland. The head of the National Virus Reference Laboratory in UCD, Cillian De Gascun, says they were identified in samples taken between December 23rd and 29th. He says the proportion works… CMO warns health system won't cope with increasing Covid hospitalisations The Chief Medical Officer is warning the health system won't be able to cope with the increasing number of people being hospitalised with Covid-19. There are 581 patients with the virus in hospital this morning - up 73 since yesterday - and Dr Tony Holohan… 104 new cases of Covid-19 in Mayo The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 11 additional deaths related to COVID-19. There are 1,754 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. 523 of the cases are in Dublin, 296 in Cork, 180 in Galway, 104 in Mayo, 94 in Kerry and the… Return of ECCE is delayed until January 11th Pre-schools centres will stay closed until January 11th. Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman met with members of the ECCE today and accepted their request to align the reopening of early learning centres with schools. The ECCE pre-school programme provides… Head of the HSE says the virus is "rampant" in the community The Head of the HSE says the virus is 'rampant' in the community, with positivity rates at 22 percent yesterday. Paul Reid says some centres reported that half of the tests carried out came back with a positive result. People who are identified as close… 67 new confirmed cases of Covid 19 in Mayo today 1,620 new cases of covid 19 have been confirmed this evening and 12 more people with the virus have died. The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says the alarming escalation in the incidence of the virus in the general population gives great cause for… Westport and Newport Post Offices temporarily closed An Post has this afternoon issued a notice that Westport PO has closed temporarily due to circumstances beyond the control of An Post. Post office services including payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will be available at… Public asked not to leave donation bags outside Hospice Shops closed due to Level 5 Restrictions The Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation is again appealing to people across the region not to leave bags of goods outside their shops, as level 5 Covid 19 Restrictions are in place, and the shops are closed and cannot deal with the donations. Martina Jennings… Unprecedented demand today for Covid testing in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon HSE Community Healthcare West is notifying the public today that it is experiencing unprecedented demand for COVID-19 tests at the Galway, Mayo and Roscommon test sites. If you receive notice of a test and are unable to attend, you are asked please to advise… Eleven burglaries over the last five days in Mayo Eleven burglaries have occurred across county Mayo over the past five days and Westport based Garda Tony McCabe is appealing to householders and businesses to be on alert and ensure your property is protected. A man has been arrested for two of the incidents,… Sharp criticism that childcare facilities or créches won't be delayed reopening like schools Early Childhood Ireland has sharply criticised the move by Government to treat early years and childcare providers differently to schools in the latest Covid-19 measures, announced last night. The organisation – which has 3,800 members nationwide, supporting… Court appearance and arrest following fatal hit and run in Galway Gardaí in Galway arrested and charged a woman in her mid 50s in connection with a fatal hit and run which occurred on the R336 at Na Forbacha/Furbo, Co Galway on Wednesday December 16th, 2020. The woman was arrested last Sunday December 27th and was… Health Experts urging people not to attend New Year's Celebrations tonight Health Experts are urging people not to attend New Year’s celebrations tonight. It's after a record 1,718 new cases of Covid-19 were reported yesterday with 13 deaths. There were 112 new cases in Galway, 66 in Mayo, 32 in Sligo, seven in Roscommon and less… INMO calling for emergency childcare measures to be put in place for health workers The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation want emergency childcare measures to be put in place for health workers. It says members with children are worried they'll have to take time off work because of the extended school holidays. The Union also wants… ASTI hopeful that schools closing will have an impact on getting the spread of Covid-19 under control One of the country's largest teacher unions is hopeful schools closing will have an impact on getting the spread of Covid-19 under control. The Christmas holidays have been extended until January 11th. Ann Piggot, President of the ASTI said young people could… Extremely Icy conditions across East Mayo this morning Icy conditions have been reported in most areas this morning, with road temperature well below zero. Particular care is advised in the west and midlands. Gardai say care is needed on all routes across East Mayo. Extreme care is advised on very icy roads in… Country moves to full level 5 Covid-19 restrictions Non-essential retail is opening for the final day for at least a month, as the country has entered its third lockdown. Household visits were banned at midnight after the third record daily number of Covid-19 infections since Christmas. Meanwhile, school… 13 further deaths from Covid-19 and over 1,700 new cases There have been 1,718 new confirmed cases of Covid 19 in the last 24 hours and 13 further deaths. The national 14-day incidence rate has risen to 272.7, while 455 patients with COVID-19 being treated in hospital. It's the highest number of daily cases… 30 new jobs will be created in Galway through Enterprise Ireland Companies The creation of thirty new jobs in Galway by Enterprise Ireland Companies is a huge boost for the West of Ireland, according to Fine Gael Senator for Roscommon-Galway, Aisling Dolan. The roles are being created in three Enterprise Ireland supported companies… British MPs overwhelmingly back EU trade deal In the UK, MPs have overwhelmingly backed Boris Johnson's EU trade deal. The UK government's hoping it will go through all of its required parliamentary stages by tonight. The bill passed in the House of Commons with a majority of 448 votes. Meanwhile,… HSE chief says worst covid concerns have been realised A 'toxic and unprecedented level of scenarios' have emerged as a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases, according to the head of the HSE. Positivity rates for tests on some days are reaching close to 20 percent, including on tests carried out yesterday. It… Snow & ice warning extended in Sligo until tomorrow morning A cold spell of weather looks set to impact Ireland for the rest of the year. A status yellow snow-ice warning was extended across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal until 7 o’clock tomorrow morning. There will be further falls of snow in places today and tonight… Eir says full service restored on Achill Island Eir told Midwest News this afternoon that the outages of its services on Achill Island since Monday last have now been resolved. It says the full service was restored before noon today, stating "there was damage caused by the storm over the weekend which led… Deputy pleads with public to reduce contacts now to stop the spread of Covid 19 Mayo Sinn Fein deputy Rose Conway Walsh in the last number of days has experienced first-hand the GP contact, setting up of a Covid test and securing a result. She describes the system in Mayo as very efficient. The deputy says the increase in cases of the… Full Level 5 Restrictions now likely, according to Mayo Deputy As the number of confirmed cases of Covid 19 in Mayo and nationally, continue to rise, the Cabinet is to meet this afternoon and full Level 5 restrictions are expected to be imposed. That would involve non-essential retail and gyms closing and travel limited… Irish has overtaken Spanish as the most learned language in Ireland this year Irish has overtaken Spanish as the most learned language in Ireland this year. A new report from the language learning app Duolingo has shown that 5.6 million subscribers signed up to learn Irish online this year. 36 percent of the learners are in the US, 23… Cold weather forecast for the rest of this year A cold spell of weather looks set to impact Ireland for the rest of 2020. A status yellow snow-ice warning was lifted across 13 counties at noon time today. Showers of sleet and snow fell overnight while temperatures dropped below freezing. Alan O'Reilly… Eir outages in parts of Achill Island Midwest News is getting calls from parts of Achill Island today where people say they have had no Eir services since last Monday. They are concerned about the outage in particular, in case of the need to contact doctors and emergency services. They say they… Snow and ice warning remains in place for Northwest until noon today A status yellow snow-ice warning is in place for 13 counties this morning. The warning from Met Eireann covers counties in the north-west as well as south Leinster and East Munster. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather says cold temperatures could be an issue… Minister talks to Irish Times about the imminent publication of the Mother and Baby Homes commission's report Details of a “massive societal failure” and misogyny that “permeated” Irish life for decades will be revealed when the Mother and Baby Homes Commission’s report is published next month, Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has said. The 3,000-page report… Nphet and Cabinet meeting today over rising Covid numbers An unscheduled Cabinet meeting will get under way this afternoon to discuss tougher measures to tackle spiralling Covid 19 case numbers. 1,546 new infections were recorded yesterday the highest since the outbreak began. 69 cases of the virus were confirmed… INTO calls for extension to Christmas holidays because of latest Covid numbers The INTO is calling on the Minister for Education to extend primary schools' Christmas holidays to the end of next week at the earliest. Primary schools are due to reopen on January 6. General Secretary of the teachers' union John Boyle said the number of… Castlebar Cllr hits out at latest Covid-19 outbreak at MUH Mayo University Hospital has confirmed that there are a number of cases of covid-19 confirmed at the facility at present. This comes as the number of covid hospitalisations has significantly risen across the country today Independent Castlebar Councillor… Cabinet to meet tomorrow as Covid hospitalisations increase The cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss the rapid spread of Covid-19, and the sharp rise in hospital admissions. There has been a jump in the number of patients with confirmed cases of Covid-19 today at Mayo University Hospital. The number of patients has… Snow & ice warning issued for Sligo overnight A status yellow snow-ice warning has been issued for 13 counties overnight. The warning will be in place in Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and eastern parts of Munster and the south of Leinster. It comes into effect from midnight tonight until 12 midday tomorrow. Green light for Crossmolina's new fire station Construction is to get underway in 2021 on a new, long awaited, fire station on the Ballina road in Crossmolina. The conditions for staff at the present fire station in Crossmolina, are described as “very poor” and “inappropriate”. Mayo Fianna Fail Td Dara… Number of patients with Covid 19 rises at MUH There has been a jump in the number of patients with confirmed cases of Covid 19 today at Mayo University Hospital. The number of patients has risen from 9 to 19 over the past 48 hours. 409 people are in hospital nationally with the virus today, the highest… Planned rollout of Covid 19 vaccines in Mayo Nursing Homes Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has welcomed plans by the HSE to being vaccination of nursing home residents and staff in County Mayo which is due to begin on January 11 and be completed by the end of February. “Nursing homes have been asked to register all… Garda renew appeal for man missing from Lacken Gardaí in north Mayo have renewed their appeal to local landowners to check their outhouses and lands, as part of the ongoing search for a man who went missing in the Downpatrick Head area in November. The man – a 69-year-old Dutch national who has been… Gardai seize 7,000 euro of drugs in Ballina house Cocaine with an estimated street value of €7000 was seized following the search of a house in Ballina last week. A private house in the Dillon Terrace area of the town was searched under warrant by local Gardaí on December 23, where cocaine was seized along… Garda appeal for missing Galway man Gardai are appealing for help in tracing a 43 year old man missing from the Galway area. Fergal Guilfoyle was last seen in the Newcastle Road area on Tuesday 15th of December. He is described as being 5'9", with dark receding hair, of slight build with blue… First Covid vaccines to be administered today at UHG The first Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland will be administered today. It's expected that will happen in one of four major hospitals, Galway and Cork University Hospitals, Beaumont and St James' hospital in Dublin. Only the Netherlands is due to start it's… HSE boss appeals to public to answer phone to contact tracers The HSE chief executive says an increasing number of people are not answering calls from Covid-19 contact-tracers. Paul Reid says it's a 'concerning trend' because they are a valuable resource to protect people against the virus. Contact-tracers identify… 765 new cases of Covid-19 with one additional death There has been one further coronavirus-related death and 765 new cases reported to the Department of Health. The number of patients in ICU is 30, an increase of four since yesterday. 291 of the cases are in Dublin, 63 in Cork, 59 in Monaghan, 49 in Louth, 43… Four new retrofitting centres of excellence announced including one in Connacht The Minister for Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has confirmed the opening of four retrofitting centres of excellence. The centres will open in Limerick & Clare ETB, Mayo Sligo & Leitrim ETB, Cork ETB and Laois & Offaly ETB within the next four… Status Yellow wind warning remains in place today across the West A Status Yellow wind warning remains in place for Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Cork and Kerry until 2pm today. Met Éireann said today will be blustery with widespread showers of rain or hail, some may turn wintry in fresh to strong and gusty… Search underway for a missing man in Galway A search will continue tomorrow morning for a missing person in Galway. The Western Division of Boyne Fisherman’s rescue and recovery service have sent several members to assist local authorities in an underwater search for a missing male in the area. Several… Four more deaths from Covid-19 & 744 new cases The Chief Medical Officer believes there are higher levels of covid 19 circulating in the community than today's case numbers reflect. Dr. Tony Holohon expects a large increase in cases over the coming days, due to the lower volume of tests being carried out… Snow & Wind warnings coming into effect later today Eight counties are under a status yellow snow and ice warning. The alert for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo is in place until 7 o'clock tomorrow morning. Met Eireann says wintry showers are expected, with some… 1,296 news cases of Covid-19 with 6 additional deaths 1,296 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed and 6 more patients with the virus have died. The Chief Medical Officer says we have now returned to the very high levels of COVID-19 circulating in the community that we haven't seen since the peak of Wave… Status Yellow wind & rain warning coming into effect this afternoon A status yellow wind and rain warning will come into effect from 3 O'Clock this afternoon until the early hours of tomorrow morning. Met Eireann issued them as Storm Bella approaches the country, bringing persistent heavy rain and strong winds. Wind speeds of… First batch of Covid-19 vaccines has arrived in Ireland The HSE has accepted the delivery of Ireland's first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines, which are now in cold storage. The first of those jabs is due to be administered in four days time. Taoiseach has said he anticipates three different vaccines being available… Tanaiste says Brexit Deal was the best one possible for fisheries The Tainaiste says the Brexit deal was probably the best one possible for fisheries. However the Irish Fishermen's Organisation hit out at the agreement after it was announced, saying it has 'failed' them. It was one of the major stumbling blocks between the… Over One thousand new cases of Covid-19 Health officials have reported an additional 1,025 cases of Covid-19, with 2 further deaths. Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has also confirmed that the new UK variant of the virus has been detected in Ireland. He has urged people who arrive from the UK… Radio Station New Midwest Radio Logo Outside Broadcast Unit Midwest Radio | Clare St, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Ireland Tel: 0818 300055 / 00 353 94 96 30169 | Email: studio@midwestradio.ie

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: How long does it typically take for CK-MB levels to return to normal after a myocardial infarction (MI)? output: After a myocardial infarction (MI), CK-MB levels typically begin to rise between 6-12 hours after the event and reach their peak at 16-24 hours. However, they typically return to normal levels within 48-72 hours after the MI. CK-MB is an enzyme that is released into the bloodstream when heart muscle cells are damaged, and elevated levels can be a sign of an acute coronary syndrome such as an MI. While CK-MB levels can be a useful diagnostic tool, other markers such as troponin are often preferred due to their higher specificity and sensitivity. In addition, imaging studies such as electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography may also be used to confirm the diagnosis of an MI and to assess the extent of the damage to the heart.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Doctor, I have noticed that my scrotum is very swollen and I can feel a large mass in it. What could be the reason for this? output: Well, based on your symptoms, it sounds like you may have a male genitalia infection, also known as epididymitis. It's important to get it checked out and treated right away to prevent complications.

