text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 2:33 PM
Town Square
Richard Curtis to challenge theater firing
Original post made on Jun 23, 2008
Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 2:33 PM
Comments (83)
a resident of Barron Park
on Jun 23, 2008 at 5:48 pm
He's going to challenge it? I thought he didn't care!
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 23, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Hope you don't believe everything you read.
a resident of Greenmeadow
on Jun 23, 2008 at 6:19 pm
The supporters of the CT are still not able to face reality.
As the previous poster calls herself Miss Reality and still has not come to grips with reality.
Reality sucks - does it not !?!
Miss Reality - Missed reality!
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 23, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Rich is a wonderful person who has given so much to the Children's Theater and has a long track record of working hard there. I agree that the actions as presented in this article were not a good decision, however, I would like to believe that a good work history for so many years would count for something. I don't believe that termination is called for. I hope his appeal is successful.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 23, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I wouldn't work for the City of Palo Alto until a new City Manager has proved their worth. All employees are at risk. Whose order did Mr. Curtis not follow, the police or the city manager? Curtis apparently did nothing wrong until after allegations were leveled, and according to his purported statement at the time, his concern was not for himself. His friend had just died, he was very upset and not allowed to talk to most of his other friends...I would imagine that allowances could be made for a situation like that, especially since apparently there was no crime committed. Watch out city employees, I guess they are going to make cuts by hook or by crook.
a resident of Professorville
on Jun 23, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I am confused. In the court case regarding the beating of Albert Hopkins it was admitted that one of the officers missed a gun in the pat-down of a suspect. That would be a dangerous mistake that could have cost lives. This is the same officer who beat an old man who doesn't seem to have been committing any crime at the time. Was officer Kan not terminated, but a box-office clerk is being fired for the 'white-collar' crime of disobeying an order? And the police officer in charge of the investigation violated the privacy of the Theater Director, yet we trust him...are we saying he didn't disobey the rules by violating someone's rights...again?
O.K. Trolls, let me know why it is o.k. to publish someones private info or to beat an old man and still keep your job, but a misjudgement made while under deep personal grief warrants termination. Is it cheaper? Does that make it o.k.?
Is it just me? What kind of justice is that?
a resident of Downtown North
on Jun 23, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Termination was well deserved. Not following basic orders while investigation is in progress is crosses the line - in a very big way.
All escuses regarding grief are bogus. He was warned several time by is collegues not to enter the room and not to touch the computer.
Bottom line - he thought he could do no wrong.
I am surprised that people trying to defend him have an ax to grind. Are they cuplable as well?????
This whole thing MUST be investigated independently - care to look for a grand jury for this. This is an ideal case for grand jury investigation. I hope someone will take this up.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 23, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I wish the Hopkins case was not always being quoted in this.
Albert Hopkins was not an "old man" who got beat up, but a very fit 60 year old. He died a few years later of non related issues having just played a strenuous basketball game.
Although the poster does not say it very well and it could be mis-interpreted from what was posted, the gun being missed on the pat down case must have been a different case and had nothing to do with the Hopkins case.
a resident of Greene Middle School
on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:00 pm
How do I get removed from the Childrens Theatre email list? I have tried and tried and they keep sending me emails.
a resident of Professorville
on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:06 pm
What is not being reported is that Rich was trying to print out a record that would indicate that his accounting was flawless. By implication he had been accused along with the rest of the staff of "financial improprieties". He was denied access to the very documents that could have proven his innocence. Keep in mind that the entire case was not one in which the accusers had to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather one of a presumption of guilt forcing the accused to prove their innocence. The entire staff was convicted by the Police Chief day after day via press release. It was not smart for Rich to have accessed the record the way he did. He acted out of desperation, hoping to exonerate himself as quickly as possible. He was not trying to cover up anything regarding his own work or to interfere in the police investigation. . But he never should have been denied access to material he needed to defend himself in the first place. He was not tampering with documents. The worst position a person can be in is to be falsely accused of a crime, either directly or by innnuendo, and then denied access to the very evidence that is needed to defend oneself. City management has shown absolutely no regard for any concept of due process. Rich Curtis has an otherwise impeccable record of service. This matter should have been treated with some sense of proportion==perhaps a reprimand, but certainly not termination.
a resident of another community
on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Welcome to palo Alto.. its a matter of PRIDE... Still have not figured out what there is to be proud of?
This is nothing new. Employee's have been trying to reach the public for many years. When will enough be enough??
The culture of fear is a live and doing very well. Now even better than before. more fear.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Isn't it interesting these details were never mentioned? You're right, Rich wasn't doing anything sinister -- he was trying to prove his innocence. Bad things DO happen to good people.
a resident of Meadow Park
on Jun 23, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Rich wasn't fired for what they originally accused him of.
He was fired for not honoring an order from the flawed city machine that had suspended him for a crime that he never was found guilty of.
With the benefit of hindsight, we now know that Rich was proactively battling against a system that he knew, back then, was more inefficient than the very suspects it was investigating.
