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View photos from Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe at the Fillmore Miami Beach here.
Hooligans in Wondaland Tour
With Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe
Fillmore Miami Beach
May 11, 2011
Better Than: I thought it would be.
Top 40 music has long dealt in mediocre performers who just happened to be plucked up at the right time, coiffed, digitally airbrushed, and packaged to sell. Any number of American Idol contestants would fill the bill if they had a full team pulling their puppet strings and setting up lip-sync machines at amphitheaters around the world.
Real talent is different. And it slaps you in the face.
Regardless of personal bias (e.g. I can't stand the idiotic lyrics to Mars' "Billionaire"), it would be wrong to say that Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe don't have incredibly rare gifts as vocalists and performers. When I walked into the Fillmore last night, I really didn't expect to feel this way by end of their show.
After opening act Plan B (AKA Ben Drew), a British singer and rapper who performed with a slew of skinny suit-clad accomplices, the packed house at the Fillmore waited anxiously for Monáe's arrival. Every corner of the stage had its own compartment of performers. This included a lofted string quartet at the back of stage right (whose electronic instruments looked like implied outlines of violins and cellos), backup singers near the front, bass and lead guitarists on either side of center stage, and both a traditional rock drummer and a bongo drummer at the back of stage left. Oh yes, and three hooded, death-like figures moping around the middle of it all, one of whom turned out to be Monae, obviously much to the crowd's delight.
Monáe's "unveiling" marked the beginning of the audience's deafening conniption fit, which entailed screaming so intense that the only image I could match it to was footage of '60s Beatlemania. This lasted through the entire concert. And it was kind of a bummer.
|Camille Lamb
|Janelle Monae's performance left no space wasted.
Anyway, Monáe dug into her bag of vocal tricks right from the start, scatting and beat-boxing while silhouettes of the Archorchestra performers, her other band members, and herself, played out on the back wall in vivid colors, kinda like the iPod ads. Monáe stuck to her well-known uniform of black and white, as did her entire ensemble. (The quartet looked like a mod fencing team.) But, man, did the singer look pretty. Her face and smile exuded health and youth, as did her lithe body when she started in with her robotic gyrations and perfectly executed moonwalk.
True to the '50s theme, Monáe's ensemble served its audience with smiles, energy flowing effortlessly from one jitterbugging musician to the next. I really believed that each one was having the time of his or her life. Monáe sang the anxiety-inducing "Faster," as images of her frantic running silhouette were projected on the back wall. The band then transitioned to "Locked Inside" as a yellow light fell across the stage, the back wall turned to rainbow confetti, and dancers with mod bodysuits and exaggerated vinyl cuffs came out to complement the song.
Her voice is powerful, piercing, and flexible. It's truly incredible. But my one complaint might be that she worked it to its full potential too often throughout the show. I was desensitized by overexposure. But it did allow me to fully appreciate one of the few mellow, uncluttered songs she performed: Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," accompanied only by her guitar player. Other highlights included "Tightrope" and the funky "Wondaland." She even crowd-surfed briefly, the little poofy-haired daredevil.
After a set change, during which someone in the audience was passing a joint,
a "Weed! Weed! Weed!" chant promptly erupted. (Correction: I guess it was "Heat! Heat! Heat!" as the Heat won the series. I thought the weed chant was weird. But someone was smoking it!). And then out came Mars and company, with a much simpler stage show, relying mainly on his money-in-the-bank voice and too-charming smile.
His crew consisted of his backup singer, two guitar players, a keyboard player, and a drummer, all standing mostly stationary before a number of huge interlocking frames which acted as video screens, often showing the performers on stage at that very moment.
|Camille Lamb
|Bruno Mars
One of his opening songs was "Give You the World," which he explained was the first song he ever wrote, and not on the currentDoo-Wops and Hooligans
album. His voice was at once viscous and light. Countless lounge singers have longed to achieve what it seems Mars possesses: the ability to sing unbelievably well while making it look incredibly easy.
He pandered to his adoring lady fans over and over, who obediently screamed in my ear how much they loved him and how good he was. A lot of the teeny boppers got pretty excited when he crooned "Our First Time," mixing in a few choice lyrics from Usher's sexy "Nice and Slow" and Ericka June's racy "Work the Middle." If the guards hadn't been so strict, I'm pretty sure there would have been a few young women humping the stage.
Mars and three of his musicians performed a beautifully harmonious doo-wop song that showcased his pipes in a non-pop platform. It was pretty impressive. And then he went on to "Lazy Song," when I found this brother and sister pair, Kristina and Chezore Palacios, both dressed in Janelle Monáe style, singing every word and dancing with synchronized hand movements.
He finished up the night with megahit "Just the Way You Are," graciously thanking the audience and crediting the band when the song was through.
Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: I think the lyrics to "Billionaire" are completely disgusting. Some loser just sitting around fantasizing about having a bunch of money. I think it infuriates me because it reminds me of my ex-boyfriend.
Random Detail: There were lots of audience members wearing fedoras.
Overheard in the Crowd: "Marry me, Bruno!!! I love you Bruno!!! You're so good, Bruno!!!"
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Partial Set List
Janelle Monáe
-"Locked Inside"
-"Lay It Down"
Bruno Mars
-"Give You the World"
-"First Time"
-"Runaway Baby"
-"The Lazy Song"
-"Count on Me"
-"Marry You"
-"Nothing on You"
-"Just the Way You Are"
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Privacy & Cookies Policy (v6)
This Privacy & Cookies Policy contains 15 sections. You can view each section by selecting the relevant link below:
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Changes to this Privacy & Cookies Policy
- 3 The information we collect and how we use it
- 4 How else may we use the information we collect?
- 5 Information sharing and disclosure
- 6 Your payment details
- 7 Other types of information we collect and use
- 8 Cookies and similar technologies
- 9 Links
- 10 How do we protect personal information?
- 11 Editing your Pottermore Account settings and unsubscribing from Pottermore emails
- 12 Accessing and updating your personal information
- 13 Terminating or deleting your account
- 14 Transfer of information outside the EEA
- 15 About us and how to contact us
1 Introduction
1.1 Welcome to our website (the "Site"), the digital heart of J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, dedicated to unlocking the power of imagination. The Site is described in more detail in our Terms & Conditions. The Site is owned by Pottermore Limited (referred to as "Pottermore", "we", "us" or "our" as appropriate), a company established in England and Wales. The main part of the Site is currently available at https://www.pottermore.com. The Site also includes the online digital content store of the Harry Potter books, artwork and other merchandise (the "Pottermore Shop"), which is currently available at https://uk.shop.pottermore.com, https://gbp.shop.pottermore.com, https://eur.shop.pottermore.com or https://usd.shop.pottermore.com (depending on your location). We may also make the Site, parts of it or other versions of it available through further digital channels or devices.
1.2 This Privacy & Cookies Policy describes our practices with regard to the information that we collect when you use the Site, what we do with such information and how we protect it. It also describes our practices on the use of cookies. For the purpose of relevant laws (such as, in the UK, the Data Protection Act 1998, as amended), the data controller is Pottermore Limited. Please see our Terms & Conditions and our About page for more information about Pottermore Limited and the basis on which we provide the Site. Some of the capitalised words used in this Privacy & Cookies Policy are defined in our Terms & Conditions and our US Pottermore Shop Terms & Conditions for our US customers, or our Pottermore Shop Terms & Conditions for all our other customers.
1.3 We strive to protect the privacy of Site users. We encourage all users to act responsibly and with care when it comes to their personal information and that of others. Please read this Privacy & Cookies Policy to understand how the information you provide to us is used. If you have any queries or concerns regarding these practices, please see the end of this Privacy & Cookies Policy for details of how to contact us.
1.4 Please note that by visiting and using the Site, you are agreeing to the use of your information and the use of cookies, as described in this Privacy & Cookies Policy.
2. Changes to this Privacy & Cookies Policy
2.1 Subject to applicable law, we may make changes to this Privacy & Cookies Policy at any time. See the end of this Privacy & Cookies Policy for details of the date when it was last updated. We may notify you of any such changes by sending you notice in writing, by posting a copy of the revised Privacy & Cookies Policy on the Site and/or, if you are a Registered User, by emailing you at the email address that you have provided for your Pottermore Account.
2.2 Registered Users are responsible for keeping their account information up to date, including their email address. If the email address to which we sent notice to you under this section is no longer valid but you have failed to notify us of this, the sending of our email (notifying you of any modified terms) will be deemed, nonetheless, to be effective notice of the modified Privacy & Cookies Policy.
2.3 If we make any material changes in the way we collect, use and/or share personal information, we will give you prominent notice of these changes. We will not, without your consent, apply these changes to any personal information that we previously collected from you.
3. The information we collect and how we use it
Personal information
3.1 We collect information that identifies you personally on or via the Site, in limited cicumstances described below, including when: (a) you choose to provide it to us when contacting us; or (b) the technical data that we collect (such as an IP address) are treated as personally identifying information under applicable laws; or (c) you provide this information to us in order to set up a Pottermore Account during the registration process.
Pottermore Account registration data
If you wish to discover which house the Sorting Hat will place you in or which wand will choose you, or wish to discover other personalised content or wish to buy content from the Pottermore Shop (together, the "Registered Services"), you will need to create an account on the Site ("Pottermore Account"). Please note that the Registered Services are subject to various age restrictions and may be subject to additional terms and conditions from time to time.
When you register for a Pottermore Account, we may collect:
Your month and year of birth – these are not displayed publicly. We use this information only:
- to ensure that the site features and any communications you are offered are appropriate for your age.
