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The purpose of special Education is to provide students with effective interventions in order to ensure they perform up to their potential while enrolled in school and are prepared upon exiting school. The current study aimed to examine and compare school-based interventions, and the behavioral and psychological functioning of students with emotional disabilities (ED), specific learning disabilities (SLD), and other Health impairments (OHI) category. Using secondary summary data on students served under the ED, SLD, and OHI categories from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), this study used multiple significance tests to examine differences in interventions and functioning among students served under the three special Education categories. The results indicated that students in the ED and OHI categories received significantly more behavioral interventions than their peers with SLD; students with ED received significantly more mental Health interventions than their peers in the SLD and OHI categories; and students with ED, SLD, and OHI received similar rates of academic interventions. Findings also indicated that students with ED and OHI share similar behavioral profiles. Further research is needed to determine whether distinct behavioral profiles exist among students with ADHD served under the ED category and students with ADHD served under OHI.
Tag Archive: Clinical
A comparative study of school-based interventions for students with emotional disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and other health impairments (Education Papers posted on May 13th, 2014 )
Incorporating culture into substance abuse treatment: The associations among acculturation and acculturative stress and treatment outcomes for Latino adolescents (Education Papers posted on May 13th, 2014 )
Substance use disorders are prevalent among adolescents and there is a need to develop and test empirically supported interventions that target these disorders specifically. However, to date, much of the empirically supported intervention research in this arena has neglected the needs of ethnic minority youth. Recent research efforts support the notion of cultural adaptation/accommodation modifying interventions to increase cultural congruence) of standard interventions to better serve ethnic minority clients. However, few studies have examined the efficacy of cultural adaptations in direct comparison studies. Direct comparisons studies would allow for an examination of relative efficacy as well as moderating effects. These types of studies will help researchers determine when a cultural adaptation is likely to be most helpful for a particular client. This study aimed to understand the associations between acculturation and acculturative stress and treatment outcomes for Latino adolescents participating in a substance abuse treatment program. A total of 70 Latino adolescents participated in a randomized-controlled trial designed to directly compare an empirically supported, standard cognitive behavioral group-based intervention with a culturally accommodated cognitive behavioral intervention. Adolescents participated in 12 weeks of active treatment as well as pre- and posttreatment assessments. Results provided evidence for relative efficacy of the culturally accommodated intervention, as adolescents in both treatment conditions reported significant decreases in their substance use. There were no significant differences between the two treatment conditions. In addition to examining relative efficacy, this study also examined for the presence of interaction effects between cultural variables and treatment outcomes. It was hypothesized that adolescents who were matched to the most appropriate intervention i.e., less acculturated adolescent matched to accommodated intervention) would report the largest reduction in substance use. Results did not reveal any significant three-way interactions, indicating the specific cultural variables did not moderate treatment outcomes by treatment condition. Despite these null findings, future studies should continue to exam the role of cultural variables on treatment outcomes.
Les effets d'un programme d'equitation therapeutique sur le controle de soi et les humeurs depressives chez des adolescentes en troubles de comportement (Education Papers posted on April 11th, 2014 )
Cette é;tude à; cas unique de type A-B-A vise à; vé;rifier, à; laide quels sont les effets dun programme dé;quitation thé;rapeutique de dix 10) sé;ances sur les humeurs dé;pressives et le contrô;le de soi chez des adolescentes en troubles de comportement et si ces effets se maintiennent aprè;s la fin du programme. Les sujets sé;lectionné;s sont trois 3) adolescentes de 16 et 17 ans, hé;bergé;es en Centre de ré;adaptation Estrie du Centre jeunesse de lEstrie pour troubles de comportement. Lé;valuation, dune duré;e de quinze 15) semaine, se fit à; laide de la version franç;aise du Beck Depression Inventory-II BDI-II) pour mesurer les humeurs dé;pressives, les é;chelles de comportements exté;riorisé;s et de problè;mes dattention de la version autorapporté;e pour adolescent du Achenbach version YSR) pour le contrô;le de soi et un questionnaire maison pour calculer les variations de lhumeur avant et aprè;s les sé;ances dé;quitation thé;rapeutique. Mots clé;s : é;quitation thé;rapeutique, é;quithé;rapie, programme dintervention, trouble de comportement, adolescent, dé;pression,
The terror of forced termination: An integration of forced termination and death anxiety to assist the student-clinician (Education Papers posted on April 11th, 2014 )
This dissertation explores the impact of forced termination on doctoral student-clinicians of psychology through the use of a death anxiety lens. Frequently overlooked in clinical theory, forced termination is a common occurrence for student-clinicians in psychodynamic-oriented outpatient clinics and poses emotional problems for both the patient and student-clinician. In this paper, Terror Management Theory and Firestone's Separation Theory, both death anxiety theories, are intertwined in order to make them more easily applicable to forced termination. These death anxiety theories, which are also frequently overlooked in psychodynamic theory, are integrated with the forced termination literature in order to assist the student-clinician in gaining a clearer understanding of the forced termination phenomenon. The author claims that death anxiety is present during the forced termination phase of treatment and that comprehension of the denial-based psychological impact of death anxiety can serve as a guidepost for student-clinicians during premature phases of termination.
Parental criticism and eating disturbance in adolescent females: Implications for a multifaceted eating disorder prevention program (Education Papers posted on March 26th, 2013 )
Unhealthy eating patterns, attitudes, and behaviors affect up to 15% of young women. Certain familial characteristics have been identified as risk factors for developing an eating disorder and include parents who are highly critical of their daughters weight and appearance, have unhealthy eating behaviors themselves, or put pressure on or encourage their daughters to diet and lose weight. Multifaceted prevention programs have been recommended; however, based on a recent literature review only one study has included parents as a part of the intervention. The current study built upon the Student Bodies prevention intervention, which targets high school-aged females and their parents. The relationship between parental criticism and risk factors for the development of an eating disorder was examined as well as the effectiveness of the parental portion of the intervention. One hundred and seventy-five adolescent girls aged 14–16, 136 mothers, and 112 fathers participated. Participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment or comparison group and were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Adolescents completed the Eating Disorder Inventory – 2 EDI-2) Perfectionism subscale, the Eating Disorder Examination – Questionnaire EDE-Q), the Weight Concerns Scale WCS), and the Parental Criticism Questionnaire – Adolescent PCQ-A). Parents completed the Parental Attitudes and Criticism Scale PACS) and the Parental Criticism Questionnaire – Parent PCQ-P). Results indicated a significant relationship between parental criticism and risk factors for an eating disorder. Both mothers and fathers criticism of attractiveness predicted adolescents eating disordered behaviors, and their general criticism predicted perfectionism. Fathers general criticism also predicted eating disordered behaviors. Mothers in the treatment group had a significantly greater decrease in rates of criticism and unhealthy attitudes and behaviors than fathers; however, there was not a significant difference between the treatment and comparison group. The current study did not find the parent intervention to significantly decrease parental criticism, but it did support that parental criticism is related to weight concerns in adolescents as well as contribute to a deeper understanding of what types of parental criticism are predictive of different risk factors for the development of an eating disorder.
Application of sport psychology to music performance: A study based on a review of sport psychology literature and selected interviews with professional musicians (Education Papers posted on March 26th, 2013 )
Sport psychology is a booming field. Specialists in all areas of sports are now aware that mental preparation of athletes is as important as physical preparation because what makes the difference between two equally skilled athletes in a competition is his or her mental readiness to perform. The principles of sport psychology translate very well to the field of music performance because the highly competitive field of music performance involves a similar pressure to perform well at a given time when the pressure is on. Playing a musical instrument or singing also demands a high degree of muscular control and coordination that can either be facilitated or inhibited by the musicians mental disposition. This study takes advantage of the extensive research and rapid advancement of sport psychology by applying its concepts to music performance. After surveying the major sport psychology literature, the author formulated a set of interview questions. Six performing musicians from different areas of music performance, different cultural backgrounds, and different career stages were interviewed. The sample of musicians included an orchestra musician, a singer, a collaborative pianist and a conductor. They also represented the United States, France, Puerto Rico and Quebec. In this paper the author describes the main principles of sport psychology: goal setting, pre-event routines, visualization, focus, arousal regulation energy levels), and optimal performance. Then, based on the interviews, the author applies these principles to music performance. The interviews allow the author to explore the extent to which selected professional musicians apply sport psychology principles. It also helps to determine how the concepts can be adapted to best serve musicians and can be use as a basis for further studies. The document is organized into seven chapters: I) Introduction; II) Structure of the Preparation—for a competition or a performance—topics covered: Goal Setting, Organization of the Practice Sessions and Pre-Event Routine); III) Tools for Enhancement this includes all the different types of imagery or visualization); IV) Interference; V) Psychological Skills leading to Optimal Performance topics covered: Energy Level Regulation and Focus); VI) Optimal Performance includes the concept: "being in the zone"); and VII) Conclusion.