It's long been said that Rich Curtis accessed his computer, but it has never been said that he deleted or altered any information.
How odd that he would have never been given the chance to help the detective understand the system that being investigated simply
because the detective felt it would be a waste of time.
Richard will benefit other people now. As for the children's theatre, they may very well have someone wonderful and capable in his stead, but they will have to live with the fact that making sure to posture propriety is even more important than actually being so.
He was one of the good guys.
Well, at least his life is now free and he can sleep at night knwoing that although he may have been unlucky, and although he may have not been politically savvy, at least he will always know that he contributed greatly and warmly to the lives of many and that his conscience is completely free from guilt.
It's time for his new chapter of creativity and philanthropy, hopefully in a sector where he can be properly appreciated.
a resident of Barron Park
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:20 am
employee is ordered not to access computers while investigation is in process.
Employee WILLFULLY violates order.
Employee gets canned.
Supporters act surprised, rise to defense of willful violator, argue that employee was only trying to defend self, and act as if employee was prevented from hiring attorney to do what employee was LEGALLY prohibited from doing.
This sounds like Lord of the Rings in Palo Alto...no laws, just fanatics who have no concept of what it means to willfully violate an order. It's called insubordination...at a minimum, and impeding an investigation at the worst.
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:32 am
resident why no legal charges, impeding an investigation, messing with evidence . Would be reasons. I can see getting fired for that.
Insubordination, I do not think that he should be canned for that. Compare that to what Emily Harrison did. She was not canned.
There has to be a standard and the same treatment/punishment for all. I think that is what the laws tells us. I also think being fair tells us that.
I do not think that this is the case here or with many city employees.
Can the city employees on the bottum, cover up for the ones at the top. That does not work for me. I think you can tell.
a resident of Downtown North
on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:55 am
No means NO...how hard is that to understand?? My dog understands when I say No.
Good ridance
a resident of Community Center
on Jun 24, 2008 at 4:35 am
Richard Curtis is being defended for evidence tampering! What!
The supporters have no credibility left. I honestly believe the police was under pressure not the press charges. The CT supporters have twisted this way too much.
The charges must be filed - let Briggs and others have their say in court -- that is the American way.
This smells WAY too bad.
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 6:00 am
Utter Nonsense, So the American way is a single person having to fight a giant political machine. Where there is no level ground. We have seen over and over what happens to the truth in palo alto.
Fight the system, for that is the American way. Get your rights and freedoms taken a way and use your lifes saving to fight with. Watch the City twist everything around. Watch the City gets its bought and paid for goons go after the City Employees.
It sure seems to be the PALO ALTO WAY.
The Pd did not want to press charges? That would be the best thing for them PRESSING charges if they could. Would sure show everyone who was right and what the City will do to you.
This City makes charges up. That is how they work.
The weapons of MASS DESTRUCTION are in Palo Alto.
The City Council and the City Staff... Not too hard to find them.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 24, 2008 at 6:30 am
Gilbert & Sullivan wrote "The law is the true embodiment of everything that is excellent, it has no kind of fault or flaw, and I, of course, embody the law."
I question the legality of an order that denies access to public records of someone under indictment. There must be a showing of damage to justify a firing. In this case, only an attempt to change or erase data would justify job action.
What a pity Frank, with all his defalcations, cannot do the Perp Walk.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 24, 2008 at 6:36 am
Walter, your argument does not seem right. He was fired, presumably, for insubordination - for disobeying a direct order to stay away from his computer as a result of a criminal investigation. The records weren't "public" like a filing etc. - they were city records on his PC. And they could have been accessed, presumably, via his lawyer.
I'm not saying the city is without blame, but insubordination is and should be a firing offense in just about any organization. It is damaging in and off itself. And this was a no-doubter.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2008 at 6:45 am
Curtis disobeyed the rules and when employees confronted him he put them in an awkward situation. If there was evidence on his computer that would work on his behalf, he just needed to inform the police.
Clearly he felt that he could do whatever he wanted without any regard for his fellow workers. Probably he knew that Friends of PACT and Simitian/Klein/morton would rally to his defense.
He has been fired and that is the first step in the right direction with regard to PACT
a resident of Greene Middle School
on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:26 am
People who call defenders of the theatre "idiots" are probably the same people who never care about anyone's rights' being violated. When people in power can treat "we the people" with contempt, every citizen is in jeopardy whether they know it or not. The people you call "idiots" are protecting you too. If you were accused of something and then deprived of your right to obtain documents that could prove your innocence, how would you feel then? Remember, no criminal charges were filed so there was no way a Court could protect the accused and insure their access to "evidence". So all power was in the hands of the police and City Manager. They did not allow access to a computer with records that indicated Rich had been scrupulous in his record keeping and had done absolutely nothing wrong. Yes, he disobeyed an order. But how legitimate is an order NOT to defend yourself when you have been suspended??? Who are the "idiots" here? I would expect better in "educated" Palo Alto
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:30 am
> I question the legality of an order that denies access
> to public records of someone under indictment.