Your name (please use the name by which you would wish to be called) and email address – these are not displayed publicly. We use this information only:
- to identify you and to address you when communicating with you about your access to, or use of, the Site;
- to personalise your Pottermore Account;
- to send you site-generated emails (for example, account verification emails);
- to send you email communications from time to time containing: exclusive content; general news; special offers; surveys; prize promotions; and updates on events (for example, news about film or stage events), products, content and/or services (for example, information about attractions and books) provided by our trusted partners that are closely connected with the Site, the Pottermore Shop, and J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, but only if you indicate that you wish to receive such communications via your Pottermore Account preferences, which will first be set at the time you create your Pottermore Account and can then be updated by you at any time. After receiving your permission to do so, we will send you email communications until you indicate that you wish to stop receiving such communications, which you can do at any time by following the instructions in section 11 (Editing your Pottermore Account settings and unsubscribing from Pottermore emails);
- to send you a password reminder upon your request; and/or
- for other business and operational purposes related to the Site or your Pottermore Account.
Your gender – this is not displayed publicly. We use this information only:
- to gain a better understanding of our audience.
Your password – this is not displayed publicly. We use this information only:
- to give you the ability to log on to your Pottermore Account.
Information from other sources – this is not displayed publicly.
- We also work closely with third parties (including, for example, business partners and analytics providers) and may receive information about you from them. In either case, we use this information in relation to the Site for the purpose of understanding our audience.
When you register to use the Pottermore Shop and/or place an order from the Pottermore Shop, we collect:
Your first name, surname, email address and (if relevant) delivery address – these are not displayed publicly. We use this information only:
- to identify and contact you about orders that you place via the Pottermore Shop;
- to personalise your purchase;
- in case of a merchandise order, to determine whether the item is available for purchase in your country, and, if so, to arrange for delivery of such item if you buy it via the Site;
- to identify you in our internal records as the purchaser of the product that you order;
- to send you marketing communications from time to time containing (i) general news about the Pottermore Shop, the Site more generally and about the world of Harry Potter; (ii) news regarding activity and content on the Pottermore Shop and the Site more generally; (iii) special offers and prize promotions on products and/or services that are closely connected with the Site and the Harry Potter series; but only if you indicate that you wish to receive such marketing communications via your Pottermore Account preferences, which will first be set at the time you create your Pottermore Account and can then be updated by you at any time. After receiving your permission to do so, we will send you marketing communications until you indicate that you wish to stop receiving such communications, which you can do at any time by following the instructions in section 11 (Editing your settings and unsubscribing from Pottermore emails); and
- for other business and operational purposes related to the Pottermore Shop or your Pottermore Account.
Your billing address – this is not displayed publicly. We use this information only:
- to authorise and approve your payments for orders that you place;
- to contact you by postal mail in the event that we are unable to contact you by other methods;
- to determine which versions of the product (for example, which edition of a book) are available in your country;
- to personalise your purchase; and
- to identify you in our internal records as the purchaser of the copy of the product that you order.
Information collected for purchasing and receiving products on behalf of a recipient via the Pottermore Shop
You can purchase goods on the Pottermore Shop for a third party recipient in accordance with our US Pottermore Shop Terms & Conditions for our US customers, or our Pottermore Shop Terms & Conditions for all our other customers. We refer to the person purchasing the goods as the "purchaser" and the person receiving the goods as the "recipient". The purchaser may send us details of the recipient's first name, surname, delivery address and email address (and any other information that the purchaser may choose to provide) so that we can provide the goods to the recipient. If you are the purchaser, by sending us the recipient's information you are confirming that the recipient is not under the age of majority in the relevant territory and that the recipient has given consent for us to use the recipient's information to provide the goods and in the other ways referred to above. If you are the recipient, by using the Site, starting to download the books, or accessing or using the books by any other means, you are agreeing to the use of your information and the use of cookies, as described in this Privacy & Cookies Policy (in particular, without limitation, the use of your first name, surname and email address in the ways described above). If you are a recipient and would like to have your personal information deleted, please contact us using the contact information below. Please note that we may continue to retain information in some cases following a deletion request for purposes required by law, or when deletion is not practicable.
Customer service queries If you contact us to raise a query, in doing so you may provide us with some of your personal information, such as your name or contact details. We use that personal information only for the purpose of responding to your query.
Other types of information we collect and use
In addition we may collect information that does not identify you personally for a variety of purposes as set out below:
Anonymous analytics data
Like many companies who operate websites, we collect basic information about your use of our Site, such as the number and duration of visits to the Site, any search queries entered on our Site, and details of which particular pages have been visited. We do not combine this information with any other information that could identify you personally. We use this information to analyse how the Site is functioning and how it is used by our users, to help us maintain and improve the Site on an ongoing basis.
Performance data
While using the Site, certain information is automatically logged about how you are using the Site to analyse performance and usage of the Site. This information may include the URL of the website that linked you to the Site, your IP address and the pages you visit while on the Site. The IP address indicates the location of your computer on the internet. We use this information to analyse how the Site is functioning and how it is used by our users, to help us maintain and improve the Site on an ongoing basis.
Third-party analytics data
Like many companies that operate websites, we allow carefully selected third parties to set cookies in order to capture analytics information. When you use social-media functionality on the Site, analytics cookies may be set to measure usage. This information nayb be linked to your device but otherwise is collected in a way that does not identify you personally.
Children's privacy
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a user under the age of 13, we will delete such information from our records. If you believe your child has provided us with personal information and you would like to have the personal information deleted, please contact us using the contact information below.
Minors' privacy in the context of the Pottermore Shop
In the context of purchasers from the Pottermore Shop, we do not knowingly use personal information from persons under the age of majority in the relevant country. If we become aware that a person under the age of majority in the relevant country is attempting to access the Pottermore Shop, we may use technical measures to prevent such person from entering into transactions on the Pottermore Shop. If you believe your child has provided us with personal information and you would like to have the personal information deleted in such context, please contact us using the contact information below.
4. How else may we use the information we collect?
4.1 We may use the information we collect to comply with law, to investigate a complaint made by another user or a potential breach of the Site's Terms & Conditions or to prevent and detect unlawful or criminal activity, fraud and misuse of, or damage to, the Site or the products, content and services made available through it, and to take appropriate legal action against those responsible.
4.2 We may on occasion link or combine the information that we collect about you with information that we receive from other sources. We may combine this information with information you give to us and information we collect about you. (For example, we may decide to combine two or more databases into a single database of user information.) We may use this information and the combined information for your and/or our benefit (for example, to allow us to provide a more seamless support whenever you contact us or to provide you with better, personalised services and content and/or, where you have opted to receive such communications, recommendations about trusted partners' products, content or services that might interest you).
5. Information sharing and disclosure
We share your personal information in certain limited ways as described below.
5.1 If you disclose personal information to us when contacting us with a query or placing an order, we may share that personal information with authorised third parties for the purpose of handling your query or order and (for merchandise) fulfilling your order, for fraud prevention and for the purposes of operating, managing and administering (including without limitation transaction processing) the Pottermore Shop. Such third parties include, for example, providers of our customer service, hosting, e-commerce fulfilment, delivery, payment facilities and other support services.
5.2 We may share your information with other third parties including commercial partners, suppliers and sub-contractors from time to time ("Partners") for the performance of any contract we enter into with them in connection with the Site. Your information will not be retained or used for any other purposes.
5.3 We may further share and disclose your personal information with other third parties including Partners for the purpose of better integrating their services with the Pottermore Shop. Before we share or disclose any of your personal information with any third parties for marketing purposes, we will ask you for your permission to do so.
5.4 In addition, we may share information about visitors to the Site in an anonymous and aggregate form with third parties (including our business partners) to understand user trends and patterns and to manage and improve our business relationships.
5.5 We do not send any information that we collect on the Site to any social networking sites, nor do we share that information with such sites. We do not collect any personal information about you from those sites.
5.6 We may disclose information we collect, including personal information, as set out below:
(a) to our employees, agents Partners, and authorised third-party providers for them to administer any accounts or services provided to you through the Site as described above (including, if you are a Registered User, in relation to the registration, creation and operation of your Pottermore Account);
(b) if you consent to receiving marketing communications from our Partners, to those Partners, to their employees and agents for them to send you marketing communications regarding products, content and services they offer;
(c) if there is a change in the ownership of Pottermore Limited or any of its assets, including a change as a result of insolvency or bankruptcy, we may disclose information to the new owner and, if we do so, we will require them to use it only in accordance with the terms of our Privacy & Cookies Policy;
(d) apart from the use and sharing of your personal information in the circumstances already described, we may share information we collect (including personal information) as required or allowed by law (for example, as needed to protect our and our licensors' rights and property or to comply with any applicable law or valid legal process);
(e) to affiliated companies and/or joint venture partners in connection with the Site; and/or
(f) with your permission.
6. Your payment details
We will never send you an email containing your full payment details, and we will never publicly disclose your payment details, whether on the Pottermore Shop or elsewhere. If you appear to have received an email from us, or seen a Pottermore Shop page, that displays your full payment details, this is not genuine – a third party may be attempting to steal your information. Please see section 10 for further information on how we protect the payment information held for you for the Pottermore Shop.
7. Other types of information we collect and use
7.1 We aim to provide a number of features that help provide a more personalised and enhanced experience to our users. To achieve this, we may collect and use a limited amount of non-personal information from you. In addition, we may ask you about which books and films in the Harry Potter series you have enjoyed. We will never publicly disclose any such information on the Site without obtaining your permission.
7.2 We also collect non-personal data, including aggregated, statistical data about visitors to the Site and traffic patterns (and share it with third parties such as our Partners). This information does not identify you in any capacity; it simply gives generalised information about the users of the Site. Please see below for more information on our use of cookies and similar technologies.
7.3 We also use watermarking technology to help us combat hacking, piracy and the unauthorised use of books sold through the Pottermore Shop. This involves the use of code numbers to help us to identify individual copies of a book. We may use such watermarking technology to identify items purchased through your Pottermore Account to help us investigate and protect against hacking, piracy, unauthorised use and any other behaviour that may be in breach of our Terms & Conditions or applicable laws.
