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Communication Arts Design Competition 2023
Image source: Communication Arts
2023 GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security
Image source: Geneva Centre for Security Policy
27 March 2023 [ 2+ months remaining ]
Christine Garnier Simon
The GCSP Prize for Transformative Future seeks to reward groundbreaking concepts that offer exceptional promise in addressing peace and security challenges. The inaugural edition of the prize will be awarded in 2023.
Applications may come from any country, but the potential impact of the concepts submitted should extend beyond national borders in their scope or thinking.
The prize for the application coming in the first position is a fully funded 2-month incubation programme within the GCSP's Creative Spark in Geneva (worth CHF 15,000) and a certificate of excellence. The two other finalist applications will receive a certificate of recognition.
Concepts from a wide variety of fields may be eligible for consideration, including, but not restricted to, transformative technologies, pandemics, biothreats, autonomous weapons, climate change, human rights, cybersecurity, education, or disarmament, for example.
The prize is intended to encourage and recognize excellence in contributing to new approaches to enhancing sustainable global peace and security.
The winners (first, second and third place) will be announced publicly during an event to be held in late May 2023.
Please visit the official website for further details.
No Entry Fee!
It's free to enter.
Geneva Centre for Security Policy
Annual / Free / Multiple Disciplines / Open / Residency
SEGD Global Design Awards 2023
The TDC 69th Annual Competition
Image source: Type Directors Club (TDC)
Curtas Vila do Conde 2023 – International Film Festival
Image source: Curtas Vila do Conde
Contests Expiring on 27th March 2023
2023 Student Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition
"E-Bike Loft" by Nicholas Hollister (from Purdue University in West Lafayette) the winner of the First Place Student Scholarship of $5,000 in the 2022 Student Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition
Image source: Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) | {
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WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier Down To Final Six
(Photo courtesy of WBSC Americas)
The WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier is down to its final six teams with the Super Round beginning on Friday afternoon.
Puerto Rico and Mexico will open Super Round play when they go head-to-head in what should be the highlight of the Super Round.
Mexico won Group B with a perfect record, while Puerto Rico finished second in Group A after suffering a 3-0 loss to Canada.
Canada, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela also moved through to the Super Round, while the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru and the Bahamas were all eliminated.
The top-two teams after the Super Round will earn an Olympic berth, which is why the first game is so crucial for Puerto Rico. Mexico's undefeated record through pool play earned it a slight advantage, as the two berths are determined by the best record and not an elimination format.
Mexico's Tori Vidales, Nicole Mendes and Brittany Cervantes have three of the top batting averages in the tournament, while Puerto Rico leads in the power game with Jena Cozza and Alyssa Rivera each leading the tournament in home runs with two each.
It wouldn't be a surprise if Puerto Rico uses Kamalani Dung, Aleshia Ocasio and Taran Alvelo in the circle, while Mexico may go with Dallas Escobedo.
Canada continues to roll through the tournament and is headed towards one of the two berths. The Canadians will face Venezuela on Friday before playing Mexico on Saturday and closing out the tournament on Sunday against Brazil.
3:30 p.m. Puerto Rico vs Mexico
6:00 p.m. Venezuela vs Canada
8:30 p.m. Cuba vs Brazil
5:00 p.m. Bahamas vs Dominican Republic
7:30 p.m. Peru vs Guatemala
2:00 p.m. Canada vs Mexico
3:30 p.m. Venezuela vs Cuba
6:00 p.m. Puerto Rico vs Brazil
10:30 p.m. Cuba vs Mexico
1:00 p.m. Venezuela vs Puerto Rico
3:30 p.m. Brazil vs Canada | {
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Jerry Preisendorf
Soccer Coach Hired
October 23, 2015–Lehi, Utah
Jerry Preisendorf has been hired as the men's and women's soccer coach for Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah. The school will open in August 2016.
Coach Preisendorf has a USSF "D" Coaching License and has coached soccer for the last 15 years at the club and high school levels. He has been the head coach of the Lehi High School boys' team since 2010 and started coaching the girls' soccer program in 2015.
Under Coach Preisendorf, the boys' program at Lehi High School has collected two state titles, the first in 2010 (4A), and the second in 2013 (5A). The team advanced to the semifinal game last season. During his tenure, the Pioneers have been Region champions four times, and have qualified for the state playoffs every year. The overall record for the boys' team is at Lehi High is 82-24-7.
During Preisendorf's first year as the girls' head coach at Lehi High School, the team finished the season as the 4th seed in Region 4 and earned a berth in the state playoffs. Their first round victory over a #1 seed allowed them to make it to the quarterfinals, where they lost to an eventual finalist in the 5A division.
Skyridge principal Joel Perkins says, "Jerry is an outstanding individual. He has cultivated a tradition of excellence at Lehi High School, and we are confident that he will create outstanding men's and women's soccer programs. He cares deeply for his student athletes, and he is known for his ability to hone their individual potential to achieve success as a cohesive team. His teams excel, and parents and students love him."
Skyridge Athletic Director Mark Clinton says, "Jerry has the ability to understand and demonstrate the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship and will instill in Skyridge athletes a burning desire to win while playing within the rules."
On leaving his current position, Preisendorf says, "I have a lot of memories and many good friends at Lehi High School. All of my sons graduated from Lehi, and I have a great relationship with the administration there. I look forward to creating a great program and to the opportunities that come with starting a program at a new school."
Coach Preisendorf says the best thing in his life is being married to his wife of over 30 years, Michele. The Preisendorfs have four boys and one grandchild, and they have lived in Lehi for the past 23 years. He will continue to coach at Lehi High through the end of the school year. | {
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Crowdsourcing Competitive Innovation
Posted by Epi Ludvik | Feb 8, 2017 | Citizen Engagement, Collective Intelligence, Crowdsourcing, Mass Collaboration, Open Innovation | 0
Peter Diamandis is saying: 99.999% of people don't understand or appreciate the ramifications of what is coming and I agree 100% here.
Innovation is the essential component when we are considering how to solve the world's biggest challenges, and the best place to source revolutionary ideas is from the crowd. This is something XPRIZE has been doing for over two decades, and is now making a big difference in many areas that matter, not least the field of energy and sustainability with. They are, for example, running a $20m carbon competition which addresses global CO2 emissions by incentivizing innovative solutions to convert CO2 from a liability into an asset, such as fertilizers, concrete and even toothpaste.
XPRIZE started out about 20 years ago by offering a prize of $10m to the first privately financed team that could fly a passenger vehicle into space. 26 teams from around the world competed for this, with the first rocket taking off in 2004. The competition was set up to help realise a personal dream of its founder, Peter Diamandis, to be an astronaut. After lift off he realised there was an opportunity to keep going as there was clearly an appetite from the crowd to take on big planetary scale challenges. As their platform says "XPRIZE is a facilitator of exponential change. A catalyst for the benefit of humanity" which utilises the innate competitiveness of humanity to bring about breakthroughs which seemed impossible.
The prizes focus on bold, audacious yet achievable goals which target market failure and are winnable by a small team. They are designed to drive investment in the target field and provide vision and hope. Past XPRIZES have included Ocean Health and Oil Clean-Up, with potential future competitions being in Road Electrification and Revolutionary Battery. In addition to the Carbon prize there are another 8 competitions currently running, such as Water Abundance which challenges teams to alleviate the global water crisis with energy-efficient technologies that harvest fresh water from the atmosphere.
The Carbon challenge they have set is certainly fits the criteria as a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal); creating valuable products of essentially thin air and is targeting a considerable market failure: fossil fuels causing climate change. The International Energy Agency estimates 82 percent of the world's energy supply is derived from fossil fuels. Currently virtually all the CO2 this produces instantly becomes a waste product which is dumped into the atmosphere. While cleaner energy sources are on the rise, overall energy demand is expected to grow 37 percent by 2040, making immediate carbon mitigation solutions even more urgent.
Teams are challenged to develop breakthrough technologies that convert the most CO2 into one or more products with the highest net value. In October, the judges narrowed down the 47 Round 1 entries down to 27 teams for Round 2 'semi finals' with these remaining teams coming from around the world and pursuing an incredible diversity of approaches.
Carbon Capture Machine, who are based at Aberdeen University in Scotland, has a method of producing CO2 based minerals for concrete and other building materials; "The technology we have developed here in Aberdeen offers a bridge to a solution that can prevent damage caused by CO2 emissions and create materials to build the homes and offices of the future." says their team leader Dr Mohammed Imbabi.
"The competition is an exciting way to validate our objectives and show we can compete against other outstanding teams" comments Thomas Digby, the CEO of Swiss based start-up company Aljadix. They unquestionably fit the criteria of being an entrant with a small team, having only seven staff comprised of academics and start-up entrepreneurs who are aiming to produce carbon negative biofuel which permanently removes carbon from the atmosphere.
Some of the entrants are certainly gaining themselves a high profile. Protein Power from the US are producing high-protein fish food, and their CEO, Lisa Dyson, has a TED talk which has been viewed over one million times. In this she describes how a technology which was developed in the 60s by NASA to enable long distance space travel by using a clever carbon cycle has been adapted to make crops grow incredibly fast. Using this technique, they can grow in the dark, in any season, geography and location. This is pretty useful is space, but also means as Dyson observes in her TED: "At a large scale, you can actually make 10,000 times more output per land area than you could if you used soybeans."
By sourcing from the crowd, XPRIZE is enabling a future in which many of the currently seemingly intractable problems we face are solved by innovative enterprises. Climate change is arguably the biggest problem of our time and by creating a future where purified CO2 is, instead of being seen as a criminal waste, is known as the source of our buildings, food and many other essentials to life.
As they say at XPRIZE: "Call us crazy, but we believe."
Join me at Crowdsourcing Week Summit Arctic Circle, March 15-19th in Lulea & Vuollerim Sweden, to find out more about the crowd-driven solutions that are revolutionizing our transition toward sustainable energy, reducing resource consumption, and bettering our citizen services and the environment.
PreviousCSW Summit in Sweden's Arctic Circle, March 15-19
NextCrowdfunding in Italy: all the numbers and platforms
Epi Ludvik
Epi Ludvik is the Founder & CEO of Crowdsourcing Week and BOLD Awards. In 2008, he created Ludvik + Partners - one of New York's hottest boutique virtual ad agencies built on a 100% crowdsourcing model. Epi is one of the pioneers in the crowdsourcing ad space, an industry expert and thought leader in entertainment advertising - including public relations, event production, experiential marketing, consumer advertising and digital marketing. Epi earned a BS in Advertising & Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and has been a serial entrepreneur since graduation. His varied and global experiences throughout his career have taken him across the US and Asia, where he honed his skills in advertising and media with high-profile clients and power brands.
Crowdsourcing Creative Solutions from Freelance Designers is Thriving
A Thousand Eyes Are Better Than Two
What Can Crowds do Against Manipulation of and by Governments?
CSW Summit DC hit exciting new highs | {
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BlackPearl Announces Onion Lake Construction Update, Provides Q4 Production Data and 2017 Year-End Reserves and Contingent Resource Estimates
January 30, 2018 3:00 PM Marketwired
CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – Jan. 30, 2018) – BlackPearl Resources Inc. ("we", "our", "us", "BlackPearl" or the "Company") (TSX:PXX) (OMX:PXXS) is pleased to provide a construction update on its Onion Lake thermal expansion project and Q4 2017 production information, as well as, announce the results of its 2017 independent year-end oil and gas reserve and resource evaluation.
Highlights and accomplishments included:
Construction of the Phase 2 expansion of the Onion Lake thermal project is ahead of schedule and within budget. Commissioning of the facilities has begun and steam injection is expected to begin in February.
Q4 2017 production averaged 10,600 boe/day; full year production averaged 10,199 boe/day.
24% year over year increase in total proved (1P) reserves to 94.4 mmbbls. The increase primarily reflects positive technical revisions due to the performance from Phase 1 of the Onion Lake thermal project as well as an increase in the Onion Lake thermal development area to which reserves were assigned.
48% increase in net present value, before tax, discounted at 10% of our 1P reserves to $1.1 billion, or $3.23 per common share.
1P reserve additions replaced 583% of 2017 production.
Net present value, before tax, discounted at 10% of our proved plus probable (2P) reserves was $2 billion, or $6.00 per common share. This value is comparable to 2016 despite a 48% drop in 2P reserve volumes. The decrease in 2P reserve volumes was due to the previously announced reclassification of the probable reserves to resources associated with the first phase of the Blackrod SAGD project. This reclassification is the result of a change in the Company's strategic plan to accelerate the expansion of the Onion Lake thermal project before we commence development of the first phase of the Blackrod SAGD project. The reclassification does not impact management's positive assessment of or its commitment to develop the Blackrod project.
28% increase in 2P reserve volumes at Onion Lake.
Risked contingent resources (best estimate) for our three core properties totaled 640 million barrels of oil equivalent, a 28% increase compared to year-end 2016 resource estimates. The increase reflects the reclassification of the Blackrod reserves discussed above.
John Festival, President of BlackPearl, indicated that "we are very pleased with the progress of the Onion Lake expansion project. Due to our committed operations staff and favourable weather conditions we are going to complete the project well ahead of schedule. We expect to commence steam injection in February.
We are also pleased with the significant increase in proved reserves, which reflects the positive results of our Onion Lake thermal project. These results were one of the primary reasons we made a change in our strategic plan to accelerate the next expansion of Onion Lake before we tackle development of our Blackrod SAGD project. Full cycle economics of our Onion Lake thermal project are best in class compared to North American oil projects. The increased cash flow generated from an expanded Onion Lake project will put us in a better financial position to develop the large Blackrod project. The consequence of this shift in strategy is that regulatory rules necessitate the reclassification of the Blackrod reserves to resources, but we are still very committed to development of this large resource."
Onion Lake Construction Update
We have made excellent progress over the last two months on the construction of the 6,000 barrel per day phase 2 thermal expansion at Onion Lake and construction is nearing completion, approximately five months ahead of our original estimate. Capital costs are trending toward the low end of our original estimates of $180- 185 million. We have started the commissioning of the central processing facilities and steam is expected to be delivered to the first pad of wells in February. Steam injection to the second pad of wells will occur approximately one month later. First oil is expected before the end of Q2 2018. We anticipate reaching peak production approximately 12 months after initial steam injection, a similar timeline to that achieved for phase 1.
Production Update
BlackPearl's Q4 2017 oil and gas sales volumes were 10,600 boe per day, a 17% increase over production during the third quarter. The increase in fourth quarter production is mainly attributable to the successful restart of the Onion Lake thermal facilities after completion of a facility turnaround during the third quarter.
December 31 Year ended
Production by Area (boe/d) 2017 2016 2017 2016
Onion Lake – thermal 6,204 6,119 5,686 5,520
Onion Lake – primary 1,917 2,011 2,022 2,135
Mooney 1,178 785 1,096 801
John Lake 699 837 770 863
Blackrod 481 523 490 556
Other 121 204 135 202
Total production 10,600 10,479 10,199 10,077
Oil and Gas Reserves
The following tables summarize certain information contained in the independent reserves report prepared by Sproule Associates Limited ("Sproule") as of December 31, 2017. The report was prepared in accordance with definitions, standards and procedures contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook ("COGE Handbook") and National Instrument 51-101, Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"). Additional reserve information as required under NI 51-101 will be included in the Company's Annual Information Form which is expected to be filed on SEDAR on February 22, 2018. It should not be assumed that the net present value of reserves estimated by Sproule represents the fair market value of these reserves.
Summary of Oil and Gas Reserves
(Company interest, before royalties) Heavy
Crude Oil Bitumen Natural
Gas 2017
(Mbbl) (Mbbl) (MMcf) (MBoe) (MBoe)
Proved developed producing 18,378 426 – 18,804 19,125
Proved developed non-producing 13,247 – 5 13,248 3,428
Proved undeveloped 62,321 – 3 62,322 53,840
Total proved 93,946 426 8 94,374 76,393
Probable 68,038 21 7 68,060 235,186
Total proved plus probable 161,984 447 15 162,434 311,579
(1) BOE's may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. In accordance with NI 51-101, a BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 barrel is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
Net Present Value of Reserves
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue Discounted at %/year
($000s) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Before Tax
Developed producing 455,399 402,162 354,620 314,838 282,110
Developed non-producing 272,154 239,688 208,828 181,899 159,021
Undeveloped 1,516,483 868,783 521,732 327,678 213,734
Total proved 2,244,035 1,510,633 1,085,180 824,416 654,865
Probable 3,143,580 1,619,000 932,438 588,985 399,242
Total proved plus probable 5,387,615 3,129,634 2,017,618 1,413,400 1,054,106
After Tax
Total proved 1,989,914 1,347,801 976,134 748,657 600,589
Total proved plus probable 4,584,823 2,642,967 1,701,269 1,196,212 898,461
(1) Based on Sproule's December 31, 2017 forecast prices.
(2) Columns may not add due to rounding.
Estimated Future Development Capital
The following table summarizes the future development capital ("FDC") Sproule estimates is required to bring total proved and total proved plus probable reserves on production.
($ Millions) Total Proved Total Proved + Probable
Remainder 537.1 651.4
Total FDC undiscounted 755.5 960.1
Total FDC discounted at 10% 376.6 450.5
Reconciliation of Changes in Reserves
The following table summarizes the changes in Sproule's evaluation of the Company's share of oil and natural gas reserves (before royalties) from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017.
Gas BOE
(Mbbl) (Mbbl) (MMcf) (MBOE)
Balance, Dec 31, 2016 75,260 1,057 456 76,393
Extensions and improved recovery 18,284 8 18,285
Technical revisions 3,931 (452) (247) 3,438
Economic factors (20) (20)
Production (3,509) (179) (209) (3,723)
Balance, Dec 31, 2017 93,946 426 8 94,374
Balance, Dec 31, 2016 56,374 178,742 421 235,186
Technical revisions (3,348) (178,721) (2) (421) (182,139)
Economic factors 108 108
Balance, Dec 31, 2017 68,038 21 7 68,061
Proved plus Probable
Balance, Dec 31, 2016 131,634 179,799 877 311,579
Extensions and improved recovery 33,188 15 33,191
Technical revisions 583 (179,173) (668) (178,700)
Economic factors 88 88
Balance, Dec 31, 2017 161,984 447 15 162,434
(1) Columns may not add due to rounding
(2) Includes technical revisions of bitumen associated with the Blackrod SAGD project that were reclassified to contingent resources
Pricing Assumptions
The pricing assumptions used in the Sproule evaluation are summarized below.
Year WTI
40° API Canadian Light Sweet Crude
40° API Western
Canadian Select
20.5° API Alberta
AECO-C
Spot Inflation rate Exchange rate
(US$/bbl) (CDN$/bbl) (CDN$/bbl) (CDN$/MMBtu) (%/yr) (US$/Cdn$)
2018 55.00 65.44 51.05 2.85 0.0 0.790
Escalation rate of 2.0% thereafter
(1) The pricing assumptions were provided by Sproule.
(2) None of the Company's future production is subject to a fixed or contractually committed price.
"Proved" reserves are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated proved reserves.
"Probable" reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated proved plus probable reserves.
"Developed" reserves are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from existing wells and installed facilities or, if facilities have not been installed, that would involve a low expenditure (e.g. when compared to the cost of drilling a well) to put the reserves on production.
"Developed Producing" reserves are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from completion intervals open at the time of the estimate. These reserves may be currently producing or, if shut-in, they must have previously been on production, and the date of resumption of production must be known with reasonable certainty.
"Developed Non-Producing" reserves are those reserves that either have not been on production, or have previously been on production, but are shut in, and the date of resumption of production is unknown.
"Undeveloped" reserves are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (for example, when compared to the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the reserves classification (proved, probable, possible) to which they are assigned.
The Net Present Value (NPV) is based on Sproule forecast pricing and costs. The estimated NPV does not necessarily represent the fair market value of our reserves. There is no assurance that forecast prices and costs assumed in the Sproule evaluations will be attained, and variances could be material.
Contingent Resources
In addition to the reserve evaluation discussed above, the Company also requested Sproule prepare resource evaluations for each of its core properties: Blackrod, Onion Lake and Mooney. The following tables summarize certain information contained in the contingent resource evaluations prepared by Sproule as of December 31, 2017. The reports were independently prepared in accordance with definitions, standards and procedures contained in the COGE Handbook.
It should not be assumed that the estimates of recovery, production, and net revenue presented in the tables below represent the fair market value of the Company's contingent resources. There are certain contingencies which currently prevent the classification of these contingent resources as reserves. Information on these contingencies is provided in the footnotes to the tables below. There is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the contingent resources. Please refer to our Annual Information Form (to be filed on February 22, 2018) for a more detailed discussion of our contingent resources.
Summary of Best Estimate Contingent Resource Volumes – By Property (1)(2)
Unrisked Volumes Risked Volumes(4)
Heavy Crude Oil Bitumen Heavy Crude Oil Bitumen
Project Maturity
Subclass(3) Chance of Development(4) Gross(5) Net (5) Gross(5) Net (5) Gross(5) Net Gross(5) Net (5)
Blackrod (6) (Mbbl) (Mbbl) (Mbbl) (Mbbl)
First phase Development/ pending 94% 179,294 141,971 168,536 133,453
Future phases Development/ on hold 77% 566,135 461,358 435,924 355,246
Onion Lake (7)
Thermal Development/ pending 85% 27,035 21,356 22,980 18,153
Primary Development/ pending 90% 1,154 851 1,038 766
Mooney (8) Development/ on hold 71% 15,904 13,791 11,292 9,792
Summary of Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue of Development Pending Contingent Resources
The following table sets forth the net present value of BlackPearl's best estimate risked contingent resources in the development pending project maturity sub-class at December 31, 2017.
An estimate of risked net present value of future net revenues of the "development pending" contingent resources subclass is preliminary in nature and is provided to assist the reader in reaching an opinion on the merit and likelihood of the Company proceeding with the required investment. It includes contingent resources that are considered too uncertain with respect to the chance of development to be classified as reserves. There is uncertainty that the risked net present value of future net revenue will be realized. The other subclass of resources (development on hold) is not included in this net present value amount, and therefore, this is not reflective of the value of the resources base.
Net Present Values of Future Net Revenue Before Income Taxes
Discounted at (%/year)
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Project ($M)
Blackrod (6) (first phase) 4,110,612 1,470,349 554,602 200,879 53,197
Onion Lake (7) (thermal) 746,710 322,153 151,364 76,040 39,853
Onion Lake (7) (primary) 13,247 9,349 6,643 4,762 3,446
(1) Contingent Resources are defined in the COGE Handbook as those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. Contingencies may include factors such as economic, legal, environmental, political and regulatory matters or a lack of markets. It is also appropriate to classify as Contingent Resources the estimated discovered recoverable quantities associated with a project in the early evaluation stage.
(2) There are three classifications of contingent resources: Low Estimate, Best Estimate and High Estimate. Best estimate is a classification of estimated resources described in the COGE Handbook as being considered to be the best estimate of the quantity that will be actually recovered. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the best estimate. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the best estimate.
(3) Contingent resources are further classified based on project maturity. The project maturity subclasses include development pending, development on hold, development unclarified and development not viable. All of the Company's contingent resources are classified as either development pending or development on hold:
(a) Development pending is where resolution of the final conditions of development are being actively pursued, indicating there is a high chance of development.
(b) Development on hold is where there is a reasonable chance of development, but there are major non-technical contingencies to be resolved that are usually beyond the control of the operator.
(4) Chance of Development is defined as the probability of a project being commercially viable. Sproule's estimate of unrisked contingent resources have been adjusted for risk based on the chance of development (risked amounts represent unrisked values multiplied by the Chance of Development).
(5) "Gross" means the Company's working interest share in the contingent resources before deducting royalties. "Net" means the Company's working interest share after the deduction of royalty obligations. The Company has a 100% working interest at Blackrod and Mooney and the Onion Lake thermal project, and a 50 to 100% working interest at Onion Lake Primary.
(6) The established recovery technology to be used to recover the contingent resources of the Blackrod project is the SAGD process, the same process that is being used in the successful pilot that is currently being conducted within the Blackrod reservoir.
• The contingencies in the Sproule Report associated with the Company's contingent resources for the first phase of the Blackrod project are due to (a) the absence of corporate commitment related to the final investment decision and endorsement from the Board of Directors of the Company to move forward with commercial development and a final investment decision will not likely occur for several years and (b) the estimated timing of production and development may commence beyond the reasonable time periods described in the COGE Handbook to be classified as reserves. For the contingent resources associated with the first phase of the Blackrod project, the estimated timing of first commercial production is 2024 and the estimated capital to reach first commercial production is $0.8 billion (unrisked and escalated for inflation).
• The contingencies in the Sproule Report associated with the Company's contingent resources for the future phases of the Blackrod project are due to the following: (a) the requirement for more evaluation drilling, as required by the regulatory process, to define the reservoir characteristics to assist in the implementation and operation of the SAGD process; (b) the absence of submission of an application to expand the commercial SAGD development beyond the phase 1 project area; (c) the absence of corporate commitment related to the final investment decision and endorsement from the Board of Directors of the Company to move forward with commercial development of future phases of the Blackrod project and a final investment decision will not likely occur for several years; and (d) the uncertainty of timing of production and development of future phases of the Blackrod project. For the contingent resources associated with future phases of the Blackrod project, the estimated timing of first commercial production is 2028 and the estimated capital to reach first commercial production is $1.2 billion (unrisked and escalated for inflation).
(7) The recovery of the Company's Onion Lake contingent resources will use a combination of production processes: the established modified SAGD process for future phases of the Onion Lake thermal project, the same process that is already utilized commercially in phase 1 of the Onion Lake thermal project; and the established cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) process to extend the primary development area, the same CHOPS process that has already been extensively deployed throughout the field.
• For the Onion Lake thermal project, the contingencies in the Sproule Report associated with the Company's Onion Lake contingent resources are due to the following: (a) the requirement for more evaluation drilling to define the reservoir characteristics to assist in the implementation and operation of the modified SAGD recovery process; and (b) approvals between the Company and OLCN/OLE and Saskatchewan Energy and Resources (SER) for thermal EOR development in the lands currently leased by the Company but outside the thermal EOR development area; and (c) the estimated timing of production and development is beyond the reasonable time periods described in the COGE Handbook to be classified as reserves. For the Onion Lake thermal project contingent resources, the estimated timing of first commercial production is 2022, while the estimated capital to reach first commercial production is $61.2 million (unrisked and escalated for inflation).
• For the extension of the primary development area, the contingencies in the Sproule Report associated with the Company's Onion Lake contingent resources are due to the following: (a) the requirement for more evaluation drilling to confirm the geological continuity of the reservoir and reduce the distance from proven productivity; and (b) the potential for the current agreements with the Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN), which are subject to policies and approvals by Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC), required to be renegotiated due to changes imposed by IOGC. First commercial production for the primary development area has already been achieved and, as a result, estimated capital to reach first commercial production is nil.
(8) The established recovery technology to be used for phases 3 and 4 of the Mooney project is the established ASP flood process, the same process that is already deployed commercially in phase 1 of the Mooney field. The contingencies in the Sproule Report associated with the Company's Mooney contingent resources are due to the following: (a) the requirement for more evaluation wells to confirm the reservoir characteristics needed for the ASP process; (b) the absence of regulatory approvals to expand the ASP development area beyond the phase 1 and phase 2 project areas; (c) the absence of a final investment decision from the Board of Directors of the Company to move forward with the ASP flood expansion to phases 3 and 4 of the Mooney project and (d) the uncertainty of timing of production and development of phases 3 and 4 of the Mooney project. First commercial production for the Mooney ASP flood has already been achieved and, as a result, estimated capital to reach first commercial production at the Mooney ASP flood is nil.
(9) The pricing assumptions used by Sroule in the determination of the NPV of the "development pending" contingent resources were the same as those used to determine the NPV of the oil and gas reserves.
The Company is planning to release its 2017 year-end financial and operating results on February 22, 2018.
At December 31, 2017, the Company had 336,267,235 common shares outstanding.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historic fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by such words as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" or similar words suggesting future events or future performance. In particular, this release contains the following forward-looking statements:
The estimated volumes and net present values of BlackPearl's proved and probable reserves and contingent resources as well as the estimated future development capital to bring the reserves on production.
The estimate that initial steam injection will occur in February 2018 on phase 2 of the Onion Lake thermal project and that peak production rates should occur within 12 months after initial steam injection
The estimated capital costs to construct phase 2 of the Onion Lake thermal project of between $180 to $185 million.
The forward-looking information is based on, among other things, expectations and assumptions by management regarding its future growth, future production levels, future oil and natural gas prices, continuation of existing tax, royalty and regulatory regimes, foreign exchange rates, estimates of future operating costs, timing and amount of capital expenditures, performance of existing and future wells, recoverability of the Company's reserves and contingent resources, the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, availability of skilled labour and drilling and related equipment on a timely and cost efficient basis, continuance of current general economic and financial market conditions, environment matters and the ability to market oil and natural gas successfully to current and new customers. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that actual results will differ from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these risk factors may be found under "Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form, which can be accessed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which forward-looking statements are based will be realized. Actual results will differ, and the differences may be material and adverse to the Company and its shareholders. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation, except as required by applicable securities legislation, to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
This is information that BlackPearl Resources Inc. is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time on January 30, 2018.
John Festival
Robert Eriksson
Investor Relations Sweden
BlackPearl Resources
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's response to the United State's decision on Keystone XL
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the United States' decision on the Keystone XL project
Tourmaline Oil Corp. announces inaugural issuance of senior unsecured notes
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Announces 2021 Capital Program and Updated Five Year Plan
Biden to revoke Keystone XL pipeline permit after swearing-in-aides | {
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on 16 Dec 2016
The Trump Administration
Inside Higher Ed asks what might happen to Title IX and investigations into campus sexual assaults under the Trump Administration.
Via The Washington Post: "Democratic senators press Trump's education pick Betsy DeVos to pay years-old $5.3 million fine."
Via The Detroit Free Press: "Betsy DeVos' trouble with data."
Via Education Week: "Who Is Part of Ed. Sec. Nominee Betsy DeVos' Policy Circle?"
Via The New York Times: "Betsy DeVos and God's Plan for Schools."
Jennifer Berkshire looks at Betsy DeVos and her connection to the fringes of the Christian Right: "Culture Warrior Princess."
Via The New York Times: "How Trump's Education Nominee Bent Detroit to Her Will on Charter Schools."
Via Politico: "DeVos' Michigan schools experiment gets poor grades."
Via The New Yorker: "Betsy DeVos and the Plan to Break Public Schools."
Via the AP: "Fearing Trump crackdown, 'dreamers' advised to end travel."
"Trump launches war on unions," according to Politico.
Via The Intercept: "Transition Adviser Peter Thiel Could Directly Profit From Mass Deportations."
"Elon Musk and the chief executive of Uber are now advising Donald Trump," The Washington Post reports.
"As Trumplethinskin lets down his hair for tech, shame on Silicon Valley for climbing the Tower in silence," Recode Kara Swisher writes.
Lots of folks in ed-tech seem super excited about Trump too, including Knewton's Jose Ferreira, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Harold O. Levy, and KnowledgeWorks' Lillian Pace.
Meanwhile, here's a list of people in tech who are stating publicly that they will not build a Muslim registry, something that Trump has proposed. Bill Fitzgerald on "Why I Signed neveragain.tech."
When Donald met Kanye:
These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
On Wednesday, the fourth anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre, the Hanover School District 28 school board in Colorado voted to allow its teachers to carry concealed handguns in school.
Elsewhere in guns on campus, this via The Chronicle of Higher Education: "Campus Concealed-Carry Bill Awaits Ohio Governor's Approval."
Via Edsurge: "Minnesota Higher Ed Office Says Udacity's Nanodegrees Might Violate State Law."
"Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler will step down next month, leaving a significant legacy on issues of concern to K–12 educators and creating uncertainty about what direction the commission might take under new Republican leadership," Education Week reports. Wheeler supported e-Rate reform and "net neutrality." The Trump administration? Not so much.
Via Education Week: "GOP Lawmakers Put ESSA Accountability, Teacher-Prep Regulations on Hit List."
Via The New York Times: "Google Effect Rubs Off on Schools in One Rural Oklahoma Town."
"The Education of Barack Obama," by The Nation's Dana Goldstein.
Via The Hechinger Report: "Mississippi's early ed shakeup: State reorganizes key child care services, launches new family tracking system."
"Having unexpectedly found itself handing off the baton to a Republican administration in January, the U.S. Department of Education is racing to finish a slate of Obama administration priorities. But few of the department's remaining tasks are as daunting as processing thousands of debt-relief claims filed by former students of closed for-profit colleges," writes Inside Higher Ed. The Department of Education has also announced "an experiment to find the best loan counseling services for student borrowers," Inside Higher Ed reports, as well as the names of new loan collector contracts.
Via Reuters: "College Board faces rocky path after CEO pushes new vision for SAT."
"Students with disabilities will soon have an easier time requesting test accommodations from the College Board," Education Week reports.
"What countries can learn from PISA tests" – at least, according to The Economist.
Online Education and the Once and Future "MOOC"
"A judge will allow Ohio's education department to review attendance records that could force Ohio's largest online charter to return millions of its funding," says the AP.
Via Chalkbeat: "The broken promise of Indiana's online schools."
"Some shareholders in K12 Inc., the largest for-profit operator of online schools in the country, are calling on the company to disclose how much it spends on lobbying and advertising," Education Week reports.
edX lists its most popular courses of the year.
"UT Austin and SMOCs: What do we know about whether they work?" asks Mindwire Consulting's Phil Hill.
"Online Education Pioneer Boots Up a Jobs Program for the Tech Industry," the MIT Technology Review reports. That "online education pioneer" is Sebastian Thrun. More on the possible legal troubles this program faces in the politics section above.
Coding Bootcamps and the "New" "For-Profit Higher Ed")
Via The Chronicle of Higher Education: "DeVry University and its parent company will pay $100 million to settle a lawsuit, brought by the Federal Trade Commission, that claimed the for-profit institution had misled prospective students. A news release from the commission says the settlement 'secures significant financial redress for tens of thousands of students harmed by DeVry's conduct.'" More via The New York Times and from the FTC.
Via The Huffington Post: "Two former high-ranking executives of Trump University are now two of the top executives at a Florida-based career college, Ultimate Medical Academy, that has 13,000 students enrolled, has been receiving more than $150 million annually in federal student aid, and is accredited by the imperiled agency ACICS."
More on possible debt relief for students of for-profit colleges in the politics section above.
"There Have Been Over 200 School Shooting Incidents Since The Sandy Hook Massacre," The Huffington Post reminds us. This week marked the fourth anniversary of the shootings at the Newton elementary school.
Via The New York Times: "On Campus, Trump Fans Say They Need 'Safe Spaces'."
Via New York Magazine: "Alt-Right Troll Milo Yiannopoulos Uses Campus Visit to Openly Mock a Transgender Student."
"CCSF can't prove it taught 16,000 students, must pay $39 million," The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Mindwires Consulting's Phil Hill says this is the "price of faculty not using LMS." Rather, it's the price of deciding that "proof" of online education requires the LMS.
Via The New York Times: "Success Academy Buys Space in Manhattan Tower for 2 New Schools." (It's not Trump Tower, don't worry, Eva Moskowitz fans.)
Also via The New York Times: "New York Charters Enroll Fewer Homeless Pupils Than City Schools."
Via The Times-Picayune: "Last 5 New Orleans public schools expected to become charter operations."
Via The Houston Chronicle: "Facing pressure to cut special education, Texas schools shut out English Language Learners."
"Are Colleges Engines of Inequality?" – a new report from The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Via KQED: "Homeless U: First Shelter Just for College Students Opens Its Doors."
Via Inside Higher Ed: "Colby-Sawyer College, a private college in New Hampshire, has announced cuts in staff positions and is also eliminating some majors." One of the majors cut: English. Can you be a SLAC if you don't offer a degree in English?
The War on Xmas Will Be Fought in Schools
A school in Texas made a teacher take down a decoration that read "For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord … That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown." WWJD: she sued. A federal judge issued an injunction and so the decoration can remain.
Accreditation and Credentialing
Via The Chronicle of Higher Education: "John B. King Jr., the secretary of education, on Monday upheld the U.S. Department of Education's decision to revoke the federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, an agency that had accredited for-profit colleges that suffered recent high-profile collapses."
Barbara Beno, the president of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College, has been placed on leave, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.
"What does a high school diploma prove?" asks The Connecticut Mirror.
More on MOOC "degrees" and possible legal troubles in the politics section above.
Via IndyStar: "A 20-year toll: 368 gymnasts allege sexual exploitation."
Via The Chronicle of Higher Education: "The University of Minnesota's football players announced on Thursday that the entire team would boycott practices and other team activities – even a December 27 appearance in the Holiday Bowl, if need be – to protest the university's suspension of 10 players from the team in connection with a campus investigation of a sexual-assault complaint."
Via Inside Higher Ed: "Following similar scandals involving sexist, racist and homophobic online communication among some male athletes at Harvard and Columbia Universities and Amherst College, Princeton University on Thursday announced that it was suspending its men's swimming and diving team."
Via The Casper Star Tribune: "University of Wyoming athletics director Tom Burman said Wednesday he's confident the university can cover the recent contract extension for football coach Craig Bohl without any additional financial aid from the state. Bohl is getting a pay raise to $1.4 million a year, starting next year. He is currently guaranteed $850,000 a year." The University of Wyoming has lost some $41 million in funding from the state over the past two years, and as a result it has slashed departments and staff. But the football team is a priority, clearly.
Via Inside Higher Ed: "Citing high-profile cases of academic fraud at some of the country's most visible universities, the American Council on Education released a report today urging colleges and universities to better align their athletics departments with their academic mission and to 'ensure a culture of integrity.'"
Heather Hiles, formerly the CEO of portfolio company Pathbrite (which was sold to Cengage Learning in 2015) will be the new "deputy director of postsecondary success" at the Gates Foundation.
The Sacramento Bee reports that former UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi is being considered to lead the school's Feminist Research Institute. Maybe she can do for the online reputation of white feminism what she did to obscure the university's pepper-spray incident.
Via The New York Times: "Columbia Graduate Students Vote Overwhelmingly to Unionize."
Via The Chronicle of Higher Education: "Most Colleges Will Change Overtime Policies Despite Judge's Blocking of New Rule."
"A Gadsden City Schools principal has been suspended after coming under fire for a social media post he made following Trump's election," the AP reports. His Facebook post: "All I can say is, Trump was elected two days ago and we already have actual white flour American rolls in the lunchroom instead of the Communist wheat bread that's been served for the past few years."
Via Backchannel: "Inside Peter Thiel's Genius Factory."
Also via Backchannel: "A Secret Ops AI Aims to Save Education." Oh goody. Secret ops and AI.
The BBC reports that "Cuba signs deal for faster internet access to Google content." Think again if you believe Google supports "net neutrality."
In other "don't believe 'don't be evil'" news: "Google Won't Alter the Holocaust-Denying Results For 'Did the Holocaust Happen'," says Gizmodo. Google search is fundamentally broken if this is the first result you get. Broken.
"Google Tackles Graduation with Two New Features," according to Edsurge. That is, you can get emails about what's going on in Google Classroom. Google's gonna "fix" graduation problems but you can't even search for "Is Elvis still alive" without getting a wrong answer.
Via CNBC: "Pearson's marketing chief on the company's virtual tutors and digital education transformation."
Via the press release: "Pearson Releases Research-Based Learning Design Principles for Public Use."
The Chronicle of Higher Education looks at how 50 years of technology "transformed education forever." What's so great about technology is that it has "transformed education forever" and yet you still hear ed-tech advocates insisting that education has not changed in hundreds of years. Both/and, I guess.
Campus Technology reports that "Elsevier Debuts Metrics Tracking Journal Performance." Meanwhile, "Germany-wide consortium of research libraries announce boycott of Elsevier journals over open access," according to BoingBoing.
Via Techcrunch: "Family friendly streaming service VidAngel found to be in violation of law, ordered to shut down."
Via NPR: "Kids In Spain Rebel Against Homework, And Parents Are Their Biggest Boosters."
The latest from Stanford history professor on Larry Cuban on "personalized learning" in Silicon Valley area schools.
Augmented reality startup Magic Leap is unbelievable. (Because it's "smoke and mirrors.")
The Business of Ed-Tech
Podotree has raised $107 million from Anchor Equity Partners and GIC. The Korean educational app-maker has raised $116.93 million total.
Pluralsight has raised $30 million "En Route to IPO," says Edsurge, rewriting CNBC's reporting and not even bothering to add value. Like, say, remind folks that former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined the skills-training company's board this summer. Pluralsight has raised $192.5 million total. This latest round came from investors Insight Venture Partners and Iconiq Capital.
Inkling probably doesn't "count" as ed-tech any longer since it's pivoted away from the digital textbook business. But it's raised $25 million from Sapphire Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Tenaya Capital. The startup has raised $102.12 million total.
Curriculum maker XSEED Education has raised $10 million from Verlinvest.
MasteryConnect has raised $4.5 million "to refocus on core product and profits." Investors in this round include Catamount Ventures, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Dell Foundation, Pelion Ventures, and Trinity Ventures. The testing company has raised $33.63 million.
Codementor has raised $1.6 million "to become elite marketplace for freelance developers." Investors include WI Harper. The company has raised $3.4 million total.
Knowledgehook has raised $902,810 from Sayan Navaratnam, Steve Case, and John Abele. The startup uses "real-time student data to improve teacher instruction."
Math education startup Math Buddy has raised $438,000 from Menterra Venture Advisors.
Next Education has acquired Xolvr.
"Investors See Promise in Ed-Tech Sector Despite Challenges," says Education Week. Of course they do.
You know what's cooler than a million hacked Yahoo accounts?
Via NBC Washington: "Public Schools Data Breach Affects 1,000 Former Frederick County Students."
When Evernote updated its privacy policy, the new terms said that the company's employees would be able to read people's notes in order to improve its "machine learning." Needless to say, folks were upset, and despite insisting it wasn't a big deal at first, the company has now changed its mind. You'll have to opt-in to having your notes perused.
Inside Higher Ed reports that a student filmed a psychology instructor at Orange Coast College as she made comments in class about Donald Trump and posted the video to the College Republicans' Facebook page. She's had to flee the state because of threats.
And I guess that's why I'm a little skeptical about professors clamoring to be on "the watchlist." A better tactic, I'd argue, is to make sure your department and institution have concrete steps they'll take in order to protect academic freedom and – quite literally – protect academics' lives when these sorts of threats occur.
The Washington Post asks, "When every moment of childhood can be recorded and shared, what happens to childhood?"
Via Slate: "Wrongful Arrest by Software." No, it isn't about education directly, but predictive analytics are supposedly "the next big thing," and let's be honest about how discriminatory and flawed this software is.
Via The Telegraph: "Test predicts which children will grow up to be drain on society – when they are just three years old." "A drain on society."
There's more on surveillance and predictive analytics in the research section below.
Via Edsurge: "New Research From Civitas Learning Asks, 'Who's Likely to Succeed in College?'"
Via Inside Higher Ed: "Language education is dwindling at every level, from K–12 to postsecondary, and a diminishing share of U.S. residents speak languages other than English, according to a new report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences."
"Cuts in Spending for Research Worldwide May Threaten Innovation," the OECD contends.
Via Inside Higher Ed: "Recent college graduates were more likely than those in prior decades to visit a career center while in college but are less likely to view their interactions as 'very helpful,' according to the newest data from an annual Gallup-Purdue University study of college graduates."
Via The Guardian: "Gendered toys could deter girls from career in engineering, report says."
"Older Americans Went Back To School During The Recession. Did It Pay Off?" FiveThirtyEight asks.
Via NPR: "After 50 Years, Head Start Struggles With Uneven Quality."
The Hechinger Report looks at campus policing: "Data shows that just having a school-based police officer makes it more likely that a child will be referred to law enforcement for even minor infractions — potentially pushing kids into the justice system for misdeeds like vandalism, more generally known as the school-to-prison pipeline."
Via The Awl: "America's Worst Schools, Ranked." (By tweets.)
Published 16 Dec 2016 | {
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Kilroy Realty's Second Quarter 2016 Earnings Conference Call
Published Tue, Jul 5 2016 2:00 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES, July 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kilroy Realty Corporation (NYSE:KRC) has scheduled its quarterly conference call to discuss its second quarter 2016 financial results on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The phone number for the call is (888) 680-0878, passcode: 80256205.
This call is being Webcast by Thomson/CCBN and can be accessed at Kilroy Realty Corporation's Website at www.kilroyrealty.com.
The Webcast is also being distributed through the Thomson StreetEvents Network. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com), a password-protected event management site.
A webcast replay will be available in the Investor Relations, Shareholder Information - Conference Calls section of the company's Website at www.kilroyrealty.com. A replay will also be available from July 26, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time until August 2, 2016, by dialing (888) 286-8010, passcode: 85935244.
About Kilroy Realty Corporation. With almost 70 years' experience owning, developing, acquiring and managing real estate assets in West Coast real estate markets, Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC), a publicly traded real estate investment trust and member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, is one of the region's premier landlords. The company provides physical work environments that foster creativity and productivity and serves a broad roster of dynamic, innovation-driven tenants, including technology, entertainment, digital media and health care companies.
At March 31, 2016, the company's stabilized portfolio totaled 13.7 million square feet of office properties, all located in the coastal regions of greater Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. The company is recognized by GRESB as the North American leader in sustainability, ranking first among 155 North American participants across all asset types. At the end of the first quarter, the company's properties were 46% LEED certified and 66% of eligible properties were ENERGY STAR certified. In addition, KRC had approximately 905,000 square feet of office and residential projects under construction with a total estimated investment of approximately $645.0 million. More information is available at http://www.kilroyrealty.com.
Contact Information:Tyler Rose(310) [email protected]
Source:Kilroy Realty | {
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Life in Research
Apply for training grants for early career researchers
By: Guest contributor, Tue Oct 6 2020
Author: Guest contributor
With international travel harder than ever, and most scientific – and personal – interactions moving online, the Nature Communications journals have adapted our grant scheme for Early Career Researchers to fit these challenging times.
Written by Joe Aslin, Associate Editor for Communications Earth & Environment, Nature
The Communications journals (Communications Biology, Communications Chemistry, Communications Earth & Environment, Communications Materials and Communications Physics) have, for the past two years, offered travel grants for promising early career researchers to attend conferences for which they would otherwise lack the funding. Of course, the current COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions on international travel have seen scientific meetings and workshops around the world re-organise as online-only events.
With travel grants now effectively useless, but support for the careers of young researchers more important than ever, the Communications journals have re-thought our early career grants scheme for 2020. We are now accepting applications for training grants to help early career researchers attend online training courses or workshops. If the event is actually being held in a physical location then these grants can of course still be used for that.
Unlike previous years, where a single grant of €1,500 was awarded per journal, this year each title will be awarding multiple grants of up to €500 to cover the cost of registration on a training course, workshop or meeting of the applicant's choice happening anytime during 2021.
To apply you must be:
a PhD student or a postdoc within 5 years of completion of your PhD
conducting research in one of the fields covered by the Communications journals and
able to demonstrate that you have no other funds available to attend the course or workshop.
Full eligibility criteria can be found on our guidelines for applicants.
The deadline for applications is 26th October 2020 and the winners will be announced in early December. If you think you could make use of this grant, we encourage you to apply. If you know of someone else who may be eligible then please let them know and spread the word!
This is a very tough time for early career researchers but we hope these grants can go some way to helping keep the next wave of promising scientists learning their trade, developing their skills and interacting with their communities.
About Joe Aslin:
Joe joined Communications Earth & Environment in January 2020 and has a background in tectonics and structural geology.
His doctoral research at the University of Liverpool focused on the physical and chemical processes which influence deformation in mid-crustal fault and shear zones using a combination of field and laboratory techniques. Prior to that, Joe used U-Pb geochronology to investigate the uplift and tectonic history of the central Andes during his MSci research at the University of Bristol. Joe is based in the London office.
Guest Contributors include Springer Nature staff and authors, industry experts, society partners, and many others. If you are interested in being a Guest Contributor, please contact us via email: [email protected]. | {
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How Is The NHS Going To Apply AI?
AI is going to play a huge role in the future of healthcare, which is why the UK government recently pledged £250 million to develop AI in the NHS. They intend to use this to improve treatments of conditions including cancer, dementia and heart disease. So where is this money actually going to go?
The Department of Health will use the investment for a cutting-edge National Artificial Intelligence Lab. The main goal of the lab will be to use AI to detect and diagnose life-threatening diseases like cancer and dementia at an early stage. Early detection is one of the most important factors in developing an effective, and often life-saving treatment. This technology can also improve cancer screening: AI algorithms can use big data to speed up the delivery of test results of mammograms, brain scans, eye scans playing a crucial role in conditions affecting millions every year.
One of the most exciting new proposals of the AI lab is to develop technology which can use DNA tests to identify which patients have the highest genetic risk of certain diseases, making way for early diagnosis and effective treatment. By pre-empting risks, healthcare professionals can act earlier and save patients from diseases which would otherwise be life threatening.
Of course, all of this will be a waste if the NHS aren't ready to adopt the innovations available with AI. This is why part of the program includes training and upskilling for AI staff to develop the use of state-of-the-art AI within our existing healthcare system. Once the staff are ready, and a secure AI system is developed, everything from surgery to routine paperwork has the potential to be improved through automation. This doesn't mean AI is coming to replace jobs in the NHS, but that it will enable clinicians to spend more time on the important aspects of medical imaging, like patient care. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the funding is set to 'boost the frontline by automating admin tasks and freeing up staff to care for patients'.
Investment in AI will keep growing over the coming years, and this funding boost will improve healthcare through AI's ability to automate processes, analyse scans, and even develop new methods of diagnosis. Stay at the forefront of this critical medical area, sign up for the AI and Machine Learning Convention to see some of the world's most exciting AI technology, which will be crucial to the future of healthcare over the next few years.
The AI and Machine Learning Convention is part of Mediweek 2020, the UK's largest healthcare event showcasing over 50 expert speakers and 50 innovative exhibitors across Oncology, AI and Medical Imaging. Over 500 AI professionals will be attending the AI and ML convention, as part of the 5000 medical imaging and oncology professionals attending Mediweek 2020. To gain some of the most exciting and unmissable medical expertise in Europe, sign up for free here. | {
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Officials at 4 Factories Accused Of Violating Wage, Safety Laws
a Wall Street Journal Staff Reporter
Sept. 4, 1996 12:04 am ET
NEW YORK -- Officials from four garment factories, including one making apparel for Kmart Corp. under the Kathy Ireland label, were charged with violating minimum-wage laws and creating hazardous workplace conditions.
The Kings County District Attorney's Office said workers at one location were being paid as little as $2.67 an hour, compared with the state's legal minimum wage of $4.25. Workers at the other three factories were being paid by the piece, which is also against state law. Investigators also found various safety violations, including locked exits at three factories. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
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Babur, Founder Mughal Dynasty India
Mughals
Timurid
Babur, Founder Mughal Dynasty India >
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of India. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother. Babur identified his lineage as Timurid and Chaghatay-Turkic, while his origin, milieu, training, and culture were steeped in Persian culture and so he was largely responsible for the fostering of this culture by his descendants, and for the expansion of Persian cultural influence in the Indian subcontinent, with brilliant literary, artistic, and historiographical results.
More on this Website
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babur
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Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of India. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother. Babur identified his lineage as Timurid and Chaghatay-Turkic, while his origin, milieu, training, and culture were steeped in Persian culture and so he was largely responsible for the fostering of this culture by his descendants, and for the expansion of Persian cultural influence in the Indian subcontinent, with brilliant literary, artistic, and historiographical results. More...
Related > Conquerors • Founders • Muslims • Royalty • Statesmen • Aquarius • February 14 • India • Mongols • Mughals • Renaissance • Rulers • Timurid • 15th Century • 16th Century • Icons • People
Genghis Khan, Unified the Mongols
Genghis Khan was the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his demise. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol...
Tamerlane (Timur) the Great
Timur meaning "iron" or Tamerlane in English, was a 14th-century conqueror of much of western and central Asia, founder of the Timurid Empire and Timurid dynasty (1370–1405) in Central Asia, and great great grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mu...
Akbar the Great, Greatest Mughal Emperor
Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar also known as Akbar the Great was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun whom he succeeded as ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605, and the grandson of Babur who founded the Mughal dynasty. On the eve of his death in 1605, th... | {
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Magnolia was once known as Mink's Prairie (in the 1840s). The name was shortened to Mink in 1850, but it wasn't until 1885 when the town was granted a post office under the name of Mink.
By 1900, the population of the Montgomery County town had swollen to 25 people and two years later, with the arrival of the International-Great Northern Railroad, tiny Mink moved to the tracks, creating a new town.
The railroad wanted the town to be named Melton, which was too close (in spelling) to Milton, Texas. So to keep things simple, the town was named after the abundant Magnolia trees – and the new post office was so designated in 1903.
reprinted from Texas Escapes | photo by photomajik
Residents pronounce the name of the town, Tow, as if it rhymed with "cow," rather than "toe" as might be expected. Tow is...
Medina is an unincorporated community in Bandera County, Texas. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Medina is famous for its...
Fulton is a town in Aransas County. As of the 2010 census, this South Texas coastal fishing community had a population of 1,358. The town is named...
Located in Gillespie County, Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred...
New Braunfels is situated in Comal and Guadalupe counties. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in...
Hempstead is in Waller County, Texas. The community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway...
East Texas • Trips • Videos
East Texas Road Trip with Mary and Mac
I had to get out of the city, and discover a bit of East Texas...
The Twisted Sisters aka The Three Sisters | {
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Plant a Tree for Leilani
Leilani M (Booska) Norman
September 9, 1941 ~ January 12, 2022 (age 80)
Monson-Leilani May Norman, 80, beloved wife of 62 years of Harold Richard Norman passed away on January 12, 2022. Leilani was born September 9, 1941 in Montague, MA to the late Alfred F. Booska and Mary L. (Sawyer) Keller. It is hard to summarize a life well lived in a few paragraphs. Leilani and the love of her life, Harold, were married in 1959 and the adventure began. She started knitting at the age of 6 and never stopped. You could always tell that she was feeling good when you saw her knitting, or doing any of her other crochet, needlework, or sewing projects. She always had multiple projects going and often was making things for family or charity projects, including the military.
Leilani was an avid enthusiast of life, and a lifelong learner. She always wanted to be better at whatever she was doing, and was a great example that a woman could do anything that she set her mind to. This made her a powerful role model to her children and grandchildren and made them all strive to be better and make her proud.
Leilani and Harold built a house in Montgomery, Ma, started a family, and moved to Monson, Ma in 1969. After Harold took a lapidary course, he taught her, and she went from there to become an experienced stone cutter, gemstone faceter, silversmith, goldsmith, and lost wax caster. They formed the Aloha Rock Shop aka/ Aloha Gems and Minerals. They were members of the CT Valley Mineral Club, and collected and sold at gem and mineral shows for many years. Following back surgery, that limited her mobility, her interests expanded to orchids. Harold had made the "mistake" of giving her a couple of orchids, and so started her obsession with growing them. They were members of the CT Orchid Society and joined the Amherst Orchid Society in 1987. The American Orchid Society was later joined and they traveled to attend conferences, meetings, and events connected to orchids. Their business became Aloha Enterprises, when they added orchids to their sales. They became exhibitors and vendors at the Amherst Orchid Society Spring shows, winning many awards for their exceptional plants and having many returning customers, this continued until Feb. of 2020, which was their final show. They were vendors at the Brimfield Farmers Market in the summers and had added perennials to their other offerings. She always asked people who purchased her plants to call her if they had questions or if their plant did not thrive, as she wanted to make sure that they were successful at their growing. She always felt that you could never have too much education and strived to learn something new every day.
She leaves her loving and devoted husband of 62 years, Harold R. Norman; their children; Tracy A. Norman and her husband Edward Shearer of Northfield, MA, Richard F. Norman and his wife Rosa of Goldsboro, NC, and Renee M. Lagacy and her husband John of Tehachapi, CA; a brother Steven Booska and his wife Amanda of CA; a sister Betty Moore and her husband Larry of CA; twelve grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Leilani had always requested that she receive flowers when she was alive, and not after she had passed. She wanted to be able to enjoy them. Please honor her wishes. In her memory, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew St. Springfield, MA 01104.
All services are private.
To send sympathy gifts to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leilani M (Booska) Norman, please visit our tribute store.
Services are to be announced | {
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Family from Holland
Originally from Spain
"...[they] settled in Amsterdam after the expulsion."
"As far as I can tell from the genealogy records, [my mother's] family came from Holland in the mid-1850s and settled in the central London area in the Jewish district. My [maternal] grandfather was a cigar maker and also worked with stained glass, so he was an artisan. He did spend time in the Merchant Marines during World War I, but the family name, Decker, is most likely Dutch, and it was, I believe, originally Dukker, d-u-k-k-e-r, until they spelled it the English way.
I don't have any direct evidence, but from what my grandmother shared from her knowledge, it's believed that they were originally from Spain and settled in Amsterdam after the expulsion in the late – excuse me—in the early 1490s."
Painting of an Ashkenazi Synagogue in Amsterdam ~ Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/history-of-jews-in-amsterdam ~ Date: 17th century
David Jacobi, "Family from Holland," Georgia Journeys, accessed January 29, 2022, https://georgiajourneys.kennesaw.edu/items/show/189. | {
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Sixth Annual PBS Online Film Festival
Posted on: Monday, July 10, 2017
The Festival Returns to All PBS Digital Platforms July 17 – July 28
PBS announced that the Webby Award-nominated PBS Online Film Festival will return for a sixth year July 17 – July 28, 2017, featuring 25 short-form independent films from POV and a broad spectrum of public media stations and partners. The PBS Online Film Festival is part of a multi-platform initiative to increase the reach and visibility of independent film on PBS and its member stations, and to promote unique, diverse content on the web. The PBS Online Film Festival showcases powerful and engaging stories from filmmakers across the country. The festival has become a popular annual online event, attracting more than 4.5 million views since the first festival in 2012.
Beginning July 17, the Festival will be available via PBS and station digital platforms including PBS.org, YouTube and PBS social media channels. The films will also be available via the PBS app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku and FireTV devices.
This year's lineup features films from the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), National Black Programming Consortium, Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), POV, and Vision Maker Media, as well as PBS local member stations including Alaska Public Media, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, South Florida PBS, WHRO, ITVS, Detroit Public TV WTVS, KTTZ Texas PBS, WPT Wisconsin, KLRU-TV Austin PBS, KQED (San Francisco), Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Twin Cities Public Television, and Vermont PBS. Promotional partners for the PBS Online Film Festival include Independent Lens and World Channel.
Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite film to win the "Most Popular" award. And, for the first time ever, a distinguished panel of eight jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the "Juried Prize". For updates on the festival, follow #PBSFilmFest on Twitter.
"PBS and its member stations are thrilled to kick off another year of excellent independent films," said Ira Rubenstein, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, PBS. "The PBS Online Film Festival provides PBS and its member stations the opportunity to provide a diverse group of independent filmmakers a chance to share their stories with a highly engaged audience. This year brings another impressive lineup of powerful and moving films that will transform perspectives and encourage important conversations."
Short films featured in the PBS Online Film Festival include:
Digging deep into family history for answers to questions about his identity, Cyrus finds some things might be better off left in the past.
Detroit Public TV WTVS
A woman gets a new lease on life when she meets someone less fortunate.
ITVS
"Guns on Campus"
Fifty years after the first recorded mass shooting in U.S. history took place at the University of Texas in Austin, a new "campus carry" law allows people to carry concealed handguns on all public university campuses in Texas.
KLRU
"The Secession"
A story about two Texas boys, a secession, and egg rolls.
"U R a Dial Tone"
A sign language interpreter is emotionally and physically sucked into her clients' lives.
KTTZ
A girl receives a mysterious gift that will unravel secrets from the past.
Latino Public Broadcasting
"Amigas with Benefits"
Amigas with Benefits is a short dramedy about an elderly bride-to-be who nearly has her wedding day ruined by an uninvited guest.
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
On the verge of her mother's death, Addie returns home to shed light on her dark past.
Si, a temperamental six-year-old, gets a goldfish after begging for a puppy.
NALIP
In the course of a difficult day, Maria, a creative young girl, and her hardworking father must discover a way to mend love and memories while confronting loss.
NBPC
A short profile piece that showcases the charismatic and talented drummer Kojo Odu Roney. In this exclusive interview Kojo offers his thoughts on Jazz, being home-schooled, traveling and his biggest influence, his father Antoine Roney.
"You Can Go"
A high school administrator talks down a troubled student.
When a family crisis strikes, an ailing Polynesian matriarch must find the strength to lead her family one last time.
"Our Voices Are Rarely Heard"
A visceral snapshot of how inmates survive solitary confinement.
"A Thousand Midnights"
Chronicles the contemporary manifestation of the economic and social histories of Black Americans who came to the north during the Great Migration in search of economic opportunities. The implications of their migration, and the lack of economic opportunity they encountered, has far reaching consequences for Black America today.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
"Black Hills Canyon Skating"
While the Black Hills of South Dakota may lack the elevation and snow that makes for skiing, they make up for it with ice-providing intrepid winter explorers with miles of canyon streams on which to ice skate.
South Florida PBS
"SunGhosts"
A mini-documentary about SunGhosts, an up and coming indie rock band from Miami.
Twin Cities PBS
"Rogue Taxidermy Artist Sarina Brewer"
From goats with fishtails to cats with wings, Sarina Brewer celebrates animals in her art.
"Syrian Photographer Osama Esid"
Photographer Osama Esid seeks connection from his American neighbors to Syrian Refugees.
"The Collinwood Fire"
A news reporter and a filmmaker turn a 1908 elementary school fire into a media sensation.
A prisoner acts out his guilt, anger, and fear through dance.
Vision Makers Media
Nikki Lowe's journey of being a mother, daughter, sister, and Native warrior.
WHRO
An African-American boy in Norfolk, VA in 1915 confronts racism in The Birth of a Nation.
An animated spoken-word piece that tells Steven Rodriguez's experiences of being an elder brother, son of a drug addicted mother and struggling but dedicated college student.
"Finding America: The Fresh Prince of Anacostia"
Kymone Freeman keeps his D.C. neighbors strong by helping them tell their stories.
PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS' premier children's media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a new 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
Eighth Annual PBS Online Film Festival Showcases The "Power of Community" Seventh Annual PBS Online Film Festival College Town Film Festival Fosters Relationship Between Filmmakers, Students Film Festival To Showcase Developmental Disabilities | {
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Carla Grima
Founder of Carla Grima Atelier
Carla Grima specialises in the creation of prints, using an experimental practice of watercolours, photography and digital technology. She chooses to work with natural fabrics in the strong belief that there is unique beauty in natural imperfection. Her vision is threefold: exploration, the Mediterranean and the cosmic harmony of shapes.
She graduated in Fashion Innovation and Management from UCA Rochester, and spent a year in Paris, building her knowledge of textiles, fibres and cloth cutting through exposure to French couture techniques. After receiving an invitation to exhibit at London's Graduate Fashion Week, she went on to work for Marc Jacobs and gained further experience working for London based brand's; Aminaka Wilmont and Junky Styling, as well as collaborations with independent stylists and photographers. She then became a pattern cutter for Jonathan Saunders and a mentor for BA fashion design students at UCA.
Carla set up her own label in 2014 and maintains an international network of suppliers and collaborators. She has chosen to base her studio and her practice in Malta because there is nowhere else like it. An island of enchanting colour and light that serves as her primary inspiration.
Website and E-boutique: Carla Grima Atelier
Instagram: Carla Grima
Facebook: Carla Grima
Rossella E. Frigerio
Founder of One Blue Dot
With both Italian and Maltese heritage and a childhood spent living and travelling across the Far East, Rossella has been a third culture wild child since she first stepped on a plane at age four.
A graduate of University College of London and the London School of Economics, her inquisitive spirit has led her down diverse professional paths that have taken her everywhere from London to Bali and Milan, all whilst picking up languages as varied as French and Mandarin Chinese.
Formerly one of Dame Vivienne Westwood's legal advisors and co-founder of luxury niche accessory brand Sofia Capri, Rossella is currently based on the Mediterranean isle of Malta. A strong believer in positive, genuine collaboration, Rossella is also a member of the UWC Malta Committee and a world curator for creative platform Ballpitmag.
Website: One Blue Dot
Instagram: One Blue Dot
Established in 2014, A Collective is a Malta-based architecture studio founded by Steven Risiott and Patricia Grech. The duo crossed paths in 2012 with a common love for architecture, design and the Mediterranean. The collaboration was a natural consequence. With varying experiences both locally and internationally, Steve and Patty's approach to design and architecture compliments each other in a seamless manner.
The studio is growing into a collective group of creatives and passionate individuals with a love for design. The architectural team seeks to create spatial experiences moulded by fundamental architectural parameters such as space, proportions, light and materials through the disregard of stylistic materiality. The studio roots itself in contextual design, hoping to enrich the local architecture scene and enhance the quality of life of the end user. The approach is purely architectural, concerned with the infiltration of natural light and its resulting play of shadows, shaping spaces through an eclectic palette inspired by honesty, purity and nature.
Website: A Collective
Instagram: A Collective
Facebook: A Collective
Hangar challenges what a creative agency can do and be. It doesn't just promote brands — it works collaboratively with clients to improve brands, because the people at Hangar know from experience that the long-haul matters.
Hangar's vision has always been clear: it is an agency that focuses on quality rather than quantity. It is selective by design, right down to its name. A hangar is a place where engineers and designers meet to attain a high level of precision. It's a place where big things happen and ambitions are high; where it takes skill and craftsmanship to survive. That is Hangar.
Originally launched in 2012, the agency has grown to embrace an experienced and diverse team of Maltese and international talent that collaborates alongside both niche and global brands such as Lavazza, Onvoy and the Valletta Design Cluster.
Website: Hangar
Instagram: Hangar
Facebook: Hangar
Craig Macdonald & Andrew Farrugia
Co-Founders of Te fit-Tazza
Te fit-Tazza was founded in 2015 by Andrew Farrugia and Craig Macdonald, two bosom buddies with a penchant for design and all things beautiful.
The Maltese islands boast a wealth of identity, evident to the eye in how we act and we interact and, to an extent, how we present ourselves both socially and visually. It would be fair to state that this abundance of distinction may be rooted in a strong sense of tradition, pride and patriotism.
The studio began as a project aimed at showcasing Malta, her culture, her aesthetic and her beautiful landscape through minimalist illustrated prints. In 2018, Te fit-Tazza acquired the souvenir brand, Souvenirs That Don't Suck, with a store situated in Sliema. The aim is to further widen the spectrum of creative avenues that the studio can explore, whilst still celebrating the Maltese Islands and their beauty.
Websites: Te fit-Tazza and Souvenirs That Don't Suck
Instagram: Te fit-Tazza and Souvenirs That Don't Suck
Facebook: Te fit-Tazza and Souvenirs That Don't Suck
Natalie Rose Vella
Founder of Natalie R Vella
Natalie has been tutored at both the Academy of Freelance Makeup – one of the industries' most recognised fashion and bridal makeup academies in London and New York – as well as at The London Hair Academy for Professional Hair Styling.
What type of beauty does she pursue through her art? The effortless, raw and unrefined kind. Even dramatic looks under her makeup brushes will hold slightly natural and 'rough around the edges' qualities. For Natalie, natural can still mean bold and striking as ultimately, it's all about balance.
In 2012, Natalie relocated to London to launch her career, where she had the opportunity to work with the some of the most talented creatives and brands in the field, including London Fashion Week, NET-A-PORTER Magazine, Estée Lauder, ELLE, and Harper's Bazaar.
Natalie has recently returned to the sunny isles of Malta, where she is continuing to do what she loves through collaborations with key brands and spreading her grounded, genuine and balanced beauty aesthetic through her Instagram and YouTube channels.
Read Natalie's interview as part of MCC*'s Creativity Chronicles series headed by collective member Lorinda Mamo here.
Website: Natalie Rose Vella
Instagram: Natalie Rose Vella
Facebook: Natalie Rose Vella
YouTube: Natalie Rose Vella
Inigo Taylor
Founder at Inigo Taylor Photography
Inigo is an English photographer based in Malta who has been working on a long-term social documentary project on Malta since 2007. This continuing body of work looks at contemporary Malta and Maltese identity through colour photographs that have until now been an initial survey into Maltese society. As the project evolves, new approaches are being utilised to take the project further and look closer at the changing social landscape of the country.
Inigo graduated in 2010 from the University of Lincoln with a BA in Photographic Studies. He has photographed in countries around the world, but Malta is still his favourite subject. His main influences are British social documentary photographers including Chris Killip, Martin Parr and Paul Graham, whose unique approaches have helped guide his exploration of Malta. He is currently looking to show his work so far in an exhibition.
Website: Inigo Taylor
Instagram: Inigo Taylor
Faceboook: Inigo Taylor
Gulja Holland
Ġulja Holland is a local contemporary artist notable for her psychologically-charged paintings. Her work drives through experimental styles that push through conventional aesthetic boundaries and which are themed around self-identification and socio-political issues.
In her recent portraiture series, photography and paint are combined to create what the artist refers to as 'photo-paintings'. In fusing together a realist and abstract style, the artist seeks to represent the identity as a tangible extension of one's outward appearance. Here, the influences of Neo-Expressionism and Pop Art are most evident in her work; in her use of colour, gestural style as well as in the repetition of photographic imagery; radically altered in each work in order to convey an ever-shifting stream of consciousness within her subjects.
Following her graduation from Leeds College of Art with Honors, she has recently exhibited at several international shows, including the Paragon Europe Art Exhibition at the Press Club Brussels Europe, the London Free Range show and the International Art festival Chrom-art Exhibition, London. Holland currently lives in Malta where she continues to participate in both local and international exhibitions.
Website: Gulja Holland
Instagram: Gulja Holland
Facebook: Gulja Holland
Maria Shebets
Founder of Maria Shebets and My Maltese Kitchen
Travel, Photography and Cuisine
Maria Shebets was born in one of the most beautiful cities in the world – Saint Petersburg, Russia. After high school, she continued her studies at the Academy of Applied Arts in the field of antiques, after which she began dedicating time working in this very field of expertise.
Although she had always loved cooking, Maria began to realise that it was a deep-rooted passion during her numerous journeys across the world. She enjoyed tasting new ingredients, local dishes and learning how differing cultures influenced various cuisines.
It has been over seven years since Maria and her husband left their country and settled in Malta after traveling for a year in Europe. Maria had two children here whilst she continued her gastronomical journey exploring local culinary products and the Maltese food scene. This inspired her to launch a blog that is dedicated to food and life in Malta, in which she shares her recipes and local restaurant reviews with food-lovers both in Malta and beyond.
Over time, she has become even more interested in ways she could use what home-grown ingredients Malta has to offer for creating dishes she truly loves. Such dishes are not as heavy as the traditional ones but "contemporary Maltese" as Maria loves to call them. Her latest venture – My Maltese Kitchen – is a website and a book-in-the-making which aims to pay tribute to the local produce, explore the local food traditions and create new recipes.
Website: Maria Shebets
Instagram: Maria Shebets and My Maltese Kitchen
Facebook: Maria Shebets
Francesca Pace
Founder of Gaia and Nina
Ethical kidswear
Francesca Pace began her career in the Tourism Industry after graduating with a B.A. Hons in Geography in 2002. She explored a number of different roles and her creativity, coupled with her entrepreneurial flair, led her to head a very successful team as business development manager in the holiday ownership industry.
In 2012 she married fellow local entrepreneur Sharlon Pace; in 2013 she became a mother for the first time, to Gaia, and is now a mother of two with the arrival of Nina in 2015. She launched the blog Gaia and Nina in December 2015, and has since garnered an international following in the world of children's fashion with photos from her blog shared by numerous brands across the four corners of the globe. She then launched Flatlay Photography in November 2016, after noticing a lack of professional flatlay photography on the market.
In June 2018, Francesca launched her ethical label of childrenswear, Gaia and Nina, which draws inspiration from the Mediterranean.
