Limmud Van'15 presentations
Limmud Vancouver is a unique community event that brings together people of all ages, from all streams of Judaism and at all levels of Jewish knowledge to learn, teach and share their knowledge and experience for a weekend. Limmud activities are held around the world and organized entirely by volunteers.
This year I was both honoured and flattered to be asked to make two presentations, one tonight at a cabaret-style evening at the Jewish Community Centre, and one tomorrow at Eric Hamber School as part of the day's educational program.
Tonight I will tell the story of two trips to Odessa Ukraine (once Russia) where my forefathers once lived. Odessa is also Vancouver's sister city and when I first visited with my father in 1994, then Mayor Phillip Owen wrote to the recently elected mayor of Odessa, (who coincidentally was a Jew) asking for a reception at City Hall. While the mayor was in Kiev, we were received by the Deputy Mayor.
At the time I joked that since every Geller who I ever met came from Odessa, I wanted to see how many Gellers there were in the Odessa telephone directory. Unfortunately we had such a busy and exciting day, we forgot to check.
However, this past spring I returned to Odessa following a business trip to Moscow. This time I did not forget and found a young lady at the Jewish Museum who helped me check out the directories!
Tomorrow I will give a presentation on the many fascinating and beautiful synagogues and museums I have toured around the world. Both presentations will be posted on-line after the event.
Posted by Michael Geller at 10:26 AM 12 comments:
Reflections on Urban Design Panel decision: 555 West Cordova, Vancouver
As I sat beside Vancouver Sun journalist Jeff Lee yesterday at Vancouver City Hall listening to the Urban Design Panel deliberations on this controversial project, I was reminded of the OJ Simpson trial.
IT DOESN'T FIT!
Design fit was my primary concern with the proposal which had been privately supported by city planning staff over the past year. In an on-line interview with the Vancouver Sun, Brian Jackson, Manager of Planning and Development made it clear staff were supporting a significant office building on this site as part of a redevelopment of the lands surrounding the transit hub. I understand this objective.
Jackson also noted that staff would be seeking input from various city committees including the Gastown Heritage Committee, the Heritage Commission and Urban Design Panel. The project was then scheduled to go to the Development Permit Board on March 9th, 2015.
A key step missing in his process was a community Open House. Jackson said this was not necessary since the project was not a rezoning, but rather a Development Permit Application.
However, as each of the Urban Design Panel members noted yesterday, this is a very significant site for the city with many design constraints, and deserves special consideration.
A key question in my mind is whether the 400,000 square foot building that the developer wants to build will fit on this site, even with design refinements. I would note that this size is not related to the size of the parking lot; it's related to the size of the total property which includes the CP Station. In other words, the developer wants to transfer building area from one portion of the property to another. That's why the building seems so big.
However, given the view corridors which the city wants to protect, and the historic Station, I believe it will be difficult to successfully fit such a large building on such a small space.
While I am still astounded that the city's Heritage Commission approved this building, and was pleasantly surprised by the unanimous opposition by members of the UDP (even though 2 ultimately supported it, it remains to be seen what happens next.
Hopefully the planning department will agree that the meeting of the Development Permit Board should be postponed so that this application can go back to the drawing board, and to also allow time for a public Open House to review the revised design.
I look forward to the next steps in the process.
City design panel rejects controversial Waterfront tower proposal: Vancouver Sun January 29, 2015
Members say 26-story design a bad fit beside heritage train station By Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun January 28, 2015
A striking and controversial office tower proposed for the entrance to Gastown was rejected by Vancouver's urban design panel Wednesday.Saying Cadillac Fairview's plan for a 26-storey glass "art wall" style tower presented too many unanswered questions and conflicted with the major heritage Waterfront Station next door, the panel voted 4-2 not to support sending the proposal on to the next stage of city consideration. It means the architects will have to redesign the building before coming back to the panel.
The panel, a city council-appointed group made up of architects, engineers, landscape architects and the development industry, unanimously said the space, a small parking lot at 555 West Cordova, deserves to have a building but the proposal as it stands was a "poor fit" for such an important site.
They said the design, a tall, bulky, angular glass tower that tapered down to a pyramid entrance and a curved art wall, had many flaws. From the city's insistence that the building be moved closer to the heritage-listed Waterfront Station to protect a proposed road, to the loss of important public space, to a paucity of sustainability features the architects have incorporated in other projects  -  the panel felt the building wasn't the right fit for the space or the city.
"There have been comments on this panel that it seems as though the connector road is being valued more than the station building," said panel chair and architect Ryan Bragg. "The proposal almost insults the heritage around it."
The tower was designed by renowned Chicago architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, who have built many internationally-recognized buildings all over the world.
But with this one, they struck out. From the start they acknowledged it was a challenge to design. The small footprint available, the city's insistence on protecting a road allowance to a future waterfront hub district and a view corridor that limited the height of the tower made it hard to come up with a workable design that complimented the city and the site. They ended up designing a building that towered over and even appeared to eat into Waterfront Station. But they said they felt the resulting proposal achieved the necessary goals of form, space and design.
The entire panel disagreed, even though two members, Walter Francl and Arno Matis, voted to send the proposal to the next stage.
"I am not satisfied that the work has been done," said Phil Mondor, who represents the Vancouver Planning Commission on the panel. He also noted that with the city and the Canadian Pacific Railway on the outs over the controversial Arbutus Corridor, it might be some time before the waterfront hub district built over CPR's tracks will come to fruition. "We might be living with this for a long time," he said, adding the tower had to stand on its own merits and not whether it fit into the proposed district.
Panel member Matthew Soules, also an architect, said he's a "strong advocate of bold architecture" and believes in contemporary design. But he said this proposal "has some significant deficiencies."
Gill and Smith took the rejection in stride. Gill told reporters later he appreciated the panel's comments, many of which offered alternative solutions that could make the project work.
"I don't take this as a personal affront," Gill said. "I felt the panel's comments were very constructive and very helpful. Nothing really surprised me. I think we understand the site really well. It is a difficult site."

Posted by Michael Geller at 6:35 AM 1 comment:
Opinion: 'Awkward' building would be bad fit: Vancouver Courier January 28, 2015
The CPR Station has long been one of my favourite Vancouver buildings. For 16 years I had my offices on the second floor and watched the waterfront transform around me. I often walked past the adjacent parking lot wondering what might one day be built there. Perhaps this is why I was so shocked a few weeks ago when I saw an illustration in the Vancouver Courier of a proposed new office tower to replace the parking lot.
It did not fit in. It looked all wrong.
Many years ago, I participated in the planning and rezoning of the property immediately north of the station. It comprised two parcels bisected by a lane. In order to create one taller building, we transferred the building mass that could have been built along Hastings Street across the lane to Cordova Street.
In return for rezoning approval, we proposed a public plaza at Seymour and Hastings Streets and raised a portion of the building on columns to minimize view blockage of the station.
Unfortunately, Narod Developments, the company for which I worked, went into receivership and another firm took over. While I never liked their shiny chrome design, I did like the concept of a public space on Hastings and the greenery that was planted on the buildings.
I mention this since, in September 2014, the city rezoned this public plaza for a 25-storey office building. The floor space ratio (FSR), which is a measure of the building size in relation to the site area, increased from .09 to 24.34, almost three times the permitted downtown zoning.
City planners recommended approval since they claimed no one was using the plaza and council wanted new office building development.
It may be noteworthy that the firm of architects that designed this building is also associated with the proposed building on the CPR station parking lot, along with Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill. The latter are world-renowned architects, having designed the tallest building in the world in Dubai and what will be a 3,300 foot building in Saudi Arabia.
So why do I find their design for the building next to the station so objectionable?
Let me begin by declaring I like modern buildings juxtaposed with historic buildings. During my travels I have seen many wonderful modern additions to heritage buildings and new buildings built beside them.
My fundamental problem with this design is that it is neither an architecturally pleasing addition to the station, nor a complementary new building beside it.
With its contrived geometric shapes at the street level and first few floors where it almost touches the heritage building, it looks and feels both awkward and disrespectful. The building also feels too big for its site and does not keep Vancouver's tradition of respecting the pedestrian at street level. This is why former director of planning Ray Spaxman called the building "a horror. I think he's right.
I suspect city planners know this building design is not as good as it could be. I am told one of the reasons it is so jammed up against the station is that city engineers insisted upon a greater separation from the historic Landing building for a future roadway. A second reason is the building has been squeezed by a required view corridor of the mountains from Queen Elizabeth Park. Personally, I would relax the requirement for this distant view corridor if it would result in improved views at the street level, along with a more sympathetic relationship between the new and old buildings, and a more slender building shape. Alternatively, I would encourage the city to grant the developer approval to transfer some of the building density allowed on this site to another site.
This afternoon (Jan. 28), the city's Urban Design Panel will review the current proposal. If it supports the design, the public will have an opportunity to see the plan at an open house before it goes before the Development Permit Board. If the panel does not support the design, it will be back to the drawing board.
I hope it will be the latter.
The CPR Station has long been one of my favourite Vancouver buildings.
For 16 years I had my offices on the second floor and watched the waterfront transform around me. I often walked past the adjacent parking lot wondering what might one day be built there.
Perhaps this is why I was so shocked a few weeks ago when I saw an illustration in the Vancouver Courier of a proposed new office tower to replace the parking lot.
Many years ago, I participated in the planning and rezoning of the property immediately north of the station. It comprised two parcels bisected by a lane.
In order to create one taller building, we transferred the building mass that could have been built along Hastings Street across the lane to Cordova Street.
Unfortunately, Narod Developments, the company for which I worked, went into receivership and another firm took over.
While I never liked their shiny chrome design, I did like the concept of a public space on Hastings and the greenery that was planted on the buildings.
With its contrived geometric shapes at the street level and first few floors where it almost touches the heritage building, it looks and feels both awkward and disrespectful.
The building also feels too big for its site and does not keep Vancouver's tradition of respecting the pedestrian at street level. This is why former director of planning Ray Spaxman called the building "a horror."