High school climate: Perceived safety and belonging of students, faculty, and parents (Education Papers posted on March 24th, 2013 )
Schools are experiencing increasing incidences of violence Bower, 2001; Mayer, 2001; Mayer & Leone, 1999; Owen, 1999; Skiba & Peterson, 2000). This national problem prompted the author to study public high school students perception of school safety. School safety was defined as protection from violence, threats, unfair treatment, and alienation. The author investigated what constitutes school safety through quantitative and qualitative procedures. She examined how students perceptions of school climate features, such as fairness, positive relationships, belonging, and disruptive behaviors, were related to their understanding of safety/security. The study was a secondary analysis of archived survey data on school climate Roysircar, 2001) completed in 2001-2002 by students, teachers, and parents of a regional New England high school. The variables Safety/Security, Positive Relationships, and Fairness correlated positively with each other and negatively with Disruptive Behaviors all correlations at p <; .01). Student data n = 399) were examined for differences by sex, grade, and sending school. Ninth grade girls perceived the highest degree of safety p <; .05), and girls overall experienced less physical aggression than boys p <; .05). No significant differences were found by sending school i.e., rural versus town). Qualitative data from 3 open-ended questions from students n = 20), teachers n = 20), and parents n = 20) elicited various meanings about school climate, as construed by the 3 school constituencies. The short answers, analyzed with the Consensual Qualitative Research CQR) method Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997), fell in 9 broad domains: Safety/Security, Morale, Communication, Physical Environment, Well-Being, Belonging/Not Belonging, Curriculum, Organizational Policies, and Diversity/Sensitivity. The majority preferred tougher enforcement of rules and more security personnel to increase safety. More than half of the participants thought morale, communication, and physical environment were important to school climate. Administrative concerns, well-being, belonging/not belonging, and diversity were endorsed by fewer than half of the participants as important. Using the studys findings, the archived survey, and the current literature, a revised School Climate Questionnaire for Middle/High School Students, Sections I and II was developed by the author and is included in the dissertation. Recommendations are proposed for improving school climate, i.e., adding communication and Social skills courses to the curriculum, enforcing school rules consistently, embracing diversity, and increasing parent involvement. Implications for future research are suggested.
Predicting cultural adjustment outcomes from nonverbal communication skills, cultural variables, and acculturative stress (Education Papers posted on March 21st, 2013 )
The purpose of the current study was to determine whether international students' nonverbal communication skills; cultural behaviors, beliefs, and values; and acculturative stress levels are related to various aspects of cultural adjustment (Social difficulties, academic achievement, and psychological functioning). The first goal of the study was to ascertain whether nonverbal decoding ability is associated with cross-cultural adaptation difficulties in these domains. The second goal of the study was to examine Triandis" (1995) model of acculturation, which suggests that the greater the cultural distance, i.e., the more differences between people's home and host culture, the greater the level of difficulty that individuals will have during cultural adjustment. The third goal of the study was an empirical test of several acculturation models, which indicate that cultural adjustment is a stressful process; the present study evaluated whether acculturative stress functions as a mediator of the relationship between cultural variables and adjustment outcomes. A total of 193 international students from North and South America, Europe, South Asia, and East Asia completed the study. Results suggest that cultural variables and acculturative stress are strongly linked to psychological functioning and Social difficulties, while emotion recognition skills are weakly or indirectly correlated with adjustment outcomes. Further, acculturative stress serves as a mediator between acculturation variables and cultural adjustment outcomes.
Implementation and assessement of a test anxiety reduction program presented to 10th graders and their subsequent performance on the MontCAS Criterion Referenced Test (Education Papers posted on March 20th, 2013 )
This quantitative study investigated the relationship between performance on the MontCAS Criterion Referenced Test of 10th graders at Corvallis High School, Corvallis, Montana who participated in a systematic program for test anxiety reduction, and 10th graders who took the MontCAS but did not participate in the test anxiety reduction program. The population included all 10th graders at Corvallis High School who failed to achieve a score of proficient or higher, or who achieved in the low-proficient range on either the reading or math section on the last MontCAS administration, which was two years prior to this study. Fifteen students were assigned to each the experimental and control groups. The experimental group was exposed to a four hour test anxiety group protocol. The control group received no intervention prior to the test. The intervention design was based on results of meta-analyses of test anxiety research identifying effective treatment approaches. Overall in this study, the test anxiety program did not produce significantly improved test performance among experimental group members as compared to the control group, although some possible trends were noted. Some potential reasons for this lack of significance, including the small sample size, are discussed, as well as recommendations for further research in this important area.
Bullying and victimization: School climate matters (Education Papers posted on March 19th, 2013 )
Bullying at school is prevalent in the United States and worldwide, but little is known about the relationship between students' experiences with bullying and their perceptions of school climate. This study investigated the link between bullying and three elements of school climate—Social support from teachers, Social support from peers, and school connectedness. The study used MANOVA analyses to confirm differences between students categorized as bullies, victims, bully-victims, and bystanders. Findings indicate that students who are not directly involved in bullying perceive more Social support and school connectedness than all other students. Students who are bullied perceive less social support from peers than other students, while students who bully perceive less social support from teachers and connection to school than other students. Findings from this study support strategies to increase social support and school connectedness, as well as the meaningful involvement of both teachers and students in bullying prevention efforts.


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Your View: Hurricane Sandy relief bill was loaded with pork
The one thing I liked about Barack Obama when he ran for president in 2008 was his promise to cut out "pork" spending in our federal budget. On the news on a recent night, I heard how he has failed again at keeping that promise.
Congress was trying to pass a bill to help the people devastated by Hurricane Sandy. They were having trouble because there was so much pork attached to it that some congressmen did not think should be in it.
The hurricane did not damage Alaska or Mississippi or many other states that had projects in the bill. What is wrong with some of our congressmen who can only think of ways to repay their voters instead of what is best for people who are hurting?
And why was President Obama so busy vacationing in Hawaii that he wasn't here trying to persuade them to eliminate everything except aid to the hurricane victims? Oh, I realize he flew to visit the area, but he didn't stay in Washington until he got the job done.
High Point
Jewish people have contributed much to world
This is in response to Joseph Zuschmidt's letter (Your View, Dec. 10, "Letter had no redeeming factors") in response to Randall Hedrick's letter (Your View, Dec. 5, "Can a Muslim be a good American?").
I understand Zuschmidt stating his opinion. However, he doesn't seem to know or understand what the Quran — the Islamic book of teachings — teaches and advocates.
I do not know Zuschmidt or Hedrick. However, I agree with Hedrick's opinion on this topic and disagree with Zuschmidt's opinion. Hedrick's letter is stating the dangers of the Islamic teachings and warning the people of their beliefs. If one reads the Quran, you will quickly see that Muslims are taught not to be friends with Christians or Jews (Sura 5:17).
I appreciate The High Point Enterprise printing Hedrick's letter. I shared Hedrick's letter with many people (friends, family and acquaintances) and each of them thought Hedrick's letter had better insight on the facts of Islamic teachings. They also expressed their appreciation of the Enterprise for printing the letter.
I feel Zuschmidt's rebuttal to Hedrick's letter was his own opinion. However, the people I shared both letters with, and myself, found Hedrick's letter made reference to many valuable contributions the Jewish people have made to humanity.
I think Hedrick is trying to impress the fact that the Jewish people have contributed much to humankind, and why should another group of people (Muslims) teach that they should dislike the Jewish people or any other group of people.
I am well aware we all have a right to our opinion. But the opinions that I appreciate and agree with are the ones that line up with God's holy word, to me only the Bible. The Bible was written by the Jews, by the guidance of God's holy spirit.
Thanks be to Jesus (who was Jewish) for bringing salvation to those who believe in Him. For there is no other name under heaven where a man can be saved (Acts 4:12).
Will the agreement to avoid the "fiscal cliff" help or hurt the economy? What more must be done to solve the nation's economic problems? In 30 words or less (no name, address required), email us your thoughts to firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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After reading my post on military hazing, this veteran tried to comment on the Stars and Stripes article that I linked to:
5:58 pm on May 3, 2012 Email Laurence M. Vance
I am an ex-Army Ranger from B Co 3/75th Ranger Regiment from 1994-1998. I went onto the Stars and Stripes article and using my own experience rebutted a few people who had posted in favor of hazing. All of my posts were removed. So, it seems like hazing is not an "isolated incident" or just "some bad apples" but is actively supported and speaking out against it will get you censored.


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Photo #: S-584-114
Preliminary Design Plan for a Battleship ... January 18, 1917
A preliminary design for a battleship prepared for the General Board. This design represented a step in the development of the South Dakota (Battleship # 49) class design. This modification to an earlier plan (see Photo # S-584-105) differed from the original "Scheme 2" in mounting 5-inch guns in six twin turrets and adding two additional guns in casemates for a new total of 20 5-inch guns in the secondary battery. The ships funnels, originally separated for reduced overall vulnerability, were trunked together above deck, a feature retained in the final design for South Dakota (see Photo S-584-132).
This plan provided twelve 16-inch guns, electric drive machinery, and a speed of 23 knots in a ship 660 feet long on the waterline, 105 feet in beam, and with a normal displacement of 41,500 to 42,000 tons.
Note: The original document was a blueprint (white on dark blue).
The original plan is in the 1911-1925 "Spring Styles Book".