Website and e-boutique: Gaia and Nina
Instagram: Gaia and Nina
Facebook: Gaia and Nina
Eliza Costabel
Creative Director at The Garden Studio
After an upbringing in North and East Africa, the Far East, Europe and the US, Eliza returned to her birth country of Malta 4 years ago and set up The Garden Studio in an effort to combine her love of nature and outdoor spaces, and her background in interior architecture.
A graduate in Interior Architectural Design from California State University, Eliza lived 15 years in Los Angeles starting her professional career in corporate interiors and later setting up her studio dedicated to smaller scale projects in residential and commercial design. This is when she discovered her passion for designing outdoor spaces as she delighted in the pleasure and speed (compared to architecture and interiors) it takes to create a beautiful green oasis
The last 7 years in Kenya further cemented her passion for nature and environmental consciousness and upon moving to Malta she saw the opportunity to set up a professional all-round design/build studio dedicated to outdoor and landscape design "the idea was not to merely plant anything green and place some outdoor furniture, but to come up with clever, innovative design solutions, styling and landscape designs to really maximise any outdoor or interior space".
Since its setup in 2015, The Garden Studio has been steadily growing its team of landscape designers, horticulturalists and builders as well as enlarging the scope of its projects and services to encompass the supply of plants and everything that is needed to create a professionally designed green space, from furniture to pots and everything in-between. Eliza and her team are regular contributors to the gardening section on local media and attend all the prominent landscaping seminars and tradeshows to keep abreast with the latest trends in the field.
Website: The Garden Studio
Instagram: The Garden Studio
Mark Pace
Founder of Saint Paul Valletta
Design & Hospitality
Mark holds a distinct eye for design that is at once both rooted in his Maltese heritage and immersed in visual elements influenced by Dutch form. A purveyor of authenticity, Mark's design vision looks to beautify through the natural and balanced. In this spirit and through Saint Paul, Mark brings to light Valletta's genuine, lesser-known soul to share with urban explorers from across the continents.
Recognised as a leading figure of the Maltese design scene, Mark's portfolio of work reflect a grounded spirit of harmony that bridges the contemporary with the authentic.
Website: Saint Paul Valletta
Instagram: Saint Paul Valletta
Robbie Mazzaro
Founder of RO Art Ceramics
Artistic Ceramics
Robbie was born in Venezuela – where she spent her childhood – and moved to Italy at the age of 18. Everywhere she went, she would take her with her her love for nature and for local artisanal crafts, seeking to develop these influences in her work later in life.
As a child, Robbie's mother would call her Ro, hence how the name Ro Art came to be. Robbie's passion for art started at a young age, and over the years, she has found it essential to keep her artistic passion alive. Following years working in the corporate sphere, a Ceramics Masterclass in Rome re-ignited her creative spirit, and it was then that everything clicked into place. She decided to leave her career and immerse herself solely in the world of ceramics, falling in love once again with the versatility of the clay and the entire creative process.
Robbie's inspirations are drawn from nature itself. She is fascinated by the complex and beautiful natural structures and textures found in plants, bark, seed pods, corals and shells. She loves the contrast between the rough texture, clay colour and the glossy shades of blue that speak of sea water on white sand and rocks.
Each of her pieces are hand-built with the technique of coiling or slabs in a range of different kinds of clay. Each coil is melded into the coil below, pinched, squeezed, moulded and scraped into shape. Robbie has exhibited her ceramics at trade events and contemporary ceramic and craft fairs throughout Europe, and since moving to Malta in 2014, the natural beauty of this Mediterranean island has been an additional source of inspiration for her work.
Website: RO Art Ceramics
Instagram: RO Art Ceramics
Facebook: RO Art Ceramics
Gioia Clavenzani & Ivano Ghinelli
Co-Founders of JAD Jewellery
Hailing from different work experiences – one as a psychologist and psychotherapist, the other as a stone setter and goldsmith – Gioia and Ivano first met in Città della Pieve, Italy. In the quiet countryside between Umbria and Tuscany, with a common love for jewelelry, design and contemporary art, they opened their first Italian studio in 2011: La Fonderia dell'Oro – a big, bright workshop with fittings made from old pallets, barrel hoops and paper.
In 2015, Gioia and Ivano moved to Malta. Today, these two countries' art and nature are infinite sources of inspiration. Art and design are their "fuel", whilst the sense of nature is also part of their jewels through their rough and dull surfaces and irregular edges.
Gioia and Ivano believe art and beauty have to be easy and present in people's lives; approachable and available for the ones who search for them. Working with their hands – with art, beauty and nature always on their minds – they seek to make their lives better and to try and give back through crafting beautiful jewellery, not common but easy to use, enjoy and wear.
Website: JAD Jewellery
Instagram: JAD Jewellery
Facebook: JAD Jewellery
The Authentic Brief
Founded by Rebecca Barbaro Sant, The Authentic Brief (tAB) is an innovative concept creative partner which offers clients a unique edge through its pragmatic and wholly authentic strategic processes, doing away with the more traditional approach to marketing and PR. A hands-on approach as well as the vital emotional connection with clients, is key to its success.
Effective communication has become quite a cliché, but is still the most valuable link for companies and brands to gain maximum exposure and generate sales. tAB communicates a client's particular story and gauges the needs of the audience to translate into a resonating response.
Website: The Authentic Brief
Instagram: The Authentic Brief
Facebook: The Authentic Brief
Julia Barker
Founder of Zen With Julia
Julia is Malta's first and only KonMari consultant in training.
A recent arrival from London, where she worked in the education sector, Julia was inspired to make decluttering and organisation her career after successfully completing the KonMari process in her own family home. A long-running love of good interior design and a deep interest in the sustainability of our home and creative spaces complemented this move perfectly.
When starting out in her career as a tidying consultant, Julia was inspired by the positive aesthetic changes that were sparked in her and her clients' personal spaces. As her practice has developed, she's found the most wonderful part of her work to be seeing the confidence of her clients increase after even one tidying lesson.
Julia's tidying lessons involve working first with clients on their vision for the ideal life, home and creative space. After using a welcoming ritual to open the space to being tidied, Julia then coaches her clients to hone their sense of personal style and joy as they work through each item in their space. Identifying creative ways to store and style possessions with her clients means that they quickly find increased mental and physical space to pursue their own creative interests more fully.
Read Julia's interview as part of MCC*'s Creativity Chronicles series headed by collective member Lorinda Mamo here.
Website: Zen With Julia
Instagram: Zen With Julia
Facebook: Zen With Julia
Sergio Muscat
Founder of Sergio Muscat and L'Orrse
Art, Photography and Fashion
Sergio Muscat's art is one that looks closely – that approaches, associates, combines and recombines. As inspiration for his works, he creates an ever growing digital photographic archive of the world he encounters (everyday objects, artworks, architecture, technology, nature). Sergio's archive bears testimony to the way he appropriates the world: His camera registers a subject, looks at it closely, distorts it, changes viewpoint or swirls around it. That work is then combined into his final artworks, which themselves are re-introduced into the archive as source for future work. He renders the result into both traditional fine art prints and everyday objects such as silk scarves and architectural elements, reminding us that the world is something every individual constructs from exposure, experience, memories and interests, as well as preconceptions, biases and worldviews.
Apart from, and in complement to his art, Sergio has also had an extensive career within the technology industry, which he has partly put aside to explore his own path, by founding L'Orrse, a fashion brand creating silk scarves and accessories, and recently also moving to Gozo to run Tan-Neputi Bed and Breakfast with his life partner Anna.
Website: Sergio Muscat and L'Orrse
Facebook: Tan Neputi
Olivia Levelt
Founder of Marquis De Vissac
In 2014, Olivia Levelt arrived on the island of Malta along with her partner, and opened a concept boutique in the capital city Valletta dedicated to selling quality, hand-made espadrilles. Over time, they have expanded their range of accessories to include the products of talented designers from Malta and across the world.
Olivia is a true lover of fashion that is all about quality and comfort.
Website: Marquis De Vissac
Instagram: Marquis De Vissac
Facebook: Marquis De Vissac
Youtube: Marquis De Vissac
Lorinda Mamo
Founder of A Bird With A French Fry
Co-Founder of Belle & Beau Handmade
Creative writer, Designer and Maker
Lorinda Mamo was born and brought up in Toronto, Canada. While her formal education was based in the sciences, her heart and passion was always in art and design. She taught herself graphic and web design over the years and in 2010 she took a leap and opened a creative advertising studio (Design Chronicle Studios) with her husband. Two years later she was pregnant with her son and when she found a lack of local mothers sharing their experiences, she started her blog A Bird with a French Fry to share her journey of pregnancy and things for kids. When she found out that there was a problem with her baby, her posts started to dwindle as it was a difficult time and nothing like she expected.
One day she took the plunge to continue sharing her story, despite it not being the ideal situation. The positive and encouraging feedback she received gave her the courage to continue writing. This was even more so when she was diagnosed with cancer when her son was 10 months old. Her writing was her therapy but the lack of creativity was still lacking in her life. While waiting for her son to have his kidney transplant in London she needed to occupy her mind and began designing and creating cute accessories, gifts and home decor for little ones within the brand of her blog. Returning happiness and joy back into the world from an otherwise scary time, helped her cope with the difficult times as well as bring creativity back into her life.
In 2018, she co-founded and launched Belle & Beau with her friend Emma Diacono. This collaboration has allowed Lorinda to design and create their own line of designer bows, bow ties and other fine accessories and apparel for children. Fueled by her design and sewing skills this has continued to fulfil her love of building her own children's brands.
Lorinda continues to design and create items for both brands, manages and writes for her blog, works on freelance design jobs while taking care of her medically complex son. She is inspired by all things happy and spreads positivity through her designs, creations and written word every day.
A Bird with a French Fry Blog and Shop: A Bird with a French Fry
Facebook: A Bird with a French Fry
Instagram: A Bird with a French Fry
Belle & Beau Handmade: Shop
Facebook: Belle & Beau Handmade
Instagram: Belle & Beau Handmade
Emma Fsadni
Illustration, Printing, and Painting
Emma Fsadni was born in Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium and educated in Australia, the Netherlands and Malta where she recently received her B.A. Honours in Fine Arts from the MCAST Institute for Creative Arts, (First Class).
As an adolescent, Fsadni was absorbed in all things materialistic, however, with age came awareness, recognizing the frivolousness that such a lifestyle brings. As a result, her work addresses contemporary ideas and conflicts concentrated around society's superficiality and constructed realities.
Developed from self-reflective experiences, which are then applied in a social context, she addresses contemporary observations and conflicts surrounding themes such as idealization, habits, and perception. Fsadni translates the complexity of her concepts through means of minimal aesthetics; condensing her ideas visually, while maintaining levels of intricacy in process. Fsadni tends to gravitate towards two-dimensional media, namely illustration, printing, and painting. She finds that such mediums allow a level of sensitivity in execution to be maintained. This element of sensitivity often goes beyond this aesthetic value and extends into her works' concepts.
Following her studies, Fsadni has already taken part in a selection of collective exhibitions. She is currently working towards materializing an ongoing series of illustrative editioned gilcée prints titled REPOSE.
Read Emma's interview as part of MCC*'s Creativity Chronicles series headed by collective member Lorinda Mamo here.
Website: Emma Fsadni
Instagram: Emma Fsadni | {
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Auto body shop HR attorney: Employers can require COVID-19 vaccines — but tread carefully
By John Huetter on May 13, 2021
Announcements | Associations | Business Practices | Education | Legal | Repair Operations
Collision industry human resources attorney Cory King last month said body shops and other companies can demand workers receive COVID-19 coronavirus vaccinations. However, the business could find itself in a "pack of trouble" without first educating itself and seeking assistance on the topic, he said.
Which is a good time to bring up our usual caveat: None of the comments and analysis presented here are intended as legal advice; they're for informational purposes only. Seek qualified counsel licensed in the relevant jurisdiction before taking any action.
"The short answer is: Yes, you can," King, an attorney at FordHarrison, said of workplace vaccination requirements. But it's more complicated than that, he told the April 21 Collision Industry Conference. King said they've seen "a lot of employers screwing up."
One of the potential pitfalls lies in the prequalification questioning prior to the vaccination. It's possible these inquiries could trigger an Americans with Disabilities Act violation — particularly if the employer hosts a vaccination clinic in-house, King warned. The employee is answering a question for the employer, and it's assumed the employer has access to the answers, he explained.
If the vaccine is strongly encouraged by the business but ultimately voluntary and the questions voluntary, the business might be on safer ground, according to King.
"Pre-vaccination medical screening questions are likely to elicit information about a disability," the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission wrote in December 2020." This means that such questions, if asked by the employer or a contractor on the employer's behalf, are 'disability-related' under the ADA. Thus, if the employer requires an employee to receive the vaccination, administered by the employer, the employer must show that these disability-related screening inquiries are 'job-related and consistent with business necessity.' To meet this standard, an employer would need to have a reasonable belief, based on objective evidence, that an employee who does not answer the questions and, therefore, does not receive a vaccination, will pose a direct threat to the health or safety of her or himself or others."
This ADA-question issue isn't a concern if employees arrange their work-mandated vaccines themselves at third-party locations, such as local drugstores, rather than through an employer-hosted clinic, according to King.
"By contrast, there are two circumstances in which disability-related screening questions can be asked without needing to satisfy the 'job-related and consistent with business necessity' requirement," the EEOC wrote in December 2020. "First, if an employer has offered a vaccination to employees on a voluntary basis (i.e. employees choose whether to be vaccinated), the ADA requires that the employee's decision to answer pre-screening, disability-related questions also must be voluntary. 42 U.S.C. 12112(d)(4)(B); 29 C.F.R. 1630.14(d). If an employee chooses not to answer these questions, the employer may decline to administer the vaccine but may not retaliate against, intimidate, or threaten the employee for refusing to answer any questions. Second, if an employee receives an employer-required vaccination from a third party that does not have a contract with the employer, such as a pharmacy or other health care provider, the ADA 'job-related and consistent with business necessity' restrictions on disability-related inquiries would not apply to the pre-vaccination medical screening questions."
However, should the employee go out to a third-party location and decline to answer the prescreening questions or are denied the vaccine because of their answers, "you cannot ask them why they did not get vaccinated," King said. Your inquiry could run afoul of the ADA and have "crossed the line into a place that you do not want to be," he said.
The company might need to accommodate the worker or give them another opportunity to pursue the vaccine, he said.
A shop might also need to be cognizant of the chance a worker might claim a religious or "sincerely held" belief exemption, something protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. An employer might have to provide reasonable accommodation in such a circumstance.
King said the law is very broad, and employers aren't allowed to ask the employee whether they sincerely hold a belief. If the employee tells you to "'go pound sand'" on Title VII grounds, "that is not the time to pick the fight," King said.
King said he's encountered numerous instances of employers who recount having told an employee, "'I don't care what the religion says'" and not to come back to work. The company felt public health trumped religion.
"Not quite," King said. In fact, the employee was "probably right," he said.
Instead, be polite, tell an employee citing a Title VII exemption that you'll look into it, and call an employment lawyer, King said. The employer could be on "very dangerous ground," but "you can make it through," King said.
It's possible the workplace can claim that accommodating a client would place an undue hardship on an employer, according to King. The EEOC as of Wednesday said the Supreme Court has defined an "undue hardship" worthy of an employer exemption as "more than a de minimis cost." The agency calls this a lower bar for employers to meet for an accommodation exemption than the "an action requiring significant difficulty or expense" definition within the ADA.
What about other reasons cited by an employee for refusing to be vaccinated, such as caution over side effects or a conspiracy theory?
Fear of the vaccine, for example, "is not going to be a protected category," King said. But an employer should contact an employment lawyer before firing such an employee or overruling their objection and ordering a vaccine, he indicated.
If the worker's argument wanders into a protected category, "you must be very, very careful," King said.
"Social, political, or economic philosophies, as well as mere personal preferences, are not religious beliefs protected by Title VII," the EEOC states. "However, overlap between a religious and political view does not place it outside the scope of Title VII's religion protections."
Many other issues might arise with employers requiring vaccinations besides the ones featured here, according to King. Potential considerations could include organized labor, OSHA regulations and wage and hour policies. We repeat: Consult with a qualified expert before taking action.
As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, 46.2 percent of the population and 58.5 percent of adult Americans (18 years or older) have received at least one vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC said 35.1 percent of Americans and 44.7 percent of adults are considered fully vaccinated.
"What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws"
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Dec. 16, 2020
EEOC COVID-19 webpage
Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 vaccine website
Featured images: FordHarrison attorney Cory King at the April 21, 2021, Collision Industry Conference discussed considerations for employers desiring to require COVID-19 vaccines. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News) | {
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By Alan Gold and Mike Jones
LIST PRICE: AU$ 9.99
Two families . . . One bloodline . . . and a city named Jerusalem
When Bilal, a radicalised Palestinian youth, is shot during a botched terrorist attack, his life is saved by a young Jewish surgeon, Yael Cohen. But when Yael makes the startling discovery that her DNA is identical with Bilal's, they become caught up in a high-stakes conspiracy – a disturbing plot that will blow the region to pieces and stun the world with its audacity.
But unknown to Bilal and Yael, theirs is the last and bloody chapter in a story that crosses millennia. Century after century, two ancient families – bloodline ancestors of Yael and Bilal – defied the corrupt power of kings and conquerors, and their struggles forged a fiercely proud people and an enduring hope for peace. But through war and atrocity, kinships were shattered, forcing dynasties apart and allowing evil to gain a foothold.
And in modern Israel, confronted with exposure, those sinister forces will do anything to take control of the Holy Land and silence Yael and Bilal, who must run for their lives. Through imprisonment, assassination attempts and political machinations, they must ultimately confront the truth of who they are.
But is blood enough?
www.bloodlinetrilogy.com
Alan Gold
Alan Gold is an internationally published and translated author of fifteen novels. He speaks regularly to national and international conferences on a range of subjects, most notably the recent growth of anti-Semitism.
@Mike Jones
Mike Jones is an award-winning writer and creative producer who works across a variety mediums including books, screen, digital & interactive media.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia (October 23, 2013)
Book Cover Image (jpg): Bloodline
Author Photo (jpg): Alan Gold
Author Photo (jpg): Mike Jones | {
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Summer sweat pays off for Student Engagement
From left, Brittney Calton, Kaitlin Runion, Cody Dumas, Pablo Ciscomani and Jeremy Mack, Director of Student Engagement, discuss plans for the upcoming school year all designed to welcome and engage GCU students.
Story by Theresa Smith
Photos by David Kadlubowski
"Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.''
The classic summer lyric by Seals and Crofts evokes a laid-back aura, yet the atmosphere in Grand Canyon University's Student Engagement offices on a late June day kindle a decidedly different feeling. With hundreds of events to plan for the 2018-19 school year, it is not the time for the Student Engagement staff to relax.
Jeremy Mack, Director of Student Engagement, oversees 13 staffers who lead Associated Students of GCU (ASGCU), Canyon Activities Board (CAB), Clubs and Organizations, Commuters, Diversity Office, ROTC, Veteran's Center and Thunderground. Each Student Engagement staff member oversees dozens of student leaders.
In the 2017-18 academic year, 583 activities fell under the umbrella of Student Engagement, not including hundreds of events planned and executed by the 126 clubs on campus. Although the number of events is staggering, it is not critical, according to Mack.
"It's not the volume (of events) but the engagement,'' Mack said. "We want to make students feel welcome on campus while making friends. We want to help students engage with other students, from the largest club, AZ HOSA (Arizona HOSA-Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America), one of the largest nursing clubs in the nation with more than 400 members, to small and large events, from Mr. GCU, to Winter Fest, to the Hanging of the Greens.''
Brittney Calton, Associated Students program coordinator, oversees three teams within ASGCU: Freshmen Class Council, Diversity Council and Volunteer GCU.
Her work with students over the summer began on June 25, when the four ASGCU executives arrived on campus to begin their preparations, including helping plan approximately 50 events during Welcome Week. The week involves more than 1,000 student volunteers, including approximately 50 in ASGCU leadership roles.
"ASGCU are scholarship student leaders who were selected for their roles,'' Calton said. "They applied, they were interviewed and were selected. They serve the student body — that's their purpose, to give either a service or a program for the student body.''
While gaining leadership experience is often emphasized in preparation for college, Calton and other Student Engagement staff members do not require applicants to be experienced leaders.
"One thing that we really appreciate about our students is that they have diverse backgrounds and interests,'' Calton said. "Some of them, maybe they weren't involved in high school, and they regretted it, and they are just looking for a way to get involved. So they go out on a limb and they apply, and we see something in them that we want to invest in, so we offer them a position. Many of them are returning from last year, and now they've moved up, and they have more of a supervisory role."
Four criterion are critical: being teachable, being available, being responsible and having a good attitude, according to Calton.
Fitting the criterion is the 2018-19 student executive team: president Noah Wolfe, executive vice president Stephen Steininger, chief of staff Aly Halbakken and administrative vice president Tim McGill. They arrived on campus on June 25 to prepare for the fall semester.
"They hit the ground running and we started cranking on the planning, the goals and the outcomes for the entire year for their team,'' Calton said. "Because it is student government and it is their administration, we guide them, but we let them be very creative in the campaigns they choose to run, and the initiatives they want to pursue.''
For 25 hours per week, in exchange for summer housing and a summer meal plan, the student executive team works with Mack; Calton; Pablo Ciscomani, clubs and commuter coordinator; Cody Dumas, student government coordinator; and Kaitlin Runion, clubs and organizations coordinator.
"We'll show them the shared access to the drive where all the files are stored from previous years and the current year. That's where a bulk of the planning happens,'' Calton said. "We'll go over budget procedures, we'll go over corrective action, which is discipline process, we'll go over public speaking, and we'll go over relational communication — so how do you talk to a new student who comes to your event, how do you befriend them and make them feel comfortable?''
The training, known as summer intensives, occur twice per week for two hours each.
Planning events for Welcome Week is among the most time-sensitive matters. Ignite, for example, is one of the most spiritual events, as students gather in the darkness on the quad, light a candle, say a prayer and dedicate the new school year in a positive and profound way. Wolfe will make a speech and Pastor Tim Griffin, Dean of Students, will offer a blessing.
"It is a very special event,'' Calton said.
Calton and Runion talk about upcoming activities at GCU.
Ciscomani guides the clubs as they plan events and seek ways to add members. Among the most unique clubs is Medieval Combat Club, which grew from a group of students casually meeting to official club status in 2017.
"It involves larping (Live Action Role Play), where a bunch of students get together and use rope swords, cardboard armor and engage in live action role play fights and battles,'' Ciscomani said.
"That's always fun. I love that club, in particular, because it provides an area of community for students who might not have found it in any other club, like HOSA, or academic clubs, or even the social clubs, like Lopes Outdoors. This is a very unique population of students who have found a sense of belonging in the Medieval Combat Club
"That's why I love doing what I do; it's not because, 'Oh, we have all these clubs.' I look at all these clubs as an opportunity for a student coming into school to say, 'Oh where do I fit in?' We have over 100 different clubs you can fit into, or we have all these different events, through ASGCU, HOSA or the CAB or spiritual life; there is always something for students to find their niche in.''
Several clubs are applying for grants this summer for Welcome Week, including the Forensics Science Club, which plans a mock crime scene designed to teach students how to fingerprint, like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). The computing club seeks funds to develop a new chip, and the Modern Board Gamers Guild is using funds to buy numerous board games for a board game night. The Hip Hop Club and Lindy Lopes are planning events while eSports strategizes to attract even more club members at the Fall Club Fair on Aug. 27.
As campus enrollment continues to grow, Ciscomani strives to meet new needs.
"With more students, there are more passions, which leads to creating a club we do not have or joining a club we already have and making that bigger,'' he said.
Club collaboration is also part of summer planning as the Black Student Union, Latino Student Union, Hui Aloha and Filipino-American Student Association are working together to organize a celebration during Welcome Week.
"It will be a time for different dishes to be shared, and different performances,'' Ciscomani said. "I love it when our clubs collaborate and do something bigger than they could do individually. "
The bottom line is engaging students, and if it requires summer sweat instead of summer chill, then Seals and Crofts will have to wait.
Contact Theresa Smith at (602) 639-7457 or [email protected].
Encourage one another, though it might get messy »
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Tags: ASGCUBlack Student UnionBrittney CaltonCanyon Activities BoardForensics Science ClubgcuJeremy MackLatino Student UnionMedieval Combat ClubNoah WolfeStudent EngagementWelcome Week
Theresa Smith :
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Ex-negotiator: China may be signaling it's going hard-line — but it still wants a trade deal
Former top White House trade negotiator Clete Willems
China may have just signaled it's going more hard-line on trade, but it could actually be a good thing, former top White House trade negotiator Clete Willems, told CNBC on Wednesday.
Beijing added a new member to its negotiating team last week: Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, who's seen by many officials in Washington as a hard-liner. It could be a sign that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is standing firm on trade, analysts say.
The Chinese minister was present at last month's G20 summit. He also participated in a phone conversation with US trade representatives last week.
By adding Zhong to the negotiating team, it shows that Xi is trying to win over the hard-liners, said Willems, who left his role as deputy director of the National Economic Council (NEC) in March.
"China has now elevated its commerce minister Zhong Shan and made him a part of the core negotiating team along with (Vice Premier) Liu He. A lot of people are nervous — he's seen as a hard-liner," Willems told CNBC's 'Squawk Box'.
But he's not overly concerned.
"I actually think it's a good thing because what it shows is that President Xi is trying to get buy-in from both the hard-line within China and the reformers, which is going to be necessary ingredients for a deal," Willems said.
"President Xi is only going to be able to get a deal if the hard-liners are bought in," he added.
Flexibility needed
Willems has served as the lead trade negotiator for the US at summits like the G7 and G20, and also participated in trade talks in Washington and Beijing. He was a right-hand man to NEC Director Larry Kudlow on trade with China.
According to Willems, the Chinese team did try to 'show flexibility' during the talks, but things turned around after they returned to Beijing.
"What ended up happening is that when Liu He brought the deal back to President Xi and to the entire political class in China, there was a bit of a rebellion from hard-liners who didn't think the deal was good from China's standpoint," Willems said.
"So there's going to need to be flexibility, but I think China has shown they're willing to put these things on the table," added Willems, who's now a partner at international law firm Akin Gump.
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that there's still a long way to go to reach a deal with China. He also threatened to slap tariffs on another $325 billion of Chinese goods.
But Willems told CNBC that a deal will ultimately be reached.
"My inclination is that we will get a deal, I think that a lot of really good work was done. I think it's in both sides' interest to harvest that work," he said.
"I think China's economy — whether or not they want to admit it — is in a little bit of a difficult situation, and it's in their interest to get a deal."
The prolonged trade battle seems to be taking a toll on the Chinese economy. Data on Monday showed its economic growth slowed to 6.2 percent in the second quarter — the weakest rate in at least 27 years.
Ex-negotiator
hard-line
Iran Daily
Resource: CNBC
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Pelosi to Trump: 'You are impeached forever' | {
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Student Experiences & Engagement »
Diversity & Cultural Engagement
sjretreat_background.png
There are several retreats that support social change offered at Oregon State: Racial Aikido, Multiracial Aikido, International Student Social Justice Retreat, and Examining White Identity in a Multicultural World. As a partnership between Community Engagement & Leadership (CEL), Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Diversity & Cultural Engagement (DCE), Office of Institutional Diversity, and University Housing & Dining Services (UHDS), these weekend long retreats promote a campus dialogue about race and racism. Each of the retreats engage in the active exploration of the concept of race and how race influences our lived experiences and interactions.
Racial Aikido Retreat
Racial Aikido explores the experiences of Students of Color (SOC) at OSU and beyond. Our focus for the 2021 experience is on community-building, the recognition of identity and racism, and response and replenishment to these realities. Our goal is to build a supportive network to learn and thrive at OSU and beyond.
For more information or any accommodations related to disabilities, please contact: [email protected]
Multiracial Aikido
Multiracial Aikido (MRA) is founded on the principles and history of the Racial Aikido retreat. MRA explores systems of racial oppression and centers experiences of multiracial, multiethnic, transracial, and mixed heritage individuals.
We offer a supportive learning environment for participants to unpack racial and ethnic identity through storytelling and to build a community of peers and mentors who support their growth. We hope that by the end of the retreat participants will have found commonality in their various experiences and identify tools to navigate, heal, and make meaning as racialized beings in a U.S. context.
International Student Social Justice Retreat
The International Students' Social Justice Retreat was launched at OSU in February 2016 in the spirit of initiating dialogue on issues of diversity, ethnicity, race, and nationality in the U.S., this retreat helps international students understand the socio-historical American narrative on race and ethnicity, and provides international students with skills to manage and disrupt discrimination based on their perceived identities.
Examining White Identity
This 3 part series is designed for White-identified students to deepen their understanding of and commitment to racial justice work and anti-racism practice. Participants will engage in storytelling, dialogue, embodiment exercises, and more in order to gain strategies and tools for engaging in racial justice conversations, disrupting racism, and identifying next steps on their personal journeys. Together, we will explore how anchoring this work to love increases our ability to develop authentic relationships and sustain engagement over the long term. This offering is a part of a movement to grow a community of White-identified students committed to racial justice at OSU. Join us!
Student Affairs is dedicated to principles of equity and social justice, and as such, all of our events and programs are inclusive to all who are committed to transformative learning.
If you have questions, please visit our FAQs page or email [email protected]
Social Justice Retreats FAQs › | {
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Professional > Technical > Luncheons > January 23rd, 2013
Post-earthquake seismic reflection survey, Christchurch, New Zealand, with some new insights into faults
Dr. Don Lawton
Dept.of Geoscience, U of C
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 – 10:30 AM MST
On September 4, 2010, an earthquake struck the Christchurch region in New Zealand. The Mw 7.1 quake was centered about 40 km west of the city of Christchurch and caused significant damage but no loss of life. A key manifestation of the earthquake was a fault (Greendale Fault) that ruptured to the ground surface with a maximum dextral displacement of 5.1 m and a vertical displacement of 1.5 m, upthrown to the south. On February 22, 2011, a Mw 6.2 aftershock struck with a shallow hypocenter very close to Christchurch. This earthquake resulted in the loss of 182 lives and devastating damage (|$23B) to the city infrastructure. Since September, 2010, the region has experienced over 10,500 aftershocks, with 42 of these being greater than 5M.
Approximately 45 line-km of high-fold reflection seismic data were recorded in and around Christchurch following the February 22, 2011 aftershock. The goal of the seismic program was to map previously unknown shallow faults in and around the city for hazard assessment and to assist in the post-earthquake recovery effort. Reflection seismic data were collected along six 2D lines, two of which were within the Christchurch metropolitan area and four were in rural areas west of the city. Recording conditions were challenging within the city, but good quality images were obtained along all of the seismic lines, with events interpretable to a depth of approximately 1.5 km. Numerous faults were imaged along the lines and these were interpreted in two groups - older faults that showed clear offsets in deep (> 1 km) reflections and younger faults that showed displacement in shallow reflections. Some faults in the latter group were interpreted to be directly associated with hypocentres of the earthquake and aftershocks.
Don Lawton is a Professor of Geophysics and Chair in Exploration Geophysics in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Calgary. His research interests include acquisition, processing and interpretation of multicomponent seismic data, seismic anisotropy, integrated geophysical and geological studies in complex geological settings, and geological storage of CO2. He is an Associate Director of the Consortium for Research in Elastic Wave Exploration Seismology (CREWES) and is Theme Lead in Secure Carbon Storage for Carbon Management Canada, a Network of Centres of Excellence. In 2011 he led a team from the University of Calgary and CREWES to New Zealand for seismic imaging below the City of Christchurch following a devastating earthquake there. He is a past Editor of the Canadian Journal of Exploration Geophysics, and was a recipient of a Meritorious Service Award from the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG) in 1996 and the CSEG Medal in 2000. He is a member of SEG, AAPG, EAGE, CSEG, CSPG, ASEG, and APEGA. | {
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Read Next Former Straitjacket Fits Guitarist Andrew Brough Has Passed Away
July 6, 2016 1:50PM
Inside Neil Young's Nature-Themed Opus
After a divorce, he's back in L.A. with a new band and a new love. But he's still got plenty to be pissed off about.
By Patrick Doyle
You can hear him from the hallway. Neil Young is kicked back on a couch in the centre of his suite at New York's Carlyle Hotel one recent morning, stabbing away at the strings of his acoustic guitar. His wet hair is combed back and he's wearing a T-shirt that says "Earth," with jeans and sandals. He places his beat-up 1940s Martin – previous owner: Hank Williams – next to him on the couch. "Sit down, make yourself at home," he says. Just then, his Samsung phone rings; the ringtone is his own voice shouting "Hello?!" He picks up – a wrong number. "I'll just turn it off, that'll solve it."
Young is in the middle of a quick New York trip, and, as is typical for him, his schedule is ever-shifting. He just decided to do a sketch on The Tonight Show, forcing his team to cancel several interviews today. In front of Young are lyrics to the comedy bit, a song called "Two Neil Youngs Sitting on a Tree Stump," sent to him by Jimmy Fallon. Young doesn't like singing his own name, so he's been tweaking the words with help from his manager, Elliot Roberts. "You're gonna get a credit on this one," Young says to Roberts with a smile.
Roberts, 73, has worked with Young since the late Sixties, and the two still speak several times a day. "I've never seen him happier," Roberts says. That's a recent development, however. In the past few years, several of Young's close pals died, including longtime film collaborator Larry Johnson and guitarist Ben Keith – losses that Young took hard. Then, in 2014, he parted ways with Pegi Young, his wife of 36 years, and moved out of Broken Arrow Ranch, the property in Redwood City, California, he had since 1970. "I got a divorce, and I gave my wife the ranch," he says matter-of-factly. (His son Ben, who has cerebral palsy, still lives at the ranch: "All his support systems are there.")
Agostino Fabio/GC Images/Getty
Young is dating actress Daryl Hannah, who said a big hello as she stepped into the hotel elevator just now. The couple live in L.A., putting Young in the city "for the first time since Zuma." The move has allowed Young to reconnect with several old friends. "I was so remote for so long," he says. "All my old friends are now just a few miles away." One is Stephen Stills, who's been making music with Young lately. Stills and other friends, including Graham Nash and the members of Crazy Horse, celebrated Young's 70th birthday in November at L.A.'s Roxy. "Daryl put together a great party," Young says. "I felt really loved."
Hannah has helped Young focus on his health, with an organic diet, regular Pilates and a lot of walking. "I like to listen to the animals," he says. "I like to track the beauty of what's going on. I enjoy being with the plants and stuff." Young aimed to capture that beauty on Earth, a new live album featuring his most environmentally conscious songs, from "After the Gold Rush" to tracks from last year's The Monsanto Years, on which he attacked the agrochemical giant as a jumping-off point to sound the alarm on the planet's decline. Young spent months enhancing Earth with animal and nature sounds – bees, roosters, crashing waves – that he recorded himself near his house. "There's a lot going on in the world that isn't all lovey-dovey and cool beach songs," he says. "I've done all of that." A week after Earth's release, Young put out a new version of Human Highway, a 1982 film comedy that he co-directed, about a nuclear disaster that ends the world.
"I arrived in L.A. and joined Buffalo Springfield in 1966," Young continues. "Since then, we've lost 90 percent of the fish we eat from the ocean. There's only 10 percent of them left, and there's three times as many of us." He shakes his head. "It's math."
Even for Young, the past decade has been full of left turns. He finally agreed to a Buffalo Springfield reunion tour in 2011, but canceled it after seven shows because he was disappointed with their playing, according to a representative for Young. He's ramped up his output, releasing theme albums like Fork in the Road, a love letter to his custom electric Lincoln Continental, and A Letter Home, cut in a 1947 recording booth at Third Man Records in Nashville. "This is the age where you should have freedom to do whatever you want and put it out."
"They're much better players than I am," Young says of his Promise of the Real bandmates. Jay Blakesberg
The only problem, according to Young, is getting that music heard. His music is not available on streaming services aside from Tidal, which supports high-quality audio. He spent several years developing his high-resolution Pono music player, which has struggled to catch on. "Technology has done a disservice to music," he says. "I think there's a place for rebel radio, with special receivers, where jocks play what they want: vinyl, new stuff, old stuff, and it's all analog. Because there's no variety. It's all, like, GMO music."
But Young has plowed ahead anyway. "Just because everything else is broken doesn't mean I have to be broken," he says. On Earth, he's backed by Promise of the Real, a band featuring Willie Nelson's sons Lukas, 27, and Micah, 26. Young first played with them at Farm Aid in 2014, and they have been with him since. They usually join Young onstage after his acoustic set, and roadies in hazmat suits pretend to spray the stage with chemicals. "They have no fear," says Young, who loves the three-guitar attack he forms with the Nelsons. "They're much better players than I am. Lukas is like a gunslinger, and Micah is very ethereal and spaced. So they're completely different, and I'm somewhere in between." Where Crazy Horse attack Young's songs with a garage-y simplicity, Promise of the Real add virtuosity and youthful energy. They grew up on Young's songs (their band name is inspired by a lyric from "Walk On"), and they've learned more than 100 of them, playing three-hour sets including rarities like 1974's "Vampire Blues." "I've always wanted to do this, but no one has ever been able to follow it," Young says.
Recording The Monsanto Years, Young and the band drank lots of Amazonian yerba maté tea and smoked homegrown pot in the studio. "He seems like he's 25," says Micah. "He gets deeper with age. And danker."
After he wraps his current tour in October, Young will continue work on Archives II, the follow-up to 2009's Archives, which collected unreleased material up to 1972. Young says the project will include Dume, an album of songs from the Zuma era, and Hitchhiker, an acoustic LP from the mid-Seventies. The major holdup has been developing technology for presenting the ambitious project: "We're gonna have a website that's, like, 60 years of music in chronological order, with links so you can look at my archives and play the music off the high-res source at the same time." So what's it like to reflect on all he's accomplished over the years? "I don't," he says. "I need to take a break and go to the bathroom."
In October, Young and Promise of the Real will play California's Desert Trip, with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, the Who, the Rolling Stones and Roger Waters. "I was amazed that I was asked to be in it," Young says. But don't expect him to cater to the audience with a set full of hits. "I don't give a shit," he says. "I don't care what people want to hear – that's not why I'm playing. I'm not an entertainer in the classic sense. I play what I feel like playing, and I hope the people like it."
In This Article: Neil Young | {
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All US politicians should be pro-sex education in post-Roe world
By Teresa Blackmon On Jul 2, 2022
I'm not here to take a stance on abortion. Debates are raging on both sides, but it doesn't change the fact our Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, and now millions of women in more than a dozen states who previously had access to abortion soon no longer will.
Now that we've got here, the question is: how we can minimize the number of women who experience unwanted pregnancy in the first place — particularly in states where access to abortion is now restricted? It's a utilitarian question of harm reduction, and the glaring answer is sexual education.
Although concrete statistics are difficult to come by, it is estimated that about half of women who get abortions are using no form of birth control whatsoever at the time of conception, and a further 41 percent are doing so inconsistently. This status quo — where birth control usage is lax and one in five pregnancies is terminated — needs to change.
This past week the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade leaving the abortion issue to individual states.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool, File
It's also an indictment of our education system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than half of high schools and less than a fifth of middle schools cover the 20 recommended components of sexual education. And, according to surveys of students, the situation is only getting worse. The share of girls who say they received information about where to get birth control before they had sex for the first time has fallen from 87 percent to 64 percent since 1995.
It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that America experiences higher rates of teen pregnancy than most other developed nations. Comprehensive sexual education is associated with a lower risk of teen pregnancy — and lifelong empowerment to take control of one's reproductive destiny.
America experiences higher rates of teen pregnancy than most other developed nations. Sexual education has been shown to lower these rates.
Much of this comes down to state and local legislation. Today, only 30 states and the District of Columbia mandate sexual education, just 22 require that instruction be medically and factually accurate, and a mere 19 require that methods of contraception be covered at all.
Ironically, many of the states now restricting access to abortion either don't require sexual education or stress abstinence in their instruction. That must change. More than half of American teens will engage in intercourse by the time they graduate. Human beings have sex, and pretending otherwise is foolish. Teaching them to do so responsibly is the only realistic path forward.
Education must be used to change the status quo where one in five pregnancies are terminated.
REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes
Every single US lawmaker — and particularly every pro-life lawmaker — should be proposing bills to shore-up sexual education in schools. Empowering the post-Roe generation to engage in responsible sex is the least we can do, and legislators would find it's a vote winner, too. A whopping 89 percent of likely voters say sex education is important in middle school, and an overwhelming 98 percent think it's important in high school.
Now that abortion is no longer legal in many states, we should encourage teenagers to avoid getting pregnant — by teaching them about contraception via sexual education in school.
Meanwhile, American parents should also be demanding better reproductive education for their kids. In many areas, sexual education policy falls to local school boards. Just as hordes of concerned parents recently protested the politicization of their kid's curricula at school board meetings, they should call for comprehensive sexual education from their local officials now, too.
The bottom line: sex education is more important than ever in a post-Roe world. We must empower the next generation of women with the knowledge to help them take charge of their reproductive freedom.
Rikki Schlott is a 22-year-old student, journalist and activist.
iPhone 14 cutback rumors questioned by analyst ahead of launch
How to create speaker groups for HomePod using Shortcuts | {
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Sound workshop with Michel K. Tsagli and Alioune Mbow
November 9th: 9:30AM-12:00PM - @ ALLIANCE FRANCAIS
CNIFF's master class picks one of the essential elements of film; sound, for this year's workshop. The acclaimed sound engineers Michel K. Tsagli and Alioune Mbow will be giving a workshop for sound technicians and editors on the fundamental elements of sound.
Michel K. Tsagli was born in 1968 in Dakar (Senegal). He left his native Senegal at age 15 to join his family in France. Tsagli graduated school in Paris where he studied computer engineering. But soon after he made a drastic move pursuing a music career. For ten years Tsagli played guitar in both Paris and than New York where he moved permanently in 1992. In New York he enrolled into NYU and studied sound production. Tsagli worked on various projects including documentaries, commercials, feature films, reality television and fashion. Among Tsagli's film projects are feature film entitled "The Athlete", the life story of the Ethiopian born Olympic marathon champion Abebe Bikila. (filmed in Ethiopia ) as well as a documentary " Ghana 50th Independence " shot on locations in Ghana and Togo, a film that explored Marcus Garvey's influence on Ghana's first elected president, Kwame Krumah. One of Tsagli's recent projects TEY (directed by the prominent French/Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis) is a critically acclaimed production which participated in competition at Berlinale 2012 and since then won numerous awards. Besides the professional base in NY Tsagli also co-founded CINEGAL FILMS in his native Dakar (Senegal), the company which specializes in sound production, music scores, sound design and is successfully migrating between American, European and African film industries. Michel Tsagli work have been featured on Lifetime, HBO, VH1, Speed Channel and Canal +.
In addition to his native Wolof, Tsagli is fluent in English and French.
Alioune Mbow has worked on various productions as a sound engineer, assistant sound engineer and boom operator. His most recent project, TEY (directed by the prominent French/Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis) is a critically acclaimed production which participated in competition at Berlinale 2012 and since then won numerous awards. Amongst many other feature length, short films and documentaries, he has also worked on Kenu (Le Canon), Relentless, Ramata, Teranga Blues and Ezra (2007), which was the first film to give an African perspective on the disturbing phenomenon of abducting child soldiers into the continent's recent civil wars.
He has worked in several countries in Africa and Europe for BBC Television, France 2, BTBF and TV5.
Distribution: co-production workshop with Alla Verlotsky
November 8th: 9:30AM-12:00PM - @ EMPRESS TAITU HOTEL
Founder and president of the New York based programming and distribution company Alla Verlotsky will share her vast experience in distribution and co-production supported with best international practices.
Alla Verlotsky was born in Kiev, Ukraine. She moved to the United States in 1991. After working as the freelance curator in 1999 she created Seagull Films, New York based company that provides quality programming and distribution for art, independent and innovative cinema, both classic and contemporary. Ms. Verlotsky holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the Moscow State University, and a bachelor's degree in Central Asian and African film study from the Russian State Institute of Cinematography, VGIK. In addition to her work at Seagull Films Ms. Verlotsky was a curator of the NY Jewish Film Festival, NY Jewish Sephardic Film Festival.
Ms. Verlotsky was an associate producer for Russian Ark, the award-winning film by internationally acclaimed director Alexander Sokurov and is currently producing a feature documentary "Red Fantasies" by the Academy Award Winning Special Effects Artists Robert Skotak. She serves as the advisor to numerous international film initiatives & film festivals and is fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, English.
www.seagullfilms.com
Film Critique Round Table with Donald Dewale Omope
November 8th: 9:30AM-12:00PM - @ ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
We are pleased to announce the special film critique round table with Donald Dewale Omope. The workshop focuses on the fundamental elements of film critique plus the use of new media in African cinema.
Don Dewale Omope is a Film Critic and Editor of the popular African film publication, African Screens Magazine. A ground breaking and unique magazine of its kind, African screens celebrates the African sense of self through cinema. It fills a gap in the market for a rich discourse that brings together a plurality of views, contextualizing African films. With the use of articles, video interviews, photography as well as great design, African Screens brings a different approach to experiencing the African cinematic experience online. Prior to working as a film critic, Don worked in television for many years and still currently does as a producer/Director. Trained at the BBC, Don went on to work as Africa producer for Sir David Frost at Aljazeera News, Don left to set up his own production company Boombox television and produced the award wining television show Afrika Rising, which air in 47 African countries. Don was subsequently appointed as an arts columnist for Nigeria's largest circulating newspaper the National Mirror in recognition of his depth of thought and analysis of African popular art. Following his deep interests in narratives and visual aesthetics Don is an avid photographer. His pictures have been published in over 15 countries and he was short listed for the International Photo Africa awards in 2010. Don's images are celebrated for its strong narratives and profound impact and his works have been published in some of the biggest newspapers in the world. Don is a member of the British Film Institute's committee on African cinema and speaks regularly at numerous international events on African films. Don has worked as a critic and member of award jury at many African film festivals around the world. Don graduated with a first class degree in film and television production from Westminster University, and was awarded the AHRC scholarship to pursue a Masters degree in Art journalism at Goldsmith College. www.donomope.com
Script writing workshop with Dwayne Johnson-Cochran
We are pleased to announce the script writing workshop with Dwayne Johnson-Cochran.
Dwayne Johnson-Cochran is a director, writer, producer, educator and journalist living in Los Angeles. He has written and is producing 'THE BOOK OF THE YEAR', Angela Bassett's directorial debut to be co-produced by Bassett Vance Productions and T.D. Jakes in 2012; wrote and will direct 'BIBI' to be produced by three-time Oscar-nominated director Sergei Bodrov (MONGOL) in 2012 and co-wrote 'MARIA' with Sergei Bodrov, to be produced by AR FILMSin 2012.
Mr. Johnson-Cochran wrote, directed and produced 'SIDE BY SIDE', a film about the dynamic 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone, West Africa executive produced by former Secretary of State Madeline K. Albright. In postproduction are the documentaries 'THE STORY OF A VILLAGE' about a small village in Kona, a small district in Sierra Leone, West Africa starring actress/producer Regina King; BE KNOWN, a film on Chicago jazz innovator Kahil El Zabar. His feature film LOVE AND ACTION IN CHICAGO (currently in rotation on HBO) features Kathleen Turner, Courtney B.Vance, Jason Alexander, Regina King and Ed Asner. 'MY TRIBE IS LOST,' a film script sold to Steven Spielberg is in development at DreamWorks. Mr. Johnson-Cochran co-created the television series MINOR ADJUSTMENTS for NBC and was a staff writer on the series ANGEL STREET, produced by John Wells for CBS.Mr. Johnson-Cochran also wrote FREDERICK DOUGLASS, a teleplay for TurnerNetwork Television andSLAM THE NIGHT, a teleplay for Fox Television Movies.
Born in Chicago, Mr. Johnson-Cochran earned a B.S. in Geophysical Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Master's Program for filmmaking, is active in many community and civic-based organizations. A lover of music, tennis, baseball and cycling, Johnson-Cochran returns to Chicago often to make films and see family and friends.
Masterclass on Documentary Filmmaking with Henry Corra
November 10th: 9:30AM-12:00PM - @ ALLIANCE FRANCAIS
An award winning documentary filmmaker, veteran of independent American cinema, Henry Corra's mentorship gets an international spin. He has just completed a series of very successful masterclasses given to art and film students in Russia called "LIVING CINEMA: I am a performance artist trapped in the body of a documentary filmmaker." Using illustrations of his work, he opens up lively and inspiring discussions about process, motive, method, the importance of not knowing, failing beautifully, necessary crisis, taking EVERYTHING personally, and creating a permission bubble for yourself as a working artist. We are excited to offer this masterclass at the Colours of the Nile IFF 2012.
Henry Corra is a New York City-based documentary filmmaker. His work is influenced by cinéma vérité filmmakers David and Albert Maysles (Salesman, Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter) whom he collaborated with from 1981-1994. Since 1994, Corra has had a thriving production company. He draws on the talents of some of New York's most innovative and original filmmakers, editors, artists, musicians and designers.
Corra's films (such as George, Same Sex America, Frames) have been exhibited worldwide in theatrical venues in New York City, San Francisco, Paris and Berlin and in broadcast venues including HBO, Showtime, LOGO, CBS, PBS, VH1, ARTE andChannel 4. His works have also been exhibited in museum and cultural venues including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Louvre (Paris) and the National Gallery of Art(Washington, DC), as well as the Pacific Film Archives in San Francisco.
He's created episodic TV projects (such as "True Life: I'm Ex-Amish") for broadcasters including MTV, VH1, Bravo and the Sundance Channel and he's been singled out as one of their foremost directors of ʻreal-people' commercials in America, creating compelling broadcast/web content for brands as diverse as Mercedes Benz, Mastercard & Wal-mart. Corra's latest feature documentary, The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan, supported by the Sundance Institute and co-produced by NY based Louverture Films (Black Power Mixtape, Bamako), had its World Premiere at Silverdocs in June 2010. Michael Atkinson of The Boston Phoenix wrote, "An investigative doc brimming with cultural resonance and historical savvy, Henry Corra's film has a hold of a pungent story – that of the titular black Texan fella who vanished in Vietnam 40 years ago."
Currently Corra is finishing Farewell to Hollywood, expected to premiere Spring 2013.
Production workshop with François d'Artemare
November 9th: 9:30AM-12:00PM - @ ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE
We are pleased to announce the production workshop with François d'Artmare.
François d'Artemare established the Portuguese film company Filmes do Tejo in 1996, presenting a library of more then 70 titles, such as ARENA, by João Salaviza - Palme d'Or for Short Film and films by Manoel de Oliveira and Flora Gomes. In 2001 he established Les Films de l'Après-Midi in Paris and coproduced films from all over the world, like Snow by Aida Begić and The Hero by Zeze Gamboa (World Cinema Dramatic Jury Prize at Sundance FF).
Apply to CNIFF Workshops
To apply for the workshops please e-mail a one page motivation letter and resume to:
or send them by mail to:
Colours of the Nile International Film festival
P.O.Box 25576 Code 100
Please mention the workshop you would like to apply for.
All workshops are free of charge! Please note that participants are expected to cover their travel expenses including their stay in Addis Ababa. The festival will facilitate booking of accommodations and provide transportation in Addis Ababa. We are also happy to write a letter of recommendation to you to apply for funding from relevant institutions in your country.
Addis Ababa Guide
EthioCinema
Copyright © 2022 Colours of the Nile. All Rights Reserved. | {
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Ares or Mars Statue Marble Finish
MAY TAKE UP TO 8 BUSINESS DAYS TO SHIP.
Ares, God of War
Cold Cast Resin
12.25" High
Ares was the god of war, and son of Zeus and Hera. He represented the raw violence and untamed acts that occured in wartime, in contrast to Athena, who was a symbol of tactical strategy and military planning.
He was disliked by both his parents. Whenever Ares appeared in a myth, he was depicted as a violent personality, who faced humiliation through his defeats more than once. In the Iliad, it is mentioned that Zeus hated him more than anyone else; Ares was also on the losing side of the Trojan War, favouring the Trojans. He was the lover of his sister, Aphrodite, who was married to Hephaestus. When the latter found out about the affair, he devised a plan and managed to humiliate both of them. The union of Ares and Aphrodite resulted in the birth of eight children, including Eros, god of love.
There were few temples attributed to Ares in Ancient Greece. Sacrifices would usually be made to him when an army would march to war; Spartans would make sacrifices to Enyalius, another lesser god and son of Ares and Enyo. However, the name was also used as a byname for Ares.
When Ares went to war, he was followed by his companions, Deimos (terror) and Phobos (fear), who were the product of his union with Aphrodite. Eris, goddess of discord and sister of Deimos and Phobos, often accompanied them in war.
Aris Is also called Mars, Ares. | {
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MI-MIX3
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 Launched at the Palace Museum with Magnetic Sliding-screen
Oct 25, 2018, 17:50pm 2018/10/25 17:54:12 Gabriel Li
Xiaomi officially launched its new flagship phone— the Mi MiX 3 at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Oct. 25. The total shipment was expected to reach 100 million by the end of October, completing the phone's annual goal of 2018 in advance.
The phone echoed "the combination of tech and art", theme of the launch event, with selling points such as magnetic sliding-screen, flagship dual-lens cameras and the ceramic bodies.
Xiaomi MI MIX 3 "the combination of tech and art" (Source: Xiaomi )
Mi MIX 3 achieves a screen-to-body ratio of 93.4 percent, one step further compared with the "three-side bezel-less" screen of Mi MIX 2. The magnet is made up of neodymium, with a life expectancy of over 300,000 times.
SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Released Full-screen Mix 2 for at least 3,299 yuan
MIX 3 Smartphone has a screen-to-body ratio of 93.4 percent
It is equipped with a 12Mp + 12M rear-facing and 24MP+2MP front-facing dual-lens cameras, which largely elevate its selfie-taking capabilities. Its rear camera supports optical zoom and four-axis Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and is capable of 960fps slow-motion video. On the whole, its phototaking capabilities score an alarming 108 in the DxO ratings, which ranks the third in the world.
MI MIX3 rear cameras
In terms of industrial design, Mi MIX 3 comes in Onyx Black, Jade Green and Sapphire Blue, with a unique Palace Museum edition. The special edition is jointly designed by Xiaomi and the Palace Museum, which is known as the largest treasure house for ancient artworks. The special edition also has a pattern of an ancient mythical beast on its back.
Xiaomi MIX3 in Onyx Black
Xiaomi MIX 3 in Jade Green
Xiaomi MIX 3 in Sapphire Blue
Xiaomi Mix 3 Special Edition
The phone has four storage options, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage: 3299 yuan ($474.87); 8GB RAM + 128GB storage 3599 yuan ($517.93); 8GB RAM + 256GB storage: 3999 yuan ($575.50). The Palace Museum edition comes with 10GB RAM and 256GB storage, and is priced at 4999 yuan ($719.41).
Xiaomi MIX3 for sale price
The phone will be up for pre-sale starting from 6 p.m. tonight, and will be officially on sales both offline and online starting from November. 1. The Palace Museum edition is expected to come by the end of November.
Tags full screen | MI MIX3 | Xiaomi
Redmi Note 5: a 1000 yuan full-screen smartphone with AI camera
Xiaomi held 12 conferences last year and released 10 mobile phones, each accompanied by heated discussion.
Gadgets Mar 17 May 6, 2018
Ifanr
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Debut: 6.9-Inch Screen with 5,400mAh Battery
Xiaomi's Mi Max 3 (model no. M1804E4T), will be released at Xiaomi's next launch event after attaining its network license from Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Gadgets Jun 21 June 22, 2018
Xiaomi Confirms the Launch Date of "Big" Mi Max 3, Expected to be Priced at $255
Xiaomi said it will launch its Mi Max 3 on July 19, and the new phone will have "big screen and bigger battery."
Gadgets Jul 13 July 13, 2018
Luka Zhang
Xiaomi's Mi 8 Explorer Edition Available For Purchase Soon
Full phone specifications of Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer were unveiled on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently. | {
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Commercial, House, Music
Afrojack & Imanbek – Hey Baby (feat. Gia Koka)
By Pol Torà
Dutch living legend Afrojack has teamed up with the young upcoming Kazakh DJ and producer Imanbek to present their brand new track together 'Hey Baby', which also features vocals from Polish singer Gia Koka. It is available now on all platforms via Sony Music's One Seven Music and Effective Records.
Afrojack has been always been kind to support and team up with the new generation of artists that are rapidly making a name for themselves in the scene. From collaborating on 'Turn Up The Speakers' with a back then super young and fast-rising Martin Garrix to becoming the CEO of his own talent agency LDH Europe. Now, Afrojack decided to collaborate with Inmanbek, a 19-year-old producer from Kazakhstan that gained recognition this year after dropping a massive remix for SAINt JHN's track 'Roses' that went viral and ranked up the charts from all over the world, amassing a staggering amount of almost 870 million only in Spotify streams.
'Hey Baby' follows up Imanbek's signature sound on the drop complemented by Afrojack's energetic catchy vibes that result once again in a brutal club-friendly radio hit. Gia's vocals give that commercial soft sound accompanying and singing along on top of the drop as well as being used as vocal chops to add some movement. This is yet another great track that adds up to Afrojack's previous releases like 'Hot', '1234', 'Hydra' and 'All Night' among many others.
Listen to Afrojack & Imanbek new track 'Hey Baby' (feat. Gia Koka) below:
Image Credit: Rukes.com
Tags: Afrojack, Gia Koka, Hey Baby, Imanbek
About the Author / Pol Torà
Born and raised in Barcelona (Spain), Pol's passion for dance music has brought him to London (UK), where he combines his role at We Rave You with his job as Account Manager at Festicket. Favourite genres: Emotional progressive house, future bass and electro pop. | {
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Two killed, over 60 hurt as cops, protesters clash in Kotkapura
Two men were killed and more than 60 injured in clashes between police and Sikh protesters in Kotkapura on Wednesday over the recent desecration of a 'bir' of Guru Granth Sahib.
Sachin Sharma
An injured policeman during the protests following desecration of a 'bir'.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT Photo)
Later in the day, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal ordered a judicial inquiry by a high court judge to probe the desecration incident and its aftermath, besides assuring Punjabis that exemplary punishment would be awarded to perpetrators of the "dastardly act". Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal announced Rs 1-crore reward to any person giving information leading to the arrest of those who committed the act of sacrilege.
The protesters, led by fringe radical outfits, are demanding the arrest of those responsible for tearing off more than 100 pages of the Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari village, 15km from Kotkapura in Faridkot district, on Monday. These pages were torn allegedly from a 'bir' that was stolen from a nearby village, Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, in June.
The protests come amid the uproar over the recent pardon granted by the Akal Takht to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, with former Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh suggesting the alleged involvement of dera followers in the desecration. The dera, however, has categorically denied any role in the incident and also condemned it.
On Wednesday morning, police opened fire at protesters at Behbal Kalan village, 10km from Faridkot, in which Kishan Singh, 45, of nearby Niami Wala village and Gurjit Singh, 20, of nearby Sarawan village were killed.
Earlier in the day, 62 persons, including 35 policemen, were injured in a bloody clash between cops and Sikh protesters in Kotkapura town. The police used lathis and water cannons to disperse protesters, even as the latter attacked cops with kirpans and torched police vehicles. The police were able to control the situation after the two-hour-long clash that also left Bathinda inspector general of police (IGP) Jitendra Jain injured.
Stir spreads
Starting from Bargari village on Monday, the protest has spread to Kotkapura, Moga and Faridkot in the past two days following mobilisation through audio and video messages on the social media and announcements in village gurdwaras. Several roads leading to Bathinda and Faridkot have been blocked by protesters who are sitting on roads outside villages.
On Tuesday, a violent clash between cops and protesters at Buttar Kalan village in Moga district had left 19 people injured.
The Sant Samaj has called for a bandh in Malwa districts (Faridkot, Moga, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda and Barnala) on Thursday over the desecration and its fallout.
"The desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is a deep-rooted conspiracy aimed at inciting communal tension and destabilising the hard-won peace in Punjab. I humbly urge all of you to maintain restraint in this hour of crisis."
- Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab chief minister
"CM Parkash Singh Badal has virtually lost control over things and the state is drifting towards anarchy. Badal should better quit if he is not able to maintain control over things."
-Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress deputy leader in LS
"The situation at Kotkapura was not handled in a professional manner by the police. There was no need for using force to disperse people who were protesting in a peaceful manner."
-Giani Gurbachan Singh, Akal Takht jathedar
"We strongly condemn the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. Those who have done it are sinners of the highest order."
-Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Dera Sacha Sauda chief | {
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David Marc by Sestini & Corti, Rome – Italy
SGS offices by Johnson Chou, Toronto – Canada
Moncler collections at Milan Fashion Week, Milan – Italy
Simone Rocha and Craig Green were among designers tasked with redesigning Moncler's signature down jacket for its new Genius project, launched at this year's Milan Fashion Week. On the opening night of the city's fashion week, 20 February 2018, the clothing brand Moncler invited visitors to a huge Milanese hangar. Rooms inside were each dedicated to one of eight collections making up the Moncler's Genius initiative, which is described by the brand as a "hub of exceptional minds operating in unison while simultaneously cultivating their singularity". Moncler tasked each of the eight collaborators, which included London-based designers Simone Rocha and Craig Green, with reinterpreting its down jacket.
They were instructed to keep its function in mind, ensuring that the design would still perform as a warm coat. "Each project has the classic Moncler down jacket as the main playground, stands on its own, and all of them unanimously converging on the item," said the brand. "Keeping function at the core and approaching the duvet as an object, unique experiments ensue." Each collaboration came with a corresponding number and mission statement. The first collection, named Moncler 1, saw Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli design with the "pure essence" of Moncler in mind.
Doing so, he stripped back the duvet jacket – creating minimal garments in elongated silhouettes, which he based on his previous couture collections. Moncler 2 looked to the brand's heritage. Described as a "homage to its year of birth", the Moncler 1952 garments are based on the brand's classic designs – but in bold colours with enlarged logos. Moncler 3 was based on Grenoble – a city at the front of the French Alps where Moncler began. While made from mix-and-match printed fabrics, the coats are designed as technical wear for mountain climbing and trekking.
To create the fourth collection, Moncler teamed up with fashion designer Simone Rocha, who created voluminous silhouettes based on photographs of Victorian climbers in petticoats. Menswear designer Craig Green was behind Moncler 5. The designer aimed to abstract the body through his collection, which he created in monochrome fabrics. Black fabric was also used exclusively by designer Kei Ninomiya, who transformed the brand's down jacket into a series of modular elements to create Moncler 6. Hiroshi Fujiwara's Moncler 7 looked to streetwear subcultures, while Los Angeles label Palm Angels emblazoned Moncler 8 with bold lettering.
By creating these eight diffusion collections, Moncler hopes to better-appeal to the "uniqueness of the consumer". "Letting creativity run riot strengthens the uniqueness of Moncler," said the brand. "It allows the product to speak by itself as it takes different shapes according to the concept of each project." "The uniqueness of all the projects mirrors the uniqueness of the consumers."
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/02/22/moncler-genius-project-craig-green-simone-rocha-milan-fashion-week/
TAGS: brand | collections | exhibit | fashion design | garments | Milan Fashion Week
GAD office by Roman Zitnansky architecture + GutGut by retail design blog
Mazzo by Concrete Architectural Associates by retail design blog
SpinosCoffee Micro Roastery by AndreasPetropoulos, Kalamata – Greece by retail design blog
Virgin Active lighting by Hoare Lea Lighting, London – UK by retail design blog | {
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Great Writers Inspire
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Great Students Inspire: Thomas Hardy Exam Resource
Posted on May 14, 2014 by Kate O'Connor
A class of fifth formers at the King's School Canterbury (the alma mater of Christopher Marlowe) were preparing for their GCSE exam, and decided there was no need to keep their close analysis of Thomas Hardy close to their chests.
At thedimofdawn.com (a title taken from a line in Hardy's poem "At the Word Farewell"), they have put together a Creative Commons website that provides insight and analysis about most of the Thomas Hardy poems covered by the exam syllabus, along with additional biographical titbits and themes. The hope is that other students will join in the discussion, and that the website will become a repository for debate about and analysis of the poems by students from around the world who want to express their ideas and help other students to revise.
Poems analysed include:
At The Word "Farewell"
Drummer Hodge
During Wind and Rain
I Look Into My Glass
In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'
No Buyers: A Street Scene
The Convergence of the Twain
The Darkling Thrush
The Going
The Pine Planters
Visitors also can vote on their favourite of the Hardy poems covered by the syllabus.
Please feel free to visit thedimofdawn.com and join in the discussion!
For other great Hardy resources, check out the Thomas Hardy Society's commentaries on poems for students or the Great Writers Inspire Hardy author page.
Posted in resource, writer | Tagged Hardy | 1 Comment
Brave New Worlds before Huxley and Orwell
Posted on August 28, 2013 by summerinspire
In this guest blog, Dr Oliver Tearle, a lecturer at the University of Loughborough and founder of the Interesting Literature blog (also on Twitter @InterestingLit), examines the history of dystopian literature.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the noun 'dystopia' (defined as 'an imaginary place or condition in which everything is as bad as possible') first turns up in print in 1952, and 'dystopian' (in the word's most common sense, namely 'of or pertaining to a dystopia') not until a decade later. But the first citation for the word 'dystopian' in the sense of 'one who advocates or describes a dystopia' comes from a speech made in the House of Commons by the Victorian philosopher, John Stuart Mill in 1868. 'Dystopian', then, was a Victorian coinage. But recently the noun 'dystopia' has been traced back to 1747 where it is spelled 'dustopia' but is used in clear contrast to 'utopia'. In short, the whole history of dystopias and the dystopian is still being unravelled and explored. This is particularly true of dystopian literature.
Dystopian fiction has perhaps never been more popular than it is today. In the last decade books and films such as The Hunger Games, The Road, and V for Vendetta have enjoyed huge success, while twentieth-century classics like Brave New World, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and The Handmaid's Tale are regularly set as GCSE and A-Level texts in UK schools. Based on this, it would be easy to think that the subgenre of dystopian fiction was less than a century old. But as the word's complex history reveals, dystopia had entered literature long before Aldous Huxley and George Orwell were writing.
Dystopias are the opposite of utopias – if utopian fiction imagines the best possible world, then dystopian fiction presents us with the worst-case scenario. All literary utopias can be traced back to 1516 and Thomas More's work of that name, which coined the word 'utopia' as a Greek pun meaning both 'good place' (eu-topos) and 'no place' (u-topos). But it was in the nineteenth century that utopian literature arose as a popular literary form for novelists. Perhaps inevitably, not everyone embraced the optimism which utopian fiction promised: could you build an ideal world, as set out by More in his Utopia? Thus arose dystopian fiction as an alternative – and, to its adherents and practitioners, an altogether more realistic – branch of speculative literature.
Commentators sometimes simplify this development by saying that, whilst the nineteenth century was dominated by utopian visions of a better future, the twentieth century replaced these overly optimistic will-o'-the-wisps with dystopian versions of a society in the grip of state control and curtailment of individual freedoms. But this is too simple. Although it's true that the later nineteenth century gave rise to bestselling utopian classics such as Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward (1888), which predicted garden city planning and credit cards, and William Morris's News from Nowhere(1890), there was a chorus of more pessimistic voices being raised by this time. One such voice belonged to Ignatius Donnelly, an American writer whose novel Caesar's Column, published the same year as Morris's utopian romance, sold 250,000 copies. And Morris's novel itself was in part a response to such dystopian, or partly dystopian, works as Richard Jefferies' After London (1885) and Samuel Butler's Erewhon (1872).
Indeed, Erewhon was an important development in speculative fiction. It appeared the same year as a landmark in realist fiction, George Eliot's Middlemarch, and although Erewhon is a work of fantasy rather than realism, the two novels actually share a number of key themes: scientific and technological progress; attitudes to banking and finance; and the role of religion in society. And, like Middlemarch, Butler's novel weighs up both sides of the issues he discusses and seldom passes explicit judgments on them. Although this novel is often described as utopian fiction, Butler gently satirises every aspect of the utopian world he describes, a world which the narrator accesses after travelling into the outback in New Zealand. In this world – called Erewhon, which is almost 'nowhere' (as in utopia, or no-place) backwards – machines have been abolished because they were evolving too quickly and, the Erewhonian people feared, would one day supersede human beings as the dominant force in the world. Although Erewhon is not an out-and-out dystopian novel, others which followed it offered a more starkly negative view of human progress.
It has been claimed that dystopian fiction properly began with Jack London's 1908 novel The Iron Heel, and that it only really rose up towards the middle of the twentieth century with such works as Brave New World and 1984. But the genre had a rich life prior to this, encompassing not only Erewhon but novels such as Anthony Trollope's The Fixed Period (1882), Walter Besant's The Revolt of Man (1882), and Margaret Oliphant's short story 'The Land of Darkness' (1887), which is set in a hell modelled on Dante's Infernobut very much shaped by nineteenth-century developments in technology, industry, and urbanisation. Orwell acknowledged the influence of such earlier works as Erewhon and The Iron Heel on his own work, while Oliphant's story has been described as being closer to Orwell than to Dante.
Perhaps the most curious of all the nineteenth-century forerunners to the modern dystopian novel is that by Anthony Trollope (caricature, left). Published in 1882, the year of his death, The Fixed Period is set in the year 1980 on the fictional island republic of Britannula. The narrator, the unsubtly named John Neverbend, is president of the island and is trying to pass a bill which will enforce compulsory euthanasia for everyone upon reaching the age of 67. David Lodge recently championed this neglected novel in a piece for The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/dec/14/david-lodge-rereading-anthony-trollope.
In fact, novelists better known for writing more realist works of fiction often contributed to this burgeoning genre. E. M. Forster, celebrated for novels like Howards End and A Passage to India, wrote a short story in 1909 titled 'The Machine Stops', set in a dystopian future world in which technology has become the all-powerful force in society, as Butler in Erewhon feared it would. This bleak cautionary tale predicts such modern phenomena as the internet, videoconferencing, and instant messaging. It is a work of fiction but, like Orwell's 1984, also carries the ring of prophecy.
At its core, dystopian fiction engages with some of the key cultural, moral, and scientific questions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, many of which we are still asking today: the role of science in the modern world, the moral responsibility we have when developing science and technology, attitudes to euthanasia, humanity's responsibility for the environment, the distribution of wealth, and the role of religion in a secular society. Dystopian works written over a hundred years ago show our own society reflected back to us – we see our world eerily foreshadowed, and already being warned against.
I've recently become interested in recovering this lost, or at least semi-forgotten, tradition, in an attempt to redress the common assumption that dystopian fiction only really began in the early to mid-twentieth century. This endeavour goes hand-in-hand with another online enterprise, my blog Interesting Literature: A Library of Literary Interestingness, which I founded in 2012 as an attempt to find – and communicate – the obscure and neglected aspects of literary history. And dystopian fiction abounds in such assumptions and misconceptions which belie the more interesting complexity of the genre's formation: for instance, the terms 'thought crime' and 'thought police', both made popular by George Orwell in 1984, actually predated his novel and are first found in books from 1934 about Japanese politics. What Orwell set down in the late 1940s was already in the air before, but to a greater and more specific degree than we had perhaps realised. As ever, other writers had got there first. But the most important thing to address about dystopian literature is the little-known and little-studied prehistory of the genre, a prehistory that involves classic Victorian realist novelists such as Trollope and George Eliot, science-fiction pioneers like H. G. Wells, and important twentieth-century writers such as E. M. Forster. And although they are often bleak warnings about a future society, the society we have inherited, they are nevertheless a joy to discover, and to read.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged dystopia, Huxley, InterestingLit, More, Oliver Tearle, Orwell, Trollope, utopia, utopian literature, writers | 13 Comments
For the (Literary) Detective in you!
So it's Monday again and everyone needs a little lift! So we thought we would offer you a light-hearted challenge to kick start your week… who famously praised Shakespeare's work in the passage below? Extra brownie points for those who can name the text that it originates from too. Good luck!
If you too agree with the quote above and are looking for your dose of Shakespeare this month, then check out 'Henry VI: Three Plays' soon to be performed at the Oxford Playhouse by the Globe Theatre on Tour. Also, exciting news for subscribers of our recent podcast series, 'Challenging the Canon': we will soon be adding an interview with Professor Tiffany Stern on 'Why should we study Elizabethan Theatre?' Watch this space!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #greatwriters, Challenging the Canon, competition, Globe Theatre, Henry VI, Oxford Playhouse, Shakespeare | Leave a comment
A Medieval Mystery: Who Was the Pearl-poet?