I think he's right.
I suspect city planners know this building design is not as good as it could be. I am told one of the reasons it is so jammed up against the station is that city engineers insisted upon a greater separation from the historic Landing building for a future roadway.
A second reason is the building has been squeezed by a required view corridor of the mountains from Queen Elizabeth Park.
Personally, I would relax the requirement for this distant view corridor if it would result in improved views at the street level, along with a more sympathetic relationship between the new and old buildings, and a more slender building shape.
Alternatively, I would encourage the city to grant the developer approval to transfer some of the building density allowed on this site to another site.
This afternoon (Jan. 28), the city's Urban Design Panel will review the current proposal. If it supports the design, the public will have an opportunity to see the plan at an open house before it goes before the Development Permit Board.
If the panel does not support the design, it will be back to the drawing board.
- See more at:
My letter to City of Vancouver re: 555 West Cordova Street
Architects' illustration of the new tower as viewed along West Cordova Street
Attn: Brian Jackson, General Manager of Planning and Development
Dear Mr. Jackson,
Re Development Permit Application 555 West Cordova Street
I am writing to express my concerns with the proposed office building design at 555 West Cordova Street next to the CPR Station.
From 1983 to 1999 I had my offices in The Station and know the subject property and surrounding area very well.
Let me begin by declaring I like modern buildings juxtaposed with historic buildings, such as Arthur Erickson's Bank of Canada addition in Ottawa which literally encases the old building inside a new glass block.
During my travels I have seen many modern new buildings successfully added onto or built beside heritage structures, including some literally on top of the old, and others cantilevered out over the old.
My fundamental problem with the design of this building is that it is neither an architecturally pleasing addition to the Station, nor a complementary new building beside it.
With its contrived geometric shapes at the street level and the first few floors where it appears to engulf the heritage building, it looks and feels both awkward and disrespectful.
Heritage Committee member Anthony Norfolk put it a different way. "It is as if a rodent from Jurassic Park had chewed the base at the ground level" where the old building comes up against the new.
A local urban designer wrote to me that "the new building will be jammed up against and in fact beetle over the top of the former CPR Railway Station". He went on to say it seems like the architects have been drinking the same Kool-Aid that Daniel Libeskind imbibed when he came up with Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum extension. Anyone who has walked by or been inside this wildly unpopular building will know precisely what he means.
I have two other concerns. From the drawings and model, the building seems too big for its site, and is out of keeping with Vancouver's tradition of respecting the pedestrian at street level. The latter is why former Director of Planning Ray Spaxman called the building "a horror". I think he's right.
I suspect your planning department knows this building design is not the best for the location. I am told one of the reasons it is so jammed up against the CPR Station is that city engineers insisted on a greater separation from the historic Landing building to allow a right of way for a future roadway. If so, why could the new building not be moved away from the Station with the right-of-way partially underneath the new structure?
I understand the building massing has also been constricted by the height limit imposed by the required view corridor of the mountains from Queen Elizabeth Park. Personally, I would relax this distant view corridor in order to allow greater views at the street level, a more sympathetic relationship between the old and new, and a less squat building shape.
Alternatively, I would encourage the city to grant the developer approval to transfer some of the building density allowed on this site to another site. The fact that the developer is not being required to provide the customary parking provision on site is a significant relaxation which could be traded off for a further reduction in building size.
Other design approaches might be to further cantilever the new building, raise it up on columns above the old building, or design it as a creative addition to the Station.
These approaches might be more architecturally challenging, but the architects for this building, internationally renowned Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture with input by local firm B+H Architecture should be up to the task. After all, Smith is responsible for designing Dubai's Burj Khalifa, currently ranked the tallest building in the world, and Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Tower which will be the world's new tallest when completed in 2018.
In conclusion, I am concerned that if this development is built as currently designed, it will not create the beautiful gateway to Gastown and future Port Lands development that city planners hope to see.
I would therefore urge the City to instruct the architects to increase the separation between the new building and the CPR Station, resulting in a less contrived building shape, and better integration with the Station.
I would also urge you to require a slimmer, more elegant building form, either by allowing the building to be higher, or through a reduction in buildable area.
Finally, I would urge the city to arrange an Open House, or instruct the developer to hold an Open House well in advance of the Development Board meeting. This would allow the general public and Vancouver's design community to review all the materials that have been prepared, and presented to staff, such as the video and new model.
Having served as an advisory member of the Development Permit Board for six years, I would respectfully suggest that this will result in a more informed and constructive discussion at the DP Board meeting.
I hope these comments are helpful.
cc Mayor and Council
Opinion Vancouver Courier It's time to fix Vancouver's broken taxi system January 21, 2015
Have you ever waited too long for a taxi, or not got one at all?
Last week, SFU's noon-time discussion series 'City Conversation' examined Vancouver's taxi industry and emerging technology-based alternatives such as Uber. Participants included Mohan Singh, President of the B.C. Taxi Association (BCTA), which represents most taxi companies in the province, and former Vancouver city councillor and writer Peter Ladner.
While Uber and its aggressive tactics have attracted media headlines, there are other ride-share providers wanting to serve us. This could have significant ramifications for taxi passengers, drivers, and the industry as a whole.
I attended this discussion since for many years I have believed Metro Vancouver's taxi system is broken, especially when compared with other cities where I have lived and travelled.
The fact that the BC Taxi Association represents all 140 taxi companies in BC except for the four companies operating in Vancouver is, to my mind, evidence that something is amiss.
While the BCTA is proud of its lobbying efforts to keep the BC taxi industry regulated, many provincial regulations are outdated, short-sighted and neither sustainable nor in the best interests of passengers.
For example, except during weekend evenings, North Shore, Surrey, or Richmond taxis bringing fares into Vancouver are not allowed to take fares back to their home municipalities. They must return empty. This is a sustainable transportation system?
At the same time, Vancouver taxis are often reluctant to take fares to distant parts of Metro since they too are restricted from bringing fares back to the city.
If you have ever waited a long time for a taxi or not found one at all, it may be because Vancouver has the lowest ratio of taxis per capita of any major Canadian city.
It is significant that not one new taxi company has been allowed to enter the Vancouver market in 25 years. Compare this with any other retail or service industry.
If you thought fares seemed expensive, Vancouver rates are approximately 15% higher than the average in major Canadian cities.
SFU graduate student Benn Proctor has written an excellent master's thesis on the taxi industry. He concluded that the primary beneficiaries of current regulations are the taxi company shareholders who can charge $800,000 for a single taxi cab license.
Meanwhile, taxi drivers who work half their shift just to pay overhead and operating expenses and taxi passengers are the losers; especially those of us trying to get a cab during peak times or around 4pm when the customary 12 hour shifts start and end.
While deregulating the taxi industry might seem like a possible solution, it has been tried in many places around the world with limited success. Regulatory reform would seem to be a better approach.
However, without public outcry, significant regulatory reform is not likely to happen in Metro since, as I learned when I ran for City Council, taxi cab owners are very influential and highly visible at election time.
For these reasons, I and many others would like to see Uber or similar companies operating in Vancouver.
Uber's stated mission is "to improve city life by connecting people with safe, reliable, hassle-free rides through the use of technology". Passengers use a smartphone app to connect with private drivers.
Uber currently operates in 253 cities in 53 countries worldwide. While it has generated concerns, as noted during the SFU discussion, including highly publicized reports of drivers raping passengers, everyone with whom I have spoken who has used Uber is full of praise.
Fares are generally lower, cars come quickly, and the smartphone application provides details on vehicle identification and arrival. Furthermore, no cash changes hands.
Today New York City has 14,000 cabs for 8.5 million people. Mexico City has 100,000 cabs for 9 million people. Metro Vancouver has 1500 cabs serving a population of nearly 2.5 million.
As more Vancouver residents chose not to own a car, and tougher drinking and driving laws are introduced, the need for more taxis and taxi alternatives will increase.
Vancouver needs to develop a 'taxi culture' like other major world cities. More cabs and alternative transportation choices like Uber will help make this happen.
Twitter.com/ @michaelgeller
FOLLOW UP STORY JANUARY 31, 2015
Since writing this column, I came across the following story by the Vancouver Sun's Don Cayo. I should note that I was wrong in stating that suburban cabs can pick up in Vancouver on weekends. The Vancouver taxi owners are fighting this. But Cayo's column reinforces many of my other concerns. Read on:
Don Cayo: Vancouver confronts the Uber dilemma
What is fair? Ending a high-priced monopoly, or maintaining high value for taxi licences?
By Don Cayo, Vancouver Sun columnist January 30, 2015
VANCOUVER  -  Industry insiders are grumbling that the value of Vancouver taxi licences is being eroded by Uber-riding fear  -  the mere prospect of competition from the $40-billion, app-based cab company that is breaking taxi monopolies around the world.
In newspaper reports this week, Carolyn Bauer of the Vancouver Taxi Association noted the trading price for taxi licences, estimated by industry analysts to be about $800,000, has plunged, although she wouldn't say to what level.
Even before this claim was made, however, questions were being asked about compensation for licence-holders who will lose their near-monopoly if the tight restriction on the number of taxis allowed to operate in the city is loosened.
My Vancouver Sun colleague Peter O'Neil noted in an insightful story last fall that the legal issues are far from clear. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, he reported, finds no precedent in the economies it analyzes for compensating licence-holders when an industry is deregulated.
SFU marketing professor Lindsay Meredith doesn't see it that way. He fears the licence-holders will cite  -  and the courts may accept  -  a costly precedent set in the 1990s when Ottawa decided to pay market prices to buy out commercial salmon-fishing licences.
Certainly the players who dominate their industry both here and in other cities are not averse to using the courts to maintain their lucrative exclusivity. For example, taxi licence-holders in Chicago and Boston are suing their city halls for compensation on the grounds that allowing Uber to operate has undermined the value of their licences. Here, Vancouver cab companies have gone to court both to block a bid by 38 suburban taxi cabs to compete for weekend business, and to attempt to forestall Uber's entry into the market.