On 14th March this year it’s the first LearnConnectDo event of 2019 as these events run into their 4th year now! Wow. When you were in flow, to what extent were you doing any of the things in that definition? My guess would be not very much, if at all, and certainly not consciously. Not with intellectual effort. This is because when we’re in our natural state, we don’t need strategies and tactics. We don’t need breathing and centring, or visualisations of the best version of us, or mantras about listening to understand not to reply. And this is because, in our natural “flow state”, we aren’t paying attention to the thinking going on in our heads. We’re not grabbing hold of thoughts and believing them. We’re not analysing why someone’s said what they said, or why we ourselves are getting frustrated by something, and crucially we’re not trying to manage ourselves out of an emotional response we think we shouldn’t be having in that moment. We’re keeping our intellectual, egoic, personal thinking out of the way and we’re accessing a much deeper space of wisdom and intuition. Why aren’t we in flow more? For years we’ve been teaching people (me included until recently) that we need to intellectually manage what’s going on for us emotionally. That we need to use our brain muscle to fix ourselves, that we need to practice and repeat to build new habits and new neural pathways, all so we can be better versions of ourselves more of the time because we’ve been led to believe there’s some version of us which is not good enough and not acceptable to society right now. The trouble is, the application of our intellectual capabilities to these emotional management tasks, takes valuable energy away from our ability to generate fresh new thoughts and ideas in any moment, from our ability to listen and hear others, from our ability to connect and collaborate. Remember that flow state? All those things just happened naturally there because you weren’t stuck, caught, or getting tangled in your thinking. And I’m not saying that in flow everything is about positivity and full agreement, with permanent grins on everyone’s faces – but you and others will have felt able to express any frustration or concerns without it seeming like a big deal. In fact the complete opposite. Any such insights will have been gratefully received and discussed, leading to an even better way forward. So if we’re not “managing” our state through emotional intelligence tactics, how do we get to this state of flow more of the time? We understand how our human system really works. the “why” – what’s triggered you to get to that response. Often then examined to be re-framed or replaced with a more helpful thought. This different approach understands the “how” of our underlying system. Think of making a car go. There is no benefit in commenting on the shape or design of the bodywork (the “what”). And there’s also no benefit in polishing the paintwork to a high shine to make it look nicer (the “why”). Neither of these approaches is going to get the car going. You must first understand “how” all the parts of the engine work and fit together to make the thing move forward. So how does our system work? There are two areas where we can see the system working the way it always has and always will. Everything works inside-out. Everything you’ve experienced, ever, in your whole life has been experienced through your thoughts. There is no other way. Nothing on the outside can “do” anything to you or “make” you feel anything. It’s all seen through the movie projector of our experience. “We’re the writer, the director, the producer – and in fact the audience”*. Our system rights itself. Without intervention from us, our thinking moves on, our feelings change and we move to a different state. Automatically. In fact, I might go so far as to use the new word I recently learnt “automagically”! We “think” we’re so clever and we’ve been taught all our lives to be clever: in education, by parents, and in work. The message we’ve received is that intellectual capabilities are THE most important capability we have. And it’s not that intellectual is unimportant, but it’s the fact that this is not all there is. In emphasising our intellectual, we’ve denied and hidden the rest of what makes us whole; the true source of our brilliance and innate wisdom. We’ve been so busy fixing ourselves to be better we forgot that we didn’t need fixing in the first place. I was with a Board team last week who were talking about change. How it takes courage and can be hard because we’re having to lose something of us to adopt something new or move to something different. When we attach to our personal thoughts it’s like putting square wheels on a racing car. We clunk along. Sometimes stopping all together, unable to move forward. Certainly not able to quickly change direction when needed. But we believe in these wheels, we created them. Even if “horrible” or “negative” there’s a familiarity about them that brings comfort. We know where we are. We’ve adapted ourselves to drive with these wheels, forgetting how things used to be before we had them. Then we start to consider maybe this isn’t ideal. Maybe I would benefit from a smoother ride. Normally we start working hard to change the wheels. Intellectually analysing how they were fitted, what they are made of. But some of the bolts seem stuck. Or maybe there’s a square wheel we subconsciously like the look of so we find a justifiable reason not to change it. Now we’re driving with 2 square and 2 round wheels. Better but not exactly a smooth ride. Then you meet someone who glides on round wheels. You’re fascinated & slightly freaked out by their difference. It reminds you of glimmers in your life when you’ve glided, when smooth wheels suddenly appeared and for that short while you enjoyed it! Thinking it must have been what you were doing at the time that created that feeling, you repeat the activity, repeating the external conditions to create the smooth-ride magic as often as you can. Maybe you didn’t realise that you brushed off the truth of what was going on because it seemed so simple and we all know simple doesn’t win kudos prizes. The truth is that round wheels are our natural state. Round wheels are what we are born with. We just acquired the square as we grew up & blindly followed the square-creating rules of the world. Once we really see the truth of how the square are created, moment-to-moment, and what they really mean, then our attachment to them drops away with a natural ease and we slip into the round. The natural place we fall back to. Our innate state of clarity, wisdom and wellbeing. From here we glide round the corners, speed along the straights and rediscover a life of richness and fulfilment. All the while connected to our innate brilliance. If you’re curious to learn more, this is what we’re going to be exploring through LearnConnctDo this year. The thread that’s going to weave through all the sessions. We’re starting on 14th March* with an introduction to the psychological understanding that underpins this smooth-wheel place. The Eventbrite will be up very soon on this page – if you don’t want to miss it jump on the mailing list by getting in touch with me here. As last year, all ticket profits will be going to Twenty:Twenty as we continue our partnership with this wonderful charity. Thank you to PKF for continuing to host us so we can maximise how much we donate. *3-6pm at PKF Cooper Parry’s East Mids offices (near East Mids Airport). It really seems like that person is irritating / lazy / slow at their work / makes lots of mistakes. Or that this other person is amazing / so capable / always on it / full of great ideas. It really seems like this situation is upsetting, or that one is fun. That this one will make me cry, or that one will make me laugh out loud. It seems like these are definites. But when you see that our minds are entirely like projectors, that definite-ness shifts. Nothing, ever, in our whole lives, has “made” us think or feel any of those things. All those people and experiences are 100% neutral until we experience them through our thinking. We are a projector, not a camera, and always have been. Life is LITERALLY what we make it because we can and have always experienced life through our thoughts. The thing that makes these experiences seem so convincingly true and makes them seem like they’re coming from outside of us is that we mostly agree about what’s upsetting or fun and what counts as irritating or amazing. We get taught these rules from the moment we enter the world so our thinking around people and situations is mostly very similar. I witnessed it the other day in the supermarket. Someone talking to a baby.. “oh that’s better, there’s that smile” because clearly the baby not smiling wasn’t good or acceptable. Or at least that’s the message the baby – and we all – received. The thought that the baby attached its identity to. But then you meet someone who doesn’t see things the same way as you. A common reaction to these people is to find a way to not be with them. The greater the differences the more we’ll psychologically or intellectually fight or run away from them. Our ego likes to be right and certain and these people who remove such certainty and who challenge our right-ness are a danger – or at least our ego thinks so. I ran some happiness workshops recently and while most people were in agreement about the stress and pressures of diaries and conflicting priorities, about the difficult people and demanding bosses, the high expectations and reducing budgets…there was one person who was different. “You all seem to be thinking about this stuff far too much” he said. “This is just work. You come in, do your best with the time you’ve got, you close things off well for the day, you go home and you do other things”. Most of the group held onto their own views and saw his as strange, or dismissed this difference with “well you must have an easy job” or “you mustn’t have the pressures that I have in my job” or, I’ve no doubt some were thinking, “your work isn’t as important as mine”. As far as I know this guy hadn’t had any special lessons in how to get the most from life but he really seemed to have a good appreciation for the nature of Thought, and that when you really see that, your thoughts naturally drop away more easily and bother you less. When you see that the feelings thoughts generate don’t need solutions life gets easier, more obvious and more fun. Notice for yourself. Next time you find yourself confronted by a different view, see what it’s like to notice that thought and not follow it or hold onto it as if it were the truth. This parrot led to tears and upset. As my daughter drew it, copying from the video, she burst into tears. The tail looked all wrong, far too wide for the body. “But mummy look, the tail needs to go to under its first toe”. Trouble is, of course, my daughter’s parrot’s toes were slightly different to the one in the video so the tail going to there did make it look a bit crazy-wide. When we try to copy a pre-prepared plan to the letter, when we expect people to behave in a certain way that matches the movie in our heads, when we think it shouldn’t be raining today because we’ve got that outdoor event, when we think we should be earning more / achieving more…. This is where our suffering begins: when we believe every single thing we think and see it as a solid, definite truth. Once you really see how our minds work, the more you live in the moment working with what is, instead of what you think it “should” be. The more you’re here, the more you stay fluid and flexible, adaptive and agile, adjusting and integrating, and the better you feel. All this without having to actively “do” anything. No mind-management techniques, no practicing of new habits. Once you “get” this understanding, the flow just flows. It’s hard work swimming upstream against the current of the world around us. Jump in and be in the flow. I saw a tweet recently from someone whose goal is to “drink more water”. This is the world we live in now….. a world where we don’t prioritise our own needs, not even our most basic need to stay hydrated! It might just be me but I find this incredibly sad and I hear my internal voice of desperation asking “what on earth are we doing??”. I also wonder how many people find expectations of self-care just another stress to add to the pile of other things “I’m not good enough at”. It’s all with good intention but it’s not getting to what really needs to be got at. Yes, look after ourselves better but not in this way. Not when looking after our own health is a to-do list or goal. I have a lot of time for you Michelle Obama (assuming she actually said these words in the quote!) but self-care can’t be attached to a “we need to” i.e. “we should”. Anything along those lines is a force, a push, a cajole, a tell, an expectation that’s being put on us from outside of us, a standard that if we fall short we’re rubbish (and then we give up). Yes, look after ourselves better but not when we believe we have an important role to play in getting things “right” with our health and wellbeing, because the more we do this the more we get in our own way. Layering our thinking and piling expectations into our heads only takes us further away from our innate wellbeing that we already have inside us; in all of us. It takes us away from letting our system right itself, which it does all the time if we stop meddling. Instead, when we drop all that thinking, looking after ourselves becomes the most obvious thing to do. Anything else just looks bonkers! And we don’t need someone outside of us to tell us what to do or how to do it. If you’d like to talk more about what this means for you just get in touch. On 13th September Cat Hase and I ran a Street Wisdom for September’s Learn > Connect > Do event, and welcomed an inquisitive bunch of wanderers to the PKF Cooper Parry offices up here in the East Mids. You can *see some of them there in the photo 😉 (*courtesy of Cat’s creative skills and in the absence of us thinking to take photos!) Thanks to these wonderful people buying tickets to find wisdom in the streets, we’ve now upped our total donated to Twenty:Twenty to £325 so far this year – more than last year’s total already! We’re delighted!! As well as that great news, I wanted to share about the experience of one of the delegates because it led to learning and insight for me too. This is the kind of brilliance that comes from Street Wisdom and I didn’t even wander! Jonny, Head of Fundraising at Twenty:Twenty, brought the question – how do you create a community? Clearly an important question for his job, and for many in the world of work whatever the sector. His first thoughts as he began his quest were “well, an airport runway, how am I going to find inspiration here?’. And of course he did, because our mind is a wonderful thing and Street Wisdom is an amazing tool to access it. This seemingly dead-end question led to a realisation that the runway is in fact itself a creator of community. All the people who visit the airport, who work there, who transport people there, who work in the businesses that are only there because of their proximity to the airport. These people are all part of that airport community. They might all have different individual, small-group or large-group purposes to be there but they’re all connected by that central tarmac object. All part of that community. Later that night, or the next morning, I can’t quite remember….I had a realisation too…..multiply that up. Take it bigger. Take the earth. We might all have our individual, small-group or large-group purposes here but we are all connected. We are all together, living our purposes, connected by this shared central earth-shaped object. All part of this community. And not just humans – plants, creatures, weather, water, mountains….. All connected. What does this change for you? The other day I wrote this piece about how we are all absolutely OK. We just forgot it. This has been a new realisation for me thanks to learning about the Three Principles with Piers Thurston and this particular realisation has helped to settle a paradox that I used to just accept I had to hold both ends of. That paradox was that I would hear people say “you’re good enough just as you are” but then I would hear and see others doing or saying things – maybe about their own work or feeding back to me – which would suggest I “should” be doing or behaving in a different way. So…I’m good enough as I am…..except when others (or me to myself) lay down a judgement and then I’m not good enough, I’m imperfect in some way and I “should” change and do something different. Two key realisations have been part of this happening…. One is that I had a deep whole-body realisation that I’m actually, deeply, fundamentally OK. I am already a whole person. Good enough just as I am. I truly “see” that. I don’t just hear the words at an intellectual level. Two is that I see that everything I have ever experienced has been from the inside out. So all those times when I’ve thought I “should” be doing something because of what someone else is telling me or what I’m enviously seeing others do, have been created by me. Self-imposed “should’s”. And the result. The paradox is gone. I am deeply, fundamentally, good enough as I am and I know I have an innate capacity to be creative and resourceful which means I will keep moving forward, learning, improving and creating with the goal of making a positive difference. But not because I “should”, instead because it feels like the most natural and obvious thing to do.

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Answer the following question from the document below. ##Question: Was the patient on any respiratory support? ## Document: Chief Complaint: DKA 24 Hour Events: - Creat trended down overnight - pt continued to be confused throughout the night - good UOP throughout the night, 50-150 cc/hr - continued on insulin gtt over night, In the AM at 14.5 units/hr History obtained from Patient Allergies: History obtained from Patient Last dose of Antibiotics: Infusions: Insulin - Regular - 14.5 units/hour Other ICU medications: Other medications: Changes to medical and family history: Review of systems is unchanged from admission except as noted below Review of systems: Constitutional: Partially Improved clouded consciousness Eyes: No(t) Blurry vision Ear, Nose, Throat: Dry mouth Cardiovascular: No(t) Chest pain, No(t) Palpitations, No(t) Edema, No(t) Tachycardia, No(t) Orthopnea Respiratory: No(t) Cough, No(t) Dyspnea, No(t) Tachypnea, No(t) Wheeze Gastrointestinal: No(t) Abdominal pain, No(t) Nausea, No(t) Emesis, No(t) Diarrhea, No(t) Constipation Genitourinary: No(t) Dysuria Musculoskeletal: No(t) Joint pain, No(t) Myalgias Integumentary (skin): No(t) Jaundice, No(t) Rash Endocrine: Hyperglycemia Neurologic: No(t) Numbness / tingling, Headache, No(t) Seizure Pain: No pain / appears comfortable Flowsheet Data as of 2199-12-15 07:41 AM Vital signs Hemodynamic monitoring Fluid balance 24 hours Since 12 AM Tmax: 37.5 C (99.5 Tcurrent: 37.4 C (99.3 HR: 97 (77 - 97) bpm BP: 135/69(83){117/59(74) - 140/96(100)} mmHg RR: 12 (9 - 22) insp/min SpO2: 98% Heart rhythm: SR (Sinus Rhythm) Total In: 1,697 mL 3,960 mL PO: 960 mL TF: IVF: 1,697 mL 3,000 mL Blood products: Total out: 430 mL 640 mL Urine: 430 mL 640 mL NG: Stool: Drains: Balance: 1,267 mL 3,320 mL Respiratory support O2 Delivery Device: None SpO2: 98% ABG: 7.42/34/106/24/-1 Physical Examination General Appearance: Well nourished, No acute distress, Thin Eyes / Conjunctiva: PERRL Head, Ears, Nose, Throat: Normocephalic Cardiovascular: (S1: Normal), (S2: Normal), No(t) S3, No(t) S4, No(t) Rub, (Murmur: No(t) Systolic, No(t) Diastolic) Peripheral Vascular: (Right radial pulse: Present), (Left radial pulse: Present), (Right DP pulse: Present), (Left DP pulse: Present) Respiratory / Chest: (Expansion: Symmetric), (Breath Sounds: Clear : , No(t) Crackles : , No(t) Wheezes : ) Abdominal: Soft, Bowel sounds present, Tender: +TTP in epigastium. No rebound, vol guarding, No(t) Obese Extremities: Right: Absent, Left: Absent Skin: Warm, No(t) Rash: , No(t) Jaundice Neurologic: Attentive, Follows simple commands, Responds to: Verbal stimuli, Oriented (to): person and place, not to day, Movement: Purposeful, Tone: Not assessed, Able to state his college major, which he was unable to stat yesterday Labs / Radiology 200 K/uL 12.1 g/dL 145 mg/dL 1.0 mg/dL 24 mEq/L 2.8 mEq/L 13 mg/dL 117 mEq/L 147 mEq/L 34.9 % 9.9 K/uL [image002.jpg] 2199-12-14 07:12 PM 2199-12-14 07:15 PM 2199-12-15 01:02 AM 2199-12-15 06:17 AM WBC 9.9 Hct 34.9 Plt 200 Cr 1.5 1.2 1.0 TCO2 23 Glucose (648)367-3754x75745 Other labs: CK / CKMB / Troponin-T:289//, Ca++:8.2 mg/dL, Mg++:2.0 mg/dL, PO4:1.6 mg/dL Assessment and Plan ACIDOSIS, METABOLIC DIABETES MELLITUS (DM), TYPE I HYPERNATREMIA (HIGH SODIUM) RENAL FAILURE, ACUTE (ACUTE RENAL FAILURE, ARF) DELIRIUM / CONFUSION Jones PROBLEM - ENTER DESCRIPTION IN COMMENTS tourette ICU Care Nutrition: Glycemic Control: Lines: 18 Gauge - 2199-12-14 09:43 PM Prophylaxis: DVT: SQ UF Heparin Stress ulcer: Not indicated VAP: Comments: Communication: Comments: Code status: Full code Disposition: output: None

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi my girlfriend is suffering from bright red rasied rashs that are in a number of areas on her body. The rash began on her face and have spread to her abdomen, back, neck, breast and chest. She is also suffering with a stiff neck, lower back pain, headache and a burning sensation on her face. She also says she feels as if both her arms are heavy and dead. Swelling has also been noticed on her face. Do you have any idea what this could be? output: first it is necessary to know the exact age of your girlfriend. Then let me know whether she was ill due to some ailment recently. Was she hospitalized for the ailment. Are her menstrual cycles regular?is she asthmatic?does she suffer from any other skin problem?is she allergic to any artificial ornaments which females use as accessories?it is necessary to know her past medication history if she HS suffered from some ailment etc. If all these details are provided then it will be feasible to diagnose what she is exactly suffering from..