In this guest blog, Hannah Ryley, an Oxford DPhil student, explores the anonymity of authorship in the Middle Ages.
In the British Library there is a medieval manuscript with the shelfmark Cotton Nero A.x. Dull though this shelfmark may sound, this manuscript is at the heart of a mysterious case of unknown authorship of four Middle English poems. The manuscript itself as a whole is very interesting and you can freely browse some digital images, of twelve colourfully illustrated pages, and try to decipher the handwritten texts it contains, here: http://gawain.ucalgary.ca/ Moreover, we can learn a great deal from this particular case about the difficulties surrounding the identification of authors in the medieval period more broadly, as we will shortly see.
Within this manuscript are found the poems Pearl, Patience, Cleanness, and, perhaps most well-known today – largely thanks to a popular modern-language version of the story by Simon Armitage – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.[1] Although the manuscript was physically handwritten by a scribe, and decorated by an illustrator (known as a 'limner' in the Middle Ages), both of whom were probably professionals hired for the task, neither of these people are likely to have been the author of the poems. However, because of similarities in dialect, style, and theme it is thought that a single author – distinct from the scribe or illustrator – was responsible for composing all four poems.
Pearl, Patience, and Cleanness are all narrative poems concerned with moral questions and religious doctrine. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a romance, in which Sir Gawain, a loyal knight of King Arthur's court, takes up the challenge of a beheading game suggested by a stranger, the Green Knight. All four poems can be interpreted as being deeply involved with discussions about Christianity, although there are many other themes and symbols at play in the poems. Stylistically, the use of alliteration and alliterative verse form links these poems, with the poet also using the 'bob and wheel' in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The bob and wheel is an ingenious poetic device; the 'bob' is a short line that links the 'wheel' (a rhyming refrain) to the main alliterative verse. If these poems were indeed written by one person, the author wrote in the late fourteenth-century in Middle English, and the dialect of the four works has been more specifically associated with the North-West Midlands.[2]
Although this poet is without a doubt a 'great writer you should know', what is tricky is that he (or perhaps even she) has never been fully identified. Anniina Jokinen plainly states: "Nothing conclusive is known of the author's identity or biography."[3] This is quite typical of many medieval authors, about whom records simply have not survived, or where they have survived, are often incomplete or ambiguous. As a result, scholars have often debated – and occasionally conjectured wildly – about the real individuals who may have written various seminal works of medieval English literature. A number of names have been put forward as the authors of the four poems found in Cotton Nero A.x, including 'Hugo Massey', 'John Massey', and 'Richard Newton'. However, none of these proposed authors have ever been widely accepted.[4] Yet this mysterious, unsolved case of obscure authorship is not unique; we still do not know the full biographical details of many other authors of medieval literary masterpieces. We will have to be content to refer to this magnificent writer as simply the 'Pearl-poet' or the 'Gawain-poet', as he has come to be known, and let his poetry speak for itself.
[1] Simon Armitage, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, (Faber & Faber, 2009).
[2] H. N. Duggan, 'Meter, Stanza, Vocabulary, Dialect' in A Companion to the Gawain-Poet, Derek Brewer and Jonathan Gibson, eds., (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1997), pp.221-243 (at 240-242).
[3] Anniina Jokinen, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", Luminarium, 28 Jan 2010, accessed 9 Aug 2013, <http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/gawainintro.htm>
[4] Malcolm Andrew, 'Theories of Authorship' in A Companion to the Gawain-Poet, Derek Brewer and Jonathan Gibson, eds., (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1997), pp.23-34 (28-31).
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #greatwriters, author, manuscript, medieval, Pearl poet | Leave a comment
Get Wilde
Posted on August 9, 2013 by summerinspire
Bored on your commute home? You're in fine company. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde wrote, "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." You can actually read Wilde's Life and Confessions as a free eBook here, and see how sensational he really was, or if he was just living by his maxim: "Lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things, is the proper aim of Art." But if your eyes are already tired and strained, you can court controversy by listening to a great podcast by Sophie Duncan on Wilde's women.
In other news, our new site is going live very very soon! We've given it a whole new face, updated all the researchers and authors, and catalogued hundreds of new resources. Make sure you check in soon: follow us on Twitter or Facebook to get more frequent updates.
We've also added some stellar content, already available on Oxford University's Podcasting site: the new mini-series, "Challenging the Canon", is now available to download or stream. It's been really popular so far (which is why it's first on the homepage!)… and did we mention, like all our other resources, it's free? If you've ever wanted to satisfy your inner 11-year-old and ask, "yes, but why is Dickens worth studying?" or "why is Shakespeare such a big deal?" then try listening to the answers of academic experts who have devoted their careers to exploring a Great Writer.
Speaking of great writers, we're all about Shakespeare in Oxford. If you didn't manage to get your fix with Oxford Shakespeare Company's The Merry Wives of Windsor, then check out OUDS's production of The Comedy of Errors at the University Church – finishing tomorrow!
Finally, launch yourself into the breach this September with Creation Theatre's Henry V, in the dramatic setting of the Oxford Castle. Now, away, you mouldy rogue, away! (2 Henry IV (2.4.117))
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #greatwriters, Challenging the Canon, commute, Dickens, Great Writers, Oscar Wilde, oxford, podcast, Shakespeare | Leave a comment
A Magical Summer in Rhyme
Posted on July 17, 2013 by swilkin26
Make the most of the wonderful weather we have been having recently by going on the Oxford Poetry Walk! Enjoy a 70 minute tour around the city with a selection of literary favourites such as Gerard Manley Hopkins and Oscar Wilde to act as your companions. If you are more of a theatre buff then check out the Globe Theatre on Tour's production of 'The Taming of the Shrew' currently being shown at the Bodleian Old Schools Quadrangle. If that doesn't give you your literary fix then there is the Oxford Shakespeare Company's adaptation of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' hosted in the atmospheric gardens of Wadham College.
In other walks of literary life, things seems to be getting all rather supernatural. This week Potter mastermind J.K Rowling was revealed as using the pen name Robert Galbraith to publicise her new crime novel 'The Cuckoo's Calling'. To add to the excitement, it came out that this newsworthy detail was uncovered by one of our very own professors here at Oxford, Professor Peter Millican.
Additionally, the Bodleian Library's enchanting exhibition 'Magical Books' is well underway showcasing works from the legends of Children's' Fantasy literature e.g. C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien.
For more interesting titbits of literary news, follow Great Writers Inspire on Twitter and Facebook.
Jane in July!
Posted on July 12, 2013 by summerinspire
To round off our week of Austen, we thought we'd let you know about the Oxford Theatre Guild's production of Pride and Prejudice, on tonight at Trinity College! All the Oxford Janeites out there should get down to Trinity's velvety lawns for 7.30pm. Here's a sneak peak: In other Austen news, the Guardian's John Mullen challenged Oxford's Dr. Paula Byrne by calling Austen's style "unflinchingly satirical" (if you missed the Telegraph's original article, you can read it here). What do you think? http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2013/jul/11/jane-austen-fiction-not-anaesthetic
If you're still unsure, you can listen to Professor Kathryn Sutherland talk a bit more about Austen on one of the University's free podcasts! http://writersinspire.org/author/jane-austen
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Byrne, Jane Austen, oxford, play, Trinity College | Leave a comment
This project is creating a website dedicated to the theme "Great Writers inspire – learning from the past". On the site you will be able to find freely available content related to individual authors and literary themes. We are using this blog to let you follow the progress of the project and explore the material as it is being made available. Feel free to send us your comments and suggestions! Want to be inspired? Explore the podcasts on the Great Writers Inspire podcast page. | {
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You are here: Home › Talk of AutoZone Park sale premature: Pontius
Talk of AutoZone Park sale premature: Pontius
By Kevin Reichard on March 21, 2012 in Minor-League Baseball, News
Talk of selling AutoZone Park to the city of Memphis was premature, as the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation is exploring several liquidation options, according to treasurer John Pontius.
Two weeks ago the news broke that the city was reviewing a proposal to buy the home of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Pontuis says that while accurate, the account was a little premature: a sale of the ballpark to the city is but one of several scenarios being considered by the foundation and its lenders. One alternative scenario: that both the ballpark and the team will be sold to the same buyer.
From Memphis Flyer:
There's always been a desire — both from the foundation's standpoint and the city's — to make sure we concluded the final chapter of the Redbirds' financial story that gave it new, positive, long-term life for the city. That's what we've been working on for a few years. We're closer to a conclusion, a recapitalization, a sale, or something that repositions the Redbirds for a prosperous future in Memphis. But it's premature to speculate on which of those options will come about, and when….
There are two primary assets of the Redbirds Foundation. They could be sold separately or together, and it really depends on the buyer. Would a franchise owner want to own the ballpark too, or be a tenant in the ballpark? We're deep in the throes of understanding the options, but we're not [at a point of sale] yet.
The challenge, he added, was to put together a deal that satisfies a potential buyer and the holder of the foundation bonds: no doubt investor Fundamental Advisors would need to take a haircut on any deal, so the real issue may be how close a haircut. However, that's the risk that the likes of a Fundamental Advisors — which specializes in distressed properties — takes.
RELATED STORIES: Memphis looking at buying AutoZone Park; Weiss, Global Spectrum take full reins of Memphis Redbirds tonight
class aaa, fundamental advisors, john pontius, liquidation, memphis redbirds, memphis redbirds baseball foundation, pacific coast league
Hillsborough County ready to make run at new Rays ballpark
The unimaginable emerges: The sale of naming rights to Dodger Stadium | {
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HomeTravel Planning2022 Destinations: The Coolest Dozen
December 18, 2021 airtravel360 Travel Planning 0
It is that time of year to look to NEXT year.
We attempt to forecast which cities will be at the top of everyone's flight search history, where the most exciting hotel openings will happen and which countries will emerge from the periphery to be the hottest new destinations for intrepid travelers.
But for the last two years, this has felt like an increasingly challenging task. Sure, we can see where airlines are doubling down on service and where popular hotel brands are breaking ground. But after so many false starts and squashed travel plans, I think we all know that divining the future — particularly in the travel industry — is more art and inspiration than science.
Travelers are eager to return to their favorite destinations and discover new ones, but the ongoing pandemic has made it more difficult than ever to plan anything.
Still, we keep our sights set on what's next, because sometimes that's all you can do: Keep looking ahead. As another challenging year comes to a close, these are the destinations we're most excited about — the ones that fill us with optimism and give us all something to anticipate.
Few destinations in the U.S. have made a comeback quite like New York City. So many people speculated that it might have met its untimely end during the prolonged pandemic when Broadway temporarily closed its curtains and some of the city's most iconic hotels and restaurants shuttered.
But simply step onto a subway platform and you'll immediately feel that the city's energetic pace is back. Despite its extended shutdown, the city is eager to welcome tourists from across the globe. If you haven't been to New York City since the onset of the pandemic, you'll find a spate of new attractions, including a mind-bending new observation deck in midtown Manhattan and a park comprised of concrete platforms that look like lily pads floating above the Hudson River.
There are also a number of hotel openings on the horizon that will make Manhattan the most talked-about borough in the city. In addition to the long-awaited Aman New York, The Ritz-Carlton is taking reservations for its second Gotham location in the NoMad neighborhood starting in May 2022.
For travelers craving wide-open spaces within the continental U.S., there are few better places to visit in 2022 than the Cowboy State, which is famous for its world-class skiing, freewheeling Old West culture and stunning national parks.
In 2022, Yellowstone — the country's first national park — will celebrate its 150th anniversary with indigenous art exhibitions, free tours on the park's iconic yellow buses and other events and activities. Plus, domestic airlines have been doubling down on Wyoming and other national park gateways since 2020, making it easier than ever for travelers to reach this destination.
No matter where you're traveling in Wyoming, you'll want to book accommodations far in advance. In addition to classic park lodging, such as the Old Faithful Inn, and luxury hotels, like the relatively new Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection property, travelers can consider a luxe chalet from onefinestay, which expanded to the mountain town of Jackson Hole this ski season.
The southernmost continent is an inhospitable, wintry desert. Getting there has never been a particularly easy task, but with the reopening of borders in South America, it's possible once again for travelers to visit and, in many cases, check off their final continent.
The Antarctic travel season, which kicks off during the austral summer, is just resuming and will continue into early 2022. There's only a fraction of the number of usual vessels calling on Antarctica this season, but more than ever will come here next season, meaning travelers will see even more wild, undisturbed scenery and wildlife.
Though coronavirus protocols continue to complicate travel, many people may find an expedition cruise here takes some of the guesswork out of that. Not to mention, travelers don't need to be too worried about coming into contact with the virus in this uninhabited stretch of ice and rock.
Debut cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages is chartering an A330 to get travelers directly from Orlando to Ushuaia, Argentina, where its first vessel, World Navigator, embarks. Travelers who sail with Silversea have the option to fly directly to King George Island on Antarctic Airways this season. Or, cruisers could sail on Lindblad Expeditions' new National Geographic Endurance, which can be booked with World of Hyatt points instead of cash.
When United announced it would fly to five new European destinations in 2022, the airline's senior vice president of international network and alliance, Patrick Quayle, said the expansion was about connecting travelers with "new, unexpected places." Among them, the fjords of Norway via Bergen (BGO), to which the airline will start flying from its Newark (EWR) hub starting May 20.
Both first-time and returning travelers will have new places to stay throughout Norway, including Sommerro, a reborn Art Deco landmark in Oslo that will boast 231 rooms and residences and the capital's first year-round rooftop pool. There are also reports that the long-awaited Svart hotel in the Arctic Circle will welcome its first guests next year.
Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Fans of Dubai and Abu Dhabi should set their sights on the northernmost emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which is home to its own array of superlative attractions and five-star hotels, including the forthcoming Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah with overwater villas and an InterContinental slated to open in February.
Once there, travelers can enjoy a spate of over-the-top diversions, such as record-breaking fireworks shows and the world's longest zip line, which whisks travelers down 1.76 miles of the tallest peak in the United Arab Emirates at heart-thumping speeds.
Florida continues to be a top destination for travelers, and in 2022, Orlando will be at the center of this attention.
Disney's 50th-anniversary celebrations continue into the new year with an exciting lineup of new attractions, events and developments, including the launch of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. This highly anticipated immersive hotel experience will be complemented by the opening of Disney Vacation Club resort studios at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Disney enthusiasts can also look forward to the opening of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction and enhanced technology throughout the parks with "Hey, Disney!" and MagicBand+.
Increased airlift from a number of major airlines will also make it particularly easy — and far more comfortable — to fly to Orlando in 2022. Even international airlines are getting in on the action: Aer Lingus has launched nonstop transatlantic flights from Orlando (MCO) to Manchester, England (MAN).
You don't have to be flying to Disney World to get excited about traveling to this city in Central Florida. By the end of 2022, the high-speed rail company Brightline is expecting to finish its connection between Orlando and Miami.
Luxury travelers have plenty of reasons to plan a visit to Montenegro next year. This small Balkan country with a thread of beaches along the Adriatic Sea is a great alternative for travelers seeking a crowd-free version of Croatia. Check out One&Only Portonovi (the brand's first resort in Europe), which opened in May 2021, and Aman's new sister brand, Janu, which will debut at Sveti Stefan in 2022.
Travelers who want to visit destinations before an influx of tourists should travel here soon, as a luxury hotel with residences, Fairmont Smokva Bay Resort, is also in development for early 2023.
Want to explore the region? Book a flight on the country's new national airline, Air Montenegro, which just launched this year. Flights are available between Montenegro and Serbia, Germany, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
United Airlines began its thrice-weekly, year-round service to Accra, Ghana (ACC), from Washington, D.C. (IAD) in May, making it easier for travelers to visit this nation in West Africa.
Ghana is an awe-inspiring gateway for travelers eager to return to the continent thanks, in part, to it being at the center of the heritage travel movement. Every visitor should consider a pilgrimage to ominous Cape Coast Castle, overlooking the Atlantic, to see the so-called "Door of No Return" where many enslaved Africans were forced onto ships bound for the Americas.
These days, the country's capital, Accra, is home to one of Africa's liveliest music scenes, with numerous clubs and other venues hosting concerts by up-and-coming artists. You don't have to venture far for some of the continent's best surfing, either, at Kokrobite beach.
You can even explore some of Africa's lesser-known (and therefore far less crowded) national parks and reserves encompassing everything from grasslands and woodlands to lush rainforests teeming with monkeys and crisscrossed by canopy footbridges.
With so much uncertainty still clouding the travel landscape, many adventurers are seeking solace in familiar, long-loved destinations such as Italy, which is one of the most booked destinations in Europe for next year.
Even frequent visitors may be lured by major hotel openings from some of the top brands, including the intimate 65-room Rosewood Porto Cervo on the island of Sardinia. In Rome, IHG is transforming an early 20th-century property on the Via Veneto into an InterContinental. The capital city will also welcome outposts from Bvlgari, Six Senses and Edition Hotels in 2022.
Travelers might even be able to catch a flight on the nation's new flag carrier, ITA Airways, which takes the place of the now-defunct Alitalia. It will welcome a fleet of new Airbuses in 2022 and is focusing on connecting the East Coast of the U.S. to Milan and Rome.
For years now, Mexico has landed on TPG's list of hottest upcoming destinations. Though it may not be surprising or new, it's a destination that continues to evolve. Throughout the pandemic, Mexico has been consistently welcoming to tourists: Unlike so many nations around the world, it never shut its borders to visitors.
As a result, it's really no surprise that Viator found that, compared to 2019, bookings for hot spots on both coasts (such as Tulum and Cabo San Lucas) have increased by double digits.
In 2022, a new round of fresh hotels and resorts from a number of our favorite brands will welcome travelers for the first time, including Amanvari on Baja's East Cape, the Waldorf Astoria Cancun and the Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive Resort. An Edition hotel is also slated to open in the popular Riviera Maya resort development.
When Canada finally reopened to American tourists, the excitement was palpable — and that wave of energy will continue into 2022. Consider a stay at the forthcoming Ace Hotel in the city's Fashion District or the W in Yorkville, which is expected to open this spring.
Toronto will also be at the center of Canada's cruising comeback, which won't start until April 2022. At this time, the first eastern Canada cruise on the schedule from a major line, Viking, is a 12-night voyage from New York to Toronto embarking on April 18, 2022. By April, it will have been about two years since cruise ships called on Toronto.
In a time of so much uncertainty, it's impossible to say when tourism to Australia will return to something resembling normal. After all, the nation has attempted to reopen in fits and starts, and is still only allowing citizens, residents and their family members to visit without quarantine.
But the decision to relax entry restrictions on Nov. 1 is an important signal that the return of tourism to Australia could be on the horizon. There will be so much to experience when the time comes, particularly with regard to high-end places to stay from the major hotel brands.
Next year, the W brand will return to Sydney, and a Kimpton crowned with a rooftop bar will open in the city as well. In Melbourne, a Ritz-Carlton is expected to open in the West Side Place development. And for travelers who want to splurge with cash, a 169-room Langham will welcome guests to the country's Gold Coast. After years of anticipation, The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is officially opening its doors in a historic building in the heart of Hobart as well.
Travelers who are already thinking about how they'll get to Australia should consider flying with United Airlines and Virgin Australia, as both airlines just announced plans to launch a codeshare partnership in 2022. | {
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Text Version RSS Subscribe Unsubscribe Archive Media Kit March 31, 2015
ADAA RESOURCES
New Professional Webinars
ADAA now offers monthly webinars, and you can earn 1 CE credit. Register online now for the April webinar.
Evidence-based Treatment of Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood: From A to Zzzz
April 30 | Noon to 1 p.m. EDT
Candice Alfano, Ph.D.
Special DVD offer with CE credits
Accelerated Treatment for Anxiety: Core Concepts with Reid Wilson, Ph.D.
Reid Wilson, Ph.D., sums up the fundamentals of tackling the most common condition confronting psychotherapists. In this lively new video, combining a live presentation with an accompanying case demonstration, he illustrates the core concepts of his groundbreaking technique and paradoxical twist in exposure therapy.
NIMH Strategic Plan for Research
NIMH is pleased to announce the release of the NIMH Strategic Plan for Research, available in print and online. This plan is a commitment to accelerate the pace of scientific progress by generating research that will have the greatest public health impact and continue to fuel the transformation of mental healthcare.
Resilience: An update
PTSD Research Quarterly
Understanding why some trauma-exposed individuals develop PTSD, while most do not, has spurred research on resilience. A common thread throughout all definitions of resilience is that it is "the process of adapting to and bouncing back from adversity." This Research Quarterly provides an up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the current literature on resilience. As we learn more about resilience we can look forward to the development of increasingly effective strategies to help people negotiate and potentially grow from stress and adversity.
A multivariate twin study of trait mindfulness, depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity
The aim of this study was to examine the role of genetic and environmental factors in trait mindfulness, and its genetic and environmental overlap with depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity.
Daily stressors, past depression and metabolic responses to high-fat meals: A novel path to obesity
Depression and stress promote obesity. This study addressed the impact of daily stressors and a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) on obesity-related metabolic responses to high-fat meals.
How tomorrow's algorithms will help treat post-traumatic stress disorder
Let's say a 33-year-old woman is admitted to an emergency room after being in a car accident. The accident was violent and scary, but other than a mild concussion and some bruises and lacerations, she appears to be okay, physically. But once she's been examined and bandaged, once her vital signs have been confirmed to sit in the normal ranges, another, trickier question pops up: Is she likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder? Here's where current medical science falters a little bit.
Why we need to be talking about postpartum depression in dads
Although studies estimate that as many as one in 10 fathers suffers from postpartum depression, many dads go overlooked and untreated because such little research has been done on the issue. A new study, however, shows that dads' "baby blues" can affect their ability to parent and cause anxiety and behavioral issues in toddlers. Researchers from Northwestern University looked at 199 couples during the first six weeks after their child was born and again after 45 months, when their babies had grown into toddlers.
Childhood trauma linked to early psychosis later in life
Research showing that patients with early psychosis report high rates of childhood trauma has important implications for clinicians, a University of Queensland psychologist has found. More than three-quarters of early psychosis patients reported exposure to childhood trauma, including one or a combination of emotional, physical or sexual abuse or physical neglect.
Anxiety can contribute to bad decisions
If you consider yourself an anxious person, beware. Your anxiety may be standing in the way of your success. A recent study from the University of California Berkeley revealed that anxiety-prone individuals are more likely to make poor decisions, especially high-stakes decisions that involved a high level of uncertainty, such as starting a business, or hiring or firing someone.
Thin air, high altitudes cause depression in female rats
In a novel study, University of Utah researchers have shown that hypobaric hypoxia (the reduced oxygen experienced at high altitude) can lead to depression. In the March edition of High Altitude Medicine and Biology online, the researchers show that female rats exposed to high-altitude conditions, both simulated and real, exhibit increased depression-like behavior. Male rats, interestingly, showed no signs of depression in the same conditions.
How your brain deletes trauma
Our brains actually aren't able to absorb infinite amounts of information — new research has revealed that memories operate on something closer to a one-in, one-out policy. The process of recall causes people to lose other memories, meaning that our attempts to remember certain things lead to the forgetting of others. The UK study is the first of its kind to test our "forgetting" mechanism, monitoring the changes that occur when we try to remember new things.
Roseroot extract may be beneficial for treating major depressive disorder
Rhodiola rosea, or roseroot, may be a beneficial treatment option for major depressive disorder, according to results of a study in the journal Phytomedicine. The proof of concept trial study is the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, comparison trial of oral R. rosea extract versus the conventional antidepressant therapy sertraline for mild to moderate major depressive disorder.
Vitamin D levels may predict depression
Low serum levels of vitamin D are associated with clinically significant symptoms of depression in otherwise healthy individuals, new research shows. Making a series of assessments of healthy women during a one-month period, investigators found that more than one-third of participants had depressive symptoms, that almost half had vitamin D insufficiency and that depressive symptoms were predicted by vitamin D levels.
Study: High-fat diets can lead to depression
Obesity, heart disease and other physical afflictions may not be the only negative impacts of consuming fatty foods. According to a recent study on mice, high-fat foods could be affecting behavior, increasing the risk of depression and related psychological disorders. The study, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, suggests that a high-fat diet alters the mix of bacteria in the gut known as the gut microbiome.
Study links air pollution as risk factor for anxiety
research into new questions about links between mental health and air quality has found an association between levels of anxiety and levels of fine particulate air pollution. A second paper in the same issue of The BMJ answers more established questions about links with stroke, too. Using information from the large amounts of data collecting in the 2004 Nurses' Health Study, the researchers looked back for a link to anxiety from an estimate of exposure to air pollution among the 71,271 women.
Study adds evidence on link between PTSD, heart disease
In a study of more than 8,000 veterans living in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, those with post-traumatic stress disorder had a nearly 50 percent greater risk of developing heart failure over about a seven-year follow-up period, compared with their non-PTSD peers. The findings appear in the April 2015 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Psychiatrists have finally discovered how to better treat depression
A new study published the journal Translational Psychiatry may shed light on the nature of two of the most common types of depression and could help dramatically improve the accuracy of drug prescription. These two forms of depression are linked to two chemical imbalances: serotonin deficiency and lack of noradrenaline.
Cait Harrison, Content Editor, 469.420.2657 | {
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Home/Digital Humanities
The digital humanities at Stanford sit at the crossroads of computer science and the humanities. Since the 1980's, a wide range of computational tools have enabled humanities scholars to conduct research at a scale once thought impossible. Digital humanities foster collaboration and traverse disciplines and methodological orientations, with projects to digitize archival materials for posterity, to map the exchange and transmission of ideas in history, and to study the evolution of common words over the centuries.
At Stanford, current digital humanities projects implement tools such as 3-D mapping, algorithmic literary analysis, advanced visualization techniques, and digitization of textual corpora in non-Latin languages. Researchers experiment and interact with source materials in ways that yield new findings, while also building community and sharing information.
Stanford scholars harness new technologies through an array of digital humanities initiatives:
Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA)
CESTA is an internationally renowned digital humanities center located in Wallenberg Hall on Stanford's campus. There, humanities scholars collaborate with qualified professional staff in an open research space that brings together interdisciplinary research teams made up of seasoned researchers, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars who collaborate on projects with the necessary software and hardware tools. CESTA also offers opportunities for fellows and affiliates of the Stanford Humanities Center to pursue digital humanities projects, to participate in workshops and training sessions, and to publish the results of their work online.
Go to the CESTA Lab
The Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Research (CIDR)
CIDR is a team of humanists and social scientists within Stanford University Libraries who promote digital scholarship by developing new tools and methods and integrating technology and information resources. Their expertise in data discovery, data creation, data management, and analytical tools supports the generation and dissemination of new knowledge. CIDR enables digital research and teaching to encourage and inspire innovative scholarship throughout the University.
Go to CIDR
The Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA)
CCRMA is a multi-disciplinary facility housed on Stanford's campus in the Knoll where composers and researchers work together using computer-based technology both as an artistic medium and as a research tool. CCRMA collaborates across such disciplines as music, electrical engineering, computer science, art, and drama. The center offers academic courses, seminars, small interest group meetings, summer workshops, and colloquia. Concerts featuring computer-generated music also occur several times each year.
Go to CCRMA
The Digital Humanities Focal Group (DHFG)
Part of Stanford's Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages (DLCL), DHFG promotes digital research on underrepresented literatures and cultures to counteract the English-language dominance of much work in the field. Through lectures, workshops, curriculum, and the development of digital humanities research projects, DHFG promotes faculty and graduate research in the digital humanities— especially those eligible for grant-funded opportunities. Faculty and graduate students share work in progress, discuss the state of the field, and identify important research that should be shared within the DLCL and related academic communities.
Go to DHFG | {
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Project Bravo. New 109meter long superyacht from Oceano.
Oceanco's 109m/357ft 'Project Bravo' was launched on 17 November 2018. Bravo is a prime example of Oceanco's new wave of forward-thinking yachts. With her naval architecture by Lateral Naval Architects, exterior design and layout by Nuvolari Lenard and interior by Reymond Langton Design, Bravo is unlike any preceding Oceanco. She is the first Oceanco to utilize its innovative LIFE (Lengthened, Innovative, Fuel-efficient, Eco-friendly) design. LIFE revolves around intelligent naval architecture that leverages a number of fundamental principles, which create a harmonious balance between weight, power, technical areas and luxury interior on board.
James Roy, director of Lateral Naval Architects comments, "The LIFE design's use of advanced hybrid propulsion incorporating significant battery capability, combined with a single tier engine room allows novel use of space to deliver areas of outstanding luxury accommodation."
Bravo embodies Oceanco's expertise in building large complex yachts, whereby project management proficiency played an integral part in Bravo's success. "A bespoke project of such magnitude and splendor will always present interesting challenges and opportunities" says owner's representative, Burgess. "With Project Bravo we created a truly spectacular yacht whose excellence is a clear reflection of the commitment of a dynamic and professional project team."
After the innovations introduced with "Alfa Nero", Oceanco asked us to "raise the bar" and create another remarkable and revolutionary design, says Dan Lenard, senior partner of Nuvolari-Lenard. "Our approach with Bravo was to maintain a stunningly sleek profile without sacrificing any interior space. This new exterior style concept is bound to create a new design stream. It is important to us that we started this new stream together with Oceanco"
The yacht's elegant contemporary interior compliments the exterior design. Pascale Reymond, partner in Reymond Langton Design, says, "We worked with artisans and craftsmen to create bespoke artworks, fabrics and signature furniture pieces that all combine to create a warm, inviting environment on board for the Owner's family and guests."
Bravo pushes the limits within the world of superyachts to a new level! | {
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Teacher denies sex with schoolboy, claiming she is too short for the sex position
By Dorothy G. Bender Last updated Dec 3, 2021
Kandice Barber, 35, is accused of sexual activity with a student (Photo: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd / PA)
A married teacher claims that she could not have had sex with a student because she is too short for the position in question.
Kandice Barber, 35, is accused of committing a sexual act on the unnamed 15-year-old boy and having sex with him while standing.
Amersham court heard she was previously convicted in a trial in September last year for sending a video to the boy, showing her pleasuring herself while on a bed surrounded by toys sexual intercourse and sexually communicating with the complainant.
The complainant, who is now 18, appeared via video link, claims he also met Barber for sexual activity on three occasions.
Nadia Chbat, defending Barber, asked him about an alleged sexual incident while he was standing: "You accept that she is quite short, she is only about five feet, right? So you were taller than her back then, were you? You didn't even think she could reach your shoulders back then, did you?
During re-examination by prosecutor Richard Milne, the boy said he had "crouched down" and bent his knees to get around the height difference.
Kandice Barber denies the offenses (Photo: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)
The boy couldn't name the specific dates when the sexual activity took place, but he said it was from October 11, 2018 and just before mid-term, with two of the meetings he did. said it took place before and after her 16th birthday.
On one occasion, he said that Barber drove them to the side of a busy main road and parked so the boy could do a sex act on him, before they got out of the car and she gave him a blowjob in a wooded area while he was lying down. on the ground.
The court heard that before informing its principal of the allegations, the schoolboy threatened to "ruin" the teacher's life if he could not reconnect with her, promising that she would lose her family.
Ms Chbat, cross-examining the boy, said: "You, I suggest, had become obsessed with Mrs Barber, haven't you? You, I suggest, wanted more contact with her again.
"The threat, I suggest, is 'If you don't talk to me, watch what happens, you will lose your job and your family.'
"The phone calls of March 10, 2018, I suggest, are you and her arguing on the phone. She would tell you to leave her alone and you would talk to each other and threaten to tell the police about your communication. She hung up on you.
"I suggest the communication was threatening, that if she didn't get back in touch with you, you would ruin her life," the defense lawyer said.
Ms Chbat added that her client said that no sexual activity had taken place and that it was all lies, which the complainant denied via the video link.
Barber, from Wendover in Buckinghamshire, denies three counts of causing or instigating a child under 16 to engage in sex.
Contact our press team by emailing us at [email protected]
For more stories like this, check out our news page.
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Jenkem Magazine
PEOPLE THAT PISS ME OFF: THE "CONCERNED CITIZEN"
July 31, 2011 / Bink Seavey / ARTICLES
My former neighbor is a concerned citizen; typically, a middle aged, middle class–male or female–white person with a slew of insecurities stemming from an unfulfilling existence brought about by a succession of poor decisions. Or perhaps a micro penis. The concerned citizen has no shame, and will stop at nothing to assure the masses, or at least, the neighborhood that they're concerned with what everyone else is doing. "Get off my property!", "I'm calling the cops!", "My taxes paid for this damn park!" are the common phrases in the concerned citizen's vocabulary, but they can be hard to spot since they come in all varieties.
There are several types of concerned citizens, like the guy who could have been the star quarterback, but he drank a little too much one night and raw romped his ex, Cathy the catholic pin cushion, who shat out an eighteen year investment with a ROI of "fuck you, I can do whatever I want." Twenty or so years down the road, he's separated from his wife, living in a shit hole off of MLK Blvd. and managing Barry's Burger Joint when he's not drunk on MD 20/20 and lathering his dysfunctional wet noodle. He's a "Get off my property!" concerned citizen.
Then there are the typical old hags, like Cathy, who married her high school sweetheart after he knocked her up. She quickly settled into a life of underachievement in Middle America and started making babies. Cathy pooped out four more turds for offspring, before realizing the only thing her husband was good for is a pay check and load of life every now and again. So she kicked him out of his own house, but since she's a woman of faith, refuses to officially divorce him. Her hobbies include mixing her children's prescriptions with various boxed wines, and yelling, "I'm calling the cops!" at other people's children.
Regardless of the roads they take, all concerned citizens arrive at the same intersection, of insanity and idiocy. They are driven by self-interest and a deluded sense of what the world should be, fueled by their own insecurities and short comings. They're not afraid to share these ideas in lame and despicable ways, like calling the cops on five year olds for pissing where humans have pissed for centuries, or yelling at anyone who seems to be enjoying their day. No booze in the park. No skating on sidewalks. No loud music. No late shows. No fun.
And reasoning with these people is out of the question. The brain of the concerned citizen operates in mysterious ways, often acting on impulses before they're processed in the pre-frontal cortex–the simulator of the brain. These defective balls of grey matter aren't hard-wired for bargaining, logical thinking, or, really, much thinking outside personal gratification. And, unfortunately, they turn perfectly able bodies into little more than restless chimpanzees. Restless chimpanzees with cars, houses, boats and firearms.
It's best to avoid confrontations with the concerned citizen, but if must indulge yourself, heckle from a safe distance and leave as soon as you see a cell phone. Maybe you can piss in their bushes later, but for now, go home, sit your ass down and bitch about it on the internet. The police will be on their way shortly.
Words: Bink Seavey
Original Illustration: Mikey Giurato
WHAT'S FUELING SKATEBOARDING'S CURRENT BOOM?
We investigated why so many noobs are suddenly buying skateboards.
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AM I REALLY A LONGBOARDER?
There comes a time in every man's life when they inevitably ask themselves, "Am I a longboarder?"
April 27, 2011/Skittles/ARTICLES
REMEMBERING THE FIRST WOMEN'S SKATE MAG, "CHECK IT OUT"
"This magazine meant the world to me. It gave all women [and] young girls an insight to what was going on in the women's scene."
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WE MADE A BLUE PARK LEVEL FOR SKATER XL
PC nerds rejoice! Brooklyn's most beloved skatepark is now available to skate and loiter at digitally.
January 14, 2021/Jenkem Staff/RANDOM CRAP
THE JENKEM GUIDE TO FILMING YOURSELF
Get your mind out of the gutter. We're talking about filming your own skate clips, obviously.
May 12, 2020/Zach Harris/ARTICLES
IS SKATEBOARDING "SOFT" NOWADAYS?
If you're yearning for wilder, less role model-able pros, we put together a list of the skate crews keeping that reckless spirit alive today.
February 19, 2020/Alexis Castro/ARTICLES, VIDEOS
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH TRANSWORLD?
With a new parent company and sudden layoffs, Transworld SKATEboarding may be in trouble.
February 4, 2019/Christian Kerr & Anthony Pappalardo/ARTICLES
IS IT SAFE TO SKATE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS?
Everything you need to know to keep skating and supporting your skate community.
March 17, 2020/Christian Kerr/ARTICLES
kettner3000
In my years of reading humorous articles, skateboarders tend to have the best way with words. I don't know what it is, but I consider them some of the best. Great job.
RCatGalaxy
God dealing with these "concerned citizens" fucking suck. Can't they let me smoke my blunt in the park in peace?!
that white lady i seen the other day
"my life sucks so all of your lives should suck too!!"
© 2021 Jenkem Magazine
Freeflow Digital Media | {
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SAN DIEGO: One killed in freeway crash
By North County Times wire services
SAN DIEGO - A 23-year-old woman was killed and three otherpeople were seriously injured when the car they were riding incrashed off a South Bay connector ramp and caught fire earlyMonday, authorities said.
The fatality at the westbound state Route 54 ramp to northboundInterstate 805 was reported shortly after 2 a.m., according to theCalifornia Highway Patrol.
The woman was a passenger in a 2000 Honda Civic that wasspeeding and swerving, according to the San Diego County MedicalExaminer's Office. The CHP reported that the three seriouslyinjured parties were also passengers.
According to the Medical Examiner's Office, the Civic veered offthe ramp and struck a large Eucalyptus tree, then slowly caughtfire.
Firefighters pulled the woman from the burning car andpronounced her dead shortly after. The woman's name was withheldpending notification of family.
The ramp was closed until about 5:45 a.m. | {
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Intellectual Property Cases in India
Written by Avani Yadav
This article talks about meaning of intellectual property and also gives information about important intellectual property cases.
Intellectual Property Meaning
Property is corporal property and incorporeal property or tangible property and intangible property. Intellectual property meaning is a right pervading some material object. Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the intellect for which a monopoly is assigned to designated owners by law. The intangible products of a man's brain are as valuable as his land, building, goods, money, belongings etc. it is quite different from real property or a formal property. In fiction, it is a property. Therefore called as intellectual property. The rights relating to the intellectual property however recognized by law as the subject matter of rights of various intangible or immaterial products is human intelligence, skills and labor. In short intellectual property is basically a creation of intellect or relates to intellect. Intellectual property rights are legal rights which govern the use of creations of the human mind and work.
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) thus granted to the creators of IP, and include trademarks, copyright, patents, industrial design rights, and in some jurisdictions trade secrets. Artistic works including music and literature, as well as discoveries, inventions, words, phrases, symbols, and designs can all protected as intellectual property.
Here are some some Intellectual Property cases which are as follows:-
Intellectual Property cases
Satyam Infoway Ltd. v. Sifynet Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Supreme Court of India AIR 2004 SC 3540
This is a very famous and landmark case where the Supreme Court of India decided on the issue of domain name protection for the first time in its history. This was the case wherein the apex court declared that the Indian Trade Marks Act, 1999 was applicable to the regulation of domain names as well.
Satyam Infoway (hereinafter referred to as the appellant) had registered several domain names pertaining to its business: sifynet.com, sifymall.com, sifyrealestate.com, in the year 1999. It held that the word "Sify" was a combination of elements of its corporate name "Satyam Infoway" and was a term that had garnered substantial goodwill in the market. Meanwhile, Sifynet Solutions (hereinafter referred to as the respondent) had started using the word "Siffy" as part of the domain names under which it carried on internet marketing (namely siffynet.com and siffynet.net). It claims to have registered the same in the year 2001.
Subsequently the appellant filed a suit in City Civil Court, Bangalore seeking an injunction against the respondent. The appellant held that the respondent had registered the similar sounding domain names intentionally in order to carry out their business transactions under the goodwill and brand name of the former. And that it would create a confusion in the minds of the public who would think that the services of Sifynet belongs to Satyam Infoway. The respondent contended that unlike a trade mark, the registration of a domain name did not confer an intellectual property right in the name.
The court ruled in favor of the appellant and granted the injunction in their favor. It held that the appellant was the prior user of the word 'Sify' as a result of which it enjoyed immense popularity and goodwill in relation to internet and other computer related services. Thereby, if the respondent is allowed to further continue with the use of the domain names it would in all likelihood create confusion in the minds of the public. And that it may in all possibility affect the business of the appellant.
Thereafter, the respondents appealed to the Karnataka High Court. The Court stated that respondent had already invested a considerably high amount of sum in developing a customer base for its business and it would consequently suffer immense hardship and irreparable injury if the court ruled in the appellant's favor. Further it held that the business which the parties engaged in were different and therefore there was no likelihood of any confusion in the minds of the public.
Not satisfied with the decision given by the Karnataka High Court, the appellants went for an appeal before the Supreme Court of India. The case was decided by a division bench comprising Justices Ruma Pal and P. Venkatarama Reddi. It set aside the decision of the High Court and ruled in favor of the appellants. It held that though no there was no law in India which explicitly deals with the domain names, it falls within the ambit of the Trade Marks Act. Then it further observed that a domain name enjoyed all features of a trademark. Accordingly it ruled that if the respondent was allowed to further continue using the domain names it would in all likelihood create a confusion in the minds of the general public. A user could be diverted to the website containing the unauthorized domain name. And upon his arrival at the website, if he does not find the goods or services associated with the mark, he might think that the legitimate owner was misrepresenting the claims. This would result in the loss for the legitimate owner, thereby affecting his goodwill and brand name.
Thus the apex court granted an injunction in favor of the appellants, thereby restraining the respondents from further using the domain names in their business transactions.
DM entertainment v Baby Gift House and ors. [MANU/DE/2043/2010]
Daler Mehndi, the most famous pop star hailing from Punjab has created a niche audience and is immensely popular amongst Punjabi-pop music lovers. The appellant company was incorporated in 1996 to manage the artist's escalating career. The crux of the case is that the defendants had prolific businesses in selling miniature toys of Daler Mehndi and majorly cashed on to his popularity. Majorly aggrieved, the plaintiff company filed for permanent injunction from infringing the artist's right of publicity and false endorsement leading to passing off.
The plaintiff company had been assigned all the rights, titles and interests in the personality of the artist along with the Trademark, Daler Mehndi. It was contended by the plaintiff that the unauthorized or unlicensed use of or any part of the reputation of the artist, with respect to goods or services of any manner will lead to make an impression on the public that the goods or services are associated with the singer. And hence, it was submitted that such a use would lead to passing off. It was further averred by the plaintiff that such use was done for commercial exploitation without adequate permission from the person or any other authorized by him, shall constitute infringement of the person's right to publicity.
Section 29 of the Trademark Act-1999 (hereinafter the Act) lays down the aspects of infringement of trademark. It elucidates that a when a person is using, in course of trade any mark, which is identical or deceptively similar to a registered mark and which he is not entitled or licensed to use shall be deemed to infringe onto the rights of the person who has the lawful right over the mark.
The Act does not give a specific description of passing off as a result it has been derived through judicial precedents drawn from common law. Put simply , passing off would occur when the mark is not only being used deceptively similar to the mark of another but it is being used to create confusion in the minds of the consumer that results in the damage or loss of business for the person or company who/which is the lawful owner of the trademark.
Character merchandising is an area of law which is unexplored in India. The first case that dealt with this was Star India Private Limited v Leo Burnett India (Pvt.) Ltd. The courts in India in these earlier cases, had not dealt with publicity rights. In this case the Court did so quite emphatically. The court meted out a compensatory amount to the tune of Rs. 1,00,000 to the Plaintiff. The intent of the judiciary is clear.
The Coca-Cola Company Vs. Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd [Manu/DE/2698/2009]
The Delhi High Court held that if the threat of infringement exists, then this court would certainly have jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
It was also held that the exporting of goods from a country is to be considered as sale within the country from where the goods are exported and the same amounts to infringement of trademark.
In the present matter, the defendant, Bisleri by a master agreement, had sold and assigned the trademark MAAZA including formulation rights, know-how, intellectual property rights, goodwill etc for India only with respect to a mango fruit drink known as MAAZA to Coca-Cola.
In 2008, the defendant filed an application for registration of the trade mark MAAZA in Turkey started exporting fruit drink under the trademark MAAZA. The defendant sent a legal notice repudiating the agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant, leading to the present case. The plaintiff, the Coca Cola Company also claimed permanent injunction and damages for infringement of trademark and passing off.
It was held by the court that the intention to use the trademark besides direct or indirect use of the trademark was sufficient to give jurisdiction to the court to decide on the issue. The court finally granted an interim injunction against the defendant (Bisleri) from using the trademark MAAZA in India as well as for export market, which was held to be infringement of trade mark.
John Richard Brady & Others. v. Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd, Delhi High Court AIR 1987 Delhi 372
This is a case concerning the legal principle of copyright infringement involving trade secrets and engineering. John Richard Brady (hereinafter referred to as Brady) was a Mechanical Engineer from the U.S and also the President and Managing Director of Fometa Overseas S.A. Castellana, Madrid, Spain. He conceived the idea of growing fresh green grass used as basic food for livestock in a compact unit capable of producing grass throughout the year irrespective of external climatic conditions. Thereafter in 1972 he developed the original Fodder Production Unit (hereinafter referred to as the FPU). After carrying out extensive research and experiments, he invented an improved Fodder Production Unit. He applied for grant of patent in India in relation to the FPU and his patent application was pending. Brady was the owner of copyright in the drawings of the FPU and was entitled to the exclusive right of publishing and reproducing the drawings whether two dimensionally or three dimensionally as he considered apt.
For these purposes Brady set up two companies in India: Fometa (India) Machine Private Ltd, a joint venture company and Sanjeevani Fodder Production Private Ltd. Accordingly he along with the members of the two companies decided that a phased programme should be adopted to manufacture the FPU in India for both domestic and export sales. For the manufacture of the FPU, the he sought quotations from Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd for the supply of thermal panels manufactured by it. The panels required were of highly specialized type and order. And to enable the company to manufacture the components of the FPU precisely, all the technical material, detailed know how, drawings and specifications concerning the FPU were passed on them under the express condition that it must maintain strict confidentiality regarding all the information given. Later, Brady discovered the inability of the company to supply the required thermal panels and cancelled all the orders given to them. It was alleged that Managing Director along with other representatives of the company made several visits to Goa where Brady's FPU was in operation in order to acquire the working know how and technology of the FPU. Some of these visits were without the knowledge of Brady who was later informed about them by his employees. Thereafter in November, 1985 he came to know that Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd was developing their own FPU by falsely representing that the innovation concerning the FPU was originated from them. The company described the Machine produced by them as 'pushti'. And a suit was filed in the Delhi High Court by Brady seeking for an injunction which would restrain Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd from manufacturing and selling machines that were substantial imitation and reproduction of the drawings of the former's FPU or from using in any other manner whatsoever the know-how, specifications, drawings and other technical information about the FPU disclosed to them by the former.
Brady contended that the Machine produced by the company was entirely based upon disclosures made them formerly and that they committed breach of confidence reposed in them. They wrongfully converted and misappropriated the know how information, drawings, designs, and specifications disclosed to them under strict confidentiality and have also infringed the his copyright by making the Machine in three dimensional form. He further contended that the Machine produced by the company was an inferior version of his own FPU. He claimed claim jurisdiction of this court to entertain and try the suit under Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act, 1957 on the ground that he has been carrying on his business along with the two companies he set, for profit and gain at Delhi and that the Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd have also been circulating pamphlets of the infringing Machine and offering it for sale at Delhi.
However, Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd contended that they have neither infringed copyright of Brady nor are they liable for breach of any confidence reposed on them. They denied that the technical Drawings of the FPU are artistic work, but they did not didn't oppose the fact that Brady was the owner of the copyrights in the Drawings. They further contended that there were other firms making such Machines in the international market for a long time, namely, LAND SAVERS and SOMERSET ZERO GRASS U.K. and DHANY A, India. And that the FPU was based on the long known theory of Hydroponic System. Hence they completely denied that Brady gave them any Drawings or technical material or know how concerning the FPU. They further questioned the territorial jurisdiction of this Court on the ground that Brady did not actually reside in Delhi nor does he carry on any business in Delhi and that they themselves do not reside or work in Delhi.
The case was decided by a Single Judge Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising of Justice A B Saharya. He ruled that unless Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd was restrained by injunction, irreparable injury and loss would be caused to Brady and his establishments by the former if they continue to manufacture and sell their Machine. Further he laid down that it was in the interest of justice to restrain the company from using the know-how, specifications, drawings and other technical information regarding Brady's FPU entrusted to them under express condition of strict confidentiality.
Thus, the court restrained the Chemical Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd from manufacturing and selling machines that were substantial imitation and reproduction of the drawings of Brady's FPU or from using in any other manner whatsoever the know-how, specifications, drawings and other technical information about the FPU disclosed to them by Brady.
Colgate Palmolive Co. Ltd & Another. vs. Mr. Patel & Others., Delhi High Court 2005 PTC (31) 583
This is a case relating to the legal principle of infringement of a trademark. It was decided by a Single Judge Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising of Justice M Mudgal.
Colgate Palmolive Co. Limited (hereinafter referred to as the plaintiffs) is a company that has been manufacturing and marketing dental products in India under the well-known trademark 'COLGATE' since 1937. The company undoubtedly is also an international leader in the trade of tooth paste and other dental related products. The plaintiffs registered their trademark in India in the year 1954. Since then they have always marketed their products in red cartons which had the word COLGATE inscribed in white on it. They used a particular font for printing the trademark on the cartons. Further they had even registered their label relating to colors in India in the year 1959. From then on they have been exclusively enjoying the ownership rights over the trademark 'COLGATE' and also the label containing the red and white colors inscribed on it.
In the year 2003 the plaintiffs came to know that Mr. Patel and his company(hereinafter referred to as the defendants) were using the plaintiff's COLGATE trade dress in the packaging of their products with relation to the layout and color combination of the cartons. The defendants used the word 'AJANTA' printed in white color in a red background in their cartons. Subsequently the plaintiffs filed a suit before the Delhi High Court seeking a permanent injunction against the defendants, thereby restraining them from using the trade dress that was similar in layout and appearance even though the names printed on the cartons were different. They contended that the defendants had infringed their trademark and copyrights. And further that they were indulging in unfair competition by trying to sell their products using the brand name of trademark COLGATE.
On the other hand, the defendants contended that there was nothing distinctive in the color combination of the plaintiff's container and that the plaintiff could not have a trademark in color combination. Further they claimed that the red and white label was common to the toothpaste trade.
The Honorable Judge observed that essential feature of the plaintiffs' mark was COLGATE inscribed in white color on a red background and not merely red and white color combination alone. He held that the printing of the word 'AJANTA' on the defendants' cartons in white color on a red background does not give rise to any infringement of the plaintiffs' trade dress. Also affirmed the contention of the defendants that red was a basic color and the red & white color combination is common to the tooth paste trade in the domestic as well as the international market. Hence there cannot be any monopolization of the same by any party. However, he finally held that the defendants were liable for trying to sell their products using the brand name of COLGATE since there was sufficient resemblance between the plaintiffs' and the defendants' product. Further the court ruled that if the defendant alters the packaging there would not arise any question of infringement of the copyright and trademark of the plaintiff. Accordingly the court ordered them to substitute gold for white color in the description of 'AJANTA' in their cartons.
Thus, the injunction application was disposed of by the court and the defendants were permitted to market their products provided they made the required alterations in their packaging of the products.
Bajaj Auto Limited Vs. TVS Motor Company Limited JT 2009 (12) SC 103
This case involved the controversy regarding the unauthorized application of the patent of the DTSi technology. The case became very vital regarding not only the financial stakes of the parties but also regarding the application of the doctrine of pith and marrow also termed as Doctrine of Equivalents.
This case was filed before the Madras High Court in 2007. The plaintiffs (Bajaj Auto Ltd), along with the state of Maharashtra alleged the defendants (T.V.S. Motor Company Ltd.) of infringement of the patents of the plaintiffs, which apprehended the invention of the technology of advanced internal combustion engine. The case engaged the questions of patent infringement by the defendant and the damages for the same. Furthermore, the case threw light upon the argument regarding justification of the risks issued by the defendant of the same case.
The plaintiffs sought remedy of permanent injunction for obstructing the defendants from using the technology or invention prescribed in the patents of the plaintiffs; and for obstructing them from marketing, selling offering for sale or exporting 2/3 wheelers (including the proposed 125cc TVS FLAME motorcycle) that consisted of the disputed internal combustion engine or product that infringed the patent. Damages for infringement of the patent were also claimed by the Plaintiffs.
The Supreme Court of India by this landmark judgement directed all the courts in India for speedy trial and disposal of intellectual property related cases. In this two-year-old dispute involving two companies, which had been locked in a patent dispute over the use of a twin-spark plug engine technology, the Supreme Court observed that suits relating to the matters of patents, trademarks and copyrights are pending for years and years and litigation is mainly fought between the parties about the temporary injunction. The Supreme Court directed that hearing in the intellectual property matters should proceed on day to day basis and the final judgment should be given normally within four months from the date of the filing of the suit. The Supreme Court further directed to all the courts and tribunals in the country to punctually and faithfully carry out the aforesaid orders.
Find online advocate for issues relating to Intellectual Property.
Trademarks Copyrights IP
Avani Yadav ›
Avani is a LL.B. student of New Law College. Classical use of language and adeptness with the written word make her treasure useful legal information. In her spare time, she writes prose and pursue an active interest in creative writing.
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TYPES OF STAMP DUTIES | {
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metalock
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Summary | Source | Releases | Screenshots | Rationale | Limitations | Author
Metalock is an enhanced screen locker for the X11 windowing system.
It is best described as similar to the program slock, (and in fact, it is based on it) except that it has background image support, and several other features.
It is designed to be used with a background screen daemon, such as xidle.
It is written in C, and is distributed under the terms of the MIT License.
Why write another screen locker, when xscreensaver already exists? I don't like the lock dialog in that program! (I don't like flat colors/like images, and there were some missing features in that program) Additionally, it is a very large program with complex code.
I have been frustrated with the visual limitations of the xscreensaver lock dialog for over a decade, in fact. I simply decided one weekend in early 2012 to address the problem, and it turned out to be trivial to write a similar program starting from the very simple and didactic code of slock. Such is the world of open source / free software, where many issues are resolved immediately, but there is always something that never gets fixed, no matter how many users dislike the status quo.
The author of xscreensaver presents a compelling argument which emphasizes his priority of security/reliability over toolkit support. I agree with the vast majority of what he says, except that I disagree on the importance of the lock dialog appearance. Since it is something that I see fairly often, I would like to have a lock dialog that is visually pleasing.
I believe that with a little work, metalock can be brought to that standard of reliability without being hideously ugly. Metalock is a very small program, and is unlikely to get particularly large in the near future.
Current features include:
Support for pixmap (image) xpm background and login box.
It gives visual feedback as you type the password (Shows username and * for each character of password typed.)
Bind arbitrary commands to key combinations (allows tasks such as pause/un-pause music without unlocking the screen)
Optional XFT support for anti-aliased fonts. (This is optional in case greater security is desired)
Optional Imlib2 support for use of png or jpg formats, which are more appropriate for photos or high-color images than xpm.
In the future, there will also be an accompanying daemon called metaidle, (similar to xidle, except with more features) to match some of the features available in xscreensaver which metalock does not address. (such as support for the heartbeat command, DPMS support, and other features)
Timothy Beyer: beyert AT SYMBOL fastmail DOT SYMBOL net
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News: Marine Fenders
Evaluation of Wave Disturbance Study Results
The design of a port is primarily aimed to provide suitable berthing conditions for the ships. Each ship or craft, depending on its size and
Planning Study for the new cargo port in Naxos Island - Conceptual Design
CNWAY and its Associates have successfully completed the Planning Study for the new Cargo Port in Naxos Island as well as the Conceptual Design of
Small Port Facilities in Karystos - Evia Island
CNWAY and its Associates have successfully completed the study of a small port in Karystos of Evia Island on behalf of the firm "Blue Farm
Marine Fenders provide the necessary interface between the berthing ship and the berth structure and therefore the principal function of the fender is to transform the impact load from the berthing ship into reactions, which both the ship and berth structure can safely sustain (Carl A. Thoressen).
Photo1: Pneumatic marine fenders in use for cruise ship berthing at Rhodes cruise terminal (Rhodes Island - 2012)
Marine fenders typically operate as a group of single units where the type, location and density of their installation or deployment depends on several factors including their technical specifications, berth structure, ship type, etc. (see Photo 1).
The basic function of the marine fenders is to manage the excess kinetic energy of the ship during the approach or berthing operation preventing damage to occur in both the ship and the berth. In case of elastomeric fenders the excess kinetic energy is stored within the elastic elements, which are deformed by developing a counter parallel (to the motion of the ship) reaction force, which results in slowing down the vessel and keeping it to a safe distance from the quay.
The effectiveness of the fender system depends on the following three basic parameters:
The correct system design (selection of suitable fender types and optimum arrangement),
System operation according to the manufacture specifications,
Regular inspection and system maintenance.
The fendering system design is a specialized study which is sometimes omitted or incorrectly performed with the result that money is wasted for the supply of systems which are often unsuitable for the intended use (See photos 2.3 and 4).
Photo 2. V type fender system (Buckling type) with contact plate which does not correspond to the intended needs of the berthed vessel, resulting in the need to suspend used vehicle tires on the contact plate to reduce system rigidity (Port of Sοuda, Adrias Pier – Crete Island - 2011)
Photo 3. As above
Photo 4. Improper selection and installation of fender type resulting in an inefficient operation of the system and the failure of its anchoring (Port of Poros Island - 2014)
Photo 5. Installation of two different V- type fenders in short distance with different technical specifications and controversial operation efficiency (Port of Rhodes Island - 2012)
The successful design of a fender system should follow the following basic steps (PIANC 2002):
Determination of system requirements,
Determination of operating characteristics,
Assessment of the berth type where the system will be installed,
Assessment of design parameters,
Calculation of impact energy which will be received by the fender system (either during berthing or loading and unloading operations),
Appropriate system selection, according to the total energy absorption requirements and system design criteria,
Assessment of the reaction force and the associated frictional forces between fender and vessel,
Berthing vessel resistance capacity check to reaction force generated by the selected fender system.
The correct calculation of the design impact energy is particularly important because the selection of a suitable fender system will be based on that, while generally the principle «the Bigger the Better» does not apply. In fact the fender which has greater energy absorption than that required considering the design ship and the conditions of impact is more rigid developing greater reaction force and exerting inevitably greater pressure on the contact surface with the ship. These fenders require the application of a "larger impact force" to operate which may ultimately cause permanent deformation to the ships metal surfaces if the reaction force is greater than that of metal surface strength. Therefore, instead the impact energy being absorbed and converted to manageable reaction force solely by the fenders, in the case of a "harder" fender that greater force will deform the metallic surface of the vessel as well, causing damage to it.
On the other hand the under sizing of a fender system will cause its failure with adverse consequences to the berth and the vessel.
In many Greek ports improvised questionable quality and efficiency fender systems are used (see fig. 6 and 7) without specifications. In photo 7 a fender system made by used rubber tires can be seen suspended from a quay wall that has experienced damage from its insufficient operation.
Photo 6. Suspended used rubber track tires as marine fenders in a quay wall (Port of Naxos Island - 2010)
Photo 7. Old tires of vehicles with a chain suspended from a vertical quay wall that has experienced damage from its insufficient operation (Port of Souda, Crete Island - 2011)
Finally, equally important is the annual inspection of the fender system for damage. The inspection should be performed by experienced engineers so as to maintain the system in working condition and within the design specifications. In order to prolong the useful life of a system, any damage must be repaired according to product specifications and without altering its functional characteristics.
Photo 8. In the photo is shown a V type fender with contact panel and shear chains with failed anchor system after ship collision (Port of Souda, Crete Island- 2011)
Marine fenders are considered standard equipment for a berth and their effective operation can prevent significant damage to ships and infrastructure. The maintenance cost savings for a marine facility equipped with a well-functioning fendering system is significant and exceeds the purchase, installation and maintenance cost, provided of course that the system design is supported by a comprehensive study. | {
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☰ Contents
Policy Questions
Where is Europe headed towards in 2050? What is the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)? What is the role of import dependency in Europe? What will the role of electrification be in the transport sector? What is the future of hydrogen in the EU? What are the costs and gains of current policies?
As part of the PARIS REINFORCE research project, a regional workshop took place on November 21, 2019, in Brussels, Belgium For the co-production of research underpinning new climate policy in Europe. Stakeholders were invited based on their displayed participation or interest in previous European climate policy events, resulting in a sample of over 800 invitations. During the workshop, high-level staff of the EC directorates-general (DGs) for energy, climate and research, ministries and climate-related governmental bodies from EU Member States, international organisations, business representatives, and scientists participated.
The consultation, along with an open crowd-sourcing process carried out via an online polling platform 24 h before the event, resulted in a list of 22 topics, which were broken down into 3 thematic groups.
57 individuals attended the workshop physically, although the event was also livestreamed to allow as large and diversified an audience as possible.
Given the range of proposed questions, participants were given the option to vote (via sli.do1) on and prioritise which questions they would be most interested in discussing. After topic selection, the floor was open for discussion between chairs and audience. Chairs spent 1–2 min introducing the discussion on each topic, and then stakeholders were able to raise any points or questions they had over the proposed research areas. Following the discussion, sli.do voting again allowed stakeholders to vote according to how relevant they see it for the project to follow up on and conduct research in each topic. The process is illustrated below.
Use the arrows to see the process step by step
Where is Europe headed towards in 2050?
From 1990 to 2015, annual CO2 emissions in the EU have decreased an average of 0.9% per year.
Between 2020 and 2030, models project a reduction of CO2 emissions reaching in 2030 -33% to -45% of CO2 emissions compared to 1990.
GHG emissions reduction in 2030 will range between −39% and −51%, compared to 1990 levels.
These figures are insufficient to comply with the new EU Green Deal objective of a 55% GHG reduction target.
These figures show the EU will reach the former −40% milestone, but not yet the new EU Green Deal objective of a 55% GHG reduction target.
In 2050, the median EU CO2 emissions are about 2.1 Gt, with a broad range of about 1.0–2.35 Gt, representing a CO2 emissions drop of −43% to −76% compared to 1990.
Total CO2 emissions
(in the EU across models until 2050)
The chart will present the total CO2 emissions from energy in the EU across models until 2050.
PR_CurPol_CP: Current policies evolving with GDP per capita growth (E3ME, GCAM, Gemini-E3, ICES, MUSE, TIAM)
PR_CurPol_EI: Current policies evolving with 2020-2030 GDP reduction rate (42)
PR_NDC_CP: NDCs evolving with GDP per capita growth (EU-TIMES, NEMESIS)
Variability between models comes from the different mitigation options available, key technologies (e.g. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)), markets and national policies.
When looking into sectors, PR's EU model ensemble results indicate that:
Energy supply is the largest contributor of emissions cuts between 2020 and 2050 in almost all models (with an average of 47%).
On the contrary, median decarbonisation rates in industry (42%), buildings (30%) and transport (32%) differ significantly across models, with industrial CO2 emissions displaying the largest variability.
The two sector-specific models, FORECAST (buildings and industry) and ALADIN (transport) show significant emissions cuts in their sectors, compared to other models.
Energy CO2 emissions
(by sector)
Use the scrollbar bellow to change the timeframe of the chart
The chart will present the energy CO2 emissions by sector in the EU across models for 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Different columns in the same time period represent different models and their results for the CO2 emissions.
What is the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?
In the policy domain and among specific technologies used in modelling scenarios, CCS is considered a possible option for reducing CO2 emissions, particularly from hard-to-decarbonise sectors, like heavy industries and energy transformation.
However, there are still important barriers, that hinder the large-scale development of these technologies. As seen in the following graph, global, drastic emissions reduction currently depend significantly on these technologies mainly post-2040, although to different extents for each model.
On average, contribution of Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in these models represents approximately 50% of captured CO2 in 2030 and 56% in 2050.
CO2 captured by CCS
Please select among the available models.
E3ME EU-TIMES GCAM MUSE NEMESIS TIAM Gemini-E3
The chart will present the CO2 captured by CCS by sector for 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Limited role of the technology in GEMINI-E3 and NEMESIS reflecting limited decarbonisation resulting from current policy efforts and GEMINI-E3 due to less detailed representation of the technology in power generation).
E3ME and EU-TIMES show a lower rate of CCS penetration in electricity generation.
Global, technology-rich models TIAM, GCAM and MUSE deliver high capture rates.
Different and more ambitious policy efforts may completely change the role of CCS in the longer run.
CCS is a critical factor and game-changing enabler of the deep decarbonisation foreseen, but it becomes so only upon hitting high decarbonisation levels (40–60%).
against CO2 reduction levels
(since 1990, based on European Environmental Agency, 2019)
The chart will present the CO2 captured by CCS against CO2 reduction levels (since 1990, based on European Environmental Agency, 2019).
Our results justify stakeholders' concerns over the potential failure of CCS as a game changer in the EU energy system. We see that, without setting in motion actions to deliver on the EU's increased climate ambitions, as reflected in its December 2020 NDC and broader mid-century vision for climate neutrality, CCS deployment is critical to achieving deep emissions cuts and eventually nearing climate targets. Our results should be interpreted alongside the adopted scenario framework; different policy efforts may completely change the role of CCS even in the longer run.
What is the role of import dependency in Europe?
Currently the EU is a net importer of fossil fuels, but reducing emissions and a transition to renewables will allow the EU to become less reliant on import dependency.
Some Member States have acknowledged the importance of improving energy efficiency, reducing overall gross inland consumption while also targeting more ambitious policies toward increasing domestic renewables.
Imported fuels
(until 2050)
Please select among the available imported fuels.
Coal Gas Oil
Use the scrollbar below to change the timeframe of the chart
The chart will present the imported fuels until 2050 under current policy efforts.
A reduction in coal and oil imports is also expected in 2050, but model results differ regarding the future of gas imports. Gas imports increase in EU-TIMES and GEMINI-E3, while in TIAM tends to reduce in the long run but retain some important role in the transition.
Import dependency
(in relation to CO2 emissions reduction levels)
The chart will present the import dependency in relation to CO2 emissions reduction levels (since 1990, based on European Environmental Agency, 2019).
In TIAM, import dependency decreases in time, in line with the higher decarbonisation efforts compared to the other two models, thereby attesting to future low-carbon energy systems relying less and less on imports, substituted primarily by energy savings and domestic energy resources.
What will the role of electrification be in the transport sector?
EU transport sector electrification
The chart will present the EU transport sector electrification in relation to CO2 emissions reduction levels (since 1990, based on European Environmental Agency, 2019.
All models illustrate increasing electrification through decarbonization, though at differing rates.
Sectoral models, delving deeper into the energy system, indicate that a 39% decrease in CO2 emissions is expected compared to 1990 values due to the electrification in the transport sector.
Both in Europe and globally, the transport sector plays a critical role in transition.
Global transport emissions have been increasing, making up a quarter of direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. In the EU, although transport emissions have stabilised after steady growth until 2007, they still make up 29.6% of total direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered a valuable option to reduce direct emissions and energy intensity of road mode, and their deployment is steeply growing.
(in final energy consumption until 2050)
The chart will present the EU transport sector electrification in final energy consumption in 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Different columns in the same time period represent different models and their results for energy consumption in the transport sector.
What is the future of hydrogen in the EU?
In a low-carbon future, hydrogen is generally expected to grow in order to sustain the decarbonisation of hard-to-electrify demand sectors, like heavy-duty transportation, navigation, aviation, and energy-intensive industries, or used for energy storage sustaining the uptake of large renewable energy shares (RES) in the power sector.
Hydrogen can be produced through a variety of processes and its manufacturing can be energy-intensive and associated with a wide range of emissions, depending on the technology used.
Generally hydrogen production can be divided into fossils based or renewables based.
Brown hydrogen is produced via coal gasification, grey hydrogen is from natural gas, blue hydrogen uses CCS technologies for the greenhouse gases produced via grey hydrogen and green hydrogen production uses renewable energy.
For a more detailed analysis on Hydrogen Production see the European Commission's communication.
Hydrogen production capacities
(by fuel type)
The chart will present the hydrogen production capacities by fuel type foreseen by three IAMS in 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Different columns in the same time period represent different models and their results for hydrogen production.
Most hydrogen production in 2030 is expected to be grey. By 2050, models show conversion to blue hydrogen, underpinning the increase of natural gas in the energy system with reliance on CCS technologies.
These findings indicate that current policies are not enough to drive a complete change from grey to green hydrogen in EU by 2050.
Hydrogen/ electricity comparison
(in final transport and industry demand)
The chart will present he hydrogen production compared to electricity in final industry demand.
Different columns in the same time period represent different models and their results for hydrogen/ electricity comparison in industry demand.
In industry, future scenarios based on current policies also indicate that the share of hydrogen in total final energy demand is negligible in comparison to the role of electricity, estimated at around 1% of total sector consumption in 2030 and 3.5% in 2050.
The chart will present he hydrogen production compared to electricity in final transport.
Different columns in the same time period represent different models and their results for hydrogen/ electricity comparison in transport demand.
In transport, only TIAM shows important hydrogen deployment, delivering 7% of total consumption in 2030 and 17% in 2050. In all other models, hydrogen remains a niche technology achieving in 2050 an average of 0.7% of consumption.
What are the costs and gains of current policies?
Extrapolating into the future
GDP projections are different across model results due to model characteristics and logic.
The two global computable general equilibrium (CGE) models (GEMINI-E3 and ICES) show negative GDP impacts of current policy efforts, relative to their no policy scenario.
The two macroeconometric models, on the other hand, display different behaviour: NEMESIS shows negligible GDP impacts, while E3ME projects positive impacts on GDP.
Both NEMESIS and E3ME models reveal positive impact of a long-term projection of current policy efforts on total employment.
Despite differences in the levels of investments overall, top-down macroeconomic models (GEMINI-E3, NEMESIS, E3ME) show moderate changes between 2020 and 2050. On the other hand, the technology-richer models (EU-TIMES, GCAM) project an acceleration of European investments in the power sector from 2020 to 2050, with both models showcasing a 2.5-fold increase.
The I2AM PARIS platform has been developed within the framework of the PARIS REINFORCE project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 820846.
The platform is further supported by the H2020 projects NDC ASPECTS and ENCLUDE and the Horizon Europe projects IAM COMPACT and DIAMOND, under grant agreements No. 101003866, 101022791, 101056306, and 101081179 respectively.
The content of this page is for information purposes only. The European Commission and CINEA do not accept responsibility for any use made of the information contained therein. | {
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Missing Niobrara Woman Alive, Now In Police Custody
A Niobrara woman missing since Sept. 25 has been found alive.
Boyd County Sheriff Chuck Wrede confirmed Thursday night that 37-year old Amy Heiser has been arrested and is now in custody of law enforcement. More details on the arrest will be released Friday.
A press release issued shortly after disappearance stated that the sheriff's office located her black 2000 GMC Yukon Denali at the public landing of Sunshine Bottom on the Missouri River on September 26 at approximately 12:30 p.m. Heiser was not found near the vehicle, but the sheriff's office says that items obtained in the vehicle lead authorities to believe she may have gone into the river.
The Boyd County Sheriff's Office then contacted numerous other agencies to assist in the search for Heiser, including the Nebraska State Patrol, who lists Heiser as a missing person with an active search out to locate her.
Thousands of man hours, hundreds of people and more than a dozen agencies joined the search to locate Heiser. Air patrol units and water units also assisted in the search of the area from the Sunshine Bottom public landing northeast of Lynch to an area near Verdel in northwestern Knox County.
Authorities had been looking for Heiser for more than a month. She was set to appear in Holt County District Court on September 29 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
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Per-Pupil Spending Over Time
Posted on 2015-03-03 by perryadmin
Are We Spending More or Less on Kids?
It's stated frequently, the statistical factoid (statoid? statisticoid? hmmm.) that per-pupil spending in Brookline Schools has fallen during the enrollment boom, i.e. between 2006 and now. We've added kids, so of course, we are spending less on each kid. We've cut to the bone. We're already underfunding our schools. Only the maximum extent possible override (MEPO) will retain your property value or keep our schools excellent.
And looking at the data, yes, we're spending less. But on what?
Less on interest payments for building the New Lincoln School in 1990 (Brookline's first override ever after prop 2 1/2) and renovating the High School in 1995 (Brookline's second override ever).