And certainly if the fishing-licence precedent were to be followed, it would cost a lot. The 588 taxi licences in the city, each worth $800,000 if the published estimates are confirmed, would add up to almost $500 million  -  although they would no doubt retain some value, so a settlement could be prorated.
I won't try to second-guess what the courts might decide. But the case could be made  -  and, judging from the comments on the Internet whenever the subject is written about, I think a lot of Vancouverites would agree  -  that licence-holders who suddenly have to compete to stay in business don't deserve anything at all.
For one thing, all the city or the province ever got out of it is a few hundred dollars a year for cab licences  -  it's the fact that such limited numbers of licences are granted that has allowed the owners to spin them into six-figure assets. Meanwhile, taxis have been able to charge a premium  -  to gouge passengers, many would say  -  so they have already extracted full value from their licences.
Meredith doesn't dismiss this argument, but he says the taxi industry would be sure to counter with sob stories. They would no doubt showcase in the media hard-luck cases such as widows living solely on the returns from leasing the licence left to them by their late husbands, or young family men up to their ears in debt to pay for a licence that lets them put bread on the table.
To be sure, there are fairness issues at stake  -  both fairness for cab customers, who are disproportionately old or poor or disabled, and for workers in the industry whose livelihoods may be undercut if the rules suddenly change.
Fairness for passengers implies  -  nay, demands  -  allowing competition to get rid of inflated capital costs and monopoly pricing.
Fairness for licence-holders might involve a more nuanced kind of solution like one suggested by the Conference Board of Canada to compensate dairy and poultry farmers if/when the plug is pulled on their supply management sinecures. It's to treat licences like any other business asset  -  something that depreciates over time as value is extracted from it. In other words, pay compensation amounting to what the Conference Board calls book value  -  the price paid, less reasonable depreciation over the time period the asset was held.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Opinion: Writer Sean Rossiter built a legacy covering Vancouver Vancouver Courier January 14, 2015
There was a standing room only crowd at Sean Rossiter's Celebration of Life on Thursday January 15, 2015. I just wish Sean had been there to enjoy the kind words from friends from so many different walks of life.
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
So wrote English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1839 play Richelieu: Or the Conspiracy, although seventh century BC Assyrian sage Ahigar is reported to have written "The word is mightier than the sword."
I have been thinking about these quotations over the past week as a result of the tragic Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris and other related events. I cannot help but admire the bravery of the journalists who were murdered and the phenomenal response by people around the world. On Sunday, the sight of world leaders marching arm in arm in front of more than a million people through the streets of Paris is something I will never forget.
We can only hope that this tragedy will lead to a better understanding of the concerns of Muslims, Christians and Jews in France and greater world harmony. However, I am not overly optimistic that this will happen in my lifetime.
Last week we lost another great journalist. Vancouver writer Sean Rossiter died after a decade-long battle with Parkinson's disease.
As repeatedly noted in other obituaries, Sean was universally regarded as a great writer, but more importantly, a true gentleman. He authored 26 books on various topics but was best known to many of us in the architectural, planning and development community as the author of the "Twelfth and Cambie" column, which appeared monthly in Vancouver Magazine from summer 1975 until fall 1991.
In one of his last columns in June 1991, "City Hall Wins One For The Bureaucrats," he wrote about the Bayshore project and my failed attempt to get permission to develop a residential tower on piers in the marina in return for extending a public pier at the end of Denman Street, linking it to the shoreline with an Amsterdam bridge.
As he wrote, "One reason the planner gave for turning thumbs-down on the tower-in-the-water was that there aren't a lot of examples of towers on waterfront in Vancouver. No wonder! It is noteworthy that the only alderman who voted for it was the only newcomer to civic politics, the only truly open-mind on council, Tung Chan."
Twenty four years later, I still think it is a shame Vancouver does not have a lively public pier and more places to gather along the waterfront.
During the '70s and '80s, Sean was the only Vancouver journalist regularly writing about architecture and urban issues. Each month, architects around the city would eagerly await the next issue of Vancouver Magazine to see what topic he was tackling. He often wrote about the importance of protecting older buildings while saluting visionary architects and planners.
Former Vancouver Mayor and BC Premier and recovering politician, Mike Harcourt was one of many who spoke about Sean's special qualities as a cartoonist, writer, hockey player, and true gentleman
In 2007, in one of his last books, Sean collaborated with Mike Harcourt and Ken Cameron on City Making in Paradise: Nine Decisions that Saved Vancouver. For those who have not yet read it, the book describes, amongst other things, the efforts to save Strathcona, the creation of the Agricultural Land Reserve, Expo '86 and the remaking of False Creek, and the important role played by the GVRD and Regional Planning.
Sean was one of the founding directors of Vancouver's Urbanarium Society, along with former chief planner Ray Spaxman, architects Richard Henriquez and Frank Musson, landscape architect Jane Durante and others. The goal of the society was to create a special museum similar to those found in Singapore and Shanghai, housing a large model of the city and other displays. It would be a place where one could discuss future projects and plans and important urban topics.
With Sean's help, the Urbanarium Society launched the Builders of Vancouver series, which profiled architects, engineers and other personalities who helped create our city.
Today, former Urbanarium directors, along with Leslie Van Duzer, head of the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, are continuing to explore the feasibility of creating an Urbanarium for Vancouver.
I hope they succeed so we can one day wander through the Sean Rossiter Gallery.
Sean Rossiter leaves behind his wife, Terri Wershler, and other family members. A memorial service is being held tomorrow (Jan. 15) at 4:30 p.m. at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden. Rest in peace, Sean.
- See more at:
Posted by Michael Geller at 11:24 AM 1 comment:


Uber app 'not a taximeter'
Blog / Uber app 'not a taximeter'
Announcement, judgement, latest news, london news, smartphone, taximeter
Uber hailed the decision as "news for Londoners and a victory for common sense."
Mr Justice Ouseley circulated that: "A taximeter, for the purposes of Section 11 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, it's not a device which receives GPS signals in the course of a journey, and sends GPS data to a server located outside of the vehicle, which counts a fare that is partially or wholly resolved by reference to distance travelled and time taken, and sends the real information back to the device." Mr Justice Ouseley announced that whilst the smartphone with the driver's application may be essential to enabling the calculation of fares to take place that did not make it a device "for" measuring fares in breach of the taximeter prohibition. He also found that it was drivers, not their vehicles, who are "equipped" with phones.


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CHAMBLEY v. THE STATE (two cases).
(163 Ga. App. 502)
(295 SE2d 166)
POPE, Judge.
Robbery; kidnapping. Paulding Superior Court. Before Judge Fudger.
Appellants here appeal from their convictions on one count of robbery (Phillip: armed robbery; Timothy: robbery by intimidation) and on two counts of kidnapping. The evidence showed that appellants went to a residence for the purpose of burglarizing it. They found two boys at home. Phillip threatened the boys with a gun and both appellants made the boys go into the living room where appellants tied them up. Appellants then began to search the house for valuables. When the search failed to produce the items they desired, appellants untied the boys and forced them to help in the search. After finding a satisfactory quantity of goods, appellants took the boys to the attic and again tied them. Appellants briefly searched the house further and then departed.
Appellants were found guilty of the crimes and were sentenced to serve twenty years on each count, the sentences to run concurrently. Appellant Timothy Chambley asserts two enumerations of error in this appeal: (1) That the trial court erred in denying the motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on the kidnapping charges and (2) That the court erred in denying his requests to charge pertaining to included offenses. Appellant Phillip Chambley asserts additionally that the trial court erred in considering a pre-sentence investigation report by the probation department which included pending charges against him as well as prior convictions.
The issues presented by these enumerations of error are: (1) Whether appellants committed the crime of kidnapping under the facts adduced at trial; (2) Whether the crime of kidnapping was included in the crime of robbery under these facts; and (3) Whether the trial court's use of the investigation report for sentencing purposes was improper.
1. Code Ann. 26-1311 (a) provides: "A person commits kidnapping when he abducts or steals away any person without lawful authority or warrant and holds such person against his will." Appellants assert that the evidence presented was insufficient to send the issue to the jury in that there was no evidence of any abduction or asportation. The evidence showed that the boys were forced to go into several rooms and the attic of the house against their will, but that they were never carried away from the house. The state contends that the distance is immaterial, that any asportation is sufficient.
The issue is a thorny one. The Supreme Court recognized this in the case of Haynes v. State, 249 Ga. 119 (1) (288 SE2d 185) (1982). The court affirmed the part of our decision (159 Ga. App. 34 (1) (283 SE2d 25) (1981)) holding that the forcing of a Hyatt Regency Hotel employee to walk from her desk about 25 feet to the hotel manager's office was sufficient asportation for conviction of kidnapping. The court also stated, "[W]e believe that specific legislation, amending Code Ann. 26-1308 [sic?], should be enacted penalizing the holding of hostages for ransom to eliminate the hair-splitting decisions as to what is sufficient asportation . . . ." 249 Ga. at 120. Similarly, we believe Code Ann. 26-1311 ought to be amended to specifically provide for circumstances such as those existing here. In the meantime, we adhere to the rule that any unlawful asportation, however slight, is sufficient to support a kidnapping conviction. Brown v. State, 132 Ga. App. 399 (2) (208 SE2d 183) (1974). See also Waters v. State, 248 Ga. 355 (9) (283 SE2d 238) (1981); Peavy v. State, 159 Ga. App. 280 (1b) (283 SE2d 346) (1981).
2. Closely related to their first contention, appellants contend that, under the facts proven in this case, the alleged kidnappings were included in the robbery. Their argument is that the facts supporting the kidnapping charges were incidental to and part of the robbery and therefore the two offenses "merged."