Curtis was not under indictment. He was on suspension pending the outcome of a police, and administrative, investigation.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:49 am
Until the point where he accessed his computer, Rich had done no wrong. With hindsight, we can see that he could have just ridden this controversy out and probably would still have a job if he had.
But to a guy like Rich, his good name is worth more than some job. Think of what it would be like to be accused in the press of stealing money when you had not. Think what it would be like to know that there is proof you did no wrong... but the public can't see it and the police have shown no interest in looking for it.
Rich chose poorly, perhaps. But he did what he did out of a drive to clear his good name. None of us know what we might do in this situation... none of us is entitled to judge his character.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:51 am
Disheartened, he was suspended pending an investigation. The investigation had to run its course. Yes, the power was in the hands of the police, not the suspects - that's the way it works when there is a criminal investigation. He was ordered to stay away from his workplace computer (not his personal property) - where he could have just as easily destroyed or tampered with evidence as access it.
If there was an embezzlement in a private workplace, and you were among those being investigated, and you'd been ordered to stay away from your computer - you think it would be ok to walk in, go up to the computer, and print off a few things? Just because "you know you are innocent"? It almost defines insubordination in my book. In any office I've every worked in, security would drag you out and you'd never step foot inside again.
Being under criminal investigation is no fun, I'm sure, and no doubt tries anyone's patience. But you can't just break the rules because you are impatient. I tend to agree that the sense that "the rules don't apply to me" seemed to run deep at PACT, which is not appropriate in a city org.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:52 am
These kind of orders--not to be at the workplace or access computers--are common during investigations of this kind. there is nothing special about this order in this case.
Curtis knew he was wrong. As the story states:
""I don't care what happens to me, they can terminate me, whatever," he reportedly said.
Curtis accessed the box office more than once that day, police records state.
By closing the door to the office, "it made him look very suspicious," one colleague told police.
"I don't want to like rat Rich out, but he's putting us in an awkward position," another theater worker said.
One theater worker said Curtis' action was shocking.
Curtis knew he wasn't allowed in the box office or on computers, that colleague told police.
"It's a total violation of everybody's trust," that colleague said.
"My first impression was that he had something to hide.""
What really is amazing is that the Friends of PACT see nothing wrong in this action and continue to excuse all acts of malfeasance by the staff:
""Today's decision is grossly unfair," Friends' spokesman Ralph King said, acknowledging that Curtis had made an "impulsive mistake" by accessing his computer."'
Maybe you make an "impulsive" mistake once, but not multiple times and how impulsive can it be if Curtis knew he was forbidden access to his computer.
It appears that some of the staff at PACT feel that rules do not apply to them--this has been going on for years--and know that they can count on the Friends of PACT to blindly defend them. It is clear to me now that Friends of PACT are a morally and ethically bankrupt organization who see nothing wrong in acts of wrongdoing if it involves staff of the "beloved" PA institution. Time to clean house at PACT so that this institution can continue on.
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 7:59 am
Why did the Police not take the computer. Secure the thing. In order to protect it. Would that not be a basic thing. If you tell your child not to play with the gun. Then leave a loaded one in his room on the desk? Who's to blame when it goes off. The child?. I guess for lots of you.
They did not have an 80 million dollar building to store it in? If he coud get to it, Who else could?
All this make no sense. How does the WEB spinning thing go?
This CITY, police department would and will delete and evidence so the one about him needing to get it before the SYSTEM made it go bye bye.
Is the one I buy knowing the players.
It goes hand in hand with. Do not write it down. The next step. If it is written down make it go a way. It's a matter of pride.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2008 at 8:31 am
A couple of interesting quotes from today;s PA Daily News coverage of this story:
"Suzie Stewart, former president of the nonprofit Friends of the Palo Alto Children's Theatre, said firing Curtis was "comparable to executing someone who rolled through a stop sign."
Friends of PACT have lost all sense of proportion and are now resorting to outrageous analogies. Curtis broke the rules knowingly a number of times. He was fired. End of story. The attitude because this is PACt, employees can do what they want is ridiculous. Friends of PACT need to stop and look at what they are saying. They are making themsleves look foolish
"And former theater employee Andy Hayes warned the city against making a similar decision with Briggs, who he noted has worked at the theater "since the Kennedy administration."
"The people do make up the institution in a lot of ways," he said. "
Does Mr Hayes really believe that will not be able to carry on with new leadership?? Do not be ridiculous Mr Hayes. If that is the case then PACT should close since Mr Litfin is deceased .
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 8:32 am
After Briggs was told to stop giving funds produced by the "extra" performances the action continued at least three more times. Curtis doctored the books to hide these violations of City policy.
The ONLY reason both were not prosecuted IS THAT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAD EXPIRED!!! There is hard evidence that these crimes occurred (source: the Police Report).
Violating City policy was a pattern with this employee. The Children's Theater deserves better.
Why don't you Theater supporters want that too?