Less on health care because Brookline joined the GIC, saving us a bunch.
Less on out-of-district special education placements by providing equivalent services at less cost in-district.
But not less on School Budgets or teachers or kids. The Brookline School Budgets keeps going up. In fact, we'll see that from 2006 to 2014:
Enrollment in Brookline Public Schools went up 21% from 6014 to 7288 kids;
The Brookline School Budget increased 41.7%, from $60M to $85M;
The Brookline School Budget increased 4.48% per year on average.
Per-pupil the School Budget is doing just fine, too, thank you very much, having increased 17%, from $10,046 to $11,751;
Yes, even inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending is just around 0% (-0.67%) over the last 8 years.
I guess we do love our kids here in Brookline.
Let's dig into the data.
Types of Spending
What kind of spending are folks talking about when they say we are spending less?
Per-pupil average spending including the CIP
Hmm…that sounds a little wonk-ish. Per-pupil means you're going to do an average anyways. Let's mention that averages are often misleading, especially when there is a skew in the distribution, i.e. the level of spending on the special needs population skews the average "per-pupil spending" quite a bit. But let's stay with it.
Why do folks point to that? The argument is easy – each new child in school means our fixed dollars are spread thinner per pupil. It is also trying to build a subtle connection between spending and "spending on kids". That is an important distinction which we'll tease apart below.
And what about the "including the CIP" bit. Recall the CIP is the Town's "Capital Improvement Plan". The Town pays interest when it borrows money to build buildings, including School buildings. But there are a good number of other costs the Town pays on behalf of Schools beyond just the CIP. They are all factored into that "including CIP" bit.
So overall that is an …. interesting but hard to understand metric.
Who says Per-Pupil Spending is Down
First written history of it seems to be from the Override Study Committee's Schools Program Task Force, which had the executive summary item:
Average per pupil inflation-adjusted spending (including CIP) has in fact declined since the 2008 override. Spending was $17.4k per student in FY06, $17.9k per student in FY09 (increased following the override), and $16.9k per student in FY14.
And that position justifies the minority position for a large override – we're falling behind in how much we spend on our schools.
That leaves out a bit of important nuance. Let's look at the data at the Massachusetts Department of Education and the Brookline School Departments Budget.
Department of Education Data
Before we go to the source, let's get familiar with the Mass Dept. of Ed report for Brookline on spending for 2010 / 2011, the year when folks say things really went down hill for our spending.
Function 2010 2011
Total Exp Per Pupil Total Exp Per Pupil
Administration $4,740,885 $725 $5,012,395 $750
Instructional Leadership $7,077,144 $1,082 $7,626,542 $1,141
Classroom and Specialist Teachers $41,626,534 $6,362 $42,039,477 $6,292
Other Teaching Services $10,936,364 $1,672 $11,249,982 $1,684
Professional Development $1,617,351 $247 $1,909,144 $286
Instructional Materials, Equipment and Technology $2,498,293 $382 $3,179,712 $476
Guidance, Counseling and Testing $3,668,930 $561 $3,642,439 $545
Pupil Services $4,799,039 $733 $5,249,669 $786
Operations and Maintenance $9,467,236 $1,447 $9,655,472 $1,445
Insurance, Retirement Programs and Other $18,410,963 $2,814 $16,489,499 $2,468
Payments To Out-Of-District Schools $8,138,531 $119,509 $5,952,865 $70,952
TOTAL EXPENDITURES $112,981,270 $17,090 $112,007,196 $16,556
Which which items did we spend less money on between 2010 and 2011. The things I colored red in the table above:
Insurance/Retirements – almost $2M dollars. Good results from Brookline joining the state's GIC insurance pool.
Special Education (SPED) Payments to Out-of-District Schools – slightly more than $2M. This amount is highly variable from year to year based on the kids in the system. The per-pupil costs on those out-of-district placements went from $110,000 to $71,000, with the state average for that per-pupil out-of-district cost being… $20,000. At least we're on par with Newton in this metric.
What things did Brookline Schools spend more money on? Well, almost everything else.
Public School of Brookline Budgets
There are some good nuggets in the budgets that the Public Schools of Brookline publish.
[Aside: It seems that the PSB does not go back and publish "final" budgets, just leaving the previous "preliminary" available.]
Let's look at pages 317, 319, and 322 of the Superintendent's Preliminary 2014 Budget (beware 24MB pdf) to get some data on spending from the Schools and the Towns contribution.
Here are screen shots of the PDFs of those pages, starting with page 322, which is all about…per-pupil spending! Yeah, we found the source.
So the Per-Pupil Spending, using the somewhat complicated methodology described therein, does show a dip from 2010 to 2011 from $17,090 to $16,556. It does mention it includes costs carried by the Town of Brookline spent in support of schools.
Let's look at page 316 of that document showing net school spending, which shows a high level break out of the "School Department Budget" and "Town Spending on Behalf of Schools":
As the School Budget points out, the Town contributes to the Schools by paying for things like: school administration, utilities like oil & natural gas for the schools, maintenance of school grounds and buildings, insurance for retired and active employees, pension benefits for employees, principal and interest on loans for school building projects.
We find a detailed breakout of what categories the Town spends money on behalf of the Schools on Page 319.
Let's pull out some of that data from those various sources. And let's also join that with yearly student enrollment data from the DOE so we can get at per-pupil values for those spends. And for good measure, let's do some inflation adjustments using the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The full table of data used to make these graphs is available at the bottom of this article.
Student enrollment over time and the yearly growth. Yes, it is definitely positive over time.
Brookline Public School Enrollment over time
Here is the Public School of Brookline Budget per year, not including what the Town pays. The line in the graph shows the year-over-year change. Note the jump in 2009, which came from the 2008 passed in to add Elementary World Language and lengthening the school day by 20 minutes.
Absolute Brookline Public School Budget.
What has happened to the Town contribution over time?
Absolute dollars Town Contribution to Brookline Schools
Now let's look at both those values on a per-pupil basis, starting with the School Budget. The School Budget per-pupil growth is positive year-over-year. That means the Schools are spending at least the same per-pupil over time.
Brookline School Dept. Budget Per-Pupil
Now let's look at the Town share of spending on schools per-pupil. Almost neutral except for a big drop in 2011, the year we stopped paying debt payments for Lawrence and the High School.
Brookline Town Share of School Spending Per-Pupil
Finally, what about the comment that per-pupil inflation adjusted spending has gone down? A quick detour to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for an inflation calculator and let's run the per-pupil School Budget dollars through that to give us that:
Per-pupil School Budget inflation adjusted
The large increase in all those School Budget numbers in 2009 is due to the 2008 Override. The negative year-over-year change in 2011 was due to the items we talked about above: retiring debt from New Lincoln School and also joining the GIC insurance.
Back to the question at the top – are we spending more or less on our kids? That's kind of the wrong question. Are we spending more or less on the things that affect our kids education?
From 2006 to 2014, we had:
A 21% increase in enrollment from 6014 to 7288 from Pre-K to 12th grade;
A school budget increase of 41.8%.
Yes, that includes a previous override. But that's because we increased spending on schools.
A 17% school budget increase per-pupil over that time.
a hair below 0% change in per-pupil inflation adjusted change in the school budget since 2006.
Are our kids worse off because we we finished paying off debt and saved a bundle on health insurance? Absolutely not. If the metric you use for "average per-pupil spending" goes down when those two costs go down, then you've got a really stupid metric. And that, folks, is what the "average per pupil (including CIP)" metric is when justifying why the next override should be the Maximum Extent Override Possible (MEPO).
A "debt exclusion", by definition, is a temporary (albeit long ~ 20 – 25 years) measure. It goes away when the project is paid off. But more importantly, there should be zero surprise factor that the debt is retiring. As in – you can forecast it and build a budget around it. Thanks New Lincoln School and High School renovation, we're glad you're off the books.
The Town stopped spending $5M dollars. Did we spend less on teachers? No. Did we have to let go of librarian assistants because of this "reduction"? No. Did we have to increase user fees in Town? No. Did we have to reduce services to kids because we were "spending less money" on debt service? No.
Table combining data from the Dept of Education site, the Brookline School Budget, and the Bureau of Labor statistics:
Brookline School Spending By Year
Enrollment Pre-K to 12 6014 6142 6168 6321 6472 6627 6875 7112 7288
Yearly % Change 2.13% 0.42% 2.48% 2.39% 2.39% 3.74% 3.45% 2.47%
School Department Budget $60,414,544 $62,916,637 $64,786,212 $70,987,572 $72,515,419 $75,346,929 $78,443,875 $82,086,987 $85,643,933
Inflation Adjusted School Dept Budget $71,152,170 $72,046,830 $71,445,050 $78,562,930 $78,958,860 $79,531,010 $81,121,270 $83,663,190 $85,643,933
Yearly % Change 1.26% -0.84% 9.96% 0.50% 0.72% 2.00% 3.13% 2.37%
Per-pupil School Budget $10,046 $10,244 $10,504 $11,230 $11,204 $11,370 $11,410 $11,542 $11,751
Yearly % Change 1.97% 2.54% 6.92% -0.23% 1.47% 0.35% 1.16% 1.81%
Inflation Adjusted Per-pupil School Budget $11,831 $11,730 $11,583 $12,429 $12,200 $12,001 $11,799 $11,764 $11,751
Yearly % Change -0.85% -1.25% 7.30% -1.84% -1.63% -1.68% -0.30% -0.10%
Town Spending on Behalf of Schools $26,824,273 $27,188,868 $30,136,626 $31,937,918 $33,264,116 $29,765,693 $31,829,842 $33,362,664 $35,306,932
Yearly % Change 1.36% 10.84% 5.98% 4.15% -10.52% 6.93% 4.82% 5.83%
Per-pupil Town Spending $4,460.30 $4,426.71 $4,885.96 $5,052.67 $5,139.70 $4,491.58 $4,629.80 $4,691.04 $4,844.53
Yearly % Change -0.75% 10.37% 3.41% 1.72% -12.61% 3.08% 1.32% 3.27%
* MEPO = "Maximum Extent Possible Override" , an homage to the BSPACE report findings that several expansions should be done to the "maximum extent possible".
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Democracy War Den
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Ram Pam
There is a flutter, the heart skips a beat and the sensation travels downwards towards the stomach, a tingle rushing across, as butterflies make a home and begin to dance. We know this feeling all too well - this is a new love. In Ram Pam, we find a girl in the throes of such a love, a love that our girl wants to shout from the rooftops to anyone who will listen - with earnestness, she declares the state of her heart to Baba Bhatti, a man who has decided to be a mentor and friend to her restless condition.
At Coke Studio, it is Zoe Viccaji's voice that embodies the character of this girl. She tells Baba Bhatti of a newfound love that is making her heart go, "bam bam," and, "taara ra ram pam pam". The song's lyrics are lined with the slightest hint of melancholy. The object of her affections is not present, yet continues to occupy her thoughts obsessively. As she implores her love not to cause her sorrow or forget her, our girl declares that the loneliness caused by his absence has taken over her nights. Plagued by incessant dreams of her love, she tells Baba Jee that she belongs now completely to her dholna, that in her attempts to be with him, she could even court death for him. Her life now begins and ends with him: "tum pih shuru, tum pih khatum," she calls out to her absentee beloved.
Stepping in to console his young mentee is Baba Bhatti, in the form of vocalist Shahab Hussain. For Shahab, this is his first time on the mainstage as a featured artist on Coke Studio. With his wisdom and foresight, Shahab's fictional, "najoomi" Baba recognizes the sincerity in Zoe's affections and promises to be her friend as she pursues her beloved. In this way, the girl finds a humsaya in Baba Bhatti and the two sing together in what becomes a fun, upbeat duet between two members of the Coke Studio family.
Ram Pam is the creation of Sahir Ali Bagga, a songwriter known for his versatility with the theme of love, presenting it in soulful ballads, Punjabi bhangra duets and, now, quirky Urdu banter. "Sometimes in romance, you can be funny too, right?" says Bagga. "You can be happy, but you don't have to be dancing around like crazy, you can just be chilled out and funny with it," he explains the thought process behind Ram Pam. For Bagga, the lyrics came straight from a sentiment, from a mood of merriment and innocence that he decided to pen down, and the poetry made its way to Coke Studio's mainstage in Zoe and Shahab's voices.
When asked to give the song's protagonist her voice, Zoe was drawn to it because of its happy, playful vibe and mix of genres. "It's a pop song ... and goes into a jazz section. Because I come from a jazz background, and that's the kind of music I really love ... I get to show my jazz chops. Then it goes into a very Eastern section, so it's really a mix of different genres [and] that's essentially what pop is." Mixing these genres was also challenging for the singer, a challenge that only added to the fun of the song, "Murkis (eastern singing technique) don't come naturally to me so it's been really fun to see how I can play with them and merge them with [contemporary] styles."
Shahab happens to be an old friend of Zoe's so, for the two, this was a duet they fell into with ease. "Shahab and I go way back. We used to write songs together, like 7 years ago. I was really happy to find out that he was doing the part with me," says Zoe. The chemistry between the artists is important, Shahab explains, because of the unusual, quirky nature of the relationship between the characters of the song: "That relationships needs to show [in the performance]. We've tried our best to show our connection, through our words, our singing and also our actions."
For Shahab, while performing with an old friend was a welcome leap onto the mainstage, the nerves still existed while preparing: "It was a transition, going from a chorus of four people to standing, just me, next to the artist. Everyone is treating me like an artist and trying to buck me up. Everything is happening around me, I'm not working around the artist, everyone is working around me." As he starts performing however, Shahab's nervousness falls away, and the thrill of the performance takes over: "My hands started moving along to the song, I seemed to grow four extra hands," he laughs, "From inside, I think I felt the same because when I stand at the backing vocalists' space, I'm giving it my 100%, I'm singing from my heart, I'm like that 5-year-old kid who is singing with all he's got, and I felt the same on the mainstage."
The production experience behind this song is one of friendship and collaboration, in the end turning out to be as fun as the song's lyrics, a collective experience between colleagues and friends who have worked together, on and outside of Coke Studio. Shahab's fellow house band members tease and encourage him during the recording. Coke Studio resident Rachel Viccaji chimes in as Zoe rehearses, telling her sister to be less nervous, sharing inside jokes. "It's like coming back home," Zoe says of the experience, "It was a lot of fun, especially with the band because [they] were very upbeat. Everyone was laughing, interacting, there was good energy, so I had a really great time."
Ultimately, Ram Pam is a light-hearted take on romance, a reminder that, maybe, love need not always be a serious or tragic business, and much like the protagonist of the song needs a friendly ear to hear her plight, at the end of the day, we all need our friends in times of angst, excitement and silliness. Ram Pam is a song that invites listeners to participate in the fun that was had during the experience of creating it.
Read About Zoe Viccaji
Read About Shahab Hussain
Listen to Ram Pam | {
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Home | Navy | Which is better Army or Marines?
Which is better Army or Marines?
Which is harder Army or Marine?
What is higher than a Marine
Which is bigger Army or Marines?
Do Marines ever fight
Do Marines switch to Army
Do Marines get paid better than Army?
Why is a Marine not a soldier
What do Marines do in war
What do Marines call Army soldiers?
Can Marines be Navy SEALs
Do Marines and Army fight together
What is Marine salary
Is a Marine considered a soldier
Do Army and Marines get paid the same
Which branch of the military is the best
Who sees more combat Army or Marines
What is the death rate of Marines
Can a Marine go to war
Do Marines get trained to fight
Why are they called Marines
Can you leave the Marines after 4 years
Who is the highest paid soldier
Who pays more Marines or Navy
Why are Marines so special
Do Marines guard the president
What type of soldier is a Marine
Are Marines always first to fight
Do Marines shoot guns?
Are the Marines difficult?
Why are Marines called First to Fight
What do you call boss Marines
Army vs Marines? The Army wins by a long shot when it comes to varying professional opportunities, both full- and part-time but the Marines are still a viable option for someone looking for part-time service. The Marine Reserve Forces have approximately 38,500 personnel in it.
The Marine Corps members are called marines, not soldiers, and they typically have to go through much more intense basic training than those in the Army do, creating a reputation for being some of the toughest and most highly trained fighters.
U.S. Navy SEALs are an elite unit, more exclusive and harder to be admitted to than the U.S. Marines.
The Army is the largest branch among the United States Armed Forces, and the Marine Corps is one of the smallest. While the Army has significantly more troops than the Marines, their counterpart possesses a more diverse aviation arm due to the Marine's relationship with the Navy.
Driven by an innate desire to answer our Nation's call, an unwavering commitment to emerge victorious, and a collective purpose that defines our unbreakable bond, Marines win the battles in front of them with an inner fight running through them.
By transitioning to the Army National Guard, Marines can continue their service and take advantage of the flexibility and other benefits the Guard offers its Soldiers. The Guard needs experienced warriors. And the skills and experience you earned in the Marines can transfer easily to the Army National Guard.
The Army and the Marine Corps have the same pay. All of the branches of the U.S. military use the same pay structure based on years of service and pay grade.
Marines aren't called soldiers because they aren't in the Army. Each branch of the military has its own mission, training, history, uniform, and esprit de corps.
The Marines' mission is unique among the services. Marines serve on U.S. Navy ships, protect naval bases, guard U.S. embassies and provide an ever-ready quick strike force to protect U.S. interests anywhere in the world.
See also How many tanks does the Canadian army have?
Three such words are "gyrenes," "jarheads," and "grunts." Their times of origin and usage differ somewhat, but each has the same role in the Marine Corps culture. They have become a source of pride for all Marines. ties to the U.S. Navy, Marines interacted with sailors more and more.
No, a Marine can not become a Navy SEAL.
For an individual to become a Navy SEAL, they must first be an enlisted member of the Navy.
Do Marines and Army Work Together? Yes, joint operations between multiple branches of the military are an important aspect of keeping Americans safe. Despite the difference between Army and Marine personnel, their work can still overlap, and, when combined, their training and capabilities can complement each other.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $121,500 and as low as $11,500, the majority of salaries within the Marine Corps jobs category currently range between $37,500 (25th percentile) to $73,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $103,500 annually across the United States.
Marines are not soldiers, though they have been referred to as "soldiers of the sea" in past recruiting posters. In the U.S., people not in the Army are not soldiers, especially so for Marines — who will strongly protest being painted with that brush.
In the U.S. military, a service member's individual pay grade and years of service are the factors that determine basic pay. In other words, enlisted or military officer salary are equivalent whether you're in the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy or Coast Guard.
1 United States Marine Corps.
2 United States Army.
3 British Army.
4 French Foreign Legion.
5 United States Navy.
6 Australian Army.
7 United States Air Force.
8 Canadian Army.
There are 5 main branches in the military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Usually, the Army has the most members responsible for land-based operations. As such, they are most likely to see combat.
The Marine Corps experienced the highest fatality rates per 100,000 for all causes (122.5), unintentional injury (77.1), suicide (14.0), and homicide (7.4) of all the services. The Army had the highest disease and illness-related fatality rate (20.2 per 100,000) of all the services.
Those in the Marine Corps Reserve are trained in combat and can be mobilized for active duty in time of war, national emergency, or contingency operations.
But there is much more training required to ensure they become combat trained and ready to join the ranks of Marines in our Operating Forces. This is the training newly minted Marines must overcome to fight and win the battles of today and into the future for our Nation.
Did you ever wonder why the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy? Historically, marines serve as a navy's ground troops. In fact, the word "marine" is the French word for sea, which may be why the French military historically called English troops — who all had to arrive by sea — "marines."
See also Who is the No 1 air force in world?
When you sign you will serve 4 yrs of active duty. You then have a choice to re-enlist or get out of the Marine Corps. This is called the end of active service, however you are still obligated to serve 4 years in the inactive ready reserve.
Aircraft Launch and Recovery Officers.
Armored Assault Vehicle Officers.
Artillery and Missile Officers.
Command and Control Center Officers.
Infantry Officers.
Special Forces Officers.
Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders.
Medical, Pharmacy, and Dental Services.
The United States Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force are all equal in terms of basic pay. The basic military pay you earn is determined by military rank and years of service.
Marines are trained to improvise, adapt, and overcome all obstacles in all situations. They possess the willingness and the determination to fight and to keep fighting until victory is assured.
The White House Military Office is an amalgamation of several previously independent offices and agencies. White House sentries, four Marine Corps non-commissioned officers who act as a ceremonial guard outside the West Wing of the White House.
marine, member of a military force especially recruited, trained, and organized for service at sea and in land operations incident to naval campaigns.
marines are the first to fight and determined to succeed.
Since 1775, Marines have valiantly fought and died to protect our nation and advance its ideals. Our long and proud heritage of faithful service is fueled by an uncommon fighting spirit and the grit to continue on when others quit.
Since the Marines focus on close combat and fire assaults, all members of the Marines must qualify with their rifle during the Marine Corps Rifle Qualification test. This occurs during basic training to ensure every Marine possesses the capability of firing their weapon during battle conditions.
There are few reputations more storied and none more deserving than that of Marine Corps Recruit Training. The difficulties this process presents to every recruit are as deliberate as they are legendary, as physical, mental and moral toughness are prerequisites to fight among our ranks.
In World War I, the battle-tested, veteran Marines served a central role in the U.S. entry into the conflict, and at the Battle of Belleau Wood, Marine units were in the front, winning the Marines a reputation as the "First to Fight". This battle cemented the reputation of the Marines in modern history.
CAPTAIN – responsible for leading entire companies of Marines, serving as company commander, leading tactical operations with the support of junior commissioned officers and senior enlisted noncommissioned officers.
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Lowell's Sponsors Trailapalooza
August 6, 2010 April 8, 2016 Rob Morris 1 Comment Community
In its early days, Lexington was built along the Middle Fork of South Elkhorn Creek, which was eventually known as Town Fork or, more commonly today, Town Branch. Lexington's early streets were oriented along the banks of this stream.
If you don't remember a stream in downtown Lexington, you're not alone. Much of what was Town Branch is now buried under present-day Vine Street. Running underground along Vine Street and under the Lexington Center, Town Branch re-emerges in the Cox Street parking lot, and meanders along Manchester Street and Leestown Road. This area includes some of Lexington's most historic sites, such as McConnell Springs.
Town Branch Trail, Inc. has been leading the efforts to build a greenway and urban trail along this historic corridor. Town Branch Trail recently completed its second phase of construction, with nearly two miles of completed trail for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Lowell's is pleased to support these efforts. We think that initiatives like Town Branch Trail are an important part of making Lexington even more attractive and livable. So we are one of the sponsors of Trailapalooza, a festival along Town Branch Trail on Sunday, August 15th from 1 to 5 PM.
The Big Maracas and the inimitable March Madness Marching Band will be entertaining. And PRESTO, the People-Powered Pianobike (which we are pleased to keep here at Lowell's), will be there as well. On top of that, we'll have games and prizes, too.
Trailapalooza promises to be great fun for all ages. Lowell's encourages our friends and customers to come celebrate and support Town Branch Trail at Trailapalooza on August 15th.
Visit Trailapalooza to get all of the details.
Lowell's Wins 2010 Readers' Choice Award
August 2, 2010 April 8, 2016 Rob Morris 1 Comment Awards
Lowell's is honored to win our third consecutive Readers' Choice Award for "Favorite Auto Repair Place" in voting submitted by Lexington Herald-Leader readers.
Lowell's won the voting even when matched up against other finalists (our good friends at Auto Tech and S&S Tire) who service all brands or who have multiple locations around the region.
We are grateful to our loyal customers for voting for us. We are especially grateful to our very talented employees who earn this award through their thoughtful hard work and excellent service every day. | {
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LITTLE BIRD SERIES TO BE COLLECTED INTO HARDCOVER EDITION AVAILABLE THIS NOVEMBER
The bestselling, critically acclaimed miniseries by Ian Bertram (House of Penance) and Darcy Van Poelgeest—Little Bird: The Fight for Elder's Hope—will be collected, in its entirety, into a hardcover edition and available from Image Comics this November.
In the world of Little Bird: The Fight for Elder's Hope, North America has been devastated by three decades of war as the American Empire expands under an ultra-nationalist, theocratic government. But from the ashes of defeat rises Little Bird, a 12-year old girl who sets out to reignite the Canadian Resistance and discover her own identity in a world on fire.
Bertram first burst onto the scene with his haunting, macabre collaboration with Peter J. Tomasi on House of Penance, the eerie, unsettling comic series about the Winchester haunted house. He brings a similarly intricate inking style to the pages of Little Bird.
With the same limitless scope as a new East of West or Saga—and the drama and surrealism of Akira—Little Bird follows a young resistance fighter in a science-fiction style reminiscent of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale.
Little Bird: The Fight for Elder's Hope hardcover edition (ISBN 978-1534313453, Diamond Code AUG190079) collects all five issues of the miniseries and will be available in comic shops on Wednesday, November 20 and in bookstores on Tuesday, November 26. It can be pre-ordered with your local comic shop or on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, and Indigo.
The digital edition of Little Bird: The Fight for Elder's Hope will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including the official Image Comics iOS app, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.
Select praise for Little Bird:
"It. Is. Amazing." —Patton Oswalt
"Packed with rich ideas and executed with precision and passion. It's a comic that could be a cool movie in the future, but it succeeds because the creative team values the things that make comic books a unique form of storytelling." —The Onion's AV Club
"We'll accept any excuse for more of Bertram's horror-tinged Otomo-esque aesthetic." —Paste Magazine
"Little Bird is nothing short of a masterpiece...once you read this thing you'll see what we mean." —Nerdist
"Powerful and thought-provoking...clever and well-rounded and the art is lovely in a surrealistic way. I highly recommend this series." —Impulse Gamer
"Dark, surreal, and addictive." —Comic Book Resources
ABOUT DARCY VAN POELGEEST
Darcy Van Poelgeest is a multi-award winning writer and director living in Vancouver, B.C. His film work has screened internationally at festivals, broadcast on TV, shown in galleries, and become a best seller on iTunes. His debut comic series Little Bird released through Image Comics and Glènat Editions in the spring of 2019.
ABOUT IAN BERTRAM
Ian Bertram is an artist living and working in New York. By combining a love of storytelling with precise, meditative mark making, he creates mystical, grotesque, and primal portraits of the strange. He has published with Marvel, DC, Image Comics, and Dark Horse Comics. He has shown work in New York, Sri Lanka, and Paris.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
Labels: Image Comics
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Global regularity for a model of Navier-Stokes equations with logarithmic sub-dissipation
KRM Home
Mathematical modeling of a discontinuous solution of the generalized Poisson-Nernst-Planck problem in a two-phase medium
February 2018, 11(1): 137-177. doi: 10.3934/krm.2018008
The derivation of the linear Boltzmann equation from a Rayleigh gas particle model
Karsten Matthies 1,, , George Stone 1, and Florian Theil 2,
Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
* Corresponding author: Karsten Matthies
Received March 2016 Revised March 2017 Published August 2017
A linear Boltzmann equation is derived in the Boltzmann-Grad scaling for the deterministic dynamics of many interacting particles with random initial data. We study a Rayleigh gas where a tagged particle is undergoing hard-sphere collisions with background particles, which do not interact among each other. In the Boltzmann-Grad scaling, we derive the validity of a linear Boltzmann equation for arbitrary long times under moderate assumptions on higher moments of the initial distributions of the tagged particle and the possibly non-equilibrium distribution of the background. The convergence of the empiric dynamics to the Boltzmann dynamics is shown using Kolmogorov equations for associated probability measures on collision histories.
Keywords: Derivation, Boltzmann equation, semigroups, Rayleigh gas.
Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 82C40; Secondary: 35Q20, 37L05, 60K35, 76P05, 82C22.
Citation: Karsten Matthies, George Stone, Florian Theil. The derivation of the linear Boltzmann equation from a Rayleigh gas particle model. Kinetic & Related Models, 2018, 11 (1) : 137-177. doi: 10.3934/krm.2018008
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Figure 1. The collision parameter $\nu$
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Figure 2. Two example trees
Figure 3. In the case $v'=0$ we are calculating the volume of $\Delta$, since we know the background particle cannot start in $\Delta$. For $v'\neq 0$ the cylinders get shifted but the principle is the same. (Diagram not to scale)
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Karsten Matthies George Stone Florian Theil | {
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PSS Sleman vs Persipura Prediction 07.12.2021
PSS Sleman vs Persipura prediction and betting tips ahead of this Indonesia Liga 1 clash on Tuesday.
Indonesia Liga 1 December 07 9:15
PSS Sleman
WLDDWW
Persipura
LDWLLL
PSIS Semarang vs PSS Sleman
Persita vs PSS Sleman
PSS Sleman vs Bhayangkara
PSM vs PSS Sleman
PSS Sleman vs PS TNI
Borneo vs PSS Sleman
Persipura vs Bhayangkara
PSM vs Persipura
Persipura vs PS TNI
Borneo vs Persipura
Persipura vs Bali United
Persib vs Persipura
PSS SLEMAN OR DRAW Double Chance @1.25 Bet Won FT: 1 - 1
PSS Sleman will welcome Persipura to for a matchday 16 fixture in Indonesia Liga 1. The last meeting on 19th September 2019 ended in a 1-1 draw. Both sides have met two times in the most recent seasons. PSS Sleman has won 0 matches, and Persipura failed to win on every occasion. Recent outings average 2.00 goals, while both teams score 100% of the time.
PSS Sleman's latest fixture against PSIS Semarang ended in an away 2-1 win. PSS Sleman was very effective while counter-attacking. In the end, it was enough to make the difference between the two teams. PSS Sleman scored in both halves in the 16th and 66th minute.
Persipura's recent game against Bhayangkara ended in a home 0-2 loss. Mutiara Hitam (Black Pearl) had plenty of possession, but not so much in the final third of the pitch.
Since the start of the season, PSS Sleman is more dominant at home. They have four wins out of 10 games on home soil. Although PSS Sleman is among the most solid home teams in the league, they are far from perfect. Their defence is not as good as expected with just 10% home clean sheets.
Persipura has picked up 9 points from the previous six league games. It is quite intriguing that they prefer playing on the road. Persipura has collected 1.00 points on average per away game, compared to 0.82 at home. To improve results, they have to be more compact in defence. Persipura kept a clean sheet in just 0% of their visits.
It is hard to choose a favourite in this one. Both teams look evenly-matched and have their strengths. I am not willing to take a risk and prefer a double chance bet. My prediction is PSS Sleman or Draw.
Both teams struggle in defence and concede on regular occasions. PSS Sleman failed to keep a clean sheet in 10% of home games, while Persipura conceded in 0% of away games. On average, both teams score in 64% of PSS Sleman's home and Persipura's away games. My prediction is Both Teams to Score: Yes.
PSS Sleman vs Persipura Betting Tips
PSS Sleman vs Persipura Head to Head
Average stats between PSS Sleman and Persipura in most recent 2 outings in the Indonesia Liga 1.
PSS Sleman Persipura
Persipura PSS Sleman
PSS Sleman vs Persipura Stats
Results and Table Indonesia Liga 1 Form Half Goals Corners Cards
Average stats between PSS Sleman and Persipura across current season. Calculated from PSS Sleman's Home stats and Persipura's Away stats.
PSIS Semarang
Persita
PS TNI
Persik Kediri
Madura United
Persija
Persela
1 Bhayangkara 20 /13-4-3/ 43
2 Arema 20 /11-8-1/ 41
3 Persib 20 /12-4-4/ 40
4 Persebaya Surabaya 20 /12-3-5/ 39
5 Bali United 20 /11-5-4/ 38
6 PSIS Semarang 20 /8-7-5/ 31
7 Borneo 20 /8-6-6/ 30
8 Persija 20 /7-8-5/ 29
9 PSS Sleman 20 /6-7-7/ 25
10 Persita 20 /7-4-9/ 25
11 PSM 20 /5-9-6/ 24
12 PS TNI 20 /5-8-7/ 23
13 Madura United 20 /5-7-8/ 22
14 Persik Kediri 20 /4-7-9/ 19
15 Persipura 20 /4-6-10/ 18
16 Barito Putera 20 /4-4-12/ 16
17 Persela 20 /3-7-10/ 16
18 Persiraja Banda Aceh 20 /1-4-15/ 7
Indonesia Liga 1 Form
Coming into this game, PSS Sleman has picked up 8 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That's 1.6 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in an intriguing 3 of those games. PSS Sleman has scored 7 times in the last 5 fixtures.
PSS Sleman has enjoyed playing at home recently, with the side currently unbeaten in 2 games.
PSS Sleman will be looking to keep up the momentum today against Persipura, having lost just 1 game from the last 5. They have won 2 and drawn 2
Things have not been going that well in front of goal for PSS Sleman recently, with the side failing to score in 2 of the last 5 games. Will the manager change his tactics today, or throw in another forward?
In the last 5 matches for PSS Sleman, 3 of those games has ended with both teams scoring. This season 10 matches (67% of all matches) involving PSS Sleman has seen BTTS landing.
Coming into this game, Persipura has picked up 4 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That's 0.8 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in just 2 of those games. Persipura has scored 3 times in the last 5 fixtures.
Things have not been going that well in front of goal for Persipura recently, with the side failing to score in 3 of the last 5 games. Will the manager change his tactics today, or throw in another forward?
Persipura has fired blanks in 8 games this season. That's 53% of games where they have not been able to find the back of the net. Do they need a new forward? In the last 5 games, they have scored just 3 goals.
Just 2 of the last 5 games for Persipura has ended with both teams scoring. They have won 1 of those 5 games. Overall, BTTS has landed in 7/15 games for Persipura this season.
PSS SlemanIndonesia Liga 1, Place: 9 / 18
Fouls 0.00 / 0.00 0.00 0.00
PersipuraIndonesia Liga 1, Place: 15 / 18
Scored in Both 10% / 17% 0 % 22 %
PSS Sleman vs Persipura Odds
Thailand Thai League T1 Ratchaburi January 22View Tip 12:00 Muang Thong United View Tip
Thailand Thai League T1 Prachuap January 22View Tip 12:00 Chiangrai United View Tip | {
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Utah activists rally for immigration reform
By: Caroline Connolly
SALT LAKE CITY -- While Washington remains silent on a decision, the call for immigration reform is getting louder in Utah.
Shouts of, "yes we can" came from the Latino community of Salt Lake City, who were rallying for change Friday night.
"There's a lot of people who really deserve the chance to become a part of this country," said Edith Fernandez, one of dozens who attended.
Fernandez moved to the United State from Mexico City with her husband in 1997. She now has two children, who were both born in Salt Lake, but she still lives here on work permits.
"I have to go reapply, and I don't know: I just play it by ear, you know, by ear," Fernandez said.
The path to citizenship continues to remain unclear for people, like Fernandez, as lawmakers continue to disagree on immigration legislation.
"We've lived the worst of it in terms of a lot of the rhetoric that has happened over the last four of five years," said Tony Yapias of Proyecto Latino de Utah.
On Wednesday, House democrats put pressure on republicans and unveiled their own bill for reform, which is nearly identical to the one the Senate passed in June. It includes a pathway to citizenship plan for the 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally, language that has not seen support from lawmakers in the past.
"Our immigration system is broken. It needs to be fixed," Yapias said.
But even if the proposal goes nowhere, those rallying Friday remained optimistic about their future in the U.S.
"It`s time for a change, and it's time to give a lot of people a chance," Fernandez said. | {
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Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon: Which Late Night Talk Show Host Has the Higher Net Worth?
Julia Mullaney
The late-night talk show game has been seriously ramped up by the likes of Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. Both of these hilarious guys have fan bases that overlap, but there are also people who tend to pick favorites. Although they have each found plenty of success, we can't help but wonder: Which of these hosts has the higher net worth?
Jimmy Kimmel (left) and Jimmy Fallon | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Both men have built similar careers
Kimmel and Fallon essentially have the same job: They're both late-night talk show hosts who get paid to make us laugh by making light of current events and other hilarious endeavors. Kimmel hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! While Fallon hosts The Tonight Show. Both have branched out to make appearances in movies or television shows beyond their own show, and the two appear to get along well. "My only complaint about Jimmy Fallon is the first name: Jimmy," Kimmel once said in an interview. "People get us mixed up all the time." Besides the beef about the same name, the two actually get along well.
Jimmy Kimmel net worth: $45 million
Kimmel's career started before he was even out of high school. He had a position on a radio show that aired on University of Nevada at Las Vegas' radio station. He hopped around several radio stations before getting involved with Comedy Central in the late 1990s. Working with the channel was what eventually drove him toward his own late-night talk show. In January 2003, Kimmel was given his own show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! (though it isn't actually aired live anymore). The show faced a few scandals now and then, including when it was briefly pulled from the air in 2004 after a comment Kimmel made during the NBA championship. However, Kimmel has mostly remained in society's good graces and is a widely respected comedian. His impressive career has built him an estimated net worth of around $45 million.
Jimmy Fallon net worth: $45 million
Fallon knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue comedy full time. He dropped out of college in 1995 to move to Los Angeles, where he instantly started booking shows. In 1998, Fallon landed a role on Saturday Night Live, and he was featured on the show up until 2004. He tried to break into the movie scene in the 2000s, and was the starring role in "Fever Pitch" alongside Drew Barrymore. However, he fared better in the comedy world, so he stuck to it. In 2009, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon made its debut, and Fallon was the host up until 2014, when he then took a job as the host of The Tonight Show (the show was formerly hosted by Jay Leno). Fallon, like Kimmel, has become a widely respected comedian and has a net worth that's estimated to be very similar to Kimmel's at $45 million.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIJHVS2Dvo8/?hl=en
The two men have always been friendly.
Despite the similar net worth, Fallon has a higher salary
Although Kimmel and Fallon have similar careers and similar net worths, Fallon actually has the higher salary. According to CNBC, Fallon makes an estimated $16 million annually from his late show, while Kimmel makes an estimated $15 million. Kimmel tied with Stephen Colbert, while all three men edged out Conan O'Brien, who makes an estimated $12 million. | {
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Home Editorials of Interest Taipei Times Tsai must defend nation's integrity
Tsai must defend nation's integrity
Tuesday, 09 January 2018 06:52 Taipei Times Editorial Editorials of Interest - Taipei Times
Military might and diplomatic influence are two important political tools through which a nation demonstrates its power within the international system and shows its determination to safeguard its interests.
It is sad to see Taiwan's weakness in those two fields as demonstrated by the President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration's reaction to recent developments in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing on Thursday last week unilaterally announced that it was opening the M503 and other connecting routes to northbound commercial flights.
Given that M503 runs almost parallel to the median line of the Strait and is only 7.8km from it, Beijing no doubt has a military and strategic agenda that serves its political objectives.
China's one-sided action not only contravenes the 2015 cross-strait agreement that opened the M503 route to southbound commercial traffic, but blatantly changes the "status quo" in the Strait.
One day after the announcement, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, accompanied by other warships, sailed southwest along the Strait's median line and left Taiwan's air defense identification zone later that evening.
While China's saber-rattling at Taiwan is nothing new, the latest move, in addition to the increased frequency of Chinese military aircraft circling Taiwan's international airspace, suggests that Beijing is taking advantage of what it perceives as a weak Tsai government.
The Tsai government's responses to various acts of harassment from China tells not only Taiwanese but also Beijing that it is at its wits' end.
Tsai has since Friday convened two national security meetings and Mainland Affairs Council Minister Katharine Chang (張小月) has lodged a protest against China over the route's opening.
Tsai also tweeted that "Recent unilateral actions by #China — including M503 flight route & increased military exercises — are destabilizing & should be avoided. #Taiwan will continue to safeguard the status quo. We call on all parties to do the same."
However, such reactions have no deterrent effect and most of the international community remain unaware of China's bullying of Taiwan.
The government should hold international news conferences and make the severity of the situation known to the world. It should voice the nation's concerns and warn the international community of the threat China poses to peace and stability in the Strait.
If the government remains quiet, how can it expect other nations to support Taiwan?
At a news conference on Dec. 29, Tsai spoke of her determination "to foster an indigenous defense industry and defend Taiwan's democracy," adding that her administration would make reasonable annual increases in military spending.
While Tsai's words were encouraging, budget figures tell a different story. The Executive Yuan has reduced the Ministry of National Defense's budget for fiscal 2018 from NT$3.9 billion to NT$3.27 billion (US$132.1 million to US$110.8 million), comprising 1.84 percent of GDP, down from the previous year's 1.86 percent and lower than the budget allocated during former president Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) administration.
American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James Moriarty in October last year urged Tsai to heed US concerns about Taiwan's defense budget.
While Taiwan should avoid an unnecessary arms race, an adequate and reasonable defense budget is called for, as it tells the public, as well as the world, that Taiwan is taking its defense seriously.
Tsai can speak softly if she wants to, but as the head of state, she must demonstrate a tough attitude that asserts the nation's integrity — acting weak will only encourage China to continue its harassment of Taiwan.
A handout photo provided by the Office of the President of Taiwan on 12 July 2016 shows an aerial photograph of Taiping Island, also known as Itu Aba Island in the South China Sea on March 23, 2016.
Taiwan yesterday refused to accept a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands,which included a statement that Taiwan-controlled Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) is a "rock," saying the verdict has severely infringed on Taiwan's rights over the South China Sea island and its surrounding waters. | {
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Duncan Cameron: 'Happy campaigner' Trudeau makes it Black Monday for the NDP
Duncan Cameron | On the campaign trail, the personality contrast between Trudeau and the two other main leaders was enough to push the new prime minister ahead.
A Liberal victory may improve fortunes of First Nation communities across Canada
Krystalline Kraus | The voter turnout for this election has been the highest we've seen since 1993, with more than 17 million Canadians casting a ballot, hoping to improve their fortunes with a change of power in Ottawa.
The Liberal 'Red Tide' promises politics as usual
J. Baglow | When the euphoria and the schadenfreude wear off, what has really changed since yesterday?
Prime Minister-Designate Justin Trudeau has many promises to keep
Karl Nerenberg | Progressive voters who gave Trudeau his majority will have to be vigilant and let the new Liberal government know they expect it to keep its promises, starting with electoral reform.
Democracy isn't just about politics; it's about all of us
David Suzuki | Canadians sent a loud and clear message that they want to live in an open, progressive country that promotes diversity, social justice, environmental protection and respect for First Peoples.
This election may prove there's a limit to Canada's regard for the NDP
Gerry Caplan | Many Canadians seemed somewhere between reconciled to and delighted with the prospect of an NDP government. Then they weren't.
Young people: Vote like a geezer and change Canada's future
Armine Yalnizyan | An eleventh-hour message to voters aged 18–30: in this election, you've got the power.
Brent Patterson | The 2011 election's low voter turnout only benefited the Conservatives. Let's ensure those numbers are much higher this election.
The federal election can change the lives of Indigenous peoples
Krystalline Kraus | Ours is a sad history where members of Indigenous communities across Canada weren't even allowed to vote in Canada until the 1960s.
Why I'm doing all I can to make sure our Nation members vote
Ken Watts | Ken Watts, vice president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, tells us why he is urging the members of his community to vote in this election.
Harperism is finally facing the end, and just in time
Ralph Surette | It's election day and, at last, hope that what has to happen if this country is to recapture its integrity is actually about to happen.
No matter what happens on election day, the climate can't wait
The Canadian Youth Delegation to COP21 | The government might be different after October 19, but, when it comes to climate action, we can't assume that anything will change. | {
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Bad Static explore sweet-and-sour duality on "Cherry Cyanide" EP
Hey, did you know you can get poisoned and maybe even die from eating too many cherry pits? Well neither did I, that is, until hearing the new Bad Static EP Cherry Cyanide released today. Because, as hinted at in the title, cherry pits contain a chemical that once ingested gets converted into the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide. The more you know!
But this EP isn't a science lesson, instead it taps into the longstanding status of cherries as a metaphoric device. So it makes sense Cherry Cyanide is a concept album (erm, concept EP) based around the notion that some things (or even people) in life may be sweet on the outside but then turn out to be not-so-sweet on the inside if not downright toxic. Take the EP's eponymous opening song, for instance, which starts with a familiar three-chord major-key progression that sounds like the band's about to launch into a fun-loving cover version of "Louie Louie" or "Wild Thing" or "Walking on Sunshine."
But then there's a sudden shift when the drums kick in alongside a low-key menacing minor-key descending guitar riff, and lyrics about how you'll soon be "foaming at the mouth / oh there is no doubt / my cherry cyanide / will make you wanna die." Meaning when the chorus returns to those major chords from before with entreaties to "Kiss me! Kiss me!" and "Drink me! Drink me!" you may have second thoughts given what you've learned about cherry pit consumption and the consequences of fatal kisses even though the "bittersweet ending" is still tempting and it's this seductive-yet-dangerous vibe that the song really captures. The more you know!
Fake I.D. / Bad Girls In Love (1980) by The Anemic Boyfriends
And speaking of surface prettiness/inner menace it's fitting the Cherry Cyanide press release namechecks bands like the Runaways and the lesser-known Anemic Boyfriends as influences–the latter being an underage Anchorage-based early '80s punk rock trio (!) led by one "Louise Disease" whose über-bratty, sneering leering delivery is appropriate to her moniker–because here are two bands who used surface prettiness to get a foot in the door in order to kick your teeth in with their take-no-prisoners 'tude and music, a strategy used by many female rock musicians past and present to fight the frequent sexism of rock audiences and the music industry (except for "emerging artist music blogs" which are hardly part of the "industry" and always enlightened!) plus either way it's pretty cool to be a glamorous savage no matter your gender.
The next song "Ectoplasm Nightmares" continues this theme of inner/outer duality–except the narrative perspective is switched to that of the victim–with lyrics about being possessed by an outside presence, i.e., "feeling haunted by people from your past and going to drastic measures to try and forget." Bad Static put this across musically by starting off with a plodding beat and doomy Sabbath-y sorta riff before kicking into a driving double-time rhythm with lyrical pleas for demonic exorcism and warnings of crumbling sanity before lead singer Nicol Maciejewska (whose vocals up to this point alternate between sedated and sneering) tops off the song with a growling "you're making me go insaaaaane!" and a burst of crazy-kookoo-train manic laughter as the music disintegrates behind her.
The third-and-final song "Reanimation" is inspired by necromancy with "little whispers building up inside…calling you from the gra-a-a-ave" and here again the narrative perspective changes, but this time switching to the entity or entities haunting the narrator in the previous song, which is a neat way to put across the loss of a grounded, singular perspective that's inherent to some forms of mental illness (and to modern art natch) which is another theme of the song and again the music nails the vibe cuz I've got scenes from Evil Dead playing in my head when this plays.
And this one's the most Runaways-esque of the bunch with its throbbing power chords and stuttering vocal delivery (from "ch-ch-cherry bomb" to "I've been calling you from the gra-a-a-ave") and one can only hope that the galvanizing musical presentation here by Nicol (vox, rhythm guitar) Kelsie (backing vox, bass) Mario (lead guitar, production) and Demetrio (drums, percussion) and the not-so-subliminal mantra of "reanimate me!" don't lead to an epidemic of children playing with dead things despite the PSA message contained in the opening lyric. (Jason Lee)
Bad Static
Lil Woo "Lanor"
Lil Woo (aka Andre Allen Jr) has released a tender and hopeful new single called "Lanor". This is the latest in a series of single the talented emcee released in 2021, and it finds him enlisting the help of the award-winning vocalist Alita Moses.
"Lanor" is produced by DreProducedit and is accompanied by a video from Ninety5 Directed.
Lil Woo
Caleb Taylor "Let Go!"
Vocalist and Producer Caleb Taylor has released his latest single, "Let Go!". This past year has been Taylor's most prolific with the release of several beat collections and a series of fantastic singles.
Caleb Taylor
Seasonal record roundup: The Heart Attack-Acks drop a "Love Bomb" and an Xmas banger
Love Bomb by The Heart Attack-Acks
On "Love Bomb," the debut single by The Heart Attack-Acks, the Queens-based duo of Candice and Cody bring an energy and dynamism to the disco-new-wave number that the world hasn't witnessed since Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley danced around awkwardly in front of a car repair shop circa 1983—a car repair shop that just happened to employ a small crew of line-dancing mechanics plus a couple crop-top-wearing-popping-and-locking breakdancers—and by the way this is the second song called "Love Bomb" to be reviewed on this blog in the past several months so please no confused letters to the editor!
And if this seems like a pretty random comparison to draw just check out the Heart Attack-Acks press photo above and tell me there's not a downtown-guy-uptown-girl dynamic at work there–except since they're from Queens it means Cody must live in Glendale, or maybe Ridgewood, whereas Candice must live up in fancy-pants Astoria Heights. And oh yeah there's the matter of the band's name too.
As far as "Love Bomb" goes, well, it doesn't sound a whole heckuva lot like "Movin' Out" that's true. But it's clearly indebted to the music Billy J. was likely vibing to that same year (1977) on nights when he'd put on the ol' Groucho Marx disguise and drive from Long Island to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to hit the 2001 Odyssey discotheque with Tony and the boys. And also on nights when he'd drive into Manhattan to hear some next phase new wave down on the Bowery. Which is all just a way of saying that "Love Bomb" is a twitchily danceable mutant punky-disco-party-tune. And since there's nothing more inherently New Yawk in musical terms than a twitchily danceable mutant punky-disco-party-tune it's really quite a smart career on the part of T.H.A.A. to pay homage to their hometown musical heritage right out of the gate.
Not to mention "Love Bomb" is a great kiss off song and that's very NYC too—but one that's not so much about "creeps in the street" (see above) as it's about the creeps we all carry around in our pocket these days, like pick-up-artist wannabees who bombard potential victims with digital bum crumbs of approval and affection until suddenly withdrawing if-and-when the conquest is achieved ("first off, you blow up my phone / but in a month, you'll leave me all alone").
But the song's narrator is clearly too astute to fall for such cheap tactics (unlike over at @thedelimag where we gladly accept transactional praise!) and instead turns the tables on her love bomber ("so in the meantime, I'll take what you can give / train you like you'd do me, if I gave in") which is clever (love bomber, bomb thyself!) and also clever because the majestically-adenoidal NYC-accented call-and-response overdubs make for a nice callback to classic empowered '60s girl group anthems except updated for the iPhone Generation.
No Sleigh Bells Tonight by The Heart Attack-Acks
And speaking of updating, the Heart Attack-Acks also have a new Christmas single out called "No Sleigh Bells Tonight" and yes I know I know Christmas is over already but hey you're well within your rights to play Christmas music up 'til New Year's Day at least just like people keep their trees for that long so why not. And the song itself will get you back in that Santa spirit from the moment it hits you with a Motown-style bass line and some sleigh bells too in the intro (see what they did there!) soon going on to evoke a Phil Spector Christmas Album kinda vibe (peep that "Be My Baby" beat!) while lyrically dispensing with all this "Birth of the Messiah" business and instead rightfully focusing on the true meaning of Christmas just as God intended, which involves a mixture of devastating bone-chilling loneliness, forlorn romantic pining, and, quite possibly, murder (ok I'm inferring the latter, but Phil Spector!) all set to a jaunty sleigh-worthy beat. (Jason Lee)
The Heart Attack-Acks
La Armada "La Fé No Abasta"
Hardcore punk group La Armada has released visuals for the fifth single, "La Fé No Abasta", from their forthcoming album Anti-Colonial Vol. 2 which is due out on February 11th via their own label Mal De Ojo Records.
For the video the group enlisted the expertise of Director Jamezz Hampton to bring to life the song that bluntly paints a picture of a world with out hope and faith.
La Fé No Abasta by La Armada | {
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Archeparchy of Pittsburgh > Byzantine Catholic Faith > THE VENERATION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ACCORDING TO THE BYZANTINE TRADITION
THE VENERATION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ACCORDING TO THE BYZANTINE TRADITION
In the Byzantine Rite St. John the Baptist is venerated above all other Saints and right below the Angels. Of course, we do not include the Blessed Mother of God, the Theotokos, who being " more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim," enjoys a unique veneration (hyperdulia) over and above all the Angels and Saints.
The greatness and the veneration of St. John the Baptist, who at the time of his conception the Archangel Gabriel prophesied would be " great in the sight of the Lord" (Lk. 1 :14), is based on :
1) the direct testimony of Christ, 2) his austere ascetical life, and 3) his testimony of blood in defense of divine rights.
1. St. John the Baptist was sent by God " in the power of Elijah" (Mt. 17:9-13) to prepare the people for the coming of the promised Messiah (Mal. 3:1). In his role as God's messenger (in Greek-angel) he was expected to point out to the people their Redeemer, the " Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world" (In. 1 :29).
He also was to baptize Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, initiating our Lord in His messianic mission (Mt. 3:13-15).
In this way the Baptist was the last of the Prophets (Mt. 11 :13), uniting by his mission the Old and New Testaments. He was also the Precursor (Forerunner) of Christ. Since he baptized Jesus, he was surnamed the Baptist. As the messenger (angel) of God he was to announce the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven in the person of Jesus Christ. Rightly then, our Lord testified of St. John the Baptist: " I tell you that of all the children born of women there is no one greater than John" (Lk. 7:28) .
To these words of exaltation St. Theodore Studite (d. 826) adds: " Is there need for us to extol John the Baptist when he was so highly extolled by Christ Himself, Who is the Truth and the Eternal Word of God?" (cf. P.G. 99, 748).
2. The second reason for St. John's early veneration was his innocent and austere life in the desert, for which he was hailed by the Fathers as an " earthly angel in human body" (St. Sophronius, P.G. 87, 3340).
Filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb (Lk. 1 :15), st. John the Baptist spent all the years of his youth in the desert, preparing himself with fasting and prayer for his unique mission.
When he appeared in the Jordan region to preach penance, he was clothed in a garment of camel 's hair (Mt. 3:1-6), which was the traditional garb of the Prophets.
John came out from his solitude as a " voice crying in the desert" (In. 1 :23), preaching moral reform in preparation for the advent of the Messiah:
" Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand" (Mt. 3:2). He gathered a group of disciples and, having initiated them into the ascetical life, he taught them how to pray. In this way st. John the Baptist was an inspiration to the Desert Fathers, who considered him as their Founder and true model of the eremitical life. To quote once more St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, St. John the Baptist "went into the desert to imitate not men but the angels" (cf. P.G. 87, 3352) .
The Desert Fathers, imbued with this great admiration, were the first to promote the veneration of the Baptist among the people of the East as well as the West.
3. The early veneration of St. John the Baptist was also enhanced by the repeated recovery of his relics, which were glorified by God with numerous miracles.
The popularity of the Baptist was testified to not only by all the Evangelists, but also by a contemporary Jewish historian, Joseph Flavius, who, around 90 A.D., recorded that on account of the Baptist's popularity King Herod Antipas feared an uprising of the people. He continued:
" Herod ordered to kill this John, surnamed the Baptist, although he was a just man and had encouraged the Jewish people to a virtuous life as they kept coming to him to be baptized. He exhorted them to be just toward each other, and devoted to God" (ct. Jewish Antiquities VIII, 5). After st. John's beheading, the disciples took his body and, according to oral tradition, they buried it in the Samaritan town of Sebaste, outside of Herod's jurisdiction (cf. St. Jerome, PL 25, 1156). Soon the Baptist's tomb became a great attraction for pilgrims, since God glorified His faithful servant with many miracles. This was the reason why Emperor Constantine the Great (d. 337 A.D.) ordered a magnificent basilica to be built over John's tomb in Sebaste.
Unfortunately, in a futile effort to restore paganism, Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363) burnt the venerable relics and dispersed their ashes in the wind (cf. Theodoret, P.G. 82, 1092). Nevertheless, the grave of St. John the Baptist continued to be venerated until the final defeat of the Crusaders in the 12th century.
According to another pious tradition, Venerable Johanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza (Lk. 8:3), took the head of St. John the Baptist and buried it on the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem.
Almost 300 years later, the venerable head was found for the first time (confirmed by a miracle), and transferred to Emessa, Syria. After some time the heretics took possession of John's head and concealed it in some monastery. In 453 A.D. it was discovered for the second time in the Arian monastery of Spelaion, near Emessa, and solemnly transferred to Constantinople.
During the iconoclast repressions (the eighth century) , the venerable relic was taken by some monks and hidden in Comana, the Province of Pontus, where St. John Chrysostom died (d. 407).
During the reign of Emperor Michael III, in 857, it was discovered for the third time and once again solemnly brought back to Constantinople, where it was deposited in the church of the imperial palace.
St. John's head finally disappeared during the Fourth Crusade (1204 A.D.) , when it was taken by crusaders to the West. At the present time several churches in Western Europe claim its possession.
It would be hard to prove which of them is authentic.
The veneration of St. John the Baptist is very ancient and became widespread in the East and the West from the early centuries. In the Byzantine Rite every Tuesday is dedicated to his memory, with some special commemorative days:
1) On January 7th-THE SYNAXIS OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, the most ancient feast in commemoration of him who " baptized Our Lord in the Jordan River."
2) On February 24th-THE FIRST AND THE SECOND FINDING OF THE VENERABLE HEAD, in commemoration of the first discovery of the precious relic in Jerusalem and then, for the second time, in Spelaion, near Emessa. It was on February 24, 457, that the venerable head of the Baptist was solemnly transferred to Constantiniple and deposited in the church of Prodromos (Precursor) for publ ic veneration.
3) On May 25th-THE THIRD FINDING OF THE VENERABLE HEAD is observed, since it was on May 25, 857, that the precious relic was solemnly translated from Comana back to Constantinople.
4) On June 24th we celebrate the feast of THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, which was introduced at the end of the fourth century.
5) Also since the fourth centu ry we celebrate the feast of THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST on August 29th, the anniversary of the dedication of his church in Sebaste. The Byzantine Church, in commemoration of John's beheading, prescribes a fast on that day.
6) On September 23rd-THE CONCEPTION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST is commemorated, on account of the special intervention of God in his birth (Lk. 1 :5-25) . The Roman Church discontinued this commemoration by the end of the 15th century.
The liturgical veneration of St. John the Baptist in the Byzantine Rite received its definite form by the ninth century. There are some ancient sticheras in honor of the Baptist, perhaps from as early as the end of the fourth century. But, the main glorifiers of St. John were the famous Byzantine hymnographers of the eighth century: St. Germanus of Constantinople (d. 733), St. Andrew of Crete (d. 740), and St. John Damascene (d. 749) . Two ninth century hymnographers, the holy nun Cassia and the holy monks of Stud ion, also contributed to the Baptist's litu rgical veneration.
The most famous ecomium in honor of St. John the Baptist belongs to St. Sophronius of Jerusalem (d. 638). which supplied the hymnographers with some lofty expressions (cf. P.G. 87, 3321f.).
Here the panegyric of St. Andrew of Crete, delivered on the feast of the Beheading (cf. P.G. 97, 1109f.), should also be mentioned as well as two eulogies of St. Theodore Studite (d. 826)-one for John's Nativity, and another for his Beheading (cf. P.G. 99, 747f.) .
There are some earlier eulogies of St. John the Baptist, starting with that of St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) , and continuing with those of some famous orators like Antipater of Bostra (d. ca. 458) or Basil of Seleucia (d. 459) . All the Fathers were convinced that " to praise the Baptist meant to praise Jesus, for he gave a moving witness to Our Savior!"
TROPARION FOR THE NATIVITY (Tone 4)
o prophet and forerunner of Christ's coming , we who devJtedly honor you are unable to fittingIv extol you, for through your glorious and noble birth, your mother's childlessness was ended, your father's tongue was released, and the incarnation of the Son of God was proclaimed to the world.
STICHERA FOR THE BEHEADING (Lilia)
How shall we call you, 0 Prophet? Perhaps Angel? Or Apostle? Or maybe Martyr? An Angel, since you lived as though being bodyless ; an Apostle, for you have preached to the people ; and a Martyr, since you were beheaded for the sake of Christ. Pray, therefore, to Him for the salvation of our souls. (St. Germanus, d. 733).
TRIBUTE TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
" Generally speaking, men are praised by other men, but St. John the Baptist was praised by Christ, the Eternal God and the Truth, saying : 'Of all the children born of women a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen' (Mt. 11 :11). Since he was praised by the autho rity of the Eternal Word of God, I will ask you :-Is he yet in need of our praises?" (St. Theodore Studite, P.G. 99, 749).
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Hermolaus and Stratonicus - Martyrs January 13, 2020
SS. Hermolaus and Stratonicus, Martyrs; Deacon of Singudunum (Belgrade) and his servant were tortured and drowned in the river Danube A.D. 315 under Licinius, Emperor.
Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho
Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho January 14, 2020
Our Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho, suffered martyrdom from the Saracens A.D. 296, during the reign of Dicoletian, Emperor.
Paul & John Venerables
Paul & John Venerables January 15, 2020
Venerable Paul the simple, A Solitary of wonderful patience and meekness, he passed away about A.D. 339 in the reign of Constantine II, Emperor.
Our venerable father, John, a disciple of St. Gregory Decapolites, died in the reign of Theophilus the Iconoclast A.D. 829-842.
Venerable Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedonia who died A.D. 816 during the reign of Leo the Armenian, Emperor.
Our holy father, John, Archbishop of Antioch who went to his rest A.D. 436.
Venerations of the Chains of Peter
Venerations of the Chains of Peter January 16, 2020
Veneration of the venerable Chains of St. Peter, the all Praiseworthy Apostle. The chains with which St. Peter was bound in the prison were preserved at the stational Church on the Esquiline in Rome and in the Middle ages attracted numerous Pilgrims.
Anthony the Great Venerable
Anthony the Great Venerable January 17, 2020
Our venerable and divinely inspired father, Anthony the Great, was Egyptian by birth, who went into the desert during the reign of Constantine the Great in the year A.D. 312. Living to the age of 105 , he died A.D. 356. He was a friend of St. Paul the Hermit, and was one of the founders of the Cenobitical life.
Athanasius & Cyril Archbishops
Athanasius & Cyril Archbishops January 18, 2020
Our holy fathers, Athanasius & Cyril, Archbishops of Alexandria. St. Athanasius is one of the four great doctors of the Byzantine Church: called the "Father of Orthodoxy." He opposed the Arians with Admirable zeal and endured exile for 46 years. He died in A.D 373. (Confer May 2). - St. Cyril opposed the Nestorians and taught that the divine and human natures in Christ are united in oneness of person, and that the Theotokos ought truly to be called the Mother of God. He presided over the 3rd Ecumenical Council at Ephisus A.D. 431. He died in A.D. 444. (Confer June 9).
32nd Sunday after Pentecost
32nd Sunday after Pentecost January 19, 2020
1 Tim 1:15-17
Euthymius the Great Venerable
Euthymius the Great Venerable January 20, 2020
Our Venerable and divinely inspired father, Euthymius the Great, Hegumen - Abbot, lived at the time of the reign of Arcadius and Honorius, Emperors: died in the year A.D 473.
Maximus the Confessor Venerable
Maximus the Confessor Venerable January 21, 2020
Our Venerable father, Maximus, Confessor; died from totures A.D 662, in the reign of Constans II. His tongue torn out and right hand cut off, he died in prison.
St. Timothy & St. Anastasius
St. Timothy & St. Anastasius January 22, 2020
Apostle, was the most famous disciple of St. Paul, during the reign of Emperor Nero, and the first Bishop Of Ephesus in Asia Minor.
Venerable-martyr of Persia, suffered martyrdom A.D. 619, at the hands of Chosroas, during the reign of Heracleus, Emperor.
Clement of Ancyra Martyr
Clement of Ancyra Martyr January 23, 2020
St. Clement, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Ancyra, lived in exile for 28 years under several persecutors and died by the sword A.D 296. - St. Agathangel, Martyr, suffered death also in the reign of Maximian and Diocletian Emperors.
St. Xenia
St. Xenia January 24, 2020
Our venerable mother, Xenia, was of a noble and famous Roman family. Her former name was Eusebia, and her parents planning her marriage, she escaped from her bridegroom and with two handmaids she fled to Alexandria for refuge.
Gregory the Theologian Bishop
Gregory the Theologian Bishop January 25, 2020
Our holy father, Gregory the Theologian of Cappadocia in Asia Minor, Archbishop of Constantinople is one of the greatest writers and poets and one of the four great doctors of the Byzantine Church. He died in A.D. 389, in the reign of Theodosius the Great: he presided in Constantinople in the Church of Holy Wisdom for 12 years. He died at the age of 80. (Confer Januar 30).
33rd Sunday After Pentecost Sunday of Zacchaeus
33rd Sunday After Pentecost Sunday of Zacchaeus January 26, 2020
Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom
Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom January 27, 2020
This took place in A.D. 435, (Confer January 30 and November 13.)
Ephrem the Syrian Venerable
Ephrem the Syrian Venerable January 28, 2020
Our Venerable Father, Ephrem, "Prophet of Syrians and an instrument of Holy Spirit," a great poet, orator, exegete and defensor of Orthodoxy.
Translation of the Relics of St. Ignatius
Translation of the Relics of St. Ignatius January 29, 2020
The "God-Bearer", Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Antioch. He was devoured by lions at Rome. His disciples carried his relics to Antioch into his church in the year A.D. 109, in the reign of Trajan, the persecutor. (Confer December 20).
Three Holy Hierarchs
Three Holy Hierarchs January 30, 2020
Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, i.e., The Three Great Fathers of the church; namely St. Basil the Great,(See 1st of Jan) St. Gregory, the Theologian (See 25th of Jan) and St. John, the Chrysostom, (see 13th of Nov.) - Sy Hippolytus, Priest-Martyr. Bishop of Porto. He was put to death by drowning, under Alexander Severus, Emperor.
Cyrus and John Unmercenaries
Cyrus and John Unmercenaries January 31, 2020
SS. Cyrus and John, Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries, i.e., Physicians without remuneration: (Confer June 28.) suffered death with Athanasia and her three daughters: Theodotia, Theopista and Eudokia, in the year A.D. 292 in the reign of Diocletian.
BCW – January Vol. 65 No. 1
86th Annual Pilgrimage Cantor Form | {
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NS-Capture Theory
The Key Concepts
The Theories
The Proofs
Predictions of NS-Capture
How to Use the Website
Analogy: "You can't go down the up escalator!"
Rich Levinson
In science, it is generally useful to come up with easy-to-understand analogies, or metaphors that relate to the subject being discussed.
In this context what we are trying to do is come up with an analogy that helps us understand the problems with:
the existing theory of pulsars (which we refer to as the NS-Creation Theory (neutron star creation theory))
and why these problems force us to consider:
a new theory of pulsars (which we refer to as the NS-Capture Theory (neutron star capture theory))
The analogy can be summarized as follows:
Isolated pulsars found in the midst of supernova remnants are found to be spinning rather fast but also slowing down:
so we can consider this state of affairs as the neutron star pulsar being on the "down escalator", i.e. slowing down (spinning down).
Pulsars found in binary systems are found to be spinning rather slow but also spinning faster:
so we can consider this state of affairs as the neutron star pulsar being on the "up escalator". i.e. speeding up (spinning up).
So we can consider:
slow, spinning-up binary pulsars as being on an "up escalator"
(where the presence of the binary companion can be considered to be an "up escalator" as far as the neutron star is concerned)
fast, spinning-down isolated pulsars as being on a "down escalator"
(where the absence of any companion (i.e. being isolated) can be considered to be a "down escalator"
The problem uncovered by this state of affairs has to do with how a pulsar is "created".
NS-Creation theory claims that a pulsar is created as a result of a supernova explosion, i.e. an isolated star explodes and the corresponding implosion creates a neutron star in a fast spinning state, albeit, slowing down from the moment of its birth.
Since there really can't plausibly be two completely different ways to create a neutron star, NS-Creation theory must apply also to the creation of the neutron stars found in binary systems, i.e. the slow spinning up neutron star pulsars found in binary systems.
Therefore, the only plausible way to create a neutron star in a binary system using NS-Creation theory is to assert that the binary system originally consisted of two more or less normal stars (there are billions of normal binary star systems in the Milky Way galaxy), and that one of those normal stars experienced a supernova explosion which transformed the previously normal star into a neutron star pulsar, thus transforming binary system from being a system containing two normal stars into a system containing one normal star plus on neutron star pulsar.
This is where the basic problem with NS-Creation theory becomes somewhat obvious:
NS-Creation theory produces a fast spinning neutron star pulsar as one member of a binary system with a normal star companion.
Unfortunately for NS-Creation theory, this fast-spinning pulsar finds itself on an "up-escalator", which will cause it to spin faster and faster.
Therefore NS-Creation theory has failed because by being a fast pulsar that is spinning up, there is no way for the pulsar to get into the state that pulsars in binary systems are generally found: i.e. slow-spinning
i.e. there is no way for a fast spinning pulsar in a binary system to slow down to become a slow-spinning pulsar, because it is born on an "up escalator" and cannot possibly slow down.
The above logic shows that NS-Creation theory leads to a self-contradiction, and that logic compels us to find a new explanation for the creation of pulsars that begin their life in a slow-spinning state.
The result of this logic is the assertion of the NS-Capture Theory that is what all the discussion on this web site is about.
One thought on "Analogy: "You can't go down the up escalator!""
Elizabeth Clement says:
"The Binary X-Ray Pulsar Guy"
Supernova Explosions (SNE) Explained
What is X-ray Astronomy?
What is a pulsar?
Pulsars-Explained
Pulsars (index)
Giant Stars and NS-Capture Theory
SuperGiant -> SuperNova
Binary Pulsars: What they really are
Binary Pulsars Don't Slow Down
What are the Be Stars?
Be X-Ray Binaries
Classification of the Pulsars
How NS-Capture Theory explains the P/P-dot diagram
P/P-dot Evidence for NS-Capture
Cen X-3: The Pulsar Spin Contradiction
Her X-1 (Hercules X-1)
Millisecond Pulsars
The Be X-ray Binary General Data
List of References for Be X-ray Binary Data Collections
The Be X-ray Binary Spin Orbit Data
What about the Double Pulsar?
Theory Overview
NS-Capture Basic Theory
NS-Capture Theory – Explained
NS Capture Theory (index)
Simple explanation of theory
NS-Capture vs NS-Creation
Population problems with NS-Creation
The Critical Theoretical Choice
Analogies: Automobiles, propellers, muffins
Properties of the NS-Capture Theory
Proof of the Neutron Star Capture Theory
Logical Proof of the NS-Capture Theory
Definitive Empirical Proof of NS-Capture
Empirical Proof: Population Analysis
Analytical Proof of the NS-Capture Theory
Pre-Diagrammatic Proof of NS-Capture
Diagrammatic Proof of NS-Capture
NS-Capture and the Empirical Spin-up Process
How to Disprove the NS-Capture Theory
What does an isolated neutron star look like?
What does an active galactic nucleus look like along with its surrounding galaxy (AGN)?
Could an isolated neutron star look like an AGN?
What predictions did NS-Capture Theory make about the X-ray Background in 1974?
What predictions did NS-Capture make about the existence of the class of Be X-Ray Binaries?
What about PSR B1259 -63?
What about black holes?
NS-Capture Theory predicted the existence of dark matter in 1974
NS-Capture Theory predicted that a supermassive black hole exists in the center of the Milky Way in 1974
NS-Capture Theory predicted the constant galactic rotation curve in 1974.
What is the model of galactic evolution predicted by NS-Capture Theory?
Calculate Number of NS's in Galaxy
NS-Capture Explanation of SNEs
Calculating an Impact Parameter
Simulation of NS-Capture Theory
NS-Capture Simulation: Part 2
Misc Diagrams
Diagram of NS-Creation vs NS-Capture
Full Diagram
NS Capture vs NS Creation Diagrams
Diagram of NS Creation & NS Capture
Full Creation Process
NS-Capture vs NS-Creation Diagrams 2
The Necessity of NS Capture
Alternate Diagrams: MSP's
Misc Pages
Origin of "Rock 'n Roll"
Simulation of the NS-Capture Theory
How binary x-ray pulsars introduce a whole new way of thinking about neutron stars, supernova explosions, all other pulsars and the dark matter in the Milky Way galaxy.
How to use the Secret of the Pulsars website
© Copyright 2021 Secret Of The Pulsars. All Rights Reserved. | {
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The great purge: Hindutvas Cultural Revolution
Ganesh Devy
Two apparently unrelated yet deeply interconnected events of July invite serious reflection. One belongs to an unending story of crime, the other a not-so-interesting bureaucratic muddle. One will continue to fetch headlines for long and the other will survive, if it does at all, in footnotes for researchers. Yet, both are of a piece in a larger plot threatening our republic. One is a murder story, the other is a sordid saga of a genocide of a kind.