Code Ann. 26-506 (a)(1) allows multiple prosecutions for the same conduct unless one crime is included in the other. See Bailey v. State, 146 Ga. App. 774 (2) (247 SE2d 588) (1978). Code Ann. 26-505 (a) defines an included crime as one which is "established by proof of the same or less than all the facts or a less culpable mental state than is required to establish" the other crime charged. See Thomas v. State, 237 Ga. 690 (3) (229 SE2d 458) (1976). Under these two sections a crime is an included crime, barring multiple punishment, if it is the same as a matter of law or a matter of fact. State v. Estevez, 232 Ga. 316 (1) (206 SE2d 475) (1974). See also Pryor v. State, 238 Ga. 698 (1) (234 SE2d 918), cert. den. 434 U. S. 935 (1977).
Kidnapping clearly is not included in the crime of robbery as a matter of law. See Dotson v. State, 160 Ga. App. 898 (3) (288 SE2d 609) (1982). For a robbery conviction, the state must prove the accused took property of another from the person or in the immediate presence of another with the intent to commit theft. Code Ann. 26-1901. For a kidnapping conviction, the state must prove an unlawful asportation of a person against his will. Code Ann. 26-1311. Thus, the elements of the two crimes are distinctly different. See Bill v. State, 153 Ga. App. 131 (2) (264 SE2d 582)(1980).
Since the kidnapping and the robbery were not the same as a matter of law or as a matter of fact, the trial court properly denied the motion for directed verdict of acquittal and correctly submitted the case to the jury with instructions on the law of kidnapping and robbery.
3. Appellant Phillip Chambley further contends that the trial court erred in considering a pre-sentence investigation report prepared by the probation department at the court's request. The report contained information pertaining to a number of prior convictions (most of which appellant denied at sentencing) as well as a pending charge against appellant. Appellant did not object when the court stated it would request the report. Appellant, however, did voice an adequate objection at the sentencing hearing.
It is well established that a trial court may use an undisclosed probation report as a tool in determining whether to suspend or probate a sentence, but the court cannot use the undisclosed report to aggravate the sentence. McDuffie v. Jones, 248 Ga. 544 (3) (283 SE2d 601) (1981); Mills v. State, 244 Ga. 186 (259 SE2d 445) (1979); Munsford v. State, 235 Ga. 38,45 (218 SE2d 792) (1975). Here, it is not clear from the record whether the report was disclosed to appellant prior to the sentencing hearing, but we find it most reasonable to conclude that it was not disclosed. The trial court definitely considered the report, which is evidenced by express statements by the court and a series of questions posed to appellant by the court concerning items in the report. It is unclear from the record whether the report was used to actually aggravate the sentences, and this is what we must now determine.
In Munsford, where the rule was established, the Supreme Court upheld the sentence because it concluded the trial court did not use the pre-sentence report to increase the length of the sentence. The court made note of the fact that the sentence imposed was well below the maximum sentence. See 235 Ga. at 45-46. See also McKisic v. State, 238 Ga. 644 (5) (234 SE2d 908) (1977). In this case the trial court imposed the maximum sentence on each count. This case is also unlike Crews v. State, 142 Ga. App. 319 (7) (235 SE2d 756) (1977), where the record refuted any claim that the report was used by the judge to increase the sentence, and Benefield v. State, 140 Ga. App. 727 (12) (232 SE2d 89) (1976), where the judge made it explicit that he was not, and could not, use the report for fixing the length of the sentence.
Although we will not presume error in sentencing, Watts v. State, 141 Ga. App. 127 (8) (232 SE2d 590), cert. den. 434 U.S. 925 (1977), we require some assurance from a fair reading of the record that error was not in fact committed. Moss v. State, 144 Ga. App. 226 (4) (240 SE2d 773) (1977). The only arguable assurance we find in the record here is that the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently rather than consecutively. See Code Ann. 27-2510; Hoerner v. State, 246 Ga. 374 (2) (271 SE2d 458) (1980); Smith v. Ault, 230 Ga. 433 (3) (197 SE2d 348) (1973). On the other hand, the record shows that the judge questioned both appellants at length regarding the respective probation reports and remarked, immediately prior to passing sentence, that he had "the benefit of the investigations of the Probation Department" he had requested. No actual evidence of prior convictions was admitted at the hearing. In fact, the state presented no evidence and made no argument. Thus, the only aggravating facts were in the probation reports.
The record compels the conclusion that the trial court impermissibly used the probation reports to aggravate appellants' sentences, rather than merely deciding whether to probate or suspend the sentences. Munsford v. State, supra. Accord, Almon v. State, 151 Ga. App. 863 (2) (261 SE2d 772) (1979), cert. den. 446 U.S. 910 (1980); Van Voltenburg v. State, 138 Ga. App. 628 (5) (227 SE2d 451) (1976). Compare Howard v. State, 161 Ga. App. 743, 748-49 (289 SE2d 815) (1982) (Pope, J., dissenting). We therefore vacate the sentences and remand for sentencing without regard to the pre-sentence investigation reports. In doing so, we are cognizant that appellant Timothy Chambley neither objected to the reports at the sentencing hearing nor asserts their use as error on appeal. Generally we would deem the objection waived in that event. Fowler v. State, 159 Ga. App. 496 (283 SE2d 710)(1981). However, under the exceptional circumstances of this case, we find it just to extend our decision on this issue to Timothy, as well as Phillip, Chambley.
Thomas C. Sanders, for appellant (case no. 64267).
Jeffrey B. Talley, James B. Talley, Jr., for appellant (case no. 64266).
DECIDED SEPTEMBER 14, 1982.
Citing Cases:
DUNCAN v. THE STATE. (253 Ga. App. 239) (558 SE2d 783) (2002)
PETROSKI v. THE STATE. (248 Ga. App. 804) (548 SE2d 14) (2001)
PARSON v. THE STATE. (245 Ga. App. 902) (539 SE2d 234) (2000)
JORDAN v. THE STATE. (242 Ga. App. 408) (530 SE2d 42) (2000)
COSBY v. THE STATE. (234 Ga. App. 723) (507 SE2d 551) (1998)
ELLIS v. THE STATE.; FERGUSON v. THE STATE.; JENKINS et al. v. THE STATE. (211 Ga. App. 605) (440 SE2d 235) (1994)
ROBINSON v. THE STATE. (210 Ga. App. 175) (435 SE2d 466) (1993)
EMMETT v. THE STATE. (199 Ga. App. 650) (405 SE2d 707) (1991)
BRIARD v. THE STATE. (188 Ga. App. 490) (373 SE2d 239) (1988)
MINCEY v. THE STATE. (186 Ga. App. 839) (368 SE2d 796) (1988)
FREDRICK v. THE STATE. (181 Ga. App. 600) (353 SE2d 41) (1987)
MOSELEY v. THE STATE. (179 Ga. App. 698) (347 SE2d 686) (1986)
WILLIAMS v. THE STATE. (178 Ga. App. 581) (344 SE2d 247) (1986)
STROZIER v. THE STATE. (171 Ga. App. 703) (320 SE2d 764) (1984)
JACKSON v. THE STATE. (166 Ga. App. 477) (304 SE2d 560) (1983)
BROCK v. THE STATE. (166 Ga. App. 649) (305 SE2d 180) (1983)
DUPREE v. THE STATE. (163 Ga. App. 502) (295 SE2d 332) (1982)
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Aspects of "Work"
One piano, four hands 24' 2014
First performance by Julian Jacobson and Mariko Brown at the Manchester Art Gallery, 20 October 2016
The piano duet was the medium by which most concert music in the nineteenth century was disseminated: two persons at one piano was a fashionable entertainment and I wanted to create some 'symphonic parlour music' in this piece. It evolved around the important painting "Work" by Ford Madox Brown (1865). This compresses the activities of a cross-section of Victorian society into a portrait of a London street scene populated by folk engaged in occupations of many different sorts. Its central focus is the digging of a hole which recalls the construction - by hand - of Bazalgette's sewers or the first underground railways, and the immense industry of the Victorian age in general. (How many shovel-fulls of soil were displaced, and how many bricks laid during the course of the nineteenth century!) This toil clearly has consequences for those caught up in it but the picture also hints at the enormous impact that productive labour can have on society at large and for generations to come. 'Aspects of Work' is a tapestry spun over a traditional four movement structure - allegro, scherzo, adagio and fugue; it zooms in and out on figures in the painting while illustrating (1) the energy of the labourers and the growth of industry, (2) the characters in the painting, and the skills and beauties of the Aesthetic movement, (3) the tragedy of the deprivation which was ever present, but with a growing social conscience also, and (4) the vision of the 'brainworkers' which planned and oversaw great infrastructure projects and the money of the powerful which paid for them.


Home Health Centers Diabetes
30 Million Americans Now Have Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- 1 in 7 Americans has diabetes, and many don't even know they have the blood sugar disease, a new report shows.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 percent of U.S adults have diabetes -- 10 percent know it and more than 4 percent are undiagnosed.
"Diabetes remains a chronic health problem in this country, affecting some 30 million people," said lead researcher Mark Eberhardt, an epidemiologist at CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
A number of factors may be responsible for the increases in diabetes, he said. This includes an aging population, since diabetes strikes the elderly more often.
In addition, the obesity epidemic is also driving the growing number of people with diabetes, Eberhardt said.
People need to be tested for diabetes even if they think they don't have it, he said. The data showed that a third of those in the study didn't think they had diabetes, but tests showed they did, Eberhardt said.
According to the American Diabetes Association, the vast majority -- about 95 percent -- of diabetes cases are type 2, which is often (but not always) tied to overweight or obesity. About five percent of diabetes cases are type 1, which can arise early in life and is not linked with lifestyle factors.
According to the report, nearly 16 percent of men have diabetes, and about 12 percent of women. Moreover, the odds of developing diabetes, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, increases with age.
In terms of populations, diabetes is more common among Hispanics (20 percent) and blacks (18 percent) than whites (12 percent).
The overweight and obese are also more likely to develop diabetes, the researchers found. Only 6 percent of underweight or normal-weight adults had the disease, while 12 percent of overweight adults and 21 percent of obese adults did.
