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Evanescence – The Chain (Music Video) By VV on January 10, 2020 Evanescence drop a music video for their cover of The Fleetwood Mac’s classic”The Chain”. Watch it below. “The Chain” was originally released by the US/ British rock band Fleetwood Mac in 1977. After doing a short cover for the Gear 5 commercial earlier in 2019, Amy Lee and co. decided to record a full version of their take on the track and accompany it with a video, too. The vocalist Amy Lee says: “The lyrics make me feel the power of standing together against great forces trying to pull us apart, perhaps even from the inside. I really wanted to drive that home in our version.” “The goal of the video is to show the bond of this band as they deliver a powerful take on a classic song,” says P.R. Brown, director of the video. “The tie in with Gears 5 presented an opportunity to combine the game world together with the band performance in a post-apocalyptic setting. The band emerges from the ashes to come together. We wanted to bring these worlds together and feel both the force of the band and the game.” Tagged as: evanescence, music video Seven Spires – Drowner Of Worlds (Music Video)

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Info For... Faculty and Staff Alumni College of Education, Health and Society Welcome from the Dean Educator Preparation Data Partnerships and Centers Thematic Sequences Graduation and Licensure EHS Leadership Scholars Student Teaching and Field Experiences EHS Commencement EHS Facilities EHS Ambassadors Financial Opportunities Why Teach? It Could Mean More than You Might Imagine EHS News James M. Loy, Miami University Most people think they know what it means to be a teacher. But do they? Do you? “How do we sell something that has a narrative that most people know?” asks Brian Schultz, professor and chair of Miami University’s department of teacher education (EDT). “Because most people come through schooling themselves, they see their own experience as what being a teacher might be all about.” Unlike most careers, teaching is omnipresent in ways that most other professions are not. After all, most of us grew up learning from different teachers. We’ve spent years moving from classroom to classroom. And, in fact, formative schooling is among the earliest and most common of our shared cultural and social experiences. So to many, the typical teaching narrative generally includes notions of tests, quizzes, homework, making a few lesson plans, and probably grading some papers. Because that’s how many people remember school. But the echoes of these generic remembrances are often inaccurate, now outdated, or, at the very least, incomplete. Even if, once upon a time, the idea of teaching did mean standing in front of a class, dictating content to be regurgitated later was somewhat accurate. That’s not true anymore. Times have changed and so have the students. Today, students are no longer considered to be receptacles for knowledge or “banks to be filled.” And this shift has challenged many conventional notions of education, while also presenting a number of opportunities to evolve what being a teacher in the 21st century actually means. Brian Schultz“One of the things that has been going on in the department is a reimagining of what curriculum can be,” Schultz says. “Rather than coming in with this prescriptive body of somebody else’s received wisdom, why not look to the communities, the neighborhoods from which the children are coming up, and use the assets of the community, the cultures of the students and their families as a way to teach the subject matter and disciplines of knowledge as we know it?” Schultz -- along with his EDT colleagues across Miami’s College of Education, Health and Society -- are emphasizing what they call a "culturally relevant and contextually responsive” approach to education that marks a progressive shift in the way teachers are being prepared to thrive in a dynamic new educational climate. So for anyone interested in pursuing a career in education, now might be an ideal time to consider -- or even reconsider -- becoming a teacher. As a profession, teaching has long been regarded as a venerable part of the social fabric and it’s often viewed as far more than just a “job.” It’s important work that can leave a positive and lasting influence on the lives of others. Teachers prepare, motivate, encourage, and inspire. They help students overcome challenges, foster emotional growth, find purpose, and build healthy relationships with themselves and among their peers. In classrooms and across communities, both professionally and personally, teaching allows individuals to reach out in ways that are highly satisfying and ultimately meaningful. “There are a lot of students that are seeking out opportunities to provide a transformative experience,” Schultz says. “They want to be able to allow communities and individuals to use their voices in purposeful ways; teaching is one of those ideal places where you can have that kind of impact.” More than just educators, Schultz also sees teachers as action-oriented change agents who can use creativity, imagination, and ingenuity to empower youth to identify and actively help solve the problems that can uplift their communities, which, he says, also allows the curriculum to “come alive” for both the students and the teacher. But if these dynamics can be counted among the more emotionally fulling aspects of the career, then teaching also offers an abundance of more practical and tangible benefits that resonate as well. While teaching, unfortunately, is still painted negatively (and somewhat unfairly) for being a relatively lower paid profession. In reality, it’s actually quite competitive. Salary ranges will vary between states, districts, and personal experience. But most teachers still enjoy a comfortable level of economic security, and principals and superintendents can even receive salaries that routinely push beyond six figures. And this also comes with the added bonus of a great work-life balance. Having summers off is often a big draw, and many take this time to improve their craft, earn additional income, or to pursue outside interests. This unique perk is also typically offered alongside generous benefits packages, which can include comprehensive retirement plans, a variety of insurance options, additional vacation time, and more. Plus, the opportunities for employment are continuing to expand. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates that almost 1.9 million job openings will be available for preschool through college-level school teachers by 2024. But teaching, for all its merits, does have its challenges too. Bringing out the best in every student can take a lot of time and effort. So teachers must be passionate and committed. They are also excellent listeners and communicators. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and accessible. And, perhaps most importantly, they are agile, adaptive, and responsive agents of change who can impact entire communities in positive and socially just ways. “That’s what good teachers do,” Schultz says. “They are constantly reflecting on their practice. They are constantly seeking out collaboration, so that they can be transformative.” So it might not be an easy job and it might not be for everybody. But those who have already answered the call know why it is all worth the effort. “The rewards are pretty amazing in terms of engaging with kids on an ongoing basis,” Schultz says. “For me, when you engage with young people, your best self comes out. And nothing is ever the same. Especially when you teach in culturally relevant and responsive ways and adapt to the contexts in which you find yourself. It is pretty fantastic.” So whatever your notions about teaching are, or were, perhaps it’s time to reimagine what they could potentially be. Teaching, at its very core, opens doors to entirely new worlds of exploration and curiosity, and this untapped potential can present unlimited opportunities for discovery throughout every class. And that can be a very exciting idea. “What we want to encourage are the possibilities, these endless possibilities of engaging with young people who really get to rethink how it is they see the world,” Schultz says. “We have those possibilities for sure.”

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Battle of Sinhagad List of Easy Company (506 PIR) veterans Norman Dike 7 Ps (military adage) Arshad Sami Khan Matthew Axelson Article development North American P-51 Mustang Lockheed C-130 Hercules Deutsches Heer M1 Abrams Alfred V. Rascon Allan J. Kellogg Allen James Lynch Brian Thacker Bruce P. Crandall Charles C. Hagemeister Project maintenance Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Naval ranks, Military ranks of the United States Navy, Military ranks of the Royal Navy Master (naval) The master, or sailing master, was a historic term for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel. The rank can be equated to a professional seaman and specialist in navigation, rather than as a military commander. In the British Royal Navy, the master was a rank of warrant officer who ranked with, but after, the lieutenants and was eventually renamed to navigating lieutenant in 1867. When the United States Navy was formed in 1794, master was listed as one of the warrant officer ranks and ranked between midshipmen and lieutenants. The rank was also a commissioned officer rank from 1837 until it was replaced with the current rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade in 1883. Royal Navy Edit Originally in the Royal Navy, the ranks of captain and lieutenant came from the Army, and these officers were commissioned by the King to command the military force aboard a ship during wartime. There were no permanent ships in the Royal Navy, instead merchant ships were commandeered by the Navy along with their officers and crew. The sailing master was in charge of the ship, and he was assisted by his mates, the master's mates. When the ship was not being used by the Navy, the master was in command of the ship. Over time, the Navy developed a permanent force of ships, and the commissioned officers received training in navigation as well as military discipline. During the Age of Sail, the sailing master in the Royal Navy became the warrant officer trained specifically in navigation, was the senior warrant officer rank, and was the second most important officer aboard rated ships.[1] The Master ate in the wardroom with the other officers, had a large cabin in the gunroom, and had a smaller day cabin next to the captain's cabin on the quarterdeck for charts and navigation equipment.[2] Promotion Edit Masters were promoted from the rank of the master's mates, quartermasters, or midshipmen. Masters were also recruited from the merchant service. A prospective master had to pass an oral examination before a senior captain and three masters at Trinity House.[3] After passing the examination, they would be eligible to receive a warrant from the Board of Admiralty, but promotion was not automatic. Uniforms Edit Originally, the sailing master did not have an official officer uniform, which caused problems when they were captured because they had trouble convincing their captors they should be treated as officers and not ordinary sailors. In 1787 the warrant officers of wardroom rank (master, purser and surgeon) received an official uniform, but it did not distinguish them by rank. In 1807, Masters, along with pursers, received their own uniform.[2] Duties Edit The master’s main duty was navigation, taking ship’s position daily and setting the sails as appropriate for the required course. During combat, he was stationed on the quarterdeck, next to the captain. The master was responsible for fitting out the ship, and making sure they had all the sailing supplies necessary for the voyage. The master also was in charge of stowing the hold and ensuring the ship was not too weighted down to sail effectively. The master, through his subordinates, hoisted and lowered the anchor, docked and undocked the ship, and inspected the ship daily for problems with the anchors, sails, masts, ropes, or pulleys. Issues were brought to the attention of the master, who would notify the captain. The master was in charge of the entry of parts of the official log such as weather, position, and expenditures.[3][4] Second master Edit Second master was a rating introduced in 1753 that indicated a deputy master on a 1st, 2nd or 3rd rate ship-of-the-line. A second master was generally a master's mate who had passed his examination for master and was deemed worthy of being master of a vessel. Master's mates would act as Second Master of vessels too small to be allocated a warranted Master.[5] Second masters were paid significantly more than master's mates, £5 5s per month.[6] Second masters were given the first opportunity for master vacancies as they occurred.[7] Transition to commissioned officer Edit In 1808, master acknowledged as having similar status to commissioned officers, and their title was changed to Warrant Officer of Wardroom Rank. In 1843, the master was formally granted commissioned status as a lieutenant. In 1867, master was renamed navigating-lieutenant, and at the same time second master was renamed navigating sub-lieutenant.[8] United States Navy Edit Master, originally sailing master, was a historic warrant officer rank of the United States Navy, above that of a midshipman, after 1819 passed midshipman, after 1861 ensign, and below a lieutenant.[9] Some masters were appointed to command ships, with the rank of master commandant.[10] In 1837, sailing master was renamed master, master commandant was renamed commander, and some masters were commissioned as officers, formally "Master in line for Promotion" to distinguish them from the warrant masters who would not be promoted.[10] After 1855, passed midshipmen who were graduates of the Naval Academy filled the positions of master.[11] Both the commissioned officer rank of master and warrant officer rank of master were maintained until both were merged into the current rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade on March 3, 1883.[12] In 1862 the Masters wore a gold bar for rank insignia, which became a silver bar in 1877. In 1881 they started wearing their current sleeve stripes of one one-half-inch and one one-quarter-inch wide strips of gold lace.[11] Master's mate Bibliography Edit ↑ Lewis, Michael (1960). A Social History of the Navy. London: Ruskin House. OCLC 2832855. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Blake, Lawrence 2005, p. 71. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Officer ranks in the Royal Navy". http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_nav_rankings.htm#Master. Retrieved 2009-09-16. ↑ "Duties of the Master". http://www.hms.org.uk/nelsonsnavymaster.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-23. ↑ "Officer ranks in the Royal Navy". http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_nav_rankings.htm#Slt. Retrieved 2009-04-25. ↑ Lavery 1989, p. 326. ↑ Rodger 1986, p. 216. ↑ Lewis 1939, pp. 212, 230. ↑ United States Department of the Navy (1877). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States 1876. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. pp. 5–6. http://books.google.com/books?id=vY0DAAAAYAAJ. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Proud Beginnings: History of Warrant Officers in the US Navy". Naval History and Heritage Command. 1999-03-16. http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/triv4-5n.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-15. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Lieutenant". Naval History and Heritage Command. http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/triv4-5d.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-21. ↑ Mallory, John A. (1914). Compiled Statutes of the United States 1913. 1. St. Paul: Wast Publishing Company. pp. 1062. http://books.google.com/books?id=L-Y4AAAAIAAJ. Nicholas Blake, Richard Lawrence. The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy (2005 ed.). Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811732754. - Total pages: 207 Lavery, Brian (1989). Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. p. 326. ISBN 0870212583. Lewis, Michael (1939). England's Sea-Officers. W.W. Norton & Co.. - Total pages: 307 Rodger, N.A.M. (1986). The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870219871. This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors). Retrieved from "https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Master_(naval)?oldid=4534459" Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia Naval ranks Military ranks of the United States Navy Military ranks of the Royal Navy More Military Wiki 1 Matthew Axelson Copyright 2020 Fandom, Inc.

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The African Renaissance 2.0 by Tumi Matlhare May 10, 2018 May 10, 2018 written by Tumi Matlhare May 10, 2018 May 10, 2018 Is Africa at the edge of the rebirth of a African Renaissance? The African Renaissance is a Pan-African cultural ideology which was first defined by Senegalese historian Cheikh Anta Diop in the late 1940’s and later made famous by former South African president Thabo Mbeki. The concept is based on an African cultural and intellectual enlightenment, a belief that Africa will one day be at the forefront of literature, science and technology, the arts, architecture and global culture as a whole. Now why would one suggest that we are currently embarking on a second coming of this? Well let’s begin by taking a look at who are some of the individuals at the forefront of African Industry, Architecture, Literature, Music, Culture, and are generally bringing about social change within the continent, the individuals at the helm of a social iconoclasm of external beliefs and influences on African society. The first name that comes to mind is the multiple award winning David Adjaye OBE, a Ghanaian-British architect who was the lead designer of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C that was awarded the Beazley Design of the Year for 2017. The building is situated less than a kilometre from the White House, and with the building’s design being influenced by the headwear of Zulu women and Yaruba crowns, it means that Adjaye’s African influenced design will not only go down in African-American history, but American history as a whole. His work and philosophy in design has no style though it is highly influenced by all the major African capitals he has travelled to, drawing his inspiration from ancient African structures such as the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali for his design of the Nobel Peace Centre in Norway. Adjaye is probably one of the most sought after global architects having designed projects all over the world in places such as London, Portland, Washington D.C, Moscow, Doha, Oslo, Ghana, Nigeria and Gabon to name a few, further spreading his African influence around the globe. The Great Mosque of Djenne; Mali (Est. between 800 – 1250) Nobel Peace Centre; Norway (Opened 2005) One can go as far as to say that David Adjaye’s ability to combine modern design with elements of African aesthetics has given African culture an introduction to leaving its legacy on global designs and monuments the same way colonial settlers did to countries like Zanzibar and South Africa. The next African “Renaissance Man” who is having a huge impact on global culture is South Africa’s DJ Black Coffee, a record producer and DJ. He is conceivably the most influential African in the global electronic music scene at the moment, having had residencies at prestigious establishments such as Hì Ibiza, Shimmy Beach and more recently Wynn Las Vegas. Black Coffee is a recognized leader in his line of work by both his peers and fans, and having won the international DJ Awards Best Breakout Act in 2015 he went on to win the DJ Awards Best Deep House DJ in 2016 and 2017. His hard work and achievements have given him the opportunity and platform to become an advocate of African house music with his own Apple Beats 1 Radio show where he has already given the likes of Black Motion and Da Capo a stage to get international recognition. His music and skill has captured the world and bought along with it some major celebrity fans like Diddy and Swizz Beats while at the same time allowing him a chance to work on a remix of Alicia Keys chart topping single “In Common”, as well as having Drake remake a Black Coffee classic “Superman” into the South African’s first ever Billboard charting song “Get It Together”. This along with the rise of stars like Wizkid, Davido, Maporisa and many others is only the beginning of a new wave of African talents spreading their influence all over the world while at the same time being in direct competition to their Western counterparts and giving the younger generation a sense of pride and identity. As seen over the past 5 years with African music transforming the sound of the international music scene with the emergence of Gqom and West African Afro-Beat, the strides made by the likes of Black Coffee have played an integral role in introducing the world to the sounds of Africa. Another one of the leaders in this rebirth of the African Renaissance is Ngugi wa Thiong’o, the renowned Kenyan writer who in 1967 renounced writing in English and opted to write in his native Gikuyu and Swahili, an act that not only saw him embracing his own culture while helping preserve African linguistics but one that would also see him coin the term “decolonising the mind” in later years. Even though the age gap between him and the above mentioned modern Renaissance Men is quite large his contribution to this new wave of united Pan-African cultural ideologies is just as essential. Ngugi is arguably the most outspoken post-colonial writer having some of the strongest Afrocentric views and is even quoted as once stating that Africans should “use English… but don’t let English use you…”. In his 2009 publication Something Torn and New: An African Renaissance, Ngugi attempts to outline his “blueprint” of how the African Renaissance can be accomplished. He is known to have praised the likes of Mazisi Kunene, a South African poet who even while in exile continued to write in his native Zulu, this to Ngugi is highly important as he is known to accentuate the need for diasporic African writers to preserve their native languages or at least learn one in order to better preserve our African culture and tell our stories in a more relatable way. As an advocate of African literature Ngugi wa Thiong’o has managed to spark the same feeling of Black Consciousness which Steven Bantu Biko had tried to ignite in the youth of South Africa during Apartheid, giving way for young writers like Uzodinma Iweala and Elizabeth Tshele who both have published texts which tell the modern day realities faced by the African youth. What’s more is that one cannot discuss this rebirth of an “African Renaissance” without mentioning that Africa also has the potential to be at the forefront of science, technology and medicine. Africa boasts some of the brightest minds and most innovative thinkers in the world, for example Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye who in has made great strides in the field of foetal and neonatal surgery with his work in congenital diaphragmatic hernia and complex wounds. Dr. Olutoye is the surgeon who in 2016 carried out a complex operation by removing a 23 week old baby from its mother’s womb, removed a tumor from the baby and then returned it to the womb, the baby healed and continued to grow until she was born again at 36 weeks. This going to show that Africans have more to offer the advancement of humanity as a whole, the same way Dr Christian Bernard and self-taught surgeon Hamilton Naki performed the world’s first ever successful human heart transplant in 1967 at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital. Even in ancient times Africans were performing innovative and daring medical procedures as seen in ancient texts from Timbuktu and the hieroglyphs and imagery of the Great Pyramids of Giza, now with a more advanced and enlightened generation, Africans will hopefully one day push more boundaries in the fields of Science and Technology just like Elon Musk is doing with his SpaceX and Tesla projects. So it is possible to say because African Ideologies and the African demographic landscape are fast changing due its fast-growing youth population, it is entering a time of enlightenment which is now being steered by a generation of well informed, better educated, more self-conscious individuals. This generation is moving away from the “traditional” way of doing things, they seek change and they want it now, evidence of this shift in the African philosophy of what governs their lives can be seen by the emerging leaders like Liberia’s new President, George Weah. The 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year and winner of the Ballon d’Or won the hearts and loyalty of over 61.5 % of his country which in 2000 had 44% of its population being 14 years and younger. This is a generation which is part of a young African culture which seeks to create its own place in this world, they are a generation that wants basic human rights and decolonised education like the #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa. George recently took a 25% salary pay cut and diverted the saving to his country’s national development fund, proving that the African attitude is becoming centralised on making the people better not just the individual gains. More and more people and countries are beginning to invest more in the development of the poor, the youth and infrastructure in order to increase the average African’s quality of life, people with relatable backgrounds who were fortunate enough to conquer their fields and are now giving back such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Akon. Truth be told, if we were to count the amount of Africans leading our continent into a better future, that number would have significantly risen over the past decade and this is due to the fact that more and more of us Africans are in quest of a better future. And even though the modern day economy can be argued to have its foundations built on the backs of African slaves, we want to leave legacy that is more than slavery, more than colonialism, more than poverty, more and more of us want to see Africans leading humankind. Tumi Matlhare Moziak Pieces With Stanley Enow Koshie Mills: The Hollywood powerhouse that’s pulling Africans together globally The Most Sensational Songs Of 2018 Deriving From... Moziak #ToTheGirls Moziak Top 8 Must Watch In Culture 2019 Boity mastered the art of reinvention Why We Should Celebrate Black Panther Riky Rick’s Cotton Fest a massive WIN for... Remembering Mr Robert Mugabe through his infamous quotes Sho Madjozi: A New Superstar Is Born The Big Dawg Joins 947

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Category: Movies and TV Top 10 best and worst characters of Twin Peaks (and what they teach about writing) OK, so I am obsessed with the TV drama Twin Peaks. If you’re not familiar with it, then you either weren’t old enough in 1990 or you haven’t discovered it on Netflix yet (get cracking). Part of it is because of how ridiculously similar designer Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro’s great game Deadly Premonition is to it, particularly the first season — seriously, I could compose a whole article about everything they share in common. But since this isn’t a video game blog, I wanted to tie it back to writing (duh). The 10 best and worst characters change dramatically over the course of the show,* but they’re also extremely likeable or easily loathed. Some of them I’ve grouped into pairs. (Everyone knows Agent Cooper is awesome, so I’ve left him off this list.) Here’s what we can learn from them, whether or not you watch the show. Some slight spoilers ahead. The five best Ed Hurley and Norma Jennings In a show filled with psychotic murderers, abusive husbands, rebellious teenagers, and good-clean cops (note: all stereotypes), you crave normal. The town of Twin Peaks is anything but. This is a drama, after all, so the sticky situations the characters constantly find themselves in are naturally overblown. Ed and Norma — lifelong friends who love each other but could never be together — are the best example of the sense of stability that’s missing from most of the show. While characters like protagonist/FBI agent Dale Cooper are reliably moral and just, Ed and Norma aren’t perfect by most people’s standards. Like many on the show, they partake in adulterous behavior, but unlike the other characters, you don’t hate them for it. You might actually cheer them on. Ben and Audrey Horne I wanted to discuss businessman Ben Horne and his daughter Audrey together because of how their relationship grows. Ben’s not exactly a model guy — he’s kind of a scumbag — but I liked him more and more as the show went on. He has this vibe about him like he knows how incredibly weird and messed up the goings-on of Twin Peaks are even if he’s responsible for some of them. He might not be as a physically intimidating or calculating as some of the other characters (Hank and Catherine, for instance), but he always bounces back and adapts to fickle situations. When everyone else is super serious, you can count on Ben for some levity — and a reality check. A character doesn’t have to be a good guy for him to be likeable or relatable. Audrey is just as admirable as her father, if in different ways. She starts out as this immature high schooler until her childish tricks almost get her killed. From then on, she’s no longer a little girl crying for daddy’s attention. She’s determined to grow up, learn the business, and earn her father’s (and everyone else’s) respect the hard way. I gotta love her for that. Believable growth is just as important for turning a unlikeable character into a favorite one. The Casual Vacancy migrates to the small screen I still need to read J. K. Rowling’s new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, but here’s some good news for those of you who are hopefully awaiting a follow-up of some kind. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced today that it’s turning the book into a TV series, and Rowling will be working “closely” on the project. Huffington Post is already nominating actors for the character roles. Rowling told U.S.A. Today that she didn’t consider The Casual Vacancy “a very filmable book,” saying, “I think it’s a very novelly novel in that a lot of what goes on happens internally. You need to understand what’s going on inside people’s heads. So even though a lot happens in the novel, part of the appeal of it for me is that so much of it happens in people’s interior life, and film isn’t necessarily the best medium to portray that.” Television would certainly allot the characters more individual screen time. What do you think? A show could potentially attract a completely different audience than the people who religiously read Harry Potter — a market that The Casual Vacancy seemed to have trouble reaching due to Rowling’s 180-turn in genre. [Photo credit: Debra Hurford Brown] Place your bets: Game of Thrones vs. Lord of the Rings MTV Geek interviewed A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin about who would win in a fight: the characters from J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings or his own Game of Thrones series. You can watch his responses in the video here. Just beware of spoilers, unless you’ve read A Storm of Swords — /Film says you’re home free if you skip from 00:14 to 00:36. Below are the matchups. The final count is 3-7 in favor of Tolkien. Do you agree with Martin’s assessments, or do you think he’s giving the heroes and villains of LotR too much credit? Can you think of any other good pairings? Aragon vs. Jaime Lannister Smaug vs. Balerion Saruman vs. Melisandre Wargs vs. Direwolves Ice vs. Glamdring Frodo vs. Tyrion Nazgûl vs. White Walkers Cave Troll vs. Mag the Mighty Gimli vs. The Mountain Ned Stark vs. Boromir If this were real, it would be awesome: A Joss Whedon Choose Your Own Adventure Because the sacrifice doesn’t count unless they choose their path for themselves. [via Quantum Mechanix (QMx)] Here are my thoughts on Cabin in the Woods, the movie. Did you have a favorite Choose Your Own Adventure? Check out this newspaper interview with Edward Packard, the guy who started the series first with The Cave of Time in 1979 — a book that contains roughly 450 different adventures, according to the article. Crazy. John Shirley on horror, the melding of genres, and storytelling (it’s in the genes) John Shirley is a master of horror, cyberpunk, and science fiction, but what do these genres have to do with video games? As it turns out, a lot. Watch the Cloud Atlas trailer before it blows by Apparently, the debut trailer for the upcoming movie Cloud Atlas appeared a little too early for Warner Bros.’ liking. The studio has asked some websites to take the trailer down, but as of this writing, it’s still up on YouTube. Cloud Atlas is based on David Mitchell’s 2004 novel of the same name. It’s a book that jumps in narrative and plants unexpected twists in its six nested stories. Tom Twyker (Run Lola Run) and the Wachovskis (The Matrix) are codirecting the film, whose nearly six-minute trailer is a beautifully constructed piece that reminds me a little of Inception. The film itself is rumored to be about three hours long. In response to the trailer, Indiewire had this to say: “As big fans of the book, we’ve wondered for some time if the filmmakers would be able to come anywhere close to its material, but we have to confess that this is pretty stunning, for the most part. The production values look incredibly high, the scope and ambition and variety is [sic] like nothing else we’ve seen in a long time, and the cast, aided by some excellent makeup, look to be rising to the occasion; we can’t remember the last time we saw [Tom] Hanks or (more briefly) [Hugh] Grant look so engaged in their material (and if you’ve ever wanted to see Hanks as a goateed, balding London gangster, or Grant as a warpainted cannibal, the chance has finally arrived). We have no idea what you’ll make of this if you’re unfamiliar with the book. And we have no clue if this’ll actually work as a whole.” The movie stars the likes of Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Jim Broadbent, Bae Doona, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, Keith David, James D’Arcy, and Ben Whishaw. It’s expected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on October 26. Have you read Cloud Atlas? Do you think it can succeed as a movie? Women in games: Buffy Summers vs. Juliet Starling I wrote another piece for GamesBeat — this time questioning who the real Slayer is, Buffy Summers or Juliet Starling. I interviewed Lollipop Chainsaw story writer James Gunn, voice actress Tara Strong, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer enthusiast Lily Rothman (she contributed to Joss Whedon: The Complete Companion, which I reviewed awhile ago). The article deals with misogyny and the quality of lead female characters in video games. Let me know what you think. I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July! Children and censorship: How much is too much? The wonderful blogger Valerie Lawson wrote an excellent post recently about how censorship shelters children from reality. After reading her thoughts on the subject, I started to form a comment in response, but found that although I initially agreed with many of her statements, the more I wrote, the more my feelings differed from hers. Valerie poses a very intelligent and provoking perspective, and before I delve into my counter-view, I’d like you to read some (or all — here’s the original post) of what she had to say. Then please weigh in with your own ideas on this controversial matter. I love a good probing discussion, and while I do understand that some people think certain topics are unsuitable for children, I must say that I am firmly against censorship in any form. Period. This stance of mine makes for a lively debate. Sometimes the challenge of my view comes from other writers – which I must say is so odd. I would assume that all writers would be completely open-minded and fully against censorship in all forms, but that is just not the case. Maybe they would take these words literally: ”Obviously, the danger is not in the actual act of reading itself, but rather, the possibility that the texts children read will incite questions, introduce novel ideas, and provoke critical inquiry.” Persis M. Karim (The New Assault on Libraries) I’ve had some enlightening discussions to say the least – some within my own local writing chapter. Here’s a fictionalized version of how one of these conversations might go: My Fellow Writer: Do you think children/teenagers should be allowed to read books with so much violence, especially a book about children killing each other? Me: Absolutely. Whether that book is Lord of the Flies or The Hunger Games or some other book. MFW: But don’t you think the violence is gratuitous? Me: No. I actually think it’s toned down compared to reality. Haven’t you heard of the Invisible Children? This kind of thing is actually going on today, but on a much more brutal scale. (Side note: This isn’t all happening in Uganda either, despite the wonderful media coverage Kony has received. According to Amnesty International’s website, “worldwide, hundreds of thousands of children are recruited…” And according to another website, this one for the SOS Children’s Villages, “Since 1998 there have been armed conflicts involving child soldiers in at least 36 countries.” ) MFW: Okay, but what about books with frank discussions of sex and characters making bad choices? Would you let your daughter read them? Me: Definitely. I think books like Twenty Boy Summer and Beauty Queens (or whatever Ellen Hopkins book we’re talking about) encourage interesting conversations with her. MFW: You talk to her about sex? ACK! ME: Of course! Don’t you talk to your child about sex? If not, where does she go with her questions? The internet? Her friends? I’d much rather she felt comfortable coming to me and getting accurate information than risk her going elsewhere and believing that she could get pregnant from a toilet seat or something stupid like that. Or worse…having her end up pregnant. Period. As forward as some of Valerie’s answers are, there’s a good point to them. While I think keeping mature books out of kids’ hands stems more from our wish to “protect” them than it does to condemn those very materials (although obviously, some people want them to disappear entirely), we have to face an important reality: Even we found out about this stuff on our own, regardless of whether our parents sheltered us. And most of us turned out okay, or at least functionally damaged. Perhaps it’s better to openly allow children and teens access to this sort of content because it invites a controlled scenario, rather than one where they’re forced to resort to more unreliable and dangerous sources of information — like the Internet or friends who might not have someone’s best interests at heart (including their own). However, my problem with her argument comes mainly from her claim of disagreeing with censorship “in any form.” When I think about the kinds of things I want — and don’t want — my future kids exposed to, an inherent part of me clenches up: No way would I show them a PG-13 movie when they’re seven! But most of my reservations originate from my awareness of how frightening and disturbing some images can be, especially to women and young girls. For females, once certain parts of the world are opened up to us, they’re hard to deal with — and for any of us who are filled with sadness and anger over the gender issues that women must grapple with every day, that’s a lifelong struggle. On a basic level (and one that relates to the topic at hand), I’m talking the sexual treatment and portrayal of women in film and other media (not to mention actual society). Some of those depictions are abusive, and others reinforce inflexible expectations and unrealistic standards. They don’t teach girls the right thing; they don’t empower them. Quite the opposite. If one day I have a little girl, I don’t want her seeing that sort of degradation and injustice at an impressionable age and getting the wrong idea. Most of all, I don’t want to sit her down in front of it and encourage her to watch. And I don’t want my little boy to grow up thinking certain behavior is okay. When I think of monitoring books and movies and other content for kids, I don’t automatically equate that with “censorship.” Censorship to me is trying to block something out of existence entirely — putting it out of anyone’s reach, trying to stifle and condemn its messages, and instructing everyone to forget it’s even there. Valerie gets this next part right: If you’re going to allow your children to explore everything the world has to offer, then you better damn well be prepared to talk with them about it afterward and teach them right from wrong and good from bad. Because at a young age, they don’t know the difference. They’re innocent and developmentally bound to repeat what they see and hear from us, so how could they? Sure, they’ll learn, and I feel that books are more trustworthy than other material, but they’re not substitutes for parenting. You wouldn’t drop a kid into a third-world country and leave them to the dogs so they can “learn about the real world.” You take them by the hand, make sure they feel safe, and tell them this is how things are, this is who they are, and that’s okay. It will be okay. Maybe the people who want to ban books from schools and bar children and adolescents from sensitive media are those who don’t know how to explain why their contents make them uncomfortable — or don’t bother with making the time to. Maybe some people are just ignorant and stuck-up. But I think there are those who have grown up, suffered, and learned how the world is, and want to spare children from that reality as much as possible because it’s painful. We can never take back our childhood, and we’ll always wish some of the people in our lives had loved us more than they had. There’s a preciousness in giving our children sanctuary for as long as the world will let them have it — to allow them to believe, with unshakable certainty, that they’re safe from those who would do them and others harm. It’s not important to give children free reign of all that’s before them. But to shape them into moral, intelligent human beings who will have to live every day in the sort of world we live in, it is important to guide. Think of the best literary parents, even adoptive ones, and note the careful balance of self-discovery and protection they provided their children. And when those parents went away, the children were prepared with love, confidence, and understanding. They could look toward all the darkness in the world and hold onto the small amount of good their parents had fostered within them. Too many people worry about what their children will get their hands on because information is as much an implement of “power” as it is a means of destruction. And too many people would let their children explore the wild on their own, without any safe retreat. What are your thoughts on what we should and shouldn’t grant children access to? When is it okay, and when is it not? Why Cabin in the Woods wasn’t scary Okay, so this post has only a little bit to do with books. Right now I’m reading a collection that examines the accomplished career of Joss Whedon—you know him as the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse, to name a handful. Shortly after I received the book, I went to see The Cabin in the Woods, a horror movie co-written by Whedon and Drew Goddard, who contributed to some of Whedon’s work in the past. Imagine the supernatural “scares” of Buffy, add in a lot more humor and less camp (no singing vampires here), and you’ve got Cabin in the Woods. I had planned on waiting until my review of the Joss Whedon book to talk about the movie, but necessity calls: When someone writes an article as misleading as the one at Vulture.com, it demands a counter-response. First off, the title: “Why Wasn’t Cabin in the Woods Scary?” I hoped the article was going to educate those who were missing the point because they were disappointed over the movie’s real nature (non-stop funny, smart, well-characterized—the list goes on, but “scary” isn’t on it), but instead the writers used it as a soap box to discuss what the movie allegedly did wrong … thus missing the point themselves. (Warning: contains spoilers) Hey, Netflix users! Question time Dear fellow Netflix users, What are your favorite movie adaptations of books that you’ve found on Instant Streaming? Any worth a watch? The last one I saw was probably the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I’m always on the lookout for a decent film on the service.

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Dad found not guilty for taking away his daughter’s iPhone 29 Jan 2016 45 Law & order, Mobile Previous: FDA releases draft guidelines to improve cybersecurity in medical devices Next: Sysadmin held at gunpoint by man demanding he fix his computer Have you ever taken your child’s mobile phone away, as punishment? Be careful: it could get you thrown in jail. That’s what happened to Ronald Jackson, a 36-year-old dad who took away his daughter’s iPhone 4 in 2013, when she was 12, after finding rude texts she’d sent about another girl. He took the phone away to teach her a lesson, he said. Jackson, from Grand Prairie, Texas, told CBS that it seemed to him to be simply a case of a parent disciplining his child: I was being a parent. You know, a child does something wrong, you teach them what’s right. You tell them what they did wrong and you give them a punishment to show that they shouldn’t be doing that. According to Mashable, Jackson’s lawyer, Cameron Gray, said his client’s daughter had been trying to organize an attack on another minor, and that’s why Jackson took her iPhone away. The girl’s mother didn’t quite see it that way. In fact, Michelle Steppe saw it as theft and called police. Around 2 am, Jackson heard a knock on his door. It was Grand Prairie police, asking for the phone. Jackson refused. What he told CBS: I didn’t want the police department telling me how to parent my child. It made no sense to me for them to show up and make a big deal out of something that was a small thing. I couldn’t believe they would go to this extent for a cell phone. It didn’t seem right. It got ever more not right: he was handcuffed and hauled off to jail, where he spent the night before paying $1,500 in bail money. The mom’s rationale: “Number one, the property belongs to me,” Michelle Steppe told WFAA News8. Number two, she couldn’t tell her daughter that what her dad did was OK, she said: You can’t take someone’s property, regardless if you’re a parent or not. The station reports that three months after the phone incident, Jackson received a citation in the mail, for theft of property less than $50 in value, a Class C misdemeanor. Court documents reportedly show that the city attorney’s office offered a plea deal in January 2014 if Jackson returned the phone. He did not return the phone. Instead, he hired an attorney and requested a trial by jury. That’s when the city attorney’s office ratcheted it up a notch, asking that the case be dismissed and refiled as a more stringent Class B misdemeanor, punishable by six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. On Tuesday, Jackson was found not guilty. Dallas County Criminal Court Judge Lisa Green ordered the jury to find Jackson not guilty after ruling that the state failed to present sufficient evidence to continue the case. Steppe told News8 that the verdict confused her, given that she bought the phone and that the coverage plans were under her name. Even if you purchase something with your own money and have a receipt, it’s not yours. Someone can take it from you. Jackson told reporters that the saga has alienated him from his daughter and her mother: I have to separate myself from them. I can’t ever have a relationship with them again. But it’s not going to stop there. Jackson’s lawyer, Gray, said he plans to file a federal complaint for civil rights violations for the way Jackson was treated by the Grand Prairie Police Department and the city attorney’s office. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that Jackson still hasn’t given back the phone. Readers, who do you sympathize with in this case? On one hand, we have a dad who deserves credit for attempting to stop what sounds like a brewing case of cyberbullying. That’s good, responsible parenting. On the other hand, we have a woman who paid for the phone and its coverage plan. Shouldn’t she have some say in what’s done with it? More than anything, I sympathize with the police, who had to put themselves between these warring parents as they tried to get the phone back. News8 quotes Grand Prairie Detective Lyle Gensler: We do not like these kinds of instances to go into the criminal justice system. We prefer to keep it out and the phone be returned and let the parents, the two adults, work it out among themselves. Work it out? Well, that’s a pipe dream, obviously! Readers, do you have any horror stories about the repercussions of taking gadgets away from kids? Head south for the comments section, and do tell! Image of phone courtesy of Windyboy / Shutterstock.com. 45 comments on “Dad found not guilty for taking away his daughter’s iPhone” RichardD says: If you’re in a long-term relationship, and you’re still worried about what belongs to you and what belongs to your partner, then there’s something wrong. It would suggest that you’re already planning for what happens when you break up. Lucinda Poe says: Mom is being a moron. She brought her personal feelings into a teachable moment. Plus she is contradicting herself. If her whole argument is that the phone is “hers” then the father didn’t take it from “her”. The idea that the father shouldn’t have taken it from the daughter is moot. It’s also irrational. Children don’t have ownership rights. Their own name can’t appear on a title without a co-signer, etc. Because children can’t sign contracts (they’re not legally binding). They don’t pay property tax, etc. If she was mad at him about it, they should have talked about it, but dragged out this farce in front of the kid. All it taught her was that she is entitled to things that she’s not. In fairness, the article did read like they were already divorced/separated, which makes the fact that she called police on her ex more logical. They were dispatched to HIS home, not their home. This sounds to me like it started as a parent doing the right thing, and then it became about a dispute between two adults who weren’t in the greatest of standings before the incident. This is more a case of two adult children who can’t get along for the sake of the child they made and have now introduced to broken home nonsense. This father should make better choices in mating partners. This mother needs to grow the heck up and stop acting like a spoiled child – be a parent not your kid’s friend. For any DA that would file charges in such a situation, I would have a hard time having sympathy if they were tarred-and-feathered. TonyG says: Seems like the father tried to stop his daughter being anti-social – it can’t be easy to discover this, and even harder to take some sort of stand and action. Could he and should he have done anything different with the benefit of hindsight? Maybe next morning to sit down with his daughter and explain what is and is not acceptable. But by then, daughter and/or mother had ratcheted this up to be about their rights taking precedence over any responsibilities, and so the die was cast. I wonder what the mother would think if her daughter was on the receiving end of cyber-bullying? Presumably she would be taking the perpetrators parents to court to (guess what) get their phones taken off them. Courtney McDowell says: Lisa, I disagree on the police sympathy. They (specifically the mother’s husband) should have never gotten involved, so that’s entirely on him/them. As for who’s right and wrong? Well, I’m no expert, but put in the dad’s shoes I would have done exactly the same thing. Without the ability to suspend the daughter’s cell phone (since it wasn’t on his account), confiscating it was his only recourse. It’s no different than grounding a child for breaking curfew in that regard. And who knows? He might have stopped another child getting seriously injured or worse!! The only thing I might have done differently, and this entirely depends on how my relationship was with my ex, is call them myself and discuss the situation directly with them AFTER taking the phone in the short-term, and coming to a long-term arrangement with them. But this might not have been possible depending on their relationship now, which was probably not too positive even before this it sounds like. I am going to start off with saying: “Can’t fix stupid – can work with dumb, but can’t fix stupid”! Come on – what the kid did was wrong and everyone knows it (unless they are also stupid). In all of this, I never once heard that the dad was unwilling to give the phone to the mom, just unwilling to give it to the girl. Anyway, I can’t believe this ever went to court (especially in Texas)! Enough said! Jarad says: Another example of divorced parents not having a meeting of the minds for the benefit of their child and the rest of society. It’s the typical dysfunctional American story we’ve all heard since the 1960s, but with 21st century technology. phillipduran (@phillipduran) says: Yes you can mom. Especially if it something be used to commit a crime or harm to another. The daughters plotting to use the phone to conduct violence made it his duty to take the phone. We don’t know what the daughter was planning, maybe it was cyberbullying, but here in (3rd world) USA, groups (gangs) of girls have been meting out retribution on other girls. Maybe the father stopped the girl from committing assault. But in Texas, maybe they were all carrying guns. $50 iPhone?…tell us where to get ours! 🙂 Wondering if the domestic dispute would have ever begun had it been a different brand of phone? Mom, for $50, get the kid another phone, and eat the humble apple iPhone pie. Domestic child rearing dispute fumbled by the police… should of been in small claims court instead, police will have to carry a “blue book” for phones now to pre-judge for a misdemeanor prior to arrest. (SEE Judge Judy!) grin … now for the daughter’s pre-meditated cyber-bullying…and her friends…>>>> One of the main points was left out of this article. The mom is now married to a police officer in that works at the police station that made the arrest. The mom should have backed the dad 100%. This little girl sounds like she is on the way to being one of the mean girls in high school. Carl Douglas says: The daughter was planning to abuse another minor? If so her Mum, had she prevented the removal of the phone, would appear to have been complicit in her daughter’s planned and deeply harmful misconduct. Seems daughter learned her conduct and principles from Mum, and further that she was being used by Mum as a convenient weapon in her own war against Dad. Mum was showing zero regard for the future well-being or either her daughter or her daughter’s target child. (Being sarcastic) Guess next time he should tell the stupid mom, either I’m taking the phone away or reporting her to the school or whoever I need to that she is cyber bullying another individual and the mother insists on letting the daughter keep her phone so she can continue bullying. Then let the parents of the victim go after the mom Good man! He deserves a medal! Because of this I would never give it back (in one piece that is). Since when do kids have a right to own a phone? Parent should have a right to teach their kid right from wrong. That includes taking away the possessions regardless who bought them. Parents take care of the kids not the other way around. And if bimbo-mom wants to act the way she did, somebody needs to tell her that because of her actions, we (community) will have to deal with her spoiled brat. And I don’t know about you but I don’t like spoiled brats AT ALL. Tom_S says: This should never have escalated as it did. It’s as well the parents are separated/divorced (at least I suppose they are). Just think what message it would give a child if the parents were still together but giving such totally different messages to the child! I can’t believe the mother couldn’t even tell her child that what she had been doing was wrong and that her father’s response was quite appropriate! JBAN says: Taking into consideration common sense, it’s hard to believe this would be classed as theft – withholding or confiscation should be a parents right, I would have thought. This approach would have calmed the situation. Eline Michelle says: It seems to me to be an issue for the mother to demand the phone be given to her, not her daughter. If the father was unwilling, she should have taken the matter up in small claims court, not through the local police station. That being said, the father sounds like a reasonable and caring person and confiscating the phone was the right thing to do. The daughter appears to be growing up to be just like her mother, more’s the pity. I am glad to see that justice prevailed in this case. The prosecutor should never have taken on this case in the first place. Lisa wrote “Readers, who do you sympathize with in this case?” The father, of course. The mother is no more mature than the 12-year old daughter. The mom is an opportunist who should have received a reprimand as she clearly used this as an opportunity to strike out at the father. What she should have done was to support him, as the kid was clearly misbehaving but it was more important to take a swipe at him — pathetic, I feel sorry for the child, she’s being given terrible lessons in how to behave and may well continue this shit in her own life. Sad, but glad the dad prevailed. I hope it was worth it, Jacko. …Guess not. I am fine with parents temporarily confiscating items from their children as punishment, but that phone belonged to his spouse. If they disagreed over whether the punishment was fair, they should have talked it over like responsible adults, but at the end of the day, the phone is the property of the wife. You have guardian over your child, but not your spouse. If she asks for it back, you hand it back. The parents are divorced…the mother is now married to a cop! The mother wasn’t his spouse; she was at this point married to one of the policemen at the precinct that arrested the husband. I think lines of communication between them had already long since worn thin. As such, it doesn’t sound like she ever asked for it back, but instead sent the police over to collect it when her daughter arrived home without it. However, in retrospect, the father probably should have visited with the mother and her husband, and handed the phone directly back to the mother, after telling them what he had discovered. He should then have reported the incident to the child’s school to ensure they were aware as well. Parent says: Given that the mother was doing it with intention to undermine Dad’s discipline, I would have to disagree. He was looking out for the best interests of his daughter while she was just looking to undermine his authority in the situation, ignoring that her daughter was using the phone to possibly commit a crime. Had it been a weapon, would your opinion change? Rocas says: The more plausible situation here is the petulant child wedging her parents further apart. She does knows her parents aren’t exactly nice to each other, she probably grew up with them shouting or whatever it is people do when they fall out of love. When dad takes her iPhone away from her, being her mother’s daughter, runs to mum an tells her “Dad STOLE ma/yur aPhone”. From the W8 article Mum sounds like the kind of person to ask “why?” but still enlists the GP PD saying the “device was removed for disciplinary reasons.” Still for the cops to dispatch a unit they need to hear that magic words “stolen”. On a side note it would be interesting to know is if the girl was staying at her dad’s or mum’s place. What sort of vindication would she feel seeing her dad taken away by cops. Additionally, you have the mum, who is married to a GP PD officer, conflict of interest? Reminds me a bit of the conflict in Ant Man… . Wilderness says: The root problem here is the dysfunctional relationship between the parents. TT says: How ironic, the Us Constitution guarantees its citizens the right to have as many guns as they can pay for, but give no right to bring up their children the way they see fit.It’s true: your freedom last only as long as you are willing to fight for it. I know that in Texas, anyone cyberbullying can be charged with harassment, so what the girl was doing was illegal. The father absolutely did the right thing. By doing so, he prevented the daughter from further involvement in the problem (which may have saved her from trouble with her school as well as potential legal trouble), and also served the daughter a punishment. Having a cell phone (a smart phone, even) is a huge privilege for a 12 year old, and if they aren’t responsible enough to use it in a respectful manner, then they may need some time to mature before they can receive that privilege again. It seems to me the mother and father have a pretty messy relationship, and this was the mothers way of making herself look like the better parent in the daughters eyes. EvaC says: This is a wth-moment. The dad is actually doing his job as a parent stopping bullying and the mother gets him sent to jail? Sounds like a bitter mother taking advantage of the situation. This girl is sadly very likely gonna grow up like a bully with protection from a parent. Only one word: Mad world! linacguy says: That would be 2 :-p That’s actually two words I remember doing something like this before, but towards a teacher at school. I’m graduated now though. But it’s amusing, because they never tried to do that again to me. J David Crawford says: Dad should have gone to his wife to discuss and mutually agree on the proper punishment for their daughter. Mom might have gone along with the punishment had she been given a say in the matter. Losing phone privileges for a few days would have reinforced parental guidance against mistreating others. There are two points that it seems we need to know: Are the parents separated or divorced? If divorced, who has custody? If the mom, was the child in the father’s temporary custody (i.e. was it his week/weekend?) There is one set of circumstances in which the mom would be right: divorced, and the child in her custodial care at the time of the incident. By custodial care, I mean officially, according to the custody agreement. Except for that specific situation, the dad was right, police, daughter, and mom wrong, and the DA should be disbarred and fired. The more prudent thing to have done may have been to simply notify the proper authorities about the potential bullying and not have taken the phone, since it only resulted in alienating his daughter, and she likely has another phone. gene jacobson says: This is a case of two estranged parents using their child to continue their fight. It is not at all uncommon. Yes, her property, and yes, he should have turned the phone over to its true owner. But then they should have jointly parented this budding bully and put a stop to her activities together. That they let it go so far is only evidence that none of them are more mature than a 12 year old. More like one reasonable parent trying to discipline a bully of a child and a total lunatic of a wife/Ex whatever she is. Jeff Dennis says: There is more to this. They were divorced and the mother has re-married to a Grand Prairie police officer. This in itself indicates that the officer overstepped the boundaries and abused his position to “get back at” his wife’s ex. https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/dad-arrested-for-taking-daughters-phone-as-171354368.html eboling says: In some states, any property that is used to commit a crime (car, boat, house) can be confiscated without due process and the original owner must sue to get it back. To win the suit, the ex-owner must prove that the property in question is innocent. This is an unfortunate hangover of the failed war on drugs and has been widely abused by the state to confiscate property and auction it for profit, but I think that it could be quite sensibly in an incident such as this or any cyber-bullying case. roy jones jr says: But according to the article, both people are still “arguing” over this petty issue. I don’t have an answer to that silliness. Maybe Stephen Hawking or someone on that level of smart can talk to those 2 people. Mike Peele says: “But when Jackson’s ex-wife found out, whose spouse is a Grand Prairie police officer, the cops were called to get the phone from Jackson. He refused. ” Seems like a case of abuse of police/relationship powers. People report things stolen all the time, and normally the police do nothing. Sometimes, they’ll file a report. Going to actually arrest someone for a phone is abuse. Then it gets weirder and the city attorney instead of being normal and dropping the whole thing ratcheted it up a notch. Crazy. Dad’s right and this is all likely a glimpse into why Mom is no longer driving him crazy on a continuous basis. Get away from crazy however you can, far away! Did anyone mention that the ex wife is married to a Grand Prarie cop? That’s the main factor in the citation and later arrest. This so stupid, the father took the phone to prevent a crime from happening, good for him! I can’t believe the police/DA, would let themselves become involved in this domestic despute to that degree. I am apalled that the justice system in Texas misused their authority, basically bullying the father, totally disrespecting his rights and duties of parenting; if that’s how they play the game then the mother should be charged with aiding and abetting her daughter in this planned crime; isn’t making plans to cause bodily harm to another person/minor in this case also a crime, let me answer, YES IT IS!, they have all the text to prove this was going to be a premeditated act of violence, charge the daughter also, evidently she needs a wake up call to reality! I am usually sympathetic to children and the fact that they don’t necessarily think about their actions, or the reprocutions of their acts, but in this case I’m sure the mother as given her daughter an entitled attitude, making her believe that she doe not have to be responsible or accountable for her actions! This is so sad that this became such a big deal, when the father was trying to actually be a parent! Leave a Reply to Jack Cancel reply Does wiping your iPhone count as destroying evidence? Saga of a stolen iPhone, as told by a trail of automatically uploaded selfies But did she STEAL the iPhone? App takes photo of woman trying to unlock it

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Home » Names Meaning Baby Names Meaning Name is considered as the unseen identity of a person's personality. This section has several thousands of meaningful boys and girls names suitable for your child. We are periodically adding new names and fixing errors to make it worth useful! Meaning and Origin of Names Name: Wenda Origin: English-Christian Meaning of the name Wenda : Comely Interesting Facts about Wenda : Free Numerology Analysis: Enter Your Complete Name: First Name: Middle Name: Enter How You Usually Sign Your Name: * Check the check box if there is a "Y" in your name and you want it used as a vowel. Enter Your Date of Birth or Any Date Between 1800 and 2100: Month: Day: Year: January Febuary March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 2041 2042 2043 2044 2045 2046 2047 2048 2049 2050 2051 2052 2053 2054 2055 2056 2057 2058 2059 2060 2061 2062 2063 2064 2065 2066 2067 2068 2069 2070 2071 2072 2073 2074 2075 2076 2077 2078 2079 2080 2081 2082 2083 2084 2085 2086 2087 2088 2089 2080 2091 2092 2093 2094 2095 2096 2097 2098 2099 2100 Total Names In Database = 28307 Male Names Female Names Baby Names by Origin: African | American | Anglo | Arabic (Muslim) | Aramaic | Armenian | Arthurian | Arthurian Legend | Basque | Celtic | Chamoru | Chinese | Czechoslovakian | Danish | Dutch | Egyptian | English (Christian) | Finnish | French | Gaelic | German | Greek | Hawaiian | Hebrew | Hungarian | Indian (Hindu) | Irish | Italian | Japanese | Latin | Nahuatl | Native | Norse | Persian Polish | Portuguese | Romanian | Russian | Scandinavian | Scottish | Slavic | Spanish | Swahili | Swedish | Swiss | Teutonic | Turkish | Ukrainian | Unknown | Vietnamese | Welsh Sports India Sports World More Regional Telugu Cinema Malayalam Cinema Healthy diet may not prevent effects of high salt intake How new mothers tend to be more depressed Physical activity can help those with cancer too, finds study Overweight postmenopausal women more at risk of breast cancer Decoding the causes of foot problem in diabetes Higher aerobic fitness can boost language skiils in elderly: Study Junk food will increase you blood sugar levels just like type 2 diabetes New strategy could yield more effective flu shots Switching coconut oil to olive oil can be as good as statins for your Heart Here's how gender influences high blood pressure risk factors © 2001 - 2018 | All Rights Reserved by NEWKERALA.COM | CONTACT US

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rjohnsonanna27@gmail.com What Is Your Career Future With An Arts Degree? Breaking away from the austere and authoritarian norms of instructing, the University of Dayton is a Catholic college that believes in the success of an audacious spirit. The Students’ Union gives democratic representation, support and recommendation to college students throughout the university. The University of Texas provides NSAD-accredited programs and has art departments in its nine campuses throughout the state together with Austin, San Antonia and Arlington. The London College of Printing descends from the St Bride’s Foundation Institute Printing School, which was established in November 1894 underneath the City of London Parochial Charities Act of 1883. Several Asian students apply to the University of Pennsylvania to secure seats within the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate applications, yr after 12 months. This contains anthropology, history, linguistics, literature, media arts and sciences and music and theatre arts. Apparently, the architects of the University had copied the architectural types of Oxford and Cambridge, well-known universities of England, when designing the University of Pennsylvania. The college students are members of assorted pupil our bodies, most of which espouse causes that appeal to the students. Baylor houses the Martin Museum of Art, the Allbritton Art Institute for the research of nineteenth and twentieth century artwork and the Harding Black Ceramic collection and Archive dedicated to scholarship in the ceramic arts. The University of Pennsylvania is eminent for encouraging its students to pursue multidisciplinary careers. Our former college students embrace internationally acclaimed artists and a Turner prize winner. It has a global popularity in art, design, style, communication and performing arts and near 19,000 students from over 130 countries. Jaime Cole premiered her work throughout New York Fashion Week in February 2008 when she collaborated with textile designer Young Jun Ryu and was profiled in MTV: True Life I’m Going To Fashion Week. Tags: career, degree, future Newer entry > Centre For Arts And Learning, Goldsmiths, University Of London Anna Rose Bain’s Art Blog Articles In Art Journals No Vacancies Available At The Moment 5a9a61583a9b5bc28f43c10cb0be8ef22955660b

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared May 11 in SRQmagazine.com. By Donal O’Shea Dr. Donal O’Shea We will celebrate graduation next week at New College of Florida when more than 200 students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. It is always a joyous occasion for our graduates and their families. This year, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College, will deliver the Commencement speech and receive the honorary degree Doctor of Science. Dr. Tatum is a psychologist, educator and scholar who has focused on racial identity development in teenagers. Her best-selling book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race,” first published in 1997 and helped us understand the development of racial identity. It opened our eyes to the complexities of identity more generally, and plumbed the faces of otherness: race or ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, and physical or mental ability, and the oppression and privilege associated with each. Because so many of the issues that she raised in the original edition still resonate today, she released an updated version in 2017 that included 100 pages of new content. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum I had the privilege of working with Dr. Tatum at my previous institution, Mount Holyoke College, where she served as professor, vice president of student affairs and acting president before accepting the presidency at Spelman. She also maintained a clinical practice and raised two small children with her husband, Travis. She has an extraordinary gift for drawing from her personal experience to speak to and about extraordinarily complex and emotionally charged issues in memorable and accessible ways. Dr. Tatum was born in Tallahassee in the same year as Brown v. Board of Education. Rather than allow an African-American to enter Florida State University, the state of Florida paid travel expenses for her father, then an art teacher at Florida A&M University, to receive his doctorate in art education at Penn State. The family did not come back. It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Tatum back to her native state. Graduation starts at 7 p.m., on Friday, May 17, on the Bayfront at New College. All are welcome. — Dr. Donal O’Shea is president of New College of Florida. New College ISP lets first-year student study alligators in the field First-year Zane Walsh is studying alligators in the field via his independent study project. Campus News >> ‘Spatial Ecologies’ photo gallery A photo gallery from the recent Spatial Ecologies exhibit. History professor McCarthy elected to German research institute New College Professor Thomas McCarthy’s research into a monk’s thousand-year-old chronicle of European history resulted in his election to one…

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Better than birdie for Saints golfers A student at the University of St Andrews has claimed the top prize from the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), the national governing body for Higher Education Sport in the United Kingdom. First year physics student Matthew Myers from Northampton was named British Individual Stroke Play Champion and awarded the Order of Merit title after a hard fought battle at the BUCS Tour Final at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent this week. Speaking after his win, Myers said: “This win not only represents my achievements as an individual player but speaks to the strength of the golf programme at St Andrews. My coaches and teammates have created an environment where we are constantly striving to bring out the best in each other. I’m a better player because of this and this is a moment for us to enjoy as a team.” Saints Golf Performance Programme from University of St Andrews on Vimeo. Director of Sport and Exercise Stephen Stewart said: “We are incredibly proud of Matthew’s achievement. Such a win so early in his university career points to great things in his future. We wait in anticipation for all that he will do in the months and years to come. “Our coaching staff are world-class. Behind all of our outstanding athletes are men and women who work hard to help hone the abilities of our students. David Watt and his team deserve a hearty congratulations for the work that they do day in and out with these golfers that make such honours possible.” While the BUCS Tour Final is predominantly an individual tournament, the aggregate stroke play of several nominated St Andrews athletes at the final have qualified both the Saints Golf men’s and women’s teams for the BUCS European Tour this summer in the Czech Republic. Director of Golf and Head Coach, David Watt, said: “We extremely proud of not just Matthew but all the players. Their team spirit and support for each other is infectious and is improving our performances on the course. Matthew has worked extremely hard all year and deserves all the praise. He never gives up and knows what he needs to do to achieve his goals, he is a great role model for others and along with fellow student George Burns’ win in the Boyd Quaich last summer shows we are moving in the right direction.” Saints Sport Saints Sport manages all sport and fitness related activities, services and facilities at the University of St Andrews and is a partnership between the Department of Sport and the Athletic Union. Saint Sports pride themselves on the students’ ability to excel both in their academic and sporting endeavours and hold the student experience as a cornerstone of their strategy. Saints Sport are committed to developing the perfect environment for the pursuit of excellence, enhancing student experience and personal development through involvement in sport and increasing engagement in sport within and out with the University. Each strand of the programme helps to work towards Saints Sport’s goal and provides the best possible springboard for graduates into the world, to help develop staff and provide opportunities for the community. Sport at the University of St Andrews is not just a game; it is the foundation for a successful and rewarding life, in which graduates strive ever to excel. British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for Higher Education (HE) sport in the UK, a membership organisation, and a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. BUCS support and promote the lifestyle and educational benefits to communities and individuals of taking part in sport, and provide outstanding opportunities to all students to engage in sport and related activity in higher education. They do this through three key themes: sport, education and development and profile. BUCS deliver more than 50 sports, including everything from archery to ultimate frisbee to almost 170 member institutions (now including some Further Education Colleges), comprising a busy league programme of over 5800 teams and over 120 championships events every year. golf Matthew Myers

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Dr. Lisa Newman Appointed Chief of the Section of Breast Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine NEW YORK (Sept. 7, 2018)—Dr. Lisa Newman, an internationally renowned breast surgeon and researcher, has been appointed chief of the Section of Breast Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, effective Aug. 20. At the NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center, Dr. Newman will lead multidisciplinary breast oncology programs and provide the finest, most compassionate care to women and men affected by breast cancer. In her new role, Dr. Newman will lead a team of breast surgeons that uses state-of-the-art screening and imaging technologies, innovative surgical and reconstruction techniques, and radiation therapies to provide patients with comprehensive breast cancer care. As chief of the Breast Surgical Oncology Program, she will also extend this multidisciplinary approach—which is tailored to patients’ specific needs and personal preferences—to NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. In addition, Dr. Newman will seek to expand research efforts of the Section of Breast Surgery—housed within the Department of Surgery—and will foster the mentorship and training of the next generation of breast surgeons. She will also broaden regional as well as international breast health outreach and education through global cancer initiatives. Dr. Newman was recruited to Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian from the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) in Detroit, where she was a surgical oncologist and director of its Breast Oncology Program. She is also founding medical director for the International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes, an international collaboration between the University of Michigan, the Henry Ford Health System and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana, which will be headquartered at Weill Cornell Medicine. A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Newman specializes in the application of the most advanced breast surgical techniques, such as skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomies, to enhance cosmetic results from breast reconstruction, and lymphatic mapping/sentinel lymph node biopsy to evaluate the extent of breast cancer spread. Her expertise also includes the use of medications to shrink tumors before surgery, known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. “Dr. Newman is an exceptionally talented surgical breast oncologist whose clinical and scientific excellence has driven critical advances in the field and has greatly improved the lives of countless patients,” said Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi, chairman of the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “I am thrilled that she will lead our breast surgery enterprise at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, where she will ensure that our patients receive exceptional care.” “In a country renowned for the strength of its multicultural and multiracial population, metropolitan New York is truly the epicenter of this beautiful diversity, which allows physicians to understand how biology, race and culture influence health—information that enhances our efforts to provide personalized care to our patients,” said Dr. Newman, who was recruited to Weill Cornell Medicine as a professor of surgery. “I am incredibly excited about opportunities to expand the breast oncology program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine so that more patients from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens can take advantage of our superb services.” In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Newman investigates how and why breast cancer risk and disease outcomes vary based upon patients’ race and ethnicity. She is particularly interested in the genetics of aggressive breast tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer, a subtype that does not respond to hormone therapies. This subtype accounts for 15-20 percent of all breast cancer cases, but occurs with greater frequency among African-American and younger women. These associations have intensified her studies into breast cancer disparities—such as the socioeconomic factors that affect early detection and access to treatment in diverse patient populations—and the disease’s genetic underpinnings among premenopausal patients and women with African ancestry. “While we’ve made wonderful advances in breast cancer, this disease continues to cause far too much pain and suffering,” Dr. Newman said. “We are obligated to identify all of the features that account for variation in our ability to detect and control breast cancers.” In her new role, Dr. Newman will continue to enhance the Section of Breast Surgery’s mission to provide exceptional clinical care to patients that takes into account individual perspectives and priorities, as well as tumor biology. To that end, the division offers a number of treatment options, including nipple- and skin-sparing mastectomies, intraoperative radiation therapy and cutting-edge breast reconstruction techniques. Much of this work will take place at the NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center, a new state-of-the-art ambulatory care center that combines innovative clinical approaches with the most advanced technology to provide exceptional care and a seamless patient experience. Dr. Newman will also supervise the Breast Surgical Oncology Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. Her goal is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer treatment through a standardized clinic and tumor board system implemented in each hospital so that patients receive the same high-quality care and have equally optimal experiences and outcomes across the boroughs. Dr. Newman is also a champion of global health, having spent the last 15 years training physicians and working with patients in developing countries. In 2006, Dr. Newman launched the International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes (ICSBCS) to identify the genetic origins of triple-negative breast cancer and determine why it particularly affects women of African descent. This program will relocate to NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, and continue its work providing medical supplies and training opportunities to its partners in the United States, Africa, the Caribbean and India while studying breast cancer incidence across the world. “The ICSBCS program represents a wonderful intersection between research and global engagement,” Dr. Newman said. “We anticipate accelerated advances in understanding the genetics of breast cancer by being able to take advantage of the many strengths of Weill Cornell Medicine’s and NewYork-Presbyterian’s existing global health program.” Dr. Newman’s team includes Drs. Alexander Swistel, an associate professor of clinical surgery, Rache Simmons, the Anne K. and Edwin C. Weiskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology, and Jennifer Marti, an assistant professor of surgery, who will all deliver care at the NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center; and Drs. Beth Siegel, Manmeet Malik, Jacqueline Tsai and Kap-Jae Sung, who are all assistant professors of clinical surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and deliver care at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. Dr. Newman intends to recruit additional breast surgical oncologists at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. About Dr. Lisa Newman A New York City native, Dr. Newman received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1981, a medical degree in 1985 from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health in 2001 from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Newman completed a general surgery residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, joining its faculty as an assistant professor of surgery before pursuing fellowship training in surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 1997. After completing her fellowship, she joined MD Anderson’s faculty as an assistant professor and staff surgical oncologist in 1999. She served as associate director of the Walt Breast Center at the Karmanos Cancer Institute/Wayne State University from 2000 to 2002, when she was recruited to serve as director of the Breast Care Center for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor from 2002 to 2015. Dr. Newman left the University of Michigan in 2015 to become director of the Breast Oncology Program for the multi-hospital Henry Ford Health System, and has retained adjunct professorships with both the University of Michigan and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Newman has held leadership positions on several national committees, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women, the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical Trials Advisory Committee, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities’ Advisory Council. She has authored 136 studies published in peer-reviewed journals, and is currently on JAMA Surgery’s editorial board. A fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Newman’s work has been recognized through several awards, including Crain’s “Health Care Hero” in 2017, the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation Hero Award in 2012, and the National Medical Association Women in Medicine Award in 2010. She was named “Michigander of the Year” by the Detroit News in 2011 and a Breast Cancer Angel by O Magazine in 2012. Hour Detroit Magazine has named her one of the “Top Docs” for surgical oncology annually since 2009. She is a Castle Connolly “Top Doctor for Cancer” in America. In 2016, she was named a Komen Scholar by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and was appointed to the Komen Scientific Advisory Board in 2017. NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare delivery systems, whose organizations are dedicated to providing the highest quality, most compassionate care and service to patients in the New York metropolitan area, nationally, and throughout the globe. In collaboration with two renowned medical schools, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, NewYork-Presbyterian is consistently recognized as a leader in medical education, groundbreaking research and innovative, patient-centered clinical care. NewYork-Presbyterian has four major divisions: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is ranked #1 in the New York metropolitan area by U.S. News and World Report and repeatedly named to the Honor Roll of “America’s Best Hospitals.” NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network comprises hospitals and other facilities in the New York metropolitan region. NewYork-Presbyterian Physician Services, which connects medical experts with patients in their communities. NewYork-Presbyterian Community and Population Health, encompassing ambulatory care network sites and community healthcare initiatives, including NewYork Quality Care, the Accountable Care Organization jointly established by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia. For more information, visit www.nyp.org and find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Dr. Lisa Newman, Institutional, Press Releases, Surgery

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The Trees In The Electric Forest Power A Guitar Amp! [Video] Jojo Girard Cosmic Know via YouTube Most people know The Electric Forest for its popular music festival which features Electronic Dance Music. But now we found out the venue is literally...ELECTRIC!! Tom Wall of the band Cosmic Know has been experimenting with deriving electricity to power his guitar amp from plants. But he has never tapped into the electricity produced by trees before, so he headed up to Rothbury, home of the Electric Forest Music Fest to demonstrate that the pine trees in the forest really are electric. This video was recorded as the sun went down on the first day of winter Dec. 22nd 2019. It was the first experiment playing with a plant, or tree of any sort that was planted in a natural environment. All of the other experiments so far have been done with potted plants, or trees. In a natural environment, the trees are all connected through an underground network of fungal hyphae and bacteria. Needless to say, we were excited to hear what Electric Forest would play, if it had a chance. I wrote an article on plants and their relationship with sound in 2018. Who knew I would be playing music with them a year later.

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Trump Sending Troops To Saudi Arabia; Military Funds Sent To Wall | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC Tonight the Trump Administration says it will soon be sending an undetermined number of US troops to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, following cruise missile attack last week on Saudi oil facilities that the administration is lame. Ron. Tonight announcement was made at a joint press conference by Secretary of Defense, Mark esper and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Dunford. The response to the King’s request. The president has approved the deployment of you forces, which will be defensive in nature and primarily focused on air and missile defense. We will also work to accelerate the delivery of military equipment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to enhance their ability to defend themselves. As for how many troops will be sent to the region that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff called a moderate deployment over the weekend will talk with our partners and we’ll work, the details of the appointment will be able to share that with you. Tweaked has been no decision on specific details. Tonight’S news about troop deployment follows other news that we’ve gotten from the Department of Defense recently about the money the Trump Administration cut from The Pentagon budget in order to pay for the president’s border wall with Mexico. Earlier this month, at Trump Administration, 3.6 billion dollars in the Pentagon – 2019 military construction budget. In order to pay for a wall, you know was supposed to pay for the full half of a 3.6 billion dollars in Pentagon, money that they patient has taken to pay for. Trump’S wall is being diverted for military projects, ranging from upgrading military training facility to improving school on military bases, hazardous living conditions for US troops and their families as a result of this reallocated funding. But now it turns out that the president not done taking money from the military for his wall because of the Washington Post reports. Today, officials are considering a plan to divert billions of dollars in additional funds for Trump border wall. According to planning documents obtained by The Washington Post, Trump’s wall require over 18 billion dollars in funding are more than the Administration has publicly disclosed. So how does the Trump Administration plan to make up for this new funding shortfall, as opposed to Port as lawmakers refused to allocate more funding quote illustration: Administration dip into the Pentagon construction budget for the second consecutive year to get another 3.6 million dollars the poster? For this plan was discussed at a white house meeting last week, chaired by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner call Administration carried out the plan. The White House will have defied Congress to divert a total of 7.2 billion dollars of defense department funds over two years: money that would otherwise pay to repair or upgrade us Mill reinstallation. The White House is proposing to double the funding cuts to US military bases overseas and right here in the US MSNBC thanks for watching MSNBC on YouTube. If you want to keep up-to-date with the videos were putting out you, can click subscribe just below me or click over on this list, as he lots of other great videos? Joy Reid reports on an announcement by the Pentagon that a “moderate” number of U.S. troops will be sent to Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration diverts billions from military projects to his border wall, and reportedly intends to reallocate billions more. Aired on 09/20/19. MSNBC delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis of politics headlines, as well as commentary and informed perspectives. Find video clips and segments from The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, Meet the Press Daily, The Beat with Ari Melber, Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace, Hardball, All In, Last Word, 11th Hour, and more. Subscribe to MSNBC Newsletter: http://MSNBC.com/NewslettersYouTube Trump’s communications with a foreign leader sparked whistleblower complaint Next40, a new index for the 40 fastest-growing French companies

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In-Brief Brands Of raises $1M investment to strengthen regional footprint November 16, 201801271 Nestor Guarien Taveras-Sepúlveda, Brands Of co-founder and CEO. Latin American startup Brands Of, which provides an e-commerce platform for local product exports, announced the closing of its round of prime seed investment with a capital injection of $1 million to strengthen its footprint in the region, invest in technology and increase its reach within the Hispanic community in the continental United States. The agreement was formalized with both the local and foreign capital. Investment fund Hunt Holdings LP, based in El Paso, Texas, increased its stake in the company while Miguel Ríos, a Puerto Rican executive who is part of the Twitter team in San Francisco, came in as an angel investor. The round was led by GFR Investments, owned by Group Ferre Rangel, which has as one of its main approaches supporting the island’s economic development through investments in emerging industries and enterprises or local startups. “This investment in Brands Of has a multiplier effect on all Puerto Rican brands that are part of the Brands of Puerto Rico family. Now, like us, they have the opportunity to accelerate their growth by exporting their products,” said Nestor Guarien Taveras, co-founder and CEO of Brands Of. “We continue to provide the Puerto Rican diaspora, now more powerfully than ever, a way to continue supporting and investing in our island,” he said. “It is an important step for the tech ecosystem in Puerto Rico, as this funding from local investors toward emerging Puerto Rican company is one of the first in its class.” As part of the agreement, GFR Investments joins the company’s board of directors comprised by the two founders and Hunt Holdings. “To Hunt Holdings, the investment continues to validate the fact that good investments and good co-investors can arise in various geographies and prosper together where the local community supports innovation,” said Beto Pallares, Hunt Holdings consultant and member of the Brands of board directors. Brands Of will use the investment to increase its local team and those in their Latin American markets, in addition to seeking to invest in technology to further develop intelligence tools that enable Latin American companies better understand Latino consumer’s online behavior. “We have always been very protective with our partners as we seek smart money, or people who allow our vision to grow strategically,” said Brands Of Co-founder Alan Taveras. “The sum of these two new partners completes the shaping of our corporate strategy. Miguel Ríos brings his experience managing data scientist teams in Twitter and Silicon Valley, while GFR Investments provides us with new tools and a corporate culture that allows us to take the step from startup to established company,” he said. Related tags : Brands OfinvestmentPuerto Rico Universal Group teams with Miranda to support P.R.’s ’20 Summer Olympic athletes 1K+ P.R. shops join ‘Orange Wednesday’ initiative on Nov. 21 Hey Buddy!, I found this information for you: "Brands Of raises M investment to strengthen regional footprint". Here is the website link: https://newsismybusiness.com/investment-strengthen-footprint/. Thank you.

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Press Release -- July 14th, 2011 Tags: Content Delivery, Exchange, Expansion, Video Level 3 Announces Proposed Private Offering of Additional 8.125% Senior Notes Due 2019 BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) today announced that Level 3 Escrow, Inc., its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, plans to offer an additional $300 million aggregate principal amount of 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 in a proposed private offering to "qualified institutional buyers," as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933. This offering represents an additional offering of the 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 that were issued on June 9, 2011. The notes offered in this offering are being offered as additional notes under the same indenture as the 8.125% Senior Notes issued on June 9, 2011, and will be treated under that indenture as a single series of notes with the outstanding 8.125% Senior Notes. The gross proceeds from the offering of the notes will be deposited into the same segregated escrow account into which the gross proceeds from the offering of the outstanding 8.125% Senior Notes were deposited on June 9, 2011. The gross proceeds from the offering of the notes will remain in the escrow account until the date on which certain escrow conditions, including, but not limited to, the substantially concurrent consummation of the acquisition by Level 3 of Global Crossing Limited and the assumption of the notes and the outstanding 8.125% Senior Notes by Level 3 Financing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 and the parent company of Level 3 Escrow, are satisfied. If the escrow conditions are not satisfied on or before April 10, 2012 (or any earlier date on which Level 3 determines that any of such escrow conditions cannot be satisfied), Level 3 Escrow will be required to redeem the notes and the outstanding 8.125% Senior Notes. Following the release of the escrowed funds in connection with the assumption of the notes by Level 3 Financing, the gross proceeds from the offering of the notes, along with the gross proceeds from the offering of the outstanding 8.125% Senior Notes, will be used to refinance certain existing indebtedness of Global Crossing, including fees and premiums, in connection with the closing of Level 3's proposed acquisition of Global Crossing. The gross proceeds from the offering will further reduce the outstanding bridge commitment Level 3 has in place with certain financial institutions in connection with refinancing certain Global Crossing indebtedness. The notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws. Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.level3.com. © Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications and the Level 3 Communications Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Level 3 services are provided by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Monica Martinez Mark Stoutenberg Monica.Martinez@Level3.com Mark.Soutenberg@level3.com SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc. Previous: Level 3 Supports Increased Connectivity and Network Scalability for European Game Server Provider Next: Level 3 Releases Statement Level 3 Announces Proposed Private Offering of Senior Notes Global Crossing Announces Proposed Private Offering of $150 Million of Its Senior Notes Due 2019 Level 3 Announces Pricing of Private Offering of Senior Notes

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Eliot Spitzer Talks 420 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg, 270 Park Avenue, And More 8:00 am on April 20, 2018 By Nikolai Fedak Few individuals are as versed on the machinations of the Five Boroughs as former Governor Eliot Spitzer. Since leaving office and rejoining Spitzer Enterprises, his eponymous firm has embarked on a substantial building boom, with three towers on the Williamsburg waterfront at 420 Kent Avenue now nearing their opening date. YIMBY sat down with Spitzer to discuss his latest projects, the ongoing evolution of Williamsburg and its waterfront, as well as his thoughts on 270 Park Avenue and the potential repeal of the state cap on residential FAR. Exclusive Reveal for $700 Million Harlem River Yards Mega-Project, Including New York’s First Soccer Stadium Designed by Rafael Viñoly When it comes to new developments, stadiums are a rarity in New York City. But today, YIMBY has the first look at an enormous project coming to the South Bronx waterfront, dubbed Harlem River Yards, submitted to the city by a Related-led partnership. The plans would rise adjacent to Somerset Partners’ assortment of new towers already in the works, adding another major affordable housing building, as well as the City’s first dedicated soccer stadium, with 26,000 seats, designed by Rafael Viñoly. The total cost is projected at $700 million. Ten Questions With Joseph Moinian, CEO Of The Moinian Group When it comes to building big, The Moinian Group is one of New York City’s most notable developers. With Sky now the largest residential building in the Five Boroughs, YIMBY sat down with the firm’s CEO, Joseph Moinian, to discuss their recent work, what’s coming next, and whether the cavern under 41st Street and 11th Avenue will ever yield a subway station, as was originally intended. YIMBY in bold. Morris Adjmi Sits Down With YIMBY to Discuss His First Brooklyn Skyscraper at 550 Clinton Avenue 8:00 am on March 30, 2018 By Andrew Nelson We last covered 550 Clinton Avenue when the plans were approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission a few weeks ago. Today, we have an interview with the project’s architect Morris Adjmi, illuminating the challenges of building a new tower in a landmarked district. We also have a fresh rendering of the site, depicting 550 Clinton Avenue as approved by the LPC. Ten Questions With Charles Bendit, Co-CEO of Taconic Investment Partners 8:00 am on February 27, 2018 By Andrew Nelson Of all the developments currently under construction in New York City, none have been in the making for longer than Essex Crossing, which is rising on the site of several long-vacant lots on the Lower East Side. With the master-plan’s first new buildings just about fully complete, YIMBY sat down with Charles Bendit of Taconic, and asked the co-CEO ten questions about the New York City real estate market.

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Archaeology Bulgaria Church History Featured Medieval History Bulgarian Scholars Say 9th Century Bulgarian Great Basilica of Pliska Modeled After Constantinian Old St. Peter’s in Rome September 23, 2015 NFTU NEWS September 23, 2015 (Source: http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com) [Originally reported on September 18] The 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the Ancient Bulgar capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, was modeled after the Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the predecessor of today’s St. Peter’s Cathedral (the Papal Basilica), Bulgaria’sNational Museum of History has announced in a statement. This conclusion has resulted from a letter from a Bulgarian living in Italy who sent Bozhidar Dimitrov, the Director of the National Museum of History in Sofia, a 19th century drawingdepicting what the Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome looked like in the 15th century AD. The picture in question is also available on Wikipedia, and is hardly unknown; however, the possibility of the Great Basilica in Pliska having been modeled after a temple in Rome had not been explored until it has just been brought to the scholars’ attention. The Great Basilica in Pliska, the first capital of Bulgaria south of the Danube, was technically the largest Christian temple in Europe until the 17th century, i.e. until the completion of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican in 1629 AD. It was 102.5 meters long and 30 meters wide, which means it was 20 meters longer than the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, the titular temple of the Ecumenical Patriarchate during the period of the Byzantine Empire, and about 30 meters longer than Bulgaria’s National Museum of History reminds that the Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which had already been badly damaged, was torn down in the 15th century AD in order to build the new St. Peter’s Cathedral. ← The Old Testament in the New Testament Church by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky (November 7, 1888 – November 4, 1988) Russia Exhumes Relics of Royal Martyrs → Moscow Patriarchate’s Campaign against Independent Orthodox May 7, 2010 NFTU NEWS GOC-K Celebrations of Theophany in Greece and United States January 28, 2017 NFTU NEWS Metr. RAPHAEL (TOC-R) of Moscow: Paschal Epistle April 16, 2012 NFTU NEWS

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Category Art The London design festival comes again to be at the forefront From September 15 to 23, London becomes the world capital of design thanks to the more than 450 events that promise to give an innovative vision of current design. It is a cultural and commercial event, where there are meetings, talks, shopping, parties and much more. So if you visit the British capital in the next few days, it is a good opportunity to see what moves at the forefront of art and design. The immersive experience that will take you into the magical world of Dr. Seuss The exhibitions are finding a new way to attract the public: turn the visit into a magical experience that transports you to a parallel universe full of color and special effects. And this is even easier with Dr. Seuss Experience, and his drawings and illustrations that young and old like. Karl Blossfeldt and his botanical photography, the wonderful temporary exhibition of the Thyssen Museum in Madrid to see this autumn From September 6 to October 5, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum hosts the exhibition Karl Blossfeldt: Urformen der Kunst. The German photographer that Loewe made known to us this March will now have a space in the Madrid museum where his visionary capacity will be exposed to reveal the beauty of wild flowers. The most incredible montages that the Burning Man 2019 festival leaves us We go to the Nevada desert where the most original and artistic festival of all is celebrated: Burning Man. Here, sculptures, assemblies, electronic music and a Mad Max aesthetic are part of a show like no other than every year It brings together more artists and people who like strong emotions. This Australian artist makes true magic with the light transforming the Australian landscapes in his photographs Peter Solness is an Australian photographer specializing in the technique of photography with lights. Not only does it achieve incredible optical effects, but its mounts reach the deepest of objects, giving them life and showing us their nature. Landscapes with lights become magical and spooky. Chaumet and his jewelry exhibition in Monaco: tiaras to feel like an empress This summer the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco will become a place full of luxury (even more). The exhibition 'Majesty Jewels of Sovereigns Since 1780' organized by Chaumet will show historical gems and spectacular jewels, provided by museums, large families or royals. A great opportunity to immerse ourselves in a universe as dazzling as the jewels of Chaumet. If you want to enjoy art between the beach and the beach bar, Art Marbella 2019 arrives Malaga's impressive art offer is joined by one of the most important Modern and Contemporary Art Fairs of the summer: Art Marbella 2019, which celebrates its 5th edition from July 30 to August 3. Not everything in summer is the dolce far niente on the sunbed and the summer reds of the beach bar, and this cultural proposal is most interesting. Dulk, the Valencian artist whose surreal murals full of color have captivated us Graffiti have raised their level to become true works of art. Just like Okuda San Miguel has reached the whole world with his works, the Valencian artist Antonio Segura Donat, known as Dulk, has changed the urban landscape of places like Honolulu, Miami, or Costa Rica. Today we discover his work through his Instagram. Art jumps from the museum at your feet with this Vans collection that reproduces three of Frida Kahlo's most iconic paintings After the Harry Potter-inspired shoes and Van Gogh's paintings, which sold out shortly after going on sale, Vans surprises us again with a new capsule collection inspired by another of the most emblematic artists in art history. This is Frida Kahlo that, as we have already investigated in Trendencias, has become a very profitable brand in itself and that has little to do with the ideals that the artist had in life. For the first time you can visit the hidden treasures of the House of Alba in the Palacio de Liria The Palacio de Liria is a real gem for lovers of art, luxury and decoration that can finally be visited inside. Built in the 18th century, it will show the public the treasures, works and antiques that belong to the Alba Family. Point on the agenda that can be visited from September. Art can also be a meme and this Instagram account makes them this fun Every image can become a meme, even classic art, and this is demonstrated by the Instagram account @artmemescentral, which recovers classic works of painting to convert them to the current language of memes, whatsapp groups, and other funny things that will soon be They go viral on social networks. We knew his powerful voice through his paintings but now we can hear how Frida Kahlo really sounded thanks to a lost recording Safe and energetic but still sweet and soft. Until now, only those who were lucky enough to meet her in life knew what the sound of Frida Kahlo's voice was like. Now, thanks to a discovery of the National Fonoteca de México, the first recording of the painter's voice has been made public. Balenciaga and the best Spanish painting, the most interesting exhibition of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum for this summer Visiting the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum while the sun burns in the streets of Madrid is the best plan for this summer. Uniting fashion and art, the exhibition 'Balenciaga and Spanish painting' presents a fascinating comparison. Works by Murillo, El Greco, Alonso Sánchez Coello and the peculiar costumes of the characters portrayed in the paintings inspire Cristobal Balenciaga and elevate (once again), his designs to the category of the purest and most moving art. Interview with artist Okuda San Miguel: "Instagram has given me more freedom" Okuda San Miguel has become one of the most admired Spanish artists in the world. Considered "the Spanish Bansky" is known for his works of urban art and has become an icon of Cantabrian modernity. Painter, sculptor and Cantabrian designer, performs large-scale works and transgressive air that are formed by fragmented figures in geometric shapes and strong polychrome full of positivism. Bansky arrives in Malaga with an exhibition that can be visited all summer Malaga has art, and not only thanks to its museums and permanent exhibitions. This week the Bansky exhibition will open its doors at the La Térmica de Málaga cultural center. The Art of Protest. The controversial graffiti artist and the object of millions of auctions, is a great influence on current art and in this exhibition he will show us his most vindictive and contestant side. "Social networks have allowed art to reach people who don't have access to it." We talked with artist Arlin Graff about technology, art and nature Arlin is 32 years old and has been capturing his art in the streets for 20 years. What started as a hobby has become his work, and is now one of the best known street art artists in the world. He has been the creator of the new Havaianas IPÊ collection, with three prints that represent Brazilian biodiversity. These are the 11 female artists who obsess Instagram with their personalized collages More and more millennials want to take their decoration beyond Ikea. Because the Swedish store is great for furniture, but the icing on the cake must be looked for in more original places. Like custom collages, which have gained strength thanks to these 11 female Instagram artists and occupy the coolest homes in the # housedeco universe. Banksy has taken all the attention at the Venice Biennale, without being invited, with two new street murals In full Venice Biennale 2019, an artist who does not officially participate in the prestigious art exhibition is the one who is taking international attention. This is Banksy, the enigmatic British urban artist, who has performed in the Italian city to make his own. Already, a few days ago, the graffiti of a migrant boy with a life jacket holding up a neon pink flash appeared overnight on the Grand Canal in Venice. Swatch launches its most artistic collection on the occasion of the Venice Biennale Swatch is once again an official collaborator of the Venice Biennale, and this time it presents new watch designs together with British artist Joe Tilson and four emerging artists. Joe Tilson has created a special installation called The Flags. In commemoration of the British artist's ninety birthday and his seventy years creating art, Swatch also presents The Joe Tilson Venetian Watch, a limited edition of 2019 pieces. The most photographed sculpture in New York by Jaume Plensa The gigantic work of Jaume Plensa has arrived at the Rockefeller Center and has become the favorite snapshot of those who visit downtown New York. The Frieze art fair has placed its spectacular sculpture 'Behind the walls' in one of the most visited places in the Big Apple, showing the head of a woman who covers her eyes. The Venice Biennale arrives to beautify even more the most beautiful city in the world Hands that unite, that build bridges, becomes a brutal symbol of the union between men, friendship, faith, hope and love. The work of the artist Lorenzo Quinn is one of the most spectacular that can be seen in the new Venice Biennale, and his sculptures can be seen in other corners of the Italian city. Copyright 2020 \ Fashion Trends \ Art

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Rauner, Pritzker attacks started long before matchup was set Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, left, addresses the crowd with lieutenant governor candidate Juliana Stratton after winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary over a field of five others, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago.Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Sara Burnett And John O'Connor CHICAGO — Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and billionaire Democratic businessman J.B. Pritzker spent millions attacking each other even before their 2018 matchup was set, providing a preview of just how brutal and astronomically expensive the race for the state’s top job is expected to be. Rauner is considered one of the nation’s most vulnerable GOP incumbents up for re-election this fall, making the typically Democratic-leaning state a top target for Democrats looking to regain some of the governor’s offices they lost four years ago. Pritzker, an investor and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, already has spent more than $70 million to bankroll his campaign, much of it on ads attacking Rauner for a more than two-year state budget stalemate. Rauner, a wealthy former private equity investor, has put roughly $50 million into his bid for a second term, airing ads that featured wiretap audio of Pritzker talking with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rauner’s personal wealth is just shy of $1 billion, but Pritzker is worth several times more. Combined they’re expected to spend enough by November top California in 2010 as the nation’s most expensive governor’s race. Pritzker, 53, easily won Tuesday’s Democratic primary over Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; and Daniel Biss, 40, a state senator who campaigned as the “middle-class candidate.” Pritzker pledged to defeat Rauner but told supporters “we have a real fight ahead of us.” “Tonight, we’ve taken the next step of beating Bruce Rauner and putting Illinois back on the side of working families,” he told a cheering crowd at his campaign party. “I will fight today, and tomorrow, and every day of this election and every day after to get our state back on track.” Rauner, 61, took advantage of a national GOP wave four years ago to pull off a surprising victory in a state otherwise dominated by Democrats and win his first political office. On Tuesday he defeated conservative state Rep. Jeanne Ives for the Republican nomination. “We are in a critical time, a critical turning point in Illinois,” Rauner told supporters. “I am humbled by this victory. You have given me a chance to win the battle against corruption that plagues Illinois.” Ives raised just $4 million — less than any of the other prominent candidates. Once dismissed by Rauner as a “fringe” candidate, she gave him a tougher-than-expected race, attacking the governor’s conservative credentials in edgy TV ads. One of them, which the chairman of the state GOP blasted as a “cowardly attempt to stoke political division,” portrays actors mockingly thanking Rauner for not doing enough to restrict illegal immigration, abortion and transgender bathroom rights. In other races on the Illinois primary ballot, state Sen. Kwame Raoul defeated former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. There also were numerous contested congressional primary races, including a Chicago-area district where seven-term Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski held off a challenge from progressive candidate Marie Newman. But none involved the kind of spending as seen in the governor’s race. Personal wealth solidified Rauner and Pritzker’s front-runner status but also made them frequent targets for opponent attacks. Even Kennedy spent $2 million of his own money on the race. Biss, a Harvard-educated mathematician who gave up teaching to enter politics, set up a website to track what he says is a $171,000-a-day campaign by Pritzker. The Democratic front-runner has been advertising on television from nearly the moment he announced his candidacy 11 months ago. Pritzker’s opponents also have attacked his connections with overseas trusts in low-tax countries, though he maintains they’re focused on charitable giving and that he has no control over them. In response, Biss has called him a “fraud” while Kennedy labeled him a “liar.” But far more damaging were the ads Rauner ran with audio the FBI captured of him talking with the now-imprisoned Blagojevich. The ads included a 30-minute infomercial-style ad with the full FBI recordings. Rauner took on Pritzker again when more tapes surfaced from the Chicago Tribune. They revealed Pritzker describing Secretary of State Jesse White — a Pritzker backer — as the “least offensive” black officeholder to be considered for the Senate seat vacated by then-President-elect Barack Obama. Pritzker has apologized, and White continues to back him. Rauner also has repeatedly linked Pritzker to Michael Madigan, the longest-serving state House speaker in modern U.S. history and the leader of the Democratic Party of Illinois and a frequent target of the governor. Rauner rolled to victory in 2014 with a promise to “shake up” Springfield with a pro-business, anti-union agenda including lower property taxes and term limits on officeholders. But his ongoing spat with Madigan and other legislative Democrats left the state without a budget for two years while billions of dollars of debt piled up. O’Connor reported from Springfield, Illinois. Associated Press writers Don Babwin and Herbert McCann in Chicago and Sarah Zimmerman in Springfield contributed. Follow Sara Burnett at https://twitter.com/sara–burnett and John O’Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor . Sign up for the AP’s weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfv

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Inside ‘Dream Team’: A Conversation with Jack McCallum By Rob MahoneyJul 10, 2012, 1:51 PM EDT There exist books on most every subject written from most every angle imaginable. There are do-it-yourself guides to construct your vessel to the afterlife. There is a definitive handbook on colloquial speech on the high seas. There are memoirs filled with irredeemable drivel, helpful travel guides written in anapestic tetrameter, and dizzying, sprawling novels drowned in an ocean of footnotes. And yet 20 years after the historic Olympic Games held in Barcelona in the summer of 1992, only now are we able to appreciate the “Dream Team” in proper, bound, and fascinating form. Jack McCallum’s book on the subject, entitled Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever, hits bookstores today. It’s not only the definitive book on the subject, but in so many ways makes the long wait worthwhile, as McCallum’s insight, countless interviews, and decades of perspective coalesce wonderfully into the kind of book the greatest team of all time always deserved. Bits and pieces of the text are floating around various online outlets, but those sections hardly do the complete product justice. I spoke with McCallum about the book, his experiences covering the Dream Team for Sports Illustrated, and some of the greatest basketball players who ever lived: ROB MAHONEY: Isiah Thomas’ non-selection still strikes a chord with so many people and so many basketball fans — it’s kind of amazing how linked he is with the Dream Team lore despite not actually being on the team. What is it about that dimension of this story that makes for such compelling theater? JACK MCCALLUM: Well, one of the factors is that there wasn’t an amazing amount of controversy once [the Dream Team] got together. There weren’t complaints about playing time. There weren’t issues during the games. Chuck Daly did a fantastic job of managing the egos. We are a society — and certainly I’m part of it — that looks for controversy, and this is one of the few things you have to latch on to. The second thing is that Isiah has always been a lightning rod; it doesn’t matter whether he’s in the league or whether he’s out of the league, he’s always been a guy to whom attention has flown. I understand it, because Isiah was a great player. But James Worthy, he was a member of four championship teams or five championship teams, and there was never that [controversy] over him. MAHONEY: In the vein of controversy, I know Clyde Drexler’s comments in the book about Magic and HIV picked up some traction on Deadspin and through some other outlets — so much that Clyde came out to publicly deny the authenticity of the quote. I know you’ve covered that saga a bit on your blog, but was Drexler’s after-the-fact denial something that surprised you at all, or given the quote, did you kind of see it coming? MCCALLUM: I kind of saw it coming because I’m sure he didn’t remember exactly what he said, and then the context in which it was put — that the Dream Team was sort of waiting for him to die — all of a sudden it hit like a ton of bricks. I’m sure Clyde honestly thought that I made stuff up. We’ve talked since then and I sent him the transcript. I didn’t send him the tape — I can’t let the tape out of my possession unless I have to — but I sent him the transcript trying to explain that I thought it came out clearer in the book. But his reaction, I suppose, didn’t surprise me. After he saw the transcript, he still was saying that I was fabricating quotes but I think he understands I didn’t, and I just hope the whole thing is clear in the book because I did not feel good about it. As much as people think ‘Oh wow, controversy sells books, blah, blah, blah,” I did not feel very good about it. MAHONEY: Your book is about the Dream Team and the golden age of basketball, but it’s also a personal narrative throughout. What guided your decision to not only write about an event and an era, but to also write about your experience specifically, as it relates to those things? MCCALLUM: I think it was mostly that — I don’t want this to sound bad, because the publisher would probably go nuts — in many ways, the experience in Barcelona when they were together was the least interesting. We had 14 games that they played — six qualifiers and eight in the Olympics — where there was literally almost nothing to write about. It was a little bit of a closed society over there; the Olympics had their restrictions on locker rooms and things, which we’re not used to in the United States. The hotel was a locked down fort. I mean, I got in there a couple times but the hangout factor in Barcelona was actually pretty low. So what I needed to do was actually use the access I had before that, and as I started writing I realized that the interesting thing to me was how these guys became who they became. So that’s how I decided to do it that way. MAHONEY: I thought that decision was interesting, especially because so many other stories about the Dream Team are solely about the Olympic team itself. All of these players are already so well known and so well chronicled already that other retellings seem to get by with a name drop and a citing of their credentials. But you really devoted almost a third of the book to setting the scene with each of those guys as imperfect, riveting characters. Is that solely because of the lack of access and drama in Barcelona, or were these just bits and pieces of so many other compelling stories that you felt needed a home? MCCALLUM: I think the latter more than anything, but it was also this age. I don’t want to proclaim it the golden era just because I was there, but I’m going to proclaim it that. And it hadn’t been told in kind of a [book] form. Larry had biographies and Jackie MacMullan wrote a great book about Larry and Magic, but there wasn’t really a book in my opinion that put it all together. I will say that as I started doing it, I looked up one day and I said to my wife, “Oh my god, I’m 130 pages into this and they haven’t dribbled a ball together yet.” So yes, I was conscious of the fact that I was devoting an awful lot of time to it and I went back and cut some of it — you won’t believe that, but I cut some of it — because I’m sure some people would’ve gone, ‘Let’s get these guys on the court together.’ But to me, it was a foundation for the book that I couldn’t pass up. MAHONEY: Definitely. You almost go out of the way in the book to explain that Christian Laettner isn’t a complete jerk. Was that a case in which you felt the general sentiment tilted in an unfair direction? MCCALLUM: Yeah. Part of the reason that this thing worked is that things are different 20 years later, and one of the things that I realized 20 years later — probably because I’m older — is how tough this was on Laettner. What I thought back then, and what most of us thought, is how much of a jerk he was. We’d go up and talk to Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, who were literally the most famous athletes in the world, and they’d give you your time. They get the deal. They get it. And Christian Laettner just didn’t get it. Back then, I was more tending to think ‘What a jerk.’ Now, 20 years later, I’m more inclined to think ‘Yeah, he’s not blameless in the whole thing, but he was in a tough position.’ MAHONEY: The friendship between Patrick Ewing and Larry Bird seems like it would’ve made for a fantastic buddy cop setup, but what was it about their chemistry that was so peculiar and so interesting to you? MCCALLUM: I think it spoke to the fact that both of these guys, Larry in particular, were perceived…and I got this from everybody, particularly about Larry. He was perceived as this kind of sleepy-eyed assassin and he kept himself a little detached on the court. And so now, they get together, and all of a sudden in a loose setting [the Dream Team members] discover what a lot of people have discovered about Bird: that he’s a pretty funny guy and that he has an incredible sense of humor. What made it funnier was that he had teamed up with the guy was seemingly closest to him in temperament, which is Patrick, and they were sort of this laugh riot. If you picked two unusual guys from the outside to be doing this, you’d pick those two. But if you kind of know them, it doesn’t seem all that strange. MAHONEY: Similar to Bird and how people were surprised with how funny he was, do you feel like the players were surprised in a different way with Magic’s temperament? It seemed like he rubbed a lot of his teammates and people in the NBA the wrong way. MCCALLUM: I think that idea that Clyde [expressed in the book]: the “This is my team. This is my stuff.” I think that affected pretty much everybody. But I later wrote on my blog that it only went so far; Magic could’ve been captain of that team for 350 games and there would have never been any kind of insurrection or any kind of revolt. Magic was a captain, and I think 20 years later these guys were sort of able to look at Magic with a half-smile and half-frown. I kind of look at him the same way; Mike Wilbon told me that he had literally never seen the guy in a bad mood. And with a person like that, I think we all kind of wonder: can this really be real? I still don’t know the answer. I love Magic, but I understand that if I were on his team, once in awhile I’d be rolling my eyes a bit. MAHONEY: At any point during your interview process — either back in 1992 or more recently — did you ever feel like you weren’t getting the whole story on a particular topic? Kind of a collective and selective amnesia about some event in particular? MCCALLUM: I would say some people held their opinions about other people, to a certain extent. I don’t think the chemistry was 100 percent; I think Magic — the idea that some people were eye-rolling at each other came out mostly on Magic. And in the last interview I did with Larry, I think I put it in the last chapter, Larry was the only one that said “Hey it’s a good thing this thing ended when it did.” There was starting to be “Hey, I only played six minutes.” “Chuck doesn’t like me.” There was starting to be a little bit of that, and Larry told me that without me asking. I tried to get him to say more, but he really wouldn’t do that. So I think there was a little holding back on the interpersonal relationships. Going out at night, Charles was free then. Charles was kind of in a marital “interregnum” as I call it. But even then, there wasn’t a lot of hiding because the teams’ families were there. I’m sure some stuff happened that the public would love to hear about, but that wasn’t what I was exploring and probably wasn’t as scintillating as you might think because, as I said, these guys had brought their families along. MAHONEY: So many of the players talk about how this was one of the greatest periods of their basketball careers. Did the coaching staff exude the same sentiment? Or was there more tension and pressure on them with such a star-laden roster? MCCALLUM: Well, one of the unfortunate things was that Chuck [Daly] died before I got a chance to talk to him. But over the years, I had talked to Chuck many, many, many times, and I know what it meant to him. I don’t want to put words in his mouth. I know what that meant to that guy. He was a lifer. He grew up sweeping gyms, won two NBA championships, and then he was asked to coach the greatest team of all time. He couldn’t have been any more positive. Lenny [Wilkins] and I only talked to a little bit. Lenny’s very much an old pro. He’s not going to show everything that he really thought about it, and I could not pull that much out of him. P.J. [Carlesimo] is a good friend of mine and he’s very exuberant — you knew what he felt about it. But in answer to your question, the real guy was [Mike] Krzyzewski. Besides the players, Krzyzewski was the best interviews I did. This thing was so meaningful to him. He grew as a coach, he felt, because of it. He grew by watching Chuck Daly. He grew by watching how Magic, Michael, and Larry would “control” a team. He could not have been more into this experience. He wasn’t bullshitting me, either; I could tell that this was real emotion. A couple of times he even teared up talking to me. In this guy’s career, nothing was more important than being an assistant coach to Chuck Daly on this team. MAHONEY: After reading through the book, I find that I’m almost more interested in the introverted stars than ever — the David Robinsons and the John Stocktons. it just seems like there’s typically so much focus in the traditional Dream Team story on Bird, Magic, and Jordan, that some of the other players get swallowed up. Did you feel like you needed to add the perspective of the other guys — the Chris Mullins of the team — who were forgotten in the fray? MCCALLUM: It’s a good question. You always have regrets after a book, and one of my regrets — and I don’t know if it could’ve been any different — was that I didn’t get a lot out of Patrick [Ewing]. I think I got a lot out of Mullin and Stockton by going to visit them and I saw what that experience meant to them. John’s always on-guard, hands up and everything. But I was kind of able to write about that. And Mullin, with his alcoholism beforehand and what it all meant to him. Patrick I wasn’t able to unlock so much. But a basketball team is a microcosm. It’s the way a team operates. By the pure nature of it, even if it’s the most famous team in the world, it is going to revolve around the dominant personalities. This team functioned in the same way. Y’know, just like the Los Angeles Clippers; they’ve got the leaders, they’ve got the focused guys, and they’ve got the supporting cast. In retrospect, one of the incredible things was how these Hall of Fame players did fall into that. David Robinson’s a perfect example of that; David scored 71 points in an NBA game once, and he was the complementary player on this team and that’s a credit to them and a credit to Chuck [Daly]. MAHONEY: Relative to your interviews at the time and brushing up again with guys more recently and fleshing out the story, who’s perspective on the dream team and the whole Olympic experience changed the most? MCCALLUM: Good question. I’d say the answer to that is probably [Scottie] Pippen. Scottie has gotten himself in trouble over the years; he’s said some strange stuff, he’s had some money problems. He’s a little bit of a tabloid headline. And when he got the role as a Dream Team guy, he couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t say it then, but he couldn’t believe it. He had won two championships by then, but this elevated his career in his mind and I don’t think he really saw it then. But 20 years later, he was the one that talked — they all talked a little movingly but Scottie really talked movingly — about what this meant to him, how important this was, and how it kind of validated him as a player. I would say in second place — or 1a there — was Mullin. Mullin, as you alluded to, was a little bit out of the spotlight to begin with, and a lot of people said, “What the hell is Chris Mullin doing on the team?” Well, Daly wanted him from the beginning. When Chris went over there, and he was a terrific addition and he liked the guys, it validated him as a player. What he told me is that it had validated the way he had started to approach life — to stop drinking and get your stuff together. So I would say Pippen and Mullin in that respect. Tags: Chris Mullin, christian laettner, Chuck Daly, David Robinson, Dream Team, Jack McCallum, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Larry Bird, Lenny Wilkens, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Mike Krzyzewski, P.J. Carlesimo, Patrick Ewing, Team USA Pat Riley given lifetime coaching achievement award by peers By Kurt HelinJun 19, 2012, 6:43 PM EDT Right now, Pat Riley is not coaching in the NBA. Despite the pleas of some Heat fans. But you know the man can coach. He’s got a literal handful of NBA championship rings and is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year. He’s in the Hall of Fame. Tuesday he was given the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association, something he can place proudly in an already overflowing trophy case at home. Mavericks coach and current coaching association president Rick Carlisle presented the award. “This is not an award,” Riley said. “This is something somebody bestows on you. I’m very honored that the coaches association would do this.” Riley is only the fifth winner ever, joining coaching legends Tommy Heinsohn, Jack Ramsay, Tex Winter and Lenny Wilkens. Winning the award named after the late Piston coach means a lot to Riley, he said. While they started out as rival coaches — Riley is best known as the coach of the Showtime Lakers with his slicked-back hair — the two well-dressed men became fast friends and Riley was there near the end as Daly was battling cancer in 2009. You could tell he was genuinely moved by the award. But you could also tell he had something else going on in his mind, as the current president of the Miami Heat. But no, he’s not coming down to coach again. Spo is his boy. Tags: Chuck Daly, Pat Riley Dennis Rodman gives emotional Hall of Fame speech By Kurt HelinAug 12, 2011, 10:38 PM EDT Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are by their nature emotional. This year’s was no different. There were memorable moments, watching Tex Winter get up to the stage, Artis Gilmore finally being recognized, Theresa Edwards’ powerful speech. Dennis Rodman was Dennis Rodman — raw, emotional, wearing a sequin jacket with his number and saying Pistons and Bulls — and in the end powerful like few others. “I didn’t play the game for the money. I didn’t play the game to be famous. What you see here is an illusion, that I love to be an individual that is very colorful…. “I could have been anywhere in the world. I could have been dead. I could have been a drug dealer. I could have been homeless, I was homeless. A lot of you guys here, a lot of you guys in the Hall of Fame know what I’m talking about, living in the projects. You just want to get out of the projects. And I did that, but it took a lot of hard work and a lot of bumps along the road… “People ask if I have any regrets as a basketball player, I have one regret: I wish I was a better father. Rodman talked about the pain of a dad who made money writing a book about him but never spoke to him. He talked about his mother, how their relationship was strained and he felt bad about that. He also talked about the four men who played the father role for him — Phil Jackson, Jerry Buss, Chuck Daly and James Rich. He thanked Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. We will get up the video soon. You need to see it (with the kids out of the room). But in the end, this was vintage Rodman. Flamboyant, raw and true. Tags: Chuck Daly, Dennis Rodman, Hall of Fame, Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Rodman Hall of Fame, Scottie Pippen Quote of the day, point guard? We don't need no stinkin' point guard? By Kurt HelinJun 6, 2010, 7:15 PM EDT “You know, it’s very interesting to me that in an era where everybody says you’ve got to have a point guard who can penetrate and that if you don’t have one you can’t win. Chicago didn’t have one and the Lakers don’t have one now. So there game is being carried through the triangle offense.” –Dr. Jack Ramsey, while receiving the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award before Game 2 of the Lakers/Celtics NBA finals. Tags: Chuck Daly, Dr. Jack Ramsey, Tex Winter, triangle offense Inside ‘Dream Team’: A Conversation with Jack McCallum July 10, 2012 1:51 pm EDT Pat Riley given lifetime coaching achievement award by peers June 19, 2012 6:43 pm EDT Dennis Rodman gives emotional Hall of Fame speech August 12, 2011 10:38 pm EDT Quote of the day, point guard? We don't need no stinkin' point guard? June 6, 2010 7:15 pm EDT

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Spectacular Doctor Who HD cinema event for Australia and NZ How to Murder the Boleyns Books, History The Six Wives & Many Mistresses of Henry VIII with Amy Licence Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor - What a Good Man Should Be Damn Lies and Sagas: Viking Warriors and Warfare with Ian Stephenson It’s Captain Kirk, But Not As We Know It – Star Trek Continues The original Star Trek TV series debuted in 1966, and despite the now iconic opening lines recited with Shakespearean profundity by William Shatner, the show only lasted 3 years. Apparently the show flagged in the ratings. Undoubtedly due to a combination of politics and the primitive data gathering techniques of the time, as it had already developed an overwhelmingly dedicated fan base. NBC reportedly received over a million letters in support of the show. Essentially, Star Trek created the modern phenomenon of fandom. The first Star Trek convention, organized by a small group of fans and held in New York in January in 1972 had an expected attendance of a few hundred. By the end of the 3 day event thousands had turned up. The progam of events included screenings of episodes an outtakes on 16mm film, an art show, a costume contest, a display by NASA, a dealer’s room for collectors, and guest speakers including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, writer D C Fontana, cast member (and Gene Roddenberry’s wife) Majel Barrett and Science Fiction grand master Isaac Asimov. [pullquote]Space: The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise, its 5 year mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.[/pullquote] Despite only completing 3 years of its original 5 year mission, the Enterprise and its crew inspired 5 spin-off TV series, 12 feature movies and numerous novels, comics, and games. Surprisingly, despite its popularity, its iconic status, no TV studio has yet attempted to complete the Enterprise’s 5 year mission. Until now. To labour the oft used phrase, a group of fans have taken the original Star Trek where no one has gone before, and where, perhaps, the major studios have feared to tread. The small dedicated group has produced the webseries Star Trek Continues – to complete the journey with Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Bones, Sulu, Chekhov and Scotty on the Enterprise. Vic Mignogna does an admirable job playing Captain James T Kirk as well as directing and producing. As a young boy Vic fell in love with Star Trek. He has been acting since the age of eight, took film and theatre in college and has appeared in countless stage and film productions. You may know his voice better than his face – he is a prolific voice actor, appearing in over 200 animated series and games, including Full Metal Alchemist, Dragoball Z and Pokemon. The role for Vic is a dream come true. Chris Doohan, son of James Doohan reprises his father’s role as Scotty, and captures the character perfectly. Grant Imahara, who has worked behind the scenes in special effects in everything from Star Wars Episodes 1-3 to The Matrix sequels and Galaxy Quest, and whom you might know as team member on Mythbusters, plays Lt. Sulu. Marina Sirtis, Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, makes an appearance, voicing the Enterprise’s computer, which was Majel Barrett’s role in ST:TNG. Michael Forest, who played Apollo in the original series episode Who Mourns For Adonais? also reprises his role as the alien know to humans as the Greek God Apollo, in the first episode of Star Trek Continues, Pilgrim Of Eternity. The now aged god has lost most of his power, but does his demand of worship still pose a threat to humanity? The story is both significant and poignant. The show captures the feel of the original almost perfectly, right down to the bold colours, the retro sets, the cheesy songs, even the 4:3 aspect ratio. And perhaps most importantly, the spirit of hope, discovery, wonder and adventure that defines Star Trek. The central idea that co-operation and understanding, not force and exploitation, will be the guiding tenets of humanity’s future. What this team has done, with a small budget and a dedicated cast and crew, is truly remarkable. It not only embodies the spirit of Star Trek, but also the spirit of Star Trek fans, for whom the future is something we make, together. So far the team have produced two full episodes and three vignettes. The second episode, Lolani, in which a survivor from a distressed Tellurite vessel poses a moral quandary for Kirk and his crew, was released on February 8. We can only hope the project lives long, and prospers. To enjoy the continuing voyages of the original Starship Enterprise, you can visit the Star Trek Continues website. Or watch online on Vimeo on your computer, tablet, iPad or Apple TV. FansStar TrekStar Trek Continues The Third Plantagenet: George Duke of Clarence with John Ashdown-Hill Klingon Councilman’s Cute And Curt Resignation Star Trek: Boldly Going Where No Theatre Has Gone Before 3 Alternative Takes On The NSA’s Real Enterprise Shatner, Shakespeare and Much Ado About Whedon The Ten Most Unexpected Appearances In Animated Movies Kate Mulgrew – Captain Kathryn Janeway To Pen Memoir

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Grimm Reviews – “Fitcher’s Bird” “Fitcher’s Bird” There once was a wizard who disguised himself as a beggar to kidnap pretty girls. One day he came to a house where three girls lived. The eldest went to give him some food, but at a touch she jumped into his basket and he carried her to his home in the woods. He gave her everything she could have wanted. But after a few days he said he needed to leave. So he gave her the keys to all the rooms of the house, but told her not to go into one room on pain of death. He also gave her an egg to keep safe. After he left, she set out to explore the house, and eventually came to the forbidden room. She went in anyway, and saw a bloody basin with body parts and an ax. She was so frightened that she dropped the egg into the basin. She fished it out, but no matter how often she cleaned it, the blood came back. When the wizard returned, he saw by the egg that she had disobeyed him, so he dragged her into the room, cut off her head and chopped her body up. The wizard returned to the girl’s home and captured the second sister. She suffered the same fate. But the youngest sister was clever. When the wizard left her with the egg and keys, she set the egg down and went to the forbidden room. When she saw her older sisters there, she gathered together the parts and they rejoined and came back to life. When the wizard returned and could find no blood on the egg, he said that she had passed his test and would be his bride. She commanded that he carry a basket of gold to her parents. She hid her sisters in a basket and covered them with gold. She told the wizard to go, and she would watch from a window to make sure he didn’t stop. Whenever he tried to rest, one of the older sisters would call out why he was resting, so he hurried on. The younger sister sent out invitations to all the wizard’s friends. She also took a skull and set it looking out a window. She then rolled herself in honey and covered herself in feathers from the bed so she looked like a great bird. She then walked home, and whenever she met someone going to the wedding, she told them the bride was watching from a window. Even the wizard was fooled by her. Once the wizard and all his friends were in the house, the girl’s brothers and kin (sent by the older sisters) locked all the doors and set fire to the house with everyone inside. Why do I have the feeling this is another fairy tale that won’t be made into a kids’ movie anytime soon? I wonder, did the youngest sister try putting together any of the other victims? Or did she just let them burn up with the wizard and his friends? How quickly did the invitations go out and the guests arrive? That all happened while the wizard was carrying the older sisters home. And why did she disguise herself as a bird and not just a beggar? The problem with trying to be clever This is something that came from the recent season three finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. If you don’t watch the show – or if you haven’t seen the episode yet – I’ll be as vague and generic as I can. About halfway through the season, one of the main characters met a character who when you touched them you saw a vision of the future where somebody died. One of the visions she saw was a very vague (almost as if the vision was shot by a TV show trying to be mysterious) where she saw a golden crucifix necklace. Such a necklace belonged to a minor character. For the last month or so of the season, the commercials for the show talked about how one character would die. Was it to be this minor character with the necklace? Well, the episode before the final two episodes that were aired back to back, this Character A gave the necklace to Character B. So for a week everyone wondered if B was going to die. Then, Character B – after trying to give the necklace back – put it in his pocket, where it slipped out to be picked up by Character C, who put it in his pocket. But then he saw that Character D was cold, so he gave her his coat, and she found the necklace in the pocket. And then Character E – who knew of the vision – stole it so that he could save everyone and really drive the Jesus imagery home. When Character C came into the mix, I realized, Oh, it’s going to be that way. They wanted to give the necklace to as many of the characters as possible to hold the suspense for as long as possible. They were trying to be clever. And it didn’t work. Of course, it may not be the writer’s fault. One thing I skipped, is that the character who saw the vision had an earlier vision that came … true, but only when looked at from a specific way. And if one only saw the episodes, one would assume that this second vision could be “solved” the same way. And then you would have been shocked when this one character did actually die. Instead, for the month or so leading up to the finale, we saw promotions for the show proclaiming that ONE CHARACTER WILL DIE! WHO WILL IT BE? So instead of being carried along in this story and then being shocked by the turn of events, the viewers became detectives searching for clues, and then the necklace may as well have had a flashing neon sign on it reading, “Watch this!” If they had passed this necklace – or some other memento – around for most of the season, or if instead of a necklace it had been a medal or something, and then at one point three or four characters receive such a medal, that would have been cleverer. Being clever really only works when you’re subtle. And having promos asking, “WHO WILL DIE?” is not subtle. It’s almost as if the people managing and promoting the show don’t know – or care – to keep things suspenseful. Labels: stories, TV, writing Grimm Reviews – “King Thrushbeard” “King Thrushbeard” There once was a beautiful princess who was so full of herself that she always rejected her suitors and made fun of them. The King held a big feast where all the marriageable men were lined up, but the princess made fun of each and every one of them. One king had a peaked chin and she stated that he had “a chin like a thrush’s beak.” So everyone began calling him King Thrushbeard. But her father was so upset with her that he said he would give her to the first beggar who came to his door. A few days later, a ragged ballad-singer came by. When he was finished singing for the King, he asked for a small reward and the King gave him the princess. So the princess was married to the ballad-singer and the King sent them away. They went through a wood, a meadow and a town, and the princess asked each time who they belong to, and the ballad-singer replied that they belonged to King Thrushbeard, and they could have been hers. They arrived at the ballad-singer’s small house. He had no servants, so the princess had to do the cooking and cleaning, things she had never done before. When their food ran out, the ballad-singer said she should make baskets. But the twigs were too hard, so the ballad-singer said she should try spinning. But the thread cut her fingers, so the ballad-singer said she should sell some earthenware pots he had in town. The first day, people bought her pots because she was so beautiful, and they lived on that money for some time. When that ran out, the ballad-singer got more pots for her to sell. But a drunken soldier rode by and smashed all of her pots. So the ballad-singer took her back to her father’s castle to be a kitchen maid. She kept little pots in her pockets for the leftover food which she took home to her husband. One night there was a banquet and she stood to the side watching all the finely dressed people. There King Thrushbeard saw her and took her hand and took her to the dance floor, where all her little pots fell and food was scattered on the floor and everyone laughed at her. The princess ran off, but King Thrushbeard caught her and explained that he had disguised himself as a ballad-singer, and as a soldier to knock her down a peg. And then everything was happy. So, the two of them lived as man and wife for, a several weeks at least, but she never noticed he wore a disguise? Or was she too distraught to look at her husband? And what sort of kingdom did Thrushbeard have that he could play beggar for weeks without anything happening? Labels: fairy tales, Grimm, review Grimm Reviews – “The Jew Among Thorns” Grimm Reviews – “The Old Beggar-Woman” Grimm Reviews – “Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltr...

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Tag: Justified Longmire – A TV Review – Part 1 April 12, 2018 April 12, 2018 photog Reviews, TV Reviews Justified, Longmire, review, tv review Last year I watched Justified on Netflix discs. I thought it was great. I liked it so much I bought the blue-rays and watched it again. It was still great. But I didn’t want to burn the show out. So I asked around to see if there was anything else out there that was worth watching. One of my relatives suggested Longmire. He said it was a modern day western, a show about a sheriff in modern day Montana. It sounded odd but I figured why not. So me and Camera Girl have watched the first two discs. She thinks it’s great. My reaction is slightly different. I like the main character. My problem is with the female characters. Sheriff Longmire has a daughter who is some kind of lawyer. She always seems to be whining about something. Either her father isn’t doing something he should be or he is doing something he shouldn’t be. It’s very annoying. Then there’s the female deputy from New Jersey. I thought we were done with the female cop who complains about being treated different than the guys. Apparently she hasn’t gotten the memo. In one scene she starts gyrating on the stripper poll at a club to get the patrons to give her information and in the next scene she’s threatening some cowboy for checking out her butt while she’s walking in front of him. I mean, come on. Do we have to have this nonsense in a cop show? And there some other things. There’s a believability thing sometimes. In one episode Longmire threatens to release a grizzly bear on a suspect unless he confesses to using a grizzly bear to murder his enemy. I’m not 100% sure about this but I’m guessing that might be considered a coerced confession. So there are some fantasy aspects to the plot lines in the show and the personal stories of the characters are a little shaky. The daughter I find especially annoying. I’m hoping he gets that grizzly bear back and lets it eat her for real. But I actually do kinda like it so far. Camera Girl has adopted the show and I do like to keep her happy because she feeds me so I’m going to keep watching it. If it goes completely off the deep end I will have to invoke male television primacy and call an end to it. But I confess it’ll have to be really bad for that to happen. It’s like Mueller. Trump can only pull the plug on him if the damage he is doing is worse than the fallout from the firing. Definitely a delicate judgement call. So, so far, one thumb up. To be continued. The jury is still out. 21SEP2017 Update September 21, 2017 September 21, 2017 photog Book Reviews, Current Events, Movie Reviews, Photography, Reviews, Science Fiction / Fantasy, Trump, TV Reviews anime, Elmore Leonard, John Wick, Justified, Lord of the Rings film marathon, photos embedded in comments, Trump So today is the last full day of summer. Gahhh! The horror begins soon so it’s time to have fun while we can. Saturday I’ll have my two older grandsons over for a Lord of the Rings marathon. I think the extended version comes to about eleven hours. Breaking it up with grilled cheese sandwiches for them and corned beef and swiss for me, it will be a full day. Dinner will be another fan favorite spaghetti and meat balls. Camera Girl will do the cooking but abstain from the cinema. She’s a Tolkien agnostic, heaven help her. As anyone who faithfully reads my reviews knows I consider Justified the most consistently well written and actualized tv drama I’ve ever seen. I have a theory that it’s because the source material is much better than that of the typical (or even superior) tv-show. So, I’m putting it to the test. Right now, I’m reading Elmore Leonard’s Raylan Givens novels and short stories. I read the short story “Fire in the Hole” that was the basis for the first episode of Justified. The other stories in the collection (of the same name) were all very good too. Leonard has an enormous reputation as one of the most popular crime writers. And he has had over twenty of his books made into movies (not counting the tv series Justified). Based on all that I figure I’ll find out what all the hype is about. So, I want to see how I like his stuff. So far, I’m impressed. The political scene continues to boil like the spaghetti pot I’ll be involved with on Saturday. Trump continues to engage all important events in his typical iconic and bombastic style. Of course, you’d have to be made of stone not to be nervous about all the various balls in the air. But I’ve learned to give Trump some time to get things done in his own way. After all he is herding particularly annoying cats (and rats). The right-wing folks are going through some growing pains on the various sites. Hopefully it’ll sort itself out sooner than later. I take a sort of neutral position on these things and wait to see how things are settled. On the photography front I’ve added the ability to embed photos in the comments so go ahead if something in a post inspires a photo of your own. The plug-in that makes this possible has the following instructions: This plugin embeds image links in comments with the img tag so the images are visible in your comment timeline. Image formats supported: I’m not an expert on this computer stuff so I’ll do my best to get things to work but have patience if there are problems. On the review front, I’m going to write something on my recent toe-dip into anime. In addition to my recent viewing of Cowboy Bebop I watched Ghost in the Shell 2.0. I’ll share my thoughts. Other film ideas, I rented the second John Wick film and I’ll put together my thoughts on both films after watching it, maybe this weekend. I haven’t decided what sf&f book to read next. Suggestions are always welcome. Summer 2017 – When the Blockbuster Formula Ran Out of Gas August 25, 2017 August 25, 2017 photog Movie Reviews, Reviews, TV Reviews, Uncategorized hacks, Heinlein, Hollywood, Justified, TV What do most of the Twilight Zone episodes, the third season of Star Trek and Transformers VI (or whatever number they’re up to this year) have in common? They were no good, nobody wanted to see them and they were written by hacks. Sure, there were a few good Zone episodes and also a few of the Trek episodes were fun or interesting. What I think you’ll notice with these is that the episode was written by somebody creative. The rest of the dreck in these categories was ground out by talentless hacks who couldn’t even spell the word plot let alone write one. And that brings us back to Transformers XX or whatever it is. Great Caesar’s Ghost! Is the business really that bad? Is there no other way to fund and produce movies than to pile sequel onto sequel? How many times can Sylvester Stallone climb into the ring or jump out of a crashing helicopter? How many times can that stupid alien ravage human colonies before somebody gets around to inventing industrial strength Raid for aliens and drop it on their ugly butts? As even Deadpool himself said (before his upcoming sequel of course), and I paraphrase, how many times can Liam Neeson let his daughter be Taken before we assume he’s just a not a very good father. Wasn’t Godfather III enough to prove that even the best stories can’t be endlessly resuscitated without being turned into crap? But you notice, TV is able to make some pretty good stuff. I’ve just finished Justified and I’d put that up against anything I’ve seen in the theater in the last five years. Why the disparity? First of all, Justified was adapted from the works of Elmore Leonard whose stories have time and again translated well into movies. Whereas with these endless sequel franchises, I assume they are assembled from some formula that is somehow supposed to capture the original flavor of the first episode but without the high price of the original screenwriter. Apparently, they’ll pay tens of millions to get Bruce Willis or Jamie Foxx and millions more to CGI the explosions but they’ll settle for the story line to be written by the corporate lawyers who put the financial deal together for the studios. I think I read that because of the cable fees TV is actually able to monetize their quality shows pretty successfully whereas on the big screen only a giant blockbuster success is lucrative enough to even attract sufficient funding to get made. And that means Terminator 30 gets made before something well written and entertaining like possibly a faithful version of one of Heinlein’s juveniles. I imagine that Citizen of the Galaxy or Farmer in the Sky in the hands of a good screenwriter and director would be very entertaining and very commercial. Okay, I know what you’re thinking, “Focus Photog, focus. What’s your point? Bring this back around to the title. Bring it home.” Fine, I will. Hollywood is dead. Long live TV. Except for some extraordinary slam dunks like “The Lord of the Rings” or “Harry Potter” Hollywood is too paralyzed by the fear of losing gobs of money to try and put a quality product together from quality components. And that’s why I don’t feel deprived when I skip whole decades at the theater. There’s nothing there. Even the occasional stand out ends up being barely acceptable. I remember hearing raves about Gravity. When I finally rented it, I was puzzled what all the fuss was about. Okay would be a generous appraisal. The same with “The Martian.” Adequate would cover it. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer set of people. If DiCaprio and Depp start only making seven figures instead of eight I certainly won’t cry. When they’re replaced by AI – CGI maybe the stories won’t be as insulting to the dirt people. What a concept! Justified – A TV Series Review – Part 5 – Season 5 & 6 (Conclusion) July 29, 2017 July 29, 2017 photog Reviews, TV Reviews Elmore Leonard, Justified, review, Timothy Olyphant, tv review Justified – A TV Series Review – Part 4 – Season 3 & 4 That’s some damn show. I won’t drop any spoilers. Suffice it to say that in the last four episodes everything seemed to be going to hell and I was incensed at the trajectory I saw for the plot. But by the conclusion I was satisfied that there wasn’t a better possible ending. I’ll take a while to digest the whole story. There’s a lot there. Criminals and cops and their girls. But at the end Raylin and Boyd together are the motor that runs the show. They are like the two poles of a magnet. Opposite and linked. And then there’s Ava. Who’s responsible for that disaster? And then there’s just the sheer scope of the mayhem. By the end of the show the killing becomes like a steady rain. I seriously wondered if the last episode would close on nothing left of the cast but body bags in the morgue. Justified is a very well-made crime drama. The main characters are interesting and in some ways sympathetic. The run of the show is neither too short nor too long to provide a solid entertainment experience. The story runs its course and the potential of the situation like the coal in one of the Harlan County mines is extracted and exhausted. In a crime story that has both, it’s sometimes difficult to strike the correct balance between drama and comedy. In my opinion Justified manages that balance unusually well. With the large and shifting parade of criminals and lawmen, victims and friends, there were many colorful characters that provided ample opportunities for laughs. But often that laughter was tinged with disgust at the ignorance, greed or stupidity that was the source. And the laughs were often at the expense of the lawmen too. Trying to outsmart idiots sometimes ended up poorly. And Raylin consistently had troubles with his love life. Too often it intersected with his work. And when that happened, his boss Art would call out, “Raylin, would you come in my office and close the door?” Critiquing entertainment is far from an exact science. Objectivity is not even a theoretical consideration. Why I like Justified so much probably has more to do with me than with the show. And if your tastes are at all different from mine then we could completely disagree on the quality of this TV show. With all of that said, I highly recommend Justified to anyone who likes well written and acted drama with a healthy dose of ironic humor thrown in for leavening. Everything about the show is well done and enjoyable. And probably best of all it has the correct balance. There is a beginning, middle and end. At the end, it was enough. Anymore extracted from these characters will need to be a different chapter in a different place and with a different flavor. Harlan County, Kentucky has been successfully mined and the treasure collected and sold to the consumers. Amen. July 13, 2017 July 13, 2017 photog Reviews, TV Reviews crime, Justified, review, Timothy Olyphant, tv review Justified – Part 3 Camera Girl and I have polished off the first four seasons of Justified and only have seasons 5 and 6 left. Although a sort of pattern has emerged vis-à-vis the season finale we remain extremely satisfied with the quality of the show and the progression of the story line. Over the course of the first four seasons we’ve really gotten to know Raylin Givens and his friends and family and enemies and their families. We’ve seen some major characters come and go (mostly to the great beyond courtesy of Raylin’s pistol) and we’ve seen Raylin’s personal life undergo several painful dislocations. And we’ve watched Boyd and Ava Crowder move steadily to the dark side. When I say this, I don’t mean that the shows have gotten a lot more more violent. It’s already at intermittent gang war levels. But what the show is doing is chronicling Boyd’s ascent from small-time gangster to Appalachian mob-boss. Along the way his scruples and humanity are peeled away crime by crime. At each step he’s only doing what he has to to avoid the law or his rivals but eventually you see that nothing good remains. Now I think this is similar to what was done in the series “Breaking Bad.” There a man was driven by circumstance to adopt crime to help his family and finds himself and those around him consumed. The difference being Boyd’s family already was criminal and his only attempt at honest life is pretty much extinguished in season two. The Good/Evil dynamic is more represented by Boyd’s earlier friendship with Raylin. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Raylin and Boyd are two sides of a coin flip. Either might have ended as the other. Probably the show itself is a meditation on why they’ve so far ended up on opposite sides of that very narrow line. And I don’t want to claim any dramatic depth to the show. It’s entertainment pure and simple. But the characters are engaging and the mixture of action, drama, comedy and suspense is very nicely prepared. What I’m not sure about is whether Raylin Givens will end the show better, worse or the same as he started. He straddles a lot of lines and he seems to be willing to cross those lines when he thinks he has to. I can see that may bring him to a bad end. It’ll be interesting to see where the arc of this story lands him. For my part I’m interested to see where the relationship between Art and Raylin heads. Art is sort of a surrogate father figure for Raylin. But whether he’ll end up a stern old testament type father who has to sacrifice his son on the altar of the law or the father of the prodigal who is able to welcome him back into the fold, I don’t know. But either way I do hope he gets more time in front of the camera. He’s been limited lately and I want to see him assert some order over the wild west atmosphere of the Harlan County Marshall’s office. Oh, and for the record, although Raylin has an assortment of fine looking women jumping into bed with him, he certainly has no instinct for avoiding criminals. Then again maybe he isn’t trying. Maybe he thinks they’re more fun and he can always arrest or shoot them if he has to. Currently we’ve received the first two DVDs for season five. We usually restrict ourselves to two episodes at a sitting. But we’ve been waiting for these disks for several days now and I suspect we’ll binge through both disks by Saturday. Patience is definitely not a virtue when Justified is in your DVD player. Justified – A TV Series Review – Part 3 – Season 2 June 25, 2017 June 25, 2017 photog Reviews, TV Reviews Justified, Nick Searcy, Timothy Olyphant Thanks to the magic of Netflix’ DVD service, I and Mrs. Photog (aka Camera Girl) have been burning through Justified at a goodly clip. We finished Season 2 last Friday and are now barreling along through Season 3 like a meth-head racing to a pawn shop with an ill-gotten Rolex. But that’s a story for another post. Right now, I’m reporting on Season 2 and I’m happy to report that it lives up to Season 1 and maybe even surpasses it too. In Season 1 we met Raylin Givens and his kin and spent the season getting to know the Crowder clan. That was fun. In Season 2 we meet the Bennetts. The matriarch is Mags Bennett and she has three sons. One of them is the sheriff of Bennett, Kentucky. The other two help Mags run the Bennett store and their thriving weed business. It goes without saying that Raylin has history with the Bennetts and the season builds up to a climactic encounter. Along the way Ray becomes more formally involved with his ex-wife Wynona and Ava becomes Boyd’s girl. Many sub-plots involve all manner of exciting and amusing scenes. Probably the outright funniest is Ray’s boss Art trying to apprehend a geriatric outlaw trying to escape onto a private plane at the airport. Having reached a certain maturity myself I could see the humor of two old men in a foot race that neither can possibly finish. By the finish both are gasping on the ground recovering their breath for the slow stroll back to Art’s waiting car. Just as an aside, a recurring role, Loretta, is played by 14 year old Kaitlyn Dever, who played youngest daughter Eve to Tim Allen on “Last Man Standing,” another show that I enjoyed until its recent untimely cancellation by social justice network jerks. Justified is fast becoming my favorite series of all time. And that is saying something. I’ll always have a soft spot for Firefly but if Justified can continue to be as good as it’s been for another season or so I don’t rightly see how I can deny it a place of preference if for no other reason than more hours of enjoyment. It’s really a show that does not disappoint. I know I’m beginning to sound like a paid shill for the network that produced the show but I must say I highly recommend it to anyone who likes crime drama with a heapin’ helpin’ of humor thrown in on top. Stay tuned for Season 3. It’s already looking very good. Justified – A TV Series Review – Part 1 June 11, 2017 June 13, 2017 photog Current Events, Reviews, TV Reviews crime, Justified, review, Timothy Olyphant, tv review There’s not much left on TV for me to watch anymore. I remembered hearing over the last few years from several reviewers who were not progressives that “Justified” was pretty good. Well, last week my Netflix queue was completely empty so I added season one of Justified to my queue. With some trepidation, photog and camera-girl settled in this week and watched the first two disks. And eight or nine episodes into the season we still haven’t seen a bad show. It’s actually very good. Timothy Olyphant is the protagonist playing a US Marshall named Raylan Givens. He’s been sent back to his home state of Kentucky after shooting a drug lord in Miami under questionable circumstances. This puts him in contact with his family, friends, associates and enemies. And the amount of overlap between all of these categories in the episodes I’ve seen is quite remarkable. And here we run into the expected stereotyping of the Appalachians. For instance, Ray’s father is married to Aunt Helen. I’m not far enough into the story yet but it appears she was Aunt Helen before she was married to Ray’s father Arlo. So, the incest and inbreeding jokes can’t be far off. Also, one of Ray’s old friends from his time as a coal miner is now a bank robber who dabbles in white supremacy and shoulder launched rockets. Needless to say, Ray’s personal and professional lives become extremely entangled and pretty early on he finds himself sleeping with a woman he shouldn’t be. He had been investigating her for shooting and killing her husband. Subsequently she is his witness in his shooting of her brother in law. Add into the mix that the brother in law is also that coal miner / bank robber friend of Ray’s and it starts getting extremely complicated and confusing. Also, Ray’s father is a criminal. Ray’s ex-wife is married to a man in hock to mobsters and Ray’s boss is starting to think he’s unstable. Oh, and the investigation into that drug lord he shot is getting complicated by all the other guys Ray’s been shooting since he got to Kentucky. And finally, the drug lord’s friends really, really want Ray dead. It’s a really fun show. I’m only about half way through season one and so it’s hard to say where this will all be by season six but so far this is a crime drama that’s well written, filled with action and includes characters that while far from unconflicted are quite sympathetic for the audience. Timothy Olyphant is the obvious star but the supporting cast is quite strong and fun to watch and listen to. I especially enjoy Nick Searcy as Ray’s boss, Art Mullen. He brings a dry wit and long suffering attitude to the job of overseeing Ray’s overcomplicated work-life balance. So, that’s my first installment. I will be watching a bunch more of these in the next few weeks and will give an update on my recommendation. But so far, I’d have to say watching Justified is definitely justified.

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Pilot sparks hijack alert at Amsterdam airport © BBC News 2018-08-30 Panasonic announces their intent to move their European headquarters from London to Amsterdam, citing concern over Brexit. Amsterdam 2017-11-20 After the United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union referendum, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will relocate to Amsterdam and the European Banking Authority (EBA) to Paris from London. Amsterdam 2015-03-27 Power returns to Amsterdam after a 5-hour blackout that caused the closure of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and disrupted public transport networks throughout the Netherlands. Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport 2014-11-25 People died afrer snorting white heroin that was sold as cocaine by a street dealer in Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam 2014-07-17 Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 carrying 298 people from multiple countries is shot down near Hrabove in Donetsk Oblast, on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Amsterdam 2013-12-29 The passenger ferry "MS King Seaways", en route from Newcastle, England, to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, catches fire in the North Sea; a man is arrested on suspicion of arson. Amsterdam 2012-07-17 Several 1-inch needles are found in sandwiches on multiple Delta Air Lines flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to the United States. The FBI and Dutch authorities launch a criminal investigation. Schiphol Airport 2010-08-23 The Anne Frank tree in Amsterdam is knocked down by a gust of heavy wind, breaking off about a meter above ground. Amsterdam 2010-03-3 A fake Swedish pilot is detained in an Amsterdam cockpit in the process of taking off for Turkey in a jet with 101 passengers. Amsterdam 2010-01-13 An Arkefly Boeing 767 flying from Amsterdam to the Netherlands Antilles is grounded at Shannon Airport after a man claims there is a bomb on board. All 242 passengers and crew are evacuated. Amsterdam

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Construction Begins On The Huntley Meadows Wetlands Restoration Project It really hasn’t been so bad, those bulldozers and big yellow machines out in the wetlands. There’s still a lot for you to see. There’s still a lot to do, but the potential rewards are big.The remodeling of the Huntley Meadows wetlands continues this summer. There’s a major step in the project coming soon. Construction of the berm in the wetlands is expected to begin in late July or early August. The earthen and vinyl sheet piling berm will allow park staff to raise the water levels in the wetland approximately two feet. That will reclaim water depth that has been lost to silt. The silt comes from erosion and construction associated with upstream suburban development. The berm is part of a restoration of the park’s central wetland, a restoration that has brought construction equipment to the area. That equipment will be visible in the park’s natural areas for a few more months, however the reconstruction means that in the long term the park will continue to have a functioning, healthy and diverse wetland capable of supporting locally rare plants and animals. In short, you’ll see more cool stuff. The berm will work hand-in-hand with a water control structure comprised of pipes and slide gates. Staff can use those gates to raise and lower water levels as the seasons pass. The fluctuating water levels will help maintain a healthy wetland for decades and will return biodiversity to Huntley Meadow’s wetlands. This part of the project was planned for mid-summer to limit the pestering of animals during their reproductive seasons. That keeps the babies safe. In addition, staff and volunteers have removed hundreds of reptiles, amphibians and native plants from areas where digging will take place and shuttled them to other, safer spots in the park. We expect the water control structure to be completed by September. The project as a whole is on track for completion in November or December. Some cleanup tasks may last until March 2014. There will be temporary trail closures in parts of the park until the project’s completion. The hike-bike trail off the South Kings Highway entrance is closed. However, the boardwalk and the observation tower are open, so come on out to Huntley Meadows park and watch the changes as the wetlands gets healthier over the coming months. Got questions? A lot of answers are on the Wetland Restoration Project web page. Or, give the park a call at 703-768-2525 and speak with Kevin Munroe or Kathleen Lowe. This is going to be great when it’s done, and well worth the wait. A project has begun to restore the central wetland at Huntley Meadows Park. To be honest, you might be surprised when you see a bulldozer sitting in the Huntley Meadows wetlands. Park staff understands, yet we know there is a rewarding and bigger surprise in the near future. You’re going to see a renewed and healthy wetland with a wider variety of wildlife. Consider the remodeling of a room or front yard. It’s a shock and can be distressing during the process, but the end results make it worthwhile. That’s what we have in Huntley Meadows Park. There’s a problem, and we’re going to fix it so that the area retains its healthy wetland. We’ve got to go through some discomfort to get to those rewarding results. Over the past couple of decades, silt and debris have been slowly, steadily filling the central wetland at Huntley Meadows Park. Some of that is natural, and some of it is suburban living. If we let this combination of natural and suburban run-off have its way, pretty soon the wetland will become woodland or meadow. Normally that would be okay, and the Park Authority’s naturalists would be all in favor of letting the park evolve into a forest or grassland. However, there’s another issue. Huntley Meadows Park has the largest non-tidal wetland in Northern Virginia. There’s nothing else like it in Fairfax County, and it’s incredibly valuable as a wetland to wildlife, to water quality and to visiting county residents, including students, scientists and nature-lovers. So after more than 20 years of tracking the changes, wide-ranging discussions about ethics, beliefs, goals, missions, values and options, and more than 60 meetings, the Park Authority Board considered all comments and decided to restore the wetlands to the condition of its prime years in the 1970s and 1980s. A healthy hemi-marsh provides habitat for a diverse variety of wildlife. That’s where the bulldozer comes in. It’s going to take heavy equipment to get the job done. We’re going to do several things that will bring excellent results to the wetland. First, our construction team, supervised by park staff and environmental engineers, will get their beaver on and construct a berm that will hold back water. They’ll install pipes as part of a water control structure that will rest out of sight under water and be used to manage the water levels. Lastly, they’ll provide numerous brush shelters and logs as habitat for wildlife and create five deeper pools. As a result, the wetland will spread into parts of the surrounding forest, and hemi-marsh plant communities will be managed by changing water levels as needed and by varying the water depths. The end result will be diverse year-round wildlife habitat. A water control system will allow park staff to maintain the seasonally fluctuating water levels of a healthy hemi-marsh. And one more result. Fairfax County residents will get to see the Huntley Meadows wetland return to the regionally significant area that was one of the most productive and diverse non-tidal wetlands in the mid-Atlantic area. It will hopefully again be an attractive home for species that are rare in this region; species such as American Bittern, Least Bittern, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, King Rail, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Moorhen and a long list of reptiles and amphibians. A healthy hemi-marsh is perfect habitat or the King Rail and other species of waterfowl. If you’ve only seen the Huntley Meadows wetland of the past decade, you’re in for a surprise. Once it returns to its hemi-marsh, or emergent marsh, condition there will be more water and more wildlife in the wetland. We think you’ll like it a lot, and it will create unique and exemplary education opportunities. We’re taking these steps and managing the wetland to ensure that Huntley Meadows Park continues to host a functioning, healthy and diverse wetland that will be home to locally rare plants and animals on a consistent, long-term basis. Construction starts in April, and the project is scheduled for completion in December. Although the visitor center, surrounding trails, boardwalk and observation tower will all remain open, the Hike-Bike Trail (off South Kings Hwy) will be closed for months at a time. This three million dollar project is funded by park bonds and grants. Written by Dave Ochs, manager, Stewardship Communications, Resource Management Division This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Alexandria, Birds, Emergent Marsh, Environment, Freshwater Marsh, Hemi-Marsh, King Rail, Natural Resource Management, Wetland Restoration Project, Wildlife on March 20, 2013 by Fairfax County Park Authority. ← Natural Materials Used to Slow Stream Bank Erosion at Huntley Meadows Hidden Oaks Says Farewell To Darling The Eastern Rat Snake → 1 thought on “Construction Begins On The Huntley Meadows Wetlands Restoration Project” Melissa Gaulding March 29, 2013 at 7:44 pm Great article, Dave, but I think it is very important to emphasize that Huntley Meadows’ water comes from rainfall—there is almost no water coming in from springs! Therefore, this project, while interesting and educational, does not bring in more water. That is something only the sky can do! We have tee-rific news! ⛳ Burke Lake Golf Center's driving range was recognized as one of the Top 50 Public Ranges… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 7 hours ago The Park Authority relies on volunteers and friends groups to help maintain and improve our 23,000 acres of park la… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 20 hours ago Learn more about how Fairfax County is using parks to transform Tysons into a mixed-use destination. bit.ly/2O2fseS 1 day ago Winter can be a beautiful time of year to take photos in Fairfax County parks, and the January issue of the Snapsho… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 2 days ago What has four legs and sounds like a duck? Find out in our January blog offering. bit.ly/3aNHbtC https://t.co/3ikR87C7L5 2 days ago Follow @fairfaxparks

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November 1, 2016 · 23:01 You Support Him You Endorse Them: The KKK Endorses Trump KKK Endorses Trump: “Make America Great Again” Friends of Padre Steve’s World, Let’s be honest. There is no argument of moral equivalency between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Since he announced his candidacy in 2015 Trump has appealed to the basest racism and nativism of his supporters. Those hard core racists have been at the core of his campaign from the beginning and include some of his closest advisors. But then there are others, mainly traditional conservatives, but especially “Christian” conservatives, who have sold their sold their souls to support Trump simply because they hate Hillary Clinton. I understand that because from 1992 until 2001 I was one of them. I hated her, mostly because of listening to Rush Limbaugh non-stop and keeping a steady diet of Fox News and other supposedly “conservative” news outlets. But that began to change well before I left the GOP in 2008. I discovered that she was a brilliant woman who could work across the aisle for the benefit of all Americans, the same thing men like Republican Senator Lindsey Graham discovered when working with her in the Senate. But today’s endorsement of Trump by the KKK, not to mention the deep support that Trump enjoys among neo-Nazis, the Alt-Right, and other overtly racist and fascist groups should be a warning to anti-Hillary conservatives and especially conservative or Evangelical Christians. And I would ask what exactly do you stand for if you support Trump? Please tell me because as a Christian, as a man who is a 35 year military combat veteran, and who was a Republican for 32 years from 1976 until 2008 I really want to know. Please don’t say that it’s lower taxes because under Trump you will pay more of them and get less for what you put in and even according to the CATO Institute, Trump’s “tax plan” will cause the deficit to explode. Please don’t say that it’s less government, because Trump is planning to expand Federal police powers beyond anything ever imagined. So, ignore every other thing about Trump, and ask yourself this question, especially if you are African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Jewish, or even LGBTQ: “can you own this?” and “could you imagine living in that kind of America?” If you can I have to remind you of the quote by the German pastor Martin Niemoller: “I find myself wondering about that too. I wonder about it as much as I regret it. Still, it is true that Hitler betrayed me. I had an audience with him, as a representative of the Protestant Church, shortly before he became Chancellor, in 1932. Hitler promised me on his word of honor, to protect the Church, and not to issue any anti-Church laws. He also agreed not to allow pogroms against the Jews, assuring me as follows: ‘There will be restrictions against the Jews, but there will be no ghettos, no pogroms, in Germany. I really believed given the widespread anti-Semitism in Germany, at that time—that Jews should avoid aspiring to Government positions or seats in the Reichstag. There were many Jews, especially among the Zionists, who took a similar stand. Hitler’s assurance satisfied me at the time. On the other hand, I hated the growing atheistic movement, which was fostered and promoted by the Social Democrats and the Communists. Their hostility toward the Church made me pin my hopes on Hitler for a while. I am paying for that mistake now; and not me alone, but thousands of other persons like me.” There are consequences, and if you think that you and your civil rights would be safe in a Trump administration, under a man who has promised to jail political opponents, purge the government of opponents, deport millions, roll back civil rights, order the military to commit war crimes, and curtail the freedom of the press, without a single promise of protecting civil rights for anyone, the you are a fool, maybe a damned fool. If you endorse him, you endorse them. Think about it. Filed under nazi germany, News and current events, Political Commentary Tagged as adolf hitler, donald trump, kkk, ku klux klan, martin niemoller

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by Jeremy Gordon Siouxsie Sioux's First Song in Eight Years Soundtracks "Hannibal" Series Finale Listen to "Love Crime" The series finale of "Hannibal", which aired Saturday night, featured "Love Crime", the first new song from Siouxsie Sioux in eight years. It was co-written with "Hannibal" composer Brian Reitzell. You can listen to it below, as Brooklyn Vegan points out. Speaking with TV Guide, "Hannibal" executive producer Bryan Fuller explained how the song came about: Brian Reitzell knew I am a huge Siouxsie Sioux fan and have seen her in concert more times than any other artist in my life. We knew that she was a fan of the show, and we reached out to see if she'd be interested in writing a song. Essentially, she hasn't had a single in eight years, and she said she hadn't been inspired to write in a long time, but that Hannibal had inspired her and she would write a new song. It was an incredible honor. I told her it should be a love song between Will and Hannibal. She came back with this wonderful Bond theme of a ditty, and I just said that has to go over the finale. It was pitch-perfect. Then it became the battle over... how do we pay for it? We didn't have any money left in the budget, and the studio wasn't going to put any more money into the show than they already had. I went to NBC and Sky, who are our American and UK broadcasters and said, "I know the show is canceled... and it's absolutely unheard of for a showrunner to come back to you and ask for more money for a show that has no further revenue potential for you. But it's Siouxsie Sioux and it's an honor and it's her first single in eight years." They both said, "Yes, absolutely, we'll split it right down the middle, and we're doing this because we love you, we love the show, and we love Siouxsie." Reitzell told Entertainment Weekly, "Siouxsie hasn’t even stepped foot in a studio for eight years, and she said that this piece was the first thing that she heard that inspired her to do anything. And the good news is that I’m going to do a few more tracks with her. I’ve written a few more, and we’re not sure how we’re going to release the track, and that’s kind of unfortunate, but it will be out. We’ll get it out there somehow, soon." Reitzell is something of a specialist in coaxing mysterious music legends out of their shells. He got My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields to work with Sofia Coppola on Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette, and Talk Talk's Mark Hollis to contribute to the TV show "Boss". Read our interview with Reitzell about working with Hollis. Siouxsie Sioux Brian Reitzell Siouxie Sioux

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“There are stories out there to be told, and the talent is out there” — an interview with Debbie Tucker Green Author’s note: A version of this article originally appeared in the June 2015 print edition of Sight & Sound Magazine. Kai Francis Lewis and Kai and Nadine Marshall as Jax After fifteen years of international success on the stage with powerful dramatic plays including random and generations, London-based Debbie Tucker Green makes her screenwriting and directing debut with Second Coming. Elegantly and effortlessly blending elements of social and magical realism, it’s a hushed, disturbing parable starring Nadine Marshall as Jax, a married woman who mysteriously falls pregnant. It doesn’t seem that her partner Mark (Idris Elba) is the father, so who is? Perhaps the clue is in the title. Green is famously publicity-shy, and rarely talks to the press, so I was pleased to be granted a rare interview at her agent’s offices in leafy West London. She’s far from retiring in person, though, speaking in a rapid-fire London patter, with her hands making a flurry of arcs and gestures in tandem with her words. Ashley Clark: After working in the theatre for so many years, how did you come around to the idea of making a film? Debbie Tucker Green: It’s a mountain to climb from thinking you’ve got a film — or even a script — to getting it made. Random started off as a stage play, and ran for years. I had no intention of it going onto screen because I don’t think things always translate very well [Tucker Green adapted it for Channel 4 in 2011]. It was just apparent when I was writing that Second Coming was a feature. I think in pictures, so I saw lots of air around this story. Visually, it had a different tone. With regard to industrial practice, how did you find the process differed between stage and cinema? When Film4 looked at an early draft, they were very into it. For me, it’s story and script first, and the other industry drama comes after. There’s more people involved in film, even when it’s low budget — more fingers in the pie. So that was a little newer. That was probably the biggest difference, people putting in their two-pence worth. If you “get it”, then it’s fine, we can work on the script; but if I don’t think you’re “getting it”, then we’re in a bit of trouble… With Random, at Channel 4, we had some rough and tumble. But we turned it around quite quickly. It was a case of “I haven’t got time for politeness, let’s just get on it.” I’m not saying it’s a horrible thing. There are a few more zeroes involved in film, and people are a bit more jumpy, so I understand it. You have to push back though, because, trust me, I recognise my film! [laughs] Debbie Tucker Green Second Coming is, in places, purposefully ambiguous, or at least it absolutely refuses to spoon-feed information, and is happy to unfold at a measured pace. Was there any pressure on you from executives to explain more to the audience? I thought the film was quite definitive! But it’s been interesting watching it with audiences, because it’s more open-ended than I’d thought, which is fine. It’s sparked debate, with people having little rows about what they thought happened. But there wasn’t much pressure on me about the ending. For me it was interesting to watch this woman over [the course of] her pregnancy and not be sure. It’s all played out in a day-to-day way; a lot of it for Jax is behind the eyes; her trying to keep up. And Nadine Marshall is especially good in a tricky role… She’s alright [laughs]. No, I’m joking. The part wasn’t written for her, or anything like that. I don’t write for actors. The script was there, I’d worked with her before. There was a thought process: she was right, age-wise, for one. And whoever played Jax, Mark and the kid… you had to feel it before you could see it. Sometimes I don’t always believe family units onscreen. I was still thinking about combinations. I can’t remember at what stage we cast Kai [Francis-Lewis, as Jax’s son JJ], but things started falling into place. I hadn’t worked with Idris before, and Kai had only done one job. The brief to the casting director was that I just wanted a regular kid who goes to drama club once a week or whatever— nothing against signed-up stage school kids. Your dialogue is rhythmical and intricate; it loops and repeats and interlocks. Is your writing more influenced by music than than other playwrights? I definitely love music, and what it can do. There’s something for me about the playfulness of dialogue; music reflects on language definitely, whether it’s kids or grown-ups. It’s something that we have that’s very flexible. Yet the film gets quieter and quieter as we go through. You’ve got a character [Jax] who becomes more internal. There’s something quite powerful [cinematically] about having the time, and space, to watch her do that. I wrote for this magazine in 2013 about Horace Ové’s 1976 film Pressure, and how it’s still so depressingly rare to see everyday black British life — in this case a family of West Indian heritage — represented on film. Too often I feel we see still black British representation pegged around certain limited issues: youth crime, absent fatherhood etc. Your film was so moving for me because it was just like going around to my Jamaican grandmother’s house — I was watching it at the Toronto Film Festival, having not long moved to live in the States from London, and I honestly welled up at the sight of a bottle of Encona Hot Pepper Sauce on the dinner table! How can it be so rare to see ourselves represented? Was that issue a consideration for you? For me it’s about this particular family, they’re just regular folks. I’m not looking to represent the whole, because everybody lives differently. It wasn’t a huge “I must do this, that and the other”, but rather I just wanted to stay true to these characters; it so happens they are of specific heritage. To me it’s important these characters have their foundation. People have told me things like you’ve just done, which is great. But you need to go and talk to the commissioners, innit! People who’ve got the money to fund stuff. There are stories out there to be told, and the talent is out there. This entry was posted in Uncategorized on May 5, 2016 by Ashley Clark. Liberated Territories: Haile Gerima in Profile Author’s note: Around Easter time 2015, I dropped in on Sankofa Video Books and Cafe in Washington, D.C., with the intention of drinking some fine Ethiopian coffee, and the vague hope of catching up with its co-proprietor, the great director Haile Gerima. As it happened, he strolled in moments after I did, and we got talking. I bought a bunch of his films on DVD (support the artist!), an act which may have persuaded him to accept when I enquired whether I could return the following day for a more formal interview. Gerima was insightful, thoughtful, and extremely generous with his time. The following feature first appeared in the January 2016 print edition of Sight & Sound Magazine, but I’ve added in a couple of links and details here, plus a not-fit-for-the-newsstands picture of me grinning alongside him. Enjoy. The career of Ethiopian-born, American-based writer-director Haile Gerima is a fascinating case study of the challenges faced by left-leaning, formally experimental black filmmakers who wish for their work to be widely seen. Consider, for example, the fate of his 1993 film Sankofa, a visceral, tonally poetic, and visually seductive study of an American fashion model who is magically transported back in time from Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle to the antebellum American south, and transformed into a house slave. Here, she falls in love with a rebellious field slave who implores her to poison her white owners. Like a more esoteric forebear of 12 Years a Slave (2013), but with no golden-locked Brad Pitt figure to salvage the day, Sankofa is a stark immersion into the plantation experience for both central character and viewer. While functioning as a resounding endorsement of the liberating power of self-knowledge, Sankofa, through its complex, detailed portrait of intra-slave relations, also offers a sharp comment on the continued sublimation of slave mentality and practice within contemporary American society. As Gerima told journalist Assata Wright, “If you view America as a plantation, then you can codify the different classes and interest groups within the society. You find overseers, head slaves, you find plantation owners in a very advanced, sophisticated way.” Despite Gerima’s serious pedigree — he came to prominence in the 1970s alongside the likes of Charles Burnett and (not that) Larry Clark as a leading light of UCLA’s feted “LA Rebellion” movement — the fundraising process for Sankofa took nine gruelling years. Despite the film’s evident artistic qualities and positive critical reception at international festivals, major American distributors, skeptical of its earning potential and cowed by its revolutionary thrust, wouldn’t touch it. Unbowed, Gerima opted for the exhausting self-distribution route. (He wasn’t starting from scratch, though: In 1982, Gerima made Ashes and Embers, an elliptical psychodrama about the spiritual awakening of a troubled black Vietnam vet-turned-actor: its bleak tone is conspicuously antithetical to Hollywood’s Rambo-fication of the war. To enable its release, the director, alongside his filmmaker wife Shirikiana Aina, and sister Selome, set up the company Mypheduh Films in the basement of his home in Washington, DC. Ashes and Embers has recently been restored and released by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY label.) So, in the pre-lightweight digital days, Gerima took Sankofa to thirty-five different cities, and it ultimately grossed nearly $3m. It was especially successful with black audiences. As Gerima writes on his website, “I witnessed theaters across America turn into night schools, as intense discourse was sparked among audience members … the black image was re-framed on-screen.” In 1997, using the Sankofa windfall, Gerima and his family upgraded their operations to a large property unit in Washington, located a stone’s throw from the prestigious Howard University, where Gerima has been a professor of film since 1975. They converted it into Sankofa Video and Books, a venue which, as I discovered on a recent visit, still thrives today. Its walls are lined with DVDs and books about black history, literature, and culture, while Gerima frequently hosts screenings in the spacious parking lot, and schedules open mic nights for poets and musicians. A cafe was added in 2007, where one can purchase food items named after esteemed African and African-American directors (“a ‘Charles Burnett’, for example, is a panini filled with pesto, smoked mozzarella, dill, tomato, and olives, suggesting that no sheep were killed in its creation.) Of his venue, the stocky, white-bearded, softly-spoken 69-year old tells me, “When the black community meet here they call it ‘liberated territory’, which means a place where folks can come to study and think critically.” Sankofa Video and Books is also a crucial part of Gerima’s independent filmmaking apparatus, fitted with editing facilities where he and Shirikiana can cut their films, and educate students. Gerima, who was extremely generous with his time, showed me to his downstairs editing suite and ran me a series of a clips from his ongoing project, The Children of Adwa, a documentary about the Second colonial Italo-Abyssinian War, which lasted from October 1935 to May 1936. Gerima inherited the project from his father, playwright and historian Abba Gerima Tafere, the author of books like Gondere Begashaw, a chronicle, written in the Amharic language, of anti-fascist uprisings during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in World War II. Gerima has been recording the testimony of Ethiopian fighters for around 20 years, and intends to make the entirety of his research available to historians. The Children of Adwa is a companion piece to both Teza (2008), his award-winning historical epic, and more specifically Adwa (1999), a lyrical documentary about the victory of the Ethiopian patriots over Italian colonial powers in the eponymous concluding 1896 battle of the first colonial war. Gerima screened Adwa at the Venice Film Festival, and its conscious reframing of history through the director’s national lens, plus its unsparing exposure of Italian brutality, offended local sensibilities. “People stormed out,” he recalls. “Here was an Ethiopian history coming, and it ruined their ideas. Italians always say to me, ‘we built roads, we built clinics and hospitals, we weren’t as cruel as other colonialists’, and I would say ‘Oh no, I remember my father’s book!’” Gerima’s father was his first conduit to a life in art, and a key figure in introducing him to liberationist, anti-colonial politics that would definitively sequester him from the mainstream. When Haile moved from Ethiopia to Chicago in 1967, he attended drama school, studied as a playwright, and would act in his father’s plays. It was at UCLA, however, where he developed his filmmaking chops. After making a pair of ruminative, dreamlike shorts which filtered black liberation struggles through the respective individual consciousness of a college basketball player (Hourglass, 1971) and an imprisoned woman (Child of Resistance, 1972), Gerima made his feature bow with the staggering Bush Mama (1975). Broaching questions of class, race and gender in a manner rarely seen, this riveting blend of vérité-style docudrama and Brechtian agit-prop centres on a black female welfare-recipient (the charismatic Barbara O. Jones) and her broken family surviving in LA’s impoverished Watts district. Its opening authorial credit gives the game away regarding Gerima’s intentions: Rather than “directed by”, a scrawled legend daubed in white reads “Answerable: Haile Gerima, 1975”. While extraordinarily relevant in a modern climate of #BlackLivesMatter and student protests at the University of Missouri, Bush Mama was the product of a specific political context (the Vietnam war, anti-colonial struggle, institutional racism) which deeply impacted the filmmaking approach of Gerima and his colleagues: “In the early 1970s there was a rainbow of people who had been casualties of racist cinema, who wanted to countermeasure,” he says. He cites filmmakers like Jorge Sanjinés from Bolivia, Glauber Rocha and the Cinema Novo from Brazil, Miguel Littín of Chile, and Fernando Solanas of Argentina as influences. “Their films mediated our ambiguous relationship to cinema; saying ‘Yes, it can be used against itself.’ The fact that cinema was a perpetrator of imperialism created a very ambiguous relationship for me. I wanted to use film against its own established legacy of what it had been doing to non-white people. This came down to the idea of intensely questioning the cinematic grammar itself.” Bush Mama Another huge influence on Gerima was Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, widely regarded as the father of African cinema: “When I saw [Sembene’s 1963 debut] Borom Sarret”, he says, “I thought, ‘Oh, I can make an Ethiopian film! It doesn’t need to have an English script.’ English is a very imperial language, and [its prevalence] makes you feel like all your characters have to speak it to be in a movie. I saw Sembene’s film, and that very same night I stopped writing my next movie Harvest: 3000 Years in English and started writing it in Amharic.” Filmed in Ethiopia in the direct aftermath of the overthrowing of Emperor Haile Selassie, this stunning monochrome drama chronicles a peasant family toiling under the scornful eye of a wealthy landowner. Alongside Burnett’s Killer of Sheep (1977), Larry Clark’s Passing Through (1977), Julie Dash’s Illusions (1982), and Billy Woodberry’s Bless Their Little Hearts (1984), it’s one of the indisputable high points of the “LA Rebellion”, a term retroactively coined by African-American historian Clyde Taylor in 1986. As it happens, Gerima is not overly fond of the moniker: “It’s not truthful,” he says. “The very people who endorse this movement now rejected it when it happened — the establishment negated and undermined every innovative form we stumbled through, like jazz.” Gerima is also skeptical of the notion of the Rebellion as solely a black cinema movement, as it is widely regarded (for example, a recent Tate Modern retrospective was entitled LA Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema). “Initially it had Latin Americans, Asian students, and even some white kids who were into this idea of a cinema of liberation. But then, typical of the black bourgeoisie in America — and the pitfalls of black nationalism — it was excised from its historical context to make it a ‘black’ phenomena because America deals in race relations only.” He continues, “I had more identification with a Brazilian filmmaker who I did not even like as a person, but he was a proponent of the liberationist cinema we were all thinking of.” (For his part, Jan-Christopher Horak, director of the UCLA Film & Television Archive and mastermind of the ongoing LA Rebellion restoration project, has written: “I believe the name is not only historically justified, but accurate … To ignore the specific cultural and political context of post-Watts Black America would do an injustice to all African and African American filmmakers at UCLA.”) Gerima is circumspect yet piercingly honest about why the UCLA school of filmmakers have not enjoyed the careers their talents should have ensured: “We could not sustain a communal, collective co-existence beyond our school days, and that has impacted on all of us. Also, we were naive on the business aspect. We were alienated with the ugly culture of capitalism, but we never converted a socialist business idea, to co-produce each other’s movies, to co-exist, in a very formidable way; it’s a shame.” Gerima recently took to website Indiegogo in an attempt to fund a new narrative feature (Yetut Lij), but fell well short of the ambitious $500,000 goal. The process of finding funding may not get easier as the years go by, but Gerima keeps busy, and will remain an inspiration for all advocates of non-mainstream, anti-colonial, liberationist cinema. Auteur and author at Sankofa Video Books and Cafe This entry was posted in Uncategorized on April 26, 2016 by Ashley Clark. A centrifugal force: the magnetic sounds of Trevor Mathison Black Audio Film Collective, 1989 The trailblazing Black Audio Film Collective (BAFC) officially formed in 1982, but began working together as a loose group of fellow students and friends at Portsmouth Polytechnic two years prior. Comprised of seven multimedia artists and thinkers from backgrounds in fine art, sociology and psychology, they curated programs of avant-garde and anti-colonial world cinema, and made their own work using film, slide-tape texts and video. It’s no accident that the word ‘Audio’ shared level billing with ‘Film’ in their name: sound held equal importance with image in the realisation of their multilayered output. This remained the case when the group disbanded, and three founding members — director John Akomfrah, producer Lina Gopaul, and sound designer Trevor Mathison — re-emerged in 1998 as the collective Smoking Dogs Films. Mathison was born in London, of Jamaican heritage, in 1960. His intricate work incorporates elements of dub and musique concrète, and functions as a binding agent for the stylistically disparate visual information featured in the group’s work. Akomfrah cites Mathison as a crucial collaborator: “The musical worlds of these films take the form they do partly because I’ve worked for so long with Trevor,” he told Sound on Film’s Daniel Trilling in 2011. “We’re both very interested in noise, for want of a better word: what Trevor at one point called the ‘post-soul noise’. These are sounds that take their cue from pre-existing black musics … but they’ve been defamiliarised, put through a sonic box that renders them strange and unusual.” “Strange, unusual sounds” pepper the landscape of Akomfrah’s directing debut Handsworth Songs (1986), an essay film about the social unrest in the eponymous West Midlands district, which invites the viewer to reflect on how mainstream news grossly simplified the complex roots of the conflict. Mathison’s meshing of vocal loops, political broadcasts, dubby beats and surging electronics evokes specific musical influences — reggae soundsystem pioneer Jah Shaka (whose music appears in the film); industrial pioneers Cabaret Voltaire; David Byrne and Brian Eno’s cut + paste classic ‘My Life in the Bush of Ghosts’, for example — while heralding a radical approach to imparting information in a nonfiction context. As suggested by Jean Fisher in excellent BAFC compendium ‘The Ghosts of Songs’, the film boasts “a polyvocality of recorded testimonies and intercessional poetic voiceovers that, contrary to the ‘explanatory’ panoptical impulse of the documentary narrator, build an oblique relation to the audiovisual track.” As well as conjuring fractured, haunting aural landscapes (see/hear also: 1989’s Twilight City), Mathison excels at integrating existing music to imaginative effect. In Who Needs a Heart (1991), a bleak docudrama about London-based 1960s self-styled revolutionary Michael X (aka Michael DeFreitas), avant-garde jazz largely stands in for dialogue. Why imagine words, the film seems to ask, when the feral, squawking horns of Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman or Eric Dolphy evoke the pain and paranoia of the characters and the era appropriately enough? Jazz is also to the fore in The Stuart Hall Project (2013), which matches the melancholy-suffused music of Miles Davis against various archival recordings of the eponymous scholar in a moving, time-collapsing duet (“When I was 18 or 19,” says Hall in the film, “Miles Davis put his finger on my soul”). Trevor Mathison In postcolonial-historical collage The Nine Muses (2010), Mathison’s scope is at its widest, forcing the viewer to challenge received canonical wisdom: he blends a vast range of classical texts (read by actors in voiceover) with Arvo Pärt liturgicals, negro spirituals and Indian courtly music to bewitching effect. Mathison also appears in front of the camera, playing a silent, deadpan wanderer stranded in a succession of ice-white Alaskan landscapes. In essay film-cum-Afrofuturist fantasy The Last Angel of History (1996), meanwhile, interviews with esteemed black writers, cultural critics and musicians (including George Clinton, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Derrick May, Carl Craig etc.) are interwoven with the fictional story of a “data thief” who must travel through space and time in search of the code that holds the key to his — and the black diaspora’s — future. Yet subversively, almost none of the cited artists’ music is deployed in the film. “Last Angel proved conclusively to both me and Trevor that you could actually use your own sounds to bring [these worlds] into being,” Akomfrah told Trilling. Mathison’s work isn’t limited to the BAFC/Smoking Dogs continuum. In March 2001 he, ex-BAFC member Edward George, and Anna Piva, under the name Flow Motion, created a digital audiovisual installation entitled Dissolve based on Michelangelo Antonioni’s lysergic countercultural adventure Zabriskie Point (1970). Mathison has also recently celebrated ten years of collaboration with fellow sound designer Gary Stewart under the moniker dubmorphology. Based in London, they conceptualise, produce and perform audiovisual events and installations largely based on themes of race, nationhood and memory. Mathison, softly spoken and self-effacing in person, explains the difference in approach between BAFC/Smoking Dogs and his collaboration with Stewart: “When it comes to working with John, my thing is not to compete with the rest of the way the film has been set up — to complicate the situation by putting rhythms against another set of rhythms. The films have a very precise alchemy, a different kind of poetry. When Gary and I are doing our stuff, we can wig out,” he says with a wry smile. One of dubmorphology’s most recent projects was the ambitious Mission to the Land of Misplaced Memories, a “memory collection spaceship” installation at Tate Britain. It’s a collaboration with writer Gaylene Gould, who told me about their process: “We sat piecing together ideas and concepts, trying to map the complex mess of human behaviour. Trevor, who is also an accomplished artist, would quietly draw a sketch that perfectly encompassed what we’d been trying to grasp. The swiftness with which he is able to embody a complex idea is astounding. I’m convinced he’s a wizard.” Mathison may be reluctant to sing his own praises, but others are keen to highlight his crucial role in the artistic landscape of the past three decades. Culture critic Kodwo Eshun has hailed Mathison’s pioneering use of tape loops for their ability to make “the imperial anxieties of the early twentieth century resonate… with the multiple fears of the present.” Gould, meanwhile, lauds Mathison as “the quiet centrifugal force behind what we now recognise as a black British aesthetic. Essentially he helped re-imagine how sound and image can work differently to carry an African diasporic motif.” It’s heady, justified acclaim for a quiet man behind a sustained revolution in sound. Eyes on the Prize—a rough guide to Civil Rights cinema Author’s note: A version of this article originally appeared in the March 2015 print edition of Sight & Sound Magazine. Selma (Ava DuVernay, 2013) The African-American civil rights movement is broadly agreed to span a period between 1954, with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education court case to end segregation in public schools, and 1968, the year of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, and the subsequent signing into law of the Fair Housing Act. The movement has proved to be fecund ground for filmmakers to explore, interrogate and recreate. The latest to do so is Ava DuVernay, whose Alabama-set Selma depicts events leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a crucial piece of legislation which outlawed racial discrimination in voting. The film is significant for many reasons: it’s the first feature directed by a black woman to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar; it paints an unusually detailed portrait of the process of nonviolent, direct protest action; it reframes the thrust of the movement from an exceptional ‘great man’ to a grassroots plural, in the process foregrounding the role of women; and — with controversy raging over the unpunished police killings of black males including Eric Garner, Michael Brown, John Crawford, Akai Gurley and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014 — its messages are particularly timely. Selma, surprisingly, is also the first major cinema release to feature Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a central character, indicating that other filmmakers have been daunted by his legacy. While King’s assassination (and the subsequent riots) in April 1968 have been repeatedly invoked as a marker of place and cultural climate in documentaries and historical films (Ali, Get on Up) the only other notable recent incarnation is Nelsan Ellis’ cameo portrayal in Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013), about a real-life African-American manservant who served in the White House between 1957 and 1986. Instead, significant portrayals of King have been confined to TV movies. Abby Mann’s six-hour biographical miniseries King (1978) featured Paul Winfield in the role; its provocative suggestion that King was the victim of a conspiracy prompted an inconclusive congressional investigation. More recently, In 2001, Jeffrey Wright assumed the role with gravitas in HBO film Boycott, a dramatisation of the bus boycotts in Montgomery, Alabama (1955-6) which prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to rule segregation on public buses unconstitutional. The Rosa Parks Story (Julie Dash, 2002) Television has traditionally been the preeminent arena for filmmakers to tell historical stories about the key events and figures of the movement, perhaps because the medium is more suited to a pedagogical approach. This is true for uplifting, informative films like Charles Burnett’s Disney-produced Selma, Lord Selma (1999), which covers much of the same ground as DuVernay’s film, but with a softer touch; and Julie Dash’s biopic The Rosa Parks Story (2002), in which Angela Bassett gives a layered performance as the eponymous community organiser and catalytic figure of the Montgomery protests. In 1991, Sidney Poitier brought his star power to George Stevens Jr.’s TV epic Separate But Equal to play lawyer Thurgood Marshall, the key figure in the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Eduction case. Conversely, when Hollywood has tackled civil rights, the films have tended to prioritise the experience of white saviours, or sweeten the pill with soothing depictions of interracial friendships. The former is evident in traumatic historical dramas like Alan Parker’s Mississippi Burning (1988), a 1964-set tale of FBI agents (Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe) investigating the killings of three civil rights workers; and Rob Reiner’s Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), which foregrounds the role of an assistant District Attorney (Alec Baldwin) attempting to convict a white supremacist (James Woods) for the 1963 murder of activist Medgar Evers. The latter, meanwhile, characterises fictional fare like Richard Pearce’s The Long Walk Home (1990), which turns on the decision of a well-to-do white lady (Sissy Spacek) to support her black maid (Whoopi Goldberg) in the mid-1950s Montgomery protests; and Tate Taylor’s The Help (2011), a Mississippi melodrama set in 1963, one year before the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. Selma, refreshingly, refuses to extend this trend—the role of Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) is deliberately not overstated. In this respect the film has more in common with Malcolm X (1992), Spike Lee’s epic portrait of the charismatic orator who, after initial skepticism, eventually began tentative participation in the movement before his assassination in 1965. Much of the best contemporaneous civil rights-era cinema focused not on the machinations of protest, but on the lived realities of African-Americans in the segregated south (Michael Roemer’s superb, neorealism-inspired 1964 drama Nothing But a Man), and in the north, where de facto discrimination in housing and employment blighted black family life (Daniel Petrie’s beautifully-performed, faithful adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s Chicago-set play A Raisin in the Sun [1961]). Meanwhile odd, daring films utilised high concepts to explore both the absurdity and terror of racism. Carl Lerner’s earnest Black Like Me (1964) told the fact-based tale of a white Texan journalist who spent six weeks travelling throughout the racially segregated south while disguised as a black man. Melvin van Peebles’ Watermelon Man (1970), meanwhile, starred comedian Godfrey Cambridge as cocky, racist white man who one day awakes to discover – to his horror – that he is black. By the end, he’s come to terms with his blackness, and is seen practicing combat with a black militant group: a harbinger of the burgeoning Black Power movement, and a jarring reminder that legislative gains did not end racism. Set in the direct aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jules Dassin’s criminally under-seen, Cleveland-set Uptight (1968) – a remake of John Ford’s 1935 film The Informer – follows the final days in the life of a troubled young black man (real-life civil rights activist Julian Mayfield) who finds himself hopelessly caught between his family, the police, the bottle, and his radical activist friends. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Dick Fontaine, Pat Hartley, 1982) Away from fiction, contemporaneous low-bugdet documentary filmmaking — like Haskell Wexler’s The Bus (1964), Charles Guggenheim’s Academy Award-winning Nine From Little Rock (1964), and Ed Pincus and David Neuman’s Black Natchez (1967) — accounted for some of the most bracing insights into the movement’s internecine and procedural complexity. The great black independent filmmaker William Greaves was commissioned to make a documentary about “good negroes” for public television during a time of growing unrest, but bucked the assignment to deliver, in Still a Brother (1968), a non-pat investigation of the mental revolution that was transforming the consciousness of black people of all classes. 1970 saw the (sadly limited) release of Sidney Lumet and Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s exhaustive, three-hour archive footage film King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis (1970), which won an Academy Award, and is now thankfully available on DVD. The civil rights documentary ur-text, however, remains PBS’s mammoth Eyes on the Prize, which covers the movement in forensic detail across 13 hours. The passage of time has seen a flourishing subgenre of documentaries adopting a reflective approach to assessing the era. These include Dick Fontaine and Pat Hartley’s I Heard it Through the Grapevine (1982), in which author James Baldwin retraces his time in the South during the movement to see what’s changed; Spike Lee’s galling Four Little Girls (1996), about the racist bombing of a baptist church in Alabama in 1964; and Brother Outsider (2003), a study of the openly gay Bayard Rustin, a key figure in organising the famed 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Finally, The March (2013) is both the title and subject of John Akomfrah’s superb commemorative account of the event on its 50th anniversary. It, like Selma, sheds valuable light on a thrilling, terrifying and instructive time in contemporary history. This entry was posted in Uncategorized on January 18, 2016 by Ashley Clark. Mike Leigh’s Naked—what did Johnny do next? Author’s note: Back in 2013, as part of Little White Lies magazine’s special 50th issue, writers were issued a year at random, asked to pick a film from that year, select a single image from the chosen film, and then write something around it. I got 1993, which was a perfect opportunity to write about one of my favourite films—Mike Leigh’s harrowing drama Naked. Last year, at the Toronto Film Festival, I watched Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s animation Anomalisa, whose main character is a sexually, spiritually and emotionally troubled marketing and self-help guru voiced by David Thewlis, who, years before, played Naked’s Johnny. I couldn’t help but see a connection between these two disturbed souls. Had I seen Anomalisa before writing the below piece, it would have turned out very differently. Alas… The dishevelled figure above is not, contrary to appearances, Scooby Doo’s Shaggy as re-imagined by Hieronymus Bosch. Rather, his name is simply Johnny, and, as unforgettably played by David Thewlis, he’s the central figure in Mike Leigh’s scabrous drama Naked. This stark image is taken from the film’s enigmatic final shot. To the strains of Andrew Dickson’s simultaneously celestial and ominous score, the battered, bruised anti-hero limps, snarling and twitching, down the middle of a wide road, while the camera accelerates away from him at a rate his shattered figure can never hope to keep pace with. Then, without warning: a cut to black, a final, brutal, orchestral clang on the score, and Naked vanishes, leaving an acrid taste in the mouth and a mood of unresolved sadness. Before we can consider where this urban scarecrow might be headed, we must establish where he’s been. The first clue lies in the towering structure looming in the background, brutishly intruding on that bright morning skyline. It’s the house where Johnny—drifter, misogynist, intellectual bully, vulnerable loner—first shores up having fled Manchester looking to escape a kicking. Leigh was looking for something epic for his central location, and he found it within spitting distance of Hackney Downs. From outside, the house looks vast, but it is boxy and constricted inside. Within this cancerous home-as-heart, the grimy rooms act as ventricles and the dank stairwells as valves, pumping transient malcontents around in a perverse, restless simulacrum of screwball comedy. There’s Johnny’s sad, Mancunian ex-girlfriend Louise (Lesley Sharp), her wayward flatmate Sophie (Katrin Cartlidge), and, eventually, yuppie rapist landlord Jeremy (Gregg Cruttwell). Jaundiced Johnny heads from this bleak house into an appropriately Dickensian London—a poetically realised, roughly stylised Capital of dislocated, anomie-stricken waifs and strays, where geographical verisimilitude vaporises like the fog in the night air (for example, Soho magically becomes Shoreditch). Eventually taking a beating from a gang of ne’er-do-wells, Johnny makes a tentative bond with Louise. But it’s a false dawn, a real kicker: when she goes to work he steals a wad of cash and heads off on that road to … well, where, exactly? We could interpret Johnny’s final betrayal of Louise as evidence of him being on the metaphorical road to hell. In my darker moments, I envisage Johnny as being so spiritually bereft, so disgusted at himself and the world that, following that cut to black, he limps up to the infamous Hornsea Lane Bridge and hurls himself off, thereby joining the likes of Janis Joplin, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kurt Cobain in the ghoulish “27 Club” of troubled souls who fail to make it past that age. But hang on. Let’s say Johnny doesn’t give up on life; let’s say that his fizzing disaffection keeps him going. Only an optimist could dare hope that Johnny would turn around on that road, return the money and head back to Manchester with Louise. But maybe he’d get there eventually, patch things up, and land a part-time job in, say, an anarchist bookstore. What of his woman problem? Maybe age would help his sporadic moments of tenderness calcify into a greater maturity; his peacockish misogyny left behind for good. We know for a fact that the world didn’t, as Johnny had fervently espoused, end on August 18th 1999, even though one can very well imagine him freaking out about the much-vaunted ‘Millennium Bug’. So Johnny would be 47-years-old today. But if he thought the world was hopelessly materialistic in 1993, what would he have made of New Labour? Of Britpop? Of Big Brother, or reality TV in general? Twitter? Buzzfeed? Contactless payment? Google Glass? The mind boggles, but I’m given to suspect he might be well-suited to internet forums, littering below-the-line comments sections with conspiratorial, poorly-punctuated post 9/11 jeremiads. Of course, Naked being a thing of fiction and all, we’ll never know. The lasting greatness of Leigh’s film derives from the teasing ambiguity of that beautifully poised final shot. Leigh could have killed Johnny off, or resorted to a moral, final conclusion. Instead, by inviting us to speculate, and rejecting the impulse to tie things up neatly, Leigh ensures that the vividly-realised Johnny can live on, limping through our collective consciousness forever. Dope | review [A slightly different version of this review — plus a full plot synopsis — appears in the September print edition of Sight & Sound magazine.] The central character in Rick Famuyiwa’s overly slick high school comedy-cum-crime caper Dope is Malcolm (Shameik Moore), an African-American student and self-identifying “geek” who excels academically, has a fetish for 1990s popular culture and, alongside his best friends Jib (Tony Revolori, of Grand Budapest lobby boy fame) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), plays in a punk band called Awreeoh. Their name — a phonetic, ironic riff on the word Oreo: a cookie that’s dark brown on the outside and white on the inside — is one of the film’s few genuinely good jokes. If their songs sound suspiciously polished and radio-friendly, it’s because they’ve been written by the disconcertingly ageless Pharrell Williams. Malcolm wants to attend Harvard, but his dreams seem circumscribed by his surroundings: he lives in a rough, crime-riddled Inglewood district named “The Bottoms”; he refers in an arch voiceover to his stereotypically underprivileged upbringing (absent father, overworked single mother); and his application essay — a critical analysis of rapper Ice Cube’s 1993 hit ‘It Was a Good Day’ — is dismissed by his supervisor as a sign of his arrogance. Malcolm unexpectedly comes into the possession of a bounty of drugs (for reasons too convoluted to explain here) and finds that selling them might be his only way out. To peddle or not to peddle? This is the moral dilemma upon which the ensuing narrative hinges. One one hand, it’s tempting to laud Dope for broadening the ethnic, racial and socioeconomic scope of what we’ve come to expect from the teen movie genre. It’s a playing field which is largely populated by white middle-class types, as Charlie Lyne’s recent documentary Beyond Clueless effectively demonstrates. Yet the film gives Malcolm and his friends little to work with beyond cynically surface signifiers of cultural taste, seemingly precision-tooled to appeal to some perceived hip young “post-racial” demographic. Though Moore is a reasonably expressive performer, the character he plays is frustratingly blank, while the ethnically ambiguous Jib is barely characterised at all. His sole notable trait is his belief that he’s qualified to use the word “nigga”, presumably because he sees it as a state of mind (like Chinatown?) The epithet-cum-term of endearment peppers Famuyiwa’s script with disturbingly egregious regularity, and its use — by a white character, not Jib — is only vaguely challenged by Diggy in a toe-curlingly non-committal scene late in the film. Meanwhile Diggy’s defining characteristic is that she’s a lesbian with a boyish appearance. In one supposedly humorous scene, she flashes her breasts at a vulgar club doorman to prove she is female. But Diggy is just the tip of Dope’s groaning iceberg of woman problems. Zoe Kravitz, as Malcolm’s putative love interest Nakia, is charismatic, but woefully under-utilised — in her case, Famuyiwa has clearly confused “ethereal presence” with “forgetting to write a decent part”. As drug moll Lily, poor Chanel Iman has an even worse time of it: her role is limited to vomiting on Malcolm’s face; publicly pissing in a bush; and crashing a car, all while in a drug-ravaged state of near undress. It’s comic relief for people who like seeing beautiful women thoroughly debased. Moreover, for all Dope’s pretensions to modernity and freshness, there’s no place on screen at all for dark-skinned black women. The nostalgic obsession of Dope’s characters is reflected in Famuyiwa’s cloyingly retrogressive filmmaking approach. Plot-wise he pilfers liberally from Paul Brickman’s Risky Business (1983), but replaces the earlier film’s streamlined menace with myriad contrivances and implausible coincidences. His dialogue, meanwhile, is Tarantino-esque in a bad way, riddled with unconvincing discursive patter and tortured monologuing — the great actor Roger Guenvuer Smith (Do The Right Thing‘s Smiley), playing a whispering villain, does his level best with one of the worst speeches I’ve ever heard: some baroquely incomprehensible flannel about Amazon and buying drugs. With its expertly curated hip-hop soundtrack, eye-catching costumes and Rachel Morrison’s gleaming, candy-coloured cinematography, Dope might be shiny on the outside, but it’s one stale cookie on the inside. Dope is in cinemas now. You’ve been warned. This entry was posted in Uncategorized on September 5, 2015 by Ashley Clark. Book review | ‘The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood’ by Nadia Denton Living In Bondage (Dir. Chris Obu Rapi, 1992) I interviewed Nadia Denton—author, consultant, programmer, and more—for this site around the time of the release of her excellent last book, ‘The Black British Filmmaker’s Guide to Success’ (2011). Denton has applied that book’s insight and practical rigour to a new subject for her latest project. ‘The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood’ is an extremely well-resourced and -structured reference manual designed for a new generation of ambitious Nigerian filmmakers who, says Denton, “want to have theatrical runs of their films, compete on an international level, tour festival circuits, secure favourable distribution deals and win academy nominations.” In her introduction, Denton argues that Nigerian cinema is on the brink of a renaissance, and primed to move beyond the stereotypical landscape of straight-to-video/TV histrionics. The book does a fine job of illustrating how such a revolution might come to pass. It’s neatly and helpfully divided into distinct sections in accordance with the traditional chronological process of getting a film out into the world: finance, development, marketing, exhibition, and distribution (plus a generous index full of helpful weblinks and references.) Each segment opens with a digestible, informative breakdown of the subject’s key issues before segueing into a series of in-depth (but never overly heavy) interviews with industry experts—there are a whopping 78 interviews in total. The talent roster that Denton has assembled is impressive, and speaks to her standing and experience in the field. Particularly informative contributions are made by Kunle Afolayan (The Figurine, Phone Swap) and Chris Obi-Rapu (director of the first Nollywood film, Living In Bondage), who speak in detail about their careers and the subject of financing. It’s notable, too, that Denton has assembled experts from around the globe (Africa, USA, Europe), giving the book an international, accessible flavour. For anyone interested in the business of Nigerian cinema—at whatever level—‘The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood’ is a must. It’s of equal use as a handy reference tool to dip in and out of, and a book you can read from cover to cover. It comes highly recommended. Find out how to purchase the book on Nadia’s website. This entry was posted in Uncategorized on March 2, 2015 by Ashley Clark.

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Teaser for the Philippine adaptation of Korean film ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7’ is now out! GET YOUR TISSUES READY! In this article: Miracle In Cell No. 7VIVA Films A teaser of the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean drama film “Miracle in Cell No. 7” has been released. A heart-breaking film, no matter how old or young you are, Miracle In Cell No. 7 is a world-renowned 2013 Korean film due to its story that reflected the reality of the current justice system of many countries. And while we’re at it, Philippines is getting its own rendition of the said film at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on Christmas Day, where several Filipino-produced films will be shown simultaneously on cinemas to celebrate Philippine movie industry’s artists and film-makers. The film focuses on a mentally challenged man who is wrongfully imprisoned for murder. He then formed friendships with his fellow inmates, who then helped in unison to have him reunite with his daughter. Directed by Nuel Naval, the film is starred by no other than Aga Muhlach, who plays the role of the father, while child actress Xia Vigor plays the role of his daughter. Other cast members include Joel Torre, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Jojit Lorenzo, Soliman Cruz, Joel Torre, Bela Padilla, and Tirso Cruz III. –HallyuLife.com Are you excited for this remake? Let us know!