Throughout the month of July, reports of arrests of the suspects in the Gauri Lankesh murder featured in the news. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government deserves praise for getting closer to cracking the conspiracy behind the murder of several intellectuals. Those involved in the Gauri Lankesh murder are believed to have had a hand in killing Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi. Press reports tell us that many others are on the hit list. Some reports say that the list has some 50 names. The SIT will be able to ascertain or deny this.
As a result of the recovery of the list of to be murdered writers and thinkers, some 15 writers in Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra had to be provided special security. In recent weeks, I have met several writers and thinkers who have had to move around with these security men accompanying them.
The whole sequence of murders and their fallout sends a clear signal to writers, journalists and thinkers: do not speak or write anything that will critique the Hindutva forces and the government that tacitly supports them.
It is another thing that many writers and journalists still show the courage to speak up when it is necessary to do so.
Yet, the atmosphere of intimidation and fear is pervasive. Earlier this week, the Goa assembly witnessed a on the threats made to writers. While Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assured the legislature that security was being provided to the writers, he avoided answering why the organisation issuing the threat, which is located in Goa and is clearly named by the investigating agencies in Maharashtra and Karnataka is not being banned or restricted. And, therein lies the rub. Several times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that violence and mob-lynching will not be tolerated. That is admirable. The only difficulty is, every time an assault takes place, it is the victim that is placed in the dock. The perpetrators continue to roam all over, unhindered, free. I now turn to the relatively less eye-catching event of July 2018. The Census of India 2011 data related to languages was released by the Census office. With all its tables and charts, it looks perfectly harmless. But, scratch the surface and you find that it is heavily doctored. It tells us that in 2011, our countrymen stated a total of 19,569 raw returns (read, non-doctored claims). Out of these, close to 17,000 were outright rejected and another 1,474 were dumped because not enough scholarly corroboration for them exists. Only 1,369, or roughly 6% of the total claims, were admitted as classified mother tongues. Rather than placing them as languages, they were grouped under 121 headings. These 121 were declared as languages of India.
One may ask, but how does this matter? It matters because the data for Hindi has been bolstered shown at 52 crore-plus people by adding to its core figure of speakers, the speakers of nearly 50 other languages
These include Bhojpuri, claimed by over five crore people, and many languages in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Bihar, claimed by close to a total of six crore people. At the same time, 17 of the 22 scheduled languages are reported by the Census as showing a downward trend in their rate of growth in comparison to the growth in the previous decade.
The architecture of the presentation of the language census data has at its foundation the principle of exclusion.The exclusion is imposed on the languages that the people of India have claimed in the census exercise as being their languages. To use a term from the medical sciences, this act amounts to imposing an involuntary aphasia on citizens. In this instance, the numbers on whom it is imposed run into crores of people. And that is no small matter.
Since our Constitution gives us the fundamental and non-negotiable right to free expression, and since it not only accepts but encourages the idea of a multilingual India, is there not something profoundly unconstitutional in writers and thinkers or in wilfully suppressing peoples languages? The UNESCO brief for language rights describes denial of mother tongues or any wilful concealment of a mother tongue by the member-states as equivalent to genocide A strong word, indeed, but necessary, the UNESCO thinks.
Quite ironically, the justification for both actions is drawn from a common source; and that is, a deeply flawed idea of nationalism. It holds that anyone critical of the current regime is an enemy of India, an anti-national trying to spread disaffection towards the State, or in simpler words, seditious.
With respect to languages, the argument says that if we have a large multiplicity of languages,
it may result in disintegration of our national territory. Love for the nation and its integrity are, of course, of prime importance. But a nation becomes great by the thought and knowledge it produces, by nurturing freedom of the mind and by the fearlessness of its citizens. States that consciously encourage creating societies that are incapable or cannot critique the system generate what in ancient Latin is described as hegemony. And, governments that become intolerant of differences of opinion become heavy with hubris. Hubris and hegemony produce a pervasive mediocrity. Excessively proud rulers, intellectual mediocrity and lynch-mobs form a combine that threatens speech and forces civilisations to close their minds.
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/main-article/great-purge-686689.html
Courtesy: Deccan Herald
Previous Post:Scientists have established a link between brain damage and religious fundamentalism
Next Post:Indian rationalism, Charvaka to Narendra Dabholkar
Rise from your knees; cease your mindless murmurs to a god who does not exist or, at best, does not care; and accept the world as it actually is. There is learning to do, there are discoveries to be made and there is knowledge to win. The blackness has not yet fully lifted, but we can only strive for greater illumination when we clutch science as, as Carl Sagan might have said, our candle in the dark.
— Dan Ferrisi | {
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this jawn
"Keep your Marxist hands off Gritty": WSJ writer fumes over allegations that a furry mascot is antifa
By Rex Santus Oct 8, 2018
Gritty, the bright orange, furry, 7-foot creature of Philadelphian origin, is no longer a simple mascot for a hockey team: Antifa activists have co-opted him as their own. In fact, they so effectively claimed Gritty as a working-class, leftist icon that the Wall Street Journal was forced to publish an anguished op-ed Monday demanding that these people keep their "Marxist hands off Gritty."
"The same leftists who want statues of Thomas Jefferson removed are now petitioning for Gritty to replace Mayor Frank Rizzo on a downtown mural," Jillian Kay Melchior said in the Wall Street Journal op-ed.
"Gritty belongs to Philadelphia, not to far-left activists. Still, in an era when everything from Nike and the NFL to your local restaurant is a political battlefield, this development is as predictable as it is sad," she said. "Not only can't we have nice things; we can't even have silly, creepy things."
Leftist activists immediately latched on to Gritty after the Philadelphia Flyers introduced him as their new mascot in late September. The socialist magazine Jacobin, for example, tweeted on Sept. 26 that "Gritty is a worker."
An anti-capitalist Gritty parody account sprouted up on Twitter on Oct. 2, and it has already amassed thousands of followers.
The Daily Beast reported last week that Gritty is an "anti-fascist now, and there's nothing you can do about it." But it's more than just a joke on the internet. When Donald Trump visited Philadelphia last week, protesters showed up carrying signs that showed Gritty waving an antifa flag and wearing anarchist imagery.
"Gritty is a symbol of Philadelphia," Philadelphia-based group The Liberation Project told the Daily Beast. "It's not that he's an anti-fascist character; it's that he's representative of the people, and the people of Philadelphia are grittily anti-fascist."
And in a twist that may become even more troubling to op-ed writers at the Wall Street Journal, the Twitter love for Gritty has taken on a distinctly romantic edge, with some even calling for sexy Gritty Halloween costumes.
Is NOTHING sacred?
Cover image: PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 27: New Flyers mascot Gritty entertains fans during the Preseason game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on September 27, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via AP Images. | {
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Sarah Grey Bio, Parents, Boyfriend
Sarah Grey was born on 19 May as per her bio...the young age of 22...height of 5 feet 8 inches...with a weight of 54 kgs...Of Canadian nationality...embraces an ethnicity of...her on-screen parents...less girly and more like a tomboy...important occasions together...is interested in singing...hiding her secret boyfriend or...to reveal her dating status...
Sarah Grey is an actress known for her role in TV shows like Bates Motel, where she plays the role of young Norma Bates.
Her appearance in other shows like Legends of Tomorrow, Almost Human and the 2018 Netflix show, The Order has won her a lot of adoration from her fans. Her portrayal of Alyssa, the female lead, in The Order is exemplary!
Sarah Grey Bio: Age, Parents
Sarah Grey was born in Nanaimo, Canada on 19 May 1996. Of Canadian nationality, she has not revealed her ethnicity yet. When she was young, Sarah was less girly and more like a tomboy- she was a climber and used to climb walls and trees!
The actress is very close to her mother and her sister Allison Grey, who is a photographer, hairstylist, and makeup artist. She regularly posts pictures with her family, which shows that she shares a special bond with them.
You Don't Want To Miss: Alison Rich Wiki, Age, Husband, Height
Sarah Grey spends quality time with her family on 28 August 2016 (Photo: Sarah Grey's Instagram)
Sarah Grey's popularity is only increasing and today she has become an important person in the industry. However, she still has not forgotten her parents and their contributions in her life. She regularly visits them and even goes on trips and celebrates important occasions together.
Sarah is not only close to her biological parents but is also very close to her on-screen parents. Her on-screen father Jack Wagner is constantly featured in her Instagram and Twitter posts, which shows that she likes to have a good bond with all of her coworkers.
At the young age of 22, Sarah stands at a tall height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) and maintains her weight of 54 kgs (119 lbs). Her body is of ideal shape, and her good looks and demeanor just compliment her body. No wonder many men are already going crazy about her!
An interesting fact about the actress- she believes music is the best therapy and is interested in singing.
Is The Actress Dating A Boyfriend?
Sarah is a very private person and does not like to reveal much information about her love life. Sarah is very active on social media, but her Twitter and Instagram posts rarely involve any men that can be suspected of being her boyfriend.
Peek Inside: Jodhi May Married, Lesbian, Parents
Even in the past, Sarah Grey's name has not been associated with any men. Either she is very good at hiding her secret boyfriend, or she has not been involved in any of the serious relationships until now. But, she is only 22 right now, so the latter one seems more plausible.
It seems like Sarah is currently focusing on her career and is not dating anyone. If she finds any man with whom she wants to share a relationship with, she will undoubtedly introduce him to her fans. | {
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Home > Experts > Lorenzo Pagani
https://global.pimco.com/en-gbl/
Navigating Uncertainty in Inflation Markets: The European Case
Eurostat's recent revision of the HICPxT index could have two potentially wide-reaching effects for euro area inflation-linked bonds (ILB) investors.
inflation, europe, real return
By Lorenzo Pagani April 2019
Navigating Uncertainty in Inflation Markets: The UK Case
Investors in UK inflation-linked bonds are facing two critical sources of structural uncertainty: Brexit-induced volatility and questions about the deeply entrenched (yet problematic) Retail Price Index (RPI).
inflation, uk, macro & markets, real return
By Lorenzo Pagani March 2019
January 2016 January '16
https://global.pimco.com/en-gbl/69bt818v7vjm
Inflation, Growth and Politics Will Guide Central Banks' Hands in Europe in 2016
We expect the result will be alternating periods of stability and volatility.
By Mike Amey, Andrew Bosomworth, Lorenzo Pagani January 2016
September 2015 September '15
https://global.pimco.com/en-gbl/ldtm50dm2ws
Has Europe Turned a Corner?
We expect above-trend real growth in the eurozone over the cyclical horizon, but challenges remain to achieve longer-term inflation targets.
inflation, central bank, bank of england, european central bank
By Mike Amey, Andrew Bosomworth, Lorenzo Pagani September 2015
https://global.pimco.com/en-gbl/5xdsxzxtwy5f
Can ECB Policy Heal Europe's Ills?
We expect the eurozone to benefit from a number of cyclical tailwinds that will likely see above-trend growth and help to reverse the decline in core inflation.
By Mike Amey, Andrew Bosomworth, Lorenzo Pagani March 2015
Lorenzo Pagani
Head of European Government Bond Portfolio Management
Dr. Pagani is a managing director and portfolio manager in the Munich office and head of the European rates desk. He is a member of the global bond and global real return portfolio management teams. Additionally, he is a member of the European Portfolio Committee, the Counterparty Risk Committee and the Best Execution Committee. He also serves as head of talent management for portfolio management outside of the U.S. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2004, he was with the nuclear engineering department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and with Procter & Gamble in Italy. He has 16 years of investment experience and holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from MIT. He graduated from the Financial Technology Option program of MIT/Sloan Business School and holds a joint master of science degree from the Politecnico di Milano in Italy and the Ecole Centrale de Paris in France. | {
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H. D. Macleod and the Origins of the Theory of Finance in Economic Development
H. D. Macleod and the Origins of the Theory of Finance in Economic Development Skaggs, Neil T. 2003-09-01 00:00:00 History of Political Economy 35:3 (2003) before 1870.3 With few (but important) exceptions the period between 1870 and 1914 was no different. The modern literature on the relationship between financial development and economic growth and development is rooted in research conducted during the 1950s and 1960s. Much of this work was applied analysis done by policy advisers employed by international agencies (e.g., the study of the Colombian economy directed by Lauchlin Currie [1950]). Some research by academic economists specializing in problems of economic development touched on financial issues (e.g., Gerschenkron 1962), and Raymond Goldsmith's collections of empirical data on financial variables (e.g., 1955, 1969) provided fodder for theorizing. However, the modern academic literature stems largely from the work of such monetary economists as Edward S. Shaw and his student John G. Gurley (e.g., Gurley and Shaw 1955; Shaw 1964). Shaw (1908–1994) was drawn to analyze the monetary problems of developing economies both by his personal approach to monetary theory and, later, by his dissatisfaction with the orthodox Keynesian and monetarist views that dominated the field.4 Having failed to obtain acceptance of his ideas as applied to the monetary systems of developed economies, Shaw turned to the analysis of http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png History of Political Economy Duke University Press http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/duke-university-press/h-d-macleod-and-the-origins-of-the-theory-of-finance-in-economic-SbLFo2UXS0
Skaggs, Neil T.
History of Political Economy
, Volume 35 (3) – Sep 1, 2003
/lp/duke-university-press/h-d-macleod-and-the-origins-of-the-theory-of-finance-in-economic-SbLFo2UXS0
History of Political Economy /
Copyright 2003 by Duke University Press
10.1215/00182702-35-3-361
History of Political Economy 35:3 (2003) before 1870.3 With few (but important) exceptions the period between 1870 and 1914 was no different. The modern literature on the relationship between financial development and economic growth and development is rooted in research conducted during the 1950s and 1960s. Much of this work was applied analysis done by policy advisers employed by international agencies (e.g., the study of the Colombian economy directed by Lauchlin Currie [1950]). Some research by academic economists specializing in problems of economic development touched on financial issues (e.g., Gerschenkron 1962), and Raymond Goldsmith's collections of empirical data on financial variables (e.g., 1955, 1969) provided fodder for theorizing. However, the modern academic literature stems largely from the work of such monetary economists as Edward S. Shaw and his student John G. Gurley (e.g., Gurley and Shaw 1955; Shaw 1964). Shaw (1908–1994) was drawn to analyze the monetary problems of developing economies both by his personal approach to monetary theory and, later, by his dissatisfaction with the orthodox Keynesian and monetarist views that dominated the field.4 Having failed to obtain acceptance of his ideas as applied to the monetary systems of developed economies, Shaw turned to the analysis of
History of Political Economy – Duke University Press
Published: Sep 1, 2003
Skaggs, N. (2003). H. D. Macleod and the Origins of the Theory of Finance in Economic Development. History of Political Economy, 35(3),
Skaggs, Neil T. "H. D. Macleod and the Origins of the Theory of Finance in Economic Development." History of Political Economy 35.3 (2003). | {
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CA Ct. App.
SANTANTONIO v. WESTINGHOUSE BROADCASTING COMPANY INC
Reset A A Font size: Print
Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 7, California.
Gerald SANTANTONIO, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. WESTINGHOUSE BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC., et al., Defendants and Respondents.
No. B070149.
Decided: May 25, 1994
Inman, Weisz & Steinberg, Drew E. Pomerance and Hali E. Ziff, Beverly Hills, for plaintiff and appellant. Hill, Farrer & Burrill, Kyle D. Brown, Jack R. White and Ronald W. Novotny, Los Angeles, for defendants and respondents.
Plaintiff and appellant, Gerald Santantonio ("Santantonio"), appeals from an award of costs against him in the sum of $96,883.12, following his unsuccessful suit against defendants and respondents.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SYNOPSIS
Santantonio and two other plaintiffs, Gerald A. Velona ("Velona") and Joseph R. Cochrane ("Cochrane"), were former account executives employed by Los Angeles radio station KFWB, owned by defendant and respondent Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, Inc. ("WBC"). Santantonio and Velona claimed that they were terminated by KFWB because of their age. Cochrane claimed that age discrimination forced him to leave KFWB for another job which did not pay as well. Plaintiffs also sued WBC's parent corporation, Westinghouse Electric, Inc. and two managerial employees of KFWB, Jack Hutchison ("Hutchison") and Joanne Cunha ("Cunha"). Cunha was dismissed as a defendant at the start of the trial.
On September 6, 1991, defendants served on plaintiffs' counsel an "offer to compromise," pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 998 1 as follows:
"Pursuant to C.C.P. § 998, defendants Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., Westinghouse Electric, Inc., Jack Hutchison, and Joanne Cunha hereby offer that plaintiffs Gerard Velona, Joseph Cochrane, and Jerry Santantonio take judgment against them in the following amounts:
"1. That plaintiff Velona take judgment against defendants in the amount of $100,000, exclusive of taxable costs incurred to the date of judgment;
"2. That plaintiff Cochrane take judgment against defendants in the amount of $100,000, exclusive of taxable costs incurred to the date of judgment; and
"3. That plaintiff Santantonio take judgment against defendants in the amount of $100,000, exclusive of taxable costs incurred to the date of judgment.
"Pursuant to C.C.P. § 998(b), this offer shall remain open for a period of thirty (30) days, during which time plaintiffs may file a proof of acceptance of the judgment and the court may enter judgment accordingly."
It is undisputed that the offer to compromise was rejected by plaintiffs.
Following a lengthy jury trial, the trial judge granted a motion for directed verdict in favor of Westinghouse Electric, Inc. On February 13, 1992, the jury then returned verdicts in favor of WBC and Hutchison as to the claims of Santantonio and Velona. The jury also returned a verdict in favor of WBC on Cochrane's claim against it, but found in favor of Cochrane on his claim against defendant Hutchison. The jury awarded Cochrane past economic damages in the sum of $85,000 and emotional distress damages in the sum of $100,000. The trial judge then awarded Cochrane an additional sum of $68,844 for future economic losses.2
In post-trial proceedings, Cochrane was also awarded costs in the sum of $3,220.60 and attorney's fees of $176,962, for a total judgment of $434,026.60. Additionally, the trial court granted Cochrane's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict against WBC, thereby making WBC jointly and severally liable for the damages awarded against Hutchison. On April 23, 1992, the judgment was amended to reflect the aforementioned post-trial rulings.
On February 28, 1992, defendants filed a memorandum of costs claiming $365,948.21 as recoverable costs against all of the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs moved to strike and tax defendants' memorandum of costs. Before the hearing on plaintiffs' motion to strike and tax costs, Velona filed a petition in bankruptcy and the trial court granted Cochrane's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict against WBC. In view of these developments before the hearing, defendants conceded that an allocation of costs only against Santantonio was being sought.
On May 20, 1992, the court made an order reflecting rulings on various pending post-trial motions and issues, including the matter of costs. At the request of Santantonio's counsel, a further order was made on June 1, 1992, to clarify certain parts of the May 20 order. As a result of the May 20 and June 1 orders, defendants were awarded costs against Santantonio in the sum of $96,883.12, consisting of the following:
Regarding the expert fees and support costs allowed under section 998, the court explained its reasons as follows:
"The recovery of expert witness fees depends first on whether the CCP 998 offer was valid. Court finds that it was. There existed a sufficient joint interest here in that all defendants were sued jointly on all causes of action. Further, the court relied on a commonality in determining plaintiff's successful motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The amount of the offer was also reasonable based on the substantial evidence of poor performance documented by defendants.
"The question of the reasonableness of the amounts claimed remains. Defendants claim that Mr. Welch is the leading figure in the industry and that his firm was not retained until shortly before trial and that all the preparation and staff time was necessary and reasonable. Court will accept that the status of the two expert witnesses is sufficient enough to justify their fees. Therefore, fees for Mr. Welch are allowed in the amount of $47,162.50 and fees for Mr. Ward are allowed in the amount of $40,668.75. One-third of that amount is payable by Mr. Santantonio; to wit, $29,277.08. However, they seem to have hired some very high-priced talent to perform tasks which require skills that do not appear that awesome. For purposes of allowing staff fees, economists will be reimbursed at $75.00 per hour, programmers at $75.00 per hour, research assistants at $60.00 per hour, data entry clerks at $12.00 per hour and photocopy people at $8.00 per hour. If the calculations are correct, those allowable costs for staff time amount to $179,629.75, one-third of which is $59,867.58."
APPELLANT'S CONTENTIONS
Santantonio attacks the judgment on the ground that the trial court improperly awarded costs under section 998 and, in any event, abused its discretion as to the particular items and amounts which were allowed. As hereinafter discussed, there is no merit to these contentions.
DISCUSSIONA. DEFENDANTS' SECTION 998 OFFER WAS VALID.
Santantonio's principal contention is that the trial court should not have awarded any costs under section 998, on the ground that defendants' offer to compromise was not valid.3 In summary, Santantonio states three basic reasons for his contention: (1) the offer only provided for acceptance by plaintiffs jointly; (2) it was made jointly by defendants who are not united in interest; and (3) it was not intended to be a realistic offer to each plaintiff, but rather to provide a basis to shift litigation costs to plaintiffs under the guise of expert fees.
1. The Section 998 Offer Did Not Require Acceptance By All Plaintiffs. In Any Event, This Issue Has Been Raised For The First Time On Appeal And Should Not Be Considered.
Santantonio correctly points out that under interpretative decisions, a section 998 offer ("998 offer") made to multiple parties is valid only if it is expressly apportioned among them and not conditioned on acceptance by all of them. (See, e.g., Randles v. Lowry (1970) 4 Cal.App.3d 68, 74, 84 Cal.Rptr. 321; Meissner v. Paulson (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 785, 791, 260 Cal.Rptr. 826; Hutchins v. Waters (1975) 51 Cal.App.3d 69, 73, 123 Cal.Rptr. 819; Taing v. Johnson Scaffolding Co. (1992) 9 Cal.App.4th 579, 586, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 820.) A single, lump sum offer to multiple plaintiffs which requires them to agree to apportionment among themselves is not valid. (Randles v. Lowry, supra, 4 Cal.App.3d at p. 74, 84 Cal.Rptr. 321.) Likewise, a lump sum offer by a plaintiff to multiple defendants may be invalid for the same reasons. (Taing v. Johnson Scaffolding Co., supra, 9 Cal.App.4th at p. 586, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 820.)
The instant case does not involve a lump sum or unapportioned offer. Rather, since defendants expressly offered $100,000 to each plaintiff, the plaintiffs did not have to agree among themselves as to how the offer would be apportioned. Santantonio concedes as much, but argues that this case is like Hutchins.
In Hutchins, two plaintiffs sued one defendant for damages arising out of an automobile accident. The defendant made a 998 offer to both plaintiffs for an aggregate sum which was expressly apportioned between the two of them. But the offer also expressly provided that neither plaintiff could accept unless the other also accepted. The court held that the offer was invalid because section 998 does not contemplate that kind of "conditional settlement offer" to two plaintiffs "to become effective only if accepted by both." (Emphasis deleted.) (Hutchins v. Waters, supra, 51 Cal.App.3d at p. 73, 123 Cal.Rptr. 819.)
The offer made by defendants in this case is distinguishable from the one made in Hutchins. Nothing in defendants' offer specifically stated that the $100,000 offered to Santantonio, individually and by name, could be accepted by him only if the other two plaintiffs accepted their offers. We discern that Santantonio is really suggesting that the offer made in this case should now be judicially construed as impliedly imposing a condition that all three plaintiffs were required to accept, since the offer did not expressly provide that the plaintiffs could accept separately. We decline the invitation to imply such a condition.
Initially, it should be noted that the record on appeal does not reveal that this issue was raised in the trial court. In his moving papers in the trial court, the only grounds asserted by Santantonio for his claim that the 998 offer was invalid were that "there was no unity of interest between defendants Westinghouse Electric and Westinghouse Broadcasting and thus no possible joint or respondeat superior liability," and "the § 998 offers to plaintiffs were invalid because they were not reasonable or good faith offers." The record reveals that those two points only were urged by Santantonio's trial counsel during oral argument on Santantonio's motion to tax costs. Having failed to raise the issue in the trial court, the issue was waived, and we will not consider it for the first time on appeal. (Evers v. Cornelson (1984) 163 Cal.App.3d 310, 315, 209 Cal.Rptr. 497.)
Secondly, Santantonio has cited no case which supports his present interpretation of defendants' offer, and we note that such an interpretation would not serve the policy of section 998. The purpose of the statute is to encourage settlements, and it "achieves its aim by punishing a party who fails to accept a reasonable offer from the other party." (Original emphasis.) (Elrod v. Oregon Cummins Diesel, Inc. (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 692, 698–699, 241 Cal.Rptr. 108.) A reasonable inference from the record is that Santantonio rejected the offer by defendants because he and his counsel considered it to be far too low, and not because they thought he was precluded from accepting unless the other two plaintiffs also agreed to take $100,000. We note that Santantonio reiterates all of the reasons why he did not consider the $100,000 offer to him to be reasonable. The comments of his counsel during oral argument in the trial court reflect similar reiterations.
Accordingly, we infer that Santantonio is attempting to avoid the cost shifting purpose behind section 998 based on a claimed procedural defect devised by his appellate counsel for the first time on appeal. If the statutory purpose behind section 998 is to be served in this case, we cannot permit Santantonio to avoid the consequences of his decision by claiming now that the offer ought to be construed as one which he could not have accepted anyway. Such a construction would be strained, and we decline to do so.
2. It Was Proper For Defendants To Make A Joint Offer.
Santantonio next contends, as he did below, that defendants' offer was invalid because it was jointly made. He asserts that a joint offer by multiple defendants is not permissible "unless the Defendants' interests are identical and indivisible, referred to in the case law as unity of interest." Based on that view of the law, he concludes the defendants' joint offer was rendered invalid because defendant Westinghouse Electric was granted a directed verdict on the ground that it had no joint or respondeat superior liability.
Santantonio is mistaken. The case of Hurlbut v. Sonora Community Hospital (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 388, 254 Cal.Rptr. 840, cited by Santantonio, involved a suit by parents and a child against a hospital for injuries resulting from the hospital's alleged negligent failure to perform a timely caesarean section procedure. The plaintiffs' joint 998 offer to the defendant was held to be invalid pursuant to the following reasoning:
"Unlike the cases sanctioning a plaintiff's joint offer to multiple defendants where they are held to be jointly and severally liable for the total judgment [citations], plaintiffs' interests were not identical. There was no single, indivisible injury to evaluate for settlement purposes." (Id., at p. 410, 254 Cal.Rptr. 840.)
In the instant case, each plaintiff did claim to have suffered a single, indivisible injury, for which the defendants were alleged to be jointly and severally liable. Hence, the case of Brown v. Nolan (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 445, 159 Cal.Rptr. 469, cited by the court in Hurlbut, is much more like the instant case and the court's rationale is apposite. In Brown, a joint offer by two defendants to a plaintiff was held to be valid under section 998 under the following reasoning:
"The parties to this appeal agree that in this action a single plaintiff sued two defendants on a theory of joint and several liability. 'Contributory wrongdoers, whether joint tortfeasors or concurrent or successive tortfeasors, are ordinarily jointly and severally liable for the entire damage. [Citations.] [¶] Hence, when they are joined in an action it is improper to apportion compensatory damages among them; judgment for the full amount should be rendered against each.' [Citation.] When the facts of this case are viewed within the context of these general principles it becomes clear that the offer in issue was one contemplated by section 998.
"Plaintiff's argument that if section 998 is strictly construed it cannot be read as providing for joint offers because it speaks in the singular ('any party may serve an offer․ If an offer made by a defendant ․ [Italics added.].') is not persuasive. Where, as here, defendants are sued upon a theory of joint and several liability, each is potentially liable for the full amount of any judgment. Therefore, the offer of compromise in question is properly read as an offer by each defendant to plaintiff that judgment in the amount of $12,500 may be taken against each one of them, jointly and severally. Thus, the statute's speaking in the singular makes perfect sense when it is applied to defendants sued on such a theory. The trial court erred in holding that section 998 was inapplicable." (Emphasis added and deleted.) (Fns. omitted.) (Id., 98 Cal.App.3d at p. 451, 159 Cal.Rptr. 469.)
To the same effect see Winston Square Homeowner's Assn. v. Centex West, Inc. (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 282, 294, 261 Cal.Rptr. 605, where the court upheld a joint 998 offer as follows:
"Joint offers by more than one defendant fall within the provisions of section 998 when defendants are united in interest and are sued on a theory of joint and several liability. [Citations.] Here, all defendants were not united in interest. Nevertheless, the application of section 998 appears appropriate in this case. Though the joint offer did not break down the offer as to particular areas of damage or defendants, Wilsey & Ham received a judgment in its favor. Wilsey & Ham was an absolute prevailing party—it was completely absolved of any liability. As Wilsey & Ham contends, the subsequent settlement between plaintiff and the other defendants on issues other than drainage was irrelevant as far as Wilsey & Ham was concerned." (Fn. omitted.)
Thus, Santantonio misconstrues the application of the cited cases when he suggests that defendants' 998 offer was rendered invalid when Westinghouse Electric ultimately avoided liability through a directed verdict. Santantonio has not included the pleadings in the appellate record. However, by judicial notice under Evidence Code section 452, subdivision (d), it is seen that all of the defendants, including Westinghouse Electric, were sued on the theory that they were jointly and severally liable for the alleged age discrimination asserted by all of the plaintiffs, and defendants filed a joint answer to the complaint. Hence, this case is governed by the rationale of Brown.4
3. The Offer Was Reasonable.
As a last attack on the validity of defendants' 998 offer, Santantonio argues that it was not reasonable. Santantonio misconstrues the law.
a. Defendants' offer was prima facie reasonable. Santantonio has the burden of showing an abuse of discretion by the trial court on appeal.
It is true that the courts have held that a good faith requirement must be read into section 998. In Wear v. Calderon (1981) 121 Cal.App.3d 818, 175 Cal.Rptr. 566, an offer of only one dollar by a defendant in a personal injury action was held not to serve the purpose of the statute because there was no chance the plaintiff would accept such a nominal offer to settle the case. Similarly, in Pineda v. Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc. (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 53, 62–63, 169 Cal.Rptr. 66, both the trial court and court of appeal held that a settlement offer of $2,500 made by a defendant was so disproportionate to plaintiff's demand of $10,000,000 that it was unreasonable to expect that it would be accepted. The court of appeal held it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial judge to have denied defendant's claim for expert fees under 998, even though the defendant was absolved of liability by the jury. (Id., at p. 63, 169 Cal.Rptr. 66.)
Based on like reasoning, in Elrod v. Oregon Cummins Diesel, Inc., supra, 195 Cal.App.3d 692, 241 Cal.Rptr. 108, a $15,001 offer by one of several defendants in a case where the plaintiff's personal injury damages ultimately were determined to be in excess of $1,000,000 was found to be an invalid "token" by the trial court, and that determination was upheld by the Court of Appeal. In so doing, however, the Court of Appeal acknowledged the following rules which are relevant to the instant case as well:
"It is the general rule that where a party shows a prima facie entitlement to costs, the burden is on an objector to prove the costs should be disallowed. [Citations.] Where, as here, the offeror obtains a judgment more favorable than its offer, the judgment constitutes prima facie evidence showing the offer was reasonable and the offeror is eligible for costs as specified in section 998. The burden is therefore properly on plaintiff, as offeree, to prove otherwise.
"Finally, whether a section 998 offer was reasonable and made in good faith is a matter left to the sound discretion of the trial court." (Id., at p. 700, 241 Cal.Rptr. 108.)
In Elrod, facts very different from the instant case led both the trial court and Court of Appeal to conclude that the offer was not good enough to qualify as a reasonable one. The plaintiff had been rendered a paraplegic in a trucking accident. The jury ultimately determined his damage to be $1,183,350, but also determined that he was 60 percent at fault. The defendant who made the $15,001 settlement offer was found to be 10 percent liable. However, the plaintiff's damages ultimately were required to be reduced by a $500,000 settlement received from other defendants and by $137,504 received as worker's compensation benefits. As a result of these fortuitous offsets, the net recovery against the defendant who made the $15,001 offer turned out to be zero. In view of those facts, the Court of Appeal held—"In this case, no abuse of discretion has been shown. The trial court could conclude plaintiff carried his burden of proving that, at the time the offer was made, it was not a reasonable prediction of the amount Cummins would have to pay plaintiff following a trial." (Id., at p. 700, 241 Cal.Rptr. 108.)
In the instant case, the shoe is on the other foot on appeal. Here, the trial judge who heard all of the evidence and presumably was in the best position to evaluate defendants' $100,000 offer to Santantonio concluded that it was reasonable. The court's ruling expressly states: "The amount of the offer was also reasonable based on the substantial evidence of poor performance documented by defendants." Indeed, it is significant that in this case, Santantonio's failure to obtain a judgment more favorable than the defendants' offer did not result from fortuitous offsets like those in Elrod. Rather, it was the result of a complete defense verdict against him on the issue of liability. For that reason alone, the offer must be regarded as prima facie reasonable.
b. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that defendants' offer was reasonable.
We find no merit to Santantonio's arguments as to why defendants' $100,000 offer was not a realistic one at the time it was made. Santantonio's brief states: "To Mr. Santantonio, the Defendants made an entirely unreasonable offer [because they offered him] less than one-ninth of his projected economic losses." But the mere fact that Santantonio claimed projected economic losses of over $900,000 does not mean that defendants' $100,000 offer was unreasonable or unrealistic. Defendants contended that they had no liability to Santantonio at all, and the jury ultimately agreed. Moreover, defendants contended that the damage estimates by plaintiffs' expert were greatly excessive, especially in Santantonio's case.
Defendants' expert economist, Michael Ward, testified that he estimated Santantonio's past economic losses to be between $120,624 and $198,959, depending upon whether it took Santantonio one year or two years to obtain another job in radio or television sales. Based on his survey of available jobs in the industry, Dr. Ward testified that there was no good reason why Santantonio should not have been able to get another sales job within one to two years after being terminated by KFWB.
Dr. Ward further testified that he estimated Santantonio's projected future economic losses to be no more than another $79,674 to $87,273. Dr. Ward explained that the projected future losses were attributable to Santantonio's loss of pension benefits at KFWB and the slight differential in pay he might have on another job based on the average salary for account executives in the industry, projected out to the time of his expected retirement under Department of Labor tables. Thus, Dr. Ward's highest estimate of the combined past and projected future economic losses for Santantonio amounted to $286,232. Defendants offered to settle for approximately 35 percent of that, even though they strongly believed (as the jury found) that they had no liability at all.
Santantonio also seeks to justify his rejection of the $100,000 settlement offer because defendants offered the same amount to Cochrane, even though Cochrane's claimed economic losses were only one-third as much as Santantonio's, and Cochrane then recovered more than four times the offer. Santantonio argues: "There could be any of a hundred reasons why the jury did not find for Mr. Santantonio, none of which have anything to do with the value of his claim." Any evaluation of Santantonio's claim, however, would prudently take into account the possible reasons why a jury might find defendants were not liable for any claimed age discrimination against him. A complete transcript of the record has not been provided to this appellate court, but a reasonable inference is that there were indeed very good reasons why the jury found against him and Velona, but in favor of Cochrane. Poor performance on the part of Santantonio and Velona is evident from Judge Leahy's statement that "the substantial evidence of poor performance documented by defendants" supported his ruling that defendants' $100,000 offer to Santantonio was reasonable.
c. Santantonio's claim that defendants attempted to trick plaintiffs with their section 998 offer is non-meritorious.
Santantonio maintains defendants attempted to "trick Plaintiffs by their 998 Offer," and he was unaware when he rejected it that defendants would use it as a "ploy" to "shift the bulk of their litigation costs" to him. He says he would have considered the offer differently if he had thought rejection would expose him to such exorbitant amounts for defendants' expert fees.
Santantonio overlooks the fact that section 998 expressly allows a party to shift part of his or her litigation costs to the other side when the statutory conditions are met; and those costs may, in the court's discretion, include expert fees. Experienced litigation counsel know that expert fees can be very substantial, depending on the nature of issues litigated. We assume Santantonio's trial counsel competently explained this exposure to him at the time defendants' 998 offer was evaluated and rejected. Santantonio's complaints about the nature and amount of the expert fees ultimately allowed by the trial court are not relevant to the issue of whether the 998 offer was valid. Those complaints go only to the separate question, which we discuss later, of whether the court below abused its discretion in determining what should properly be allowed under section 998, given the fact that Santantonio did not obtain a more favorable judgment than what was offered to him.
Santantonio mistakenly relies on Elrod in support of his argument that he should now be relieved of the statutory consequences of his rejection of defendants' 998 offer because he misjudged how much exposure he might have for defendants' costs. The argument is out of context. The Elrod court's discussion about viewing the reasonableness of an offer in the light of what the offeree knows or does not know at the time the offer is made has reference to facts bearing on the evaluation of the offeree's own claim. The discussion did not involve an evaluation of what the cost exposure might be if the offer were to be rejected. This is made clear when the language quoted in Santantonio's brief is placed back in proper context:
"If the offer is found reasonable by the first test, it must then satisfy a second test: whether defendant's information was known or reasonably should have been known to plaintiff. This second test is necessary because the section 998 mechanism works only where the offeree has reason to know the offer is a reasonable one. If the offeree has no reason to know the offer is reasonable, then the offeree cannot be expected to accept the offer.
"Thus, suppose defendant's files contain 'dynamite' information likely to insulate it from liability. However, the information is subject to a privilege and is not discoverable by plaintiff. Defendant intends to waive the privilege and use the information at trial. Defendant makes a low offer premised on its exclusive knowledge; an objective appraisal of other circumstances, including defendant's likely liability for damages, would indicate the offer is patently unreasonable. Unless defendant communicates its exclusive knowledge to plaintiff with its offer, the offer is not reasonable and does not qualify as a valid section 998 offer. Since defendant knew or reasonably should have known plaintiff lacked information necessary to evaluate the offer, defendant did not make the offer in good faith for purposes of section 998.
"However, we emphasize the reasonableness of defendant's offer does not depend on information actually known to plaintiff but rather on information that was known or reasonably should have been known. The latter standard is an objective one: would a reasonable person have discovered the information? A contrary conclusion would make defendant's good faith incongruously depend on plaintiff's subjective knowledge and would reward plaintiffs who are dilatory in pursuing discovery. Thus, if a defendant makes a low offer shortly before trial based upon potent evidence likely to insulate defendant from liability, and if the evidence was reasonably available to plaintiff, defendant's offer may qualify as a valid section 998 offer even though plaintiff did not in fact know of the information because he failed to investigate or pursue discovery." (Emphasis added.) (Elrod v. Oregon Cummins Diesel, Inc., supra, 195 Cal.App.3d at pp. 699–700, 241 Cal.Rptr. 108.)
There is nothing in the record to suggest that the facts which defendants believed would prove that they had not terminated Santantonio because of his age were not as well known to him as they were to defendants. But Santantonio consciously disputed defendants' reasons by taking the matter to trial, thereby making it necessary for defendants to engage experts to help prove their case. Under section 998, defendants are entitled to recover a share of those costs from Santantonio, and nothing in Elrod provides him with a legitimate excuse for failing to properly evaluate his statutory exposure.
B. THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT ABUSE ITS DISCRETION IN DETERMINING WHAT COSTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
Santantonio repeatedly asserts that the trial court improperly allowed the expert fees as a recoverable cost under section 998, because (a) they were not actual expert fees; (b) they were not reasonably necessary in the defense of defendants' case; and (c) they were not sufficiently described in defendants' cost memorandum.
Santantonio does not dispute that the trial court's determination on these issues can be reversed only for an abuse of discretion. The governing rule is set forth in Evers v. Cornelson, supra, 163 Cal.App.3d 310, 314–315, 209 Cal.Rptr. 497, as follows:
"Defendant complains that certain items of costs awarded by the trial court were exorbitant and, therefore, unreasonable and the only evidence presented to support these costs was the hearsay declarations of plaintiff's counsel. On the issue of whether the costs were exorbitant and unreasonable, the courts have consistently held that where a trial court has been vested with discretion to perform an act, and it so acts, its actions can only be set aside for an abuse of discretion. [Citations.] As this court stated in Huber, Hunt & Nichols, Inc. v. Moore (1977) 67 Cal.App.3d 278, 315 [136 Cal.Rptr. 603]: 'The trial court has discretion under Code of Civil Procedure section 998 to allow a prevailing party (as defined in the section) a reasonable sum to cover the costs of the services of expert witnesses. [Citation.] The trial court was in a far better position, having heard the entire case and observed the demeanor of witnesses, to exercise this discretion and determine what was a reasonable amount and what was reasonably necessary.' As in the Moore case, we should not substitute our judgment over the judgment of the trial court in the absence of a clear showing of an abuse of discretion. Here, there has been no such showing on the issues of what was a reasonable amount and what was reasonably necessary.
"As to defendant's attack on plaintiff's proof of her costs, generally, '[i]f items on their face appear to be proper charges, the verified memorandum of costs is prima facie evidence of their propriety, placing the burden of proof on the party attacking them.' " (Emphasis added.)
To the same effect, see Balfour, Guthrie & Co. v. Gourmet Farms (1980) 108 Cal.App.3d 181, 192, 166 Cal.Rptr. 422; Stiles v. Estate of Ryan, supra, 173 Cal.App.3d 1057, 1066, 219 Cal.Rptr. 647.)
Here, the trial judge was justified in concluding that the amounts awarded as expert fees were in fact for expert services and that those services were reasonably necessary to defendants' case. Santantonio's arguments to the contrary appear to rest primarily on references to a few selected items described in the bills of Welch Associates. However, the most reliable evidence of what services were performed is the actual trial testimony of Finis Welch and Michael Ward, which Santantonio largely ignores.
The record reflects that Dr. Welch, the founder of Welch Associates, is an economist specializing in statistics and labor economics. His testimony focused on various issues concerning the liability side of plaintiffs' claims of age discrimination. Defendants contended that Santantonio and Velona were terminated and that Cochrane had been threatened with possible termination because they all failed to meet certain specific performance goals for account executives set by KFWB's management. In particular, beginning in 1987, KFWB required each account executive to meet a specific annual budget for new business production as a condition of continued employment.
Although we are not provided with a complete reporter's transcript of the trial it is undisputed in the briefs on appeal that throughout the trial plaintiffs made numerous charges to the effect that their alleged poor performance was a subterfuge for age discrimination. Some of their claims included the following: that there was no business justification for management's decision to require account executives to meet specific goals for new business production to keep their jobs; that the new business budgets established for plaintiffs were more burdensome than those set for other account executives; that management engaged in numerous acts to favor other account executives and make it impossible for plaintiffs to achieve their new business budgets; and that management even skewed the records to make it appear that plaintiffs performed poorly in comparison with other account executives, when plaintiffs actually were performing better than others who were not terminated or threatened with termination.
Dr. Welch was engaged by defendants to examine all of these contentions and to express his opinions concerning them as an economist. His testimony was supported by some 34 exhibits, consisting of charts and graphs prepared under his direction. As a sampling, he testified that there was a legitimate business need for KFWB's rigorous insistence upon the production of new business as a condition for retaining one's job as an account executive; there was no pattern of age discrimination in the setting of new business budgets for plaintiffs and other account executives, and plaintiffs' budgets were not more burdensome than others; plaintiffs, including Santantonio, performed poorly in relation to the goals set for them; at the time he was discharged on April 13, 1989, Santantonio ranked last in new business production and he had been below his budget and on a steady decline since August of 1987; and there was no disparate treatment of plaintiffs, nor any pattern of age discrimination in how management dealt with other account executives who failed to meet their performance goals.
Dr. Ward also was an economist and was employed by Welch Associates. He was engaged primarily to estimate the amount of economic loss that might have been suffered by plaintiffs by reason of their leaving KFWB. His testimony was needed to counter the testimony of plaintiffs' own damage expert, Dr. Joyce Pickersgill, and the testimony of Santantonio and Velona as to why they could not get comparable employment to mitigate their claimed damages. Dr. Ward's preparation included conducting a survey of available jobs for experienced sales people in radio and television in Los Angeles and the average salary paid for such available jobs.
From the foregoing summary of testimony by Drs. Welch and Ward, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the services of Drs. Welch and Ward were expert witness services and that those services were reasonably necessary for presentation of defendants' case. Santantonio's argument that some of the preparation, and some of the testimony, could have been provided through defendants' own staff, is not compelling. We conclude that it was reasonable for defendants to have Drs. Welch and Ward independently develop and analyze the evidence relied upon for their expert opinions with the aid of their own staff economists and other support personnel and then present such evidence through their trial testimony and the illustrative exhibits prepared under their direction.5
Lastly, Santantonio argues without merit that costs allowed under section 998 must be limited to the actual time consumed in examination in court. The reference to Government Code section 68092.5 in section 998, subdivision (h) is interpreted to mean that any fees charged for trial time must not exceed the expert's normal rate. Costs recoverable under section 998, subdivision (c) expressly include "a reasonable sum to cover costs of the services of expert witnesses, ․ reasonably necessary in either, or both, the preparation or trial of the case by the defendant." (Emphasis added.)
In Evers v. Cornelson, supra, 163 Cal.App.3d 310, 317, 209 Cal.Rptr. 497, the court expressly held that section 998 does indeed cover trial preparation by an expert.
"It appears reasonable to expect an expert witness who is going to testify at trial to prepare to be able to assist the jury on difficult issues. The more prepared the expert witness is, the more help he will be. The question is really whether the amount of time spent by [the expert] in preparing for trial was reasonable. The trial court found that this preparation was reasonably necessary and that the total cost was a reasonable amount. Again, absent a showing by defendant of an abuse of discretion, the trial court's findings will not be disturbed on appeal. [Citations.]" (Ibid.)
The court in Evers went on to further hold that section 998 also covers the cost of experts who aid in the preparation of the case for trial, even if they do not actually testify. (Id., at p. 317, 209 Cal.Rptr. 497.) The court observed: "Since the statute does not specify precisely the services for which costs are recoverable, the determination of allowable costs is largely within the trial court's discretion." (Id., at pp. 317–318, 209 Cal.Rptr. 497.)
Based on these principles, we conclude that the trial judge acted within his discretion when he allowed not only the amounts charged by Drs. Welch and Ward for their own preparation and trial time, but also a portion of their separately itemized charges for staff economists and other skilled employees who helped them in that preparation.
C. THE COURT'S ALLOCATION OF ONE–THIRD OF THE TOTAL COSTS TO APPELLANT WAS NOT EXCESSIVE.
Santantonio contends he should not have to bear one-third of the costs simply because there were three plaintiffs. He concedes that the allocation of defendants' costs among the plaintiffs was a matter for the trial court's discretion, but he argues that the court abused its discretion.6
Santantonio makes the following statement in his brief in support of his argument that the trial court abused its discretion: "Substantial evidence supports a far different conclusion; that Defendants did not believe that Mr. Santantonio would prevail, and instead concentrated their efforts on defending against the other Plaintiffs, especially Mr. Cochrane." The statement is devoid of any reference to the record before this court. As noted previously, we have not been presented with a complete reporter's transcript on appeal. We assume that if the record supports the argument then Santantonio surely would have perfected the relevant portion of the record on appeal. But we are presented with a record which demonstrates what the defendants said on the subject by examining their memorandum of costs filed in the trial court. The memorandum contains the following:
"The $100,000 offer made to each of the three plaintiffs in this case was entirely reasonable and proper under the circumstances. The offer was consistent with offers made to the plaintiffs in mandatory settlement conferences before the court, and with the defendants' realistic exposure in terms of economic losses to each of the three plaintiffs. In this regard, although plaintiff Santantonio alleges that his economist projected economic losses in excess of $900,000, the projection did not take into account either Santantonio's nonexistent efforts to mitigate his damages or his alleged stellar reputation in the industry which would presumably have enabled him to find other work in the broadcasting field had he attempted to do so. Defendants' offer also took into account the common overriding defense to the action based on all the plaintiffs' subpar work performance, in addition to the relatively small possibility of an award of emotional distress or punitive damages to any of them. The $100,000 offer to each of the plaintiffs was therefore justified, particularly in view of the strength of the company's defenses and the similarity of the fact patterns to all three cases."
Thus, from what we can discern from the record provided to this court and contrary to Santantonio's argument, the fact that defendants considered their $100,000 offer to be reasonable in part because they believed his $900,000 claim of economic loss was overstated, does not logically compel the conclusion that they concentrated their efforts on defending against the claims of the other two plaintiffs. The record is clear that the defendants placed exactly the same $100,000 value on the claims of Velona and Cochrane.
Lastly, Santantonio argues that it is a matter of simple arithmetic that he should have the lowest prorata portion of defendants' recoverable costs, because he was offered the lowest percentage of his claimed economic losses. The argument presents an obvious non sequitur when we review the record and find that the $100,000 offered to each plaintiff represented a smaller percentage of Santantonio's claim than that of the claims of the other two plaintiffs since Santantonio's claimed economic losses were the greatest. The record is highly suggestive that, if anything, Santantonio had the largest claim and that he would be the focus of intense defense efforts, since defendants had more to lose if he prevailed.
To reiterate, the trial judge was in the best position to allocate a fair share of the recoverable costs to Santantonio. The court concluded that one-third of the total costs ultimately found to be allowable (after various reductions) was a reasonable allocation. Santantonio has not demonstrated that the allocation by the trial judge was an abuse of discretion.7
The judgment is affirmed. Costs of appeal are awarded to respondents.
I respectfully dissent for two reasons. First, in my view the trial court erred in shifting any costs since the Code of Civil Procedure section 998 1 offer was not unconditional as required by that statute. Second, assuming it were appropriate to shift some costs, the court erred in failing to take account of appellant's means in setting the amount of the award.
I. THE OFFER WAS A JOINT OFFER CONDITIONAL ON ACCEPTANCE BY ALL PLAINTIFFS AND THUS INVALID UNDER SECTION 998.
In my view the section 998 offer in this case was conditional and its rejection therefore cannot serve to shift the costs of defendant's expert witnesses to appellant. The offer was conditional because it required acceptance by all three plaintiffs. As such, it is not effective to shift costs under Hutchins v. Waters (1975) 51 Cal.App.3d 69, 73, 123 Cal.Rptr. 819 and Meissner v. Paulson (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 785, 791, 260 Cal.Rptr. 826.
My first problem is with the fact respondent did not serve a separate 998 offer on each of the three plaintiffs. Instead it combined the three offers in a single joint document and served it on the attorney who happened to be representing all plaintiffs.
Hutchins dictates before a party can claim the benefits of cost shifting, it must be shown that party "served an unconditional offer in writing upon any other party to the action, or to each of several other parties to the actions." In my view, this language clearly requires that in multi-plaintiff litigation the defendant must serve a separate offer on each individual plaintiff, even if all plaintiffs happen to be represented by the same attorney. Not only is this requirement compelled by the language of the statute, but it serves important policies. This rule is the only way to ensure each offer is individual to a given plaintiff and can be accepted by that plaintiff even if the others reject their offers. Furthermore, it is the best way of avoiding any ambiguity whether each of these offers is unconditional and not dependent upon acceptance by all parties. Indeed the instant case is a good example of what happens when the offer is a combined offer to several parties.
A still more fundamental objection, however, is the nature of the offer embodied in this single document. At many critical places, the offer is written in the plural and the conjunctive. Indeed it is not only a tenable but a most reasonable inference the document sets forth a joint offer to all three plaintiffs and that all three plaintiffs had to accept the offer. The only instance where the offer does not speak in the plural is where it apportions the total amount among the plaintiffs, setting it at $100,000 to each plaintiff.
When read in context the offer to compromise looks clearly conditional. For example, in its most critical passages, the document states defendants "hereby offer that plaintiffs ․ take judgment against them in the following amounts" and "plaintiffs may file a proof of acceptance." The proper inference is the offer must be accepted by all three plaintiffs. This inference is reinforced by other portions of the document. The first reference to the plaintiffs is to all three, Mr. Velona, Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Santantonio. The numbered paragraphs apportioning the 998 offer at $100,000 each are also stated in the conjunctive. The only other reference to the plaintiffs or to any of them is collective, stating the "Plaintiffs" [plural] "may file a proof of acceptance" [singular]. The plaintiffs had to act together to accept the 998 offer rendering it conditional and, therefore, invalid for purposes of assessing costs against any of the plaintiffs under Hutchins.
The majority is prepared to dismiss this entire argument because "the record on appeal does not reveal that this issue was raised in the trial court." (Maj. opn. at p. 490.) However, the interpretation of an integrated instrument or writing is a question of law, as is the interpretation of a statute. (9 Witkin, Cal.Procedure, Appeal § 242 (3d ed., 1985); Parsons v. Bristol Development Co. (1965) 62 Cal.2d 861, 865, 44 Cal.Rptr. 767, 402 P.2d 839; Matter of Estate of Butler (1988) 205 Cal.App.3d 311, 317, 252 Cal.Rptr. 210.) Accordingly, whether the section 998 offer was valid on its face may be reviewed de novo in this court. Extrinsic evidence would have been irrelevant if tendered in the trial court. Consequently, any failure to raise this particular issue below does not deprive this court of any information required to properly interpret the document presenting this section 998 offer.
II. THIS AWARD AND LIKE 998 AWARDS THREATEN TO DISTORT LITIGATION INCENTIVES AND BEHAVIOR UNLESS SCALED IN SIZE TO THE COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC RESOURCES OF THE COMPETING LITIGANTS.
Even if I agreed it was appropriate to shift some costs to appellant pursuant to section 998, I would reverse and remand for reappraisal of the amount of the costs which properly could be shifted. In my view, the trial court erred in failing to assess appellant's economic resources and to include that factor in its calculation of the cost award. Unless trial courts include this factor in setting the costs to be shifted under section 998, they will distort settlement incentives and unduly discourage individual litigants from pursuing reasonable courses of action in the courts.
There is no doubt cost shifting performs a major purpose in the section 998 process. It gives the party receiving the offer an added incentive to behave reasonably. Reasonable behavior means accepting a reasonably generous offer. But it also means rejecting an unreasonably stingy one. To encourage reasonable behavior, therefore, the amount of the costs which may shift also must be reasonable. Not just reasonable in absolute terms, but reasonable in comparison with the resources of the offeree. If modest income litigants are required to risk the imposition of $100,000 in costs if they reject a section 998 offer, they will feel compelled to accept any such offer, even if it is far below what they have a reasonable prospect of winning at trial. Particularly if the opposing party is a large institution, as it was here, the average person can't afford to gamble. It is like going to a casino and entering a no limit game against the "house" with only one week's paycheck in the bank.2
The courts have recognized the need to adjust cost assessments to the parties' means in other contexts. For example, this court in In re Marriage of Norton (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 53, 253 Cal.Rptr. 354, held family courts are required to determine the parties' comparative financial resources before shifting legal fees from one to the other, even when the reason for the shift is to encourage the parties to behave reasonably during the litigation. In Norton, the trial court found the wife had behaved unreasonably during settlement negotiations with her husband and in other proceedings before the court. A then newly enacted provision, Civil Code section 4370.5, authorized family court judges to require spouses who had behaved unreasonably to pay the legal fees their other spouses incurred as a result. Using this law, the court shifted a part of the husband's legal fees to the wife, but only after being careful to determine the parties were of equal means.
This court affirmed the shift of legal fees from the husband to the wife. But we took care to emphasize we would have reversed if the trial judge had not ascertained the wife's economic situation before placing this burden on her. We held this was a requirement, despite the fact Civil Code section 4370.5 at that time failed to mention anything about the respective needs or financial resources of the competing litigants.3 As we explained:
"The purpose of Civil Code section 4370.5 is to encourage reasonable litigation and settlement behavior in marriage dissolution proceedings. The purpose is not to cause undue hardship nor to discourage parties from pursuing meritorious actions. Therefore, the other party may not be entitled to an award of all fees and costs he or she expended in the proceedings."
"Less affluent parties, typically wives, may be unduly discouraged from vigorously prosecuting legitimate claims and defenses if they face the prospect of having to pay substantial cost and fee awards to the other side. This problem will be compounded if there is a gross disparity of resources. The other side will not feel the same inhibitions since this wealthier party will not find it nearly so hard to pay any award the court may impose for its litigation behavior. This creates an imbalance in the incentives to behave appropriately during settlement negotiations and litigation. Economic analysis suggests the less affluent party will behave too timidly during litigation and accept unfavorable settlement terms when facing a party who is less concerned about the possible economic disincentives of taking a hard line. (See Covenant Mutual Ins. Co. v. Young (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 318, 325–327 [225 Cal.Rptr. 861], and authorities cited therein.)" (In re Marriage of Norton, supra, 206 Cal.App.3d 53, 59–60, 253 Cal.Rptr. 354.)
In a pair of recent decisions, appellate courts also have recognized trial courts must take account of a party's economic status before imposing other litigation costs on them. Both of these cases arose when trial courts ordered discovery matters to be heard by "private judges" pursuant to sections 639 and 645.1. As is typical in such "references," the court ordered the parties to divide the private judge's fees for performing this task.
In the first case, Solorzano v. Superior Court (1993) 18 Cal.App.4th 603, 22 Cal.Rptr.2d 401, one of the parties was indigent. The appellate court reversed the order, holding the indigent party could not be compelled to pay these fees because of the state's in forma pauperis provisions. The second case, McDonald v. Superior Court (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 364, 27 Cal.Rptr.2d 310, involved a person of modest means rather than an indigent. In an opinion which resonates in this case, the court emphasized cost assessments cannot be used to discourage middle class citizens from having effective resort to the courts either.
"As stated in Solorzano in discussing in forma pauperis plaintiffs:
" 'Fees of $200 to $300 per hour charged by privately compensated discovery referees allow affluent litigants to avoid discovery compliance by pricing enforcement of legitimate discovery demands beyond the means of indigent plaintiffs. This advantage based on wealth flows directly from the trial court's order imposing equal division of fees between indigent plaintiffs and an adverse litigant of far superior financial means.' (Citation omitted.)
" 'The same policy considerations apply where one party has financial resources far superior to an opposing party who, while not proceeding in forma pauperis, has clearly limited financial means.' " (McDonald v. Superior Court, supra, 22 Cal.App.4th 364, 369, 27 Cal.Rptr.2d 310.)
Just as trial courts must avoid imposing unreasonable discovery costs on modest income litigants they must avoid shifting other types of unreasonable litigation costs to those same litigants if the litigation process is to be fair and to produce just results.4 In order to properly balance litigation incentives to produce fair and reasonable settlements under section 998, the amount of the fees shifted must be scaled to be proportionate to the comparative financial resources of the competing parties. The prospect of a $100,000 cost shift may represent a reasonable incentive to accept a section 998 settlement offer if the offeree has ample resources. For persons of only modest means, however, that $100,000 will loom as a terrifying threat, one calculated to distort their decision-making and force them to cave in to unreasonably low section 998 offers.5 Since the trial court made no inquiry into appellant's financial status, we do not know for sure whether $100,000 was a reasonable disincentive for someone like appellant or whether the amount of this cost shift must be scaled back in order to avoid irrational and unfair results in this and future litigation. (On the other hand, we do know one of the other three plaintiffs in this case had to declare bankruptcy, presumably in whole or in part because of the threatened assessment of the $100,000 in costs.)
Civil Code section 4370.5 construed in Norton and sections 639 and 645.1 construed in Solorzano and McDonald expressly allow the trial court discretion in imposing fees, costs, or other expenses on litigants. In both instances, appellate courts have held trial courts abuse this discretion if they fail to take account of the adverse impact substantial cost shifts visit on the average citizen who is trying to use the courts. Similarly, section 998 confers discretion on trial courts in deciding whether and how much of expert witness fees and pre-offer costs an unsuccessful litigant must pay. That section provides: "[T]he court, in its discretion, may require the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs from the date of filing of the complaint and a reasonable sum to cover costs of the services of expert witnesses, ․ actually incurred and reasonably necessary in either, or both, the preparation or trial of the case․" (§ 998(c), italics added.)
The bulk of the costs the trial court shifted to appellant in this case consisted of expert witness fees.6 Under the terms of 998, the trial court had discretion to refuse to shift these fees at all. Moreover, since the amount shifted for this purpose is to be "a reasonable sum" the trial court also had discretion to reduce this element of the cost award to a sum below what respondents reasonably paid for expert witness services. Construing comparable laws, Norton, Solorzano, and McDonald held it was proper, indeed essential, that trial courts in exercising their discretion determine how the proposed cost shifting would affect the litigant who would be paying those costs not just whether the costs were otherwise reasonable in amount.
What this court said in 1986 about Civil Code section 4370.5 applies with equal force to section 998. "Nothing in the language of section 4370.5 [nor of section 998] suggests it is designed to encourage unfair settlements or inappropriately timid litigation behavior. Indeed it is entirely consistent with [either of these code sections] for trial courts to take account of the comparative wealth of the competing litigants and the effect of wealth disparities on litigation behavior when they fashion any fee and cost awards they may impose pursuant to [these sections]. What is a reasonable award for one party ․ may be unreasonable if imposed on the other. For, unless trial courts 'scale' any such awards to the comparative wealth of the parties they may discourage the economically weaker party from filing actions she or he should and from pursuing those actions with the vigor they deserve." (In re Marriage of Norton, supra, 206 Cal.App.3d 53, 60, 253 Cal.Rptr. 354.) 7
Since section 998 so clearly allows trial courts discretion to take account of these considerations implicating fairness and litigation behavior when deciding cost shifting awards, I find it unnecessary to discuss a statute not now before us, one which mandated substantial cost shifting against unsuccessful litigants. Suffice it to say, in my view such a law would raise grave constitutional issues. For reasons discussed above and at greater length in Covenant Mutual, supra, and Norton, supra, there is great danger such a provision would deny the average citizen the access to the courts which due process and equal protection of the laws guarantee. It would make California's regular civil courts the exclusive province of litigants with the resources to play a high stakes game of litigation poker.
There is another reason we should be especially careful to ensure cost shifting under section 998 is not permitted in amounts which might discourage plaintiffs from filing and vigorously pursuing litigation of the type involved in this case. Appellant and his fellow plaintiffs brought this case under civil rights statutes designed to enforce government policies against age discrimination. Allowing section 998 cost shifting in amounts which distort settlement incentives is counterproductive to the governmental purpose of encouraging what typically are modest income individuals to pursue private relief under these laws. By sanctioning such cost shifting, courts discourage those same modest income individuals from seeking relief and thereby from enforcing those important public policies against discrimination.
To sum up, I would reverse this cost shifting award outright based on the fact it was the product of a conditional section 998 offer which required or appeared to require the acquiescence of all three plaintiffs. But assuming the section 998 offer were proper, I would reverse and remand for a determination whether the amount of that award was proper. I would instruct the trial court to reconsider that question in light of its impact on litigation between average Californians of modest income and economically powerful institutions or individuals.
1. Unless otherwise stated, all statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
2. The issues regarding damages were bifurcated. The issue of plaintiffs' "past economic damages" (lost compensation and benefits up to the time of trial), if any, was submitted to the jury. The issue of whether a plaintiff could also recover projected "future economic losses" was reserved for decision by the court.
3. This contention by Santantonio necessarily involves only the costs awarded for "expert fees" claimed in item 7(c) of defendants' memorandum of costs. Costs were also awarded against Santantonio under items 1(a) and (b), 3, 7(a) and 10 of defendants' memorandum in the aggregate amount of $7,471.74. Those costs are allowable under section 1033.5 irrespective of whether defendants' section 998 offer was valid.
4. It is reasonable to assume that Santantonio has apparently misunderstood the meaning of the words "unity of interest" used in some of the authorities cited herein. It does not mean that there must be a "unity of interest" between a parent corporation and a subsidiary corporation in an alter ego sense. Nor does it mean that the claimed basis for joint and several liability must be sustained or conceded to support the validity of a defendants' joint offer. Rather, it simply means what was being discussed in Brown, i.e., that the defendants were sued on a theory of joint and several liability. Here, it was claimed that Westinghouse Electric and WBC were, in essence, joint employers of the plaintiffs. It would be a strained result to hold that defendants' joint 998 offer was rendered invalid simply because plaintiffs failed to sustain their claim that Westinghouse Electric was in fact an employer.
5. We find unpersuasive Santantonio's contention that he should not have to pay $3,345.76, or one-third of the cost of the experts' exhibits, because they were "merely illustrative and of little value." The trial judge was in the best position to judge their value. The costs are recoverable under Balfour,Guthrie&Co.v.GourmetFarms,supra, 108Cal.App.3d181,192,166Cal.Rptr.422.
6. We note the inconsistency of the argument with the position taken by his trial counsel in plaintiffs' motion to tax costs. When trial counsel filed his moving papers concluding that defendants were seeking to recover two-thirds of their recoverable costs from Santantonio, he argued that Santantonio should only have to bear 50 percent of any costs awarded under section 998 and one-third of any costs awarded under section 1033.5. In fact, however, defendants' memorandum in opposition to plaintiffs' motion to tax costs asked that only one-third of all of the claimed costs be awarded against Santantonio.
7. In reading the dissent, paragraph II gives us considerable concern. Section 998 already permits the trial court, via exercise of discretion, to consider a party's ability to pay costs. No matter how well intended, to judicially graft such a requirement on the statute itself, goes beyond mere statutory interpretation and improperly invades the province of the legislature.
1. All statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise indicated.
2. In Covenant Mutual v. Young (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 318, 326–328, 225 Cal.Rptr. 861, this court discussed some of these economic incentives in a different context, a one way fee-shifting statute. The basic principles, however, remain the same. The average individual considering litigation or involved in litigation is "risk aversive," indeed cannot afford to be anything else. Institutional litigants and other "repeat players," on the other hand, can afford to be "risk neutral" and indeed against individuals often can adopt a "risk preference" strategy. This means the average individual, when confronted with a litigation choice which carries a risk that costs will be shifted should that individual lose, will accept an unreasonably unfavorable offer in order to avoid that risk.Even if the "expected value" (damages sought X probability of obtaining those damages) of a case is $200,000 or more individual litigants might well feel compelled to accept an offer of $100,000 or less just because they are risk averse and unwilling and unable to accept the risk of having to pay $100,000 in expert witness fees to the other side if they lose. Indeed for many individuals of modest means the risk they might be required to pay the other side $100,000 in costs should they lose will dissuade them from filing a case in the first place. As one economic analyst observed, "given risk aversion and the diminishing marginal utility of income and wealth, the threat of having to pay the other side's fees can loom so large in the mind of a person without considerable disposable assets that it deters the pursuit of even a fairly promising and substantial claim or defense." (Rowe, Predicting the Effects of Attorney Fee Shifting (1984) 47 Law & Contemp.Probs. 139, 153.)Even if they do embark on the litigation modest income litigants may well feel compelled to drop the case when that cost-shifting possibility appears during the course of the proceedings. Lacking the resources to absorb this kind of financial burden, they would feel compelled to accept a nominal sum, or nothing. It is as if in the final hand of a poker game with everything in the pot the "house" suddenly raises the ante to an amount most players can't afford. No one would regard that as fair. In the world of litigation, it is not only unfair. It leads to unjust and economically unjustified settlements.
3. Subsequent to our decision in Norton, the Legislature amended Civil Code section 4370.5 to include express language requiring courts to ascertain the parties' respective means before setting the direction and amount of any fee shifting under that code section.
4. Notably, the McDonald court held it was unfair to impose costs of a few hundred or at most a few thousand dollars on modest income litigants. In the instant case, we are considering the effect of imposing $100,000 or more in costs on this same class of litigants. Obviously, the concerns which led the McDonald court to prohibit discovery references when modest income litigants are involved, apply with much greater force to massive cost shifting awards granted pursuant to section 998.
5. There is empirical support for this proposition in a study of the English version of California's section 998 procedure, which in that country is called the "payment into court" system. As is true under section 998, a plaintiff must obtain a judgment more favorable than the defendant's statutory offer or suffer the consequence. In England, however, that means paying the defendant's reasonable legal fees as well as costs. The study revealed that out of a sample of 664 personal injury cases studied in four cities, 41 percent involved a payment into court. In fully 90 percent of those cases the plaintiff accepted the "payment in" money the defendant tendered. In virtually all the remaining 10 percent, however, the cases where plaintiffs had the courage to refuse the "payment in" and went to trial, they received damages larger than the amount paid in. This led the author of the study to conclude many of those who had accepted the "payment in" also would have won more at trial than the figure they settled for, but decided against trial because they could not afford to risk the possibility of having to pay the defendant's fees and costs. (Zander (June 25, 1975) Costs of Litigation—A Study of the Queen's Bench Division, Law Society's Gazette 680; Zander, Is the English Payment–Into–Court Rule Worth Copying? (1976) 40 Rabels Zeitschrift 750.) This study is discussed in Cappelletti and Garth (ed.) Access to Justice: Emerging Issues and Perspectives (1979) pages 44–46, 54–56.
6. Since I consider the two alternative grounds argued in this dissent more than sufficient to justify reversal of this cost award, I do not discuss yet a further reason for reducing the expert witness component of the award. A substantial percentage of that award represents payments to nonexperts who compiled and analyzed data respondents' experts used in preparing and giving their testimony. It is not at all clear to me these payments to nonexperts fall within the statutory definition of "costs of the services of expert witnesses" entitled to recompense under section 998.
7. In footnote 7 of the majority opinion, it is conceded the trial court had discretion "to consider a party's ability to pay costs." This footnote, however, then suggests it somehow is beyond the role of the appellate judiciary to require trial courts to consider this factor when exercising their discretion to set the amount of cost awards under section 998. If so, this court exceeded its role in Norton as did the courts which decided Solorzano and McDonald. As discussed above, in all three of these cases the appellate courts imposed a requirement trial courts consider this factor when exercising their discretion, even though it was not explicitly mentioned in the statutes at issue in those cases. I suspect there are literally thousands of appellate opinions, some of them written by my Division Seven colleagues, spelling out factors which trial courts are expected to consider when exercising their discretion under various statutes, even though those factors are not mentioned explicitly in the statutes themselves. Indeed this is one of the primary functions of the appellate courts.
FRED WOODS, Associate Justice.
LILLIE, P.J., concurs. | {
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This Week in Gun Rights: Dec 13, 2019
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Gun Policy Round-up: November 9, 2019
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BREAKING: Court Blocks Pittsburgh, PA Gun Control Scheme in Lawsuit Brought by FPC, FPF, FOAC, and 3 Gun Owners
Another illegal law struck down.
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The tragic and unjustifiable killing of Ms. Jefferson underscores why law enforcement must be better trained to safely encounter people with guns and other constitutionally protected weapons.
Weekly Gun Policy Roundup: October 11, 2019
This week, the Supreme Court set New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. New York City for oral arguments. This comes after the respondents begged the Court to stay out in every conceivable way -- even promising that, should the case continue, they would not argue anything beyond their assertion that the case is moot.
CA. Gov. Newsom Signs 15 Anti-Gun Bills into Law
In a move that we haven't seen since July 2016, when then Governor Jerry Brown signed "Gunpocalypse", current California Governor Gavin Newsom signed FIFTEEN antigun bills into law earlier today.
Law-Splainer - Part 2: Structure of the Federal Courts
In Part 1 of our Law-Splainer series, we covered what it takes to file a federal lawsuit and a number of factors that need to be considered before filing a complaint in a federal district court. In this part, we'll discuss the structure of the federal court system.
Plaintiffs Seek Injunction in Second Amendment Lawsuit Challenging California Gun Ban for Young Adults Under Age 21
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2019) — Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a motion seeking a preliminary injunction in the case of Matthew Jones, et al. v. Attorney General Xavier Becerra, et al., a federal Second Amendment challenge to the State of California's ban on gun purchases by young adults over age 18 but under age 21. The court filings are available online at www.firearmspolicy.org/jones.
FPC Supreme Court Brief: Non-Violent Felons Have Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms
"Since countless non-violent felons are being denied their rights every day—including many who have been law-abiding for several decades, like Mr. Medina—we are hopeful that the Court will accept the case and clarify its intent."
Presidential Candidates Admit At Town Hall: We're ALL Coming For Your Guns
Every Democrat candidate for President admitted Wednesday "Hell yes, we're still coming for your AR-15!"