Although treatment for diabetes is available, Eberhardt said, the public health goal should be taking steps to prevent the disease. "Sometimes prevention is the best treatment," he said.
For the study, the researchers used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, expressed exasperation with the lack of progress in curbing the diabetes epidemic.
"We need to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk," he said. Preventing diabetes starts with individuals making healthy lifestyle choices. These include a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.
Zonszein agreed that preventing diabetes should be the goal, but because diabetes is largely a matter of lifestyle it will take major changes in the American culture to accomplish that goal.
To get people to make healthy choices is going to take a drastic change in society, he said. Some of these changes might include taxing sugary drinks and getting people to eat less processed foods and fast foods.
Dr. William Cefalu, chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association, said doctors haven't been able to make that happen in the real world.
"We know how to prevent diabetes," Cefalu said. "But how to do this in the real world is really the holy grail of the challenge."
Once someone is diagnosed with diabetes, the goal has to be treatment that prevents complications such as heart disease, amputations and kidney failure.
"The problem is the patients diagnosed are not treated, and those treated are poorly treated with the great majority not achieving goals of sugar control, blood pressure control and cholesterol control," Zonszein said.
Unfortunately, the best treatment only kicks in when the complications of diabetes become critical, he said.
These treatments consist of treating complications, including kidney failure, heart disease, heart failure and stroke, Zonszein said. "These are expensive and very well covered by our health care system, but primary and secondary prevention are not."
The findings were published Sept. 19 as an NCHS data brief.
For more information on type 2 diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association.
SOURCES: Mark Eberhardt, Ph.D., epidemiologist, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Joel Zonszein, M.D., director, Clinical Diabetes Center, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City; William Cefalu, M.D., chief scientific and medical officer, American Diabetes Association; Sept. 19, 2018, Prevalence of Total, Diagnosed, and Undiagnosed Diabetes Among Adults: United States, 2013-2016
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Can the ship of state be righting itself?
Posted Friday, December 14, 2018 2:41 pm
I marched on Washington, D.C., on April 5, 1992, when George Herbert Walker Bush was president of the United States. My mother, my daughter and I, along with a few hundred thousand other people, walked down Pennsylvania Avenue to support women's reproductive rights.
At the time, the right to choose an abortion was being threatened, and President Bush tried to thread the needle by being officially opposed to choice while having his wife, Barbara, let it be known that she felt differently.
We chanted, carried signs and threw tennis balls over the fence onto the White House lawn. Then we took the train home.
Last week, like many of you, I watched Bush's funeral. The emotion of the moment caught me by surprise. The pageantry of his passing was suddenly so heartbreaking, and at the same time, heartening.
It was the unintended comparison between two presidents that both broke my heart and also gave me reason to hope that our listing ship of state may slowly be righting itself. As we watched, we remembered how decency could be a cherished value and how far we have drifted from that ideal.
The life story of Bush and his service to the country are a rebuke to Donald Trump, the man, and President Trump, America's commander in chief. As Trump sat in the row of presidents at the funeral, his arms crossed against his chest, no one needed to say that he did not belong, had not earned and should not continue in the Oval Office.
Bush's last days, his death and funeral service unfolded against the backdrop of breaking news that the witnesses who stand against Trump may end his presidency, or alter it irreparably. Testimony by former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and the sentencing of former Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort was gathering momentum as Bush was laid to rest.
His civility illuminates Trump's inadequacies, not just as a president but also as a human being. Bush was the full-color photo against Trump's bleached-out negative.
Jon Meacham, Bush's biographer, said that he was our last soldier/statesman, that he was an imperfect man who dedicated himself to creating a more perfect union. Meacham delivered a stirring eulogy, beginning by asking why Bush had been spared at the age of 20 when his plane was shot down, and then answering his own question by praising Bush's life of service.
I don't know if Bush was a good president or not. I have no idea what questionable things he did or allowed his representatives to do in the heat of presidential politics. I didn't agree with much of his platform and agenda. Still, he seemed like a good man, a loyal friend and a loving husband and father. And in that, he stood apart and above Trump, who has shown himself to be a philanderer, a liar and a racist.
As Bush was being buried, Trump seemed poised for a kind of demise as well, sinking under the weight of testimony against him in the halls of justice. Those of us who believe he has brought disgrace to the office of the president have reason to hope today that the forces of law and order and honor may be gaining ground over dissension, dishonesty and hubris. Part of what makes us think so is the potentially damning evidence against Trump. And the other part is remembering a president who tried to do right while in office and leave the country in better shape than he found it. He reminded us of the possibility of collegiality and decorum.
When George W. Bush eulogized his father, he said, "Dad taught me another special lesson. He showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country."
In his inaugural address, the elder Bush said, "We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it."
Copyright 2018 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at .
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Jax and Brittany's pastor says he won't officiate wedding after anti-LGBTQ comments
Jax and Brittany's pastor says he won't officiate wedding after anti-LGBTQ comments Brittany Cartwright, Jax Taylor and pastor Ryan DotsonGetty Images/ Ryan Dotson's Facebook After Taylor, 39, and Cartwright,...
by Raquel Jayson June 15, 2019 390 Views
Brittany Cartwright, Jax Taylor and pastor Ryan DotsonGetty Images/ Ryan Dotson's Facebook
After Taylor, 39, and Cartwright, 30, attended LA Pride over the weekend, anti-LGBTQ commentsmade by Dotson in 2015 were shared on Twitter, causing an uproar amongst fans.
"I want [Brittany] to have the very best day she possibly can," Dotson told us Friday, adding that the couple asked him on Wednesday afternoon to no longer participate in their nuptials. "They asked me to be a guest, but I probably won't. I'm too much of a distraction."
Dotson also responded to the criticism over his anti-LGBTQ remarks in an exclusive statement to Page Six.
"I am neither Transphobic nor homophobic," he said. "I as a Christian, love and respect, all human life, regardless of race, religion, nationality and sexuality, but as a Christian and a Pastor, I must stand firmly on the Bible and its teachings, as to how we should live before God. I know not all people are accepting of this belief or religious point of view, but I am."
Dotson said he believes he is entitled to his Christian values "as an American," adding that "although, I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I love the homosexual."
The Kentucky pastor said he employs gay people and has "never discriminated against anyone because of their sexuality."
"To be honest, many of my homosexual employees have been some of my greatest employees," he added.
Dotson told us he is "deeply saddened" that Taylor and Cartwright's wedding has been "marred by those with an agenda." He said he also feels he has been "bullied."
Brittany Cartwright shows off her ring alongside Jax Taylor at the Vanderpump gala in Hollywood.Getty Images
On Wednesday, a Twitter user captioned a screenshot of Dotson's anti-LGBT remarks, "I'm confused as to why @mrjaxtaylor or @BNCartwright would participate in the LA #Pride parade if they have a homophobic bigot marrying them later this month? It's revolting and shameful to give this spigot of hate a platform."
Cartwright, 30, responded, "We already took care of this so I would appreciate it if people would quit trying to spread rumors like we don't care and aren't supporters when you guys have no clue how we feel or the fact that we have already changed. I'm focused on marrying the man I love. Nothing else."
On Thursday, Taylor, 39, reiterated that he and his soon-to-be wife "took care of it a while ago," implying that Dotson will no longer be officiating their wedding.
But during a January appearance on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," the reality star sounded like she was keeping Dotson as their officiant.
"I'm a huge supporter and always will be of the LGBTQ community, and no matter what, I would never try to ever make anybody feel uncomfortable," she said. "I talked to him myself and he promised me that he was not that way, that he was not saying anything about the community whatsoever."
Cartwright added that she's known Dotson "for years" and "if it was anything that I felt otherwise, I would never choose somebody like that."
In April, Dotson shared a photo of his wife beside Cartwright's mom, Sherri Cartwright, at the bride's wedding shower. The reality star also still follows him on Instagram.
Taylor and Cartwright's rep did not comment, and Bravo did not respond to requests for comment.
LGBTQ activist and "Vanderpump Rules" boss Lisa Vanderpump issued a response to the criticism through her rep after fans questioned whether she would still be attending Taylor and Cartwright's wedding.
"Of course everyone knows my feelings for the love and unwavering support for the LGBTQ community," she told Buzzfeed. "I've contacted Jax and Brittany who are extremely disappointed as to the depth and seriousness of these comments by the minister and are very shocked and feel that obviously major alterations will have to be made in their ceremonial plans. They are dealing with this today. This attitude is totally not acceptable to them and changes are forthcoming."
Ryan Dotson's full statement:
In response to the media attack on my character and Christian beliefs, I would first like to state that I am neither Transphobic nor Homophobic as publicized. I as a Christian, love and respect, all human life, regardless of race, religion, nationality and sexuality, but as a Christian and a Pastor, I must stand firmly on the Bible and its teachings, as to how we should live before God. I know not all people are accepting of this belief or religious point of view, but I am. As an American I am entitled to my Christian values, as everyone else is theirs's, and for that I have been falsely attacked and ridiculed nationally. Although, I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I love the homosexual. I have leased one of my home rentals to a homosexual man; I have homosexuals working in all of my businesses. I have never discriminated against anyone because of their sexuality. To be honest many of my homosexual employees have been some of my greatest employees.
When it comes to the wedding of Jax & Brittany, in December they requested over lunch if I would do them the honor of marrying them, because they wanted a "Christian wedding," of course 1 said yes, seeing that I've been the family's Pastor for the last several years. Jax & Brittany are a beautiful couple and I wish nothing but love and happiness. I am deeply saddened that their wedding is being marred by those with an agenda. My religious views have nothing to do with the fact of whether or not I was capable of performing the wedding. I'm not sure what everyone was thinking, but in Kentucky, which is a part of the Bible belt, most pastors feel the very same as I do, which should be of no surprise to anyone.
As of late Wednesday evening I had received an overwhelming amount of messages of HATE from the LGBT Community. They have used their platforms in multiple media outlets to slander my name and defame my character. I truly understand now what it means to be bullied.