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 24, 2008 at 9:49 am
Dear Bye Bye,
The 49ers could ALSO carry on if they were forced to do so without their starting QB and their offensive line, but they wouldn't be able
to do so AS WELL.
Your argument is basically an advocate for mediocrity instead of one for
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2008 at 9:54 am
You mean like the Giants without Barry Bonds.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2008 at 9:55 am
Mickey--so you are saying that there is NO ONE in this country that could possible replace Ms Briggs and maintain the PACT at the current high level that you believe it is at?
a resident of Barron Park
on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:20 am
Rich Curtis is a kind and good man. I continue to stand behind him, Pat, and the PACT.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:51 am
Bye Bye Briggs...yes, there is NO ONE in this country that could replace Pat Briggs. Her national reputation in the children's theater community, her life long devotion to the program, her ability to coordinate all of the programs the theater is involved in despite staff cuts forcing the staff to work to the breaking point, her ability to provide a wonderful opportunity for hundreds of kids to perform in plays or help with tech, her ability to coordinate hundreds of adult volunteers every year, her willingness to take on other city responsibilities when necessary, the devotion she has from the Friends group who raise thousands of dollars or more every year to support the theater because they think so highly of Pat, her advocacy for the city of Palo Alto because of involvement in things like the "Shop Palo Alto" campaign, the fact that her reputation allows her to get the rights to new children's theater productions like the Disney junior series, the loving and positive enviornment she creates for our kids...and for many, many more reasons Pat is irreplacable.
I don't think they make people like Pat any more. We are so lucky that she has dedicated her life to our kids and the city of Palo Alto.
And as for Rich..he is a totally excellent, committed employee in every way and it is too bad that he had to jeopardize his job just to prove his innocence. The Palo Alto police were on such a witchhunt that I doubt they would have checked the computer, found that Rich was above reproach and admitted they were wrong.
a resident of Meadow Park
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm
An important organization precept - if someone is irreplaceable, you must replace them. It is detrimental, even destructive, to have individuals who feel no-one else could do their job. Among other things, it leads to a air of infallibility and sense that regular rules don't apply to that person. The precept applies even more so in government organizations, where rules and controls must be maintained.
She may be wonderful, but if people think she's irreplaceable - the answer is easy. And it's funny - when the irreplaceable person goes, the organization generally moves on and does fine. One door closes, another one opens up.
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:01 pm
KY,AM.. Would what past Employee's have said about this city. Now seem different to you?
Has it openned up any new thoughts on the City of Palo Alto. On what you have seen and heared over the years. Make you think, Maybe some of those old city employee's might not be so crazy?
The people in this Scandal are high profile. What do you think happens to the low profile people like me?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Katie--well one of these days PACT will have to continue without Briggs. No one is indispensable. Too bad that Ms Briggs did not devote some tiem to properly managing the PACT as was called for in her job desrciption.
As for Mr Curtis the police report clearly points out instances where (the name was redacted, but it clearly refers to the box office manager) engaged in questionable conduct with regard to finances and contracts.
Anyway Curtis was not fired for that, but for disobeying orders regarding access to his computer, which he did a number of times and with complete knowledge of the consequences.
The staff at PACT, Briggs, Litfin and Curtis especially, have been acting as though the rules do not apply to them and they have been supported by people like you, Friends of PACt and certain members of our council.
It is unfortunate that youa nd others have made the police the bad guys in this whole affair when there is plenty of blame to ascribe to the city staff and the PACT staff.
Briggs needs to go for the continued good of the PACT as an organiaation
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Given recent events, it may be wise to privatize PACT.
There are quite a few private children's theater companies in the Bay Area; several perform at a very high level to very high standards.
Overseen by a private board with clear incentives to 'manage the monies wisely and with prudence', a private PACT may reach new heights.
As a private entity, PACT may thrive.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I consider both the suspension and the order to have been out of order. The entire theater budget wouldn't be a pimple on the cost of a part time manager with a full time salary. The insubordination of Rich is nothing compared to the contempt the Council and Frank have shown toward the rule of reason and their obligation to the public. Palo Alto is their private playpen for mutual masturbation of egos.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Believe me, PACT would like nothing better than to be a separate entity from the city. It is not from sloth nor greed that PACT remains part of the city.
The problem is, much of what was donated when PACT was created was put in the name of the city. Back in the 1930's this seemed like a good idea. Indeed, when PACT has raised millions (through normal donations, not extra performances) the property purchased with that money has also been *donated* to the city.
PACT is a line item in the city budget, that's for sure. But the money is flowing both ways and at Palo Alto property values, the land and improvements the city has received are many times more valuable than what PACT has received in salaries and upkeep.
Privatization is an interesting possibility... but the reality in this case is that it would be very difficult to sort out who is actually entitled to what PACT administers. If you think this is obvious, it's because you haven't looked at the details.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Please start two blogs.
One for those who will sign their real names.
And the other for the "Others".
That should separate the wheat from the chaff.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:32 pm
So are you part of the chaff, Senor Blogger? What mechanism would be used to determine if a name given is real??