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 349KB; 1700 x 1090 pixels
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
Image posted 12 October 2007


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Going With The Flow
A Federal-era building on the Hudson River that has served many functions over the past two centuries now proves to be the perfect weekend getaway for a pair of inveterate collectors
By Marian McEvoy
Guest Bath
Chairs and consoles found at the Brimfield antiques fair blend easily with lamps and pottery from artisan friends and from the shelves of Bergdorf Goodman. Drawings, sculptures, and bits of nature gleaned from the couple's frequent travels (to China, India, Morocco, Cambodia, the Baltics, and Egypt) sidle up to family-heirloom tables and rugs, as well as accessories from Ralph Lauren and John Derian.
The table and chair in the guest bath are flea-market finds.


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- Open cardigan styling makes the Duet a perfect for layering or just bundling up on the couch
- Top to bottom length measure 30in on size medium
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In a world in which uncertainty is often the rule, there is one constant in the lives of many young people living in Greater New Haven: violence. Some see violence as it occurs; others hear gunshots and the police and neighborhood activity following a shooting, or the grief expressed by neighbors and friends; and all hear stories repeated by their classmates at school. And although the level of direct exposure differs among children and youth, the fear and anxiety it produces is widespread and has significant and long-lasting effects.
Nationwide, millions of children and adolescents are exposed to violence each year. According to a survey report published by the US Office of Justice Programs' Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention Programs, more than 60% of children surveyed were exposed to violence in the past year, either directly or indirectly. In the year prior to completing the survey, 1 in 20 children had witnessed someone being shot.
Reviewing 2009 statistics in the FBI Uniform Crime Reports (the most recent data available), there were more than 3,000 reports of violent crime in Greater New Haven that year. While most communities saw fewer than 50 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, Seymour, East Haven, Milford and Hamden recorded between 50 and 100, Ansonia and Derby were at the 100 mark, and West Haven's reported violent crimes topped 700 in that year. The city of New Haven had nearly 1,800 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Responses on a survey taken in 2010 by middle school youthi in New Haven indicate that their level of involvement in and exposure to violence is significant:
One of the innovative efforts to deal with youth violence in New Haven is the Street Outreach Worker Program, which began in 2007. Administered by the New Haven Family Alliance and funded since its inception by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, SOWP hires men and women with "street cred," meaning they were involved in the criminal justice system themselves at one point and have turned their lives around, or they have a deep connection to the community through some kind of service. Shirley Ellis-West, the program supervisor, says five of the eight workers are ex-offenders. Another of the workers is the founder and long-time director of an award-winning drill team.
The program operates in partnership with the New Haven Police Department and the Board of Education and focuses on young people 13 to 21. The program operates out of all ten policing districts, but focuses on six high need neighborhoods. The workers spend time in the neighborhoods at key times just getting to know young people there: Sunday through Thursday, 2 p.m. until 10 p.m.; and weekends 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. "They frequent identified hotspots where youth are hanging," West says. "They spend a lot of time doing what we call violence interruptions – young people involved in physical fights, arguments, adolescent behavior conflict." They also conduct scheduled mediations with two or more individuals. In the beginning, many referrals came from the police. Now, West says, parents call on behalf of their own children, and youth refer themselves and their friends.
While murder rates have generally declined in last 25 years, the trend in New Haven is more complicated. The murder rate trend is more jagged and less consistent than the decline seen in the overall violent crime rate. Part of this is because the small number of cases makes a bigger difference in the murder rate – the number of murders per 100,000 people. But according to David Kennedy, director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, there is likely another explanation for the spikes.
In an October 2, 2011 interview with the New Haven Register, Kennedy said that many murders can be directly attributed to gangs, a small and violent segment of the City's population. When a dispute between gangs creates a spark, violence explodes and murder rates soar.
West says that two truces between opposing groups of teens were agreed upon almost five years ago that are still intact, in Hill North and Dwight, adding, "Today there are definitely Bloods, Crips and other groups influencing young people" in New Haven. There were seven homicides in the target age group in 2011, and one as of May 1, 2012. All were African American young men. And most of the identified perpetrators are also young African American men. West says that, until the shooting death in October 2011 of 13-year-old Marquell Banks, no one under 16 had been killed since the outreach program began.
She notes that in 2010 there were 54 non-fatal shootings among 13- to 21-year-olds; this decreased to 48 in that age group in 2011; and stands at 12 through March 31, 2012. "When there's an incident we go to the hospitals, we talk to the young people to prevent retaliation." The figure below shows an eight-year trend in violent crime arrests in New Haven and marks a general decrease in most types of crime in 2008 and 2009.
There is not a single aspect of community life that is not affected by high violent crime rates. The impact of violence exposure on children and youth is perhaps of greatest concern because of the long-term consequences and the burdens it places on individuals and communities for decades to come.
According to the website of National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV), an organization based in New Haven, "Children living in violent communities can be victims or witnesses of crime. Even small children are at an increased risk for injury, developmental disorders, juvenile crime, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and related anxiety disorders."
"Other responses that children may develop when exposed to community violence include distrust of adults and increased aggressiveness. Children learn by example and some children may come to feel that violence is justified and see violence as a valid way of dealing with interpersonal conflict," the Center's website reports.
The NCCEV website states, "Each child reacts differently to violent situations and some may be more resilient than others. In any case, parental involvement and support is one of the key factors in children's mental and emotional well being."
The impact of community violence goes beyond the wellbeing of children and youth: it influences social and economic conditions that are vital to entire neighborhoods and communities.iv
Neither violence nor exposure to it is random. Risk factors for violence at the community level include poverty and economic disparity, discrimination and oppression, community deterioration, and a preponderance of firearms. On an individual level, risk factors include truancy, illiteracy and academic failure, experiencing and/or witnessing violence, negative family dynamics, alcohol and other drug use, and incarceration and re-entry. New Haven, especially in contrast to surrounding communities, struggles with many challenges in addressing these issues.
But there is reason for optimism. Risk factors do not inevitably lead to involvement in violence, either as a victim or a perpetrator. Research has shown that 'protective' or 'resilience' factors can mitigate the effects of factors that increase violence at the individual and community levels. These factors include economic capital, meaningful opportunities for participation, high quality services and institutions, targeted prevention media and marketing, artistic and creative opportunities, and ethnic, racial, and intergroup relations. On an individual level, protective factors include good physical and mental health, emotional and cognitive competence, and positive attachments and relationships.v
Maurice "Blest" Peters has been actively engaged with youth in New Haven for many years. As a founding member of Frontline Souljas, he and other men started a basketball tournament at West River Memorial Park (with funding from the TCF called Hoopin' not Shootin'. They work with young men 17 and older, and were able to put together nine teams, with up to 9 youth on a team: in Hill North, Hill South, West River, Fair Haven, Dwight/Kensington, Whalley, and West Haven. They are still hoping to field teams in the 'Ville (Newhallville) and West Hills.
"We had peaceful events," Peters explains. "We had a DJ who played positive, thought-provoking hip hop; we had food; we hoped the community would come out as well to support the youth, and some did. Senator Toni Harp came down and threw the ball around and talked to them about their hopes and aspirations. We wanted to find out what their thoughts and hopes were and to help make that happen. We hoped they would bring the same enthusiasm and energy back to their neighborhoods."
He adds, "The one time we did have a little dispute try to start, the fellas settled it by having everybody do push-ups – that was the youths' idea."
The Frontline Souljas have the same kind of street cred as the city's Outreach team. Peters says about half have been incarcerated, and adds, "Since we started it none of them have gotten into any more trouble. Some are at Gateway; one got a job at City Hall." He adds that some of the youth had also been incarcerated, but since they got involved with his program, "There's no more picking up guns or doing negative things. We're very proud of them and that motivates us to keep doing this because none of us gets paid. We're always recruiting, talking to them about their goals and what gets in the way of them realizing their goals."
In the wake of Marquell Banks's killing, Peters says, "Where did they get the gun? That is the question that the mayor or chief of police has yet to address and that bothers me deeply. How come guns are so readily available in the inner city? That campaign needs to be pushed by every non-profit that deals with at-risk youth. Kids don't even run when they hear gun shots anymore."
Barbara Fair, a long-time activist in the African American community, now works through a group she founded, My Brother's Keeper, directly addressing violence and injustices in the criminal justice system. She concurs with Peters - that finding out where all the guns are coming from is a key issue. "I know recently they said they [the police] are doing some stings, but if they don't make the step to find out who's providing these guns to the kids they're arresting on the corner, the guns are going to continue to come in."
"I think things are getting worse now," she says, "and they'll continue to deteriorate until we start addressing the issue of why we have so much violence in the community in the first place. Much of it is because there's nothing for the kids to do." She supports whatever it takes to reopen the Dixwell Community "Q" House, which for decades offered youth programs to neighborhood kids until it closed a decade ago.