7.4 We may disclose information that does not identify you personally, including aggregated or de-identified data, in our discretion.
8. Cookies and similar technologies
8.1 While you are using the Site, certain information is automatically logged about how you are using the Site to analyse performance and usage of the Site. This information may include, for example, the URL of the website which linked you to the Site, your IP address and the pages you visit while on the Site. The IP address indicates the location of your computer on the internet.
8.2 A "cookie" is a small data file that is sent to your browser from a web server and stored on your device's hard drive. References below to cookies also include other means of automatically accessing or storing information on your device. Many browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies as you prefer: please see section 8.4 below for further details.
8.3 We use various different types of cookie via the Site.
- We use cookies that are necessary and/or useful for the functioning of the Site. For example, if you use the Pottermore Shop, we use "session cookies" (which will usually be deleted when you log out) to keep track of your internet session while on the Pottermore Shop, which, for instance, allow us to remember the items you add to your shopping basket and the site language and currency you have selected to use. Without these cookies the online services that you have asked for cannot be provided.
- We also use "persistent cookies" (which are longer-term) (and other automatically tracked information) to help you move around and enjoy the features on the Pottermore Shop more easily and to remember settings to improve your visit, such as, for example, your site language preferences or whether you want to be signed in automatically next time you visit.
- We also use cookies to help improve the performance of the Site and to provide you with a better, more personalised user experience.
- We also use cookies to store your preferences and other information on your computer in order to save you time by eliminating the need to enter the same information repeatedly.
- So cookies allow you to take advantage of some of the Site's key features. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to sign in or to use other interactive features of the Site and its services that depend on cookies.
Third parties on this Site may use cookies to collect information about online activities over time and across this and other websites on the internet. In further detail, Pottermore cookies fall into the following categories, which we have documented to help you understand the types of cookies that are used to improve your browsing experience on the Site:
Analytics (e.g. Google Analytics; Webengage)
These cookies are used to compile various (anonymised) metrics for our users to get a better understanding of how the Site is used (pages visited and time spent on the Site, for example), so that we can deliver more of the content you want, and less of the content you don't. This information also helps us to make better decisions for our future initiatives. We use partners like Webengage and Google Analytics. These analytics cookies are set by those partners, and set in accordance with the relevant partner's own privacy and cookies policies. Please see section 8.4 below for information on opting out of Google Analytics.
E-commerce (Shopify)
These cookies are used via the Pottermore Shop to manage your shopping basket and user experience. We use Shopify. These e-commerce cookies are set by Shopify in accordance with its own privacy and cookies policies.
Customer Service (ZenDesk)
Our customer services partner ZenDesk sets cookies if you visit the ZenDesk Help Center to improve your experience and understand your user preferences. These website cookies are set by ZenDesk in accordance with its own privacy cookies policies.
Performance data
This lets us track how long it takes users to load each page, what pages we can cache and whether we need you to log in again. We don't use any third parties for this.
Embedded video (YouTube)
We know that many of you love the films, so we make use of clips on YouTube to highlight certain elements of the story. YouTube sets its own cookies, and the YouTube cookies policy can be found here.
Social media (Twitter)
J.K. Rowling isn't just a master of novel writing – she's also pretty handy within the confines of 140 characters! In order to host her tweets, we embed Twitter links. Twitter sets its own cookies, and Twitter's cookies policy can be found here.
We use this type of cookie to ensure that we don't show you things you've already seen before, like the cookie policy acceptance and the intro page. This means you get to spend more time with the content you love, and less time with the content you don't.
Session state
Websites often collect information about how users interact with a website. This may include the pages that users visit most often, and whether users get error messages from certain pages. We use these so-called "session state cookies" to help us improve our services, in order to improve our users' browsing experience. Blocking or deleting these cookies will not render the Site unusable.
The cookies outlined above expire after varying periods from around 30 minutes up to 2 years or more. The length of time that a cookie remains on your computer or mobile device depends on whether it is a "persistent" or "session" cookie. Session cookies last until you stop browsing and persistent cookies last until they expire or are deleted.
By continuing to use the Site, you are providing your consent for us to use cookies in these ways, but you can disable any of these cookies at any time if you wish (as set out below).
8.4 You may refuse to accept cookies by activating the setting on your web browser that allows you to refuse the setting of cookies, or you can modify your browser so that it notifies you when cookies are sent to it. The Help portion of your browser, most likely found on the toolbar, typically tells you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. You can check whether these settings are currently enabled on your computer – or find out how to change your current settings – here (but note that Pottermore does not control these third-party resources):
Cookies: www.whatarecookies.com
Unless you do this, cookies will be issued when you use the Site, but you can disable them via your browser at any time. If you do not accept cookies or decide to disable them, you will still be able to access and use the Site, but you may lose some features and functionality. For example, you cannot remain signed in to your Pottermore Account if you disable cookies.
If you wish to restrict or block web browser cookies which are set on your device, then you can do this by going to the help menu within your internet browser. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the "manage cookies" section on www.allaboutcookies.org, which contains information on how to prevent cookies from being stored on your device.
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across websites visit: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/
You can find out more about cookies at www.allaboutcookies.org and www.youronlinechoices.eu.
9. Links
The Site contains links posted by us to third-party websites (including social networking platforms) that we do not operate or control and that are not subject to this Privacy & Cookies Policy. Please note that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of external sites. Please read our Terms & Conditions for further information on these links. We strongly recommend that you read the privacy policy and cookies policy of any such website that you visit before disclosing any information via such website.
10. How do we protect personal information?
10.1 As required by applicable data-protection and privacy laws, we follow appropriate security procedures in relation to the storage and disclosure of information that you have given to us in order to protect against unauthorised access. In particular, we take steps to protect the security of your information, including your payment information and passwords, with appropriate physical, technological and administrative measures. You accept the inherent risks of providing information and dealing online and will not hold us responsible for any breach of security that is due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
10.2 If you have any concerns about data security, please see the end of this Privacy & Cookies Policy for details of how to contact us.
11. Editing your Pottermore Account settings and unsubscribing from Pottermore emails
11.1 If you register with the site, you will be asked about your communication preferences. If you want to edit your preferences at any time, log in to the Site and go to https://my.pottermore.com/my-details, where you can check what preferences you have set and adjust them if you want to do so.
11.2. If you registered for an account on a previous version of the Site (prior to 13 April 2016), you may have consented to receiving marketing communications from us. Your marketing settings will remain as they were at the time before that version of the Site was replaced, and you can still withdraw your consent to receiving marketing communications at any time by: (i) clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any of the marketing communications we send you; (ii) emailing firstname.lastname@example.com; or (iii) changing your Account Preferences in your Pottermore Account.
11.3 You can also edit your settings as described above in section 11.1 or 11.2 above to correct or update your personal details held by us, i.e. to change your:
- name;
- email address;
- country of residence;
- billing address (if you have one)
- delivery address; and/or
- password.
12. Accessing and updating your personal information
12.1 You can access and edit information on your profile at the Account Settings page in your Pottermore Account.
Your right to access your personal information
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
belleisart the love of photogrphy
Isa is a daydreaming and earthloving photographer based in Koblenz Germany
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text:
[19:11:18] < FstLtRayus> ::AA::
[19:11:19] < LtJgGrimm> ::AA::
[19:11:19] < LtCmdrRollands> ::AA::
[19:11:20] < LtCmdrMelina> ::AA::
[19:11:21] < LtJgRicker> ::AA::
[19:11:22] < LtBlackburn> ::AA::
[19:11:22] < DrCeja> ::AA::
[19:11:23] < FstLtAklar> ::AA::
[19:11:24] < LtJgKellen> ::AA::
[19:11:27] < CmdrRamus> ::AA::
[19:11:27] < Cmdr_Jordan> ::AA::
[19:11:31] < JessiTigress> ::AA::
[19:11:36] -!- SLApopcornman is now known as EnsLogan
[19:12:21] < SLAWarp> Hey everybody, and welcome to an extra-special episode of Star Trek: Potemkin!
[19:12:46] < SLAWarp> First off, thanks to the organizers of SciWorld for letting us join in the festivities this week. I hope you're all enjoying it thoroughly!
[19:13:07] < SLAWarp> And, to the Potemkin crew, be sure to stop by and participate in some of the other activities going on over the next few days. It's great fun!
[19:13:44] < SLAWarp> Second off, I hear there's been some horrid weather lately. I hope you've all managed to keep safe, dry, and warm!
[19:14:11] < SLAWarp> Third, and most importantly, tonight's plot is brought to you by...
[19:14:19] < SLAWarp> Commander Arnet! Or, as we like to call him, THE BLOODY DOCTOR!
[19:14:24] < SLAWarp> Arnet, take it away!
[19:14:32] < CmdrArnet> Thank you mon capitaine!
[19:14:47] < CmdrArnet> ::gets up:: Well, there are a few more people in the room than normal!
[19:14:56] < CmdrArnet> ::leans over to Warp:: Do I really have to do this in front of everyone?
[19:15:18] < SLAWarp> <q> I think it's a bit too late to turn back now, Arnet!
[19:15:27] -!- CharlesEStar [email@example.com] has joined #SciWorld1
[19:15:27] < CmdrArnet> <q> Bloody! I didn't agree t this!
[19:15:35] < CmdrArnet> ::coughs:: Right then!
[19:15:53] < CmdrArnet> I hope you enjoy tonights plot!
[19:15:56] -!- CharlesGStar [firstname.lastname@example.com] has joined #SciWorld1
[19:15:59] < CmdrArnet> Without further ado:
[19:16:14] < CmdrArnet> Tonight's Sim: "A Ferengi, Zakdorn and a Tellerite Walk Into a Bar..."