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Photics.com Photics Technology Style Guide A Book About Hype GameSalad Textbook Guild Wars: High Ground The Interactive Stencyl Textbook Annoyed Tomatoes B.R.O.O.M. Circles with Grandma Apparatuses Wii Sports Resort – Nintendo Transforms Times Square Into A Mini-Vacation While Manhattan may be an island, I’m not used to seeing sand in Times Square. Today, Nintendo was busy promoting Wii Sports Resort – the sequel to Wii Sports. Kiosks were playing the latest Nintendo hit, which is not available until 7/26/2009. While kids of all ages huddled around the flashy screens, others were relaxing in lawn chairs. I’m always impressed by the nonchalant attitude of New Yorkers. The majority of the populous can handle most unusual circumstances with nonchalance. In the middle of a busy city intersection. I didn’t see a whole lot of commotion, not a whole lot of fuss, just a cool event in the middle of a hot city. Continue reading “Wii Sports Resort – Nintendo Transforms Times Square Into A Mini-Vacation” Author PhoticsPosted on July 23, 2009 Categories Gaming NewsTags Nintendo, NYC, Wii1 Comment on Wii Sports Resort – Nintendo Transforms Times Square Into A Mini-Vacation Pokemon Event at Nintendo World Warms NYC NYC is a city filled with life, but times are a bit unusual for the big apple. On a cold Saturday afternoon, I expected warmer weather. I also expected more people. The stores seemed empty. The sidewalks seemed less crowded. A vacant store, a former Circuit City location, looked so depressing. People didn’t seem to be shopping so much. Yet, there was a place in Manhattan that was clearly breaking the disturbing trend… NINTENDO WORLD. Continue reading “Pokemon Event at Nintendo World Warms NYC” Author PhoticsPosted on March 22, 2009 Categories Gaming NewsTags Guild Wars, Nintendo, NYC Categories Select Category Development App Development Game Development Web Development Entertainment Game Reviews Gaming News TV & Movies Features Site News Technology Archives Select Month January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 June 2008 May 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 May 2007 January 2007 December 2006 May 2006 May 2005 April 2005 January 2005 August 2004 October 2003 July 2003 July 2002 September 2000 June 2000 May 2000 February 2000 December 1999 November 1999 Folding@home Photics.com was created by Michael Garofalo © 1998-2020 Photics.com Proudly powered by WordPress

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#Impressionistas Pauline November 14, 2017 ExhibitionsSingapore Shows Colours of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay is framed as the companion show to Between Worlds: Raden Saleh and Juan Luna. Together, the National Gallery Singapore asserts that the shows, referred to collectively as Century of Light, “demonstrate the range of painting styles and art movements that developed in 19th century Europe during the post-enlightenment period of innovation and change.” U’s round-up of the highlights of Between Worlds was presented, in her inimitable style, in the form of a rap battle between two giants of Southeast Asian art history, Raden Saleh and Juan Luna. The show of 67 Impressionist masterpieces from the famous Musée d’Orsay in Paris, while not quite lending itself to such dramatic treatment, certainly holds up its end of the bargain as being a worthy companion to Between Worlds. Does the pairing of the two shows make sense? Does the juxtaposition allow for interesting comparisons and parallels to be made? Was the intention to show how the Asian works were influenced by Impressionism? Let’s leave those questions on the back-burner for the moment and dive right into the show itself, shall we? First, some background. Painting en plein air Impressionism was an artistic movement that originated in France in the mid to late 1800s. Some famous names associated with the movement include Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Auguste Renoir. Rejecting the fine detail and finish to which most artists of their day aspired, the Impressionists aimed, instead, to capture the momentary sense, or impression, of a scene in a brief instant. In particular, they were interested in the transient effect of sunlight on the way the eye perceived objects. To paint in this manner, many Impressionist artists moved out from the studio, to paint en plein air (in the open air). The paintings they produced were characterised by quick, short brushstrokes and dabs of colour that seemed, to the artistic establishment at the time, vulgar and pedestrian, the brushwork lazy and the finished works, incomplete. “Impressionistic”, the insult delivered by art critic Louis Leroy at the group’s first exhibition (with Monet’s Impression, Sunrise being particularly singled out for ridicule) gave the movement its name. While reviled in its day, Impressionism, which broke established conventions of painting in proposing new approaches in colour, composition, technique and subject matter, is now considered revolutionary, responsible for leading painting into the modern era. It is one of the most influential movements in art history and is much-loved by art audiences around the world. The works in the NGS show are presented as a survey of the development of Impressionism through the prism of colour – beginning with the radical new way in which painters used black in the 1860s, to how they developed techniques for capturing light, through a series of white snow landscapes, a section on greens and blues which shows how painting outdoors helped create new visions of landscapes, leading to the Neo-Impressionists and their use of complementary colours and ending with a final section on pinks and purples, demonstrating late Impressionism’s shifting approach to colour, now seeking to evoke moods, emotions and atmosphere rather than capturing specific moments. The May Triptych. Camille Pissarro, Entrance to the Village of Voisins, 1872, Claude Monet, Pleasure Boats, 1872-73, Alfred Sisley, Saint-Denis Island, 1872 This triptych of works, by Pissarro, Monet and Sisley, painted circa 1872, exemplifies all the characteristics of Impressionism – the way in which the artists captured the luminosity of light, the use of white in all the colours and the quick, spontaneous brushstrokes which give the paintings a sense of liveliness and immediacy. Painting outdoors and the need to capture a scene in rapidly changing light required the artists to paint very quickly. In the past, work done outdoors would be merely preparatory sketches and studies and the final work was completed painstakingly over a long time in the artist’s studio. Presenting and exhibiting paintings which had been rendered quickly outdoors as finished works defied the artistic conventions and traditions of the day and outraged many. Claude Monet, The Magpie, 1868-69 Most of us would look at this snowy landscape by Monet and find nothing out of the ordinary about it, so used are we to seeing paintings of wintry scenes that look pretty much like this. But back in the day, it was an act of radical defiance to paint the shadows in the snow in blue and violet instead of the conventional black! The Impressionists’ overriding purpose was (as has been mentioned repeatedly, I know) to show the effect of light on a scene. Their snow landscapes are a fine example of how the Impressionists changed the way we look at, and depict, light and shadow. Snow reflects the colours of everything that surrounds it and, in meeting the challenge of capturing the subtle gradations of light on a monochromatic, reflective blanket of snow, the Impressionists saw, and hence painted, blue shadows. This led one critic to describe them as an “orgy of tones” that must have been the result of the artists wearing “different pairs of glasses … to provide them with the tone they are seeking.” Remember also that the Impressionists’ sincerity and zeal in wanting to closely study the effects of light on snow required them to paint outdoors – in freezing conditions! This, too, subjected them to much ridicule. The famous Japanese-style bridge and waterlily ponds at Monet’s garden at Giverny, which U visited last year. The rapid technological developments of the 19th century contributed to the rise of Impressionism – the new French railway system allowed artists to travel more easily to the countryside outside Paris and portable easels and paints in metal tubes enabled the Impressionists to work outdoors. In painting outdoor landscapes, the Impressionist sought to avoid assigning specific colours to specific objects, instead trying to see how the colours of objects changed with the changing light and attempting to depict nature as they saw it at a given moment. As Monet advised a young painter: “When you have before you [ …] Merely think here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint them just as you see them […] until your own artless impression of the scene appears before you.” Claude Monet, Waterlily Pond, Pink Harmony, 1900 Monet painted 12 canvases of his beloved waterlily pond with the Japanese-style bridge in his garden at Giverny, from the same vantage point but under different light conditions. The sky is not visible here and the water is almost obscured by the plants and greenery, depicted, as he advised, in a tapestry of shapes and colours. It is the diversity of his brushstrokes that creates the different forms and textures which make the various elements of the work identifiable. This small selection of works from the show, I hope, give a glimpse of what the exhibition has to offer and seeks to convey – what a bunch of #Gangstas the #Impressionistas were! An art movement that triggered innovations that shaped the development of modern art, it continues to influence and inspire artists throughout the world. At the end of the show, there is a nice little wall text that lists some of the Singapore artists whose works are exhibited at the National Gallery, who lived and studied in Paris at the time of Impressionists and who explored Impressionist and post-Impressionist techniques in their work. They include such luminaries as Georgette Chen, Liu Kang and Lim Hak Tai. And what of the connection between this show on Impressionism and the other exhibition that is being shown concurrently with this one, Between Worlds? According to the NGS’ Director Dr Eugene Tan, the pairing of the two shows arose from nothing more than a desire to explore concurrent developments in other parts of the world at a time when Asian artists like Raden Saleh and Juan Luna were making art. Whether the two artists were influenced by or employed Impressionist techniques is open to question although Juan Luna, at least, would have been familiar with Impressionist works when he visited Paris. Regardless of whether or not modern Asian art is viewed as derivative of Western art in terms of certain formal and stylistic aspects, the more important question is this: does it even matter? In terms of artistic and art historical value, modern Asian works are important in their own right, given their multi-layered references and ability to provoke thought and emotion in viewers. One can’t deny the influence of the Western world in regional art and it certainly can’t hurt for an Asian audience to have a deeper understanding of the technical methods of painting which eventually found their way to our part of the world. In fact, one might go so far as to argue that such deeper understanding can only help us to better appreciate the nuances of our own artistic heritage. (Featured Image : Paul Signac, Le Château des Papes (Palace of the Popes), 1909) Previous ArticleEpic Rap Battle of Southeast Asian Art History? Juan Luna vs Raden Saleh Next ArticleThe Art of Gift-Giving P is for Pauline. When her nose is not buried in a book, she can be found perpetually in beginner yoga class, taking long walks in nature or, more recently, trying to grow her own herbs and veggies. Having discovered her love for art relatively late in life (there being no art museums in the small town where she grew up), P is keen to share that love with the world! Bangkok Boogie: The Animal Edition Luke July 28, 2016 Ben Valentine October 6, 2018 What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye Back to the Futur[a] Jenson Tan June 1, 2019

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Ruling on Preservation of White House E-Mails Awaited; ?New Law Proposed to Address Destruction of Electronic Records Today, the White House sought clarification from the court concerning its ability to restore missing records from backup tapes that are currently being preserved. The White House inquiry comes as the... Treasury Wins 2008 "Rosemary Award" as Worst FOIA Agency Washington DC, March 19, 2008 - As if the sub-prime credit crisis was not enough, the U.S. Treasury Department today won the fourth annual Rosemary Award for the worst performance by a federal agency... Court orders White House to show cause why it should not create forensic copies of all electronic media; court seeks means to protect missing e-mails in response to Archive lawsuit Washington DC, March 18, 2008 - In an order issued today, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia directed the Executive Office of the President (EOP) to show cause why it... Slain Colombian Insurgent Held Secret Talks with U.S. Diplomats Washington, D.C., March 4, 2008 - A senior Colombian guerrilla leader killed in Ecuador last weekend in a cross-border raid by Colombian forces held secret talks with U.S. diplomats ten years ago in... White House Ignored Repeated Warnings That E-mails Were at Risk Washington DC, February 26, 2008 - At a hearing today before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it was disclosed that the White House has received repeated warnings from the... National Security Archive and Historical Associations Petition for Release of Rosenberg Grand Jury Records Washington, D.C., January 31, 2008 - The National Security Archive, along with several leading U.S. historical associations, today is filing a petition in federal court in New York City for the... "Secrecy" Film Premieres at Sundance Park City, Utah, January 24, 2008 – The new documentary “Secrecy,” made by Harvard professors Peter Galison and Robb Moss, premiered this past week at the Sundance Film Festival, featuring National... White House Admits No Back-Up Tapes for E-mail Before October 2003 Washington DC, January 16, 2008 - In response to a federal court order issued last week, the White House late last night refused to acknowledge any missing e-mails, instead stating that it “has... White House Must Answer Questions About Missing White House E-mails, Magistrate Judge Rules Washington DC, January 8, 2008 -In an Order issued today, Magistrate Judge Facciola of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the White House to answer questions about... President Signs FOIA Amendment; First FOIA Reform Bill In More Than A Decade Becomes Law Washington DC, January 2, 2008 - In one of his last decisions of the year on Monday, December 31, 2007, President Bush signed into law the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reform bill (S. 2488). The... Archive Argues Against Government Attempt to Dismiss White House E-mail Lawsuit Washington DC, December 14, 2007 -The National Security Archive yesterday rebutted the government’s argument for dismissal of the Archive’s lawsuit in federal district court seeking to recover 5... Terrorism Case of Luis Posada Debated on Capitol Hill Washington DC, November 15, 2007 - In the first Congressional hearing held on the controversial case of violent Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on... Judge Orders Executive Office of the President to Preserve E-mail Backup Tape Washington DC, November 13, 2007 -A federal judge yesterday ordered the Executive Office of the President to preserve all e-mail backup media in its possession, or under its custody or control, under... Archive seeks to discover true extent of missing e-mails at White House; Demands the initiation of discovery to ensure Executive Office of the President cannot render judicial preservation decisions meaningless Washington DC, October 29, 2007 - The National Security Archive filed a motion on Friday, October 26, seeking expedited discovery against the Executive Office of the President to find out what e-... Court Rules Delay in Release of Presidential Papers is Illegal Washington DC, October 1, 2007 - A District Court in the District of Columbia has ruled that an Executive Order issued by President George W. Bush in 2001, which severely slowed or prevented the... Court Rejects Wiretapping Secrecy Claims, Orders New Index of Documents and More Detailed Reasons for Withholding Sep 5, 2007 | News Washington, DC, September 5, 2007 --The United States District Court for the District of Columbia today largely rejected the government’s attempt to withhold without explanation all records... Court Permits CIA to Withhold Historic President’s Daily Briefs, But Denies Categorical Exemption for PDBs San Francisco, California, 5 September 2007 - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this week held that the disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act of two Presidential Daily Briefs written for... Archive Sues to Recover 5 Million Missing White House E-mails Washington DC, September 5, 2007 - The National Security Archive today sued the White House seeking the recovery and preservation of more than 5 million White House e-mail messages that were... Congress Asks Archive to Testify About Overclassification of Records Washington DC, July 12, 2007 - At a hearing of the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management, on classification of national security information... Groups Urge Senate to Enact FOIA Reform on the Law's 41st Birthday Washington DC, July 3, 2007 - As the 41st birthday of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) approaches, a coalition of groups urged the U.S. Congress to pass a bill - currently locked behind a closed...

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President Obama embraces openness on day one, as urged by the National Security Archive and a coalition of more than 60 organizations Washington, D.C., January 21, 2009 - On his first full day in office, President Barack Obama signed an executive order and two presidential memoranda heralding what he called a "new era of openness... White House e-mail in "true emergency conditions" Washington, D.C., January 15, 2009 - The federal magistrate judge overseeing the White House e-mail litigation today said the issue had reached "true emergency conditions" with only "two business... White House admits it has not recovered files from computer workstations or collected external computer storage media that may contain missing e-mails Updated Posting - January 14, 2009, 6:00 pm, Washington, D.C. – At a hearing today concerning the risks posed by the presidential transition to the recovery of millions of missing e-mails from the... NPR Features Archive Analyst in Tlatelolco Massacre Program Washington D.C., December 2, 2008 - National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" yesterday featured Archive senior analyst Kate Doyle in an extensive segment on the infamous 1968 Tlatelolco... Obama administration can act quickly to restore openness, according to new transparency proposals Washington D.C., November 12, 2008 - The Obama administration can act quickly after taking office in January to reverse the secrecy trend of the last eight years and restore openness in the executive... Court Rejects White House on Missing E-mails Washington D.C., November 10, 2008 - A court ruled today that the National Security Archive may proceed with its effort to force the White House to recover millions of Bush Administration Executive... Court Rebukes CIA on Freedom of Information, Recognizes Journalists, Not CIA, Determine What Is News Washington D.C., November 5, 2008 - In a striking rebuke to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Judge Gladys Kessler of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia yesterday... Court Orders Government to Submit Warrantless Surveillance Legal Opinions for Judicial Review Washington D.C., October 31, 2008 - In an opinion issued today in a case brought by the National Security Archive, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center,... More Cold War Espionage Transcripts Unsealed Washington, D.C., October 24, 2008 - Today, in response to a petition filed by the National Security Archive and several historical associations, the National Archives and Records Administration (... Washington Broadcast Set for Torturing Democracy Washington, D.C., 17 October 2008 – The new documentary film on the Bush administration’s interrogation and detention policies, Torturing Democracy, will air on Washington D.C.’s WETA-TV tonight at... Rosenberg Grand Jury Files Released Washington, D.C., September 11, 2008 – – The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg grand jury transcripts released today as the result of legal action by the National Security Archive and a coalition of... Magistrate Judge Affirms Recommendation that Court Order White House to Preserve E-mails on Workstations and Portable Media Washington D.C., July 29, 2008 - Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola of the U.S. District Court today denied a motion by the White House to reconsider his earlier recommendations and reaffirmed his... Court Agrees to Release of Most Rosenberg Grand Jury Materials, Orders Government to Determine Status of Additional Witnesses Washington D.C., July 22, 2008 - After hearing arguments today, a federal court in New York decided that the government must release most of the sealed grand jury records from the 1951 indictment of... Federal Prosecutors Agree to Release of Some Rosenberg Grand Jury Records After Petition from Archive and Historical Groups Washington D.C., June 26, 2008 - Responding to a petition filed in January by the National Security Archive and several leading U.S. historical associations for the release of grand jury records from... Archive Testifies that Implementation of Controlled Unclassified Information Framework Must Include Measures to Reduce Secrecy and Protect Public Disclosure Washington D.C., June 11, 2008 - The National Security Archive’s General Counsel today warned that while “the establishment of trusted pathways for information is obviously essential to coordination... Electronic and Classified Records are Overwhelming the National Archives,?According to Senate Testimony by Archive Director Washington DC, May 14, 2008 - The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is overwhelmed and behind the curve, facing huge increases in both electronic records and classified records,... Washington Post Profiles the Archive Washington DC, May 8, 2008 - Today's Washington Post devotes the cover of its Style section and a full inside page to the National Security Archive, which the Post calls "the house that FOIA built... Archive Featured in Fox News Expose on FBI Files Washington DC, May 7, 2008 - The National Security Archive's Meredith Fuchs was featured May 5 in a Fox-5 News (WTTG) expose about the FBI's mismanaged secrets. "The Fox News report would make anyone... White House Backups are Incomplete, May Not Contain Some Missing E-mails; Court Filing Says White House Cannot Identify Hard Drives in Use When E-mails Were Lost Washington D.C., May 6, 2008 - The White House yesterday admitted to a federal magistrate judge that it has no computer back-up tapes with data written before May 23, 2003, and that it cannot track... Court Sets Deadline for White House Answers on Missing E-mail Washington D.C., April 24, 2008 - Responding to the National Security Archive's motion in the pending White House e-mail lawsuit, Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola of the U.S. District Court today...

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Emily Martin, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice Posted on October 12, 2015 Issues: Low-Wage Jobs Workplace Emily Martin, Vice President for Education & Workplace Justice, oversees NWLC’s advocacy, policy, and education efforts to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunity for women and girls at work and at school and to forward policy frameworks that allow them to achieve and succeed, with a particular focus on the obstacles that confront women and girls of color and women in low-wage jobs. Prior to joining NWLC, Ms. Martin served as Deputy Director of the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, where she spearheaded litigation, policy, and public education initiatives to advance the rights of women and girls, with a particular emphasis on the needs of low-income women and women of color. She also served as a law clerk for Senior Judge Wilfred Feinberg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge T.S. Ellis, III, of the Eastern District of Virginia; as Vice President and President of the Fair Housing Justice Center in New York City; and previously worked for NWLC as a recipient of the Georgetown Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship. Ms. Martin is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Yale Law School. Download high resolution photos International Treaty on Women's Rights (CEDAW) Ask the State Department How It Will Move the Women’s Rights Treaty Progress Won’t Happen Without Women’s Votes Celebrate Women’s Equality Day: Ratify CEDAW Remind the White House That Women’s Rights Are Human Rights Long-Term Unemployment Demands Action Extended Unemployment Insurance and COBRA Subsidies Will Lapse Again Update: Coburn Blocks Unemployment Insurance Extension Extending Unemployment Benefits: Déjà Vu All Over Again Senate Extends Jobless Benefits for the Year – But a Minority Blocks Targeted Job Creation Tell the Senate to Support Job Creation for Struggling Parents Today Saving Unemployment Benefits – There’s No Time to Waste Previous Page 1 … Page 6 Page 7 Page 8

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Remember that scene in "Red Dawn, so beloved by pigfucking subhuman conservatives, in which Soviet paratroopers land on the grounds of the Colorado public high school and force it to go private charter at Kalashnikov-point and brainwash the students into arming themselves, hitting the hills as a field trip, and letting their parents go without health insurance and vaccinations: https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/05/15/laura-ingraham-s-astoundingly-ghoulish-attack-seth-rich-s-family/223707 Hey, the financial markets are rebounding, so no sweat, most of my holdings were up today despite my socialist veneer. Do I seem like I'm sweating it? I know Mnuchin (that can't be his name) and Kudlow are placing massive buy orders in offshore futures markets with taxpayer monies to celebrate the use of taxpayer monies in the freely manipulated markets, ya know, like the law stipulates. I'm long radiation futures, mushroom cloud startups and shorting the Red Cross's blood banking capabilities because I don't think they are quite up to what is coming. Remember when you were a toddler and you still believed that if you made a movement with one apparently causative hand that there would be a corresponding movement in the reality around you ..... a leak would fall from a tree, a cloud would cover the sun, or your Mom would appear in front of you, and you thought it was YOU, the magic you running the show. This is how p works. He tweets. The financial markets, like a yoyo attached to the poisonous root of his tongue soar and collapse, seemingly at his will. His Beck. His Call. He gives his family a little taste, maybe a close criminal thug associate as well, Kudlow of course, and they dial in futures contracts with each move of the Wizard's tweeting tongue. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. Toto just sniffs out the dog shit stuck to his shoe. There are priceless doodads on display at the White House. We'll never find them again. leaf. Shut up. Joe Biden thinks THAT political party will experience an epiphany. It's not going to be like he thinks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvy4YH9--Vw Might even be worse that I think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6YBKdmOlM8 I assumed you were in the tree. Posted by: Marty | May 15, 2019 at 04:59 PM Last word, that. That Alabama anti-abortion bill is not that bad since it allows a woman to abort up to the moment that she knows that she is pregnant (according to one of the main sponsors of the bill). So, just put that abortion procedure into your daily routine. The only damper is that a woman can't know anymore that she committed a murder of an innocent* which is the whole point of the excercise (we know that the fun of that is the main driving force for women). *caveat: fetuses go straight to hell since they are unbaptized, so they are innocent only as far as secular law goes. Whether a fetus murdering his mother could be prosecuted by secular law** is open to debate though (apart from the question whether it is to be treated as a minor or an adult or whether it is to be considered a citizen since that is a birthright). **According to rabbinic interpretation a fetus with murderous intent (rodef) can be killed in self-defense. sure, the Alabama forced-delivery bill is a disgrace, but we have to admit: HRC wasn't perfect. Posted by: cleek | May 16, 2019 at 08:53 AM More alarming data on Antarctic ice loss: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/16/thinning-of-antarctic-ice-sheets-spreading-inland-rapidly-study Pregnant women without health insurance, both those whose choice it is to bring their pregnancies to term and those who do not, will search in vain for life-saving medical care for themselves and their fetuses, as a result of this outrage perpetrated by a rapist lout, whose unpaid for aborted fetuses during his squalid lifetime, if placed end to end, could serve as a cordon to keep the Other off his fully mortgaged, bankrupt properties: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/sunlight-foundation-report-obamacare-trump-deleting-websites Pregnancy, under murderous, subhuman vermin republican governance, is a pre-existing condition which may be used to deny coverage .... a pre-existing condition the mother does not know about until it has pre-existed long enough to enable republicans to not only deny insurance coverage but to punish 13-year old rape victims if they seek abortions or attempt to abort the fetus themselves by desperately sticking a republican-supplied gun ... which conservative filth use to kill darker, more mature fetuses with if those fetuses break into their homes or drive while black ... up their vaginas and pulling the trigger, and to jail doctors and other medical personnel who attempt to help the young raped woman in her predicament before she is forced by republican neo-Christian bedbugs to marry her rapist and then submit to the re-consummation of his rape fetish on her during their blessed conservative-supervised honeymoon at Niagara Falls, after enjoying a ride over the Falls, fetus-intact, in a barrel since laws prohibiting such pregnancy-interruptus behavior were struck from the books by pox-spreading libertarian/republican c&cks&ckers to reduce the regulatory state. My suggestion for monitoring the thinning of the antarctic ice sheets is to strap the pregnant daughters and girlfriends of Alabama, Missouri, and Ohio state legislators (we'll not tell their wives about the girlfriends the former of whom are probably being anally violated by their Christian divorce counselors in motels on the outskirts of town) to the ice flows and we can observe whether these fine, upstanding republicans believe global climate change is a HOAX or an abortifacient. Marilyn Monroe was forcibly brutally anally raped by a Hollywood producer as part of his "auditioning" procedures for her role in the movie "Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay!", and now male republican trash are poohing-poohing the notion by female actresses that the movie industry might boycott Alabama as a prime backdrop for their productions, wondering how it is that America can employ the same barbaric cracker birth control methods across state lines and yet use commerce as a weapon like 'at. Roll into this comment that I personally would prefer to see abortion as a rare event, but legal nevertheless, with certain restrictions and medical safeguards, which we now have to varying degrees, but not for long, and financial support, state supplied, for surviving fetuses well into their majority age, should they not be shot by conservatives well before that for exhibiting socialist tendencies. Put that in your pipe, conservatives, and light the thing. Then shove it up your virgin as&holes, and we'll call it love. Marry me. Next to go down the legal drain, all birth control methods outside of Elmer Gantry rogering a billy goat to maintain the proprieties. Brett Kavanaugh is preparing a Valentine for Christine Blasey Ford proposing another gang roll in the hay, once the legal specifics are worked out. murderous, subhuman vermin republican governance John, indulge my curiosity. Think back to the middle of the last century, when Democrats' control of Congress was predicated on the racist Democrats from the Deep South. Did you think that all Democrats deserved to be denounced as racists, simply because they were tolerating the racists who kept them in power? And how about during the New Deal, when the same dynamic played out? Seems like consistency would require that. Certainly there were some seriously subhuman individuals in play. But I have a hunch that you wouldn't have. Am I worng? We were talking about changing minds recently, and wj cited the change in public attitudes and legal status for LGBTQ people that has happened at what I admit is an astonishingly fast pace in this country, and worldwide, over the past few decades. This is my brief summary, echoing another BJ commenter, of that optimistic observation. In short: "Things can change back." See, for example, Waterville, Maine, where the mayor is in the news again, rabble-rousing as usual. And I do mean rabble. Seriously, you don't want your kids to be read to by a drag queen? Don't fucking take your kids to the fucking event. But the rabble's anthem is "freedom [sic] for me and not for thee," so no one else is free to go to that event without being harassed. Once a long time ago, during one of the many statewide referenda we had in Maine on gay rights, I had a dream. I mean, a dream while I was sleeping, not in the MLK sense. I was in a long line of people, waiting to be loaded onto the trains that were going to take us ... away. Backwards into darkness: that's where they want to take us. They won't stop with abortion, or children in cages, or ignoring marriages rights in the State Department. Posted by: JanieM | May 16, 2019 at 12:31 PM I have to say, dramatic as this sounds, I completely agree. It's why I told my late husband (to his surprise) that I could barely watch the first series of the Handmaid's Tale, which he was happy to watch almost as dystopian sci-fi, whereas to me it seemed a perfectly possible future (and indeed present, in some of the world). Posted by: Girl from the North Country | May 16, 2019 at 01:02 PM You mean, when I was an 8-year old RINO, in the middle of the last century? I would hope so. Same, same for the racist southern Democrats, as opposed to the racist northern republicans, during the New Deal. And yes, yes, judging folks of earlier generations by today's moral sensibilities is a sticky wicket. This we are lectured by conservatives who claim THEIR values are universal, eternal, etched in tablets, unassailably inspired by unquestionable divinity. All men are created equal. Since when? The beginning? Or when some politically incorrect Texan republican state rep finally decides by noon this Friday that this should be the case because not only does consistency demand it, but if he doesn't mend his racist ways, and all of the other ways, someone is going to stick a gun in his mouth and force him too. Time's up. We aren't going to backslide yet again, James W. Crow. But, were I a sentient adult in 1935, as opposed to a pre-fetal fetus in the imagination of my seven-year old mother, I would probably have shared many of the racist insensibilities of the era. I may well be racist in some ways right this minute. I'll bet any black person could point those ways out to me. Seems to me black folks should have burned me out of house of home then for the privations my racist dumbshitedness forced upon them, given universal, eternal values always held forth by "conservatives", and if I haven't figured it out after 240 years of foot-dragging bullshit, I should be burned out now, finally. I don't expect consistency from human beings, least of all myself. But I just want movement conservatives, who issue blanket accusations regarding everyone, all, who doesn't/don't abide by their program to shut the fuck up about their fake news bullshit consistency. In the meantime, until they do, I'll speak fully enunciated English to them. Not you, wj. You are maddeningly consistent in all of the right ways. wj asks John Thullen: Did you think that all Democrats deserved to be denounced as racists, simply because they were tolerating the racists who kept them in power? I'm not John, but I'm borderline irritated by wj's question on several levels. First and least: "murderous, subhuman vermin republican governance" is not the same as "all Republicans are racists". Second: there's at least some difference between "tolerating" racists and encouraging them, let alone surrendering to them. FDR needed racist Southern Democrats to enact Social Security (against Republican opposition, mind you) so he tolerated them to the extent of leaving farm laborers and domestic workers out of the initial deal because those racist Southern Democrats wouldn't vote for anything that might benefit black people. But FDR did NOT drop the idea of Social Security altogether in order to please those racist Southern Democrats. Third: those racist Southern Democrats are all Republicans now. Fourth: neither John, nor you, wj, nor I were politically conscious at the time you speak of. So your question is at least ungrammatical. Other than that, I think you're a fine Republican. Whether the racist Southern former-Democrats would agree, I beg leave to doubt. "First": it is, however, routinely being used that way (OK, not always racist, but varying kinds of objectionable) by John. Which is what set me off. "Third": sad but true. "Fourth": Actually, I do have a few political memories of the 50s. Not to mention that Thurmond, et al were still around and toxic (as Democrats) during the 60s. But I'm open to suggestions for a more grammatical way to phrase my point. As to your final point, the feeling is mutual. Although I am aware that, on raw numbers, they are winning at the moment. Sigh. I confess I still find the level of, for lack of a better term, "self-parody" in this administration remarkable. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-pardons-billionaire-friend-conrad-black-who-wrote-book-about-him/2019/05/15/b494b208-7771-11e9-bd25-c989555e7766_story.html I was particularly taken by this: Trump ... fully pardoned Patrick Nolan, a former Republican state legislative leader who pleaded guilty to public corruption charges in 1994 and served nearly three years in prison. But hey, who cares about public corruption? This should be good, by which I mean hack it, troll it, overwhelm it, turn in your conservative p-loving neighbors. Shut it down. https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a27493335/white-house-social-media-censoring-report-facebook-twitter/ FDR needed racist Southern Democrats to enact Social Security And current-day (R)'s need the current-day equivalents of mid-20th C racist southern Democrats to flush SS down the drain. Backwards into darkness: that's where they want to take us. On the evening of my personal great unhinging, which I spent communicating with all of my friends who suck and who I was trying to talk down off the ledge, a significant number of them were gay folks who were wondering what was in store for them. Jobs, marriages, kids. Not in that order. Would they lose them, how hard would it be to hold on to them, what would it cost them. What were they in for. I don't know why it is so freaking hard for anyone to understand why Trump specifically, and (R) governance in general, is disturbing to a lot of people. It's simple. Conservatives are afraid their country is changing. They might have to bake a cake for a gay wedding. Somebody might wish them Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. They have to press 1 for English. Or, you know, they might be required to get health insurance. Their car might have to get more than 20 miles per gallon. The estate tax exemption might drop back below 10 million bucks. Other folks are afraid of things like losing their kids, losing their marriages, losing their jobs and careers. Things like not being able to walk down the street without being harassed or assaulted by bigots. Or maybe being grabbed from their home, or place of business, and being thrown in prison with no particular due process, to wait while they see if they will be thrown out of the country. They tell their kids who to reach out to if mom or dad doesn't come home from work. They're afraid of those things because, for a lot of their lives or the lives of people they know, those things have been a tangible threat. A reality. Those thing actually happened to people. It's not a given that they won't happen again. Lots of folks would be perfectly happy for them to happen again. Some of them happen now, today. This is not hypothetical stuff. Me, too. The question has a certain "when did you stop beating your wife" quality to it. But in essence, insofar as nearly all white folk were objectively racists at the time, the answer is, "Yes." So, what's the point? Also, too: The New Deal coalition was a pretty rickety ad hoc affair arising out of the historical backwash of the Civil War and the emergency of the Great Depression. By the second half of the 30's the southern Dems, in cooperation with the GOP, were pretty much effectively blunting the more liberal aspects of the New Deal (cf John Nance Garner). As has been brought to your attention more than once, the current GOP is taking on an ideological rigidity that is simply frightening. Good old fashioned "moderate republicans" such as yourself are going to get run over or run out of the party. They have to press 1 for English. Even here is lefty California, I have never encountered this. I get offered the option of pressing 2 for Spanish. But English is the default, requiring no action on my part. Are there really places where that isn't true? One has to wonder why anyone would have a different default. Yeah, I know. Frightening, not to mention insanely self-defeating in even the medium term. (Just to be clear, the fact that it will, I am sure, eventually be self defeating does not by any means reconcile me to the damage they are trying to do in the short term.) I suppose it makes me a real conservative that I am standing athwart the changing GOP yelling "Stop!" ;-) Are there really places where that isn't true? Between the ears of Trumpies. Just to follow on Russell's WRS-worthy comment, it very much reminds me of a conservative friend's declaration that Obama was ruining the country. This was near the end of Obama's second term in office before the 2016 election. Mind you, we were on our way to a beer festival on a retired battleship that hosts regular tours and special events - special events like beer festivals. Do they do stuff like that in ruined countries? Things were looking pretty good for us that day! At any rate, when pressed for specifics on how mean-old and/or super-incompetent President Obama was ruining the country, there was something like, "Well, he's just ruining it!" Realizing that wasn't a good answer, there were some follow-ups on points of disagreement or things that didn't go perfectly, all of which fell well short of anything like ruination. Stuff along the lines of Black Lives Matter leaders getting to go to the White House or the AG not prosecuting so-and-so whom no one who didn't watch Fox News everyday could even name. There's no there there. It's gay, Muslim, baby-killing turtles all the way down. HSH, Well put. An earlier classic that I remember was casual reference to "Obama phones". The 2016 version of this was throwing about the term, "crooked Hillary", with the clear intonation that nothing else need be said. It's gay, Muslim, baby-killing turtles all the way down. Close. It's gay, Muslim, baby-killing, black turtles all the way down. Which is to say, that while there are some (a depressingly large number, actually) people who have sincere objections to one or another specific policy or action by the government -- especially under Democrats. But there are also a lot who think the country is going to hell in a handbasket, but cannot actually come up with a specific policy or significant action that's bad. Beyond not liking who they see as in charge -- i.e. not them or people like them. when phone trees first started offering Spanish, you did have to 'press 1 for English'. but that was in the 80s. and you still have to choose your language on many ATMs. it doesn't bother me in the slightest. because i'm not afraid of other languages Posted by: cleek | May 16, 2019 at 06:21 PM Secretary of State Gene Simmons, formerly of the diplomatic logistics think tank, Kiss, briefs reporters in the State Department briefing room, and brings them up to date on his plan to eat Iranian children and upchuck their shredded viscera all over conservative Americans who like that sorta thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz69qyVHw8E But first, a policy statement (you'll scroll down a bit: https://twitter.com/idreesali114 having a "Press 1 for a sexy French female voice" would go a long way to solving these problems. Might create others, though. Press 2 if you want this option to be available. Posted by: Snarki, child of Loki | May 17, 2019 at 08:16 AM On the DNC 'server': https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/05/15/cloud-computing-and-the-single-server/ I appreciate the emptywheel link, and I very much appreciate all the work that Marcy Wheeler et al do in decoding the endless stream of toxic BS that we are flooded with every day. All of that said, here is the situation as it presents itself to us: The POTUS and principals in his campaign solicited materials that had been obtained illegally in an effort to damage Clinton. The materials had been obtained by, or were held by, Russian nationals connected to the Russian government. The POTUS' campaign reached out to many of those folks directly, and also to Wikileaks as an intermediary source, to obtain those materials and/or align their campaign efforts with the deliberate release of those materials by others. Having done all of that, the POTUS then repeatedly attempted to obstruct investigations into all of that mess. He was prevented from doing so only by the reluctance of the people who reported to him to expose themselves or the POTUS to criminal liability. Much of this is in the public record. Current DOJ policy prevents folks in the DOJ from indicting a sitting POTUS. So Mueller declined to do so. The Constitutional remedy for dealing with malfeasance by the POTUS is impeachment. That requires the House to initiate the process, and then the Senate to adjudicate. The political calculation, no doubt 100% correct, is that the Senate will never, ever, ever find this POTUS guilty of any impeachable offense. So the House appears disinclined to begin the process, at least not without conducting further investigation. Further investigation is currently being stonewalled by the executive. Not just stonewalled, but the authority of Congress to even conduct investigation has been called into question. Resolving all of this will require months if not years of legal wrangling, because our form of government prefers that process to guillotines. Which is, all things considered, a net positive. It's highly likely that nothing further will come of the Mueller findings. It's highly likely that the people currently in jail for the various and numerous crimes committed by the Trump campaign will be pardoned. It's more than reasonably likely that Trump will be POTUS until January 2025. Because a lot of people think he's great, and if there is one thing the man knows how to do, it's sell a turd. That, and cheat. My assumption is that we're on our way to being, at best, a second rate country. Rich and with lots of guns, but the rest of the world is going to find a way to work around the likes of us. Because we consent to be governed by a belligerent criminal fraud, and because people basically just don't like dealing with assholes if they don't have to. We're obliged to put up with him, because we elected him, and we don't have the fucking simple political will to throw him the hell out. The rest of the world is under no such obligation. Trump is not an anomaly. Trump is what the US looks like now. To the rest of the world, and also here at home. He's the POTUS because he won the freaking election. He remains POTUS because the political will to remove him does not exist. I put the odds of him winning in 2020 at better than even. He is as popular as he was the day he was elected, he has apparently unshakeable support within the (R) party, the economy is basically holding up, and he now has all of the advantages of incumbency. Short of a disastrous war or the economy imploding, he has every ingredient needed to do well. Win or lose, 40% or more of the country thinks he is the cat's meow. And that is where we are. Much much shorter me: Trump is a crook. A criminal. Mueller delivered the evidence of that to the DOJ and Congress, signed and sealed, with a cherry on top. The DOJ will do nothing with it. The Senate will do nothing with it. The House will dither around at trying to do something with it, but they can't seem to summon the muscle to make it stick. The institutions that exist to prevent people like Donald J Trump from retaining the office of POTUS are so far proving to be insufficient to the task. Maybe we can vote him out, but that assumes that a sufficient number of people want him out. Given the advantages he brings to the contest, it might need to be a pretty strong majority. And that may not be on offer. And there it is. I'm supposed to feel upbeat on Friday. So much for that! Posted by: hairshirthedonist | May 17, 2019 at 11:04 AM Here's a headline for ya: Trump wants his border barrier to be painted black with spikes. . Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it. What a frightened, ridiculous people we have become. Frightened, ridiculous people, with money and guns. Today in Arlington MA. Second time in a week. Because Jews will not replace us. Ask any very fine person you might happen to meet. None of this, of course, has anything to do with the POTUS' language or behavior. This week in New Haven. Because scary towel-head camel-jockey terrorists in our midst. I'm not going looking for this stuff, I'm just reading my news feed, hoping to find some funny cat videos. I disagree on one point with russell. I consider it unlikely that there will be many pardons for those already behind bars because most refused to fall on their swords for their boss and thus are considered traitors to Him. Apart from that, iirc a pardon would mean that they could not refuse anymore to testify against Him. Btw, could a POTUS pardon someone again for violating the obligations incurred by a first pardon? I consider it unlikely that there will be many pardons for those already behind bars Then they're fncked. Too bad for them, they knew he was a scorpion, they shouldn't have played the frog. Doesn't do anything to change the rest of the situation. The horse of a different color's patootie wants the openings in the wall to be smaller, but presumably still large enough to to pass tacos INTO pigfuck America and permit automatic gunfire to leave this, our benighted land of assholes, in the other direction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC871hNBig4 A recently coined word: "Progressive" https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/trumps-new-plan-requires-immigrants-to.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE8kOv26BuQ What he is trying to tell us is that the bodies are buried in Teddy's Panama Canal dig ... in the basement. You first, Mr President: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCWBDwkhGN0 "hoping to find some funny cat videos." Grumpy cat wasn't displaying the requisite amount of prosperity gospel happy talk, so always-wrong f*cker Larry Kudlow gave the order to off him: https://www.thedailybeast.com/grumpy-cat-internet-sensation-is-dead-at-age-7 That order went out from the White House at the same time as the orders to the republican base for the Mosque arson and the rabbi's keep-the-home-fires-burning celebration. So, conservatives, republicans, libertarians whatever you are calling yourselves today, you've been stockpiling military grade weaponry for decades to combat tyranny in blessed America. Well, now's your chance. You have opposable thumbs, am I right, or is that too sciency? First thing you do, is take those thumbs out of your asses. But wait, that's not the target the guns are for, are they? I didn't think so. All that's true. However low an opinion of him we here have, there's a (depressingly) large portion of the population that either likes what he does (or, more often, says), or just likes the reality TV show he is providing. HOWEVER, it should be noted that, unlike every other President in my lifetime, his popularity has never cleared 50%. And, since his first week in office, not even 45%. This with, as you say, an economy which is doing quite well -- despite his best efforts. Considering how narrow his margin of victory was, even a tiny shift in a couple of places could see him gone. It should also be noted that incumbency is mainly an advantage when people at the margins can see that you are accomplishing something for them. There may not be as many swing voters like that as there once were, but there are still enough. And from the polls, not to mention 2018 election results, a lot of them (including a lot who said "Why not give him a try?") are seriously underwhelmed.** Certainly the Democrats need to avoid anything like overconfidence. A lesson I hope they have taken from last time. But provided they do, I'd say that Trump's reelection odds are more like 1 in 3, possibly lower. ** That's now. If the trogdolites succeed in their effort to get abortion laws like Alabama's sustained, even some Trump fans will, I suspect, decide they aren't as enthused about winning the culture wars as they were about fighting them. as always: national polls are of extremely limited use when talking about the Presidency. the President is not elected by a national poll, or a national vote. russell and wj, you're talking as if the election will be held without shenanigans. Gerrymandering, hackable, generally unreliable machines, voter suppression (closing of polling places, impossible hours, etc.), foreign interference -- and if all of that doesn't quite work, we'll get the mere accusation of cheating as an excuse to disqualify the results. Not a single bit of it will surprise me from this crew. And, wrs at 10:49, although I'm trying to keep a bit of a hold on the fact that the rest of us are not going to go back into the darkness quietly. Closets are dark, back alleys are dark, a lot of us still remember those days, and I hope a lot of younger people, who might in other circumstances be oblivious to the gains because they take them for granted, are seeing firsthand that they can be taken away in a blink. ...and if all of that doesn't quite work, we'll get the mere accusation of cheating as an excuse to disqualify the results. It definitely won't surprise me if Trump says exactly that. But I'm reasonably confident that power will get transferred regardless. Now if you want to worry that some of his fans will take action in support of those accusations, I'd give that a higher probability. Although, again, I doubt it will be anywhere close to enough to keep/restore him to office. A hassle to smack down, perhaps, but a serious threat only in their own minds. Give themselves a new Lost Cause to be nostalgic over. Sometimes, victory comes in bits and pieces. Looks like some of Barr's redactions are going to get un-redacted. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-orders-public-release-of-what-michael-flynn-said-in-call-to-russian-ambassador/2019/05/16/1e68712a-7825-11e9-bd25-c989555e7766_story.html P and Pence have ordered NASA missions to Ultimate Thule, where conservative republican vermin purity remains unpolluted by basic human decency in the far corner of the universe and can be mined and transported to Earth: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/05/ultima-thule-nasa-nazi/589693/ Very true. But why assume anyone is relying on national polls when stuff like this is available? https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-states-where-trump-is-more-and-less-popular-than-he-should-be/ I picked 3 states at random (NOT!!!) to look at Rump's net approval: Pennsylvania: -7% Michigan: -10% Wisconsin: -13% I know it's early, but that's reason for hope. russell and wj, you're talking as if the election will be held without shenanigans. Not me. Among the advantages of incumbency are an AG who is fond of the phrase "nothing to see here". Just for starters. the rest of us are not going to go back into the darkness quietly. Think back to the middle of the last century, when Democrats' control of Congress was predicated on the racist Democrats from the Deep South. Did you think that all Democrats deserved to be denounced as racists, simply because they were tolerating the racists who kept them in power? Seems like consistency would require that. Certainly there were some seriously subhuman individuals in play. This is false equivalence, wj. Yes, the Democrats did rely on the racists to stay in power, but they were were by no means universally, or even mostly, supporters of racist agendas. I can go into detail, but all you really need to remember is that there was a Dixiecrat revolt, which sort of suggests that maybe the Southerners weren't in full control of the party. Unfortunately, today's Republicans, certainly 95+% of its politicians are firmly behind Trump's corrupt, racist, ignorant policies. I don't think the situations are comparable. Posted by: byomtov | May 17, 2019 at 01:56 PM Pre-Big Sort and post-Big Sort. Clearly, as the time rapidly approaches, the most effective way to get close enough to the conservative movement in order to gain its trust and poison, stab, machete, and shoot it, is to appear ignorant, stupid, not too up on current events, perhaps altogether bereft of sentience: http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2019/05/ignorance-is-strength Say "duh" and "search me!" a lot and listlessly shrug your shoulders when non-thinking with them in their group-think cult tanks. Maybe scratch your private parts absentmindedly with one of them cogitating expressions on your face like maybe all of the facts have escaped you. Whatever you do, don't utter the words "jejune" or "disintermediate", or "ironic", or "second opinion" in their presence or they turn on you ferociously like a body snatcher sniffing out a single glandular squirt of empathy. "Whatchamacallit" should be the only noun you will require to communicative with them, but make sure to pull on your forelock and mutter "Yes, my Lord" when they order you to lick their faces and other hard to reach areas of their biology. This will spark their great admiration of your non-existent knowledge in all areas of expertise, which will gain you the confidence of their higher ups and allow you to advance to hobnob where their knowledge and smarts deficit is most egregious. When they mention the "Democrat Party", socialists, man-on-dog liberals, just say "Fuck, em!" and at that moment conservative filth will let down their guard completely at your display of psychopathic dimwittedeness and you can lunge in for the sure kill. Now, personally, this would not be MY method of liquidating the American conservative movement, considering how time consuming it would be, and frankly, it's a little late in the day for such piecemeal measures, so don't you worry. Nuking them from space is a superior idea. Maybe we can invite the top million of the filth to Burning Man in the high desert and when they torch the sculpture a nuclear device of some awful mega-tonnage will go ka-blam and fry them right down to the cellular level. We'll tow a statue of a pantsless Robert E. Lee out to the site, while wearing hazmat suits, to serve as a marker of what needs to be done from time to time in American history. We'll preserve their fetuses, however, and attempt to raise them to be normal human beings, unless of course this entire conservative nutcase phenomenon turns out to be nature, not nurture, a matter of all them indelible, inexorably hate-seeking chromosomes doing their worst with any intervention short of absolute ruthlessness being all there is for it. Word to the wise to women contemplating undergoing an abortion after being raped by a republican stranger of perhaps a republican relative closer to home. https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/when-abortion-was-banned-in-romania.html Don't let on to your rapist or his buddies at church about your intentions in that direction because conservative law enforcement and jurists will entertain leniency, and perhaps even high fives from Brett Kavanaugh, for your rapist if the latter divulge the who, what, when, and why of your intentions so they may punish you and, well, murder your doctor. Furthermore, conservative religious wedding cake bakers will offer discounts to conservative rapists who wish to marry their victims and make honest, but compliant and submissive women of them. Conservative wedding planners are all over this trend as they are now offering honeymoon discounts to selected resorts for conservative rapists and their blushing, hemorrhaging, and handcuffed brides. At Mar-a-Lago, for example, well, p will let his fingers do the walking, especially at the orphanage-cum-pizza basement joint off the lobby housing kidnapped Central American children AND now, the new market, dusky kids unwanted by conservative palefaces. Kinda makes me sorry my tax dollars have been used by the U.S. Navy to make the world's sea lanes safe for the cruise ship industry to sail without the threat of torpedo attacks: https://www.balloon-juice.com/2019/05/17/friday-evening-open-thread-cruise-ship-of-certified-fools/ https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/17/1858527/-Trump-preparing-to-send-thousands-of-migrants-to-Democratic-strongholds-in-Florida-with-no-support The counties in question should accept the migrants/refugees and besides making them at home, heavily arm and train them in paramilitary guerilla self defense and readiness for the coming savage Civil War conservatives are quickly laying plans for across this great land of ours. Is He, Trump worth impeaching? Lindsey Graham, that weasel among lemmings or vice versa, proudly thinks not. He, Trump may be a crook, with traitors for servants and racists for supporters, but Little Lindsey will loudly claim that's not worth impeaching Him over. Nancy Pelosi, who may not think it's possible to win over any of the MAGA maggots but fears that "swing voters" will be put off by the sight of a grandmother spanking He, Trump's fat ass with a rolled-up copy of the Constitution, has said in so many words that Dear Leader isn't worth impeaching. A charlatan, however crooked, is only worth impeaching when even His most gullible dupes finally agree, you see, and never mind whether any sentient cactus that understands simple Anglo-Saxon words like "would" or "be" or "king" thinks it's long past time for impeachment. Nothing will change Little Lindsey's mind, because he lost it somewhere around the 4th tee. Nancy might change her mind, but not before Moderate Marty does. The punditocracy keeps talking as if "ordinary Americans" view "politics" the same way they view chess: a boring game among pointy-headed nerds that has nothing to do with "real life". To the pundits, impeachment is just a political gambit -- to be judged solely on whether it leads to mate in 7 against the best defense, or not. Sweeping away the pieces and breaking the board over your opponent's head -- the He, Trump Defense -- is something the pundits imagine "ordinary Americans" will find entertaining at best, understandable at worst. As a cynic, I say: if the pundits are right, "ordinary Americans" will deserve everything that's coming to them in the next 2, or 6, or 60 years. But: as a bleeding-heart liberal, positively seething with good will toward those "ordinary Americans", I would gladly spare them the comeuppance, even at the cost of pundits' furrowed brows. Nancy: stop waiting for the Revelation that will finally liberate "moderates" from their slavish devotion to "bipartisanship", let alone for the 2x4 upside the head it will take to deprogram the MAGA cultists from their worship of Individual_1, the 5th Avenue shootist who can do no wrong in their eyes. ITMFA. The Republic you save may be your own. I think any discussion about whether impeachment is worthwhile requires asking: Given that actual removal is not in the cards, what is gained by impeachment? (Now if something surfaces that looks like it might actually convince some Republican Senators, that's a different discussion.) On one hand, it makes the point that at least part of Congress takes its responsibilities seriously. On the other hand, having the Senate fail to convict will get hyped as validation that there was never anything there. And that includes scenarios where a majority of the Senate votes to remove, just not 2/3. After all, if it was a huge win to lose the popular vote by 3 million, surely it would be a huge win to only have 65 Senators vote to remove him.... Given that actual removal is not in the cards, what is gained by impeachment? Impeachment is the remedy that is available, and failing to make use of it is a concession of your own powerlessness. Plus, it brings demands for evidence and testimony within the bounds of powers explicitly and unambiguously granted to Congress, in black letters, by the Constitution. Which cuts the whole "we will only comply with what is necessary for legislative purposes" hogwash off at the pass. If the Senate fails to convict, then they can own that. At least the House will have done what is in their power to do. ITMFA Or, what Tony said. Not only WRS, but consider this: conventional wisdom has it that impeachment is pointless because it will die in the McConnell Senate, but goo-goo legislation which McConnell's Senate will never even take up will somehow score points for the Dems. Conventional wisdom is nuts. I want a serious smoking gun before the House impeaches. Recordings of Trump; clear-cut tax fraud; something on that order. Enough that the Senate Republicans will pay a heavy electoral price if they acquit. Meanwhile, Calhoun lives! Dear Texas: go ahead and try it on. It didn't work out so well last time, but maybe this time you'll have better luck. You surrendered your sovereignty in 1845, dudes. I want a serious smoking gun before the House impeaches Trump told McGahn to fire Mueller. So says McGahn. Under oath. You need tax evasion? Enough that the Senate Republicans will pay a heavy electoral price if they acquit. "A heavy electoral price"? OK: what's a heavy electoral price when it's at home? Best I can figure, it amounts to this: even semi-sentient friends and neighbors of the MAGA maggots decide to vote for the Democratic opponents of those Senate Republicans. He, Trump shooting somebody on 5th Avenue might accomplish that. Maybe. If those semi-sentient friends and neighbors of the MAGA maggots actually hear about it. But I come back to my own point: House Dems think they can get somewhere with "swing voters" by passing popular bills that embody a "positive vision", even though McConnell and his fellow GOPers in the Senate won't even take them up. And yet they think an impeachment will turn off "swing voters", because the Senate will never convict. Democrats have always been clever enough to outwit themselves. Alternatively, impeachment when you know it won't go anywhere is a concession that you are powerless to do anything which would accomplish something. I don't personally have any objection to impeachment proceedings. I just think there are other, more productive, ways to extract damning information about Trump, his cabinet, and all his works. But Mueller didn't get fired. He finished the investigation. I want something stronger than attempted obstruction, especially when it's one witness. Sans recordings or something in writing, the vast largely-uninterested public will accept Trump saying, "McGahn misunderstood." If a failed impeachment proceeding is the best that we've got against the Trump administration and its policies, we're doomed. "Extracting information" reminds me of my annoyance any time Bob Woodward talks about "ruhporting". For decades now, I've heard him use "ruhporting" as a name for the process of gathering information. English being my second language and all, I always thought of "reporting" as the process of disseminating information. It also reminds me of an old joke about the wacky professor who excitedly announces to his colleagues that he has invented a reading machine. "How does it work?", they ask. "It uses a suction cup to turn the pages", he answers. "Does it convert the printed text to some digital format?" "No. It just reads." "Oh, you mean it speaks the text aloud!" "No, it just reads." And so on. The point of impeachment hearings is not to "extract" information and shove it straight into the Congressional record. The point is to lay out the "information" that even people who can read nothing longer than a tweet already know, and make such a dog-and-pony show of it that C-Span outdraws Fox News in every "demo". The point is to make He, Trump's lickspittles in the Congress froth at the mouth and say increasingly stupid things. The point is to lead public opinion, not cower to some pundit's notion of it. Despicable as Dick and Dubya were, they were "leaders" in the operative sense that they led a public which couldn't spell Iraq, much less find it on a map, one year, to back their splendid little war on Iraq the next. Democrats need to lead. It is too early to impeach. They might finish it this year, almost certainly before the election. I would think just after Christmas to start, maybe even March 1. Then the hearings would have "new" revelations in the headlines every day until the election. As a political tool it's enough to talk about it every day between now and then. The point is to lead public opinion, not cower to some pundit's notion of it. QFT. And so very depressing. "As a political tool" is chess analysis. But if Nancy Pelosi wants to keep playing chess instead of trying to save the Republic, we should pass Marty's advice on to her. It's not like He, Trump's flying monkeys can do much damage to "ordinary Americans", the Constitution, or the planet between now and Christmas, is it? BTW, I wish Pelosi would stop telling The American People that "only Congress can declare war" and say it explicitly and publicly to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Then the hearings would have "new" revelations in the headlines every day until the election. If that's the way Pelosi is playing it, I tip my hat to her. Of course, if she is playing it that way, the last thing she can do is say so. Play it .. and say it. Dumb fuck: https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/he-doesnt-know-that-foreign-automakers.html Traitorous, dangerous dead fuck. Not dumb, however. Diabolical. Death sentence, firing squad levels of diabolical. https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/election-security-is-clearly-not.html The Border as diversion from the conservative movement's sequel to Red Dawn. 27 of Trump's nominees to the federal bench have declined to affirm Brown vs Board of Education. Jeffrey Rosen, his nominee for deputy AG, likewise declines to affirm Brown. Brown vs Board of Ed is one of the cornerstones of modern civil rights legislation. Is there a positive, or even neutral, way to interpret this refusal? I cannot imagine that there is. But IANAL, so I hope to God I am wrong. This is the first time I have heard of this shocking fact: has it received much coverage in the US? libertarian theology holds that BvB impinges on freedom of choice. Wow. Trump is appointing judges who want public schools to be racially segregated? I thought that sort of overt racism was over. Posted by: Pro Bono | May 18, 2019 at 04:52 PM Two possible neutral interpretations: 1) they think separate can be equal -- and if it isn't, it's the fault of those on the short end. 2) they don't think equal justice for all is required by the constitution. A positive interpretation is more challenging. But I suppose: - We're positive that we shouldn't have to worry about what happens to "those people" What there isn't is a Christian interpretation.... good news everybody! Canada and Mexico no longer pose national security threats to the US! Ya remember when lying, thieving, vermin conservatives, we know who the filth are, told us that republicans have no intention of banning birth control as well as abortion: https://www.truthorfiction.com/does-a-proposed-ohio-bill-make-the-pill-and-iuds-illegal/ Oh, the language is muddy, is it? Subhuman conservatives always, coyly, keep the language muddy until they do precisely what they say they are going to in Federalist Society meetings closed to the press for the past 70 years, since the Federalist Society changed its name from the John Birch Society. Republicans plan to increase the birthrate in America by raping their wives, their mistresses, and under-aged girls and keeping them in legal prison until the sacred fetus, at the very least their sperm half of it, are delivered. All females in Ohio must begin carrying loaded semi-automatic pistols and shoot any vermin republican who wants sovereignty over their bodies in the faces bodies. I'm going to be in Ohio in a few weeks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKLmw1AN4JA wj, couldn't you just lose it over republican conservatives threatening BvB? Would it hurt you to just throw up your hands and say screw the sunshine both sides part of the argument, which doesn't exist? If you are planning on turning into John Brown at the last minute over this stuff, time is running out. I write this in full confidence of your basic, essential humanity. Think of yourself as the pilot of the Enola Gay. Some things just need to be done. Ya remember when . . . [they] . . . told us that republicans have no intention of banning birth control as well as abortion. Well, you always knew opposition to abortion had nothing to do with avoiding killing a "human being". Because if that was the goal, they would have been fighting hard for universally available, free, contraception. Or even mandatory contraceptive implants for every girl from puberty. But somehow, that never seemed to be a priority. So I'm still thinking about this. Is this in confirmation hearings? What normally happens in judges' confirmation hearings? Are they usually asked to affirm the precedent of famous foundational cases? I think I've heard of some in the past questioning whether, for example, Roe v Wade is "settled law", was that in the same kind of situation? Although like everyone else I am all too familiar with the swell of overt conservative opinion on the abortion question, like Pro Bono I find it incredible that these people are prepared to say out loud, or imply, that they are against the desegregation of schools. But if there is no reasonable explanation, I am afraid this may be an astonishingly graphic illustration of Janie's prophecy upthread about America being taken back into darkness. The only hope, I guess, is that in the 2020 campaign, the Dems manage to really put the message across powerfully: the Republicans are hoping to segregate schools and outlaw abortion. If they do put it across successfully, that should be enough to get them over the line. What I'm about to say feels like a series of truisms, but if it were that simple we wouldn’t be where we are. It is never over. “We” (the human race) will never see the last of the kind of overt racism that Clickbait's election both relied on and freed from the closet. It never goes away, it just goes underground when the pendulum swings, and maybe the rest of us get complacent, or maybe (thinking of Shaw's play Back to Methuselah, on which I did my PhD thesis) we just don't live long enough to learn these lessons effectively. It's a weird, schizy time we're living in, where on the one hand we've come so far that gay people can get married, and on the other we're seeing a revival of the worst kind of viciousness toward every kind of group that isn't straight, white, male, and well off, and one by one, the dismantling of the steps along the way to our present, relatively less dark social customs (in some places). It brings to mind the notion of outrunning your headlights, which we hear about a lot here in snowmobile country. Not to say we shouldn’t have been pushing forward on all these fronts, but we didn’t bring everyone with us, and I’m pretty sure that’s impossible anyhow. To me the most depressing thing (well, other than everything else) is related to what TP wrote last night about shaping public opinion instead of cowering before it. The power- and money-brokers on the right have spent decades to get us to the point we’re at right now. Kavanaugh and all those judges who won’t affirm Brown didn’t just pop out of Athena’s brow the other day. Those anti-abortion bills didn’t just get churned out at some right-wing legal chop shop last week. This stuff has been in preparation for a very long time. Why doesn’t our side know how to do that? (Rhetorical question.) I'm reminded of a quote from Solzhenitsyn: “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. I'll leave the connection as an exercise for the reader. Okay, Zeus's brow, Athena was the one who popped out. Bad metaphor in any case. What the heck, it's a blog comment. On the brighter side, we have this https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/05/17/nevadas-legislature-women-outnumber-men-first-nation-carson-city-may-never-be-same/ Okay, Zeus's brow, Athena was the one who popped out. Close enough. Jane FTW at 6:34. There has been for some time a trend for judicial nominees to refuse on ‘principle’ to comment on particular SC decisions during nomination hearings (which has become part, I think, of Federal Society training/doctrine for lawyers) in order to avoid providing ammunition against their confirmation. This is coupled with a firm declaration that as a judge they will, of course, respect precedent. We have seen in recent years that such declarations are effectively meaningless when it comes to SC justices being bound by the principle of stare decisis. It is only very recently that such a refusal now includes BvB. The pretext is, of course, ‘if I answer that you’ll then ask me about Roe v Wade’. But it is also clear that BvB is no longer secure in a future Republican dominated Court. At least one Republican representative has principles: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/19/michigans-justin-amash-becomes-first-republican-to-back-trump-impeachment Slate has had a series of good articles on the dangers of court packing. This is the latest: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/05/senate-trump-judges-kenneth-lee-mitch-mcconnell.html The abandonment on the Blue Slip process (the respecting of which is why Obama left some many Federal court vacancies infilled - which Trump is now filling at a record rate) is every bit as troubling as any given Supreme Court appointment, but garners a minute fraction of the public attention. What Nadler said. “They are now taking the position that the Justice Department can’t hold the President accountable, since they say no President can be indicted, no matter what the evidence, as a matter of law. And now they are saying that Congress can’t hold the President accountable. That means the President is above the law, and that’s intolerable in a democratic society. We cannot permit that kind of arrogation of power.” Thank you, Nigel, for the explanation @12.19. Once I read it, I realised I knew it, but clearly there is currently a limit to the amount of backstory I can keep in my head at any one time. So, leaving aside the LGBT changes (just for the moment, for the sake of this argument as being more recent, less-embedded public attitudes): manoeuvring toward no Roe v Wade and no B v BofE, and a president above the law - a pretty good definition of a not-so-slow-moving coup. Since this is an open thread, here's a good article by Robert Wright: "How the New York Times is making War with Iran more likely" https://theintercept.com/2018/03/17/new-york-times-iran-israel-washington-think-tanks/ I'm afrsid they'll never learn, though. Posted by: novakant | May 19, 2019 at 09:16 AM All of us can play this stupid fucking game: https://www.balloon-juice.com/2019/05/18/censorship-open-thread-feel-free-to-just-stfu-now/ Warning: I've had any number of comments censored by "moderators (Stasi fascist conservatives)" at "The American Conservative" and in the past at "Red State". Several of my letters to the editor at the conservative Rocky Mountain News (now a dead item) in past decades disappeared into the censor's circular file, though a few were published, after which I received death threats from Christian conservative vermin, one instance of which was investigated by the FBI. My high school newspaper columns were censored by school authorities. When I worked in public information and journalism, editors and copy readers dared to censor my grammatical peculiarities, with RED pencils, no less, and which are protected by the literal, God-given, blood-soaked words of the Bill of Rights, ain't they? I'm a victim. Me own sainted mother shushed me once with the threat that if I couldn't say something nice, then don't say anything at all. Who did she think SHE was ... Joe Stalin? It now occurs to me, thanks to the filthy whining victims in the conservative bowel movement that I want justice, I want my First Amendment rights restored, recognized, and licked clean by conservatives in every instance. How brutal of a violent, savage revolution in this country do I have to answer with against conservative vermin suggesting the same to satisfy their martydom, in order to satisfy MY need to have every word of MINE heard and quite frankly appreciated, if not memorized and taught as gospel in religious schools to the awe-struck open minded offspring of cannibal conservatives? Hanh? I'm going to complain to the White House, that's what! I'm going to request that they give a proper burial to Mr Khashosggi's body parts they have been feeding, without identifying such on the menu, to smirking amateur sports champions and calling it a Happy Meal. Or at least serve body parts during meals without a hint of political bias. Those athletes can choke down some Milo with fries too, can't they? As a show of good faith that censorship shall never be practiced again in this, our Bellmorian free society. I find this fascinating: https://twitter.com/ibdeditorials?lang=en Investor's Business Daily discontinued one of the most right wing in the dumper for p editorial pages in the country. As we approach the most decisive election in the same all-of-U.S.-history during which p claims he has been the greatest President. Maybe the denizens of that sribbling nest of vipers decided they'd better hide so we can't find them to mete out punishment. This was par for the course: https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/kerry-obsessed-with-nonexistent-global-warming/ Meanwhile, this brief note in the "news" section, (all the news that's fit to print and then lie about on the opinion page) page A-2 in today's weekly copy of the paper: "Arctic Circle temp hits high Ardhangelsk, Russia, recently hit 84 degrees vs the average of 54 degrees. The record-breaking temperatures around the Arctic Circle comes as Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory saw carbon dioxide measurements of 415 parts per million in the atmosphere, the highest in at least 800,000 years. The data points to increased carbon dioxide emissions heating up the Earth as 18 out of the 19 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000." I suspect they are heading for higher ground. We'll find them. Probably a lot simpler than that. The market has hit the skids, thanks in no small part to Trump's trade wars, and their readers know it. So continuing to praise Trump would not go down well. Pissing off their subscribers is just bad business. Or perhaps they incline, at least in Trump's case, to "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.: NPR OR assures me that all the rubes in flyover country are perfectly fine with Trump's trade war, because they're all very concerned about forced intellectual property transfers. the tech industry thanks them for their sacrifice. the "OR" has no place in my comment and i wish it would die. Sticky fingers: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/deutsche-bank-illicit-transactions-kushner-trump-russian-laundering https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-disagree-alabama-abortion-ban-rape-incest-exceptions p tweeted that he used his fingers as birth control until the day after he announced his candidacy for President, and when that method failed, he OFFERED to pay to abort the fetuses of his dozens of illicit sexual assault victims during his lifetime, out of the kindness of the cold-blooded hearts of whomever he was married to at the time, but he never, NEVER followed thru on those payments, well .... maybe a few times, via Deutsche Bank ...as any good, fake, right-wing Falwell Christian piece of shit would not, being a pro-self deal maker. Most conservative republican fetuses are traitorous Russian spies. There was a time, a long time, during my life, when conservative republican jagoffs would have blackballed and executed all of them for the crime. https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/he-tried-to-get-them-to-shut-down.html

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Thiolases signatures Two different types of thiolase [1,2,3] are found both in eukaryotes and in prokaryotes: acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.9) and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.16). 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (also called thiolase I) has a broad chain-length specificity for its substrates and is involved in degradative pathways such as fatty acid β-oxidation. Acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (also called thiolase II) is specific for the thiolysis of acetoacetyl-CoA and involved in biosynthetic pathways such as poly β-hydroxybutyrate synthesis or steroid biogenesis. In eukaryotes, there are two forms of 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase: one located in the mitochondrion and the other in peroxisomes. There are two conserved cysteine residues important for thiolase activity. The first located in the N-terminal section of the enzymes is involved in the formation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate; the second located at the C-terminal extremity is the active site base involved in deprotonation in the condensation reaction. Mammalian nonspecific lipid-transfer protein (nsL-TP) (also known as sterol carrier protein 2) is a protein which seems to exist in two different forms: a 14 Kd protein (SCP-2) and a larger 58 Kd protein (SCP-x). The former is found in the cytoplasm or the mitochondria and is involved in lipid transport; the latter is found in peroxisomes. The C-terminal part of SCP-x is identical to SCP-2 while the N-terminal portion is evolutionary related to thiolases [4]. We developed three signature patterns for this family of proteins, two of which are based on the regions around the biologically important cysteines. The third is based on a highly conserved region in the C-terminal part of these proteins. April 2006 / Patterns revised. THIOLASE_1, PS00098; Thiolases acyl-enzyme intermediate signature (PATTERN) [LIVM]-[NST]-{T}-x-C-[SAGLI]-[ST]-[SAG]-[LIVMFYNS]-x- [STAG]-[LIVM]-x(6)-[LIVM] C is involved in formation of acyl-enzyme intermediate undetected by PS00098: 50 (47 false negatives and 3 'partials') 4 false positives. Matching PDB structures: 1AFW 1DLU 1DLV 1M1T ... [ALL] THIOLASE_2, PS00737; Thiolases signature 2 (PATTERN) N-x(2)-G(2)-x-[LIVM]-[SA]-x-G-H-P-x-[GAS]-x-[ST]-G undetected by PS00737: 6 (3 false negatives and 3 'partials') Matching PDB structures: 1AFW 1DLU 1DLV 1DM3 ... [ALL] THIOLASE_3, PS00099; Thiolases active site (PATTERN) [AG]-[LIVMA]-[STAGCLIVM]-[STAG]-[LIVMA]-C-{Q}-[AG]-x-[AG]- x-[AG]-x-[SAG] C is the active site residue 39 false positives. 1 Authors Peoples O.P. Sinskey A.J. Title Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis in Alcaligenes eutrophus H16. Characterization of the genes encoding beta-ketothiolase and acetoacetyl-CoA reductase. 2 Authors Yang S.-Y. Yang X.-Y.H. Healy-Louie G. Schulz H. Elzinga M. Title Nucleotide sequence of the fadA gene. Primary structure of 3-ketoacyl-coenzyme A thiolase from Escherichia coli and the structural organization of the fadAB operon. 3 Authors Igual J.C. Gonzalez-Bosch C. Dopazo J. Perez-Ortin J.E. Title Phylogenetic analysis of the thiolase family. Implications for the evolutionary origin of peroxisomes. Source J. Mol. Evol. 35:147-155(1992). 4 Authors Baker M.E. Billheimer J.T. Strauss J.F. III Title Similarity between the amino-terminal portion of mammalian 58-kD sterol carrier protein (SCPx) and Escherichia coli acetyl-CoA acyltransferase: evidence for a gene fusion in SCPx. Source DNA Cell Biol. 10:695-698(1991).

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La-type HTH domain profile The La-type HTH domain is an RNA-binding, winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) domain of about 90 residues present in La proteins and other eukaryotic RNA-binding proteins. The domain is named after human La protein, originally characterized as an autoantigen of the rheumatic diseases systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's syndrome (La derives from the patient's name). La homologs have been found in all eukaryots including plants, trypanosomes and yeast. The La protein is a nuclear phosphoprotein that recognizes the 3' uridylates (3' UUU[OH]) present in all newly synthesized RNA polymerase III transcripts. La binding stabilizes these transcripts from exonucleases and may assist their folding. The La-type HTH domain occurs in the N-terminal part of La proteins, followed by one or two RNA recognition motifs (RRM) (see <PDOC00030>). The La-type HTH also occurs in combination with a double-stranded RNA binding motif and with a SAM binding motif. The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of the La protein from Trypanosoma brucei shows that the domain forms a wHTH containing six α-helices (H) and a three-stranded (B) antiparallel sheet with a topology H1-H1'-H2-B1-H3-H4-H5-B2-B3 (see <PDB:1S29>). The wHTH fold is found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic transcription factors, wherein the wHTH specifically binds to dsDNA (e.g. see <PDOC00042>). Two of the three N-terminal helices and helix 4 may be considered as insertions into such wHTH topologies. The helices 3 and 5 correspond with the HTH and the strands form the wing in such transcription factors, where these structures bind DNA. A different surface, which is formed by a conserved aromatic patch between helices H1, H1', H2 and the loop between H3 and H4 may bind RNA in the La-type HTH domain [1]. Some proteins known to contain a La-type HTH domain: Eukaryotic La protein, a nuclear protein that binds the 3' termini of nascent RNA polymerase III transcripts and other small RNA, like pre-tRNA's, 5S rRNA's, U6 RNA and SRP RNA, as characterized in humans, fruit fly, baker's and fission yeast, and Trypanosoma brucei. Both the La-type HTH domain and the RRM are required for RNA binding by La. The aromatic patch of the La-type wHTH is required for specific binding to the 3'UUU[OH] of pre-tRNA [1,2]. Saccharomyces cerevisiae SRO9 and SLF1, which associate with polyribosomes and may function in translation. Euplotes aediculatus p43, a component of the ciliate's telomerase ribonucleoprotein. P43 does not bind to the 3' UUU[OH]. The profile we developed covers the entire La-type HTH domain. The La-type HTH domain has also been named LM for 'La motif' [1]. March 2004 / First entry. HTH_LA, PS50961; La-type HTH domain profile (MATRIX) Matching PDB structures: 1S7A 1YTY 1ZH5 2CQK ... [ALL] 1 Authors Dong G. Chakshusmathi G. Wolin S.L. Reinisch K.M. Title Structure of the La motif: a winged helix domain mediates RNA binding via a conserved aromatic patch. DOI 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600115 2 Authors Wolin S.L. Cedervall T. Title The La protein. Source Annu. Rev. Biochem. 71:375-403(2002). DOI 10.1146/annurev.biochem.71.090501.150003

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Punditry And Pontification John Boehner and John Roberts, Meet John Marshall Originally posted at American Thinker If and when House Speaker John Boehner sues the President, John Roberts and his colleagues on the Supreme Court will confront a challenge that has bedeviled the judiciary for more than 200 years. When the executive disregards constitutional limitations on its own power, what can the Court do about it? When confronted with the issue in Marbury v. Madison in 1803, then-Chief Justice John Marshall enhanced the Court’s power and prestige by declining to issue an order the executive might refuse to obey. Today’s Court will have to decide whether the Obama Administration’s recidivist disregard for constitutional and legislative limits warrants issuing an order the executive might simply ignore. Marbury arose under political circumstances as volatile and acrimonious as anything we see today. From 1789 to 1801 Federalists controlled the presidency under George Washington and John Adams. From 1797 to 1801 the Federalists held both chambers of Congress. But at the turn of the 19th century, Federalist dominance failed. In the 1790s, the French Revolution deeply divided American politics, and opposition to Federalists’ latent monopoly on government coalesced when Washington declared the United States neutral in Europe’s general war of the 1790s and Adams undertook an undeclared naval war against the French. The overwhelmingly unpopular Alien and Sedition Acts, allegedly enacted to bolster national security against French infiltrators and supporters, was seen by many as an effort to suppress anti-Federalist sentiment. Then in the election of 1800, the Federalist ticket split in as Alexander Hamilton ran against the incumbent John Adams. In the resulting “Revolution of 1800,” the Democratic-Republican party swept into power. Due to a constitutional quirk since rectified, the two D-R candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, deadlocked in the Electoral College, requiring the lame-duck Federalists in the House of Representatives to break the tie. The Federalists generally supported Burr, but Hamilton worked tirelessly against him, contributing to a prolonged deadlock in the House. It took thirty-six ballots, but eventually Delaware Federalist James Bayard switched his vote from Burr to Jefferson, giving Jefferson the election. Burr killed Hamilton in a duel less than four years later. Before the new president and Congress were sworn in, the Federalists packed the courts. First, the Federalists enacted the Judiciary Act of 1801, creating new District Courts and Circuit Courts, adding judges to the Circuits, reducing the number of Supreme Court justices and empowering the president to appoint federal judges and Justices of the Peace. On March 3, 1801, the day before leaving office, Adams appointed what become known as the “Midnight Judges” to fill the new positions. On March 4, the last day of the Adams presidency and the 6th Congress, the Senate approved the Midnight Judges appointments. John Marshall was a staunch Federalist and Adams ally. He was Adams’ Secretary of State from June, 1800, until the Federalists left office on March 4, 1801. He was also Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from January 31, 1801, to July 6, 1835, making him both Secretary of State and Chief Justice at the time of the Midnight Judges appointments. In his role as Secretary of State, Marshall was charged with actually delivering the commissions to the Justices of the Peace approved by the outgoing Federalist Senate. Perhaps serving in two of the most important roles in the country simultaneously was too much, as Secretary Marshall did not deliver all of the commissions and left some number in the desk in the Secretary of State’s office. Once sworn in, Jefferson set about undoing the Federalists’ court-packing scheme. One of his first steps was ordering Levi Lincoln, the stand-in Secretary of State until James Madison arrived in the District of Columbia, not to deliver the neglected commissions. Then the Judiciary Act of 1802 reversed the Judiciary Act of 1801, so the courts’ governance reverted to the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Judiciary Act of 1802 also cancelled the Supreme Court’s entire term for the second half of 1802. One of the commissions that Secretary Marshall neglected to deliver and that was subsequently withheld by Jefferson, Lincoln, and, once he arrived on the scene, Madison, was slated for William Marbury. So Marbury sued Madison. And Marbury sued Madison directly in the United States Supreme Court. Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 — again in force thanks to the D-Rs reversing the Judiciary Act of 1801 — the Supreme Court had original jurisdiction over writs of mandamus. Generally, a writ of mandamus requires or forbids a government entity from doing something or failing to do something. Marbury sought a writ of mandamus requiring delivery of his commission. Federalist Marbury was asking Federalist Marshall to order D-R Madison to deliver the commission Secretary Marshall himself had failed to deliver; the D-Rs controlled the entire legislative function, had already prorogued an entire Supreme Court term, and by all indications were willing to hamstring the Federalist-controlled courts altogether. Chief Justice Marshall responded with arguably the most important decision in U.S. judicial history, addressing two critical questions. First, the Court held that a political officer cannot refuse to perform a specific, legally defined obligation, notwithstanding any Presidential order to the contrary. In Marbury, once the commission had been signed, the Secretary of State’s duty was to stamp it and deliver it: This is not a proceeding which may be varied if the judgment of the Executive shall suggest one more eligible, but is a precise course accurately marked out by law, and is to be strictly pursued. It is the duty of the Secretary of State to conform to the law . . . He acts, in this respect . . . under the authority of law, and not by the instructions of the President. As a result, Madison was not entitled to withhold Marbury’s commission. Second, though, the Court held that it did not have the power to order Madison to deliver Marbury’s commission because the Court lacked original jurisdiction over Marbury’s suit. Without too much of a foray into the minutia of constitutional syntax, Chief Justice Marshall held that the Constitution precludes expanding the Court’s original jurisdiction, and therefore the Judiciary Act clause purporting to grant the Court original jurisdiction over complaints seeking a writ of mandamus was void. Since the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction over Marbury’s suit, the Court could not issue the requested writ. Chief Justice Marshall is often credited with creating judicial review by voiding an act of Congress in Marbury, but that is not entirely accurate. Judicial review existed in English common law and was discussed favorably at the constitutional conventions. However, Marbury is the first time the Supreme Court negated an act of Congress, thereby giving judicial review firm precedential footing. Establishing judicial review was a major victory for Chief Justice Marshall and for the Court. That goal explains two peculiarities about Marshall’s decision. First, jurisdiction over a case is usually and properly determined at the beginning of a decision, since jurisdiction is a predicate to deciding the merits of a matter. In Marbury, only the holding that the Court lacked jurisdiction is binding, and the discussion of executive officers’ obligations is non-binding dicta. Chief Justice Marshall likely opined on Madison’s lawlessness first because he wanted to support his fellow Federalists, even though he then rendered his opinion moot. Second, if Marshall wanted to help his fellow-traveler and redeem his own mistake, why did he cast off his own power to do so by negating the Court’s original jurisdiction? There are many good reasons, actually. The constitutional interpretation in Marbury is objectively and generally accepted as the correct one; Chief Justice Marshall probably did not want long, tedious original jurisdiction matters diluting the Court’s appellate powers; securing judicial review required voiding the Judiciary Act of 1789 and so sacrificing Mr. Marbury’s commission. In considering a potential Boehner suit, Chief Justice Roberts may be thinking of another reason Chief Justice Marshall disclaimed the Court’s jurisdiction in Marbury. The Court has no independent means of enforcing its orders. It relies on the executive. If Marshall issued a writ of mandamus ordering Madison to deliver Marbury’s commission, Madison might have refused. Marbury could have turned to the executive, but Thomas Jefferson was not predisposed to empower a Federalist at Madison’s expense. Issuing an order that Madison and Jefferson might ignore risked undermining the Court, the Constitution and the republic. Now recall that Speaker Boehner’s proposed suit would allege precisely that the executive is ignoring another branch’s constitutional powers. A court order would either require or forbid the President’s doing something, whether it be unwinding past encroachments or refraining from future ones. But the Court is no more able to enforce such a decision today than it was two hundred years ago. No, President Obama is abusing the executive’s exclusive ability to change facts on the ground, and the judiciary cannot force him to stop or undo his overreach. Nevertheless, there are good reasons for the Court to risk today what Chief Justice Marshall refused to risk in 1803. Chief Justice Marshall’s concern for the Court’s well-being is moot in 2014, as Judicial review and the Court’s prestige are well and deeply established. While having an order ignored would highlight the Court’s limitations, it would not undermine the institution as Chief Justice Marshall might have feared. Indeed, if President Obama ignored a Supreme Court order, it would damage him and his party far more than it would damage the judiciary. In addition, the merits of a potential Boehner suit leave little room for maneuver. Chief Justice Roberts has been pilloried for his 2012 decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, which upheld Obamacare by transmogrifying a fine into a tax. Consistent with precedent and deference to the more democratic branches of government, that decision reflects the Court’s reluctance to interfere with legislation when there is any Constitutional basis upon which to uphold it. But while Sebelius may have required strained reasoning, there is no reasoning upon which Mr. Obama could constitutionally rewrite the explicit deadlines in Obamacare or negate provisions in immigration law. Chief Justice Roberts’ deference in Sebelius even enhances his credibility in a Boehner suit. Finally, the Court has the power and duty to interpret and uphold the Constitution. The Constitution provides that “[t]he judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, [and] the laws of the United States.” As Chief Justice Marshall wrote in Marbury, “[i]t is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is.” President Obama re-writes and ignores legislation as he sees fit, derogating from Congress’s Article I powers. If the separation of executive and legislative powers is to have any substance, the Court must assert itself and perform its duty to say what the law is, no matter the practical or political challenges. Incidentally, Marbury never received his commission. Madison succeeded Jefferson as President, elected in 1808. Jonathan Levin is an attorney and blogs at punditryandpontification.com This entry was posted in Uncategorized on July 14, 2014 by Jonathan Levin. ← Carnegie Report On U.S. Policy Toward Corruption Abroad Misses The Mark “Zionazi” Meme is Vile Propaganda → Israel Guilty in the Kangaroo Court Don’t Fall For Iran’s Sham Deal (Again) 47 Leaders, not #47Traitors Netanyahu and the Facts HarperCollins Panders to Gulf Extremism The Committee for Accuracy in Middle-East Reporting in America The Foreign Policy Initiative The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Jonathan Levin on Don’t Fall For Iran… Jonathan Levin on There Is No Middle Ground With… Reda Zaher Sobky on Hillary Clinton’s Foreig… Jonathan Levin on IAEA Report Shows JPA Did Not… Heather (@heathervct… on IAEA Report Shows JPA Did Not…

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Yakura finds a home as captain of Storm QUAD-CITY STORM Quad City Storm captain Dean Yakura is the second-oldest player in the SPHL this season. He brings a lot of experience and leadership to the second-year club. JESSICA GALLAGHER, Huntsville Havoc's Nolan Kaiser (10) and the Quad City Storm's Dean Yakura (11) chase down the puck during the Storm's home opener Friday at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. MEG MCLAUGHLIN, Quad City Storm captain Dean Yakura poses for a portrait at the TaxSlayer Center during the team's media day last month. JESSICA GALLAGHER / Dean Yakura has been something of a journeyman in his hockey career. In his first nine years as a professional, Yakura played with 13 different teams in 12 different cities. He jumped between four different leagues, including spending one season in Japan. He might have found a home in the Quad-Cities as he opens this season as the newest captain of the Quad-City Storm. "I know it is a privilege and a huge honor," Yakura said. "I know I have my values, really emphasize work ethic and doing the right things just day in and day out." It's not the first time Yakura has been a captain, wearing the 'C' for two seasons with the Danbury Titans in the Federal Hockey League. At 34, Yakura is the second oldest player in the league, only behind Knoxville's Jason Price, and he's looking to help with the growth of the younger players on the Storm. "Leadership is nothing new to me, but it’s something I take very seriously. I’ve learned a lot playing under some good leaders throughout my career," Yakura said. "I think, going into your 10th season, you have the good fortune of playing with a lot of good players, especially at the higher levels, the guys who have been around, and I really looked to learn from those guys and utilize that and help everyone here maximize their potential." This time last year, Yakura never thought he'd be in this position. He was playing for Quad-City's rival Peoria, helping the Rivermen jump atop the league standings and prime themselves for a playoff run. However, Yakura didn't end up being part of Peoria's postseason plans, traded to the Storm in February. Suddenly, he went from being on the league's top team to one in its first year of expansion, destined to finish ninth and miss the playoffs. "I will say it was definitely a challenging transition, just coming from a team that was really building to win a championship," he said. "I felt like I was going to be a big part of that team and to be traded around the deadline when the team was building up for the playoffs, it was definitely disappointing. But ... it’s always nice to be wanted. "What made it tough was knowing you probably weren’t going to get into the playoffs but you still want to come in every day and work hard, and the guys were all great to me coming in." Yakura didn't let the move affect his demeanor, and quickly made a mark on the Storm, earning a role as an assistant captain by the end of the season. "Dean’s a professional through and through, on the ice, off the ice," Storm head coach Dave Pszenyczny said. "He’s only a few months younger than me so it’s nice to be able to bounce ideas off of me, and he’s not afraid to go against me and I like that. I understand I’m the coach, but getting feedback from players I can trust like him is only going to make our team better at the end of the day." This offseason, Yakura returned to the Storm, eager to help them build on last year and hopefully become one of the better teams in the league. They've showed signs of improvement early, taking Peoria to overtime in the season opener and then splitting a pair of games with defending champion Huntsville last week. They get to build on that with two games against league runner-up Birmingham this week. "The mood in the room is confident, a night-and-day difference, so you expect things to be very positive," Yakura said. "Everyone is on the same page, we’re here to win a championship. It’s not like the NHL where you need, two, three, four years to build a core group to develop success. All you need is a few more pieces and you can really turn things around quickly." After the trade last year, Pszenyczny made it clear he wanted Yakura to return, which was another factor in his return to the Quad-Cities. "He wants stability," Pszenyczny said. "Bounced around a lot throughout his career so for him, it just goes back to the way things are run here. He knows what he’s going to get from (assistant coach Jake Toporowski) and I, and he knows he’s going to be taken care of off the ice." Having bounced around so much, Yakura hasn't played more than 50 games with a team since the 2015-16 season with Danbury. In that year, he had 25 goals and 58 assists in 56 games, and Pszenyczny thinks that with some stability, Yakura could flourish once again. Since joining the Storm, he has 21 points in 26 games, including three in his first three this season. So it might not be a stretch to envision a big year for the new Storm captain. "I don't ever have to worry about his compete," Pszenyczny said. "He's a very intelligent player, he understands it. ... He's going to take that next step in his career, being a guy you can rely on, not just in the defensive zone, but also offensively." 102519-qct-spt-storm-hockey-001a.JPG Lighting is shown on the display board before the Quad-City Storm’s home opener against the Huntsville Havoc on Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. MEG MCLAUGHLIN/ The Huntsville Havoc's Nolan Kaiser (10) and the Quad-City Storm's Dean Yakura (11) chase down the puck during the Storm's home opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Dean Yakura (11) and John Schiavo (44) celebrate a goal during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's John Schiavo (44) shoots against Huntsville during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Joseph Widmar (55) shoots during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Taylor Pryce (19) and Kristaps Nimanis (12) celebrate a goal during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Stephen Gaul (17), Taylor Pryce (19), and Kristaps Nimanis (12) celebrate a goal during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Stephen Gaul (17), Taylor Pryce (19), and Kristaps Nimanis (12) celebrate a goal during their home opener against the Huntsville Havoc on Friday at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad City Storm's Shane Bennett looks to pass during a game earlier this season at the TaxSlayer Center. Bennett has been the team's leading scorer since being acquired in a trade with the Fayetteville Marksmen last season. The Quad-City Storm's Taylor Pryce (19) is checked by the Huntsville Havoc's Peter Sikalis (4) during their home opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Ludlow Harris Jr (4) gives a high five to a young fan during their home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Ludlow Harris Jr (4) and the Huntsville Havoc's Shawn Bates (81) chase down the puck during the Storm's home opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. the Quad-City Storm's Sean Kacerosky (61) skates around the Huntsville Havoc's Saverio Posa (27) during the Storm's home opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Peter Di Salvo (35) deflects the puck during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Huntsville Havoc's Tyler Piacentini (14) and Quad-City Storm's Sean Kacerosky (61) fight for control of the puck during the Storm's home opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm's Sean Kacerosky (61) and the Huntsville Havoc's Tyler Piacentini (14) chase down the puck during the Storm's home opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad City Storm's Peter Di Salvo (35) blocks Huntsville Havoc's Phil Johansson’s (2) shot during Friday's home opener at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad City Storm have had to battle for everything this season and sometimes that hasn't been enough. The storm, mired in a six-game losing streak, are trying to fight their way back to winning ways. The Quad-City Storm's Dalton Mills (21) and Huntsville Havoc's Chance Braid (63) fight during the Storm's home opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Taylor Pryce (19) is introduced before their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Dalton Mills (21) is introduced before their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Joseph Widmar (55) is introduced before their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. The Quad-City Storm traded defenseman Josh Victor (10) and forward John Schiavo to the Fayetteville Marksmen Monday in exchange for defenseman Tucker Ross and the playing rights to forward Will Smith. Quad-City Storm's Tommy Tsicos (22) stands ready before the face off during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Joe Widmar (55) shoots the puck against the Huntsville Havoc during a game earlier this season at the TaxSlayer Center. Widmar is headed to play overseas after spending six games with the Storm. Quad-City Storm's Joseph Widmar (55) shoots during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Tommy Tsicos (22) chases down the puck during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. (((((Storm promo, page B4))))) Quad-City Storm's Tommy Tsicos (22) passes during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Peter Di Salvo (35) stands in the tunnel before the third period during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm assistant coach Jake Toporowski watches the action during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Peter Di Salvo (35) takes a drink during a pause in the action of their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad-City Storm's Cody Walsh (52) yells out to teammates during their season opener against the Huntsville Havoc Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Quad City Storm's Joseph Widmar (55) tracks the puck during a game at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline earlier this season. Widmar left the team on Monday after signing with a team in France. Quad-City Storm's Dakota Klecha (27) is checked by Huntsville Havoc's Tyler Piacentini (14) during their season opener Friday, October 25, 2019, at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline. MULDER RETURNS TO STORM The Quad-City Storm added goaltender Ryan Mulder to their roster Wednesday after Mulder was released by the ECHL's Wichita Thunder. Mulder spent two weeks with the Thunder but did not see any playing time. Last year with the Storm, Mulder played in 14 games, going 3-8-2 with a 4.25 goals against average and a .890 save percentage. The Storm also placed goaltender Cody Porter on waivers. Porter started last week's loss to Huntsville, giving up three goals on 13 shots. Dean Yakura Quad-City Storm invites public to paint names of military, veterans on ice The public is invited to the TaxSlayer Center, 1201 River Drive, Moline, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov 5, to paint the ice with names…

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Estimated water use and availability in the Pawtuxet and Quinebaug River basins, Rhode Island, 1995-99 Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5154 Prepared in cooperation with the Rhode Island Water Resources Board By: Emily C. Wild and Mark T. Nimiroski https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20065154 More information: USGS Index Page (html) Water availability became a concern in Rhode Island during a drought in 1999, and an investigation was needed to assess demands on the hydrologic system from withdrawals during periods of little to no precipitation. The low water levels during the drought prompted the U.S. Geological Survey and the Rhode Island Water Resources Board to begin a series of studies on water use and availability in each drainage area in Rhode Island for 1995–99. The study area for this report, which includes the Pawtuxet River Basin in central Rhode Island (231.6 square miles) and the Quinebaug River Basin in western Rhode Island (60.97 square miles), was delineated as the surface-water drainage areas of these basins. During the study period from 1995 through 1999, two major water suppliers withdrew an average of 71.86 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) from the Pawtuxet River Basin; of this amount, about 35.98 Mgal/d of potable water were exported to other basins in Rhode Island. The estimated water withdrawals from minor water suppliers were 0.026 Mgal/d in the Pawtuxet River Basin and 0.003 Mgal/d in the Quinebaug River Basin. Total self-supply withdrawals were 2.173 Mgal/d in the Pawtuxet River Basin and 0.360 Mgal/d in the Quinebaug River Basin, which has no public water supply. Total water use averaged 18.07 Mgal/d in the Pawtuxet River Basin and 0.363 Mgal/d in the Quinebaug River Basin. Total return flow in the Pawtuxet River Basin was 30.64 Mgal/d, which included about 12.28 Mgal/d that were imported from other basins in Rhode Island. Total return flow was 0.283 Mgal/d in the Quinebaug River Basin. During times of little to no recharge in the form of precipitation, the surface- and ground-water flows are from storage primarily in the stratified sand and gravel deposits; water also flows through the till deposits, but at a slower rate. The ground water discharging to the streams during times of little to no recharge from precipitation is referred to as base flow. The PART program, a computerized hydrograph-separation application, was used to analyze the data collected at two selected index stream-gaging stations to determine water availability on the basis of the 75th, 50th, and 25th percentiles of the total base flow; the base flow for the 7-day, 10-year low-flow scenario; and the base flow for the Aquatic Base Flow scenario for both stations. The index stream-gaging stations used in the analysis were the Branch River at Forestdale, Rhode Island (period of record 1957–1999) and the Nooseneck River at Nooseneck, Rhode Island (period of record 1964–1980). A regression equation was used to estimate unknown base-flow contributions from sand and gravel deposits at the two stations. The base-flow contributions from sand and gravel deposits and till deposits at the index stations were computed for June, July, August, and September within the periods of record, and divided by the area of each type of surficial deposit at each index station. These months were selected because they define a period when there is usually an increased demand for water and little to no precipitation. The base flows at the stream-gaging station Branch River at Forestdale, Rhode Island were lowest in August at the 75th, 50th, and 25th percentiles (29.67, 21.48, and 13.30 Mgal/d, respectively). The base flows at the stream-gaging station Nooseneck River at Nooseneck, Rhode Island were lowest in September at the 75th percentile (3.551 Mgal/d) and lowest in August at the 50th and 25th percentiles (2.554 and 1.811 Mgal/d). The base flows per unit area for the index stations were multiplied by the areas of sand and gravel and till in the studyarea subbasins to determine the amount of available water for each scenario. The water availability in the Pawtuxet River Basin at the 50th percentile ranged from 126.5 Mgal/d in August to 204.7 Mgal/d in June, and the total gross water availability for the 7-day, 10-year low-flow scenario at the 50th percentile ranged from 112.2 Mgal/d in August to 190.4 Mgal/d in June. The Scituate Reservoir safe yield was 83 Mgal/d in all scenarios. Water availability in the Quinebaug River Basin ranged from 13.94 Mgal/d in August to 30.53 Mgal/d in June at the 50th percentile. The total gross water availability for the 7-day, 10-year low-flow scenario at the 50th percentile ranged from 14.26 Mgal/d in August to 42.69 Mgal/d in June. Because water withdrawals and use are greater during the summer than other times of the year, water availability in June, July, August, and September was compared to water withdrawals in the basin and subbasins. The ratios of water withdrawn to water available were calculated for the 75th, 50th, and 25th percentiles for the subbasins; the closer the ratio is to 1, the closer the withdrawals are to the estimated water available, and the less net water is available. Withdrawals in July were higher than in the other summer months in both basins. In the Pawtuxet River Basin, the ratios were close to 1 in July for the estimated gross yield (from sand and gravel and from till and from the Scituate Reservoir safe yield), 7-day, 10-year low-flow scenario, and Aquatic Base Flow scenario at the 75th percentile and in August for all three scenarios at the 50th and 25th percentiles. In the Quinebaug River Basin, the ratios were close to 1 in August for the estimated gross yield; 7-day, 10-year low-flow scenario; and Aquatic Base Flow scenario. A long-term water budget was calculated for 1941 through 1999 to identify and assess the basin and subbasin inflow and outflows for the Pawtuxet and Quinebaug River Basins. The water withdrawals and return flows used in the budget were from 1995 through 1999. Inflow was assumed to be equal to outflow; total inflows and outflows were 574.9 Mgal/d in the Pawtuxet River Basin and 148.4 Mgal/d in the Quinebaug River Basin. Precipitation and return flow were 95 and 5 percent of the estimated inflows to the Pawtuxet River Basin, respectively. Precipitation was 100 percent of the estimated inflow to the Quinebaug River Basin; return flow was less than 1 percent of the inflow. Evapotranspiration, streamflow, and water withdrawals were 46, 41, and 13 percent, respectively, of the estimated outflows in the Pawtuxet River Basin. Evapotranspiration and streamflow were 49 and 51 percent, respectively, of the estimated outflows in the Quinebaug River Basin. Water withdrawals were less than 1 percent of outflows in the Quinebaug River Basin. Scientific Investigations Report 10.3133/sir20065154 Massachusetts-Rhode Island Water Science Center vii, 68 p. Time Range Start Time Range End Other Geospatial Pawtuxet and Quinebaug River basins

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Games of 2015: Nintendo Exclusives Nintendo had a stellar 2014 with high profile releases such as Super Smash Bros on Wii U & 3DS and Mario Kart 8 on Wii U. The 3DS had a plethora of games to choose from as well. 2015 will be an interesting year for Nintendo with the Wii U finally on the rise and a ton of games already announced. Nintendo’s current shortcomings look to be with the 3DS but we have no doubt that we’ll see some big announcements in a Nintendo Direct in early 2015. The Legend of Zelda is the first new Zelda game to feature HD graphics. It will take place in a fully connected overworld which is similar to the original Legend of Zelda. It will have less emphasis on defined entrances and exits to dungeons. Designed Eiji Aonuma said that this was to give players more freedom and make the game truly open-world. The overworld can be traversed on foot or on Link’s horse Epona. This was shown for the first time at the VGAs at the end of 2014. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has already been released in Japan but will finally see it’s Western release in 2015. Monster Hunter 4 is different from it’s predecessors in the fact that it has a strong emphasis on three-dimensional movement. Walls can now be climbed more fluidly. In addition to this, players can grab on to monsters and attack them this way. You’re also able to attack in mid-air. Monsters will use environments to their advantage creating much more dynamic battles. Splatoon is a different kind of game for Nintendo. It is a team-based third-person shooter which is playable by up to eight players in 4v4 matches. The game also features a single-player campaign for those that do not wish to play with others. Players are called Inklings who have the ability to switch between human and squid forms on the fly. Humans are able to shoot coloured ink accross the game environment with the end goal being to have the most coloured territory. Transforming into a Squid allows players to swim through their coloured areas. Xenoblade Chronicles was announced alongside The NEW 3DS. it is the first game to be playable only on the NEW 3DS. The game follows a character named Shulk and his group of friends who are searching for answers about a mysterious sword. The game contains an open world design and emphasises exploration. The game was originally on the Wii and was extremely well-received in it’s original release. The game that Nintendo fans have been craving since Ocarina of Time 3D was released soon after the 3DS. Majora’s Mask 3D is a remake of the Original Majora’s Mask which released on Nintendo 64. The game will feature stereoscopic 3D graphics, touchscreen controlls and gypscopic features. The game differs from other Zelda games in the sense that Link is given only three days to save the land of Termina, using various masks which give him different powers. Mario Maker is something that Nintendo fans have been craving for years. It will give gamers the ability to recreate levels from Mario games using the Wii U Gamepad. So far it has been revealed that you’ll be able to create levels using styles from Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Original Mario and New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo have hinted at being able to use assets from even more Mario games and also other Nintendo franchises. Codename S.T.E.A.M is a turn-based strategy game with elements of a third-person shooter. It is being created by Intelligent Systems which are best known for their work on the Fire Emblem Series. The game will differ greatly to Fire Emblem in the sense that players will not face permadeath and are able to revive their characters using medals. The game takes place in a Steampunk fantasy London. The main character is called Henry Fleming. He is part of the elite fighting horse called ‘Unit S.T.E.A.M’ After being rumoured for many months, Nintendo finally confirmed that 2015 will finally mark the year that Nintendo fans will receive a brand new Star Fox game on the Wii U. It has been reported that the game uses a new dual-screen mechanic which turns the Wii U Gamepad into a view of the cockpit whilst the screen will show the perspective from behind the Arwing. It is also said that the game will introduce some new vehicle types which will take advantage of the Wii U hardware. Xenoblade Chronicles X is an upcoming Japanese role-playing game by Monolith Soft. It is the spiritual successor to Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii. The game will take place in an open world with a big emphasis on exploring. You are able to travel on foot or in large humanoid robots. These robots are known as Dolls and have the ability to fly, traverse water or transform into vehicles such a motorcycles, trucks or tanks. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a sequel to the Nintendo DS game Kirby: Canvas Curse. The game is presented with a unique clay look and players will use the Wii U gamepad in order to help Kirby, who is stuck in a ball form to move across the level by rolling across rainbow coloured lines. Making Kirby go through hoops will still make him speed up, whilst touching him will allow him to use his signature spin attack. The game will be compatible with the Kirby, Meta Knight and King Dedede Amiibo. Yoshi’s Wooly World takes similar attributes from the Wii title Kirby’s Epic Yarn. The game will be set in a world where the characters and environments are composed of yarn and cloth. Yoshi will retain a lot of his moveset from the Yoshi’s Island series of agmes which will make gameplay fairly different from Kirby. Yoshi’s Wooly World will also see a focus on teamwork which will allow the player to reach areas that they couldn’t before. It’s also been confirmed that the game will have Amiibo support. Mario Party 10 is obviously the 10th main entry in the franchise. Mario Party is a series that many people grew up with on the Nintendo 64 however it’s one that has definitely dropped it’s standards over the last few iterations. Mario Party 10 includes two modes of play Mario Party mode is the normal gameplay mode that we all know and love. Bowser Party will include give players where four players take the role of regular characters where one person who is playing using the Wii U Gamepad playing as Bowser.