Because the issue of community violence is so complex, strategies to address it must be comprehensive. Violence typically grabs our attention after the fact. When violence happens, it is reasonable and appropriate to focus on law enforcement and to pursue and prosecute perpetrators through the criminal justice system. At the same time, the needs of victims must be met through provision of crisis intervention and ongoing mental health services. But law enforcement and victim services are not the answer to community violence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which takes a public health approach to preventing youth violence before it starts, has developed a national initiative called STRYVE (Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere). vi
This model identifies Primary Prevention, or Upfront strategies, that everyone needs for healthy development and building resilience. These include:
Secondary Prevention strategies, or In the Thick, are provided to reduce the chances that those who may be at increased risk move to involvement in violence. These include:
Tertiary Prevention, or Aftermath, addresses the consequences of violence after it has occurred in order to reduce the chances it will reoccur. These include:
Howard K. Hill, director of the New Haven funeral home of the same name and a Community Foundation Board member, is part of a local group of concerned African American men, professionals in many fields, which has come together recently "to try to address the concerns of young African American men, whatever they are," he says. "Youth violence happens to be one of them; education and support systems for those who have been incarcerated and are looking to improve their life is another; so is mentoring."
He says it's in the beginning stages and most of the men are working individually, "but we are coming together to be more cohesive and work on a long-term plan." Some of the work includes "adopting" an alternative high school where the men drop by to talk to kids informally and provide encouragement and positive male role models. Others go to another school and read to the students. "Then there are entrepreneurs like myself and we try to identify kids with an entrepreneurial spirit and try to help them along."
He estimates the men have worked with about a hundred young people so far, some in elementary school right up to some in their late 20s.
Hill is also on the Advisory Committee of the new Urban Prosperity Fund , a fund of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven . "Our mission is to encourage African American people to promote philanthropy, prosperity and self-empowerment in the African American community now and forever," he says. It is just getting off the ground but he adds, "We are creating a strategic plan on how to address needs and cultivate philanthropy. We want to respond to the community's needs through grantmaking, [but] you have to put into the pot before you can take out."
He says that will require a change in attitude on the part of many in the community who are used to be on the receiving end of grants and other contributions. He sees the connection to violence this way: "Everyone wants to stop the violence, but the violence is only the end result of the causes, which is that resources have been pulled from the African American community and a level of dependency on resources they don't control. The kids say they do what they have to do to put food on the table [by selling drugs]. That's a sad thing. They also say there's nothing for them to do. It's a tough situation to deal with and a lot of times people don't want to deal with the hard stuff. They get entrenched but sometimes the things they are working for are not the best things for the community. If you want change you got to do something different."
i 2559 7th and 8th graders (ages 12-15) participated in a survey that was part of an NIH-funded prevention program implemented in the NHPS Social Development Department in collaboration with the Yale Department of Pediatrics. The data are from the 2010 Student Health and Behavior Survey. School and district reports were prepared for the NHPS and distributed to district and school administrators. Permission to use the data for this brief was provided by Dee Speese-Linehan, Supervisor of the NHPS Social Development Program.
ii UCR data for 2003-2005 are not available. Rates for these years were calculated based on the number of murders reported on the New Haven Police Department website and the URC population count.
iii Children Exposed to Violence: Views from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Linh Vuong, Fabiana Silva, and Susan Marchiona, 2009
iv From Exploring the Social Determinants of Health: Violence, Social Disadvantage and Health – May 2011, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Reference numbers are theirs)
v Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General. Office of the Surgeon General (US); National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (US); National Institute of Mental Health (US); Center for Mental Health Services (US).Rockville (MD): Office of the Surgeon General (US); 2001.
vi http://www.safeyouth.gov/Pages/Home.aspx
Art therapy is used to help children who have been exposed to violence express their feelings.
When compared to their non-exposed peers, children exposed to violence are at higher risk foriii:
Aggression and behavioral disorders
Emotional and anxiety disorders
Academic difficulties
What The Community Foundation is Doing:
Many grants have been awarded by The Community Foundation to engage youth in constructive activities and help reduce youth violence in Greater New Haven. The Foundation has a long history of funding afterschool and summer programs. In addition, programs directed specifically at reducing youth violence include grants to New Haven Family Alliance (NHFA) for the City of New Haven's Street Outreach Worker (SOW) as well as the Alliance's Girls Beading and Life Skills programs. Through SOW, youth workers are hired and trained by NHFA to serve as mentors, educators and advocates to high-risk teens and young adults; program partners actively negotiate truces between rival groups to prevent future violence. Through the Girls' program, conflict resolution and other life skills are taught to girls who have been engaged in fighting and bullying. The New Haven YMCA Youth Center is another grant recipient taking proactive measures to prevent violence by engaging youth in safe recreational activities.
Through its Grants $5,000 and Under process, The Community Foundation has also awarded the following grants to prevent youth violence:
• Greater New Haven NAACP's Stop the Violence Campaign: aiming to end violence particularly as it relates to gun and drug-related crime
• Your Place Youth Center of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church: creating an alternative to gangs through teaching principles of non-violence, leadership, and other skills and engaging youth in more constructive activities
• Frontline Souljaz: building relationships, teamwork and trust through athletic activities
• CT Appleseed Center for Law & Justice: promoting anti-bullying efforts through the dissemination of an anti-bullying report
• Save Our Sons and Freddie Fixer Parade : helping ex-offenders successfully re-integrate into the community
And to help lessen the effects of exposure to violence and other trauma, Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic was awarded a Foundation grant to support the Clinical Collaborative Consultation Project which supports alliances with Greater New Haven youth serving organizations to address children's mental health needs.
What You Can Do
To help end youth violence, consider donating to a local nonprofit on giveGreater.org, volunteering, or creating a permanent fund designated to supporting young people. Already have a fund at The Community Foundation? Recommend a grant by logging on to DonorCentral. You can create change with just a click of the keyboard.


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Category Archives: September 2010
Lessons In Loyalty Ron, I really enjoyed your article in PRB ("Trading Treasures For Turnovers," May 2010). I would have enjoyed it a little more if the Cavs were still playing … but it made some great points. I like the message of the article that loyalty should mean something … even in the cutthroat world of today. I wanted the championship as much for Z as I did for the city of Cleveland. Lebron [James] might end up coming … Continue reading
Posted in Issues, Parks and Rec Business, September 2010 Leave a comment
Little Details Equal Big Savings
Economically speaking, this country may not ever get back to the way it once was. And, if it does, it's going to take much longer than originally expected. Not surprisingly, the golf market has been impacted along with virtually every other industry, but perhaps even more as the discretionary income of many Americans is evaluated. At municipal courses like Springbrook and Naperbrook, located in the Naperville area 35 miles west of Chicago, there are even more challenges regarding price and … Continue reading
Stand Up
Thompson Reuters News Service and Ipsos conducted a poll recently of more than 23,000 adults throughout 22 countries regarding parental behavior during kids' participation in sports programs. The poll revealed that respondents from the United States were the most likely to witness poor behavior by parents (60 percent) than those in any other country. Following close behind were India (59 percent), Italy (55 percent), Argentina (54 percent), Canada (53 percent) and Australia (50 percent). Perhaps most disturbing was that 35 … Continue reading
Pearls Of Wisdom
Editor's Note: This column, "LBWA" (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what's going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and "wander around" the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions, and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues and ask the leaders among the readership … Continue reading
Posted in Issues, LBWA, Parks and Rec Business, September 2010, Writers Leave a comment
Little Details
My Dad likes to work with wood. Growing up, he was forever, cutting, sanding, and nailing things into place. If Mom needed a new laundry room cabinet–he would build it himself, always making sure to tell us, "Why spend $100 on something I can build for $50?" When I was 10, he moved beyond furniture and household repair and into new construction. He decided to turn our two-car garage into living space–a bedroom, laundry room, full bath and mud room—and … Continue reading
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Author Archives: Tim F
Elegant Oldies Tasting with Tim & Billy
Elegant Oldies, what's that all about then? Well, if you're reading this you're probably already vaguely aware of two things: 1) The Whisky Exchange is the best online resource on the planet for affordable old 'dusty' whiskies; and 2) Billy … Continue reading
Elements of Islay Tasting with Simply Whisky
We had a tremendous Elements of Islay tasting at TWE Vinopolis on Monday 13th May, hosted by Simon Roser and Franchi Ferla of Simply Whisky. Simply Whisky are great pals of TWE and have their own unique take on whisky: their events … Continue reading
TWE Karuizawa Whisky Trip Pt.8: Japanese Whisky Bars
[Welcome to the penultimate episode of TWE's epic Karuizawa trip, in which we visit some amazing Japanese whisky bars. The previous posts can be found here, here, here, here, here, here and here.] Our friends from France and Taiwan had departed, but it was time for the … Continue reading
TWE Karuizawa Whisky Trip Pt.7: Endgame for Karuizawa
[Welcome to the seventh instalment of TWE's big Karuizawa trip to Japan. You can read the earlier episodes here, here, here, here, here and here.] After our excellent evening out at Helmsdale we awoke the next morning to a cold, … Continue reading
TWE in Japan: Karuizawa Trip Pt.6
[Welcome to the sixth instalment of our trip to Japan. Readers with too much time on their hands can catch up on the full story so far here, here, here, here and here.] After the emotions stirred up by our … Continue reading
Whisky Investment Proof
There's a lot of controversy that surrounds the topic of whisky investment, and we're not going to get into an extended debate over the rights and wrongs of it as the issue comes up almost constantly and people tend to have their … Continue reading
Tasting Notes: Talisker Storm
"These go to eleven… well, it's one louder, isn't it?" Facts: Diageo have released a No-Age-Statement (NAS) edition of their Talisker single malt. This new iteration is called Storm and is purportedly 'more intense and smoky, with enhanced and vibrant … Continue reading
St. Patrick's Day Tasting at Vinopolis with Bushmills
The Whisky Exchange in Vinopolis was treated to a particularly comprehensive vertical tasting of the Bushmills range of Irish whiskeys on Monday 18th March in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Leading the tasting was the charming and enthusiastic Robert Galbraith, Bushmills's … Continue reading
Whisky Live London 2013 – The Report
Once again, TWE were in full effect at last weekend's Whisky Live in London, which was held in its now-traditional location of Armoury House, home of the British Army's oldest regiment, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). Today, the Company regiment … Continue reading
Tasting Notes: Glendronach 1995 PX Cask Exclusive to TWE
Never say we're not good to you. TWE have teamed up with Glendronach to bring you a very special heavily sherried single cask. Bottled in March 2013, Cask #4682 was distilled on 8th November 1995 and was a Pedro Ximenez sherry … Continue reading
Tasting Notes: An Cnoc 22 Year Old
An Cnoc is the single malt from Knockdhu distillery, and although it's relatively low profile compared to some other Speyside malts, they've been quietly producing very good whiskies for some time now. Certainly the 16 year old is a perennial favourite – … Continue reading
TWE in Japan – Karuizawa Trip Pt.5
[Welcome to the fifth part of TWE's trip to Japan last year. You can read the earlier instalments in this saga of inter-continental dramming here, here, here and here.] The town of Karuizawa is an upmarket holiday resort, with the … Continue reading


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Polk City fire chief set to retire after 21 years of service
Polk City Fire Chief Jason Morse will retire from the fire department effective Oct. 1 following 21 years of service with the department. Morse's retirement was approved Monday by the City Council. "Polk City and all the residents mean a lot to me and my family, and have played a huge ...