Second Amendment Protects So-Called "Large-Capacity" Gun Magazines, Firearms Policy Coalition Argues in Important 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Brief Joined by Second Amendment Foundation, Armed Equality, Others
"Magazines are inherent, operating parts of all semi-automatic firearms, and it is indisputable that the so-called 'large-capacity magazines' at issue in this case are in common use for lawful purposes and protected by the Constitution," explained George M. Lee
FPC Rejects Gun Control Proposals, Expanded Background Checks, Registry in Purported Trump Admin. "Idea" Document; Publishes Policy Memo Detailing Dangers, Flaws
Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) published a new Policy Memorandum addressing gun control proposals contained in a new document captioned "Idea for New Unlicensed-Commercial-Sale Background Checks".
An Awful, Horrible, No-Good Expanded Background Check "Idea"
On September 18, 2019, a purported "idea" document reportedly being circulated among Republican senators and congressmen was leaked to the media. The document, entitled "Idea for New Unlicensed-Commercial-Sale Background Checks", is both frighteningly vague and callous in its disregard for the Second and Fourth Amendments, as well as the federalist principles that animate the Commerce Clause.
FPC: Why Politicians Are Dead Wrong About Red Flag Laws
In the era of "just do something" public policy, legislators on both sides of the aisle are pitching red flag legislation as a moderate form of gun control; one having a positive impact on mental health reform while simultaneously keeping Americans safe. Nothing could be further from the truth, and what these politicians won't tell you is that their position is unsupported by evidence and riddled with far-reaching, unconstitutional implications for everyone.
On their first day back in session, California lawmakers unleash 3 anti-gun bills
On their FIRST DAY back in session, Reps. Levine, Irwin, and Ting introduced a freedom-infringing trifecta of bills that would have devastating effects on 2A rights.
Gov. Brown vetoes "fake news" study bill
Doctor and California State Senator Richard Pan thought that prescribing 1984-style mass censorship on a healthy populace would be a winning idea in 2018.
Guns.com: Texas Congressman wants $10K fine for selling guns at gun show without license
U.S. Rep. Al Green, who has represented southwestern Houston on Capitol Hill for the past decade, introduced H.R. 6654 to the House earlier this month which would punish those without a federal firearms license should they try to move a gun at a gun show.
Guns.com: Ohio drops CCW fees for vets without Kasich signature on Bill
The Republican allowed SB 81 to become law without his signature on Friday, arguing that lawmakers missed the chance to enact gun control measures this session in the wake of a high-profile school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Guns.com: Dems file at least 3 bills in Congress to block 3D printed guns
The brawl over downloadable gun manufacturing code reached Capitol Hill on Tuesday with a group of Democrats in both chambers vowing action.
DOJRegWatch.com: Firearm Regulation News & Updates
California officials warn: Only days left to register all 'bullet button assault weapons'
"The State of California has made gun ownership a Hobson's choice, wherein one must either accept registration that may yet lead to a confiscatory ban like Prop 63 and heavy-handed law enforcement or waive fundamental rights by not having guns at all," said Combs.
Bearing Arms: Florida candidate promises to ban 'assault rifles' by decree
[Former U.S. Congresswoman Gwen] Graham pledged to ban assault weapons sales using a little-known state law. "I have found a public safety statute that allows the governor, whoever she may be, to sign an executive order for public safety reasons banning that sale of military-style assault weapons," Graham said.
NJ.com: Phil Murphy's attorney general fires warning shot at 'ghost gun' makers
"These weapons are illegal in our state," Attorney General Gurbir Grewal wrote in the letter. "Your actions violate the laws of New Jersey and, if you do not stop these activities within 15 days, I will bring legal action against your company."
Guns.com: DOJ Releases Regulation Banning Bump Stocks
"All bump stock-type devices are 'machine guns' under the GCA and NFA because they convert a semiautomatic firearms into a firearm that shoots automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger."
Guns.com: Gun Rights Proponents Challenge New California 'Assault Weapon' Regs
A group of individuals and Second Amendment groups has filed suit against the state's pending new regulations on "bullet-buttons" and assault weapons. In a complaint filed in a Riverside County state Superior Court, four gun owners– George Holt, Irvin Hoff, Michael Louie, and Rick Russel– contend many the firearms they have legally owned or built are now subject to new retroactive mandates from an out-of-control California Department of Justice that is flexible with the enforcement of new laws passed last year.
Guns.com: North Dakota Attorney General Gives Thumbs Up to Storing Loaded Guns in Vehicles
State Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem on Thursday released an opinion that changes in North Dakota's gun laws allow more people to leave guns in their cars.
California's new gun laws: What every gun owner should know before Jan 1
What the heck is going on with gun laws in the People's Republic of California? Here's what every gun owner should know before January 1.
Washington Free Beacon: Gun-Rights Groups File Suit Against New California Assault Weapons Regulations
A number of gun-rights groups joined forces to file a lawsuit against California's latest assault weapons regulations on Thursday.
BREAKING: New Legal Action Challenging California's "Assault Weapon" Regulations
"The State of California is nothing short of bipolar with its gun control policies," commented FPC President Brandon Combs. "On one hand, the State is requiring people to register virtually all of their guns. On the other hand, the DOJ is doing everything it can to suppress compliance and prevent people from registering their guns."
The Declaration of Independence — and What It Really Claimed
It has become a tradition for us to read aloud the Declaration of Independence on July 4th to put our celebration into a proper historical, philosophical, and emotional context. As law professor Josh Blackman correctly notes, "while you are enjoying your hotdogs and fireworks, praise the Declaration, which even today retains legal vitality."
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
CA legislators have returned to enact more gun control
After a month-long recess, California lawmakers have returned to their posts to infringe on even more of your rights. With only weeks to go until adjournment, this is our last chance to take a stand.
Virginia AG Dismisses Rural School District's Plan to Arm Employees as a "scheme"
For months, the Lee County (VA) School Board has been studying ways to ensure the safety of teachers and students on campus. The county, located in the southwestern corner of the state, only has four school resource officers for 11 schools, and don't have funding to hire more. In the mountainous, rural area there isn't always a Sheriff's deputy nearby, so administrators can't count on a quick law enforcement response to an active shooter situation.
CA Democratic Party Disses Di-Fi, Endorses "Ghost Gun" De Leon Instead
It's always fun to watch anti-gunners squabble amongst themselves. But it's even more fun to watch them publicly cannibalize each other. And that's just what happened to 2A public enemy Dianne Feinstein this week. In a humiliating snub, Kevin "Ghost Gun" DeLeon garnered a whopping 65% of the vote among the Democrat Party's executive board members, according to news reports. Feinstein, however, only managed to attract 7% of the vote.
CA Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Gun Storage Bill Into Law in Victory for Gun Owners
Firearms Policy Coalition is pleased to announce that California Governor Jerry Brown has signed SB 1382 by Senator Andy Vidak (R-14), a bill making it easier to transport firearms, into law.
AP: Baker signs 'red flag' gun bill
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday signed a bill that will allow for the temporary removal of guns from people considered a danger to themselves or others.
FPC, FPF Join Law Professors, Scholars in Supreme Court Brief Urging Protection for Second Amendment Industry Against Frivolous Lawsuits
FPC's coalition amicus brief encourages the Supreme Court to restore the PLCAA's protections of fundamental, individual human rights.
BREAKING: U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Rein in Federal "Administrative State" and Clarify or Overturn Chevron Precedent
In the petition for review, Supreme Court counsel for the petitioners, Erik S. Jaffe of Washington, D.C., boutique firm Schaerr | Jaffe LLP, argues that the "Court should grant the Petition for three reasons: (1) the decision below conflicts with multiple decisions of [the Supreme] Court by elevating Chevron deference above the rule of lenity as applied to ambiguous criminal statutes; (2) the decision improperly finds Chevron deference to be unwaivable; and (3) the decision so grossly interprets Chevron deference as to raise the question whether Chevron should be overruled."
BREAKING: Second Amendment Lawsuit Challenging California "Assault Weapon" Ban Filed in San Diego Federal Court
The State of California's ban on these so-called "assault weapon" firearms will fail constitutional scrutiny for the same reasons that the ban on firearm magazines did. "This is a straight-forward case to protect our clients' constitutional rights and property," explained attorney John Dillon.
The Federalist: Former Gun Control Candidate Charged With Shooting Her Campaign Manager
Kellie Collins, a former congressional candidate in Georgia's 10th District, was charged with the murder of her former campaign treasurer, Curtis Cain. The allegations of murder follow Collins' advocacy for "responsible" gun control laws during her campaign. WSB-TV reports that she argued for stricter legislation "to protect the community."
Guns: Politican who protested Dallas NRA show pleads guilty to corruption charges
The outspoken Dallas mayor pro tem who balked at the National Rifle Association coming to town earlier this year resigned on Thursday after entering a guilty plea in federal court.
Guns.com: NY SAFE Act sponsor gets 7 years on federal graft, corruption charges
For the second time since 2015, Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, was unanimously found guilty after a jury trial in May of making millions off private schemes conducted in part through his public office. The ruling came following a retrial after his first conviction was overturned by an appeals court. In all, Silver is believed to have taken $4 million in bribes as well as pocketing another $1 million through money laundering the proceeds.
Anti-Gun Teacher Arrested After Leaving Gun in Bathroom Stall
Simpson told the authorities that he had forgotten the loaded weapon in a stall in the bathroom at the Deerfield Beach pier. But before he could retrieve the pistol, the Sun-Sentinel reports, "a drunk homeless man found it and fired it, according to an arrest report from the Broward Sheriff's Office."
#WearOrange: Ex-Stockton, CA mayor arrested on firearm charge
Silva was taken into custody by the California Department of Justice and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on a felony weapons possession charge and a misdemeanor charge for possessing ammunition
#WearOrange: Anti-Gun State Rep. Katherine Rogers Pleads Guilty to Assault
State Rep. Katherine Rogers, D-Concord, pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced on Friday in Concord District Court in connection with a confrontation last year with well-known gun-rights advocate Susan Olsen.
Anti-Gun Congresswoman Corrine Brown Gets 5 Years in Federal Prison
The Florida lawmaker was a reliable and vocal supporting voice for President Obama's assault on the Second Amendment. Gun groups from all over the country consider her among the worst in Congress thanks to her semi-regular call for an "assault weapons" ban.
Guns.com: Two Mayors, Champions of Gun Control, Indicted on Corruption Charges
Two Pennsylvania city leaders — a current and former member of gun control group Mayors Against Illegal Guns — have been charged with violations of federal public corruption laws.
LA Times: Ex-L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca Sentenced to Three Years in Prison in Jail Corruption Scandal
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, once a towering, respected figure in policing, was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison for his role in a scheme to obstruct an FBI investigation of abuses in county jails, marking an end to a corruption scandal that has roiled the Sheriff's Department for several years.
Firearms Policy Coalition Announces Another Gun Rights Victory in Federal Court
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today an important victory in the federal Second Amendment lawsuit Wilborn v. Attorney General William Barr, et al.
Virginia Dodges a Bullet from the Gun Controllers
Earlier this week, we told you about VA Republican Majority Leader Norment's turncoat maneuver in support of gun control. This tyrant legislator betrayed his oath of office by proposing to ban firearms in state and local government buildings, and along with Gov. Ralph "KKK" Northam, set the stage for a gun debate in the Legislature.
BREAKING: South Dakota Governor Signs Constitutional Carry Bill
SB 47, proposed by Senator Greenfield (R-2), did away with South Dakota's requirement for a concealed carry permit, instituting "Constitutional Carry" in the state.
LA City Council President Mitch Englander Un-Blocks Critics of His 3D Gun Blueprint Ban After FPC Threatens Litigation
Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) has scored another important victory for free speech. According to an e-mail from the office of Los Angeles City Council President Mitchell Englander, they will no longer block FPC and the other individuals who were barred from viewing or responding to his official government Twitter account. Englander, a Republican, is a proponent of gun control and bans on free speech.
BREAKING: Ninth Circuit Panel decides that the Second Amendment extends beyond the home
The majority opinion was written by Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain (appointed by Reagan) and joined by Judge Ikuta (appointed by George W. Bush). Judge Clifton (appointed by George W. Bush) dissented.
Oregon Gun Ban Measure is Dead
The Oregon Supreme Court proved Wednesday that when it comes to firearms, definitions actually DO matter! The court ruled in favor of a lawsuit that challenged Initiative Petition 43 on the grounds that it was overbroad in applying the term "assault weapon" to common firearms.
FPC Scores Double-Barreled Victory for the Second Amendment in California
In a one-two punch, Firearms Policy Coalition has again knocked the gun grabbers to the mat. This week, FPC is happy to announce it has officially defeated two more gun control measures! | {
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Movies you've seen lately
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Author Topic: Movies you've seen lately (Read 400183 times)
Re: Movies or films you've seen lately
« Reply #125 on: August 04, 2013, 11:33 AM »
And I'd like to see At the Mountains of Madness get made so badly that I don't think I really care who (within reason) makes it at this point.
-40hz (August 04, 2013, 10:54 AM)
I was kind of hoping that it would get made well!
(Sorry - that was just such a wonderfully low-hanging dangling participle that I had to pick it~! )
-Renegade (August 04, 2013, 11:06 AM)
I'm just happy whenever I throw such an easy ball that somebody out there takes a swing at it. (What's the point of words if there's no wordplay to go along with them?)
And that's not a dangling participle. That's a dazzling participle, I'll have you know.
One way we could guarantee a film never gets made: Let briliant Terry Gilliam direct, the masterful Joss Whedon write the script, and for the coup de grâce cast the lovely Summer Glau in there someplace. Ever notice how any time one of those three show up the project suddenly experiences an incredible string of bad luck?
If Joss Whedon was writing I'd rather it died in pre-production. Don't get me wrong, I love his glib dialog, but for Lovecraft? Might as well make it a romantic comedy.
Wait, did you just call me old? I'll have you know I didn't get Basic D&D until Christmas of 1983 which means I had to buy my original cover PHB used. That makes me a kid compared to most of the other Champions players I know. I'm certainly not old enough to remember any version of Deities and Demigods with Cthulu in it.... if something like that existed.... which I wouldn't know.....
Just get off my lawn!
-Vurbal (August 04, 2013, 11:08 AM)
Hahahahaa!
I have an original Deities & Demigods with all that in it. Though I bought it well after it came out - found it in a store one day and snatched it up real quick.
(I also have Chainmail in my collection.)
Posting here reminds me why the Hero System forum has been my main haunt for more than a decade. In Champions years I'm almost a kid. In Internet years I should be in a nursing home.
In my day I was lucky to have access to a PDP-8 from a wide format teletype terminal when I started learning Basic. The first year comp-sci students at Iowa State were still stuck with punchcards.
And if anyone does want some good advice on writing there's a lot of it in that book. It helped me improve my writing immensely and I don't write fiction.
+1. An excellent writing book. I own dozens. King's book is one of the best.
I think the best advice for me was when he talked about going through his first draft to identify themes so he could focus on them. It really helps make your writing a lot more cohesive.
Hmm. Maybe. But glib isn't an absent element with Lovecraft. He was enamored of witty exchanges and slangy dialog in his letters. And some of his earliest works threw in a little comedy.
Er...I'm also from New England, and FWIW, much of the dialog with (and between) the common gentry in Lovecraft's stories could pass for glib and/or funny dialog around here. Guess it's one of those regional things though.
But no worries. If Joss gets involved it will die. Despite everyone's best efforts. It's just the way it goes.
« Reply #131 on: August 04, 2013, 12:01 PM »
Michael Bay? How about Cameron? Or Ridley Scott!
Sorry for that visual
I totally agree. I love Whedon, but some things just weren't meant to mix.
I bought mine new from the store. I was like 10 or so at the time... but still.
The funnier thing... I worked at that same store 8 years later... and the person I bought it from was still working there. And he wasn't the owner. Flash forward 20 or so years with me working part time there sometimes (for credit, natch)... and that guy was still working there when the store closed down.
[Hmm. Maybe. But glib isn't an absent element with Lovecraft. He was enamored of witty exchanges and slangy dialog in his letters. And some of his earliest works threw in a little comedy.
Yeah he definitely had some humor and I wouldn't put anything past Whedon. He just tends to remind me more of 40's Cary Grant, cute rapid-fire repartee but I guess Firefly's humor had a more serious edge.
Jayne, your mouth's talkin. You should see to that.
-wraith808 (August 04, 2013, 12:01 PM)
What the hell. Why not Uwe Boll. He can turn any movie into a horror story.
Sorry, I forgot that's horrible not horror. My mistake.
Lucky you! I was stuck with punch cards until I finally decided to declare CS as a second major. You had to be a CS major to be given access to a terminal- or allowed to use PL/I (or Stony Brook Pascal or all those other "new" languages) in my college back then. Otherwise it was punch cards and COBOL or WATFOR/WATFIV and SPSS for "the civilians."
I was just lucky to have parents who saw it as a good creative outlet instead of being ignorant about it. I really had no idea how cool my Mom was.
We didn't have a game store in town though. There was a weird little store called Varsity News Stand that carried the 3 main AD&D books plus modules and dice. Actually they carried quite a bit of Traveller too now that I think about it. The PHB I only got by chance when I went to a Mensa meeting with my Dad. The guy hosting it had a 17 year old son who had stopped gaming.
This thread makes me feel like a nerd. That's what happens when your childhood idle is Bob Noyce and you game with one of the pioneers of distributed cracking. Better an old nerd than just plain old.
-40hz (August 04, 2013, 12:25 PM)
It helps when the local college is insanely expensive. The funny thing is Grinnell is a liberal arts school. It wasn't until quite a while later I appreciated the irony of a school where Bob Noyce got introduced to transistors not buying PCs for the students until 1999 or maybe 2000.
-Vurbal (August 04, 2013, 12:09 PM)
One of my favorite quotes. But one of my favorite dark episodes was War Stories. The part while they were getting tortured? There was some comedy gold there... but you felt bad for laughing.
OMG... I'm just hoping that Uwe Boll never gets another cent to make a movie. I swear, he must have some really good dirt on someone to get the names and the money and the rights to continue to slaughter movies.
Nope. Just a clever business model. According to Wikipedia:
Boll's movies have often performed poorly at the box office in the United States. House of the Dead, which was budgeted at $12 million, made $5.73 million in its opening weekend,[6] Alone in the Dark, which was budgeted at $20 million, made $5.1 million,[7] and BloodRayne, which was made for $25 million, made $2.42 million.[8] The least profitable commercial performance of his career was In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, which made barely $10 million worldwide at the box office on a $60 million budget.
Until the law was changed in 2005, Boll was able to acquire funding for his movies thanks to German tax laws that reward investments in film. The law allowed investors in German-owned films to write off 100% of their investment as a tax deduction; it also allowed them to invest borrowed money and write off any fees associated with the loan. The investor was then only required to pay taxes on the profits made by the movie; if the movie loses money, the investor would get a tax writeoff.[citation needed]
In the DVD commentary of Alone in the Dark, Boll explains how he funds his films: "Maybe you know it but it's not so easy to finance movies in total. And the reason I am able to do these kind of movies is I have a tax shelter fund in Germany, and if you invest in a movie in Germany you get basically fifty percent back from the government."
Boll has received a lot of negative publicity regarding this funding method.[9]
More details on how it works then and now can be found here.
Speaking as a person with a degree in accounting (yes, there really are such people!) it's actually pretty fascinating how this all works. Learn something new every day!
But what I don't get is his cast. Everyone knows who Uwe Boll is and what kind of movies he makes. But they still sign up for it... do they need the paycheck that bad?!?
And I'm not talking the bit people... he gets some pretty big names, and drags them along with him.
Some of them baffle me. Others not so much. I think the best answer I've ever heard to a question like that was when some bobble head entertainment "reporter" asked Ice-T why he agreed to be in the brilliant satirical farce Leprechaun In The Hood. It was a farce, right?
Anyway his answer went something like, Who am I to turn down [$whatever] to be in a movie?
The last Uwe Boll movie I saw, was titled: Attack on Wallstreet and I must say that is wasn't that bad, story-wise or in the acting. Actually, I liked the end-scene...for a "Boll" it was rather clever.
And if you must know, I did see quite a lot of Uwe Boll movies...mainly because I want to see how bad a game-concept can be tortured.
Having said that, I did like some of the jokes in the movie Postal, where he also features as an actor and makes jokes about his movies being financed with Nazi-gold...
97% Owned - Economic Truth documentary:
http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=XcGh1Dex4Yo
Overdose: The Next Financial Crisis:
http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=4ECi6WJpbzE
-panzer (August 07, 2013, 04:58 AM)
Downloaded 'em! Got "Overdose" playing now... Not sure if I've seen them or not, but they're right up my alley. (Oooh! Gerald Celente! Love that guy!)
Topical, but not a film, you might like a series of articles I wrote on banking. They have some accompanying software (simple stuff - Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android versions) to go along with them to help demonstrate. This is the best place to start:
http://cynic.me/2012...reserve-banking-1-6/
The general category for them is here: http://cynic.me/tag/...nal-reserve-banking/
I add a couple new perspectives in there, but a lot of it has already been said numerous times before.
The last article in the series lists a number of documentaries and films that are similarly themed to what you've posted above. (They were also published at The Activist Post and reposted quite a few times, which made me happy! )
linguistixx
I have recently seen the film "No limit" with Bradley Cooper. At the beginning I thought this is gonna be another boring comedy movie, however this movie turned out to a lot of fun. It was maybe just me that had that picture of Bradley Cooper as the "Hangover Guy" in my mind.
I wouldn't a stockpile of those pills myself
I'm now taking a look at the Hannibal TV series...interesting in ways Bones never was.
Snitch. Based on a true story... I hope not too closely, because though the movie was excellent (and they didn't make a typical The Rock film out of it), the subject matter was sickening.
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Free Picks » NBA Picks » Washington Wizards vs Phoenix Suns Prediction, 12/20/2022 Preview and Pick
Washington Wizards vs Phoenix Suns Prediction, 12/20/2022 Preview and Pick
Game: Washington Wizards vs Phoenix Suns
Location: Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ
TV: Bally Sports Arizona
Footprint Center is the site where the Phoenix Suns will try to defeat the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
The Wizards stepped onto the hardwood against the Lakers and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 119-117 in their last game. In the matter of fouls, the Wizards finished with 20 and the Lakers totaled 18 fouls. They also converted 11 of 27 tries from beyond the arc. Los Angeles ended up shooting 72.7% at the free throw line by knocking down 16 of 22 tries. Additionally, Los Angeles pulled down 43 boards (6 offensive, 37 defensive) and had 6 blocks. Los Angeles earned 29 dimes and had 4 steals in the matchup. In relation to defense, Washington allowed 50.0% from the floor on 46 out of 92 shooting. They also dished out 24 dimes in this contest as well as forcing the other team into 9 turnovers and getting 5 steals. When discussing hauling in boards, they compiled 48 with 10 of them being offensive. From the free throw line, the Wizards converted 19 of 24 tries for a rate of 79.2%. Washington finished the game having earned a 46.3% FG percentage (44 of 95) and buried 10 out of their 39 3-pointers.
Bradley Beal is a guy who had an impact for the contest. He ended up finishing with 29 points on 9 of 17 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 32 minutes and collected 2 rebounds. Beal went 52.9% from the floor and recorded 3 assists.
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Washington will enter this contest with a record of 11-20 this year. They average 110.6 pts per contest (23rd in the league) while hitting 47.2% from the field. The Wizards are hitting 34.5% on 3-point shots (345 of 1,000) and 76.3% from the charity stripe. As a team, Washington is grabbing 43.8 boards per game and has accounted for 770 dimes on the season, which is 11th in basketball in terms of passing. They are turning it over 13.7 times per contest and as a basketball team are committing 20.0 fouls on a nightly basis.
When they are on defense, the Wizards are forcing 12.8 turnovers on a nightly basis and they draw 19.4 fouls. They concede 37.4% on shots from beyond the perimeter while they are 16th in the NBA in PPG allowed (113.7). The Wizards defensively are giving up a FG percentage of 46.5% (1,286 of 2,764) and they relinquish 43.8 rebounds per contest as a unit. They currently rank 13th in the league in giving up assists to the opposition with 747 relinquished for the campaign.
The last time they took the hardwood, the Suns took home the win by a final score of 118-114 against the Pelicans. The Suns were able to corral 25 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive boards totaling 35 for the contest. They turned the ball over 8 times, while getting 6 steals for the contest. The Pelicans committed 27 fouls for the game which took the Suns to the charity stripe for 35 shots. They were able to knock down 25 of the free throw attempts for a clip of 71.4%. With respect to shots from beyond the perimeter, Phoenix made 15 of 41 attempts (36.6%). At the conclusion of this game, the Suns went 39 for 83 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 47.0%. The Suns allowed the Pelicans to convert 45 of their 77 attempts from the floor which gave them a percentage of 58.4% in this game. They finished 46.7% from distance by hitting 14 of 30 and finished the game at 10 out of 13 at the charity stripe (76.9%). Regarding rebounding, Phoenix permitted New Orleans to collect 36 in total (4 on the offensive side).
Devin Booker was important for the Suns for the contest. He knocked down 21 out of 35 in this game giving him a rate of 60.0%, and accounted for 6 rebounds. Booker scored 58 points in his 42 mins on the hardwood and had 5 dimes for the contest.
Phoenix has a mark of 18-12 so far this year. The Suns commit 21.3 fouls per game and they connect on 80.1% from the charity stripe. They are getting an assist 27.3 times per contest (4th in the league) and they are turning it over 13.3 times per game. Phoenix has scored 3,461 points so far this season (115.4 per game) and they average 43.2 boards per game. When it comes to executing on offense, the Suns are shooting 47.0% from the floor, which is 15th in the NBA.
The Phoenix defense gives up 36.4% from downtown (334 of 918) and their opponents are converting on 80.4% of their shots from the free throw line. They give up 23.2 assists and 43.1 total boards per game, which ranks them 5th and 10th in the NBA. The Suns on the defensive side of the court are 7th in basketball in points allowed per contest with 110.8. They are forcing their opponents into 16.0 TO's per game and have allowed teams to shoot 46.9% from the field (16th in the league).
Tony Sink's Pick: Take Washington
Phoenix Suns - Twitter
Washington Wizards - Twitter | {
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The Wildcat Voice
Drama Club takes a bow at sixth annual recital
Ilana Miller, Staff Writer
On Wednesday, March 21, twenty-four students performed in a theater recital in the Mayfield Middle School auditorium as a part of the Drama Club's culminating event.
The recital consisted of nine scenes which were narrated by eighth grade student, Hailey Nelson.
Each scene was a fractured fairy tale, so they included characters and events from fairy tales and nursery rhymes but added twists to the plots. For example, one scene, called "Lost and Found," was about Little Bo Peep meeting Mary (from "Mary Had a Little Lamb") while looking for her lost sheep. Another scene, "You Lookin' at Me?" depicted Little Red Riding Hood teaching a self defense class, which was attended by Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Cinderella.
Students had costumes and props for their scenes that ranged from pig ears, noses, and tails to pumpkins to a crown and cape.
Mariana Quinones, an eighth grader who acted in the recital, stated that she really likes performing, explaining, "Getting to turn into this whole new person is really fun."
"A Party to Die For"
Mary Jo Baetzold, seventh-grade Drama Club member, described performing as "a little scary as you're coming on the stage" but added "because we've practiced so much…you forget about the people who are watching you because you are so engaged with the play."
As fun as performing can be for many Drama Club members, it takes a lot of work to put on a recital.
Students participating were each assigned one or two scenes for which they had to rehearse, memorize lines, and learn blocking. Scenes were assigned based on the actors' personalities and what role the club advisers believed would be best for them.
He Called for His Fiddlers…Two?
Students met directly with their partners and one of the club advisers to work on their scene. They also attended meetings in which they ran through the recital; this included one dress rehearsal the day of the performance.
Many students spent time outside of school preparing for their scenes, too. Seventh grader Angie Marvaldi looked over her scripts a lot and ran lines with her family members. Sarah Fricke, also in seventh grade, also practiced her lines with her family as well as over the phone with her scene partners.
Mrs. Saunders stated that seeing the hard work that the students put in to being performance-ready was one of her favorite things about the recital, adding, "I like the energy of it… [and] the sense of accomplishment that students feel when it's finally done."
Mrs. Bean agreed, saying she likes seeing students feel successful after performing. She also enjoys seeing kids coming out of their shells and having the chance to feel like they belong.
A copy of the program
Mrs. Bean and Mrs. Saunders held the first recital when they started Drama Club six years ago. They wanted to give students some drama experience for fun and possibly aid their pursuits of participating in high school or community theater. They chose to have a recital, as opposed to a play, so everyone would be able to participate equally.
Mrs. Saunders remarked, "I was really happy with [the recital]. The students did a great job…and the audience enjoyed it."
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MMS new upper learning space
MMS offers two different gym courses for students
The new ceramics class
Our school's history: Approaching a century old
MMS introduces new "Level Up Learning" program and new counselor
MMS Teachers: Where have you been?
Renovations to MMS to happen this summer
Mayfield wrestlers go to states
8th graders visit Orange High School to learn about Excel TECC
"Like a Family": Inside the performances of MMS choir group, Vocal Dimensions
The student news site of Mayfield Middle School | {
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ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
MICHELLE FLOWERS
Established in 2020, the PRSA Chicago Michelle Flowers Diversity Fellowship Program is designed to attract, recruit and retain people of color to the practice of public relations and communications.
Four Awards of $2,500
PRSA Chicago has expanded the Diversity Fellowship Program and will award four individual scholarships in the amount of $2,500. Current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors are eligible to apply.
Students must be:
African-American/Black
Hispanic or Latina/o/x/e
Arab/West Asian
East & Southeast Asian
Indigenous/Native American
The award will also include a summer internship at a Chicago agency affiliated with PRSA Chicago. Membership in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is preferred, but is not a requirement.
A quick, interactive guide designed to help you understand the application process better and fill out the application form.
Be registered as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited four-year college or university in Illinois.
Be enrolled in public relations studies, journalism, communications or courses preparing for a career in public relations.
Be a current freshman, sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior.
Have a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Race/ethnicity:
To apply for this award, submit the following:
A completed online application process found here.
Contact information: address, email, phone
University name
A 500-word essay that explains why the applicant feels they are a top candidate for the Michelle Flowers Diversity Fellowship and how they uplift Diversity and Inclusion within their university and among their peers.
A recommendation letter of no more than two pages from a faculty member or advisor.
An official transcript of all college/university courses completed that clearly indicates current overall GPA.
All materials should be error free and thoroughly proofread. All application materials must be posted to the electronic portal (click here) by January 31, 2023. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Applications will be judged by members of PRSA Chicago, public relations educators and professionals using the following criteria:
Writing skills as demonstrated throughout the application and essay
Academic achievement in overall studies, with an emphasis on industry applicable courses
Awards or honors received for academic or extracurricular achievements, with an emphasis on PR or communications recognition
Applicants will receive notification by March 2023 and fulfillment of the scholarship funding will occur by April 2023.
The Importance of Diversity in PR
PRSA Diversity Action Alliance
PRSA Chicago is committed to educational development
Diversity Fellowship Program helps attract and train diverse professionals
The Michelle Flowers Diversity Fellowship pays tribute to the meaningful contributions that she has made as a leading African-American pioneer in the PR industry, as well as her deep dedication to diversity for more than 30 years.
About Michelle Flowers
A visionary public relations and marketing entrepreneur, Michelle Flowers Welch is an award-winning expert in the field of multicultural communications. She founded Flowers Communications Group, one of the nation's top multicultural integrated marketing agencies, in 1991. Her firm was named to Forbes America's Best PR Agencies 2021 list. One of her firm's core values is focused on cultivating the next generation of multicultural communications practitioners. In support of Flowers Welch's lifelong commitment to diversity in the public relations industry, Flowers Communications Group is a founding sponsor of the PRSA Chicago Michelle Flowers Diversity Fellowship Program.
A strategic, innovative thought leader, Flowers Welch serves as a trusted senior counselor to clients and an inspiring mentor to young professionals. Before she discovered her love of agency life, her career included PR roles in corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. She began her career in agency public relations at Golin/Harris and later joined Burrell Communications Group to pursue her desire to work in ethnic marketing.
Flowers Welch holds a master's degree in advertising from Northwestern University and is a magna cum laude graduate of Winston-Salem State University. Her firm has received more than 100 industry awards for communications excellence. A charter inductee into Northwestern University's Medill Hall of Fame, Flowers Welch is the recipient of the Publicity Club of Chicago's Lifetime Achievement Award, a member of the PR News Hall of Fame, and was named PRSA Chicago's 2017 Distinguished Senior Leader. A member of The Economic Club, she currently serves on the boards of The Salvation Army, PRSA Chicago and the PR Council.
In 2021, she was named as the PRSA Chicago Diversity & Inclusion Team Champion, as one of Chicago United's Business Leaders of Color, among the PRNEWS Top Women in PR and to iHeartMedia's Women Who WIN Class of 2021. Michelle was also inducted into the PR Week Hall of Fame.
Most recently, Michelle was recognized with the 2022 Chicago Defender Lifetime Achievement Award and named the 2022 Plank Center Agency Mentor of the Year. Her firm received two prestigious awards – the 2022 PRSA Chicago Organization of the Year and the 2022 PRNews Platinum Award Medium Agency of the Year.
Let Us Unlock Your Fullest Potential
The Michelle Flowers Diversity Fellowship Program is in partnership with PRSA Chicago. Click here to learn more.
©2022. All Rights Reserved. Michelle Flowers PRSA
Michelle Flowers PRSA Diversity Fellowship | {
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Michael Hugh Sketch, MD
Professor of Medicine
Campus mail 7402 Hosp North, Durham, NC 27710
Email address [email protected]
My current research interests are focused in the area of diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization. In the arena of diagnostic cardiac catheterization, I am currently evaluating the role of Prostaglandin E1 in the prevention of contrast induced renal dysfunction. In the arena of interventional cardiac catheterization, I have been actively involved in both the development and subsequent determination of potential niches for new interventional technologies in the management of coronary artery disease. These interventional technologies include balloon angioplasty, the perfusion balloon catheter, transluminal extraction catheter, and several intracoronary stents.
Fellow in Cardiology, Medicine, Duke University, 1987 - 1990
Medical Resident, Medicine, Ohio State University, 1985 - 1987
M.D., Creighton University, 1984
Halabi, Abdul R., Michael H. Sketch, James E. Tcheng, Punit Goel, Kul Aggarwal, David Ramsdale, Shahid Aziz, Rajbir S. Sangha, and Peter Y. M. Hui. "Which is the true channel?." J Invasive Cardiol 16, no. 12 (December 2004): 716–18.
Halabi, Abdul R., Michael H. Sketch, and James P. Zidar. "The bifurcation stent.." J Invasive Cardiol 16, no. 8 (August 2004): 436–38.
Fuster, Valentin, John W. Hirshfeld, Alan S. Brown, Bruce H. Brundage, W Bruce Fye, Richard P. Lewis, Ira S. Nash, Michael H. Sketch, and George W. Vetrovec. "Working group 8: Defining the different types of cardiovascular specialists and developing a new model for training general clinical cardiologists.." J Am Coll Cardiol 44, no. 2 (July 21, 2004): 267–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2004.05.027.
Waters, Richard E., Kanwar P. Singh, Matthew T. Roe, Mat Lotfi, Michael H. Sketch, Kenneth W. Mahaffey, L Kristin Newby, et al. "Rationale and strategies for implementing community-based transfer protocols for primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.." J Am Coll Cardiol 43, no. 12 (June 16, 2004): 2153–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2003.12.057.
Konstance, Richard, James E. Tcheng, Marilyn B. Wightman, Larry P. Kelly, Annette Moore, J Kevin Harrison, and Michael H. Sketch. "Incidence and predictors of major vascular complications after percutaneous coronary intervention in the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet inhibitor era.." J Interv Cardiol 17, no. 2 (April 2004): 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8183.2004.00295.x.
Berger, Peter B., Michael H. Sketch, and Robert M. Califf. "Choosing between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with multivessel disease: what can we learn from the Arterial Revascularization Therapy Study (ARTS)?." Circulation 109, no. 9 (March 9, 2004): 1079–81. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000121313.22131.41.
Kong, David F., Eric L. Eisenstein, Michael H. Sketch, James P. Zidar, Thomas J. Ryan, Robert A. Harrington, Mark F. Newman, Peter K. Smith, Daniel B. Mark, and Robert M. Califf. "Economic impact of drug-eluting stents on hospital systems: a disease-state model.." Am Heart J 147, no. 3 (March 2004): 449–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2003.11.005.
Mehta, Rajendra H., and Michael H. Sketch. "Percutaneous coronary revascularization in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: importance and feasibility.." J Invasive Cardiol 16, no. 3 (March 2004): 107–8.
Klem, Igor, John F. Heitner, Dipan J. Shah, Sherrie Spear, Michael H. Sketch, Michele A. Parker, Michael Elliott, et al. "1169-152 Clinical evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease using a multimodality stress magnetic resonance imaging protocol." In Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 43:A365–A365. Elsevier BV, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0735-1097(04)91546-x.
Krasuski, Richard A., Thomas M. Bashore, and Michael H. Sketch. ""It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future".." Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 61, no. 3 (March 2004). https://doi.org/10.1002/ccd.10787.
Learn how to manage online faculty profiles and keep information up-to-date.
See checklist | {
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'Full House' house for sale for $4.15 million; you will never achieve your childhood dreams
Caroline Linton
Are you a widower with three children and some (possibly) freeloader friends who want to live with you allegedly to take care of your children?
Then we've got the perfect house for you! It's slightly used: Not only was it originally constructed in 1883, but it once (and now again) houses the Tanner family from Full House and it's for sale for $4.15 million.
Wait, what? $4.15 million?!! Didn't Danny Tanner turn 30 years old in the first season of Full House?
It's time for a brutal life lesson: Your childhood television shows lied to you and you will never achieve your dreams of living in that world. You will never afford the apartment on Friends either, and oh hey remember Cliff Huxtable? No, don't do it.
Although under further review, it appears that on a show where Danny Tanner is a widower with three children with a successful journalism career before he turned 30 that the biggest fiction is the house itself.
While there is a finished basement with a bathroom where Joey lived and then later become a recording studio, the real estate listing mentions no attic for Uncle Jesse and Rebecca and the twins. There are three bedrooms, not four, so all three girls would have to share a bedroom or something. And there's apparently a "formal dining room," which we never once saw because why eat in a nice dining room when you can sit on a bench in the kitchen?
The house is being re-filled with DJ's family in the Netflix sequel, Fuller House. The listing does not mention if they will come with the house, since this family does not like to move or become less co-dependent.
Given the differences between the house's interior and the set that actually doesn't make sense (how can there be four huge bedrooms above those two regular-sized rooms on the first floor?), it's perhaps unsurprising that the show was filmed on a lot in Burbank.
As you start crying about your lot in life since you not only can't afford the house at 1709 Broderick St. but you also could never support friends and family members who don't appear to pay rent in it, San Francisco in the past 30 years has undergone a dramatic change due to gentrification and the booming tech industry. A 2014 Brookings study named the city has having the fastest-growing income inequality in the nation, and San Francisco was recently named the least affordable city in the world
Besides, some dark things happen when you live in a Full House universe. | {
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ABOUT THIS BOOK:
INTRODUCTION - Francis G. MORRISEY
Part I: MARRIED PERSONALISM - Cormac Burke
Part II: ANOTHER VIEW ON MARRIED PERSONALISM. - Rik Torfs
Part Two. a Reply by Cormac Burke
Part Two. b. Response by Rik Torfs
Part Two. c. Cormac Burke: Concluding words.
CONCLUSION - Francis G. MORRISEY
Home › English › Married Personalism - a Debate (publication pending)
It is now time to try and see where these intricate and very helpful considerations are leading us. It would be tempting simply to present a synthesis, taking elements from both sets of presentations and weaving them together into a tissue that could cover many situations, or channeling them into a river with different currents that would meander through our countryside giving life as it flows, and then saying that this is the Church's present understanding of the laws relating to marriage.
However, it is obvious to any reader that such might not be appropriate nor practical, since we would be trying to combine two different approaches which, to some extent, defy unification. Both have their exceptional merits; both have their place in the life of the Church; both derive from the same doctrinal statements. Yet, the consequences are often so different. One view approaches marriage more from the perspective of the underlying canonical doctrine; the other, more from that of direct pastoral assistance given to those in need. They are not contradictory, but the purposes are different.
THE PERSONALIST DIMENSIONS
Msgr. Burke has taken great pains to bring out the personalist dimensions of matrimonial consent. The recognition of the dignity of the human person, as understood according to the principles of sound anthropology, appears to be foremost in his approach, and rightly so. Indeed, as St. Irenaeus tells us, "The glory of God is man fully alive"[1]. The human being is at the center of creation and is its crowning glory. Although some animals remain partnered for life, we do not speak of marriages among other beings. Rather, this "great Sacrament" is reserved for humans. It is based on the complementarity of man and woman [2].
Pope John Paul II addresses this issue in his 1997 address to the Roman Rota: "The personalist aspect of Christian marriage implies an integral vision of man which, in the light of faith, takes up and confirms whatever we can know by our natural powers. It is characterized by a sound realism in its conception of personal freedom, placed between the limits and influences of a human nature burdened by sin and always sufficient help of divine grace. [...]
In the handling of marriage cases it would be a mistake to have too "idealized" an idea, so to speak, of the marital relationship, which could lead one to interpret the normal exertion that can occur as the couple progresses towards full, reciprocal emotional integration as though it were a genuine incapacity to assume the obligations of marriage" [3].
THE BONUM CONIUGUM
One area in which the two authors appear to differ concerns the bonum coniugum and its future implications. It would seem that Professor Rik Torfs insists more than Msgr. Burke does on the future implications of the bonum coniugum, a conciliar expression now enshrined in canon 1055 [4]. Rather than seeing the bonum coniugum simply as the sum of the three traditional Augustinian bona. Professor Torfs asks whether or not we should be looking at this bonum as the basis for the other bona matrimonii. Or, might it be that the bonum coniugum is the consequence of the other three, rather than their basis, as Msgr. Burke seems to suggest? This is not yet fully worked out, but there is a lot of potential in investigating this approach because the Legislator would not have included the words in the Code if they did not have significant meaning. Indeed, canon 776 of the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches also uses the same expression.
Accepting as a starting point that the bonum coniugum has indeed juridical relevance distinct from the other terms used in the Code, one of the challenges, then, would be to define it and determine the elements required in any true bonum coniugum, the absence of some of which could compromise the validity of the Sacrament. Likewise, in so doing, we should ever keep in mind "the minimum without which one cannot speak of the capacity or sufficient consent for a true marriage" [5]. The same challenge is faced when attempting to determine the content of the "communion of life" [6] or listing the "essential" elements of marriage [7]. It could well happen some day that all three will be considered equivalent. But, in the meantime, when examining separately the elements of the bonum coniugum, and trying to refine the understanding we have of these terms, it would be important to keep in mind the relationship of the bonum coniugum to marital consent itself. Is this bonum the object of consent (being another term for "marriage" as used in canon 1057), or rather is it an integrating element? Would a recognition of its place as a distinct good of marriage imply a change or a reordering in the understanding of the content of marriage itself, as was probably the case with the move from "contract" to "covenant"? Possibly so, but it would not be the first time that the Church has successfully addressed new situations and come up with new answers.
I believe that canonists would agree that the will of the partners cannot determine the essential content of the bonum coniugum, turning it into something very flexible, varying from one marriage to another. But, at the same time, these same canonists would have to allow for certain legitimate differences, perhaps based partly on cultural expectations and social circumstances [8], as is already the case today when dealing with certain marriages [9].
What frequently appears to move the partners to marriage is affectivity; this "personal" value is naturally present in all decisions to enter into marriage although its expression may differ. The partners do not reach this value through a process of reasoning; rather, it seems to be an intuition that presents the other "person" as an object of the will [10]. Is this "affectivity" simply an expression of the bonum coniugum? No matter whether the bonum coniugum is eventually considered to be distinct in itself, or the foundation or pinnacle of the other bona, and no matter which elements are retained to describe it juridically, the content of marriage would certainly have to include a number of fundamental and unequivocal elements that are to be found in any valid marriage, be it sacramental or not [11].
Even though the task of developing a new understanding of the content of marriage based on the bonum coniugum would be difficult, this does not mean that it should not be attempted. Nor does it mean that there will not be mistakes and possible exaggerations along the way until such time as the canonical doctrine is held in peaceful possession throughout the Church.
In fact, when speaking of the bonum coniugum, we can ask ourselves whether we are dealing with an "ideal" understanding of marriage, or simply with the regular content we would expect to find in every matrimonial union. There is a tendency to present our teachings in an "idealized" situation (to use Pope John Paul II's words). We have to make certain that any eventual understanding of marriage based on the bonum coniugum is one that can apply to the vast majority of human beings, and not simply to an elite. Are all couples able to make the sacrifices entailed in making the marriage successful? Msgr. Burke tries to bring out this significant dimension in his studies.
A RE-MODELED CANONICAL UNDERSTANDING OF MARRIAGE
Our present understanding of marriage — or of its juridical elements - might have to be challenged or "re-modeled", again to use Msgr. Burke's words. It is quite possible, for instance, that many tribunals have, for all practical purposes, bound themselves into a "canon 1095" mode, so that for them nothing exists outside of the ramifications of this canon - as they interpret it. Yet, a careful and methodical re-examination of the numerous implications of canon 1101 on simulation is certainly called for, and Msgr. Burke's insights are of particular importance here. But, also, the potential of the canons dealing with error and dolus, and perhaps even more particularly with ignorance, should not be overlooked [12]. There is much possibility here for new understandings and applications. Can we really presume today that young couples, although they have the required knowledge relating to sexual matters, have the requisite knowledge of the implications of marriage as a consortium of which canon 1096 now speaks?
When speaking of the consortium of conjugal life, we could ask ourselves whether this word is simply the legal term used to cover the bonum coniugum as it is lived out in reality - like the matrimonium in facto esse of the past - or is it something radically different from a simple contract involving an exchange of rights? Again, since the expression is used in the Code in a distinct fashion, we have every right to presume that the word has a meaning distinct from that used in other canons when referring to marriage as a lived reality. Here again, it looks as though a re-interpretation or even a new understanding of the content of the term is called far, although in the end it might not be radically different from the substance of our current approach.
Then, going one step further, when we add in the personalist dimensions of marriage - as distinct from what could be called "individualistic" dimensions - and try to apply them to the law, it does not take long to see that they are not designed to be presented in a legal framework. Nevertheless, some canonists feel that they have no choice but to try and combine the two into one. Fortunately, both authors in our study seem to imply that even though personalism should indeed be the cornerstone of the matrimonial system, its content and characteristics are not yet fully defined. This too leaves room for growth.
We cannot legislate for love, let alone for conjugal love [13], nor can we declare when it is to exist. Although we can see its consequences, breathe its fragrance, and enjoy its harmony, we cannot measure it or divide it in parts. Yet, love is one of the unifying forces behind marriage, whether it be there at the beginning (particularly in the Western world where persons marry someone they think they love), or blossom forth as the partners come to know and appreciate each other more (as is often the case in those parts of the world where marriages are arranged by parents or elders and where the spouses come to love the person they married). Msgr. Burke notes, however, that the question of the juridic relevance of conjugal love has not in fact been fully settled; in large part because the analysis of the issue has moved on too narrow a ground (identifying conjugal love with "felt emotion"). So, to try and translate this and the other integrating elements of marriage into legal concepts is probably doomed to failure, at least for now unless the terms are carefully defined or if we are able to move out of a legal construct. It is something like legislating for generosity - an expression that is used so frequently in this work - or for concern for others. Against such, there is no law! [14]
DIFFICULTIES WITH PRESENT LAW AND OPENINGS FOR THE FUTURE
In spite of the limitations imposed by a legal system as such, we must nevertheless recognize that there is indeed a law governing marriage. At times, it is quite evolved and even too complicated for the non-initiated, at least in practice. For instance, the numerous distinctions made in relation to consent, the intricacies surrounding the canonical institution of convalidation, the attempts to evaluate personal capacity, the particular focus on a given instant when consent was considered to have been expressed, have all occupied judges and will probably continue to do so for years ahead. There still is confusion in these areas in spite of the most valiant efforts to bring the marriage legislation into step with the implications of the conciliar teachings.
Therefore, perhaps the time has come to recognize that, in addition to the legal approach with which the Church is quite familiar, there might be other ways of looking at the reality of marriage and its validity. Professor Torts ends his presentation with a call for a re-examination of the laws governing the celebration of marriage and its nullity, so that the Church could offer a legal system that is credible to the Christian faithful, as well as to non-believers.
But, it will not be enough to focus on the laws governing the institution of marriage. The accompanying procedural laws would also have to be radically revised. In so many parts of the world, they can no longer respond to the legitimate needs and rights of the faithful. Obviously, by their nature, the law and its accompanying procedures are rather limited in their perspective. Tribunal personnel have been given an almost impossible task: to analyze a spiritual reality, to dissect it, to determine in the external forum how internal realities are to exist, and to pronounce judgment on the situation. When, in addition, the adjudication of the validity of a marriage is placed in a so-called artificial "contentious" context, it becomes evident that we are sometimes trying to place round pegs in square holes. Yet, such is the law at the present time, and it has to be observed while it is still in effect. But this does not prevent us from dreaming.
Although it seems evident that Msgr. Burke did not have as his goal to call for an eventual revision of the legislation as it now exists or is applied, it must be kept in mind that many canonists will look at his considerations from the practical perspective of trying to determine whether a given union constituted a valid marriage or not. His insights will lead them to question certain assumptions which have been taken for granted. On the other hand, Professor Torfs approaches the question more directly from the side of the tribunal practitioner and looks at future possibilities. I think we must recognize the fact that, because of the prevailing interest of canonists for marriage nullity, it is in the context of tribunals that these two studies will probably influence the life of the Church more than in relation to preparation for marriage. In one respect, this is sad, for so much of the underlying doctrine, expressed so clearly in the preceding pages, could be given to future spouses, applying as it were the teachings of canon 1063 to their proposed union. Incidentally, we could say that for every dollar or pound that the Church spends on marriage tribunals, it should spend at least an equivalent amount on marriage preparation. Yet, such is not always possible today.
Through the centuries, the Church has suffered much to defend the sanctity and dignity of marriage. It has borne the brunt of many attacks against its teachings. Obviously, it has no intention of changing its general position on the indissolubility of marriage, although in the past twenty or so years it has twice formally adjusted its teaching and practice on what constitutes the consummation of marriage [18].
Within this core doctrinal context that is at the heart of the Church's treasury of spiritual gifts, and for which it is a "light of the nations", there remain many possibilities for drawing out new insights and applying them in the examination and adjudication of cases of marriage nullity. This is what was done in the late 1950s and subsequent years in regard to the contribution of the behavioral sciences and the recognition of the influence of personal incapacity on the validity of matrimonial consent. Possibly, what could be carefully considered at this time is a new or a renewed approach to the accompanying procedural questions along with a renewed understanding of the applicable canonical doctrine.
FOR A NEW SYSTEM OF PROCEDURAL LAW
Could a new system be envisaged that might be able to integrate the salient elements of both authors' approaches? [16] If our examination of marriage cases were to be removed from a "tribunal" context, and transferred into another arena where the search for truth would be more predominant, where the doctrine relating to marriage would be given pride of place, and if we were to move from procedures that have so many prescriptions for validity attached to them, we might be able to address the issue from a new light [17]. As our understanding of the implications of the bonum coniugum develops, and as our awareness of the personalist and spiritual elements of marriage is refined, we will have to be careful to avoid pouring this new wine into old skins [18]. Every canonist will agree that it is not the marriage tribunal which makes the marriage null. If it is null, it is null ab initio. Therefore, the declaration of nullity does not change the underlying reality. Rather, it gives it external coherence and recognition. Yet, it frequently happens that because a given procedural act did not occur, or if the wrong tribunal studied the case, the declaration has no canonical effect. This can lead to incongruous consequences where one tribunal declares another's acts to be invalid and the process has to be started anew [19]. It seems that we are to be looking more for the truth of the situation, than for the observance of minute prescriptions which have little, if any, bearing on the issue being examined. As an illustration of this point, it could be said that our present system of competence even makes it practically impossible in many instances for a bishop to examine the cases of his diocesans, if they were married in another country. This is particularly frustrating in a country where so many persons are either immigrants or refugees from elsewhere. Yet, since the decision of the tribunal does not make the marriage null, would it not be appropriate for any bishop to be able to have a potential cause of nullity examined in his diocese? [20] After all, the bishop, by virtue of his office, is responsible for the spiritual well-being of all those entrusted to his care (see canon 383, §1). The apparatus of "judges", "defenders", "advocates" and the like is certainly outdated. It speaks of ages past when decisions of Church courts had civil effects. Today, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon world, there are so many other ways of providing for the civil effects.
Three gradual steps could be envisaged in an eventual revision of the procedural laws. The first two are minor and would be rather simple to implement.
First, the time might be appropriate to revise canon 1690, to allow for marriage nullity cases to be heard according to the oral contentious procedure [21]. This procedure, in fact, goes back in many respects to that adopted by Clement V, in the Decretal "Saepe" of cl306 [22], and which remained substantially in effect until the promulgation of the 1917 Code. Such a provision would be in the line of canonical tradition and safeguard the present tribunal system, if it were considered appropriate to uphold this system. Yet, so many procedural norms which now hamper the proper processing of the cases without undue delay, would then not have to be observed [23].
There should also be a second intermediate step. As the present law stands, it is weighted too much in favor of the respondent. Indeed, a respondent who does not agree with the very fact of having a case heard, or who wishes to spite a former spouse, can raise numerous objections against an affirmative decision and lodge continuous appeals, which, in practice, can take over ten years to resolve, thus preventing the other partner from a marriage to which he or she would have a right. Pope John Paul II even alluded to this situation in 1996 when he called for "corrective measures" to be adopted in the present procedures [24]. I am not speaking here about a person who, throughout the process, intervenes and participates actively. But, a person who formally and without legitimate reason refuses to cooperate with the court during the processing of a case (c. 1592) should lose the right to intervene at further stages once the process has been completed in first instance. If this provision were adopted, it would remove a lot of anguish from the consequences of our present system and would let justice shine forth more directly.
But, there could be a third step. Here, again, it is time to dream [25]. I would propose that consideration be given to replacing tribunals as the place where marriage nullity cases are heard, and, in their stead, establishing pastoral boards (by whatever name they are called) in dioceses, or in groups of dioceses. Tribunals would then retain their role for true contentious and criminal cases. These pastoral boards would examine, to the best of their ability, the values underlying the union of the former spouses, its quality, the human condition, and the objective validity of the first union. They would not be fettered by procedural norms which, at times, do very little to promote the reality of the sacrament. Rather, they would conduct an inquiry for truth, based on the Gospel values of faith and truth.
At the same time, because we are dealing with a sacrament, which presupposes faith, it is somewhat surprising to see that the spiritual dimension is not readily put forward in our present procedural norms. Would it not be essential to be able to take into account the spiritual state of the parties concerned when considering such cases? Msgr. Burke insists so much on this often overlooked dimension. In some places, those who have maturely dealt with their own responsibilities in a marital breakdown are treated in almost exactly the same manner as those who have taken little or no time to reflect on their state in life [26]. Also, the anguish through which many of the parties who come to the courts have to experience is not always justified. It would seem that so many of our practices are now turned toward the law as in end in itself, when it is but a means to a higher end.
The Church has invested so much in the sacrament of matrimony. The overwhelming majority of canonists are involved - sometimes exclusively — in matters relating to marriage. But, it can be asked whether the means we are using are indeed the most appropriate; there are serious stewardship issues to be considered here: use of persons, time and material resources. An acquired comfort with past ways of doing things can prevent us from looking objectively at current situations. Or, even worse, we could take our present practices as ends in themselves and develop an ideology justifying what is being done. The temptation is very strong.
Msgr. Cormac Burke and Professor Rik Torfs have rendered a great service to the canonical world - and, eventually, to numerous couples - by raising issues that have not been so clearly raised in the past and that perhaps canonists have not dared to raise in formal circles. Neither of them pretends to have uttered the final word. But, if through their efforts they have enabled us to reflect on our present legal reality and on possible future adjustments, then they have achieved their purpose.
One thing is certain after reading this work. There are many ways of looking at the same reality. Because one way is different from what we presently know and experience, this does not necessarily mean that it is wrong, or disloyal, or even heretical. There are many rooms in the Father's house [27], and there are many ways of examining doctrine and ensuing practice. We should not be afraid of raising new issues, nor should we be afraid of examining their ramifications in detail, to see whether it is not time for another aggiornamento in canonical law and practice.
[1] Adv. haer., IV, 20. 7.
[2] See GS, no. 48.
[3] John Paul II, Allocution to the Roman Rota, 27 January 1997, No. 4, Origins, 1996-1997, 597-598,at 598.
[4] See Gaudium et spes, No. 48.
[5] John Paul II, Allocution to the Roman Rota, 27 January 1997, Origins 1996-1997, 597- 598, at 598.
[6] See SRR coram Pompedda, 11 April 1988, Decisiones 1988, 200: "... libenter concedimus hucusque nondum traditam fuisse claram notionem eiusmodi vitae communionis in sua substantia..."
[7] John Paul II, Allocution to the Roman Rota, 26 January 1984, in W.H. Woestman (ed.), Papal Allocutions to the Roman Rota 1939-1994, Ottawa, Saint Paul University, 1994, 181-186, at 185: "In the new Code, especially in the matter of marriage consent, not a few explanations of natural law from the Rota Jurisprudence have been codified. There still remain canons of great importance in matrimonial law, however, which have been necessarily formulated in a generic way and which await further determination, to which especially the expert jurisprudence of the Rota could make a valuable contribution. I am thinking, for example, of [...] the 'essential matrimonial rights and obligations' mentioned inc. 1095..."
[8] The 1991 Papal allocution to the Roman Rota (28 January 1991) addresses this particular issue; see W.H. Woestman (ed.), Papal Allocutions to the Roman Rota 1939-1994, 214-218.
[9] For analysis of tendencies in the Roman Rota in this regard, see A. Mendonca, "Recent Rotal Jurisprudence from a Sociocultural Perspective", Studia canonica 1995, 29-83, 317-355.
[10] See J. Gabiola, "Bonum coniugum'", Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland Newsletter, No. 115, September 1998, 31-37, at 36.
[11] A statement of the Apostolic Signatura expresses this succinctly: "The Catholic Church holds that certain elements belong to the very nature or essence of marriage itself as determined by the Creator and are not optional elements that can be included or excluded at will; consequently their positive exclusion from marriage consent would make that consent invalid." CLSA, Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions, Washington, DC, CLSA, 1997,26.
[12] See, for instance, SRR coram Boccafola, 4 May 2000, Prot. No. 18.061 (not published), which addresses the question of ignorance in a renewed context, raising certain warnings: "Tamen in eorum sententia ne plus praebent illam ignorantiam quae irritat utpote minimam necessariam cognoscentiam, sed a contra transformant hanc minimam cognoscentiam in plenam ac perfectam naturae dualis ac paritariae matrimonii Christiani cognoscentiam quae a Concilio Vaticano II, utpote idealis, laudata est. Ita facientes, velint suggerere quod natura ipsa matrimonii de facto mutata est post Concilium Vatican II ita ut ilia eadem scientia minima naturalis quae ante Concilium in postpubertalibus praesumebatur ac ad valide contrahendum superabundebat, nunc post Concilium minime sufficieret ad validum matrimonium gignendum. Sed quomodo hoc possibile sit? Velint indices appellati revera asserere naturam fundamentalem instituti omnino naturalis utpote matrimonii in his ultimis annis revera omnino profunde mutatam esse?"
[13] This was addressed in detail by Pope PAUL VI, in his Rotal allocution of 9 February 1976, in W.H. Woestman (ed.), Papal Allocutions to the Roman Rota 1939-1994, 133-137: "We must, therefore, reject without qualification the idea that if a subjective element - among these especially conjugal love - is lacking in a marriage, the marriage ceases to exist as a juridical reality, which originated in a consent for once and forever efficacious. No, this reality, which is juridical, continues to exist and does not depend on love; it remains even though love may have totally disappeared" (at p. 136).
[14] See Galatians, 5:23.
[15] See, for instance, the decree of the Cong. for the Doctrine of the Faith, 13 May 1977, AAS 1977, 426, on the nature of "verum semen". See also canon 1061, §1 which now prescribes that consummation take place "humano modo". See also the Allocution of Pope John Paul II to the Roman Rota, 21 January 2000, Origins 1999-2000, 553-555, at 555.
[16] For instance, Pope paul VI, in the Rotal allocution of 4 February 1977, said: "Finally justice will be protected in the new Code in that in the latter, the juridical will no longer appear to dominate every area of the Church's life. It will appear rather as but one facet of that life - truly an important one - but also one serving the life of the communion as such and leaving to the individual believer the freedom and responsibility - as they say - needed to build up the body of Christ", in W.H. Woestman (ed.), Papal Allocutions to the Roman Rota] 939-] 994, 141.
[17] See, for instance, the prescriptions of canons 1620 and 1622, as well as many other instances in the Code where a given act implies validity or invalidity of the entire process.
[18] See Matthew, 9:17.
[19] For instance, the Apostolic Signatura, in a letter to a tribunal commenting on this practice, states that "the proposed practice of 'pursuing complaints of nullity' against sentences given 'during the previous administration' that now 'resurface' would be very imprudent and would not at all re-establish the credibility of the Tribunal"; see CLSA, Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions, Washington, CLSA, 1994, 32.
[20] This situation was already addressed in 1972 by the United States Bishops: UNITED STATES BISHOPS' COMMITTEE ON CANONICAL AFFAIRS, "Report of the Committee for Canonical Affairs", letter to Cardinal J. Villot, Secretary of State, December 12, 1972, 3: "Answers given to the questionnaire indicate a strong sense of injustice and confusion when a person with a deserving case must be told that, due to a technicality of Law, he cannot have his case handled on the local level."
[21] The matter was addressed during the process of revision of procedural law. However, the proposal was simply dismissed - "Propositio admitti nequit. Processus contentiosus oralis not dat satisfationes ("garanzie"), quae processui matrimoniali propter vinculum sacramentale necessariae sunt", see Communicationes 1984, 76, at c. 1642. However, if the oral process does not give sufficient guarantees, it could be asked why this was approved for other cases where justice is at stake.
[22] See Clement V, Decretal, Saepe, in Corpus iuris canonici, A. Friedberg ed., II, col. 1200, See also Dispendiosam prorogationem (ibid., col. 1143) which applies the procedure of Saepe to marriage nullity cases.
[23] Pope John Paul II addressed this issue of delay in his 30 January 1986 address to the Roman Rota: "I would also say something about the appropriateness that examination of causes should not be delayed too long. [...j May none of the faithful take the excessive duration of the ecclesiastical court process as grounds for not presenting his own cause or for giving up on it and choosing solutions in clear contrast with Catholic doctrine", in W.H. woestman (ed.), Papal Allocutions to the Roman Rota 1939-1994, 190.
[24] See John Paul II, Allocution to the Roman Rota, 22 January 1996, Origins 1995-1996, 615-616, at 616. Speaking of delaying tactics, pointless actions, and those which impede the attainment of the common good, the Pope says: "They also call for corrective measures by the legislator or for specific norms for the application of the Code, as occurred in the past..."
[26] This is not a new dream! See G. Lesage, "Pour une renovation de la procedure matrimoniale", Studia canonica 1973, 253-279.
[27] In this regard, see R. Bourgon, The Presiding Judge: Present Legislation and Future Possibilities for Marriage Nullity Cases, Ottawa, Saint Paul University, 1997, 184-185.
[27] See John, 14:2.
‹ Part Two. c. Cormac Burke: Concluding words. up The Cardinal Virtues: Feminine Perspectives › | {
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Reading Made Easy
Have a struggling reader? Why it&s perfectly okay if your kid doesn&t master reading until later and what you can do at home to nudge it along.
By Erin Zammett Ruddy
A facebook friend recently posted a note from her 4-year-old's pre-K congratulating her on her son's ability to read — then added a few hashtags (#sorrybutsoproud, #Jackrocks, #readingisthebest!!!). Several thoughts ran through my head: 1) Wow, that's impressive. 2) Is he, like, reading reading? 3) Apologizing for a humblebrag does not make it any less braggy (#gagme). 4) C***, my 4-year-old can't read!
Fortunately, that last one didn't take up too much mental space. I have a second grader who reads beautifully now but was nowhere near crushing it until well into first grade, when he was able to navigate the pages without placing a finger under each word and sa-sa-sounding them out.
That's not to say I didn't squirm as I watched him struggle. The anxiety sets in quickly when the bar is set so high — not just on social media but also in school, where kids are expected to be able to read "with purpose and understanding" by the end of kindergarten. It's no wonder we worry if our child isn't keeping up with the others.
Here's why we all can relax. Learning to read in kindergarten (or even before) isn't a sign of intelligence, says Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed.D., professor emerita at Lesley University and author of Taking Back Childhood. Not only is there no research showing that kids reap long-term rewards from decoding words at 5, there are numerous studies showing that by fourth grade, "early readers" are reading at the same level as those who mastered the skill in second grade.
Besides, learning to read is a developmental milestone, and some 5- and even 6-year-olds aren't there yet. "Children have to go through a process where they become ready, and it happens at different speeds," says Dr. Carlsson-Paige. In order to truly read and comprehend, kids must be able to recognize and use individual sounds to create words (known as phonemic awareness), understand the relationship between written letters and spoken sounds (known as phonics), and understand, remember, and communicate what they've just read. Has your child nailed all that? Mine hasn't.
Pressuring your kid doesn't help, either — and, in fact, does more harm than good. "If you torture kids with flash cards, reading becomes a job and it's not fun anymore," says Elissa Mostransky, of West Babylon, NY, a mother of three and a K–5 reading specialist.
Instead, kids need a good foundation so the components that make up reading can click into place. Luckily, the way to lay the groundwork isn't about sounding out letters or even pointing to words in books. It's much simpler than that. And — bonus! — you're probably setting the stage without even knowing it. Read on to learn what literacy experts, teachers, and parents recommend.
PLUS: THE BEDTIME ROUTINE YOU NEED TO START TONIGHT
Encourage Make-Believe
Long before my children could read or write, I'd play "restaurant" with them. They'd create menus and have jobs and give themselves new names. I just thought it was a way to keep them busy while I cooked. Turns out, I was fostering pre-reading skills.
One of the many perks of pretend play is that it helps kids learn and use new words, says Dr. Carlsson-Paige. "Oral language is the whole basis for written language, so we want to give children lots of chances to develop theirs," she explains. My 5-year-old now knows what a sous chef is because her older brother is always the chef/owner/boss.
To take these games one step further, set out art supplies. When kids draw, say, wanted posters for bad guys or "keep out" signs for forts, they are grasping the relationship between spoken words, symbols, and the printed word, notes Dr. Carlsson-Paige. "And while you don't want to force it, it's great if kids can naturally incorporate writing activities into their imaginative play."
Take Turns Telling Tales
You probably regale your child with stories already. Now trade off the narrative so the two of you are creating it together in a continuous manner. Doing this will help him understand that stories have characters; a beginning, a middle, and an end; and certain conventions, such as "once upon a time."
Cheryl Boccard, a mom and a pre-K teacher in Huntington, NY, swears by this trick for teaching spontaneous storytelling skills: "I put random objects in a bag — an apple, a toy car, a feather — and one child picks an item and begins a story about it," she says. "Then the next child has to continue the tale with a new object that he picks." Totally stealing this idea for road trips!
PLUS: AUTHORS SHARE HOW TO TEACH KIDS TO LOVE BOOKS
Use "Juicy" Words
We tend to use simple language when talking to little kids, but it's better if you mix in a wide variety of words and constantly define and point out new ones. For instance, if your child asks to see the "picture," tell her it's a special kind called a "photograph" (Boccard calls this a juicy word). And, it almost goes without saying, talk to your kids as much as possible so they hear more words every day.
The reason: A bigger vocab is more closely correlated with reading comprehension than knowledge of letter sounds. "A 5-year-old who has an enormous vocabulary but doesn't know any letters is more likely to do well on his third-grade reading comprehension test than a child who knows letter sounds at 5 but has a smaller vocabulary," says Shanna Schwartz, of the Reading & Writing Project at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Read Books Every Night
You knew this one was coming, and it can't be overstated. "This is how kids learn that you hold a book a certain way, that the book goes from left to right, that you turn the pages," says Dr. Carlsson-Paige. And while you may tire of hearing the same story night after night, books that use repetition are key for reading readiness.
"It's called predictable print," Dr. Carlsson-Paige explains. "When kids hear the same line over and over, eventually they start to match the words they hear with the little squiggly black things on the page and they figure out how reading works."
Rhyming books (thank you, Dr. Seuss!) are particularly useful because they help with phonemic awareness. "Being able to hear that words rhyme, even made-up ones like shanna, fanna, bo banna, gets kids to tune their ear to all the different sounds they need to identify before they can read," says Schwartz. "You can't put a letter to a sound until you can recognize it first, which is why word games are so important, too."
PLUS: BOOK RECS FOR EVERY AGE AND INTEREST
Choose Quality Books
Interesting plots and characters help your child develop a richer command of language, also known as literary vocabulary, notes Mary Ehrenworth, Ed.D., deputy director of the Reading & Writing Project at Teachers College, Columbia University. For example, we tend to say "hungry" when speaking, but a character might be described as ravenous — that's literary vocabulary, and children get the vast majority of it before age 6.
What defines a "good" book? You want parts that the kids can chime in on ("I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow the house down"), some repetition, a strong story line, and illustrations that provide clues to what's going on. "When I talk to parents I tell them, it's the books you read when you were a kid," says Schwartz.
Of course, some kids will gravitate toward movie or TV tie-ins, and while those can't really compete with the classics, they're okay, too. "If a book gets your kid excited about reading, be happy," says Dr. Ehrenworth.
Get Interactive
No, we don't mean interrogate your kid until he spots the letter b. Instead, say things like, "Wow, I can't believe that just happened — what do you think about that?" Exaggerating your emotional response helps kids engage with the story, Dr. Ehrenworth says, a key ingredient for reading comprehension. "In order for the story to have any meaning at all, a child needs to notice how the characters are changing and to consider the implications of the story for his own life," she says.
It also turns out that comprehension, along with vocabulary development, is often more crucial than decoding letters when kids are learning to read — another reason to skip the "what letter is this?" quizzes.
That said, if your child is really into the alphabet, it's fine to playfully point out letters on the cereal box or street signs ("I spy with my little eye a letter that looks like a circle with a tiny tail!"). "I'm a literacy expert and neither one of my children learned their letters until kindergarten," says Schwartz. "I wanted them to hear 1,000 books and be able to talk about them."
PLUS: 10 LIFE LESSONS YOU GET FROM BOOKS
Keep a Soundtrack Going
"Songs give children rhyming skills and expose them to the rhythm of reading," says Schwartz. It doesn't have to be kid songs, either (hallelujah!). As long as they can understand the words, they're in good shape.
When you need a change of pace, pop in an audiobook: "Listening to a book is great for fluency and for children to grasp how to read — that you use intonation and change your voice, rather than staying monotone," says Mostransky, who has The Cat in the Hat on heavy rotation. "It's not so different from listening to you read, but it gives you a break."
The bottom line? Keep reading fun. The biggest mistake parents make once their kids start school is that they get into teacher mode, putting their fingers under the words or having their kids sound things out, says Dr. Ehrenworth. "The next thing you know, your child doesn't want to read with you anymore."
The beauty of allowing your child to learn at his own pace is the pride and joy you'll both feel the first time he deciphers a whole page of print on his own. And he will. "Eventually, reading just clicks," says Mostransky. "I see it happen every day."
Photo Credit: Stephanie Rausser/Trunk Archive | {
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Week 14 is now over. 97 runners checked in for the previous race.