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IBPOC Artistic Practices Response: What is the Future of Artistic Practices? Feature image: from the Lekwungen Gathering 2017, photo credit: Kirk Schwartz Long after, or the aftermath of colonies Reflection on the round table “What is the Future of Artistic Practices?” with Skawennati, Andrea Fatona, Ayumi Goto, Stéfan St-Laurent Gathered around the table, in the middle of the great hall of the Songhees Wellness Center in Lekwungen country, located on the northeastern coast of the Big Ocean, four people dedicated to discussing the creation of visual distribution and its organization propose possibilities through the plurality of possible futures. While I keep a clear memory of all the discussions witnessed during the Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires Gathering, I write the following immersed in my current state of mind, a year-and-a-half after the event. It is shortly after having arrived on the island of Montreal, the place where people split into, Tiohtia:ke in Kanien’ké:ha, Mooniyang in Anishinaabe, and shortly after having watched the full recording of the Gathering, that I write these lines. To begin, I would like to propose a concept in my language, gagana Sāmoa, which is rooted in the great ocean archipelago where my ancestors are from. Gafa [ŋafa] means kinship, ancestral lineage, and the contemporary genealogical narratives that have been created for ancestral deities, in order to make an adequate space so that they can exist with us in the present. By calling upon the concept of gafa as an introduction to this reflection on the gathering, I invoke the ancestors to highlight several key themes addressed by the participants: futures free from the impacts of racial hierarchy, of colonial domination, or of capitalistic overconsumption. Above all, I take from those conversations the emphasis on spoken, sensorial languages, as well as the various concepts of birth and time bequeathed to us by our ancestors, paired with the ones we summon in our imagination through the channels of creativity and dialogue. In our culturally-specific speculative practices, we have the ability the jump from present to future, without being constrained by what is visible or legible in the present, to realize future knowledge and temporal realities. “I believe that we who have been removed from the foundational spaces, whether by transatlantic slave trades or through a profound oppression of Indigenous peoples, have lost the ability to dream.” When Andrea Fatona suggests the inability to dream among certain key populations within the context of ongoing restoration of balance and cultural powers on the territory of so-called Canada, as well as in so-called Australia where I grew up, she demands an affirmative future for these communities to which she belongs. I spent a great deal of time in a state of grief caused by what has been called cultural loss, but I understand it today as a cycle of continuous transformation perhaps more appropriately named renewal. This is a key concept brought forward by Congolese choreographer and philosopher Zab Maboungou at the Gathering one or two days prior. The ability to dream, whether one is asleep or awake, is absolutely necessary. Speculation and dreaming go hand-in-hand. Andrea guides us towards a pairing of acquired memory, unknown history, and the embodied relationship between dreaming and a common destiny so that hope may find its roots within ourselves, who are human beings among other entities on this Earth. The need to relate to our ancestors or to be rooted in a territory should not be confused with an individual or nationalist quest for identity, because if we observe the former through the lens of gafa, we can achieve a level of accountability towards our kin and extend kindness to other living beings. This is how we are able to dream ourselves into the present, beyond the confines of a race, of material capital, and of colonialist frameworks of domination. Skawennati’s ideas about the present being closely related to the future through the care that she puts into meeting her children’s needs is very telling on the matter. As a society obsessed with overconsumption, we may try our best to develop leadership focused on the next seven generations, but we are still faced with the challenge of overcoming existing social structures and projecting ourselves beyond them. The project of a common destiny brought forth by Skawennati in her piece titled “Otsitsakaion” (she who dreams in Kanien’keha) is nothing short of a projection of universal consciousness through the eyes of Otsitsakaion. She sees the entirety of human history through dreams, encouraging her to create a confederacy of five planets, much like the Haudenosaunee Confederacy which was comprised of five nations, before the integration of the Tuscarora later on. Therefore, gestures carrying affirmative possibilities manifest themselves throughout this piece which is described by Skawennati as a space-time spiral revolving around five planets, as opposed to a circular lens around our so-familiar planet Earth. Superimposed to this backdrop is the concept of peace as a structural motive for the potential alliance between the five planets of the new Confederacy brought forth by Otsitsakaion. Furthermore, peace is better lived and understood in her work as an absence of war before transitioning into an absence of injustice, and ultimately leading to a governing structure characterized by responsibility and kindness. This future, defined by an extended understanding of well-being and by potential universal peace, offers a kind of loving artistic response to the points raised by Skawennati - as well as other Indigenous artists such as Jolene Rickard and Ngahiraka Mason, among others. The points that she raised were centered around philosophical, political, and cultural concepts ignited by our ancestors before they were interrupted by colonial disruption, slavery, and land, water and airspace theft. We must come to the realization that romanticizing the time before contact isn’t helping us to get a realistic grasp of events. It is through contemporary art that we can overcome the great challenge of creating a social shift where caring dignity is accessible to all and will offer a solution to capitalism. What makes contemporary art part of this solution is its ability to generate scenarios of a better world, free of debt and violence, and devoid of misery. Lately, in Australia, there is an increasing number of media stories covering extreme drought conditions and water flow interruptions all over the territory surrounding our two great rivers, Darling and Murray, as well as their connecting waterways. We observe millions of fish, horses, kangaroos and other animals who died of thirst in their search for water. This is not one of our regular droughts, for which the country is known. This is an issue rooted in greed, caused by the rice and cotton industries, cereal growers and cattle farmers, who are hoarding a significant volume of water from the rivers. This practice severely threatens indigenous species, and could cause soil erosion affecting the land, but also neighbouring towns and their histories, landscapes, soundscapes, food and cultural sovereignties, having an impact on many Indigenous Nations living around the Australian fluvial network. I spoke of my concern regarding the exploitation of these rivers, the inaction of the Australian government and the potential corruption within its structure to Kaurna and Maori artist James Tylor. He took me on a tour of these threatened sites through his new photography series Water Economies, where sacred landscapes along the rivers are stained with golden spots. Evidently, contemporary art can highlight the current issues of this area, but it also has the ability, I hope, to spark a revolution of the mind to inspire the population to act in order to create a future where the “cultural flow” of these great rivers may be revived. These liquid arteries deserve better respect; they deserve to be honoured in a more meaningful way than their current treatment in Australia. They have sustained Indigenous civilizations for far longer than 65,000 years, and I wonder if the images captured by the press will inspire action, or if we will have to wait for far greater climate catastrophes for the powers to decide that adequate restoration of these vital landscapes is needed. Taking into account the triangular and rectangular shapes in James Tylor’s work, which represent the rerouting of waterways for commercial and urban infrastructural purposes, we are brought to criticize the extreme development happening on a global scale in a more speculative manner. Andrea Fatona asked, “What is the nature of the relationship that we want to establish with this world with regards to its economic resources?” We owe it to ourselves to leap towards an embodied consciousness linking us to the numerous energies of this universe. Such an understanding of other beings and other sources of energy on Earth other than through logic, to which we are often drawn, will lead to other perspectives. The concrete example of community gardening in Toronto highlights the refusal of commercial-based, capitalistic-sourced food sourcing (in the summertime), the refusal of noise pollution interrupting our ability to connect with plant life and time on these small parcels of land in an urban setting, just as much as in the country. This kind of refusal of logic expressed by Toronto gardeners embodies new connections, and a push back on the surrounding individualistic philosophy. Andrea has been working on the archival of Black artistic practices since 1989, at that time she came to the realization that there was a lack of historical memory to inform the current generation of the potential consequences for the future, and to question what needs to be changed or to be kept. She criticized the coming of a new wave of artists, curators, and art critics, who are missing key elements in their training. This state of affairs pushes a number of my mentors, colleagues, and friends, to take on higher studies in Australia and in Aotéaroa-New-Zealand for the purpose of better knowing and elevating the accomplishments of the previous generations. And this is due to the will and voice of the people who have experienced these key events or who have had access to them. For example, director and curator Wiradjuri Kimba Thompson, founder of the famous Melbourne-based Indigenous artist-run centre Blak Dot Gallery, resumes her academic career this year in the doctoral program in curatorial practices at Monash University, from which I graduated. In particular, she was involved in the Indigenous promotion of the RMIT and Monash University of Melbourne’s Master of Fine Arts, which mobilized to resist the celebrations of British colonization during the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and to make significant progress in the renewal of ancestral practices in southwestern Australia, including the manufacture and wearing of possum skin cape. Kimba Thompson and Maree Clarke set up the first-ever exhibition of Indigenous art at the Victoria Art Gallery, the country’s largest institution in terms of Indigenous art collection, exhibition budget, and public programming. I owe part of my artistic and curatorial development to Kimba, as I was one of many people guided by the most experienced members of the community around the Blak Dot Gallery in the Melbourne and regional cultural milieu. Different generations live side by side, debate, and help each other. The homogenization of contemporary art promoted in biennials and major exhibitions going on world tours is at the heart of questions about the possible anchoring in various territories. What linearity in the history of canonized art is used to facilitate the circulation of artistic works, but in my opinion, without specific and necessary anchoring or contextualization? If we succeed (and this is spreading more and more) in creating more exhibitions, performances, publications, and other artistic events that make the intellectual and aesthetic histories we carry in all of their complexity, the future is looking more positive. Stéfan St-Laurent mentioned the striking need to see the emergence of so-called parallel or underrepresented art histories in contrast to those of Western Europe and European America that we already know. These art stories will have to be written, studied and propagated—going back thousands of years to the present day, and countering the misconception of a universal art history that is necessarily Western. As the Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires Gathering is a window to several generations of artists in disciplines other than visual arts, I also see myself as a complex carrier of Indigenous art stories from my birthplace, the Great Ocean. When Stéfan St-Laurent shares his experiences of otherness and exclusion in Acadia—especially related to attitudes towards sexuality and the possible evolution of artists—it reminds me of my own case as well, far from being the only one in the great Samoan diaspora. There are certainly problems to be addressed in the short and long term in order to achieve growth. The margin of success deemed possible in our communities, often diminished in their ability to imagine, makes it difficult for us to position ourselves in a place where it is possible to develop and to live other experiences. Often those would require us to extract ourselves from our native lands. But I believe it is the contrary! In a world of increased mobility and communication, it is not interesting to continue to structure our relationships with the world around us through old divides that limits our ability to take learning or leisure trips that end with sharing upon our return. We are beings of possibilities, in the ways that are available to us and to those already known to our communities. Circling back to the concept of gafa, I propose to consider what constitutes a colony, an extreme domination of a moral, political and sensory nature over diversities othered at the time of colonial invasion, no matter the source, because it incorporates the achievements of the empires that preceded it. Ayumi Goto shared her experiences of Japanese culture in diasporic situations in Canada, recounting the fact that many people express compassion for her family for the forced internment during the Second World War, even though her own family had never experienced it. However, she is proving to be “a bearer of the weight and responsibility of having been the colonizers in the rest of East Asia and the West of the Great Ocean”, which is a significant burden. Not only is it a question of identifying and understanding recurring motives, skills or attitudes across generations, but also of expressly overcoming them, from intergenerational traumas to multi-ethnic or multilingual statements. How can we ensure access to the perspectives that are too often excluded or diminished by colonial histories? Since we find ourselves in an over-informed, overloaded, over-indebted world, as Ayumi Goto expressed it, a considerable challenge to overcome remains the possibility of choosing the right information for ourselves. As for the Japanese concept of piety and subsidiary responsibility, “oyakōkō,” as she reminds us, has long been the devastating moral engine for the exclusion of other Asian and Oceanic cultures since the centralized Japanese empire. By contributing to the violence of the empire, Japanese women also embodied the doubts and attitudes of the time. Thus being Japanese in the territory called Canada can provide many answers depending on the maintenance of cultural roots, the guilt over the past and the multi-ethnic enrichment that is spreading locally on these Indigenous lands, waters and skies. I would like to come back to the comments made by many of the speakers, who felt that Indigenous art, Black art, Acadian art, among others, cannot be summarized or limited by the relationship to the land, slavery, disturbance, or other major themes associated with them. This is not a deterritorialization, as some purists claim, against cultural evolution. Nor is it a transition in favour of a denial of any cultural belonging or responsibility as promoted by the prevailing state of mind of the cultural community in the United States. Contemporary creation is valid for all sections of the population. I am thinking of the literary works of Edouard Louis who divorces himself from the classist violence in his personal life expressed in novels and narratives, or the incessant offences of the political ruling elites on the working classes. I am led to rethink the Australian government’s punitive policies against the maintenance or revival of Indigenous cultural practices related to spatial speculation and sustainable aquaculture in various territories. Ayumi Goto, meanwhile, expresses her desire to strive to imagine how her artistic work will be perceived or apprehended if she creates it in the future, in 500,000 years, realizing the possible relationship with a comparison 500,000 years in the past. From then on, we are called upon to see in our relations with all humanity, as well as with so-called more-than-human beings, which present as opportunities for a profound rethinking of our way of life, of knowing, of building and of loving in this universe. In the renewal of the cultural and political ties represented by the coconut fibre rope called “ʻaha” in Hawaiian language, from the sensory visionary essay by Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua and Bryan Kamaoli Kuwada, we find inspiration and hope. Without rooting themselves on a romanticized the past, these authors show us how ways of conceiving the world and managing actions by which the world can be built, are part of the order of temporal circularity and Indigenous spatial kinship. As cultures related to the Great Ocean, the semantic and culturally supported equivalent in the Samoan language, “ʻgafa” reminds me of the learning workshops on the coconut fibre rope used in the nail-free construction of oval houses and large balanced canoes. There are also sustainable artistic creations made by my grandmother Manō Nātia Tautua Lunaʻi, using materials collected from the forest behind our ancestral village on Mount Vaea overlooking Āpia, the main city in the western part of the Samoan Archipelago divided into two countries. My grandmother has long been innovative in sewing parade and ceremonial dresses, among other uses of her craft. I mention this specifically to emphasize the intergenerational aspect of sharing the knowledge necessary for a considerable overhaul of our present, in order to better prepare us for the future that is under construction. Combining an imaginary future and a temporal conception distinct from those already well known since the globalization of colonial European thought, the most urgent and radical contemporary artistic practices demonstrate the possibilities that have emerged, both on the spaceship of diplomatic peace missions on five planets and in other recent works. It is possible to project oneself while nourishing oneself with the plurivocality and striving to love oneself through one’s chosen or received territory and kinship. Other Roundtable Resources Roundtable 1 video - Where do artistic practices come from? Roundtable 2 video - What are the influences on Art Practices today? Roundtable 3 video - What is the future of artistic practices? Yara’s essay - Where do artistic practices come from? Belle’s essay - What are the influences on Art Practices today? Léuli’s essay - What is the future of artistic practices? Léuli Eshrāghi Léuli Eshrāghi, Australian artist, curator and writer from Sāmoan, Persian and other ancestries, holds a PhD in Curatorial Practice completed at Monash University in 2018, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Concordia University in 2019. Léuli creates performances, installations, writing and collective/individual curatorial projects centred on embodied memory, ceremonial-political practices, language renewal and futures of wellness. http://leulieshraghi.com This page is categorized by the following attributes. To find related content, click on any of the properties below. ancestors contemporary art diasporic identities kinship land colonialism Léuli Eshraghi Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires Share this page to your networks on social media or e-mail. 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Roughriders announce staff for 2020 football operations Published Friday, December 13, 2019 10:20AM CST Saskatchewan Roughriders helmet (Twitter/@sskroughriders) REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced their football operations staff for the 2020 CFL season. The Riders have extended assistant general manager Paul Jones through the end of the 2021 season. He's going into his second year with the team. Kyle Carson is joining the Riders as the director of player personnel. He spent the past eight seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. Ryan Pollock is entering his second year as director of football operations. Jordan Greenly will be remaining in his position of football operations coordinator. He's been with the team since 2017.

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All posts tagged Netflix Crazyhead’s Raquel: Susan Wokoma, Women in Horror and the Next Generation of Slayers Published February 20, 2017 by vfdpixie Crazyhead (Netflix, 2016) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) was a phenomenon that continues to live on. A TV series spawned from the 1992 cult film, the fandom for a spunky high school student and her crew of friends as they battled vampires, demons and other supernatural fare while dealing with real issues knew no bounds, and new fans of her quest to save the world from creepy crawlies spring up even to this day. Enter a new generation of shows that have found a home on Netflix. Here, writers and directors have the free reign to offer more than your local cable provider with shows like smash hits Stranger Things (2016), Luke Cage (2016), and Daredevil (2015). There’s also room and the desire for many international contributions as well, including the 2016 comedy horror from E4, Crazyhead. Crazyhead is the story of Amy (Cara Theobold) and Raquel (Susan Wokoma), two young women who suffer from what doctors think is a mental illness. They see things – people with demonic faces – and are continually told that it’s all in their heads. When they meet one night after a frightening attack and realize they both see the same thing, they join forces to destroy these demons on earth. Raquel also has a special lineage that makes her of interest to the devilish clan, and along with Amy’s perverse puppy-dog of a friend Jake (Lewis Reeves), they go through some crazy hijinks to find answers and not get killed. With this being Women in Horror and Black History Month, I must focus on British-Nigerian Susan Wokoma, the woman behind the off-the-hook Raquel. I first noticed her in hysterically funny and outrageous Chewing Gum (2015-2017) as the main character’s religious and fearful sister Cynthia. Her performance kept me laughing and cringing, and I was thrilled when I saw her in Crazyhead. Here, she once again kills with one liners and holds her own as the sharp-tongued and zero-filtered but vulnerable Raquel, who just wants to kick some demon ass and figure out life as a young woman with this unbelievable vocation. Wokoma breathes a vibrancy into the character that allows her to take up space and be present, even declaring at one point that she deserves better from Amy since she is a “strong, powerful black woman.” Even though Raquel has issues connecting with people and making friends, she has a great relationship with her patient brother Tyler (Arinzé Kene), full of playful jabs, sibling rivalry and lots of love. I also applaud the writer Howard Overman for making her confident in the way she looks and her space as an attractive black woman. Raquel gets “hers”, she is sexual, she is attractive and doesn’t look to others for validation, even though she may be looking for love. It is refreshing to see a black female character in a leading role own her sexuality in a healthy, non-stereotypical way like it was meant to be treated; like it always had a place at the table. North America should take note of this representation of female sexuality in general. Her counterpart Amy is the perfect foil for her zany observations and plans with Amy’s voice of reason as a helpful, if ignored, counter argument for Raquel’s actions. Together they are a believable representation of young women in today’s world trying to carve out a space for themselves while dealing with the trials of being “normal”. This brings to light a couple of things: it shows how as a woman, your mental health is sometimes glossed over with medications and misunderstanding, and how once they found each other, Amy and Raquel’s bond strengthened their courage and belief in themselves. Although they have some rocky moments in their relationship, it is a real sisterhood. In terms of mental illness, the title is a touch misleading as they are not actually mentally ill but battling supernatural forces. They are however, at the mercy of either indifferent mental health professionals or ones that have an agenda. Either way, this brings out how those living with mental illness may go mismanaged or pushed out of the medical system without much thought to their situation. Crazyhead is a comparable British counterpart to Buffy. It holds it’s own as a show, but it wouldn’t be here if Buffy hadn’t blazed a trail, and that’s ok. Joss Whedon paved the way for shows to push the envelope and have fun doing it. Like Whedon, Crazyhead’s writer and producer Howard Overman ensures that the dialogue is sharp and funny with a good amount of raunch, and thanks to the cast members, the delivery is on point. He’s worn the same hats and worked his magic for The Adventures of Merlin (2008-2012), as well as being the creator for The Misfits (2009-2013), Atlantis (2013-2015), and the UK Dirk Gently (2010-2012). Each of these series has come in with a bang, created a huge following and left before they overstayed their welcome. I have complete confidence that Crazyhead will do the same and make a lasting memory in the world of #BlackGirlMagic as well as in the minds of horror comedy fans for years to come. Crazyhead is streaming on Netflix now, so do yourself a favour and watch! Posted in: Good Scares!, Monsters, monsters, monsters!!!, T.V a.k.a My Stories Tagged: Arinzé Kene, Black Girl Magic, Black History Month, Black women in Horror, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cara Theobold, Chewing Gum, Crazyhead, demonic, demons, E4, Howard Overman, Joss Whedon, Lewis Reeves, Luke Cage, mental health, mental illness, Netflix, Raquel, Stranger Things, supernatural, Susan Wokoma, Women in Horror Month, women of colour, women of colour in horror Pixie’s Christmas Binge Fest! Published December 20, 2016 by vfdpixie This Christmas, I could put out another Pixie’s picks for holiday viewing, but with the exception of Krampus or A Christmas Horror Story, it’s pretty much the same. See that list here, my review of Krampus here and A Christmas Horror Story here. Instead, I’d like to list a bunch of series that I’ve fallen in love with, and a couple that I’ve had no time to view. What better time to watch them then when you’re enjoying (or avoiding) family this holiday season? So here’s a list of binge-worthy shows to help you unwind with (or hide from) your favourite horror cousins, aunties and uncles this Christmas: Channel Zero: Candle Cove (Syfy) Take 2 parts It, 1 part Twin Peaks, 3 parts The Children and give it a swirl. Strain the aforementioned inspirations and you’ll get a delectable and unique mixture of one of the most unsettling, genuinely creepy shows out there. Inspired by a Creepypasta called “Candle Cove”, writer Kris Straub has created a tense world where child psychologist Mike Painter (Paul Schneider), plagued by disturbing dreams and personal demons, returns to his hometown to revisit his twin brother’s disappearance. When he arrives, there’s a whole lotta weirdness going on with the kids in town, and it harkens back to a local tragedy, along with a dreaded TV show that only children can see. Throw in some creepy puppets, truly intense scenes that will make your skin crawl, and fantastic, understated performances, and you have an instant horror hit. The subsequent seasons will be based on other Creepypasta stories, so stay tuned for more uber-weirdness. If you are the last person on the planet that hasn’t seen this great throw back to 80’s sci-fi horror, I suggest you get a subscription to Netflix and hunker down to watch a really cool show. The Duffer Brothers wrote and directed this story of three boys Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) desperately searching for their missing friend Will (Noah Schnapp). When they meet a mysterious and mostly silent waif of a girl they nickname “Eleven” (Millie Bobby Brown), their world changes forever. There is also a sinister government organization, an alternate reality and the missing boy’s determined mother played by Winona Ryder to provide us with plenty of chills and spills. Season 2 is in the works, so you’d better catch up if you haven’t seen it yet! The Exorcist: The Series (Fox or CTV) Here is my review of this brilliant adaptation of a classic horror film to the small screen. You must see this! Beyond the Walls: Au-Dela des Murs (Shudder) This French mini-series is on my list to watch. After inheriting a house from a man she doesn’t know, Lisa (Veerle Baetens) moves into the sprawling and somewhat derelict abode. When she starts to hear noises in the house, she smashes through a wall to find a creepy and ominous world. She’s taken on a psychological journey to deal with her past and bizarre present. The trailer alone had me. With such beautiful and artistic scenes, I’m excited to see what director Hervé Hadmar has to offer. Black Mirror (Netflix) This was a show I got wind of last year, and was so enthralled with it that I had to watch it in one sitting. Here is my post on Season 1 and 2. Season 3 is now available on Netflix. I’ve only watched 2 episodes, but it’s pretty much the same great writing and sly observations on society at large. Definitely a cup of very dark humor not to be missed. Sense8-Christmas Special (Netflix) For those of you who have been champing at the bit like I have to see more of this mind-blowing, multicultural, gender-bending, identity positive and incredibly produced show, champ no more! The continuation of the trials experienced by a group of psychically connected individuals and the nefarious plot to control their powers will air on Netflix December 23rd. This 2 hour Christmas special offered up by the prolific Wachowski sisters will be watched with glee by myself and the horror boyfriend! Westworld (HBO) Yet another classic film adapted for TV, but this one I haven’t had a chance to catch. I loved the 1973 movie, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about the HBO series. With a stellar cast and what seems to be a stellar production, it seems I’m in for a treat! The Fall (Netflix/BBC2) This gorgeous contribution to the serial killer genre is a slow-burn creeper that really gets into your head. Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), is an unassuming father of 2, a grief counselor and serial killer. Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is the detective brought in to find him and soon becomes consumed with his horrific crimes. The two circle each other as each makes progress with their obsessions, but only one can ultimately win. Written and directed by Alan Cubitt who also penned episodes for Prime Suspect 2, Season 3 has just been released on Netflix, and not only is it a visual treat to watch, but the writing and performances are top notch. I hope you enjoy your binge watching whatever your tastes may be, and have a wonderful and safe holiday season! Posted in: General Comments and Updates, Good Scares!, Just Plain Weird, Monsters, monsters, monsters!!!, T.V a.k.a My Stories Tagged: A Christmas Horror Story, Alan Cubitt, Au-Dela des Murs, BBC2, Beyond the Walls, binge-watching, Black Mirror, Caleb McLauglin, Channel Zero: Candle Cove, Creepypasta, Finn Wolfhard, Fox, Gaten Matarazzo, Gillian Anderson, HBO, Hervé Hadmar, It, Jamie Dornan, Krampus, Millie Bobby Brown, Netflix, Noah Schnapp, Paul Schneider, puppets, Sense8, Shudder, Stranger Things, Syfy, The Children, The Exorcist, The Fall, TV series, TV Show, Twin Peaks, Veerle Baetens, Wachoswkis, Westworld, Winona Ryder Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Minmin.

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The Evening Star The Rise and Fall of a Great Washington Newspaper Faye Haskins The Evening Star: The Rise and Fall of a Great Washington Newspaper is the story of the 129-year history of one of the preeminent newspapers in journalism history when city newspapers across the country were at the height of their power and influence. The Star was the most financially successful newspaper in the Capital and among the top ten in the country until its decline in the 1970s. The paper began in 1852 when the capital city was a backwater southern town. The Star’s success over the next century was due to its singular devotion to local news, its many respected journalists, and the historic times in which it was published. The book provides a unique perspective on more than a century of local, national and international history. The book also exposes the complex reasons for the Star’s rise and fall from dominance in Washington’s newspaper market. The Noyes and Kauffmann families who owned and operated the Star for a century play an important role in that story. Patriarch Crosby Noyes’ life and legacy is the most fascinating –a classic Horatio Alger story of the illegitimate son of a Maine farmer who by the time of his death was a respected newspaper publisher and member of Washington’s influential elite. In 1974 his descendants sold the once-great newspaper Noyes built to Joseph Allbritton. Allbritton and then Time, Inc. tried to save the Star but failed. Pages: 326 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜ 978-0-7425-4872-5 • Hardback • September 2019 • $38.00 • (£24.95) 978-1-5381-0576-4 • eBook • September 2019 • $36.00 • (£24.95) Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers, History / United States / General, History / United States / 19th Century, History / United States / 20th Century, Language Arts & Disciplines / Journalism Faye Haskins was Archivist and then Photo Librarian in the Special Collections Division, Washingtoniana Collection at the District of Columbia Public Library where the Papers of the Washington Star Newspaper and the Star Photo Collection are held. She holds Masters degrees in History and Library Science from the University of Maryland and is the author of The Art of D.C. Politics: Broadsides, Banners, and Bumper Stickers and Behind the Headlines: The Evening Star’s Coverage of the 1968 Riots, journal articles published in Washington History, a publication of the Historical Society of Washington, DC. She is an independent author and historian. She resides in the Hill Country near Austin, Texas. The old line about newspapers and the bottom of a birdcage is especially pertinent when it comes to newspapers no longer in business. Even the great dailies of yesteryear—the Philadelphia Public Ledger, New York Herald Tribune, Boston Evening Transcript—tend to live on largely in the memories of old hands, in historical cartoons, or in the biographies of novelists who began as reporters. A case in point is Washington’s old Evening Star, always “old” in the recollection of ex-staffers and aging residents of the nation’s capital, with the original name preferred to its brief, final incarnation: the Washington Star. If the Evening Star is remembered at all nowadays, it is recalled as an incubator of political journalists of the last century—David Broder, Mary McGrory, Haynes Johnson and others—and as the newspaper that was put out of business by the Washington Post, where Broder, McGrory and Johnson found new homes and wider fame. The whole story is faithfully chronicled by Faye Haskins, a former library archivist, in The Evening Star: The Rise and Fall of a Great Washington Newspaper. . . .a comprehensive, unbiased history of a newspaper that was once considered one of the top ten in the US. Many Washingtonians cannot recall a time when the city had competing journalistic voices, and Haskins successfully gives the Star its rightful place in the historiography by presenting examples of past coverage of divisive politics, race relations, crime and corruption, sports, local events, and the creative arts and by exposing behind-the-scenes intrigue in the newsroom. The first history of the Evening Star, this volume fills a longstanding void and illuminates the newspaper's successes and failures in an engaging style. In the present age of newspaper closures and takeovers, Haskins's narrative serves as a loving eulogy amid gloomy forecasts for the industry. — CHOICE Librarian Haskins (Behind the Headlines) chronicles Washington D.C.’s Evening Star newspaper in this intelligent though dense history. Chapters focus on themes and events from the paper’s inception in 1852 to its shuttering in 1981, with an emphasis on the editorial decisions behind the coverage. The response to Lincoln’s assassination reveals the workings of a mid-19th-century newsroom, including a chilling eyewitness account from the theater. The paper’s influence is heralded throughout, exemplified by its lobbying for the 23rd Amendment that allowed D.C. citizens to vote for president in 1960. The Star’s progressive but spotty record on race features groundbreaking moments like publishing an NAACP letter during the 1919 race riots, but regrettable practices like running real estate ads that encouraged segregation. A chapter titled “Murder and Mayhem” includes such anecdotes as the reported 1949 story of demonic possession that inspired The Exorcist. The postwar political section details the days after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, highlighting the resilience of both reporters and the Kennedy family. The Vietnam era marked the paper’s final glory days, with reporters like Mary McGrory earning spots on Nixon’s “enemies list.” This astute history serves as a thorough primer on Beltway journalism Though it pains me to admit it, for much of its life The Evening Star was the best newspaper in Washington, with a broad and talented bench of ink-stained journalists who loved it like a sailor loves his ship. That The Star was eclipsed is a sad fact. But Faye Haskins won’t let it be forgotten. Her account of the newspaper’s 129-year history is important reading for anyone who has an affection for journalism or Washington or both. — John Kelly, Columnist, The Washington Post The rise and fall of the Washington Star stands as a morality tale for modern journalism. Faye Haskins’ careful history reveals how the Star became a great paper, how well it covered the news of its day, and why it failed to survive. — Donald A. Ritchie, author of "Reporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps " Faye Haskins has done it. She has taken us back in time to a past of glory and, yes, gore, to good times and bad, the bitter and the sweet. The life and death of an institution like the Washington Evening Star is painful enough to live through; to believe that a great paper's and a great city's fates were intertwined. Reading that history leaves one with the realization that a dying publication was not indicative of a dying city. Faye's recapitulation forces one to wish the Evening Star's fate had mirrored that of Washington. And that is a painful reminder for all of us exes who were so Star Struck. — Paul Delaney, Former New York Times National Editor “From age 16 to 21, I was lucky enough to learn the craft of newspapering at The Washington Evening Star. Faye Haskins now masterfully gives us both the history of this greatest of American afternoon newspapers and captures the spirit of its unique role for more than 150 years in the life of the Capital of the United States. Along the way, she paints indelible portraits of those who, in the 1950s and 60s especially, reported and wrote—usually on deadline—stories that represent an incomparably vivid account of this pivotal era of our national life. No newsroom in those days could have been more exciting or committed to the highest principles of journalism. I know: because this wonderful band of reporters and editors were my teachers.” — Carl Bernstein 10/18/2019: Read all about the history of The Washington Star as Faye Haskins talks with Washington Post columnist John Kelly. Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/remembering-washingtons-shining-star-a-great-newspaper-that-died-in-1981/2019/10/16/32094c36-f02a-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html

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Wild Horse Hater Zinke Socialized with Private Developers On the Taxpayer Dime While His Wife Finagled Sweetheart Land Deal By R.T. Fitch on June 23, 2018 • ( 10 Comments ) by Larkin Corrigan as published on Western Values Project “…he’s abusing this position to help his big oil buddies to enrich himself and his family at the expense of taxpayers…” The ranking member Rep. Raul Grijalva of the House Natural Resources Committee called on Interior’s Office of Inspector General to investigate Secretary Ryan Zinke after released documents revealed that last summer Secretary Zinke had a meeting in his official office and gave a Lincoln Memorial tour to private developers while the developers were engaged in a land deal with Secretary Zinke’s wife in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana that stood to enrich Secretary Zinke’s family. One of the developers in attendance was the chairman of Halliburton, an oil and gas multinational corporation that drills on the public lands Zinke oversees as Interior Secretary. Following this breaking news, Western Values Project Executive Director Chris Saeger released the following statement calling for an investigation into scandal-plagued Secretary Zinke: “Where there’s smoke there’s usually fire and the only way to find out for sure is an independent investigation. Secretary Zinke is a steward of our public lands, and if he’s abusing this position to help his big oil buddies to enrich himself and his family at the expense of taxpayers, he needs to be held accountable.” Based on the documents released, it appears, Secretary Zinke used his public office and government resources to butter up property developers as they were working on a sweetheart land deal in his hometown that he stands to gain from. Just weeks after this secret rendezvous, the developers showered him with praise, with one sending him an email calling their relationship ‘an absolute grand slam.’ https://westernvaluesproject.org/zinke-socialized-with-private-developers-on-the-taxpayer-dime-while-his-wife-finagled-sweetheart-land-deal/ Tagged as: #KeepourWildHorsesWild, #saveourwildhorses, BLM, Cruelty to animals, Department of the Interior, government corruption, Horse Meat, Horse Slaughter, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Ryan "Dinky" Zinke, wild burros, Wild Horse, Wild Mustang Scott Pruitt Is An Ethics Nightmare, But So Is Ryan Zinke Feel Good Sunday: “Something You Get Through” “Made In America”: Ryan Zinke’s New Committee With Myriad Hidden Agendas (excerpts) by Katie Christiansen I should not have been surprised by the recent news that U.S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke has again failed us. An official press release from the Department of Interior announced the names of the 15 inaugural members to Zinke’s “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. The committee was founded to advise on “expand[ing] access to and improving infrastructure on public lands and waterways” through “public-private partnerships.” Our public lands carry in their mission a conservation directive. The National ParkService for example, is required by law to conserve its lands unimpaired. The Bureau of Land Management’s multiple use mandate insists on “sustain[ing] the health, diversity and productivity of the public lands.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, managers of our National Wildlife Refuges, was founded to “conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats.” Public lands are both for the people and for protection of land and wildlife. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, such mandates are crucial and they do not exist to accommodate the whims of political fiat. So who made Zinke’s dream team? Zinke selected 15 individuals to serve on his committee. Thirteen are men. Fourteen are white. Not exactly a bastion of diversity. Six represent the “hospitality industry,” three of whom have notable conflicts of interest: two are responsible for current concessionaire contracts with the National Park Service (Jeremy Jacobs– Delaware North, Bruce Fears– Aramark Leisure), and the other is a longtime concessionaire advocate (Derrick Crandell– National Park Hospitality Association). Five of the fifteen are gear manufacturers, retailers, and advocates from the shooting sports, fishing, and/or boating industries. Three are in the business of RVs and motorsports. One member’s work has focused on privatizing the public services of state wildlife agencies. And one “Made in America” member lives in Canada. When considering the dual mandate of conserving rare remaining wildlands and providing for use and access, is this, to use a favorite term of the Trump Administration, “balanced?” Are these individuals truly the “best and brightest” for the task of addressing the complex issues of access and infrastructure in the context of conservation for our public lands? Can we trust them to advise in the public interest? I struggle with the reality of our moment in time, when a given day’s news headlines often evoke anger, heartbreak, sadness, or frustration. Our planning for the future is happening in isolation from pondering larger macro trends. Did you know that in March we lost the last male Northern white rhino on earth? This constant deluge of despair has regrettably raised the threshold for what grabs my attention and concern. It’s not apathy. It’s survival. To be clear, this committee has been tasked to privatize aspects of our public lands in the implicit interest of economic gain for specific individuals and industries. Again, this news should not be surprising. I could have – maybe should have – let it pass with the day’s setting sun. But it irked me. That the person in charge of caretaking our birthright – our public lands – does not comprehend the urgency of this moment. That he continues to make way for special interests at the destruction of our heritage, the lives and well-being of others, and what is in the common interest. I won’t tire for our public lands. Have you? http://mountainjournal.org/zinke-promotes-use-of-natural-resources-in-way-that-uses-them-up This is so very well said and unfortunately so very true and so very sad that our beautiful America is being sold. Thank you for sharing it with us, Louie. This brings to mind this example of bought-and-paid-for corruption: Let’s face it … the only persons that have worked for 47 plus years for the extinction of wild horses and burros are those with a financial interest. This has been and continues to be unacceptable, illegal and the American citizens are disgusted at the “sell-out” of our lands and resources by the USFS and the BLM agencies that are responsible to PROTECT them. Rita Nelson says: I do not understand why this job always goes to someone who screws the people and the animals it is supposed to help. Get someone in the position who is going to be on the side of the citizens instead of the corporate end. No Cattle or Sheep grazing on public land, take care of the Wild Mustangs & Burros, parks, monuments and other state business. They seem to line the pockets of those who are appointed to the detriment of the job of protecting what belongs to the people!!! The crime and corruption is unbeliebable! While our Wild Horses and Burros langewish in the heat, this Jerk is making deals and side bars to destroy our public lands and its animals! And they wonder why people take matters into their own hands! We have NO protection in this country from anyone! Our illustrious Congressional members are MIA! Just disgusting! And this border thing abomidiable! I never remember anything like this obvious corruption – not even in the Nixon era! Not much satisfaction, but I do believe numnuts got a bit carried away with his latest mess. And yet his R. followers STILL havent pulled their heads from wherever they have them stuck! From THE MONTANA POST Your Latest Zinke Incompetent or Corrupt? Update While it’s a relief to know that Zinke’s incompetence and impatience make undermine his efforts to damage public lands and destroy the environment, it’s hardly a positive to have a Secretary of the Interior making decisions without regard to science, environmental impact statements, or even basic fact-finding. With Zinke, though, it’s never just incompetence. Politico reported yesterday that Zinke’s Interior Department has delayed plans to allow an expansion of an Indian-owned casino after repeated meetings with lobbyists for MGM and their friends in Congress: It’s not as if anyone should be surprised by Zinke’s reckless, self-aggrandizing, corrupt turn at Interior. He’s shown himself to little more than a corrupt opportunist willing to do and say almost anything to get himself in the public eye, consequences be damned. One day this will all catch up with him, and the fall will be a spectacular sight to behold. https://themontanapost.com/2018/02/02/your-latest-zinke-incompetent-or-corrupt-update/ Reblogged this on "OUR WORLD". From POLITICO FEC increases scrutiny of Zinke’s former PAC By BEN LEFEBVRE The Federal Election Commission is asking a leadership PAC previously affiliated with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to account for more than $600,000 of previously unreported contributions from the first six months of 2017. For most of the period in question, the committee, SEAL PAC, was overseen by Vincent DeVito, who is now a top aide to Zinke at the Interior Department, and this is the second time federal regulators have looked into discrepancies during his tenure. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/02/fec-scrutiny-of-ryan-zinkes-seal-pac-495228 This could make the Teapot Dome scandal look like a sideshow Bought Off by Big Oil The scandal badly soiled the administration of Harding. The granddaddy of modern corruption cases and its toll on the ’20s White House. Big business. Influence peddling. Exploitation of natural resources. These hallmarks of political corruption have tarnished American government for decades. But in the modern era, political scandal has virtually no peer in the affair that grew out of a Wyoming oil field in the early 1920s. The Teapot Dome scandal takes its name from a U.S. Navy oil reserve distinguished by a rock formation that looked like a teapot. Beneath it were petroleum deposits potentially worth several hundred million dollars. Oil interests had helped elect the ill-equipped Warren G. Harding to the presidency, and in return, Harding installed friends of the industry in his cabinet. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/01/11/bought-off-by-big-oil Increasing offshore leases on a grand scale, meanwhile gutting our public lands forever: You could almost hear the Montana Democrat’s frustration: Sen. John Tester could not believe it when Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, once Montana’s sole congressman, proposed a paltry $8.1 million budget for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is entitled by law to some $900 million from off-shore oil leases. “Public lands is a Western thing,” said Tester. “We’ve got to have an advocate in the administration — that’s you. … Whoa, come on, $8.1 million? … Are there no projects nationwide? Because these ecosystems are not going to be around in 20 years.” https://www.hcn.org/issues/50.10/humor-kleptoparasitism-an-octopus-named-fred-moose-chasers dailypitchfork.org/?p=1417 alexbrownracing.com nationalparkstraveler.com/2015…

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THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH Home/Uncategorized/THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH Thanks to the ongoing efforts of medical doctors, mental health professionals, drug treatment counselors and many more people across our society, we are all moving towards a brighter future of comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment. Working with a huge number of clients from all walks of life over the years, I’ve come to realize that stigmas and prejudices are being broken down and stripped away every single day, allowing people to move forward with their lives without fear of openly discussing their mental health. While it is becoming less and less controversial to speak openly about these issues, I have found that there is still an understandable level of confusion about the direct connection that exists between mental health conditions and addiction. Some of the first questions that I get asked are, “Is addiction a mental health issue?” Or, “Does mental health cause addiction?” These are important questions that have no simple answers, at least not answers that will apply to everyone and every case. There are certainly cases when latent mental health issues will manifest themselves as substance abuse, as well as cases when addiction and substance dependence can cause changes in brain chemistry that produce mental health conditions. The conversation is one where there is no hard and fast rule regarding which came first, the chicken or the egg. Addiction and mental health exist on a continuum, and can have a variety of causal relationships. One thing that is certain, and that we should all keep in mind, is that there is a relationship. According to the most recent data available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately “half of people who experience a mental illness will also experience a substance use disorder at some point in their lives and vice versa.” The most interesting part of that sentence are the last two words, “vice versa.” One may come first giving way to the other, and it is perfectly possible for things to happen the other way around as well. One important pathway that can help us understand the interplay between addiction and mental health is the connection between a lack of treatment options and self-medication. For a whole host of reasons that I have come to understand over years of working with clients, many people do not seek treatment for their mental health conditions. This includes looking for solutions to common issues such as anxiety and depression, but can also occur in people who experience more detrimental conditions such as schizophrenia and other forms of psychopathy. Because Western society has stigmatized mental health problems for so long, and failed to put in place adequate systems of treatment and recovery, clients have turned to unhealthy solutions for a whole range of issues. This can manifest as a nicotine addiction as a way to deal with anxiety and stress, to alcohol abuse as way to cope with depression and personal loss, or of course the ongoing opioid crisis. It is not a coincidence that so many of the communities across America that have been ravaged by opioids all share common problems. These drugs have found their parasitic niche in communities that are economically depressed, politically underrepresented and largely forgotten by the metropolitan areas that dominate our culture. The problems that these areas face are real, but many of the people who live in them have been presented with opioids as a solution to a vast set of complex problems that dominate their lives. Had many of these people been in situations where they felt a sense of community, and a real connection to the positive development of their environment, then opioids suddenly become less appealing. A great many people will enter opioid addiction without serious mental health problems, approaching the drugs as a solution to environmental issues, only to come out the other side with changes in their brain chemistry that can manifest as mental health problems later. The lesson to be learned here is what lies at the essence of mental health and addiction—every narrative is a little bit different, but many of the story beats are the same. Every case that I take comes with it’s own secrets, but there are no surprises. The good news is that this allows us to empathize with the problems of others, even though I may not share the exact same circumstances surrounding mental health and addiction. By nguadmin| 2018-12-19T18:44:27+00:00 December 19th, 2018| Supporting Individuals Struggling with Mental Health During the Holidays Stigma’s Surrounding Mental Health & Bullying Common Misconceptions About Therapy Tips and Tricks To Hack Mental Health 5 Reasons To Stop Ignoring Your Mental Health Samantha Ruth Samantha Ruth, Transformational Psychologist 9888 W Belleview Ave Suite 2217 Copyright 2018 Never Give Up | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Powered by JEMSU

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More-Religion Mauritania makes death penalty for leaving Islam mandatory: “We want to be as close to the real Sharia as possible” Islamic apologists in the West routinely insist that Islam has no death penalty for apostasy, but as always, reality is otherwise. The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law. It’s based on the Qur’an: “They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.” (Qur’an 4:89) Danish Muslims go more into prayer, scarves and the Qur'an Muslims in Denmark have begun to place more emphasis on their religion and religious practices. It shows a poll among Danish Muslims, which Wilke has made for Jyllands Posten, which is comparable to a similar measurement almost 10 years ago in 2006. At that time it was 37 per cent, which asked five times or more daily. Now it's exactly half, 50 per cent. Similarly, an increasing share - 77 per cent. - that the Quran's instructions should be fully followed by 62 per cent in 2006. Finally, there are also several who think that muscular girls from the teenage age should cover a scarf. Dutch Muslims are becoming more religious, new SCP report shows Religion has become more important to the Netherlands Muslim community over the past 10 years, due in part to rising tensions between population groups and a growing feeling of exclusion, the government’s socio-cultural think-tank SCP said in a new report. Europe: "The Vision is an Islamic State" Judith Bergman "The growing religiousness is not an expression of marginalization. We are talking about people who are well-integrated, but who want to be religious". — Professor Viggo Mortensen. "The vision is an Islamic state -- Islamic society... Muslims will prefer sharia rule. But the vision for twenty years from now is for sharia law to be part of Germany, that sharia will be institutionalized in the state itself". — "Yusuf", in a documentary series, False Identity. "I will pick them one by one -- I will start with people around me... If every Muslim would do the same in his surroundings, it can happen with no problem... you don't confront him [the German] with force; you do it slowly... There will be clashes, but slowly the clashes will subside, as people will accept reality." — "Yusuf", in a documentary series, False Identity. Europe will still exist but, as with the great Christian Byzantine Empire that is now Turkey, will it still embody Judeo-Christian civilization? Religious Fundamentalism and Hostility against Out-groups: A Comparison of Muslims and Christians in Western Europe Ruud Koopmans On the basis of an original survey among native Christians and Muslims of Turkish and Moroccan origin in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Sweden, this paper investigates four research questions comparing native Christians to Muslim immigrants: (1) the extent of religious fundamentalism; (2) its socio-economic determinants; (3) whether it can be distinguished from other indicators of religiosity; and (4) its relationship to hostility towards out-groups (homosexuals, Jews, the West, and Muslims). The results indicate that religious fundamentalist attitudes are much more widespread among Sunnite Muslims than among native Christians, even after controlling for the different demographic and socio-economic compositions of these groups. Alevite Muslims from Turkey, by contrast, show low levels of fundamentalism, comparable to Christians. Among both Christians and Muslims, strong religiosity as such is not (among Christians) or only mildly (among Muslims) related to hostility towards out-groups. Fundamentalist believers, however, show very high levels of out-group hostility, especially among Muslims.

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Richard’s almanac: Then and now By Richard Lomuscio REPORTER FILE PHOTO I became involved with the Shelter Island Reporter in the fall of 1980. I had taken a break from teaching at public and private schools and was bartending for the summer at the Cook restaurant in the Heights, where Isola is now. It was mostly a service bar but had about six or eight stools for regulars who would drop in. The regulars included those who lived and worked nearby— Phil and French from the Chequit, Bobby Langbein, Mike Williams, Richard Kirtland, Bob Dunne and others. Bob Dunne, publisher and editor of the paper, lived a few doors down from the Cook and would walk down the alley and enter through the back door into the bar. He had spent the day putting the paper together and was about to begin his weekend saloon tour, as he called it, to gather news. Islanders would soon realize that parts of conversations with him might very well appear in the paper. It was summer and there was plenty of night life here. During quiet times Bob told me about his background — growing up in Apalachicola, Fla.; service in the army in World War II; going to college at Notre Dame; and then coming to New York where he cut quite a path in the news business. He worked at the New York Times and the Daily News, among other papers. After a serious medical event, he and his wife Barbara moved to the East End and lived in Amagansett. Bob worked for the Southampton Press. It was during that time, around 1973, he said, that he found out that Walter Schumann had put the Reporter up for sale. Schumann was the founder of the paper in the late ‘50s. So Bob and Barbara came over to the Island for a look. They had lunch at the Dory, and as Bob recalled for me, he told proprietor Dick Edwards that he was in recovery. Dick said that the Island was a great place to deal with that. And we know that he fell off the wagon shortly after. But he always put out a paper. As I understand it, that was part of the sale agreement — that the paper not miss an issue or it would go back to Schumann. Toward the end of that summer, Bob asked me to join the paper as associate editor. The pay was pitiful and I was always on call to cover events. But the idea of writing for the paper was exciting. My wife told me to go for it, at least for a year — like going to graduate school with Bob as my tutor. So I did it and started in early September. I did everything from answering the phone to laying out the classifieds and picking up the printed papers in Riverhead on Thursday morning and delivering them to the post offices. As Bob said,“You have to learn all aspects of the business.” But my goal was to learn how to write a good news story and that came with my first story. I had to cover a Planning Board meeting. Bob came with me and introduced me to the chairman Gunnard Bergman and then left. Before we went to the meeting, he said it’s always good to wear a jacket and tie to cover news. “It gives you a professional appearance,” he said. How times have changed. So I spent most of the night working on my news story — all about plats, and drainage, and setbacks and other subdivision topics. I showed it to him the next day and he ran his red pen all over my typed copy. “You are not writing for a bunch of educators. You want to make this interesting for the average guy sitting at the Harbor Inn,” Bob emphatically told me. And I stayed with the Reporter for a little more than two years. I extended my graduate education with a master wordsmith, a very colorful one at that. Bob spent plenty of time jousting with then Supervisor Barbara Keyser. Their sparks made Town Board meetings entertaining events. It was so well known that as a prank, one night someone took his car from the Inn Between parking lot and parked it in her driveway. She was furious. I went and picked up the car in the morning. Another night, Bob, Augie Piccozzi and Stan the Man gave their rendition of the Andrews Sisters’ “Apalachicola, Fla.” with a performance at the Chequit. Wes Smith played the piano. He tried to add a bit of “Page Six” to the “Overheard in an Osprey Nest” with his “Bistro Babes,” profiling the young women he’d meet. Bob also put in plenty of gossip in this section. Bob had a fit one afternoon when his big green Pontiac was parked on Bridge Street for more than the posted time. He had press license plates but received a ticket anyway. He complained loudly to Chief George Ferrer, noting that he was in the bar as a member of the working press. I believe that the ticket was canceled. And the great clam opening contest also received plenty of press. Larry the Clam vs. Rod the Cod. And Bob covered it all with all the attendant fanfare at the Dory. I recall that the event was held on July 14, Bastille Day, and also Bob’s birthday. He turned 60 on his 1983 birthday and died shortly thereafter. He was a colorful and memorable guy banging out a story on his typewriter, glasses on the end of his nose and cigarette hanging from his mouth. He never missed a deadline. And I finished my graduate work and moved upstate. Richard Lomuscio Email Richard Lomuscio Email Created with Sketch. Email Richard Lomuscio Shelter Island Reporter A familiar face brings new life to Sylvester Manor farm When Cristina Cosentino finished her farm apprenticeship at Sylvestor Manor in 2015, she “didn’t want to leave.” Fast forward...

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Speaker for Hire Ask Berkun How to Pick a President Turning off all media for 48 hours does amazing things for clarity. When you return, the insane and unintentional comedy of the civilized world becomes clear. As Voltaire wrote, “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh”. Among the many salient things I noticed after my media hiatus, the U.S. Presidential election stood out as the most curious drama of all. I couldn’t stop laughing, and crying, about how, despite our solemn patriotic pride, we have no idea what we’re doing. Although we’re often asked to vote, we are often too ignorant and self-centered to make good choices. Our checkered history of presidential voting Take a good look at the previous presidents of the united states. You can find credible literature describing many of them as both gods and as failures, often for the exact same deeds. In hundreds of U.S. history classrooms, right now, kids are writing papers about whether Reagan, Lincoln or JFK were the greatest, or the worst, presidents in U.S. History. Many historians agree it takes at least a decade to sort out the impact of a presidents actions. Yet we bet so much on rejection or approval of the last president or two: four or eight years, being less than the decade needed to have a sense of what they did well, and what they did wrong. And experts know a president’s influence is, by design, magnitudes weaker than the public perception: one of three rings of power. By constitutional design the three branches of government keep each other in check, and no matter how great a single president is as an individual, the condition and party balance of the senate and judiciary they inherent determine their fate at least as much as their ability does. Political campaigns stress the individual, but what is harder to evaluate is their skill at working with other branches of government. While we push as many people as possible to vote, there is no primer, handbook, or tip sheet provided on how to avoid mistakes of elections past. We’ve been doing this election thing for quite awhile, don’t you think we should review how we’ve done? Take a look and see if the way we vote has resulted in what we voted for? And perhaps make some adjustments this time around? The mistakes we make when voting Many people vote for self-interest. Construction workers vote for the president they think best understands construction workers (e.g. pro union), Venture capitalists vote for the president they think best serves venture capital (e.g. low taxes), and Star wars fans vote for the president most likely to ban more bad star wars movies (e.g. mandate the imprisonment of George Lucas in a room with only star wars merchandise to wear, star wars food to eat, and post 1983 star wars movies to watch, and force him to write Han shot first a million times on a chalkboard). But how can it make sense for everyone to vote solely on what suits themselves best? It’s not a United States of Me. Certainly self interest is a major consideration in a vote, but it has to be weighed against others. There might just be people in this country, or challenges to the common good, whose needs are more important to the future of the country than our own. State and local elections often matter more for self-interest than national elections, by design. And serious weight often goes to superficial things. The jokes about high school elections being popularity contests are apt: we are distracted by surfaces. People forget we are biased towards picking people who look like us, or fit an image of what we think a president should look like. We are easily distracted away from better measures: namely performance, or our estimation of potential for performance. Consider how the JFK and Nixon presidential debate, the first ever televised, gave the GQ-looking JFK an unprecedented advantage over Nixon: those who listened on radio thought Nixon won, while those watching on TV, thought it was JFK. Many of our greatest presidents were less than telegenic: Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, FDR (he hid the fact he was in a wheelchair). Even Thomas Jefferson loathed giving speeches, believing he wasn’t very good at them. In our short attention span media-rich times many great voices of our past would never have even been heard. Try closing your eyes in the next debate or interview, you might just improve your analysis of what’s being said. Many people make their list of positions on issues and try to find a candidate that best matches those positions. This is the idealists approach to decision making: why does it matter if candidate A matches your positions if they don’t have the skills to deliver on supporting those issues while in office? Or if they will cause so much harm to the nation at large to outweigh the importance of those positions. The goal for the democracy is to do the greatest good over the long term, meaning it’s likely a mistake to allow regress on many issues just to defend one. Handy decision making tools like iSideWith, that use multiple choice questions to identify the candidate that best matches your opinions, are useful, but offer zero information on the candidate’s ability to make any of these things happen. And we forget much of what president’s do is respond to issues we never imagined we’d have to deal with (Can you say 9/11, Katrina, and the sub-prime mortgage crisis? None of which showed up on position lists for the 2000 or 2004 elections respectively). Then consider how shallow our modern debates are: Lincoln and Douglas debated for over 20 hours in 1858, and for a senatorial race! A full days worth of debate might be too much for us today, but the modern presidential debate protocols, diminish the candidates role in representing themselves to the public. Imagine how little need we’d have for pundits and commentary if our candidates were asked to represent themselves against the other in true discourse, with wise/fearless moderators, allowing us the benefit of our own judgments. How to decode political coverage The simple test for any political coverage is to ask this: What does this have to do with their ability to do the job? 75% of what gets passed off as commentary on the election fails this test. What you hear is either trivia, gossip, mythology or noise. (For example, McCain’s POW status, while noble and honorable, is not a primary criteria for an executive position. Neither in the case of Obama is one’s race). Pundits have failed when their commentary circles what’s fed to them by campaign staff, instead of applying their expert knowledge to help viewers evaluate the merits of the candidate. They are supposed to help us spot the good ones, or at least point out the attributes to look for, and that can not happen by endlessly dissecting the hidden meaning of a flubbed sentence in a speech, a vague promise, or a mistake of fact, things every president throughout history and forever into the future will, as non-robotic human beings, occasionally do. The big confusion we make is mistaking the campaign for the presidency. Running a great campaign bears little relationship to being a great president, as the many mediocre and tragic presidencies in our history proves (They ran better campaigns, right?). It’s not like the campaign consist of a presidential Olympics, with simulations and events designed to test their abilities. They don’t even get to play RISK against each other, much less, say, a Will Wright designed ‘Sim-President’ or other cleverly constructed simulation. This means our job as voters is to look past the battles of the campaign and make a decision based on how we think they’ll perform in the real thing. It’s nowhere to be found in major coverage, but smart folks have studied what traits led to more successful presidencies. Sure, these things are subjective, but they offer a better framework, based on history, for making our next big bet. Fred I. Greenstein, Professor of Politics Emeritus at Princeton University, calls out 6 attributes most related to success in office, a veritable scorecard for our use: Effectiveness as a public communicator Political skill (obviously, but he explains specific traits) Cognitive Style Read his descriptions of these skills, as he offers excellent, and easy to understand examples from history. He also notes this surprising observation: “Results of the research indicate that great presidents, besides being stubborn and disagreeable, are more extroverted, open to experience, assertive, achievement striving, excitement seeking and more open to fantasy, aesthetics, feelings, actions, ideas and values. Historically great presidents were low on straightforwardness, vulnerability and order.” Which flies in the face of how the well mannered, A-student, stately-goody-two-shoes personality profile candidates are expected to fit into during campaign season. The 30 minute prep for picking a good president Here it is. In 30 minutes you too can have a solid grounding on what makes for a good president, and have everything necessary to make a choice truly in the best interest of the United States. Read the Constitution (10 minutes). It’s probably been years since you have, if you ever did. This is the engine the president helps run – how can you pick a president if you don’t understand what they’re running? Essential reading. Should be included in every ballot. Skim the Bill of Rights + Amendments (5 minutes). These are the rules the President and government are obligated to play by and protect. Also essential. Read the job specs for the Presidency (5 minutes). Written by former editor and chief of Time Magazine, outlines 30 attributes we should be looking for. Study the qualities that bear on presidential performance. Princeton professor Greenstein’s short, and excellent, essay (5 minutes). Make a position and issue list. Half the list should include your top issues and concerns for the next year, and half should include issues and concerns you imagine over the next ten years. Make a scorecard. With the above, you’re now informed about the history of good presidency. Make your own list of ten attributes, and use it to score the candidates. You’re now prepared to watch debates, listen to the news, and provide historic context and bullshit detection upon what’s said by both pundits and candidates alike. Bonus material – presidential comparative rankings for all U.S. Presidents: Historical ranking of U.S. Presidents Rating the presidents, Washington to Clinton Related: Why We Vote The Way We Do (Book Review) Have better, more reasoned advice for Americans? How would you recommend Americans pick a president? Please leave a comment – I’d love to hear your opinions. By Scott Berkun, September 29, 2008 [Updated September 2016] 34 Comments below — Add yours Sign Up for Berkun’s Best Posts If you sign up to receive his best posts via email, you’ll get a FREE copy of a preview edition of Mindfire plus free chapters from all of his bestselling books. Over 19,000 people have signed up. Privacy policy enforced by my Rotweiller. Related Posts You’ll Like Free pass to Interaction 20 Help wanted: motion graphics / video for book launch trailer Cover design vote: How Design Makes The World (first round) Help wanted: design literacy for everyone project Public Speaking Workshop: April 8th 6:30pm 34 Responses to “How to Pick a President” Cindy October 21, 2008 at 10:20 am. Permalink. Excellent article…but a couple of things ‘bother’ me. 1) The method used for ranking the Presidents was a poll. Regardless of the fact that the poll was – in theory – made up of a mix (not a balance) of ideologically diverse professors and historians, one might argue that this still would skew liberal (given the propensity of academia). For example, some may question FDRs ‘greatness’ in terms of whether his policies have created more harm than good in the long term (some argue the new deal prolonged the depression rather than helped end it and paved the way for the current welfare state). Others may question why Reagan wasn’t ranked higher in light of his ending the cold war and his economic policies (though some disagree with trickle-down theory). I wonder how the rankings would have panned out if economists were polled rather than political scientists and historians… The link to “historical rankings of U.S. Presidents” even covers this to a certain extent. In all, I agree with your method. I wish more people knew more about the Constitution and the writings of our founding fathers or understood the basic role of our Government and our President. 2). The use of Time magazine and a Princeton Professor to define the criteria for what makes a good president also is a concern. Time is repeatedly biased toward the left. So is academia. I tend to question whether ‘effectiveness as a public communicator’ REALLY makes a great president (Clinton, for example, was a great speaker, but he’s ranked low in the list). Perhaps I’m reading this one wrong, but great speakers are often just the best bullshitters. Perhaps he means something a bit different by ‘communicator’. Scott October 21, 2008 at 11:14 am. Permalink. Hi Cindy – thanks for the thoughtful comments. If you know of sources that satisfy the concerns you mention, I’d love to include them. I did a fair amount of research for this essay, and the references I included were simply the strongest I found online. Regarding speaking: I think of communication as a skill. It can be used for clarity or bullshit, but that depends on how one chooses to use it, a question of ethics or objectives, rather than on the ability itself. alwsdad October 26, 2008 at 6:37 pm. Permalink. An interesting, thoughtful essay. Phil October 26, 2008 at 6:58 pm. Permalink. Excellent post. I’ve included it as a part of my observations of the political world. Dan Kelly October 26, 2008 at 7:57 pm. Permalink. Very interesting article. I have to agree with Cindy’s point #1. The media (Time magazine in this case) and academia tend to lean to the left. So, if you use their measures and their measures alone, you’ll most often end up with a left leaning president. Prof. Greenstein’s 6 attributes miss the mark on THE most important things we need to be paying attention to… the candidates’ stance on various issues that are important to us – personally and as a society. Just because one man communicates better about the pro-abortion policies he wants to introduce doesn’t mean I want to vote for that candidate… Not even if the anti-abortion candidate is a horrible public speaker. PS Your link to the Bill Of Rights goes to the same link as the Constitution link. Here’s one option for the Bill Of Rights: http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html Andy October 26, 2008 at 9:02 pm. Permalink. I agree that academia tends to be fairly left-wing, but TIME seems to be fairly middle-of-the-road. It’s silly to claim that *all* media has a left-wing bias, because there are clear examples to the contrary, and it would be a very strange world were that the case. JK October 26, 2008 at 10:50 pm. Permalink. A very good article, but I fear you may be preaching to the converted. Those most in need of your advice probably won’t be among your readers. The strategy for winning the last two elections has been ‘You can fool some of the people all the time, let’s concentrate on them.’ It worked, but please God not again. AnD October 27, 2008 at 3:46 am. Permalink. Very interesting article. I’m ashamed to say I came into this article with the thought of, ‘Oh great, another 5-question quiz to tell me to vote for that one.’ but what I got was quite an insight and an awesome read! I must say, you’re style of writing is excellent, and I thank you for you writing informative essays like this one! :) (I think I may have decided who I’m going to vote for! :-P) yen October 27, 2008 at 4:32 am. Permalink. My opinion is that you aren’t just voting for the president, you’re voting to put a political party in power. So for example if you’re pro-life and in favour of low taxes, but you don’t like McCain’s temper, it’s probably still better to vote for him anyway, to get more Republicans in power. Joe October 27, 2008 at 5:26 am. Permalink. Excellent article! Our presidential election process is a joke – at least what it has evolved into. Can you imagine IBM or General Motors, when the Board of Directors picks the next CEO (which is in effect what we’re doing – interviewing the next CEO of this country) having the two top candidates for the job stand there and answer stupid questions that have nothing to do with the job? I would love to see some kind of simulation, or at least have the “moderators” in these debates ask some real questions, “Senator, this, that, and the other has occured. What is your response?” And when the candidate starts to answer, then instead of answering the question starts in on a canned speech, redirect him back to the question. I also agree with the point that the vote has come down to “What’s in it for me?” I fear that the candidate who gets elected is going to be the one who promises the most free giveaways from the government (free healthcare, free education, tax refunds for those who pay no taxes, etc.)instead of the one who is the best man for the job. I also like the links to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I’m afraid there are too many people voting in the presidential election who have no idea what it is the president actually does. However this election turns out, it’s going to be an interesting four years. Jack Mackenzie October 27, 2008 at 6:55 am. Permalink. A good essay. But I did not see reference to an established record on hewing to the Constitution. Intellectual exercises are fine, but what has the candidate actually done? What’s the Record? What they say means nothing compared to what they’ve done. Right now we have one candidate who is all talk. The other candidate has given life and limb to the Constitution and has come back to give even more. Again, not issues, nor talk-talk. What is their Record on, and Record for the Constitution? One candidate is on record publicly stating we need to break free of the Constitution. scott anderson October 27, 2008 at 6:56 am. Permalink. I think it’s crucial that we elect someone who will defend the constitution. Since both both party’s candidates have voted against the 4th amendment (largely with the people’s blessing) by voting for retroactive immunity for the Telcos, I think neither one is a very good choice. Which doesn’t leave us with a lot of options… Some Guy October 27, 2008 at 7:35 am. Permalink. So, I guess I have to wonder: if academia, which generally consists of the more intelligent and better educated members of society, lean towards the left…what does that tell me? I dunno, but I think it’s telling that when you’ve got more in your mind than just last night’s sports scores or who’s dating whom in the Hollywood set, you don’t favor right-leaning values. But, I digress…I think your suggestions for picking a candidate are spot on. It doesn’t take a lot of prep work to figure out who’s going to be best. Barbara Dorris October 27, 2008 at 8:28 am. Permalink. In reference to statements in the first paragraph of “How to decode political coverage” above … I’ve only completed reading the “6 attributes most …” and the last line – “Beware the presidential contender who lacks emotional intelligence. In its absence all else may turn to ashes.” – makes me earnestly believe that John McCain’s experience as a POW does indeed play a big part in the elections today. The fact that he sacrificed and survived as he did shows extreme emotional intelligence. Michael Gilbert October 27, 2008 at 9:26 am. Permalink. Love your work in general and this is a fine piece. But from my perspective, it’s deeply flawed. Other readers have brushed up against this issue, but this is my concern: What about policy? Not to say that effectiveness isn’t a major concern, but it really begs the question: Effective about what? What will the president MAKE HAPPEN? That’s how I vote. Also, I have to say, as someone who is originally from Europe, Time Magazine and American academia are hardly leftist. Maybe the political spectrum in the US has moved so far to the right that we can’t see that. T October 27, 2008 at 10:05 am. Permalink. “Effectiveness as a public communicator” – Are you kidding me?! This has very little to do with attributes that are most related to success in office. One must ask what on earth does this guy think “success” means. Success in office would be things like protecting the people, lowering taxes for everyone while increasing efficiency of government (as much as a president could). Government is not meant to be the answer to everything like so many think. Government is to maintain military to protect the innocent, punish the bad, keep the roads maintained, and keep the utilities on… not nurse our young, not tell us how to eat, not telling us how to live, etc… “Cognitive Style”… WHAT?! How about cognitive skill?! Learn to think. anonymous October 27, 2008 at 11:10 am. Permalink. So your first step in your “30 minute primer” is to have people read the Consitution in 10 minutes. Ahhhh, braniac, there are whole law school courses taught over a 9 months which deal with the Constitution and it’s various interpretations. Catalogs of books have been written on the Constitution. And you want people to read it and “get it” in 10 minutes. Yeah, ok, good luck with that. Scott October 27, 2008 at 1:56 pm. Permalink. > Love your work in general and this is a > fine piece. But from my perspective, it’s > deeply flawed. Other readers have brushed > up against this issue, but this is my > concern: What about policy? I thought about including a section on understanding policy, or assessing the policy ideas of candidates, but it fractured into a topic and essay all of its own. I think I picked the right 5 or 6 things to talk about. Sure there are other very important things to consider, but I wouldn’t say the essay is flawed without them. Frankly, the most important thing I hope comes from anyone who reads this thing is that a good percentage then go and actually read the constitution, which explains what it is, in fact, the president will actually have to do. Something I’m convinced most Americans have little awareness of when thinking about who to vote for. But forget my opinion: if you or anyone knows of a good primer on how to assess proposed policy, preferably a non-partisan one, please post the link. Dear anonymous: > So your first step in your “30 minute primer” > is to have people read the Consitution in 10 > minutes. Ahhhh, braniac, there are whole > law school courses taught over a 9 months > which deal with the Constitution and it’s various > interpretations. Catalogs of books have been > written on the Constitution. Just because there are some who spend a year analyzing a document doesn’t negate the value of someone skimming it. Film students spend weeks writing term papers about the film The Godfather – does that mean no else can watch it? Enjoy it? Understand it? What advice would you have for a election primer for laypeople? Other than, of course, get a PhD in political science :) chandramohan November 15, 2011 at 11:49 pm. Permalink. Good Day Sir I need to write an article for my staff collage on this topic ‘How the President of the United States is Elected’ But unfortunately 6000 words. can you help me sir or email some article. i will be very grateful to you. tq Dave October 27, 2008 at 8:39 pm. Permalink. Here’s the most non-partisan and informational website I could find – – This particular story lists the campaign pledges each candidate has publicly stated, although it hasn’t been updated since Sept 8. http://www.nationaljournal.com/campaigns/2008/wh08/promises.htm Dianne October 28, 2008 at 3:31 am. Permalink. Very well done article, but I wish you had expounded a bit on the role of the “other” branches of power, i.e. the Legislative and Judicial. The presidency is not a one man job. A hard look needs to be taken at Congress and the Supreme Court (over which the president has power of appointment with congressional approval). I especially enjoyed Joe’s comments about the so called debates and the power of the media. What a farce this has become! Do I really need the canned bullshit to come to a decision or the commentators “take” on the issues???? Derek October 28, 2008 at 5:28 am. Permalink. The media is only biased in one way or the other if you let it affect you. I read and watch all types of media, from those considered far-left to those considered far-right. They all have an agenda, some more than others, but you need to pay attention to them all. And you also need to make a distinction between journalism and opinion pieces. One popular network’s entire primetime lineup is entirely opinion and not at all journalistic, for example. Read blogs, read your local and national newspapers, do watch some news online (or on TV), and finally, decide which candidate will have the best chance at making our country a better place four years from now. That’s my criteria. Jake October 28, 2008 at 12:46 pm. Permalink. Okay, so… I believed someone mentioned in an earlier comment that what is most important is picking a candidate who most strives to protect the Constitution. Now, the Constitution is an amazing document, and one that rose us out of the doldrums to become the nation we are today. However, we must also realize that this document was written a long time ago, during a different time with different events, and when people thought differently. This not to say that the Constitution is obsolete. Far from it. It lays down many admirable core values to strive for. However, while not obsolete, one must be open to considering that parts of it may be outdated. People don’t get everything right the first time. Times change, peolpe change, and the needs of the people also change. So, rather than chastizing candidates who propose radical change to the Constitution, maybe we should think about the fact that it might be long overdue. I mean, isn’t that’s what the Amendments were for? No one seems to have a problem with them, and they are functionally rewriting the Constitution. And, simply because one does not PERSONALLY agree with a particular proposed change, this does not mean that said change is not better overall for the general population. That really is another thing that tends to get to me: the obsession that people have with enforcing their personal opinions onto others. This article gets serious kudos for working to deter such thinking. And also, I find it rather insulting that some people assume that you have to be well versed and schooled in political science to “really” understand the issues. I am a double major in Physics and Philosophy, so politics is pretty much outside my realm (well, maybe not so much with Philosophy). However, I am also a human being and I can see what’s going on and make decisions based on it. People get so caught up in petty issues like abortion and gay marriage (HUGE issue in California right now) rights and such. And while these issues may be important on a certain level and to certain peole, they hardly have a damn thing to do with how this country is run, and people really need to get that. It is infuriating to ridiculousness that people would even consider things like stance on abortion and marriage when deciding on a candidate to vote for. This country is in an economic crisis, and there are many other problems that are far more prevelant than whether or not two men should be able to get married or whether or not a woman has the right to decide whether or not to bring another life into this world. And besides, I think that logically this is a losing battle, since history has proved over and over that freedom nearly always wins against oppression in the long run, especially in THIS country. The sooner people understand this and get over it and begin to analyze the REAL issues, the easier things will be for everyone. And peole really DO need to make their own decisions based on their OWN research of non-partisan information on the matter instead of blindly swallowing whatever right- or left-wing gasbag happens to be on CNN at the moment is trying to shove down your throat. I think pundits are the most destructive force in the politcal machine today. Whatever their intent, they are effectively working to eliminate personal opinion by trying to frantically force their own upon others. And while I’m sure it is obvious by now which side of the fence I happen to stand on (and by the way, I really hate that you have to stand on “side” at all… we shoudl work on changing that), I still abhor pundits and lobbyists on BOTH sides. It’s cheap and underhanded and an abuse of the system, and not conducive to truth or justice in the slightest. Oh, and by the way, FANTASTIC article, Scott! Sorry this was such a long comment. I get heated. 0: ) Barb October 8, 2016 at 11:32 am. Permalink. well said Jake. Nice job Scott. i even got a little more then expected from this article. I use the constitution for an inventory sheet for myself and my behavior, when it comes to the craziness of our political parties today. It is extremely hard to identify whats best for my country when i am so self centered. The Constitution was a beautiful start for a great nation, so i do not want to forget where we came from! Scott Berkun October 9, 2016 at 11:08 am. Permalink. Thanks Barb. Linda November 2, 2008 at 11:05 am. Permalink. Although I am known for being one of the most optimistic persons, I cannot be that way about our election process. I have no television, which spares me the ads. I am now ready to forgo my landline telephone as I have been contacted once too often by “candidates” or their reps. While everyone says they want change, I sincerely believe they are too afraid of real change, like additional parties, or a person who would advocate people taking responsibility for their own actions, or someone who would completely revamp the tax system. We will get what we ask for…the same government doing the same things, over and over. And everyone will continue to blame the government for all their woes. I will vote. I believe it is my right. I just know I will not be picking the next president. I also know that no one in his right mind would want the job. The candidate has to have an enormous ego, and a tremendously thick skin, along with a “perfect” family. If you think about it, that is rather frightening. The optimist in me does appreciate your method. I think it would be grand if everyone could read it. J. Wilder November 17, 2008 at 10:51 am. Permalink. Very good article, I wish we could apply some type of test before people voted, in order to insure we actually understood what we were voting for. Steve November 13, 2011 at 6:36 am. Permalink. You left out 7. no membership with the Council on Foreign Relations 1. A past that includes over-sight on Senate Foreign Relations Policy 2. ideologically conservative, yet politically dynamic and fiscally pragmatic. 3. A background in military service, yet very much opposed to the expansion of the theater of war with relation to foreign invasion This group is one of the worst groups of Presidential candidates in recent history. Ron Paul is the only nominal, self-respecting, and completely original choice, and he is completely ignored. The candidates make not voting at all not only the responsible thing to do but a certain “you get the democracy you deserve” moment each American should exercise. I’m actually sad and at the same time proud to say I no longer live in America. Julie June 10, 2012 at 6:49 pm. Permalink. That’s a good list. I would add that we should have to take a test based on that list. Do Americans really know what they’re voting for? If you ask most people after they come out of the voting booth, they don’t have a clue. Olivia Pearson October 29, 2018 at 7:05 am. Permalink. I like how you said that when picking a president, you should consider their organizational capacity, and effectiveness as a public communicator. I think that these are two important skills because they will allow the president to represent the citizens of the country, and will allow them to work with officials from other nations as well. My friend and I are trying to figure out how we ought to identify a good presidential candidate for the next election. We’ll have to find someone with good organizational and communication skills to help lead our country to success. Looks Like My Political Rant Provoked Some Good Discussions | Thrilling Heroics says: […] How to pick a president lukasz.bromirski.net » nie b?dzie o polityce… says: […] wyborze – m?drym (lub przynajmniej rozs?dnym) – prezydenta, trzeba oczywi?cie to dostosowa? do polskich warunków, ma zastosowanie […] Open letter to people complaining about politics « Scott Berkun says: […] see my essay on How to Pick a President. […] Leave a Reply to Julie Scott Berkun is the author of seven popular books on creativity, leadership, philosophy and speaking. You can hire him to speak, ask him a question or follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe for free chapters of his bestselling books Sign up now to get free chapters from all of his bestselling books, plus monthly news of his best new posts. Join over 19,000 fellow subscribers. First Visit? I like you already. Welcome to the best blog you’ve ever seen at this URL: here are 7 reasons you’ll want to come back. Instant delight awaits in trying one of Berkun’s best posts of all space and time. Challenge Berkun Now Dare Berkun to answer a question on any topic, and vote on which one he answers this week. Challenge and Vote> Scott's Awesome Books The Dance of the Possible "You'll find a lot to steal from this short, inspiring guide to being creative. 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Tag Archives: Irish Rebellion of 1798 Birth of Tomás Mac Giolla, Irish Workers’ Party Politician Tomás Mac Giolla, Workers’ Party of Ireland politician who serves as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1993 to 1994, leader of the Workers’ Party from 1962 to 1988 and leader of Sinn Féin from 1962 to 1970, is born Thomas Gill in Nenagh, County Tipperary on January 25, 1924. He serves as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin West constituency from 1982 to 1992. Mac Giolla’s uncle T. P. Gill is a Member of Parliament (MP) and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) of Charles Stewart Parnell. His father, Robert Paul Gill, an engineer and architect, also stands unsuccessfully for election on a number of occasions. His mother is Mary Hourigan. Mac Giolla is educated at the local national school in Nenagh before completing his secondary education at St. Flannan’s College in Ennis, County Clare. It is while at St. Flannan’s that he changes to using the Irish language version of his name. He wins a scholarship to University College Dublin where he qualifies with a Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a degree in Commerce. A qualified accountant, Mac Giolla is employed by the Irish Electricity Supply Board (ESB) from 1947 until he goes into full-time politics in 1977. In his early life Mac Giolla is an active republican. He joins Sinn Féin and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) around 1950. He is interned by the Government of Ireland during the 1956–1962 IRA border campaign. He also serves a number of prison sentences in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin. At the 1961 Irish general election, Mac Giolla unsuccessfully contests the Tipperary North constituency for Sinn Féin. In 1962, he becomes President of Sinn Féin, and is one of the people who moves the party to the left during the 1960s. In 1969, Sinn Féin splits and he remains leader of Official Sinn Féin. It is also in 1962 that he marries May McLoughlin who is also an active member of Sinn Féin as well as Cumann na mBan, the women’s section of the IRA. In 1977, the party changes its name to Sinn Féin the Workers Party and in 1982 it becomes simply the Workers’ Party. Mac Giolla is elected to Dublin City Council representing the Ballyfermot local electoral area in 1979 and at every subsequent local election until he retires from the council in 1997. In the November 1982 Irish general election he is elected to Dáil Éireann for his party. In 1988, he steps down as party leader and is succeeded by Proinsias De Rossa. He serves as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1993 to 1994 and remains a member of Dublin Corporation until 1998. While president Mac Giolla is regarded as a mediator between the Marxist-Leninist wing headed by Sean Garland and the social democratic wing of Prionsias De Rossa. At the 1992 special Ard Fheis he votes for the motion to abandon democratic centralism and to re-constitute the party much as the Italian Communist Party became the Democratic Party of the Left. However the motion fails to reach the required two-thirds majority. Following the departure of six Workers’ Party TDs led by De Rossa to form the new Democratic Left party in 1992, Mac Giolla is the sole member of the Workers’ Party in the Dáil. He loses his Dáil seat at the 1992 Irish general election by a margin of just 59 votes to Liam Lawlor of Fianna Fáil. In 1999, Mac Giolla writes to the chairman of the Flood Tribunal calling for an investigation into revelations that former Dublin Assistant City and County Manager George Redmond had been the official supervisor at the election count in Dublin West and was a close associate of Liam Lawlor. In 2003, Redmond is convicted of corruption by a Dublin court but subsequently has his conviction quashed due to conflicting evidence. In his eighties Mac Giolla continues to be active and is a member of the group which campaigns to prevent the demolition of No. 16 Moore Street in Dublin city centre, where the surrender after the Easter Rising was completed. He also serves on the Dublin ’98 committee to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Tomás Mac Giolla dies in Beaumont Hospital in Beaumont, Dublin on February 4, 2010 after a long illness. Categories: Irish History, Irish Republican Army, Politics & Government | Tags: 1916 Easter Rising, 1961 Irish General Election, 1992 Irish General Election, Ard Fheis, Ballyfermot, Beaumont, Beaumont Hospital, Border Campaign, Charles Stewart Parnell, County Clare, County Tipperary, Cumann na mBan, Dáil Éireann, Democratic Centralism, Democratic Left, Democratic Party of the Left, Dublin, Dublin City Council, Dublin Corporation, Dublin West (Dáil Constituency), Electricity Supply Board, Ennis, Fianna Fáil, Flood Tribunal, George Redmond, Government of Ireland, Irish Parliamentary Party, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Irish Republican Army, Irish Republicanism, Italian Communist Party, Liam Lawlor, Local Electoral Area, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Marxism-Leninism, Member of Parliament, Mountjoy Prison, National School, Nenagh, November 1982 Irish General Election, Official Sinn Féin, Proinsias De Rossa, Seán Garland, Sinn Féin, Social Democracy, St. Flannan's College, Teachta Dála, Thomas Patrick Gill, Tipperary North (Dáil Constituency), Tomás Mac Giolla, University College Dublin, Workers' Party of Ireland | Permalink. Death of William Sampson, United Irishman, Author & Lawyer William Sampson, member of the Society of United Irishmen, author and Irish Protestant lawyer known for his defence of religious liberty in Ireland and the United States, dies in New York City on December 28, 1836. Sampson is born in Derry, County Londonderry, to an affluent Anglican family. He attends Trinity College Dublin and studies law at Lincoln’s Inn in London. In his twenties, he briefly visits an uncle in North Carolina. In 1790 he marries Grace Clark and they have two sons, William and John, and a daughter, Catherine Anne. Admitted to the Irish Bar, Sampson becomes Junior Counsel to John Philpot Curran, and helps him provide legal defences for many members of the Society of United Irishmen. A member of the Church of Ireland, he is disturbed by anti-Catholic violence and contributes writings to the Society’s newspapers. He is arrested at the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, imprisoned, and compelled to leave Ireland for exile in Europe. Shipwrecked at Pwllheli in Wales, Sampson makes his way to exile in Porto, Portugal, where he is again arrested, imprisoned in Lisbon, and then expelled. After living some years in France, and then Hamburg, he flees to England ahead of the approach of Napoleon‘s armies where he is re-arrested. After unsuccessfully petitioning for a return to Ireland, he arrives in New York City on July 4, 1806. In the United States, Sampson successfully continues his career in the law, eventually sending for his family. He sets up a business publishing detailed accounts of the court proceedings in cases with popular appeal. In 1809 he reports on the case of a Navy Lieutenant Renshaw prosecuted for dueling. That same year he handles a case against Amos and Demis Broad, accused of brutally beating their slave, Betty, and her 3-year-old daughter where Sampson succeeded in having both slaves manumitted. The authorities in Ireland had disbarred Sampson, which causes him some bitter amusement, as it does not affect his work in the United States. Sampson’s most important case in the United States is in 1813 and is referred to as “The Catholic Question in America.” Police investigating the misdemeanor of receiving stolen goods question the suspects’ priest, the Reverend Mr. Kohlman. He declines to given any information that he has heard in confession. The priest is called to testify at the trial in the Court of General Sessions in the City of New York. He again declines. The issue whether to compel the testimony is fully briefed and carefully argued on both sides, with a detailed examination of the common law. In the end, the confessional privilege is accepted for the first time in a court of the United States. William Sampson dies on December 28, 1836 and is buried in the Riker Family graveyard on Long Island in what is now East Elmhurst, Queens, New York. He is later reinterred in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where he is now buried in the same plot as Matilda Witherington Tone and William Theobald Wolfe Tone, the wife and son of the Irish revolutionary Wolfe Tone, and his daughter Catherine, the wife of William Theobald Wolfe Tone. Categories: Irish American, Irish History, Law, Northern Ireland | Tags: Anglicanism, Bar Council of Ireland, Brooklyn, Church of Ireland, Confession, County Londonderry, Court of General Sessions, Derry, Duel, East Elmhurst, England, Europe, France, Green-Wood Cemetery, Hamburg, Irish Protestant, Irish Rebellion of 1798, John Philpot Curran, Lincoln's Inn, Lisbon, London, Long Island, Manumission, Misdemeanor, Napoleon Bonaparte, New York City, North Carolina, Porto, Portugal, Pwllheli, Queens, Society of United Irishmen, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Trinity College Dublin, United States, Wales, William Sampson | Permalink. John Hely-Hutchinson Created Baron Hutchinson of Alexandria & Knocklofty General John Hely-Hutchinson, Jr., Member of Parliament (MP) for Cork Borough, is created Baron Hutchinson of Alexandria and Knocklofty on December 18, 1801 for his military service. Hely-Hutchinson is born on May 15, 1757, the son of John Hely-Hutchinson and the Christiana Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Baroness Donoughmore. He is educated at Eton College, Magdalen College, Oxford, and Trinity College, Dublin. Hely-Hutchinson enters the Army as a cornet in the 18th Royal Hussars in 1774, rising to a lieutenant the following year. In 1776 he is promoted to become a captain in the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot, and a major there in 1781. He moves regiments again in 1783, becoming a lieutenant-colonel in, and colonel-commandant of, the 77th Regiment of Foot, which is, however, disbanded shortly afterwards following an earlier mutiny. He spends the next 11 years on half-pay, studying military tactics in France before serving as a volunteer in the Flanders campaigns of 1793 as aide-de-camp to Sir Ralph Abercromby. In March 1794 Hely-Hutchinson obtains brevet promotion to colonel and the colonelcy of the old 94th Regiment of Foot and then becomes a major-general in May 1796, serving in Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, where he is second-in-command at the Battle of Castlebar under General Gerard Lake. In 1799, he is in the expedition to the Netherlands. Hely-Hutchinson is second-in-command of the 1801 expedition to Egypt, under Abercromby. Following Abercromby’s death in March after being wounded at the Battle of Alexandria, he takes command of the force. From then he is able to besiege the French firstly at Cairo which capitulates in June and then besieges and takes Alexandria, culminating in the capitulation of over 22,000 French soldiers. In reward for his successes there, the Ottoman Sultan Selim III makes him a Knight, 1st Class, of the Order of the Crescent. On December 18, 1801 Hely-Hutchinson is created Baron Hutchinson in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, gaining a seat in the House of Lords. In recognition of his “eminent services” during the “late glorious and successful campaign in Egypt,” at the request of the King, the Parliament of the United Kingdom settles on Lord Hutchinson and the next two succeeding heirs male of his body an annuity of £2000 per annum, paid out of the Consolidated Fund. Hely-Hutchinson is promoted lieutenant-general in September 1803, and made a full general in June 1813. In 1806, he becomes colonel of the 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot, transferring in 1811 to be colonel of the 18th Regiment of Foot, a position he holds until his death. He also holds the position of Governor of Stirling Castle from 1806 until his death. Hely-Hutchinson sits as Member of Parliament (MP) for Lanesborough from 1776 to 1783 and for Taghmon from 1789 to 1790. Subsequently, he represents Cork City in the Irish House of Commons until the Act of Union 1800 and is then member for Cork City in the after-Union Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1802. Hely-Hutchinson dies on June 29, 1832, never having married. Categories: Irish History, Nobility, Politics & Government | Tags: 18th Regiment of Foot, 18th Royal Hussars, 1st Baroness Donoughmore, 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot, 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot, 77th Regiment of Foot, 94th Regiment of Foot, Act of Union 1800, Aide-de-camp, Battle of Alexandria, Battle of Castlebar, Brevet, Cairo, Christiana Hely-Hutchinson, Consolidated Fund, Cork Borough (UK Parliament Constituency), Cork City (Parliament of Ireland Constituency), Cornet, Egypt, Eton College, Flanders Campaign, France, Gerard Lake, Governor of Stirling Castle, House of Lords, Irish House of Commons, Irish Rebellion of 1798, John Hely-Hutchinson, Lanesborough (Parliament of Ireland Constituency), Magdalen College Oxford, Member of Parliament, Netherlands, Order of the Crescent, Ottoman Sultan, Parliament of the United Kingdom, Peerage of the United Kingdom, Ralph Abercromby, Selim III, Siege of Alexandria, Siege of Cairo, Taghmon (Parliament of Ireland Constituency), Trinity College Dublin | Permalink. Birth of Charles Bianconi, Italo-Irish Entrepreneur Charles Bianconi, Italo-Irish passenger car entrepreneur, is born Carlo Bianconi in Tregolo, Costa Masnaga, Italy on September 24, 1786. Bianconi moves from an area poised to fall to Napoleon and travels to Ireland in 1802, by way of England, just four years after the Irish Rebellion of 1798. At the time, British fear of continental invasion results in an acute sense of insecurity and additional restrictions on the admission of foreigners. He is christened Carlo but anglicises his name to Charles when he arrives in Ireland. Bianconi works as an engraver and printseller in Dublin, near Essex Street, under his sponsor, Andrea Faroni, when he is 16. In 1806 he sets up an engraving and print shop in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, moving to Clonmel in 1815. Bianconi eventually becomes famous for his innovations in transport and is twice elected mayor of Clonmel. Bianconi is the founder of public transportation in Ireland, at a time preceding railways. He establishes regular horse-drawn carriage services on various routes from about 1815 onward. These are known as “Bianconi coaches” and the first service, Clonmel to Cahir, takes five to eight hours by boat but only two hours by Bianconi’s carriage. Travel on one of his carriages cost one penny farthing a mile. Bianconi also establishes a series of inns, the Bianconi Inns, some of which still exist in Piltown, County Kilkenny and Killorglin, County Kerry. In 1832 Bianconi marries Eliza Hayes, the daughter of a wealthy Dublin stockbroker. They have three children – Charles Thomas Bianconi, Catherine Henrietta Bianconi and Mary Anne Bianconi, who marries Morgan O’Connell and is the mother of his grandson John O’Connell Bianconi. Bianconi’s transport services continue into the 1850s and later, by which time there are a number of railway services in the country. The Bianconi coaches continue to be well-patronised, by offering connections from various termini, one of the first and few examples of an integrated transport system in Ireland. By 1865 Bianconi’s annual income was about £35,000. Charles Bianconi dies on September 22, 1875 at Longfield House, Boherlahan, County Tipperary. Having donated land to the parish of Boherlahan for the construction of a parish church, he wishes to be buried on the Church grounds. He, and his family, are buried in a side chapel, separate from the parish church in Boherlahan, approximately 5 miles from Cashel, County Tipperary. Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Charles Bianconi, Clonmel, Costa Masnaga, County Kerry, County Kilkenny, County Tipperary, Dublin, England, Engraver, Farthing, Inn, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Italy, John O'Connell Bianconi, Killorglin, Napoleon, Piltown, Public Transportation, Rail Transport | Permalink. Birth of Henry Joy McCracken, Irish Republican Henry Joy McCracken, Irish Republican and industrialist, is born in Belfast on August 31, 1767. He is a founding member of the Society of the United Irishmen. McCracken is born into two of the city’s most prominent Presbyterian industrial families. He was the son of a shipowner, Captain John McCracken and Ann Joy, daughter of Francis Joy, of French Huguenot descent. The Joy family made their money in linen manufacture and founded the Belfast News Letter. He is the older brother of political activist and social reformer Mary Ann McCracken, with whom he shares an interest in Irish traditional culture. In 1792, McCracken helps organise the Belfast Harp Festival which gathers aged harpists from around Ireland, and helps preserve the Irish airs by having them transcribed by Edward Bunting. Bunting, who lodges in the McCracken’s Rosemary Lane home, is a classically trained musician. McCracken becomes interested in republican politics from an early age and along with other Protestants forms the Society of the United Irishmen in 1795 which quickly makes him a target of the authorities. He regularly travels throughout the country using his business as a cover for organising other United Irish societies, but is arrested in October 1796 and imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. While imprisoned with other leaders of the United Irishmen, he falls seriously ill and is released on bail in December 1797. Following the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 in Leinster in May 1798, the County Antrim organisation meets on 3 June to decide on their response. The meeting ends inconclusively with a vote to wait for French aid being passed by a narrow margin. A new meeting of delegates is held in Templepatrick on June 5 where McCracken is elected general for Antrim and he quickly begins planning military operations. McCracken formulates a plan for all small towns in Antrim to be seized after which rebels will converge upon Antrim town on June 7 where the county’s magistrates are to hold a crisis meeting. Although the plan meets initial success and McCracken leads the rebels in the attack on Antrim, the Catholic Defenders group whom he expects assistance from are conspicuous by their absence. The mainly Ulster Scots rebels led by McCracken are defeated by the English forces and his army melts away. Although McCracken initially escapes with James Hope, James Orr, and James Dickey and is supported in his month long period of hiding by his sister Mary Ann, a chance encounter with men who recognize him from his cotton business leads to his arrest. He is offered clemency if he testifies against other United Irishmen leaders but he refuses to turn on his compatriots. McCracken is court martialed and hanged at Corn Market, Belfast, on land his grandfather had donated to the city, on July 17, 1798. According to historian Guy Beiner, his corpse is spared the indignity of decapitation in order not to provoke renewed agitation. He is buried in the Parish Church of St. George in Belfast, but a few years later the grave is demolished. McCracken’s remains are believed to have been re-interred by Francis Joseph Bigger in 1909 at Clifton Street Cemetery, Belfast, alongside his sister Mary Ann. His illegitimate daughter Maria, whose mother is speculated to have been Mary Bodell, is raised by her aunt Mary Ann McCracken. Categories: Irish History, Northern Ireland | Tags: Antrim, Battle of Antrim, Belfast, Belfast Harp Festival, Belfast News-Letter, Clifton Street Cemetery, County Antrim, Court Martial, Dublin, Edward Bunting, Francis Joseph Bigger, French Huguenot, Guy Beiner, Hanging, Henry Joy McCracken, Industrialist, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Irish Republicanism, James Dickey, James Hope, James Orr, Kilmainham Gaol, Leinster, Mary Ann McCracken, Pardon, Presbyterianism, Society of the United Irishmen, Templepatrick, Ulster Scots | Permalink. The Capture of Robert Emmet Robert Emmet, one of the most famous revolutionaries in Irish history, is captured by the British at the home of a Mrs. Palmer in Harold’s Cross, outside Dublin on August 25, 1803. Emmet is born at 109 St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin on March 4, 1778. He is the youngest son of Dr. Robert Emmet, a court physician, and his wife Elizabeth Mason. He attends Oswald’s school in Dopping’s-court, off Golden-lane and enters Trinity College, Dublin, in October 1793 at the age of fifteen. In December 1797, he joins the College Historical Society, a debating society. While he is in college, his brother Thomas and some of his friends become involved in political activism. Emmet becomes secretary of a secret United Irish Committee in college and is expelled in April 1798 as a result. That same year he flees to France to avoid the many British arrests of nationalists that are taking place in Ireland. While in France, he garners the support of Napoleon, who promises to lend support when the upcoming revolution starts. After the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Emmet is involved in reorganising the defeated Society of United Irishmen. In April 1799, a warrant is issued for his arrest. He escapes and soon after travels to the continent in the hope of securing French military aid. His efforts are unsuccessful, as Napoleon is concentrating his efforts on invading England. He returns to Ireland in October 1802. In March of the following year, Emmet begins to prepare a new rebellion, with fellow Anglo-Irish revolutionaries Thomas Russell and James Hope. The revolutionaries conceal their preparations, but a premature explosion at one of Emmet’s arms depots kills a man, forcing Emmet to advance the date of the rising before the authorities’ suspicions are aroused. Despite being unable to secure help from Michael Dwyer‘s Wicklow rebels and many rebels from Kildare turning back due to the scarcity of firearms, the rising begins in Dublin on the evening of July 23, 1803. Failing to seize the lightly defended Dublin Castle, the rising amounts to a large-scale disturbance in the Thomas Street area. Emmet witnesses a dragoon being pulled from his horse and piked to death, the sight of which prompts him to call off the rising to avoid further bloodshed. However, sporadic clashes continue into the night until finally quelled by British military forces. Emmet flees into hiding, moving from Rathfarnham to Harold’s Cross so that he can be near his sweetheart, Sarah Curran. He is captured on August 25 and taken to Dublin Castle, then later removed to Kilmainham Gaol. Vigorous but ineffectual efforts are made to procure his escape. Emmet is tried for and found guilty of high treason on September 19, 1803. Chief Justice John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury sentences Emmet to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, as is customary for conviction of treason. The following day, Emmet is executed in Thomas Street near St. Catherine’s Church. He is hanged and beheaded after his death. Out of fear of being arrested, no one comes forward to claim his remains. Emmet’s remains are first delivered to Newgate Prison and then returned to Kilmainham Gaol, where the jailer is under instructions to be bury the remains in a nearby hospital’s burial grounds if no one claims them. No remains have been found there and, though not confirmed, it appears that he was secretly removed and reinterred in St. Michan’s Church, a Dublin church with strong United Irish associations. There is also speculation that the remains are buried secretly in the vault of a Dublin Anglican church. When inspected in the 1950s, a headless corpse is found in the vault but can not be identified. The widely accepted theory is that Emmet’s remains are transferred to St. Peter’s Church in Aungier St. under cover of the burial of his sister in 1804. In the 1980s the church is deconsecrated and all the coffins are removed from the vaults. The church has since been demolished. Categories: Irish History, Wars & Rebellions | Tags: 1st Earl of Norbury, Anglicanism, College Historical Society, Dragoon, Dublin, Dublin Castle, England, France, Harold's Cross, High Treason, Irish Nationalism, Irish Rebellion of 1798, James Hope, John Toler, Kildare, Kilmainham Gaol, Michael Dwyer, Napoleon Bonaparte, Newgate Prison, Rathfarnham, Robert Emmet, Sarah Curran, Society of United Irishmen, St. Catherine's Church, St. Michan's Church, St. Peter's Church, St. Stephens Green, Thomas Russell, Thomas Street, Trinity College Dublin, Wicklow | Permalink. Death of United Irishmen Leader Michael Dwyer United Irishmen leader Michael Dwyer, whose guerrilla attacks maddened the British Army from 1798, dies in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia on August 23, 1825. Dwyer is born in Camara, a townland in the Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow in 1772 and he participates in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. However, unlike most of the leaders and soldiers in that Rising, he does not either leave the country or return to his normal life, nor is he captured. He retreats into the Wicklow Mountains with a band of men and drives the British to distraction in their attempts to apprehend him. A reward is placed on Dwyer’s head and another for each of his men, but he leads the British authorities on a merry chase for five years, with many daring narrow escapes, each adding to his legend. Some call him the “Outlaw of Glenmalure.” In 1803, he plans to assist Robert Emmet in his rising but he never receives the signal to join the rising. At this point he recognizes the futility of his situation, and he also wishes to relieve the suffering of a number of his family members, including his sister, whom has been jailed for no offense other than their family relationship to him. Some claim that when he contacts the British to ask terms of surrender, he is promised he and his men will be sent to the United States. If so, and not for the first time, their word to an Irishman proves worthless. After two years of brutal treatment in Kilmainham Gaol, under the infamous Edward Trevor, Dwyer is transported to Botany Bay. Dwyer and his family, along with a number of his men, set sail for Australia on board the Tellicherry on August 25, 1805, arriving in Sydney on February 14, 1806. However, the story of Michael Dwyer does not end there. In Sydney, Dwyer runs afoul of the Governor, a certain Capt. William Bligh, of HMS Bounty fame. Bligh accuses Dwyer of being the leader of a rebellious plot involving other United Irishmen in the area, which, if true, would certainly not be out of character. Bligh ships Dwyer off to Norfolk Island, one of the worst hellholes of the British penal system in Australia. After six months he is transferred to Tasmania, where he remains for another two years. In 1808, Bligh leaves the Governorship and Dwyer finally makes it back to his family in Sydney and is granted 100 acres of land nearby. Like many transported Irish rebels, he eventually becomes part of the local establishment and, in a bit of irony, the “Outlaw of Glenmalure” is appointed constable. However, he is dismissed in October for drunken conduct and mislaying important documents. In December 1822 Dwyer is sued for aggrandising his by now 620 acre farm. Bankrupted, he is forced to sell off most of his assets, which include a tavern called “The Harrow Inn”, although this does not save him from several weeks incarceration in the Sydney debtors’ prison in May 1825. Here he evidently contracts dysentery, to which he succumbs on August 23, 1825. Dwyer’s wife lives to be 93, not dying until 1861. With her passes the last connection to the “Boys of ’98” in Australia. Dwyer remains a legend among the people of the Wicklow Mountains to this day. Categories: Irish History, Wars & Rebellions | Tags: Australia, Botany Bay, British Army, Constable, County Wicklow, Glen of Imaal, Guerrilla, HMS Bounty, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Kilmainham Gaol, Liverpool, Michael Dwyer, New South Wales, Norfolk Island, Robert Emmet, Society of United Irishmen, Sydney, Tasmania, Tellicherry, United States, Wicklow Mountains, William Bligh | Permalink.