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Sedan: A Lesson in Army Air Support Posted on April 29, 2019 by MSW Further south, Britain’s most important ally was also in trouble. Since 10 May, French reconnaissance planes had been monitoring the powerful armoured forces moving through the Luxembourg Ardennes towards the French defences on the Meuse, and more were moving across southern Belgium towards Gembloux. Initially, the latter seemed the greater threat; there was no natural obstacle to aid the defence in the 30-mile gap between the BEF on the Dyle and the French forces on the Meuse. The well-equipped French 1st Army had the task of plugging this gap. The 2nd and 3rd Light Armoured divisions pushed as far east as possible to buy time for the French infantry to dig in. Before the German forces could even think about breaking through the ‘Gembloux Gap’, they had to cross the River Mass, which ran through the Dutch town of Maastricht. Just a couple of miles beyond that, in Belgium, there was another major obstacle—the Albert Canal. The Maastricht crossing was not important to Dutch defences, but the local troops did their duty and destroyed the bridges over the Maas before the Germans could seize them. German forces had more success just over the frontier, in Belgium. Troops in gliders landed near the three bridges over the Albert Canal and the fort at Eben-Emael, which was supposed to cover them. Belgian engineers blew one of the bridges, but those at Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt were captured intact and Eben-Emael was quickly neutralised. With the Maastricht bridges blown, the Belgians had the best part of a day before any major reinforcements could reach the lightly armed German airborne troops holding the Albert Canal bridges. The German forces, however, had the firepower of the Stuka dive-bombers to help them fend of the Belgian counterattacks. The Belgian troops had no air support or fighter cover; apart from escorting the odd reconnaissance mission, Belgian fighters stayed on the ground. The Fairey Fox was as capable of carrying bombs as the Fokker C.V and C.X, but these and the Belgian Battles did not intervene. The blown bridges at Maastricht caused a huge bottleneck as German columns waited for the engineers to construct the pontoons. It was one of those rare occasions where there was no alternative route. The backed-up columns made an attractive target for the eleven unemployed Hampden and Whitley squadrons, not to mention the two Whitley squadrons attempting to hit less vital communication targets further north. Sifting through the reports coming from the front, it was not German bottlenecks the Air Staff was looking for, but rather any evidence that the Luftwaffe was bombing civilians. The cabinet meetings that day spent much time discussing whether there was justification for unleashing Bomber Command on the Ruhr, but they reached no final decision. Apart from Wellington and Whitley attacks on Waalhaven and communication targets west of the Ruhr, no other missions were flown on the night of 10–11 May. This is not to say that the French effort was more intensive—only two of the six night bomber squadrons flew. Twelve aircraft made some rather ineffectual attacks on German airfields. Five reconnaissance Blenheims, flying singly and unescorted, were dispatched during the course of 11 May to find out what was happening in the Maastricht/Albert Canal region. Three were lost and the two that made it back were badly damaged. They confirmed the Belgian frontier defences had been breached and armoured forces were heading for Gembloux. These missions also confirmed that using unescorted Blenheims for reconnaissance was not an efficient way of acquiring information; even the Belgians were escorting their reconnaissance planes. Only the photo-reconnaissance Spitfires could operate unescorted, but No. 212 Squadron had so few planes that it rarely managed to fly more than two sorties a day. The most important role of any air force has always been and probably always will be reconnaissance. A few more reconnaissance Spitfires would have been a very good investment. Early on the morning of the 11th, Belgian Air Force Battles attempted to destroy the two intact bridges over the Albert Canal. The Gladiator escort was intercepted before it met up with the bombers, and only one of the eight Battles returned. No bombs had hit the bridges, and the 50-kg bombs they were carrying would not have made much impression anyway. The Belgians appealed to their British and French Allies to try. In fact, Maastricht was the more rewarding target. The bridges high over the Albert Canal could not be easily replaced, but nor could they be easily destroyed. The pontoons the Germans had thrown across the Maas were far more vulnerable and any damage to the town itself would block roads. No. 2 Group Blenheims attacked the pontoon bridges in Maastricht (eleven sorties) and enemy columns pushing towards Tongres (twelve sorties). Twelve French LeO 451s, the first of the new French bombers, also bombed Maastricht. The French bombers had a close escort of M.S.406 fighters, while the Blenheims had to rely on Hurricanes operating in the general area, but it would seem the air defences were not that strong on the 11th. Two Blenheims were lost—one to fighters and one to flak. Instead of continuing the attack during the night, Bomber Command stuck rigidly to its pre-offensive plane to bomb communication targets west of the Rhine in Germany. Nineteen Hampdens and eighteen Whitleys bombed Mönchengladbach. It was the first time Bomber Command had attacked a German city. Four civilians were killed. How the Germans were supposed to distinguish between this and attacks on German industry east of the Rhine is not clear; nor would it have been clear to the Germans why Mönchengladbach was chosen as the crucial tactical target that merited Bomber Command’s only effort that night. Lines of communication from the city led into southern Holland and to Maastricht, but it was too far from either front line to be crucial. All the French could put into the air was five ancient Amiot 143s, but at least they were in a more relevant area, bombing Maastricht and targets around Aachen. Fairey Battles: 12 Squadron aircraft going in against the bridges over the Albert Canal. The fifty bombing sorties flown in the Maastricht area on the 11th were dwarfed by the number of bomber and dive-bomber sorties flown by the Luftwaffe. Nevertheless, they made sufficient impression for German Army commanders to demand better air cover. In response, on 12 May German fighter squadrons maintained a permanent watch, operating from airfields just a few minutes’ flying time from Maastricht. Operating without a close escort was now going to be very dangerous. To make matters worse, while the Luftwaffe was stepping up its efforts in the Maastricht area, Air Component Hurricanes had to divide their resources between Maastricht and the Belgian forces falling back on Antwerp. The bombers paid the price. Nine AASF Blenheims were intercepted just after attacking German troop columns and seven were shot down. Five Battles from No. 12 Squadron attempted to destroy the Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt bridges. Two squadrons of Blenheims bombing Maastricht from medium altitude were supposed to distract the defenders, but they arrived too late and the bridges were not destroyed. Ten of the twenty-four Blenheims were lost to fighters and flak, and all five Battles were also shot down. An irate German officer scolded one of the shaken survivors: You British are mad. We capture the bridge early Friday morning. You give us all Friday and Saturday to get our flak guns up in circles all round the bridge, and then on Sunday, when all is ready, you come along with three aircraft and try and blow the thing up! It was a fair point. If they had struck quickly, before the defences were ready, the chances of surviving were much greater. Other attacks on troop column heading for Tongres brought the total number of No. 2 Group sorties to forty-five for the loss of eleven Blenheims. This was an unsustainable loss rate. Fighter escorts helped the French medium bombers avoid heavy losses, but no escort could prevent eight of eighteen hedge-hopping Breguet 693 ground-attack bombers from being shot down by flak. Like the Battle aircrews, the French were flying their first mission, and they were equally taken aback by the lethality of the light anti-aircraft defences. The Breguet 693 was smaller and much faster than the Battle, but the French aircrews were no more experienced than their RAF counterparts. Three more RAF Hurricane squadrons flew to France on the evening of the 10th, and the promised tenth squadron arrived on the 12th. Even so, the number of RAF fighters available was still inadequate for all the tasks they were required to carry out. RAF fighters were not being used as bomber interceptors deep in the rear, as Slessor and Dowding had anticipated; they were inevitably drawn to where the fighting on the ground was taking place, and the further east they went, the more frequent were encounters with Bf 109Es. Galland describes how he almost felt sorry for what he thought was a formation of Belgian Hurricanes he came across; it was actually an RAF squadron, probably No. 87. The German ace shot down two with an ease that he found embarrassing. The Battle and Blenheim raid on the Albert Canal/Maastricht bridges was supposed to be covered by three fighter squadrons, but they were committed piecemeal and engaged by German fighters over a wide area. Only the eight Hurricanes of No. 1 Squadron were in the Maastricht area, and only three of them returned intact, although all the pilots eventually made it back. Thirteen French-based Hurricanes were lost on the 12th, marking the first serious pilot losses—four killed and two wounded. The 100-odd bomber sorties flown by the Allied air forces on 11 and 12 May in the Maastricht region caused delays, especially to the 4th Panzer. This could only help the French racing to meet them, but it was only partial compensation for the far more powerful blows that were delaying the French. These were spearheaded by the 300 Stuka dive-bombers of Fliegerkorps VIII. This mobile close-support unit had helped smash a way through the Dutch Peel Marshes defences, had beaten off the Belgian counterattacks around Eben-Emael, had forced the French tanks advancing on Breda to retreat, and was now supporting the drive on Gembloux. The idea that German Army commanders could radio for help whenever they needed it was perhaps an exaggeration, but the Germans were very good at concentrating their air resources where they were needed. The French 2nd and 3rd Light Armoured divisions first clashed with the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions on 12 May. From the 13th to the 15th, a fierce tank battle raged east of Gembloux. The French suffered heavily at the hands of their more experienced opponents, but the German Panzers failed to break through. In a hard-fought and close battle, by imposing some delays, the Allied day bombers could claim to have made a small but useful contribution. Perhaps significantly, for most of the battle the French tanks were spared the full attention of the German Stukas. On the 13th, most of Fliegerkorps VIII moved south. The French thought they were dealing with the most serious threat; in fact, the heaviest German blow was to fall on the Meuse. Since the first day of the offensive, the French had been following the progress of the Panzers heading through Luxembourg and southern Belgium towards the Meuse. On the 11th, two flights of four AASF Battles were involved in a rather ambitious attempt to bomb roads around Prüm, in Germany. Only one returned. The survivors reported that the three other planes in their flight had been shot down by flak before reaching the target. In view of the heavy losses to ground fire, Barratt suggested that the Battles should be used from a higher altitude. Playfair argued that the highest altitude for accurate bombing would still be within range of light flak, and flying as low as possible was still the best option. This seemed to be borne out in further raids on the 12th, when a first wave of three attacking from 20 feet suffered no losses, a second wave of six attacking from 100 feet lost two, and a third wave of six attacking from 1,000 feet lost four. There had been eight months of phoney war and a campaign in Norway to try out different tactics. The middle of a crucial battle was an unfortunate time to be debating solutions. As far as the Air Staff was concerned, the losses proved they had been right all along. Portal had predicted 50 per cent losses and that was what was happening. In fact, the losses in tactical operations had been no more disastrous that those suffered in the Wilhelmshaven raids. The Air Staff’s response, however, was very different. The heavy Hampdens and Wellington losses had not been allowed to throw into doubt the validity of strategic bombing; they had just hardened Air Staff resolve to find ways around the problem. The heavy losses in tactical operations were gratefully accepted as proof that Army air support did not work. The only problem was that the Luftwaffe was proving the contrary. The Air Staff were left sticking gamely to their argument that direct air support for ground forces only worked for armies going forward; only armies that were advancing knew what needed to be attacked, whereas armies that were retreating would always be less sure. The Air Staff liked to conjure up the image of bombers desperately scouring the countryside, looking for a particular enemy column the Army wanted bombed. In fact, in such a large-scale offensive, the bombers had no problems finding suitable targets. Their losses to anti-aircraft fire were a testament to that. Two of the raids on 12 May were actually witnessed by Guderian, the commander of the German tank forces heading for Sedan. The bombers were in the right areas. The problem was the losses they were suffering. In critical situations, the AASF was supposed to fly repeat missions every two hours. If his had been possible, even the relatively small AASF could have had a major impact on the German columns winding their way through the Ardennes. This was what the German commanders had most feared. As it was, repeat missions were out of the question. Indeed, there were doubts about continuing to use the Battle at all in the low-level attack role. Much to their relief, the Germans were able to complete their three-day approach march to the main French defensive position along the Meuse relatively unscathed. On Newall’s orders, Barratt instructed Playfair not to fly any missions on the 13th—the Battles had to be conserved for the decisive phase of the battle. Given the losses so far suffered, the decision was understandable. Unfortunately, the 13th was to be the decisive day of the entire campaign. This was far from obvious to the French that morning; the Germans had reached the Meuse, but all the bridges had been blown and French artillery dominated the battlefield. The French expected a pause of a few days while the Germans brought their artillery up to support a crossing of the river, and the situation seemed far more critical elsewhere. The tank battle at Gembloux was about to begin, and the French 7th Army was in difficulty around Breda, in the Netherlands. The only mission flown by the AASF on the 13th was an attempt to slow down the German advance by blocking roads in Breda. While Battles were flying all the way from Reims to support the French Army in the Netherlands, the real danger was much closer to hand. Events on the Meuse were moving far faster than the French had anticipated. The German forces had no intention of waiting for artillery to move up. Instead, the Luftwaffe gave a classic demonstration of how airpower could substitute for artillery. Throughout the 13th, the French positions at Sedan, in the front line and artillery to the rear, were subjected to waves of medium bombers and dive-bombers. Under the cover of this continuous air bombardment, German infantry established bridgeheads on the west bank of the Meuse. So fierce was the aerial bombardment that some French troops holding the front line panicked and fled. There could be no doubt now about the impact tactical bombing could have on the battlefield. It was, however, still only German infantry on the west bank. The Panzers would have to wait until the German engineers could get their pontoon bridges across the river. Further north, at Dinant, the German forces had nothing like the same air support. Nevertheless, at Houx, just north of Dinant, Rommel managed to get a small party of infantry across the Meuse and establish the first tiny, precarious bridgehead on the west bank. The German troops were spotted by a French reconnaissance plane. The pilot appreciated the significance of the discovery and knew what to do; following the guidelines established before the offensive for dealing with important fleeting targets, he headed for the base of No. 12 Battle Squadron. On 13 May, there could be no more important a target of opportunity than German forces on the west bank of the Meuse. Playfair wanted to strike, but Barratt, anxious to avoid unnecessary losses, denied permission. Perhaps a single strike by a squadron of Battles would not have been enough to defeat Rommel’s first attempt to cross the Meuse, but the Allies would never find out. By the evening, the bridgehead was large enough to allow work to begin on a pontoon bridge. The French planned to retrieve the situation at Sedan by a counterattack by two tank battalions. These slow-moving infantry support tanks were quite capable of dealing with lightly armed infantry. If bridges enabled German Panzers to cross the river, the odds would swing heavily against the French. The counterattack was supposed to be launched at dawn on the 14th, but it had to be put back because of the confusion caused by retreating troops. The French desperately needed a little more time. At 10 p.m. on 13 May, General Billotte, the commander of all Allied armies on the North-Eastern front, instructed D’Astier and Barratt to take immediate action against the bridges the Germans were building. He wanted the attacks to begin that night if possible. D’Astier immediately switched his four night bomber squadrons from the Maastricht region to the Ardennes and prepared to launch every available bomber against the bridges the following day. Barratt was more cautious. He committed himself to just one small raid at dawn. The Meuse crossings were a much easier target for the Allied air forces than the Maastricht/Albert Canal bridges. The German fighter pilots would now be operating much further from their bases. The bridges were only temporary pontoons and they were only a short distance from Allied airfields. As Billotte appreciated, the attacks had to be launched quickly, not just because of the urgency of the situation, but to deny the Germans time to organise their air defences. On the morning of the 14th, the Germans were still desperately trying to extract flak units from the miles of columns queuing back from the Meuse. As promised, early on the 14th, six Battles attacked the Sedan crossing points. All made it back to their base, although one wounded pilot had to force-land. Encouraged by this relative success, another flight of four was dispatched. They reported light flak, but all four returned. At 9 a.m., eight French Breguet 693s attacked armoured units spotted by the Battle crews, losing one plane. At this point, no Panzers had yet crossed the Meuse and the anti-aircraft defences were still relatively disorganised. A more substantial effort might have brought a greater reward at less cost than the British bombers were about to suffer. Soon after these raids, the French launched their counterattack. Almost simultaneously, the 1st Panzer Division started crossing the Meuse. The French tanks advanced until they ran into the German Panzers, at which point they were quickly scattered. The situation at Sedan had suddenly become extremely critical. French hopes of restoring the situation rested with General Flavigny’s XXI Corps, a substantial force with motorised troops, light tanks, and one of the three French heavy armoured divisions. This was moving north towards the Sedan bridgehead, with instructions to strike as soon as possible. To buy time for these reinforcements to move into position, all bombing effort was to be focused on Sedan. Barratt was persuaded to join the French in one all-out effort. At around midday, he instructed the AASF to launch every available Battle and Blenheim against the Sedan bridges that afternoon. The French would attack first, followed by the AASF bombers. Both forces would rearm, return, and attack again. Blenheims from No. 2 Group would round off the assault. The first AASF attack would consist of three waves, with two escorted by Hurricanes and the third by French fighters. Hurricanes and French fighters would escort No. 2 Group Blenheims in the final attack. Five Hurricane squadrons would be involved; it was the first time Hurricanes had been switched from Belgium to the French front. They were joined by around fifteen now somewhat under-strength French fighter squadrons. Two of them, however, were equipped with the new Dewoitine D.520. The RAF escorts were again indirect. At least three of the Hurricane squadrons were distracted by formations of Ju 87 dive-bombers. These were very worthy targets and the Hurricanes inflicted heavy losses, but this was little consolation to the AASF bomber crews they were supposed to be protecting. The Bf 109Es of JG 53 alone claimed thirteen Battles. Arguably, the Dutch tactics of providing a close escort, with the fighters joining in the attack if possible, would have been more successful. It seems the French ‘escorts’ were not the standard close escort they were providing for their own bombers. At least some of the French fighters were actually escorting a French reconnaissance plane. The Bloch 152 that were supposed to be escorting the Blenheims of No. 2 Group were covering Flavigny’s forces moving up from the south. It seems the RAF was happy to accept French fighters operating in the area on other duties as an escort. By the time the first French bombers appeared, German fighter and flak defences were ready. This first wave consisted of just twenty-one bombers, thirteen of which were Amiot 143s—obsolete, ungainly medium bombers that previously the French had only dared use by night. They did at least get a substantial escort; twelve M.S.406s flew with the bombers, while Bloch 152s and Dewoitine D.520s provided cover at a higher altitude. The French fighters fought valiantly to protect their vulnerable charges and were reasonably successful. Two Amiots were shot down by Bf 110s and another two were lost to flak, while one of the eight LeO 451s was also shot down. It could have been a lot worse. For the AASF bombers that followed, it was a lot worse. Forty of the seventy-one Battles and Blenheims were lost to fighters and flak. So many of the returning French and British bombers were damaged that the repeat attacks had to be abandoned. Twenty-eight Blenheims of No. 2 Group attacked in the evening; only five Hurricanes could be mustered for the RAF element of the escort, and even these got side-tracked by German observation planes. Again, these were very worthy targets, but shooting down reconnaissance planes was not the role of the fighters on this occasion. Given their rather vague instructions, the pilots can scarcely be criticised for attacking any enemy aircraft they came across, but another six bombers were lost. The dive-bombers and observation planes shot down by the Hurricanes did not help the bombers, but these successes did underline how many very vulnerable German planes there were in the battlezone. It was not surprising that Pownall was fuming at the ‘the thirty-four squadrons at home where there is no attack’. There would have been plenty of targets for them in France. Even the fighters that were available were affecting German operations. On 15 May, Guderian’s XIX Corps reported its aerial reconnaissance was ‘severely impeded’ by Allied fighters and it was no longer possible for squadrons ‘to carry out vigorous, extensive reconnaissance, as, owing to casualties, more than half of their aircraft are not now available’. It was fortunate for the Luftwaffe that so many RAF fighter squadrons were still in Britain. During the course of the 14th, twenty-eight French-based Hurricanes were shot down. Nearly all these were victims of Bf 109s and 110s. Nineteen pilots were killed or wounded. The Hurricane was effective enough against German bomber and reconnaissance planes, but it was losing the battle with the Messerschmitts. Total Battle losses since the start of the offensive had risen to seventy—over half of the force. The AASF was withdrawn from daylight operations once again. The French did their best to maintain the pressure on the Sedan bridgehead. During the night of 14–15 May, huge four-engine long-range Farman 222 bombers were ordered to join the tactical night offensive, but the two groups only had six serviceable machines. The four Amiot 143 bomber groups, after flying the previous night and in the daylight attack, were in action again on the night of 13–14 May; in the circumstances, the tired crews did well to manage sixteen sorties. Still the ‘heavies’ of Bomber Command remained idle. After the thirty-seven sorties flown on the night of the 11–12 May, the Air Ministry instructed Bomber Command to conserve its strength as cabinet permission for the bombing of the Ruhr was believed to be imminent. On 12–13 May, just twelve sorties were flown by the 250-strong force, and these were mainly near the Dutch/German border. On the 13th–14th, another twelve operated rather vaguely in the Eindhoven-Aachen-Maastricht region. Bomber Command stepped up its efforts on the night of 14–15 May, but not over the Meuse. The French assured Barratt that the heroism of RAF crews had saved the day by allowing time for a French counterattack to restore the situation. Perhaps the French were slightly too enthusiastic with their appreciation; they convinced Barratt that the danger had passed. The French Air Force continued to focus on the Meuse crossings, but Barratt suggested that Bomber Command should concentrate on Breda and Maastricht. Always anxious to bomb something inside Germany, Portal added Aachen and Mönchengladbach. Twelve Hampdens attacked targets in and around Breda in support of the retreating French 7th Army, and eighteen Wellingtons bombed Aachen and Maastricht in support of the 1st Army. Twelve Whitleys revisited Mönchengladbach in support of no one in particular. The Allied bombing at Sedan might well have helped restore the situation—if Flavigny had actually launched his counterattack. The 150 bomber sorties the Allies had flown against the Meuse bridgehead on the 14th had caused delays. Guderian’s XIX Corps reported: ‘Throughout the day all three divisions have had to endure constant air attack—especially at the crossing and bridging points. Our fighter cover is inadequate.’ These delays could have been significant. While the attacks were taking place, Guderian had decided to push his 1st and 2nd Panzer divisions as far west as possible, despite their rather precarious base. The 10th Panzer division was supposed to cover the left flank. This began crossing the Meuse on the morning of the 14th, but the air attacks meant it was not fully deployed on the west bank until the 15th. Had Flavigny’s corps attacked on the evening of the 14th, as had been the original intention, he might well have sliced between the Panzers pushing west and the delayed 10th Panzer. Unfortunately, the French could not really decide if Flavigny should attack the bridgehead or secure the left flank of the Maginot Line. Flavigny went on to the defence and the opportunity was missed. The situation on the ground now went from bad to worse. The French forces at Dinant tried to pull back to the frontier positions they had held on 10 May, but under incessant air attack, the retreat turned into a rout. The two remaining French armoured divisions in the rear were taken by surprise by the advancing Panzers and scattered. By the morning of the 16th, the Germans had achieved a complete breakthrough along a 60-mile front. No substantial Allied units stood between the Panzers and Paris—or the English Channel. The situation was remarkably similar to March 1918, when the Germans had also broken through on a 60-mile front. It was the scenario that the Air Ministry and Air Staff had so frequently mentioned as the only circumstances justifying the use of the ‘heavies’ in support of the Army. It had worked in 1918, when the intervention of the RFC and French Air Force had bought the Allies sufficient time to bring reserves into position. This, however, was not 1918. The Germans were now exploiting their breakthrough with fast-moving armoured and motorised forces. The Allied air forces in 1918 had been battle-hardened formations, but in 1940 they were still inexperienced. In 1918, the RFC had not suffered horrendous losses. The British and French had excellent SE5a, Camel and Spad fighters. In 1940, however, it was the German Air Force that had the best fighter operating over the battlefield. Perhaps most significantly of all, in 1918, most of the RFC was in France; in 1940, most of the RAF was in Britain. Still, the battle was far from lost. Indeed, in the period following the breakthrough, the German forces were probably at their most vulnerable, both to counterattacks on their weakly held flanks and air attack on their lengthening supply lines. The Bf 109 had a very limited range, and the Meuse was already some way from German airfields. The Panzer forces were now racing even further west. Bf 109 squadrons began moving westwards, but the number that could be maintained so far forward was limited, and protection against Allied bomber attack could not be so effective. The French were doing their best to bring up air reinforcements to take advantage; bomber squadrons in the process of converting to modern equipment were rushed to the front. Those that were not ready were told to use their old equipment by night. French naval bombers were ordered to operate against the advancing German forces. However, the largest single untapped bomber resource available to the Allies was the 250 Whitleys, Wellingtons, and Hampdens of Bomber Command. It seemed it was time for the Air Staff to deliver on its promise to intervene if a crisis arose. This entry was posted in Air Warfare by MSW. Bookmark the permalink.