[19:16:37] < CmdrArnet> SD: 67409.7 (May 30th, 2390 at 1200 Hours)
[19:17:17] < CmdrArnet> Background: About a year ago it was revealed that Potemkin's XO, a Saurian named Ze, was actually an imposter
[19:17:52] -!- STF|FCaptSalmon [firstname.lastname@example.com] has quit [Ping timeout: 121 seconds]
[19:18:12] < CmdrArnet> Due some truly spectacular bureacratic machinations, the real Ze, who was supposed to be assigned to the 'Tem, was given fake orders to stay where he was. And this allowed someone to assume his identity aboard the Potemkin
[19:18:30] < CmdrArnet> The ruse was eventually found out, but too late. The fake Ze got away and the Potemkin has been chasing him ever since.
[19:19:06] < CmdrArnet> The only clue he gave was to Aklar, right before stunning him. And that was simply that Aklar would understand when he knew what "A Ferengi, Zakdorn and Tellarite walk into a bar" meant.
[19:19:27] < CmdrArnet> Could the Ferengi be Filik, the young Ferengi who tried to auction off the shuttle that Ze had fled in?
[19:19:30] -!- CharlesEStar [email@example.com] has quit [Ping timeout: 121 seconds]
[19:19:47] < CmdrArnet> Could the Zakdorn be Hiltakon, the arrogant Zakdorn detective who tried to help them track down Ze?
[19:19:54] < CmdrArnet> If so, who was the Tellarite?
[19:19:58] -!- CharlesGStar [email@example.com] has quit [Ping timeout: 121 seconds]
[19:20:17] < CmdrArnet> One person who decided to find an answer to that problem was Aklar. Catching Ze has come a bit of an obsession for him
[19:20:42] < CmdrArnet> So, a few days after our previous sim, Aklar took some leave to do some personal investigation. He was supposed to be gone a week.
[19:21:08] -!- FstLtAklar is now known as FstLtAklarMIA
[19:21:18] < CmdrArnet> It's now several days after when he was supposed to be gone. No one has heard from him. Naturally Warp is concerned about where his ACSO is.
[19:21:58] < CmdrArnet> So now the Potemkin is following up on his last whereabouts: The Tellarite colony of Por'Chou
[19:22:12] < CmdrArnet> Positions!
[19:23:01] < CmdrArnet> As the sim gets started, Warp, Jordan, Rollands and Ceja are meeting with the colony's governor to see where official channels can get them
[19:23:22] < CmdrArnet> The rest of the crew has been granted dispensation to search the colony and see if they can find hide or hair of their missing crewman
[19:23:52] < JessiTigress> <JaguaraTigress>
[19:24:10] < CmdrArnet> Those meeting with the governor, please use [ ] around your nicks, those searching the colony please use { }
[19:24:19] -!- You're now known as [AdmWarp]
[19:24:20] -!- LtCmdrRollands is now known as [LtCmdrRollands]
[19:24:24] -!- DrCeja is now known as [DrCeja]
[19:24:29] -!- LtCmdrMelina is now known as {LtCmdrMelina}
[19:24:29] < CmdrArnet> Questions, comments, concerns?
[19:24:30] -!- LtJgRicker is now known as {LtJgRicker}
[19:24:30] -!- LtJgGrimm is now known as {LtJgGrimm}
[19:24:34] -!- Cmdr_Jordan is now known as [Cmdr_Jordan]
[19:24:35] * CmdrRamus slaps [AdmWarp] around a bit with a large fishbot
[19:24:45] < {LtJgRicker}> Should the crew introduce ourselves real quick? and our position?
[19:24:51] < CmdrRamus> Oops....
[19:24:55] < CmdrArnet> Good idea, Mr. Ricker
[19:24:58] -!- LtJgKellen is now known as {LtJgKellen}
[19:25:00] < [AdmWarp]> Actually, we have a cheat sheet!
[19:25:00] -!- FstLtRayus is now known as {FstLtRayus}
[19:25:03] < [AdmWarp]>
[19:25:09] < CmdrArnet> And Warp saves the day!
[19:25:14] < [LtCmdrRollands]> Ah, the cheat sheet!
[19:25:20] < {LtJgRicker}> And thats why he is the Admiral
[19:25:32] < {LtJgRicker}> And I am but a lowly junior officer
[19:25:38] < CmdrArnet> For the record, let's say that Arnet is on the 'Tem holding down the fort - and conveniently not around for the evening
[19:25:38] -!- [DrCeja] is now known as will
[19:25:43] < [AdmWarp]> It was a good suggestion, Ricker!
[19:26:04] < CmdrArnet> With that ::looks to Warp:: Well, mon capitaine, I believe I am sort of, kind of ready
[19:26:07] -!- will is now known as [DrCeja]
[19:26:08] < [AdmWarp]> Alrighty. For the guests in the room, we're likely to run ... well, late.
[19:26:16] < [DrCeja]> ((Oops))
[19:26:26] < {LtJgRicker}> (( Nothing new))
[19:26:27] < [AdmWarp]> You're welcome to stick around until we end (likely around 0000 EDT).
[19:26:34] < CmdrArnet> ((Which is mostly Warp's fault, I might add!))
[19:26:44] < FstLtAklarMIA> ((Techincally it's my fault!))
[19:26:45] < [AdmWarp]> And if you want a sim log afterwards, drop me an email -- firstname.lastname@example.com.
[19:26:55] < {LtJgRicker}> (( Bad career move Arnet. Never blame the Admiral))
[19:27:04] < [AdmWarp]> With that, we'll get going!
[19:27:08] < [AdmWarp]> Arnet... PUNCH IT!
[19:27:11] < CmdrArnet> BEGIN THY SIMMING!
[19:27:36] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> WARP AND THOSE WITH HIM ARE USHERED INTO A LUSHLY DECORATED ANTECHAMBER TO AWAIT AUDIENCE WITH THE GOVERNOR
[19:27:50] < [DrCeja]> ::Walks into the room, looking around::
[19:27:56] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> THE REST OF THE CREW IS ON THE MUDDY STREETS OF THE COLONY - EMPHASIS ON THE MUDDY
[19:28:08] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Once again checks his phaser, never know when you are going to need it::
[19:28:09] < {LtJgKellen}> I'm an Engineer not a Search Engin...
[19:28:09] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Looks around the antechamber::
[19:28:13] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Moving around the colony with purpose, asking some seemingly random questions and searching some things he can get away with::
[19:28:20] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> THE COLONY IS BY NO MEANS A CITY OF MARBLE. DARK, WINDY PASSAGES BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND UNSAVORY CHARACTERS ALL AROUND
[19:28:33] -!- LtBlackburn is now known as {LtBlackburn}
[19:28:43] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Is walking around rather nonchalant, only half looking for Aklar :: I bet the guy just found himself a house of a house of ill repute, and shacked up for a few days too long.
[19:28:46] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::She raised a brow as she entered. Normally, there would be a mug of cocoa in her hand but it was missing. She was cranky because of it::
[19:28:46] -!- EnsLogan is now known as Logan
[19:28:50] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Walks around the colony, keeping very alert to anything that could happen:: He's got to be here somewhere
[19:29:09] < {LtBlackburn}> Im going to find a bar. Theres always good info at the local pub
[19:29:30] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Nods to Blackburn:: I'll go with you
[19:29:34] < {LtJgKellen}> ::looks down at the mud::
[19:29:42] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Notices a questionable substance on the wall of the alley he was in and makes a face:: Gross
[19:29:44] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> THE DOORS TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SWINGS OPEN. A SERVANT BECKONS WARP AND HIS GROUP TO ENTER
[19:29:49] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::Softly to Rollands:: I wonder if they have coffee?
[19:30:11] < [AdmWarp]> ::Nods appreciatively, but formally, at the invitation::
[19:30:17] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Looks over at Mel and Blackburn :: I will tag along if you dont mind. This mud is quite muddy.
[19:30:18] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Raises an eyebrow to Jordan as they are beckoned:: <q> Is that you you look a bit...grumpy?
[19:30:19] < [DrCeja]> ::Sighs as she walks forward, hoping that there is some news::
[19:30:41] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Smiles at Rayus:: I certainly don't mind at all
[19:30:42] < {LtBlackburn}> Well then, I guess we are a party of three now eh?
[19:30:44] < [AdmWarp]> ::Speaks as he enters the room, before he can see who's there:: Thank you for seeing us.
[19:30:46] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Looking around for a form of local law enforcement seeking to get a semi-reliable source of information::
[19:30:56] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> <q> Combine with Aklar missing, yep. ::She looked over at Ceja when she heard the sigh::
[19:31:10] < {LtJgKellen}> ::looks to Luc:: So I'm stuck with him?
[19:31:11] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Catches Ceja's sigh and frowns::
[19:31:27] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> THE TELLARITE GOVERNOR, TAAL, GIVES A SOFT GRUNT "I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE TALLER, ADMIRAL"
[19:31:46] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> BLACKBURN, ET AL, FIND A SUITABLE BAR
[19:31:59] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Calls back to Drake:: You can always strike out on your own... Im sure a strapping Klingon like yourself will be ok with the thugs here
[19:32:02] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Smiles back at Mel ::
[19:32:06] < [AdmWarp]> ::Shrugs his shoulders imperceptibly:: I always hoped I'd make two meters.
[19:32:15] < {LtBlackburn}> Roughly translated, I believe this place is called the busted screw.
[19:32:43] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Rolls her eyes slightly:: You'd tend to think they'd come up with a better name for a bar
[19:32:51] < [AdmWarp]> ::Waits to be invited to sit, while sizing up the admittedly imposing-looking governor::
[19:33:04] < {FstLtRayus}> Yeah, like the rusty spoon. That would be a good name for a bar.
[19:33:04] < {LtJgKellen}> Nah, don't want to hurt anyone...