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Inside an SGI server Server Month wrap-up Inside an HP server Inside a Fujitsu server Inside a Super Micro server The exterior and interior of the SGI Rackable C1001-TY2 server are examined and discussed in this Server Month video. “The SGI Rackable C1001-TY2 series boasts a half-depth form factor that effectively doubles the mounting density compared to other 1U servers. It also supports hot-aisle containment, but there are a few compromises to consider as well,” said Colin Steele, senior site editor. Take a look at the notable features and capabilities for the system’s design, power supply, cooling components and more. You’ll also see how the box’s Aptio setup utility is laid out and get a walk-through of the processor and memory configurations, server management settings and boot options. Check out the rest of our Server Month tips and videos. Read the full text transcript from this video below. Please note the full transcript is for reference only and may include limited inaccuracies. To suggest a transcript correction, contact editor@searchsecurity.com. Colin Steele: Hi, I'm Senior Site Editor Colin Steele. Stephen Bigelow: I'm Stephen Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor. Carl Brooks: I'm Carl Brooks, Senior Technology Writer. Colin Steele: Let's take a look at this 1U server. The SGI Rackable C1001 TY2 series boasts a half-depth form factor that effectively doubles the mounting density compared to other 1U servers. It also supports hot-aisle containment. But there are a few compromises to consider as well. Let's take a closer look at the SGI Rackable system. Stephen, can you start off by showing us the front panel of the system? Stephen Bigelow: No problem, Colin. One of the first things about the C1001 TY2 is that it's a half-depth chassis, which means it's only about half as long as other 1U servers in this group. As a consequence of that, they're designed to be mounted back to back, which means it's very difficult to get to the rear of the unit. What SGI Rackable has done in this particular model is put all of the ports on the front of the unit, which makes it very convenient. Only the power is connected in the rear of the system. So all a technician needs to do in order to get this unit up and running is connect their keyboard, video, and mouse right up to the front of the unit, and it makes it very straightforward to install the unit, set it up, or change its configuration at any point in the future. As we go through the front panel from side to side, what we start with is your remote management port here, followed by a series of indicators for system ID, hard drive activity, and power, along with your power reset button. In the middle of the unit, we have your video port, we have two one gigabyte Ethernet ports, we have four USB ports, and the compromise that Colin spoke of earlier during his introduction was expansion room for hard drives. One of the issues to consider with this particular system is that there's only room for two 2.5 inch hard drives. Like similar systems, they are mounted on hot-swappable trays, so you only need to pull the tray out and you can see a standard sized 2.5 inch hard drives. In this case, these are Savio 15krpm drives. To replace the drive, just slide it back into the unit, and it secures into place. Carl Brooks: So, the back of this thing. As Steve said, this is designed to be installed back to back with another one of the same model, and big racks. This is really dense configuration. There's nothing in the back because there wouldn't be enough room to put it in the back. All the fans are also in the back, so they're going to suck the air straight from the front all the way out the back. One thing we did notice here is that the power supply, which is not redundant and not removable, has an on and an off switch, which is a little weird seeing as it will be mounted about this far away from another one. However, what that tells us is that the power supply in there is actually probably commodity and fairly easy to source, so that tells you where the server stands on sort of the fancy pants spectrum. There's even a blank here cut out where you could probably put in another one if you really felt like it. You could ration yourself if you needed to. You probably don't. That's probably all there is to say about the back of this. Notice, nothing on the back, you're not intended to touch it, except for maybe the power switch. Colin Steele: Now that we've checked out the exterior of the unit, it's time to open it up and take a look inside. Carl, can you take us through that process? Carl Brooks: This one has just a couple of screws in the back. And we're going to lift it from the front. Nice and plain. Colin Steele: So inside of the SGI unit, you can see that it's actually pretty tight, all things considered. The chassis form factor is small as we had said; it's a half depth server, so a few of the areas have been reduced accordingly. The first thing we see is that there are actually fewer fans in the SGI than there are in other servers. There are six fans here, where they're often doubled up and more fans available in some of the other units. In the end it doesn't really affect the cooling all that much because it's a smaller volume that needs to be cooled, but it is something that attracted our attention. The unit is based on Intel's 5500 chipset, and it does support two Intel 5500 or 5600 series processors. Of course, depending on your processor choice, that gives us up to twelve cores for busy workloads. There's also space for numerous DDR3 DIMMs. This unit will support up to 8GB DIMMs. So the maximum amount of RAM that can be installed on this unit is 96GB, and that's somewhat less than other units that we've seen in this collection of videos. Carl, what do you see? Carl Brooks: A couple of things jump out. First of all, a lot of the stuff in here, like you said, is made for space. This is really small. A lot of stuff in here is pretty stock. This form factor, for instance, is a small server motherboard factor. These heat sinks are Intel standard heat sinks, you can replace these right off the shelf. They're also fairly short. They're half height. There's not a great amount of cooling here. The SATA connectors that go on board down here, this is on board RAID; however, this is just a standard Intel on board RAID riser card, but it's just popped right on there, nothing fancy holding it on. The onboard hard drive connectors here, six SATA connectors on the other side, connectors back here down the other side, various BUSes. Again, very small. Notice also the fans that Steve pointed out are at the back of the server, not at the front of the server. They're not sucking air from the cool part of the data center and blowing it out the back, they're sucking air and directing it directly out. You're going to put these back to back, so you have two hot servers blowing hot air at the same space, hopefully it will rise. Otherwise, fairly standard. This is almost like working in a small, very flat PC rather than a really humongous enterprise-class server, although this is an enterprise-class machine. Very neat, spare design. Cabling doesn't get in its way. This is probably going to be pretty easy to work on. In fact, I would give you about five to seven minutes before you could just have this whole motherboard out and replaced with another one if you wanted to. This is a standard form factor, easy to work in commodity. Very good for the tinkerer, I would say. Colin Steele: To see what all these components do, of course, we need to turn this thing on. What's involved there? Stephen Bigelow: It's really just a matter of connecting the display, the keyboard and the mouse. Most one-use servers use redundant power supplies, and two power cords are needed. But this configuration of the TY2 uses only a single power supply. It's something very important to keep in mind if you're concerned about redundancy. As you connect the power supply from the rear, remember to turn on the master power supply switch on the back panel. Once you press the power button on the front, the unit will begin to post. The TY2 includes a version of CentOS on the local disks, but you can easily boot from a disk image or the LAN. It's the only Linux unit in this group. From there, it's really a matter of installing any applications or virtual machines. Carl? Carl: Indicator lights on the front, you'll see there are a couple diagnostics there behind the VGA on the board. You don't really need to look at these unless you actually speak robot. They're showing how the system goes through various diagnostic checks. It checks each BUS, checks the memory, checks the CPU function. American Megatrends AMI BIOS, our old friend. So you notice, the fans are a little bit loud on this one compared to some of the other ones. This one actually has very sophisticated and fairly variable fan control that you can set in a variety of different ways. This is really designed to be part of a cluster. You're supposed to buy, like, ten of these, and they're supposed to all stick next to each other. They're supposed to operate more or less together. As they get hot together, they cool off together. So the fan speed controls on this are pretty sophisticated in those terms. It's really quite capable in that regard. LSI onboard RAID. Aptio setup utility, American Megatrends, Inc., AMI BIOS. We've seen this before, most of us have. Fairly standard stuff here. Processor configuration. QPI links, QPI frequency. This is interesting because there are some things you can do when you're doing functional computing or supercomputing, if you will, that you might want to be messing with some of the CPU settings to determine how instructions are processed. Enhanced Intel Speedstep technology. This is fun. What this does, is it actually clocks your CPU down if your system's not currently being utilized. Depending on your use, you may want to turn it off or not. You may want to let it do what it does, but it's there. It is turned on by default. If you were using this for scientific computing in a lab or something, you'd probably want to turn that off and see what happens. Processor reporting, hyperthreading, multi-processing. Again, how many? All, one, or two? Virtualization technology. Notice in this machine by default, the handy doodads from Intel about virtualization hardware acceleration are turned off by default. That's because, again, this is not meant to be used in any sort of standard VMware data center environment. This is meant to be racked up with a whole bunch of others in a cluster environment which are generally fairly specific on how they want to talk to the CPU. Front panel lockout. You can keep people from turning this off. They can pull the power cord out but that just means they're cheating. Server management, this stuff is just the logging, you can turn it on or off here. Resume on AC power, off or on, again, fairly standard options. System information. LAN configuration, you may want to do this first if you're doing a remote systems configuration or management, you probably can do this afterwards. I honestly don't know if this will actually hunt for boot unless you set it up to do that, so let's look at the boot options. System boot time-out, instant. Boot option one. So the first thing it's going to boot from logical unit number zero, Seagate ST9146, that's the RAID volume that's installed there. You can actually set it to boot from PXE if you want, you can set it to boot from internal EFI shell if you know what you're doing or need to do that. Network device order, you can pick the slot you want it to boot from, so that's nice as well. Fair amount of options, fairly minimal amount of options compared to some of the other servers we looked at. Memory configuration, you can actually tell that's again a sign that they're thinking about scientific computing. Memory intensive applications, you can actually set this to zero out the memory on demand when you want it to, or sort of automatically police itself and scrub out the memory all the time. Enabled or not enabled, NUMA optimized. If enabled, BIOS will include ACIP enablers that are required for NUMA aware operating systems. If you need to know what that is, you probably do, and you're not going to ask me about it. Storage controllers, fairly straightforward stuff. As we saw when we opened it up, there are expandability ports for SATA. There's no place to put any other SATA drives on this thing but the ports are on the board if you want it. Serial port, USB, not going to be using these too much. PCI configuration. Disable memory mapping for iOS 64-bit PCI devices to 4gig, a greater address space. This is because of the well-known limitation of 32-bit computing. 4GB of memory is your upper limit. With 64-bit computing, you get more than 4GB; however mix and match 64-bit device and 32-bit CPU and/or operating system, and funny things can happen. Here's where you can help avoid that. Onboard video, enable, disable, blah, blah, this is all fairly normal. The fun part - systems acoustics and performance configuration. Set throttling mode, auto, OLTT. Open Loop Throttling mode, Closed Loop Throttling mode. Altitude, you can actually set this for performance based on how far above sea level you are. Important? Probably. It's a nice feature, unless the relative humidity and all that stuff. Fan profile, performance or acoustic. Acoustic, we'll keep it quiet, but it will boost the fans no matter what. Performance will always boost the fans first, but this is actually the lowest level, this is as quiet as they go. Fan PWM offset. This will actually tell you how fast you want the fans to spin at a minimum. So at a minimum, they're going to spin about this fast. You can set this up to 50 or whatever. They'd automatically be that much higher before they spin up. So you can optimize your cooling to a fairly high degree here. That's about it. So focus on the acoustics and performance with the fans and the cooling. You saw, the fans are in the back, they're not in the front like most of the other servers. Definitely focus on cluster computing, scientific computing, or things that are not your standard business data center, Windows/VMware type environment. Invoking SATA attached SCSI configuration utility, or as we call it, SASCU. I just made that up. So here we can see this is fairly standard. We can see the adapter, information about where it's installed. Revision, let's select it. Boot support enabled, in the BIOS and the operating system. RAID properties. Create, create, create. Integrated striping, integrated mirrored, integrated mirror array of two disks plus two optional hot spares. Various types of RAID. Again, to be noted, there are only two slots for hard drives on this thing, so you're going to want to choose your options based on that limitation. Current typology. Direct attached devices, two devices plugged in. There they are, bay one and bay zero, you can see them. Adapter properties, advanced device properties. Again, this is stuff you really don't need to care about, it's just interesting that this configuration is still here, if you wanted to, after all these years. You might want to do this if you're interfacing with some severely weird type of device or very old type of storage, but it's not really necessary. You can set hard drive spin up delay, direct attach max targets of spin up, again stuff you really don't care about but nice to know that it's here if you still need it. This just tells you a bit about the hard drives. The drives installed here are plain Jane, they're not actually installed on the RAID, they're just connected to the RAID, but it's not really important, it's just how they sent it to us. We are going to be shipping it back to them pretty much the way we got it. So that's pretty much it, that's your SGI server. Colin Steele: That does it for this 1U server overview. I'm Colin Steele. Stephen Bigelow: I'm Stephen Bigelow. Carl Brooks: And I'm Carl Brooks. Colin Steele: Thanks for watching.

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On the IND-CCA security of post-quantum public-key encryption schemes Departments: Electrical Engineering Time: Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm Type: Seminar Series Presenter: Nina Bindel; Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Combinatorics & Optimization - University of Waterloo Room/Office: Room 107 J. Robert Mann, Jr. Engineering Student Center 10 Hillhouse Avenue Department of Electrical Engineering Seminar Nina Bindel Department of Combinatorics & Optimization Abstract: If a general-purpose quantum computer can be built, it will break most widely-deployed public-key cryptography. The cryptographic community is busily designing new cryptographic systems to prepare for this risk, e.g., the (US-American) National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently aiming at standardizing several quantum-safe digital signature and public-key encryption schemes (PKEs). After giving an update on the current status of the NIST's post-quantum standardization effort we will present to recent results on the security of PKEs. First we will revisit the security loss when transforming an IND-CPA secure PKE to an IND-CCA secure key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) in the quantum random oracle model. We will explain how this result applies to candidates in the NIST standardization project. Interestingly, most of the submitted PKEs are not perfectly correct schemes, i.e., sometimes honestly generated ciphertexts can't be encrypted correctly. Finding such a decryption failure poses a security risk that is also considered in our theoretical IND-CCA security analysis. Surprisingly, correctly decrypted ciphertexts might pose a security risk as well, if the theoretical bounds coming from the security analysis are not respected. We will describe the attack and, again, show the impact on standardization candidates by presenting experimental data. Bio: Nina Bindel is affiliated to the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Combinatorics & Optimization at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Before joining the IQC, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the Cryptography and computer algebra group at TU Darmstadt where she also received her Ph.D. in September 2018 under the supervision of Johannes Buchmann. Nina's research interest is mostly in the area of cryptography that is secure even in the presence of quantum computers, so-called post-quantum cryptography. Hosted by: Professor Jakub Szefer

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New Wind Turbines Blow Away Old Power Generation Records Second Nexus Staff August 09, 2013 - Pete Johnson of Gemini Rope Access Solutions, inspects the blades of a 3MW Alstom wind turbine by repelling down the blades. The turbine is undergoing testing at NREL's National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL) [DIGEST: Gizmodo, Digital Trends BBC, NYT, CNBC, QZ] Renewable energy has been steadily expanding its market share over the past decade, and as technologies have improved and costs have come down, output has gone up — way up. The record-breaking test run of a new giant wind turbine in Denmark is another indicator that green energy is ready to become a dominant force in the global energy mix. The new 9 MW prototype turbine, called MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, is a joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The turbine is 722 feet tall, has 38-ton blades that are 263 feet long. In a December 2016 test on the coast of Østerild, Denmark, the huge turbine generated nearly 216,000 kWh in a 24-hour period, breaking the previous record for energy generation by a commercially available offshore wind turbine. That’s enough energy to power the average American household for 20 years. “We are confident that the 9 MW machine has now proven that it is ready for the market and we believe that our wind turbine will play an integral part in enabling the offshore industry to continue to drive down the cost of energy,” said CTO Torben Hvid. Vestas CEO Anders Runevad said that wind energy will only continue to grow. "Wind continues to increase its competitiveness in the energy space, and we take good advantage of that.” Vestas CEO Anders Runevad. (Credit: Source.) Offshore wind investments in Europe hit 18.2 billion euro last year, according to statistics from industry body WindEurope, and covered more than 10 percent of the energy needed in Europe in 2016. Investment in offshore wind technology has tripled in the past five years. Furthermore, that technology is rapidly changing. While much of the wind energy produced in Europe comes from massive turbines and large-scale wind farms, upcoming innovations will decrease the size needed to generate electricity. New smaller, quiet wind turbines are being developed for individual and small-scale use. Inergys, a French start-up supported by EU climate innovation initiative Climate-KIC, is making turbines that power individual buildings. In Britain, a company called NVT group has designed mini-turbines that attach to lamp posts and send the power they generate straight to the grid. Another mini-turbine concept resembles cottonwood trees with spinning leaves and branches that generate power. The researchers at Iowa State University who created it were inspired by cell phone towers designed to look like trees to bring a more aesthetically pleasing design to the urban environment. The Indian government has announced a five-year push to grow renewable energy capacity, and in 2016 achieved an operational grid-connected renewable energy capacity of more than 50 gigawatts, with more than half of it coming from wind. China ended 2016 with 149 gigawatts of wind capacity installed, and plans to significantly grow offshore wind projects in 2017. While Europe, India and Asia expand their reliance on renewable energy, the market in the U.S. is waiting on the effects of President Trump’s promise to prop up the fossil fuel industry, combined with efforts by state lawmakers actively try to discourage the expansion of wind and other renewables. Oklahoma’s governor has proposed a new 0.5 percent tax on every kilowatt hour generated by wind technology, making it the second state after Wyoming to tax wind energy. Wyoming is considering a bill that would outlaw renewable energy in the state. New secretary of state Rex Tillerson comes directly from a CEO spot at ExxonMobil. Credit: Source. The renewables industry is undeterred, however. Price parity between renewables and fossil fuels is rapidly approaching, and renewables promise growth potential and jobs development far greater than the fossil fuel industry. More U.S. citizens are already employed in solar energy than in oil, natural gas and coal combined, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report. Trump has claimed that preserving jobs in coal country is a top priority — even though greater job growth could come from investing in renewables, especially in GOP red states that have abundant wind and solar resources. In the end, money may trump nostalgia. Clark MacFarlane, CEO of Siemens Wind Power UK, said, “Trump’s core policy is more jobs. So why do anything to destroy American jobs, especially ones delivering low-cost energy?” green energy Renewable Energy solar turbines wind power

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Category Archives: Lemon Hill Mansion. What the oval office in the White House, wishes it could be. August 23, 2012 by Yummygal - 4 Comments Lemon Hill Mansion Hours Wednesday-Sunday 10AM-4PM Admission $5 Yummygal’s Top Things to See In The Philadelphia Area Before You Die. Sign off of Lemon Hill Drive Have you ever wondered what it is like to feel like a prince or princess? To step back in time to the beginning of our country? See a place so magical that it pulls on your heart-strings? The back of Lemon Hill Mansion. It faces the downtown area of Philadelphia Lemon Hill Mansion is all of the above. It is the epitome of class of an era very sacred to the city of Philadelphia. The birthplace of our great nation. The front of Lemon Hill Mansion I had the privilege to meet with the director of Lemon Hill mansion. Mrs. Joyce Jones. Quincy (her son), is the wonderful gentleman that saved my family when we were stuck in the pinelands. He told me that I have got to see this place and write about it. I am so grateful to have met Mrs. Jones and Quincy. Also, for having the honor of touring this beloved mansion. The stairs made of Valley Forge marble leading up to the entrance Lemon Hill Mansion received its name from a median lemon that was grown in the greenhouse on the property. The median lemon is in the citron family. It is very fragrant and sweet. It is not as sour as a lemon. It was considered a delicacy at the time because it came from the middle east region and was transported back to the states. Citrus was a status symbol of the very rich. Most folks at that time never had the pleasure of enjoying this particular fruit. The entryway looking onto the oval room The land of Lemon Hill was originally owned by William Penn. It was then passed onto his descendants. In 1770, a man named Robert Morris purchased Lemon Hill. The area was then called, “The Hills.” Morris built a greenhouse, hot houses, gardener’s quarters, vaults, and root cellars on the property. Artist Rendition of Henry Pratt If anyone is familiar with Philadelphia history, Robert Morris was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served as senator of Pennsylvania from 1789-1795. Morris was a financier by trade and also the largest land owner in America, accumulating over 6,000,000 acres. This may sound impressive, however he was “rich in land, but poor in cash.” His bad financial investments led him to a debtors prison. Morris was hoping after the war that immigrants would purchase his land and make himself more rich. However, this did not occur. He was bankrupt by 1798. It is when Henry Pratt stepped in and purchased this land at a sheriff sale in 1799. It cost around $14,000. In today’s dollars, roughly the equivalent of $200,000. Pratt was a very wealthy merchant. This land located in the Fairmount park area, was considered ” the country” at that time. Development only went up to around today’s Arch Street. Westward of Arch Street was predominately forest and undeveloped land. Map of Philadelphia in the 1800s on the wall at Lemon Hill After purchasing 43 acres of this real estate, Pratt quickly went to work with the construction of Lemon Hill mansion. It took only 1 year to complete this summer retreat masterpiece. It was a marvel at the time. It is a federal style construction. It contains three oval rooms. Each stacked on top of one another from the first to third floors. The infamous Oval room on the main floor The oval rooms are truly unique. The White House cannot come close in comparison to this structure. The windows, walls, doors and fireplaces all curve in an “oval pattern.” It is an architectural wonder and true masterpiece. The White House wishes they could have curved doors like these (they have straight doors.) It is the best example of federal style architecture in the United States. Notice the curved window and door in this picture a marvel at the time The gardens and greenhouse were absolutely phenomenal and were considered the world’s most beautiful playground in its day. Pratt opened his land up for an admission price so that folks could enjoy the true splendor of the grounds. They were referred to as the “pleasure gardens” at the time. Notable artwork by Thomas Sully. Also, notice the curvature of the fireplace The house was designed in a clever and unique way. The house was purposely situated to face the Schuykill River to allow the cool summer air to circulate throughout the home. This ingenious design made Lemon Hill an ideal summer retreat. Period dining room set Not one detail was left unturned. Closets were installed in nearly every room (which was unheard of at this period.) The floors were painted almost a black color (the darker the paint, the more expensive). The windows from floor to ceiling were massive (another great expense.) Henry Pratt’s actual sideboard made right here in Philadelphia Money was no object in the making of this estate and it clearly shows. The famous Carrera marble fireplace Shortly after Henry Pratt’s death, the estate was sold to the city of Philadelphia. The land resides in the infamous Fairmount Park. Pratt’s estate was one of the first properties purchased by the city. Fairmount Park was created around Lemon Hill. It was the flagship for the engineering of the largest city park in the United States. Philadelphia wanted to preserve their water supply and keep the Schuykill River from getting polluted. The large windows of the beautiful architecture Over the years, Lemon Hill has served as a German beer garden, a restaurant, and home to the curator of the Art Museum of Philadelphia. Sitting area on top floor The director of Lemon Hill, Mrs. Joyce Jones, has been with the mansion for many years. She has had the pleasure in living in this beautiful mansion. Her husband was a police officer and the city needed security for the home. She was able to raise a beautiful family on the premises. Since she already lived on the property, Jones began volunteering for the tours of the mansion. The rest is history. She is now Lemon Hill’s director. No one could be a better candidate to run this place as well as Mrs. Jones. Ever. She knows every nook and cranny. If you are fortunate to tour with this graceful lady, you are in for a real treat. Staffordshire china. Notice Lemon Hill’s greenhouse to the top left and the ship in the Schuykill river Another shot at of precious china. A bit of a glare. However, Lemon Hill is depicted in this scene as well as the infamous greenhouse Her favorite areas of the home are the oval rooms and the expansive porches. The porches have an amazing view of city hall, the art museum, and skyline of Philly. Lemon Hill is honestly the best seat in all of Philadelphia. Katherine Hepburn has even had the opportunity to tour Lemon Hill and is Jones’ most memorable guest. Small portion of the many verandas on the property Currently, the mansion gives private and group tours Wednesday through Sunday from 10am-4pm. Lemon Hill also offers tours to school children. Lemon Hill will even pay for a school bus to take the children to the property for the day (up to $200 for a bus) and for only those residing in the state of Pennsylvania. New Jersey schools are permitted as well (they just can’t pay for the bus). The view from one of the many verandas Children will get to tour the entire property. They will set up tables on one of the expansive verandas for lunch. The kids also get to play on the mansion grounds. Another veranda view Lemon Hill is also an extremely well-sought after wedding venue. Usually, vows are taken in the front of the mansion on the gorgeous Valley Forge marble stairway. Tents are usually put up on the immaculate grounds. Jones’ says that every bride that has been married here has felt like a genuine princess. Guests can’t get over the location. If your wedding is held here, it is usually the talk of the town. Robert Morris’ desk, signer of the Constitution and The Declaration of Independence. Pratt’s actual office chair made out of a horse’s tail and made into cloth Volunteers are always needed. Since it is a home that is over 200 years old, they are always looking for people to help out and to support the upkeep and preservation of the estate. Please contact the Lemon Hill office if interested in giving some of your time. It would be greatly appreciated. One of only a handful of Apollo statues ever made. The same statute is even located at the Vatican I want to thank Mrs. Jones for allowing me to feel like a princess for the day. She is a woman of class and distinction. You will truly walk away with a genuine learning experience. It will be a part of your soul for the rest of your life, as it has for Mrs. Jones and her wonderful family. After all, she raised a family here. Quincy, her son, even assisted in tours at the age of 7 and her daughter was married here. It’s now part of their family history. Original spout. Notice the year 1800 marked on here. The year of its completion There are many other treasures located on the estate around every corner. I didn’t even scratch the surface as i do not want to give it all away. It is a gem located in the city of Philadelphia. Top floor view It’s a must to see in your lifetime.

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Electronic resource (377) Transparencies (117) Field notes (116) Oral histories (document genres) (61) Scientific illustrations (58) Clothing and dress (1206) Rites and ceremonies (1120) Cultural landscapes (519) Headdresses (371) Weaving (270) World War (191) Households (182) Conservation of natural resources (180) Conservation/Food production (163) World War, 1914-1918 (125) Body arts (123) Shrines (102) Entomology (96) National Museum of Natural History. Office of the Director (6266) National Museum of Natural History. Department of Entomology (4646) National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mammals (4319) Ottenberg, Simon (4279) National Museum of Natural History. Department of Botany (4130) National Museum of Natural History. Office of Exhibits (4077) National Museum of Natural History, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology (3500) National Museum of Natural History. Department of Paleobiology (3345) National Museum of Natural History, Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program (2364) National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mollusks (2196) National Museum of Natural History, Biodiversity Program (1950) National Museum of Natural History, Office of Public Affairs (1897) National Museum of Natural History, Division of Reptiles and Amphibians (1866) National Museum of Natural History. Division of Vertebrate Paleontology (1772) National Museum of Natural History (1333) Curtis, Edward S. (1169) National Museum of Natural History, Dept. of Mineral Sciences (1144) National Museum of Natural History, Division of Crustacea (1031) National Museum of Natural History, Office of Education and Outreach (961) National Museum of Natural History, Division of Echinoderms and Lower Invertebrates (819) National Museum of Natural History, Division of Lepidoptera (813) National Museum of Natural History, Office of Education (796) National Museum of Natural History, Office of Guest Services (734) National Museum of Natural History, Environmental Awareness Program (733) National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology (714) Agriculture and Natural Resources, Division of (NMAH, SI). (666) National Museum of Natural History. Division of Birds (654) Dorsey, James Owen (614) National Museum of Natural History, Assistant Director for Collections (563) National Museum of Natural History. Assistant Director for Automatic Data Processing (552) National Museum of Natural History, Division of Fishes (513) Limba (African people) (2840) Igbo (African people) (872) Fula (African people) (126) Yoruba (African people) (39) Mandingo (African people) (35) Sotho (African people) (34) Arctic peoples (23) Kuba (African people) (23) Eskimos (12) Kenyans (12) Indians of Mexico (8) Haida Indians (7) Kiowa Indians (7) Osage Indians (7) Paiute Indians (7) Tarasco Indians (7) Sierra Leone (2903) Nigeria (1336) Cleveland (Ohio) (43) Congo (Democratic Republic) (33) Yosemite National Park (Calif.) (12) Grand Canyon (Ariz.) (10) Smithsonian Institution Archives (63706) Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art (4539) National Anthropological Archives (2180) National Museum of the American Indian (121) Smithsonian Libraries (18) Query: Natural history museums

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ESA remains confident it will fix ExoMars parachutes by Jeff Foust — November 1, 2019 The 35-meter main parachute for the ExoMars 2020 lander in an earlier test. NASA is now helping ESA after it and a smaller parachute suffered tears in recent tests. Credit: ESA WASHINGTON — Top officials with the European Space Agency remain confident that they will be able to resolve the parachute problems that threaten to delay next summer’s launch of the ExoMars 2020 rover mission. In two high-altitude tests earlier this year, parachutes intended to slow down the ExoMars 2020 lander suffered tears in their canopies. In one test in May, both the 15-meter and 35-meter parachutes were tested, while a second test in August, after incorporating what ESA called “precautionary design adaptations,” suffered tears in the 35-meter parachute. ESA has since turned to NASA for assistance, working with experts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory who have experience designing parachutes for NASA’s Mars landers. Another set of high-altitude balloon tests of the parachutes are scheduled for the first quarter of 2020 in Oregon. “We are very happy that our American friends, partners and colleagues are supporting us in solving that issue, because parachutes are very dangerous and very complicated elements,” Jan Woerner, director general of ESA, said in an Oct. 23 interview during the International Astronautical Congress here. “NASA has much more experience with parachutes than we have.” He was confident that, despite the parachute problems, it will still be ready to meet a launch window that is open for only two and a half weeks in late July and early August of 2020, calling the overall state of the mission “excellent.” “There’s no change of plan right now” about the launch, he said. In a separate interview Oct. 24, David Parker, director of human and robotic exploration at ESA, said the problem seen in those two tests appears linked to the extraction of the parachutes from their canisters. “The parachutes themselves have been demonstrated to work well,” he said. NASA is currently assisting ESA with ground tests of the parachute extraction systems, he said, using facilities at JPL. That will be completed before the high-altitude balloon tests early next year. One reason why ESA is confident that the problem could be corrected without delaying the launch is that the parachutes can be added late in the process of preparing the spacecraft for launch. “The advantage of the parachutes is that they can be integrated into the descent module very late on in the sequence,” Parker said. “As long as we have proven that the parachute works, it can be integrated very late in the assembly sequence.” ESA said in an Oct. 15 statement that the goal is to have the parachutes qualified in time for a “qualification acceptance review” for the mission scheduled for late April. “We believe we will find the problem and then solve it, and then have a parachute successfully integrated,” Woerner said in the interview. Civil ESAExomars

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Crime Top News Satanic Tattooist Kills And Dismembers Teen Girl October 21, 2019 spainuser 0 Comments This tattoo artist has been arrested for killing and dismembering his female teenage pal – and cops have reportedly found Hannibal Lecter and Satanic paraphernalia in his home. Leandro, the suspect. Colombian national Leandro V.J., 27, was arrested in the Valdemoro district of the autonomous community of Madrid in central Spain, 27 kilometres from the capital on suspicion of having murdered and quartered the body of his 18-year-old female friend, whose name has not been reported but who was reportedly a Spanish national. Local media report he is suspected of having choked the teenager to death in a chalet which he used as a tattoo shop – and he called himself the “Butcher Tattoo Artist” online. The suspect has reportedly been living in Spain since at least 2014. Reports state he then allegedly quartered the body, throwing some of it into dustbins in the local area while the rest was reportedly found in his kitchen. According to some sources, body parts were found in a barbecue being used in an attempt to destroy the evidence, although this has not been independently confirmed. The ex-girlfriend reportedly took photos of the scene and then went to the police to reports what had happened. She has been arrested on suspicion of concealment. The officers then went to the scene and arrested Leandro, who allegedly confessed to the crime and, according to reports, told officers “I killed her because she laughed at my Colombian accent.” He is being held in provisional detention without bail. He has been placed on suicide watch and reports state he has suffered from schizophrenia in the past. Spanish newspaper El Mundo report “posters of Hannibal Lecter, katanas (Japanese swords), knives and objects to carry out satanic rituals and witchcraft” were found in the suspect’s home. Investigators are still working to recover all of the victim’s body parts from bins in the area. It is unclear if the suspects have been charged. ← Spain’s Longest River At Spanish Stonehenge Turns Green Outrage At Dancers Viral Twerk On Burning Barca Street →

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Home > Spiders > Cheiracanthiidae (Prowling Spiders) > Cheiracanthium (Long-legged Sac Spiders) > Cheiracanthium inclusum Cheiracanthium inclusum (Agrarian Sac Spider) The spider species Cheiracanthium inclusum, commonly known as Agrarian Sac Spider, belongs to the genus Cheiracanthium, in the family Cheiracanthiidae. Cheiracanthium inclusum spiders have been sighted 7 times by contributing members. Based on collected data, the geographic range for Cheiracanthium inclusum includes 1 countries and 3 states in the United States. Cheiracanthium inclusum is most often sighted during the month of September. Taxonomic Hierarchy Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Suborder: Araneomorphae Family: Cheiracanthiidae Genus: Cheiracanthium Species: Cheiracanthium inclusum Common Name (AAS ) Agrarian Sac Spider Longlegged Sac Spider, Yellow Sac Spider, Prowling Spider, Sac Spider, Black-footed Spider, Slender Sac Spider, Yellow House Spider Nicholas Marcellus Hentz, 1847 Sightings Overview There have been 7 confirmed sightings of Cheiracanthium inclusum (Agrarian Sac Spider), with the most recent sighting submitted on June 28, 2016 by Spider ID member spiderid. The detailed statistics below may not utilize the complete dataset of 7 sightings because of certain Cheiracanthium inclusum sightings reporting incomplete data. Web: NAN% of the time, Cheiracanthium inclusum spiders are sighted in a spider web (Sample size: 0) Sex: 5 female and 2 male. Environment: Cheiracanthium inclusum has been sighted 0 times outdoors, and 0 times indoors. Outdoors: Location and Range Cheiracanthium inclusum (Agrarian Sac Spider) has been sighted in the following countries: United States. Cheiracanthium inclusum has also been sighted in the following states: Massachusetts, Mississippi, South Dakota. Cheiracanthium inclusum has been primarily sighted during the month of September. June: 3 September: 4 General appearance almost the same as in the introduced species Cheiracanthium mildei; the two should be separated only by microscope exam. More commonly found outdoors, whereas the introduced species Cheiracanthium mildei is more common indoors. Cheiracanthium species are sometimes mistaken for “brown recluses” (Loxosceles reclusa) inside homes. Submitted Jun 28, 2016 Photographed Jun 17, 2011 Kevin Pfeiffer spiderid (Submitted by) Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, United States Photographed Sep 1, 2006 Gayle & Jeanell Strickland Gloster Arboretum, Amite County, Mississippi, United States Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States Photographed Jun 1, 2012 Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States View All Pictures Similar Species (Long-legged Sac Spider) 127 pictures

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TOBY HALLIGAN ​ Captain for the Negative! ​Toby Halligan is one of Australia’s most exciting young comedians and improvisers. His debut solo show was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2011 Melbourne Comedy Festival, and he returned in 2012 for a successful season of his latest show, Dr Toby Halligan is not a Doctor. A NSW Raw Comedy semi-finalist, and winner of the Worlds Debating Comedy Award in 2003, he’s performed at the Midsumma Festival, LOL Comedy at Melbourne Fringe, on Gay News Week, and has also appeared on Strictly Speaking, a public speaking reality TV show on the ABC. He appeared in the 2010 Melbourne International Comedy Festival as part of the political showcase The First Three Up Against The Wall, and opened for Mathew Kenneally at the 2009 Festival. Toby has performed improvised theatre shows around Australia and is co-author of the popular Diary Leaks website. His writing has appeared on The Punch, in mX, and at BigPond News. Toby performs regularly with Australia’s preeminent live political standup comedy group, Political Asylum. To learn more about Toby, go to his webpage. You can also follow Toby on Twitter and Instagram. Toby's chosen charity is Against Malaria

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Top 10 Questions The Steelers Must Answer This Offseason Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 season has come to an end, the team has several questions that must be answered over the course of the offseason. Below are my 10 questions that must be answered by the team between now and the start of the 2016 regular season and I invite you to add additional ones in the comments. Will Jarvis Jones have his 5th-year option picked up? It won’t be long until the Steelers have to decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Jarvis Jones. That option amount will likely be more than $8 million for the 2017 season. It is, however, only guaranteed for injury until the start of the 2017 league year. While Jones did have his monuments in 2015, he only has 5 career regular season sacks in his first three years in the league. Will James Harrison want to return and will the Steelers want him back? As of right now, veteran outside linebacker James Harrison isn’t sure whether or not he will return to play out the final year of his contract. He had 5 sacks in 2015 and that means he needs a few more in order to take over the franchise lead in that statistical category. Even if he wants to return for one last season, the Steelers might decide it’s time to move on from him even though he won’t cost much to keep around. One would think we’ll have our answer come the start of the new league year. What does the offseason hold for Antonio Brown when it comes to his contract situation? You could certainly make an argument that Antonio Brown is the best wide receiver in the league right now. You can also argue that he deserves a big raise even though he’s under contract through the 2017 season. Before the 2015 season started, general manager Kevin Colbert made it known that Brown won’t receiver an extension until he’s about to enter his final year so it will be interesting to see if he holds true to his word. In order to appease Brown, the Steelers might have to restructure his contract just like they did this past season. That means paying him the money he’s due in 2017 right now. That course of action, however, problem would still leave Brown underpaid by a few million. Will Brown skip the offseason program in attempt to force the Steelers hand? Will he sit out some of training camp as well? We’ll see. How many of their own unrestricted free agents will the Steelers be able to keep? The Steelers certainly have their fair share of players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents and while they won’t be able to re-sign all of them, there are quite a few you know they would like to have back if at all possible by the start of the new league year. That key group of players includes William Gay, Ramon Foster, Steve McLendon, Kelvin Beachum, Brandon Boykin, and Robert Golden. Of that group, I like the chances of Gay, Foster, McLendon and Golden all returning. Will LeVeon Bell get an extension? It’s a forgone conclusion that guard David DeCastro will get a new deal at some point during the offseason, but what about running back Le’Veon Bell? Logic tells you he’ll likely get one, but it might not be a slam-dunk. Bell, after all, has failed to finish out the season two years in a row and it will still be a while until he’s fully recovered from his latest knee injury. He’s a top-3 running back when healthy and will likely expect to be paid like it. If an extension isn’t given, the Steelers would have to tag him after the 2016 in order to keep him in Pittsburgh. Will Lawrence Timmons be extended with no new guaranteed money? The Steelers need to do something about the cap charge linebacker Lawrence Timmons is scheduled to have in 2016. Unless he’s outright released, the only way that number will go down is via an extension. He’ll turn 30 in May, so the Steelers need to be careful with him when comes to giving him more guaranteed money. Will he be willing to take an extension similar to the ones given to Heath Miller and Troy Polamalu a few years ago? That certainly would help the Steelers out and also allow Timmons to end his career in Pittsburgh in the process. Can Cortez Allen be saved? The Steelers have not gotten a return on their investment when it comes to cornerback Cortez Allen. For a second straight season he wound up on the Reserve/Injured list and this year only played in one game. Assuming he can pass a physical, expect Allen to back in training camp competing for a starting job. If he can’t win one, he will likely wind up being a post June 1 cut. How much free agency activity will there be? The Steelers were mighty quiet last year during the main free agency period as veteran running back DeAngelo Williams was the only free agent that they signed. Williams, however, was a street free agent after being released by the Carolina Panthers. Several have suggested that the Steelers go after safety Eric Weddle now that his time is up with the San Diego Chargers, but if we use history as our guide, the fact that he’s now 31 rules him out as a potential candidate. In other words, don’t expect the Steelers to be busy signing many, if any, high profile free agents prior to the draft taking place. Who will they draft? This question is a yearly one and as always, it’s not hard to figure out the Steelers needs. This draft really should be heavy on defensive players, one would think, as they could use outside and inside linebackers in addition to another safety and cornerback. A guard and tight end also aren’t out of the question. We’ll get more into those needs in a future post. As of right now, the Steelers don’t have a 5th or 6th round pick in the draft as they traded them away for players just prior to the start of the season. They do, however have a conditional 7th round pick coming their way from the New York Giants and should get another late-round compensatory draft pick for the loss of cornerback Brice McCain last year. In other words, seven picks this year. Will there be any turnover on the coaching staff? While it’s obvious that most of the Steelers coaches will be back in 2016, you never know if one or two might be let go or wind up elsewhere via a promotion. Todd Haley and Keith Butler are almost guaranteed to be back and one would think Danny Smith will be retained as well. But, what about the positional coaches? Will John Mitchell retire? Will Carnell Lake be let go? How about offensive assistant Shaun Sarrett, will another team view him as an offensive line coach candidate? If any moves are to happen, one would think they will take place over the course of the next 3 or 4 weeks. Related Items:Antonio Brown, Brandon Boykin, Brice McCain, Carnell Lake, Carolina Panthers, Cortez Allen, Danny Smith, David DeCastro, DeAngelo Williams, Eric Weddle, Heath Miller, James Harrison, Jarvis Jones, John Mitchell, Keith Butler, Kelvin Beachum, Kevin Colbert, Lawrence Timmons, Le'Veon Bell, New York Giants, Ramon Foster, Robert Golden, San Diego Chargers, Shaun Sarrett, Steve McLendon, Todd Haley, Troy Polamalu, William Gay Steelers Front Office Member Recalls Day Team Traded Up For Troy Polamalu 2019 Player Exit Meetings – G Ramon Foster

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A View From The 5th of July The Boston Pops fireworks erupt over the Charles River on July 4, 2011. (Flickr/Kunal Mukherjee) I have enjoyed watching the many Fireworks shows across the nation for our Country’s 238th Birthday, and noted a couple of things that got me thinking. Gandalf as portrayed by Sir Ian McKellan Who doesn’t love Fireworks? Remember that Fireworks were Gandalf’s specialty, as he was the bearer of the Ring of Fire. Tolkien describes him in an essay on the Istari (Wizards) in Unfinished Tales: “Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by the ring Narya), for he was the Enemy of Sauron, opposing the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress; but his joy, and his swift wrath, were veiled in garments grey as ash, so that only those that knew him well glimpsed the flame that was within. Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he was not proud, and sought neither power nor praise… Mostly he journeyed unwearingly on foot, leaning on a staff, and so he was called among Men of the North Gandalf ‘the Elf of the Wand’. For they deemed him (though in error) to be of Elven-kind, since he would at times work wonders among them, loving especially the beauty of fire; and yet such marvels he wrought mostly for mirth and delight, and desired not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels out of fear. … Yet it is said that in the ending of the task for which he came he suffered greatly, and was slain, and being sent back from death for a brief while was clothed then in white, and became a radiant flame (yet veiled still save in great need).” — J.R.R. Tolkien, Unfinished Tales, 390-391. During more than one Fireworks this year, the soundtrack included some music celebrating us as a nation of Immigrants: The first is Neil Diamond’s modern Classic, “Coming to America”: The second is an instrumental cover of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s Brilliant “America” from West Side Story: And concluding with some of the bars from the show’s signature song, the moving “Somewhere”: I presume everyone knows that West Side Story is an update of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. If you’ve never seen it, see it on stage or DVD. The genius of Shakespeare is matched by that of Bernstein and Sondheim. With all of this celebration of us as a Nation of Immigrants, it is time for (my old friends) the Republicans to stop their blockage of Immigration Reform. Good for the President for working to get things done. And Boo! to those Murrieta CA protesters who blocked the busloads of immigrants whom the border service wanted to lawfully process to return to their home countries. “America for Americans,” they shout, ignorant of the fact that we are strong because we come from so many other places. The former Deacon of my old Parish, Fr. Gerry Sondergaard, told the story of his Irish Grandfather getting off the boat in New York, not yet even processed for immigration, who criticized the Italian-American dock workers who were speaking Italian. “Listen to that, they can’t even speak English!” he said. I suppose there have always been rivalries between immigrant groups, as West Side Story illustrates, but our Immigrants are our shining treasure. In the DC 4th of July Celebrations, the fabulous Patti LaBelle sang “Over the Rainbow” in celebration of the movie’s 75th Anniversary this year. Here’s a 1989 version: 1900 First Edition Cover 1900 Title Page And that, of course, got me thinking about The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900 by Baum and Illustrator W.W. Denslow. It was a huge hit, and has been translated to stage and most famously, the 1939 Movie Musical starring Judy Garland. Baum and his wife were esotericists, members of the Theosophical Society since 1892, and were supporters of Women’s Suffrage and the Rights of Native Americans. They believed in God, but thought that religious decisions should be made by mature minds, rather than religious authorities. His spiritual views are well represented in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and translate well to the silver screen. The culminating message of Interior Gnosis has been taught to young and old for over a century: The First Four Poppins Books And he isn’t alone. P.L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins novels, was a follower of the Fourth Way (Gurdjieff and Ouspensky). As she wrote: Many are those down the ages who, sorrowing for their own lack of watchfulness, have too late learned what it means to pay attention, that it is not something that simply happens, nor to be had by chance… If man has within him the potential, if only as a germ, to share in the consciousness of the universe, even to glimpse at moments certain aspects of the Unknown (behold, I show you a mystery!) above all, to learn to know himself, can this be done without attention? And what of that word “pay”? First of all the whole person, all the functions closely cohering—thought, feeling, bodily sensation—must be ready, vigilant, alert; and to preface this ingathering there must be present in us—one can sum it up in one single word: attention’s closest kin, intention. P. L. Travers, Sunflower, Parabola Magazine, Vol. XV, No. 2, Summer 1990, p. 84. Mary Poppins from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen It is no wonder that as the Mary Poppins series went on, the heroine became more and more obviously associated with Divine Wisdom. I’m not just making this up. In the Graphic Novel series, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, she appears in her full Divine Role: “Thus the caring, motherly side of God, in the form of Mary Poppins, came down from the heavens to destroy the Antichrist. She did this by altering reality to transform the Antichrist into a chalk drawing. With the words “splish, splash”, she summoned a rainfall to wash away the chalk drawing. Mary Poppins appears to represent Shekhinah, Binah, or Sophia. Mary Poppins is a personification of all these concepts, and as such, she represents the feminine side of God that cares for the welfare of mankind. Mary Poppins reveals her godly status by informing the Antichrist that she is on ‘every page’ of the Bible, whereas he is in ‘just the one book’).” — http://lxg.wikia.com/wiki/Mary_Poppins. Now that’s Supercalifragalisicexpialidicious! Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series Cover for MacDonald’s Lilith George MacDonald (Congregationalist), C.S. Lewis (Anglican), J.R.R. Tolkien (Roman Catholic), Charles Williams (Anglican & Esotericist), Dorothy Sayers (Anglican), Madeleine L’Engle (Episcopalian), and J.K. Rowling (Anglican) are all very spiritual authors. MacDonald rejected predestination and taught universal salvation (Apocatastasis), as did L’Engle. He also rejected the “Penal Substitution” theory of Christ’s Salvation of All. Charles Williams was initiated into A.E. Waite’s Salvator Mundi Temple of the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross. I mention this because Right-Wing Christian Religious groups often warn against this kind of children’s literature as having an agenda. Let me clarify. By Right-Wing Christian Religious Groups I mean the kooky far-right fringe of Christianity. Certainly the worst is the Westboro “Baptist” Church, but there are many others. It isn’t only Islam that has nutty fundamentalists. We do too. The difference is that, happily, for the most part, we keep ours sidelined, while a country like Saudi Arabia is in full league with them (the Wahhabis). We must tolerate these extremist Fundamentalist Christians, but for heaven’s sake (literally), don’t let them have any control over our life as a people. Well, I am here to tell you that, of course, the reasonable and loving spiritual beliefs that authors like Baum, Travers and the others mentioned above come through in their writings. Of course I hope that your children listen to the message and reject your ignorance. As my old professor Jaroslav Pelikan wrote: “Tradition is the Living Faith of the Dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” Right-thinking and God-loving people of good will, the natural opponents of fanatics and fundamentalists, have always wanted to influence the young to the benefit of the children, who are our future, the Spes Gregis (Hope of the Flock). Perhaps the most famous person who was accused of “corrupting the youth,” was Socrates, who was only trying to show people the errors of their ways. Who would not want to let young people being raised in willful ignorance by their benighted parents, know that there is a better way? φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ, ἀλλ’ ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον, ὅτι ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει, ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. — 1 John 4:18. Fundamentalists of all Creeds are filled with Fear, as they instinctively know that their grip on the world is loosening, and they are bound to fail as their “faith” is baseless. I most certainly hope that the children of these communities listen to the message proclaimed by such authors as I have mentioned, and keep hope alive for when they are free to move beyond their parents’ ignorance and fear. Perfect Love really does cast out Fear, in our world just as it does in Oz, Middle-Earth and Hogwarts. So that’s what I’m seeing from July 5! Let Freedom Ring! Steven A. Armstrong Tutor, Editor, Consultant, Membership Services Categories: Literature, Politics, Religion, Travel, World Affairs ← Dispaches from Harlem Corporate Persons Acting on their Religious Beliefs? → One thought on “A View From The 5th of July” July 6, 2014 at 10:36 am afrancini says: I agree! Also in Canada people forgets that the only “american” are the native people! Very strange way of thinking! Never mind the fundamentalists…they are here only to teach us the skills of being patient and astute! Their ego is a real monster..they are always right, everybody else is wrong! A big joke! The only way is to ignore them all! Be happy! Antonietta

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It remains to be seen where Tom Brady will play next season, but the Los Angeles Chargers are a legitimate possibility. Still, the question is worth asking: Would Brady, at 43, be that much of an upgrade over 38-year-old Philip Rivers? “Well, he’s not going to turn the ball over like Philip did,”... The football world is in Miami for Super Bowl LIV and with Antonio Brown being just a few minutes up the road, it's no surprise someone caught up to the troubled former NFL player. Brown spoke to USA Today on Tuesday where he said he knows he put himself in a bad spot, but feels he has what it... John Healy New Giants head coach Joe Judge is still a relatively unknown figure, but on Tuesday he received quite the endorsement from one of his former players. Rob Gronkowski, who spent seven seasons together with Judge in New England, shed some light on the 38-year-old head coach’s personality, and he... Several NFL Assistants, Execs Reportedly Predict a Blowout for Super Bowl LIV Save this story for later. According to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman , multiple NFL assistant coaches and team executives are very bullish on the Chiefs' chances against the 49ers in Miami. Here’s how Freeman, the longtime football scribe, put it: “In asking a handful of people around the league... Tarrah Gibbons Teen Petitions to Move Super Bowl to Saturday Football fans, how would you feel if the Super Bowl was on a Saturday? One teenager in New York doesn't believe the big night should be on a Sunday because it's not practical, reports CNN . Sixteen-year-old Frankie Ruggeri wants to watch the Super Bowl, but doesn't want to stay up late and then... Brandon Contes Eli Manning Retiring From NFL New York Giants two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning will never wear another NFL uniform. According to the Giants, Manning will announce his retirement Friday, Jan. 24. "For 16 seasons, Eli Manning defined what it is to be a New York Giant both on and off the field," Giants' president and chief... Super Bowl Fun Facts: Who Has the Most Super Bowl Wins Ever and More The NFL celebrated 100 years in 2019, but the Super Bowl has only been around since 1967 when the National Football League and its rival American Football League merged to face each other to determine which league had the best team. The first Super Bowl, which was known then as the NFL-AFL... Super Bowl LIV: 5 Fun Facts About 49ers vs. Chiefs Matchup Super Bowl LIV is set. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Feb. 2. Both teams had their own, unique journeys to get to this point. The Chiefs fell just short last season and returned with high expectations in 2019, only to see star... Dan Mennella Super Bowl LIV 2020 Complete Guide: Matchups, TV Info and Notable Commercials The NFL's centennial season will wrap up with the Super Bowl being played in a familiar location, Miami. Super Bowl LIV will be the 11th Super Bowl in the Miami area, tops among all cities. However, it's been a decade since Miami last hosted a Super Bowl, tying its longest such streak. The previous... What's Next for Titans, Packers After Losing Conference Championships? While the rest of the country gears up for Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers are left in the shadows after falling just short of reaching the Big Game. Now, those two teams must look back at what went right, what went...

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Denver Urban Gardens: Growing a garden, growing a community |In Artists with Impact |By Nicole Rupersburg Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) has been serving the five-county area of Metro Denver for 30 years and manages about 150 community gardens. “Our mission is to create community one garden at a time,” says Shannon Spurlock, Director of Public Affairs and Policy. “A lot of what we do speaks to that core piece of helping create community and [empower communities] to grow their own food.” Each garden is run by a team of volunteers who are trained in the management and social component of running a garden. DUG offers a variety of additional resources and programming to further facilitate community education and food accessibility. There is Master Community Gardener and Master Composter training, youth nutrition education programs for both kids and youth educators, youth-run farmers markets, a “Free Seeds and Transplants” program that has served over 6,000 in-need residents of Metro Denver, and much more. “There are lots of different ways we do our best to empower community members and residents,” Spurlock says. But the first and foremost of those things, she says, is ensuring that they are welcomed into a space before building a garden. “If we are someplace it’s because we’ve been asked to be there,” she says, “Not because we said, ‘There should be a garden here.’ Our response has been in a very proactive/reactive way. That’s a measure of sustainability as well: if people want to be in that space and growing then they’re going to support it in an ongoing way. We want people to really own it and cultivate it from the get-go.” One of DUG’s more recent community gardens is the Eddie Maestas Community Garden at the intersection of Lawrence, Park Ave., and Broadway. Better known as Triangle Park, it was considered by the surrounding community as a high problem area, notorious throughout the city and referred to by the press by such pejorative nicknames as “the Skid Row of Denver” and “the Bummuda Triangle.” It was an area that attracted a large homeless and transient population, since many human services organizations are located in the area, as well as the drug dealers who target such populations and the related substance abuse and criminal activities they bring. There had been ongoing, wide-reaching conversations for several years regarding what could be done with that space. It had previously been used as a place of respite for the homeless and the surrounding community had always been tolerant. It wasn’t until people from the outside began taking advantage of that population when drug use and regular arrests became the norm. When DUG was approached with the idea of transforming Triangle Park into a garden, their first priority was to see what the people in the surrounding community thought – neighbors, business owners, and the area’s service providers and their clients. “‘Community’ can be a really inclusive word,” Spurlock says. “There were a lot of people who had ideas of what this should mean. We were tuned into the service providers and clients being served by those providers, asking, ‘How can this space become relevant to the surrounding community and this [homeless and in-transition] community here? How can there be a shift to something positive in people’s lives?’ The intent was really positive.” DUG worked with area service providers like Denver Rescue Mission, Samaritan House, St. Francis Center, and RedLine Art’s Reach Studio. They held several public meetings where they asked constantly for input, making sure a garden was something the people wanted that would actually benefit them, and then getting input on design elements, which included having bee hives and an increased number of raised beds. One of the proposed design elements was a locked fence enclosure. DUG does not mandate for their gardens to be fenced or locked, but rather leaves that decision up to the community. (In fact, their only requirement is that gardens are organic.) Given that the park is located between two extremely busy streets, the community felt that the space lent itself to being enclosed. This ended up being a contentious issue as others, particularly people who had chosen not to be involved with planning conversations, felt that the fences were put up with the intention of keeping the homeless out. “There were some misunderstandings that we said there had to be a fence or there had to be a lock, when we were just being responsive. It has been a very collaborative partnership-based endeavor with all different kinds of partners, from gardeners to agencies and service providers to the parks and recreation department. We operate with a very conscientious partnership focus. It was really important to us to reach out to service providers and their clients and serve their needs,” Spurlock explains. “That was that was something people liked: the idea of having fencing around it. We typically just defer to community members on those decisions. We look for guidance from the people we’re serving. Some gardens have locks or fences and some don’t. This one has a fence and lock. It wasn’t going to, but the feeling from the service providers was that it couldn’t be a totally open space yet; there needed to be a shift in how people interacted with it.” The garden is split into three different areas: one for people in transitional housing, one for human services providers, and one for residents of the nearby Ballpark neighborhood, a ritzy area of pricey luxury lofts and trendy office spaces. This kind of shared space bridging socioeconomic gaps is very intentional. “There are tensions that exist that were already there,” Spurlock says. “A lot of it is the unknown tension around gentrification and the growth of the neighborhood. It’s a sticky situation. A lot of the conversations about the garden involved, ‘Who is going to be growing there? Is this going to be an exclusive space?’ It was always supposed to be inclusive and integrated, representing all community members. There is a strong sense of community that often happens around growing food and sharing food, [which is why we] created this shared experience.” DUG also worked with Reach Studio to commission public artworks from their artists. Four Reach artists were selected through a juried process to create permanent works to display in the garden, and two more permanent works were created by Reach in collaboration with the community members who attended their Community Art Day in June, a public event formally introducing the neighborhood to the garden. The works all reflect on the space’s past, present, and possible future. “A garden should always be a fingerprint of those who grow it in that community,” says Spurlock. “RedLine was an important part of it and is very invested in that neighborhood. We’re constantly looking at what the local assets and skills are. It’s not our garden at the end of the day, and it should represent the community. Reach seemed like a natural fit because they already had relationships with people in the community. At least one of the artists whose work is up is also a gardener at the garden.” Spurlock commends RedLine for how well they executed the Community Art Day. “It was a really inclusive, well-done event,” she says. “Some people had previously felt that they were targeted or stigmatized just by being a homeless person, but the more people have come to know the gardeners and the leadership, and that it’s something they have control over — that has been dissipating some of the tension.” Spurlock says that they’re starting to see those early misconceptions go away, which is ultimately all part of DUG’s goal for community empowerment through community leadership. “We’re always doing our best to foster the buy-in and ownership of the space. That will be what changes the culture of the space and how people interact with it. Our role is to help create that opportunity through that act of growing food and coming together.” Architecture/Design Creative Placemaking Participatory Art Visual Arts Sharing, Building, Leading Arab American National Museum is the first and only museum of its kind

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Likud Party Goes to Polling Stations as Gideon Saar Challenges Netanyahu's Party Leadership © REUTERS / Francois Lenoir by Tim Korso Tim Korso. Sputnik International https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201912261077873121-likud-party-goes-to-polling-stations-as-gideon-saar-challenges-netanyahus-party-leadership/ Netanyahu failed to bring the necessary amount of votes to secure a majority for his party or build a strong enough coalition to form a government after the last two elections this year. In addition, his position suffered a blow as he was indicted on corruption charges. Likud party voters are heading to polling stations on 26 December in order to determine who will lead their party in the upcoming general election in early 2020, as its long-time leader Benjamin Netanyahu was challenged by political veteran, former interior and education minister, Gideon Saar. Saar is considered to be inclined more to the right than the current prime minister and more hawkish on Palestinian issues, as he rejects a two-state solution opting for a deal involving Jordan instead. He was first brought into politics by Netanyahu himself in 1999, got elected to the Knesset in 2003 for the first time and has recently been called by the media, namely the Times of Israel, as a potential contender for the prime minister's leadership position in the party. Window of Political Opportunity Despite Saar scoring high among Likud ranks, he challenged Netanyahu only at the end of 2019, which might not be a coincidence since the prime minister suffered several blows to his position this year, giving Saar a chance for victory. Namely, Netanyahu failed to bring enough seats in the Knesset for his party in two general elections this year to secure a majority within the existing coalition. He also didn't succeed both times in building a broader coalition to form a government, leading to new snap general elections, which will become the third in less than 12 months in Israel. Furthermore, Israeli Attorney General indicted Netanyahu on three cases, charging him with bribery, breach of trust and fraud. He is suspected of receiving expensive gifts in exchange for favours and trying to buy positive coverage in one of the country's biggest media outlets. Low Turnout Amid Storms These blows left Netanyahu potentially vulnerable, but he has expressed confidence and called on his voters to boost turnout, which remained around 30% five hours before the end of the vote according to AFP, quoting Likud sources. The media blamed severe storms lashing the country as one of the causes for low turnout. "Everything is within reach, but only if you get out to vote […] The low percentage of turnout hurts us", the prime minister pleaded to his supporters. Saar also has high hopes to win the Likud primaries, calling on his supporters not to lose hope and promising to end the country's political impasse. "We can win today, to set forth on a new path that will allow us to form a strong and stable government, that will allow us to unite the people of Israel which is probably the most important thing right now", he said. The primary results are expected to be published early on 27 December. Netanyahu to Confront Rival in First Primaries in Five Years 'Victory of Good Over Evil': Modi Offers Netanyahu Hanukkah Greeting with Indian Twist Netanyahu Applauds UAE Foreign Minister’s Tweet Supporting Israeli-Gulf State Pact Former Israeli Interior Minister Seeks to Challenge Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud Chairmanship Netanyahu Issues Threat to Those Behind Gaza Rocket Fire that Forced Him off Stage Video of Netanyahu Being Rushed off Stage Amid Hamas Rocket Attack Released Likud Party, Primaries, Israel

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HomeZhdanov and others v. Russia: on missed opportunities and an offensive applicant Zhdanov and others v. Russia: on missed opportunities and an offensive applicant August 29, 2019 January 29, 2020 Laurens Lavrysen Admissibility, LGBT Rights, Zhdanov and others v. Russia On 16 July, the Court delivered its judgment in the case of Zhdanov and others v. Russia. The case concerns the refusal by the Russian authorities to register two LGBT rights organisations because they were considered extremist organisations on account of the allegedly immoral character of their activities. In this judgment, the Court found a violation of Article 6 § 1 (access to court) and of Article 11 (freedom of assembly), alone and in conjunction with Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination). This blog post is only concerned with the Article 11 and 14 aspects of the case. After setting out the facts, I will highlight some of the missed opportunities in the Court’s judgment from the perspective of the third party intervention we, as the Human Rights Centre of Ghent University, submitted in this case (in particular as far as the assessment of the legitimate aim of the interference is concerned). In addition, I will discuss a quite peculiar aspect of the case: the decision to declare the part of the complaint lodged by LGBT activist Nikolay Alekseyev inadmissible as an abuse of the right of application because of offensive statements he made about the Court and its judges on social media. In line with the (partly) dissenting judges, I will argue that this is problematic from the viewpoint of both freedom of expression and access to the Court. The applicants are three Russian LGBT organisations and four individuals who are the founders or presidents of these organisations. The latter include Nikolay Alekseyev, a name familiar to Strasbourg watchers as he was the driving force behind two earlier violation judgments relating to freedom of assembly for LGBT organisations in Russia (see here and here). The Zhdanov case concerns the refusal by domestic authorities and courts of the applicant organisations’ registration requests because of formal irregularities and, more importantly, because their aim was to promote LGBT rights. They held in particular that the organisations’ aims could destroy the moral values of society, could lead to a decrease in the population, could jeopardise the constitutionally protected institutions of family and marriage and could encourage social and religious hatred and enmity. Under Article 11, the Court examines whether the interference with the applicants’ rights complied with the § 2 test. Easily concluding that the interference was “prescribed by law”, the Court continues to examine whether it served a “legitimate aim”. The Court in turn addresses the following legitimate aims invoked by the Government: the protection of morals, the protection of national security and public safety, the protection of the rights and freedoms of others (in particular an alleged right of the majority “not to be confronted with any display of same-sex relations or promotion of LGBT rights or with the idea of equality of different-sex and same-sex relations”) and the prevention of social and religious hatred and enmity. Building upon the 2017 Bayev and Others v. Russia judgment, in which the Court intensively scrutinized the legitimate aims invoked to justify the so-called gay propaganda law (discussed earlier on this blog), the Court quite easily finds that the first three invoked aims did not qualify as a “legitimate aim” in the sense of Article 11 § 2. Quite remarkably, the Court rules differently as far as the fourth invoked aim is concerned: “Lastly, as regards the aim of preventing social or religious hatred and enmity incited by the activities of LGBT associations and which might, in the domestic authorities’ opinion, lead to violence, this may correspond to the legitimate aim of the prevention of disorder. The Court accepts that social or religious hatred and enmity represents a danger for the social peace and political stability of democratic States […] and is likely to lead to violence […]. It therefore accepts that the declared aim of preventing such hatred and enmity corresponds to the legitimate aim of prevention of disorder […] and will proceed on the assumption that the contested measures pursued that aim.” (§ 160) Using this legitimate aim as the basis for its proportionality analysis, the Court however rules that the interference was not “necessary in a democratic society”. As the invoked legitimate aim purportedly relates to the risk “that the applicants might potentially become victims of aggression by persons who disapproved of homosexuality” (§ 161), the Court considers that the authorities should instead have taken “reasonable and appropriate measures to enable the applicant organisations to carry out their activities without having to fear that they would be subjected to physical violence by their opponents” (§ 164). Reaffirming principles developed in the context of the protection of ethnic minorities against violence (e.g. the case of Ouranio Toxo and Others v. Greece), the Court holds that, rather than “[removing] the cause of tension by eliminating pluralism”, the positive obligations under Article 11 require the State to “ensure that competing groups tolerate each other” (§ 163). The Court thus finds a violation of Article 11. While the finding of a violation is to be applauded, the manner in which the Court arrives there is regrettable. In recent years, the Court has abandoned its orthodox practice of being rather succinct at the “legitimate aim” stage and focusing almost exclusively on the necessity test, but has instead gone to great lengths, in particular in high profile cases, to smoke out unacceptable motives. The added value of doing so is the “pedagogical” effect that results from altogether disqualifying particular motives from being accorded legitimacy in the eyes of the Convention. This is for instance evidenced by the Court’s bold approach in the already-mentioned Bayev case. Arguably, an explanation for accepting the legitimate aim could have been the fact that the Court thought it had to do so as a prerequisite for inserting its discourse on positive obligations at the necessity stage, even though one is left to wonder why this could not have been done at the legitimate aim stage as well.[1] In the third party intervention we, as the Human Rights Centre of Ghent University, submitted in this case (which is discussed here), it is instead argued that no aim should be considered as a legitimate one if it is used as a smokescreen for hiding ulterior homophobic or discriminatory purposes. This was clearly the case in the facts underlying the present judgment, so it is quite disconcerting that the Court seemingly treated it as some kind of good faith justification attempt by the Russian government. This is even more striking when read together with the other aims invoked by the government: the clear anti-gay prejudice transpiring therefrom makes any argument that the Russian authorities in fact cared about protecting gay people from hatred and enmity look preposterous. For the sake of completeness: the Court also finds a violation of Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 11. Mere reference to its Article 11 findings allows it to hold that there was no “reasonable or objective justification” for the difference in treatment on the grounds of sexual orientation (§ 182). In its succinctness, regrettably, the Court does not engage with the argument raised in our third party intervention that Article 14 encompasses a positive obligation on the State to use all available means to combat homophobia and discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and to take measures to counteract the societal conclusion of LGBT people – in line with the State’s obligations under international human rights law to promote cultural change in order to realize human rights. Torturing judges with litres of vodka Another remarkable aspect of the Zhdanov and Others judgment concerns the decision to declare the complaint by Nikolay Alekseyev inadmissible for abuse of the right of individual application, because he had made offensive statements on the Court and its judges on social media. In reaction to the Court’s rejection of his claims in respect of non-pecuniary damage in the Alekseyev and Others case, he had published comments about the Court and the judges who had adopted the judgment on his Instagram and VKontakte accounts. Paragraph 83 of the judgment provides a good summary of Alekseyev’s statements: “The Court further observes that the statements about the Court and its judges published on the accounts in question are virulently and personally offensive and threatening. In particular, Mr Alekseyev published the judges’ photographs with such captions as “alcoholic”, “drug addict”, “corrupt”, and “this crone owes me 100,000 euros … God will punish her”. He also called the judges, among other terms, “European bastards and degenerates”, “freaks”, “venal scum” and “idiotic”. He wished that they would “snuff it as soon as possible like dogs”, threatened to “torture [them] … with litres of vodka” and announced that “it [was] time to set fire to the European Court of Human Rights”. He also stated: “We should not have given wenches the right to vote … They should be cooking soup”. These statements clearly exceed the limits of normal, civic and legitimate criticism.” Despite the fact that the statements were made outside the context of the present case, “Mr. Alekseyev sought to ensure the widest possible circulation of his accusations and insults and thereby provided evidence of his determination to harm and tarnish the image and reputation of the institution of the European Court of Human Rights and its members” (§ 84). After the Court had sent him a letter referring to all his pending applications and warning him that such statements might amount to an abuse of the right of petition, Alekseyev did not withdraw his statements and published new offensive statements about the Court, describing it as “a rubbish heap” and calling its judges “European corrupt scum” and “homophobic”. The Court considered that his conduct constituted “a vexing manifestation of irresponsibility and a frivolous attitude towards the Court” amounting to contempt, which based on some obscure precedent (e.g. The Georgian Labour Party v. Georgia (dec.)) allows the Court declare the case inadmissible for abuse of the right of application. In their joint partly dissenting opinion, Judges Keller, Serghides and Elósegui are quite critical of this decision. Firstly, they consider that the comments were made in reaction to a separate case, so they do not believe that this jeopardises the integrity of the Court in the case under consideration (§ 2-3). Secondly, they consider that the Court “should be extremely careful not to set a precedent that could have a chilling effect on the active engagement of the public with the Court” (§ 9). They even “fear that this decision could be an invitation to Governments to engage in surveillance of future applicants in the hopes of finding statements that could be offensive to the formation of the Court hearing the case” (§ 14). In this regard, it is worth emphasizing the fact that, in the present case, it was indeed the Russian Government itself that had informed the Court of Alekseyev’s statements (§ 77). Finally, they argue that the Court exists to protect and realise the right of individual application “for all applicants, regardless of their manners or propriety”. In this respect, they even wonder whether the Court itself would not find a violation of the right of access to court (Article 6 § 1) in a case where a domestic court declares a case inadmissible because an applicant has called the judges idiots (§ 17). While Alekseyev’s statements are indeed quite offensive, I however wonder whether declaring his complaint inadmissible constitutes an appropriate sanction. The situation is for instance quite different from the one in Gross v. Switzerland, which was declared inadmissible by the Grand Chamber for “abuse of the right of application” because the applicant – who had committed suicide before the Chamber judgment was adopted – had taken “special precautions to prevent information about her death from being disclosed to counsel and eventually to the Court in order to stop the latter discontinuing the proceedings in her case” (§ 34). As the challenged behavior in Gross directly impacted the conduct of the proceedings, the sanction of declaring the case inadmissible at least stands in logical connection to it.[2] In the present case, however, there simply does not seem to be such logical connection between behaviour and sanction. In any event, the fact that the applicant engaged in online ranting does not make him any less a victim of a human rights violation. If human rights are there for everyone, including for the criminals and the terrorists, as populists often decry, then they should be there for the ranters as well. The Court should recall that its function is to protect the human rights of its applicants, not to police their manners. In the few cases in which the Court has hitherto examined this kind of “abuse of the right of application”, the Court has rarely accepted this to be established (it took some HUDOC skills to find a notable exception in the obscurest of cases, Duringer and Others and Grunge v. France). Applying this inadmissibility ground in a high-profile case like the one of Alekseyev therefore does set a precedent, which may give rise to a chilling effect on applicants’ expression, as noted by the dissenters. Perhaps it would be more appropriate if the Court were to introduce a provision in its Rules of Court allowing it to impose fines on applicants in order to address these kinds of offensive statements instead? This would be more in line with the traditional approach to contempt of court in most jurisdictions and would certainly be less intrusive from the viewpoint of freedom of expression and access to the Court.[3] [1] Thanks to Stijn Smet for pointing this out. [2] Thanks to Corina Heri for the suggestion to juxtapose both cases. [3] Thanks to Dirk Voorhoof for an email exchange on this aspect of the case. ← Vladimir Ushakov V. Russia – The 1980 Hague Convention, the child’s best interests and gender biases Grand Chamber limits the scope of Article 3 for non-state ill-treatment → 2 thoughts on “Zhdanov and others v. Russia: on missed opportunities and an offensive applicant” Brexit as Fate | Verfassungsblog says: […] LAURENS LAVRYSEN criticises the ECtHR for its judgment on Russia’s refusal to register LGBT organisations and, in particular, for declaring inadmissible the action brought by an LGBT activist on account of his abusive social media statements against the Strasbourg Court. […] Poll: Best and Worst ECtHR Judgment of 2019 | Strasbourg Observers says: […] our blog post: “As the challenged behavior in Gross [v. Switzerland] directly impacted the conduct of the […]

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Largest OPV installation in the world 1,800 m² of organic photovoltaic films SUNEW LIGHT™ were installed at Natura’s NAN – Núcleo de Aprendizagem Natura (Natura Learning Nucleus) in Cajamar (SP). Beyond the the innovative design of the film, it is 1.5 millimeter thick and is made from organic, non-toxic, recyclable materials. The installation, which uses of total of 1,580 panels, is currently the largest of its kind in the world. In this project, Natura seeks to combine the Sunew’s world’s cleanest solar technology with design, innovation and maximum sustainability. The use of solar energy contributes to the reduction pillar of the Natura Carbon Neutral Programme. Launched over ten years ago, the programme is aimed at reducing and offsetting the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the activities of the company and its value chain. It is estimated that the energy generated by the panels in Natura’s NAN – Núcleo de Aprendizagem Natura (Natura Learning Nucleus) will contribute to the avoidance of 37 tons of CO2 emissions a year. CLICK TO KNOW Access our social networks: +55 31 3326 1636 contact@sunew.com.br José Cândido da Silveira Av., 2000 Horto. Belo Horizonte / MG / Brasil. SUNEW @ 2018 All rights reserved.

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by Matt Rumsey Oct 20, 2014 10:45 am Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis including plenty of IG news, owning big data, and judicial elections. The Inspector General for the Department of the Interior runs an active shop, but doesn’t publicly release very many of its reports. Out of 475 closed investigations last year, only three public reports were released. (EE News) The Department of Energy’s IG, one of the longest tenured in the Federal government, sat down with the Washington Post to talk about his process. (Washington Post) Billionares like Tom Steyer and the Koch brother’s are taking advantage of lax campaign finance laws to set up their own, party like structures to influence elections and policy. (New York Times) A surprise inspection targeted the General Services Administration’s move towards open and flexible office layouts. The agency’s IG found that procedures to secure sensitive and confidential documents and property have not been adequately followed. (Government Executive) Big data and in the “internet of things” will not be able to fulfill its potential without clear rules about who owns and controls data. An MIT professor has proposed a “New Deal on Data” to address this issue. (Harvard Business Review) Court elections in varying states are turning judges into partisan political warriors fueled by big money. (National Journal) Transparency, Coherence, and Authority at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Mon. 10/20. 12:30 – 2:00 pm. SAIS, Bernstein-Offit Building, Room 714, 1717 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC. An Evening Not to be Forgotten. The Communication, Culture, and Technology MA Graduate Program at Georgetown University. Mon. 10/20. 5:00 – 6:30 pm. Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh Memorial Building, Room 495, 1221 36th Street NW, Washington, DC 20057. Unaccountable: How elite power brokers corrupt our finances, freedom, and security. New America Foundation. Tues. 10/21. 12:15 – 1:45 pm. 1899 L Stret NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Corruption, Crime, and Terrorism. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Wed. 10/22. 3:00 – 4:00 pm. 1770 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036. Do you want to track transparency news? You can follow the progress of relevant bills, court cases, and regulations using Scout. You can also get Today in #OpenGov sent directly to your preferred news reader. If you would like suggest an event, please email mrumsey@sunlightfoundation.com by 7 am on the Monday prior to the event.