For those who speak love and tolerance, really demonstrated hate and intolerance towards me. I ask for no sympathy because I firmly stand on what I believe is just and right, and if I am hated for it, I'll wear that badge with honor.
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Chabad Lubavitch World HQ / News / Headquarters
More in Headquarters - A Lone and Destitute Jewish Woman Gets A Jewish Burial - When Friendship Isn't Only For Kids: The Circle Expands to 21 Plus - Heirs to the Rebbe's Legacy - Jewish and Canadian Law Contrasted at Westmount Symposium - STATEMENT BY CHABAD-LUBAVITCH WORLD HEADQUARTERS - 10 Perspectives of the Lubavitcher Rebbe for Society in 2019
50,000 To Visit Rebbe's Resting Place in Queens
Photo Credit: Israel Bardugo
by B. Olidort - Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters
(lubavitch.com) Residents of quiet Cambria Heights, Queens, are watching neighborhood traffic swell this week as visitors begin to stream through the little house at the corner of Francis Lewis Boulevard, leading to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's resting place at the Old Montefiore Cemetery.
Numbers will top off at around 50,000 on Thursday, June 25, when most will arrive at the Ohel, as the Rebbe's gravesite is called, to mark the 15th anniversary of the his passing, the third day of Tammuz.
In a custom that gains traction with each passing year, people travel from as far as New Zealand and China to the Ohel, for the opportunity to reach out in prayer, to seek solace and blessing on the Rebbe's yahrzeit.
Rabbi Abba Refson, director of Chabad activities at the Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch, says planning for this week began months ago, with heavy coordination in all areas, to ensure a smooth, manageable experience for both the community and the visitors.
Funded year after year by annual donors "who generously contribute towards this week's expenses," Refson admits that there's never enough for such an intense week, and he typically comes up short. This year, however, "we have been doubly blessed, and have been able to introduce additional initiatives and expanded accommodations, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Mr. Guma Aguiar."
With Aguiar's funding, Chabad at the Ohel will be setting up an 18,000 square foot air-conditioned pavilion that will house up to1,000 people in rotating shifts who will need accommodations, food and lodging, over the course of the next few days. "It's going to make a huge difference," says Refson.
Aguiar, the founder and CEO of Leor Energy, whose name is becoming well known in Jewish philanthropy due to his support of Chabad-Lubavitch and other philanthropic projects, says he chose to give to Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch, "because I feel passionately about wanting to bring people closer to the Rebbe.
"The Rebbe touched every Jew in the world, and I want to do my part, to help give people this important opportunity to connect with him on his yahrzeit."
Indeed, Aguiar is also sponsoring a chartered plane to fly about 200 Chabad representatives and community members from his home-state of Florida, to the Ohel and back, on Thursday.
"Guma is passionate about Chabad, and about helping perpetuate the Rebbe's legacy," says Rabbi Moshe Meyer Lipszyc, Chabad representative to Ft. Lauderdale and a close, personal friend of Guma's.
The mix of people is as varied as their origins: Jewish and some non-Jewish, religious and secular, men, women and children, come to honor the Rebbe's life, to connect with the soul of this giant, to find a moment of spiritual clarity and nurture on this auspicious date, when the soul of the departed is said to be especially receptive to interceding in behalf of supplicants.
The lines are unusually quiet. And long. Visitors can expect to wait anywhere between one and three hours, says Rabbi Refson, but they use the time to pray silently, and contemplate. Those fortunate to have met the Rebbe during his lifetime, focus on their encounters with him. In Chasidic tradition, dedicating time to prepare oneself for a private audience with the Rebbe is said to greatly have impacted the experience.
"In a way," says Rabbi Refson, "the long lines allow people to prepare for their visit to the Ohel, and to get into the right mindset before their "encounter" once inside the enclosure, where the Rebbe is buried side-by-side with his father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn.
Groups of 80 will be allowed in to the small space, where they will have two minutes to pray and ponder, read and shred their personal hand-scribbled notes for blessings at the Rebbe's headstone.
For residents of Cambria Heights, the scene is a familiar one, which they generally regard with respect, says Rabbi Refson. To help them prepare for the these heavy-traffic days, he sent letters to all Cambria Heights residents, assuring them of regular clean up, police security, and generally quiet decorum.
He also invited representation from all the blocks in the neighborhood to meet with him several weeks ago along with municipal agencies.
"All the relevant agencies including cemetery staff, police, sanitation, fire, parks dept. DOT and the Mayor's office, were wonderfully cooperative when we met to discuss how we're going this to make it easy and smooth for everyone involved," says Refson.
At the Ohel itself, extra personnel will be managing crowd control, hospitality, food, refreshments and accommodations. Though Refson prefers to keep a low profile at the Ohel out of respect for the private nature of the experience, rabbinical students will be working with him to be available for visitors who choose to call on them.
Many traveling long distances make this their only destination. With JFK just a five minute drive away, they may spend no more than a few hours at the Ohel, before heading back to the airport to catch a return flight.
Others will linger on, some remaining through Shabbat, absorbing the inspired atmosphere, the Chasidic warmth, the melodious prayers and long farbrengens before they integrate once again, into the frenetic pace of life beyond the gates of the Ohel.
Come Sunday, the crowds will begin to disperse, and traffic will return to its normal pace.


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16-18 MARCH 2018 at the Town Hall
Peter Benson
Louis de Bernières
Christopher Bigsby
Rachel Crowther
Sally Emerson
Guinevere Glasfurd
Rachel Hore
Mark Illis
D J Taylor
Done, dusted and confined to the section labelled Historical Fiction:
Thirtieth Anniversary
FICTION festival
The Weekend's Events
Friday 16th March 7.30pm
Rachel Hore will launch her new novel,
Last Letter Home
chaired by Chris West
Saturday 17th March 11.00am
Discussion, chaired by Professor John Lucas
Is the literary novel dead?
Saturday 17th March 3.00pm
in conversation with Rachel Hore
on Thirty Years of the British novel
Sunday 18th March 11.00am
in conversation with Louis de Bernières
Sunday 18th March 3.00pm
in conversation with John Lucas
in conversation with Christopher Bigsby
Rachel Hore lives in Norwich and is the author of nine novels including supernatural chiller, A Place of Secrets (2010), the best-seller, A Gathering Storm (2011) and The House on Bellevue Gardens (2016). The seeds of her writing career were sown during her days as senior editorial director of fiction at HarperCollins in London. Rachel is a reviewer of fiction for The Guardian and The Independent on Sunday. She teaches publishing at the UEA and is married to writer DJ Taylor. We always welcome her regular contributions to our festivals. Last Letter Home is Rachel's newest title, and we are delighted to host its launch at our festival.
The distinguished poet, novelist and critic, John Lucas is Professor Emeritus at the Universities of Loughborough and Nottingham Trent. He is the author of many academic works and has published seven books of his own poetry. His novels include The Good That We Do (2000) and 92 Acharnon Street (2007), the latter two blending fiction, memoir and social history. Other recent books include A Brief History of Whistling, an esoteric study that somehow attracted the attention of Have I Got News For You, and a charming and beautifully produced anthology of 10 Cricket Poems. Both The Guardian and The TLS chose his Next Year Will Be Better: A Memoir of England in The 1950s (2010) as their Book of the Year. His latest novel, his third, Summer Nineteen Forty-Five, was published in October. He runs Shoestring Press and lives in Nottingham.
Guinevere Glasfurd was originally from the North of England, and now lives in Waterbeach. She graduated from the MA Creative Writing course at Anglia Ruskin University with distinction. Her first novel, The Words In My Hand, is based on the little known story of Helena Jans who worked as a Dutch maid and formed a relationship with René Descartes; the plot questions his reputation as a loner. The book was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel award. Guinevere sees it as a feminist work. It has been published in Australia and New Zealand, and in seven other countries. Her short stories have been published by Mslexia and The Scotsman and in a collection from the National Galleries of Scotland. She has won awards from Arts Council England and the British Council.
Rachel Crowther qualified as a doctor and worked in the NHS for twenty years before succumbing to a lifelong yearning to write fiction, previously indulged during successive bouts of maternity leave. She has an MA in Creative Writing with distinction from Oxford Brookes, and a string of prizes for her short fiction. Her first novel, The Partridge And The Pelican, was published in 2011, during her MA course. It was a Tatler 'sizzling summer read'. Since then she has won a string of prizes for her short fiction. Her second novel, The Things You Do For Love (2016), has been called 'a delight of a read' by Fay Weldon. Her latest novel is Every Secret Thing, published last year. She has five children, two mad dogs and an abiding passion for music, art, cooking and travel, both in Britain and further afield. She currently lives in Surrey.
Born in 1960, the author of twelve novels and eight other books, D J Taylor is a regular feature at our Festival. Educated at Norwich School and Oxford, he is a distinguished novelist, critic, journalist and biographer - notably of Thackeray (1999) and Orwell: The Life, for which he won the 2003 Whitbread Biography Award, and a history of literary life in England since 1918, The Prose Factory (2016). His numerous novels include English Settlement, winner of the Grinzane Cavour prize, and Derby Day (2011) longlisted for The Booker Prize. Last year's publication updates Thackeray's The Book of Snobs (1848) for the twenty-first century, and this summer sees publication of his new novel, Rock And Roll Is Life. He is married to Rachel Hore and lives in Norwich.
Peter Benson was born in 1956 and educated in Ramsgate, Canterbury and Exeter. He is a novelist, poet, writer of screen plays and short stories. He has published ten novels. His first, The Levels, (1987) won most of the prizes that year including the Guardian Fiction Prize, the Authors' Club First Novel award, the Betty Trask prize, and
was shortlisted for the Whitbread award and the Primo Letteravio Chianti. His second, A Lesser Dependency (1989), won the Encore Award and The Other Occupant (1990) won the Somerset Maugham Award. His latest, The South in Winter (2017), was one of the best reads of last year and showed him at his best. In 1994 he received a Society of Authors Travelling Scholarship. His works have been widely translated. When living in Lyme Regis in the 1990s, he was John Fowles' gardener.