14 Races
Avg Place
Darren Winchenbach 24.0714 04:57:03 00:21:13 02:04:11 00:20:41
Jim Bickford 29.4286 05:07:08 00:21:56 02:09:48 00:21:38
Your Mom 36.6429 05:22:54 00:23:03 02:14:08 00:22:21
Marilyn Bell 84.2857 07:00:40 00:30:02 02:59:00 00:29:50
Susan Dolliver 91.4286 07:17:11 00:31:13 03:01:10 00:30:11
Michael Benar 97.4286 07:33:34 00:32:23 03:05:22 00:30:53
Alice Sandzen 58.1538 05:42:59 00:26:23 02:25:38 00:24:16
Rebecca Herrigel 65.4615 05:57:08 00:27:28 02:35:30 00:25:55
Philip Carr 94.4615 06:49:45 00:31:31 03:03:32 00:30:35
Brian Conrad 98.3077 07:04:19 00:32:38 03:01:20 00:30:13
Bill Vickerson 124.0769 09:32:19 00:44:01 04:18:37 00:43:06
Will Lundquist 11.4167 03:49:21 00:19:06 01:50:31 00:18:25
Tarek Hammour 38.8333 04:37:54 00:23:09 02:16:15 00:22:42
Dereck Tuttle 48.1667 05:00:23 00:25:01 02:26:00 00:24:20
Chip Peters 70.5833 05:41:58 00:28:29 02:48:55 00:28:09
Victoria Pierson 88.2500 06:13:11 00:31:05 03:01:34 00:30:15
Nick Ciciretti 108.0000 06:53:28 00:34:27 03:24:08 00:34:01
Jeff Betts 113.0000 07:02:58 00:35:14 03:25:44 00:34:17
Hank Lopez 110.4167 07:03:30 00:35:17 03:27:46 00:34:37
Philip Pierce 113.6667 07:13:28 00:36:07 03:32:20 00:35:23
Short Ribs 110.1667 07:24:42 00:37:03 03:37:58 00:36:19
Crissy Suitor 116.5833 07:42:53 00:38:34 03:43:04 00:37:10
Blaine Moore 12.7273 03:33:31 00:19:24 01:54:08 00:19:01
Taylor Bickford 21.2727 03:45:32 00:20:30 01:59:25 00:19:54
Andrew Portwine 20.6364 03:46:14 00:20:34 02:02:01 00:20:20
Banton Heithoff 36.2727 04:15:45 00:23:15 02:17:11 00:22:51
Ralph Carmona 40.9091 04:19:30 00:23:35 02:20:49 00:23:28
Jose Padua 53.0909 04:45:53 00:25:59 02:32:53 00:25:28
Keith Parker 61.0909 04:53:04 00:26:38 02:36:44 00:26:07
Randy Moore 62.8182 04:55:30 00:26:51 02:37:47 00:26:17
Paul Boutin 71.0000 05:08:55 00:28:05 02:43:12 00:27:12
Bob Dunfey 75.8182 05:14:26 00:28:35 02:47:00 00:27:50
Doug Bailey 72.5455 05:16:40 00:28:47 02:51:04 00:28:30
Mark Duval 87.0000 05:37:27 00:30:40 03:00:21 00:30:03
Barbara Romano 97.8182 05:53:32 00:32:08 03:10:35 00:31:45
Annemarie (carmie) Heisler 109.8182 06:19:08 00:34:28 03:21:16 00:33:32
Marc Cole 84.1818 06:21:36 00:34:41 02:45:29 00:27:34
Joe Sanderson 112.9091 06:34:01 00:35:49 03:30:11 00:35:01
Martin Duval 6.0000 03:01:16 00:18:07 01:47:45 00:17:57
Bruce Goodwin 17.0000 03:19:11 00:19:55 01:58:21 00:19:43
Doug Suitor 51.2000 04:18:20 00:25:50 02:31:50 00:25:18
Ann Vincent 79.8000 04:48:41 00:28:52 02:49:31 00:28:15
Victoria Frankl 79.9000 04:54:25 00:29:26 02:54:00 00:29:00
Margaritt Mcnulty 99.2000 05:23:50 00:32:23 03:12:59 00:32:09
Carol Hager 106.3000 05:35:54 00:33:35 03:19:12 00:33:12
Erin Irish 112.1000 05:55:54 00:35:35 03:31:11 00:35:11
Deven Abrams 15.2222 02:56:04 00:19:33 01:55:06 00:19:11
Luke Merkel 17.2222 02:59:07 00:19:54 01:57:41 00:19:36
Jesse Bishop 46.4444 03:44:03 00:24:53 02:26:38 00:24:26
Christopher Brooks 54.3333 03:50:14 00:25:34 02:29:35 00:24:55
Anthony Romano 51.7778 03:50:53 00:25:39 02:31:09 00:25:11
Matt Dragos 60.5556 03:51:00 00:25:40 02:32:58 00:25:29
Nellie Honan 55.3333 03:53:17 00:25:55 02:32:17 00:25:22
Cecilia Ziko 59.0000 03:57:57 00:26:26 02:35:13 00:25:52
Parker Swenson 78.4444 04:19:09 00:28:47 02:50:35 00:28:25
Ralph Cryan 80.7778 04:27:21 00:29:42 02:54:02 00:29:00
John Rand 91.3333 04:27:34 00:29:43 02:56:21 00:29:23
Pam Cates 86.4444 04:30:16 00:30:01 02:58:20 00:29:43
Tara Mullen 98.1111 04:52:18 00:32:28 03:08:05 00:31:20
Mac Brucker 91.8889 05:12:23 00:34:42 03:11:09 00:31:51
Jeff Edwards 118.0000 05:53:26 00:39:16 03:51:37 00:38:36
Jacob Brady 2.8750 02:18:29 00:17:18 01:43:34 00:17:15
Adam Hallett 5.7500 02:22:22 00:17:47 01:45:44 00:17:37
Marah Borgman 8.6250 02:27:55 00:18:29 01:50:06 00:18:21
Nevin Duffey 23.0000 02:45:44 00:20:43 02:03:40 00:20:36
Bob Zager 29.3750 02:53:18 00:21:39 02:09:27 00:21:34
Morgan Adams 29.1250 02:53:54 00:21:44 02:08:42 00:21:27
Carrie Mccusker 28.8750 02:54:55 00:21:51 02:10:30 00:21:45
Steve Lee 38.3750 03:06:36 00:23:19 02:18:11 00:23:01
Rachel Lukas 35.0000 03:07:27 00:23:25 02:19:36 00:23:16
Daniel Hoffman 38.6250 03:12:01 00:24:00 02:20:45 00:23:27
Amy Bouchard 44.6250 03:13:04 00:24:08 02:24:03 00:24:00
Anna Griffin 54.2500 03:27:00 00:25:52 02:31:03 00:25:10
Tom Hatch 60.6250 03:42:40 00:27:50 02:45:03 00:27:30
Sarah Wissler 72.3750 03:43:00 00:27:52 02:45:40 00:27:36
Richard Caron 72.0000 03:44:47 00:28:05 02:43:13 00:27:12
Joanne Martin 82.1250 03:54:29 00:29:18 02:52:48 00:28:48
Cindy Harris 69.5000 03:55:28 00:29:26 02:55:01 00:29:10
Emily Lane 81.5000 03:58:21 00:29:47 02:56:42 00:29:27
Erin Woodbury 83.2500 04:01:10 00:30:08 02:59:01 00:29:50
Chris Baba 101.7500 04:09:09 00:31:08 03:04:51 00:30:48
Henry Quintal 99.5000 04:09:58 00:31:14 03:05:05 00:30:50
Susan Gillis 104.2500 04:26:38 00:33:19 03:18:21 00:33:03
Stephanie Lull 113.1250 04:30:50 00:33:51 03:21:50 00:33:38
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Home»Forums»Games»Other Games»Bot9 Video Game»Bottom of the 9th- Videogame
Bottom of the 9th- Videogame
April 20, 2017 - 12:58pm
Handelabra have just tweeted about Bottom of the 9th. If you have any interest in it you might want to answer their survey.
If you have 5 minutes, we're looking to learn some more about our players!https://t.co/3eWIkWXmT0 pic.twitter.com/lYaJolywGF
— Handelabra Games (@handelabra) 20 April 2017
Edited by: Paul on Aug 7 2017 - 1:44pm
"Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting;
but never hit soft."
- Theodore Roosevelt
bobbertoriley
"See, this is another sign of your tragic space dementia, all paranoid and crotchety. Breaks the heart." - Mal
Until we have an H emoticon:
Sorry -- what was the question?
UXM266
Get it? it means NO, also sounds like Nine, and continues the thread!
I filled it out. *feels proud*
I THOUGHT I was the the last Scion but it's actually .....
TakeWalker
Not to break up the silliness, but where can I learn more about Bot9? I'm not really interested in baseball, or baseball-themed card games, but if GTG made it and Handelabra's adapting it, I feel obligated to at least give it a shot sometime.
Watch It Played did a how to play video and a play through of the game. You can watch it Here.
grysqrl
Last seen: 1 min 47 sec ago
Third base!
@TalkWalker
Most people who play it find it to be a very fun game whether they care about baseball or not, for what it is worth. :)
"Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view." ~Obi-Wan Kenobi
@TalkWalkerMost people who play it find it to be a very fun game whether they care about baseball or not, for what it is worth. :)
I agree as someone who has no intereste otherwise in baseball. It's a fun and quick game when I've played it solo or with others.
This is what I'm hoping for. I've played a lot of fun games with themes that didn't immediately appeal to me before!
Trajector
grysqrl wrote:
I don't give a darn!
Arcanist Lupus
Trajector wrote:
He's our shortstop.
When I was a little kid, whenever I asked my mother "Do y'know what?" she would replay "No, but I hear he plays second base." I heard this for years before I finally learned what it was a reference to.
"Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?"
- Terry Pratchett, Going Postal
Arcanist Lupus wrote:
He's our shortstop. When I was a little kid, whenever I asked my mother "Do y'know what?" she would replay "No, but I hear he plays second base." I heard this for years before I finally learned what it was a reference to.
That there? Good parenting. Except the part where she didn't share it with you.
I have it come up in my random list of favorite music pretty frequently, just because it's awesome.
Matchstickman wrote:
Having watched this, I think I can say this is not the game for me. I prefer things like Sentinels because the strategy doesn't involve trying to outdo your opponent in real-time.
That said, this is so well-designed that it captures the feeling of baseball for me right down to "more fun to watch than to play". I hope I see this at my local game club sometime, because I think it would be fun as heck to spectate. :D
jffdougan
Two great things about that Abbott & Costello routine:
1. They never actually called it "Who's on First," they only referred to it as the baseball routine/bit.
2. They would improvise the entire exchange once they got going, knowing the basic gags, and could make it go as quickly as 3 minutes and as long as 15-20.
jffdougan wrote:
They would improvise the entire exchange once they got going, knowing the basic gags, and could make it go as quickly as 3 minutes and as long as 15-20.
Yeah, I've watched a few videos of them performing the routine, and it's impressive how much they improvised it! Of course, as improv, some performances are better than others.
TakeWalker wrote:
Having watched this, I think I can say this is not the game for me. I prefer things like Sentinels because the strategy doesn't involve trying to outdo your opponent in real-time.That said, this is so well-designed that it captures the feeling of baseball for me right down to "more fun to watch than to play". I hope I see this at my local game club sometime, because I think it would be fun as heck to spectate. :D
one thing I have done with the rules is each player can only roll at the same time. No race. Makes the game go a little bit smoother imo. I have found though its a nice relaxing game.
I enjoyed the game but found it quite difficult to learn because it by necessity has terminology I didn't understand and therefore had to learn at the same time, and I didn't have a "foundation" of baseball rules to hang the game rules on. I'm sure it's easy if you know the slightest thing about baseball!
Disclaimer: I know almost nothing about baseball.
I agree, and would qualify it as easy to teach. It is easy to learn if you understand what balls, strikes, hits, runs all refer to.
It's hard as an American to think that anyone wouldn't know those terms, but that's because it would be hard to grow up here without hearing them.
I also turn the roll-off into a staggered roll off, where the defense rolls first, then the offense, and then back.
But that's because my kids love the game and my 4 year old son doesn't stand a chance at beating his incredibly competetive 9 yr. old sister with the regular rules.
I agree, and would qualify it as easy to teach. It is easy to learn if you understand what balls, strikes, hits, runs all refer to.It's hard as an American to think that anyone wouldn't know those terms, but that's because it would be hard to grow up here without hearing them.
It's just not a thing over here. Never played it (although rounders is commonly played at school and that's a similar use-a-stick-to-hit-a-ball-that-someone-throws-at-you-and-then-run-to-get-points kind of game), it's never on TV, never seen a game, don't know where I'd even find a diamond!
Yeah, definitely understandable. I see this with folks here in the USA when it comes to soccer (football everywhere else). It's been getting better, but still not something that's as well-understood as baseball or (what we call) football.
I definitely don't know any of the rules to soccer/football except "some number of guys run around a field, and if one of them kicks a ball into a net it is a point." I also know that the point thing tends to happen only once or twice a game, but that other interesting things must be going on during the running that I don't understand.
In summary, I am confident that I could like soccer if I lived somewhere where people were really excited about it and I could go to professional games and had friends who could explain to me why they like it!
How to soccer:
1) Spend an hour and a half drinking
2) GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAL!!!!
I played soccer as a kid (which is where all my knowledge comes from, so it may not always apply to professional play), and one of the things I like about it how simple it is, rules-wise. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms (except for the goalie within a specific zone), and they are not allowed violent contact with other players (shoving, tugging, tripping, etc). There's one more rule that says that players can't be passed the ball if they're already beyond the defenders. That's pretty much it. The rest is about how to restart play after the ball went out of bounds or the referee stopped play, and about how many players can be on the field at the time, and when they can be switched out.
The other thing I like about soccer is that play mostly doesn't stop. Unlike a football game, where each 15 minute quarter takes an hour, soccer just goes until it's done, with the exception of the half-time break. They might stop the clock for player substitutions, or particularly long pauses, but I'm not actually sure. Either way, the players are mostly on their own. They're not stopping every five seconds to consult with their coach, and the field's too big for anyone to communicate significant detail while they're playing.
Jeysie
Despite being American, I understand soccer just fine and it's American football that confuses the heck out of me.
As for the Bot9 game, I too am a little bit put off by some of the more reflex-y parts of the game. I like my games as turn-based as possible. Not really sold on the whole metagamey rock-paper-scissors guessing either. But that's less a criticism of the game and more the game might not be for me personally after all. Guess I'll see if they put out a limited Play the Tutorial app like they did with Sentinels.
"If life gives you lemons, make a lemon cannon."
Not always the best at social skills; I apologize in advance. I don't apologize for any corny and morbid jokes, though.
Resident Argent Adept and Biomancer fangirl, be forewarned.
Thinking about it, I'm not sure how you could really implement a realtime roll-off in a video game. "Mash the dice button faster"? Streamlining that into something like what folks have suggested for house rules might make this more fun in digital format, especially if you can just play against an AI.
The digital version will likely have both real-time rolling and the official base-path variant from the rule book:
When Contact is made, players roll their dice (Control/Swing) once then apply any Speed and Fielding Abilities/Traits, and check the result. A 5 or 6 is a success, resulting in either the Pitcher throwing out the lead runner, or all runners reaching base safely. If both players roll a success, the higher number wins; any ties go to the runner. Repeat this until the Run phase is resolved.
The digital version will likely have both real-time rolling and the official base-path variant from the rule book:When Contact is made, players roll their dice (Control/Swing) once then apply any Speed and Fielding Abilities/Traits, and check the result. A 5 or 6 is a success, resulting in either the Pitcher throwing out the lead runner, or all runners reaching base safely. If both players roll a success, the higher number wins; any ties go to the runner. Repeat this until the Run phase is resolved.
Real time rolling is for the birds.
But in all seriousness, how does the "real-time rolling" translate into the digital version in a way thats fun and engaging? Tapping a "Roll!" button as fast as you can over and over until the RNG lords bless you with favor seems more painful than fun. I want funness in my digital games, not carpal tunnel.
RySmith6
Honestly, if it's only for the mobile devices, I would like to see an actual "shake" mechanic implemented for rolling. I have no problem having "real" dice roll, and not being able to roll again until after the dice have settled.
"But dice are dice, and Dice are Fickle"
Internet Pseudonyms: PseudonymTwitch, PseudonymTweetr, PseudonymGamer
That would be a neat mechanic, though there would have to be some other way to achieve the same effect as well, due to accessibility concerns.
Right. I think the main part of that is simulating the settling of the dice, as that's still a "fair" way to keep real-time events concurrent.
They could implement a button or shake to roll the die, then show an animation of the die bouncing on the table. You could let the for settle, or interrupt the die by pressing the button or shaking the phone again.
Just like watching the real die on the table, and reaching down to grab it and roll again.
We are iterating on it, but right now you have to tap the die to roll it and wait to see the result (similar to the analog version). If it's a success you need to tap a safe/out button to claim victory (like shouting safe/out in the analog version). If it's not you need to tap the die again to roll again. So there's a bit of a dexterity element to it, like the analog version.
What is the time frame like of pressing the roll button to seeing the result? 1-2 seconds of animation? Is it instant? Will lag time between opponents have an effect on the outcome?
As I said, we are iterating on it. Lag time between opponents will not have an effect on the outcome. | {
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THE FASHION DADDY WELCOMES YOU!
This fashionable and stylish blog is a collage of creative fresh ideas, filled with educated opinions, packed with flexible suggestions, stuffed with a lot of sense of humor and most of all, it is a place where people who enjoy fashion and style can use it as a resource, a channel to let out their passions or frustrations, a virtual mechanism to influence others with individualism and creativity. Anyone can use this blog to break the monotony of your lives—to have a good laugh or to initiate a thought. And if your life feels monotonous spice it up with a tiara or a new belt or a hat. This blog is not supposed to be the fashion police [never] because who can compete with Joan Rivers. This blog is not a serious literary document; instead, it is a fun registry about what we like to wear, our personal style and a life that's unique, fun and imaginative. WARNING: This blog is not your average and stereotypical blog, this blog offers honesty, choices, fun ideas and a good time. Criticism is welcomed. Cynicism is encouraged!
Yves Saint Laurent--Inimitable
I just finished watching for the fifth time in 4 years, the 2004 haute documentary about the legendary French fashion designer Yves St. Laurent. Yves St. Laurent: His Life and Time, by David Teboul is a personal look into the life and times of this iconic—the finest, fashion designer. Personal note-I had the great pleasure of meeting Monsieur St. Laurent in the fall of 1993 when I was living in Paris. It was a great honor and a humbling experience to meet the man who gave women "Le Smoking" tuxedo; the first designer to use black models in his runway shows, the originator of the shoulder strap bag (not the tote bag), and the man responsible for bringing other ethnic societies as a source of inspiration to fashion. His fashion designs have left an inimitable mark in the firmament of what is the fashion universe. His Mondrian dress stands alone in the cosmos of innovation and artistic interpretation of pop art; his safari jacket still remains a key item in women's wardrobes from Paris to New York, to Moscow and the vast landscape that makes up the stylish and fashionable macrocosm. And let's not forget the pea coat.
Pierre Boulat/Lancaster/Express/Getty Images (Hulton Archives)
In this provocative documentary we get a close look at how this master of haute couture began; his relationships with all those around him, most specifically with his partner Pierre Bergé and his right hand woman Loulou de la Falaise. We also get to intimately witness the creative world in which this masterful provocateur creates, produces and lives his fashion. "Ravishing," "ideal," "divine" and "sensational" are some of the statements St. Laurent and his most trusted friends and colleagues exclaim over and over throughout the film. The same adjectives can be used to describe the work and the life of one of the finest couturiers of the 20th century. It is extraordinary to watch St. Laurent carefully craft the most beautiful and wearable clothes; some of which are true classic standards which defined an era and will remain constant reference for the next generation of fashion designers. Incredible as it may sound, St. Laurent began his long career at the age of 17 when he was hired to be Christian Dior's assistant and who four years later (1958) after the sudden death of Dior became the creative mind of such prolific and perpetual couture house. In the film we are able to examine the kind of friendships St. Laurent cultivated and who he considered important, valuable and undeniably trusted confidants. We are guests to the most refined and theatrical fittings; we are told over and over that St. Laurent is like no other and his fashions are relics in the pantheon of fashion. "This dress is ravishing Georgette," he exclaims to his right hand assistant. "Thank you monsieur," timidly, yet gratefully she accepts a compliment from the master. Like this exchange there are many—many that are deserved and worth attributing.
Le Smoking by Helmut Newton, Vogue 1975 Fall-Winter 83/84 Ensemble, Metmuseum.org
His loyal friend, collaborator and muse, Loulou de la Falaise ever present, suggesting, admiring, protecting and loving him. I wish I had a loyal and loving friend like Mademoiselle de la Falaise. Their friendship was neither fiction nor a sham; it was real and genuine. Catherine Deneuve unselfishly and tenderly remained his true friend and muse for several decades—their collaboration(s) started in 1966 when he dressed Deneuve in the Luis Buñuel film Belle de Jour. We are invited to listen to his older sister tell stories about her beloved brother. "He was critical of what I wore from an early age," she reminisces "he knew from the age of three that he wanted to be a fashion designer," she tells. It is obvious even to the uneducated eye that his talent was grandiose and that his fascination for the dramatic-theatrical influenced his career. Saint Laurent's work influenced me greatly when I attended design school. How could he not? His work is undeniably like no other before him and timeless. His simple silhouettes and shapes that give reference to a masculine self and the refined tailoring—in his work you can see his influences too, the sculptural drama of Cristobal Balenciaga and the opulent romanticism of Christian Dior and the fabulous sensibility of Nina Ricci, which are exclusive qualities young designers these days look up to for potential design success.
The Mondrian dress defined an era. Metmuseum.org
Whatever your opinion might be of this the last couturier or if you don't know much or nothing at all about his life and times, this documentary will educate you and inspire you very much. I wish it could be longer, unfortunately, it is what is. Yves St. Laurent was a timid, shy person who lived a life filled with a lot of success and who throughout his career he maintained the highest standards for tailoring and for classic cut. His influence in the world of fashion and culture in general, will serve as the trademark for quality, creativity and aesthetic refinement. Now that I have offered you a glimpse about who Yves Saint Laurent was—a tremendous talented man, get to Netflix or Amazon and get yourself a copy of the documentary. You might really enjoy it. Actually, you will enjoy it greatly. You might be inspired and you might walk away more informed. Now I have to go and read a bunch of magazines to educate myself more and pass the legacy on to all of you.
THE FASHION DADDY
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Lake Worth Street Painting Festival set for Feb. 23-24
Posted by J.D. Vivian | Jan 13, 2019 | Events, Featured, News | 0 |
A chalk-work of actor Steve McQueen takes shape during the 2018 Lake Worth Street Painting Festival. / Katy Lynch
Hundreds of artists will soon transform the streets of downtown Lake Worth into colorful works of art during the city's Street Painting Festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24, 2019.
Using chalk, artists create a temporary gallery of art. Many of the artists are highly adept at creating three-dimensional (3-D) illusionist paintings.
Expect to see many colorful — and some not-so-colorful but always creative — works at the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival. / Katy Lynch
This annual event — this year marks its 25th anniversary — attracts more than 100,000 visitors. During the festival, which begins at 10 a.m. both days, Lake and Lucerne Avenues — the main routes through downtown — are closed to vehicle traffic between Dixie Highway (U.S. 1) and Federal Highway. Admission is … free!
The event also features music on the Cultural Plaza Mainstage, a food court, vendors, the Children's Meadow, and plenty of restaurants and shops on Lake and Lucerne Avenues.
Proceeds from the nonprofit festival help to fund the event; in addition, they benefit the Street Painting Festival Scholarships. These are awarded each May to Palm Beach County graduating high-school students, as well as to community projects associated with the arts.
For more information, visit www.streetpaintingfestivalinc.org. For a site map, which includes the location of the free shuttle's drop-off and pickup points, visit www.streetpaintingfestivalinc.org/index.php/contact.
The shuttle runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days and will pick up passengers from the Lake Worth Tri-Rail Station, just west of Lake Worth High School; and from Palm Beach State College, 4200 Congress Ave., in suburban Lake Worth.
Previous'Florida Grower': '7 Food Trends to Watch for in 2019'
NextMounts exhibit is 'Twisted'
J.D. Vivian
Living in southern Spain in the late 1960s, J.D. Vivian -- who serves as a writer, editor, and photographer -- learned to appreciate local foods. "That's all we had. There was no distribution system to move food any great distance." He has shot photos and/or written for three daily newspapers since 1987: "The Miami Herald," "The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel," and "The Palm Beach Post." In the mid-1990s, he worked as a freelance stock photographer -- shooting, among other things, agriculture and deforestation in Guatemala. Vivian taught at Florida Atlantic University; he retired in 2014. Today, he still stays busy -- cruising around Florida to conduct interviews and shoot photos for "Florida Food & Farm."
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© 2015 - 2016 Florida Food & Farm, LLC | {
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Trump Makes False Claims At Georgia Rally: 'We Won The Presidential Election!'
President Donald Trump took the stage in Georgia on Monday night to speak in support of Sens. David Perdue (R-Georgia) and Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia) the night before crucial runoff elections in the state. Republican Georgia voters, however, may walk away from Trump's speech confused. Just days after Trump tweeted that the Georgia runoff elections were "invalid," in his Monday speech he said Georgians should still vote in the runoff election because "If the Left wins these Senate seats, they will abolish the Senate." The majority of Trump's stage time, however, was dedicated to continuing his …
Biden promises a new era with Latin America and the Caribbean. How much can he really do? | {
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Sidetracked by Dellani Oakes Part 58
Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson
Eoin went to get a shower. Aaron called Jasper, giving him a brief report. He heard the water cut off in the bathroom, and saw Eoin walk to his room and fall into bed. Lying face first on the bed, Eoin lay there naked, the light on. Aaron pulled a blanket over the other man and turned out the lamp, before settling for the night.
Luckily for everyone at the Partridge house, the night was quiet and uneventful. Deirdre still woke with a start, after a particularly disturbing dream, which faded as soon as she opened her eyes. Fred was curled at her side, looking so much like Aiden, she felt a lump in her throat. Somehow, the peace of the night made her more nervous. Unable to get back to sleep, she hobbled to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Tonight, Jasper was the one burning the midnight oil. He smiled up at her, offering her a cup of coffee. Since she didn't think she'd be going back to bed anyway, she accepted.
"Couldn't sleep, huh?"
"It's too quiet, like the calm before the storm. I had a nightmare, some faceless something was following me." She shuddered. "But it wasn't exactly running and chasing, more lurking in corners."
Jasper shuddered too. "Oh, you had to say that. My worst nightmares are like that. What's sparked it, you think?"
"We've put away some very bad people and solved Wendy's murder. But what I don't get is, whose idea was this? Bullock's not smart enough to do this himself. He's a great patsy, but not a lot of little gray cells to rub together."
Jasper put his elbows on the table, leaning toward her. "You figure there's a master mind we didn't roll in with the others. We had pictures of all those people, lists of names…."
"Yeah, but what if it's someone who never attended? Wendy would never know."
"True." His nod encouraged her to go on.
"It would have to be someone involved with the school. This sort of thing couldn't continue without a person to cover their tracks. But for the life of me, I can't think who." Shaking her head, she sighed. "I want to believe this is over, Jasper, but I'm simply not convinced that it is."
"We've got you covered, Dee. We'll watch your family."
"I know, but you can't do so forever. You have lives and families, and mine can't live like this. I learned a long time ago to stand up to my fears, but there's no one, nothing, to confront."
"I wish I knew what to tell you. I guess we'll have to figure it out together."
"Sooner than later."
They sat and talked until the boys got up. Fred got up with them. Nadeya followed a few minutes later. She and Jasper made breakfast. It was time for the boys to go, and Deirdre hugged and kissed them all three times before she allowed them to leave.
"Wow, Mom," Corin said. "We're okay. Chill, huh?"
"I'll chill when you're all home safely," she said, giving him another kiss.
"Ready?" Nadeya said from the living room.
"Yes!" the boys said loudly.
"Thanks, I'm feeling the love," Deirdre called after them.
"Mom, if we were openly affectionate, you'd think we were sick," Burl said as he went out the door.
"Boys!" Deirdre complained.
"Who wants a game of Cards Against Humanity?" Fred suggested.
"Anything to take my mind of things," Deirdre replied.
She, Fred, and Jasper sat down to play.
Aiden was getting weird looks from faculty and students. He wasn't entirely sure why, but figured it had something to do with Wendy's death.
"So, you're the one, huh?" One of his golf team buddies accosted him in the hall between classes.
"What are you talking about, Eddy?"
Eddy shoved him hard. "You're the one who ratted it all out. I was counting on that scholarship!"
"What they were doing was wrong, Ed. You were their whore."
"I wasn't doing anything I didn't want to. So why didn't you just mind your own business?" He shoved Aiden again.
"Maybe we should have arrested you along with the others," Aiden said, standing his ground. "You're so broken up about it, go cry to someone who gives a f**k. I did the right thing."
"Bullshit you did!" This time, Ed took a swing.
Dellani Oakes, Sidetracked, Florida, Murder,
Sidetracked
← Sidetracked by Dellani Oakes Part 57
→ Sidetracked by Dellani Oakes Part 59 | {
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LG Energy Solution targets $10.8 billion in IPO
LG Energy Solution targets $10.8 billion in IPO2 min read
By Stephen Posted on January 3, 2022 In Business No Comments
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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: LG Energy Solution's logo is pictured on a smartphone in front of the stock graph displayed in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
By Scott Murdoch and Joyce Lee
HONG KONG (Reuters) -Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution has opened the books to investors to raise up to $10.8 billion in the country's largest ever initial public offering (IPO), according to a term sheet seen by Reuters.
The shares will be sold in a price range of 257,000 won to 300,000 won ($216.19-$252.36) apiece to raise between $9.2 billion and $10.8 billion, the term sheet showed.
It will be the largest IPO in South Korea to date, beating the previous record held by Samsung (KS:) Life Insurance's 4.9 trillion won ($4.12 billion) IPO in 2010.
LG Energy Solution will be valued at $51 billion to $59 billion.
The company did not provide any further comment when contacted by Reuters.
LGES is LG Chem Ltd's wholly owned battery subsidiary and supplies Tesla (NASDAQ:) Inc, General Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co, among others.
The company will sell 34 million primary shares and its parent company, LG Chem Ltd, will sell 8.5 million secondary shares in the IPO.
Institutional shareholders will be allotted 55% to 75% of the shares on offer, depending on the retail subscription and employee share ownership plans take up rates, the term sheet said.
Cash raised in the IPO will be mostly used to expand the company's current production facilities and debt repayment, according to the term sheet.
($1 = 1,188.7400 won)
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Pillar pages and topic clusters | {
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Burlington man convicted of killing girlfriend
Christopher Piantedosi convicted in death of Kristen Pulisciano
Court justice law legal
A jury has rejected an insanity defense and convicted a Burlington man of killing his longtime girlfriend in her home, a slaying witnessed by a friend of the woman's teenage daughter who was video chatting with the girl.Christopher Piantedosi was convicted Monday of first-degree murder for the May 2012 stabbing death of Kristen Pulisciano.Prosecutors say the 40-year-old Piantedosi stabbed Pulisciano more than 30 times because he was angry she wanted to end their relationship.Authorities say minutes after the stabbing, Piantedosi texted a friend with what he had done. He then threw away his bloody clothes and changed into clean clothes, which prosecutors say showed he was fully aware of his actions.The defense said Piantedosi has a history of mental illness and was under the influence of prescription drugs.
WOBURN, Mass. —
A jury has rejected an insanity defense and convicted a Burlington man of killing his longtime girlfriend in her home, a slaying witnessed by a friend of the woman's teenage daughter who was video chatting with the girl.
Christopher Piantedosi was convicted Monday of first-degree murder for the May 2012 stabbing death of Kristen Pulisciano.
Prosecutors say the 40-year-old Piantedosi stabbed Pulisciano more than 30 times because he was angry she wanted to end their relationship.
Authorities say minutes after the stabbing, Piantedosi texted a friend with what he had done. He then threw away his bloody clothes and changed into clean clothes, which prosecutors say showed he was fully aware of his actions.
The defense said Piantedosi has a history of mental illness and was under the influence of prescription drugs. | {
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Bulgarian History
and defining moments,
people and places.
A short history of Bulgaria – part 4 – The dark ages of Ottoman rule
Vladislav III of Varna
After the Ottoman empire took over the Second Bulgarian kingdom and the Balkans, the life of all Christians, not only Bulgarians, changed for the worse – limited civil rights by the Turkish laws that were based on Islamic Sharia law, culture is limited to local folklore, education to the monasteries. The Ottoman rule in Bulgaria is referred to as slavery – "Robstvo". In these conditions, with the lack of education and almost no knowledge of their own history, the people were united solely by the language they spoke, Christianity and their own traditions. The Bulgarian people are incapable of organizing a rebellion against the powerful empire of the Ottomans for a long time – the most significant attempt to free the Balkans from Turkey is the military campaign of the Polish king Vladislav III of Varna. He was defeated and killed in the battle of Varna in 1444. In the following centuries there were few attempts to resist the strong Ottoman empire.
The Bulgarian Renaissance and a book of history
Paisius of Hilendar
As mentioned above, education and literacy were limited to monasteries. The Bulgarian Renaissance or National revival starts in the 17th century with a small book written by a Bulgarian monk. Paisius of Hilendar dedicated his life to collecting the fragments of Bulgarian history he could find in Bulgarian and Greek monasteries. The book was called "Slavo-Bulgar History"(Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya) and was distributed in handwritten copies. It was telling the people who had no knowledge of history about the glorious past and their kings, promoting love of one's own language and traditions. This was just one of the triggers of the National revival – soon many Bulgarians started getting education in foreign countries and a new intellectual elite began to take shape. Schools were established in many cities, the first printed books in modern Bulgarian language appeared and were sent for the purposes of education.
Typical Turkish Bashi-Bazouks
In the Beginning of the 18th century the Ottoman empire is weakened, the Bulgarians have witnessed and participated in the fights for political freedom of other Balkan peoples and will soon use this experience for their own purpose. Tensions between the Ottoman authorities and Bulgarians are increased by two factors: first is the introduction of Greek language in the Bulgarian churches and the attempt of the Greek ecclesiastics to impose it on all Christians – this is a reason for the first big political fight of Bulgarians and further unites them; the second major factor are the worsened living conditions after the Crimean war and raised taxes (1853-1856). Other reasons for further frustration of all Christians in the Ottoman empire were the lack of equality in justice and the presence of military units like the Bashi-Bаzоuk – irregular soldiers who were armed by the Ottoman government, but were not paid and relied solely on robbing locals.
The bloody April of 1876
Vassil Levski – the Apostle of Freedom
After the Crimean war, many Chitalishta (educational and cultural centers) were formed and they were the medium for exchange of nationalistic and illegal literature; they were also the places for discussion of current problems and became the basis of a complex revolutionary network. One of the most significant revolutionaries of this period is Vassil Levski , known as the Apostle of freedom. He is a former monk who participated in the Serbo-Turkish conflict of 1862 and later used the experience he got there. He traveled, often by foot, through entire Bulgaria to establish revolutionary committees. Although he spoke fluently Turkish and was a master of disguise, in September 1872 he was captured and hanged by Ottoman authorities. Nevertheless, his so called Inner Revolutionary Organisation continued to work for the liberation of Bulgaria.
Raina Knyaginya with the Bulgarian flag.
Following the example of Levski, the new leaders of the revolutionary organisation were also called apostles. Their goal was to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule without the help of the Great Powers, because they knew this would lead to foreign interference in the politics of Bulgaria. The preparation for the an uprising was going well and with few incidents. In the beginning of 1876 the 4 main regional revolutionary committees had a large part of the population on their side and had managed to supply guns. The uprising was scheduled for May 1876, but because of betrayal the Turkish authorities learned about it and attacked the revolutionary committee of Koprivshtitsa on the 20th of April. This attack gave an early start to the April uprising – all four revolutionary districts were supposed to rise in rebellion at the same time and with equal forces, but it was strongest in the Plovdiv region. It started with some success – the city of Panagyurishte was taken over and Rayna Knyaginya (literally "Rayna the Queen") carried the Bulgarian rebel flag through the city streets.
The devastation at Batak
On the flag are written the words: "Freedom or Death". However soon the rebels in South Bulgaria realized that they were not strong enough to fight against the Ottoman army, while heavy rainfall made their flintlock guns useless against the supreme Winchester rifles that the Turks had. The rebellion was viciously defeated by the Turkish regular army and Bashi-bazouks who raided houses and killed thousands of civilians, women and children. Europe was shocked by the massacre of 200 civilians in the Battak church "Sveta Nedelya". At the end of May the remaining rebels fled to the Balkan or Romania, but few of them survived.
Russo-Turkish liberation war
The Ottoman army in battle
The inhumane suppression of the April uprising and the brutality of the Turkish army got a public response in many European countries; the strongest reaction was by Russia. For the purpose of solving the problems of Christians on the Balkans, in December 1877 the Constantinople conference was opened in Istanbul. The Great powers made decisions for the creating autonomous regions of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina within the empire and the adoption of a new constitution which would guarantee the equality juridical and legislative equality of all religious minorities in the Ottoman empire. The Ottomans failed to give any guarantees about the implementations of the requested reforms. No matter how hard the Great powers tried to solve the issues of the Eastern question, the Turks showed no will for change – Russia declared War on the Ottoman empire on the 24th April 1877 and on the very next day the Russian army started preparations for crossing the Danube river. Thousands of Bulgarians volunteered to fight with the Russian army.
The battle at Shipka peak
During the next months, the Russians pushed back the Turks from large territories in north of the Balkan. One less known fact of history is that Russia was attacking Turkey not only in the Balkans, but also in Asia – fighting for the territories of Armenia. Two key points defined the course of this war: The battles for Pleven were some of the the bloodiest – starting from July when fighting for this city the Russians lost more than 28.000 thousand men (including 3000 Romanians). After being cut of supplies and surrounded for a long time the Ottomans surrendered on the 10th of December. The other divisions of the Russian army were fighting for the passages through the Balkan (Stara Planina) – this mountain range divides the north and south of Bulgaria. The second most important fight is for the Shipka pass, lasting from July 1877 to January 1878 when the Turks were pushed back. After this victory, the Russians conquered South Bulgaria without major resistance.
Bulgaria according to the San Stefano treaty
The Great powers got really concerned about the success of Russia on the Balkans and forced her to to sign a peace pact with Turkey on the 3rd of March 1878. The San Stefano treaty was giving Bulgaria all lands that are inhabited mostly by ethnic Bulgarians. However Great Brighton was afraid of strong Russian influence on the Balkans, they did not want a new strong and independent country to be established and at the Berlin congress are made decisions in favor of the Great Powers – Bulgaria is divided in two separate countries – Eastern Rumelia and Principality of Bulgaria; many Christians are left in the Ottoman empire and face the wrath of the Turks who lost the war.
This is the first step for Bulgaria's political freedom, but in the following decades the fight for unity of all Bulgarians goes on. Read more about the Recent history of Bulgaria.
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World Desk
Sullivan: China Will "End Up Owning Some of The Costs" If Russia Invades Ukraine
Sullivan said sanctions would impact Beijing "because they will go at the financial system of Russia which, of course, engages the Chinese economy as well."
byAxios
Screenshot: "Meet the Press"
Two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi made a show of reinforcing their unity against Western "interference," U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the two would also be tied together in some manner if the Kremlin decides to invade Ukraine.
Driving the news: "We believe that Beijing will end up owning some of the costs of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and that they should calculate that as they consider their engagements with the Russian government," Sullivan told host Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press."
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Khnum
The flooding of the Nile is the result of the yearly monsoon between May and August causing enormous precipitations on the Ethiopian Highlands whose summits reach heights of up to 4550 m. Most of this rainwater is taken by the Blue Nile and by the Atbarah River into the Nile, while a less important amount flows through the Sobat and the White Nile into the Nile. During this short period, those rivers contribute up to ninety percent of the water of the Nile and most of the sedimentation carried by it, but after the rainy season, dwindle to minor rivers.
Apparently, these facts were unknown to the ancient Egyptians who could only observe the rise and fall of the Nile waters. The flooding as such was foreseeable, though its exact dates and levels could only be forecast on a short term basis by transmitting the gauge readings at Aswan to the lower parts of the kingdom where the data had to be converted to the local circumstances.
The Egyptian year was divided into the three seasons of Akhet (Inundation), Peret (Growth), and Shemu (Harvest). Akhet covered the Egyptian flood cycle. This cycle was so consistent that the Egyptians timed its onset using the heliacal rising of Sirius, the key event used to set their calendar.
The first indications of the rise of the river could be seen at the first of the cataracts of the Nile (at Aswan) as early as the beginning of June, and a steady increase went on until the middle of July, when the increase of water became very great. The Nile continued to rise until the beginning of September, when the level remained stationary for a period of about three weeks, sometimes a little less. In October it often rose again, and reached its highest level. From this period it began to subside, and usually sank steadily until the month of June when it reached its lowest level, again.
Now meet Khnum.
Khnum was one of the earliest-known Egyptian deities, originally the God of the source of the Nile. In art, Khnum was usually depicted as a ram-headed man holding a jar from which flowed a stream of water.
I particularly love this depiction of Khnum, with water pouring out of a snake mouth. As I explained in my post "Apep", snake is the symbol of the sun's heat, the symbol of the sun's fire, which swallows the water (moisture). And here the snake seems to be offered to Khnum as a sacrifice. At the same time Khnum is holding the Was staff (the weapon that kills Apep, The Dragon, The destroyer of life) and Ankh (symbol of life). A very very interesting relief. If anyone knows where this relief is and if you have the full image, please let me know.
Since the annual flooding of the Nile brought with it silt and clay, and its water brought life to its surroundings, he was thought to be the creator of the bodies of human children, which he made at a potter's wheel, from clay, and placed in their mothers' uteruses. He later was described as having moulded the other deities, and he had the titles "Divine Potter" and "Lord of created things from himself". So he was also depicted working at a potter's wheel, with recently created children's bodies standing on the wheel...
The horizontally twisted horns show that we are dealing with a ram of the species "ovis longipes palaeoaegyptiacus".
This was the earliest type to be domesticated in Egypt, but became extinct sometime in the New Kingdom. Nevertheless, the shape of the horns was preserved even in later depictions of Khnum.
Now this type of sheep is a bit of a mystery. There are two thing you can find about its origin.
One says that it came from wild Barbery Sheep, which came from Numbia. The problem with this is that Barbery Sheep is not a sheep but a goat...And it doesn't look anything like the Egyptian sheep, Khnom's sheep. Look at the horns
The other says that it came from Iranian Red Sheep, and that it came to Egypt via Sinai. This sheep is indeed a wild sheep of a Muflon family. But this sheep also doesn't look anything like the Egyptian sheep, Khnom's sheep. Look at the horns
I don't know if any genetic analysis was done on the remains of "ovis longipes palaeoaegyptiacus", or if such remains were ever found. But considering that these two animals, one goat and the other sheep, neither of which looks like the depictions of the "ovis longipes palaeoaegyptiacus" were proposed as its ancestors, I could bet that we have no clue what "ovis longipes palaeoaegyptiacus" actually was...
If we disregard the horns, what is interesting is that both of these animals mate in late autumn and give birth to their young in late spring, finishing their birthing season in April...You will see why this is important in a sec. But first, have a look at this:
This is "Balkanska koza" (Balkan goat) also known as "Hrvatska šarena koza" (Croatian colored goat), direct descendants of wild goats. And like many other old Southern European goat breeds it has horizontal horns.
Balearic goat
Balkan black goat
Kalofer goat
Old Irish goat
What all goats have in common is that their natural mating season is in the autumn and that their kidding season is in the spring, ending in April...
Did such goat once live in Egypt too?
As I said, we don't have any data for the ancient Egyptian goats, but I would bet that their kidding season also ended in April...As is normal for most Northern Hemisphere wild goats and sheep...
And coincidentally, the monsoon that is the source of the nile flood, begins during the birthing season of the above animals (March/April). These are rain charts for two areas of the Ethiopian highlands...
I talked about this in my post "Menat"...
It is this rain that is the source of the Nile...And interestingly, the rise of the nile water level, the beginning of the annual inundation of the Nile starts right after that, in May.
Do you think that this is why Khnum, the God of the source of the Nile, has a head of the "ovis longipes palaeoaegyptiacus" ram (or male goat)???
Are there any other goats or sheep that look like this in Africa or Asia? This definitely needs more investigation...
Well I just found this representation of Khnum, harvesting wheat.
Harvest time in the Nile River Valley occurred between April and June, depending on the weather. So the harvest also starts after Aries (Ram) ends.
I came across this interesting article today: "EVOSHEEP: the makeup of sheep breeds in the ancient Near East". An in it, I read this:
In northern Mesopotamia, an important increase in sheep husbandry during the fourth millennium BC (Uruk period) can be identified. Zooarchaeological studies have shown that these animals are larger than earlier sheep. Their horns form horizontal spirals, which are similar in shape to those of contemporaneous Levantine and Egyptian sheep. At the beginning of the third millennium BC (Early Bronze Age), the average sheep size was smaller, and the horns were coiled.
I went and I checked the modem sheep breeds, and I came across this one, Damara sheep, which can today be found in Central and Southern Africa, but which arrived there from Egypt. Is this Khnom's sheep?
I also found out that sheep that were a result of back breeding with wild sheep, mouflon, have horizontal spiral horns...Like this Hawaiian black sheep...
Very interesting. So Khnum could have been a deified ram after all...
The thing is, that the reason why a deified ram would be worshiped as the god of the source of Nile stil stands, as these old sheep are also seasonal breeders, which mate in autumn and lamb in spring...
Posted by oldeuropeanculture at 14:00 3 comments:
Labels: Ancient Egypt, Egyptian mythology, Khnum, Origin of zodiac
Apep
Today I would like to talk about snakes. And the sun.
Apep or Apophis was the ancient Egyptian deity who embodied chaos. He was viewed as the greatest enemy of the solar deity Ra who as the bringer of light was seen as the upholder of order. This is why he was given the title Enemy of Ra.
Apep was seen as a giant snake or serpent leading to such titles as the Evil Dragon. Some elaborations said that he had a head made of flint.
The few descriptions of Apep's origin in myth usually demonstrate that it was born after Ra, usually from his umbilical cord. Combined with its absence from Egyptian creation myths, this has been interpreted as suggesting that Apep was not a primordial force in Egyptian theology, but a consequence of Ra's birth.
In his battles, Apep was thought to use a magical gaze to hypnotise Ra and his entourage, attempting to devour them whilst choking the river on which they travelled through the underworld with his coils.
But god Set, who always accompanied Ra on Atet (Solar barge) defended Ra and killed Apep with his spear.
The god Set was usually depicted as a man with a head resembling that of the sha, Set animal.
In ancient Egyptian art, the Set animal is usually depicted as a slender canid, resembling a greyhound or a jackal, usually with a long, slightly curved nose, and erect ears, squared at the tops, and a forked tail.
Set was often depicted carrying the so called "was" (Egyptian wꜣs "power, dominion") sceptre. It appears as a stylized animal head at the top of a long, straight staff with a forked end. Basically it was a stylised Set animal.
In one account, Ra himself defeats Apep in the form of a cat.
Egyptian believed that thunderstorms and earthquakes were caused by Apep managing to temporarily overwhelm Ra. They also believed that solar eclipses were caused by Apep managing to swallow Ra during the day. However Ra's defenders would quickly cut Apep's belly open and free Ra out, ending the eclipse within a few minutes.
Comparable hostile snakes as enemies of the sun god existed under other names (in the Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts) already before the name Apep occurred. The etymology of his name ('pp) is perhaps to be sought in some west-semitic language where a word root "pp meaning 'to slither' existed. A verb root 'pp does at any rate not exist elsewhere in Ancient Egyptian.
Soooo. That's the story of Apep. How are we to understand all this?
Maybe this will help:
In Slavic languages the word for dragon "zmaj" is the masculine form of the word for snake "zmija". In Slavic mythology dragon is believed to be an "old male snake"...
Snake is in Slavic mythology described as "the enemy"of the sun. As the protector of the sun, who saves the sun from the snake, we often find swallow. In Serbia people believe that swallow saved the sun when snake tried to swallow it. In Bosnia people believe that the swallow hid one quarter of the sun under it's wing, to protect it from the snake. In Dalmatia people believe that once there were three or four suns in the sky and that the snake ate all but one, which swallow hid under its wing. Two "blind suns" which can sometimes be seen in the sky together with our normal sun are the ones which the snake ate. The one that heats us is the one that the swallow hid under its wing. There is also a story that once there were 9 rays on the sun, but that snake ate (sucked, drank) all but one. In Montenegro people believe that a huge dragon once sucked in two out of three suns which once existed. In Bulgaria people say that once snake bit the sun in the eyes when it bent down to drink water. Another version of this story says that the sun used to have two or more eyes, but that the snake "sucked" them all out.
Bulgarians believe that the sun celebrates the killing of snakes. because the snake sucked in one of sun's eyes. In Montenegro people say that every time a snake is killed, the sun happily exclaims "A dragon was killed".
Bulgarians believe that snakes eyes have magic affect on the sun. They say that the sun can't set unless the snake looks at it. In Poland people say that the sun would stop shining if the snake looked at it. This is because the snake's eyes can suck all sun's strength out. In Bosnia people believe that snake gets more poisonous if it often looks at the sun. The most poisonous are the snakes that look at the sun for nine days. God forbade snakes to look at the sun longer than nine days a year. A lot less poisonous are the snakes which look at the sun only six days a year. And even less poisonous are the ones which only look at the sun for three days a year.
In Belarus people believe that snakes, while lying outside and sunbathing, actually sucking the sun's strength out, and that this is why the sun gets smaller and smaller as the summer progresses. The sun replenishes it's strength during the winter when snakes are under the ground. This is why one should always kill a snake, or they will multiply so much that they will completely destroy the sun. The dead snake should be buried or hid in the deep shade so that sun doesn't see it. If the snake is not buried the sun will start to shine weakly and will start hiding behind the clouds, because it can't look at it's dead earthly enemy. The sun won't shine on a man who doesn't kill a snake for three days. People in Ukraine also believe that a dead snake should be hidden in a shade or buried so that it doesn't harm the sun in some way. Polish people believe that a dead snake should always be buried so that the sun can't see it. If the sun sees a dead snake it might get extinguished. Also if the sun sees a dead snake it will get sick and turn red. The sun will get sick and start crying, because the snake is poisonous. The setting sun is red if it had seen a dead snake which wasn't buried. If a live snake comes out of its hole to sunbath, the sun will get sick and get pale. In Pomerania people believe that snakes actually don't like looking at the sun. If a snake is lying still, staring at the sun, has gone mad.
There is also a belief, which is found in all Slavic countries from Baltic to Balkans, that if you kill a snake, it will twitch and jump around, even if you chop it in bits, until the sun sets.
In Bulgaria people believe that the snake bite wound should be exposed to the sun. In Poland people believe that the person who was bitten by a snake should be outside, in the sun, or he will get sick.
People in Ukraine and Poland believe that snakes once had wings and flew in the sky. But the sun burned their wings and they fell on the ground. There is a Polish legend that says that the solar eclipse happens because a dragon covers the sun with its body. There is also a Polish fairytale which says that it is a twelve headed snake which causes solar eclipse. Ukrainians have a legend about a dragon which feeds on the sun, which is why the sun gets smaller and weaker as the year progresses. The motif of a dragon swallowing the sun can be found in all Slavic countries.
How should we understand all this?
And why there are so many similarities between the Slavic and Egyptian stories about the sun and the snake?
The snake and the sun are intrinsically connected.
Snakes come out of the underground when the air and soil get warm enough. They stay outside during the late spring, summer and early autumn and during that that time they are visible to people.
This is why snake is the symbol of the sun's heat.
In Egyptian mythology we find snakes wrapped around the sun disk on the head of the young Sun god Horus.
They are all around Amun-Ra
They have wings to symbolised their link with the supreme deity Ra
And are called "the Uraei of goodness". You can read a lot more about the snakes in Egyptian mythology in the great book "The Serpent Myths of Ancient Egypt".
But let me continue with the analysis of the snake-sun symbolic relationship based on Slavic mythology and see how it fits with the Egyptian one.
The sun's heat is "young" week and beneficial at the end of spring, just before the summer starts. This is the good snake. The sun's heat is "old" strong and destructive at the end of summer, just before the autumn starts. This is the bad snake. Dragon, a heavenly being that breaths fire, the great old male snake, represents the burning heat of the Late Summer, Early Autumn, the "old sun", the sun which is threatening to turn everything into cinder.
In Slavic Pre-Christian religion this dragon was Veles, the great horned snake, who "Stole heavenly cows from Perun". Basically he is the late summer heat which dries the land and the sky and causes draughts. You can read more about this in my post "Lion killing Snake" and my post "Two crosses".
Just enough sun is beneficial but too much sun is destructive.
Just enough sun makes grain grow and creates order, but too much sun makes grain wither and burn and creates chaos.
This is why Apep, the great snake, the dragon, the destructive sun, the creator of chaos is the enemy of Ra, the beneficial sun, the creator of Order.
The great snake, the dragon, Apep, is the sun, is Ra in its destructive manifestation. This is why Apep is "a consequence of Ra".
The sun's heat increases all the way through the summer until we reach the hottest point of the summer, the 2nd of August. This point marks the end of the summer and the beginning of autumn, the end of the heating and the beginning of the cooling of the northern hemisphere. I talked about this in my post "Two crosses".
At that precise moment, The Great Snake, The Dragon, Veles (the summer heat) gets killed by Perun (autumn thunderstorms) whose weapon is lightning (spear). This day is celebrated in Serbia as Perun day.
But the thing is, Perun and Veles are one and the same. This can be seen from the fact that on the 2nd of August (the end of summer beginning of autumn), the day when Serbs celebrate Perun's victory over Veles, Serbs celebrate the day of St Elijah the thunderer. St Elijah is the burning sun of the late summer, Helios.
This is Helios
This is Elijah
Every year on his day he is about to burn the world to cinder. But he never does. Because St Elijah is also the thunderer, the one who makes lightning and the one who rides on storm clouds. Which arrive right on time, to cool the earth down. You can read more about this in my post "Thundering sun god".
This what is represented by Set killing Apep. The sun Ra, its protector Set and sun's enemy Apep are one and the same...
Set scores a small victory over Apep every day when the evening kills the heat of the day.
Set scores the big victory over Apep on the 2nd of August (the end of summer beginning of autumn) when he kills the heat of the summer and when the northern hemisphere starts cooling.
The 2nd of August, (the end of summer beginning of autumn) falls in the middle of the zodiac sign Leo. This is why Ra kills Apep as great cat (Lion).
This is also why we find the depiction of a lion headed deity (probably Pakhet or Pasht) killing great snake, dragon, on the above Set killing Apep scene.
Here is another depiction of Pakhet holding in one hand was staff (Set animal used to defeat Apep) and in the other hand two snakes.
Interestingly, in Serbian mythology, St Elijah doesn't burn the world down, because every year, in the middle of Leo, during the Dog days, he gets "calmed down" by his wife "Ognjena Marija" (Fiery Mary).
I wrote about this in my post Ognjena Marija.
I talked about the symbolism of the "Lion killing snake" image in my post Lion killing snake.
The 2nd of August, (the end of summer beginning of autumn), the hottest part of the year, the time when the great snake, the dragon is killed is known as Dog days. This is when Dog Star Sirius, rises before sun in the sky. Which is very interesting considering that Set, the Egyptian dragon slayer, the god of storms, is a dog faced deity...Knowing this, I wonder if the Set animal (dog really) has a forked tail because it is itself the "animal that ends the great snake, the dragon"???
Medieval standing stone from Ubusko, Hercegovina depicting dog fighting snake.
Just after the dog days and the slaughter of the great snake which choked the "river on which Ra's barge sailed", the Nile flooding reaches its highest level. This is still celebrated by Egyptians as an annual holiday for two weeks starting August 15, known as Wafaa El-Nil.
The Nile always followed the same water rise and fall pattern. First indications of the rise of the river could be seen at the first of the cataracts of the Nile (at Aswan) as early as the beginning of June, and a steady increase went on until the middle of July, when the increase of water became very great.
This is the beginning of Leo.
The Nile continued to rise until the beginning of September, when the level remained stationary for a period of about three weeks, sometimes a little less.
This is the end of Leo.
In October it often rose again, and reached its highest level. From this period it began to subside, and usually sank steadily until the month of June when it reached its lowest level, again.
Here is the The god Nilus or Hapimou encircled by the serpent...
From the dead dragon water, vegetation and life burst out...
What do you think about all this?
Labels: Ancient Egypt, Apep, dragon, Egyptian mythology, Lion killing snake, Perun, Set, Slavic mythology, St Elijah, Veles
Four living creatures
This is quarter shekel from the British Museum. Struck before 333 BCE, it is considered to be the first Jewish coin. Following the description in Ezekiel of the flying throne of Yahveh with wheels and wings, the image is interpreted as the representation of Yahveh, The God...
Ezekiel is a Hebrew prophet and the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible, which reveals prophecies regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the first temple.
The author of the Book of Ezekiel presents himself as Ezekiel, the son of Buzzi, born into a priestly (Kohen) lineage. Apart from identifying himself, the author gives a date for the first divine encounter which he presents: "in the thirtieth year". If this is a reference to Ezekiel's age at the time, he was born around 622 BCE, about the time of Josiah's reforms. His "thirtieth year" is given as five years after the exile of Judah's king Jehoiachin by the Babylonians, which according to Josephus happened in 598 BCE.
The vision Ezekiel had "in his thirtieth year" and which turned him into a prophet was of Jahveh sitting on the throne carried by the "four living creatures".
As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber. In the middle of it was something like four living creatures. This was their appearance: they were of human form. Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings...As for the appearance of their faces: the four had the face of a human being, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle; such were their faces...
In the middle of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; the fire was bright, and lightning issued from the fire. The living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning...As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them...When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When they moved, the others moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
In another part of his book, Ezekiel identifies the "living creatures" as cherubim, one of the unearthly beings who directly attend to God according to Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles; their original duty having been the protection of the Garden of Eden, and in particular the Tree of Life.
Interestingly the same vision appeared to the Christian prophet John, who described it in his Revelation:
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.
Day and night they never stop saying:
"Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty
who was, and is, and is to come."
The four living creatures from Ezekiel's and John's visions gave birth to the Christian "tetramorph".
In Christian art, the tetramorph is the union of the symbols of the Four Evangelists, derived from the four living creatures in the Book of Ezekiel, into a single figure or, more commonly, a group of four figures.
In their earliest appearances, the Evangelists were depicted in their human forms each with a scroll or a book to represent the Gospels. By the 5th century, images of the Evangelists evolved into their respective tetramorphs, each of the four Evangelists is associated with one of the living creatures, usually shown with wings. The most common association, but not the original or only, is: Matthew the man, Mark the lion, Luke the ox, and John the eagle. Christ in Majesty is often shown surrounded by the four symbols.
By the later Middle Ages, the tetramorph in the form of creatures was used less frequently. Instead, the Evangelists were often shown in their human forms accompanied by their symbolic creatures, or as men with the heads of animals.
In images where the creatures surround Christ, the winged man and the eagle are often depicted at Christ's sides, with the lion and the ox positioned lower by his feet, with the man on Christ's right, taking precedence over the eagle, and the lion to the left of the ox. These positions reflect the medieval great chain of being.
Now how are we to understand these strange creatures from Ezekiel's and John's visions? Well this has been bothering people for a long time.
In Judaism the four faces of the living creatures represent different creatures god created. The lion represents all wild animals, the ox represents domestic animals, the human represents humanity, and the eagle represents birds.
In the context of the Christian tetramorph, the winged man indicates Christ's humanity and reason, as well as Matthew's account of the Incarnation of Christ. The lion of St Mark represents courage, resurrection, and royalty, coinciding with the theme of Christ as king in Mark's gospel. It is also interpreted as the Lion of Judah as a reference to Christ's royal lineage. The ox, or bull, is an ancient Christian symbol of redemption and life through sacrifice, signifying Luke's records of Christ as a priest and his ultimate sacrifice for the future of humanity. The eagle represents the sky, heavens, and the human spirit, paralleling the divine nature of Christ.
Some however have connected Ezekiel's and John's visions with strange zodiacs found in synagogues built in holy land during the first few centuries after Christ's birth. Like this one from Beth Alpha, Israel:
The same type of zodiac wheel, with Helios or Sun in it's center, sitting in a chariot (throne) pulled by four horses (beings), just like in Ezekiel's and John's visions, is found in contemporaneous synagogues throughout Israel such as Naaran, Susiya, Hamat Tiberias, Huseifa, and Sepphoris.
Now when we look at the four faces of the "living creatures" and compare them with the zodiac symbols, we can see that these four faces match the four fixed points of the zodiac:
The man is Aquarius
The ox or cherub is Taurus,
The lion is Leo
The eagle is Scorpio (Few people know that Scorpio has another form, Eagle, sometimes Phoenix).
When we connect these four points we get a cross:
And so lets correct the four evangelist's positions around Christ:
But why did Jews adorn their synagogues during early Christian Era with these strange zodiacs? And what is the reason that these exact four zodiac signs were chosen to be the faces of the "four living creatures"?
In my post "Boaz and Jachin" I talked about the significance of the fact that Solomon built his temple on a threshing floor. The reason why this is significant is because in the past threshing floors were not only used for threshing and winnowing, but were also used as solar observatories and for ceremonies which were part of a solar cult. At the end of that article I suggested that the First Temple, whose entrance was oriented towards true east, towards the area of the horizon where the sun rises, was a temple dedicated to the sun and built by sun worshipers. And I said that we actually have indications that this could in fact have been the case.
In my post Sun god from the first temple I continued talking about this. Interestingly it was Ezekiel who told us explicitly that the First Temple was solar temple.
In Ezekiel 8:16 we read this:
"In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem...He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east."
Interesting right?
The fact that people still prayed to the sun during the time of Ezekiel is very interesting, because it shows how strong this solar cult was among the people of Judah. Ezekiel was born during the reign of Josiah (649–609 BCE). And it was Josiah, who according to the Hebrew Bible, instituted major religious changes aimed at eradicating the solar cult which flourished in Judah before and during his time. How strong the solar cult was in Judah just before the time of Josiah can be seen from the royal seal of the Kingdom of Judah from the time of the King Hezekiah (739 - 687 BC).
This means that the solar cult was not a minor religious curiosity. It was a state religion whose main temple was the First temple. A state religion supported by at least a significant part of the Judah's population.
So when Josiah started his religious reforms, not everyone was pleased. A lot of people saw these changes as sacrilege and continued to practice the old solar religion.
As part of his crusade, Josiah did the major cleanup of the First temmple. In 2 Kings 23:11 we read:
"He (Josiah) removed from the entrance of the LORD's Temple the horse statues that the former kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun... He also burned the chariots dedicated to the sun..."
This is most peculiar. We have a temple, build on a threshing floor (ancient solar observatory). The temple was oriented towards the east, and in the temple people prayed to the rising sun as if it was a god. And the temple housed a chariot and horses dedicated to the sun god???
Who was this sun god to whom ancient kings of Judah dedicated horses and chariot?
Well Helios of course.
Here is a depiction of Helios, the old titan (Old European) sun god. He is mostly depicted as a youth with sun ray halo driving the chariot pulled by winged horses across the sky, from east to west.
Official story is that Ezekiel really hated the solar worshipers...But now I am wondering...Is it possible that he was actually one of them? Is it possible that he saw Josiah's reforms as totally sacrilegious and that when he prophesied the destruction of of Jerusalem and the first temple, he did so because he believed that that was the fitting punishment for the Jews turning their backs to the Sun, their God? And is it because of this that he was hated by the same Jews? And is it because of that that his vision of god is basically Sun god sitting in a chariot pulled by four horses???
As I already mentioned, Ezekiel sees priests in the First Temple worshiping the sun. Interestingly, historian Josephus, who lived during the 1st century AD, records an Essene practice that he says was handed down to them by the forefathers where it appears that they were praying to the rising sun (War 2.8.5).
Qumran scrolls, which are attributed to the Essens, seem to confirm that Josephus was telling the truth. In the Hodayom, there are several references to prayer at dawn. 1QH 4:5 states: "I thank thee, O Lord, for Thou hast illuminated my face by Thy covenant, and I seek Thee, and sure as the dawn Thou hast appeared to me as perfect light."
And at the same time someone built synagogues with depictions of Helios surrounded by the Zodiac??? Like this one from the Hammat Tiberias Synagogue, dated to 286 and 337 CE, when Tiberias was the seat of the Sanhedrin. The mosaic floor is made up of three panels featuring the zodiac, and Helios, the sun god. Women who symbolise the four seasons of nature appear in each corner.
So were the synagogues with Helios built by Essenes? Essenes who wanted to "restore the first temple", the "temple of the sun god who rides in a chariot pulled by four horses"???
Well we don't know, but what we know is that the early Christian churches which were also oriented towards the east i.d. toward the Rising Sun, the same orientation found in the First temple.
And, at the same time when the helios synagogues were being built, the vision of a god in a chariot appeared to John who described it in Revelation:
In the centre, around the throne (chariot with four wheels), were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.
Very interesting right? But the best part is yet to come.
Why Man, Bull, Lion and Eagle? Why are these four zodiac signs chosen to be the faces of the living creatures?
These four zodiac signs cover these four periods of the solar year:
Aquarius 21 January – 19 February
Taurus 21 April – 21 May
Leo 23 July – 22 August
Eagle (Scorpio) 24 October – 22 November
In my post "Two crosses" I talked about Earth's cross, whose hands point to the so called "cross quarter days" which mark the transitional points of the climatic, vegetative cycle in the northern hemisphere, more precisely Europe:
The four points of this solar cross are at the core of the Celtic calendar:
1. Imbolc- the beginning of the spring
2. Bealtaine - the beginning of the summer
3. Lughnasa - the beginning of the autumn
4. Samhain - the beginning of the winter
And the Serbian calendar:
1. St Sava - the beginning of the spring
2. St George - the beginning of the summer
3. St Ilija - the beginning of the autumn
4. St Mitar - the beginning of the winter
The sun cross (Solstices and Equinoxes) and earth cross (Cross quarter days) are out of sync. The earth cross is rotated forward by 45 degrees and the earth circle cardinal points fall right in between the sun circle cardinal points. This is because the earth climatic, vegetative cycle lags behind the solar cycle.
Winter solstice (21st of December) is the the shortest day. So we would expect that this is also the coldest day. We would also expect that from that day on, as the days start getting longer, the days also start getting warmer. But as we all know, this is not the case. The days do get longer, but the earth continues to cool. It is only at the beginning of February that we start seeing the first signs of the earth warming up. This is why the beginning of spring is at the beginning of February (Imbolc, St Sava (14th of January, but probably a replacement for the old Imbolc which is celebrated on the 1st of February)). The actual mid point is 4th of February. Which falls right in the middle of Aquarius (21 January – 19 February).
Spring equinox (21st of March) is the moment when the day is as long as night. From that day the days are longer than nights. We would expect that this would mark the beginning of the summer. But the real heat does not start until the beginning of May. This is why the beginning of summer is at the beginning of May (Bealtaine, which is today celebrated on the 1st of May, but there are indications that it was once celebrated on the 6th of May. Here we find St George's day celebrated on the 23 of April, probably replacement for old Bealtaine). The actual mid point is 6th of May. Which falls right in the middle of Taurus (21 April – 21 May).
Summer solstice (21st of June) is the longest day of the year. We would expect that this would also be the hottest day of the year. We would also expect that from that day on, as the days get shorter, the days also get colder. But again as we all know, that is not the case. The days do get shorter, but earth continues to warm. It is only at the beginning of August that we start seeing first sings of earth cooling down. This is why the beginning of autumn is at the beginning of August (Lughnasa which is today celebrated on the 1st of August but was once probably celebrated on the, 2nd of August. Here we find St Ilija's day celebrated on the 20th of July, probably replacement for old Lughnasa). The actual mid point is 2nd of August. Which falls right in the middle of Leo (23 July – 22 August).
Autumn equinox (21st of September) is the moment when the day is as long as night. From that day the days are shorter than nights. We would expect that this would mark the beginning of the winter. But the real cold does not start until the beginning of Novermber. This is why the beginning of winter is at the beginning of November (Samhain, St Mitar (26th of October, but probably the replacement for the old Samhain which is celebrated on the 31st of October)). The actual mid point is 5th of November. Which falls right in the middle of Eagle (Scorpio) (24 October – 22 November).
This is indeed incredible. The four points of the vegetative cross define climate, which is created during the continuous interplay between the Father Sun and Mother Earth. I talked about this in my post Yin and Yang. Interestingly these four points fall into four zodiac signs which are the four faces of the four living creatures described by Ezekiel. The four living creatures whom he identifies as cherubim, the guardians of the "Garden of Eden" and particularly "The Tree of Life". Garden of Eden is this earth and the Tree of Life is the life it produces. The life which can be only produced because the Father Sun and Mother Earth produce the ever changing climate whose change is marked by the four points of the Climatic cross Aquarius = Spring, Taurus = Summer, Leo = Autumn, Eagle = Winter...
The problem with his vision is that this climatic cross only corresponds with the climate in Europe. Not with the climate in Middle East and definitely not with the climate in Babylon...
I already said that this climatic cross is at the base of the Serbian and Celtic calendar. Ezekiel (allegedly) had his vision in the 6th century BC. Solomon who built the solar temple on David's threshing floor (allegedly) built it in the 10th century BC.
There is no mention of anything like it in Hebrew Scriptures or Tradition. So why would Ezekiel "see" it in his vision?
The thing is this climatic cross was already known and was already sacred during the early Bronze Age. In Ireland. The same place where we found the so called "Celtic calendar" based on the above four cross quarter days. How do we know this? Well because we have stone circles aligned with these cross quarter days.
This is Grange stone circle. It is located on Lough Gur in County Limerick, Ireland. Composed of 113 standing stones, the Grange Stone Circle is the largest and finest in Ireland. Seán P. Ó Ríordáin excavated the Grange Stone Circle in 1939. During the excavations he found more than 4,000 shards of pottery, dating from the Early Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age, spanning a period of some 2,600 years.
This is the ceremonial entrance. It is lined with stones in the same way as the Grange circle itself. The very entrance of the circle is marked with two large stones.
This ceremonial entrance is aligned with the sunrise on the first or second of August, the Day of Crom Dubh, Lughnassa, the day of Perun, Thundering sun Ilios.
This is Beltany stone circle. It is located at Beltany, Co. Donegal. The name Beltany is an anglicised version of the Irish Beltaine, Beltane. The stone circle dates from around 1400-800 BC. Some reports are even saying that the actual building date is 2000 BC. The complex comprises a stone circle of 64 stones around a low earth platform or tumulus, situated at the summit of Beltany Hill.
The stone circle has several alignments:
1. Alignment with the sunrise on the day of Bealltaine (6th May, middle of Taurus), the Beginning of Summer.
2. Alignment with the sunrise on the day of the Winter Solstice (21st of December).
3. Alignment with the sunrise on the day of Samhain (1st of November, middle of Eagle, Scorpio), the Beginning of Winter.
4. Alignment with the sunrise on the day of the Equinoxes (21st March and 21st September).
So Bronze Age Irish were already aligning their solar circles with the climatic cross at least a thousand years before Ezekiel had his vision of the "four living creatures pulling the throne of god". Interesting...
Since I wrote this article, my knowledge about these symbols expanded and I wrote another article about these symbols "Symbols of the seasons". Since then I learned that these animal markers are actually universal ancient calendar markers used all over Eurasia and North Africa since at least Neolithic.
Man - Aquarius - Jan/Feb - beginning of snowmelt
Bull - Taurus - Apr/May - beginning of the calving season of the wild cattle
Lion - Leo - Jul/Aug - beginning of the mating season of Eurasian lions
Eagle - Eagle - Oct/Nov - beginning of the mating season of Old World Vultures
Scorpion - Scorpio - Oct/Nov - beginning of the hibernation of scorpions
I wrote about this in many other posts on my blog.
Please check them out...
Labels: Ezekiel, Four living creatures, John, Origin of Christianity, Origin of zodiac, Tetramorph, YHW
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Student Services»Handbooks & Forms»BSN Handbook
BSN Handbook
The School of Nursing (SON) Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) Student Handbook provides information to assist in planning your undergraduate academic career. It also serves as a guide to policies, procedures, facilities and resources within the School of Nursing and across the University. Reference this handbook as you choose from a variety of educational experiences available at Penn and the School of Nursing.