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Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech admin-sunny Yves Saint Laurent Museum is one of the most exciting tourist attractions in Marrakech that every tourist wants to visit. This Marrakech museum started operating on September 18. 2017. However, ever since than Ysl Museum has remained to be the most preferred center of attraction in Marrakech. Yves Saint Laurent Museum is a must-visit by any fashion designer of the 21st century since it focuses entirely on the work and life of this generation. Thus, it remains to be a remarkable museum because of the lasting memories it creates for every visitor. Yves Saint Laurent Museum Design The layout and design Yves Saint Laurent Museum is an accurate reflection of its founder, Yves Saint Laurent. Everything, both inside and outside the museum, gives a good representation of the Ysl Museum. If you enter this museum, you will realize that it’s divided into different sections. The museum has a specific place identified as YSL collection, which features its most successful and great works. Other than this, within the museum, you will come across the Yves Saint Laurent Exhibition Hall. This hall features grand collection paintings and sketches associated with some of his most exceptional endeavors. Also, there is a Temporary Exhibition Hall within this Marrakech museum. The primary role of this hall is to welcome any works of art. These include any task relating to anthropology, fashion and design, botany, and contemporary art. Other than this, the Ysl museum has another specific area. This place preserves some of the collections of the designer, extraordinary garments, and the impressive array of his former partner. Also, this place retains some of the traditional Berber garments. Yves Saint Laurent museum also features a well-stocked library. This library contains rare but valuable books, all of which date back from the 16th century up to the 20th century. Most of these books are donations by Mr. Pierre Berge’s, who is also the co-founder of Ysl museum Marrakech. Mr. Pierre Berge’s was also the designer’s former partner. The auditorium of this museum is also another place you will want to check. The simplistic beauty of this area is the center of attraction since it matches well with the culture of Morocco. Finally, the Ysl museum features a lovely cafe and shop. Also, there is a rooftop terrace where every visitor can sit and relax as they enjoy some refreshments. Pingback: Saadian Tombs Marrakech | Sunny Excursion Pingback: Jardin Majorelle Best of Marrakech | Sunny Excursion Day trips & Packages

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Alexandre Lagoya Ida Presti Heinz Holliger Eduardo Fernandez Angel Romero 28 Matching Classical Music Titles for Artist: Alexandre Lagoya Essential Guitar (2002) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Andrés Segovia (guitar), Celin Romero (guitar), Eduardo Fernandez (guitar), Göran Söllscher (guitar), Ida Presti (guitar), John Williams (guitar), Julian Bream (guitar), Los Romeros (guitar), Nicola Hall (guitar) composed by Agustín Barrios-Mangoré, Alessandro Marcello, Anonymous, Antonio Vivaldi, Celedonio Romero, Domenico Scarlatti, Enrique Granados, Federico Moreno Torroba, Francisco Tárrega, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Isaac Albéniz, Isaías Sávio, Jean-Delphin Alard, Leo Brouwer The Best of Handel (1996) performed by Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), André Pépin (flute), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Amsterdam, Daniel Chorzempa (organ), English Baroque Soloists, Heinz Holliger (oboe), I Musici, Ida Presti (guitar) composed by George Frederick Handel Bach for Breakfast: The Leisurely Way to Start Your Day (1995) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), André Bernard (trumpet), David Geringas (cello), Gheorghe Zamfir (pan pipes), Heinz Holliger (oboe), Heinz Holliger (oboe d'amore), Henryk Szeryng (violin), Ida Presti (guitar), Irena Grafenauer (flute) composed by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach Relaxing Classics 101 (2013) performed by Alan Loveday (violin), Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Alistair Hussein (treble), András Schiff (piano), Andrea Griminelli (flute), Ángel Romero (guitar), Annie Challan (harp), Arthur Grumiaux (violin), Barry Tuckwell (horn), Ben Hulett (tenor) composed by Albert Roussel, Alexander Borodin, Alphons Czibulka, American Traditional, Anton Rubinstein, Antonio Rosetti, Antonio Vivaldi, Arvo Pärt, Benedetto Marcello, Benjamin Britten, César Franck, Charles Gounod, Charles Villiers Stanford, Claude Debussy Baroque at Bathtime (1995) performed by Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Angel Romero (guitar), Celin Romero (guitar), Celina Romero (guitar), English Chamber Orchestra (chamber ensemble), English Chamber Orchestra, Gheorghe Zamfir (bagpipes) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli, Domenico Cimarosa, Georg Philipp Telemann, George Frederick Handel, Giovanni Battista Marella, Johann Joachim Quantz, Johann Pachelbel, Johann Sebastian Bach Peaceful Adagios (2006) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Brigitte Fassbaender (contralto), Cristina Ortiz (piano), Eduardo Fernandez (guitar), Jack Brymer (clarinet), Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano), Jorge Bolet (piano), Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano), Lucia Popp (soprano), Marisa Robles (harp) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Antonio Vivaldi, Camille Saint-Saëns, Claude Debussy, Dmitry Shostakovich, Edward Elgar, Engelbert Humperdinck, Erik Satie, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, Gabriel Fauré, Gustav Mahler, Jean Sibelius, Joaquín Rodrigo, Joseph Canteloube Baroque for Beauty Sleep (1998) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Angel Romero (guitar), Celedonio Romero (guitar), Celin Romero (guitar), Elly Ameling (soprano), English Chamber Orchestra, Felix Ayo (violin), Gheorghe Zamfir (pan flute), Heinz Holliger (oboe d'amore), Heinz Holliger (oboe) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Antonio Lotti, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli, Domenico Scarlatti, Georg Philipp Telemann, George Frederick Handel, Jacques Loeillet, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ottorino Respighi, Tomaso Albinoni 100 Best Guitar Classics [Warner Classics] (2016) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Andrés Segovia (guitar), Angel Romero (guitar), Carlos Bonell (guitar), Christopher Parkening (guitar), Dario Rossetti-Bonell (guitar), Eliot Fisk (guitar), Ernesto Bitetti (guitar), Georg Lawall (guitar) composed by Agustín Barrios-Mangoré, Antonio Lauro, Antonio Vivaldi, Astor Piazzolla, Benjamin Britten, Domenico Scarlatti, Egberto Gismonti, Enrique Granados, Erik Satie, Federico Mompou, Federico Moreno Torroba, Ferdinando Carulli, Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega Ultimate Classical Guitar: The Essential Masterpieces (2008) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Angel Romero (guitar), Catherine Michel (harp), Celedonio Romero (guitar), Eduardo Fernandez (guitar), I Musici, Massimo Paris (viola d'amore), Pepe Romero (guitar) composed by Agustín Barrios-Mangoré, Angel Barrios Fernandez, Anonymous, Antonio Lauro, Antonio Sinopoli, Antonio Vivaldi, Eduard Fabini, Enrique Granados, Flamenco Traditional, Francisco Tárrega, Gentil Montana, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Joaquín Rodrigo, Leo Brouwer 101 Guitar (2012) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Ángel Romero (guitar), Angelita Romero (percussion), Celedonio Romero (guitar), Eduardo Fernández (guitar), Los Romeros, Nicola Hall (guitar), Pepe Romero (guitar) composed by Agustín Barrios-Mangoré, Andrés Segovia, Anonymous, Antonio Lauro, Antonio Vivaldi, Benedetto Marcello, Celedonio Romero, Domenico Scarlatti, Enrique Granados, Federico Moreno Torroba, Francisco Tárrega, Georges Bizet, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Isaac Albéniz Carulli: Music for Flute & Guitar (1988) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Budapest (chamber ensemble), Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), János Rolla (conductor) composed by Ferdinando Carulli Baby Sleep (1996) performed by Alexander Markov (violin), Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Bruno Fontaine (piano), Cyprien Katsaris (piano), Dmitri Cogan (piano), English Baroque Soloists, Eric Leviennois (cello), Geoffrey Parsons (piano), Güher Pekinel (piano), Maria João Pires (piano) composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, Christian Pezold, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Edward Elgar, Erik Satie, Felix Mendelssohn, Fernando Sor, Gabriel Fauré, Henry Purcell, Jacques Offenbach, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky The #1 Guitar Album (2008) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Andrés Segovia (guitar), Dominic Miller (guitar), Göran Söllscher (guitar), I Musici, Ida Presti (guitar), John Williams (guitar), Julian Bream (guitar), Members of the Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra, Narciso Yepes (guitar) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Anonymous, Antonio Vivaldi, Christian Pezold, Domenico Scarlatti, Federico Moreno Torroba, Fernando Sor, Gabriel Fauré, Georges Bizet, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Joaquín Rodrigo, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, John Dowland Legendary Treasures: Ida Presti, Alexandre Lagoya - Mont Orford, Canada (2018) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Ida Presti (guitar) composed by Antonio Vivaldi, Fernando Sor, Francis Poulenc, George Frederick Handel, Isaac Albéniz, Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, Wolff Jacob Lauffensteiner Masters of the Guitar (2005) performed by Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, Alexander-Sergei Ramírez (guitar), Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Andrés Segovia (guitar), Angel Romero (guitar), Camerata Bern, Celin Romero (guitar), Christine Pendrill (cor anglais) composed by Agustín Barrios-Mangoré, Antonio Lauro, Antonio Vivaldi, Domenico Scarlatti, Enrique Granados, Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, Gaspar Sanz, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Isaac Albéniz, Joaquín Rodrigo, Joaquín Turina, Johann Sebastian Bach, Leo Brouwer, Paco Peña Baroque Guitar (2003) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Andrés Segovia (guitar), Eduardo Fernandez (guitar), Göran Söllscher (guitar), Ida Presti (guitar), John Williams (guitar), Narciso Yepes (guitar), Pepe Romero (guitar) composed by Antonio Vivaldi, Domenico Scarlatti, Gaspar Sanz, George Frederick Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludovico Roncalli, Silvius Leopold Weiss, Tomaso Albinoni Romantic Classics 101 (2012) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Angela Gheorghiu (soprano), Bryn Terfel (bass baritone), Carlo Bergonzi (tenor), Carlo Cossutta (tenor), Cristina Ortiz (piano), Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo-soprano), Franco Corelli (tenor), Francoise Pollet (soprano) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Alfredo Catalani, Amilcare Ponchielli, Anton Rubinstein, Antonin Dvorák, Aram Khachaturian, Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles Gounod, Claude Debussy, Dmitry Shostakovich, Edvard Grieg, Edward Elgar, Edward MacDowell, Erik Satie, Nino Rota Ida Presti & Alexandre Lagoya, Vol. 3 (2015) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Ida Presti (guitar), Pro Arte Orchestra, Kurt Redel (conductor) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Antonio Soler, Antonio Vivaldi, Enriqué Granados, Fernando Sor, Franz Joseph Haydn, Isaac Albéniz, Josep Galles, Manuel de Falla Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuez; Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre; Concierto Serenata (1994) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Catherine Michel (harp), Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra, Antonio de Almeida (conductor) composed by Joaquín Rodrigo Ida Presti & Alexandre Lagoya, Vol. 4: Studio & Live Recordings 1965 (2016) composed by Alessandro Marcello, Bernardo Pasquini, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frederick Handel, Joaquín Rodrigo, Johann Sebastian Bach, Tomaso Albinoni Lovers' Adagios (2006) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Carlos Bonell (guitar), Cristina Ortiz (piano), György Sebök (piano), Henryk Szeryng (violin), Herman Krebbers (violin), Jack Brymer (clarinet), Janine Jansen (violin), Janos Starker (cello), Jorge Bolet (piano) composed by Aram Khachaturian, Benedetto Marcello, Camille Saint-Saëns, Dmitry Shostakovich, Edward Elgar, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Gustav Mahler, Joaquín Rodrigo, Johann Sebastian Bach, Jules Massenet, Ludwig van Beethoven Jean-Pierre Rampal: Super Hits (2000) performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Claude Bolling (piano), Daniel Humair (drums), Guy Pedersen (bass), Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), John Steele Ritter (harpsichord), John Steele Ritter (keyboard synthesizer), Marielle Nordmann (harp), Neil Stubenhaus (bass) composed by Antonio Vivaldi, Claude Bolling, Gabriel Fauré, George Gershwin, Gioachino Rossini, Johann Sebastian Bach, Scott Joplin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Fantasia para un gentilhombre; Concierto Serenata Dreaming Adagios (2006) Aangenaam Klassiek, 1996 performed by Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), Andrew Lawrence-King (harp), Gil Shaham (violin), Han-Na Chang (cello), Joan Enric Lluna (clarinet), Leontina Vaduva (soprano), Mischa Maisky (cello), Murray Perahia (piano), Netherlands Wind Ensemble, Panocha Quartet composed by Antonin Dvorák, Antonio de Cabezón, Franz Schubert, Gabriel Fauré, George Frederick Handel, Georges Bizet, Giacomo Puccini, Henry Purcell, Johan Svendsen, Johann David Heinichen, Johannes Brahms, John Stanley, Louis Couperin, Ludwig van Beethoven Cristina Ortiz Celin Romero Pepe Romero Jorge Bolet

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DANIEL SHAI Sun Ray Teaching Sun Posts What propelled me on a search were bouts of fatigue that came and went when I was 10 years old. Calling them ‘fatigue’ is a gross understatement of what they were: They weren't just fatigue, but moments of complete drainage of energy to the point that I had no mental, emotional and physical faculties with which to function at all whatsoever. That is, there was no gas in the tank. All I could do at the times when this strange phenomenon hit, was wait it out. The first time this happened was very alarming. It may have lasted a minute or two, but the gripping fear of being stuck in this fog made me wonder if I was doomed to feel this heavy forever. There was no telling when these bouts would hit. They always occurred at unexpected moments, often when being able to function was crucial. The moments they chose to visit caused a lot of damage. They were moments in which I really wanted to behave a certain way, but literally couldn’t. I watched myself lose people, for example, while I seemed aloof or uncaring - but really cared very much yet was unable to respond. Today I know a lot about self-sabotage. I understand the guilt I was living with, and that self-sabotage is the way the guilty punish themselves. The growing heaviness and seriousness in me were much a result of a big life-change that happened at that time. It didn't take long after the bouts started for them to become more and more prevalent, until I gradually became adjusted to living without any energy at all. Many would call this severe depression. And yet having been a happy and exuberant child as I was, this turn downwards was hard to believe — not just for me, but for those closest to me. It seemed to have gone unnoticed, as I was expected to keep functioning as normal, and pushed to excel. I, however, felt nothing like normal, and the wheels in my head started asking questions — big questions. We all want to feel good. In order to feel good, I needed my energy back. So, in my mind, my search was a search for energy. I wondered where energy comes from and how we lose it. As a pre-teen I started reading some philosophy, and as a teen got very interested in psychology — especially when I saw symptoms that I was experiencing described in the DSM. I was ashamed of not being functional. It meant that I wasn't pleasing the male figures in my life, and wasn't showing up for others with the kindness and care that I wanted to. I didn't consciously think it at the time, but I was constantly failing myself and those around me. I was so frustrated with my condition. My diving into philosophy and psychology with the little energy I had didn't cure me. Once, in my teens, my mom took me to see a psychologist and I vividly remember the coldness and discomfort of being in the company of that particular psychologist. I felt like an object; inhuman. That experience didn't scare me enough to avoid psychology altogether, as I became a psychology student in University later on. But before my University days, an unexpected experience occurred: A friend of mine was going to see a psychic and invited me to come. I grew up in a family that was very skeptical, if not disparaging, when it came to these matters. So this was seen as foreign and peculiar at the time. After the session with the psychic, in which my head must have nodded from side to side like that of a questioning dog, she recommended a book to me - by Osho. I immediately bought the book. It was saying that spirituality began where psychology ended, and this had caught my attention. I dove quite deep into Osho and became a serious meditator. I had all sorts of interesting and powerful and weird experiences — too many to mention. I went on a trip to India for a whole year, two months of which were spent in a Monastery in Nepal. I was now a seeker of enlightenment. The journey was a mess. The fatigue was still getting in the way of everything: relationships, jobs, money, family. Self-expression was a weakness. Sometimes I had moments of feeling what it was like to not be tired, and life appeared so joyous and exciting to me. Sometimes that would happen after meditation, and meditation became a way of coping with life for me - and sometimes escaping it. But it was not enough — it wasn’t healing it. Constantly looking for what to do to not feel tired and heavy was not the answer. We always try to move away from the unwanted, very few of us discover that our healing lies in the very center of our malady. Only years later I discovered that it was the content of my unconscious that was running my show. I was unaware I was operating from of a pressure to be perfect, just forever seeking to be “good enough”. Osho and India were actually, in the big picture, a small part of the journey. Osho was significant because it was his words that sparked the beginning of the spiritual search. Along the way there was Gurdjieff, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, "Hippi-ism" (oh I was quite a hippy for several years after India), tons of self-help books, law of attraction, non-duality teachers, A Course In Miracles, channelings, coaching (being given to me) and more. There was also an anti-spirituality phase, trying to be “normal”. Humans tend to move from one extreme to the other. Obviously that phase didn’t last, but eventually spirituality was understood completely differently than before, as something which is not separate from any aspect of life. I sought and sought and nothing made me feel good; nothing alleviated my suffering. In fact, some of the teachings were extremely detrimental to my already non-existent well-being, as they were the opposite of what I needed: they made me even more unable to function. These were non-duality teachings that caused an already-supressed Daniel to supress himself even further. Add to that being taught to deny the world and my needs (because there is no 'me'...) — and what was a mess before became an even a bigger mess now. If I was carrying guilt before, now my guilt was amplified because I was told that I was defending against truth or God — another thing this guilty guy is doing wrong. Another symptom of my own shadow belief that nothing I ever do is good enough. Even after all the incredible spiritual experiences and awakenings -- I still didn't feel worthy. I still felt wrong. Non-duality teachings reflected my own unconscious beliefs back to me. Since I invalidated my emotions, pain and needs— it's no surprise that I gravitated toward teachings that would do the same. Reality being a reflection is a big part of the Sun Ray Teaching. Imagine you felt nothing you ever were or did was enough? If you just believe that thought, you will immediately feel small, scared and insecure (because others are worthy and capable and you're not), and like every task is very difficult and overwhelming. Sink deep enough in this feeling, and you will be foggy and exhausted. It is a way of being in which you have zero independence, zero individuality. You are just looking to everyone else to learn what’s wrong and right, because you are seeking approval. Indeed mine was a journey from the valleys of disempowerment to the peaks of empowerment. It took me two and a half decades to come to see what a central role unworthiness plays in our lives, and certainly controlled mine. As I reclaimed my worthiness, the areas of my life that suffered so much neglect began receiving CPR... I started doing only what works for me. That is, only what gave me energy, while no longer participating in what drained it. I chose to meet my own needs first. This was the first time I was truly honoring myself, acting out of a listening inward rather than dictated by ideas of how I should be— whether spiritual or conventional. My life changed quite dramatically. It took getting to a point of having nothing, zero, zilch (materialistically speaking) to make the turnaround. When I DECIDED to do it, however, there was nothing that could stop me. The power of decision is one of the pillars of the Sun Ray Teaching. If we commit to a decision — life will mirror it back to us. I committed. I understood the principles of creating my reality and put them to practice quite perfectly, if I may say so. Indeed, I'd created a new reality for myself, swirling up the rungs of the spiral. Today I am of course thankful for the difficult relationships, the teachings that claimed to end suffering but only added to it, and every single struggle and challenge in my life. They all helped me see where I was stuck, and it was up to me to tare responsibility for my experience and choose differently. I just had to understand that these were reflections. I also understand that much of what I went through I did so in order to be in a position where I would be able to truly assist others. It is the overcoming of trauma, hardship, difficulties and challenges that make a good teacher or coach, I believe. Not the book-reading. The kind of arduous journey that almost kills you makes you into a teacher capable of relating to whomever he's working with, rather than speaking to them from a pedestal. It makes you capable of connecting with them, and I don’t know what could be more important. Without having incredible challenges to move through (not away from) on the path, I would not be able to share truly valuable insights with others, as well as guide them through their own confusion and darkness. During the period of powerfully shifting my reality and building a new life from nothing, I became very independent. You could say, perhaps, that I was too independent, because I was isolated. I swung strongly from the other extreme of not being independent and empowered at all. My Nature filled me the pull to re-connect with the world and its people. Now that I had my personal issues rather settled and healthier life-circumstances, I felt the call to participate in the world. I gradually began to feel not only worthy to bring myself into the world, but worthy to include myself in the vast Oneness, All-That-Is. And if you look closely at my story it is not at all difficult to get a hint how the 3 aspects of the Sun Ray Teachin — non-dual realization, empowerment and oneness/unconditional love — were born. Every teacher teaches what they’ve learned. How could it be otherwise?! I feel and truly hope that my work in the world will provide great value to many people. I have seen that sharing my Sun Ray even with just one client already creates waves of transformation as that client becomes the change, spreading Sun Rays in his or her reality. I am here to provide the world teachings/insights, tools, new awareness in this time of transformation, and to do my best to be an example of my own teaching. My experience comes from my own journey and the work I've done with countless clients over the years. I have sought relief and the end of suffering so intensely my whole life, and this has allowed me to become familiar with many paths, and be a versatile and flexible teacher. This is important to me, because my teachers were utterly unaccomodating. Being familiar with many old teachings is quite relevant for me, since part of what I do is help transition between what I consider the old teachings and the new ones. On my oath I sought clarity. Having lived a life of fogginess (fatigue) — a sense of being lost — I cherish clarity more than I could describe. When one is clear s/he can move forward wholly, without (inner) conflict. I feel that my intense pursuit of clarity is what has placed me in the position to teach. I now share my hard-earned clarity with all who seek relief and expansion, all who are ready. And like the Sun’s Rays freely lend themselves to the clearing away of clouds, I give it away with great joy, for I want to see humanity grow into a more enlightened, compassionate and loving people. The insights that I have had throughout my path are ones that I have seen all who've worked with me find to be extremely beneficial. That's because, really, we are all dealing with the same stuff, the same core beliefs, the same sense of loneliness and separation, the same sense of disempowerment and confusion, etc. Our stories are different, but the human collective is really in the same boat. Therefore, the clarity that lit up my confusion and darkness at a particular junction in the road is quite likely to be the clarity the will work for you. What works, works. These solutions are nothing but the next rung on the spiral, the next expansion of your consciousness. We are transforming together, and whatever downloads I receive, my job is to share them with you. I like doing that in a 1-1 environment, because I can then address you uniquely and walk with you, inidivudally, onto that next level of yourself. Copyright © 2019 DANIEL SHAI sun ray teaching LLC - All Rights Reserved.

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Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 312 › Gorin v. United States Gorin v. United States, 312 U.S. 19 (1941) Gorin v. United States Argued December 19, 1940 Decided January 13, 1941* 1. In order to constitute the crimes denounced by §§ 1(b) and 2 of the Espionage Act -- the obtaining of documents connected with or relating to the national defense and their delivery to an agent of a foreign country with an intent, or reason to believe, in each case, that they are to be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation -- it is not necessary that the documents contain information concerning the places or things (such as vessels, aircraft, forts, signal stations, codes or signal books) which are specifically mentioned in § 1(a) of the Act. P. 312 U. S. 25. 2. "National defense" as used in §§ 1(b) and 2 of the Espionage Act refers to the military or naval establishments and to related activities of national preparedness for war. P. 312 U. S. 28. 3. With this meaning of "national defense" and with the elements of scienter and bad faith which must be present, the sections are sufficiently definite to apprise the public of the activities they prohibit, and they accord with due process. P. 312 U. S. 27. 4. Information taken from reports in the files of the Naval Intelligence, giving a detailed picture of counter-espionage work, held capable of use to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation within the meaning of §§ 1 and 2 of the Espionage Act. P. 312 U. S. 29. Page 312 U. S. 20 5. In establishing violations of §§ 1(b) and 2 of the Espionage Act, where it was proved that the forbidden information was to be used to the advantage of a foreign nation, it was not necessary to prove also that it was to be used to the injury of the United States. P. 312 U. S. 29. 6. In a prosecution under §§ 1(b) and 2 of the Espionage Act, the jury determines whether the acts of the defendants were connected with or elated to the national defense under proper tests laid down by the instructions. P. 312 U. S. 30. The function of the court is to instruct as to the kind of information which is violative of the statute, and that of the jury to decide whether the information secured is of the defined kind. It is not the function of the court, where reasonable men may differ, to determine whether the acts do or do not come within the ambit of the statute. The question of the connection of the information with national defense is a question of fact to be determined by the jury as negligence upon disputed fact is determined. 111 F.2d 712 affirmed. Certiorari, 310 U.S. 622, to review the affirmance of sentences for violations of the Espionage Act of June 15, 1917. Decided January 13, 1941312 U.S. 19ast|>* CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT MR. JUSTICE REED delivered the opinion of the Court. This certiorari brings here a judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the sentences of the two petitioners who were convicted of violation of the Espionage Act of June 15, 1917, 111 F.2d 712. As the affirmance turned upon a determination of the scope of the Act and its constitutionality as construed, the petition was allowed because of the questions, important in enforcing this criminal statute. The joint indictment in three counts charged in the first count violation of § 1(b) by allegations in the words of the statute of obtaining documents "connected with the national defense;" in the second count violation of § 2(a) in delivering and inducing the delivery of these documents to the petitioner, Gorin, the agent of a foreign nation, and in the third count of § 4 by conspiracy to deliver them to a foreign government and its agent, just named. The pertinent statutory provisions appear below. [Footnote 1] A third party, the wife of Gorin, was joined in and acquitted on all three counts. The petitioners were found guilty on each count and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, to run concurrently, and fines of $10,000 each. The longest term of Gorin is six years, and of Salich, four years. The proof indicated that Gorin, a citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, acted as its agent in gathering information. He sought and obtained from Salich for substantial pay the contents of over fifty reports relating chiefly to Japanese activities in the United States. These reports were in the files of the Naval Intelligence branch office at San Pedro, California. Salich, a naturalized, Russian-born citizen, had free access to the records as he was a civilian investigator for that office. Speaking broadly, the reports detailed the coming and going on the west coast of Japanese military and civil officials, as well as private citizens whose actions were deemed of possible interest to the Intelligence Office. Some statements appear as to the movements of fishing boats suspected of espionage and as to the taking of photographs of American war vessels. Petitioners object to the convictions principally on the grounds (1) that the prohibitions of the act are limited to obtaining and delivering information concerning the specifically described places and things set out in the act, such as a vessel, aircraft, fort, signal station, code or signal book, and (2) that an interpretation which put within the statute the furnishing of any other information connected with or relating to the national defense than that concerning these specifically described places and things would make the act unconstitutional as violative of due process because of indefiniteness. The philosophy behind the insistence that the prohibitions of §§ 1(b) and 2(a), upon which the indictment is based, are limited to the places and things which are specifically set out in § 1(a) relies upon the traditional freedom of discussion of matters connected with national defense which is permitted in this country. It would require, urge petitioners, the clearest sort of declaration by the Congress to bring under the statute the obtaining and delivering to a foreign government for its advantage of reports generally published and available which deal with food production, the advances of civil aeronautics, reserves of raw materials, or other similar matters not directly connected with, and yet of the greatest importance to, national defense. The possibility of such an interpretation of the terms "connected with" or "relating to" national defense is to be avoided by construing the act so as "to make it a crime only to obtain information as to places and things specifically listed in § 1 as connected with or related to the national defense." Petitioners argue that the statute should not be construed so as to leave to a jury to determine whether an innocuous report on a crop yield is "connected" with the national defense. Petitioners rely upon the legislative history to support this position. [Footnote 2] The passage of the Espionage Act [Footnote 3] during the World War year of 1917 attracted the close scrutiny of Congress, and resulted in different bills in the two Houses which were reconciled only after a second conference report. Nothing more definite appears in this history as to the Congressional intention in regard to limiting the act's prohibitions upon which this indictment depends to the places and things in § 1(a) than that a House definition of "national defense" which gave it a broad meaning was stricken out, [Footnote 4] and the conference report stated as to the final form of the present act: "Section 1 sets out the places connected with the national defense to which the prohibitions of the section apply." Neither change seems significant on this inquiry. The House bill had not specified the places under surveillance. The Conference change made them definite. The fact that the clause "or other place connected with the national defense" is also included in § 1(a) is not an unusual manner of protecting enactments against inadvertent omissions. With this specific designation of prohibited places, the broad definition of § 1202 of the House was stricken as no longer apt, and, as stated in Conference Report No. 69, § 6 of the act was therefore adopted. Obviously the purpose was to give flexibility to the designated places. [Footnote 5] We see nothing in this legislative history to affect our conclusion, which is drawn from the meaning of the entire act. [Footnote 6] An examination of the words of the statute satisfies us that the meaning of national defense in §§ 1(b) and 2(a) cannot be limited to the places and things specified in § 1(a). Certainly there is no such express limitation in the later §s. Section 1(a) lays down the test of purpose and intent, and then defines the crime as going upon or otherwise obtaining information as to named things and places connected with the national defense. Section 1(b) adopts the same purpose and intent of 1(a), and then defines the crime as copying, taking or picturing certain articles such as models, appliances, documents, and so forth of anything connected with the national defense. None of the articles specified in 1(b) is the same as the things specified in 1(a). Apparently the draftsmen of the act first set out the places to be protected, and included in that connotation ships and planes, and then, in 1(b), covered much of the contents of such places in the nature of plans and documents. Section 2(a), it will be observed, covers in much the same way the delivery of these movable articles or information to a foreign nation or its agent. If a government model of a new weapon were obtained or delivered, there seems to be little logic in making its transfer a crime only when it is connected in some undefined way with the places catalogued under 1(a). It is our view that it is a crime to obtain or deliver, in violation of the intent and purposes specified, the things described in §§ 1(b) and 2(a) without regard to their connection with the places and things of 1(a). In each of these sections, the document or other thing protected is required also to be "connected with" or "relating to" the national defense. The sections are not simple prohibitions against obtaining or delivering to foreign powers information which a jury may consider relating to national defense. If this were the language, it would need to be tested by the inquiry as to whether it had double meaning [Footnote 7] or forced anyone, at his peril, to speculate as to whether certain actions violated the statute. [Footnote 8] This Court has frequently held criminal laws deemed to violate these tests invalid. United States v. Cohen Grocery Company, [Footnote 9] urged as a precedent by petitioners, points out that the statute there under consideration forbade no specific act, [Footnote 10] that it really punished acts "detrimental to the public interest when unjust and unreasonable" in a jury's view. In Lanzetta v. New Jersey, [Footnote 11] the statute was equally vague. "Any person not engaged in any lawful occupation, known to be a member of any gang . . . , who has been convicted at least three times of being a disorderly person or who has been convicted of any crime in this or in any other State, is declared to be a gangster. . . ." We there said that the statute "condemns no act or omission;" that the vagueness is such as to violate due process. [Footnote 12] But we find no uncertainty in this statute which deprives a person of the ability to predetermine whether a contemplated action is criminal under the provisions of this law. [Footnote 13] The obvious delimiting words in the statute are those requiring "intent or reason to believe that the information to be obtained is to be used to the injury of the United States, or to the advantage of any foreign nation." This requires those prosecuted to have acted in bad faith. The sanctions apply only when scienter is established. [Footnote 14] Where there is no occasion for secrecy, as with reports relating to national defense, published by authority of Congress or the military departments, there can, of course, in all likelihood, be no reasonable intent to give an advantage to a foreign government. Finally, we are of the view that the use of the words "national defense" has given them, as here employed, a well understood connotation. They were used in the Defense Secrets Act of 1911. [Footnote 15] The traditional concept of war as a struggle between nations is not changed by the intensity of support given to the armed forces by civilians or the extension of the combat area. National defense, the Government maintains, "is a generic concept of broad connotations, referring to the military and naval establishments and the related activities of national preparedness." We agree that the words "national defense" in the Espionage Act carry that meaning. Whether a document or report is covered by §§ 1(b) or 2(a) depends upon their relation to the national defense, as so defined, not upon their connection with places specified in § 1(a). The language employed appears sufficiently definite to apprise the public of prohibited activities and is consonant with due process. At the conclusion of all the evidence, petitioners sought a directed verdict of acquittal because (1) the innocuous character of the evidence forbade a conclusion that petitioners had intent or reason to believe that the information was to be used to the injury of the United States or the advantage of a foreign nation and (2) the evidence failed to disclose that any of the reports related to or was connected with the national defense. As a corollary to this second contention, reversal is sought on the ground that the trial court overruled the petitioners' objection that, as a matter of law, none of the reports dealt with national defense. That is, as the trial court stated the objection, that "the jury has no privilege in determining whether or no any of these reports have to do with the national defense, that that is a matter for the Court, and not for the jury, as a matter of law." To justify a court's refusing to permit a jury to consider a defendant's intent in obtaining and delivering these reports, one would be compelled to conclude that nothing in them could be violative of the law. As they gave a detailed picture of the counter-espionage work of the Naval Intelligence, drawn from its own files, they must be considered as dealing with activities of the military forces. A foreign government in possession of this information would be in a position to use it either for itself, in following the movements of the agents reported upon, or as a check upon this country's efficiency in ferreting out foreign espionage. It could use the reports to advise the state of the persons involved of the surveillance exercised by the United States over the movements of these foreign citizens. The reports, in short, are a part of this nation's plan for armed defense. The part relating to espionage and counter-espionage cannot be viewed as separated from the whole. Nor do we think it necessary to prove that the information obtained was to be used to the injury of the United States. The statute is explicit in phrasing the crime of espionage as an act of obtaining information relating to the national defense "to be used . . . to the advantage of any foreign nation." No distinction is made between friend or enemy. Unhappily, the status of a foreign government may change. The evil which the statute punishes is the obtaining or furnishing of this guarded information, either to our hurt or another's gain. If we accept petitioners' contention that "advantage" means advantage as against the United States, it would be a useless addition, as no advantage could be given our competitor or opponent in that sense without injury to us. An examination of the instructions convinces us that no injustice was done petitioners by their content. Weighed by the test previously outlined of relation to the military establishments, they are favorable to petitioners' contentions. A few excerpts will make this clear: "You are instructed that the term 'national defense' includes all matters directly and reasonably connected with the defense of our nation against its enemies. . . . As you will note, the statute specifically mentions the places and things connected with or comprising the first line of defense when it mentions vessels, aircraft, works of defense, fort or battery and torpedo stations. You will note, also, that the statute specifically mentions by name certain other places or things relating to what we may call the secondary line of national defense. Thus, some, at least, of the storage of reserves of men and materials is ordinarily done at naval stations, submarine bases, coaling stations, dock yards, arsenals and camps, all of which are specifically designated in the statute. . . . You are instructed, in the first place that, for purposes of prosecution under these statutes, the information, documents, plans, maps, etc., connected with these places or things must directly relate to the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation of said places or things as instruments for defending our nation. . . . You are instructed that, in the second place, the information, documents. or notes must relate to those angles or phases of the instrumentality, place, or thing which relate to the defense of our nation; thus, if a place or thing has one use in peacetime and another use in wartime, you are to distinguish between information relating to the one or the other use. . . ." "The information, document, or note might also relate to the possession of such information by another nation, and, as such, might also come within the possible scope of this statute. . . . For, from the standpoint of military or naval strategy, it might not only be dangerous to us for a foreign power to know our weaknesses and our limitations, but it might also be dangerous to us when such a foreign power knows that we know that they know of our limitations." "You are, then, to remember that the information, documents, or notes which are alleged to have been connected with the national defense may relate or pertain to the usefulness, efficiency, or availability of any of the above places, instrumentalities, or things for the defense of the United States of America. The connection must not be a strained one, nor an arbitrary one. The relationship must be reasonable and direct." Petitioners' objection, however, is that, after having given these instructions, the court, instead of determining whether the reports were or were not connected with national defense, left this question to the jury in these words: "Whether or not the information obtained by any defendant in this case concerned, regarded, or was connected with the national defense is a question of fact solely for the determination of this jury under these instructions." These quotations show that the trial court undertook to give to the jury the tests by which they were to determine whether the acts of the petitioners were connected with or related to the national defense. We are of the opinion this was properly left to the jury. If we assume, as we must here after our earlier discussion as to the definiteness of the statute, that the words of the statute are sufficiently specific to advise the ordinary man of its scope, we think it follows that the words of the instructions give adequate definition to "connected with" or "relating to" national defense. The inquiry directed at the instructions is whether the jury is given sufficient guidance to enable it to determine whether the acts of the petitioners were within the prohibitions. These instructions set out the definition of national defense in a manner favorable and unobjectionable to petitioners. When they refer to facts connected with or related to defense, however, petitioners urge that the connection should be determined by the court. Instructions can, of course, go no farther than to say the connection must be reasonable, direct, and natural. Further elaboration would not clarify. The function of the court is to instruct as to the kind of information which is violative of the statute, and of the jury to decide whether the information secured is of the defined kind. It is not the function of the court, where reasonable men may differ, to determine whether the acts do or do not come within the ambit of the statute. The question of the connection of the information with national defense is a question of fact, to be determined by the jury as negligence upon undisputed facts is determined. [Footnote 16] In a trial under an indictment for violation of § 3 [Footnote 17] of this same Espionage Act, this Court had occasion to consider a similar question as to the function of the jury. A pamphlet was introduced as evidence of making false statements with the intent to cause insubordination. To the objection that the pamphlet could not legitimately be construed as tending to produce the prohibited consequences, this Court said: "What interpretation ought to be placed upon the pamphlet, what would be the probable effect of distributing it in the mode adopted, and what were defendants' motives in doing this were questions for the jury, not the court, to decide. . . . Whether the printed words would in fact produce, as a proximate result, a material interference with the recruiting or enlistment service, or the operation or success of the forces of the United States, was a question for the jury to decide in view of all the circumstances of the time, and considering the place and manner, of distribution. [Footnote 18]" Viewing the instructions as a whole, we find no objection sufficient to justify reversal. The Circuit Court of Appeals properly refused to consider the errors alleged with respect to the conspiracy count. [Footnote 19] MR. JUSTICE MURPHY took no part in the consideration or decision of this case. * Together with No. 88, Salich v. United States, also on certiorari, 310 U.S. 622, to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Espionage Act of June 15, 1917, c. 30, 40 Stat. 217: "Title 1. Espionage. Section 1. That (a) whoever, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense with intent or reason to believe that the information to be obtained is to be used to the injury of the United States, or to the advantage of any foreign nation, goes upon, enters, flies over, or otherwise obtains information concerning any vessel, aircraft, work of defense, navy yard, naval station, submarine base, coaling station, fort, battery, torpedo station, dockyard, canal, railroad, arsenal, camp, factory, mine, telegraph, telephone, wireless, or signal station, building, office, or other place connected with the national defense, . . . or any place in which any vessel, aircraft, arms, munitions, or other materials or instruments for use in time of war are being made, prepared, repaired, or stored . . . ; or (b) whoever for the purpose aforesaid, and with like intent or reason to believe, copies, takes, makes, or obtains, or attempts, or induces or aids another to copy, take, make, or obtain, any sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blue print, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document, writing, or note of anything connected with the national defense; . . . shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both." "Sec. 2. (a) Whoever, with intent or reason to believe that it is to be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, communicates, delivers, or transmits, or attempts to, or aids or induces another to, communicate, deliver, or transmit, to any foreign government, or to any faction or party or military or naval force within a foreign country, whether recognized or unrecognized by the United States, or to any representative, officer, agent, employee, subject, or citizen thereof, either directly or indirectly, any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, note, instrument, appliance, or information relating to the national defense shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than twenty years: Provided, That whoever shall violate the provisions of subsection (a) of this section in time of war shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for not more than thirty years, and (b) whoever, in time of war, with intent that the same shall be communicated to the enemy, shall collect, record, publish, or communicate, or attempt to elicit any information with respect to the movement, numbers, description, condition, or disposition of any of the armed forces, ships, aircraft, or war materials of the United States, or with respect to the plans or conduct, or supposed plans or conduct of any naval or military operations, or with respect to any works or measures undertaken for or connected with, or intended for the fortification or defense of any place, or any other information relating to the public defense, which might be useful to the enemy shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for not more than thirty years." "* * * *" "Sec. 4. If two or more persons conspire to violate the provisions of sections two or three of this title, and one or more of such persons does any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be punished as in said sections provided in the case of the doing of the act the accomplishment of which is the object of such conspiracy. . . ." H.R. 291, 65th Cong., 1st Sess.; Conference Report No. 69, 55 Cong.Rec. 3301. Other titles such as neutrality, foreign commerce, and, at one time, censorship, 55 Cong.Rec. 2097, 2102; 2109-2111; 2262; 2265; 3145; 3259; 3266, added to the difficulties. That definition read: "Section 1202. The term 'national defense' as used herein shall include any person, place, or thing in anywise having to do with the preparation for or the consideration or execution of any military or naval plans, expeditions, orders, supplies, or warfare for the advantage, defense, or security of the United States of America." 55 Cong.Rec. 3306. Subsequent legislation relating to the protection of national defense information is not important. The act of January 12, 1938, 52 Stat. 3, is to protect against innocent disclosures. S.Rep. 108, 75th Cong., 2d Sess. Public No. 443, 76th Cong., 3d Sess., 54 Stat. 79, is merely an increase of penalties. Cf. United States v. American Trucking Assns., 310 U. S. 534, 310 U. S. 543. United States v. Reese, 92 U. S. 214. Lanzetta v. New Jersey, 306 U. S. 451. 255 U. S. 255 U.S. 81, 255 U. S. 89. "That it is hereby made unlawful for any person willfully . . . to make any unjust or unreasonable rate or charge in handling or dealing in or with any necessaries." Act of October 22, 1919, c. 80, § 2, 41 Stat. 297. 306 U. S. 306 U.S. 451. Criminal statutes deemed vague: International Harvester Co. v. Kentucky, 234 U. S. 216, 234 U. S. 221-224 (raising prices above "market value under fair competition, and under normal market conditions"); Collins v. Kentucky, 234 U. S. 634 (same); Weeds, Inc. v. United States, 255 U. S. 109 (exacting "excessive prices for necessaries"); Stromberg v. California, 283 U. S. 359, 283 U. S. 369 (displaying any "symbol or emblem of opposition to organized government"); Smith v. Cahoon, 283 U. S. 553, 283 U. S. 564-565 (such provisions regulating common carriers as could constitutionally be applied to private carriers); Herndon v. Lowry, 301 U. S. 242, 301 U. S. 261-264 (distribution of pamphlets intended at any time in the future to lead to forcible resistance to law). Cf. adequately definite criminal statutes: Lloyd v. Dollison, 194 U. S. 445, 194 U. S. 450 (liquor restrictions varying according to sale at "wholesale" or "retail"); Waters-Pierce Oil Co. v. Texas (No. 1), 212 U. S. 86, 212 U. S. 108-111 (contracts "reasonably calculated" or which "tend" to fix prices); Nash v. United States, 229 U. S. 373, 229 U. S. 376-378 (unreasonable or undue restraints of trade); Omaechevarria v. Idaho, 246 U. S. 343, 246 U. S. 345, 246 U. S. 348 ("any cattle range previously . . . or . . . usually occupied by any cattle grower"); Hygrade Provision Co. v. Sherman, 266 U. S. 497, 266 U. S. 501-503 (meat represented to be "kosher"); Miller v. Oregon, 273 U.S. 657 (dangerous rate of speed; see Cline v. Frink Dairy Co., 274 U. S. 445, at 274 U. S. 464-465); United States v. Alford, 274 U. S. 264, 274 U. S. 267 (building fires "near" any forest or inflammable material); United States v. Wurzbach, 280 U. S. 396, 280 U. S. 399 (receiving contributions for "any political purpose whatever"); United States v. Shreveport Grain & Elevator Co., 287 U. S. 77, 287 U. S. 81-82 ("reasonable variations" in weight or measure); Kay v. United States, 303 U. S. 1, 303 U. S. 8-9 ("ordinary fees . . . for services actually rendered"). Cf. Hygrade Provision Co. v. Sherman, 266 U. S. 497, 266 U. S. 501. 36 Stat. 1084: "That whoever, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense, to which he is not lawfully entitled, goes upon any vessel, or enters any navy yard, naval station, fort, battery, torpedo station, arsenal, camp, factory, building, office, or other place connected with the national defense, owned or constructed or in process of construction by the United States . . ." Grand Trunk Ry. Co. v. Ives, 144 U. S. 408, 144 U. S. 417; Gunning v. Cooley, 281 U. S. 90, 281 U. S. 94. Cf. Dunlop v. United States, 165 U. S. 486, 165 U. S. 500-501. 40 Stat. 217, 219, c. 30: "Sec. 3. Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies, and whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully cause or attempt to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, to the injury of the service or of the United States, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both." Pierce v. United States, 252 U. S. 239, 252 U. S. 250. Justices Brandeis and Holmes dissented, largely on the ground that the jury should not be left to decide whether statements in the pamphlet were facts or conclusions. Id., p. 252 U. S. 269. Brooks v. United States, 267 U. S. 432, 267 U. S. 441.

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Phillipsburg Aggravated Assault Lawyers Criminal Defense Attorneys in Sussex and Warren County, New Jersey Aggravated Assault Lawyers in NJ Aggravated assault is one of the many crimes set forth in the New Jersey Criminal Code that constitutes an “offense involving danger to the person.” Depending on the severity of the victim’s injury, what caused the injury, or who the victim is, an aggravated assault will be charged as either a fourth, third, or second degree crime. Regardless of the degree of the charges, these are all indictable crimes, which may result in a New Jersey State Prison sentence. In other words, aggravated assault charges should not be taken lightly because if you’re found guilty, you could end up behind bars. The criminal defense attorneys at the our law firm in Sussex and Warren County have handled numerous aggravated assault cases in Newton, Belvidere, Phillipsburg, Hackettstown, and throughout New Jersey. If you’ve been charged with aggravated assault, contact our defense team to learn more about the charges, potential consequences, and how to start developing your defense strategy. We are available 24/7 to provide consultations free of charge. Simply call 973-755-1695 today. Here is a review from one of the many satisfied Tormey Law Firm clients: “Mr. Tormey is a great attorney and very knowledgeable not only with the entire array of municipal court statutes processes and procedures but also superior court matters. You can rely on Travis to find the most effective method of disposing of your matter without the hidden or additional penalties. Travis was very well known and respected in the municipal courts where he represented me and it made a difference as the prosecutor and Judge acknowledged him and were more then willing to work out the best results for me. Travis will give it to you straight and completely explain how the procedure will go, as he fights your case aggressively. Great Attorney” Aggravated Assault Defense Lawyer in Sparta NJ Pursuant to the New Jersey Criminal Code, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), person is guilty of aggravated assault if he: 1) Attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury purposely or knowingly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life recklessly causes such injury, which is a crime of the second degree; or 2) Attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, which is a crime of the third degree; or 3) Recklessly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, which is a crime of the fourth degree; or 4) Knowingly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life points a firearm at or in the direction of another, whether or not the actor believes it to be loaded, which is a crime of the fourth degree. Likewise, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(7), a person who attempts to cause significant bodily injury to another or causes significant bodily injury purposely or knowingly or, under the circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life recklessly causes such significant bodily injury, which is a crime of the third degree. When Simple Assault Becomes Aggravated Assault in New Jersey In addition to the specifically enumerated types of aggravated assault, there are also categories of the offense that depend solely in the identity of the victim, regardless of the extent of bodily injury. For example, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(5), aggravated assault also occurs when the actor commits simple assault upon law enforcement, first aid or medical service providers, school teachers, Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) employees, a judge of the New Jersey Court, corrections officer, sheriff, or healthcare worker, in which case it will be a third degree crime if the victim suffers bodily injury. Another situation in which causing any bodily injury will constitute aggravated assault is causes bodily injury to another person while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer or while operating a motor vehicle which is a second degree crime pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(6). New Jersey Aggravated Assault Sentencing Guidelines As mentioned above, aggravated assault may be classified as a fourth, third, or second degree crime. Under New Jersey’s sentencing guidelines, a fourth degree crime carries a fine of up to $10,000 and 18 months of incarceration; a third degree crime imposes a fine of up to $15,000 and three to five years in prison, and a second degree crime subjects the defendant to a fine of up to $150,000 and five to ten years in prison. Contact Newton Aggravated Assault Lawyers for a Free Consultation Aggravated assault cases depend on the totality of the circumstances and can often hinge on a subtle nuance such as whether or not the victim suffered serious bodily injury versus significant bodily injury, or if a circumstance manifests extreme indifference to the value of human life. The bottom line is that having an experienced criminal defense attorney at our firm handle your case is one of the most important steps you can take if you have been charged with aggravated assault in Sussex or Warren County. Contact us today at 973-755-1695 to speak with one of our seasoned criminal defense attorneys and learn how we can help you.

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My TANDIS TANDIS Browsing by Subject migration Jump to a point in the index: (Choose year) 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 (Choose month) January February March April May June July August September October November December Sort by: issue date submit date title Authors In order: Ascending Descending Results/Page 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Authors/Record: All 1 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 24-Nov-1977 European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers Council of Europe (COE) 25-Sep-1984 Recommendation Rec(84)18E on the training of teachers in education for intercultural understanding, notably in a context of migration Council of Europe (COE). Committee of Ministers 18-Dec-1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families adopted by General Assembly Resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990 United Nations (UN). 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Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights 4-Oct-2007 Intervention [by] Anastasia Crickley, Special Representative of the Chair in Office of the OSCE on combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Crickley, Anastasia ; OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) 30-Nov-2007 Ministerial Council decision no. 10/07. Tolerance and non-discrimination : promoting mutual respect and understanding OSCE Ministerial Council (MC) 12-Dec-2007 Report by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, on his visit to Austria, 21-25 May 2007 (for the attention of the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly) Hammarberg, Thomas ; Council of Europe (COE). Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights 2008 Encouraging diversity - strengthening cohesion : integration policy in Berlin 2007-2011 Commissioner for Integration and Migration of the Senate of Berlin 7-Mar-2008 Council [of the European Union] decision of 28 February 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) no. 168/2007 as regards the adoption of a multi-annual framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2007-2012 Council of the European Union 9-Apr-2008 National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15(a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 : Switzerland 30-Apr-2008 Report by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, on his visit to Ireland, 26-30 November 2007 (for the attention of the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly) Hammarberg, Thomas ; Council of Europe (COE). 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The Review/ Feature/ Criticizing Kiarostami The great Iranian filmmaker was not always celebrated in his own homeland by Azadeh Jafari TIFF Cinematheque presents the Toronto premiere of Abbas Kiarostami’s final film 24 Frames on Thursday, March 15 and Friday, March 16, followed by his exquisite homage to Yasujiro Ozu Five on Tuesday, March 20. It’s ironic that the late Abbas Kiarostami, the most internationally renowned and celebrated Iranian filmmaker, was (and in some ways still is) a controversial figure in his own country — and it is all the more ironic that this artist whose films were so influenced by Persian culture, art and poetry has frequently been labelled an “exotic” filmmaker by Iranian critics. “Making movies to satisfy a Western audience” was a frequent charge against Kiarostami, and his “technical austerity” was usually considered a weakness rather than a deliberate aesthetic choice. This is not to claim, however, that Kiarostami lacked for enthusiastic admirers and supporters among Iranian film critics and cinephiles: many of his films, including Homework (1989), Close-up (1990), Life and Nothing More… (1992), and Through the Olive Trees (1994), were named among the best films of the year in Film-monthly, the oldest Iranian film magazine. But it was not until his sad death last year that the Iranian film critical establishment widely acknowledged his achievements and recognized his unique place in the national pantheon of filmmakers: a retrospective of Kiarostami’s major films was held at the Iranian Artists Forum, and many Iranian film publications printed lengthy appreciations and critical essays devoted to his work, as well as some translations of English and French criticism. As it happens, the very first long-form critical analysis of Kiarostami’s cinema was written by an Iranian film critic, Iraj Karimi, in a book titled Abbas Kiarostami, The Realist Filmmaker. Written in 1986, the book covers Kiarostami’s early films made for the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanun), from The Bread and Alley (1970) to First Graders (1984). Elaborating on the complicated and ambiguous nature of the term “realism,” Karimi argues that Kiarostami’s work draws inspiration from both the neorealist and cinema verité traditions, but that unlike the neorealists, Kiarostami only captures the outer surfaces of reality without digging down into the deeper social and political forces that shape those surfaces. Nevertheless, Karimi does acknowledge Kiarostami’s originality and unique “directorial vision,” and by astutely comparing the director’s educational films with his fictional narratives, he anticipates the evolution towards a more intricate self-reflexivity in the great films to come, i.e., Close-up and the Koker trilogy. Homework (1989) What Karimi misses in his analysis, however, is how Kiarostami’s deceptively simple realism actually does the very thing he claims it does not: reveal those deeper forces that shape reality. Kiarostami was always sensitive to his surroundings and true to his inner values, but refused to express this through topical commentary. For example, Homework (which was released after the publication of Karimi’s book), although ostensibly one of the director’s educational films, can also be read as a genuinely political work, one which obliquely criticizes Iranian society, family structure, educational system, and even comments on the Iran–Iraq war. In one of the film’s most famous scenes, Kiarostami talks with a frightened little boy named Majid, who cannot stop crying in front of the camera. Without any overt commentary, Kiarostami here shows a product of the state’s educational system: a system which rewards lying and promotes punishment, oppression and fear, a system that forces children to suppress pleasure in life and instead pay homage to death, as seen in a devastating sequence where the students are forced to participate in a mourning ceremony in the schoolyard. At the end of the film, however, Majid is encouraged by his friend to sing a childish religious song, and his slowly emerging joy — in contrast to the enforced obedience of the ceremony — is both a beautiful moment and a profound political statement. Two decades later, after Kiarostami had achieved his great international success, Mazyar Eslami and Morad Farhadpour published Paris-Tehran, a widely read book that severely criticized Kiarostami’s cinema. Dismissing much of the Western writing on Kiarostami as criticism without context, the authors charged that his cinema was fundamentally apolitical and conservative, claiming that the pastoral beauty of the Koker trilogy, Taste of Cherry (1997) and The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) was intentionally designed to attract the “Western eye” and that his self-reflexive techniques were nothing more than shallow postmodernism. Eslami and Farhadpour also condemned the absence of women in Kiarostami’s work — a charge which, to be honest, influenced the way I looked at the films at that time. "Attracting the Western eye": The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) Returning to Paris-Tehran now in light of the films that Kiarostami made in the last decade of his life, it is frustrating that the book’s highly knowledgeable authors let their resentment towards their subject blind them to the fact that the “shallow, postmodernist” techniques they condemn were in fact a deepening, increasingly intricate exploration of the very social and political concerns they contend are absent from the director’s work. By questioning everything that is represented on the screen — the narrative, his own role as director, his non-professional performers’ closeness to or distance from the characters they play (which becomes even more complex when they are playing “themselves”) — Kiarostami asks a larger question, one that is central to politics: Who has the power to shape reality? And by asking that question, he also shows how that power can be contested. Through the Olive Trees (1994) For this reason, Through the Olive Trees is as important a turning point for Kiarostami’s cinema as is Close-up. Fictionally recreating the shooting of Kiarostami’s previous feature Life and Nothing More…, Olive Trees focuses on a young man named Hossein, who played a small part in Life. In that film, the actor playing Kiarostami encounters Hossein as the latter is clearing up debris from the earthquake that has devastated the region; Hossein tells the filmmaker that he married his fiancée the day after the catastrophe, because life should go on. Witnessing the shooting of this scene in Through the Olive Trees, we see that Hossein (who really did live through the earthquake) is coerced by the film’s Kiarostami surrogate (Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz) to alter the details of his experience for the purposes of the film: at one point, Keshavarz insists that Hossein should say that more than 60 members of his extended family died in the earthquake, even though Hossein confesses that he only lost 25 relatives. Even as Kiarostami here shows how cinema can design, construct and distort reality, he also shows how real people can resist the roles to which they are assigned — a theme which becomes entwined with a critique of women’s status within traditional Iranian society. It is revealed that Tahereh, the young woman who plays Hossein’s wife in Life and Nothing More…, is not his wife at all: Hossein had asked for her hand in marriage, but her family rejected his proposal due to his poverty. Now, as they play husband and wife for the benefit of the camera, Hossein attempts to woo the unresponsive Tahereh in between takes, revealing the differences between their “on-camera” and “off-camera” selves. In one part of the acted scene, Hossein speaks harshly to Tahereh because he cannot find his socks; when the camera is turned off, however, he softly explains to her that the director forced him to do this, and that he would never behave like this in real life. Marriage is about their happiness, he goes on: he does not want a wife only for cooking or washing clothes, and he will support Tahereh as she continues her studies. Later, when the director surrogate Keshavarz instructs Tahereh to call her onscreen husband “Mr. Hossein,” and she in defiance continues to call him Hossein, the young man defends her: some local women no longer call their husbands “Mister,” he explains, so it wouldn’t be implausible to include this detail in the film. The quiet resistance of Tahereh in Through the Olive Trees reveals Kiarostami’s increasing concern about both the role and the representation of women in Iranian society and cinema, and her stubborn independence predicts the strong women who would increasingly come to populate the director’s films: the ancient, unseen old woman who refuses to die for the benefit of a Tehran documentary crew in The Wind Will Carry Us; Mania Akbari’s driver in Ten (2002); Juliette Binoche’s antiques dealer in Certified Copy (2010), and Rin Takahashi’s student/escort in Like Someone in Love (2012). Even as he revealed the inherent artifice of cinema, Kiarostami understood that representations of reality are a part of that reality, not just a distortion of it. By showing women who, in their various ways, defy the demands placed upon them by men, Kiarostami not only explored the deeper layers of his country’s reality, but showed how that reality might better be shaped. Azadeh Jafari Remembering Abbas Kiarostami How an Iranian master influenced a Canadian filmmaker: Hugh Gibson curates The Review Piers Handling on Abbas Kiarostami

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Fed court dismisses lesbian hospital lawsuit By 365gay Newswire 09.30.2009 9:36am EDT (Miami, Fl.) The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida today rejected Lambda Legal’s lawsuit filed against Jackson Memorial Hospital on behalf of Janice Langbehn, the Estate of Lisa Pond and their three adopted children who were kept apart by hospital staff for eight hours as Lisa slipped into a coma and died. “The court’s decision paints a tragically stark picture of how vulnerable same-sex couples and their families really are during times of crisis,” said Beth Littrell, Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. “We hope that because of Janice’s courage to seek justice for her family in this case that more people better understand the costs of antigay discrimination. This should never happen to anyone.”While on a family cruise leaving from Miami, Lisa Pond, a healthy 39 year-old, suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital with her partner Janice and three children following close behind. There, the hospital refused to accept information from Janice about her partner’s medical history. Janice was informed that she was in an antigay city and state, and she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as Lisa’s partner or family. A doctor finally spoke with Janice telling her that there was no chance of recovery. Other than one five minute visit that was arranged by a Catholic priest at Janice’s request to perform last rites, and despite the doctor’s acknowledgement that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither Janice – who provided the hospital with a medical Power of Attorney document — nor their children were allowed to see Lisa until nearly eight hours after their arrival. Soon after Lisa’s death, Janice tried to get her death certificate in order to get life insurance and Social Security benefits for their children. She was denied both by the State of Florida and the Dade County Medical Examiner. Today’s ruling comes after the Public Health Trust of the Miami Dade County, the governing body of Jackson Memorial Hospital, filed a motion to dismiss the case. The court ruled that the hospital has neither an obligation to allow their patients’ visitors nor any obligation whatsoever to provide their patients’ families, healthcare surrogates, or visitors with access to patients in their trauma unit. The court has given the Langbehn-Pond family until Oct. 16 to review the ruling and consider all legal options. Beth Littrell, Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office in Atlanta is lead counsel on the case for Lambda Legal. She is joined by co-counsel Donald J. Hayden of Baker & McKenzie, LLP. in In the News / Legal / Parenting / Personal Stories by Anthony Brown 30 Sep 2009 0 comments Barack Obama gives a nod to same-sex couples in his Family Day proclamation September 28, 2009, Los Angeles Times In an official proclamation this afternoon, President Obama declared today Family Day 2009. What is significant is the way he defined “family.” The president gave a nod to the gay community when he praised all families, “whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian.” (Emphasis ours.) His shout-out to same-sex couples is sure to draw heat from some social conservatives. Interestingly, it has been met with some hostility from gay rights activists too. One commenter on gay blogger Pam Spaulding’s website called today’s statement “honeyed words, easy to say.” “Mr. President,” the commenter asked, “when are you going to actually DO something for same-sex couples and their children? Other than make ceremonial proclamations, that is.” Obama’s proclamation has fueled an ongoing debate among gay rights activists about whether the president is living up to his promise that he would be a “fierce advocate” for LGBT equality. Many gay rights activists greeted… …Obama’s inauguration with optimism. But some complain that he has made no significant efforts to further their cause. They point out that since taking office, Obama has not moved to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. And his administration has defended the Defense of Marriage Act, which says that states don’t have to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and that the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage. The president’s support for gay rights, they argue, has not been reflected in policy decisions, but has been purely rhetorical. In April, Obama made a point of inviting gay families to the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. And in June, the president declared it Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. Other bloggers have voiced support for the president’s agenda. They note that in June, Obama ordered federal agencies to “extend the benefits they have respectively identified to qualified same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees” where possible under current law. The text of the Family Day proclamation appears below. — Kate Linthicum Whatever the composition of your family, click here for Twitter alerts on each new Ticket item. Or follow us @latimestot or here on Facebook. Our family provides one of the strongest influences on our lives. American families from every walk of life have taught us time and again that children raised in loving, caring homes have the ability to reject negative behaviors and reach their highest potential. Whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian, families encourage us to do our best and enable us to accomplish great things. Today, our children are confronting issues of drug and alcohol use with astonishing regularity. On Family Day, we honor the dedication of parents, commend the achievements of their children, and celebrate the contributions our Nation’s families have made to combat substance abuse among young people. The 21st century presents families with unprecedented challenges. Millions of women and men are struggling to balance the demands of their jobs with the needs of their families. At the same time, our youngest generation faces countless distractions in their social environment. They are coming of age in a world where electronic devices have replaced the playground, televisions have preempted conversation, and pressure to use drug and alcohol is far too prevalent. Parents bear significant stress and burdens to protect their children from harmful influences. It is our responsibility to talk with adolescents about the risks of abusing alcohol, tobacco, or prescription and illicit drugs, and other harmful behaviors. These substances can destroy the mind, body, and spirit of a child, jeopardizing their health and limiting their potential. Active parents, voicing their disapproval of drug use, have proven themselves to be the most effective preventative method for keeping our children drug-free. A strong and engaged family can make all the difference in helping young people make healthy decisions. By coming together as a family and discussing the events of the day, parents can foster open communication, share joys and concerns, and help guide their children toward healthy decisionmaking. A strong nation is made up of strong families, and on this Family Day, we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every American family has the chance to build a better, healthier future for themselves and their children. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 28, 2009, as Family Day. I call upon the people of the United States to join together in observing this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor and strengthen our Nation’s families. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. in Parenting by Anthony Brown 30 Sep 2009 0 comments News from Lavender Law — the latest adoption/foster parenting bans by Nancy Pollikoff – September 11th, 2009 It’s not called Lavender Law anymore, but I can’t help myself. (Sixth Ave will never be Avenue of the Americas to me…). Its official name is the National LGBT Bar Association Career Fair & Conference, but by any name this is the annual gathering of LGBT lawyers, law students, and law profs (and some straight advocates who work on our issues). This year’s conference is taking place in Brooklyn. Today I attended a session on “The New Adoption and Foster Care Battle: Cohabitation Bans.” Law professor Carlos Ball started off with the history of bans on adoption or foster parenting by lesbians, gay men, or same-sex couples. The first such ban in 1977 (Florida…hopefully on its way out) predated by more than 20 years the first ban on adoption or foster parenting by anyone living with an unmarried partner — gay or straight (Utah…not on its way out). Kara Suffredini of Family Equality Council then described recent efforts – largely unsuccessful – to legislate such cohabitation bans. In Tennessee in 2008, for example, the state budget office reported that instituting such a ban would cost the state millions of dollars, given the additional children who would remain in state care. That stopped the bill dead in its tracks. Naomi Goldberg of the Williams Institute followed with the economic analysis she and Lee Badgett performed for Kentucky. Based on the census data on the number of same-sex and unmarried different-sex couples with adopted or foster children in the state, and the current number of children in the foster care system (7027), Williams Institute predicted 630 children would not get foster home placements — thereby requiring more expensive and less desirable institutional placements, and 85 children would not be adopted and would therefore remain in state care. The projected cost: $5.3 million. That bill never got out of committee. (The Williams Institute also reports that if Florida drops its ban on gay adoptions, the state will save $3.4 million in its first year). Of course no one can quantify the human cost to the children who remain in group care or never get permanent families. Finally, Leslie Cooper, ACLU’s litigator extraordinaire, discussed the litigation challenging the initiative enacted in Arkansas last year that also bans anyone living with a gay or straight unmarried partner from adopting or fostering. (And a gay married couple doesn’t count because Arkansas does not recognize them as married.) The state is defending the ban by pointing to the poorer outcomes for children raised by cohabiting different sex couples as compared with married different sex couples. It’s a regurgitation of the right-wing marriage movement’s basic argument that all our social problems result from the decline of life-long heterosexual marriage. The ACLU knows the drill and is well-equipped to respond. The case is currently in the discovery stage. It’s a matter of some fascination to me that the right wing has decided that it is easier to defend a foster care/adoption ban on cohabiting couples, gay and straight, than a ban limited to gay men and lesbians. Although Florida is defending its gay ban with every discredited argument in the book (for the details, and the meticulous responses by the ACLU, check out this website), the right is capitalizing on the same ideology that gets us federally funded “marriage promotion” when it argues that unmarried couples should not foster or adopt. The panelists agreed that the real target of these bans is…gay men and lesbians; that although proponents no doubt believe that unmarried straight couples should be discouraged from raising children, the ban is primarily a means to the end of banning gay adoption without having to defend such a ban directly. in Legal / Resources by Anthony Brown 21 Sep 2009 0 comments New DOJ Brief Defending Constitutionality of DOMA in Gill v. OPM Leonard Link The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, has filed its motion to dismiss in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, Case No. 1:09-cv-10309 (JLT) (U.S.Dist.Ct., D. Mass.), the constitutional challenge to Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act filed in federal court in Boston last winter by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). The brief that DOJ filed on September 18 in support of the motion seems to come from a different universe from the brief they filed in June seeking dismissal of a DOMA challenge on the West Coast. Indeed, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. Last spring, DOJ first argued that the Smelt case should be dismissed for lack of standing, because the married couple who filed that case did not allege any specific harm they had suffered due to DOMA. DOJ won the motion to dismiss on that ground. But their brief went on to make the outrageous claim that the case should also be dismissed on the merits because DOMA was not discriminatory, but merely an attempt by Congress to be “neutral” in a contentious national debate over same-sex marriage. DOJ’s brief generated most of the public ire, however, in its response to the challenge to Section 2 of DOMA, relieving states of any obligation to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages, and that section is not involved in the Gill case in Boston. This time out, DOJ does make some narrowly-focused standing arguments concerning some of GLAD’s plaintiffs, but they are almost beside the point, because there is no dispute that several of the plaintiffs do have standing to raise a constitutional challenge to DOMA due to their exclusion from federal rights and benefits. All of the plaintiffs are either same-sex couples who married in Massachusetts or the surviving spouses of same-sex partners who they had married there, and in each case they had applied for some federal benefits or sought to exercise some federal rights unsuccessfully because of DOMA. DOJ argues that one of the plaintiffs’ cases must be dismissed because only the federal court of claims based in the District of Columbia has jurisdiction over the particular claim. As to another, they demonstrate convincingly that the particular plaintiff’s federal agency employer, the Postal Service, was not a participant in the particular benefits program about which she was complaining. But turning to the merits, DOJ’s argument is quite straight-forward. After conceding that the Act discriminates and that the Administration is seeking its repeal, the brief nonetheless defends it as constitutional on minimalist grounds. Pointing out that at the time it was passed, no state authorized same-sex marriage and the enactment was provoked by concerns about a pending same-sex marriage lawsuit in Hawaii, DOJ argues that Congress could have rationally reacted to an unsettled situation regarding this new potential social phenomenon by preserving the status quo until the states had worked out a uniform approach to the issue. Making the argument that Congress could rationally believe it was sensible to have one standard for eligibility for federal rights and benefits throughout the nation, DOJ argues that in Section 3 Congress could have decided to preserve existing eligibility rules by adopting a uniform definition of marriage for the federal government. This way, eligibility for federal benefits would not differ from state to state. DOJ argues that this proposed rational basis would be sufficient to satisfy the “rational basis” test of judicial review, under which statutes are presumed to be constitutional and the burden is on the challenger to prove that there is no non-discriminatory rationale for the statute. LGBT rights groups have been arguing in the courts that a more demanding level of judicial review should pertain to gay rights cases, due to the history of anti-gay discrimination, which illustrates that gays have frequently been the targets of blatantly discriminatory government policies. In cases involving other groups, the Supreme Court has indicated that such a history might require heightened scrutiny of equal protection claims. The problem here is that the Supreme Court’s rather opaque opinion in Romer v. Evans, the 1996 ruling overturning Colorado’s anti-gay Amendment 2 which is the only equal protection ruling in favor of gay plaintiffs ever issued by the Supreme Court, has left the impression with lower courts that the “rational basis” test is the appropriate test for evaluating anti-gay legislation. The Romer decision was written against a context of national controversy about the constitutionality of the anti-gay military policy as well as same-sex marriage, and it is likely that the Supreme Court was looking for a way to decide that case without significantly affecting the constitutional status of these other issues, which may help to explain why Justice Anthony M. Kennedy’s opinion for the Court takes the approach that it did. It was possible for the Court to invalidate Amendment 2 by holding that it failed even the least stringent standard of judicial review, the rational basis test, without saying anything about whether some stricter standard of review might be appropriate for cases involving other anti-gay legislation. Arguably, if a discriminatory statute lacks even a rational basis, there is no need to undertake more stringent review and the Court can avoid deciding whether more stringent review might apply. Avoiding deciding constitutional issues that need not be decided is a central tenet of judicial restraint. This was, of course, not a holding that anti-gay legislation does not merit a higher standard of review, but merely a ruling that Amendment 2 would fall to the lowest standard of review, because the Court saw the amendment as a product of pure animus against gay people, and had previously held in cases on other subjects that pure animus against a particular class of people is never a legitimate basis for discriminatory legislation. Unfortunately, however, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, which would have jurisdiction over any appeal of GLAD’s case from the Massachusetts District Court, issued a ruling last year holding that in light of Romer v. Evans it concluded that the rational basis test was the appropriate standard for evaluating an equal protection challenge to the military “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The court’s opinion in that case, Cook v. Gates, is itself somewhat elusive on the point, but seems to take the position that inasmuch as the Supreme Court did not adopt a higher standard of review in Romer and avoided discussing the equal protection issue in Lawrence, the 1st Circuit would follow the lead of other circuit courts in using the rational basis standard. Thus, District Judge Joseph L. Touro, before whom this case is pending in Boston, is arguably bound by 1st Circuit precedent to use the rational basis test in deciding this motion to dismiss. The argument about national uniformity advanced by DOJ in support of its motion is just the kind of argument that usually wins a rational basis case, given the presumption of constitutionality. It is possible that GLAD can, in its responding brief, find support in the legislative history for the argument that animus played a significant role in the enactment of DOMA, or can persuade the court that Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s discussion of equal protection in her concurring opinion in Lawrence shows that gay rights cases merit “more searching scrutiny” which requires a trial rather than disposition by motion to dismiss. Of course, this case was planned to go to the appellate level in any event, so a dismissal by Judge Touro will merely hasten its progress by propelling it to the First Circuit more quickly. Touro could easily conclude that in light of First Circuit precedent, a trial can be avoided for now, and that the place to hold the purely legal argument about whether heightened scrutiny applies is at the court of appeals. One point about the DOJ brief which is worthy of comment is its extensive textual footnote 10, which disavows any reliance on the argument that DOMA is justified under the reprehensible “responsible procreation and child-rearing” theory, a theory that has been at the heart of the same-sex marriage cases that have been decided adversely over the past few years. “Since the enactment of DOMA,” says the brief, “many leading medical, psychological, and social welfare organizations have issued policies opposing restrictions on lesbian and gay parenting upon concluding, based on numerous studies, that children raised by gay and lesbian parents are as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents.” The brief also notes in this footnote that “Justice Scalia acknowledged in his dissent [in Lawrence v. Texas] that encouraging procreation would not be a rational basis for limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples under the reasoning of the Lawrence majority opinion – which, of course, is the prevailing law – because ‘the sterile and the elderly are allowed to marry.’ Thus, the government does not believe that DOMA can be justified by interests in ‘responsible procreation’ or ‘child-rearing.’” This footnote, which cites half a dozen professional sources for its factual assertions, is clearly the result of meetings that gay rights groups held with Civil Division attorneys after the uproar over last June’s DOMA brief in the Smelt case in California. Indeed, the DOJ reply brief in Smelt, filed shortly before the court granted the DOJ dismissal motion in that case on procedural grounds, already backed away from the worst arguments from the original brief, and disavowed these same arguments. Is this new DOJ brief so “weak” in defending DOMA that it is giving up the game in hopes that the court will strike it down, saving the administration the effort to get it repealed by Congress? I don’t think so. In fact, in retreating from the more outrageous approach of the earlier brief, this brief actually lands on a facially plausible, non-discriminatory rationale for DOMA. A handful of states allows same-sex marriage, while almost all of the rest ban it by constitutional amendment or statute, so it is plausible to assert that if Congress desired a national standard for eligibility for benefits, it could have believed that the way to preserve uniformity as of 1996 was to take the then-existing definition of marriage in every state and adopt it as the federal standard. I would argue, given the historical context, that this sudden, rather belated concern with uniformity in administering programs that in many cases were decades old was clearly sparked by a desire to exclude same-sex couples from eligibility just in case same-sex marriages became legal anywhere, and thus it embodied a discriminatory motive, but in rational basis cases it is unusual for the court to look behind the face of the statute at such arguments. (Under Justice O’Connor’s “more searching scrutiny” standard, I think such evidence clearly becomes relevant, but O’Connor’s statement comes from a concurring opinion, not the Court’s opinion, although it is itself a synthesis of prior decisions by the Court in cases involving other groups, so it was “nothing new.”) Bottom line: I suspect Judge Touro will find it convenient based on the DOJ arguments to dismiss the lawsuit, GLAD will promptly appeal, the issue of appropriate level of review will be joined in the First Circuit, where the Cook v. Gates decision might also be invoked as binding in a three-judge panel but could be open to debate through en banc review. And, of course, ultimately there will be no final judgment in this case until the Supreme Court decides it, and there are too many imponderables about who may be sitting on the high court by then to make any prognostications on the merits now. Justice O’Connor is retired. Will any other member of the Court embrace the idea that at least “more searching scrutiny” than the ordinary rational basis test provides is appropriate in gay rights cases? in In the News / Legislation by Anthony Brown 20 Sep 2009 0 comments Defining family for purposes of family caregiving leave Thanks to Nan Hunter for alerting me to the proposed regulations implementing my favorite family leave policy: the one that allows federal government employees to use their sick leave to care for “any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.” I’ve had numerous posts on this topic. I love the current policy because it allows employees to define their own family members. Whenever advocates for marriage equality cite the unfairness of preventing one partner from caring for another who is ill, I always respond by arguing that the solution to that problem isn’t marriage — it’s an employee leave policy like the federal government’s! Such a policy encompasses same-sex couples but also ensures that unpartnered LGBT individuals, who may be estranged from or live far from their families of origin, can receive care from the people they consider members of their families of choice. The proposed new regulations make clear that “domestic partners” are included. Appropriately, the definition of domestic partners requires commitment and some shared responsibility for each other’s “common welfare and financial obligations,” but it does not require living together. It also encompasses different sex couples. No couple must marry, or register with the state as domestic partners, or enter a civil union, to qualify for the leave. The proposed regs also make explicit that the child of a domestic partner is in the category of children one may use sick leave to care for, but, again, such children were always covered because the standard has always included (and continues to) all children to whom the employee stands “in loco parentis” (in other words, functions as a parent). Most importantly for my analysis, the broad definition of family remains. The regulations read: “We are not re-defining the phrase ‘‘[a]ny individual related by blood or affinity’’ whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. We have broadly interpreted the phrase in the past to include such relationships as grandparent and grandchild, brother and sister-in-law, fiance´(e), cousin, aunt and uncle, other relatives outside definitions (1)–(4) in current 5 CFR 630.201 and 630.902, and close friend, to the extent that the connection between the employee and the individual was significant enough to be regarded as having the closeness of a family relationship even though the individuals might not be related by blood or formally in law.” The late Senator Ted Kennedy was the lead sponsor of the “Healthy Families Act,” proposed legislation that would require private employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. It includes the same definition of whom a worker must be allowed to use their leave to care for as that contained in the standard for federal employees. There is also a movement to get states to pass such laws. Every paid sick leave bill has a definition of the family members the employees may use their leave to care for. I have long argued for the definition in the Healthy Families Act, and I continue to do so. States with super-DOMAs (those prohibiting recognition of all unmarried couples as well as same-sex marriages) are probably unable to pass a paid sick leave law that includes “domestic partners.” But such states can definitely use the broader definition of family. That definition does not single out couples for protection; it simply says that employees must be able to use their sick leave to care for the people closest to them whom they consider members of their family. It’s been working for the federal government for 15 years. It respects diverse family relationships. It helps employees balance their work and caregiving responsibilities. And from a LGBT rights perspective it respects all our close relationships, not just those that mirror heterosexual marriage. I have no problem with changes that specify that same- and different-sex couples are included regardless of marital status. I’m just thrilled they made it crystal clear that the broader definition of family remains. And I’d like to see LGBT rights groups advocate that broader definition in federal and state legislation. Posted by Nancy Polikoff at 8:43 AM 0 comments Labels: defining family, Paid sick leave in In the News by Anthony Brown 20 Sep 2009 0 comments Official: No Ukrainian adoption for Elton John 09.14.2009 11:39am EDT (Kiev, Ukraine) Elton John will not be able to adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian child because the pop star is too old and isn’t traditionally married, Ukraine’s minister for family affairs said Monday. The pop signer toured a hospital for HIV-infected children in eastern Ukraine on Saturday as part of a charity project and said that he and his male partner David Furnish wanted to adopt an HIV-infected boy named Lev. But the country’s Family, Youth and Sports Minister Yuriy Pavlenko told The Associated Press that adoptive parents must be married and Ukraine does not recognize homosexual unions as marriage. John and Furnish, his longtime partner, tied the knot in 2005 in one of the first legalized civil unions in the United Kingdom. Pavlenko also said John was too old. The singer is 62 and Ukrainian law requires a parent to be no more than 45 years older than an adopted child. “Foreign citizens who are single have no right to adopt children … and the age difference between the adopter and the child cannot be more than 45 years,” Pavlenko said. “The law is the same for everybody: for a president, for a minister, for Elton John.” John gave Lev a big kiss at the orphanage in Makiyivka. “I don’t know how we do that, but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David’s heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home,” John said. Pavlenko said Ukraine was grateful for the singer’s charity work and expressed hope that his desire to adopt Lev would spur the domestic adoption of more children with health problems, which is still rare in Ukraine. in Adoption / In the News / Personal Stories by Anthony Brown 15 Sep 2009 0 comments Lawmakers in Uruguay Vote to Allow Gay Couples to Adopt September 10, 2009, New York Times MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Reuters) — Lawmakers voted Wednesday to extend adoption rights to gay couples in Uruguay, the latest measure to relax laws on homosexuality that has drawn criticism from church leaders in the country, which is predominantly Roman Catholic. Members of Congress said the law made Uruguay the first Latin American country to permit gay couples to adopt. The measure, which will now go to President Tabaré Vázquez for his signature, will also for the first time allow unmarried couples to adopt. “This law is a significant step toward recognizing the rights of homosexual couples,” Diego Sempol, a member of the gay rights group, Black Sheep, told Reuters Television earlier this week. Gay people are allowed to adopt under Uruguayan law, but only as individuals rather than jointly as a couple. Gay marriage remains illegal. The Parliament in Uruguay, a small South American nation with a secular state structure, passed a law in late 2007 to permit gay couples to have civil unions, which grant similar rights as marriage. Earlier this year the center-left government also lifted a ban on gay people serving in the armed forces. Church leaders criticized the new adoption law, and the center-right National Party voted against it. “The family is the bedrock of society and this measure weakens it,” said Senator Francisco Gallinal of the National Party. “For us, allowing children to be adopted by same-sex couples is conditioning the child’s free will.” Latin America is home to about half of the world’s Roman Catholics, and government policies in most countries on gay rights and other divisive issues like abortion tend to reflect the church’s conservative stance. in Adoption / In the News / Legal by Anthony Brown 10 Sep 2009 0 comments Texas Appeals Court Issues Adverse Ruling on Co-Parent’s Suit Seeking Conservatorship or Adoption Arthur Leonard Lesbian/Gay Lawnotes – 9.09 The Court of Appeals of Texas in Dallas issued a ruling Aug. 11 affirming a decision by a trial court in Dallas County rejecting an attempt by a lesbian co-parent to be appointed conservator or to adopt the child born to her former partner through donor insemination. In the Interest of M.K.S.-V., A Child, 2009 WL 2437076. The court rejected the plaintiff’s claim that her extensive visitation with the child sufficed to create standing for her to seek to be appointed a conservator, and found that the birth mother’s adamant refusal to consent was a bar to adoption. The parties met in the fall of 1997, began living together in 1998, and decided to have a child together. T.S. was inseminated in 2003, and gave birth to M.K.S. in May 2004. T.S. and K.V. “co-parented” until their relationship broke up in August 2005, when T.S. moved out with M.K.S. However, conceding the importance ot “continuity” for M.K.S., T.S. agreed to a liberal visitation schedule for K.V., who continued to play an active role with the child. However, T.S. was upset when K.V. accessed the child’s school records without consulting T.S., and cut off her visitation, transfering the child to a different school without consulting K.V. K.V. then filed suit, seeking to be appointed conservator or to adopt the child in a second-parent adoption proceeding. T.S. challenged K.V.’s standing to be appointed a conservator, and refused to consent to the adoption. K.V. was relying on statutory provisions that allowed an unrelated adult who had a substantial parental relationship to seek appointment as a conservator, but the court found that the arrangement she had with T.S. did not qualify under Texas precedents to confer that status in this case. Furthermore, the court found that T.S.’s refusal to consent was an absolute bar to adoption by K.V. K.V. also made estoppel arguments, contending that she had an agreement with T.S. concerning continued contact with the child, but the court was unwilling to enforce the agreement, either through a breach of contract or estoppel theory. K.V. is represented by Michelle May O’Neil, and T.S. by Paul Brumley. A.S.L. Tax Court Rejects Joint Filing Status for Same-Sex The United States Tax Court ruled on July 13 that millionaire gay activist Charles Merrill could not benefit from joint tax filing status for the tax years 2004 and 2005 because he was not married to his long-term same-sex partner, Kevin Boyle, during those tax years. Merrill v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, T.C. Memo. 2009–166, 2009 WL 2015106. According to the opinion for the court by Judge Diane L. Kroupa, Merrill had previously been married to Johnson & Johnson heiress Evangeline Johnson Merrill, then began a relationship with Boyle after Evangeline’s death. Merrill and Boyle have been partners for more than 18 years, and married in California in Merrill never filed tax returns for 2004 and 2005. When the IRS contacted him about the missing returns, he responded that he had not filed as a protest because he should be able to file jointly with his partner but it was not allowed by the IRS. The tax agency prepared forms based on whatever information it had about Merrill’s finances and assessed him deficiencies for the years in question. Merrill took the issue to the Tax Court, claiming that in light of his long-term relationship with Boyle, the denial of joint filing status discriminates against same-sex couples in violation of the constitution. The Tax Court generally does not pass on constitutional questions. In this case, Judge Kroupa pointed out, the Code provides that in order to benefit from joint filing status, one must at least file a return claiming such status, which Merrill had never done, thus his appeal must be dismissed. “We need not address his constitutional claims,” she wrote, but then dropped a footnote citing half a dozen prior rulings rejecting constitutional claims brought to challenge the filing status provisions. Of course, a perfectly plausible argument could be made that it is inequitable to treat long-term same-sex couples differently from married couples under tax law, but turning that into a legal claim is tricky since the two don’t have the same legal status. However, now that Merrill and Boyle are married, one suspects that they could raise a constitutional claim against any refusal to accept a joint return for their 2008 taxes, should they attempt to file one. A.S.L. Oregon Appellate Court Adopts Progressive Interpretation of Donor Insemination Statute in Custody Dispute Between Lesbian Former Partners Arthur Leonard Lesbian/Gay LawNotes 9.09 A lesbian who had separated from her partner challenged the constitutionality of two Oregon statutes: one that creates a presumption that a husband is the father of a child born to his wife, so long as the spouses are not separated; and another that gives a husband parental rights over a child born as a result of his wife’s artificial insemination, so long at the husband consented to the insemination. An Oregon appellate court deemed the former statute constitutional and inapplicable to lesbian couples, but held the latter statute unconstitutional unless it extends to give parental rights to a same-sex domestic partner of an artificially inseminated woman. Thus, the statute was upheld, but judicially amended to apply under circumstances such as those presented here. Shineovich and Kemp, 230 Or. App. 670, 2009 WL 2032113 (Or. App. July 15, 2009). The appeal by the woman cut off from her partner’s children was argued by Mark Johnson of Johnson and Lechman-Su of Portland, Oregon, with amicus briefs from the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU Foundation of Oregon, Inc., and Basic Rights Oregon. Murphy McGrew of Lake Oswego, Oregon, represented the birth mother. Sondra Lee Shineovich and Sarah Elizabeth Kemp had a 10–year relationship during which Kemp was artificially inseminated and bore two children. Shineovich alleges that she consented to the insemination. Around the time of the birth of their first child, the couple was married in Multnomah County, but the marriage was later declared void when the courts determined that the county did not have authority to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. After the couple’s separation, Shineovich sued for a declaration of parental rights. The lower court dismissed her suit for failure to state a claim, and only cursorily discussed the constitutionality of the statutes. Shineovich appealed, contending that laws that extend parental rights to husbands must be read to extend such rights to same-sex partners of women who give birth during their partnership. One statute challenged by Shineovich, Or. Rev. Stat. Section 109.070(1), created a presumption that a husband was the parent of his wife’s child, but only if he was not impotent or sterile at the time of the conception. (The provision regarding impotency or sterility was removed from the statute in 2007, after the events precipitating this action.) The court held that because this statute relates only to biological paternity, and specifically applies only to people capable of fertilizing a woman’s egg, it could not, even if it were phrased in gender-neutral terminology, grant parental rights to a woman; it is not possible for a woman to fertilize the egg of another woman. Thus, the lesbian partner of a birth mother is in the same position, under this statute, as an impotent or sterile man. Since the presumption equally excludes any man or woman incapable of fertilizing an egg, the statute is not unconstitutionally discriminatory, according The second statute challenged by Shineovich is quite different. Under Or. Rev. Stat. Section 109.243, the relationship, rights and obligation between a child born as a result of artificial insemination and the mother’s husband is viewed as the same as if the child had been naturally and legitimately conceived by the mother and the mother’s husband, so long as the husband consented to the performance of artificial insemination. Thus, the statute gives a status to “husbands” that is not available to other similarly situated persons. Under Oregon law, therefore, a woman partnered with another woman cannot be a “husband,” or any other type of spouse, thus, the statute privileges men and discriminates against women. Further, homosexuals are a suspect class under Oregon jurisprudence, and laws that disfavor a suspect class are only justifiable if there is a genuine difference between that class and other persons granted some sort of privilege or immunity. Thus, the court found the latter statute to contravene the equal protection clause of Oregon’s constitution. The appeals court also considered the section of the Oregon Constitution that prohibits legal recognition of same-sex marriage . Unlike such provisions in other states’ constitutions, Oregon’s constitution does not prevent marital-type benefits from being extended to same-sex partners. (The court compared the provisions in Georgia, Ohio, and Utah.) Definitions of marriage from both legal and non-legal sources do not indicate that “marriage,” in and of itself, encompasses any particular benefits. Thus, it is not unconstitutional under the marriage amendment to extend statutory privileges to same-sex partners on the basis of unequal treatment of women or homosexuals. Such an extension does not impinge on prerogatives integral to the concept of “marriage.” Under the rules of statutory interpretation recognized in Oregon, if a statute is defective because of under-inclusion, there exist two remedial alternatives: a court may either (1) declare the statute a nullity and order that its benefits not extend to the class that the legislature intended to benefit, or (2) extend the coverage of the statute to include those who are aggrieved by exclusion. In order to decide which path to choose, the court sought to determine which course would further the legislative objective. The objective of the statute was, according to the court, to protect children conceived by artificial insemination from being denied the right to support by the mother’s husband or to inherit from the husband. Invalidating the statute would undermine that purpose, and might nullify the legal parent-child relationship of any such child and the mother’s “On the other hand,” said the court, “extending the statute’s coverage to include the children of mothers in same-sex relationships advances the legislative objective by providing the same protection for a greater number of children.” Thus, “the appropriate remedy is to extend the statute so that it applies when the same-sex partner of the biological mother consented to the artificial insemination.” Under the first statute, the appellate court ordered the trial court to enter a judgment declaring that Shineovich is not the legal parent of Kemp’s children, because she is not biologically capable of being the genetic parent of Kemp’s children. Under the second statute, however, the trial court, on remand, must treat Shineovich the same as it would treat a mother’s husband. Note, however, that the latter statute includes an element of consent. Thus,Kemp alleged that Shineovich could not prove that she “con- Lesbian/Gay Law Notes September 2009 157 sented” to the artificial insemination because no writing evidenced such consent. The court held that writing is not essential to show consent, and the lack of a writing does not foreclose a claim. On the other hand, on remand, Shineovich must prove that she in fact consented to the insemination. Whether she consented is a factual issue appropriate for determination by the trier of fact. (Note: The appeals court also rejected an attempt to dismiss this suit on jurisdictional grounds, namely, that the petitioner must name the state as a party whenever a state statute’s constitutionality is challenged in an action for declaratory relief.) Alan J. Jacob in In the News / Legal / Parenting by Anthony Brown 08 Sep 2009 0 comments Gay adoption ruling may boost economy By Jason Lawrence Staff Editor – The Famuan Published: Thursday, September 3, 2009 Updated: Thursday, September 3, 2009 Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual rights have been swept under the rug by lawmakers since the infamous Gay Rights Movement began in the summer of 1969. Now, here we are 40 years later and not much has changed, especially in Florida. Not much attention has been paid to those who identify as same gender loving. A 1997 Legislative Session voted largely to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act. In the 2008 election a measure calling for same sex marriage to be legalized was placed on the ballot in the form of Amendment 2. Voters defeated the amendment by 62 percent. Just weeks after the election a Miami judge ruled Florida’s ban on gay adoption unconstitutional saying that the states’ ban on adoption was “not in the best interest of the children.” The state however, is not completely at fault for the lack of attention paid to the issue by politicians and voters. Gay rights activists haven’t been as vocal as you would think in pursuing those basic rights denied to those they represent. Speaking of representatives, what about the lawmakers who serve some 1.5 million Florida residents who identify as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual)? It’s probably safe to say that they haven’t examined the benefits of a gay friendly Florida. According to a report by the University of Florida, the state reportedly saw its first decline in residents for the first time in 46 years after the housing bubble reached its limit in 2008. Maybe lifting bans on same sex marriage and allowing LGBT persons to adopt would make way for Florida to find a new vice outside its endless sunshine, tourism and low taxes. Jason Lawrence for the Editorial Board. in Adoption by Anthony Brown 04 Sep 2009 0 comments

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Home » My Dad - Ed Farrar » WWII » Timeline » 1967 » September 1967 Category Archives: September 1967 Chester Rybarczyk – After the War September 12, 2014 7:00 AM / Leave a comment After the war, Chester Rybarczyk returned to Toledo, Ohio where he and wife, Bernadette, raised four children. For a time, he drove a city bus. On July 16, 1952, he was accepted into the Toledo Fire Department and assigned badge #109. On March 9, 1964, Chester was promoted to Lieutenant. Chester’s son, Tony, remembers that his father was very proud of being on the fire department. He enjoyed the camaraderie with the other firefighters and he would often take his children to watch them train, or he would arrange demonstrations for their schools. At the end of his shift, he would come home and tell them stories about things that happened that day. On September 2, 1967, the Toledo Fire Department Rescue Squad responded to a two-alarm fire at a local north side tavern, Pee Wee’s Inn, at 5101 Suder Avenue. Lieutenant Chester Rybarczyk, now a fifteen-year veteran with the Toledo Fire Department, was one of the firefighters who entered the building to fight the fire. Suddenly, conditions inside the building changed and the rescue squad attempted to evacuate the structure. Four firefighters became trapped behind a partition separating the bar from a game room. Two of the four men made it out while Chester and another firefighter, James Martin, remained trapped. Crews on the outside used a ladder in a rescue attempt through a window. They were able to pull James out first, saving him. With James safe, they began to pull an unconscious Chester, overcome by smoke, out of the same window. The fireman that had a hold of Chester’s arm stepped on a power line that had fallen on the ladder. When the shock of electricity hit him, he lost his grip and Chester fell back into the burning room. Chester was finally removed from the building, but he died shortly afterward at Riverside Hospital. The other three managed to escape with only minor injuries. Chester’s son, Tony, was only eight years old when his father died. His mother, Bernadette, was able to tell him a bit about his father’s WWII experiences in the 384th Bombardment Group. She said that Chester did see his original crew, the John Oliver Buslee crew of the 544th bomb squadron, go down after a mid-air collision on September 28, 1944, but he didn’t talk much about it. Chester was the navigator on the Buslee crew, but was assigned to fly with a different crew that day. As a result, he was fortunate to not be involved in the mid-air collision. Instead, he was a witness to the fiery descent of the plane in which most of his Buslee crewmates were killed, unable to abandon the burning aircraft after it had broken into two pieces and spiraled toward the ground. A fellow Buslee crew member, bombardier James Davis, was also assigned to fly with a different crew that day. Chester and James served many of their remaining missions together. James finished his tour a few weeks before Chester in December 1944 and both returned home to the states. Chester and James remained friends after the war. After he got older, Tony was able to contact James, and James was able to tell Tony about his father, so that he could know him a little better. James died in 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Chester Rybarczyk was born Jan 18, 1923 and died Sept 2, 1967 at the age of 44. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, Grave: S 1/2, Lot 21, Section 34. Chester’s widow, Berandette, died in 1986 and is buried beside him. Thank you to Tony Rybarczyk, Chester’s son, for sharing this piece of his family history.