Seems to me we have people on both sides not using their real names. What do you see as the problem?
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:38 pm
FEAR! Some people who make very good comments and add much do not use there names?
Facts should mean something?
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jun 24, 2008 at 3:31 pm
>...it would be very difficult to sort out who is actually entitled to what PACT administers.
Kindly flesh out the argument here; 'entitled' via what document or agreement?
In other words, what binding obligation or obligations encumber PACT?
Absent a written agreement(s), what oral agreement or agreements are at work here?
Given PACT is owned by a public entity, members of the public -- residents or the City -- should know all here.
My understanding is as follows: the City holds title to the land underlying the theater; the City holds title to the improvements thereon; all employees of the theater are City employees; all assets of the theater are owned by the City.
If not, who owns what?
And where is the underlying agreement(s) supporting such ownership?
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 24, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Anybody would like to organize a prayer service to ask the All Mighty to spare Briggs from mortality because, just because PACT cannot live without her and the mere mortals consider
her irreplaceable? This would be followed by an application for sainthood WITHOUT "passing"
through the canonization process. After the procession with the PALO ALTO SAINT carried on a throne adorned with flowers all would be right forever and ever and all eternity....
Or does anybody else think that it is foolish and defies reality to say "irreplaceable"? Are the people claiming "non replacement" status living somewhere else but reality?
a resident of Downtown North
on Jun 24, 2008 at 4:59 pm
It is not a saint that says she is irreplacable - it is the UNION stupid. As a matter of fact all CPA employees are irreplacable.
Don't you see how the employees are defending her... read this forum... you will know.
a resident of College Terrace
on Jun 24, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Walter, you have cut to the chase once again. Keep up the good work. You are one of the few who realize that the city is intently bound on organizing the deck chairs on the Titanic.
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 5:40 pm
The Auditor did nothing of worth. No one listening , she not telling anyone THERE ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME.
And she is now a SAINT?
How did that happen.
a resident of another community
on Jun 24, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Nice, Sonny. I love that one. Keep playing the music. The B&W Ball
Yes Mr Wallis did just bust out a clasic. Freedom, well more freedom is nice. Thanks edit person. With the M word and all. thx
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 24, 2008 at 6:13 pm
The whole sad story of the investigation, from the first closing of the theatre to the secretive investigation to the dropping of the case with recommendations for dicipline without cause is just wrong. It smelled fishy right from the start, and the longer it goes on the more it stinks. I am REALLY looking forward to the investigation into why there was ever any action taken in the first place, who was driving it, and why.
All of the employees of the Children's Theatre I am sure have the whole-hearted support of the parents of all the kids who have benefitted from participation in it and from those who know them. Personally, I would like to see criminal complaints filed, but not against anyone at the theatre. I want ALL employees back on the job, and that includes Rich.
a resident of another community
on Jun 25, 2008 at 4:14 am
I wish Bush could be fired for something so minute!!
a resident of Greater Miranda
on Jun 25, 2008 at 4:46 am
Bush is replacable. Just wait 6 months.
Briggs is irreplacable.
Get it. Fire her now. "Irreplacable" people usually self destruct. You are witnessing it right now.
a resident of Duveneck School
on Jun 25, 2008 at 6:13 am
It really is too bad the group wasn't arrested and brought before a Court. As the DA noted, there was no clear evidence against them. They would have been found NOT GUILTY quickly and this would have been over. since there was no legal case against them, the City had to still find some way to find them guilty--and with no charges against them, they were denied access to records that they needed to defend themselves! Hello Third World Country! If the City Attorney was advising the Manager and Police to do this, he should be fired!
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Jun 25, 2008 at 7:36 am
> they were denied access to records that they needed to
> defend themselves!
None of the suspended people were charged with anything, and as such, they did not need to "defend" themselves. At some point, the City would either drop the matter, or refer it to the DA--at which point the involved employees would either be charged or not charged.
If they had been charged, they would have retained lawyers--who would have been able to gain access to all of the records needed to defend their clients.
If they were not charged, but became subjects of a "Administrative" action, they would have been able to demand access to any records they needed in order to "defend" themselves at some point in time.
The problem with the failure of so many City managers to have done their jobs so that this whole mess was allowed to develop so that putting together a cohesive investigation, much less a "case" has taken a long time to complete. While these folks were in "limbo" to be sure, the only intelligent course of action was to sit and wait.
No one has been denied their "rights", or been able to demonstrate that they have been denied "due process" at this point.
Since the details of any government personnel action are generally secret, the reasons that the City has advanced for this man's termination are not public, and probably will not be made public unless the terminated man wants to make a copy of the termination package available to the press. It is very doubtful that he was terminated for his accessing the PC as has been discussed in this blog. There is more to this dismissal that is in the public domain at the time.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 25, 2008 at 8:48 am
We had the palo Alto Saint and now we have the Palo Alto Hero.