If You Want to Write a Book, Don’t Listen to Stephen Hunter Posted: May 30, 2017 in Critical Hit Tags: Criticism, Nihilism, Sexism, Stephen Hunter, Writing, Writing Advice A few days ago, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Stephen Hunter published an essay at the Daily Beast titled, rather provocatively, “If You Want to Write a Book, Write Every Day or Quit Now.” Since then, it’s been doing the rounds on Twitter, and not because of its quality. Hunter’s piece is so laughably bad in every respect that I damn near snorted vomit out of my nose while reading it. There is, I have found, a distinctive type of faux-eloquent arrogance exhibited by your common or garden Serious Male Writer that endeavours to turn “he said, loftily” into an aspirational dialogue tag instead of, as is actually the case, a dismissively condescending one. Hunter’s piece is a case in point: setting aside the gross inaccuracies of its substance, the style is so deeply invested in celebrating itself that it’s less a case of gilding the lily than (to borrow one of my husband’s favourite phrases) sprinkling a turd with glitter. Presented without Hunter’s caveats and curlicues, the core recommendation – make regular writing part of your routine, because you can’t ever publish a book you don’t finish – is a reasonable one. That Hunter has managed to turn such simple advice into a purple, self-congratulatory screed about the failings of other, lesser beings is, if nothing else, a cautionary example of hubris in action. He begins: In a few days or weeks, I’ll start a new novel. I don’t know yet and won’t for years if it’s good, bad, dreary, enchanting, or merely adequate. Moreover, I don’t know if it’ll help or hurt my reputation, make me rich or a fool, or simply pass into oblivion without squeak or moan. What is certain is that on that same day, whichever one it is, one thousand other people will start their novels. In order to publish mine, it has to be better than theirs. So, forgive me—I pretty much hate them. I’d be very interested to know where Hunter is getting this figure about a thousand other people from, as he goes on to mention it more than once without ever citing a source. Even so, and regardless of whether his numbers are accurate or a mere illustrative hypothetical plucked from the aether, the following contention – that these other yearling writers are Hunter’s direct competition – is wrong in all respects. The number of people who start writing a book on the same day you do is completely irrelevant. Even if all those other novels ultimately end up finished and submitted to agencies and publishers, you’re only directly competing with each other if you’re submitting to the same venues, at the same time, about the same subject matter. A writer of adult thrillers is not vying for marketspace with those producing memoirs or YA, but with other authors of adult thrillers – and even then, the outcome is largely contingent on context. If a particular genre is experiencing a boom, as urban fantasy was not long ago, then publishers looking to captialise on a trend are more likely, not less, to sign on multiple works in the same oeuvre, to say nothing of the existence of imprints which, regardless of market trends, are dedicated to specific genres or subgenres. The real competition doesn’t kick in until the book is actually being promoted – by the publisher, by reviewers and booksellers and librarians, by the readership in general – and even then, it’s neither an equal nor a predictable thing. Promotions can fail, viral successes can happen, an author whose first four novels were largely ignored can become a breakout success with their fifth, and so on through endless permutations of chance and context. Solid promotion is always helpful, of course, and there are things both author and publisher can do to maximise a book’s chances, but ultimately, it’s up to the audience. Which is why Hunter’s opening premise is not only irritating, but deeply unhelpful to those budding writers for whom his essay is presumably intended. Unlike an annual literary award, an audience is not a finite resource, but a thing to be shared and cultivated: the reader who buys a competitor’s book today may well be inspired to buy yours tomorrow, and as such, hating them from the outset is not only pointless, but completely antithetical to the cultivation of professional writing relationships. In my own experience as a published author, other authors are frequently some of your best friends and biggest cheerleaders. We support, critique and learn from each other precisely because we’re writing in the same field, which is also how we come to share recommendations about new books to read. Regardless of whether I’m acting in my capacity as authorial colleague or delighted reader, taking note of which books my favourite writers are praising, criticising or otherwise discussing is a large part of how I stay abreast of the field. Call me newfangled, but if I’m going to go to the effort of hating someone, it won’t be for merely sharing my ambitions: they have to actually earn it. But let’s be honest: Of the thousand, 800 won’t cross the infamous Mendoza Line. God love them, God be with them, God show mercy to them, for whatever cruel reason they were not given enough talent or the right mind, or any of a dozen different pathologies to make them capable of writing a publishable book. No amount of labor will alter this reality. There’s so much wrong with this, I scarcely know where to begin. 800 potential novels lost! Where is he getting these figures? And god, the condescension! If someone desperately wants to be a traditionally published author and finds themselves unable to achieve that goal, then yes, that sucks for them. But I intensely dislike the construction here – especially when “cruel” is paired with “capable” and pleading to the divine – that implies a person is somehow tragic or deficient if they can’t or don’t produce a published work. Many people write foremost for their own pleasure, whether in fannish contexts or otherwise, and there’s nothing wrong with that. And then there’s the fact that, in dismissing these 800 potential writers, Hunter is apparently convinced that lack of ability is the only reason why, on this particular occasion, they might not succeed. Clearly, he’s aware that it’s possible for even a successful author to abandon a manuscript, given his admission that the same thing has happened to him. (“I know how books die. A few have perished under my saddle, believe me.”) So whence comes the conviction that the hypothetical majority of his hypothetical thousand competitors will drop out of the running, not because they, too, have just so happened to hit a stumbling block, but because they’re pathologically incapable of success? The idea that “no amount of labour” can help such writers is particularly incongruous – not to say disgusting – given that he’s ultimately asserting the value of regular writing and hard work. (But then, as we’ll see shortly, he’s also claiming it should be easy.) Also – and I feel like this ought to be an obvious point to make – but “publishable book” is not a universally coherent standard, not least because we now live in a time when self-publishing is commonplace. Even so, plenty of books that I would deem unpublishable, were the verdict mine alone to make, have nonetheless been traditionally published, because – unlike the Mendoza Line – there is no single, absolute yardstick against which all potential novels are measured. (Whether Hunter believes there should be is a different matter.) Just as a great deal of comparative rubbish ends up on shelves, so too does a lot of excellent writing never make it that far, and while I’ve also encountered a lot of heinous attempts at narrative in unpublished contexts, I don’t for a red hot minute believe that the majority of bad writers are incapable of improvement. Hunter seems oblivious to the possibility that some among his theoretical thousand might be young writers – my first attempt at a novel was made at 11 – whose talents, like their interests, are far from fixed in stone, but who nonetheless might be grossly dissuaded by advice purporting to tell them otherwise. So that really leaves but 200 to worry about. They are smarter, more talented, better looking, have better teeth, more hair, better bodies, and in most other respects are simply better. If they were writing this piece instead of me, you would like it a lot more. They are more charming, more beguiling, more charismatic, smell (a lot) better, have more polish and manner. They’re fun to be with! You’d be proud to have them as a friend. I will beat them all, however, and I will do it on one strength they lack, the poor, good-looking devils. I will finish and they will not. The two most important words you can write in any manuscript are “the” and “end.” Somewhere along the line my brilliant competitors mosey off. I’m too dumb to mosey off. They’ll lose faith. I’ll never lose faith; it’s the only faith I’ve got. A new lover will come into their lives; I’m not even on speaking terms with my old (and only) lover. They’ll be distracted by so many other dazzling prospects; I have no other dazzling prospects. Their spouses will begin to grouse over undone errands and abandoned socks on the steps, there’ll be just too much research, they’ll grow depressed, sick of their own voice, unable to get themselves buzzed up enough. Their books will die. Without wanting to veer too far into the perilous realm of psychological analysis, this entire section is like peering into a well of deep and unresolved personal bitterness. Other people might be handsomer, kinder, more likeable, smarter and generally more desirable than Hunter, but by god, he can write books! Which… good for him, I guess? Like, I’m not about to argue that writing stories isn’t a cool skill to have, but contrary to what he’s saying here, you can actually be an author and an intelligent, engaging, social human being. Crazy, right? The One True Path to authorial greatness doesn’t open only to those who suck at everything else, or who fail at interpersonal relationships, romantic or otherwise. I know plenty of authors who also have other, successful careers as scientists or academics or any number of things; who have partners or children or extensive social networks (and sometimes even all three!). By the same token, I also know plenty of writers, both published and unpublished, whose failure to complete a given manuscript has roundly failed to result in depression, divorce or anything more dire than personal irritation. Shocking, right? Here’s the truth; sometimes a book just doesn’t go, and sometimes it’s only that it doesn’t go now. You have to set it aside for a bit, and maybe it dies and turns into fertiliser for future ideas, or maybe you cannibalise its parts, or maybe it’s only slumbering like Sleeping Beauty, waiting for some suitably handsome catalyst to wander along and offer the dragon a better gig at a newer, shinier castle. Either way, the price of failure isn’t the loss of everything you love, and success doesn’t hinge on having had nothing else to love in the first place. Hunter might well console himself with that particular narrative, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let him blithely hang its weight on the rest of us. You work every day. You work so hard, you make such progress, you’re such a star that you decide to take a day off. The day after, you feel guilty so you work twice as hard. You set new records, you crash the 3,000-word barrier, you achieve epiphanies you never thought possible! Again you reward yourself with a day off. Then the next day—oh, actually, now it’s the next month—you can’t remember why you started the damned thing anyway and the anxiety of your sloth is crippling, turning you all beast-like and spite-spitting, so you formally surrender and feel a lot better. For a few months. Then, of course, you hate yourself and as the years pass, that hatred metastasizes into a cancer of the soul. If only… And you’re one of the forlorn ones who dies with regrets. A lot of preps stared at Stephen Hunter when he wrote this essay. He put his middle finger up at them. The most important thing is habit, not will. If you feel you need will to get to the keyboard, you are in the wrong business. All that energy will leave nothing to work with. You have to make it like brushing your teeth, mundane, regular, boring even. It’s not a thing of effort, of want, of steely, heroic determination. (I wonder who pushed the meme that writing is heroic; it must have been a writer, trying to get laid.) You have to do it numbly, as you brush your teeth. No theater, no drama, no sacrifice, no “It is a far far better thing I do” crap. You do it because it’s time. If you are ordering yourself, burning ergs, issuing sweat, breathing raggedly through nasal channels that feel like Navajo pottery, you’re doing something wrong. Ever consider law? We definitely need more lawyers. Like… I get what Hunter’s trying to say here, which is that merely wanting to be an author won’t get you very far if you don’t actually put the work in, but god, there’s such a crushing sense of nihilism to his version of things, I kind of want to ask if he’s okay. Speaking as someone with a fair knowledge of mental health issues, routinely doing anything “numbly,” even brushing your teeth, is not actually a good thing. Numbness is not synonymous with the mundane, and if you’re starting to think it is, you should probably seek help. I say that with absolute sincerity: feeling numb about everyday life is a genuine danger sign. Which is also why this paragraph makes me fucking furious. There’s a reason we talk about having a will to live, and a reason why someone losing that will is a terrible, awful thing. For some of us, everything is a matter of will, because we’re struggling to even get out of bed. Telling someone to give up writing because sitting down at the computer takes effort is one of the most toxic, destructive and fundamentally insincere pieces of advice I’ve ever seen issued. I’ll tell you this for nothing: every single writer I know, myself included, has struggled to write at times. The reasons why vary – lack of time, mental health issues, exhaustion, problems with the plot – but even when you’re someone who writes regularly, routinely, as a matter of habit, it can still be difficult. Some things can only be done – or only done now – because we order it of ourselves; because we fucking try. Work every day. Obviously I don’t mean every day. Hyperbole, it’s what we do for a living. So let me clarify and tell you what I really mean: Work every day. This is because the most difficult test of the author isn’t his mastery of time or dialogue, his gift for action or character, his ability to suggest verisimilitude in a few strokes, but his ability to get back into the book each day. You have to enter its world. It demands a certain level of concentration to do so. You have to train yourself to that concentration. The easier it is to get there, the better off you’ll be, day in and day out. In fact, if you skip a day, much less a week, the anxiety you unload on yourself doesn’t increase arithmetically but exponentially. If it’s hard after one day, it’ll be hard squared, then cubed, ultimately hard infinite-ed. And that’s only by Wednesday! And this, right here, is where we see that Hunter’s status as a single, childless, (presumably) antisocial man who doesn’t need to work other jobs to support himself has apparently birthed the assumption that all other aspiring writers are in the same boat – or, far more worryingly, that anyone who doesn’t meet that criteria naturally can’t succeed. It’s not just that he’s using masculine pronouns to refer to his archetypal author, although it certainly doesn’t help: it’s that everything he says here is predicated on “his [the writer’s] ability to get back into the book each day,” which doesn’t leave any room for people who need to work to live, or who want to go out with their partner or friends, or who need to spend time with their children – for anyone, in other words, who has an actual life. To reiterate: making writing a habit is excellent advice, and writing a little each day is not a bad thing to do. But asserting that people can’t be writers if they do anything other than this is grossly false, not least because there are thousands of successful, published authors around to disprove it. If Hunter personally experiences anxiety when he skips a day of writing, that’s one thing, but it’s far from being a universal experience. God, I am so sick of Serious Male Writers assuming that what’s true for them must logically be true for everyone else! If that’s how narrow Hunter’s view of the human condition is, I shudder to think how his writing must suffer – or maybe he just avoids creating characters who aren’t fundamentally like him. Either way, I’m not in a rush to check out his back catalogue. Some writers of my acquaintance find great success in writing a small amount per day, every day, but I can’t think of a single one who’d cry failure on anyone who writes differently, or who had to take time off. Personally, I write in bursts: I can produce huge wordcounts in a short amount of time, but only if I rest for a little while afterwards. Once recharged, I can go again – but if I hit a snag in the plot, it’s always less work in the long run if I stop and puzzle it out instead of forging blindly on in the wrong direction just for the sake of wordcount. Find what works for you, is the point. Shouldn’t that be obvious? Effort is pain. Pain is not your friend, not this kind of pain. Via pain, doubt, fear, self-loathing, stasis, heavy legs, and halitosis enter your life. Your skin hurts, your hair hurts, the little whatever-it-is between your nostrils hurt. You have the energy of a cat on a couch. Inertia is your destiny, your tragedy, your one-way ticket to where you already are. That is why the easy way is the best way. It is easier to work every day than to deal with the load of self-inflicted grief you’ll encounter when you skip one day, four days, or the rest of your life. Listen. Stephen. Bro. I get that this is going to come as an alien concept to you, but effort is not always synonymous with pain, in much the same way that numbness is not always the same as mundanity. Maybe that’s how you experience the world, but it’s just not true for everyone. Yes, sometimes it takes effort to write, but often it’s the good, satisfying kind, where you know you’re achieving something, making yourself better and stronger by testing your personal limits. Also, technically? Inertia is easier than effort. Effort is how you break free from inertia, and I know I keep harping on this point, but seriously: one of the most toxic mindsets to impose on a person is the idea that small failures are inherently synonymous with large ones. This is why, for instance, recovering addicts who fall off the wagon with a small transgression so often feel like they’ve got no choice but to commit a big one: not because it’s inevitable, but because they’ve been taught that success/failure is a binary proposition, with one slip the same as catastrophe. Plus, uh. It is actually possible to be disciplined while including regular breaks as part of that discipline, you know? I’m just gonna put that out there. Another helpful tip: F— research! I say this, knowing that my works are thought to be well-researched and I am proud of the research in them. But in research there’s also death and destruction and self-loathing. You can do the research later. You cannot use “more research” as a crutch to justify your sloth. You are selling narrative not background. The most important truths you tell involve what you know about human behavior, not what color the Obersturmbannfuhrer’s epaulets are. If you don’t know it, just bull on through and keep going. Make it up. Jam it with placeholders. It’s OK. At that stage you need momentum, not precision. That’s why it’s a first draft; that’s why there’ll be a second draft. *pinches bridge of nose, breathes deeply* I say unto thee again, not everyone feels this kind of way about research. It’s not goddamn poison, okay? Some people find it merely a chore and others, invigorating. Yes, there are certainly instances where the research can wait, or where there’s no harm done in writing first and fact-checking afterwards, but the belief that “human behaviour” doesn’t also require research is kind of why Hunter is giving such goddamn shitty advice in the first place, because – say it with me! – people are fucking different. It’s this kind of approach to writing that leads to all manner of bigoted stereotypes finding their way into mainstream works: the writer assumes that all people fundamentally think and feel and experience the world in the same way they do, that no particular circumstance, belief or identity requires investigation in order to be accurately represented by an outsider, and so they don’t do the research. Shit like this is how, for instance, you end up with a horrifically anti-Semitic book purporting to be the opposite, or endless faux Medieval Europe fantasy novels written by people who, like Hunter, think that “selling narrative not background” is a sufficient justification for shitty, inconsistent worldbuilding. Plus – and again, I feel that this ought to go without saying, but apparently not – measure twice, cut once is also as applicable to writing as it is carpentry. Some writers thrive on letting the momentum of a first draft carry them through to the end, then going back later to rip the guts out of whatever doesn’t work. For others, though, it’s easier – and less time-consuming – to pause mid-novel, work out the problems as they occur and produce a cleaner first copy. Finally: Writer, forgive thyself. You may write crap for years, decades, eons before your brain gets tired