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Dividend Cafe Fiscal Feminist Financierge Thoughts on Money Where’s the Nearest … err Biggest Exit? There has been a lot of chatter and rumbling about private investments over the last few years. Many famed investment managers have touted the performance of private equity and venture capital investing. The public has grown quite interested in understanding these investments and TV shows like Shark Tank have gained a lot of viewers and notoriety. Needless to say, this subject matter makes for a perfect TOM discussion. We are blessed to have our very own, Kenny Molina providing a guest post today and teaching us about all things private investing. Without further ado, I welcome you to Kenny’s piece titled, Where’s the Nearest … err Biggest Exit? – Trevor Cummings Today on TOM we are going to discuss the world of venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) investing. These types of investments would fall under the taxonomy of “Alternative Investments,” which is often a misunderstood asset class and one worth slowing down to discuss and understand. VC and PE have gained a lot of popularity in the world of institutional investors like endowments and charities, and their performance track record has piqued the interest of retail investors. Today we will discuss the basics of what PE/VC investing is, how it works, and who these types of investments may be suitable for. If you’ve been following markets at all over the last couple of months, you’ve probably heard of WeWork, the ‘office sharing’ company that has been grabbing all of the media’s attention. WeWork is a private company and had been preparing to ‘IPO’ (Initial Public Offering) or go public as it’s commonly referred to. This is when a private company begins trading on a public exchange (e.g. Nasdaq, NYSE, etc.), which allows all investors access to buy and sell shares. It also allows an “exit” for the current private investors, as it creates a marketplace for shares to be easily priced and sold. So why did this potential IPO gather so much attention? Well, the company was hoping public investors would be eager to purchase shares at its lofty valuation of $40 billion (yes, that is billion with a “b”), but through a series of miss-steps and embarrassing revelations, it tumbled to a mere fraction of what it was once valued at its peak. Ultimately withdrawing its intent to offer shares to the public. This tumbling all happened as analysts and bankers began the due diligence process of understanding the fundamentals of the business and the publics potential interest in owning shares. Yikes! The WeWork saga paints a gloomy picture for private investing and might make some wonder why one would ever be interested in this type of rollercoaster investing. Although the WeWork story makes for an interesting anecdote, it definitely does not represent the norm for PE/VC investing. Let’s take a step back to understand how private investing works. We are using the term “private investing” as a catch-all to describe both Private Equity and Venture Capital. Let’s just draw a simple distinction between the two. Private Equity typically refers to a majority ownership investment in a mature company, while Venture Capital is usually an investor providing “seed” funding to an early-stage company. Both investing in private companies, but each at different stages and levels of engagement. As we stated earlier, private investing (PE/VC) is an alternative investment (TOM has previously covered some fundamentals regarding considering alternative assets) where pooled capital from investors is invested directly in private companies (hence ‘private’ in comparison to public equities on a listed exchange). The company’s expectations are similar to that of investing in publicly listed companies in that investors would like to see the companies run well and generate profits for its shareholders, however many of the similarities begin to diverge at this point. Below is a simplified flowchart of a PE fund: As we can see, contributed capital is managed by the funds General Partners or ‘GPs’ on behalf of the investors (limited partners). Broadly, the General Partners are in charge of identifying the portfolio companies, negotiating favorable terms on behalf of the fund (and thus investors), and depending on the fund’s investment objectives can be involved with management/business turn-around or engaging in value-added mergers/acquisitions. Ultimately a Private Equity fund will realize the majority of its return from ‘winding down’ its investments or commonly termed ‘finding an exit’ for their portfolio companies. This is commonly through accessing public markets, as was attempted in the case of WeWork, or the portfolio companies can be sold off through acquisitions or to another fund. Venture Capital funds will invest in emerging or early-stage companies where business models may be unproven, and a greater emphasis is placed on the General Partners’ ability to recognize and cultivate talent or opportunity. This differs from Private Equity funds which generally look for mature companies that can benefit from a management or business overhaul and the General Partners’ ability to bring together the right components to ‘revitalize’ the company. Venture Capital can be thought of as a ‘higher risk, higher reward’ asset with Private Equity being relatively lower returns but (historically) a less volatile return profile. It is important to be especially aware that as an investor, the life cycle of a private investment can be very different than buying a publicly-traded stock. When buying a publicly-traded stock it is easy to buy and sell shares and gather financial information on the company, right? For PE/VC investments typically the investment commitment might be 7 or 10 years and the access to financial information will be much more limited. While liquidity, or lack thereof, is generally a characteristic of alternative investments, private investing is renowned for pushing the limits of an investor’s tolerance. Of course, such an expectation for illiquidity brings about its own expectation reservation from investors in the form of an ‘illiquidity premium’ by which investors expect a certain return profile to compensate for their time. In addition, private investing traditionally experiences what is known in the business universe as a j-curve effect (pictured below). Source: J Curve As many business owners or entrepreneurs can attest to, the j-curve is an uneasy time and an interesting phenomenon in a venture’s life. Like a fledgling business, a PE/VC investment can spend the first few years of its life drawing from capital with anticipation of future profits. With life cycles of up to 7+ years, there can be a considerable amount of time of unreciprocated outflows as the General Partners implement the fund’s investment strategy and work towards preparing the portfolio companies for the best possible ‘exits.’ All this seems a little crazy right? It can at times feel hard enough to maintain conviction in a select few hand-picked publicly listed companies! So why and how are some of the natural follow-up questions an investor should consider. Traditionally, like most alternative investments, private investments have produced returns relatively uncorrelated to the public market as the privately held companies are not subject to many public market-specific idiosyncrasies such as quarterly reporting/transparency requirements or broader public-market volatility. PE/VC can be accessed through a variety of different manners from traditional Private Equity Funds, Fund of Funds, or even the listed stocks of Private Equity managers. Like any investment, Private Equity investment opportunities should be thoroughly vetted and understood. Your investment advisor can help you further understand the PE/VC investing space and decipher whether an allocation would be appropriate in your portfolio. As always feel free to reach out to Thoughts on Money for more information on private investing or any topic you would like to discuss! PrevPrevious Post The Bahnsen Group is registered with HighTower Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC, and with HighTower Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Securities are offered through HighTower Securities, LLC; advisory services are offered through HighTower Advisors, LLC. This is not an offer to buy or sell securities. No investment process is free of risk, and there is no guarantee that the investment process or the investment opportunities referenced herein will be profitable. Past performance is not indicative of current or future performance and is not a guarantee. The investment opportunities referenced herein may not be suitable for all investors. All data and information reference herein are from sources believed to be reliable. Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, or other information contained in this research is provided as general market commentary, it does not constitute investment advice. The team and HighTower shall not in any way be liable for claims, and make no expressed or implied representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the data and other information, or for statements or errors contained in or omissions from the obtained data and information referenced herein. The data and information are provided as of the date referenced. Such data and information are subject to change without notice. This document was created for informational purposes only; the opinions expressed are solely those of the team and do not represent those of HighTower Advisors, LLC, or any of its affiliates. TBG Teampage TBG Homepage Trevor Cummings Private Wealth Advisor, Partner Trevor is a Private Wealth Advisor focused on building customized financial plans for his and many clients of the team. As the author of TOM [Thoughts On Money], Trevor endeavors to write and speak about financial concepts and principles in a kind of “straight” talk demeanor and posture. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University and his MBA from California State University, Fullerton. Youtube Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin-in Securities offered through HighTower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, HighTower Advisors, LLC is a SEC registered investment adviser. brokercheck.finra.org Copyright ©2019 The Bahnsen Group LLC We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.X

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Are Abramovich’s Changes For The Better? Chelsea D I’ve had a bit of a go at Roman Abramovich lately and I know I’m not the only one to question why he seems to be such a tight arse all of a sudden. I mean, when he bought the club in the summer of 2003, we expected – and got a spending spree the size of which the Premier League had never seen. So what’s happened? Why has the cash flow suddenly stopped when we need players? Has he fallen out of love with Chelsea? More to the point, did he ever fall in love with us in the first place? Well, it’s certainly true we weren’t Abramovich’s first choice because the story goes that he had his eye on United originally. He’d happened to catch a Champions League game back in May 2003 and was pretty impressed with what he saw. Mind you, United were out, as were Arsenal because with fans owning shares, it was all considered too messy. His third choice club was a different proposition altogether. Chelsea remained one of the old-fashioned privately owned clubs – and we just happened to be £80million in debt. Bingo! So, as we know, £140million bought Abramovich the club and wiped out the debts – and that was before he’d even started on transfer fees, salaries and a state-of-the-art training ground at Cobham, which has racked up an ‘investment’ of around £580million. But why has he stopped now? Well firstly, as someone rightly pointed out to me, in the last calendar year Abramovich has actually shelled out over £50million bringing in players: Ivanovich £9million; Anelka £15million; Di Santo £3.4million; Bosingwa £16.3million; Deco £8million. That’s £50million more than most clubs and certainly not peanuts when you consider the wage bill we had to start with, plus the improved contracts sorted out over the summer. Secondly, we can’t say we weren’t warned that the spending would start to slow down. Because at the start of last year, we were being told by Bruce Buck “We realized from day one that we had to find a way to make the club profitable in the long term. At some point he (Abramovich) won’t want to invest any more. He’s never said he wants the money back. He has said he wants the club to be self-sustaining.” So, it’s not that Abramovich has fallen out of love and plans to cut his losses and run then? Well, whilst him being ‘in love’ with Chelsea in the first place wasn’t really the case, I’d like to think that if anything, he’s fallen in love with us over the years. Because, whilst the most coveted prize has eluded him, he’s still seen us win two Premier League titles, two Carling Cups, one Community Shield, an FA Cup and make it to our first ever Champions League final. Add to that, reports of him turning up in Nevada Smiths in New York to watch us on the screens against Bolton, looking disgusted at missed chances but celebrating the goals and leading a rendition of ‘Carefree’ on his way out – and you just know he loves us. Right? More in Rants Opinion: Could Danny Drinkwater’s move to Aston Villa see the Chelsea midfielder back to his best? It’s a bit early for April fools, but following Danny Drinkwater’s loan move to... Half-term report: Despite recent form Chelsea are performing beyond expectation Another frustrating home defeat left Blues fans leaving deflated yesterday. After the highlight of... All (dis)quiet at the Bridge? After our fourth defeat in five league games, Chelsea went full melt-down yesterday but... Chelsea fans have rejoiced at the news of the club’s two-window transfer embargo being... Lampard eyes victory over United to kick start season Deco: I Don’t Need To Defend Myself

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Chick-fil-A Introduces New Gluten-Free Bun Staff Jun 19, 2017 Chain is one of the first to offer a gluten-free bun alternative nationwide ATLANTA (June 19, 2017) – Chick-fil-A® announced today the addition of a new Gluten-Free Bun. The addition comes in response to customers’ requests for more gluten-free/sensitive options on the menu. The new bun, which is now available in restaurants nationwide, comes individually packaged and can be ordered with any of Chick-fil-A’s sandwich offerings. The Gluten-Free Bun is made with premium ingredients, including ancient grains quinoa and amaranth. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals and is lightly sweetened with molasses and raisins. The Gluten-Free Bun rolls out nationwide following successful tests in three cities across the country in 2016. Data shows roughly 18 million Americans have a gluten sensitivity or preference. Chick-fil-A is one of the few quick-service restaurants to offer a gluten-free bun. “We know our customers are looking for more gluten-sensitive alternatives. They asked, and we listened,” said Leslie Neslage, senior consultant of menu development at Chick-fil-A. “We heard positive feedback in test markets that the bun tastes better than some other gluten-free breads. That’s because instead of rice flour, we’ve made the bun with more premium ingredients like quinoa and amaranth. Our hope is that the Gluten-Free Bun addition opens up options for gluten-sensitive customers to enjoy more of our menu.” In test markets, the Gluten-Free Bun was most commonly ordered with the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and the Grilled Chicken Deluxe Sandwich. The new bun has 150 calories and costs an additional $1.15. While individually packaged and certified free of gluten, guests will be required to assemble their own sandwiches to reduce risk of cross-contamination. Chick-fil-A kitchens are not gluten-free. For more information on the Gluten-Free Bun and other gluten-free options at Chick-fil-A, please visit https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/inside-chick-fil-a/whats-gluten-free-at-chick-fil-a. Take a look at our Gluten-free FAQs for ingredient, nutrition and other information. About Chick-fil-A, Inc. Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,100 restaurants in 46 states and Washington, D.C. Chick-fil-A system sales reached nearly $8 billion in 2016, which marks 49 consecutive years of sales growth. In 2016, Chick-fil-A was named the Technomic Consumer’s Choice for “providing value through service” and QSR Magazine named the company “the most polite restaurant in the country” in its annual drive-thru report. Chick-fil-A was also recognized in 2015 as America’s “Top Chicken Restaurant Brand” by The Harris Poll and the only restaurant brand named to the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work For” by 24/7 Wall Street. in 2016. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com. Tagged In: Leslie Neslage Gluten-Free Food Menu Allergens What’s gluten-free at Chick-fil-A? If you live a gluten-free lifestyle, you know it all too well. You go to a restaurant and aren’t sure what you can eat. And ordering a sandwich? Usually not an option. What’s so cool about the Cool Wrap? As seasons change, so can our lunch orders. When the weather heats up, you might be thinking about swapping out your hot-off-the-grill Chick-fil-A favorite for something a little… cooler. The good news is we have just the thing – the Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap®. Featured Food Five things you need to know about Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries Crispy, fresh and dippable are all fitting adjectives for the Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries. So, it’s fitting that they’ve received taste test accolades nationwide. But there’s more to this classic menu item than meets the taste buds.

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Call Toll-Free: 888.796.8763 This architecturally intricate monument was completed in 1943 in memory of our country’s third president and main writer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. The bronze statue of Jefferson, which now resides inside the monument, was added in 1947. This memorial building’s design was inspired by classical architecture–a style which fascinated Jefferson, and which influenced his own architectural designs. The Memorial is located on the Tidal Basin, giving visitors a scenic view of this man-made basin. The memorial brings to life this great man’s legacy through inscriptions with quotes from the Declaration of Independence, as well as other writings penned by Jefferson. Additionally, many interesting events are hosted at the Jefferson Memorial, such as an Easter Sunrise Service and the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. Request a Customized Tour to Washington DC for your Group The cherry blossom trees that are planted around the Jefferson Memorial were a gift from Japan, given to the U.S. in the year 1912. Jefferson’s personal book collection–a collection of over 6,000 books–restocked the Library of Congress when its original collection was burned by British troops in 1814. Thomas Jefferson kept a number of mockingbirds as pets, because he loved their singing. He often kept at least four at a time! The original statue of Jefferson that was placed in the Jefferson Memorial was made of plaster. Jefferson was fascinated with the sciences, showing interest and attempting to make discoveries and innovations in paleontology, astronomy, and agricultural science. Useful Memorial Links: Thomas Jefferson Memorial – NPS

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Biden: Screw Obama's Endorsement Source: AP Photo/Michael Sohn Former Vice President Joe Biden is supposed to be the 2020 Democratic field’s heavyweight. He’s a longtime fixture of D.C. and the Democratic Party establishment. He’s blue-collar, plain-spoken, and someone who could give Donald Trump trouble in 2020. But the party has changed. That was made explicitly clear during the first debate, which was a socialist goodie bag from hell. Forced Medicare, the destruction of private health insurance, health care for illegals, decriminalizing border crossings, and bashing federal immigration officers. Biden is a hardcore liberal, but he’s too right-leaning for this party. No matter who is nominated next year, they will have to adopt some very unpopular proposals, some of which are mind-numbingly stupid. For years, Democrats had run the table on health care. For years, they said the GOP tweaks to Obamacare would destroy your health insurance. And for years, it worked. Republicans have been appalling on the messaging front. After ten years of promising to repeal Obamacare, the window closed. Now, we have Democrats literally debating not if they’ll destroy private health insurance to make way for Medicare for All, but when which is over 150+ million health care plans. In an unsurprising move, support for single-payer drops when voters are told their current plans will be trashed. Biden doesn’t support the Warren-Sanders single-payer plans, but this is the nonsense he has to contend with on the campaign trail—and he’s not handling it well. If he is the nominee, he’ll have to adopt some of the Left’s craziness on policy. And so far, that’s the least of his problems. The man is a gaffe machine. He forgets which state he’s in campaigning, he lashed out at an Iowa voter, poking fun of the man’s weight and intelligence when he brought up Biden’s son Hunter and his arrangement at Burisma. This is one of the storylines running parallel to the Trump impeachment nonsense that’s engulfed the Hill. In fact, Hunter Biden’s Burisma arrangement has become a huge issue for the former VP’s campaign, as he’s failed to neutralize the story. Hunter has zero experience in energy but ended up on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, making $50,000/month and was there to allegedly sell access to top Obama officials at the time. He got this gig when daddy Biden was VP. The Biden gaffes are long and they’re an issue. His inability to break from the pack is also an issue. His fundraising isn’t that solid for someone who is supposed to be a field-clearing candidate. It’s anemic, to say the least. So, why not Obama? The former president is the most popular Democrat in the country. he and Joe are close, but it’s not shocking that Obama isn’t weighing just yet. The field has whittled down some, but it’s still large. It’s too early for Obama to dole out an endorsement—we all get that. What about when it becomes clearer who the nominee will be? Well, apparently, Biden doesn’t need his former boss’s endorsement (via Politico): Former Vice President Joe Biden … said he didn’t need Barack Obama’s endorsement in the Democratic primary, even if the field were down to three people. He also scoffed at the notion that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is building enthusiasm and accused Mayor Pete Buttigieg of stealing his plans. In a wide-ranging interview aboard his campaign bus during an eight-day, “No Malarkey“ tour through rural Iowa, a feisty Biden answered questions for 30 minutes, discussing his prospects in Iowa, the likely strength of his campaign going into Super Tuesday and his relationship with the former president. Biden reiterated that he asked Obama not to endorse him, and he stuck by that stance even when asked whether he’d want Obama’s backing if the field narrowed to three people. “No, because everyone knows I’m close with him,” Biden said. “I don’t need an Obama endorsement.” Biden went on to say that as Obama’s vice presidential pick, he provided crucial relationships with the base of the Democratic Party, including with African Americans, and with voters in places such as Pennsylvania, Colorado, Virginia and Florida.. “I was the one who was sent in,” he said. “And the reason was, because all the polling and data showed that I had those relationships with the base of the Democratic Party as well as African-Americans. And so I did as many African Americans events as Barack did.” Right, Biden told Obama he didn’t want his help, endorsement, and pool of resources for his presidential election bid. I call BS on that. Are you kidding me? Of course, he wants it. The Obama coalition was unbeatable. And with Trump poised to get a second term thanks to Democrats wasting invaluable time on impeachment, he’s going to need everything he can get to cross the finish line. Maybe he knows he’s going to get it anyway since Obama is going to help out whoever the 2020 nominee is next year. Is Biden saying it’s going to be him based on this ‘screw Obama’s endorsement’ angle? Based on his campaign factors, which are not overwhelming or decisive with this field, that’s mighty cocky of him. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was supposed to be a top-tier candidate and Andrew Yang has outlasted her. Now, there are rumblings of discontent with Obama. In one Democratic debate in the Fall, the field sans Biden decided to trash Obama. In some pieces, who have some folks saying he was actually a conservative politician. Yeah, you cannot make this up. Still, even with some liberals now voicing how they felt how Obama was too right-wing (I’m chuckling inside), Obama still has value for whoever will be running against Trump in 2020. After Democrats waste their time on impeachment, complaining about how the field is now too old and too white, how Mayor Pete Buttigiegisn’t the right LGBT presidential candidate, and peddling abysmal public policy proposals, then maybe Obama can help right the ship. With a booming economy at the back of Trump, he’s the candidate who will look like the hope and change figure in D.C. A larger paycheck is what’s tangible. It’s one of the many positive tangible economic effects that has borne out of the Trump agenda. 2020 Debates 'Hella Freudian slip'! Jennifer Rubin's impeachment fantasy about John Roberts gets a little NSFW

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Ho Chi Minh city travel guide themesupport The largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has something for everyone. The city’s eight million residents still call it by its old name, Saigon, and for many, that name still carries with it the exotic charm of its long and fascinating history. Growing and stretching at a furious pace, the city is never still. The noise of construction on dozens of new office buildings and hotels mingles with the cries of street vendors. And the honk of motorbikes and buses. Elegant restaurants, educational museums, ancient pagodas, and quiet botanical gardens are steps away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life of Ho Chi Minh City’s citizens. A fascinating conglomeration of cultures has been woven into the tapestry of this increasingly popular tourist destination. The History of Ho Chi Minh City While the centuries-old history of Ho Chi Minh City is often murky due to lack of written records. As we know that a once sleepy fishing village called Prei Nokor. It’s located in a strategic spot along the Saigon River, slowly developed into a vastly important port of trade in the South China Sea. This trading port was later named Saigon after the Viets swept down from the north to conquer the kingdom of Champa in the 18th century. In 1861, the French military seized control of Saigon in retaliation for the mistreatment of French missionaries. And in 1862, the Treaty of Saigon named Saigon as the capital of French Cochinchina. Which covered the southernmost one-third portion of what is modern-day Vietnam. The French influence during their nearly 100 years of rule shaped the form and character of the growing seaport. And modern visitors can see this influence in the architecture, street design, cuisine, fashion, and European-style hospitality. “Sai Gon” history French rule was harsh to the native population, and the growing resentment and rebellion toward French colonialism produced a surge of support for Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Viet Minh (the League for the Independence for Vietnam). Though Ho Chi Minh was Communist, this was a secondary concern for the native population, who desperately desired to be independent of all foreign governments. After WWII, Ho Chi Minh’s forces seized the northern city of Hanoi and set up the Democratic State of Vietnam in the north, with “Uncle Ho” as president. It was the clash between President Ho’s Communist North and the anti-Communist South and its ally, the United States. Which sparked the terrible conflagration of the Vietnam War. Two years after American troops pulled out of Saigon in 1973, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign rolled into Saigon, and the city was quickly re-named after Ho Chi Minh. Later, the Vietnamese government embraced a market economy, which allowed the city’s thousands of imaginative and entrepreneurial leaders to begin creating remarkable wealth and prosperity. Today, visitors enjoy the benefits of this thriving economy while still being able to savor the historical remnants of Ho Chi Minh City’s manifold past. The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. Because it is located in a tropical climate, you can expect average year-round temperatures to be between 26 degrees C and 29 degrees C (79 degrees F to 84 degrees F). While the wet season from May to November produces many tropical storms, just plan some flexibility into your travel itinerary to accommodate any storms that arise. Any time of year is a great time to soak in the beautiful scenery and fascinating activities on offer in this engaging part of the world. Learn about Ho Chi Minh City Culture Don’t neglect to get an education in Ho Chi Minh City’s culture. Beautiful museums and ancient places of worship will keep you absorbed by the way of life from generations past. The following sites are well worth your time: War Remnants Museum Many Western visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are generally knowledgeable about how the West was involved in the Vietnam War, but the War Remnants Museum will give you perspective on how it played out from a Vietnam citizen’s viewpoint. Be aware that the upper level of the museum displays sometimes very graphic images of victims of weapons such as Agent Orange and napalm. The museum also contains exhibits relating to the Indochina War (19 December 1946 – 1 August 1954), which was known as the Anti-French Resistance War to the people of Vietnam. Located in District 3. The ultimate in Ho Chi Minh City’s market culture. So you can find just about anything in this centrally located, bustling daily market: produce, cuisine, clothing, jewelry, handbags, souvenirs, housewares, and much, much more. Bargaining is expected. So hone your haggling skills to command lower prices, and feel free to ignore the “fixed price” signs. NOTE: pickpockets operate in this area, so take special care to secure your valuable personal items against theft. Puppeteers brought this unique and exceptionally enthralling entertainment to the south from the rice paddies of Northern Vietnam’s Red River Delta after the 11th century. Lacquered wooden puppets perform on a water stage, a waist-deep pool that hides the poles on which the puppets are manipulated. Puppeteers hide behind a bamboo screen while playing out tales of magic and myth that are so beloved in Vietnamese culture set to live, traditional music. While the plays are voiced entirely in Vietnamese, exaggerated puppet movements and helpful sound effects from the orchestra make plotlines easy to follow. Be sure to visit the Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theater or the Villa Song Saigon (formerly Thao Dien Village) as part of your stay in HCM City. Jade Emperor Pagoda Over 100 years old, the Taoist shrine is replete with the gods and heroes of Taoist beliefs along with Cantonese Buddhist inscriptions and carvings, though the pagoda is a place of worship meant for all faiths. The Jade Emperor himself (the supreme Taoism god) reigns swathed in clouds of incense in the Chamber of 10 Hells, with various gods and goddesses scattered throughout the intricately designed interior. In one of the courtyards, a shelter houses dozens of turtles, which represent longevity, fortune, and good luck in Asian culture. Admission is free, and the pagoda is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm. Ho Chi Minh City Art & Architecture Tours Though many French colonial buildings are being demolished to make room for modern buildings, there is a sense of freshness and innovation in HCM City’s current architectural plans. Still, the mainstays of the French colonial era have remained intact, and you can visit these beautiful remnants while also marveling at what’s new. Completed in 1966, Reunification Palace was built on the site of the original home of the French governor of Cochinchina in 1868. The residence was gradually expanded to become Norodom Palace. Before becoming the home of the first South Vietnamese president. After Vietnam gained independence from France, Ngo Dinh Diem. After surviving an assassination attempt by his own air force. Which demolished the palace with bombs, President Ngo built another one called Independence Palace. But he was killed by his troops three years before its completion. After Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese, the palace was renamed Reunification Palace. And visitors can enjoy its cheery, open 1960s-era architecture and furnishings. Which have been left in place since the palace was abandoned? Daily tours can accommodate English and French speakers. Bitexco Financial Tower – Saigon Skydeck A 68-story marvel, this airy tower graces the HCM City skyline as the 124th tallest tower in the world. Floors of the building house offices, shops, restaurants, and a helipad. But the biggest draw is the Saigon Skydeck, an observation deck that provides 360 degree views of HCM City and the Saigon River below. Designed by American architect Carlos Zapata. The award-winning financial tower is on CNNGo’s list of 20 of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers. Shop, eat, or enjoy art shows as well as take in the amazing views. And the city’s other landmarks at the tower’s location on 36 Ho Tung Mau Street in District 1. The sky deck is open daily from 9:30am to 9:30pm. Started by the French in 1877 and not completed for many decades. Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City served as the Catholic office headquarters in Cochinchine as well as a testament to the Vietnamese of France’s might and power. The cathedral was anointed as a basilica by the Vatican in 1962. Which officially renamed it the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Unlike more elaborate cathedrals in other countries, the Notre Dame Cathedral in HCM City has a fairly simple interior. That’s a place of peace and serenity amongst the noise and chaos of life in downtown HCM City. Sunday masses are conducted in both English and Vietnamese (the public is welcome to attend). And the cathedral is open to the public daily for tours. The front doors are open for Sunday masses, but on weekdays, use the side door. Food & Authentic Cooking of Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon Street Food Food in Vietnam culture really is about love The love of the ingredients, the process of cooking, and the act of eating. When you visit Ho Chi Minh City, you must make it a point to sample the cuisine. In order to truly begin to understand the people and the culture. From street vendors to the most elegant five-star restaurants, HCM City offers a sampling of regional cuisine from all over the entire country—the North, the Central area, and, of course, the South. Street Food & Local Stalls From pho to ban tam bi, you can find almost any Vietnamese dish served on the street. Grazing along among the stalls and tiny shops is one of the transcendental experiences of HCM City. Choose vendors and stalls where there are lines, as this means. That’s the ingredients are fresher and replaced often, lessening any chances of food poisoning. Which is very rare if you take a few simple precautions (read Jodi Ettenberg’s excellent guide on safely eating street food at Legal Nomads blog). Whatever you do, don’t refuse to eat street food! You’ll be missing out on some of the best eats you’ve ever had, the kind of food you will lovingly describe to any friend or stranger who will listen at any party you attend in the future. Cyclo Resto This is where the locals eat, so you are guaranteed a delicious, authentic meal for a great price. Cyclo Resto’s set menu takes the guesswork out of ordering, and the staff will helpfully explain each dish. Located down a little alley, the time you spend searching it out will only whet your appetite for the fantastic meal you are about to enjoy. XO Tours A food tour from a local is one of the best ways to both see and taste what a city has to offer. When XO Tours offer family-friendly motorbike tours. And the friendly, knowledgeable female guides will take you to parts of the city you aren’t likely to see otherwise. All while sampling dishes that keep your taste buds tingling. XO Tour guides deliver all kinds of interesting information about the history and way of life in HCM City. Many speak English very well. Ho Chi Minh City Adventure Tours One of the biggest advantages of having a tour guide is that you get a wealth of information that the guidebooks can’t deliver. Adventure tours of the city and the surrounding area take all of the stress out of freely exploring must-see sights. Book a tour, show up at the appointed time, and take it all in! Part of the Vietnam War Memorial Park, the Cu Chi tunnels were created by the Communist Viet Cong (VC). During the Vietnam War in order to escape U.S. and South Vietnam bombs and searches. Located under the Cu Chi district in northwest HCM City. The Cu Chi tunnels are part of a larger network of tunnels the VC used to link; With other bases that stretched from Saigon all the way to the Cambodian border. Many civilians also lived in the tunnels. Today, visitors are allowed to crawl through some of the safer tunnel areas. With sample food that a typical VC soldier would have eaten, and shoot an AK-47 on a shooting range. Mekong Delta Private Day Tour The Mekong Delta produces an astonishing 1/3 of Vietnam’s annual food crop. Including rice, coconut palms, sugar cane, and tropical fruits. All of this lush agriculture means that visitors can revel in the diverse scenery and greenery, visiting farms, food stalls. And restaurants that specialize in cuisine derived from the freshest fruits, vegetables, and seafood available. Quiet rides down the river in a longtail boat spotting exotic flora and fauna are also not to be missed. Book a tour with Viator for an incredibly reasonable price and spend a day exploring the beautiful Mekong Delta. Vietnam Vespa Adventures Saigon at night from the back of a Vespa scooter is a magical place. When you can sit in the open air behind a skilled driver. And you’ll see sights and hear sounds unavailable in an air-conditioned car. Guides show you both the popular and hidden parts of HCM City as well as introduce you to special restaurants and hidden-away eateries. All the more fun when you know that the food and drink are included in the price of the tour. Ho Chi Minh City is a wonderland of sights, smells, tastes, and experiences. No matter how long you stay. You’ll never be able to see it all. But the fun is in the attempt to see and experience as much as you can. Busy, vibrant, growing, and a mix of old-world charm and modern industry. So you’ll never regret adding HCM City to your Vietnam itinerary. Tags: Bitexco Financial Tower Ho Chi Minh city travel guide Jade Emperor Pagoda War Remnants Museum Previous postHanoi travel guide Next postMui Ne and Phan Thiet travel guide

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Home › LeBron James: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Players LeBron James: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Players Learn the Incredible Story of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Superstar LeBron James! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! An Amazon Best Seller, LeBron James: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Players, outlines the inspirational story of basketball's superstar, LeBron James. This short unauthorized biography of LeBron James highlights his journey so far in the NBA from once-doubted leader to perennial title contender. Few players demand as much excitement from crowds as LeBron James. It does not take a basketball fanatic to recognize and respect the name of LeBron James. Around the world, fans idolize LeBron for his unbelievable athletic prowess and collaborative team-based nature on the court. He has become one of the most respected and professional players in the league today. Read on to learn about LeBron James’ journey into the league, his first trip in Cleveland, his four years in Miami, as well as an outlook on his future since he has returned to Cleveland. LeBron James has had a legendary basketball career playing in the National Basketball Association. It’s no surprise why day in and day out, regardless of who is the latest trendy player, LeBron James remains undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and High School Years LeBron’s NBA Career – James’ Rise to All-Star, First Playoffs Appearance, First Trip to the Finals, and more The Decision – Villain Debut, Quest for the Championship, Repeat Title The Decision 2.0 – Returning Home LeBron James’ Personal Life King James’ Legacy & Future An excerpt from the book: LeBron James is a basketball player whose talent was home grown in the city of Akron, Ohio. Currently he is the unquestioned leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers and one of the most respected icons of sports history, James has accomplished great feats in a decade as a professional basketball player. A two-time NBA Champion with the Miami Heat, LeBron has received the Finals MVP twice, and assembled a collection of four MVP trophies. A complete cleaner on the stat sheet, James has also lead in the intangible areas of the game, specifically on the defensive end. LeBron has been a member of the All Defensive First Team for five years. People all around the world recognize his legendary persona. His current mission is to bring a title to his championship-deprived city of Cleveland. James is an international icon. In the business world, James has established himself as one of the powerhouse figures in sports marketing through his basketball play. The LeBron James brand is one of the most valuable in terms of sports branding. According to Forbes, James surpassed Tiger Woods in being one of the most valuable sports names in the world. His game, like his physical build, is something the world has never seen before. At an incredible 6’ 9”, James showed the ability to run the floor with a guard-like poise. Prior to the 2004 NBA season, the NBA and its fans never saw a specimen like James. Everything from his biological make-up to his ability to understand the game in a cerebral way seemed to be a manifestation of what was only created by a basketball god may. Contrary to what his doubters would have liked, LeBron appeared to seamlessly transition from his high school style of play into the NBA. His all-around ability to rebound, to dish to his teammates for an easy basket, and to devastate teams around the rim has never wavered, even as the talent around the league has improved over the years. Tags: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition I'm Staying with My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond The Mobologist's Story: Wanted by the most powerful crime family, only her church family could save her now

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Tag Archives: goofy 5/25/15: Zom-Beavers Wander By the Lake Al Kaplan, Bill Burr, Brent Briscoe, cabins, cheating boyfriends, cinema, Code Monkeys, Cortney Palm, dark comedies, dark humor, directorial debut, Ed Marx, electronic score, feature-film debut, film reviews, films, girls only weekend, goofy, gory films, horror, horror-comedies, Hutch Dano, isolation, Jake Weary, John Mayer, Jon Kaplan, Jonathan Hall, Jordan Rubin, Lexi Atkins, Movies, multiple writers, Peter Gilroy, Phyllis Katz, practical effects, Rachel Melvin, Rex Linn, Robert R. Shafer, silly films, sorority sisters, toxic waste spill, Troma films, writer-director, Zombeavers, zombie films, zombies There’s a point in Jordan Rubin’s ridiculously fun Zombeavers (2014) where our hapless heroes need to execute one of those standard “shoring up the defenses” scenes that’s as much a fixture of siege films as the actual siege itself. Working together, the group goes through all the familiar motions: moving dressers against doors, nailing boards across windows, frantically working to keep what’s outside from coming inside their small, isolated cabin. Despite their best efforts, however, it seems to be a losing battle, the gist of which isn’t lost on one of the exasperated survivors: “You do realize that the whole point of a beaver is it chops fucking wood, right?” It’s an astute observation but, more importantly, it’s a damn good line and pretty much par for the course in a debut feature that’s always more intelligent than it seems, never quite as crass as it means to be and an easy step above similarly goofy horror-comedy fare. Writer-director Rubin comes from a long background as a writer on TV comedies (most notably the crude but effective Crank Yankers and several late night shows, including Craig Kilborn and Carson Daly) and his script (co-written with Al and Jon Kaplan, who also handled the fabulous score, just as they did with the criminally under-rated Code Monkeys) is consistently smart, if constantly silly. The biggest coup? Rubin and company manage to take a fairly dumb concept (zombified beavers) and inject just enough genuine tension and action to keep the whole thing from floating away into the ether. Zombeavers may be the class cut-up but it sure as hell ain’t the class dunce. Kicking off with a fantastic gag involving a heavily disguised John Mayer and comedian Bill Burr as less than attentive truck drivers, we immediately get the nuts and bolts of the tale: a mysterious barrel falls off the truck, proceeds down a river and winds up at a beaver dam where it’s inspected by a couple of cute beaver puppets. If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably know what mysterious barrels that fall into rivers do and, by Jove, that’s just what happens here: exit the cute, friendly little beavers…enter…the zombeavers! Our cannon fodder, in this case, consists of a trio of sorority sisters, Mary (Rachel Melvin), Zoe (Cortney Palm) and Jenn (Lexi Atkins), who’ve headed into the woods for a “girls only” weekend. Jenn has just seen a photo of her boyfriend, Sam (Hutch Dano, grandson of Royal), canoodling with a strange girl (or, at least, the back of her head) and Mary and Zoe want to help take her mind off her misery. Or, to be more accurate, Mary does: for her part, Zoe is the kind of amazingly snarky, sarcastic and just plain shitty character who can either make or break a film and she’s a complete blast. While they settle in, the girls meet a local hunter, Smyth (Rex Linn), who flips the tired, old “leering redneck” cliché on its head by admonishing the young ladies’ skimpy bathing suits and “weird tattoos” rather than wolf-whistling. They also find the beaver dam from the beginning, although it’s now covered in neon-green “beaver piss,” so they keep their distance. As the “friends” play Truth or Dare, a pounding at the door begins as a fright but culminates in that other, great slasher film cliché: the crashing of the girls’ night out by their loutish boyfriends. Seems that ultra horny Zoe can’t go a weekend without screwing her equally horny boyfriend, Buck (Peter Gilroy), so she secretly invited him, along with Mary’s boyfriend, Tommy (Jake Weary) and good, old, cheatin’ Sam. With our crew assembled, it’s only a matter of time before the zombeavers rear their vicious little heads and, before they know it, our young lovers are knee-deep in ravenous, dead-eyed little dam-builders. When the group is forced to split-up, it seems that tragedy is looming ever nearer over the horizon. As they must deal with not only the very real outside threat but their own internal struggles, a new wrinkle emerges: this is a zombie film, after all, and we all know why it’s a good idea to keep those fellas at arm’s length. Will our plucky heroes be able to pull together and kick beaver ass or have they just been dammed? On paper, Zombeavers is a thoroughly ridiculous, silly concept, akin to something like Sharknado (2013) or FDR: American Badass (2012): after all, this is a film about zombified beavers…gravitas might seem slightly out-of-place, here. Thanks to a pretty great script, however (it’s probably one of the most quotable newer films I’ve seen), Zombeavers functions as more of a high-concept parody/homage than a lunk-headed bit of SyFy fluff. While it’s not in the same vaunted company as the stellar Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010), Zombeavers is pretty equitable to Mike Mendez’s fun Big Ass Spider! (2013) in that it mixes fun, dumb gags with more clever, subtle marginalia. One of my favorite bits in Zombeavers is a throwaway gag that features a teenage fisherman wearing a “#1 Dad” ball cap: it works on a number of levels but, most importantly, it’s the kind of absurd detail that makes the film’s world feel so much more complete than it could have, something akin to the immersive worlds of Troma films. Rubin and company throw a lot of schtick at the screen (particularly once we get to the last act “twist” that introduces a whole other, outrageous element to the proceedings) but most of it actually sticks, unlike something like the obnoxious, tone-deaf Sharknado. Part of this has to do with all of the aforementioned nifty little details but the whole thing would collapse if there wasn’t an incredibly game cast propping it up. Luckily, Zombeavers is filled with actors who perfectly understand the razor-thin line between “campy” and “stupid” and manage to (mostly) walk it with ease. While the central trio of Melvin, Palm and Atkins are set-up as rather feather-headed (particularly Melvin’s Mary), they have tremendous chemistry together: their scenes have such a quick, snappy pace to them that they handily recall films like Mean Girls (2004) or, to a lesser extent, Heathers (1988). While Melvin’s exquisite comedic timing and Atkins’ slightly ethereal bearing fit like a glove, the real standout is Palm’s Zoe. Time after time, Palm manages to swipe the film right from under the others, whether it’s the bit where she gleefully doffs her bikini top only to cover herself up when a bear looks at her or any of her perfectly delivered bon mots (her deadpan rejoinder of “Maybe you should try going down on me more often,” to Buck’s “I’ve never seen a real beaver before” is so perfectly delivered that it hurts). As befits their characters, the guys are pitched as pretty unrepentant, obnoxious horn-dogs but it works, for the most part, although Dano never seems to connect with his character in any meaningful way: his delivery always seems awkward and slightly off. Although Weary’s Tommy doesn’t get as much to do, Gilroy’s Buck is another highlight, just like his equally churlish girlfriend. While Gilroy’s delivery doesn’t always work (there are some definitively odd things that he does, beat-wise), he almost hits an Andy Kaufman-lite vibe when it does. His “my dick is asleep” bit starts out irritating but becomes oddly amusing (and weirdly charming) but moments like his bizarrely energetic sex scene (screaming “You’re way too hot for me!” as he enthusiastically humps away) or any of his great throwaway lines (“Who the fuck is crying on vacation day?!”…”I’ll see you in the bone zone!”) are all but essential to the film’s overall vibe. And back to that vibe: one of the most notable things about Zombeavers is that, despite the assumed crudity of the concept and execution, the film is anything but a collection of stupid “beaver” jokes and frat boy humor. If anything, Rubin’s script constantly pushes against those stereotypes, walking a fine line between embracing the clichés and setting them on fire. This isn’t to say that Zombeavers is wholesome family fare (penis-chomping, eye-gouging and Zoe’s boobs abound): it is to say, however, that Rubin and crew are smart and savvy enough to know that raunchy humor doesn’t have to be braindead…there’s nothing in this film that comes close to approximating the inanity of the aforementioned SyFy tripe, no matter how hard they try. As should be plainly obvious, I was quite taken with Zombeavers: as a directorial debut, it’s even more impressive. While not everything worked, the elements that really worked tended to soar: the last fifteen minutes of the film are so damned perfect that I, literally, cheered. Since the film ends with a direct, clever set-up for a sequel (there are other things in the woods besides beavers, after all), I’m hoping that Rubin can capitalize on what worked here and come roaring out of the gate on the next one. After all: any guy that can see the inherent, soul-shattering evil of those flat-tailed, buck-toothed bastards…well, he’s pretty alright in my book. 12/27/14 (Part One): Tongue Through Cheek Bruce Campbell, Chad Herschberger, cinema, co-writers, Doc of the Dead, documentaries, documentary, film reviews, films, George Romero, goofy, Greg Nicotero, horror films, interviews, Max Brooks, Movies, Night of the Living Dead, pop culture, Robert Kirkman, SImon Pegg, The Walking Dead, Tom Savini, voodoo, writer-director, zombie invasion, zombies Sometimes, it’s not what you say but how you say it. Take, for example, documentary filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe’s Doc of the Dead (2014). Chock full of fun interviews, interesting tidbits and plenty of in-depth history about the genesis and evolution of the zombie in both film and pop culture, there’s a lot to like here. Despite all of the good information, however, Philippe’s film still nearly sinks under the weight of its frequently flippant, mocking tone, especially when the film drops any “serious” pretensions and devolves into a series of silly zombie invasion spoofs and tedious musical skits. When Doc of the Dead isn’t taking cheap potshots at the sillier aspects of its subject matter (zombie survivalists, zombie porn and the like), it’s quite an interesting, fast-paced film, if decidedly lightweight. Philippe and co-writer/editor Chad Herschberger utilize the standard formula of plenty of “talking head” interviews (George Romero, Simon Pegg, Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Mel Brooks’ son/World War Z scribe Max Brooks, et al) alongside lots of film clips and the odd historical/epistemologial segment to give a pretty thorough overview of zombies in Western film, TV and pop culture. I stress “Western,” since the filmmakers manage to completely bypass such admittedly rich zombie treasure troves as the Italian gore films of the ’70s and ’80s and any of the over-the-top Asian zombie films that have cropped up in the past decade or so. While this would have, undoubtedly, broadened the focus of the film, I can’t help but feel that at least some mention of these other films would have been appropriate, if for no other reason than to point out how universal this particular horror trend has become in the past 40 years. Foreign omissions notwithstanding, my biggest and most critical complaint regarding Doc of the Dead has to be all of the silly digressions, goofy skits and tongue-in-cheek stupidity that sits uncomfortably next to the more serious scholarship. I’m not claiming that all documentaries need to be serious or even that a zombie-themed documentary could ever be completely serious…we are talking about re-animated corpses, after all, so some measure of suspension of disbelief is required, no matter how you tackle the subject. I will firmly state, however, that the split-tone in Philippe’s film made it impossible for me to ever be completely on-board. For every cool story related by Romero or interesting observation (zombie cinema is one of the only horror genres to develop from folklore rather than literature, for example, which is pretty interesting, when you think about it), there’s a dumb segment involving amateur re-imaginings of Night of the Living Dead (1968), a zombie music video or silly interview with survivalists about the best weapons to use in case of a zombie attack. The biggest problem with this tactic, quality of the goofy segments notwithstanding (and the quality really can be extraordinarily shabby, especially when compared to the relative polish of the rest of the film), is that it makes it seem as if the filmmakers don’t really care about their subject matter. This was the same team that put together The People vs George Lucas (2010), so they definitely have a reputation for irreverence, but the goofy tone just seems out-of-place most of the time. I found myself enjoying the “serious” parts of the film enough that I wanted more consistency but the inherently inconsistent nature of the film just made me tired and frustrated, by the end: I wanted more scholarship but the filmmakers wanted more “funny” scenes of badly made-up zombies stumbling around in domestic scenarios. Ultimately, I didn’t hate Doc of the Dead: there’s too much good stuff here to completely write off the film. I just wish that Philippe and crew had been able to maintain a more consistent tone or, barring that, were able to craft something as humorous and entertaining as Mark Hartley’s Machete Maidens Unleashed (2010), which managed to be both scholarly and flat-out funny. Fans of zombies in film, TV and pop culture will find plenty to enjoy about Doc of the Dead (although most fanatics will have heard most of this stuff before) but the film is too lightweight to make much of an impact beyond the true believers…and the truly patient.

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Revisions continue apace After several weeks of not feeling good about my revisions, I am unexpectedly, today, feeling much better. The problem I think is simply that I’ve grown a lot as a writer in the year since I last worked on this book. The book isn’t at fault. The book is still good. I mean it got me an agent, and it sold to HarperTeen. The book still contains so much of what I wanted to say and do and feel. But in the last year I’ve learned a lot about storytelling. And what I mean by that is the simple mechanics of aligning character, plot, and image so that they’re all working on the same level and working with the same themes. Right now the book is sort of all over the place when it comes to the actual events on the page. Although the essence of my story is still buried in there, it needs a lot of work to really come out. In this revision, I’m essentially doing what I’ve done with every revision to this book: I’m pulling back, making it less dramatic, more character-oriented, making the characters less powerful and less sure of themselves, less archetypical and more complex. The characters were already, even in this draft, much more complex than anything you’ve seen in YA before, but in the next draft they’re going to be so human. Over the last year, in the interval when I was waiting for this book to sell and waiting to get comments back, I worked on a novel for adults–tentatively titled The Storytellers–and in that book I really pushed myself to write only about the things that mattered the most to me. And I think it’s that experience, in which I learned to recognize and follow the heart of longing, that’s now influencing this book quite a bit. I’ve been writing and submitting for fifteen years. For at least eight of those years I’ve been writing novels. And this is the tenth novel I’ve written, the fifth to go on submission, the second to sell. And I’m still learning. Although maybe it’s safe to say that at this point I’m not so much learning “how to write a novel” as I’m learning “how to write my novels.” Anyway, for right now, at this moment, I am happy with how the work is turning out. In other news, I’ve been reading a lot of John O’Hara lately. I started with Appointment in Samarra, his most famous work, which was good, despite its rather severe flaws. John O’Hara was a novelist of manners who wrote in and about the 30s, 40s, and 50s. He is most often compared to F. Scott Fitzgerald, but I’d say he’s more of a realist than Fitzgerald. O’Hara was quite famous in his lifetime and had a very high opinion of himself–every year he stayed awake on the day they were announcing the Nobel Prizes because he was positive that a call was coming. Nowadays his books are still in print–I’ve been reading them in Penguin Classics versions–but I think it’d be fair to say his literary stock is rather lower than it was. This is, to my eyes, largely due to fashion. From any era, only a certain number of writers can remain well-known, and the writers who remain known are largely the ones who, to our eyes, embody the literature of the time. O’Hara’s time, at least in America, was the hey-day of modernism, which frequently involved conscious experimentation with form and language. As a result, the survivors have been Ralph Ellison, Faulkner, Hemingway, Salinger, Mailer, Shirley Jackson, Nabokov, Kerouac, Capote, Flannery O’Connor, etc. John O’Hara, in contrast, is writing wonderful, highly-polished, highly-mannered novels that would not have been too out of place at the turn of the century. He’s more the heir to Edith Wharton, early Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and the realist half of John Steinbeck. I venture to say that if he’d written either fifty years later or thirty years earlier he’d be a lot better remembered. Instead, like other realist writers of his era–Louis Auchincloss comes to mind–he hasn’t fared as well. I like his work a lot though. The novels of his that I’ve read BUtterfield 8 and Appointment in Samarra have been marred, to my eyes, by an insistence upon the dramatic. Appointment in Samarra involves a half-baked gangster subplot and BUtterfield 8 ends in a nonsensical suicide. Both books are best when they dwell on the simple minutiae of their characters’ lives and desires. His short stories, in contrast, especially in the volume I read (The New York Stories) don’t have this defect at all. They almost never outstay their welcome. Nor do they do this modern thing of hitting the ending too hard. They slip out quietly at the end, trusting to the narrative to do the work. I’m thinking, for instance, of the janitor who wins an office pool, fifteen dollars, and instead of taking it home to his wife, uses it to buy baseball tickets for himself and his son. It’s a quiet story that focuses on very simple and human dramas: it’s a story that elevates an ordinary day in an ordinary life. Many of his stories feature female protagonists, and most of them were quite good, but seeing all of his female protagonists lined up end to end was a little exhausting. They were universally either beautiful women or fading beauties, coasting on the past. Too many of them were actresses or singers. In aggregate, the stories felt a little bit too much focused on the effect these women had upon men. Oh, but I forgot to mention the most interesting thing about the collection. I listened to it on audible, and the audiobook has an incredible cast! The stories are narrated by a diverse set of film and TV actors. About a third seemed to be voiced by Dylan Baker, a character actor with a slimy drawl that is perfect for these stories. Jon Hamm makes a surprise appearance as the narrator of one story. And I particularly liked Gretchen Mol, who narrates many of the female parts. This is going to sound middlebrow, but I have a preference for celebrity narrators (over work-a-day voiceover artists), and it’s because I find they tend to give the performance a little more personality. The problem with professional audiobook narrators is that in their career they need to voice alot of books, so they can’t be too distinctive. You can’t think, every time you listen to a Grover Gardner book, “Oh, here’s Grover Gardner again.” But that means their narration tends to be quite workmanlike and efficient (They do tend to be a lot better than the stars at doing all the disparate voices in piece however). Whereas TV and film actors are only going to do 4-5 audiobooks, so they’re free to be themselves. Thus, if you listen to Jeremy Irons narrating Brideshead Revisited you are definitely gonna be listening to a voice that’s unmistakably Jeremy Irons. But that’s fine, because Jeremy Irons is great! FB, OtherR. H. Kanakia2 comments Revision is very important, but I don’t think it makes books more likely to sell Reading IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE 2 thoughts on “Revisions continue apace” Mark Clemens For great audio readers, Will Patton can’t be beat. R. H. Kanakia Sorry, this comment was caught in my spam, but thanks for the recommendation!!!! I just looked him up, and I see that Will has narrated a ton of books. I’m impressed. It’s like a whole second career for him.

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About Valarie Speaking Programs & Opportunities Revolutionary Love Film, TV & Essays TV + Stage Valarie Kaur: Civil rights activist, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, author, & Sikh American Voice The Center for American Progress names Kaur “a standout figure in the world of interfaith organizing and activism.” Her new venture, the Revolutionary Love Project, champions the ethic of love in an era of rage. Valarie Kaur is a seasoned civil rights activist, award-winning filmmaker, lawyer, faith leader, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. She was born and raised in Clovis, California, where her family settled as Sikh farmers in 1913. When a family friend was the first person killed in a hate crime after September 11, 2001, she began to document hate crimes against Sikh and Muslim Americans, which resulted in the award-winning film Divided We Fall. Since then, she has made films and led story-based campaigns on hate crimes, racial profiling, immigration detention, solitary confinement, marriage equality, and Internet freedom. She is the founder of Groundswell Movement, considered “America’s largest multifaith online organizing network,” recognized for “dynamically strengthening faith-based organizing in the 21st century.” She also founded the Yale Visual Law Project, where she trained law students how to make films for social change, and co-founded Faithful Internet to build the movement for net neutrality. Recognized as a leading Sikh American voice, she has been a Senior Fellow at Auburn Theological Seminary since 2013. During her work, whether inside supermax prisons, on the military base at Guantanamo, or at sites of mass shootings, she identified a surprising key element for social change: the ethic of love. Today she leads the Revolutionary Love Project to champion love as a force for justice and wellspring for social action. Valarie earned undergraduate degrees in Religious Studies and International Relations at Stanford University, a master’s in theological studies at Harvard Divinity School, where she was a Harvard University Presidential Scholar, and a J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was a Knight Law and Media Scholar. She has worked on complex civil rights cases, clerked on the Senate Judiciary Committee and served as a legal observer at Guantanamo Bay. She was a faculty member of the Stanford Philosophy Institute, teaching high school students religion and philosophy. Valarie was recognized as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. She has an honorary doctorate from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is a member of the California Bar. ``a standout figure in the world of interfaith organizing and activism`` — The Center for American Progress Divided We Fall (2008) – Valarie’s first film with director Sharat Raju toured in 200 U.S. cities, won a dozen international awards, and became known as the go-to documentary on post-9/11 hate crimes. The Divided We Fall Campaign inspired dialogues on 100+ campuses and communities in the 2008 and 2016 election seasons. In 2016, Kaur and Raju created Seva Productions to support entertainment and social justice projects. Alienation (2011), a short film, follows families swept up in immigration raids Stigma (2011), a short film, chronicles youth encounters with stop-and-frisks The Worst of the Worst: Portrait of a Supermax (2012), a documentary on the practice of solitary confinement, helped win policy change in Connecticut and is now used by activists around the country Oak Creek: In Memorium (2012), a viral short film on the 2012 mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, helped the Sikh community win historic federal policy change on hate crimes. Television, Print & Stage Keynote Speaker at the White House and Pentagon under the Obama administration, the United Nations, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and on more than 300 U.S. college campuses. Opinion contributor to CNN, NPR, PBS, The Huffington Post, The Hill, and the Washington Post. Regular television commentator on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry Show (2012-14) Keynote speaker with the U.S. State Department in Burma, aiding the country’s transition from dictatorship into democracy Co-creator and keynote speaker of the 2016 Together Tour. Delivered commencement addresses, including the Stanford University Baccalaureate address for the Class of 2013. MLK Award from Florida International University (2018) Harvard Divinity School’s Peter J. Gomes Memorial Honors, the school’s alumni award (2016) Honored as a “Young Global Leader” by World Economic Forum (2015) American Courage Award Recipient by Asian Americans Advancing Justice (2013) “Person of the Year” for Leadership & Service by India Abroad (2013) Community Service Award by the South Asian Bar Association of Connecticut (2012) Commendations by the City of Clovis and the State of California Commendation by the State of California for excellence in leadership and public service (2006) Recipient of Stanford University’s Golden Medal in the Humanities (2003) Named one of the “20 Most Influential Moms of 2017” in Family Circle Distinguished Catalyst for Change Speaker at the National Civil RIghts Museum (2017) Featured in Verve’s Power Moment 2017 for propagating the message of Revolutionary Love in a time of hate Featured in VICE’s “You Know Who Rules?” series on the women leaders of 2017 Featured as one of the “Women Who Won Net Neutrality” in Slate (2015) Named among 13 progressive faith leaders to watch by the Center for American Progress (2013) Named one of eight Asian American “Women of Influence” by Audrey Magazine (2013) Selected as an American Swiss Young Leader, one of twenty-five by American Swiss Foundation (2012) Named a Visionary Leader by World Pulse Magazine (2011) Youth Leadership Award, Sikh American Legal & Education Defense Fund (2013) Leadership Award, Sikh American Chamber of Commerce (2012) Mai Bhago Spirit of Vaisakhi Award for Outstanding Service, Sikh Dharma International (2008) Community Service Seva Award, Centennial Foundation (2007) Sikh American Heritage Award, Sikh Council on Religion and Education (2007) Leadership and Scholarship “Miri-Piri” Award, Sikh Center of Orange County (2007) Service Award, Punjabi American Festival (2007) Download Valarie's Bio Click on the icon above to download Valarie Kaur's Bio High-Resolution Images Click on an thumbnail below to download a high-resolution image Valarie Kaur is a seasoned civil rights activist, award-winning filmmaker, lawyer, faith leader, and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project. She harnesses love as a shared practice to fight for social justice. She believes “the way we make change is just as important as the change we make.” Happy Gurpurab Eighteen Years Ago Today… #NoMoreBystanders COPYRIGHT © VALARIE KAUR, All Rights Reserved. THE BOOK OF REVOLUTIONARY LOVE: A MEMOIR & MANIFESTO SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES. JOIN THE REVOLUTION. Coming in 2020:

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Health, Science & History Egypt Threatens Removal of Ancient Central Park Obelisk Welcome to the Unhypnotize Truth Community! A great place to discuss conspiracies, UFOs, NWO, truth, reality and enlightenment. • » Conspiracies Discussions • » UFOs and Extraterrestrial • » Spiritual and Paranormal • » World and Alternative News Its time to wake up to the global conspiracy...and move beyond... Our community is here to spread truth, discuss the Global Conspiracy and the world wide Truth Movement! YES! I want to register for free right now! Thread: Egypt Threatens Removal of Ancient Central Park Obelisk January 9th, 2011, 11:36 AM #1 THE FRIENDLY GHOST South of Canada Since 1881, the obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle has stood in New York's Central Park, but a letter from the secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities indicates that this may change if the monument is not taken better care of. Recently, Zahi Hawass, the aforementioned secretary general and archaeologist, wrote to the Central Park Conservancy and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to inform them that if steps are not taken to protect the obelisk, it would be removed. [Image of obelisk] "I am glad that this monument has become such an integral part of New York City, but I am dismayed at the lack of care and attention that it has been given," Hawass wrote. "Recent photographs that I have received show the severe damage that has been done to the obelisk, particularly to the hieroglyphic text, which in places has been completely worn away. I have a duty to protect all Egyptian monuments whether they are inside or outside of Egypt. If the Central Park Conservancy and the City of New York cannot properly care for this obelisk, I will take the necessary steps to bring this precious artifact home and save it from ruin." The obelisk was originally one of a pair - the other currently resides in London - built around 1500 B.C. to honor Pharaoh Thutmose III. They were placed in the ancient city Heliopolis in Egypt, where they sat for a little over 1,500 years until 18 A.D., when they were taken by the Romans and placed at the entrance of the Ceasarium in Alexandria, according to TravellersinEgypt.com, a website that compiles information from people who have traveled in Egypt. In 1869, to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal, the Khedive of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, gave the United States the obelisk that now sits in Central Park. The gift was an attempt to cultivate trade relations between the two countries, according to the Central Park Conservancy. It would still take another decade for the obelisk to reach the park. U.S. Navy Lieutenant-Commander Henry H. Gorringe was charged with the task of transporting the 71-foot (21 meter), 224-ton obelisk from Alexandria to New York City. The project was funded by William H. Vanderbilt, at the cost of $102,576, according to TravellersinEgypt.com. When the obelisk finally reached the shores of the Hudson, there were still 112 days left in its journey to its current location. Gorringe had to build a track to transport the obelisk on land to Central Park (the obelisk moved about 100 feet per day across 96th Street to Broadway, south to 86th St., and east toward the park), then raise the monument into its assigned location, according to Archaeology Magazine. The obelisk was erected in January 1881 in Central Park; nearly two-and-a-half years after Gorringe first set sail for Alexandria. Hawass finished his letter, which is posted on his blog, by writing "I strongly urge you to focus your efforts on saving this obelisk and preserving it for future generations. I am confident that you can find the resources in New York City to conserve this monument properly and pay this treasure the respect that it deserves. I eagerly await your prompt reply." When asked about Hawass' concern that the obelisk wasn't being well taken care of, Vickie Carp, director of public affairs for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation told LiveScience, "that's not true." A statement from Jonathan Kuhn, director of Art and Antiquities for the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation states: "We have been working in recent years with the Metropolitan Museum and the Central Park Conservancy to further analyze the condition of the obelisk and monitor its condition. There is no evidence at this point of any significant ongoing erosion." In a perfect world, our dreams will be fulfilled. There would be no hard work or planning ahead, because everything you want would be given to you. In the real world, where we all live, rewards must be earned. The problem most people have is in the day-to-day details of accomplishment. Accomplishment takes a lot of time, sacrifice and effort, and that’s the real rub for a lot of people. But, as Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” uplana UHF Member Re: Egypt Threatens Removal of Ancient Central Park Obelisk I think the stone was cracked due to erosion from rain. They should take action to preserve it inside a museum. Meanwhile, its the property of people of New York. Egypt displeased with treatment of obelisk in NYC By CASPER in forum Dinosaurs & Fossils Last Post: January 9th, 2011, 04:04 PM Alternative History - Could the Pyramids of Egypt have been an ancient weapon? By day in forum Alternate History Ancient boat excavated near London Olympic Park Friday, March 6, 2009 By ricklbert in forum Off Topic alexandria, ancient, antiquities, archaeologist, archaeologists, artifact, artifacts, cern, cleopatra, egypt, new york, new york city, obelisk, usa Pinterest - Pin It -- Truth Seeker Blue -- Dark Blue Conspiracy -- Default Mobile Style Unhypnotize Forum Our network of websites: Consumer Electronics Help | Recipe Helpers | Conspiracy Discussions Copyright © 2007 - 2020, Unhypnotize™. All rights reserved.

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S/10639* DOCUMENT S/10639* Letter dated 11 May 1972 from the representative of Israel to the Secretary-General On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to draw your attention to a grave act of air piracy perpetrated by Arab terror agents who act with the support and encouragement of Arab Governments. In the early hours of the evening of 8 May 1972, armed agents of the terror organization "Black September" captured a civilian aircraft of the Sabena Belgian World Airlines on its regular flight 517 from Brussels to Lod, Israel. Ninety passengers and 10 crew embers were aboard the plane. The hijackers brought the aircraft to a landing at Lod at 1915 hours local time. They then contacted the control tower of the airport and transmitted a demand to release members of Arab terror organization detained in Israel. Among those whose release was demanded were confessed criminals responsible for such acts as the murder of innocent civilians at a bus station, in a supermarket and in a theatre. The hijackers threatened that if their demands were rejected, the aircraft would be blown up with all its passengers and crew. Contact with the hijackers continued to be maintained by the airport's tower throughout the night and on the following day. On 9 May at 1630 hours, a unit of the Israel Defence Forces gained control of the aircraft and freed all the passengers and members of the crew. In the course of this action, two of the hijackers were killed and two others (women) captured. While the hijackers were in control of the aircraft and the 100 persons aboard, including many women and children, remained in danger of being murdered in cold blood, voices of triumph and glee came from the Arab States. Radio Cairo declared on the morning of 9 May: "Those who followed the hijacking of the plane could not conceal their tears of joy." The Beirut daily El-Yom wrote on 9 May: "The hijacking operation is only one stage in the great historic confrontation between the Arabs and Zionism." On the same day, the El-Fatah broadcast from Derra, Syrian Arab Republic: "All glory... to the fedayeen of Black September." At the same time, Egypt's representative at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Santiago boastfully proclaimed in the plenary: "These are not terrorists . .. but Palestinian fedayeen who are trying to liberate their land and they shall liberate their land." Thus Arab Governments and Arab media of information have once again, in a moment of bloodthirsty ecstasy, identified themselves with the most despicable crimes, directed against innocent and helpless civilians, condemned by the United Nations and proscribed by international law and international instruments. When the 100 persons aboard the plane were finally saved, the Arab reaction, given wide publicity in Arab information media, was openly one of disappointment and of abuse against Israel for having acted to curb outlaws engaged in this crime of piracy. I should like to emphasize again that the terror organizations responsible for such crimes have enjoyed the support of Arab Governments, in particular of Egypt, the Syrian Arab Republic, Algeria and Lebanon, which continue to harbour on their territory the bases from which these organizations operate, grant them financial assistance, supply them with arms, give them military training and provide political backing. Thus the "Black September" group maintains its headquarters in Beirut and purchases its arms in Lebanon. Its members receive military training in the Syrian Arab Republic and Algeria. It enjoys the full support of Egypt. The barbaric air piracy foiled by Israel reflects not only the criminality of the activities of Arab terror organizations, but also the involvement and responsibility of the Arab Governments, whose true attitude and designs were demonstrated anew in all their and malice disregard for international obligations. The international community cannot permit the continuation of such activities. I have the honour to request that this letter be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly and the Security Council. (Signed) Yosef TEKOAH Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations

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He who cannot obey himself will be commanded. That is the nature of living creatures.... Missing out while not existing I haven't existed for thousands of years that Homo Sapiens were populating this planet. I don't feel I was 'missing out' on anything for tens of thousands of years. Right now I exist here but (well, presumably) not in any parallel universe or other planets and that doesn't seem to bother me either. How comes? Shouldn't it also be 'missing out' on all the potential experiences I could have had but will not as I'm only limited to this one life on this one planet for a few decades? Why should I not regret not existing before my time or not existing simultaneously in other places but see these few decades I have today as something I would have been deprived of had I not been born? Once I've realized that when you don't exist you can't possibly 'miss out' on anything, because you're unable to register it and thus, regret the fact, I've found the state (so to say, 'state') of not needing anything far preferable than any kind of existence. Do you regret that you're not awake when you're asleep? Deep sleep that is, where you're not even watching 'cartoons'? Do you wake up feeling 'oh damn, what a horrible few hours of missing out, thank god i'm back'? Well, you might, actually, when something great is happening in your life and you don't really want to spend much time sleeping. I know the state of not wanting to go to bed when I'm really excited about some new creative project and I'd love to spend hours and days just doing that without attending to my physical body's needs, but..oh well, thats but one of the examples of the limitations we're under in this world that we've accepted and adapted to. But the point stands, that to even regret you've been unconscious for some period of time and 'missed out' on some actual or potential great time in this world, you have to first become conscious again. You have to come to existence to be able to regret not existing. And you will never regret your non-existence if you never exist. So how can we even begin to talk of missing something out? They throw this phrase at you sometimes, to many childfree people they do, that 'well, if your parents thought like you, you wouldn't even exist'. Duh... So? How often do you weep over the times you didn't exist? Below is a tragic picture depicting most of the human history I wasn't a part of: Whoever is a real author of this image, mopo.ca or bulletinboardforum.com, thank you! What a brilliant illustration of all the fun I've been deprived of for thousands of years! ;) This post is an extention of the point I've made in my earlier post on antinatalism published on 01-09-2012 under philosophy and psychology More posts from this category: Not fond of lyingCommitment, marriage, love, etc,,, Zenner Fine and original points you're making here... a pleasure to read your well-articulated and spicy thoughts, as always. Loved the illustration (very illustrative, indeed), and even more enchanted by the comment under it (ahaha)! Even though I have little hope of ever seeing people realise how scarce and limited "the pleasures they would be missing out" are... (and peak pleasurable moments exist, admittedly) and, therefore, even though I know most of them will always defend the fun they're having to the point of exhaustion... (and we know why, don't we?), well, I cant'help fighting to my point of exhaustion too! Obviously, I wouldn't bother to utter all this and risk making someone a bit unstable for a while if it weren't for their future offspring. Strange how some of us care for these kids more than their own future parents do... Thanks, Zenner! And the illustration is really great, I love it)) I wouldn't bother to utter all this and risk making someone a bit unstable for a while if it weren't for their future offspring. Strange how some of us care for these kids more than their own future parents do... I'm talking about it also because I simply want to. Why should I censor my thoughts and pretend I like the king's new dress? I didn't choose to be here, the least I'm owed is a chance to express my true attitude. True, soo true. Besides, in our countries, stoning is not legal anymore... Which reminded me of this saying: It's nice to see I'm not the only one thinking along this line. Apparently, people utter “if your parents thought like you, you wouldn't even exist” with the intent of shocking the other into silence. And with a perceptive observation of theirs to boot: that no children are born when people do not conceive them. Are you awed by our superior mental powers yet? Go and breed then. We need more human( resource)s. I wonder what would be an effective retort to that utterance. “And who do you think would miss me?” Or a sarcastic “oh, how many people do you miss who never were”? Though even the first one might give some of them a clue, it might make others a bit supportive, telling you not to be so negative, you are a nice person after all, somebody would surely miss you… At which point you start laughing uncontrollably, confusing and infuriating them thoroughly. I wonder what would be an effective retort to that utterance I prefer 'So?' I like to leave it to them to explain what is that they're trying to point out by their brilliant logical conclusion of 'you wouldn't even exist'. They begin trying to explain to you further what they mean in sheer astonishment of your unwillingness to take their 'you wouldn't even exist' line as a 'case closed'. - but you would not even be here to think that, or to talk, or to walk, there would be no you at all, do you understand? - yes, I do, I wouldn't have existed at all, so?? [a few more similar lines back and forth until they finally make a value judgement that my non-existence would have been smth bad] - oh you mean it would be bad for me not to exist? - yeah! - so you mean to say all those tens of thousands of years that humanity went without me were bad? for me? sorry, I can't remember that, i think that might be because I didn't exist all that time to record my non-existence into my memory. maybe for the rest of humanity it was bad that I wasn't with them? yes, I remember history books mentioning that in every century papers released a story about how an unborn Irina Uriupina is thoroughly being missed: 'oh god, we can't take it any longer, we miss that not yet born lady so much, we don't think we'll be able to wait much longer!' i don't have a brother. my parents don't miss him. i don't miss him. my friends don't call saying 'oh btw, when are your parents gonna have that son, we're really missing your brother'. you can't be missed before you're born, unless you're born. sure, if you're just a pack of muscles, maybe a slave owner can miss you not being born to join his work force. but he is incapable of missing you as a person. even parents didn't miss you as a person. they would have loved (or hated, or didn't care for (takes all kinds)) any person that originated in the consciousness they gave birth to. so nobody needed you as a personality either. some people might like you, some may fall in love with you as a person, but if it weren't you it would have been somebody else they liked and loved. and btw, how do you know you're not that somebody else instead of somebody more perfect for them? ;) is your head cracking yet? relax, take a deep breath, hold on to your sense of humour. because everyone else is in exactly the same situation as you are. so we can all have a good laugh and support each other in this crazy world)) Thank you again Irina. You really are a breath of fresh air. My Dad, a self-taught philosopher, felt aggrieved that he had no part in the biggest decisions of his life, namely whether to be born and whether to die. It has taken me nearly a lifetime to see the justice of his complaint. Thanks for the comment, David. Better late than never. Some people refuse to admit disappointing facts at all, even when they're in front of their very eyes. Very good entry, Irina. I think the whole 'but they're missing out on so much' is a standard reply of pronatalists when the idea that people shouldn't created is floated by. But proto-people who don't come into life aren't missing anything, in fact they're being spared a whole pile of crap. I wrote a blog entry recently along the same lines: http://saynotolife.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/dont-mistake-compensations-for.html Unfortunately, most people are desperate to believe that the mere fact of being alive is a kind of triumph, a 'victory' in itself. They ignore quality of life and also most tend to spew out some variety of nature-worship to justify procreation. And what great poster! Would like to have it on my bedroom wall:-) Thanks, Karl! I usually enjoy your writing, and that new entry you mentioned is especially hitting the nail: compensating someone for the harm isn't a justification for causing that harm. most people are desperate to believe that the mere fact of being alive is a kind of triumph I actually think we develop some sort of a stockholm syndrome with regards to life. Believing it is some kind of a gift makes it easier for most of us. That no matter how much your life is a draggery that is accomplishing nothing, you're still lucky you have it, and you don't have to feel down. I thought of editing that picture and putting arrows with 'here i am not existing, right here' to make it even more visual a depiction of 'missing out'. But I can't, it's somebody's creative work, they may not appreciate me rendering it in any way, much less in such an unpopular context. Dima Sokol Very sound reasoning I love reading your entries here Indeed so. We haven't existed for billions of years, so why should we regret that time? Do I regret not being there when the first molecule that led to this nightmare was assembled? Do I regret not being there when the universe (presumably) was created during the big bang? Do I regret not seeding life on Mars or billions (perhaps infinite) other galaxies out there? Do I regret that the infinity of potential existences did not have the experiences we had? Do we regret the infinity of potential experiences THEY could have had?! Its pure MADNESS if we follow that chain on and on. If we follow the common folks logic, then we should be regretful every waking moment of every day. Regretful about the things I outlined above, about the fact that we are wasting our potential experiences we could have had had we not made this or that choice or about us not being OTHER people with different set of experiences/personality, regretful about any combination of any variable that could have had any effect on our lives at all (gender, looks, parents, birthplace, genetics, etc). There really is no END to the things we could have regretted if we follow the common logic of "regret", but that would drive anyone insane in a second and isn't keeping sanity while alive at least somewhat important so we could spread the message of AN and stop the spreading of this curse of consciousness? I would hurtle back the "regret accusation" at anyone who says it because THEY robbed us of our peace of non-existence and therefore brought the POTENTIAL existence all the way from nothingness to "somethingness" and now the POTENTIAL for regret suddenly materialized in its infinite forms and its no longer peace but pure physical/mental carnage and warfare. There really are no redeeming qualities to life. I cannot justify life at all. All possible rationals are a failure. Life is an abbatoir that shreds any semblance of peace to small pieces and makes us yearn for non-existence that preceded any "need", any "desire", any "action". How's existence "allowed" to even exist?! The dumb molecule evolved all the way to us who cannot possibly comprehend this vast creation of the cosmos (that is incomprehensible to it since it did not evolve for that task) and now this aberration, this mistake of evolution is attempting to portray itself as a "gift", even though for all intents and purposes, conscious existence is a nightmare and looking at the cosmos is the only confirmation one needs at how utterly expendable and incomprehensibly small and pitiful we are as a species. Universe cannot possibly care about an evolutionary mistake and seizing the spread of this "deadly disease" is the only way to ensure things go back to the way they were before the molecule evolved - to the state of complete equilibrium, lack of any consciousness and the universal default. However the universe was born or however it will die, consciousness that suffers through its mistaken evolution and the subsequent distortion the species introduced on top of that grand miscalculation (i.e. capitalism and every other human folly) should have never been a part of that and its time for us to stop forcefully making consciousness aware of its accursed origin and demise and time to make it go back to the peacefulness of non-existence. When it comes to the things addressed in this post, whether it's better to have lived at all, I think about it from a neuroscience perspective. We live day to day, doing all that we do in hopes that the experiences that we have will make us feel happy. We want our brains to release these chemicals and we'll do just about anything to feel good inside. That makes me think of a thought experiment. Imagine if computer scientists eventually succeed in emulating thought and reasoning within machines, and robots are eventually able to do all the work of life for us. Then I further considered the possibility of placing the brain in a vat and constantly filling it with drugs that make you feel total bliss. And further imagine we have little nanorobots which repair the brain damage the drugs are doing to your brain. Your consciousness is shot into total euphoria. You think to yourself, "I love everything! I feel so wonderful inside!" And while you sit in a stupor, like a heroine addict who just shot up in the corner, the robots and advanced technology keep you alive. They also tend to all the everyday concerns of life on Earth. Sadly, that's the ultimate state of existence I could think of for a human being. The way we live now, we're forced to earn our happiness and release of reward chemicals in our brains. We have to struggle, oftentimes in vain, to find experiences and causes that make us feel alive and happy. But why bother with that whole process? Jump straight to happiness and the release of reward chemicals. We can't do that today because we'd die. And that brings us to the next point. You mention possibilities. We imagine all these different possibilities because we wonder if we'd have been happier had things gone differently. But in this case that no longer matters. We just sort of shift the toils of existence onto the robots and send our subjective consciousness elsewhere, or at least, dull it to reality. Interesting stuff. But I'm thinking, why is it that we're always thinking of ways to exist at all? We have this bias that sort of presupposes existence is preferable to non-existence, theat there's some necessity or intrinsic good in there being some organism capable of experiencing positive sensations and it experiencing those sensations. ...there's a bug sitting on my screen! hehe)) Ok, back to the subject. Why is having people in bliss preferable to there being no people who need bliss? Besides, we can't put infitnite number of people in that state. There are always going to be those never born, in non-existence. Today I think of non-existence as that nirvana buddhists dream about. Your personality is one with an absolute, you sort of dissolve in the cosmic nothing and you have no problems. Perhaps they see it differetly, but that's how it appears to me... You may run into a problem there though. We don't really understand why brain activity causes subjective feelings of consciousness. When you place food in your mouth, I could hook your brain up to a brain scanner, say a fMRI machine, and see all the electrical and metabolic activity going on. Thing is, I never experience you actually tasting the food you're eating. I never experience your taste of a glass of cola, or the pains you're going through if you have a headache. I just see little blips of electrical activity. While I may have no way of directly knowing whether or not you're conscious, I have faith that you are. Your brain is just like mine, and I know my brain is producing subjective feelings of existing, so yours almost certainly is as well. To me, that's the most important truth there is. Suffering and happiness of sentient beings. I kind of get a vibe that you feel the same way after watching your videos, and seeing your concern for the suffering of animals. When we die, I'm certain that both you and I as we know us, all our memories, hopes, dreams, desires, all gone. That's all in our brain and when we die, so long. I don't see how "I" could survive and go on to the afterlife as Jason. My memories are stored in the patterns and chemical bonds within my brain's neurons, and that all rots back to dirt. But, there is one possibility that could happen. You're supposing that that's the end. Eternal nonexistence. Maybe Irina's gone, and Jason's gone, but something could happen. What if you're reborn into this same universe? Or another universe? Maybe even back on Earth? You may shrug you head and say, "Eh', reincarnation? Really? No way." But hear me out. I'm not saying that will happen. I don't know. Nobody does. But I personally believe there is a chance, mainly because I was born. We so often focus on death and the brain and say, "Once the brain stops, that's the end of you." But we were also once born and the beginning of that processes started from random quantum fluctuations. Space-time is always jiggling and new universes can be born from it. As a physicist, I hear all the different cosmological theories about universes being born from the quantum vacuum, and parallel universes. It seems possible to me that matter in another universe could go through some evolutionary process, similar to what has happened in our universe, and sentient life could arise again. The same brutal struggle could continue on and on, and you may "wake up" in a place just like this one. Consciousness is hard to pin down. Take sleep for instance. When you go to sleep, during REM you have dreams. For about an hour and a half to two hours each night, you're living in a dream world, but you don't always remember it. I rarely remember my dreams. Francis Crick says this happens when our brain is undergoing a sort of maintenance, clearing out the old unused memories. As best I understand it, if you wake up during this period, your brain is caught in the middle of this cleaning process and hasn't wiped all the memories yet so you'll remember your dream. Time didn't even really flow as you know it now in this dream world, but you were existing in some weird way. Now I have to drop the new-agey bomb. *cringes* You may have lived past lives but not remember them, similar to how you've had dreams and consciously existed yet don't remember that experience either. In the end, I don't really know. It's all speculation, but it seems possible to me that I'll be reborn. It's also possible it'll be eternal rest, the sort of nirvana you're speaking of. But if we are reborn, we'll wake up instantly, similar to the feeling a person has when they were in a coma. They don't remember the months or even years they laid there unconscious. Waking up to a new life, we wouldn't remember anything at all. The final conclusion is that it might be impossible to not subjectively exist. I entertain the idea. It seems possible to me that matter in another universe could go through some evolutionary process, similar to what has happened in our universe, and sentient life could arise again. The same brutal struggle could continue on and on, and you may "wake up" in a place just like this one. I've heard this argument before. But that has nothing to do with us dealing with our problem here on Earth. Now I have to drop the new-agey bomb. *cringes* You may have lived past lives but not remember them If we establish a really low standard of what we consider plausible we can fairly say that almost any bolony might be real. Maybe we've lived on the planet of the apes or smth, so what? We could take unfounded wild guesses like that endlessly. I don't think wild assumptions can be used as grounds for actions/inactions. For example, I wouldn't accept some religious nut saying 'I'm not gonna take my kid to the doctor becase I believ god will heal them'. Why should be take reincarnation beliefs any more seriously? The final conclusion is that it might be impossible to not subjectively exist. I suggest separating the two: whether it would be preferable/desirable/right thing to do and whether it would be possible/impossible. I've asked 'Why is having people in bliss preferable to there being no people who need bliss?' Then, whether it's possible is another matter. Because people can still agree smth is preferable and disagree on whether its feasible. Since I find it preferable, I'd argue that we should for graceful ways of implementing it. If we wake up somewhere again - we would have tried and failed, but we would have tried. Oh well, we might find out anyway if nucear war or smth like that takes place. It's just not going to be pleasant. I suppose it is a wild assumption, but there do seem to be times when these issues become very important. I'll address your main question as to whether it's preferable to have people living in bliss or nonexistence, but first maybe I can bring the problem of self-continuity more down to Earth? (though there's still speculation) Say we can build teleporters like you see in Star Trek, but they require us to destroy your body, store your information pattern in the computer, and then reassemble you at the other end. Your brain was destroyed and then you were rebuilt someplace else at a later time. Did you die and someone else wake up in your place? Or is that still "you"? Would using a machine like that be considered murder? What if we keep your information pattern in the computer for years and then finally reassemble you? How long before your subjective consciousness flys off? Say you're put under anaesthesia and are rendered unconscious. We then perform brain surgery. If we only slightly altered your brain, or repaired some damage, or removed a small tumor, everyone seems to agree the person who wakes up after the surgery is still them. But let's say your technology was very advanced and we could pretty much rewire the entire brain and rebuild them a new body. We program in a false set of memories, change their gender, and give them a different personality. Then we wake this new person up. Would that same subjective "self" "wake up" as this new person? Or would we be dealing with another person? How much can a person's brain and body be changed and them continue to be "them"? We do change day by day as we learn new things, having new experiences, etc. This leads to changes in our brains and somewhat even our bodies. But in this situation, the changes are not gradual, we're making the changes very abrupt. No self-continuity. BAM. You're this then you're that. You're put under, totally change everything, and then we wake you up. Can you do that? What does that mean? Let's take another possibility. Say you die and have long since rotted away, but we happen to have a backup of you from years ago. Your brain and body are physical things. We could, in theory, reassemble you. Would you then be resurrected but as a previous version of who you once were, as say a young teenager? What if we built two of your exact same brain and bodies. Which one would you wake up as? Maybe neither? Maybe as one or the other? It doesn't seem plausible to claim both. All of these seem to me to be the exact same problem. Maybe it will be a little easier if we assume that nobody dies or even goes unconscious? Say two people are put in an operating room and using nanotechnology we slowly begin to wire their brains together. Both of them remain wide awake throughout the whole operation. At what point do they become a single organism, a single consciousness? How would we define that? How much information sharing do they have to have before they're just one organism? Or take split brain patients. Their corpus callosum is split and we nearly have two brains pretty much working on their own. Are there two different subjective consciousnesses living in that person's head? Whether consciousness can reside in different mediums is yet another question to consider. If we build advanced computers which are built with principles similar to our brain's design, processing information in the same sort of ways but are made of metal and silicon, might they too be conscious? Should they be treated as sentient beings? Or are these robots just a hunks of metal acting similar to a human or animal? You make a great point though. Just like in religion, this stuff opens up the door to almost limitless speculation and lot of baloney, without any real hard evidence or method to pin down what the truth is. I personally hate it. Believing that the other people around me are sentient and alive, having subjective conscious experiences just like I am, is one of the most important tenants of my personal philosophy. Since they're conscious and can suffer, ethics and morality become important. But I can't observe this consciousness in any way. I have to believe it exists. But once I try to ask myself when it's there and when it isn't, it's really difficult. Like should I worry about the suffering of a worm or an insect? Now I'll move on to your question. "Why is having people in bliss preferable to there being no people who need bliss." I don't know. This sort of goes back to what I said in the beginning -- life holds out this carrot in front of us and we have to chase what makes us feel happy. I came to the conclusion that it'd be preferable if people were always feeling happy, and in order to ensure that, I went with a solution in which happiness wasn't based on chasing anything or dependent upon any conditions. A constant stream of happiness for all alive. You're going a step further. No conscious awareness of this existence at all. No trying to improve it. No changes. I get the impression you want to totally unplug and never wake up. It's a heavy question. I can try to add some thoughts. Can you actually compare something with nothing? What could something have in common with nothingness? I don't know what we could relate it to? To say something is preferable to something else, it has to be put against some objective standard. We'd need some sort of rule, and then we'd need to show why that rule is more important than any other rule or scale anyone else can come up with. Others will say, "Why should I care about this scale you've came up with? Life is a good thing. I'm pretty happy. I don't like your conclusions." I see most people responding to this conversation in that way. Once you came up with this ultimate rule, which condemns all existence as we know it, and maybe all possible forms of existence, we'd need to measure this world and assume that every life lived has a negative score. I don't really believe that would prove that non-existence is always preferable to being alive, but it's an interesting question. It'd be a very dark and pessmistic scale, but I'd be curious to hear about anything anyone is able to come up with. If we deal with the less difficult question of the ethics of assisted suicide, we could talk about quality of life issues and how it's unethical to make people endure life when they have so little to look forward to. You make your points very clear, really, one example would suffice as well What you call a 'subjective conciousness' I guess could be also called a 'self' or a personality or identity. I've spent quite some time thinking sbout it as well. And my conclusion is - we are basically computers with a slightly different wiring. We are not born with a personality, we develop it, it's a product of us interacting with the world. We are the sum of our experiences + how they are processed through our wiring (our brain 'compilation', our genetical predispositions, our hormones etc). We are only born sentient beings, that's all. There's no soul that jumps into the physical body. So I wouldn't care of preserving some 'me'. Also, that means that we do reincarnate in a sense that sentient beings are constantly being created over and over. So what if they like different music and subscribe to different views, they're all essentially us, just us being in different circumstances. There is no self, there's just a machine that adjusts to the environment. That's all we've been set out to do here as the rest of the species - adjust and survive to reproduce. Then, sentience can exist without a personality or self-awareness. As far as we know animals lack self-awareness, at least on our level, but we can see them feeling pain (screaming, running away, perhaps pupils narrowing too?), pleasure (purring, closing their eyes, moving towards you if you pet them). They don't have a personality we develop but that doesn't mean their experiences are thus not important. Human children don't have it, they're practically like animals during the first couple of years, but nobody would argue that therefore what happens to them shouldn't be taken into account. So it's not a problem of self at all, I don't know why you bring it up with regards to existence/non-existence. It doesn't matter whether identities exist or not, what matters is whether somebody who can suffer exists or not and whether they are suffering. I came to the conclusion that it'd be preferable if people were always feeling happy At first I aslo did. But then I said who the hell needs euphoria? Only a needy organism that's unhappy otherwise. I think we're conditioned to be within this duality of pleasure vs pain and we have troubles imagining why there needs to be that carrot anyway. To imagine an un-needy state. Where you're just fine. You need - nothing. Nada. You're where you want to be. I get the impression you want to totally unplug and never wake up. Well, yeah, as I wrote here, all this time humans were fussing on this piece of rock I wans't here and I never missed it for all I know. Now that I am here I have all these needs that I never had before that I have to satisfy. So I first get a '-' (minus), I get a deprivation, and then when and if I satisfy my needs I get a '+'(pleasure) just to undo that negative state, that deprivation. I get back to '0'. What's in it for me? I'm just caught up like a squirrel in a wheel. Can you actually compare something with nothing? What could something have in common with nothingness? Well, we do. When we euthanize people. When we perform mercy killings. When we say a child should not be born into starvation, abuse, etc. That is all comparing smth to nothing. Nothing is by definition nothing. There is nobody there to experience nothingness. But that also mean there's nobody there to be deprived of anything. It's a realm of no needs and no suffering. No fun and pleasure either, but then there's nobody there to regret that absence of pleasure. The closest to non-existence, the one you mentiones yourself - deep sleep. Are you deprived of anything then? I don't think you are. And if you never wake up from it you're never going to feel like you've been deprived. More comments to this post >> The first human being who hurled an insult instead of a stone was the founder of civilization....