Against all, he flies into PACT headquarters where his bad coworkers prevent him from getting his records. But he prevails and exits after a closed door fight with his former computer, triumphantly with papers in his hand waving them wildly over the city for all to see. There, he seems to be saying, I do only what I and Pat says, that's how it has been all along. How dare my employer tell me what to do!
Any of you out there who thinks this is all right should give him a job if he ends up fired (it is difficult to know what union rules makes of all this). How would you want an employee
who puts his co workers in a difficult position and who disobeys explicit orders in order to tamper with evidence?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 25, 2008 at 9:30 am
Do you know Rich?, obviously not
Many you bloggers so so self - righteous and and at the same time naive at best, Do you acually believe every piece of garbage presented by the corrupt police?
Beleive me when I say I do know Rich, I know the real truth and he has been unjustly treated.He does not deserve this.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jun 25, 2008 at 9:38 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 25, 2008 at 9:58 am
I don't know Curtis. But as a taxpayer and resident I don't need to know personally city employees to judge whether what they do is against city interest. He maybe a very nice person. I don't know and I don't care. What he did is tamper with evidence and disobey orders. That's enough for me and it should be for anyone.
He is being fired as a worker not as a human being.
Having said this he has union protection and municipal employees' rules so I don't know how this will end up. But making him somewhat of a hero because he invaded a space not his under explicit orders and tampered with evidence behind closed doors is inexcusable.
Is he another casualty of the Briggs and company modus operandi. After all she set the tone on how to work with the city. He should spill the beans, tell us what he knows and keep his job if he does.
a resident of South of Midtown
on Jun 25, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I simply can't believe the strange attitude of so many Palo Alto citizens. Our Police investigated what appeared to be a crime perpetrated against the community by its employees. This is what we pay them to do, whether they know the outcome or not. Although I have no ties to anyone in the department and am not a big fan of meddling by the government, it's clear to me that the police were only doing their job, and had to do it in the face of strident criticism by people who did not know the whole story. From the many accounts I've read, it sounds as if the employees of the Children's Theater did intentionally steal from our city. Is this blindness to these facts a result of people's yearning for someone to make their child a star? Really, how unseemly. People who work with children ought to have exemplary morals, not be let slide because they might put our darling under the bright lights and turn her into the next Judy Garland, Jonbenet, or, Lindsay Lohan. Are you all mad?
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jun 25, 2008 at 1:41 pm
No means NO! This is what we teach our kids. What part did he not understand? Even had his co-workers help him with printing problem. Put them in a bad position.
Glad to see the PAPD is doing their job in firing him!
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 25, 2008 at 1:55 pm
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
You are of course entitled to you own opinions but you are not entitled to your own FACTS. It probably wont mean much to you but here are a few real facts you could consider before sending your betters to the gallows.
Fact #1: On the 24th of Jan the city closed the PACT.
Fact #2 Between the 24th and 29th of Jan the Police removed Pat's and Mike's computers along with a dozen or so boxes of receipts and reports At the same time they spent 4 days and searched the theater thoroughly.
Fact #3: On the 29th the theater was reopened and the Chief of Police publicly announced that the investigation at and of the theater grounds was completed. (i.e., No evidence was left on the premises)
Fact #4: The Box Office computer left at the theater had been inspected by the Police and was left in place because all of the files on that computed were and still are "Archived" and "Read Only" meaning that they cannot be altered.
Fact #5 Mr. Curtis did not "fly" into the theater. And he did not break into the theater, He didn't even sneak into the theater. He went to the theater openly because he was asked to go there to help set up for Mr,Mitfin's memorial service which was scheduled for the 17th of Feb. (We missed you at that event. You should have been there you might-have gotten to know Mr. Curtis and began to understand why he has so many supporters. (Oh that's right "You don't care")
Fact #6: Mr. Curtis was told on the 15th of Feb. that the Police had a question regarding a transaction in January 2003 (Got that 2003 On the morning of the 16th he found himself 10 feet away from the computer that contained the (unalterable) few pieces of paper that would answer Sgt. Yore's confusion question, clear his name and hasten the completion of the police Investigation.
Fact #7 A few very young terrified 19 and 20 year old workers at the theater in an attempt to protect themselves concocted a story that made sure that no one could accuse them of adding or assisting their friend Mr. Curtis. So what did they do. Once they got their stories straight they called the Police. That's a normal response to seeing someone using a computer. Maybe for you narina but not many others. But why were these young people so afraid?
Fact #8: Between the 24th of Jan and the 16th of Feb, there were 32 articles in papers from SF to San Jose regarding the PACT. Each of those newspaper reports referred to some of the PACT staff as crooks and embezzlers. Many of those articles included the mean spirited comments from that anonymous group of no-nothings [portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] Who would not be scared to death with such a climate of fear engulfing everyone and everything related to the PACT on the 16th of Feb. Sounds like the good old days.
Fact #9: In May the District Attorney publicly announced that there no crimes committed at the PACT. No evidence of a crime, no victim of a crime, therefor no criminals or embezzlers at the PACT.