Drug drop-off available at City Hall in Polk City
The Polk City fire and police departments will host a drug drop-off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at City Hall, 112 Third St. Unknown, expired or unused drugs can be handed over and city officials will dispose of them.
Camp Dodge crew fights fire through controlled burn
After fighting a fire on Wednesday night, the Iowa National Guard Camp Dodge grounds and maintenance crew spent today managing flames again for one of its annual prescribed burns. At 5:45 on Wednesday night, firefighters from Johnston, Polk City and Grimes were called to fight a 10-acre grass fire in one of the camp's fields that ...
Polk City Fire Department collecting toys for charity
Polk City Fire Department is working with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to be a drop-off location for the Toys for Tots program. There also will be a special drop-off night to stuff a department vehicle full with as many toys as possible during the Polk City Square Lighting. "Our ...
Lightning starts house fire in Ankeny
Lightning caused a house fire Monday morning in Ankeny. No injuries were reported. The Ankeny Fire Department was called at 4:28 a.m. to 939 N.E. Otter Ridge Circle. They found smoke coming from the roof vents near the back of the home. It was determined that lightning struck the home through ...


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U.S. Presidential Elections Study: 1880 Election Horoscope
April 27, 2014 by admin
As you may know, in early 2012 I studied Aries Ingress horoscopes for the United States for presidential election years to determine whether there was a common thread indicating the winner. To my surprise, I did find a method that seemed to work, and used it to present a prediction of Barack Obama winning the 2012 election, at the New Orleans United Astrology Conference (UAC) in May of that year. You can read the details of the 2012 prediction of the US election result here. That article compares the 1880 and 2012 Presidential elections, as they had some astrological similarities.
Since then, I have received a number of queries to see the rest of the data, and to share the method. We are about 2.5 years away from another Presidential election now, so the speculation as to the winning side is slowly gathering steam. To respond to the requests for more information, I have decided to write a series of articles, one for each election chart starting in 1880, through 2016. This will allow interested readers to follow my reasoning and examine the method used. What is unique about this study in astrological circles is that I came to the charts with few preconceived notion about how the charts would show the winning party; I relied on them to show the method, since we already knew the presidential election result.
Sometimes I get asked why I chose 1880; I simply worked backwards from the then-known results (2008) until I felt I had a good handle on how the horoscopes indicated the winner each time. By the time I got to 1880, I had run across some very obvious horoscopes, and a few challenging ones, so felt I had a good sample. There is nothing magical about having stopped at 1880.
1880 Presidential Election Horoscope
As always, we cast the Aries Ingress horoscope set for Washington, D.C. in a Presidential Election year. The Aries Ingress is a horoscope set for the moment the Sun enters Aries, the start of the astrological New Year. It is a long-standing tradition that the moment of the horoscope holds the seeds for major events for that location in the upcoming 12 months.
Our Assumptions for Each Ingress Horoscope
Incumbent and his party are the 10th house of the "king." This assignment goes back at least as far as the Hellenistic astrologers of 2000 years ago, though I am looking to the more recent medieval Arabic astrological texts. The challenger and his party is the 4th house and its ruler. This is because the 4th house is the 7th from the 10th; the king's opponent. In our Aries Ingress horoscope, we examine what is happening to each candidate's house and ruler to determine who wins.
We use traditional planetary rulers of signs only (no Uranus, Neptune, Pluto), though all planets are displayed in the chart.
Horoscope Analysis
1. The 10th house is ruled by Virgo, and its ruler is Mercury stationary in Aries, in the 4th house. There are no planets in the 10th house, so we look exclusively to the ruling planet. The very next aspect is the Moon in Cancer (dignified as it is in the sign of its domicile) about to form a square aspect to Mercury. Square aspects are not considered "easy," but we will see in chart after chart that the nature of the aspect does not matter, so long as a candidate's planet connects with another strong planet somehow.
2. The 4th house is ruled by Jupiter in Pisces conjunct the 4th house cusp. The fourth house has a dignified Jupiter on the cusp, and the Sun, exalted in Aries, just inside the cusp. Mercury and Saturn in Aries are there, as well. Jupiter does not have any planets applying to it very soon; certainly no sooner than the immediate Moon-Mercury square.
Conclusion: The incumbent party stays in power.
The Election Horoscope Yields Two Key Rules for Predicting the Winner of the Election…
1. Is either planetary ruler applying to another planet in its own sign or exaltation, or in a sign where candidate's planet is strong (house, exaltation, triplicity)? If so, that is the winner.
2. Is there a planet or Node closely conjunct the 10th or 4th house cusp that is not the 10th or 4th ruler and in the same sign as the cusp? Its benefic/malefic nature helps or harms the incumbent or opponent, respectively. If only Jupiter in Pisces was not also the ruler of the 4th house here; its presence would have handed the challenger the White House. A candidate's planet on that person's house cusp might indicate that candidate staying home, as it were. The other planet on the 4th house cusp is the exalted Sun in Aries, which would be helpful if only it wasn't in a different sign than the house cusp. Tough luck.
…and a Couple of More Minor Observations:
3. It does not seem to matter that a late degree is on the 4th/10th house cusps.
4. One candidate's planet (in this case, Mercury, ruling the incumbent Republicans) placed in the other candidate's house does not seem to harm the candidate ruled by the emplaced planet.
What Actually Happened in the 1880 Presidential Election
The Republican Party had the White House, but the incumbent president, Rutherford Hayes, did not seek re-election. The party nominated James A. Garfield as their candidate. The Democratic challenger was Winfield S. Hancock, a Civil War general. The race was rather close; Garfield won 214 electoral college votes to Hancock's 155, with each side garnering about 48% of the popular vote. Wikipedia notes that "this was the closest election ever in terms of popular vote (with a margin of fewer than 10,000) and states carried…" (Note that some sources have the margin as 2000 popular votes.)
The incumbent party retained the White House, though the actual holder of the Presidential office had changed.
Astrology of the 2014 Crimean Crisis (or Is It the Russian Crisis)?
March 15, 2014 by admin
Much has been made of the claim that Russia invaded Crimea, starting the Crimean crisis, under Mars retrograde, as it is said (by an unattributed source) that wars begun under Mars retrograde end poorly for the initiator. I am not sure that the invasion will end terribly for Russia, and definitely not because of Mars' retrogradation. An examination of the timeline indicates the Russian invasion began up to two days before Mars went retrograde on March 1, 2014. Specifically, as early as 4:20 am on February 27th, armed professionals planted a Russian flag on the Crimean parliament. On February 28th, soldiers without insignia, but widely believed to be Russian, took over major Crimean airports. Thus, I question the premise that the invasion actually began when Mars was retrograde, since on February 27th, Mars was still moving forward, though only at about a minute per day.
If anyone knows the source of the aphorism that wars and conflicts begun under Mars retrograde are bad for the instigator, I'd be interested in knowing about it. Interestingly, my research uncovered zero major 20th century conflicts that began under Mars retrograde, making it difficult to support or deny the accuracy of the aphorism. However, their very absence might suggest that conflicts begun under Mars retrograde tend not to become major wars.