If you have questions regarding the contents of this handbook, please contact your faculty advisor or the Office of Student Services at 215-898-6687 or [email protected].
As educational opportunities and policies are subject to periodic change, the School of Nursing and the University of Pennsylvania must reserve the right to make changes affecting policies, fees, curriculum, or any other matters announced in this publication. For the current policies, please refer to the online version of the handbook contained in the web pages in this section, or contact the Office of Student Services.
Best of luck for a successful year!
School of Nursing Mission and Philosophy
Students are expected to read, abide by and understand the mission and philosophy of the School of Nursing.
Creating and Maintaining a Climate of Professional Nursing
As members of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing community, we are committed to creating a classroom environment that is built upon a foundation of mutual respect and fosters a climate in which student learning is enhanced to the fullest extent. As faculty and students, we value:
A course that is well-organized and in which the expectations and objectives are clearly communicated.
An educational experience that is stimulating, engaging, and intellectually challenging.
A classroom environment that celebrates and values diversity.
A safe space in which to voice our thoughts and opinions.
We also recognize that the quality of the educational experience is influenced by each member of the classroom community. As students, we play a significant role in shaping the educational climate. It is therefore our responsibility to:
Be fully present while in class, which includes actively listening while others speak and participating in classroom discussion.
Challenge our assumptions and seek to learn from the diverse experiences, backgrounds, and opinions that each person brings to the educational environment.
Provide feedback in a professional and honest manner regarding factors that enhance or inhibit learning in the classroom environment.
Treat course faculty and fellow students with respect.
Be a positive ambassador and role model for Penn Nursing.
By upholding these basic principles, we hope to promote a classroom climate that is conducive to the intellectual, professional, and personal development of every student.
Creating and Maintaining a Climate of Professional Nursing was approved by the BSN Curriculum Committee in December, 2003.
Statement of Personal Attributes and Capabilities Necessary for Admission to, Progression through, and Graduation from the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania
The curricula leading to degrees in nursing require students to engage in diverse and complex experiences directed to the practice, refinement and full acquisition of essential nursing competencies and functions. Unique combinations of cognitive, behavioral, sensory, communication, psychomotor, and communication abilities are required to perform these functions in a satisfactory manner and to consistently demonstrate these competencies. In addition to being essential to the successful completion of the requirements for the respective nursing degree, these competencies and functions are necessary to ensure the health and safety of patients, fellow students, faculty and other health care providers. This statement describes the minimum competencies and functions necessary for entrance to, continuation in, and graduation from the nursing degree programs of the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. Candidates for nursing degrees must be able to meet these minimum standards with or without reasonable accommodation.
Candidates for degrees offered by the School of Nursing must exhibit all the following competencies and characteristics:
Behavioral Characteristics
Fully use his/her intellectual ability, exercise good judgment and promptly and accurately complete all responsibilities attendant to implementing an appropriate plan of care for patients across the life span.
Develop a compassionate, effective, professional and therapeutic relationship with patients.
Work constructively in stressful and changing environments with the ability to modify behavior in response to evolving events.
Demonstrate ethical behavior, including adherence to the Nurse Practice Act, the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice and the University Code of Academic Integrity.
Demonstrate emotional and interpersonal skills sufficient to:
adapt to changing environments.
function efficiently and effectively in conditions of uncertainty inherent in the clinical
problems exhibited by patients.
remain calm in an emergency situation.
function effectively and efficiently in times of physical and mental stress for short and/or for extended periods.
be aware of one's emotional responses and biases.
Communication Characteristics
Interrelate with colleagues, faculty, staff, patients and other professionals with honesty, sensitivity, integrity, respect and without bias.
Communicate effectively with patients and families of diverse religious, cultural and/or social backgrounds.
Express own ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrate a willingness and ability to give and receive feedback.
Communicate effectively in oral and written forms in person and/or when using telephonic devices.
Perceive and interpret non‐verbal communication and verbal cues.
Recognize and appropriately respond to emotions.
Demonstrate the following communication abilities: speech, hearing, reading, writing, and
electronic modality literacy.
Demonstrate skills/ability sufficient to:
Elicit and record relevant information about health history, current health status or responses to treatment from patients, family members, or others.
Convey information to patient, members of the healthcare team and others as necessary to teach, direct, and counsel individuals and groups.
Give verbal directions to or follow verbal directions from other members of the health care team and participate in health care team discussions/coordination of patient care.
Process and communicate information of the patient's status with accuracy in a timely manner to members of the healthcare team.
Psychomotor Abilities
Possess sufficient proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibration), physical strength and mobility to carry out nursing procedures, to conduct laboratory and diagnostic tests, and carry out physical examinations.
Possess the motor skills required for their specialty's scope of practice, as defined by therelevant accrediting organization(s).
Possess sufficient motor function to be able to demonstrate manual dexterity in order to coordinate fine and gross muscular movements sufficient to provide safe general care and treatment to patients in all areas of healthcare.
Demonstrate an appropriate and timely response in emergency situations, including any circumstance requiring immediate and rapid resolution.
Demonstrate physical abilities sufficient for carrying equipment, pushing, pulling, stooping, kneeling, bending, climbing stairs and moving within the confines of care delivery settings such as the patient room and the operating room and between settings such as clinic, classroom building and hospital.
Demonstrate ability to lift, push and pull with assistance (mechanical or coworker) the weight of the average patient specific to the area of clinical work; and possess sufficient flexibility, balance, dexterity, hand‐eye coordination, and stamina to deliver care and operate all related instruments and equipment.
Cognitive Characteristics
Demonstrate an aptitude for rapid problem solving, the capability to access and interpret medical files independently, evaluate physical examinations, and formulate a logical care plan in a timely manner.
Demonstrate good judgment in patient assessment, and the abilities to utilize prior knowledge and incorporate new information in the decision‐making process.
Possess the ability to comprehend three‐dimensional relationships and the relationships of structures as they pertain to practice decisions.
Possess the necessary short and long‐term memory function to retain and recall pertinent information (patient and other) in a timely fashion.
Possess the ability to read and understand written documents in English and solve problems involving measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis.
Demonstrate the ability to gather, analyze and synthesize data, develop an appropriate plan of action, establish priorities, conceptualize plan of care, monitor treatment plans and modalities and provide in‐depth rationale for plan of care both in quiet environments and in areas where distractions, noise, and other stressors are present.
Demonstrate the ability to integrate and assimilate large volumes of information from multiple sources and multiple educational experiences in a timely fashion, and be able to apply that information to problem solving and decision making.
Sensory Characteristics
Ability to distinguish colors including the accurate interpretation of diagnostic tests, changes in skin color, nail beds, mucus membranes, bodily fluids and wound characteristics in all types of lighting conditions.
Ability to recognize three dimensional and spatial relationships.
Ability to discriminate physical examination findings using inspection, auscultation,percussion and palpation.
Ability to discriminate between sizes, shapes, temperature, and texture by means of touch.
Ability to discriminate changes in position, pressure, movement and vibrations in order to perform nursing procedures, conduct laboratory and diagnostic tests, and to perform the physical examination.
Ability to distinguish odors that may be related to a patient's condition, noxious spills, or fumes from a fire explosion or malfunction of equipment.
Ability to detect sounds related to bodily functions, monitoring devices, telephones and emergency signals.
Ability to prepare and dispense the correct quantity of medication or therapeutic agents in a syringe or therapeutic device
Possess sufficient visual acuity so as to be able to observe a patient's response at a distance and/or close at hand and to read lips when necessary.
Consistent with its mission and philosophy, the School of Nursing is committed to providing educational opportunities to students with disabilities. In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the School provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified students with disabilities. However, the decision regarding appropriate accommodations will be based on the specifics of each case.
Students who seek reasonable accommodations for disabilities must contact the Office of Student Disabilities Services located at Stouffer Commons, Suite 300, 3702 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104‐6027. The office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Phone: (215) 573‐9235; TDD: (215) 746‐6320; FAX: (215) 746‐6326; Email: [email protected].
This office is responsible for assessing documentation and determining reasonable accommodations. Questions concerning these standards can be directed to the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Academic Affairs at [email protected].
Approved December 2011.
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Richmond mayor to star in RCD talent show
Richmond Centre for Disability is hosting its second annual RCD Got Talent fundraising event
Richmond mayor Malcolm Brodie is among this year's RCD Got Talent performers
The second annual RCD Got Talent fundraising show is only a week away and the organizers have a stellar cast lined up.
One of the top attractions at the online show – broadcast on Richmond Centre for Disability's YouTube channel on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. – will Richmond's mayor, Malcolm Brodie, on piano accompanying RCD's Elsa Wong on vocals.
The show organizers also have the likes of a choir from Vancouver and a moms' dance group among the 10 or 11 acts lined up.
RCD's Dave Thomson said he and his co-host will have multiple calls to action throughout the show to raise funds for the disability non-profit.
"It's a lot of fun and, of course, it's for a good cause, so we're hoping people will come watch some of the performances," Thomson told the News.
"Last year we took a flyer to see if it would work online; we were shooting for $3,000, but we made so much more, people just kept donating as the show went on."
Thomson the broadcast and fundraising will be live, while the performances have been pre-recorded.
"Viewers will be able to interact with us during the show and we're really looking forward to the mayor on piano with Elsa," said Thomson, adding that he's grateful to Long & McQuade for donating a keyboard for the performance.
To watch the concert, subscribe, for free, to the RCD YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZK8dnVzkRI&t=3s
You can support the performers by making donations on the night or make one early by going to RCD's website at https://www.rcdrichmond.org/NewsAndEvents/OnlineConcert2021/OnlineConcert2021.php
More In the Community
Photo: Can you guess which year this was at Brighouse Square in Richmond?
Applications open for Richmond Neighbourhood Celebration Grant | {
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County gridiron teams reload with All-Region honors
Christmas is coming, college football is bowling and our three Region 11 football programs are busy reloading for next season. High school football never ends — especially when it comes to physical conditioning. To be more competitive, all three teams require player dedication in the weight room. Coupled with personal character and team leadership, this leads to competitive greatness which is a top priority for our county football squads.
Tooele High School has nowhere to go but up and they are looking forward to the challenge. Head coach Kyle Brady is trying to herd the Buffaloes back to their winning ways and Zac Coffman will be returning to help. As a defensive back, he had 43 tackles and four sacks while on offense he had seven receptions and a touchdown. Andrew Spendlove will be returning as a tight end. He led the Buffaloes in receiving with 229 yards and two touchdowns. The defense will build off of linebacker Seth Manning, while the line will look to Tony Leakehe, another junior. THS is young and searching for a foothold in Region 11 play. The Buffaloes had one first team all region player in senior Tyler McMain. a full back and strong-side linebacker.
The Buffaloes challenge is to gain some confidence and get the team moving in a positive direction. Coach Brady will find the answers and look to a more competitive season in 2012.
Stansbury is reloading with a number of returning starters, including Region 11 MVP Chase Christiansen. The sophomore quarterback led the Stallions to the Region Championship rushing for 1149 yards and 19 touchdowns, while passing for an additional 527 yards and four touchdowns. He will be joined by Dacota Case, a junior running back and defensive back who also received Region first team honors collecting five interceptions this season. Both he and Christiansen are garnering other post-season accolades as Christmas approaches.
The Stallions have a stable full of Region first teamers returning next season. Jackson Clausing rushed for over 600 yards and five touchdowns. Colton May lead the team with 103 tackles. Chandler Staley averaged 5.4 yards per carry along with 63 tackles. Allan Havili will anchor the line at 6'3" and weighing in at 290 pounds this season.
Graduating seniors receiving first team Region honors were linemen Atu Havili and Hunter Anderson (defensive end). Stansbury's Jeremy Café was the Region Defensive MVP and is garnering other post season honors throughout the state. The 6'1", 175-pound defensive end had 27 tackles and 13 sacks his senior year.
By the looks of it, Stansbury High School is in a good position to defend its title and is the team to beat in Region 11 in 2012.
Grantsville High School is determined to do just that. The Cowboys are returning 18 starters next season led by team captain Skyler Cloward, who was named Region 11 Offensive MVP, which is a rare feat for an offensive lineman. Don't be fooled, he can play defense too as the linebacker amassed 96 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, caused one fumble and recovered two others, not to mention blocking a couple of punts and scoring a couple of touchdowns. The 6'1", 210 pound linebacker is all ready getting looks from in-state college football programs. Other post season awards continue to come his way as we draw near the Christmas break.
Grantsville's quarterback Max Cook is a Region first teamer and is receiving other state honors as well. Cook threw for over 1000 yards and rushed for 383 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Defensively he had 43 tackles and one interception. Ky Fisher is a sophomore running back and linebacker making a name for himself as an All-Region player. Fisher rushed with 343 yards and ten touchdowns for the Cowboys while leading the team with 106 tackles. Other Region first team picks were Kelby Landon and Kaleb Ware. Landon had 34 tackles as a defensive back, while Ware averaged 4 yards a carry and had 50 tackles from his outside linebacker spot.
The Cowboys say goodbye to senior offensive lineman and Region first teamer Dakota Leetham and wide receiver Dalen Erickson. Both are getting looks from college teams as well as receiving other state post-season awards.
Head Coach Tony Cloward has turned the corner with a young team and a winning season. He expects more in 2012 and just by looking, the Cowboys chances seem pretty good.
So there you go. Enjoy the Christmas season and make sure you give all of our county athletes heartfelt thanks when you see them. To be a successful athlete takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. They deserve your praise! I'll see you from the sidelines. | {
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CJM features a quirky array of Jewish T-shirts in new multimedia exhibit
By David A.M. Wilensky | October 9, 2015
In a corner of the Contemporary Jewish Museum gift shop stand two wooden frames with a clothesline strung between them featuring an array of T-shirts. A blue shirt bears a Star of David-shaped version of the unmistakable red and yellow Superman "S" logo. A purple tee from Camp Ramah in Ojai announces the camp's ZIP code. A gray shirt has the OU kosher symbol on the front and reads "As Kosher as You Wanna Be" on the back — an artifact of professor Ari Y. Kelman's college years at U.C. Santa Cruz. Kelman, the Jim Joseph chair in education and Jewish studies at Stanford, discusses some of the tees in a series of video features projected onto a white sheet behind the shirts.
This is "Hidden in Plain Sight! T-Shirts and the Curation of Identity," a multimedia exhibition "exploring T-shirts as canvases for meditation on contemporary identities." On display in the CJM shop through Nov. 1, the exhibit is the brainchild of Kelman, who developed it in collaboration with Sam Ball of the S.F. nonprofit Citizen Film, along with some of Kelman's grad students at Stanford.
"Hidden in Plain Sight!" includes T-shirts, video and a computer. photo/david a.m.wilensky
But the most interesting part of the exhibit is online. At the website www.ethnictshirts.org, you can watch each of the slickly produced videos, and everyone is invited to contribute to the exhibition by Instagramming a selfie wearing a favorite Jewish T-shirt and tagging it #ethnicteeshirts. A computer set up next to the exhibit in the museum shop allows visitors to engage with the online portion. "A lot of people stop to interact" with it, said Kevin Grenon, the store director.
For those who spent their childhood, adolescence or college years attending Jewish programs — and whose closets were at some point overflowing with Jewish tees — the very idea of T-shirts as ethnic or religious identity is immediately evocative. But the concept goes way back.
"When immigrant Jews arriving in the United States wanted to fit in, one of the first things they changed was their clothes," Kelman writes on the website. "Today, we curate our individual and collective identities every time we get dressed. For the majority of Jews, who 'pass' as ethnically white, wearing T-shirts bearing Jewish messages calls attention to an identity that might otherwise be invisible."
On Instagram, 10-year-old Solly appears wearing a 2009 Camp Tawonga staff shirt. "Camp Tawonga is one of my favorite places in the world. At Tawonga, I feel connected to nature and Judaism," he says. Instagram user zanykirz posted an image of a black T-shirt that reads "A challah in the oven," with the comment, "Maternity tee from my mother-in-law that announces and connects my enormous life changes with my Jewish identity." Another from zanykirz: "Tee from Sukkot sleep out for the homeless at UVA Hillel, where I learned to connect Jewishness with how I acted in the world."
In one video, Kelman talks about a shirt that depicts actor John Goodman as Polish-American Jewish convert Walter Sobchak from the Coen Brothers film "The Big Lebowski," which has a huge cult following, especially among younger Jews. The shirt quotes Goodman's most famous line from the movie, "I don't roll on Shabbas," which comes up in an argument about a bowling league game that has been scheduled for a Friday night.
"The decision between observing the laws of his bowling league and observing the laws of the Sabbath is a kind of classic Jewish dilemma between holding to a set of religious beliefs and a desire to participate in American culture more broadly," Kelman says in the video. "Walter's dilemma has made him a particularly beloved character to Jewish fans of the film."
Several of the shirts featured in the exhibit are on sale in the museum store. Grenon lamented that they can't sell all of the shirts in the exhibit because of copyright. His favorite, however, is on sale; it looks like it might be from Yosemite National Park, but it actually says, "Yo Semite."
"Hidden in Plain Sight!" is on exhibit through Nov. 1 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum store, 736 Mission St., S.F. Free. www.thecjm.org
David A.M. Wilensky
David A.M. Wilensky is the online editor of J. and "Jew in the Pew" columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].
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EXPO 2019: May 16 - 19
WINDSOR FAIRGROUNDS, WINDSOR, MAINE
Helping educate for tomorrow's agriculture
Expo Info
Insurance & Health
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Feeder Calf Sale
Directions to Expo at Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
From the East (Belfast, Camden, Rockland)
Traveling west on Route 17 out of Camden or Rockland, drive about 20 miles until you join Route 32 (17 and 32 are parallel). Then, after about four miles, turn RIGHT on Route 32 and the fairgrounds are just about 1/4 mile north
From the West (Portland, Augusta, Lewiston, Norway, Gardiner, New York)
Get to Route 17, either from Augusta by crossing the "high" bridge or from Gardiner (Exit 27 on I-95, Then Route 201 into town, cross the Kennebec, then follow Route 226). Once on Route 17, travel east. After driving about 10 miles you will get to Route 32. Turn LEFT on Route 32 and the fairgrounds are just about 1/4 mile north.
From the South (Bath, Damariscotta, Waldoboro)
Stay on Route 1 until you get to Waldoboro and the intersection of Route 32. Turn north on Route 32, continue through Jefferson and on up to where Route 32 joins Route 17, about 13 miles. Turn LEFT (west) and continue for about 4 miles to where Route 32 turns north. The fairgrounds are just about 1/4 mile north.
From the North (Bangor, Madawaska)
Drive down I-95, exit at Augusta, Western Avenue, and follow the instructions above. Or Exit I-95 at the Memorial Bridge in Waterville and get yourself over to Route 32. Drive South through Windsor (Hussey's) and the fairgrounds will appear just before you arrive at Route 17.
Google Map to the Windsor Fair | {
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Phage typing or CRISPR typing for epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella Typhimurium?
Manal Mohammed1
Salmonella Typhimurium is the most dominant Salmonella serovar around the world. It is associated with foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks but has recently been associated with invasive illness and deaths. Characterization of S. Typhimurium is therefore very crucial for epidemiological surveillance. Phage typing has been used for decades for subtyping of S. Typhimurium to determine the epidemiological relation among isolates. Recent studies however have suggested that high throughput clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) typing has the potential to replace phage typing. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of high-throughput CRISPR typing over conventional phage typing in epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of S. Typhimurium.
In silico analysis of whole genome sequences (WGS) of well-documented phage types of S. Typhimurium reveals the presence of different CRISPR type among strains belong to the same phage type. Furthermore, different phage types of S. Typhimurium share identical CRISPR type. Interestingly, identical spacers were detected among outbreak and non-outbreak associated DT8 strains of S. Typhimurium. Therefore, CRISPR typing is not useful for the epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of S. Typhimurium and phage typing, until it is replaced by WGS, is still the gold standard method for epidemiological surveillance of S. Typhimurium.
Salmonellosis is one of the most common causes of foodborne disease worldwide. Nontyphoidal salmonellosis (NTS) is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans through consumption of contaminated food. Worldwide, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) accounts for most human infection of NTS and has been associated with foodborne outbreaks in developing and developed countries resulting in high morbidity and mortality [1]. Furthermore, the recent emergence of the multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. Typhimurium variant of a distinct Sequence Type ST313 in sub-Saharan Africa represents a major public health concern as it is associated with invasive illness and deaths [2]. An efficient laboratory system for epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of Salmonella Typhimurium is therefore very crucial.
Phage typing system is a phenotypical method that has been used for decades for subtyping of S. Typhimurium to determine the epidemiological relation among isolates [3]. Phage typing is a rapid and low cost approach for the epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of S. Typhimurium. The system distinguishes more than 300 definitive phage types (DT) of S. Typhimurium based on their patterns of lysis to a unique collection of Salmonella phages but it has shown some limitations including the maintenance of typing phages by the reference laboratory and the updating of the system furthermore it depends entirely on the experience of the individual laboratory for interpretation of the results [4].
Recent studies have suggested that high throughput clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) typing and the microbead-based CRISPOL assay have the potential to replace traditional bacterial typing and subtyping systems including phage typing [5, 6]. CRISPRs consist of direct repeats (DRs) separated by variable spacer sequences that are derived from foreign phages or plasmids [7] while CRISPOL is a bead-based liquid hybridization assay for CRISPR polymorphism [5].
A recent study reported identical CRISPRs between two different phage types of S. Typhimurium; DT8 and DT30 [8] which reveals the limitations of CRISPR typing for epidemiological surveillance of S. Typhimurium.
This study aimed to analyze the CRISPR/CRISPOL type of well-documented phage types of S. Typhimurium in order to determine the efficacy of high-throughput CRISPR and CRISPOL typing over conventional phage typing in epidemiological surveillance of S. Typhimurium.
Whole genome sequence of different phage types of S. Typhimurium
The whole genome sequence of well-documented phage types of S. Typhimurium (Tables 1, 2) were obtained from Enterobase (https://enterobase.warwick.ac.uk/). Furthermore, a set of different phage types of S. Typhimurium that are used as control in Anderson phage typing scheme (Tables 1, 2) were selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS). Genomic DNA was extracted using QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen) according to manufacturer's instructions and submitted for WGS using an Illumina MiSeq on 250 bp paired-end (PE) libraries. The quality of PE data was evaluated using FastQC toolkit (http://www.bioinformatics.babraham.ac.uk/projects/fastqc/). Adapter sequences were removed using ea-utils package (https://expressionanalysis.github.io/ea-utils/). PE reads for each isolate were de novo assembled using velvet [9]. The best assembly with the highest N50 value was obtained. Raw sequence data of control phage types of S. Typhimurium have been submitted to the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) under study Accession No.: PRJEB18673 (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/data/view/PRJEB18673) and also available via Enterobase (https://enterobase.warwick.ac.uk/).
Table 1 Salmonella Typhimurium strains belonging to the same phage type show different CRISPR/CRISPOL type
Table 2 Salmonella Typhimurium strains belonging to different phage types show identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type
In silico CRISPR and CRISPOL analysis
PE reads of different phage types of S. Typhimurium were also assembled using Enterobase (https://enterobase.warwick.ac.uk/) where CRISPRs and CRISPOL were called directly from the raw reads rather than the assembly.
Enterobase was used to determine the CRISPR type and CRISPOL type of all phage types of S. Typhimurium. In Enterobase, each phage type of S. Typhimurium was assigned unique accession number (Tables 1, 2).
Previously, sequenced CRISPR loci of different phage types of S. Typhimurium using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [5] were also included in this study (Table 3).
Table 3 CRISPOL type among different phage types of S. Typhimurium
PE reads of S. Typhimurium phage type DT8 associated with a foodborne outbreak in the summer of 2013 in the States of Jersey [10] were downloaded from ENA; study Accession Number PRJNA248792 (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/data/view/PRJNA248792) and assembled by Enterobase. CRISPR and CRISPOL types were determined for all outbreak strains using Enterobase (Additional file 1: Table S1).
Spacers sequence within the assembled genomes of outbreak and non-outbreak associated DT8 strains were also characterized using CRISPRFinder (http://crispr.i2bc.paris-saclay.fr/Server/) (Additional file 1: Table S1).
In silico analysis of genome sequences of control and well documented phage types of S. Typhimurium revealed two CRISPR loci, CRISPR-1 and CRISPR-2, within all phage types of S. Typhimurium. Although DRs are almost identical among all phage types of S. Typhimurium spacers sequences within the CRISPR loci are not unique to the phage type as strains belong to the same phage type have different spacers and subsequently different CRISPR/CRISPOL type (Table 1) furthermore, different phage types have identical spacers and same CRISPR/CRISPOL type (Table 2).
Different CRISPR/CRISPOL type within the same phage type of S. Typhimurium
In Table 1, three strains of S. Typhimurium that belong to phage type DT1 including strains DT1, TM 68-619 and TM 65-111 have different spacers and subsequently show different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; 8579/430, 2536/54 and 7387/90 respectively. Two strains belong to phage type DT10 have different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; MS34 (9509/1629) and S81-784 (9913/1688). Two strains belong to phage type DT15a have different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; 9517/1634 in isolate MS41 and 9916/1756 in isolate S81-798. Moreover, three strains belong to DT41 have different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; 9513/1630 in isolate M11-2004, 7434/223 in isolate CQ 41 and 9929/1766 in isolate S02-0321.
Identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type within different phage types of S. Typhimurium
CRISPR/CRISPOL type among phage types DT8 and DT30
Identical spacers were detected among different phage types of S. Typhimurium. For example, three strains of DT8 including M12-2001, M15-2006 and MS32 have the same CRISPR/CRISPOL type (812/250) as a strain belongs to phage type DT30 (MS57). Moreover, different strains belong to phage type DT8 have different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; M18-2003 (1069/6) and MS150057 (2260/708) (Table 2).
Interestingly, S. Typhimurium DT8 strains associated with the foodborne outbreak in the summer of 2013 in the States of Jersey [10] showed identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type (1069/6) however, the same CRISPR/CRISPOL type were reported in other DT8 strains that do not belong to the outbreak as confirmed by WGS [10]. Identical spacers were detected among outbreak associated and non-outbreak associated DT8 strains (Additional file 1: Table S1).
CRISPR/CRISPOL type among phage types DT104, DT104b and U302
Variations in the CRISPR/CRISPOL type among strains of the same phage type such as DT104 and DT104b have been also noticed (Table 2). Although three strains of S. Typhimurium phage type DT104 including TM75-339, MS150098 and MS150095, have identical spacer sequences and CRISPR/CRISPOL type (12/21) the same CRISPR/CRISPOL type is present in different phage types including U302 (M18-2006; 12/21) and DT104b (MS130531; 12/21).
CRISPR/CRISPOL type among phage types DT40, DT56, DT99 and U319
Strains of S. Typhimurium belong to different phage types such as DT99, DT56, U319 and DT40 (S05-2864) have identical spacer sequences and identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type (7433/14). Moreover, several strains belong to phage type DT40 including S05-2864, M20-2006, M19-2003 and CQ 40 have different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; 7433/14, 9520/1637, 9519/1636 and 745/18 respectively (Table 2).
CRISPR/CRISPOL type among phage types DT7a, DT20a, DT120, DT193 and untypable strains
In Table 2, strains of S. Typhimurium belong to phage type DT120 have different spacers and subsequently different CRISPR/CRISPOL type including S02-3776 (9921/1759), 07_2198 (9911/1753), M16-2000 (9510/1428), and S/20160374 (322/1).
Interestingly, a strains of phage type DT120 (M16-2000) has identical spacers and CRISPR/CRISPOL type (9510/1428) as another strain belongs to phage type DT7a (MS120840). Moreover, some strains belong to phage types DT120 (S/20160374 and S/20160407), DT20a (MS150110), DT193 (MS150007) and untypable strain (MS150097) have identical spacers and therefore share the same CRISPR/CRISPOL type (322/1). Different strains belong to phage type DT193 have different spacers and CRISPR/CRISPOL type; MS150007 (322/1) and MS150252 (317/2).
CRISPR/CRISPOL type among phage types DT3, DT12 and DT193a
Some strains of phage types DT12 (DT12) and DT3 (S81-482) have identical spacers and identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type; 5268/19. Moreover, a strain belongs to DT12 (S02-2651) has identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type, 774/46, as a strain belongs to phage type DT193a (MS120454) (Table 2).
CRISPR/CRISPOL type among phage types DT135, DT191a and RDNC
Identical spacer sequences and CRISPR/CRISPOL type (91/4) were detected in different phage types of S. Typhimurium including DT135 (MS150112 and MS150180), DT191a (DT19a) and strains that react with phages but do not confirm to recognized pattern (RDNC) (MS150102 and MS150230). Furthermore, other strains belong to phage type DT135 show different spacers and subsequently different CRISPR/CRISPOL type; 5753/396 in DT135 and 3247/66 in MS150100 (Table 2).
CRISPOL assay confirms the no relation among phage type and CRISPRs
CRISPOL assay developed by Fabre et al. [5] when carried out on representative phage types of S. Typhimurium it reveals that there is no relation among the phage type and the CRISPOL type as strains belong to the same phage type have different CRISPOL type as seen in DT104 strains (Table 3). On the other hand, different phage types including DT7, DT193, U311, DT41 showed identical CRISPOL type as '1' (Table 3).
Salmonella Typhimurium is the most dominant Salmonella serovar around the world and has been associated with foodborne outbreaks in both developing and high-income countries [1, 11] and infection can result in bacteraemia and invasive disease [12, 13]. Epidemiological characterization of S. Typhimurium is therefore very crucial for the surveillance and outbreak investigation.
Phage typing system [3] has been a very useful phenotypical, definitive method for epidemiological characterization of S. Typhimurium and identification of the source of infection [14,15,16,17]. Although it has been suggested that the high throughput CRISPR typing and subtyping have the potential to replace traditional phage typing [5] this study demonstrates that It is impossible for CRISPR typing and CRISPOl assay to replace phage typing for epidemiological characterization of S. Typhimurium as there is no correlation between the phage type and the CRISPR/CRISPOL type.
Interestingly, S. Typhimurium DT8 strains associated with the foodborne outbreak in the summer of 2013 in the States of Jersey [10] showed identical CRISPR/CRISPOL type however, the same CRISPR/CRISPOL type were reported in other DT8 strains that do not belong to the outbreak as confirmed by WGS [10]. Detection of identical spacers among outbreak associated and non-outbreak associated DT8 strains reveals the limitation of CRISPR typing and subtyping in investigation of outbreaks.
The MDR DT104 strain of S. Typhimurium has been associated with foodborne outbreaks all over the world and phage typing was very successful in epidemiological characterization of the outbreak and identification of the source [18,19,20] however in this study strains belong to DT104 showed different spacers and subsequently different CRISPR/CRISPOL type therefore CRISPR typing and CRISPOL assay cannot be used in public health laboratories to determine the epidemiological relation among S. Typhimurium isolates.
The presence of CRISPR/CRISPOL type within the same phage type and the presence of identical spacers among different phage types of S. Typhimurium confirms the limitations of CRISPR typing and subtyping for the epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of S. Typhimurium.
There is no doubt that rapid WGS will shape the future of diagnostic microbiology as it has the potential to replace the routine typing and subtyping methods including Anderson phage typing system for the surveillance of outbreaks caused by different Salmonella serovars in real-time [10, 21, 22]. However, in the meantime, traditional phage typing scheme of S. Typhimurium remains the gold standard method for subtyping of S. Typhimurium for laboratory surveillance and outbreak investigation despite its technical limitations. Furthermore, it represents an ideal model for studying the complex dynamics of phage-host interaction [8].
In conclusion, high throughput CRISPR/CRISPOL typing might be useful for the discrimination among different Salmonella serovars however it is not useful for the epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of S. Typhimurium and phage typing, until it is replaced by WGS, is still the gold standard method for epidemiological surveillance of S. Typhimurium.
More outbreaks of S. Typhimurium caused by phage types other than DT8 can be included to confirm the unsuitability of CRISPR typing in epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation of S. Typhimurium.
clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats
phage type
MDR:
multidrug resistant
NSSLRL:
National Salmonella Shigella Listeria Reference Laboratory
NTS:
nontyphoidal salmonella
PE:
paired end
polymerase chain reaction
RDNC:
strains that react with phages but do not confirm to recognized pattern
SSSCDRL:
Scottish Salmonella, Shigella and Clostridium difficile Reference Laboratory
S. Typhimurium:
Salmonella Typhimurium
WGS:
Majowicz SE, Musto J, Scallan E, Angulo FJ, Kirk M, O'Brien SJ, Jones TF, Fazil A, Hoekstra RM. International collaboration on enteric disease "burden of illness" S: the global burden of nontyphoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50(6):882–9.
Okoro CK, Kingsley RA, Connor TR, Harris SR, Parry CM, Al-Mashhadani MN, Kariuki S, Msefula CL, Gordon MA, de Pinna E, et al. Intracontinental spread of human invasive Salmonella typhimurium pathovariants in sub-Saharan Africa. Nat Genet. 2012;44(11):1215–21.
Anderson ES, Ward LR, Saxe MJ, de Sa JD. Bacteriophage-typing designations of Salmonella typhimurium. J Hyg (Lond). 1977;78(2):297–300.
Baggesen DL, Sorensen G, Nielsen EM, Wegener HC. Phage typing of Salmonella typhimurium—is it still a useful tool for surveillance and outbreak investigation? Euro surveillance: bulletin European sur les maladies transmissibles. Eur Commun Dis Bull. 2010;15(4):19471.
Fabre L, Zhang J, Guigon G, Le Hello S, Guibert V, Accou-Demartin M, de Romans S, Lim C, Roux C, Passet V, et al. CRISPR typing and subtyping for improved laboratory surveillance of Salmonella infections. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(5):e36995.
Shariat N, Dudley EG. CRISPRs: molecular signatures used for pathogen subtyping. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2014;80(2):430–9.
Jansen R, Embden JD, Gaastra W, Schouls LM. Identification of genes that are associated with DNA repeats in prokaryotes. Mol Microbiol. 2002;43(6):1565–75.
Mohammed M, Cormican M. Whole genome sequencing provides possible explanations for the difference in phage susceptibility among two Salmonella typhimurium phage types (DT8 and DT30) associated with a single foodborne outbreak. BMC Res Notes. 2015;8:728.
Zerbino DR, Birney E. Velvet: algorithms for de novo short read assembly using de Bruijn graphs. Genome Res. 2008;18(5):821–9.
Ashton PM, Nair S, Peters TM, Bale JA, Powell DG, Painset A, Tewolde R, Schaefer U, Jenkins C, Dallman TJ, et al. Identification of Salmonella for public health surveillance using whole genome sequencing. PeerJ. 2016;4:e1752.
Galanis E, Lo Fo Wong DM, Patrick ME, Binsztein N, Cieslik A, Chalermchikit T, Aidara-Kane A, Ellis A, Angulo FJ, Wegener HC, et al. Web-based surveillance and global Salmonella distribution, 2000–2002. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12(3):381–8.
Ao TT, Feasey NA, Gordon MA, Keddy KH, Angulo FJ, Crump JA. Global burden of invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella disease, 2010. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015;21(6):941.
Tapia MD, Tennant SM, Bornstein K, Onwuchekwa U, Tamboura B, Maiga A, Sylla MB, Sissoko S, Kourouma N, Toure A, et al. Invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella infections among children in Mali, 2002–2014: microbiological and epidemiologic features guide vaccine development. Clin Infect Dis. 2015;61(Suppl 4):S332–8.
Fielding JE, Snell P, Milazzo A, Del Fabbro L, Raupach J. An outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 4 linked to cold set cheesecake. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2003;27(4):513–4.
Tribe IG, Tsimogiannis H, Mmolawa P, Davos D. An outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 29 linked to a noodle restaurant in South Australia. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2001;25(2):72.
Moffatt CR, Combs BG, Mwanri L, Holland R, Delroy B, Cameron S, Givney RC. An outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 64 gastroenteritis linked to catered luncheons in Adelaide, South Australia, June 2005. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2006;30(4):443–8.
Boxall NS, Adak GK. E DEP, Gillespie IA: a Salmonella typhimurium phage type (PT) U320 outbreak in England, 2008: continuation of a trend involving ready-to-eat products. Epidemiol Infect. 2011;139(12):1936–44.
Molbak K, Baggesen DL, Aarestrup FM, Ebbesen JM, Engberg J, Frydendahl K, Gerner-Smidt P, Petersen AM, Wegener HC. An outbreak of multidrug-resistant, quinolone-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium DT104. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(19):1420–5.
Cody SH, Abbott SL, Marfin AA, Schulz B, Wagner P, Robbins K, Mohle-Boetani JC, Vugia DJ. Two outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Salmonella serotype typhimurium DT104 infections linked to raw-milk cheese in northern California. JAMA. 1999;281(19):1805–10.
Dechet AM, Scallan E, Gensheimer K, Hoekstra R, Gunderman-King J, Lockett J, Wrigley D, Chege W, Sobel J, Multistate Working G. Outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium definitive type 104 infection linked to commercial ground beef, northeastern United States, 2003–2004. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42(6):747–52.
Mohammed M, Delappe N, O'Connor J, McKeown P, Garvey P, Cormican M. Whole genome sequencing provides an unambiguous link between Salmonella Dublin outbreak strain and a historical isolate. Epidemiol Infect 2016;144(3):576–81.
Wuyts V, Denayer S, Roosens NH, Mattheus W, Bertrand S, Marchal K, Dierick K, De Keersmaecker SC. Whole genome sequence analysis of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 outbreaks from a National Reference Laboratory's Viewpoint. PLoS curr 2015. https://doi.org/10.1371/currents.outbreaks.aa5372d90826e6cb0136ff66bb7a62fc.
The author no competing interests.
Raw sequence data of control phage types of S. Typhimurium will be publically available via ENA under study Accession No.: PRJEB18673 (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/data/view/PRJEB18673) and also available via Enterobase (https://enterobase.warwick.ac.uk/). All sequencing data is available on request.
Consent to publish
Ethical approval and consent
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, UK
Manal Mohammed
Correspondence to Manal Mohammed.
Additional file
Additional file 1: Table S1. CRISPR and CRISPOL types of outbreak and non-outbreak associated DT8 strains of S. Typhimurium. Identical CRISPR and CRISPOL types were detected among outbreak and non-outbreak strains.
Mohammed, M. Phage typing or CRISPR typing for epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella Typhimurium?. BMC Res Notes 10, 578 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-2878-0
CRISPR typing
Phage typing | {
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Letter of the Day: A better electoral method
By dailybreeze | [email protected] |
PUBLISHED: July 26, 2011 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: September 6, 2017 at 8:08 a.m.
A better electoral method
The Daily Breeze conducted a reader poll on how California should award its electoral votes but neglected to include the congressional district method, in which the majority winner in each district would win one electoral vote for that district. The candidate who wins the majority of the popular vote statewide wins the two electoral votes representing the two senators.
This option has the following advantages:
1. Every electoral vote would be in play. Each voter in the state would be better represented. Republican voters in the central and eastern parts of the state could contribute toward awarding their candidate some electoral votes.
2. Political candidates would be more inclined to campaign in California, which up to now has been all but guaranteed to the Democratic candidate for the past 20 years.
3. Voter turnout would increase, since more voters would feel that their vote actually counted.
4. In the event that there has to be a recount, tallying could focus on specific congressional districts in dispute as opposed to a burdensome canvassing of the entire state.
– Arthur Christopher Schaper, Torrance
dailybreeze | {
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How Pipedrive saved 350 hours (and counting) on talent relocation
Pipedrive went from having constant issues with local authorities to saving hundreds of hours on talent relocation.
Relocation and Immigration Services
https://www.pipedrive.com/
Founded in 2010, Pipedrive is a tool built by salespeople for salespeople to manage intricate or lengthy sales processes.
The company today is 77th on the Forbes Cloud 100 list, covers more than 170 countries and 16 languages, and has 500+ employees across eight offices in six countries. That's a lot of numbers to squeeze into one sentence. The point is, they're everywhere.
And they're hiring a lot—also from everywhere.
Rocky beginnings
When Pipedrive first started relocating people to their Estonian HQ in 2015, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing. "We were having difficulties understanding the legal system in Estonia," says Girli Moks, People Operations Team Lead at the Tallinn office. "And we had some problems when communicating with the Police and Border Guard Board. It happened really often that we wanted to relocate a candidate or a new employee to Estonia and we thought that maybe it would take a month or two, but actually it ended up taking three or four months."
But there was no turning back. The floodgates were open.
Because hiring internationally is inevitable for a company like Pipedrive. "Although we have a lot of great talent here, it's not really meeting the actual demand of our company," says Mirjam Laurisaar, Talent Acquisition Team Lead. "There aren't enough specialists on the local market."
So the writing was on the wall—they needed a helping hand. Team Pipedrive had their hesitations about bringing on a relocation partner. They worried about whether Jobbatical had enough knowledge and people to get the job done fast. "We didn't know how long it would take for Jobbatical to get our new employees here," Girli remembers. "Will we need to chase them? But actually they ended up chasing us with different questions, so it was a really surprisingly good service."
70+ relocations later, they're glad they took a chance on Jobbatical. Because that translates roughly to 350 hours of work saved. Plus a lot of happy new hires.
"From the moment that we know we want to move a candidate to Estonia for the final interview, they take it over from the recruiter and they start to compose all the documents and residence permits and visas," Girli describes their cooperation with Jobbatical. "In Estonia, they also help our relocated employees find family doctors and register their address."
When boring is a good thing
And just like that, Pipedrive went from constant communication issues with local authorities to being able to offer their hires the smoothest relocation experience around. You know you've got a good thing going when even the most potentially challenging relocation cases turn out… well, kind of boring, actually.
For Girli, the most memorable case was a fresh hire from Indonesia. A lot of room for disastrous mishaps here, as there's no Estonian embassy in Indonesia. "So the employee had to go to the Chinese embassy to apply for a Chinese visa, then to China to apply for an Estonian visa," Girli recalls. "Then after that, he could come to Estonia. The process had to be very well thought through. And Jobbatical managed it very well, so everything went fine."
The relocation case that stands out for Mirjam is also memorable mostly for how shockingly uneventful it was. Same old story: new hire moving from Iran. No Estonian embassy. Things could have gone spectacularly wrong… and then didn't.
"I was just baffled by the fact that the whole process was so smooth," Mirjam says. "It went really fast, we didn't have any hurdles whatsoever. Also, it was the first Iranian person we've had here at Pipedrive, so it was a milestone for me and the company."
Stop and celebrate the diversity
Being able to take a moment to appreciate the milestones is one of the happy side effects of trusting experts with relocation paperwork. Instead of getting caught up in the red tape and putting out fires, you can afford to save your energy and excitement for the big-picture stuff. Pipedrive, for example, gets excited about the immense value of having an international team.
"We strongly believe in diversity," Mirjam says. "Having people from different backgrounds, different cultural experiences enforces this very strong company culture that we have by bringing on diverse ideas."
With around 45 nationalities represented, Pipedrive really is a true melting pot. And the benefits of that extend far beyond the bottom line of the business. "We get to learn from each other's cultures," Mirjam says. "We are growing as human beings. I truly believe that people from different backgrounds, when you bring them together into one room, into one team, something wonderful happens. Much better ideas are being brought to life."
Girli couldn't agree more. "With hiring from abroad and having this very diverse culture at Pipedrive, I have understood that there is no way that is always the only correct way. You can do and see things from a different angle and it will still be the correct angle, even if it's not the same as your friend or coworker has."
"We are super happy with Jobbatical, so definitely recommend to everyone. If I would have to put a number behind it, then definitely 10/10. We're very satisfied, we very much appreciate the support that you guys are giving us." — Mirjam Laurisaar, Talent Acquisition Team Lead
More customer success stories
How Typeform used Jobbatical to simplify their talent relocation process
How Hellotickets found a holistic solution to talent relocation | {
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Pakistan trio await spot-fixing verdict
Published Saturday, February 05, 2011
Accused Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were awaiting a sporting tribunal's ruling on spot-fixing allegations against them Saturday.
The charges relate to alleged incidents during a Test match against England at Lord's last year, when Britain's News of the World tabloid claimed the players were willing to deliberately bowl no-balls.
A three-man International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal, which deferred a decision after a six-day hearing last month, began proceedings in Doha at 9.00 am local time (0600 GMT).
The tribunal is headed by Michael Beloff QC, while the other two members are Albie Sachs of South Africa and Sharad Rao of Kenya.
Aamer's lawyer Shahid Karim said that a set procedure would be followed. "We understand that written verdicts are given to the players and the ICC by the tribunal first. If they are found guilty the lawyers and players will debate on the possible sanctions," Karim told AFP.
If found guilty the minimum punishment the tribunal can impose is a five-year ban, with a life bar the maximum.
Separately the trio, along with British-based agent Mazhar Majeed, were charged by Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) in London on Friday.
Karim said: "I am surprised and shocked by the CPS announcement. A day before the ICC tribunal verdict, the CPS announcement has changed the scenario in the case."
All three players, who are currently suspended from international cricket, have repeatedly denied the allegations and have expressed confidence they will resume their careers. | {
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Displaying 276 - 300 of 1979 items.
Interspecies SCNT-derived Humanesque Blastocysts
Since the 1950s, scientists have developed interspecies blastocysts in laboratory settings, but not until the 1990s did proposals emerge to engineer interspecies blastocysts that contained human genetic or cellular material. Even if these embryos were not permitted to mature to fetal stages, their ethical and political status became debated within nations attempting to use them for research.
Subject: Theories
The Role of the Notch Signaling Pathway in Myogenesis
Among other functions, the Notch signaling pathway forestalls the process of myogenesis in animals. The Notch signaling pathway is a pathway in animals by which two adjacent cells within an organism use a protein named Notch to mechanically interact with each other. Myogenesis is the formation of muscle that occurs throughout an animal's development, from embryo to the end of life. The cellular precursors of skeletal muscle originate in somites that form along the dorsal side of the organism.
Subject: Theories, Processes
Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak's Telomere and Telomerase Experiments (1982-1989)
Experiments conducted by Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szostak from 1982 to 1989 provided theories of how the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres, and the enzyme that repairs telomeres, called telomerase, worked. The experiments took place at the Sidney Farber Cancer Institute and at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and at the University of California in Berkeley, California. For their research on telomeres and telomerase, Blackburn, Greider, and Szostak received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009.
"The Origin and Behavior of Mutable Loci in Maize" (1950), by Barbara McClintock
The Origin and Behavior of Mutable Loci in Maize, by Barbara McClintock, was published in 1950 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. McClintock worked at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Laurel Hollow, New York, at the time of the publication, and describes her discovery of transposable elements in the genome of corn (Zea mays). Transposable elements, sometimes called transposons or jumping genes, are pieces of the chromosome capable of physically changing positions along the chromosome.
Walter Stanborough Sutton (1877-1916)
Walter Stanborough Sutton studied grasshoppers and connected the phenomena of meiosis, segregation, and independent assortment with the chromosomal theory of inheritance in the early twentieth century in the US. Sutton researched chromosomes, then called inheritance mechanisms. He confirmed a theory of Wilhelm Roux, who studied embryos in Breslau, Germany, in the late 1880s, who had argued that chromosomes and heredity were linked. Theodor Boveri, working in Munich, Germany, independently reached similar conclusions about heredity as Sutton.
Julia Bell (1879-1979)
Julia Bell worked in twentieth-century Britain, discovered Fragile X Syndrome, and helped find heritable elements of other developmental and genetic disorders. Bell also wrote much of the five volume Treasury of Human Inheritance, a collection about genetics and genetic disorders. Bell researched until late in life, authoring an original research article on the effects of the rubella virus of fetal development (Congenital Rubella Syndrome) at the age of 80.
Howard Wilber Jones Jr.
Howard Wilber Jones Jr. and his wife, Georgeanna Seegar Jones, developed a method of in vitro fertilization and helped create the first baby in the US using that method. Though the first in vitro baby was born in England in 1978, Jones and his wife's contribution allowed for the birth of Elizabeth Carr on 28 December 1981. Jones, a gynecologist and an obstetrician, researched human reproduction for most of his life.
"A Genomic Regulatory Network for Development" (2002), by Eric H. Davidson, et al.
In 2002 Eric Davidson and his research team published 'A Genomic Regulatory Network for Development' in Science. The authors present the first experimental verification and systemic description of a gene regulatory network. This publication represents the culmination of greater than thirty years of work on gene regulation that began in 1969 with 'A Gene Regulatory Network for Development: A Theory' by Roy Britten and Davidson. The modeling of a large number of interactions in a gene network had not been achieved before.
Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Younger (1781-1833)
Johann Friedrich Meckel studied abnormal animal and human anatomy in nineteenth century Germany in an attempt to explain embryological development. During Meckel's lifetime he catalogued embryonic malformations in multiple treatises. Meckel's focus on malformations led him to develop concepts like primary and secondary malformations, atavism, and recapitulation- all of which influenced the fields of medicine and embryology during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
The hedgehog signaling pathway is a mechanism that directs the development of embryonic cells in animals, from invertebrates to vertebrates. The hedgehog signaling pathway is a system of genes and gene products, mostly proteins, that convert one kind of signal into another, called transduction. In 1980, Christiane Nusslein-Volhard and Eric F. Wieschaus, at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, identified several fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) genes.
"The Cell-Theory" (1853), by Thomas Henry Huxley
The Cell-Theory was written by Thomas Henry Huxley in Britain and published in 1853 by The British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review. The twenty-two page article reviews twelve works on cell theory, including those in Germany by Caspar Friedrich Wolff in the eighteenth century and by Karl Ernst von Baer in the nineteenth century. Huxley spends much of The Cell-Theory on a cell theory proposed in the late 1830s by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann in Germany.
Studies in Spermatogenesis (1905), by Nettie Maria Stevens
Studies in Spermatogenesis is a two volume book written by Nettie Maria Stevens, and published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1905 and 1906. In the books Stevens explains the research she conducted on chromosomal sex determination in the sperm and egg cells of insect species while at Bryn Mawr College, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Studies in Spermatogenesis described early examples of chromosomal XY sex-determination.
Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895)
In nineteenth century Great Britain, Thomas Henry Huxley proposed connections between the development of organisms and their evolutionary histories, critiqued previously held concepts of homology, and promoted Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Many called him Darwin's Bulldog. Huxley helped professionalize and redefine British science. He wrote about philosophy, religion, and social issues, and researched and theorized in many biological fields.
Charles Robert Cantor (1942- )
Charles Robert Cantor helped sequence the human genome, and he developed methods to non-invasively determine the genes in human fetuses. Cantor worked in the US during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. His early research focused on oligonucleotides, small molecules of DNA or RNA. That research enabled the development of a technique that Cantor subsequently used to describe nucleotide sequences of DNA, a process called sequencing, in humans. Cantor was the principal scientist for the Human Genome Project, for which scientists sequenced the entirety of the human genome in 2003.
"Gene Regulation for Higher Cells: A Theory" (1969), by Roy J. Britten and Eric H. Davidson
In 1969, Roy J. Britten and Eric H. Davidson published Gene Regulation for Higher Cells: A Theory, in Science. A Theory proposes a minimal model of gene regulation, in which various types of genes interact to control the differentiation of cells through differential gene expression. Britten worked at the Carnegie Institute of Washington in Washington, D.C., while Davidson worked at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. Their paper was an early theoretical and mechanistic description of gene regulation in higher organisms.
David Starr Jordan (1851-1931)
David Starr Jordan studied fish and promoted eugenics in the US during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In his work, he embraced Charles Darwin s theory of evolution and described the importance of embryology in tracing phylogenic relationships. In 1891, he became the president of Stanford University in Stanford, California. Jordan condemned war and promoted conservationist causes for the California wilderness, and he advocated for the eugenic sterilization of thousands of Americans.
Our Bodies, Ourselves (1973), by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective
Our Bodies, Ourselves, a succession to a pamphlet of resources pulled from co-ops of women in and around Boston, Massachusetts was published in New York in 1973 by Simon and Schuster. Retitled from the original Women and Their Bodies, Our Bodies, Ourselves was an effort by a group of educated, middle class women to reinforce women's ownership of their bodies. There have been eight editions of Our Bodies, Ourselves, as well as sequels such as Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth and Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause.
Subject: Outreach, Reproduction
Whitner v. South Carolina (1997)
In the case Whitner v. South Carolina in 1997, the South Carolina State Supreme Court defined the concept of a child to include viable fetuses. This allowed grounds for prosecution of a pregnant womanÕs prenatal activity if those activities endangered or could potentially endanger the fetus within her. The case brought the issue of fetal rights versus pregnant womenÕs rights to light.
Osborne Overton Heard (1890-1983)
Osborne O. Heard was a noted Carnegie embryological model maker for the Department of Embryology at The Carnegie Institute of Washington (CIW), Baltimore, Maryland. Heard was born in Frederick, Maryland, on 21 November 1890. His father died while Heard and his three brothers were quite young. Heard attended night school at the Maryland Institute of Art and Design where he studied sculpting and patternmaking. While working as a patternmaker for the Detrick and Harvey Machine Company, Heard made models of tools using a variety of materials such as wood, plastic, and plaster of Paris.
Ross Granville Harrison (1870-1959)
A pioneer in experimental embryology, Ross Granville Harrison made numerous discoveries that advanced biology. One of the most significant was his adaptation of the hanging drop method from bacteriology to carry out the first tissue culture. This method allowed for further studies in embryology as well as experimental improvements in oncology, virology, genetics, and a number of other fields.
George W. Bush Executive Order 13455, June 2007
On 20 January 2001, Republican George W. Bush was sworn in as the forty-third president of the United States, replacing Democrat William J. Clinton. During his eight years in office, Bush issued many executive orders, often altering previous policy. By signing Order 13435 on 22 June 2007, he changed how stem cell research would be performed in America.
Subject: Legal
Dickey-Wicker Amendment, 1996
The Dickey-Wicker Amendment is an amendment attached to the appropriations bills for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education each year since 1996 restricting the use of federal funds for creating, destroying, or knowingly injuring human embryos. The Dickey-Wicker Amendment began as a rider (another name for an amendment) attached to House Resolution (H.R.) 2880. H.R.
"Transplantation of Living Nuclei from Blastula Cells into Enucleated Frogs' Eggs" (1952), by Robert Briggs and Thomas J. King
In 1952 Robert Briggs and Thomas J. King published their article, "Transplantation of Living Nuclei from Blastula Cells into Enucleated Frogs' Eggs," in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the culmination of a series of experiments conducted at the Institute for Cancer Research and Lankenau Hospital Research Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this paper Briggs and King examined whether nuclei of embryonic cells are differentiated, and by doing so, were the first to conduct a successful nuclear transplantation with amphibian embryos.
Endoderm
Endoderm is one of the germ layers-- aggregates of cells that organize early during embryonic life and from which all organs and tissues develop. All animals, with the exception of sponges, form either two or three germ layers through a process known as gastrulation. During gastrulation, a ball of cells transforms into a two-layered embryo made of an inner layer of endoderm and an outer layer of ectoderm. In more complex organisms, like vertebrates, these two primary germ layers interact to give rise to a third germ layer, called mesoderm.
Sex-determining Region Y in Mammals
The Sex-determining Region Y (Sry in mammals but SRY in humans) is a gene found on Y chromosomes that leads to the development of male phenotypes, such as testes. The Sry gene, located on the short branch of the Y chromosome, initiates male embryonic development in the XY sex determination system. The Sry gene follows the central dogma of molecular biology; the DNA encoding the gene is transcribed into messenger RNA, which then produces a single Sry protein. | {
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CO-OP Picks Up Maryland's Biggest CU
Maryland's largest credit union, the $1.6 billion State Employees Credit Union of Maryland has become the latest CU to join the CO-OP Network, according to CO-OP Financial Services, the CUSO which owns the network.
By Staff Writer | May 08, 2007 at 08:00 PM | The original version of this story was published on Credit Union Times Magazine
ONTARIO, Calif. — Maryland's largest credit union, the $1.6 billion State Employees Credit Union of Maryland has become the latest CU to join the CO-OP Network, according to CO-OP Financial Services, the CUSO which owns the network. | {
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Asheboro man flies planes without leaving the ground
By Larry Penkava [email protected] Twitter: @larrypenkavaCT
ASHEBORO — Imagine you're flying in a single-engine turboprop from Charlotte to Tangier Island, Va. You're sitting in the captain's seat watching a myriad of dials, buttons and switches while clouds swirl around and the Piedmont terrain passes below.
The plane is the ultramodern Carenado Daher Socota TBM 850, one of the smallest turboprops made, but highly engineered.
Tim Garris has flown more than 1,000 passengers from Charlotte to Tangier Island, Va., in this plane and he hasn't charged any of them a dime.
Although he is a licensed pilot with instrument ratings, Garris has found his passion in flying while remaining on the ground. He designs flight simulation videos for his own Youtube channel, FS MaNiA.
An Asheboro designer/builder by day, Garris spends much of his free time creating simulated flights in various aircraft, from space-age corporate jets to low-tech propeller planes. His aim is to make the videos seem as real as actual flight.
"I've been doing this since the first flight simulators came on a floppy drive," Garris said from his home office with a desk that looks suspiciously like a cockpit. "I got a copy and played with it."
Early on in flight simulation, he said, Microsoft had a team working on the programs. "They gave a platform to build on. There was great visual representation, navigation aids and aircraft from small planes to (Boeing) 747s."
When Microsoft realized their customer base was limited to a small niche community of enthusiasts, the company dropped flight simulation, Garris said. It took a handful of those passionate about flight simulation to pick up the slack.
"A lot of very smart people have built on what Microsoft started," he said. "One company develops heavy aircraft, like the 747."
Other people develop add-on systems such as weather conditions, realistic terrain and views of various airports, all of which "ups the experience."
Garris said the flight simulation "community stepped in to support the platform. Others stepped in to work on new platforms.
"You have to know a lot about computers to build a flight simulator," he said. "If you're willing to invest the time, the reward is the fruit of being able to fly any aircraft to any airport. You can buy a basic platform plus add-ons."
Garris said a flight simulation platform is "so sophisticated it takes a thick manual, pretty much the same as with a real aircraft. They model all the systems."
Regulars in the flight simulation community can post problems or helpful information concerning details in a simulated model, Garris said. His own Youtube channel receives dozens of comments from people who watch his videos.
"Being a real-world pilot puts you to an elevated status, gives you more credibility," he said. "I use what I learned in my private pilot career."
Garris said he took ground school at Guilford Technical Community College, then passed his instrument rating in 1996. "That's a big advantage," he said, "the kind of information needed for flight simulation."
With his pilot's license, Garris continued to be checked out in larger planes to carry more people. That way he could split the cost among more passengers. He once flew to the Bahamas and split the cost four ways.
Interestingly, Garris has given up real-world flying. "I always rented planes," he said. "The first was a Cessna 152 at the Asheboro airport. The last plane I flew was a Cessna 210 Centurion for over $100 an hour."
One of those real-world flights was to Tangier Island, where he took some passengers to dine on soft crab sandwiches. The trip back home got kind of dicey when ice began forming on the windshield. He recalls that trip on his flight simulation video to Tangier.
A typical video might be divided into three parts, with the first describing the selected aircraft and its capabilities. The second may include takeoff and much of the flight while the third segment culminates in the landing.
Garris acts not only as an instructor but also as a tour guide, relating interesting facts about locations the video flies over. For instance, on the flight to Tangier, he flies over Asheboro and talks about how the regional airport was once known officially as Whiskey 44, despite the town's "dry" status. It's now called KHBI.
From the video, you learn that Tangier Island is in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, is accessible only by plane, boat or "swimming," and has a population of some 700. Its economy is based on fishing and tourism.
Garris established his Youtube channel in August of 2015 and soon had 2,000 subscribers. Duties in his business kept him from developing new videos for about a year, but after he went back, his viewers grew to about 4,000.
Besides using add-on programs with his platforms, Garris adds on some of his own features. He said he took a year of photography at Randolph Community College and now "spend(s) more time establishing shots to put in a story format."
More recently, he said, he has begun learning all he can about air traffic control to add to videos. He tapes real-world ATC voices to use with his flight simulations, which makes it seem like he's communicating with the ground.
"There are different elements to add to the experience," Garris said. "A video is the culmination of all the parts coming together. It's entertainment and education, factual and realistic.
"Someone who is passionate about aviation will hang on every part of it," he said. "Either you love it or you don't. The people really tuned in are passionate.
"It's amazing how sophisticated it has become," he said. "It continues to develop with new platforms and add-on software."
While flight simulation is a hobby for Garris, the hobby that began in real airplanes when he was 24 years old has continued "at a relatively affordable price.
"I never lost the passion." | {
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Offset filmed himself being detained by police at a Trump rally
"What is you grabbing my wrist for? That's aggressive, bro"
By Jennifer Savin
Gabriel OlsenGetty Images
Cardi B's husband and one third of rap group Migos, Offset, live streamed himself being detained by police at a Trump rally in Beverley Hills on Saturday. The footage, which was shared on Instagram Live, shows officers approaching Offset's car and asking him to stop the engine running – a request he declined, citing the fact that officers were holding guns as the reason why.
Following that, police then reached inside the car window, unlocked the driver's side door and pulled the 'Ric Flair Drip (& Metro Boomin)' hitmaker from the vehicle. In the video, he can be heard saying, "You can't just open my door like that, it's illegal. I'm going to sue the sh*t outta y'all" and later, "What is you grabbing my f*cking wrist for? [It's] aggressive, bro!"
Although Offset was released after questioning from officers, Cardi B's cousin, Marcelo Almanzar, who was also travelling with him in the car, was arrested.
It was later reported by The LA Times, that the Beverly Hills police department released a statement saying that officers conducted the stop after receiving a report that someone had pointed a gun from a vehicle near Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Drive at around 5pm. They add that Offset's license plate matched the one given by a witness.
A post shared by OFFSET (@offsetyrn)
The Beverly Hills PD tweeted that Almanzar was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a loaded firearm in public, and had a $35,000 bail to his name. Their statement says that Offset was not arrested and reports stating so are false.
Offset's publicist also released a public comment on the incident, saying the rapper was detained following an attack by aggressive Trump supporters, adding that he was not the aggressor and that he complied despite having guns pointed at him by officers.
The statement added: "Offset thanks his fans for their support and wishes everyone peace and safety during these trying times. He encourages everyone to get out and vote because nothing changes if nothing changes.
"Offset's current focus is encouraging younger voters to get to the polls in order to keep incidents like this from continuously happening."
Cardi B, who recently filed for divorce from Offset but has seemingly rekindled their relationship of late, also posted on social media about her experience of Trump rallies. On her Instagram Stories she shared a series of videos in which she could be seen driving through one and appeared on edge. "Nah, we gonna get jumped. I really feel like we gonna get jumped. Oh my God," she told her followers. "Trump supporters are everywhere, I'm scared, I don't like it with these big a*s trucks."
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Cardi B and Offset were kissing at her birthday
Jennifer Savin Features Writer Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's features writer (for both print and digital), specialising in investigative reports, news, women's issues and all things health.
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Caitlin Moran's excellent book is being turned into a film
Vegan girl calls police after friends trick her | {
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The Progress of Olefin Metathesis: Can It Handle Every Functional Group Now?
03 March, 2015 / by SK / in Blog
In January 2015, Yves Chauvin, the French chemist who was the first to propose the reaction mechanism of olefin metathesis, passed away. For his contribution, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2005 with Robert Grubbs and Richard Schrock, who developed first well-defined catalysts.
As you all know, olefin metathesis (or olefin cross-metathesis) is the reaction in which the double bonds of two different olefins can be swapped to produce a new pair of olefins. The advent of this extraordinary reaction was a major game-changer in organic synthesis, and it didn't take long until the reaction became one of the essential tools of synthetic chemists.
Important modifications have been made to the original catalysts and substrate generality has improved considerably for E-selective olefin metathesis. For example, the ruthenium-based "second generation Grubbs-Hoveyda catalyst" is known as a particularly effective catalyst (shown in the figure below).
On the other hand, however, Z-selective metathesis is fundamentally more challenging and the substrate scope has remained much more limited.
In this context, a new example of Z-selective cross-metathesis using novel ruthenium catalysts was reported in the end of last year by the group of Amir Hoveyda of Boston College, who is one of the leaders in this field.
"High-value alcohols and higher-oxidation-state compounds by catalytic Z-selective cross-metathesis"
Koh, M. J.; Khan, R. K. M.; Torker, S.; Yu, M.; Mikus, M. S.; Hoveyda, A. H. Nature 2015, 517, 181. DOI:10.1038/nature14061
They were successful in obtaining olefins with high Z-selectivity for substrates containing alcohol and carboxylic acid groups, many of which had previously been either difficult or completely unviable.
So what do the catalysts look like and how were they able to solve the long-standing problem? Let us take a look.
Z-Selective Cross Metathesis
Z-Selective cross metathesis had been very difficult as mentioned, but it was finally reported by the groups of Hoveyda and Schrock in 2011.[1] This chemistry was introduced on this website before so we'll only touch it briefly this time. As shown below, the reaction effectively produced Z-olefins from enol ethers and allylic amides by employing the molybdenum alkylidene complex.
Reports of Z-selective cross-metathesis by several other groups followed it, but few of those systems were general enough to be compatible with substrates containing reactive functional groups of the likes of aldehyde and carboxylic acid. Towards solving this problem, the researchers had to reexamine the central metal atom of the catalyst.
Development of the New Ruthenium Catalysts
In general, molybdenum and tungsten catalysts are deactivated in the presence of unprotected oxygen-containing functional groups such as alcohol, aldehyde, and carboxylic acid. In contrast, ruthenium dichloride complexes are known to catalyze metathesis unaffected by these groups.
The authors first looked at the two ruthenium complexes (Ru-2 and Ru-3a), which contain anionic ligands similar to the dichloride complexes.
These complexes had been demonstrated to be effective catalysts for Z-selective homo-metathesis and ring-opening metathesis reactions.[2] Indeed, these catalysts worked for cross-metathesis of alcohol-containing substrates, and the authors ultimately found that Ru-3b, the derivative of Ru-3a, was the most active and selective.
The improved catalytic activity of Ru-3b was attributed to the suppression of catalyst decomposition thanks to the introduction of chlorine atoms. For those of you who are interested in learning more about the details, we would recommend checking out the paper that explains it with DFT energy calculation.
The newly developed catalyst was demonstrated to be effective not only for substrates containing alcohol, aldehyde, and carboxylic acid, but also for some sterically hindered substrates and diene substrates.
The authors also applied it to the stereoselective synthesis of the substructure of natural products such as neopeltolide and leucascandrolide A. They went on to complete the total synthesis of (+)-neopeltolide.[3]
In yet another application, the new catalytic system was successfully applied to the direct conversion of oleyl alcohol and oleic acid, both of which are abundant raw materials found in animal fats and vegetable oils, into high-value Z-alkene products.
The system is different from previously known systems in that: 1) It does not require protecting group manipulation, and 2) The reaction proceeds at lower temperature, which leads to higher Z-selectivity. The high stereoselectivity also helps simplify otherwise-difficult separation of olefin isomers. Please check the paper for more detailed information.
Well, what did you think? As said in the title, it may not be an exaggeration to say that olefin metathesis has now overcome nearly every functional group.
With the expanding substrate scope, the reaction will continue to contribute to the development of organic synthesis. We are saddened by the loss of a great chemist who pioneered this field, but his legacy will always be remembered.
Meek, S. J.; O'Brien, R. V.; Llaveria, J.; Schrock, R. R.; Hoveyda, A. H. Nature 2011, 471, 461. DOI:10.1038/nature09957
Khan, R. K. M.; Torker, S.; Hoveyda, A. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 10258. DOI: 10.1021/ja404208a
Yu, M.; Schrock, R. R.; Hoveyda, A. H. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 215. DOI:10.1002/anie.201409120
Hoveyda Research Group: The group at Boston College that developed the present system.
Functional group-tolerant olefin metathesis, ruthenium alkylidene catalyst, Z-selective cross metathesis
Hexaarylbenzenes (HAB) can be prepared at will through programmed synthesis Fine-tuned Supramolecular Polymerization
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These 'Stranger Things' Season 3 Spoilers Hint At A Much Darker Future For The Series
By Meghan DeMaria
Stranger Things' second season hit Netflix less than a year ago, but fans are still eager to know what's next for the show. While it doesn't have a release date yet, executive producer and director Shawn Levy and actor David Harbour did reveal a few clues about Stranger Things' third season in an interview with Deadline on Thursday, July 12. The series received 12 Emmy Award nominations, including a supporting actor nomination for Harbour.
Fans should be warned that according to Levy, the third season is "definitely going to yet darker still." For a show that stars a group of children, Stranger Things is already pretty dark — no child should have to undergo, say, being lost in a parallel dimension. Fortunately, Levy also told Deadline that the third season has "so much heart and humor," which will hopefully balance out the scarier and/or sadder moments ahead. After all, fans have already been introduced to Dad Steve, and it wouldn't be fair not to include more heartwarming scenes with him now.
Levy also told Deadline that Stranger Things has been shooting its third season for at least a few weeks now. They're evidently doing a great job of keeping the filming hidden from any onlookers in Georgia, considering the fact that nothing's been spoiled by savvy fans yet. (There are a few leaked set photos, but they don't reveal much, other than the fact that Harbour can totally pull off printed shirts.)
Harbour also provided a clue about the upcoming season. While the first two Stranger Things seasons paid homage to Steven Spielberg and Stephen King, as Harbour pointed out, the actor hinted that there will be new '80s inspiration for the third season. He told Deadline,
"I would go look at the great films that were released in '85, of which there were many, and just go down that list and think of the possibilities that we could be going with. I think it is a specific season to 1985, and so you'll see references to that."
Harbour didn't say which 1985 movies Stranger Things might be inspired by, but there are a lot of possibilities. If the show is taking inspiration from movies that aren't horror films or thrillers, there are plenty of movies released in '85 that might have the "heart and humor" Levy mentioned. Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, St. Elmo's Fire, and Teen Wolf were all released that year. There's also Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. And fans will remember that the first episode of season 2 was titled "Madmax," as it was when Sadie Sink's character was introduced in the show.
There's another small spoiler that fans know about Stranger Things season 3, too. Noah Schnapp revealed that the Byers' family dog, Chester, passed away. That's not the biggest spoiler, but at this point, fans will take what they can get.
Stranger Things' Season 2 finale left plenty of things unanswered. The Mind Flayer is still out there, looming over the kids. And Dr. Brenner, AKA Papa, might not be dead. Eleven is safe — and adopted — but that doesn't mean the trouble in Hawkins is over. Plus, the show could still introduce fans to some of Eleven's other "siblings," who were also victims of the experiments she went through. Fans might not have seen the last of Dart. And there are still plenty of unanswered questions about Eleven's biological mom.
There are any number of things that could happen in Stranger Things' next season, and it's reassuring to hear that there will be at least some humor amid all of the darkness. Until there's more information about the new season, fans will likely be happy to cheer on Stranger Things at the Emmy Awards. | {
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'Letterman,' 'Ferguson' employees to be paid
4:00 AM PST 11/15/2007 by Paul J. Gough , AP
STRIKE ZONE: LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
NEW YORK -- Strike or not, employees of "The Late Show with David Letterman" and the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" will be paid through the end of the year.
The programs' production company, Worldwide Pants Inc., notified its employees in New York and Los Angeles on Tuesday that they would be paid regardless of whether the show returned or not. It would make Worldwide Pants, which is owned by "Late Show" host David Letterman, the first known company to guarantee its staff a paycheck during the writers' strike.
The move was made to assure employees who were concerned about making ends meet, as thousands of other employees on other shows that are being idled as the strike continues.
It comes at a time when other shows, like NBC's "The Tonight Show," have told their employees to expect to be idled as the strike continues through its second week. There were rumors, since denied, that "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart had initially guaranteed a paycheck to the writers.
Unlike NBC, which owns "The Tonight Show," CBS does not own the "Late Show" or "The Late Late Show." The network pays a license fee to the production company, which it has stopped due to the strike and the fact that there are no new shows.
It doesn't mean, however, that there will be no work on "The Late Show." Decisions are being made week-to-week on whether the show will return to the air in some form.
The news about "The Late Show" was initially broken by the blog DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com.
Paul J. Gough | {
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