Fact #10. They did find some $950 or so of requests for reimbursement during a 4 month period in 2003 that The Friends had paid twice. Not the City but the Friends. Pat offered to repay that amount but the Friends--knowing that Pat often pays for things for the theater out of her own pocket that she does not ask to be reimbursed for--turned her offer to repay down.
Fact #11: The City as a policy of paying 30 year plus employees 127% (One hundred and twenty seven percent) of their highest pay grade. Because Pat did not retire 10 or 15 years ago she has forgone i.e., saved the City, somewhere between $250,000 and $300,000 in extra retirement pay because of her love of the Children's Theater. Now don't you think that that is one clever embezzler.
We could go on but that's enough for now.
Best Wishes NO Reply Necessary
a resident of Green Acres
on Jun 25, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Wow, Jim, you're right, we should be giving him a medal, not firing him. Oh but that's right - he was told not to access the computer but did it anyway. Which fact number is that again? Maybe somewhere in #7, where you accuse the other staff members of lying to make Curtis look bad?
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 25, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Dear WOW
On the one page Jan 24th Office Memo from Ross Carlsen that placed Richard Curtis on Administrative Leave there is no mention of computers. He was instructed to cooperate fully. Finding the unalterable document that would move the Police Investigation forward could be construed by more humane anonymous observers.
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 25, 2008 at 2:49 pm
" Finding the unalterable document that would move the Police Investigation forward could be construed by most intelligent observers with a heart as doing just that.".
a resident of College Terrace
on Jun 25, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Unfortunately, the city's HR people will not be able to release the reasons that they have chosen to terminate this employee.
While an interesting rendition of the "facts" from one side, the law will not allow the truth to be released by the city government.
The taxpayers should demand that the CT be taken private, so we never have to deal with this nonsense again.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 25, 2008 at 4:05 pm
We should consider taking the City private, as a municipal service district, and put everything up to competitive bids. Start with the utilities. As for the computer access, I believe the order was uncalled for and likely illegal, definitely unethical, but ethics have not been very strong in City Hall. At any rate, what harm was done?
We fired some peons for running a private business on city time, but let a utility director who used his job as a mechanism for entree to the good life at out of town conferences retire honorably. Now Frank walks away from his full time wage for a part time job. Sheesh. No I don't blame Frank or Ulrich, cause a man has to take what he can get away with, but this whole fiasco reminds me of that song "Who takes care of the caretaker's daughter when the caretaker's busy taking care".
a resident of Community Center
on Jun 25, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Jim, had your son ever thought of calling the police and telling them that he could point them to data that would help their investigation? Or, had he ever thought of asking for professional legal advice? You'd think those two options would be good alternatives. Better than a "laws be damned - they only apply to the bad guys, not guys who are out to prove they're good" attitude. Sorry, he does sound like a nice guy, but he made some bad decisions and he now has to pay the price.
a resident of Barron Park
on Jun 25, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Mr Jim Curtis
I second Tough Break's comment. I know if I were in your position, I'd also be defending my son's actions to the nth degree. Not just because he's my son, but because he's a really nice guy as I'm sure Rich is.
But I can't for the life of me get past the fact that Rich -- knowing he was precluded from accessing the computer -- did not simply call Yore and ask to meet him at the Children's Theater so he could point him to a file that would clear up Yore's confusion/questions.
I wish we could assume Rich didn't know that he was barred from accessing computer. But if PAOL report is true that Curtis reportedly said: "I don't care what happens to me. They can terminate me, whatever, according to police transcripts.", then clearly Rich knowingly violated the order, a act of insubordination made all the worse when the above alternative (e.g. contacting Yore)was available.
Anticipating the possibility that Yore might have blown him off, can you imagine the strength of Richard's ensuing position when he would have then been able to testify that his efforts to direct Yore to clarifying evidentiary documentation were ignored?
Again, Mr. Curtis, I'd be defending my son too. But fatherhood doesn't guarantee lack of bad judgment on the part of your son. As Narnia posted, "He is being fired as a worker not as a human being."
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 25, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Dear Wow and Tough Break.
You are right I am wrong, I quit.
Just to keep the record straight: There is No missing money at the PACT. Not one cent that can not be accounted for. That covers a period that goes back to 1995.
There is that $950 that The Friends (Not the City) paid twice over a 4 month period in 2003,
Pat--even though she was never aware of the double payment--offered to pay it back. The Friends turned her offer to pay it back down.
As a final attempt to gain a perspective:
Tax payer money misspent , mishandled and/or embezzled at the PACT equals zero.
You can look it up or you can ask the people who know;, i.e.,
Police Chief Johnson 650-329-2115
Frank Benest 650-329-2382
DA Steve Lowney 408-792-2751
Becky Trout (The Weekly) 650-329-2371
Sgt. Mike Yore 650-329-2371
Gary Baum (City Attny) 650-329-2171
Ross Carlsen 650-329-2124
Bt comparison for the perspective needed to understand the PACT scandal:
Tax Payer Money being spent in Iraq equals $5,000.00 per second.