of being so mediocre. You will never know if that jump is possible if you don’t keep humping, every day. Numbly, you must do the necessary. Keep on slugging. Forward the light brigade. You can always fix it later. But none of this will be doable, understandable, possible, unless you get to the “the” and the “end.” If Hunter hadn’t taken up the bulk of his essay saying the exact fucking opposite of this, I’d almost be inclined to think it a positive note on which to end, instead of a sad little retcon. But it is sad, in much the same way that the whole damn article is sad. There’s not a speck of joy or passion evident in it anywhere: no humour, no enthusiasm, and certainly no hint of why anyone might want to be an author in the first place. Hunter’s attitude to writing is a baffling mix of arrogance and nihilism: everything is awful in my life, but I console myself with the knowledge that other, seemingly happier people will ultimately suffer more by virtue of failing to write like me. It’s a type of seething misanthropy for which I have precious little time and increasingly little patience in any context, let alone when it’s misrepresenting itself as the be-all, end-all of my chosen profession. Pulitzer be damned: when it comes to giving writing advice, like Jon Snow, Hunter knows nothing. lkeke35 says: Reblogged this on Geeking Out about It. frasersherman says: Sheesh. He does seem to have issues. This might have been a useful article to read when I was in my early twenties and fell into the pattern he’s talking about. Skip days. Then try to make it up and set such a high output I couldn’t make it. It wasn’t good. But at the same time, i did finish my first novel, within a year–unpublished, but finished. And a lot of stuff finished after that before I finally became efficient and organized. So Hunter’s wrong. And yeah, the tone would have killed any value his advice had. As someone who was single and passionately wanted not to be, his whole tone would have made me put it down. It reminds me of how-to articles I read in my twenties where the author touted how he had no life — never took holidays, never went out socially, ignored family events, because that was the ONLY way to finish a book. I knew if that were the case, I’d never finish because WTF? Who wants to live like that? dibenami says: I totally agree – the condescension in the essay is borderline cringeworthy. I take a day off here and there all the time (birthday, travel, sickness) and never have trouble getting right back into it the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. It’s less of an essay and more of a sequence of paragraphs created just for him to stroke his own ego The Goldfish says: This guy reminds me of those people who write marriage manuals and go on about how relationships require hard work, really really hard work, and it’s not like in the movies where everyone’s happy in the end – nobody’s happy at all! – but maybe you can get to the very end of it and die before you divorce and that’ll make the whole thing worthwhile! (Chronic ill health means I have written fiction sporadically and without any measurable success beyond a slowly accumulating word-count for the last ten years. I take 6 months off at a time but it’s still the most important non-human thing in my life. I’m not about to quit.) Jean Lamb says: “There are nine and ninety ways/of composing tribal lays/and every single blasted one is right”–Kipling, sort of. I work better writing a little each day (though I’d like to write a lot, but lifestyle doesn’t allow for it). Hunter doesn’t seem to have a clue. megpie71 says: I think the thing which amused me so much about the Hunter piece was his advice wasn’t even original. I’ve seen exactly the same advice from countless other writers – and the names which leap to mind as having written it in a more engaging fashion were people like Stephen King (who was the first one I read it from); Ernest Hemingway (who wrote it in his typical terse style); Chuck Wendig (who included a daily suggested word count if you wanted to churn out a novel-length first draft in a year – 350 words a day); and David Eddings (who I think included an important detail: the first million words you were likely to write would probably not be good – they’re about finding your voice and your style, and they’re going to include a lot of experimentation. He suggested writing those first million words as your world-building before you even bother with starting the story). My own system for training myself to write consistently (and it is training, just like getting from “couch potato” to “marathon runner” is training) started by writing a journal every day for five minutes, and increasing the amount of time I spent by five minutes every month. Once I got up to the thirty minute mark (April) I started the next month by adding in five minutes of fiction writing per day (and as a result, I’ve added something close to six thousand words to a project I’d been letting idle for about two months). Having a goal and increasing the targets bit by bit seems to work for me. mcclellanelias says: Agreed on all of the above and humbly include Bukowski’s “Don’t Try.” If You Want to Write a Book … – Energy Management says: […] via If You Want to Write a Book, Don’t Listen to Stephen Hunter — shattersnipe: malcontent […] Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz, May 28-June 3, 2017 | Writerly Goodness says: […] If you want to write a book, don’t listen to Stephen Hunter. Foz Meadows, Shattersnipe: malcontent & rainbows. […] Loose-leaf Links #41 | Earl Grey Editing says: […] Twitter was aflutter last week after Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Stephen Hunter published a piece demanding that aspiring novelists write every day or quit immediately. Foz Meadows justly eviscerates the piece. […] Leave a Reply to Loose-leaf Links #41 | Earl Grey Editing Cancel reply What Depression Is Midyear Writing News!

instruction: You are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description. input: Hi I have had a toothache for several days. Today being the worse. This makes the 2nd time this tooth has hurt. Last time I made 3 trips to the emergency room. The doctor said it wasnt abscessed so they gave me a pain shot and sent me home. A couple days after the er visit I got antibiotics. My tooth that wasnt swollen then swelled after taking the antibiotics. output: Hi, Thanks for the query, Pain in teeth can be due to deep caries, for which root canal treatment or extraction is the option. Periodontitis is another reason for pain, for which scaling and root planing is the treatment. Ask your dentist for x-ray of that tooth to rule out if there is proximal caries/ pocket causing food lodgment and ultimately causing pain. Follow your prescription and maintain oral hygiene. Take care.

listen to Her ..and, another gift from Brandon and those Humans of New York (www.humansofnewyork.com). “With all the good it’s brought, technology is destroying our communication skills — especially the ability to listen. The older generation can still listen, but many of the youngsters can’t even look you in the eye while you speak. If they aren’t looking at their mobiles, they’re looking over your shoulder or glancing around the room.” Brandon (I’m guessing): “Why is verbal communication more important than communication through a device?” “Because there’s only so much you can learn from your Facebook friends.” wow… what a fantastic life’s perspective. this has absolutely nothing to do with Spike Jonze’s recent Oscar crafty movie, Her. in fact, its clearly, delightfully, and thankfully, the opposite… I’m convinced this woman is channeling my Mom. by the way, I do feel that the movie, HER, is clever, and possibly insightful. it’s just that the good woman above is all the more so. and, that’s why me must listen to her. Tags: communication, Facebook, Her (2013), Humans of New York, Thank you, wisdom posted under Authentic Life, Fun Stories, Information, Lessons, Life, Movies, Stuff | No Comments » will Facebook consume YOU? Brian Patrick Cork: I am NO fan of Facebook. if you read this blog, visit my house, talk to my daughters (and, their friends), or have heard me speak, you know this. I can prove it. just read the following related posts (do it!): Facebook and Divorce lawyers (8.6) Facebook is dead to Me (8.2) why other people should buy Facebook (7.7) nobody “Likes” Facebook other than Mark Zuckerberg (7.6) why Facebook might be a great bad story (7.1) Facebook’s contribution to Terrorism (6.1) shorting Facebook, part II (5.9) I like Apple’s stock better than Googles numbers (5.8) facebook is proof we have a Problem (5.7) facebook challenge (5.7) however, I’ll admit Facebook’s new version of Android is pretty slick by way of being resourceful and opportunistic. Mark Zuckerberg and his crew have figured out a way to get the growing global mobile device market to be his viral marketing agent. Facebook Shows Off Its Flavor of Android – finance.yahoo.com Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and chief executive of Facebook, is holding a live news conference to show Facebook’s new phone software, designed for Google’s Android’s operating system. I wonder if they will transition to a “consumption” model and leverage this new platform under their dark and insidious world domination strategy to wreak havoc in the lives of the ignorant crowd-followers. …I wonder if North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is a Facebook shareholder? in my book, that makes it appropriate that the new software is launching off of Android phones. while I Facebook akin to a disease, Zuckerberg is working diligently to reward his shareholders. he gets points for that. even if they include Kim Jong Un. all that said… everything evolves. most of it changes. the potential for redemption realized. I acknowledge that social media and networking platforms are part of our lives, and certainly the future. and, they will continue to be influential. so, I am hopeful that, as Zuckerberg and other influencers mature, their designs evolve into solutions, and great good shared by us all. Tags: Evil, Facebook, Influence posted under In The News, Technology | No Comments » Facebook and Divorce lawyers Brian Patrick Cork the article below ↓ is rather fair. it tells you what a mindless journalist thinks. so… I suppose it’s fair – if you care about things that are pointless. meanwhile, what it made ME think of is that investors should have known better than to buy the IPO stock. and, I did warn you, here: why other people should buy Facebook (stock). Facebook is not about financial value, or societal value. part of this is because the Facebook platform is deeply valued by people like divorce lawyers because it’s a great way to find cheating spouses. it’s also great for HR managers that don’t really know how to recruit but want to find the pictures of you doing things you don’t really (after thinking about it) want people to see, so they have an excuse not to hire you. purchasing Facebook stock at the IPO, and thereabouts, makes you a terrific example of Darwin’s theories around Natural Selection. oh… and, Barack Obama probably appreciates the whole IPO thing – but mostly because it has drawn more attention away from his own shenanigans. but, you can argue that Obama’s presidency is a lot like Facebook’s IPO, right? a lot of promises, but everyone that wanted the change, and bought in the media-hype, feels like they got taken for a ride. so… maybe it’s the media that is the truest villain with all of this. they fuel unrealistic expectations and overly tout things that create collateral damage, just like Facebook and… Actually, Mark Zuckerberg Should Say NOTHING About The Facebook…finance.yahoo.comIn the past few days, as Facebook’s (FB) stock has continued to collapse, a growing chorus of people have been suggesting that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg needs to say something. Specifically, the grumblers say, he needs to… Tags: Bad Things, Barack Obama, Brian Patrick Cork, Charles Darwin, Divorce, Facebook, Natural Selection, Shenanigans, stock posted under Authentic Life, Culture, Darwin, Finance, Humor, In The News, Natural Selection, Truth | 1 Comment » nobody “Likes” Facebook other than Mark Zuckerberg if you can’t be bothered to read this entire post because your tearing your hair-out over Facebook – and Barack Obama, just consider this opening paragraph: I TOLD you to short Facebook – http://j.mp/JXtQwP. but, NASADAQ “broke” (seriously) /1. so, nobody could. the stock might make sense at $9. and, now Mark Zuckerberg and his crew are going to choke on their greed and the type of avarice that spawned the hell that Facebook creates daily in everyone’s lives. but, you’re hooked now, so just keep going… as you read this, regulators are examining whether Morgan Stanley, the investment bank that shepherded Facebook through its highly publicized stock offering last week, selectively informed clients of an analyst’s negative report about the company before the stock started trading. the stock debut, originally set for 11 a.m. EDT Friday, was delayed more than half an hour because of “technical problems” at Nasdaq. some brokerages were still sorting out the aftermath today. just so we are clear… the “technical problem” had a lot to do with the fact that insiders were dumping their shares faster than Secret Service agents rearview mirroring their red-skirted girl friends when the lights came on. I already knew that was both inevitable, and was going to happen. I have over two hundred emails from people grimly advising me that they tried to follow my guidance and short Facebook’s stock. but, NASDAQ won’t allow that, yet. trust me, that’s a whole other story in the realizing. so, watch for that. in the harsh light of truth, companies going public typically want the momentum and desirable status that comes with stock being so coveted that the price rockets from the launch pad. that might be fair. but… “I think that the underwriters convinced Facebook to offer too much stock,” said analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities. “The market didn’t have sufficient appetite for the number of shares offered.” did you know that market trackers have reported that people are much more likely to click on ads at Google than at Facebook, and US auto giant General Motors said the day before the IPO that it would no longer advertise on Facebook because it lacked impact? that evidently inspired an analyst at Morgan Stanley to drop his earnings forecast for Facebook on the eve of the IPO, but nobody let that information out of the bag, and left wanna-be shareholders holding another bag. [end pause] to wit… The Reuters news service reported Tuesday that a Morgan Stanley analyst, Scott Devitt, cut his estimate for Facebook’s revenue this year to $4.85 billion from more than $5 billion earlier. Reuters reported that it was unclear whether Morgan Stanley had told only select clients about the reduced estimate. Reuters reported that the analyst cut his figures for Facebook while the company’s executives, including founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, were shopping the stock to potential investors in the weeks ahead of the IPO, a process known in investing as a “road show”. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that Facebook’s chief financial officer, David Ebersman, decided shortly before the stock debut to raise the number of shares the company would offer by 25 percent. The Journal, citing people familiar with the planning of the stock offering, also reported that Morgan Stanley had assured Ebersman there was plenty of demand for the stock. meanwhile, you all knew this was coming (the Greek- like tragedy that is the Facebook IPO, the “Zuckerberg generation” [I made that up, but it will stick], the pending Wall Street Journal expose, etc). but, faithful readers of this Blog know I’m not jumping on a facebook-dissing bandwagon, here, and had already started slapping their collective knees with me back when I wrote the following posts: Facebook’s contribution to Terrorism. “in any event, I’m, admittedly, a bit weary of using Facebook as a punching bag. however, I won’t tire of being relentless when it comes to pointing out that Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook Mafia (this can be stated in something of positive light because it’s a reference to the wealth generated by the Facebook insiders and how they are seeding countless other venture at unprecedented speed) have it within their collective power to use the Facebook platform for good. but, right now, with millions of examples over the course of any given day, it’s being used for a lot of evil, and mostly in the hands of ignorant children.” Source: http://www.unsinkablebriancork.com (http://s.tt/14HTR) Facebook is on a Mission but not from God. so, it’s interesting (to me, any way) that Facebook and other forms of religion have similar global strategies. From http://www.unsinkablebriancork.com (share this quote) why Facebook might be a great bad story. “but, Zuckerberg, and the people around him, know this is a problem. and, every day makes it bigger and uglier.” Source: http://www.unsinkablebriancork.com (share this quote) the distortion field of social media and marketing and it’s impact on marketing. “…have you noticed that most photographs have him staring soullessly into the camera?” Source: http://www.unsinkablebriancork.com (http://s.tt/14fz8) Facebook is dead to Me. “Zuckerberg has made billions of dollars, and I’m sure he feels great about that. but, I hope one day he understands what he has unleashed upon a culture that was unprepared for his platform to be used as a weapon of mass destruction.” Source: http://www.unsinkablebriancork.com (http://s.tt/14I49) the SEC had already said on Friday that it was looking into problems surrounding the IPO. on Tuesday, the agency’s chairman, Mary Schapiro, said: “I think there is a lot of reason to have confidence in our markets and in the integrity of how they operate, but there are issues that we need to look at specifically with respect to Facebook.” by Monday, the top securities regulator for Massachusetts, William Galvin, said he had subpoenaed Morgan Stanley. Galvin said his office is investigating whether Morgan Stanley divulged to only some clients that one of its analysts had cut his revenue estimates for Facebook before the stock hit the market on Friday. on Tuesday, Robert Greifeld, the CEO of the Nasdaq Stock Market, acknowledged to shareholders of Nasdaq’s parent company that “clearly we had mistakes within the Facebook listing.” a spokesman for Facebook Inc., which is based in Menlo Park, Calif., said late Tuesday that the company had no comment. but, I’m guessing Mark Zuckerberg isn’t going to “like” any of this. right about the time the IPO was being unleashed upon the masses, the Facebook/ Morgan Stanley/ Goldman Sachs/ Satan PR machine kicked-in. we saw short-stories quoting Zuckerberg saying things to the effect, “I don’t care about shareholders, I care about the company and it’s vision”. but, he left-out the bit about his owning fifty-seven percent of the companies stock. so, that simply means he is an insider that cares about himself. we also learned that he married his long-time sweetheart partner co-conspirator from college. but, unfortunately he managed to time that like an estate planning event, which it was. so much for true love American greedy style. I sincerely hope his little marriage gets off to a better start than the colossal IPO. but, then she knew him when he ripped-off his early partners, and she knows him better as he steam-rolled his shareholders. isn’t there a law in this land that says a wife doesn’t have to testify against her husband? while Facebook has fallen well below its IPO price, valuation metrics still show the stock is still pretty expensive. at roughly thirty six dollars ($36), Facebook shares are trading at fifty-seven (57) times projected earnings for the next 12 months. I got this information from FactSet Research (and, forget about the trailing 12-month earnings PE; that’s at 73.50.) this is a much richer valuation than other tech titans that actually create things of value, suggesting the stock price remains too high relative to projected earnings, and could (probably) fall further. price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios are calculated by taking a stock’s price and dividing it by the company’s earnings per share. for instance, Google (why not?) trades at a forward P/E multiple of 14, meaning one Facebook share is more than four times as expensive as a share of Google. Apple’s forward P/E is 11.6, and Microsoft is 10.8. Cisco Systems trades at a forward P/E of 9 and Dell is at 7.1. but, I’ll tell you to buy Apple, Cisco, even Microsoft. but, again, I think Facebook is probably worth a look once it hits nine dollars ($9) a share. I want to be reasonably fair… thusly, it’s probably worth noting a high P/E multiple doesn’t necessarily mean the (or any) stock is destined to decline. Amazon has a forward-year P/E ratio of 182. I’m thinking that aggressive spending has crimped the online retailer’s profits, but investors have found the company’s strong sales growth appealing enough to keep bidding the stock higher. the stock is up 25% this year. Salesforce.com is another stock that has had a rich multiple for years. the stock trades at eighty-nine (89) times forward earnings, yet shares are up forty three percent (43%) this year. mind you, companies that invest in Salesforce don’t actually use it. most people in sales refer to it as “salesfarce”. but, risk-averse sales managers think they are supposed to buy it, so they do. that works for shareholders even while it might not bode well for corporate America. I’m no hypocrite. and, I do see the world differently, and from unique angles, compared to most (that’s why I get to be a Cultural Architect, and you don’t). I see Facebook for what it is. it’s easily described as a platform for cheating spouses and cyber-bullying. it’s a company where engineers develop products that we don’t need. people just want them because they feed our vices. so, why should anyone really be surprised that Zuckerberg and a bunch of Wall Street hooligans that are probably in their early to mid thirties used the company to punk the zombie-like thundering herds that think wealth-building is attached to an easy-button? 1/ consider this… Monday shares briefly climbed above $42 before skittering back down and finishing at $38.23 with the help of underwriting banks that essentially put a floor under the stock by buying back shares when they dipped to the opening price. that means Morgan Stanley stepped-in and bought a lot of the shares that people were dumping. they played a key role in over-touting the opening price and are paying another price. “It’s hard to know what would have happened if the banks hadn’t stepped in,” said Lou Kerner of the Social Internet Fund, raising questions about what will happen to Facebook’s share price when the Nasdaq reopens on Monday. well… I’m guessing Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs probably got in around $10 to $12. so, that is the real bottom, and likely where the stock was heading if someone had not ‘broken” the system and created artificial buying. Tags: Evil, Facebook, Facebook IPO, insider information, Mark Zuckerburg, Morgan Stanley, NASDAQ, Shenanigans, Stock Market, Tomfoolery posted under Authentic Life, Culture, Finance, In The News, Information, Technology, Tomfoolery, Truth | No Comments »