So, how does this invasion turn out? We can look to the horoscope for Ukraine's legal independence, which has the IC, Moon, and Venus all in Libra. Given the combination of Mars retrograding back to 9 Libra, the situation could be resolved as early as May 20, 2014, when Mars stations direct. It may take that long for Russia to feel that it has sufficiently asserted its control over Ukraine, after which point the forces may come home.
However, note that eclipses in the Aries-Libra polarity will continue until March 23, 2016, which will be the last eclipse (lunar) at 3 Libra. There may be new protests in Ukraine against Russian domination for the next few years. Given the upcoming April 15 eclipse in Libra conjunct Mars, I expect the situation to culminate in the next few weeks ahead of the eclipse, but the underlying tensions and violence to not really go away until after the Aries-Libra eclipses have passed in 2016.
Progressing the independence horoscope, we see that progressed Mars sextiled the Moon in December 2013, an influence that will likely be felt for at least all of 2014. Even today the progressed Midheaven squares progressed Saturn, a restrictive, sad, and bad influence for another two years, through 2015. I suspect that Ukraine is in for a challenging two years, though the Moon-Mars sextile suggests the population finding its identity and voice in 2014.
What about Russia? I initially expected it to run into problems due to indications in its Aries Ingress horoscope, but then realized that the Ingresses set for Moscow and Kyiv are very similar, almost identical. So which country gets the bad prognosis? Common sense says that it is Ukraine, as the smaller neighbor. So comparing Ingress horoscopes is out. Note that historically, comparing Ingresses probably rarely worked, since it's often neighboring countries that go to war. Thus, the Ingresses set for their respective capitals will often be similar. Still, we can analyze the Ingresses and see if we can tease out any specifics for either Ukraine or Russia.
The medieval Arab author, Abu Ma'shar, writes that if, in an Aries Ingress, malefics make hard aspects to Aries, Scorpio, the Part of War, the sign of the country in question, or the significator of the king, then "enemies will achieve victory over [the country]" and will cause the country "grief and sorrow." Several of these conditions are true for Russia, though we must take them with a grain of salt, since some are true worldwide for that Aries Ingress. The Aries Ingress horoscope set for Moscow (which sets the tone for the following 12 months), is below. The same Ingress holds for the Ukraine, with a few degrees of the house cusps earlier than that of Moscow's Ingress.
First, war is indicated during the 2013 Aries Ingress period (March 2013-March 2014) according to Abu Ma'shar, since Mars is in a sign angular from the Ascendant (Aries is the 10th sign from the Ascendant). The Part of War is calculated by taking the distance from Saturn to the Moon during the day, and projecting the distance from the Ascendant. The Part of War is in Aries for both Russia and Ukraine.
Let's take Abu Ma'shar's conditions for defeat one by one:
- The malefics (Mars and Saturn) are both present in signs of Mars. This is bad, but true worldwide, indicating that any country starting a war during this year would do badly.
- Mars is with the Part of War. This means defeat, but for whom?
- Russia is traditionally a Taurus country, and Saturn in Scorpio opposes Taurus.
- The significator of the Russian president is Mars, which is accurate right now, but not negative as Mars cannot aspect itself nor is it aspected by Saturn.
Abu Ma'shar also says that if the king's significator (here, Mars) is combust, defeat and "grief and sorrow" will be "feared concerning him." Here, Mars is very much combust. Again, we are talking about both the Russian and the Ukrainian government, but we cannot have the same thing happening to both parties, so we can assume Ukraine will be harmed more. As the Athenians said to the Melians, just before they annihilated the small island city-state: "The strong do as they can, the weak suffer what they must."
The 2014 Aries Ingress paints a similar picture.
- Saturn is still in Mars' domicile, and Mars in Libra opposes its own domicile. Again, this is true worldwide, but bad for countries starting conflict at this time.
- Mars is with the Part of War, which is in Libra, another strongly negative indicator…for one or both parties.
- Saturn is still in Scorpio, opposing Taurus, the sign of Russia.
- The Moon rules the king, and it is conjunct Saturn in the second house, suggesting that economic restrictions create problems. The problems will be worse for Ukraine as the smaller country. This could be foreign sanctions, or simply problems with the domestic purse. Again, Ukraine has a much smaller budget than does Russia, so one would expect it to suffer much more than Russia.
Russia does seem to be in danger of overextending itself with this operation. Vladimir Putin's natal horoscope has progressed Mars square Jupiter sometime this year (the exact date is unclear because his birth time is not known). This combination indicates too much risk-taking and conflict-seeking behavior, resulting in losses, especially financial or reputational. Of course, this also shows conflict (Mars) with foreigners (Jupiter).
China's Big Transfer of Power: November 8, 2012
November 7, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
Chinese Man Tending Cattle
Thomas Hill
It appears that at least one major player on the global scene has not learned the lesson of Facebook's bungled IPO:
It appears that in planning the once-a-decade transfer of power to a new group of politicians, China has done exactly that. Originally, the plan was to transfer in October, presumably around the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic (Oct. 1, 1949). It seems that the upper-echelon negotiations have dragged on longer than expected. There is a solar total eclipse on November 13, 2012, and for reasons explained below, we will see this particular eclipse is not very favorable for China.
As we saw with Facebook's IPO on the day of an eclipse, big changes or launches made around an eclipse tend to require revision later, and often have the project end as a massive flop. I first read about this phenomenon in Bill Meridian's book, the Predictive Power of Eclipse Paths, and have been watching for manifestations ever since. Meridian discusses his own experience with taking a new job shortly before an eclipse. The new job promptly fizzled out, and he had to find new work soon after.
The November 13, 2012 solar eclipse is a rather unpleasant piece of work, especially when we overlay the horoscope for the eclipse on the horoscope of China.
First, let's look at just the eclipse horoscope, set for Beijing, China. The eclipse occurs at 21 Scorpio, an inauspicious part of the sky. This is where the star Zubeneschemali, in the North Scale of the Balance constellation resides. However, historically, the Scales used to be known as the Claws of the Scorpion. The Scorpion is portrayed in a Babylonian boundary stone as reaching for a cup; perhaps the Cup of Life, or of victory. The Scorpion, of course, is the animal that slew the mighty Orion, so the sense is that the Scorpion is a killjoy. Those hoping to win the prize may be disappointed as the Scorpion taketh away.
The eclipse also has Saturn on the Ascendant, suggesting trouble and distress. Saturn falls on the right shoulder and staff of Boötes, the celestial herdsman or ox-driver. This suggests trouble for the "shepherds" of the country; if we had a benefic planet (Venus or Jupiter) on this star, the picture would be rather brighter, and would promise improvement to the country. The presence of Saturn is somewhat more problematic. Also, transiting Saturn squares China's Moon at 0 Aquarius – this change will not be great for the population as a whole.
The November 13, 2012 Solar Eclipse in China
This eclipse is particularly significant for China for two reasons. One, it falls in the important first house in Beijing, so will have an effect on the Chinese people. The first house rules the people and the nation as a whole, so eclipses placed in this house will have an evident impact. Two, it contacts the horoscope of China in some major ways.
We use the horoscope for the start of the People's Republic of China as October 1, 1949, 10:00 am, Beijing, China. The time is from the memoir The Private Life of Chairman Mao, written by his doctor, Li Zhisui, who said that Mao and his comrades first took the podium in Beijing at 10:00 am to announce their glorious victory over Nationalist forces. (The book was brought to my attention by a recent article in The Mountain Astrologer magazine.)
The 1949 horoscope has 22 Scorpio rising, so the eclipse at 21 Scorpio falls exactly on the Ascendant. This alone would be enough to suggest a disruptive influence interfering with the transfer of power. Eclipses on the Ascendant/Descendant axis of a country or organization suggest transformation at a profound and immediately evident level – certainly, the handing over of the reins would qualify.
However, we can expect conflict at the uppermost echelons of China. Note that the eclipse Midheaven falls on China's Mars (and, if you use the modern planets, Pluto – yes, China has a natal Mars-Pluto conjunction). So, that shows power struggles (Mars/Pluto) among the leadership (Midheaven). However, note the interesting aspects to Mercury, ruler of the Midheaven. The eclipse Venus is conjunct Mercury, and the eclipse Jupiter trines Mercury. So, there will be some very nice monetary benefits for those coming into power. You may have seen the New York Times' expose of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's personal wealth of $2.7B, most of which was accumulated since his rise to high position in the 1990s. It's good to be the king!
Some Predictions for China
Based on the above, I would suggest the following:
1. The power may be handed over, but perhaps not completely, or the arrangement will not prove permanent.
2. There will be conflict (more than the usual machinations) among the upper tiers, and it may even become public.
3. Those coming into power will obtain tremendous financial benefits. Quelle surprise!
Transit of Venus across the Sun, June 5/6, 2012
June 6, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
Yesterday, Venus moved across the face of the Sun, a conjunction not only in longitude, but also in declination. Venus was visible as a black dot on the Solar disc, moving diagonally across the Sun. The conjunction occurred with Venus in retrograde, and was exact at 15 Gemini.