Christopher Bigsby, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Arts, is an award- winning academic, novelist and biographer. He is Professor of American Studies at UEA and author of more than fifty books, including the two-volume biography of Arthur Miller. His first novel, Hester (1994), won the McKitterick Prize and his latest is The Hotel (2016). He is a regular broadcaster and was the presenter of Kaleidoscope in the 1980s. December last year saw the publication of Writers in Conversation, a compilation of Bigsby's interviews with the world's greatest writers from a decade of the International Literary Festival at the UEA. His numerous interviewing contributions at our festivals are always brilliant, and on this occasion the spotlight is on him and his career.
Sally Emerson was educated at Wimbledon High School and St Anne's, Oxford, where she edited Isis. She is the author of two books of non-fiction, has edited four anthologies and published six novels. Second Sight (1980) won a Yorkshire Post First Novel award. Then followed two dark love stories; Fire Child and Heat, then Second Sight and the bestselling Separation, about the power of children. All six have been republished by Quartet Books in 2017. Her prose has been compared with that of Muriel Spark. Since 2003 she has worked as a travel writer for the Sunday Times, as well as contributing to other newspapers. She is married, has two adult children, and lives in London.
Louis de Bernières was born in London in 1954. He published his first novel in 1990 and was selected by Granta magazine as one of the twenty Best of Young British Novelists in 1993. Since then he has become well known internationally as a writer: Captain Corelli's Mandolin (1994) won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Novel, Birds Without Wings (2004, Whitbread Novel Award shortlist), A Partisan's Daughter (2008, shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award), and The Dust That Fell From Dreams (2015). His latest novel, Blue Dog (2016) is the prequel to his 2002 novel, Red Dog and was selected as a Daily Telegraph Book of 2016. He lives in Norfolk and as well as writing, he plays the flute, mandolin, clarinet and guitar.
Mark Illis was born in London in 1963. He published short stories at university, and went on to an MA in Creative Writing at UEA. He had three novels published in his twenties by Bloomsbury. In 1992, Mark moved to West Yorkshire to be a Centre Director for the Arvon Foundation. He has written for radio and TV; EastEnders,
The Bill, Peak Practice and for over a decade, Emmerdale. He also wrote the award- winning screenplay for Before Dawn, a relationship drama with zombies. Mark has taught writing in schools, libraries, universities, Reading Prison and Broadmoor Secure Hospital. He has reviewed for The Spectator and Radio 4's Kaleidoscope. He has recently been working for the charity First Story and for the Royal Literary Fund. Recent titles include, Tender (2009) and The Last Word (2011, shortlisted for The Portico Prize). In 2017, his first Young Adult novel, The Impossible, winner of a Northern Writers' Award, was published by Quercus. He is married with two children.
Chris West is a novelist and non-fiction writer. He has written four crime novels set in 1990s China. The first, Death of a Blue Lantern, was nominated for Best First Novel at the World Mystery Convention. His latest work of fiction is Enlightenment, a comic novella. First Class, A History of Britain in 36 Postage Stamps was one of ten Independent Bookshop Picks in 2012 and was followed by A History of America in 36 Postage Stamps. His latest book, Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe through the World's Greatest Song Contest, tells the story of Europe from Suez to Brexit, and was published last year.


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You are here: Home / Blog / Remembering Laurie Thompson
Remembering Laurie Thompson
July 2, 2015 by Leland Buck Leave a Comment
Laurence Arthur Thompson: 26 February 1938 - 8 June 2015
I was sad to see an obituary recently for Laurie Thompson who passed away on June 8, 2015. Mr. Thompson was an excellent translator of Swedish writing into English. He translated over 40 titles from an impressive number of well-known Swedish writers, including Henning Mankell, Åke Edwardson, Håkan Nesser and Mikael Niemi. Some of the titles he translated include:
The White Lioness by Henning Mankell, 1998
Night Watch by Malin Lindroth, 2000
The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell, 2001
The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell, 2003
I Die, but the Memory Lives on by Henning Mankell, 2004
A bridge to the stars by Henning Mankell, 2005
Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson, 2005
Never End by Åke Edwardson, 2006
Depths by Henning Mankell, 2006
The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell, 2006
Borkmann's Point by Håkan Nesser, 2006
Shadows in the Twilight by Henning Mankell, 2007
Frozen Tracks by Åke Edwardson, 2007
The Return by Håkan Nesser, 2007
Kennedy's Brain, by Henning Mankell, 2007
The Mind's Eye by Håkan Nesser, 2008
Italian Shoes by Henning Mankell, 2009
The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell, 2010
He edited the Swedish Book Review from 1983 to 2002, and lectured at the University of Wales (Aberystwyth and Lampeter). In 1992 he was awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star for his service to Swedish culture and literature and 2003 he received an award from the Swedish Academy for service to Swedish culture abroad. He was also a co-founder of the Swedish-English Literary Translators' Association.
His translation of Håkan Nesser's The Living and the Dead in Winsford is available as of today, July 2, 2015 in the US.
Having left such a great body of work, we will all be remembering Laurie Thompson for many years to come.
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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Åke Edwardson, Hakan Nesser, Henning Mankell, Laurie Thompson, Malin Lindroth, Mikael Niemi, Royal Order of the Polar Star, Swedish Academy, Swedish Book Review, University of Wales
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Home News Auto component Dana Holding Corp Increases Equity Stake in its China and India Operations
Dana Holding Corp Increases Equity Stake in its China and India Operations
Written by Vijay
Mumbai: Dana Holding Corporation has completed two transactions that will enhance its position for further growth in the emerging markets of China and India. Dana has acquired the commercial-vehicle axle business of Axles India Ltd. (AIL).
In India, Dana has acquired the drive head manufacturing and final assembly operations of the commercial-vehicle axle business of AIL. (The axle drive head includes the pinion, ring gear, differential lock, bearings, lube pump, and yoke inside the axle housing.)
Dana has also assumed responsibility for the marketing, sales, and engineering of these medium- and heavy-duty axles.
Key customers of this business are Ashok Leyland and Mahindra & Mahindra. Dana's investment of $13 million in this transaction is expected to generate approximately $50 million in annual revenue. AIL, a joint venture between Dana and two India-based companies, will continue to manufacture axle housings for Dana and other customers.
"This transaction further extends our capabilities and operations in another rapidly growing market," Dana President and CEO Roger J. Wood. "Dana's recognized manufacturing and engineering leadership will be a key advantage in growing both of these businesses."
Dana's manufacturing presence in India dates to 1965 and today includes the manufacture of axles and driveshafts for the automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway vehicle markets. In addition, Dana is able to produce sealing products in this region.
The company has also increased its stake in Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. (DDAC), a China-based commercial-vehicle axle joint venture, to 50 percent. Dana has acquired from Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd (DFL) an additional 46 percent equity in DDAC to achieve equal ownership. Dana paid $124 million to DFL; a sales incentive agreement could effectively increase Dana's consideration by as much as $20 million if specified profitability targets are achieved. DDAC achieved 2010 sales of nearly $1 billion, supported by the strong performance of both the truck and bus markets and in particular of its main customer, Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd.
"We are encouraged by the continued strong performance of the truck and bus markets in China, and of our partner Dongfeng, and look forward to the strengthened relationship," said Dana President and CEO Roger J. Wood. "This is another important step in our ongoing drive to seek out opportunity in the Chinese market and expand globally."
Headquartered in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, DDAC is the primary supplier of truck axles to Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. DDAC, originally formed in 2005, currently offers a complete range of truck axles in the Chinese market, including drive, steer, tandem, and hub-reduction axles for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks, as well as buses.
With Dana's increased equity in the joint venture, DDAC will become its largest overseas axle manufacturing base.
Dana's manufacturing experience in China stretches back to 1991. In addition to DDAC, Dana manufactures off-highway axles, driveshafts, and transmissions; commercial vehicle driveshafts; light-duty axles and driveshafts; and thermal products in the country.
In May, Dana broke ground on a technical center in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. This facility will provide advanced product and applications engineering through research, design, development, and testing of driveline, sealing, and thermal products, including electric vehicle battery coolers. The center is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2011.