[19:33:06] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> I MUST ADMIT NOT BEING THAT FOND OF HAVING FEDERATION OFFICERS SNOOPING THROUGH MY COLONY, ADMIRAL
[19:33:15] < {LtBlackburn}> To each his own I say. Probably an inside joke with the owner.
[19:33:25] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Hesitates as he approaches a corner and makes it quickly to avoid attackers::
[19:33:27] < [DrCeja]> ::Stands quietly to one side, watching Taal::
[19:33:43] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> TAAL'S OFFICE IS JUST FLAT OUT RICHLY DECORATED. AND FULL OF ALL SORTS OF ARTIFACTS. THE MAN HAS A TASTE FOR ANTIQUITIES
[19:34:02] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Moves to catch up to Luc:: What are you afraid of?
[19:34:05] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Looks around :: Except for all the mud, this place kinda reminds me of home.
[19:34:13] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Looks around this room just as she did the other. The aritfacts collection was quite impressive, but that wasn't why they were there::
[19:34:28] < {LtJgRicker}> Dying for one....
[19:34:29] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Looks around inside the bar:: I hope someone brought some credits. I've got a feeling we're going to have to pay through the nose in order to get the information we need
[19:34:30] < {LtBlackburn}> Let's get a drink and find ourselves a good spot from which to observe the conversation.
[19:34:31] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::After a recieving some suspicious looks and no luck, finally decides to join the others at a bar::
[19:34:54] < {LtJgKellen}> But we have the fire power
[19:34:56] < [AdmWarp]> We're searching for a missing criminal, one who has caused us a particularly significant amount of trouble. I'm sure you can appreciate the need for us to uphold law and order.
[19:35:08] < {LtBlackburn}> I have a couple slips of Latinum.
[19:35:14] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::She was examining his impressive collection. She could spend a day in here cataloguing the items. She moved in closer along left wall for a better look.::
[19:35:34] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Chuckles :: I got more credits than I know what to do with. Not a thing you hear within the federation very often, but being rich has its perks.
[19:35:53] < {LtBlackburn}> :: pulls out a small pouch and hands a couple slips to Mel and Rayus::
[19:36:00] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> I DO, BUT AS I TOLD YOU OVER THE COMM, WE HAVE NO RECORD OF YOUR MISTER AKLAR. NOT WHAT HE WAS DOING HERE OR HOW HE LEFT, IF HE DID. THAT SEEMS ... SUSPICIOUS. AND I DON'T LIKE SUSPICIOUS
[19:36:27] < {LtBlackburn}> Dont use em unless you have to though, I worked hard for those.
[19:36:31] < [AdmWarp]> <<Did I say "criminal"? I meant "crewman." Freudian slip? >>
[19:36:32] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Takes one of the slips from Blackburn:: Thanks. Kind of hard to carry credits with this suit sometimes
[19:36:42] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> THE BAR BLACKBURN AND THE REST FIND IS BUSY, BUT NOT PACKED. AND WHY IS THERE MUD EVERYWHERE??
[19:36:59] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> << lol..thought you were trying to throw him off the scent or something >>
[19:37:03] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Refuses Blackburn's money :: No thanks, I am good.
[19:37:13] < FstLtAklarMIA> ((Sure... I'm not around one time and look how you all talk about me!))
[19:37:16] < [DrCeja]> ::Remains quiet, and looks around the room::
[19:37:48] < [AdmWarp]> Nor do we, which is concerning to us, governor. ::Continues waiting for an invitation to sit:: We'd just like to look around and see if we can find any sign of him.
[19:37:52] < {LtBlackburn}> No problem Melina, I always take some Latinum into places like this.
[19:37:55] < {LtJgKellen}> ((Duh))
[19:37:59] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Frowns hearing Taal and stays off to the side::
[19:38:00] < [AdmWarp]> If we do, we'll be on our way. If we don't, we'll be on our way just the same.
[19:38:04] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::She nosed in on a rather noticeable antique, then gasped when she realized what it was. And that having it was considered a crime in many places::
[19:38:30] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> JORDAN ISN'T THE ONLY ONE TO NOTICE SOME OF THESE ARTIFACTS MAY NOT HAVE COME THROUGH REPUTABLE AUCTIONS...
[19:38:35] < {LtJgKellen}> ((Sorry that wasn't nice, was it?))
[19:38:56] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Walk up to the bar and then looks to Blackburn and Rayus:: What are you two going to order?
[19:39:13] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Is beginning to feel as if his quest was futile when he runs in to an information peddler in a back alley::
[19:39:14] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Raises an eyebrow as some of the artifacts catch her own eye and moves to them slowly::
[19:39:22] < {FstLtRayus}> :: To Mel :: Mead if they have it. And a slice of pie.
[19:39:22] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Arrives to a mud-filled bar, looking at the crowd that was gathered there and headed towards his fellows:: Any luck?
[19:39:25] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> I CAN'T STOP YOU, CAN I? WE ARE ALL FEDERATION CITIZENS HERE. BUT TELL ME YOU WON'T HAVE AN INTRUSTIVE PRESENCE IN MY COLONY
[19:39:48] < {LtBlackburn}> To avoid suspicion, Im getting a real drink. Not that I can't handle it, but I do have an inhibitor just in case.
[19:39:55] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> <q> ::she nudged Rollands:: This piece here is illegal to own unless you are historica society or museum.
[19:40:21] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Is nudged but had already noticed a few herself:: <q> Got some other ones over there as well.
[19:40:31] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Moves away from Luc and down t oa main street, looking for something to help in the search::
[19:40:33] < [DrCeja]> ::Steps over to stand beside Warp:: Once we have found him, I am sure that we'd be more happy to leave.
[19:40:37] < [AdmWarp]> ::Nods with a certain deliberate quality:: We'll try to keep the intrusion to a minimum, Governor.
[19:40:42] < {FstLtRayus}> :: To Blackburn :: Talking about avoiding suspicion makes you suspicious my friend.
[19:40:53] < {LtJgRicker}> :: To the Peddler:: Im looking for a trill...have you seen one around lately?
[19:41:04] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> GOOD. DO WE KNOW WHY YOUR MISTER AKLAR HAS FOUND MY SPOT OF GROUND TO DISAPPEAR ON?
[19:41:12] < {LtBlackburn}> ::to the bartender:: Hey barkeep! A black hole please!
[19:41:25] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLAR> TRILL? WE DON'T GET MANY TRILL IN THIS PLACE
[19:41:45] < {LtJgRicker}> Then one would stand out then wouldnt he?
[19:41:46] -!- CmdrRamus [email@example.com] has quit [Quit: ]
[19:41:50] < [DrCeja]> ::Waits for Warp to answer::
[19:41:51] -!- FstLtAklarMIA is now known as Barkeep
[19:41:55] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Snickers at Blackburn :: What are you a child? Only a blackhole?
[19:42:04] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLAR> ::NARROWS EYES:: YOU POLICE?
[19:42:13] < {LtBlackburn}> What do ya have then?
[19:42:13] -!- Dr_Kim_Eaton [email@example.com] has quit [Quit: Xertion Web IRC]
[19:42:19] < Barkeep> ::The portly Tellarite stood from behind the counter.:: What's in a black 'ole?
[19:42:23] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Hears Taal and then look at Warp::
[19:42:23] < [AdmWarp]> He's on the trail of a particularly vexatious former crewmember who may have passed this way.
[19:42:27] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> <q> Well, if this Taal gives us any issue, we do not need even a warrant to haul him into a brig.
[19:42:41] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Finds the Bar:: Interesting place for a bar...
[19:42:45] < {LtJgRicker}> Are you kidding, I know police officers that want to haul me away right now. I have my own problems with them. No Im not
[19:42:52] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> THERE ARE *TWO* STARFLEET OFFICERS CRAWLING AROUND MY COLONY?
[19:42:59] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Thinks about the drink she is going to order:: I'll go for a Rumchata . . . and make it a double
[19:43:02] < Barkeep> We got Saurian Brandy, Reman Ale and Tellarite ales. Also, lots of kanar. More kanar than 20 Caradassians could drink in 20 years.
[19:43:08] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLAR> THIS TRILL OWES YOU MONEY THEN?
[19:43:10] < [LtCmdrRollands]> <q>Well he better hope he gives us no issues.
[19:43:21] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Looking at the assembled crew:: We're on duty people...alcohol's a no-go
[19:43:25] < [DrCeja]> Yes there are.
[19:43:41] < {LtBlackburn}> Reman Ale? Been a long time. Lets have some!
[19:43:51] < [AdmWarp]> No -- just one, possibly none. I use the term "crewmember" loosely. He was never... "officially affiliated."
[19:43:52] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> <q> ::she pointed to one piece:: That probably has a curse on it. ::With that, she turned to look at Taal, focusing her mind on him closely. Time to listen::
[19:43:52] < {FstLtRayus}> :: To the Barkeep :: Take a little bit of everything you just mentioned, throw it in a glass, and serve it to me.
[19:44:02] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Knows that the peddler would want a piece of the action if there is money involved:: No, just a person Im looking for. I have my reasons
[19:44:24] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Walks into the Bar...::
[19:44:25] < [DrCeja]> That is the actual technical truth. To be fair.
[19:44:32] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> ::GRUNTS:: MAYBE I DID HEAR ABOUT A TRILL PASSING THROUGH HERE A FEW DAYS AGO. HE WAS ASKING AFTER SOMEONE
[19:44:34] < Barkeep> ::The barkeep nodded to blackburn, before moving to a bottle and pouring a thick, viscous green liquid in a tumbler. He quickly turned around and placed it on the bar.::
[19:44:52] < [AdmWarp]> ::Shifts his weight to his left leg as his right one tires from the standing::
[19:44:52] < Barkeep> ::Instead of doing what Rayus asked, he just handed him a dusty bottle of kanar.::
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[19:45:06] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> ::GRUNTS:: SOUNDS LIKE STARFLEET SECURITY COULD USE SOME TIDYING UP
[19:45:18] < {LtJgRicker}> A man named Ze?