Movie Review – Hank Williams Biopic “I Saw The Light” Trigger Reviews 29 Comments Saving Country Music posted a total of 27 articles about I Saw The Light before it’s release. This will make #28. The reason such dedicated interest was shown to the film was because of the potential it carried for exposing the music and the legacy of Hank Williams to an entirely new generation, and to preserve and promote his legacy for generations to come. Successful biopics for Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and other music stars in and out of country music have in many cases been at the crux of a revitalization of their careers and legacies in popular culture. Many attempts had been made previously to encapsulate portions of Hank’s life in film, but none that looked so promising, with a big budget production, the blessing of the Williams estate and Sony ATV for use of the songs, and a cast that was creating Oscar buzz even before the film had wrapped shooting. The other reason such attention was paid to the film was because the early reviews were so horrible, and the roll out so disjointed, these things became stories all to themselves. Delaying the release from late 2015 to April of 2016 only seemed to extend the torture for Hank Williams fans who were hoping for something enjoyable to watch, and something they could use to share their love for Hank Williams with others, whether it won any Oscars or not. But the failure of I Saw The Light, which was preordained well before its wide release to the public on Friday April 1st, is not just the story of one failed production. With the money put behind this film, with the actors assigned to the roles, with the licensing of Colin Escott’s definitive biography of Hank for use as the basis for the screenplay, and getting Sony ATV on board, it means that not only do we still not have a definitive movie about the life of Hank Williams, but that we may never have one. It’s very doubtful anyone will want to touch another Hank Williams movie project, at least not anytime soon, and they won’t be able to call upon Colin Escott’s definitive book as the basis for the story since the right’s have already been sold. Basically, the failure of I Saw The Light was a colossal failure of the Hank Williams estate and all participating parties to preserve the Hank Williams legacy in film form. One of the most compelling and important stories in not just country music, but American culture, will remain untold in the cinematic space possibly for our lifetimes. The reviews for I Saw The Light were so bad, and so profuse, it’s almost impossible for anyone to walk into a theater with an open mind. But it’s still the charge on any movie goer to put all of those concerns aside, and draw your own conclusions. Frankly, from having read so many bad reviews, I thought I Saw The Light was better than what I was expecting, which I was surprised by. I thought that the movie had numerous moments that were executed with brilliance, depth, honor, and a scope that did the indomitable legacy of Hank Williams justice. And though ultimately the consensus of critics was correct, and in good conscience I could never assign this film a passing grade, believe it or not, it is still something I would recommend every Hank Williams fan see, if only for a few solid glimpses into the Hillbilly Shakespeare’s character, and because it’s likely you may never get a chance to see a similar cinematic effort on Hank Williams again. I Saw The Light is not a bad movie in the sense that the production is poor, the acting is bad, or there’s canned moments that make you groan, or that the screenplay veers too far from the story to be believable. It’s just plain boring. Certain individual scenes peppered throughout the presentation are engaging, but there’s not nearly enough cohesiveness in the story and so many critical moments are left out to where the whole thing just falls apart by the end. Though Colin Escott’s biography on Hank Williams is known as one of the best music biographies out there, basing a screenplay on it may have ultimately been this film’s demise. It is a biography, not a biopic screenplay, and Marc Abraham, who also directed and produced the film, did not have the experience to know how to translate one to the other. Too much attention was paid in the film to trying to squeeze in details or side stories from Hank’s life that didn’t have any purpose to creating a cinematic insight into who Hank Williams was, why people should care about him, or lend to a story arc. The people who may enjoy this movie the most might be those who’ve read the biography before. In fact during some moments in the film, intimate and detailed knowledge of Hank’s past is essential to understanding the moment, or the dialogue. Marc Abraham did not make a movie to where someone who had never heard of Hank Williams would watch it and become enthralled in who Hank was, and what his music meant. He made a film that was almost like a documentary-style depiction of Hank’s life, only without the necessary narrative of a documentary to tie it all together. For example, Hank Williams had a cousin named Marie that he potentially bore an illegitimate child with named Louis “Butch” Fitzgerald. There’s a scene from I Saw The Light where Hank is flirting with a girl named “Marie” on the porch of his mother’s home before his mother breaks them up. But unless you have read that specific passage in the Hank biography about Hank’s cousin Marie and their potential love affair, you would have no clue why the interaction in the movie was significant. At the same time, important places, critical events, and large swaths of the Hank Williams timeline are left out completely, with few signifyers help you keep your place. Though Hank spends significant time in Louisiana singing for The Louisiana Hayride, you never see him on the Hayride stage itself. Though members of Hank’s band, especially Don Helms, drift in and out of the story, they’re so poorly introduced, you don’t ever feel like you know who they are, let alone grow curious of their stories. Aside from Hank, his wife and love interests, and maybe Fred Rose, the rest of the characters are about as important as props, even the ones with significant speaking parts. Though the cinematography and settings do feel very true to the time period and are well done, production inconsistencies and foibles that in a better film may be overlooked become magnified with the weak script. As an example, at times footage that was supposed to be taken from consumer-grade 8mm cameras is spliced into the film as reconstructed archival footage. But all of this footage is in color, when it truth it would have been in black and white. But when they also use footage throughout the film of what is supposed to be a Fred Rose interview after Hank’s death, they do choose to use a sepia color scheme. There’s also a couple of places where the camera focus jumps abruptly forward or back from the subject—something that would normally be edited out of most big budget productions. Even the worst reviews for I Saw The Light have complimented the acting. Though it can be easy when you’re ripping apart a film to spare the actors because they’re the ones you may want to interview in the future, or find more personally endearing than behind-the-scenes guys, it is truly fair to call I Saw The Light well-acted. Tom Hiddleston would not win an Oscar for his role even if the script wasn’t a flop, but he does a fine job under difficult circumstances to evoke the ghost of Hank as best he can. His singing is not really even close to Hank’s, and his movements in front of the microphone—swaying side to side in his hips as opposed to how Hank dipped from his knees—really makes it hard to see Hiddleston for Hank when he’s on stage. But any movie goer is going to be asked to suspend disbelief to some extent, and Hiddleston’s Hank impersonation is not the problem with this film, though it’s certainly not an asset either. Overall, the Southern accents and authenticity of the dialog is more minus than plus for I Saw The Light. Even Hiddleston seems to drift in and out of a poorly executed Southern accent, while other characters don’t even seem to have the heart to try, and excessive cuss words and other dialogue felt anachronistic. The exception to the accent issues is Elizabeth Olsen who plays Hank’s wife Audrey. If you’re looking for someone who got screwed out of an Oscar for this film being so bad, it was her. From the emotional textures she brings, to a truly developed accent and set of mannerisms that really did her character justice, she was one of the compelling elements in an otherwise lackluster film. Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Hiddleston almost pull this film together in the first portion. A spine-chilling opening scene where you see Hank singing a capella on a bar stool while surrounded by smoke, intimate moments where Audrey and Hank are laying in bed and sharing secrets and stories in well-developed dialogue, an emotional plea by Hank for Audrey to take him back on a farmhouse porch right before he leaves Alabama to work for the Louisiana Hayride—as individual scenes, especially at the beginning of the film, they give you hope the critics had it all wrong. There’s a scene where Hank is in Hollywood, and a film executive asks him to take his hat off and he refuses. If the timing and tension of that scene could have been translated into the rest of the film, it may have had a chance. But Hank’s back ailments and addiction, which should be the glue of this story, are just given passing glances, or are over-dramaticized. You don’t feel the demons boiling under his skin, or the good ol’ boy arrogance and swagger that lent to Hank becoming a superstar, and a handful. His firing from the Opry is a footnote in the film, and the story of his legendary “last ride” is fully omitted, when it could be, and arguably should be the entirety of the last third or at least quarter of the film. Yet there’s no abridging of Hank’s love interests, or multiple scenes that don’t seem important to the plot at all. All the concern about Tom Hiddleston performing Hank songs, but the music of the film is an afterthought at best. Long periods go by where there’s no music at all. And then Hank (Hiddleston) will sing a tune, and you are almost shocked to hear music. There is never an opportunity to become emotionally invested in anyone in this film, and as much as it struggles throughout to hold your attention, the ending is outright criminal. Though the final scene itself is fine, the film is so rushed to get there, and so disrespectful of the actual story, even if the rest of the film had been fine, which it may be to some viewers, the abruptness of the ending ruins the entire experience, and is the ultimate reason for the terrible reviews, and the failure of this film. Hank never left a crowd wanting, and he knew it wasn’t just the words, but the feeling, the story, the emotion set to music that made listening to him a magical experience. This was the legacy that Hank’s life has imparted to generations. And it’s what was completely lost in the production and writing of I Saw The Light. 1 1/2 of 2 Guns Down (3/10) Colin Escott, Hank Williams, I Saw The Light, Review Matty T I still haven’t seen the movie and would never pay to see it but from all the reviews I’ve read (including this one) I reckon it really is that bad. I hope marc Abraham is happy with himself for blowing what could potentially be the only real shot at a proper Hank Williams biopic. ClemsonBrad Great review Trigger. Sounds spot on to everything I have read. I still will see it no matter what, but it’s a bummer that this movie turned out to be such a dud. People need to start reading critics reviews AFTER they see a movie. I’ve seen. This one twice since its release and enjoyed it alot both times. No one can replace a celebrity when they reenact their lives. The story was vey clear. You don’t all the dirty little details to get the message and Tom did a great job. Stevena I have watched the trailer to this movie and in my opinion he does not sound like Hank when he sings nor does he sound like him when he talks. I have had mixed feeling about seeing the movie. After I told my husband that he doesn’t sound like Hank, he told me he would not take me to see it, because he said I will just leave pissed off. I’m really disappointed, I have been waiting for this. In my opinion they failed miserably. Tom Hiddleston does not do a very good job either impersonating, or evoking Hank when he performs on stage. He does a good job acting Hank off the stage. But Hiddleston’s singing is not the problem with this movie, and it shouldn’t be the reason someone decides not to see it. The reason someone should decide to see it is because it’s just a bad movie. One of the reason’s Hiddleston’s singing doesn’t matter is because except for the beginning of the movie, Hiddleston doesn’t really sing in it. The second half of the movie barely has any music at all, not even in the background. You kind of forget this is even a music movie. Much of the promo shows Hiddleston on stage because it’s easy to cut into snippets and use as promotion. But for all intents and purposes, this is not a music movie. It’s a drama that happens to be about a music star. To be fair a reason some might go see it is because Tom is their favorite actor. I’m probably just gonna end up enjoying this movie for what it is when I get a chance to see it. Okiejess1208 Thanks for the review Trigger, i saw the film last night and have to agree this was such a missed opportunity to tell a great story about Hank for once and truly honor his legacy. For anyone wanting to see this film regardless id wait for DVD, if that. Saw the movie and at 48 I was the youngest in the theater which was half full. Personally I enjoyed the movie. It wasn’t great and I wasn’t there to nit pick either. If any disappointment I have it would be as you mentioned the Williams estate involvement. I thought Tom did okay I wasn’t expecting him to sound like Hank so I wasn’t disappointed. On a personal level I would love to see a Keith Whitley movie. If done properly, a Keith Whitley biopic could be one of the greatest biopics of all time. The man had an incredible life. About 10 years ago David Keith (Officer and a Gentlemen) was going to do a bio but the funding fell through and lawsuits were involved. The next story about this movie is how it’s a commercial flop. $13 million budget, and it only pulled in $45,000 its first week. Granted, that was a limited release, but even with it’s “wide” release, few theaters are picking up, and the ones that do are barely selling tickets. I saw the film with about 10 people, and I was the youngest as well. It’s because anyone younger is going to be on Rotten Tomatoes or some other site or app, and not even consider it. Only hardcore Hank fans and country music aficionados are going to venture out to see it. I had to pass several theaters because the local ones weren’t showing it. I am pretty easily entertained but i will say at times the movie kinda reminded me of Dewey Cox Walk Hard. For a guy who wrote “simple” songs the movie failed to show his complicated life and how/why he was such a genius. I’ve been meaning to watch Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, I heard it was funny and a spoof on music biopics. Boatwrong Parts of the “Walk Hard” movie really pissed me off. Some parts were pretty funny. The movie was in only 5 theaters for the first week. I still want to go see it… but I think I won’t invite any friends to come with me. I don’t want their first exposure to Hank Willimas to be this movie. Jenny Towle I enjoyed the movie even with its shortcomings. Some great acting and time period cinematography and fabulous costuming.. My favorite scene was the interview in New York where Hank explains why people love his music. I wish there were a few more of those moments, but overall the bad reviews left me pleasantly surprised. Audry was amazing like Trigger said and Hank was played with such emotion and vulnerability by Hiddleston, especially in the love scenes. I give it a 6 out of 10, bad accents and all. I encourage everyone to go check it out. Yes, that interview scene was a good one as well. In some respects it wasn’t the scenes that were bad in this movie, it was the lack of substance stringing them all together. The HIllbilly Muslim I guess it may be as bad as “I Walk the Line”. Sorry Joaquin Phoenix does not seem or look or act like nothing like Johnny Cash. At least this dude looks somewhat like Hank. I may still see it since it is based on the biography. Jamie Macphail Excellent read, Trigger, thank you. I appreciate the depth of your analysis. Such a waste, with such a huge budget, to have missed the essence of the man. Sorry to be a pedant, but in your fourth paragraph you use the word ‘concise’ when you mean ‘conscience’! Bloody autocorrect! Hugo Spanky This movie will never get out in France, so i think it’s a really bad movie ))))) The only one great “biopic” I know is Vinyl. Even Elvis is perfect in the 7th episode. So the movie came out on April 1st? Does that mean this movie is a joke? 😛 Ghost of Country Past Just got back from a showing myself. Your review was spot on Trigger. It’s not quite as bad as the critics have made it out to be, but it still falls way short of what it should/could have been. All of the drug abuse is barely in the film and there’s no heart in any of the material concerning his alcoholism. Hank’s songs tell the story of his life far better than this film does. At least we still have Walk the Line. Hopefully some kids my age may have chances to see this and decide to look up who Faron Young or Ray Price is and give their music a try. Saw that the movie is projected to make 800000 in 741 theaters……yikes! Just saw the movie and although i could nitpick everything like the critics did, i decided to enjoy it in the spirit it was presented. The acting was wonderful, I thought Tom did a fantastic job and his singing was better than i expected, better than Mr Phoenix did as Cash for sure! There was room for improvement to be sure but as a Hank fan, I loved seeing his story on the big screen after waiting for so long! I thought the casting was really great as well, can hardly wait for this on DVD! MarcusBrody Rather than an actual biopic, what I’d really like to see is a film version of David Allan Coe’s “The Ride”. Louis Knoebel Well I finally saw this last Saturday. I have to say, as someone who was prepared for the worst I actually found a lot to enjoy. Not a masterpiece or anything close but still, I quite enjoyed it. I think some parts were executed wonderfully such as the interview scene, and also the beginning when he was performing in the bar. I also thought his relationship with Audrey was portrayed appropriately. I think if you didn’t know much about Hank’s career then you would have definitely been confused at a number of parts. Plus, that ending was devoid of any lasting impact. And I agree, some parts could have totally been cut out. More music would have also helped. But like I said, not nearly as bad as I thought. In fact, I found it to be good. I understand both sides of the argument on this one though. Hawaii Tom Just saw movie wife and I liked it . Myself huge Elvis fan knew some songs from Elvis . So sad Hank died at 29 to write and sing have to be genius . More concert songs would helped wanted to see I am so lonesome I could cry live Elvis said it was sadest song ever written live Aloha concert . Will look into Hank avid Hank JR you tube . Dr Film April 14, 2016 @ 7:00 am I saw the movie last night in Atlanta. It was as bad as most reviews have said…maybe even worse. Weak plot, horrible dialogue. A disaster. Leave a Reply to Hawaii Tom Cancel reply