Venus transiting the Sun – image courtesy of NASA
Last night, I had the opportunity to visit the Adler Planetarium here in Chicago, which held an observation event. The transit began at 5:04 pm CDT, and was visible until about 7:45 pm, when the Sun sank behind the skyline. There was also a live NASA feed from Mauna Kea, with commentary by astronomers and physicists. I got a chance to look through the high-tech observatory telescope, which was so clear that it showed the solar flares along with Venus herself, just as she made the mysterious black drop effect. This is the effect occurring when Venus separates from the corona of the Sun, and she looks more like a little drop than a clearly-defined sphere. The black drop effect has not yet been explained.
The viewing was a spectacular and special event, not to be repeated for another century. Even if you missed it, the good news is that Mercury transits the Sun about once a decade. Mercury is considerably smaller, however, so the visual is a little less dramatic, but still rare and beautiful.
I think of this transit as Venus being super-cazimi. Traditional sources say that planets are exceptionally strong when within 16′ of longitude of the Sun, as they are "in the heart of the Sun." This condition is called "cazimi," from the Arabic kasmimi. They are in the heart of the King, as it were, and so suitably powerful. Yet – and this will be a separate article on traditional astrological methods – a planet such as Venus is visually only in the heart of the Sun when she makes this super-rare transit. Could it be that cazimi only refers to these planetary transits across the Sun's face? My few horary charts with cazimi planets indicate this may be the case. Stay tuned.
United Astrology Conference and Presidential Panel
May 31, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
NOTE: Gryphon Astrology will be down for maintenance for a few hours sometime in the next few days – if it is down, just come back a few hours later.
I just returned from UAC in New Orleans yesterday. It was a great conference, with many eminent speakers and fascinating presentations. The conference culminated with the Presidential Panel, where five astrologers, each using different techniques, made their prediction for the winner of the 2012 elections. The participants, in alphabetical order, were Chris Brennan (Hellenistic), Gary Christian (Uranian), Edith Hathaway (Vedic), me (Traditional), and Claude Weiss (using a mix of mundane techniques). As far as I know, none of us discussed the outcome with each other prior to the panel. Yet everyone concurred that Barack Obama would be re-elected in 2012. I wrote about the 2012 elections here earlier this year; my talk was a condensed version of the article.
The panel was covered by major media outlets, who posted a story on Reuters and Associated Press covering the panel's conclusions and citing Chris and me. You can read the story as printed in the Chicago Tribune here. The story quickly propagated through the world media, and was featured on Huffington Post, USA Today, Sina.com, NY Daily News, and dozens of other news sites and publications. When I returned to Chicago, I had an interview request from CNN/HLN and a local radio station; both interviews aired the same day.
As life returns to normal, we have lots of plans afoot, and I am sure you will be hearing more from me on my favorite topic, mundane and financial astrology.
Astrology and the Solar Eclipse of May 20, 2012
May 13, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
The annular solar eclipse of May 20, 2012 at 0 Gemini is one of two solar eclipses of 2012 (the other occurs in November, as eclipses run in pairs six months apart). An annular solar eclipse is named after the Latin word "annulus" or "ring", and this type of eclipse occurs when the Moon is on the far side of its orbit and appears too small to cover the entire solar disk. As a result, at totality, a narrow ring of solar light is visible around the Moon. Approximately one-third of all eclipses are annular. From first to last penumbral contact, the eclipse will last 3 hours and 33 minutes. The totality of the eclipse will last 5 minutes and 46 seconds.
The eclipse will be visible in Southeast Asia, southern Japan, the Pacific Ocean, and western North America (view a Google Map of the eclipse path here). The traditional perspective on eclipses is that they influence primarily the places where they are visible; from an astrological perspective, eclipses are especially active where they are angular in the horoscope. The duration of the eclipse's effects in years is equal to the duration of the eclipse, or 3 1/2 years. Thus, we will see the effects of the eclipse through the end of 2015.
The eclipse occurs closely conjunct to the 1st magnitude fixed star Mirfak (alpha Perseus, meaning "the Elbow" in Arabic), which is traditionally seen as the side of Perseus, the famed killer of the Medusa and the sea monster Cetus. The star can be said to give bravery and strength, though it is placed in a warlike constellation ruled by Jupiter and Saturn, according to Ptolemy. Jupiter is for justice, but Saturn is for death. In general, this eclipse may bring earthquakes or big storms – the eclipse occurs in Gemini, an air sign, and its ruler, Mercury, is in an earth sign with Jupiter. Certainly Mercury and Jupiter in Taurus can indicate disturbances and movement in the earth.
Let us look at possible effects of this eclipse on the various localities where it will be visible.
China (Southeastern), Macau, and Hong Kong: China has been involved in an altercation with the Philippine Navy in the South China sea over the last few weeks. Chinese vessels stopped the Philippine government from arresting Chinese fishermen accused of illegally fishing in the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal area. The Chinese online media has been talking up preparations for war, which China's Defense Ministry has denied. The thought is that China is asserting itself to look in control during its political transition this year. The presence of the eclipse indicates further warlike behavior, as the ruler of the eclipse is Mercury with Jupiter, but as Mars is not prominent in the eclipse chart, we do not believe a war with the Philippines will actually start. This is supported by a lack of contacts between the eclipse and China's 1949 foundation horoscopes.
The Philippines, however, have the eclipse right on the Midheaven (3 Gemini), and the Eclipse Mars (10 Virgo) falls on the natal Philippine Mars-Moon conjunction in the 1st house. The conflict will continue in the Philippines' backyard, and while it will not make a ripple in the Chinese horoscope, the tensions – and potential conflict – in the Philippines will likely be high.
Japan: We expect changes in Japan following this eclipse. The country has shut off all of its nuclear reactors in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and has recently announced the nationalization of Tepco, the private company that operated the Fukushima Daiichi site. The entire management and board will be replaced as Japan attempts to clean up and contain radiation. The warlike posture of Perseus will show itself as people will demand accountability for this unnecessary disaster.
United States: The eclipse will pass through Northern California, within a spitting distance of Sacramento, the state's capital. The California governor, Jerry Brown, had announced that the California budget shortfall had grown to $16B, in contrast to the estimated $9B, and that in addition to more program cuts, an increase in taxes will be needed. This is a state that already has the highest sales tax in the nation, and the highest top income tax rate. The economic difficulties that currently envelop California will continue with an added hit of drama. There may be increased earthquake activity following the eclipse. The eclipse will be visible from Las Vegas, Nevada and will pass through New Mexico – Albuquerque, as well as Los Alamos.
The eclipse horoscope set for Sacramento, California, is below:
Horary Astrology: Do Invalid Questions Exist?
May 1, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
Note: A reader asked me recently whether a horary question about someone I do not personally know (i.e. Madeleine McCann) is valid. I am not sure where the concept of some questions being invalid came from, as it does not appear in traditional literature; I assume it arose at some point in the 20th century. Below are some thoughts on this issue.
Let's unpack what you mean by "valid." Does an invalid question mean that the answer will sometimes or always be incorrect if people ask a certain type of question? I'll assume that is what you meant.
Now, let's take the logic a little further; let's assume that hundreds of horary astrologers not connected to the McCann situation have asked "Is Madeleine still alive?" For the sake of argument, let's posit she is still alive. Do we really think that all those charts came up with "no" as an answer? That seems unlikely, so we can assume that questions asked by querents unconnected with the matter will at least sometimes lead to correct answers. But when? Does that mean astrology worked at some of those times but not at other times? That does not seem right.
Does astrology stop working when we ask certain types of questions? If "as above so below" is true – and Hermes Trismegistus assures us that "true without falsehood, certain, most certain" – then the stars should always reflect reality here on earth without exception. I have gotten accurate results to questions about situations in the news that interest me, so these questions are clearly valid at least some of the time.
This raises a second question: Even if there really are valid/invalid questions, how far removed from a situation do we have to be for a question to be valid, and who decides where the line is drawn? Immediate family to the McCanns? Neighbors who sometimes saw Madeleine? Friends? How about acquaintances of the family? Family of friends of the McCanns? Any line that we draw between valid and invalid questions must be arbitrary, and not supported by traditional literature to my knowledge.
Why is it insufficient that this is a topic that affects me emotionally? Presumably, Madeleine's parents, would be mainly motivated to ask out of their emotional involvement with their daughter. Is their question invalid? Or are we letting post-Enlightenment materialism creep in by assuming that there must be a physical connection between us to have a valid question? It's well proven scientifically that emotions affect our bodies, so whether little Madeleine lives or dies does, in fact, impact me more immediately than we think. The only requirement is that we care at least a tiny bit about what happened to this little girl.
I have recently become very conscious of the fact – and this is not about you at all – is that in all areas of life, there are people who set themselves up as authorities who are eager to tell us what is and is not possible and we are very eager to take their word for it. The Buddha said: "One is one's own refuge, who else could be the refuge?" Also, "be a light unto yourselves." We cannot take statements of possibility for granted, but rather, let us do the actual hard work to test assumptions. What is our reward? The truth, the only thing worth striving for.
Astrology of Missing People: Is Madeleine McCann Still Alive?