[19:45:18] < [AdmWarp]> ::Gives Ceja an "apologies for contradicting you" glance::
[19:45:20] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Shrugs :: Thanks friend.
[19:45:24] < Barkeep> That'll be 5 credits. We take any currency, but none of them Andorian bits.
[19:45:34] < {LtBlackburn}> Down the hatch! ::slugs back the rather strong liquid::
[19:45:48] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> ZE? ::SHAKES HEAD:: NEVER HEARD OF HIM. NO, NO. HE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE GUY WHO OWNS THE BACKROOM TO THIS PLACE.
[19:45:49] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Slaps ten credits down on the bar :: Keep the change.
[19:45:53] < [DrCeja]> ::Nods slightly to Warp, in an it's OK gesture.::
[19:46:09] < {LtBlackburn}> How about a slip of latinum for the two barkeep?
[19:46:11] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Looks more at the artifacts while still listening::
[19:46:17] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Raises an eyebrow:: Oh yeah? What did he want to know?
[19:46:22] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> ADMIRAL, YOU MAY SIT IF YOU WANT. NO NEED TO MAKE SUCH AN OBVIOUS GESTURE.
[19:46:39] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Looks around not knowing if the place was trust worthy::
[19:46:42] < Barkeep> ::His porcine features screwed up in confusion.:: Ain't no one leaving a 100% tip for a bottle of kanar. ::He looked at the lot of them, though he still made Melina's rumchata.::
[19:46:50] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> CAN I GET YOUR CREW SOMETHING? I'M SURE WE CAN FIND A DRINK APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR SOFT HUMAN THROATS.
[19:47:14] < [AdmWarp]> Thank you, but I think our business here is about concluded. ::Glances to the others::
[19:47:22] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> JUST INFORMATION. I'M NOT SURE WHY HE WANTED TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THAT FERENGI SCUM, BUT HE DID
[19:47:22] < Barkeep> ::He depoisted the double Rumchata infront of Melina.:: No charge for you. Don't get many ladies in here.
[19:47:23] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Nods to Warp in agreement::
[19:47:54] < {FstLtRayus}> No one leaves big tips on this planet?
[19:47:58] < {LtJgRicker}> Tell me about this scum then...maybe I can help you with that question
[19:48:03] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Sighs at everybody getting their drinks, getting up and heading outside::
[19:48:05] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Quirks her head curiously:: Are you sure? I wouldn't mind paying for it
[19:48:20] < {LtBlackburn}> I'll part with another slip if you tell me anything useful about a Trill named Aklar.
[19:48:23] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> :she nodded, but really wanted a coffee::
[19:48:48] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> HE'S A FERENGI. DOES ALL HIS BUSINESS THROUGH HERE. GAMBLING, SELLING. HIS NAME IS FILIK. BIG, UPCOMING NAME IN THE FERENGI CIRCLES
[19:49:11] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Scoffs at Blackburn :: Wow, nice subtlety there.
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[19:49:25] < Barkeep> ::He shook his head at Melina, puncuating it with a wink. He picked up a towel and wiped down the bar, pocketing Rayu's credits.:: It's a working class colony here. Maybe a credit every so often, but not 5 credits.
[19:49:34] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Remembers the name from the mission files he had gone through before beaming down:: Hmm...Did the trill want to know anything unusual?
[19:49:46] < {LtBlackburn}> This is the Bar keeper Rayus, not much need for subtlety here.
[19:50:00] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> JUST WHO FILIK MEETS WHILE HE'S HERE. HOW OFTEN HE COMES AND GOES.
[19:50:00] < Barkeep> ::He turned to Blackburn.:: Slips and questions now? ::He paused his wiping.:: You're too clean to be police. Starfleet, then?
[19:50:15] < Barkeep> Aklar? ::He seemed to really be thinking.::
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[19:50:17] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> FOR THE RIGHT ... INDUCEMENT ... I CAN DIRECT YOU TO FILIK HIMSELF
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[19:50:52] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Looks over at Kellen :: Are you not gonna drink something? We wont tell, were all drinking on the job here.
[19:51:06] < Barkeep> Trill? Don't get many Trill here. Aklar? Though. ::He shook his head.::
[19:51:16] < {LtBlackburn}> More like a well payed mercenary. Im looking for a missing man, and the local pub is near always the best place to start.
[19:51:19] < [AdmWarp]> ::Shifts his weight again:: If there's nothing else, Governor Taal?
[19:51:25] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Thinks about it for a moment then shakes his head:: No, not a person I want to tangle with right now. Did the Trill meet with him?
[19:51:27] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Looks over:: I doubt that this place has what i like...
[19:51:35] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> LEAVING ALREADY? I HOPE YOU ARE NOT BEING RUDE ADMIRAL. THAT WOULD MAKE ME ACTUALLY START TO LIKE YOU
[19:51:54] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Drains the water in her helmet and takes it off. She then starts drinking her beverage::
[19:51:56] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Perks up, seeing a chance to torment his friend :: Ah, so your just too much of a coward to try something new?
[19:52:12] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> NOT THAT I KNOW OF. BUT FILIK WASN'T ON WORLD WHEN THE TRILL CAME ASKING. HE IS NOW, THOUGH
[19:52:23] < {LtBlackburn}> Anything you might remember or know could help.
[19:52:36] < {LtJgKellen}> I remember how that went down in the lounge...
[19:52:37] < Barkeep> ::He turned to Kellen.:: What can I get a strapping lad like you? A Ferengi Slug cola? A Shirely Temple?
[19:52:43] < {LtJgRicker}> Did the Trill ask where Filik was?
[19:53:11] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Looks to the Barkeep:: Blood Wine.
[19:53:14] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> ALL THE TIME. BUT LIKE I SAID, FILIK WASN'T ON WORD WHEN THE TRILL WAS ASKING.
[19:53:15] < [AdmWarp]> Far be it for me to put you in such a dangerous position, Governor. ::Shoots him a flicker of a smirk:: We'll be out of your -- hair -- as soon as we can. Thank you.
[19:53:18] < Barkeep> ::Getting serious though.:: Well, whatever you guys are looking for with this Trill, there might be someone who can help.
[19:53:36] < [DrCeja]> ::Turns to leave the room, walking slowly in case Warp changes his mind.::
[19:53:45] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Whispers in Blackburns ear :: If it comes down to money, dont worry about it. I got your back.
[19:53:48] < {LtJgRicker}> Do you know where Filik was?
[19:53:50] < {LtBlackburn}> Mind pointing us in this persons direction then?
[19:53:51] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Was going to say something, but Warp started speaking first::
[19:53:53] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::she started moving towards the door:: <s> We'll find him Ceja.
[19:53:56] < CmdrArnet> TAAL> I WISH YOU THE BEST IN FINDING YOUR CREWMAN
[19:54:13] < {LtBlackburn}> <w back to Rayus> No worries, i have plenty of Latinum.
[19:54:16] < [AdmWarp]> Thank you -- I hope to find both.
[19:54:18] < Barkeep> There's an annoying little Ferengi comes here every so often. Filth? Filik? He's got a shop cross the way a bit.
[19:54:26] < [DrCeja]> ::To Jordan::<w> I have no doubt we will. And I'm sure he's having a great time.
[19:54:31] < [AdmWarp]> ::Exits the room last, staying in character until they're well clear of the office::
[19:54:36] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> WAS? HE'S STILL HERE
[19:54:38] < {LtBlackburn}> Filik? Is here?
[19:54:49] < {LtBlackburn}> Fascinating...
[19:54:51] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> If he's having a great time, he will not enjoy your baking sheet to his cranium.
[19:54:54] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Starts to wander again, stopping as he sees Ricker, sort of eavesdropping a bit from a distance::
[19:54:56] < {LtJgRicker}> You said he was off world when the Trill was asking...
[19:55:07] < {FstLtRayus}> :: To The Barkeep :: Can you give us directions?
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[19:55:14] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> AS WARP AND COMPANY ARE EXITING INTO THE ANTECHAMBER, THEY FIND THEMSELVES NEARLY RUNNING INTO THE IMPOSING FIGURE OF A ZAKDORN ... WHO THEY RECOGNIZE! IT'S HILTAKON!
[19:55:14] < [DrCeja]> ::Walks out of the room and relaxes once they are clear.::
[19:55:16] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Follows the others out of the room, making sure to keep the artifacts in mind::
[19:55:27] < Barkeep> And now that you come to mention it. There was a Trill in here asking about the Ferengi.
[19:55:43] < CmdrArnet> ACTION> AND THE TRILL IS NOT HERE ASKING NOW. FILIK GOT IN A COUPLE DAYS AGO
[19:55:43] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> I'll be damned....
[19:55:49] < [DrCeja]> ::Stops:: Hello Hiltakon.. what are you doing here?
[19:55:52] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Does a doubletake on the Zakdorn:: My thoughts exactly, Jordan.
[19:55:55] < Barkeep> Directions? ::He paused, wiping the counter again.:: That's probably something you'd have to pay a local for.
[19:56:06] < CmdrArnet> HILTAKON> BY THE GREAT BIRD OF THE GALAXY! HAS THE UNIVERSE ORDAINED THAT THIS MEETING IS TO BE?
[19:56:11] < Barkeep> ::He turned to kellen.:: Son, you don't look old enough for the Blood Wine we've got here.
[19:56:15] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Getting a little short:: Where from?
[19:56:23] < {LtBlackburn}> ::on a whim:: Does the name Ze have any meaning to you?
[19:56:28] < [DrCeja]> ::Narrows eyes:: I suppose so.
[19:56:39] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLER> I DON'T KNOW WHERE FROM! ALL I KNOW IS HE OWNS A SHOP ACROSS THE STREET.