HV Axles and HV Transmissions are now 'TML Drivelines' (15/11/2011)
Automotive Axles establishes Contract Manufacturing Facility at Greater Noida (31/10/2011)
Dana Holding Corp to Buy Commercial Vehicle Axle Business From Axles India (25/04/2011)
Automotive Axles Ltd to launch a new two-speed axle in mid-2011 (13/04/2011)
American Axle & Manufacturing acquires Full Ownership of AAM Sona Axle (12/01/2011)
Dana Holding Corporation setting up $20 Million Technical Center in Pune (14/12/2010)
A M Ganguly & F G Leo appointed MDs of American Axle & Manufacturing in India (05/11/2010)
Spicer India setting up hypoid gear manufacturing facility in Chakan (09/02/2010)
American Axle & Manufacturing forms JV with Sona Koyo (01/11/2007)
Rane Engine Valve Ltd sales & operating income up 15% in Q1 at Rs.76.17 cr (20/07/2011)
Rane (Madras) Limited Sales & Operating Income up 17% in Q1 2011 (19/07/2011)
Steel Strips Wheels Ltd bags 33 million USD contract from BMW (18/07/2011)
Williams Controls awarded new production programs with 2 CV manufacturers (17/07/2011)
DuPont to set up Automotive segment focused Innovation Center in Pune (14/07/2011)
Mahindra Ugine commences Commercial Production at Pantnagar Stamping Unit (05/07/2011)
Steel Strips to expand capacity at Jamshedpur and Chennai plants (07/06/2011)
Dynamatic Acquires German & Indian Operations of Eisenwerke Erla GmbH (02/06/2011)
Steel Strips Wheels sales up 23.70% in May 2011 (02/06/2011)
N. Venkataramani takes over as Chairman of IP Rings (01/06/2011)


Ho-Pin Tung was born in
Ho-Pin Tung was born in the Netherlands to Chinese parents. In 2017 he became the first Chinese driver to claim victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is also a Jaguar Racing driver in the Formula E championship THE CHALLENGE: DRIVE THE 99 TURNS OF THE 'DRAGON ROAD' UP TIANMEN MOUNTAIN... STEPPING IT UP The steps themselves are a relatively new construction, rather than an ancient monument, which meant that Phil Jones and his team thought it could be done. "We first sent a local colleague to the site to measure the angles and send us the data. Based on this and a selection of satellite images, we built a section of the steps at our Gaydon testing site in the UK to see how the vehicle performed on a 45-degree hill." The team deliberately chose the P400e, which combines an 85kW electric motor and 2.0 litre engine, switching intelligently between the two modes. The electric power for example gives instant torque, which would be handy for accelerating out of the Dragon's hairpin turns and vital for providing the necessary thrust to scale the full 999 steps. After the initial testing at Gaydon, and a period of several months to obtain the needed permissions from the local authorities to carry out the challenge, Jones flew to China to see the site first hand. "And that's when I started to have doubts," he says. "When I first stood at the bottom and looked up at Heaven's Gate, my first thought was, 'What have I let myself in for here?'" However, Jones stuck with it and after further calculations, he returned to England, "not 100% confident of success, but sure enough to proceed." 82
DRAGON CHALLENGE ... BEFORE TALL ORDER Before committing to the challenge, Ho-Pin asked for assurance that no damage would be caused to the site. "It's an iconic location with strong cultural links - being Chinese, that was a very important aspect for me. Once it was cleared, we got down to practicing." With more than a decade's racing experience, Ho-Pin was confident he could handle the 99 turns of the Dragon. The 999 steps, on the other hand, were a different matter entirely. "The first time I attempted the 45-degree gradient at Gaydon, my heart was racing faster than a qualifying lap at Le Mans. It feels like you are going up a vertical slope - all you can see ahead is sky." Based on initial test experience, Phil Jones felt it prudent that, with more than 400 steps at a 45-degree angle, a method of securing the vehicle in case of a problem was imperative. The answer: two safety cables would be attached at the top and the bottom of the steps with a one-way clutch, which would only kick in if the car were to start rolling backwards. With UK testing done, the team headed to China to complete its final practices on site. Despite extensive examination in Gaydon, the safety cables still had to prove themselves on the 999 steps up to Heaven's Gate, where any issues could prove disastrous. The responsibility fell on Phil Jones to take the Range Rover Sport up a section of the steep incline for the first time. "On the first attempt, I didn't have enough speed, but the safety lines held me perfectly." A reassuring thought for Ho-Pin Tung as he sets off up the Dragon road on the morning of the challenge. Locals are wary of the Dragon - normally, the veteran tour bus drivers are the only ones allowed to navigate its blind turns, bordered by sheer limestone on one side and sheer drops on the other. But now, before the park opens, the road is empty and Ho-Pin is TACKLING THE 999 STEPS in his element. "For me, this part is like a street circuit. The car has a sporty feel to it and handles the corners excellently." KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR After 6.8 miles, he arrives at the bottom of the 999 steps up to Heaven's Gate. Now, the real test begins. Manoeuvring the car up the first few steps is no easy task and requires precise handling. "The instant power delivery of the electric motor is perfect for this section," Ho-Pin explains. Then, it's a straight shot up to the top. "But there's a lot of steering control required. The car is constantly bumping around on the steps." At one point, all four wheels leave the ground as Ho-Pin races upward. After 22 minutes and 41 seconds, Ho-Pin reaches the top. The Range Rover Sport comes to a halt and he steps out: "I'm overcome by a mixture of excitement and relief. The tension had been building on this challenge for several months - nobody could be 100% sure how it would turn out. I've never experienced 20 minutes of adrenaline like it." LEADING TO 'HEAVEN'S GATE' FIND OUT MORE To see the video, please search Land Rover Dragon Challenge THE RESULT: CHALLENGE COMPLETED IN 22 MINUTES 41 SECS P400e : ASTONISHING CAPABILITY, LOWER EMISSIONS Land Rover's new plug-in hybrid technology (PHEV) combines a conventional engine with an electric motor and a high voltage battery, reducing emissions without compromising performance. This ensures a dynamic drive, ideal for breaking records like the Dragon Challenge. The P400e powertrain's everyday benefits, however, go far beyond this. By offering an electric range of up to 51 kilometres, both the Range Rover Sport P400e and the larger Range Rover P400e can handle most daily commutes in full electric mode. And a full charge takes as little as 7.5 hours using a domestic plug. This can even be cut to just 2.75 hours when using a public charging point. With numerous cities around the world working towards cutting emissions, this makes both vehicles ideal for everyday urban life. This applies to Amsterdam in Ho-Pin Tung's native Netherlands, too. Here city planners and politicians are working towards making the Dutch metropole the first city in Europe to become completely emissions free by 2025. With PHEV technology already available for those seeking a greener way of getting around, that goal now seems closer than ever before. OFFICIAL EU FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE RANGE ROVER SPORT P400e in mpg (l/100km): Combined 101 (2.8); CO 2 emissions (combined) g/km: 64; Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. EV range figures are based upon production vehicle over a standardised route. Range achieved will vary dependent on vehicle and battery condition, actual route and environment and driving style. 83
Page 33 and 34: NAME: JAMIE SPARKS. AGE:26. OCCUPAT
Page 35 and 36: AN EYE ON ADVENTURE For those who w


WHO IS NENE?
Handmade by nene
This is how they used to say "Grandmother" in Smyrna. This is how she wanted us to call her instead of "Giagia", the equivalent term in Greek. Everybody in the family was calling her "Nene", regardless of how was related to her (e.g. nieces, nephews, granddaughters, great granddaughters) except from her husband of course, our great grandfather, Yiorgos (George in English).
When our great grandfather Yiorgos met "Nene" for the first time it was love at first sight. He was instantly enchanted by her. Her dymanic personality was hard to be missed. She had incredible resources of energy, her gaze was intense, penetrating and insightful and her feminine aura was oozing class. She had a glare as if she was a "magical creature" from another world...
She knew how to hold herself and how to behave in every social occasion and circle, demonstrating her impeccable ladylike manners. Therefore it was inevitable for a woman such was she, not to look after herself and her appearance. Her priority, soon after she was waking up, was to wear her favourite lipstick and earrings. She was always well groomed, wearing her perfume and had her nails dyed in bright colours.
This was not only due to her education ("Nene" had been trained to become a teacher in one of the most prestigious schools of her time in Athens, called "Arsakeio" and she could also teach piano and French), but also due to her upper class background which, although it was challenged during the early years of her life, it was always embedded in her (she survived the invasion of Turks in Smyrna in 1922, saw her house and city burned down and fled her homeland together with her family travelling with everything that they could hold or wear as a refugees to Limnos, a Greek island ). Later on in her life when she married Yiorgos she found herself living in Pakistan and mixing with the upper class society and diplomatic circles there, in a period when Pakistan was still a part of India as an English colony.
Together with Yiorgos - who is worth mentioning that he became the Managing Director of Patel Cotton Company in 1938 and later on became the Consul General of Greece in Pakistan in the '50s - she travelled the world, expanded her horizons and exposed herself to different cultures from Europe, Asia and Africa. This had a direct effect on her fashion style, adding flair to her already sophisticated and elegant presence.
She was always following the fashion trends of her time evidenced not only in her clothing choices, but also in the accessories that she would use to complement her style. All her dresses were tailored to her figure; she had many different styles of dresses for day and evening occasions and for all seasons, ranging from informal and casual to very formal. In her wardrobe, you could see matching bags and shoes that complimented her dresses together with dozens of hats, gloves, scarves, umbrellas and other accessories.
Regardless of her numerous combinations, her look would always be supported by her favourite jewellery, such as earrings, bracelets, rings, pendants and necklaces, which were mostly golden and would either have precious stones attached to them (diamonds, amethysts, sapphires, topazes, turquoises, jadeites, rubies and others), or they would be embellished with pearls. Depending on the season, the occasion and time of the day the above would vary and sometimes her jewellery would be extended to include hair accessories to complement her striking appearance.
"Nene" was a very beautiful woman and she knew it. At her prime years, her look resembled that of a Hollywood star and men were always attracted to her. Her enchanting beauty however, was equally developed on the inside. You could freely consult her without any reservations about anything, from cooking tips to lifetime choices. She had an acute mind and a marvellous sense of humour and of course a great taste when it came to fashion, make up and styling tips, colour co-ordinations and matching accessories and so she would always have a very strong opinion about what suits you, ranging from the colour of your hair and your make up to the man you would choose as partner next to you; and quite frankly she was always right! You knew you could trust her because she was always tuned in to her unmistakable instinct.
The years were passing by and she was remaining contemporary with the seasons and young in her appearance and attitude towards her life, an attribute that she never lost, which explains how it was always very difficult to guess her real age. For those of us, who knew it, it was a miracle how she was never aging and how she was always engaging fully with life (she was exercising until her mid nineties, listening her favourite programmes on the radio, watching the latest news on the TV, reading and following the current political developments of Greece, the country to which she had returned since the 1960s). Healthy and active as she was until the very end, she would follow the fashion trends and be critical about the various looks and seasons, exercising her incredible wit. Even during her very last years of her life, when she was over 100 years old, she would still remain very open-minded, insightful, magical and 'young' for all of us. Her secret when she was asked about her longevity was this: "Never take Life too seriously, Always retain your Sense of Humour and Love and Look After Yourself"!
Nene's eternal, immortal spirit, however elusive it might be after her death, she is still with us. Influencing three generations, she has left a vivid mark in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren allowing us to carry on being guided by her inner wisdom and bringing her to life through us...
"Nene"... a Remarkable Woman Transcending Time...
Timeless, Contemporary, Spirit...
"Nene"...this is our Inspiration...
To Nene with all our Love...
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