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Posted on July 19, 2012 by Veronica Sicoe How I Got Here (and to writing SF) My very talented fellow sci-fi writer J.W. Alden reminded me of something important with his latest post: that blogging about your honest interests as they pertain to writing, however wild they may be, is a very good thing. Because it comes from a real and immediate place within you, and the passion translates. And blogging is nothing if it’s not about creating a sense of community where people can relate and join forces. This really hit home with me, because I’ve been pondering blogging about my… let’s say ‘uncommon’ interests for a while now, but I was frankly too chicken to try. I was worried I might come across as a weirdo, lose the interest of the writerly readership that might be looking for writing tips & posts about the turmoils of the fiction writing craft and life. But know what? J.W. is right. ‘People: Uncut’ are way better than just ‘Plain Writing 101’. So I’m gonna flip off my queasiness and just do this bit by bit every week (in addition to blogging about writing & such), and maybe I’ll find out more about all of your interests and how you bring them into your writing, and that would be totally awesome! So here goes. *takes deep breath and eases her foot slowly into the water* How I Got To Write Science-Fiction I didn’t suddenly wake up one day and decided “Hey, let’s squeeze this brain lemon real hard and squirt out a sci-fi novel!” Nope. It was a long and windy road of discovery, filled with discomfort, angst and surprising realizations, both about myself and my interest in writing. It pretty much twisted me like a pretzel and forced me to change a lot about my life and my priorities. To say it wasn’t easy is an understatement. It was freaking skull-crushing hard! *look at my scars!* But I got through it, and then I came here, and then I got here, and here I am! I know exactly what I want to do and how to do it, and I’ve never been happier in my entire life! So how did this happen? Well, it started rather inconspicuously. I wanted to share a story. I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted the story to be about, and the core story-problem hasn’t changed until today. But all the rest around it? Ha. Nothing like what I initially imagined. First time I attempted to write this novel I went for “normal” realistic fiction, happening in the here and now, in our world. I went into the novel for about 20K, but then it got uncomfortable. I couldn’t push it further, and I had no idea what was wrong with it. It felt like a pair of shoes that was two sizes too small. And made of stone. And I felt like a dumb camel trying to wear them. I had not ventured into the wide and rich online writers world at that time, so I had no clue there were countless other people dealing with similar problems with their stories. Thus, I was also not aware of any solutions. To me the story was a dead fish, so I dropped it. Time passed, and the monster inside of me started chewing at my synapses again. This time I investigated my options and came upon Holly Lisle’s amazing writing advice blog. Needless to say this radically changed my perspective! I now had all these awesome, incredibly logical tools and techniques to figure out how to make my story work. And, Holly being a fantasy writer, the spark of possibility for my story to tread into Genre Land was bright and fresh. So I started again. Three years and four additional false starts later I’m finally where I want to be. My story feels damn right! And the difference from where I started? It’s grown to be adult science-fiction, made out of all my deepest passions, darkest nightmares and strangest interests, and it couldn’t have happened any other way. Even though it’s neither easy nor fast to write, I’m more in love with it than ever, and I’m patiently building it up bit by bit until it’s ready. And every day I wake up with a tingle in my hands and a grin on my face, and can’t wait to get writing. I don’t come from a background of science-fiction fandom. In fact, my mental database of science-fiction novels is still painfully and shamefully limited. I’m working on it. I’m also not a scientist, which has its own pros and cons, but there’s not much I can do about that. However, my decade-long and practically obsessive interest in theoretical physics, cosmology, neuro-psychology and psychiatry come quite in handy in writing the kind of fiction I want to read. It’s these interests that were missing from my initial equation, and they are now represented in full. That and, uhm, insects, parasites, invertebrates and viruses. Yeah… But, you know, bringing all this into my writing made all the difference to me! Did it take me longer to realize what I’m “meant” to write than it took most other people? Probably. Do I care? Not one puny bit. Does it matter that I’m not an expert in science-fiction trivia and haven’t read all of the big names yet? It doesn’t mean a thing to my desire to write. But there’s sooo much to learn, so much that needs to be done… Is that cold sweat dripping down my temple? You betcha. Do I still want to do this? Oh hell yeah! Where do I sign? The only thing I care about is writing the story that lives inside of me, in such a way that it can feed off all my passions and everything I know, and come to life on the page as well—and maybe others might even like it! How cool would that be! I had to first understand how prose works (before, I only wrote and published poetry and philosophical essays) and I started on what I now know is a life-long journey of learning the craft. But I love every minute of the way, love every word that goes into my story and every word I cut out, and I can’t imagine doing anything else—or writing in any other genre. The decision to pick science-fiction was not one based on my familiarity with the genre, and it most certainly wasn’t related to what was “hot” (as I was completely oblivious of literary trends in the western society at that time). It was the organic result of several difficult attempts to write a story I loved deeply, and it has grown to be the most important and most beautiful choice of my writerly path so far. There’s nothing I’d like to change about how I got here. So what about you? How did you guys come to your genre and how do you bring your interests to it? I’d love to know! CategoriesSci-Fi Tags#amwriting, Blog, Personality, Research, Sci-Fi, Science, Tools, Writers 26 Replies to “How I Got Here (and to writing SF)” Simon Haynes says: I think science fiction carries way too much baggage, and not enough fun. Years ago, when I set out to write my first science fiction stories, wise old fans told me which anthologies and novels to read before I typed a single word. They were concerned I might come up with a ‘new’ idea which had been done before. I do have a bit of a science fiction background, but only what I could lay my hands on at school and at the local library: Asimov, Clarke, and so on. Not enough to absorb 40 or 50 years of history to ensure I didn’t accidentally copy something. Then I thought ‘screw this’, and I just started writing. At the time I was submitting to mags, and if I came up with a well-worn plot someone smarter than me would recognise it and reject the piece. Science Fiction really needs lower barriers to entry. Fans can’t complain on the one hand that Fantasy is outselling SF, and on the other tell all new writers they need a 15-20 year ‘education’ in the SF classics before setting fingers to keyboard. Let people write, and publish, and bring new readers to the genre That was my first impression also, that science-fiction was a really tough genre to break into. So many people take it so damn seriously, that it had me wonder if I need a doctorate and an own government-funded observatory to be allowed to write about other planets. But just like you said, after a while of sweating and shaking in my boots at the sheer immensity of what I “had to know” beforehand, I shot it to heck and just started writing. Once the few couple of barriers were shattered, things just started growing and evolving and taking on a natural vibe — and that’s what really matters. That’s what makes science-fiction so appealing to me (to read, watch and write in), that feeling of breaking out of the limitations we have now and go on a whole new breed of adventure. Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time to share your experience, Simon! It means a lot to know that even successful sci-fi writers such as yourself weren’t born with The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction stapled to their forehead. 🙂 Renee Miller says: Hmmm…I’m still not sure what “my” genre is half the time. I write the story I want to tell. Most of the time it’s dark and humorous, so I call it mainstream. 🙂 Mainstream sounds rather slippery to me, I’m sure it’s not an easy thing to pull off either. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. 😉 J.W. Alden says: It took me a while to make the decision to toss as much of myself into my blog as I felt like, but I’m glad I have. I don’t know if I’ll cook up another perfect viral storm like that Bruce Lee entry, but at least now I know there’s no need to bury myself too deeply into my pigeon hole. It’s great to read about your journey into sci-fi. I was surprised to hear that you didn’t start there, considering how much you champion the genre! Glad you broke through the intimidating barrier at the gates of SF–sounds like you landed in the right place. I wish more writers would ignore the old guard and dive in. You don’t need a physics degree or a lifelong devotion to the genre to tell a good story with scientific elements. Damn near everything has been done already anyway, regardless of genre. When you get right down to it, we’ve been telling the same stories for centuries–it’s the angle of attack that counts. Thanks for the shout out, Vero. Glad I could give you a little nudge! Looking forward to seeing more of your own personal weirdness woven into your already-excellent blog. 🙂 It’s so true that the angle of attack is all that counts in making a story stick with readers. It’s the personal umph that every individual writer brings to the story that makes it unique, and the more courage you have to screw the boundaries of old, the better that umph becomes. Thanks for everything James! The door to weirdness is open, and it’ll stay this way. 😉 Tracy Brown says: This is awesome, Vero! It’s nice to “get to know you better” too. Being online opens up the opportunity for all kinds of connections, but we are still operating from behind the screen. Genre is a tricky one. I’ve paddled in different pools looking for a match for my words. It’s interesting, because last year I began to explore what genre I was writing in (for?) so that I could query the right agents when the time came. And guess what? I could not fit it into one box. *shrugs* I love mysteries and my WIP will slide into the paranormal-mystery genre. Yet someday, I’d like to head into fantasy. (I have an idea percolating… one I REALLY like.) We’ll see. 🙂 Thanks, Tracy. Opening up ain’t easy, but it’s very gratifying, and finding your own genre is very similar. It takes a lot of honesty (and a solid pair of cojones) to push through the initial instinct of playing safe and conforming. Hope you’ll give that story a try! 🙂 PS: I don’t know why, but I thought this post was going to be about insects. 😀 Hehehe, that’ll come, be sure of it. *grin* Aubrey Honeycutt says: I write fantasy. Want to know how many fantasy books I had read before I started on my current WIP? A big fat ZERO. Nada. Zilch. As a matter of fact, I fought with the idea of writing fantasy like a cat with tape on its paws, leaping and jumping, “NO! That’s not ME! I love Sci-Fi!!!”. It’s quite ridiculous when you think about it, writer’s fighting with themselves; but then again, we fight with fictitious characters we create from the ether between our ears, so maybe it’s not so ridiculous. Either way I have a very hard time ‘researching’ my genre as most fantasy is long winded and excruciatingly boring, or all about saving a princess or slaying a dragon. My stories are about corruptions of the soul and learning to slay the inner dragon, all while gallivanting around an alternate dimension with dragons and wolves and princesses. The ether between my ears can create some crazy shit, and I struggled for years with whether or not I would even TELL anyone about my story, let alone write it down. I eventually got over the fear, after much soul searching (including a rather infamous ‘am i gay?’ episode because my characters are) and finally decided I would rather live in harmony with my story, than be tormented by its seclusion. I still fret that dragons consuming a mother’s body to Bond with the newly born child’s soul won’t go over well with some folks, but to hell with them. It’s my story. Tell me about damn hard research! I totally understand your frustration with finding stories that are similar to what you want to write, especially when the theme defies the commonly “accepted”. And yes, struggle with admitting what you’re actually writing about—know that, hate that. There has to be less self-damaging and more ass-kicking in the writerly world! 😀 And oh my gawd your story sounds freakin awesome!! Write that shit down or else! 44,500 and counting! Now if I could just keep my characters from wandering off and doing their own thing…. Wow! That’s great, Aubrey! Oh, and there’s a remedy against feisty characters — it’s called the Authorial Mallet. Point their noses into the script and remind them who’s paying their bills. 😀 Malon Edwards says: I’ve been lurking here for a short while, but this is a good time as any to speak up, since you put your honesty out there like that. My sister, who is 10 years older than me, has been a big influence in my life. I’ve loved science for as long as I could remember, especially astronomy, and she encouraged that. When I was about six or seven years old, I drew the constellations from star guides I had. I was fascinated with stars and space. At one point, I wanted to be both an astronaut and an astrophysicist. When my sister went away to university, I found her copy of Dune in her room. That changed my life. I wanted to be a Bene Gesserit so bad. I couldn’t get enough of Dune. Whenever my sister came home from college, she encouraged me to write sci-fi. My first story (which wasn’t very good) was about two astronauts going to the Moon. One wanted to stay, the other wanted to go back to Earth. As I got older, writing sci-fi stories just didn’t seem to be working out. I majored in Rhetoric with a Creative Writing focus at university, switched to literary fiction, and made my first sale. That stalled too, though. Eventually, I went back to sci-fi, but by then I was intimidated by it. I didn’t feel confident writing it because I didn’t know the science to go with it. I started writing fantasy, which I never, ever thought I’d write, and even horror stories. I haven’t yet gone back to writing pure sci-fi, though. My stories are often spec-fic with sprinkles of sci-fi mashed hard with fantasy, horror, or straight up weird stuff. I just can’t bring myself to write a straight up sci-fi story. I need to just say, screw it, and do it. But I can’t, yet. Nice to meet you, Malon! Thank you for stepping out of lurk-hood. 🙂 Genres that require thorough research can be very intimidating, since they seem to be piling tons of work on top of the already hard labor of writing a novel. I believe this feeling of inadequacy and reluctance to write science-fiction comes from the assumption that the respected writers of the genre actually master the sciences they employ in some fashion. But truth is, they don’t! Probably less than 10% of them have actual backgrounds in sciences, the rest of them just fake it really well. There’s nothing you can’t accomplish with some decent research, diligence and the courage to fake it convincingly. It’s not about “writing what you know”, it’s about (how Les Edgerton said somewhere) “writing what you can make readers believe you know”. Fake it well enough, and make the story gripping, and no one will even care about the rest. 🙂 Thanks for the honest comment, Malon, and I wish you lots of fun re-discovering sci-fi for yourself! Adam Gaylord says: Dune changed my life too! I was reading it in the library and after several hours of sitting motionless, totally engrossed in Herbert’s world, I took a quick bathroom break. When I went to wash my hands I found myself totally freaked out by how much water was coming out of the faucet! There wasn’t that much water on the whole planet in Dune! That’s effective writing. I’m not sure that reading every sci-fi (or whatever genre you’re in) book out there is necessarily beneficial. One thing that I found when I started writing was that I erected too many barriers around myself based on what other people had written. “I can’t write that because so-and-so wrote something similar” or “I need to write more like so-and-so”. It’s easy to let the norms of a genre box you in. If you’re going to read, do so for the love of it, not for research. That’s my advice. That’s very sound advice, Adam. Though it is important to have a broad understanding of what’s been done and what not, what works and what doesn’t, we shouldn’t let any work of fiction written by another limit us in our imagination and desire to write. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! 🙂 Cindy Dwyer says: I agree it’s so important to write who you are. Since I write mostly observational humor, it’s ALL about who I am and how I think. It helps me feel a connection to other people when they react to my writing in a similar way. But most of all, I think we are at our creative best when we are relaxed and are true to ourselves. That’s so true, Cindy. Being relaxed and open about who you are makes all the difference. I’ve discovered this the hard way, but it’s been the most wonderful discovery — in writing prose and blogging! Thank you for commenting! 🙂 Kern Windwraith says: “Vero uncut” makes for a fascinating and engaging read. If having a fascination for “insects, parasites, invertebrates and viruses” makes you a weirdo, then my advice is to embrace that inner weirdo like she’s the long lost twin sister you’ve been searching for all your life. (And, no, my genre isn’t “soap opera.”) Frankly, whatever genre you choose to write is going to be a genre I choose to read. I like your style, whether you’re hammering out blog posts or sharing snippets of your WIP, and style is what yanks me in to any story. Some of the conversation above re: how much you need to have read in a genre before you start slinging your own version of that genre made me think about that book by Pierre Bayard, “How to Talk about Books You Haven’t Read,” in which he makes a cogent argument for developing informed opinions about books without actually having read them. I think some of Bayard’s observations pertain here: “A book is an element in the vast ensemble I have called the collective library, which we do not need to know comprehensively in order to appreciate any one of its elements… The trick is to define the book’s place in that library, which gives it meaning in the same way a word takes on meaning in relation to other words.” Just a little food for thought. 🙂 Thank you so much for your support, Kern! It means a damn lot to me. Pierre Bayard’s take on developing informed opinions is brilliant, and much like what I’ve discovered as well. It’s not absolutely necessary to have assimilated a humongous quantity of material in a field to be able to understand what that field is about, how it works and what it can give you. I found this applies to sciences for laymen, but it’s true — it applies to literature and genres too! That’s great and very encouraging advice, thank you! 🙂 Linda Adams says: I’m writing fantasy, though my reasons for getting into are different than most fantasy writers. It was the late 1970s, and I loved to read action. But at the time, women and girls were primarily depicted in books as either love interests or to be rescued — if there were present at all. Then there was Star Trek. Everyone’s favorite character seemed to be either Kirk or Spock. Mine was Uhura, because she was in such an important role and got to do more than be a doorstop. By the 80s, Marion Zimmer Bradley came out with Sword and Sorceress — good roles for women characters, and they got action too! Just what I wanted! But I ended up staying away from fantasy for some time because of a separate problem: World building. It seems like most fantasy writers get into fantasy because they like building the world. I was interested in action, not world building. Plus I’m a pantser and not detail-oriented. So when I kept seeing references to world building that involved getting a three ring binder, tabs, and creating languages and maps and whatnot, I decided not for me. That would have instantly made it not fun to write. But I revisited in the last few years with contemporary fantasy. I’m still wrestling with the world building and have to struggle to get enough of it in. Hi Linda, nice to meet you and thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂 World-building is definitely a big part of writing fantasy and science-fiction (yeah, alright, other genres too, but much much less). It can be overwhelming when you have to start from scratch and build an entire world. I know, it made me break a sweat more than once. Urban fantasy has less of the “world”-building and focuses more on an added society with own rules to an already existing one (ours). I can see how that is more appealing if you’re not hot on world-building, and prefer the action. I love action, there’s nothing like high stakes and high speeds! 😀 Oh, and my favorite female Star Trek character of all times is Kira Nerys from Deep Space Nine (incidentally, my favorite sci-fi series of all times!). She kicks major ass! Pingback: Pros and Cons of Writing Science-Fiction — Veronica Sicoe Previous PostPrevious Outline Contest Winner! Next PostNext The Shocking Truth About Being A Professional Writer

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Tomah VA Chief of Staff Fired after Prescription Drug Scandal by admin | Dec 2, 2015 | Malpractice News | According to VA officials, the psychiatrist who has been at the center of a prescription drug scandal at the Tomah, WI Veterans Affairs Medical Center has been terminated from employment without any settlement or negotiation as of Monday, October 26th. The medical center’s Chief of Staff, Dr. David Houlihan, was on administrative leave since January 16th while investigation was underway. There were allegations that he had improperly and excessively prescribed pain medications to patients, to the point where he was nicknamed the “Candy Man.” The Associated Press reported the news of Houlihan’s termination on Friday, October 30th, followed by VA officials confirming in a statement that his relief would be effective Nov. 9. It was also reported that he was fired and unable to retire, unlike some other VA administrators who have previously been allowed to do so. VA officials also added that Dr. Houlihan’s clinical privileges have been revoked. “The letter communicating removal specified a future effective date because, by VA policy, Title 38 employees are not subject to immediate termination, but are generally entitled to receive notice of the decision to terminate at least five days prior to the effective date of the action,” said a VA spokesman. Houlihan is the second official to be fired from the Tomah facility. The medical center director, Mario DeSanctis, left in September, but entered into a settlement that allowed him to resign, according to House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman, Jeff Miller, R-Fla. On Monday, Miller stated that Houlihan’s dismissal is “genuinely surprising,” since the VA fires officials “so infrequently.” “The curious nature of Houlihan’s departure coupled with the fact that he is still on paid leave nearly 10 months after VA began investigating him underscores the unfortunate truth that department leaders refuse to admit: it is much too difficult to fire failed VA employees,” said Miller. “This past January, VA senior leaders became aware of allegations that the Tomah VAMC Chief of Staff engaged in improper opioid prescribing practices and retaliatory behavior […] based on results of reviews, his removal from federal service and revocation of clinical privileges was proposed on Sept. 17,” said VA officials in a written statement. Houlihan and other officials from the Tomah VA have been scrutinized since the Center for Investigative Reporting revealed in January that the Veterans Hospital had a 14-fold increase in the number of prescribed oxycodone pills from 2004 to 2012, from 50,000 to 712,000. Deborah Frasher, a nurse practitioner also involved in the scandal, has been on administrative leave since March. The Center for Investigative Reporting article started another round of inquiries into the prescribing practices of the Tomah Veterans Medical Center and also highlighted the wrongful death of a former Marine, Jason Simcakoski, who passed away on August 30, 2014, from “mixed drug toxicity” at the facility. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said that Houlihan’s termination and revocation of his license were “long overdue,” but it shows that, “change is possible and provides new-found hope that trusts can be restored” at the VA. “The trust has been broken and it needs to be fixed. That is why I have introduced [legislation] that has earned the support of his family and a number of veteran service organizations to provide the tools it needs to help prevent this type of tragedy from occurring to other veterans and their families,” stated Baldwin. In late September, a veterans group displayed a billboard near the Tomah VAMC, demanding a change in the VA, stating, “VA is Lying, Veterans are Dying!” A former Tomah employee, Ryan Honl, now a whistleblower and member of the “VA is Lying” Facebook group, says he hopes Houlihan will face criminal charges. “In the real world, people would be amazed if you didn’t get criminally charged for harming patients and retaliating against those who exposed it,” said Honl. The Archuleta Law Firm handles injury, death, and veterans medical malpractice claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act. We handle claims in all 50 States and Worldwide. Our focus is helping Veterans, and the families of Veterans and Military Service Members in their claims involving Veterans (VA) Hospitals, Doctors and Clinics and Military Hospitals, Doctors and Clinics. We handle claims involving the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force. Source: Military Times

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Box Office Top 10 Film Film News Box Office: LEGO Movie Dominates, About Last Night Romances, Winter’s Tale Bombs By Kelly Konda February 16, 2014 June 14, 2014 1 Comment on Box Office: LEGO Movie Dominates, About Last Night Romances, Winter’s Tale Bombs To see our other box office top 10 breakdowns please go here. So, here’s what happened this weekend at the domestic box office: Lego Movie held better than any recent animated film released at this time of the year, About Last Night won the war of Valentine’s Day romances, RoboCop learned overseas audiences are far cooler with the idea of a RoboCop remake than domestic audiences, and Winter’s Tale needed its own magical white horse to fly away from us as fast as possible. Let’s break it down: Top 10 Estimated Domestic Totals for the 2/14-2/16 Box Office 1. The LEGO Movie Weekend Gross=$50.1 million Gross to Date=$130.3 million Budget=$60 Million Foreign: $27.2 million for a new total foreign gross of $51.2 million which adds up to a worldwide gross of $181.5 million After its huge debut, LEGO Movie dipped mere 27% thist weekend, a fan-freakin’-tastic hold for an animated film at this time of the year. The last major January-April released animated films (Ice Age, Ice Age 2, Monsters Vs. Aliens, The Lorax) dropped an average of 43.5% in their second weekends. Moreover, by the end of President’s Day LEGO Movie ended with a four-day gross of $62.4 million, falling just short of besting Valentine’s Day‘s $63.1 million opening in 2010 which remains the biggest ever President’s Day box office performance. Since Frozen is now the creme de la creme of animated films, you might be curious to see how LEGO Movie stacks up. Well, it’s not really a fair comparison since Frozen opened over Thanksgiving opposite of Hunger Games while LEGO Movie is prowling the hinterlands that is February for new films meaning they faced very different markets. So, take this with a grain of salt as in the long term LEGO Movie is highly, highly unlikely to replicate the historic performance of Frozen, but…Frozen dropped 55% in its second wide weekend, and its 10-day wide release gross of $109 million is inferior to LEGO Movie‘s 10-day gross of $130 million. So, at the very least LEGO Movie is a stronger starter, but it’s not the start but the longevity of Frozen that has made it historic. 2. About Last Night (Opening Weekend) Opening Weekend Gross=$25.6 million Budget=$12.5 million Foreign: Currently scheduled to make its international debut next month. This is the biggest debut for a Kevin Hart/Michael Ealy/Regina Hall film since the last one they did, Think Like a Man, which put up $33.6 million during its opening weekend in April of 2012. Probably not coincidentally, this is also the best debut for a romantic comedy since Think Like a Man, and it’s also the best debut for any romantic film, drama or comedy, to open over Valentine’s Day since Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams powered The Vow to a $41.2 million opening in 2012. In other word, this is a strong debut but ever so slightly lower than some might have expected. As already shown above, we don’t have to go back very far to find similar films which did better. Of the recent African American-targeted comedies to enjoy success (Think Like a Man, Best Man Holiday, Ride Along) About Last Night’s debut is the weakest. Perhaps the competition from other new releases (Endless Love, Winter’s Tale) or holdovers (That Awkward Moment) courting the Valentine’s Day audience hurt. It sure couldn’t have helped that Kevin Hart still has another popular movie (Ride Along) out and doing well in theaters. However, by doubling its budget in its opening weekend alone About Last Night is set to be a profitable film for Sony. They’ll take that. BTW, for those who actually remember the original Rob Lowe/Demi Moore About Last Night from 1986, at 2014 ticket prices its opening weekend would have been $7 million while playing on around 1600 fewer screens than the new About Last Night. Did you know the remake was originally written with a Caucasian cast in mind, and when they cast mostly African-American actors they made almost no changes to the script to reflect the race change? Check out About Last Night‘s screenwriter Lesley Headlines’ guest essay in the Hollywood Reporter for similar insight. 3. RoboCop (Opened on Wednesday) Fri-Sun Gross=$21.7 million Wed-Sun Gross=$26.4 million Budget=$100 million Foreign: It opened in foreign markets, notably the UK, last weekend. This weekend, it made $35 million for a new foreign total gross of $70 million which adds up to a worldwide gross of $96.6 million. How does the $21.7 million weekend compare to the original RoboCop? – In 1987, RoboCop debuted with $8 million in over 1,500 theaters (vs. the 3,370 theaters for the new RoboCop) which is like making $17.1 million at 2014 ticket prices. How does the $21.7 million weekend compare to recent action movie re-makes? – Way ahead of Dredd ($6 million), comfortably in front of Red Dawn ($14.2 million), sadly behind Total Recall ($25.5 million) How does the $21.7 million weekend compare to recent action films released over the President’s Day holiday? – Slightly worse than A Good Day to Die Hard ($24.8 million), Ghost Rider ($22.1 million), almost even with Unknown ($21.8 million), slightly better than I Am Number Four ($19.4 million) Their counter-programming worked in the sense that as the sole new “guy movie” out over Valentine’s Day RoboCop managed to beat most of the competition. However, as an event film carrying a budget of exactly $100 million a $21-26 million debut is not quite good enough. Luckily, they are cleaning up overseas, making more from combined international markets than any other movie this weekend. Plus, they still have releases in China, Brazil, and Japan on the horizon. For an analysis as to why Hollywood keeps cranking out remakes like RoboCop even though most fail check out this Vulture article. 4. The Monuments Men Gross to Date=$44.1 million Foreign: Currently, its total foreign gross is $8.9 million which now adds up to a worldwide gross of $53 million. Monuments Men is a failed Oscar contender which now represents the worst reviewed film of George Clooney’s career as a director. However, after declining a mere 30% this weekend Monument’s Men has passed Ides of March‘s $40.9 million to become the highest domestic grossing film to feature Clooney behind the camera. That sure sounds impressive, but it’s really not since until now the average Clooney-directed film ended with a domestic gross of $32.7 million. As a point of comparison, the Ocean’s 11 trilogy in which Clooney merely starred without writing, directing, or producing averaged a domestic gross of $142 million. He’s an appealing actor who tends to direct passion projects with limited box office appeal. Monuments Men is winning over audiences, and it’s going to keep having to do so considering its $70 million budget. 5. Endless Love (Opening Weekend) Budget=They’re not telling Foreign: Currently, its total foreign gross is $3.9 million which now adds up to a worldwide gross of $17.1 million. Although a 1980s remake, Endless Love appealed almost exclusively to young women, its opening weekend audience 80% female, 75% below the age of 25. However, its appeal was predominantly isolated to actual Valentine’s Day, with 55% of its weekend gross coming on Friday. This makes it one of the most lopsided debuts of all time, joining the ranks of One Direction: This is Us, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows 2 , Paranormal Activity 4, and all but 1 of the Twilight films as other releases to make over 50% of their opening weekend total on Friday alone. Overall, $13.1 million is a noticeably lower debut than the last romantic drama to open over Valentine’s Day, Safe Haven’s $21.4 million opening just last year. 6. Ride Along Weekend Gross=$8.7 million Total Gross to Date=$116.1 million Foreign: Currently, its total foreign gross is $3.4 million which now adds up to a worldwide gross of $119.5 million. You’d expect About Last Night to somehow impact the performance of Kevin Hart’s other film in the top 10, but instead Ride Along dipped a mere 9.1%, a very strong hold for a film its 5th weekend of wide release. Ride Along is now among the biggest buddy comedies of the past 14 years, soon to pass The Other Guys ($119 million). How Did This Get Made podcast listeners might be interested to learn Jason Mantzoukas is one of Ride Along‘s 4 credited screenwriters, yet he’s still not on Twitter, you guys. 7. Winter’s Tale (Opening Weekend) Opening Weekend Gross=$7.2 million Foreign: Concurrent to its domestic debut, Winter’s Tale opened in over 40 international territories. Box office estimates for those territories have yet to be released. This is longtime screenwriter Akiva Goldsman’s directorial debut, but perhaps like his protagonist in Winter’s Tale he’ll find himself randomly presented with a magical white horse to literally fly him away because he’d likely welcome the escape from the grim box office figures. This $7.2 million opening is not Vampire Academy-level embarrassing, but it is at least $1 million less than the openings for 2014 bombs like I, Frankenstein, Devil’s Due, and The Legend of Hercules. It’s not surprising. The trailer were absolutely puzzling, the Valentine’s Day competition was feirce, and critics and audiences alike have greeted Winter’s Tale with barely stifled laughter, particularly during Will Smith’s surprise cameo. It’ll be hard for Warner Bros. to ever spin this into a positive, though we don’t know for sure how bad this is because various sources have reported the budget was as low as $46 million and as high as $75 million ($57 million is according to The Hollywood Reporter). Foreign: Currently, its total foreign gross is $579.7 million which now adds up to a worldwide gross of $956.1 million. Frozen continues not going away, padding its box office stats as precursor to its inevitably huge home video sales upon its Blu-Ray/DVD release and likely long-running, beloved Broadway musical a little further down the role. With $955.7 million worldwide, it seems set to soon pass Despicable Me 2‘s $970.7 million, which would make it the second highest grossing film released in 2013, trailing only Iron Man 3. 9. Lone Survivor Weekend Gross=$4 million Foreign: Currently, its total foreign gross is $9.2 million (almost entirely from France, Spain, and the UK) which now adds up to a worldwide gross of $127.6 million. Lone Survivor is already, by a relatively wide margin, the highest domestic grossing film to fictionalize events related to the recent American wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. When you widen that net, it has also made more than Black Hawk Down ($108 million), though not so much after you adjust for ticket price inflation ($156 million). 10. That Awkward Moment Total Gross to Date=$21.5 million Budget=$8 million Foreign: Currently, its total foreign gross is $3.1 million (almost entirely from the UK) which now adds up to a worldwide gross of $24.6 million. Awkward Moment is the first Focus Features release of the Peter Schlessel era of the art-house division of Universal, who brought him in as the new President to transition away from prestige pictures like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Moonrise Kingdoom, and Dallas Buyer’s Club to highly profitable micro-budget affairs like his Insidious at FilmDistrict. Awkward Moment hasn’t quite delivered the huge gross over budget Schlessel delivered with Insidious, but Focus Features’ investment was a minimal $1.5 million purchase fee since Awkward Moment was actually produced independently. It has thus far performed slightly ahead of the pace of last year’s vaguely similar Don Jon, and studio reported demographic figures indicate over half of their audience has been female. Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com What Happened Outside of the Top 10? Who Fell Out of the Top 10?: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (#9 to #12), Vampire Academy (#7 to #13), The Nut Job (#8 to #15), and Labor Day (#10 to #17) Who Won the Race of Awards-Contenders?: American Hustle hung on to the #11 spot for the second week in a row, pushing its domestic total to $141.5 million. Elsewhere, due to huge overseas business The Wolf of Wall Street has now become the highest worldwide grossing release of director Martin Scorsese’s career. What’s Up Next?: Kevin Costner tries to do the Liam Neeson in Taken thing with 3 Days to Kill, and the director of the Resident Evil films (Paul W.S. Anderson) gives us a volcano erupting real nice like in Pompeii. If Doctor Who‘s fourth season episode “Fires of Pompeii” is any indication we can expect a madman in a blue box to save one individual family while allowing all others to turn to ash. Tags: About Last Night American Hustle Box Office Endless Love Frozen Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Lone Survivor Monuments Men Ride Along RoboCop That Awkward Moment The LEGO Movie The Wolf of Wall Street Winter's Tale cartoons8 says: It’s one of the few movies based on a toy with no explicit story behind it. And it is, so far, the only one that’s really good. Previous Entry 13 Things You May Not Know About Friday the 13th Part 3 Next Entry Gargoyles, Veronica Mars & 5 Other Shows to Stream While Waiting for the Olympics to Go Away

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Tag Archives: burning man Big Ol’ Voter Guide – November 2012 (California) Friends! Below is my Big Ol’ Voter Guide for the California November 2012 election. It includes the federal races and state propositions on the statewide ballot. Here in California, there are some fascinating and groundbreaking issues we’ve been asked to vote on, particularly in the criminal justice realm. There are lots of proposed new taxes and government reform measures, and many new laws proposed by millionaires and billionares fed up with state government and/or setting themselves up for running for statewide office. My guide for the San Francisco ballot is here. President: Barack Obama US Senator: Dianne Feinstein Prop 30: YES (Temporary Tax Increases To Prevent Deep Cuts) Prop 31: NO (Two-Year State Budget Cycle and Other Reforms) Prop 32: OH HELL NO! (Political Spending Limits) Prop 33: NO (New Car Insurance Rating Factor) Prop 34: OH HELL YES! (Death Penalty) Prop 35: NO? (Sex Trafficking) Prop 36: YES (Modifications to Three Strikes Law) Prop 37: YES (Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods) Prop 38: YES (New Tax for Education) Prop 39: YES (Closing a Loophole on Out-of-State Businesses) Prop 40: YES? (Affirming Redistricted Senate Districts) I’ve said it before: he’s been awful to medical marijuana interests, particularly here in California. But I think history will remember him as one of the best presidents we’ve ever had. I am happy to support him again because he is pro-choice, pro-woman, pro-gay marriage, pro-stem cell research, and he was able to achieve health care reform. His opponent is doing everything he can to alienate women and the middle class… which, together, last I checked, are the majority of voters in the United States. Romney IS the 1%. And as if THAT wasn’t enough, I have three words for you: Supreme Court Appointments. Dianne is more conservative than I’d like her to be. She’s in favor of the death penalty, and opposes medical marijuana. But she’s a fierce advocate for abortion rights and the environment, and it was her 2011 legislation that would have granted federal rights and benefits to legally married same-sex couples by repealing the hateful Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Feinstein’s Republican opponent doesn’t have a chance. STATE PROPOSITIONS Prop 30: YES Temporary Tax Increases To Prevent Deep Cuts Governor Brown put this on the ballot; it’s a merger of his two previous (failed) tax measures. This one is a simple tax increase that will expire in 2019, and will bring in $6 billion per year. Which, by the way, is a drop in the bucket – the state’s total budget is about $120 billion. It raises taxes on people with incomes of more than $250,000, and it also increases the state sales tax by ¼ of a penny. I generally don’t like sales taxes because they are regressive, meaning they tend to hurt poor people more than the rich. But the increase in income tax for the higher brackets balances it out for me – the rich can afford to pay a bit more, in order to make sure that the state doesn’t take a nosedive. If this measure fails, it triggers $6 billion in cuts to schools and other essential services. It’s supported by Governor Brown, teachers, Democrats, and the League of Women Voters. It is opposed by anti-tax groups and the Republican Party. Vote yes. ALSO: See Prop 38 below. If 38 wins by more votes than 30, then 30 will not take effect. And the $6 billion in trigger cuts will take effect. OUCH! Two-Year State Budget Cycle and Other Reforms This measure includes lots of complicated legislative reforms, including moving the state budget to a two-year cycle (good), giving local governments more money and autonomy (good), giving governors unilateral authority to make cuts during years with budget deficits (bad), and requiring new state programs to be tied to specific funding sources (bad). Supporters include the Republican Party and a group called California Forward. Opponents include the Democratic Party, the California League of Conservation Voters, and the California Federation of Teachers. I’m always wary of ballot measures that try to make complicated changes to the way the legislature does business. Because ballot measures can only be amended by future ballot measures. And THAT, frankly, is one of the reasons why state government is so f*&%ed up – because so much of the way government is run can ONLY be changed by a vote of the people. Government should be much more nimble than that – the Legislature should be able to respond to problems and popular will without having to go to the ballot every time. This is NOT the way to govern a state. Rant over. Vote no on 31. Prop 32: OH HELL NO! Political Spending Limits This measure is deceptive and evil. It purports to limit campaign contributions by corporations and unions equally. But it really just cuts unions off at the knees, by preventing them from using payroll deductions to fund their political activities. Prop 32 claims to equally limit the ability of unions, corporations and government contractors from using payroll deductions. BUT – while payroll deductions are the main source of funding for unions, very few corporations or government contractors actually deduct money from their employees’ paychecks for political activities. Corporations have many other sources of funds for their political activities. Profits, for example. Prop 32 also claims to ban union and corporate contributions to political candidates. I’m a political attorney, and I can tell you that restrictions on corporate contributions are almost pointless. Corporate interests can always funnel contributions through PACs or through individual contributions by their officers and shareholders. It seems pretty clear to me that this measure is a cynical attempt to eviscerate labor unions, which are the only way that certain constituencies – like teachers, nurses, and farm workers – have a voice in government. Please vote no. New Car Insurance Rating Factor This measure penalizes those who haven’t maintained continuous insurance coverage – namely, poor people, recent immigrants, anyone who spends significant time abroad, and those who go car-free for a while to ride a bike, walk, or use public transit or car-sharing services. All of these folks would pay considerably higher rates when they return to driving. Ridiculous! We shouldn’t be penalizing people who give up driving for a while, we should be thanking them for doing their part to save us from global warming. Vote no. p.s. George Joseph, billionaire founder of Mercury Insurance, admits to having placed this measure on the ballot in order to raise rates on the newly insured. At least he’s honest about it. Prop 34: OH HELL YES! I oppose the death penalty, and I have been waiting for much of my adult life for California to abolish it. And you probably already know how you feel about the death penalty, so I shouldn’t spend too much time trying to convince you. But here’s what I got: DNA evidence has exonerated 18 death row inmates in the U.S… The flaws in the criminal justice system are so deep that we are unable to guarantee that California isn’t executing innocent people. Most other industrialized nations have abolished the death penalty. There is no evidence that the death penalty deters crime. The state has spent about $4 billion to implement the death penalty since it was reinstated in 1978, and it has only executed 13 people. You do the math. The death penalty is imposed on black and brown defendants far more often than white defendants who are accused of the same crime. California is often the national leader in big-ticket ballot measures like this one. If California abolishes the death penalty, I think you’ll see many states follow suit. And the world will start to become a more humane place. PLEASE vote yes on 34. Prop 35: NO? Human trafficking is an abomination. And far more common than you’d expect. My dear friend Sharmin Bock – who has spent much of her career fighting the trafficking of innocents for the sex trade – helped write this measure, and I have a lot of respect for her and her work. But I’m torn. Here are my thoughts: – Prop. 35 would rewrite the section in California’s Penal Code that defines human trafficking, and impose harsher sentences on those found guilty. (OK! Let’s do it). – It would require convicted traffickers to register as sex offenders (Sure! Sounds good). – It would require that all registered sex offenders turn over their Internet usernames and passwords to the government. (Wait, what??) I’ve always been skeptical of sex offender registration, since I know that you can be considered a sex offender of you are convicted of public urination, public nudity, consensual sex between teenagers, consensual prostitution. And it’s nearly impossible to get yourself off of the registry upon a showing of rehabilitation or years of lawful behavior. See what the Human Rights Watch says about it. So while human trafficking is a serious problem, the proponents of this measure haven’t made the case that existing laws don’t go far enough. And I don’t think the sex offender registry should be expanded to require ALL registered sex offenders to hand over all of their internet usernames and passwords. That’s just going too far. It would expand the state’s ability to violate the privacy of consensual sex workers and teenage streakers. And that’s just not right. P.s. The Bay Guardian says that Senator Mark Leno is working on legislation that will address trafficking without the problems in Prop. 35. Reason enough to vote no on 35. p.p.s. Facebook millionaire (And failed Attorney General candidate) Chris Kelly put this one on the ballot, watch for his next statewide campaign for public office. Modifications to Three Strikes Law Think of Jean Valjean of Les Miserables. The dude spent decades in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, and his plight – and the unfairness of his punishment – inspired one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Today in California, anyone convicted of three felonies, no matter how nonviolent or small, must serve 25 years to life. It’s not fair. Even the original proponents of the “Three Strikes” law admit that it has had unintended consequences. Prop 36 would reform the three strikes law to require that the third strike be violent or serious. And it would allow current convicts to appeal their sentences if their third strike was a relatively minor crime. Did I mention that our state prisons are overcrowded, and we spend $47,000 a year for every inmate in California? Prop 36 would save the state at least $70 million annually, and some of that money would go toward solving violent crimes. Supporters include District Attorneys from big cities, the Democratic Party and the NAACP. Opponents include the Republican Party, the State Sherriff’s Association, the State District Attorneys Association, California Peace Officers Association, and a few victims rights groups. This is a good one. Vote yes on 36. Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods This measure mandates that food made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be labeled — as it is in at least 50 countries worldwide, and in much of the industrialized world. A big proportion of the food Californians eat has GMOs in it. And while the scientific community can’t agree on whether and to what extent GMOs are bad for you, it can’t hurt to have a better idea of what you’re putting in your mouth. BUT – my friends in the biotech industry remind me that there is a lot of genetically modified food that even foodies love. Like pluots, purple cauliflower, tangelos… if Prop 37 passes, these foods will be labeled. Don’t freak out. It doesn’t mean that they are bad for you, just that they are genetic hybrids. The NO campaign is being funded by chemical companies and food processors, Big Agriculture and the Republican Party. The Yes campaign is composed of consumer groups, public health organizations, environmentalists, Democrats. Who do YOU want to align yourself with? Knowledge is power. Vote yes on 37. New Tax for Education This one increases taxes on everyone who makes more than $7300 per year. This means you! But – it’s a sliding scale, so that the wealthiest pay a higher percentage increase (0.4% for lowest individual earners to 2.2% for those earning over $2.5 million). The majority of the estimated $10 billion a year in new revenue will go to public school districts and early childhood development programs. We all know that schools need the help: California now has the largest class sizes in the nation. Since 2008, the state has cut school budgets by $20 billion. Billionaire Molly Munger put this one on the ballot, without much input from the legislature or the experts, so it’s got some holes in it. It’s a big middle finger to Sacramento, because it funnels the revenues directly to school districts; the legislature can’t touch them. And the Governor was pretty peeved when this one qualified for the ballot because it makes both his measure (Prop 30) and this one more likely to lose. And it includes a poison pill: If Proposition 38 wins by more votes than 30, then 30 won’t take effect, and vice versa. I’d like to see either one pass, it doesn’t matter to me, because the schools need serious help. Vote yes on 38. Think of the children. Closing a Loophole on Out-of-State Businesses This measure would close a loophole that has allowed out-of-state companies avoid paying taxes in California. If Prop 39 passes, it will require all companies to use in-state sales as the basis for the taxes they pay. It will bring in $1 billion in revenue, a large portion of which will go toward clean energy projects. This one seems like a no-brainer to me. It only affects out-of-state businesses and not California-based companies or California residents. It removes the incentive for companies to locate their employees or facilities out of state. And it has the support of just about everybody – unions, chambers of commerce, big business, environmentalists, teachers, Democrats and Republicans alike. Vote yes. Prop 40: YES? Affirming Redistricted Senate Districts This measure is ridiculous. The non-partisan Citizen Redistricting Commission was established by ballot measure in 2008, and was charged with re-drawing state Senate and Assembly jurisdictional boundaries. It was created, in large part, because state legislators used to draw their own jurisdictional lines (and surprise! They always made sure that their own seats were safe). The CRC was charged with re-drawing the state jurisdictional lines in a way that was fair. But the lines drawn for the Senate districts were challenged in court, and the state Supreme Court rejected that challenge. So the litigants wrote this measure asking the voters to reject the Senate district lines. As if the voters know enough about the complicated demographic and regional details to know what the hell we are looking at! Voting NO means that the lines will be re-drawn by a judicial panel, and YES means the lines will stand. I say vote yes. There’s no evidence that a judicial panel is going to do a better job than the CRC. I hate ballot measures that waste our collective time. Tagged alix, ammiano, avalos, ballot, burning man, california, campos, chiu, crowley, death penalty, district 5, election, feinstein, gay, measures, nightlife, obama, president, prop 30, prop 32, propositions, rosenthal, san francisco, supervisor race, ting, votealix, voter guide, women, yee Art & Politics: April 6! The extraordinary Marco Cochrane will be sculpting me (yes, ME!) at an event on April 6. The event is a joint fundraiser for my campaign and for Marco’s next monumental sculpture called Truth Is Beauty. The event is going to be truly a unique experience, featuring a fascinating mix of artists, politicians, performers, and YOU. I can’t WAIT to see what unfolds. Art & Politics: A Fundraiser for Truth is Beauty and Alix Rosenthal Friday, April 6, 7pm-12am 251 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco Facebook invite here: https://www.facebook.com/events/324292140951586/ Go here to purchase advance tickets: http://artandpolitics.eventbrite.com/ The night will feature live sculpting by Marco Cochrane of model Alix Rosenthal. And booty shaking courtesy of: Zach Moore (Space Cowboys) Tamo (Space Cowboys) JoeJoe (Brass Tax & Bliss Dance Crew) Ding Dong (Brass Tax) Buy tickets here: http://artandpolitics.eventbrite.com/ For more info on Marco and his sculptures: visit: http://www.blissdance.us/ Please come! Tagged alix rosenthal, art & politics, artist, black rock arts foundation, bliss dance, burning man, DCCC, democratic party, fundraiser, live sculpt, marco cochrane, project one, san francisco, truth is beauty

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In memoriam: Pete Dye, architect of award-winning golf course / Current page: In memoriam: Pete Dye, architect of award-winning golf course From left: Bill Goodwin, Pete Dye, and then-Virginia Tech President Charles Steger attended the dedication ceremony of the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech in May 2006. Pete Dye left his mark on the golf world and Virginia Tech. A World Golf Hall of Famer, Dye was regarded as one of the game’s great course architects. He is credited with designing more than 130 public and private courses around the globe, including such renowned locations as TPC Sawgrass and Whistling Straits. He is also the artist behind the golf gem nestled between Blacksburg and Radford – the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech. Dye, 94, died on Jan. 9, Dye Designs, the company he founded, announced, last week. “We have a world-class golf facility thanks to Pete Dye and Mr. Bill Goodwin and his wife Alice,” said Jay Hardwick, who retired as director of golf operations and head coach of the men’s golf team in 2018 after 36 years at Virginia Tech. Dye became involved with the redesign of what was then known as The River Course at the behest of his friends, Virginia Tech alumnus Bill Goodwin and his wife, Alice Goodwin, shortly after the course was acquired by the Virginia Tech Foundation in 2002. The Richmond couple provided the financial support needed for the design and construction of the new course arrangement, which was recognized as a Best New Course by Golf Digest in 2006. “We wanted to provide the Virginia Tech golf teams, the university community, and the region the opportunity to play on a world-class championship course, and bringing in Pete was key to making that happen,” said Bill Goodwin, an avid golfer who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1962. “You really need to appreciate that Pete was a very nice and honorable person — that makes a big difference. I will never forget working with him on that project where the monthly spend was always over budget but in the end, I received a final bill that perfectly matched the budget. I saw what had happened though — Pete had sacrificed his design fee and used that money on the course build. He was a true artist that puts his art first.” The Goodwins have a long history of supporting Virginia Tech, including a record-setting $25-million gift that helped build Goodwin Hall. They are charter members of the President’s Circle of the Ut Prosim Society, the university’s most prestigious donor recognition group. In 2005, Bill Goodwin received Virginia Tech’s University Distinguished Achievement Award, one of the university’s highest honors. Dye was one of the most influential course designers of the modern era. After building a few courses in the Midwest in the early 1960’s, he and his wife, Alice Dye, who died in February 2019, traveled to Scotland and spent a month studying and playing many of the world’s classic layouts. Dye built some of the most transformative golf courses in the world, adapting his designs to incorporate the design features of great Scottish courses. Hardwick had the honor to be alongside Dye during the River Course project, which took slightly over two years, but was basically— and quite amazingly — designed in a single night after an early visit. “Pete and his fellow architect, Tim Liddy, said they needed something to draw on. So, they went by the grocery store and got a roll of butcher paper, and when they arrived at the golf course the next morning they’d drawn the entire golf course,” said Hardwick, adding that little from that draft was changed in the final version. One of those changes came at the request of Dye’s wife, Alice, who was also a renowned golf course architect and first woman president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. “The forward tee on #7 is a result of her suggestion,” Hardwick said. “The original design made for too much of a forced carry for ladies and Ms. Alice realized that immediately.” Hardwick said Dye probably made 15-20 visits to the course, always wanting to walk it in its entirety, and oftentimes accompanied by his dog, Sixty. “At times when I would walk around with him, the dog and I would both lie down and pant, but Mr. Dye would just keep going,” Hardwick said. “I learned so much about golf and golf courses just spending that time watching him work his magic. It was truly an education in its own right for me.” The finished design featured five sets of tees. The yardage of the course stretches from 5,142 for ladies to 7,665 for tournament play. Since its formal dedication in 2006, the Goodwins’ investment and Dye’s design have provided Virginia Tech and Southwest Virginia with access to one of the nation’s finest golf course and the Hokies’ golf teams with an elite-level home course. The course hosted the 2011 NCAA Men’s Regional Golf Championship, as well as numerous other major amateur events, and hosted more than 70 Virginia Tech alumni-related, charity, and member events last year alone. Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech is a daily fee public facility and has individual and family memberships are available. The 18 holes stand as a tribute to the man considered a legend and friend in the golf community and at Virginia Tech. “He was a really amazing guy, such a ‘gentle’ man, as well as a gentleman,” Hardwick said. “Everyone was lucky to have met him.” — Written by Travis Williams Tracy Vosburgh Virginia Tech Foundation

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BB&T-SunTrust merger approved; banks to become Truist on Dec. 6 Thank you for being one of our most loyal readers. Please consider supporting community journalism by subscribing. A worker signals from the side of BB&T's new Wilson office building near the bank's current towers last Wednesday. The Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. have approved the Wilson-born bank's merger with SunTrust. Drew C. Wilson | Restoration NewsMedia Posted Friday, November 29, 2019 12:00 am By Brie Handgraaf The proposed merger of BB&T and SunTrust cleared one of the final hurdles last week as federal regulators approved the $28.2 billion deal. “We are pleased to have received regulatory approval to merge two strong companies with complementary business models and a high level of cultural alignment,” BB&T Chairman and CEO Kelly King said in a statement. “We’ll be even better together for our clients, teammates, communities and shareholders.” The Federal Reserve issued an 80-page report Nov. 19 detailing the investigation into the deal that would create the country’s sixth-largest commercial bank. One-thousand and fifty individuals, community groups and nonprofit organizations submitted written comments about the merger. “A majority of the commenters supported the proposal,” the report states. “Many of these commenters contended that the proposal would benefit communities and community organizations throughout the footprints of BB&T and SunTrust through increased resources and services provided by the combined organization.” There were some detractors who questioned the merger’s public benefit and whether the combined bank would pose a risk to the country’s financial stability by being “too big to fail.” Others expressed concerns about job losses, particularly in rural communities. BB&T has said displaced workers will be offered market-rate severance packages and assistance with job searches. “Nevertheless, the potential for job losses resulting from a merger is outside of the limited statutory factors that the board is authorized to consider when reviewing an application or notice under the (Bank Holding Company Act),” according to the report. Approval from the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. paves the way for the banks to merge as Truist Financial Corp. by Friday, Dec. 6. Officials said the conversion to the new brand will take place over the next two years. Earlier this month, a federal district court approved giving BB&T and SunTrust until early December to respond to a lawsuit by Truliant Federal Credit Union challenging the combined bank’s name. “When a consumer searches online for a Truliant location or information about a Truliant product or service, while typing in ‘Truliant’ a search engine may automatically populate results including ‘Truist’ and redirect consumers to that entity, especially given the direct geographic overlap in the respective markets,” Truliant President Todd Hall said in a press release. “And bigger problems with brand confusion exist as financial institutions’ digital ecosystems incorporate the next wave of retail-tech game-changers.” Truliant’s name has been in use since 1999, and communities in the Triad and Charlotte area are expected to have both Truliant and Truist branches. BB&T officials have remained mum on the lawsuit, but the announcement of the Truist name in June was met with significant pushback from consumers. Truist representatives have not disclosed plans for the merged company logo or wording of signs on branches and sponsored venues such as the stadium at Barton College. Construction crews have made significant progress lately on the facade for the new $35 million BB&T building in historic downtown Wilson with sights on finishing by next summer. “I’m excited that BB&T, as a longtime corporate citizen in Wilson, is at the heart of the downtown redevelopment efforts and I expect as the merger concludes, their investment will continue in downtown and beyond,” Simons said. Visit tinyurl.com/sogjtx2 to read the 80-page federal report.

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Tag: Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets Team Preview October 4, 2018 October 4, 2018 Wannabe Movie Critic It should be all smiles for Nuggets fans this year. Last Seasons Record – 46-36 (9th) This Seasons Record – 52-30 When you look around at all the NBA rosters, some tend to fly under the radar. This couldn’t be truer for the Denver Nuggets, who might have one of the best all-around rosters in the entire league. They have veterans, they have supreme young talent, and they have a great coach. If I were a Nuggets fan, I would still be losing sleep over the fact that they didn’t make the playoffs last year. Arguably my favourite league pass team for this upcoming season, because I love so many of their players. I can’t wait to see the jump that Jamal Murray has made. Key Additions and Subtractions The great core is still intact, that involves Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Will Barton to name a few. They have one of the deepest rosters in the entire league, and they added Isaiah Thomas and a potential steal of the draft Michael Porter JR. He might have missed all of his last college season, and there’s a risk he might not ever be the same player again, but that was a risk this organization was willing to take. We all know the journey that Thomas has been on the last year of his life, and we all feel for the guy. From hero to almost zero, he is looking to prove that he still has some gas left in the tank. I really hope he can contribute even in the slightest because the league still needs him. Year Long Question – What happens if they don’t make the playoffs? Last year it came down to the very last game of the season. They lost to the Timberwolves and missed out on the playoffs. That didn’t sit too well with the players themselves and fans alike. This roster is way to stacked to miss the playoffs this season. I know Michael Malone is a terrific coach, but he could be on his way out the door if this team doesn’t lock down a playoff birth. Injuries aside, this team could make some noise in the Western Conference if things click, and they need to take the next step. That’s how teams build on success and become more dangerous and respected as years go by. If the Nuggets miss the playoffs, Michael Malone will be fired. Fan Mindset. Now we all know that a certain something is legal down in Colorado, so this clip makes perfect sense. Because if these Nuggets end up not being so great, fans can rejoice in the parking lot and talk conspiracy theories and pretend that everything is going to be okay. Or if their team is winning and everything is going great, then they can still rejoice in the parking lot and just have some good old fashion fun. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride this season Nuggets fans because it’s going to be a wild ride, especially if you’re baked. Bold Predictions, Sponsored By Nate – Jamal Murray or Gary Harris could win MIP Okay, I will admit that last season I picked Gary Harris to win this award. No one and I mean no one saw the outburst from Victor Oladipo coming. We all knew going into the season that he had transformed his body, but the things he accomplished and the leap he took was incredible, so kudos to him. But this year, the Nuggets have two potential guys that are itching at making that exact same leap. Gary Harris is probably the overall better of the two, because of his defensive capabilities, but Murray can flat out score the basketball. If the Nuggets do make that leap and finish within the top 6 of the East and one of these two guys are contributing on a nightly basis, look for one of them to pull in this award. It’s time for Jamal Murray to show everyone who he really is. Tagged Basketball, Denver Nuggets, Jamal Murray, NBA, NBA TwitterLeave a comment NBA Season Preview 2017/18 Basketball is my favourite sport, I like the way they dribble up and down the court. What? Just because I write about movies, I can’t crossover into sports. Some of the best things in life are crossovers. There is literally a basketball move called the crossover, so back off! I know what people think, the NBA is way to “top heavy”, that we should really only watch the final few minutes of a basketball game. Well I just don’t think that is true. The NBA has more talent than ever before, there are more good players playing right now then the NBA has ever seen. It’s just the best teams are really good. The NBA probably has the most young talent out of the 4 major North American pro sports right now. I love the NBA so much, I think it’s the greatest sport and league in the world. It really never stops, the NBA has managed to stay relevant pretty much all year round. Something the NFL, MLB and NHL can certainly not say about themselves. There were people making jokes that this NBA off-season was better than the actual regular season. So much has changed in the last few months, the landscape of the NBA is vastly different and I think this up coming season is going to be for the record books. I think that’s why I decided to write this piece, because I can’t wait for the season to start, I think it’s going to end up being something truly special. So if you love basketball as much as I do, enjoy! Looking forward to October 17th and yelling BAAAAAALLLL NIGHT at my television. THE WESTERN CONFERENCE This conference is STACKED, and I don’t see any team really being that truly awful. Last year the fewest wins was 24 and I think it will be even higher this up coming year. There is going to be a great game on every night with all these teams battling it out. I can’t wait for it, the West = the best. Phoenix Suns: 2017: 24- 58 Prediction: 28-54 The Suns are coming off a season where they finished last in the Western conference, something that hasn’t happened since 2013 and find themselves with some of the best young talent in the NBA. Boasting one of the youngest rosters in the entire league, they have a really good young core, and at the centre of that core is none other than Devin Booker himself. Dropping 70 points last season in a single game, was one of the highlights of the regular season and adding Kansas’ Josh Jackson, one would think this team will improve in their win total from last season. I have them winning four more games, just because their team is one year older, and I feel like they will compete every night. Don’t be surprised if you hear about the Suns being in about 500 trade rumours throughout the season, they have a ton of pieces they could get rid of, especially if the wheels fall off the wagon early in the season. Los Angeles Lakers: 2017: 26-56 Prediction: 32-50 Sorry Lavar, but the Lakers aren’t winning anything this season. Boy that guy is going to be a side show this season, but hey it’s LA and maybe this will be a new breed of a sport. WWE meets the NBA, don’t be shocked in Lavar runs onto the court at least once this season. From one Ball to another, let’s talk about the important one; Lonzo. I’m impressed with this kid. He has a little bit of a Jason Kidd in him, mixed with a little bit of a Kevin Martin, because of his hideous shot. Again this is another young team loaded with talent. They have a great coach in Luke Walton who is so well respected, all these kids buy into what he is selling. Everyone is talking about next year already for LA with potential free agents in LeBron and PG13, but lets focus on getting these young guns better, and lets pray that Brandon Ingram ate a few cheeseburgers this summer, because my god that boy needs to put on some pounds, before he can unlock his true potential. Minnesota Timberwolves: 2017: 31-51 Prediction: 52-30 THIBS!!!! He must be so excited to be reunited with Jimmy Buckets. I get a real Lethal Weapon vibe from them, Jimmy being Murtaugh and Thibs being Riggs. Have you seen Thibs back in the day, with his awesome almost Mel Gibson like mullet. That’s besides the point, Minnesota is one of the teams that underwent one of the biggest makeovers this offseason. They added a lot of pieces, and look to be taken seriously in the tough Western conference this season. I thought it was going to be last season they took “the leap” but they got off to a flat start and just never recovered. Honestly one of the biggest concerns for me was Andrew Wiggins and his defence. Coming into the league he really didn’t have all the tools quite yet, but one thing you thought he could do no problem at the next level would be defend. That hasn’t be the case so far and I hope with adding Jimmy, Wiggins could feed off his passion for defence, because if he does that will help the team in the long run. Towns is only going to get better and with Jamal Crawford coming off the bench, the Timberwolves have potential to maybe make some noise in the West. This team has boom or bust written all over it. Sacramento Kings: 2017: 32-50 Prediction: 34-48 Lefty Westy is about to be unleashed on the NBA. That’s what I’m dubbing De’Aaron Fox, who I believe will win rookie of the year this season. The Kings added a ton of veterans this off-season, and I want to believe guys like Z-Bo, VC and George Hill could maybe bring a culture change to the Kings. But the Kings will always remain the Kings, so I think this will be a write off season for most of these guys. Maybe I could be wrong, but until I am proven otherwise, this franchise is just kind of in the toilet at the moment. Now I think that all changes with Fox, this kid is going to be a stud, he has all the makings in being a super star in this league. But until a solid foundation is built for him, and that includes having a coach and GM stick around long term, I just think his talents might go to waste, and that’s something that keeps me up at night. It’s like having an A-list actor tied down by being in a crappy movie franchise, sometimes you need to set them free, so they can spread their wings. Let Lefty West fly Kings, please, for all of our sakes. Dallas Mavericks: 2017: 33-49 Prediction: 26-56 Dirk, one of the all time greats, I love him to death. What’s there not to love about him? He’s loyal, he takes pay cuts, he’s a competitor, and I just feel bad for the guy. He’s stuck, he is so loyal that in fact, I think it almost a bad thing. I wish I could see Dirk go somewhere else and compete. The Mavs will be the worst team in the West this year, and it’s time for them to finally start thinking about their future. Don’t get me wrong, they found a stud in Dennis Smith Jr. in the draft this year. He will be a great building block for the future, and shows great signs of being a fantastic pro. He’s the type of player that wants to prove he shouldn’t have been the 9th pick in the draft this season. But other than that, they really aren’t working with much.Getting Noel from Philly for pretty much nothing last season helps, because he is a solid basketball player. He was lost in a rotation in Philly, and now he can be unleashed and used to his full potential here, so keep an eye out for a breakout season from Nerlens Noel. Harrison Barnes was a product of being in an incredible system in Golden State and he’s not a “franchise” guy. Dallas will recover they have one of the best owners and coaches in the NBA, but it’s time to move on from Dirk. The NBA will miss him dearly and I don’t think this season will be his last, but there comes a time in life when you simply need to move on and that time is now for the Dallas Mavericks. New Orleans Pelicans: 2017: 34-48 Prediction: 37-45 Boogie and AD, AD and Boogie. They go together like lamb and tuna fish. Does anyone really know how this season is going to go? Could Boogie get so fed up with AD, he decides to shave the brow off? Now toss is Rajon Rondo into the mix. This has potential to be a catastrophic disaster. I just don’t think it can work, two bigs on the same team. That don’t really work well off the ball. Both of these guys need the ball in their hands to be most effective, and they can’t really space the floor, because neither of them are great shooters. Boogie can knock down so open jump shots, but that’s not who he is. He’s one of the most dominate players in the NBA, and he likes the ball in the post, so does AD. This is a really hard win/loss prediction to make, because I just don’t see this working out. And when things aren’t going well for Boogie, we all know how it ends up. I want to be wrong, I want Boogie to go to the playoffs, I just want him to finally be in a great situation in the NBA. I just don’t think New Orleans is that situation. Denver Nuggets: 2017: 40-42 Prediction: 47-35 First things first, Josh Childress and his incredible hair have come back to the NBA!!!! Happy for him to be back in the NBA, he was so awesome to watch back in the day on Atlanta. Moving on. I really like this Nuggets team, they seem to fit in the not quite ready to make the jump, but not so bad they tank category. They have an all-around nice roster, with adding Paul Millsap and Trey Lyles this off-season, they are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012 (Lock-out year). Gary Harris, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jamal Murray are great young guards, and I think the Nuggets success will really fall on their shoulders this season. Murray had a rough start to his rookie campaign in 2016, but I expect him to bounce back in a big way this year. Same with Mudiay, I just don’t think it’s really clicked yet for him, but he’s a strong physical guard and I like his skill set, this could be the year that things finally turn around for him. Look for Jokic the Joker to have an incredible year, without doubt the most unique big man in the game today, and really is a treat to watch. Portland Trailblazers: 2017: 41:41 Prediction: 40-42 Sorry Blazer fans, but I think they are one game worse this season than last. Obviously yes, Lillard and McCollum is phenomenal guard play, but the rest of their roster isn’t that great. They didn’t sign any free agents. I know last year the team turned around once they acquired big man Nurkic from Denver, but I just don’t think that will be enough for them to stay above .500 at the end of the season. Too much is riding on Dame and CJ, and they really have to bring it night in and night out for Portland, and doing that over an 82 game stretch can be difficult. I see maybe one of those guys going down to an injury and the season may be lost. Too many other teams in the West got better this off-season and Portland just frankly did not, so I can’t have them winning more games this season, just doesn’t make sense. Memphis Grizzlies: 2017: 43-39 Prediction: 43-39 Good old Memphis, they are like the old reliable NBA franchise. You kind of know what you’re always getting with them. Grittiness, defence and discipline. That’s their three keys to success. Now I have them with the exact same record, because I think they are somewhat cursed by the injury bug. Now they added Ben McLemore and Tyreke Evans, so that helps a bit. But with losing Z-Bo, who was kind of the heart and soul of this franchise for so long, I think that will have a bigger impact on the team and their culture than they want to let on. If Parsons, Panda Bear Marc Gasol and Mike Conley can all stay healthy and play roughly 75 games each, then we are talking about a 50 win team here, if not, well it will not be pretty. I’m also excited to see Canadian Dillion Brooks hoop it up for them this season. The kid was a stud at Oregon and could be some much needed fire power off the bench, something that Memphis has been lacking in recent years. Oklahoma City Thunder: 2017 47-35 Prediction: 55-27 They added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, I think that qualifies for at least a 8 better win total than last season. Yes, I know their bench is horrible, but the roster they have now, will not be their roster at the end of the year. Can we all just take a minute, and give Sam Presti, their GM some much needed love. In one summer he managed to trade for George and Melo and sign my dude Westbrook to an extension, like simply amazing stuff. I think if this works and they find the right system, look out. You’re naive to think this is going to work game one, you’re naive to think this is going to click by game 30. This is going to take time, and that’s okay. These guys are pros and I think they all have one common goal. DESTROY THE WARRIORS. If Melo can buy into being the third option and taking a more “Olympic Melo” kind of role, this could be scary. I think Paul George wants to prove, he shouldn’t be forgotten about, and well Westbrook is going to do his thing, and I can see him changing his tone up a bit. He won MVP last year, he average a triple double, I think now he wants that ring. I can’t wait to see this unfold, honestly I love Westbrook so much, he’s my favourite player and I’m excited to see what happens with this team. Utah Jazz: 2017: 51-31 Prediction: 41-41 Video of the summer belongs to the guy filming himself burning his Hayward jersey and proclaiming “good luck being LeBron’s little B-word (that’s what he actually said)”. So the Jazz took a huge hit this off-season and lost their son Gordon Hayward. One the bright side, Donovan Mitchell the rookie they drafted was eating guys alive in summer league so they might have something there. Their roster stays the same really, and I think they might go a little bigger and play slower this up-coming year with Gobert and Favours. What the Jazz really need is Dante Exum to start acting like the third pick in the draft and stay healthy. I just think Hayward was such a big part of this franchise and they might have a little bit of a hangover from his departure. The Jazz are an incredible organization and have shown resilience in the past. They don’t really have down years, so look for them to shake things up roster wise if they get off to a slow start. Los Angeles Clippers: 2017: 51-31 Prediction: 50-32 The Clippers finally parted ways with Chris Paul, and guess what? I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I always tell people, I think CP3 is kind of overrated, and well he never wins anything. I honestly think he’s one of the most overrated players since the turn of this century. So that’s why I have the Clippers winning only one less game. They added some nice new pieces with Gallinari, Beverley and Lou Williams. All solid players and if Gallinari can finally stay healthy that’s such a bonus for this team. I’m looking forward to all the “ANOTHER ASSIST FOR MILOS!!!” memes this season, for the 30 year old Serbian rookie. I’m just not too sure what to make of this team just yet, I think them losing Paul isn’t the end of the world. Staying healthy will be the key to their success, because Blake Griffin a few years ago was playing like one of the best 5 players in the entire NBA, and I saw last nights first preseason game and he was hitting 3s! He shoots threes now people, if he can knock that down consistently, look out! Houston Rockets: 2017: 55-27 Prediction: 61-21 Speaking of CP3, he’s now on the Rockets, who plan on using two basketballs this season. Bold move cotton, I hope it works out for them. I don’t get it, the point guard whisperer Mike D’Antoni turned James Harden into a new player last year, by making him the point guard. It worked so well, he became a completely new player and a new threat to the league. He was already a bonafide stud, but him playing point worked really well. Now enters CP3 who is a pure point guard, making Harden return to the wing. I believe Harden works best when he has the ball in his hands, not without it. Houston had such a good season last year, but it ended in a weird way, in a game where it almost looked like James Harden gave up or showed up high to the game. He needs a bounce back season and deep playoff run in order to shed that memory. So he brought in the guy with some of the worst playoff success the NBA has ever seen! Boy this could be a disaster. It also could work out in spectacular fashion, that’s why I have them with 61 wins. PJ Tucker was another great pickup for them, the Toronto Raptors will miss him dearly, and he is a lockdown defender and can hit the corner three. Adding to a roster who already makes a boat load of three-pointers. This should be an interesting dynamic in Houston, can’t wait to see how it pans out. San Antonio Spurs: 2017 61-21 Prediction: 59-23 The Spurs winning 50 games might be lock of the century in any season. They are without a doubt the most successful franchise since the 90’s Bulls run. They are the definition of success, and what most pro sports franchises want to be. Kawhi Leonard is a freak of nature, he is so good at basketball it’s uncanny, and the Spurs will remain in the contender category until he says otherwise. Like what can I say about the Spurs really, they will be there at the end, wether things click for them or not in the playoffs is another story. I think this could be a really fantastic season for Rudy Gay, I feel like he could be a perfect Popovich player, and really fit into their system. Or much like Richard Jefferson a few years back, will ultimately hate his life and want nothing more than to get the hell out of dodge. He could help Manu with some bench firepower, and I’ve always been a Rudy Gay guy, I just feel like he’s another example of never really being in the perfect situation. The guy I would look out for this season on the Spurs is DeJounte Murray, that kid can play and I think he makes some noise this year and becomes a little bit of a household name. Golden State Warriors: 2017: 67-15 Prediction 69-13 WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAY!!!!! It was really nice this summer to hear that KD is just like me. That made me feel good about myself and gave me a much need confidence boost. Swaggy P is good for 2 more wins, and I think it could honestly be more. I can’t wait to watch him drop buckets in big moments in the playoffs come 2018. It’s going to be glorious to watch. It’s great because I think deep down, Swaggy probably thinks he is a better shooter than both Klay and Steph and hell even KD. That’s what I love about that guy, all time heat check guy. There’s nothing new here, expect the fact that it’s a year later and these guys are gelled even more together. They could be unstoppable and I would be okay with it. They are really fun to watch and honestly are one of the greatest teams of all time. So don’t hate on greatness, because it doesn’t come around often. I will be shocked if they aren’t in the finals yet again, but that’s the beauty thing about sports, I want to see them play 7 games against the Spurs, Rockets and Thunder. The West playoffs are going to be so much fun, and I hope one of those three teams take down the Warriors. So there you have it, the Western conference. I’ll be doing the Eastern conference soon, along with award predictions and final thoughts! Check ya later. Tagged Anthony Davis, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dallas Mavericks, DeMarcus Cousins, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Gonzo Ball, Gordon Hayward, Houston Rockets, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul George, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trailblazers, Russell Westbrook, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Sports, Steph Curry, Utah Jazz2 Comments

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Peruvian week serves up feast full of delicacies Update: July, 28/2015 - 09:16 The first Peru Gastronomic Week is being held downtown to celebrate Peru's Independence Day and the 21st anniversary of the friendship between Peru and Viet Nam (1994-2015). — Photo giadinhvn.vn HA NOI (VNS) — The first Peru Gastronomic Week is being held downtown to celebrate Peru's Independence Day and the 21st anniversary of the friendship between Peru and Viet Nam (1994-2015). Various traditional dishes representing Peruvian cuisine are being prepared by Aldo Vargas, a chef from the Hilton Lima in Lima, Peru, and David Huaman Quispe, a cook from the same hotel, between July 27 and 31 at Chez Manon Restaurant at Hilton Hanoi Opera. The two cooks will present a cooking demonstration of some traditional dishes as well as share tips on preparing Peruvian food for invited guests on the morning of July 30. A conference on quinoa and maca, two agricultural products of Peru, will be held here on July 29. Invited guests include representatives from the ministries of health, agriculture and rural development and commerce as well as some hospitals in Ha Noi. Quinoa is a species of the goosefoot genus; it is a grain crop grown primarily for its edible seeds and is an important ingredient in Peruvian cuisine. Quinoa is a rich source of the B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and folate and is a rich source of the dietary minerals iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Maca is a plant that grows in central Peru on the high plateaus of the Andes mountains. It has been cultivated as a vegetable crop in Peru for the last 3,000 years. Called the "Peruvian ginseng", the maca plant's benefits have long been valued, and it has recently been popularised as a supplement and food ingredient. Its root is used to make medicine. "We hope this gastronomy week will help more Vietnamese people learn about Peruvian cuisine and culture," Luis Tsuboyama, Chief of Mission at the Peruvian Embassy in Ha Noi said. "Meanwhile, the conference on quinoa and maca will help connect Peruvian enterprises so that Vietnamese partners can import the two products directly. In the past, some Vietnamese companies had to import these two Peruvian products from companies in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia." Tsuboyama also wants to promote tourism between the two countries, and a Vietnamese embassy will soon be established in Lima. He said the Peruvian embassy will soon introduce in Viet Nam literature written by a few Peruvian authors. — VNS

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Opinion › Columns › West Campus' growth and density pose problems for students Photo Credit: Mengwen Cao | Daily Texan Staff Published on February 5, 2014 at 9:43 pm Last update on March 13, 2014 at 12:13 pm By Charlotte Swain In recent years, the addition of large apartment complexes, such as the Block, to the West Campus area has made the neighborhood more populated than ever. The Block alone built six mega-complexes in 2007 and 2008 and two more mega-complexes — the Calloway House and 2400 Nueces — which opened over the summer. This increase in the development of huge luxury apartments have made West Campus more popular than ever. But it’s also making the neighborhood too crowded. West Campus is accepted by most to be the region bounded by Guadalupe to North Lamar Boulevard from east to west and 29th Street to MLK from north to south. While opinions may vary on where exactly the boundaries lie, it is clear that West Campus, though full of life, is not a large area. And yet, due to the influx of high-rise condominium and apartment complexes, it maintains one of the highest population densities in all of Austin. Between 2000 and 2009, the population of West Campus nearly doubled from 10,000 to 17,000 people per square mile. While these numbers would not be considered unlivable in New York or another densely populated city, the rapid nature of this growth could prove to be a very real problem in the near future. As building continues, the price for convenient West Campus living will become more and more unattainable for the average student. With no room for outward expansion, the only way for investors to build is up. In 2013 alone, three new luxury apartment buildings, including the aforementioned Calloway House and 2400 Nueces, were added to the already-high number of complexes in the area. These complexes meet what investors view as a growing need for student accommodations to match ever-increasing enrollment at the University, which reached a record of more than 8,000 incoming freshmen for fall 2012. However, a report has indicated that enrollment remained flat for fall 2013, and the freshman class returned to a more normal 7,252. Still, according to the report, “The University’s recruiting efforts for this class have focused on increasing yield rates for its top automatically admitted students, who typically have multiple offers from top universities around the country,” suggesting that the need for student housing will continue to expand in upcoming years. With a need for space and no end in sight for the building boom, it seems that the overcrowded streets of West Campus will only become more packed. That’s bad news for students who want to afford both $10,000-$30,000 in tuition per year and the rent on a conveniently-located place. In past months, another flaw with encouraging a region to populate so heavy with students. The throwing of “bleach balloons” off balconies down onto the beer-can-strewn streets makes it clear that the residents of West Campus show a lack of responsibility for the space they inhabit. This is no big surprise. Despite the implementation of environmental programs such as Green Greeks, which attempts to provide recycling after large frat parties, there is little incentive to be environmentally responsible for nearly 20,000 20-somethings in such a confined space while everyone is behaving more or less equally poorly. By continuing to cram more and more students into the area, these dangers may become even more pronounced. However, it isn’t only a sense of diffused responsibility that could cause problems. Without a cap on the cost of luxury apartments, the days of convenient and affordable student housing may soon be a thing of the past. Yes, West Campus is not the only place for students to live, but it continues to be the most convenient place near campus. What, then, is the solution to the need for housing without adding to a West Campus already bursting at the seams? This is not a question that’s easy to answer in Austin, where population increase with no room to grow is a city-wide problem. Swain is a Spanish and European studies junior from Allen.

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Latin America World n early 1993, A DEA Agent, Jack Robertson, who was the case agent of the AFO Case, learned the AFO was at war with “Chapo” Guzman and that Barron was recruiting from his street gang in Logan Heights to beef up AFO security. At the time, I was assigned to DEA to work in on a task force team targeting gang members who distributed significant amounts of drugs. Jack took a couple steps across the hallway and asked me for help since I had expertise on the Logan Heights Gangs. Jack eventually delegated the monitoring and investigation of the enforcement arm of the AFO to me. He mentioned to me that my ultimate target should be Barron. But Barron was in Tijuana and never to be seen again by us until his death in 1997. We did make the case however. The new recruits were dispatched to Guadalajara in April of 1993 along with Barron and Ramon Arellano. After several days of searching for “Chapo” the gang members were told to return to Tijuana. As they filtered through the airport, they were given notice that “Chapo” would be arriving in a white Gran Marquis. The Logan enforcers and another crew hired out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa killed the occupants of a white Gran Marquis containing the Cardinal and his driver. This was a life-changing event for the AFO and they had to go underground. Their empire would now be operated by Ismael Higuera-Guerrero until his arrest in 2000. The Government of Mexico arrested 3 suspects who were involved in the Cardinal Murder who, in turn, gave up the rest of the group involved. Mexico submitted provisional arrest warrants to us and, those gang members who fled to San Diego and elsewhere in the US, were sent back to Mexico to face Mexican Justice and its “guilty until proven innocent” doctrine. We soon found a worthy target that could lead us to Barron. In October 1993, Jack asked me to find a way into a residence that was apparently holding 4 tons of AFO marijuana and guarded by Logan Heights Gang Member. We found a way in. On November 4, 1993, we entered the Sherman Heights residence and seized 4 tons of marijuana, several pounds of methamphetamine and an arsenal of weapons. We arrested Barron’s “Uncle Charlie” and several others. 4 tons of marijuana seized from AFO in San Diego During the search warrant at the residence, a white Econoline Van that had been parked in the driveway every time we drove by the residence the month prior was not present. After we processed the scene and impounded the weed, we celebrated. I was hooked into Jack’s case and asked “What’s next?” Jack told me that Barron’s contact for drugs and enforcement in San Diego was a fellow gang member, Juan Felix. A couple days later, we received information that Felix owned a home in Chula Vista. I drove by the Chula Vista home and noticed the white Econoline Van now parked at the residence. We did a query into the ownership of the residence and learned that Felix had recently purchased the home from Rivera and his older brother, Ernie. Good shit happens when you get off your butt! Juan Felix, aka “Johnny Juan Felix We opened a case on Felix and we began to follow him around and monitor his communications. From 1984 to 1996, I was a probation officer so I searched every one of his cell phone contacts who was on probation, arrested anyone with a warrant and arranged with INS to deport anyone who was illegal. We developed numerous informants against Felix who provided us with timely information. We followed Felix almost daily to a business in Logan Heights, Sunshine Truck and Auto Body, owned by a 5-time felon Robert Stang. In the same fashion as the cell phone contacts, we started monitoring Stang’s business and employees and made purchases of drugs from several of them. Some cooperated and we were able to purchase pounds of methamphetamine from Felix and subsequently arrest him on November 30, 1995. The case against Juan Felix was dubbed “Operation Sunshine.” As the case progressed into the upper levels of the AFO, our witnesses told us that the shop was used to store weapons used by Barron and his enforcers to conduct murders in the US on behalf of the AFO. The enforcement crews took over the shop at night and used it as a hang-out and a place for meetings. Witnesses also told us that Barron and “Kitty” were paying Stang $2,000.000 to off-load tractor-trailers and dismantle tour buses full of cocaine and marijuana inside the shop. Several of the informants and employees told us that although Stang was a felon and a coke fiend, he had “friends in high places.” They described and identified the top two people in the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in San Diego who frequented the shop and were friendly with Stang. In fact, the top guy, kept his personal “oldie” vehicle at Stang’s shop and worked on it on the weekends. I would later be recruited and hired by CALDOJ and changed careers in September 1996. By this time “Operation Sunshine” was a federally funded case and was leading us toward the indictment of Barron, and ultimately the Arellano-Felix Brothers in other federally funded cases. Needless to say, my top boss was nervous. On Mother’s Day, May 1994, the San Diego Harbor Police arrested a nervous Caucasian male as he approached the public boat ramp in Shelter Island. They were called to the ramp because another Caucasian male, Theodore Kenney, was reported by concerned citizens acting suspiciously. In the cabin of the boat was 600 pounds of marijuana. The Blue/White Chevy Blazer attached to a boat trailer waiting for the weed-laden boat was seized. The trailer was registered to an alias at the residence of Barron’s family in San Diego. The Blazer was registered to Rafael Magana a long-time trafficker for the AFO. Years later, we were told the load belonged to Barron, Rivera and Juan Felix while the boat belonged to Rivera. The Blazer and trailer were seized and impounded at the Harbor Police Department lot until someone unhooked the trailer from the Blazer and took off with the Blazer. Months later, Felix was contacted by police in the same Blazer now painted red. Felix would later use the Blazer to deliver a pound of methamphetamine to our storefront in San Diego. During the pursuit of Felix and Barron, on October 12, 1994, Agent Robertson arrested Rivera who was in possession of a gun and returning from a Los Angeles location after arranging to take back a large amount of cocaine from a buyer who could not get rid of it. After a close and thorough examination of Rivera’s personal items, we were able to find, and seize, another one of his fishing boats in Harbor Island that contained a few kilos of weed. Mother’s Day 600 Pound Marijuana Seizure Rivera is a crafty character who plays every angle and was able to receive a sentence of 18 months in federal prison instead of a mandatory life sentence for his third felony conviction for drug sales. We were very upset with the plea and short sentence. Rivera was represented by Attorney Frank Reagan. This is a prime example of a flawed system where defense attorneys and prosecutors work out a sweet deal for the defendant to avoid trial. The judge typically certifies the deal and the criminal is freed in a relatively short time to carry on his criminal activities. The victims, witnesses and investigating agents receive no closure and feel used and grow skeptical. In this case hundreds of people died because Rivera was freed. Yes, he was released and became a mass-murderer when he could of, and should of, received a life sentence. Rivera was released from federal prison to a work furlough program in early 1996. Rivera claimed to work for Darkside Customs, a business owned by Ronald Eugene Brill, who catered to many seedy citizens and customized motorcycles by appointment only. Once Rivera was released from work furlough, he fled to Tijuana and rejoined Barron who was the chief enforcer for the AFO. Barron’s job was enforcement and he enjoyed killing people. Rivera’s job now was to kill AFO enemies too. On April 4, 1996, the Southern District of California, issued a warrant for the arrest of Rivera under Criminal Case Number 94cr120101-B. Rivera was found in violation of his supervised release for failure to report to Federal Probation following his conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. After taking down Felix, we set our sights on Barron and Rivera. Our US Attorney, Alan Bersin, was upset with the government of Mexico for releasing those Logan Heights Gang Members recruited by Barron to kill “Chapo” and, who accidentally killed the Cardinal at the Guadalajara Airport. We had rounded up a couple dozen of them in San Diego after the murder on April 24, 1993 and sent them to Mexico. After 2 years, we started seeing them back in our community. Mexico never notified the US of their release. In 1996, USA Bersin assigned one of his assistants to build a federal kingpin case against those gang members and their leader, Barron, who were responsible for the Cardinal Murder. Our team at the Violent Crimes Task Force – Gang Group was selected to investigate and we were well on our way already. We approached the most involved but least dangerous Barron recruits in US or Mexican custody. The first five gang members decided to join Team America rather than being prosecuted in the case. Barron and nine other enforcers were secretly indicted in June 1997. In 1997, Barron and Rivera called on their US gofer, Ronald Brill, to purchase a fishing boat big enough to haul 1000 kilograms of cocaine. Brill purchased a Grady White and Rivera and Barron smuggled the cocaine into the US. For redistribution to New York City. By 1997, Barron and Rivera married women in Tijuana. Barron married Karina and Rivera married Cruz Elena Rivera-Rosales. Rivera who had a child with Carolyn in San Diego would eventually have four with Cruz. Barron had a son in San Diego with Judy. I hear he is a good kid and nothing like his father or mother. Ronald Eugene Brill On November 27, 1997, David Barron, Marcos Quinones, Michael Jarboe, Ignacio Meza and others attempted to murder Zeta Newspaper Editor Jesus Blancornelas in Tijuana. During the ambush, Barron was killed by a fragmented round fired by a fellow enforcer. Quinones received an injury to his eye during the ambush. Several days after the ambush, Meza was murdered as it was believed his gun fired the errant round. There are many witnesses and accessories to the Blancornelas murder attempt and the murder of his bodyguard, Luis Lauro-Valero. The vehicle Barron was driving in was purchased just days before in San Diego by Ronald Brill who registered the car under an alias. He was questioned by both US and Mexican law enforcement but no charges were ever filed against him. The other vehicle used by the crew was stolen out of San Diego just before the murder. Quinones returned to Barron’s home after the shooting and broke the news to the Barron family who were gathered for Thanksgiving Dinner. Rivera also arrived and he and Quinones contacted Benjamin Arellano to report the news and wait for further instructions. Barron’s group was split in two between Quinones and Rivera. Quinones kept the US gang members except for a few who refused to work with Quinones like “Bat” Marquez and Michael “Pee-Wee” Jarboe. On February 10, 1998, with the death of Barron, an amended indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of California charging Quinones and other AFO Enforcers with federal drug and murder charges. Those defendants in custody on other charges were transferred to federal custody in San Diego and cooperated to lower their sentences. On one particular interview, we asked one of the defendants about Rivera. He became emotional and said that a good friend he met in the enforcement crews, “Boni” (Guillermo Gomez), was killed in an explosion on June 12, 1994. He detailed a plot to kill “Mayo Zambada” at the Camino Real Hotel in Guadalajara. Barron had procured chemicals from Juan Felix in the US and brought them to Rivera in Tijuana. Rivera built a bomb with a timing device to be used to blow up the hotel where “Mayo” was hosting a party. Rivera detonated the bomb while “Boni” was in the car. [By 1997, Barron and Rivera married women in Tijuana. Barron married Karina and Rivera married Cruz Elena Rivera-Rosales. Rivera who had a child with Carolyn in San Diego would eventually have four with Cruz. Barron had a son in San Diego with Judy. I hear he is a good kid and nothing like his father or mother.] Gustavo and Cruz Rivera The crews headed by Quinones and Rivera performed enforcement functions to include extortion, kidnapping, drug thefts, murder and other acts of violence. The crews also traffic marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. The crews had cocaine sources but over time they began to dry up. In their later years, the crews had minimal supplies of cocaine but continued to traffic marijuana and methamphetamine. The crews had become more and more reliant on extortion and kidnapping for ransom to generate income. Quinones and Rivera eventually drifted apart and plotted to kill members of each other’s crews. Marcos Quinones Sanchez, Karina Davis Barron Corona and Marissa Quinones Barron Cruz Herrera Rosales and Gustavo Rivera Martinez 2-14-1997 Rivera rose further up in the AFO and his second family grew. They lived in beautiful homes and had four children all born in the US. Cruz Rivera-Herrera. Crossed into San Diego frequently to see her OB-GYN, give birth to their children and shop in all of our malls. We stopped to speak with her on one occasion at Horton Plaza and she claimed she was separated from her husband who was living in Mexico City. She was just one of hundreds of “cartel wives” who will never give up their husbands for fear of losing their allowance and material wealth. Cruz Rivera at Bebe in Horton Plaza On January 4, 2000, Rafael Avila-Valenzuela was murdered at the Conquistador Hotel in Tijuana. Rafael was married to Cruz Rivera’s sister, Maria Herrera-Rosales. Rafael was an attorney for Grupo Beta and on Rivera’s and the AFO’s payroll. Two of his younger brothers, Fernando and Miguel Avila-Valenzuela, who also worked alongside Rivera, were killed years later. Rafael Avila Valenzuela About one month prior to the death of Ramon Arellano, Ramon held a big party in the Tijuana area that was attended by all AFO crews. Ramon confronted Quinones and Rivera at the party and demanded that they put aside their disagreements and resume working together. They began working together at that point. In August of 2002, Rivera and Jose Albert Marquez were indicted for with 21 USC 952, 960 and 963, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine; 21 USC 846 and 841(a)(1), Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine; 21 USC 952, 960, 963, 846 and 841(a)(1) and 18 USC 2, Aiding and Abetting a Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine. On April 24, 2003, Quinones and a member of his crew, Felipe Torrez-Juarez (aka: “Flips” and “Manny”) were arrested in Tijuana for kidnapping and weapons charges. They had a two-hour gun battle with police and military officials before they ran out of ammunition. Quinones’ wife, Marissa Quinones-Barron, called the press because the police would not stop shooting. Both were taken to Mexico City by federal authorities. Rivera absorbed Quinones’ crew. In Mexico City, Quinones cooperated with the federal authorities (SEIDO) and signed a formal statement or declaration relative to the information he provided. Within hours, Rivera, received a copy of his declaration and abducted four of Quinones’ family members in Tijuana. He also had several people associated with Quinones murdered in Tijuana. Rivera demanded that Quinones recant his statement and cease cooperation. Quinones’ family members were subsequently released. This event caused serious friction between the Barron Family and Rivera. David Barron’s sister, Marissa, was married to Quinones. Rivera and Barron had been friends since 1988 when they bonded at FCI – Phoenix. Quinone was released from Altiplano a couple years ago and his whereabouts are unknown. He has a “green light” on him by the remnants of the Tijuana Cartel, the Logan Heights Gang, and the Jalisco Cartel. His cooperation, his selfish management style and his low IQ has put a target on his back. On July 1, 2003, a Federal Grand Jury for the Southern District of California returned a superseding Indictment Number 03cr01843-K against Rivera. Rivera was charged with 21 USC 952, 960 and 963, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine; 21 USC 846 and 841(a)(1), Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine; 21 USC 952, 960, 963, 846 and 841(a)(1) and 18 USC 2, Aiding and Abetting a Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine. Maria Herrera Rosales On December 9, 2003, we received information that Cruz Rivera was assaulted at the Nordstrom’s check-out counter in the children’s section at the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego. We responded within 20 minutes but all parties had left the store. We pulled the security tape and watched in amazement. On one side of the busy counter was Cruz Rivera and her nanny checking out children’s clothes. On the other side was Marissa Quinones and her sister, Claudia Barron, doing the same. Although there was no sound, the recording showed both Marissa and Claudia take turns beating on Cruz. It was the ghetto gals against the cartel princess. I still have the video. In February 2004, we started listening to the radio frequencies of the AFO and heard “first hand” their stranglehold on the Tijuana Plaza. The AFO was now “Policing the Tijuana Plaza.” They had organization much like our police organizations but without the red tape. They had corrupted every level of law enforcement to the level where the cops were powerless against them. They outnumbered and outgunned the police. They patrolled their plaza and picked up anyone they deemed as an enemy. They received timely information from their government contacts and informants and made sure they coexisted but did not interfere with each other. It was absolutely amazing! Rivera had several crews and a direct frequency to the boss, Javier Arellano-Felix, and the dispatcher, Fernando Sanchez-Arellano, the son of Norma Alicia Arellano-Felix. He was recorded on a daily basis patrolling, killing, kidnapping, extorting and trafficking drugs. His crews killed hundreds, if not thousands, of people. In looking at his indictment, there are no murder charges but a skeletal history of lesser criminal acts leaving room for a plea agreement and soft sentence. On January 10, 2005, Rivera and his crews kidnapped Walter Rios and two associates as they were leaving an auto repair shop in Tijuana. Rios’ wife reported the kidnapping to DEA and FBI who conveyed the information to the Baja Norte Attorney General’s Office. On January 16, the comandante of the Anti Sequestro Unit, Hugo Vargas-Coronel, was able to get close to the kidnapping safe-house and save Rios and his associates from a certain death. Rivera was reporting the encroaching police activity to Javier Arellano and Fernando Sanchez-Arellano over the radio but the two superiors were talking about a duck-hunting television show and disregarded Rivera’s urgent communications. In minutes the house was raided, the victims freed and two of Rivera’s crew were arrested. The following day, Hugo Vargas-Coronel, was murdered. In 2005, our investigation led us to a boat broker in a Long Beach, California marina who was contacted by Rivera and was interested in purchasing a 500 K pleasure craft, the Dock Holiday. When the deal was confirmed, we boarded the boat, installed tracking devices on it and waited. The person who arrived weeks later to pay for the boat was Edgar Escandon-Leyva, who was the designated gofer for the head of the AFO. He worked for Ramon until his death and now worked for Javier. Escandon-Leyva, aka “24,” was with a marina owner from La Paz, Baja Sur, Aristotle Abaroa. We were pretty certain the boat was going to Javier Arellano and the rest is history. Rivera had to be cautious after the arrest of Javier Arellano. Surprisingly, he did not accompany the fishermen nor did Escandon-Leyva when it was they who unwittingly led us to their ultimate boss. For some reason, Rivera’s “right-hand man,” Manuel Diez-Castillo, aka “Buddha,” was blamed and has not been heard from since. On December 11, 2006, Rivera and his crew set up surveillance at a strip mall in Tijuana as two enemies, “Chombi” and “Payo” were spotted in one of the stores. We listened on their radio frequencies as “Chombi” and “Payo” were executed as they left the store and walked outside to the waiting gunmen. Rivera’s radio demeanor was very professional as he urged his crews to remain calm while the set up in the area, killed the two victims and departed the scene. He was a “big boss!” Murder of Chombi and Payo In early 2008, we received information that Rivera was active in the East Cape area of Baja Sur. Agents were dispatched to Cabo San Lucas and began identifying properties purchased by Rivera in Cabo San Lucas, Las Barrilles and Pescadero. A special group from Mexico City was dispatched to the area to arrest Rivera when the opportunity arose. Rivera was located at a beachfront mansion in Palmilla and he was monitored as he drove into Las Barrilles and Pescadero frequently. He frequented the Roadrunner Café in Las Barrilles and he was usually alone. On the night before Easter, he left his Palmilla Mansion in his Ford Truck along with his wife, brother-in-law and their 4 children. When the drove through Las Barrilles, Rivera jumped out at a hot dog stand and the truck continued to Pescadero. The agents did not see him get out and the truck was intercepted by Mexican Police in Pescadero. His wife was interrogated and told the police he was at the hot dog stand. The troops headed back to Las Barrilles and arrested Rivera who was with his bodyguard, Marcos Assemat-Hernandez and a friend, Pavel Kulisek, who was a fellow off-road enthusiast. Gustavo Rivera in long khaki pants Kulisek still claims he had no idea his friend was a cartel kingpin. I believe him and am sorry he was collateral damage. Rivera was taken to a local military base and then transported to Mexico City. We expected him to be delivered to the US as he was born here, but he claimed dual citizenship and managed to stay in Altiplano for nearly 12 years. A few days later, one of the young comandantes from the special group was killed, duct-taped and left on the side of the road in Tijuana. Road Runner Cafe I have kept in touch with the witnesses against Rivera and they are ready for trial. They have an awesome story to tell of this selfish monster and the story needs to be told. One witness responded with the following after he was told Rivera had been extradited to San Diego: “Kind of sad when you think about how much of his life was spent behind bars. He was an intelligent and personable guy at one time. He had many opportunities to turn his life around, but turned his back on all of them. He chose his path, stepping over the tortured and murdered bodies of the innocent, and not so innocent, along the way. Remind the prosecutor of that.” You should now have a good feel for knowledge about Rivera. Hopefully, our federal prosecutors will tell the whole story and not settle with a skeletal version. Let us hope the US Attorney’s Office can give us some closure on this one. Maybe this time the victims and law enforcement will feel somewhat vindicated and appreciated. The following is a summary of some of the more well-known members of Rivera’s crews over the last 3 decades. Many of these men became leaders and kingpins themselves. Many are dead. Rivera Crew Members Jose Albert Marquez-Esqueda, aka: “BAT” Marquez is a member of the “Del Sol” street gang and the Mexican Mafia prison gang. He has an extensive criminal history and is extremely violent. He was released from Pelican Bay state prison in June 1997, fled to Tijuana and rejoined David Barron’s enforcement group. Marquez is a U.S. citizen. On November 22, 2003, Marquez was arrested in Tijuana and eventually extradited on January 27, 2007. He is serving a life sentence in a US federal prison. Manuel Ivanovich Zambrano-Flores, aka “JIMMY” Zambrano is a former Mexican Immigration Officer who was arrested in San Diego on July 7, 1998 in possession of 100 kilograms of marijuana. Manuel Ivanovich Zambrano Flores Zambrano is a Mexican citizen. He took over Rivera’s crews after Rivera’s arrest and on August 7, 2009, Zambrano was arrested. Zambrano spent several years in Puenta Grande and was released about 5 years ago. He is still in the game and, apparently, is allied with the Jalisco Cartel. Rafael Avila-Valenzuela, aka “NOVIO” Avila, an attorney, was assigned to Grupo Beta when he was murdered on January 4, 2000 by gunmen working for Ismael “Mayo” Zambada. Avila was married to Cruz Rivera’s sister, Maria Herrerra-Rosales. Fernando Avila-Valenzuela, aka “CUERVO” Avila was arrested in San Diego on July 7, 1998 in possession of 100 kilograms of marijuana. Avila and Zambrano were seen doing a vehicle switch in National City with a known trafficker and partner of Rivera. They were detained briefly and subsequently released. Avila, like his brothers who worked for Rivera, was murdered in front of his parents’ home on November 5th, 2014. Miguel Avila-Valenzuela aka “HERTZ” Another Avila-Valkenzuela Brother who dedicated his life to murder and drug trafficking and nicknamed for his ability to steal cars, Avila was murdered in Tijuana in October 2015. Sixto Avila-Valenzuela, aka “SIXTO” Another Avila Family Member who worked for Gustavo Rivera Manuel Diez-Castillo, aka “BUDDHA” Castillo assisted Rivera with drug distribution and enforcement. Castillo vanished on August 14, 2006 as it was he that was blamed for Javier Arellano-Felix’s arrest on the Dock Holiday off the coast of Cabo San Lucas. His immediate family fled Tijuana and sought refuge in San Diego. Raymundo Corona-Bartolome, aka “COACH” Corona is a close partner to Rivera and is an avid baseball player. Corona’s wife is Tijuana’s socialite Claudia Saenz de Corona. Corona maintained stash houses in the U.S. for redistribution of Rivera and Barron’s drugs. Corona is a citizen of Mexico. On June 26, 1998, Corona sent Alberto Gonzalez-Ortega and James Scott to Providence, Rhode Island with a load of marijuana. After receiving the marijuana both were murdered by their buyers. Isaac Godoy-Castro, aka “DANNY” Godoy is a former police officer that has been the driver to both Barron and Rivera. Godoy is married to Martha Potenciano, the daughter of the infamous Juan Potenciano who was murdered in Tijuana in about 1990. His son of the same name and occupation lost his limbs in a methamphetamine explosion in the late 1990’s, seems to be on the right track now and trying to give back what his family took over the decades. Godoy took over one of Gustavo Rivera’s crews after his arrest in 2008. Godoy was arrested in Tijuana on April 22, 2009 and served time at Puenta Grande until his release. On April 20, 2018, Godoy was murdered while working out at a Tijuana Gym. Giovanni Rivera, aka “HAMBURGUESA” Rivera, a graduate athlete of the old Marian High School in Imperial Beach, California took over for “BUDDHA” after the later vanished. He was arrested while abducting a victim in Tijuana on October 28, 2008 and is in prison in Tijuana and soon to be released if not already. Melvin Gutirrez-Quiroz, aka “Tocayo” and “Casper” A Logan Heights Gang Member who was first recruited by David Barron-Corona in 1992 and committed multiple murders on both sides of the border. He was arrested in Tijuana on March 6, 2013 and is incarcerated at Puenta Grande maximum security prison. Mario Lopez, AKA: “Compa” Lopez also took over one of Gustavo Rivera’s crews after Rivera’s 2008 arrest. He has never been arrested and his whereabouts are unknown but we do have his photograph he took for his PGR Credentials in the early 2000s. Theodore Caldwell Kenney III: AKA “Katy,” “Topete” Kenney, a life-long friend of Gustavo Rivera, from the San Diego area now lives in Cabo San Lucas and own and manages properties purchased by Rivera. He was a cocaine dealer in the 1980’s and trafficked marijuana for Rivera for decades to come. Ronald Eugene Brill: AKA “Bill” Brill, a friend and US gofer of Gustavo Rivera, from the El Cajon area provided Rivera with a job when Rivera was on federal work furlough. He also purchased a fishing boat used by Rivera and Barron to transport one ton of cocaine from Colombia into Baja and ultimately to the US. Brill purchased the vehicle used by Barron in his attempt to kill Zeta Editor, Jesus Blancornelas. Brill also affixed armor, police sirens and lights to Barron and Rivera’s vehicles used to patrol Tijuana. Ronald Brill aka “Bill” Ignacio Zazueta-Rodriguez, aka “Gerardo”, “El Pete” and “Nacho” Zazueta was deported in 1999 and joined Quinones’ enforcement crew. He was a posolero and later a crew leader and close associate of Arturo Villarreal-Heredia, “El Nalgon.” His wife, Selene Estrada, worked with the California Department of Corrections as a prison guard at the RJ Donovan Prison in San Diego County. He was arrested August 22, 2008 and is at large after escaping from a Mexico prison facility. Ignacio Zazueta Jose Hernandez-Garcia, aka “Viejon” and “Sailor” Paroled and deported in 1998 after serving time for murder in California. He joined Quinones’ crew and was absorbed by Rivera upon Quinones’ arrest. He later rose to very high level with the new generation of the AFO before he was murdered on November 13, 2015. Jose Hernandez Garcia “Viejon” or “Sailor” Benjamin Gutierrez-Quiroz, aka “Kecho” Younger brother of Melvin and Jose Gutierrez-Quiroz, aka “Charro,” who followed his older brothers into the enforcement squad of the AFO. Benjamin fled San Diego after committing a murder many years ago. On May 23, 2015, he was murdered in Tijuana. Benjamin Gutierrez “Kecho” Adolfo Perez-Zambrano, aka “Spirit” and “Sammy” Perez-Zambrano or “Sammy” is the cousin of Manuel Zambrano-Flores, aka “Jimmy.” “Sammy” has worked with Rivera since the 1980’s and was running one of Rivera’s crews until his arrest (under an alias Gustavo Adolfo Zapata-Gamez) on March 15, 2008 in Tijuana. Sammy” was married to Lina Zapata, a Colombian woman and daughter of an AFO Cocaine Source. Sammy was arrested with her brother and his brother on March 15, 2008, just 4 days after Rivera’s arrest. “Sammy” and his cousin “Jimmy” were released from prison a few years back and are back in the drug business with the Jalisco Cartel. Adolfo Perez Zambrano “Spirit” Theodore Caldwell Kenney III, aka “Katy” Ted Kenney lives in Cabo San Lucas and is a life-long friend of Rivera who has aided and abetted Rivera in his criminal ventures. Kenney manages Rivera’s properties, vehicles and watercraft in Baja Sur. Marcos Assemat-Hernandez, aka “Eduardo” Former Mexico police officer who was a trafficker and enforcer for Rivera. Assemat was with Ramon Arellano when he was killed in Mazatlan on February 10, 2002 and with Rivera when he was arrested in Las Barrilles on March 10, 2008. Marcos Assemat Hernandez “Eduardo” Michael Anthony Jarboe, aka “Lucky” and “Pee-Wee” Jarboe was recruited by Barron in 1996 and was absorbed by Rivera’s crews after Barron’s death in 1997. On September 2, 1996, Jarboe walked into “Honey Banana” restaurant and Tijuana and executed two police officers as well as a waitress. Jarboe made bail after his arrest in San Diego on September 16, 1996 while on his way to murder someone who had disrespected one of Barron’s sisters. The victim was saved, but the charges he was held on did not reflect his ultimate intent – murder. Jarboe, was one of several primary suspects, in the murder of Fernando Gutierrez on the Coronado Strand on November 11, 1996. Jarboe was later murdered by Rivera. Michael Jarboe “Lucky” or “Pee Wee” End of Part II of II…..A huge thank you to Agent Steve Duncan! Steve Duncan is a retired Special Agent of California Department of Justice. He spent 20 years with CALDOJ, retiring in December 2016. Prior to CALDOJ, he was a Probation Officer for the San Diego County Probation Department for 12 years and was the first probation officer in San Diego history to formally work on a Drug Enforcement Organization Task Force. During his 32 years in law enforcement, his efforts focused on the investigation of the most violent criminals in the United States and Mexico. He is an expert on street gangs, prison gangs and Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. The support and success of the cases against gangs and cartels came from the Arellano-Felix Task Force made up of federal, state and local law enforcement and military agencies. Steve was assigned to both the DEA and FBI as a task force officer for periods from 1992 to 2008. Steve has directed and participated in the arrest of hundreds of gang members and cartel associates for various crimes in pursuit of their leaders and the dismantling of their organizations. He has sponsored several witnesses for the US Marshall’s Witness Security Program. Steve says the best part of the job was turning people’s lives around from evil to good and putting the dangerous predators behind bars. Steve and his partners’ successful case against the Tijuana Cartel began in 1992 and continue to the present as they await the extraditions of drug kingpins in their investigations. Most of those extradited have cooperated with the US government and he has been involved in hundreds of debriefings where he took notes, corroborated information and memorialized the debriefing in official reports. These debriefings also developed into other successful investigations in the US and Mexico. Saving lives by targeting the “worst of the worst” was Steve’s focus in law enforcement. Multi-agency task forces dedicated to investigation of the worst criminals were his arenas to work these cases. He has worked with all law enforcement agencies and maintains a great relationship with them all. His cases typically involved Mexico. He understands the Mexican culture, economy and justice system and has worked extensively with Mexican Law Enforcement on Mexican soil. #border Defendant Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry Here's what happens once the Senate gets the articles of impeachment Utah boy arrested after shooting that killed 4, injured 1 in same family, police say Pelosi announces House impeachment managers to prosecute case against Trump Ex-Treasury employee pleads guilty to leaking Trump team info, after dramatic bust with flash drive in hand Brexit and Spain: What does it mean for travel after January 31st? 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Go back to your country' House Democrats release new Parnas documents showing contact with Nunes aide GameChangers 2019: As Venezuela Sinks, Maduro’s Criminal Ties Keep Him Afloat "El Rey Midas", alleged money launderer of "El Chapo" and "El Mayo", fights for seized assets in Sinaloa Honolulu officials identify remains pulled from burnt-out Hawaii home Home Office officially requests United States extradite driver over Harry Dunn's death 'El Pita', the Zetas founder who married his kidnapping victim Former Agent Duncan: The backstory of Gustavo Rivera aka El EPI and his nexus with other players in… The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) displaced the Sinaloa cartel in Chicago 76 prisoners escape through a tunnel of a prison in Paraguay: at least 40 were members of the same… Nuevo León, Mexico: El Monstruo from Cartel del Noreste Captured San Luis Potosí, S.L.P.: Politician Related to Pegasus Spyware Found Dismembered Arizona woman charged with murder in disturbing killings of 3 children Night sky above Arizona town glowed purple due to nearby marijuana farm: report Dámaso López Núñez, "El Licenciado" set for a reduction of sentence hearing, requested by the government Four Tiwi Bombers caught up in seizure of 72 grams of cannabis after police search team plane Yahya Jammeh faces arrest if he returns to Gambia - minister CANCUN: While walking to work, woman discovers a gruesome scene, 3 decapitated heads

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