[19:56:46] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Sees Hiltakon and gives a sigh of disgust::
[19:56:46] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Listens to the others try to get information from the bartender as she sips more of her drink, savoring the sweet flavor::
[19:56:47] < [AdmWarp]> ::Blinks:: Somehow I doubt that, Mister Hiltakon. Dare I ask what led you here?
[19:56:58] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Backing off:: Ok. Do you know where the Trill went?
[19:57:06] < Barkeep> ::He turned back to Blackburn, he said Ze a few times aloud, trying it out.:: No... I can't say...
[19:57:09] < [DrCeja]> ::To Jordan:: <w> I haven't decided about the baking tray yet.
[19:57:11] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLAR> DON'T KNOW, DON'T CARE.
[19:57:33] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Finally opens his bottle of Kanar, and guzzles the syrupy liquid ::
[19:57:35] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Placing his hand on his holster:: I bet you do know... I have....Inducement
[19:57:37] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::to Ceja:: <w> upgrade to the cast iron. He won't dent that one.
[19:57:48] < {LtJgKellen}> ::Looks back to the Barkeep:: I'm over the Klingon, and the Federation Drinking ages.
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[19:57:53] < CmdrArnet> HILTAKON> ::FULL OF IMPORT:: WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A CLIENT LIST OF MYSELF, YOU MUST MAKE VISITATIONS ACROSS THE KNOWN REACHES OF SPACE, ADMIRAL!
[19:58:00] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Walks up to Ricker:: How goes the search?
[19:58:02] < [LtCmdrRollands]> ::Raises an eyebrow at Hiltakon::
[19:58:05] < Barkeep> ::He eyed Rayus.:: Brave man, drinking kanar. They say the Fish guts give it a very particular taste.
[19:58:12] < {LtBlackburn}> Hmmm... If we are on A tellerite world, and there is A ferengi here, and we are in a bar, does that mean that A ferengi, a tellerite and a Zakdorn are about to walk in here?
[19:58:21] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLAR> FINE, FINE, HAND IT OVER.
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[19:58:27] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Shoots fire through his eyes at Grimm:: I'll tell you later...
[19:58:38] < [Cmdr_Jordan]> ::She giggled, then looked at Warp:: That was about 80% true coming from him.
[19:58:45] < {LtCmdrMelina}> ::Looks to Blackburn:: You might be onto something
[19:58:56] < [AdmWarp]> ::Narrows his eyes, just as Ceja did:: And your current client wouldn't happen to be anyone we'd know, would it?
[19:59:00] < Barkeep> ::He smirked at Kellen.:: All in good fun. ::As if from nowhere, he produced a mug of blood wine for kellen.:: On the house, as it's the dregs of a 2460 vintage that's been decanted too long.
[19:59:04] < {FstLtRayus}> :: Nods to the barkeep :: It tastes awful, but its that good kind of awful.
[19:59:14] < {LtJgRicker}> :: Unclips his holster:: Im sure your continued existence as a free man is inducement enough. With enough searching Im sure we can come up with some charges to levy against you.
[19:59:20] < CmdrArnet> HILTAKON> SURELY YOU DON'T EXPECT MY POWERS OF DEDUCTION TO BE THAT LIMITED, WOULD YOU! YOU HAVE JUST LEFT HIS OFFICE, ADMIRAL!
[19:59:24] < {LtJgGrimm}> ::Smirks slightly:: Alright, I'll leave you to your entertainment then
[19:59:41] < [DrCeja]> Well, obviously..::sounding utterly bored:: But why..
[19:59:49] < Barkeep> That little Ferengi ain't welcome in this bar, so he's not walking in here with a Zakdorn.
[19:59:54] < CmdrArnet> PEDDLAR> ::SCOFFS:: HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TRILL IS. I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME FREE MONEY FROM YOU.


text:
MBA alumni come back to B-School for Saturday Scholars
"The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you're learning, you're not old." – Rosalyn S. Yalow
Our Saturday Scholars Event, held March 18, 2011, brought new graduates as well as experienced alums together for a day of learning and networking.
Alumni from the Executive, Flex, and Full-time MBA programs gathered to learn more about sustainable consumption from Prof. Michael Luchs, how to effectively manage a crisis from Prof. Ed Felton, and from Prof. Deborah Hewitt, how political disruptions in Sudan, Tunisia, and Egypt may be connected to economic disruptions in the oil and commodity markets.
Participants, surveyed at the conclusion of the event, had glowing reviews of Saturday Scholars:
- "I appreciate programs that keep me engaged with my school."
- "Awesome! It was great to mingle with other MBA graduate classes. I really enjoyed the professor lecture series."
- "I thoroughly enjoyed the day and would absolutely not only attend again, but would encourage my fellow classmates to attend as well."
- "The event was extremely enjoyable and informative. I appreciate the opportunity to re-connect with two of my instructors. "
- "The Saturday Scholars Program was very well organized. Definitely a quality product."
The event concluded with a wine and cheese reception in the graduate lounge. The next Saturday Scholars event will be held October 1st in Washington, D.C. Details to follow in August.


text:
« September 2006 | Main | November 2006 »
October 24, 2006 in British Council | Permalink | Comments (0)
Listing the top 20 charities by income shows that these include charities that many of us will recognise, for example, the Disasters Emergency Committee, Cancer Research UK, Barnardo's and Mencap. But at number 1 by income we find that the country's most successful charity is the British Council.
Are Wills being redrafted, and is money that might have gone to the RSPCA or the RNIB now being joyfully donated by a grateful nation to the British Council? Hardly. The organisation is primed by the money it receives from the taxpayer via the FCO, and so whether or not we are happy to see our money used to train graffiti artists in Azerbaijan, or have the organisation shuttle its offices around the country, or whatever, we give our financial support to this charity compulsorily through our paypackets.
Is this legal? Well, those of us who don't think so are up against it. The Patron is Her Majesty the Queen and the Vice-Patron is HRH the Prince of Wales. The trustees are in the main Establishment worthies, and the FCO's largesse grows from year to year. Reflect however a moment on these clauses from the Charity Commission Policy Statement:
Key legal principles
Any charity planning to deliver public services must continue to comply with the following legal requirements (which, of course, apply to all charities):
· Charities must only undertake activities that are within their objects and powers. This is essential. Charities must not stray from their objects in pursuit of funding.
· Charities must be independent of government and other funders. An organisation must be a separate and independent legal entity to be eligible for charitable status.
· Trustees must act only in the interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.
· Trustees must make decisions in line with their duty of care and duty to act prudently.
Setting aside the issues of whether the Council's invasive money-grubbing actions prejudice the requirement not to "stray", whether for example being instrumental in setting up a company in order to share profits could be said to be said to be straying (or ethical or appropriate), I ask myself whether the British Council complies with the key legal requirement of being "independent of government and other funders".
In an earlier blog I reported on the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee session in July where the British Council gave evidence, and how when the Director General Sir David Green was asked whether a time would ever come when the British Council would be self-funding, his answer was a simple "No". Asked - as you might expect - to expand on that answer the Director General at first flannelled with regard to the use of money, and then closed by offering our elected representatives the imperious utterance that such a development "would be detrimental to the UK's interests".
Ah yes, the UK's interests. If we take a look at the FCO's own web site there is a page devoted to the FCO minister Lord Triesman where it states inter alia that he has responsibility for public diplomacy including the British Council. Elsewhere on the FCO site it says "The FCO's main vehicle for cultural relations with other countires [sic] is the British Council." The Chair of the Board of Trustees, presently Lord Kinnock of Bedwellty, is appointed by the FCO. The Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCO, Sir Michael Jay, is a British Council trustee, giving rise rather obviously to a potential conflict of interest as identified by the Carter review.
When asked, at the same FAC meeting, about links with the FCO, the Director-General's reply included the following:
I would have and do have a quarterly meeting with Lord Triesman, the Foreign Office Minister responsible for public diplomacy. We would, at an annual meeting, present our plans to Lord Triesman and that would be at the point at which the Corporate Plan was being agreed. We have a thing called the FCO Forum, which contains senior officials, and Martin and is my representative on that.
Q181 Mr Horam: Is that the same as the Leaders Forum?
Sir David Green: No. This is an FCO body at senior level but quite a small forum between the Foreign Office and the British Council to talk about operational issues and priorities and to interpret the international priorities and what that means.
Q182 Mr Horam: Does that meet as and when necessary?
Sir David Green: That meets quarterly. We are very keen to make sure that our country directors in the 110 countries in which we function work closely with their heads of mission and, at the point at which they are developing annual plans, they would discuss those with the heads of mission and they would get agreement to what was in those plans.
Q183 Mr Horam: You have a dialogue with the heads of mission in these 110 countries and agree all this?
Sir David Green: That is the theory. I cannot, hand on my heart, say it happens but, by and large, that is what we expect to happen. At the point at which we develop the Corporate Plan, which is now a two-year document, we would discuss that with the Foreign Office and we would get agreement to that before it goes forward. That would be through the FCO Forum. I also meet with the Permanent Under-Secretary on a very regular basis. I meet him before every board, but I also meet him more frequently than that.
So let's see:
The British Council is clearly dependent on government structurally, operationally and financially. The organisation manifestly does not comply with the key legal requirement to be "independent of government and other funders", and it should not be allowed to continue to enjoy charitable status.
October 22, 2006 in British Council | Permalink | Comments (0)
Expedience. This value is the one which par excellence guides the British Council. It is pragmatic but has no basis in principle. It is unmoved by altruism, but it has no qualms about using altruistic terms (see British Council "Values") cynically to serve its own ends. It is above all expedient.