April 25, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
Faithful readers of the Gryphon Astrology blog have read my 2007 post about little Madeleine McCann who vanished without a trace from her parents' vacation apartment in Portugal, on May 3, 2007. Recently, Scotland Yard stated they have evidence that Madeleine is still alive and they are investigating this line of inquiry. Perhaps they read this blog! In 2007, I wrote that the little girl is most likely alive.
As this is an emotional topic for me (and many readers), I impulsively cast a horary chart when I learned of Scotland Yard's announcement, asking "Is Madeleine McCann alive?" The chart is below:
Short answer: Yes, Madeleine is still alive. There is a good possibility she will be found.
Long answer: This is clearly a question about children; we have a Mercury-ruled sign rising, Gemini. Mercury rules young children, especially those between 4-10. We also have the Moon and Venus on the Ascendant, so further evidence that this is about a little girl. Madeleine is represented by the 1st house (William Lilly assigned missing persons we don't personally know to the 1st house), its ruler, and planets in it. Any past connection to planets associated with the eighth house would indicate death.
Mercury, ruler of the 1st house, is in the auspicious 11th house, which, according to Lilly, means the person is still alive, however many reports there are of their death.
Saturn rules the 8th house of death in this chart; there is no past connection between Saturn and Madeleine's planets (Mercury, Venus, or the Moon). Lilly also says to watch out for oppositions between these planets, which we fortunately do not see here.
Now, the Moon does apply to a trine of Saturn, translating the light of Venus to Saturn. However, we are optimistic that Madeleine is not in danger. Saturn is in the 5th house, which is not malefic, and having Venus on the Ascendant is highly protective for the little girl. Interestingly, Venus will not trine Saturn anytime soon; she will go retrograde a hair before the aspect perfects.
We do see that the Moon has separated from Venus, ruler of the 12th house, which means a past imprisonment or fear of imprisonment. But interestingly, we do see Mercury and Venus applying to a sextile, and are cautiously optimistic that this brings some news of Madeleine. This aspect perfects on May 4th, William Lilly says to look at when the ruler of the 11th (Mars) and the ruler of the Ascendant (Mercury) come into aspect to determine when we hear about the missing person. Mercury trines Mars on the 13th of May. Let us hope we hear about Madeleine on one of these dates.
The Full Moon of April 6, 2012 Forecast
March 28, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
The full Moon of April 6 foretells a period in the U.S. when efforts to make peace and warlike tendencies are in strong conflict. Men and women will be in conflict with each other. Also, religion and religious traditions around women in particular are going to be at the forefront of national attention. Given the recent unpleasant debates about contraceptive rights for women (hello, 1916!), this seems particularly appropriate.
Astrologically Speaking…
At the Full Moon, we have Venus in Gemini on the Midheaven with the South Node, so there will be discussion of women's immorality. Note that Venus is in a barren sign, so this is conversation about women supposedly behaving badly by being freed from the responsibility-inducing risk of pregnancy.
Jupiter is just outside the 10th house, indicating the prominence of religion and law in this two week period. We suspect that the Supreme Court will not look kindly upon the administration's health care law. The Sun in Aries is on the cusp of the 9th house of the law, indicating a situation where the president's head is very much in the court, but this is a situation that is already ending (the Full Moon indicates fullness, or completion of something). Note there is no aspect between the Sun and Mars, the planet ruling the Supreme Court. Mars is also much better positioned than the Sun, as it is placed in the Ascendant, indicating that the Supreme Court really is the final arbiter here. With Mars retrograde, we assure you that this debate will be going back to Congress for yet another round.
This Full Moon has an interesting and somewhat unusual feature; after the Moon separates from the opposition to the Sun, it will conjoin Saturn. Saturn and the Sun rule opposite signs (Leo and Aquarius, respectively). This configuration in traditional astrology is known as the "Opening of the Double Doors" and creates major weather changes. These should be apparent especially in the Mountain states of the U.S., where the weather will change most noticeably, bringing storms, cold, clouds, and/or fog.
Forecast: U.S. Presidential Election 2012
March 17, 2012 by Nina Gryphon
My latest research into past U.S. election cycles shows that Obama will be re-elected in 2012. It will be a somewhat close contest, but I do not expect it to be a cliff-hanger like some of the elections of the previous years.
The 132-Year Research Project
Last winter, I completed an extensive study of horoscopes for years that included U.S. Presidential elections going back to 1880. This gives us 132 years of US Presidential election data to study. I have examined Aries ingress horoscopes, cast for Washington DC, at the moment when the Sun enters Aries, traditionally the first moment of the astronomical new year for election years. This has enabled me to determine the basic characteristics in Aries Ingress horoscopes that indicate Presidential winners. While some horoscopes are more straightforward than others, the basic rules of traditional astrology are applicable here as well.
We would look at the 10th house of the king to signify the current president or the incumbent party, and the 4th house for his opponent. We closely examine the planets in these houses as well as the rulers of the houses to determine who fares better. It really is that simple. As ever, we look at the traditional planets, rather than the modern rulers.
For 2012, I was struck by the similarity of the 1880 Aries Ingress, and wanted to share that horoscope with my readers to explain my predictions for the 2012 US presidential election. The horoscope for the 2012 election is below.
1880 Presidential Election Contenders
Do you remember the year 1880? It was the decade of mutton-chop mustaches, ruffled bustles on ladies' skirts, and the height of the Gilded Age industrial economic boom. Well, I wasn't alive either, but it's an important year for the 2012 presidential election, because of the close astrological resemblance of the 1880 election to this year's contest.
In 1880, the Republican incumbent was Rutherford B. Hayes. Hayes chose not to run that year, so instead, the Republican party chose James Garfield as their nominee. The Democrats, after a close and splintered contest, nominated Winfield Scott Hancock, a highly respected Civil War General.
Following the lead of the ancient Arabic astrologers, we will assign the Aries Ingress 10th house to the King; that is, the current president or incumbent party. His opponent is signified by the fourth house, as it is the seventh from the 10th, or the "enemy" of the King.
The 1880 horoscope has 29° Virgo on the 10th house cusp, and of course 29° Pisces on the fourth house cusp. This is one similarity between the 1880 and the 2012 Aries Ingresses. Garfield, as the representative of the incumbent party, is symbolized by Mercury, ruler of the 10th house. We note that Mercury is stationing retrograde, and the Moon in Cancer is making an immediate square to Mercury. It may be that Mercury is particularly benefited by going retrograde, because it indicates the return of a party to power, though this remains to be researched.
We do know for certain, however, is that Mercury applying to a planet in its domicile, that is the Moon in its own sign of Cancer, is strongly benefited. So that is one point for Garfield. The fact that Mercury is in the fourth house ruled by his opponent, does not seem to matter, based on my examination of the horoscopes for US elections.
This is another similarity between the 2012 horoscope and that of 1880; Mercury, ruling the King, is in the fourth house, and a different sign from the house cusp.
Now, let us look at the horoscope from the point of view of General Hancock. The fourth house is a crowded house; Jupiter in Pisces is on the fourth house cusp, the Sun in Aries is just inside the fourth house, and we have Mercury conjunct Saturn in Aries as well. The position of the Sun may have helped Hancock, but the fact that it is in a different sign from the cusp seems to have negated most of its positive effects. What about the extremely benefit Jupiter in its own house on the fourth house cusp? Since Jupiter is also the ruler of the fourth house and represents Hancock himself, much of the positive impact is negated as well. Further, there are no immediate applying aspects between Jupiter and other planet.
You can see that the late degrees on the fourth/10th house axis are a bit of a red herring. As you probably know, James Garfield won the 1880 US presidential election, though by a margin of less than 2000 popular votes out of a total of about 4.5 million.
The 2012 U.S. Presidential Election
We see that Mercury rules the 10th house of the king, and it is retrograde. Just as in the 1880 horoscope, it is possible that the 10th house ruler retrograde indicates a return of the president to power for another term. More importantly, Mercury applies to a conjunction with the Sun in Aries. The Sun is extremely powerful in Aries, as it is the sign where the Sun is traditionally exalted and therefore very strong. It is favorable for Mercury to apply to it, even though such closeness to the Sun is called combustion and is normally problematic. In the last 132 years, in the Presidential election context, a planet's application to the Sun in exaltation has been helpful, not harmful for the candidate symbolized by the applying planet.
As in the 1880 election, we see that Mercury and the Sun are placed in the opponent's house; while this may pose difficulties ordinarily (Mercury would be in the opponent's power), the fact that Mercury and the Sun are in a sign different from the fourth house cusp seems to eliminate the negatives associated with this placement.
With these positive factors, Obama is sitting pretty for reelection this year.
His challenger, symbolized by Jupiter as ruler of the fourth house, is not so fortunate. There are no applying aspects to Jupiter, reminding us of the girl who did not get asked to the prom. No one is coming around to knock at the door to change the opponent's current trajectory. For modern astrologers, who would take Neptune as the ruler of Pisces, we have Mars applying to oppose Neptune, while the Moon (the popular will) separates from Neptune. This is not a good sign for the Republican party nominee in 2012.
Who will be the challenger? As of this writing, the three Republican front runners are still fighting it out, but I suspect the winner will be Mitt Romney; as the wealthiest of the three contenders, Jupiter in the very material sign of Taurus symbolizes him.


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