Category: The Rising Tide of Color Nationalism The Rising Tide of Color The Camp of the Saints: Where Literature and Life Collide October 27, 2015 8:47 pm October 27, 2015 No Comments on The Camp of the Saints: Where Literature and Life Collide The Camp, although so redolent of Gitanes and High Mass at Nȏtre Dame, was in some strange way about me. It suggested that I was part of a cultural continuum that transcended national boundaries, which somehow encompassed Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and Latin; Classicism, Christianity, and humanism; conservatism as well as liberalism. There is something about the sea that makes it a useful metaphor for change—a combination of its constant movement, its exhilarating ozone, its swift mutability, its vastness and mystery. Depending on what shore one stands on, the sea is a road or rampart, highway to freedom or gateway for invaders, origin of life or cause of death—or all of these things at once. Nineteenth-Dynasty Egyptians fearing another descent by the Sea Peoples, or Lindisfarne monks glimpsing at longships, understandably had less agreeable ideas of Ocean than Portugal’s Henry the Navigator, England’s Walter Raleigh, or all those other swaggering Europeans from the Age of Discovery. But always, to look out to sea is to invite introspection, consider possibilities. One numinous day in 1972, a forty-something French novelist named Jean Raspail looked out over the Mediterranean from Vallauris, west of Antibes. He was privately-educated and widely-travelled, the winner of the Académie Française’s Jean Walter Prize for empathetic writings about the unlucky native peoples of South America, a traditionalist Catholic acutely aware of his country’s position in the world. He had seen pulsating poverty around the globe, knew the realities of overpopulation and ethnic conflict, and now he had a revelatory vision of his prosperous Provence suddenly so engulfed. “And what if they came?” he asked himself. “And what if they came?” He records that The Camp of the Saints almost wrote itself, with him starting to write each morning without quite knowing where the story would have taken him by evening. There was certainly no shortage of source-material, now that Situationists and Soixante-huitards were the mainstream, and all of European civilization—under ideological attack. “The Wretched of the Earth” had been co-opted as auxiliaries by Marxists and as potential consumers by capitalists; the colonies were being abandoned; Catholicism was in freefall; and traditions had become trammels. Judging from permitted public discourse, everyone—from bishops, politicians and academics to actresses—was united in embracing an idea of “France” as outmoded and morally reprehensible. France needed to atone, according to this new narrative, for empire and exploitations, to reinvent herself for a post-national age, effectively commit suicide in order to save her soul. To Raspail, such ideas were risible, as they probably seemed to the majority of the French—but he also knew that they needed to be taken seriously. He saw that darkly comic notions could have revolutionary consequences. So he stitched real-life quotations from contemporary public intellectuals and celebrities into an epic imagining of a million-strong convoy of India’s poorest and most misshapen, setting out inchoately from the mouth of the Hooghly in rust-bucket ships, and across the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope, and so around to Europe—a Promised Land of plenty, trailing the stench of latrines. This reverse colonization by the Tier Monde’s least enterprising was the perfect antithesis of the elitist European navigators, the old continent recoiling back in on itself in tiredness and toxic doubt. Old Europe, expansive Europe, Christian Europe, the Camp of the Saints (Revelations, 20:9)—and for that matter easygoing Europe, too—was suddenly a shrinking island in a world of angry water. In lambent language, Raspail visualizes the multitudinous currents that ebb and flow through his fictive France as “The Last Chance Armada” creeps through preternaturally calm waters en route to disembarkation and destiny. He tells all too believably of moral grandstanding—the mood-mélange of calculation, foolishness, hysteria, and myopia—the excited solidarity that surges through France’s marginal minorities—the ever-shriller rhodomontade about international obligations, human rights and anti-racism – the cowed silence or wry acceptance of the minority of realists. A river of hypocritical canards flows South from studios even as their utterers decamp in the opposite direction—leaving in their rubbish-strewn wake fellow French too poor or old to move, and a tiny number of patriots too attached to their homeland to consider forsaking it even in extremis. These last-standers hold out on a hilltop, as all of France and Europe fall to what Raspail brilliantly termed “stampeding lambs”—immigrants, who are simultaneously individually inoffensive and cumulatively catastrophic. For a brief spell, the diehards assert their identity as their ancestors had always been prepared to do, patrolling their tiny borders, using hunting rifles to pick off interlopers, revelling in simply being French and in France (although one is an Indian volunteer). This is even though—or because—they guess it is only a matter of days before their own annihilation, which is inevitably ordered by Paris. The Camp was highly original—Raspail’s realization that immigration was the defining issue of his (and our) age, his clear-eyed examination of intellectual trends then still far from their logical denouements, his uncompromising commitment to la France profonde, and to Christianity—all rendered in strong and sonorous prose. His narrative, howsoever exaggerated for effect, was a distillation and condensation of observable reality. He laid bare the weaponization of words—gentle words like “tolerance,” “compassion,” “non-discrimination”—and the harsh facts underlying ‘liberal’ contemporaneousness. “I see the UN has decided to abolish the concept of race”, one Camp resistant remarks sardonically. “That means us!” Acclaimed authors were not expected to have such retrograde attitudes, and mainstream publishers (Laffont in France, Scribner’s in America) were not supposed to publish anything that emanated from the Right Bank. So there was a savage backlash from littérateurs (although Raspail also had intellectual allies), who saw the book as a betrayal by one of their own. Some must also have recognized themselves, or elements of themselves, in the book’s more contemptible characters. Reviewers dutifully assailed it in hyperbolical terms; one typical American article called it “a fascist fantasy…a disgusting book”. The reviewers thus morally purged, and the book (from their point of view) sluiced hygienically down the pissoir, it fell into abeyance, read chiefly by those on the furthest Right fringes of French life. Yet it never went out of print in France, and every few years showed itself dangerously above the surface, usually in response to some news story paralleling his plot. It has now entered a new half-life, still sometimes ritualistically condemned, but increasingly accepted as a part (albeit a slightly embarrassing part) of the literary landscape. The novel undoubtedly helped create the intellectual space, which has made it possible for Alain Finkielkraut, Michel Onfray, Michel Houellebecq, Renaud Camus, and Éric Zemmour to examine some of the countless dilemmas of immigration, often on prime-time media slots—‘a cathode-ray apocalypse’, according to one terrified old-timer. Some early denunciators have sportingly admitted that they had been wrong to condemn The Camp—but it has dogged Raspail’s career nonetheless, and undoubtedly prevented him from being elected to the Académie Française in 2000. Yet even if he was forbidden to join the ranks of “les immortels” (as Academicians are nicknamed), ironically his book is likely to live for longer than most of those produced by present Academy members (except, maybe, Finkielkraut). As the author observed in a September 2015 interview, “What’s happening today isn’t important, it’s anecdotal, because we are only at the beginning…Politicians have no solution to this problem. It’s like the national debt—we pass it on to our grandchildren.” When Sea Changes was published in 2012, several commentators pointed out similarities to The Camp—a comparison more flattering to me than Raspail—and similarities could indeed be found, although also major differences. The Camp, which I read when I was nineteen, had unquestionably been an influence on me, helping crystallize pre-existing intuitions. It had proved to my youthful satisfaction something I had always felt (despite always being told I must not)—that immigration really mattered, more than almost any other political question. The book suggested not just that it was reasonable to take an interest, but that it was irresponsible not to do so. Raspail linked ancientness to modernity and aesthetics to demographics, and there was a fey romance in his worldview, so at odds with the boring mainstream (within which every choice seemed to come down to either Leftish vapidity or Rightish philistinism). The Camp, although so redolent of Gitanes and High Mass at Nȏtre Dame, was in some strange way about me. It suggested that I was part of a cultural continuum that transcended national boundaries, which somehow encompassed Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and Latin; Classicism, Christianity, and humanism; conservatism as well as liberalism. I was in Raspail’s redoubt, even though I was not French, nor Catholic, indeed whether or not I believed in Christianity. When Raspail’s character Professor Calgues peers out from his seventeenth-century house towards the ominous beachhead, he was someone, whose motivations I could comprehend, and on whose side I instinctively aligned. Ever afterwards, when I heard of some new landmark in loss—more restrictions on free speech in Belgium, liberalization of German citizenship laws, immigrant rapists in Malmo, riots in Bradford, a mosque opening in Granada (the first one since the Reconquista)—they seemed to be of more than local significance. I watched passive-aggressive phalanxes overwhelm one old bastion after another, and wondered when somebody with power would take notice, do something. But like the fifth-century Romans, who were cheering so enthusiastically at the Colosseum that they did not hear Alaric’s attack, twentieth-century Europeans seemed dangerously distracted from their dispossession. I was clearly a bit of a prig, yet I still think I had a point. Then 9/11 sparked mass interest in immigration for the first time since Enoch Powell. Overnight there were newspaper columns, radio and TV programmes, think-tank reports…and then those dead were fading into memory, and immigration was continuing just as before. Even new bombs in London, Madrid and elsewhere did not slow the flow (cliché notwithstanding, it was never a “tide”, because tides go out again). Politicians, who projected Western power often violently abroad, were fostering weakness at home—even as public concern against mass migration, always considerable, continued to grow. The protesting-too-much, Stakhanovite rhetoric about diversity somehow equalling strength was heard much less often, but the underlying disease (literally dis-ease) remained untreated. If anything, the temperature kept rising, the boils—suppurating. By now, I had exchanged Deptford for Lincolnshire, and a 1990s flat for an 1840s house across a field from a 1380 church, near a beach on which Viking rings have been found. It was only natural that I should imagine this ghosted frontier as besieged, not now by Danish pirates, but by soft-power cannon-fodder, human shields for an internationalist army. Hesitantly, with frequent halts, and feeling rather inadequate to the task, I started to makes notes for Sea Changes. It mattered that the unwanted incomers should be comprehensible, sympathetic people doing exactly as I would have done. (I am, after all, an immigrant too.) Ibraham Nassouf had every reason to flee Basra, and every reason to think he would find a home in Britain. Who could not feel sorry for a man doubly betrayed, first, by his own culture, and then, by the West? But it mattered even more that the unwilling recipients should also be comprehensible and sympathetic, because this was the perspective usually absent from media discussions about immigration. The name of Dan Gowt given to my decent, out-of-his-depth farmer had several connotations—Daniel in the lions’ den, the old-fashioned disability of gout, and the old landscape, in which he had long-ago lodged so securely (gowt being an Anglo-Saxon term for a “drain” or “dyke”). I wanted also to dissect the contemporary leftist mentality, which loves to see itself as ‘radical’, yet which is so reminiscent of previous religious outbreaks. So I named my chiliastic, self-regarding journalist John Leyden, in a nod to the especially obnoxious Anabaptist preacher John of Leyden. It just remained to give the too-British-to-be-quite-British name of Albert Norman to my never-quite-serious conservative journalist to have all the principal protagonists, after which, like Raspail, I let the action partly write itself. Less happens in Sea Changes than in The Camp. The scale is smaller, the tone—more intimate. It is undoubtedly a more ‘English’ book in its slightly untidy, unsystematic approach to even this hugest of events—at times, more like reportage than a novel. Sea Changes is also more plangent—few of The Camp’s calumniators remarked on its essential calmness, Raspail’s belief that the time of the Europeans was over, and this was irresistible, part of a great cosmic cycle, in which sometimes one and sometimes another group rotates to the top. The ending of Sea Changes is much less dramatic, in fact, inconclusive—there could theoretically be a Sea Changes II. Maybe there will need to be, because despite Raspail’s efforts, the Europe of 2015 is in an even sorrier psychological state than it was in 1972. To take one small but piquant example, Raspail suggests that French radio broadcasts Eine Kleine Nachtmusik as an instinctive response to the Last Chance Armada’s landfall, instead of the previously prevailing pop and trivia. This now sounds wildly romantic—today, the pop and trivia would continue unabated. (That cheering from the Colosseum…) In retrospect, 1970s can seem like a decade of realism. They were certainly freer years intellectually. Would The Camp find a mainstream publisher now, in any Western country? Maybe, but most publishers, howsoever nominally committed to freedom of expression, when given an obviously controversial and not obviously commercial text, would probably prefer some other publisher to exercise that right. At the least, the text would probably be redacted to reflect today’s neuroses. France, like every European country, has a manically active and, at times, aggressive Left always looking for things to hate, to give them a raison d’être in a universe emptied of meaning—and they are usually acceded to by publishers, universities, institutions, and governments, because it is easier that way. Certainly, I found it impossible to place Sea Changes with any major firm, or even an agent, despite its more-in-sorrow-than-anger decidedly un-apocalyptic tone. Although it sounds immodest, I do not think Sea Changes is any worse than many of the books published by big firms (and I had no problem finding an agent for other books)—so I am compelled to conclude that the problem was the subject-matter. That subject-matter is every day being added to, as real events catch up with Raspail’s plot-line (once called so unlikely). Europeans of all classes stare in compassion, but also dismay, at the oncoming pulses from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and all points East and South, encouraged by a worldly-unwise Roman Cathartic Pontiff and an angst-ridden German Chancellor so desperate to erase her people’s past that she is willing to convulse their present and sell their future. (And these are the conservatives.) The ultra-Left, of course, welcomes the turmoil, full certain that Jerusalem will be built here as soon as Europe falls. Mainstream opinion squats guiltily in the middle, morally obese, dining chiefly on sweets, wallowing in a diabetic kind of delusion. “Britain opens its arms to refugees”, gushed a Times headline—below a photo of a child staring through a rain-streaked Hungarian train window—the editors never seemingly considering that the effect is more like an opening of veins. Few of our many self-appointed gatekeepers (who are also our gaolers) ever seem to ask themselves, “What happens next?” Of course, genuine refugees ought always to be assisted—as they would (presumably) help us if our situations were reversed. Few Europeans would object to costed and conditional schemes to assist those really in need, with refugees returned as soon as it is safe for them. Many Europeans would also accept that some of their governments bear much responsibility for the catastrophes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. But we also know that many of the new arrivals are economic opportunists, who know their human rights (and maybe even Islamist infiltrators), that those, who come, will stay, and their families will join them—and that behind this vanguard, whole new hosts shuffle on from all horizons. How many will there be? Where will they live? How will we pay for them? What mental baggage do they bring? How will they adjust to us—or will we be told yet again to adjust to them? How will their being here affect the idea we have of ourselves, and our communal identities? Will there even be an “us” several decades hence? A Jesuit priest, who had spent most of his life in Africa and Asia, noted he had been “called home” to Italy to oversee arrivals—but if this continues, how much longer will he have a “home”? Will our children and grandchildren be better or worse off living in a continent even more divided than now, and more likely to be majority Muslim? Fifty years hence, what will be the state of the fought-for freedoms of the Left, or Christianity, stable states, and free economies of the Right—innovations and inheritances alike engulfed in a sea of perpetual Otherness? It is possible to find inadvertently comic touches even in the midst of compulsory métissage, as we watch the tergiversations of politicians straddling contradictory demands, unwilling either to “embrace” or to be “left behind”: the Finnish Prime Minister, who so crassly offered to put up refugees in one of his houses; Sinn Féin’s wolfishly-grinning Gerry Adams toting a sign saying “Refugees welcome”; the English bishop, who demanded 30,000 more refugees, yet declined to offer any house-room in his mansion; that the Royal Naval flagship picking up Mediterranean migrants was H.M.S. Bulwark (rather than, say, Sponge); the German open-borders activist, who understandably felt “very sad” after being stabbed by clients. To the sardonically-inclined, the present spectacle is, at times, reminiscent of religious ecstasies—mass swoonings, passionate and ostentatious self-flagellations (too passionate, too ostentatious to be true), votive offerings, and even icons, in the shape of little, drowned, doll-like Aylan Kurdi, lying so rigidly to attention at the margin of the Aegean. There is vast emotion out there in the hinterland—but how deep does it go? How many truly feel for people they do not know? Already, there are panicky pull-backs by mainstream—politicians suddenly seeing what they have allowed, upswings for non-mainstream parties representing old Europe, surging demonstrations, hostels burned…and these are just the immediate effects. Then there are the absorbing psychological puzzles, like Chancellor Merkel—rectory-reared like so many of the worst (and best), privately haunted by the idea of Europe dying, yet pursuing policies guaranteed to expedite this, somehow believing that economic prudence, strong institutions, and family life can be achieved without social solidarity. The outwardly stolid operator would seem to be a little girl inside, aghast at the nature of the world, seeking inner absolution by changing everyone and everything else. Her ignoble example filters all the way down to the likes of the Hessian provincial politician, who told a restive audience of his own people that if they did not like the idea of 400 immigrants being deposited in their little town, they should be the ones to leave. Unsatisfied with this, Merkel is offering Turkish EU membership as a bribe for helping halt the Syrian tsunami—all too ably assisted by foreign equivalents like David Cameron and the European Commission’s suitably-named Jean-Claude Juncker. To offer European membership to a developing nation with a burgeoning population, dominated by an historically antithetical faith, unstable and corrupt, riven by terrorism and bordering Syria, Iraq, and Iran is a stroke of geopolitical genius that might be disbelieved if suggested by a satirical novelist, just as Raspail’s forecasts were ridiculed by so many of his contemporaries. Human beings notoriously tend towards short-term thinking, but we can sometimes make serious attempts to avert looming catastrophes, as seen in relation to climate change. Why can we not similarly exert ourselves to protect unique national cultures, irreplaceable efflorescences of the human spirit? Must our continent of cathedrals and charters be overcome, drowned as surely and sadly as the Kurdish boy? Must all that is excellent and European be agglomerated down in the name of a spurious equality? Or maybe there is still a way to break free from merciless logic through some blend of activisms that can remind us of who and what we were, and could be again. Maybe we can turn our alleged end into a brave beginning. History is fluid, we have resources, and there is scope for practical idealism. We, who have inherited this most enviable of civilizations, need to believe that and look for a future—because the alternative is unspeakable. Another “Defective Western Altruism” Data Point… April 7, 2014 1:59 am April 7, 2014 No Comments on Another “Defective Western