We have, over a period of more than three years, made representations to the British Council and have met with extended and repeated institutional denial. The British Council will not address, much less admit, the possibility that it may have acted improperly. And because it is taboo, the notion is flatly denied by the people responsible, and then covered by their line managers, and further denied at the highest level of senior management, so that they are all complicit. While the Foreign Office and the board of trustees (how that word "trustees" has lost its currency) are purely inert. That is the uniform that expedience wears.
The irksome thing is that we taxpayers pay for this. We pay our taxes to support an organisation which readily undermines taxpaying enterprise. This organisation, the British Council, gets taxpayers' support to the tune of more than half a million pounds a day, gets millions more in government contracts, has charitable status at home and diplomatic status abroad. It rides roughshod over enterprise at home and abroad, and its employees retire early on indexed linked pensions. All these privileges and subsidies, which do not come cheap, are paid for by the British taxpayer.
In June, for the first time in about 20 months, I wrote directly to the British Council – this time to the Deputy Director General Martin Davidson, copied to the Chair Lord Kinnock. There was no reply. After about six weeks I sent the deputy Director-General an email, also copied to the Chair, asking (politely) whether I might anticipate a reply. No reply or acknowledgement to that one either.
So what does that mean? It means, I think, that when you can't deny things any longer, when denial has lost its currency too, the only thing you can do is say nothing and hope everything will go away. That would appear to be British Council policy through senior management, a policy embraced even by their rather sad trustees. The depressing thing for the rest of us is that this strategy of stonewalling denial and non-response might just work because the organisation is, as we have said so many times, unaccountable. Who in government, supposedly representing the interests of the taxpayer, holds this organisation to account? The answer is nobody. It is a disgrace and a failure of democracy.
October 17, 2006 in British Council | Permalink | Comments (0)
If we wanted to be kind to the British Council, we might use the word "naïve". Perhaps, we might think, the organisation has rediscovered the importance of values and that is why in their annual report the authors feel moved to refer to the fact that they value people, integrity, professionalism and so on. Perhaps some upwardly mobile British Council employee has expressed the view that publishing such statements will assist and give weight to their mission of "building trust". Well, let's hope it stops there: one senses the cringeworthy possibility of a kind of values inflation – whereby every BC employee, or even every Whitehall bureaucrat, might feel obligated to pay lip service to a "values framework" in reports. Are there perhaps organisations – public or private - which state, or even suggest, that they do not value people, professionalism and integrity? Of course not. Setting aside the issue of the sheer banality of this motherhood and apple-pie exercise, the fact is that the rest of us necessarily assume that such fundamental values apply.
It is also where we, like so many others, including British Council teaching staff and our recent correspondents from Mozambique, have gone wrong.
How "professional" is this? The British Council, while party to a successful agreement under which it is committed to supporting English in Britain with its "best efforts", signs an agreement whereby it has a financial incentive to recruit business for a directly competing product. If this publicly funded body can make a case for that profit-sharing clause being professional, why not come clean about it when asking us to sign a waiver? And if you are going to develop a directly competing product, and put the British Council officers liaising with us in charge of that competition, why keep that fact secret too (unless of course even they could see such an arrangement was grotesque)? Why, since these staff were at this time presumably engaged in executing the "Prime Minister's Initiative", are there (according to the British Council FOI division) no minutes available of key British Council meetings in January and February 2002? Since the same staff were directly involved in both projects, why pretend afterwards that their own resulting clone was the product of "independent research"? Was it professional to sign up with a specially created £100 company giving the British Council a financial interest, but to announce publicly (after "rigorous selection") a contract with a "consortium" including UCAS, CSU and Yahoo? Since the contract in question specifically excluded the involvement of UCAS and CSU, and since Yahoo had no part in the contract whatsoever, does the British Council believe that its public presentation of events was professional? Or honest? And since this arrangement was being done in the name of "The Prime Minister's Initiative", was it professional to change the contractual arrangements after three years without informing the British educational constituency? Was it professional for the British Council's FOI division to report months later (February 2005), in answer to this specific question, that there had been no amendments to the original contract? Since the company "Education Websites Ltd" would not have been incorporated without the involvement of the British Council, was it professional to be party to having this company buried by renaming it ("Remone Ltd") and applying to have the renamed company struck off the register at Companies House? And when a British Council manager, by now apparently in charge of both liaising with English in Britain and developing a direct competitor, within less than a week of the fiasco of the initial Education UK web site launch in January 2002, announced at a meeting in Manchester that the Education UK web site would, specifically, use the same system of regions as English in Britain, was it professional to tell us, and a senior Cabinet minister, subsequently that there was "no basis" for our claims that the British Council version was derivative? And now when we write to the British Council – senior management or trustees - about such matters, why do they not even acknowledge our communications, much less reply, much less actually address the issues raised and face up to things responsibly and honestly (professionally)? In the real world, what evidence is there that the British Council values people, integrity, professionalism, mutuality and creativity? There is, I suggest, rather more evidence that the British Council is an over privileged, over indulged, self-serving clique.
It is not naiveté. Just hypocrisy at its most nauseating.
October 02, 2006 in British Council | Permalink | Comments (1)


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Morning guys (from Australia evening for you)
I am so frustrated that nearly 6 months on from my major concussion I still can't lay on the back of my head to sleep, it's sore and uncomfortable. I have to lay on my side, this makes for a lot of restlessness every night as I can't get comfy. I also had to take a baseball cap and Beanie hat off during the days this week as it was too sore for the back of my head. Anyone have this? How long will it last? Any fab suggestions for the sleeping side of things?
Different note, I'm still waiting for my MRI scan results!! Gotta love the NHS
Thanks as always
Lindsay X


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Use-case: I am working in the terminal in /path/with/a/very/long/name and I want to change to some other directory that is deeply nested. But I don't know the path by memory. So I want to browse via a GUI to enable me to figure out where I need to navigate.
I came up with this script:
echo "change working directory"
MYDIRECTORY=$(kdialog --getexistingdirectory ::label1);
if [ "$?" = 0 ]; then
cd "$MYDIRECTORY"
elif [ "$?" = 1 ]; then
echo "action canceled";
echo "ERROR";
exit 0
Unfortunately, it does not work. When the script exits, I remain in the original directory in the terminal. I have learned that this is because my original directory was restored when the subshell that executed the cd command exits.
So how can I accomplish my goal?


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Laura ChieriMedia, Communication and Sociology BSc (Hons)
Going on the Q-step has been one of the best choices I have ever made. I would advise every sociology student to do so.
Why did you choose to study at City, University of London?
I chose to study at City, University of London because I found their sociology degree very interesting. I wasn't quite sure about what I wanted to study so I had to base my choice on what I am interested in. I hoped that this way studying would also be quite pleasant.
I also live in Islington during term so City was is in a convenient position. I absolutely don't regret my choice!
Why did you choose the 'with QM' pathway?
The main thing that convinced my to apply for the Q-step was that it offered the possibility to go on a placement. I believed this to be a great opportunity as it would allow me to improve my employability skills and to put this experience on my CV, which always looks good. I thought it would also allow me to understand if I liked that type of job or not, helping me clarify my ideas for the future.
Which QM placement organisation did you go to and what did you do there?
I went to NatCen Social Research. More specifically, I worked with the Press and Public Relations team which was great as my degree is both for Media and Sociology. For the first half of my placement I got to experience the Media Relations bit, sending in reports to journalists and writing a blog for NatCen's website. In the second half I did more Quantitative analysis working with researchers and another Q-step student from City.
What do you enjoy most about your course?
As I am extremely curious I really enjoy investigating things within society. Sociology is very contemporary and the more I feel close to something, the more I am interested in it.
What has been your favourite module and why?
That's a very hard question. Probably Contemporary Issues in Media Studies last year with professor Chris Rojek. As such an expert in media studies his lectures are extremely fascinating.
What has been a highlight of your course so far?
I think that the most important thing is that none of the modules have ever been boring and I have always learnt something new from all of them.
If you could give one piece of advice to a prospective City Sociology 'with QM' student, what would it be?
I would tell them not to be shy and not to be afraid to work a bit harder. Even though Quantitative methods seem to be more difficult, it is not really so. It just takes a bit more effort to understand how things work, but when you do, it is extremely satisfying. I think that going on the Q-step has been one of the best choices I have ever made. And I would advise every sociology student to do so.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
First of all I will keep studying for a bit. I would like to take a Masters degree after the undergraduate degree I am currently studying for. Then I will start looking for a job. I would absolutely love to travel for work, but I still don't know exactly what I want to do.


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Milk & Honey Photography consists of a dedicated team of photographers that love what they do and share a beautiful boutique in Sydney's Rozelle.
They pride themselves on a friendly, enthusiastic and a personalised level of customer service and deliver beautiful photography to their clients. Milk & Honey Photography specialise in natural, environmental portraiture for family photoshoots that create precious keepsakes and memorable artworks for your home.
We chat to photographer Anni from Milk & Honey Photography about her favourite things to do with her kids and other inspirations:
What is your favourite way to spend time with the kids?
My favourite thing to do with my kids is to go on a ferry. It is so refreshing and always feels like an adventure!
Last weekend we went to Cockatoo Island, there was so much to explore and discover there and the ferry added extra adventure, it is such a beautiful city that we Iive in.
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by my children, the joy and amazement they find in the simplest things, this morning I found them mimicking a spider tucked up inside a leaf in the garden.
What's for breakfast?
Croissants and jam, hot chocolate and marshmallows this morning for breakfast
What's your favourite bedtime story?
Sunday Chutney is my favourite children's book, I love all Aaron Blabey books for their kookiness and their beautiful illustrations
What is your go to remedy for a tantrum?
The old 1, 2, 3…. (for tantrum breaking)
Our favourite style of photo shoots are those that incorporate your favourite things, a handmade rug from Grandma or a much loved teddy bear. We take a storybook approach to freeze this amazing time in their lives.
Take a look at their beautiful collection of all Milk & Honey's photographs on their website here.