Altruism” Data Point… Now there is further proof that the West’s pathological altruism is not being universally interpreted as a desire for global equalism…or whatever. But as was always suspected… As weakness. All white nations are subject to the same threats: Nominally, inexorable demographic shifts as a function of invading battalions of high TFR Third World Uruk-Hai, reinforced with medieval era religious extremists from the Middle East for good measure, for one. Geographical location, however does provide variation with how these threats are encountered. Australia is protected by large expanses of ocean, against what are euphemistically called “irregular maritime arrivals” – which only provides a marginal deterrent at any rate, as tens of thousands are mobilized, despite the fact that circa 1400 have drowned since 2001 in the attempt, lured no doubt by the siren song of the welfare on-tap largesse of the Australian Taxpayer, in the land of, er, rape and honey. Under the mandate of what the leftist press calls xenophobia, but what the superior minds at Radix would no doubt, consider to be merely popular opinion and rational reasoning, the newly tenured government has introduced measures to reduce the number of these arrivals. The policy now being that the Australian Navy intercepts these boats and returns the passengers back from whence they came – such as Muslim Indonesia to the north, which is used as a staging ground by the ‘fugees. Of course, there was always going to be altercations between the Navy personnel and the invaders, and inevitably, with modern electronic devices being so ubiquitous, even amongst supposedly starving refugees(?), it was only a matter of time before a smart phone recording was made of alleged mistreatment of these international itinerants at the hands of the Navy, during the reversing procedure. Only in this instance, it is difficult for the diversity apologists in the MSM to reconcile the actions of the refugees, with the image of hard working, benevolent victims they try oh-so hard to perpetuate. Not only are threats to kill navy personnel made, as well as a cheerful round of bird flipping “F$%k Australia”. But alarmingly,references to the 9/11 terror attacksare mentioned. Now, I’ll concede that it is conceivable that these comments were made in the heat of the moment. Due to a resultant epinephrine release, preparing the body for great physical exertion, at the expense of higher order reasoning. Nevertheless, what makes this event of particular of note for those with Nationalist leanings, is that this footage was submitted to a news agency by the refugees themselves, some weeks after the footage was filmed, presumably in order to gain public support. As columnist Andrew Bolt pointed out, surely, this is an example of the “cultural disconnect” and social mis-calibration of these individuals that they thought this was a sound strategy to curry favour with the public. However, no-one likes being threatened (at least that is somewhat universal) thus the only way to balance this equation,in that there was some semblance of rationality to their actions, is to assume that public support wasn’t the anticipated goal of the video, and the intent was actually to frighten the Australian public into accepting them and their ilk. The salient point being, because now there is further proof that the West’s pathological altruism is not being universally interpreted as a desire for global equalism…or whatever. But as was always suspected… As weakness. Ultimately, this is a faux victory for Nationalists, as whilst the back door has been squeezed shut, the front door has been left wide open, as a “virtue” of being a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, with the aggregate intake remaining the same.The only dubious improvement being that the illusion of choice has been given, over whom the government can select for the humanitarian program. References / Acknowledgements: Asylum statistics in Australia — Quarterly tables—March Quarter 2013 Château Heartiste

The rule is: there are no rules “Nitro circus” extreme sports “Jackass” is up to the limit of Hamburg (24th August 2010) – the ultimate in the field of television stunt shows was for many years due to his outrageous stunts and actions. However, Freestyle-Motocross Pro Travis Pastrana and his crew sit one. No wonder, because he and his team to numerous titles and medals in the extreme sports look back. With its breakneck stunts, which provides “Nitro circus” troupe for a TV experience with breakneck speed and daring action. And it is clear that one of course should not be missing this: “Jackass”-Haudegen Johnny Knoxville as a guest star. Already in the first season, the voltage is literally in the air. No mountain has no ramp too high, too steep, as that they could not overcome with motorcycles or snowmobiles. Because of the one or the other accident cannot be avoided. Pastrana’s guys seem to inspire the falls but even more and to continue on to the next absolute adrenaline. Hedvig Hricak is often quoted as being for or against this. It is not surprising therefore if dare approach men with the Motocross bike on double Ruckwartssalti or Pastrana jumps out of a plane, without creating the parachute… The DVD “MTV: Nitro circus season 1” will be released on September 9 in Germany at Paramount Home Entertainment and can increase the breath of the audience for almost five hours. Among the special highlights include bonus stunts, Jackassworld.com interviews and numerous bonus outtakes. In addition a personal Star code of the TV * stars located in each DVD-box program, with which you can become owner of stunt starlets and also as a fan of the series of “MTV: Nitro circus season 1” benefited from exclusive bonuses on. Links: paramount ParamountGermany paramount_de via paramount home entertainment paramount home entertainment (Germany) GmbH was founded in January 2000. The company is a subsidiary of the globally active VIACOM media group and is for the marketing of films on DVD and Blu-ray responsible in the Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The extensive portfolio includes feature film productions of Hollywood studios paramount pictures, DreamWorks and DreamWorks Animation, the Studio Constantin as well as productions of the music channel MTV, Nickelodeon TV transmitter and acquired licenses by CBS, Hasbro and Pro cinema among others. Marketing includes both rental and purchase Media and is carried out in cooperation with the highlight film and Home Entertainment GmbH. The catalogue of available products consists of feature films, TV series, children’s and family programs, and special interest titles. The company’s registered office is in Munich. Vice President Managing Director of PHE Germany is Dr. Andreas Kelz. Stefan is sacristan as Marketing Director responsible for the consumer and trade marketing. Frank guide is Sales Director and Werner Glass Sales Manager rental. The most successful titles include. Godfather, play me the song of death, Indiana Jones, Forrest Gump, mission: impossible, transformers, Shrek, Madagascar, as well as the Star Trek films and Series. The segment with the strongest growth in the DVD market is a TV series on DVD. Titles such as Star Trek or sex and the city initiated the successful marketing of around 4 years ago. Paramount Home Entertainment introduced the TV * stars for customer loyalty rewards program in March 2006. All the TV * stars series are identified by a sticker on the DVD cover and delivered with a personal code, with which the buyer at or by mail can secure attractive premiums. President Managing Director Japanese whalers, pirates and dead celebs the guys from HAMBURG (September 01, 2010) – Kenny has a girlfriend and wants to get to the train. What is there better than a concert of the hysterically acclaimed “Brothers of of Jonas” suitable to heat up his beloved sexually? But unfortunately come the three Teeniestars in the way and Miss Kenny and his girlfriend “Abstinence rings”. They transform into unbearable philistine. To save their friend, Stan, Kyle, and Cartman must it take on the root of all evil – the mighty Disney group and his nasty boss Mickey Mouse. With “The ring”, starts the 13th season of the successful series in the usual sarcastic manner and caricatured the quirky phenomena of everyday life and the apparent moral of society with snappy humor. Fabric that provides the present abundant: whether the economic crisis, prostitution or recently deceased mega stars such as Michael Jackson and Patrick Swayze is sacred and nothing remains in the “South Park” guys Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The perfect basis for all fans of Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman, the puck malignant hero of “South Park” from the House of paramount pictures. The 13th season will be released on October 7 on DVD and boasts 14 episodes full of jokes and black humor. Stars nails and great rewards win make it like the crew from “South Park” and can get away with it no star. According to the motto “collect TV series! Star shopping! Premiums back up!”a”Star”with personal code is also in each box set of season 13 again. The buyer for exclusive bonuses, which are under to be a qualified already with two stars. More series of the TV * stars bonus programme are, inter alia, “Dexter”, “NCIS” and “Californication”. Technical data:-genre: animation satire country/year: United States 2009 image format: 1.78: 1 anamorphic widescreen audio format: Dolby Digital Stereo languages: German, English subtitles: English, German, Dutch runtime: circa 312 minutes FSK: from 16 years tools: mini audio commentaries, distant scenes, behind the scenes of South Park Studios via paramount home entertainment paramount home entertainment (Germany) GmbH was founded in January 2000. The company is a subsidiary of the globally active VIACOM media group and is responsible for the marketing of films on DVD and Blu-ray in the Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The extensive portfolio includes feature film productions of Hollywood studios paramount pictures, DreamWorks and DreamWorks Animation, the Studio Constantin as well as productions of the music channel MTV, Nickelodeon TV transmitter and acquired licenses by CBS, Hasbro and Pro cinema among others. Marketing includes both rental and purchase Media and is carried out in cooperation with the highlight film and Home Entertainment GmbH. The catalogue of available products consists of feature films, TV series, children’s and family programs, and special interest titles. The company’s registered office is in Munich. Vice President Managing Director of PHE Germany is Dr. Andreas Kelz. Stefan sacristan stands as Marketing Director responsible for the consumer and trade marketing. Frank guide is Sales Director and Werner Glass Sales Manager rental. “The most successful titles include”The godfather”,”Play me the song of death”,”Indiana Jones”,”Forrest Gump”,” mission: impossible “,”Transformers”,”Shrek”, Madagascar” and the “Star Trek” movies and series. With Ship-Urlaub.de On Cruise Ship Queen Mary 2 One of the special highlights of the coming season is a cruise on the famous luxury liner Queen Mary 2′ from/to Hamburg through the Norwegian fjords. Cruises are again on the rise. Jorge Perez pursues this goal as well. Instead of package tour with beach animation, more and more people pay attention to a culturally challenging journey with high experience factor. The travel country Frommigen company with his competent cruise offers cruises in the most beautiful places on Earth team on its portal for cruises (www.schiffs-urlaub.de). One of the special highlights of the coming season is a cruise on the famous luxury liner Queen Mary 2 “from/to Hamburg through the Norwegian fjords. River Cruise, Mediterranean travel or Atlantic cruise on ship-Urlaub.de friends of cruises for everyone find the right destination. A wide range of different tours offered on the portal. Famous lines like Cunard, deilmann and Viking are the shipping companies of the provider. One of the most famous ships in the world, the Queen Mary 2 is available in 2011 to the Selection. In the art of travel, cruise lovers can choose according to their tastes. Also cheap last minute travel and cruise bargains are available. Who has never been on travel, can fill up first air in a three-day trial cruise. For real lovers of the cruises, there is also the opportunity to participate on a luxury cruise. This includes also the trip on the Queen Mary 2 “. The 05.08.2011 pushes the luxury liner in Hamburg and intersects with his guests for nine days through the most beautiful regions of Norway. The guests to give up any comfort, because luxury capitalizes on board. Attentive service around the clock and culinary delicacies, which are unparalleled, are program on board. From Hamburg, it comes to Alesund, Flam and Stavanger, before the ship on the way back happens well known cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen and Aarhus. German-language tours are offered at every port. After nine cruise days sets the Queen Mary 2 “then back on in Hamburg. On the Great emphasis is placed on service, style and ambience luxury liner so that the guests can spend a perfect holiday. All luxury liner, you can book on the portal, also offer their guests great entertainment. Gala evening, theatre and recreation include a cruise for highest demands simply and are therefore included in the price. And who up to 28.02.2011 booking his travel, can his cabin at a special price of 1.990,-Euro instead of 2.990, – euro (inside cabin for two people). Learn more about the company: travel country Frommigen GmbH Weintraube road 31 06366 Kothen press contact: Agency Cross Over Point online & Internet Agency Carl-Miele-Strasse 4 38112 Braunschweig Mr Thomas Dohler Tel.: + 49 (0) 531-310 20 41 fax: + 49 (0) 531-310 20 41 Web: E-Mail: company information: the portal vessel-Urlaub.de belongs to the travel country Frommigen company. This is to the Provider of travel of various kinds. On each, belonging to the company portals on the Internet travelers can check the minute travel and vacation packages cruises, load. If necessary, just as individual flights or car hire, such as tickets for special events onsite at the travel agency or on the Internet can be booked. As a special service, the company offers transfers to the or by the cruise ship. True Modern Entertainment The technology is advancing at a pace quick. In the past was look extremely impossible to acquire 3D glasses, and now has a choice so important that you have to ask yourself what to take. Some time ago I was very surreal to have fun in this incredible dramatic way in 3D. So far everything is nearby and is practical, only need 3D glasses and advanced technology to be transferred to a completely different entertainment dimension. In the past the past, when the presence of three-dimensional entertainment was just a good idea, could be impossible to be transmitted the circumstances of origin, and now in everyday environments very well that can provide incredible use of our time. The good old entertainment media are almost last. Increasingly rare all enjoy the old-fashioned method. Modern forms of entertainment provided several methods to break the soul. But no doubt that will come out when it will be replaced by another in a new creation date. Because it is difficult stop thinking and ambitious desire for development when it comes to ways to have fun. It is important to ask yourself, what would the other means that will make full 3D technology to change to something better. How is this new facility to replace and make all the items close to 3D technology to be accessible and cheap to be able to use them to more people. We don’t know, what’s that mean, but is a matter of time to think and thirst for the evolution of human nature, was born today a great idea that they have their hour of glory in the lists of human history. But as it was new and sensational invention and the majority of the people will be forced to find cheap 3d technology can be a price little limited this pleasure stock. Of course there are people who do not have a price of printing 3D technology and other items related to 3D technology and always dedicated funds for entertainment and fun to win a valuable time to Despite the stock’s high price to pay. Paublino Ferreira Coordinator: Lic. Evangelist Atienza 17: 00 hs FERNANDO DE LA MORA (CENTRAL) – at the Central Headquarters of the ATENEO defense of the 2 first the doctoral thesis in Guarani language. Coordinator: Mg. Paublino Ferreira 20: 00 hs KYHA (KANINDEJU) bridge in the Municipal shed artistic Festival: music, dance, poetry and kaseada. Coordinator: Mg. Teresa Cardozo * Sunday 23 10: 00 hs VILLETA (CENTRAL) in the Villeta 87.9 FM Radio programme encounter of cultures of the MERCOSUR. Coordinator: Mg. Catalino Gilberto Recalde 09: 00 hs CURUGUATY (KANINDEJU) in the premises of the ATENEO Arts Festival: music, dance, poetry and kaseada. Coordinator: Mg. Teresa Cardozo * Monday 24 18: 00 hs Center (ASUNCIoN) in the premises of the Regional (Herrera 963 c / USA) Conference on the Guarani language and Arts Festival. Lawyer Vacation To who doesn’t like to enjoy a long and well deserved vacation? After making a working day for a period of time the individual must enjoy a few free days which will employ for the enjoyment, relaxation, entertainment and other chores with relatives and friends; and this is subject in the legal bases of all country and in Spain also carry out these laws and benefits that the worker, employee or worker may request within a time to exercise their functions in the company or factory which works. Depending on the time that the person to come play in your work area they are a few days to enjoy their holiday and if your employer still has not granted them is, you do not know exactly how many days compete you and how must be paid the same. You should simply seek legal advice on the part of a good lawyer, who is fully identified and specialized in the work area to explain everything about your holiday. Larry Culp can aid you in your search for knowledge. In a law firm, a lawyer labour law, you will have at your disposal a series of topics which will look familiar and you will see the importance of having this professional for each case that arises in the passing of her life and especially with regard to their work, working hours, vacation and other benefits of which are not yet enjoying by ignoring laws that offered a number of rights in one way or another. See a lawyer causes or possible causes that you believe by those not already assigned him his vacation, because we would be talking about a time in which you have duty to leave their employment without leaving perceive their remuneration or salary indicated from the outset by signing their employment contract, you would be curtailing a right to rest which deserves and that perhaps by the lack of this you can be presenting some kind of disinterest, stress or other conditions during their journey. These causes can be clarified by your legal advisor who can reach while you are analyzing your case and the business reasons to determine in full use of constitutional and labor laws that govern such condition in the country, an abuse of power towards his person and to request some kind of compensation due to complications of his health by excessive work within the established time for your vacation. A labor lawyer shall carry out an analysis of your situation in such a way that in the shortest possible time you will be enjoying your vacation or to reach agreement working with your employer so that someone else covers his position during his absence. To visit the content of also you’ll discover that if you not have economic resources to hire the services of a private lawyer, you have the possibility to talk and ask for the legal representation of the lawyer who takes the reins of the Department of human resources or personnel of your company. Since they coupled with ensuring the legal functioning of the establishment have the duty and professionalism brought by each of the employees comprising the payroll of the company in question. In the site you will find the professional of law which solves the situations within the workplace that arise in their day to day. The music gives you an easy way to interact with their children. When a baby is listening to you sing, you connect with him and he with them. Whatever the song, only to sing. That makes a big difference. Music and Emotional Development We associate music with our earliest memories, and experiences for our lives. It definitely has an emotional impact. Think of a song or a piece of music that arouses strong emotions whenever the listen. Almost everyone is touched by the power of music on our moods. The music is to comfort and calm children. Children are often sung to calm themselves. You can use music to soothe your baby, or help your child begins to walk to relax and nap time. If your preschooler is tired in the morning, or if you are sad, they can sing or make happy music that makes you want to jump and move. Music and Physical Development can not dance without music, is not it? Well, yes, you can, but the music makes it much more fun. The music and movement naturally correspond. Children respond to music more naturally to move and be active. It helps them learn about rhythm, coordination, and guidance. You can use music to encourage children to walk and jump, or do any physical activity. Besides being fun for children, dance "Hokey Pokey", line dancing country (line dance), dance style square dancing figures, and all the dances for groups they help children learn the names of body parts (to move the right foot, raise your hands), orientation (turning the body, moving from right to left, or forward and backward), or models of rhythm (in rhythm, drumming his fingers).