That is truly unbelievable but--You can look it up or call someone who knows. i.e.,
Pres. Bush and/or VP Cheney.
Sorry but we do not have their direct line phone numbers,
a resident of College Terrace
on Jun 25, 2008 at 7:36 pm
> Tax payer money misspent , mishandled and/or
> embezzled at the PACT equals zero.
This statement is at odds with the police report.
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 25, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Oh WOW,
Please pay attention.
You said:
"But I can't for the life of me get past the fact that Rich -- knowing he was precluded from accessing the computer -- did not simply call Yore and ask to meet him at the Children's Theater so he could point him to a file that would clear up Yore's confusion/questions."
The City order putting Richard on leave said nothing about Computers. Nothing about Computers It did say he could not talk to anyone about the PACT investigation. It was a Sat. morning the door to the box office was wide open and he knew what he needed to do to retrieve the questions of the police. If that was an example of poor judgement it was the first one anyone can recall much less document. And is that one act after 25 years of loyal and productive service worthy of being terminated for?
To quote you again
"....Mr. Curtis, I'd be defending my son too. But fatherhood doesn't guarantee lack of bad judgment on the part of your son. As Narnia posted, "He is being fired as a worker not as a human being."
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Oh by the way Rich Curtis does have a record for lacking bad judgments. Again one bad judgement in 25 years on a matter that did no harm to the City , cost the City no money and was done in broad daylight in good faith is you believe worthy of being fired for.
You must be incensed to no end by the Yore and Kan transgressions that cost the city $400,000 and $250,000 (Kan was of course fined $250 but he and Yore were still around to muck up the PACT Financial Crimes Investigation)
No medals for Richard Curtis just a bit of rational thinking that aligns the punishment to the wrongdoing. Is that to much to ask. If it is I apologize. (Like hell I do) We will continue to fight evil where ever it tries to hide.
PS: You can call me jim.
a resident of another community
on Jun 25, 2008 at 9:17 pm
If the computer was so important it should not have been there in the first place. Where anyone could get to it.
I thought PD looked at it and said it was safe?
Now a slap on the wrist yes. FORCED TO LEAVE! FOR WHAT? Looking at a computer that should not have been there?
Sounds like a SET UP.
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Jun 26, 2008 at 12:15 am
If no one took the fall... the city would have to explain why all this money was spent on a wild goose chase. Rich made an error of judgment and was an easy target. To think that at one time in this country a man was innocent until proven guilty. But it seems since day one of this investigation, the "City" has been on a witch hunt.
a resident of Midtown
on Jun 26, 2008 at 5:10 am
The order was illegal and the termination will not stand - the "misdeed" is on the level of wearing a tie on casual Friday. The Army term for this was "chicken".
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 26, 2008 at 6:21 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of College Terrace
on Jun 26, 2008 at 6:22 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of College Terrace
on Jun 26, 2008 at 7:18 am
> The order was illegal and the termination will not stand
Putting an employee on paid suspension pending the outcome of a police, or administrative, investigation--with directions to "stay away from the work place" while the suspension is in effect is by no means "illegal".
Terminations almost always involve a number of issues. It is understandable to believe that accessing a computer during a period of suspension is not sufficient to warrant a termination.
In the section of the police report on "Extra Performances", the report includes the following:
[Redacted] who was in charge of the box office and in charge of depositing all money collected at the box office to the City's general fund, altered the bookkeeping entries to record the deposits to facilitate the misappropriations.
So, who was in charge of the box office for the past several years?
It might be a good idea for someone to look at the procedures in place for suspending employees--such as providing a list of "do's/dont's" that employees are expected to be in compliance with during a period of suspension. Certainly, accessing any computers that have access to financial records would be on the "don't" list.
a resident of another community
on Jun 26, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Funny, The whole post is gone now. Fireman post gone.
If Mr Curtis should be canned for all you who want this to happen.
Why not CAN the Firefighters who have gotten police records will working here?
All for things that would indangered the lives of firefighters and citizens.
One Fire Captian got his promotion while in JAIL.. Resisting arrest/drunk in public. Then one( Chief) who has multipule DUI"S. More than a one time loser. I like it is 3 or 4 he has now. These people broke the law and where convicted and nothing?
So way not them, because they are Black? or play the city game?
a resident of another community
on Jun 26, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Jim, We should talk. Its time to start a chain. Class Action?
a resident of another community
on Jun 30, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hey Rich, in case you're reading this...
Best of luck. You're personality will be glaringly missed at the theatre - it was always a pleasure to run into you anytime I was back to visit my hometown - sorry that all this is happening.
With affection,
~Daryl Silberman (PACT alumni, '86)
a resident of Barron Park
on Jul 5, 2008 at 2:06 am
I don't really know Rich well, other than from purchasing tickets from him. He always seemed pleasant and willing to help. I understand how horrible he must have felt being accursed of a crime (or not being given an explanation of the accusation) that he knew he did not commit. On the other hand, Rich was getting paid to sit tight while the city was lurking around and gathering the data. He had two options: retain an attorney, or just let the system run its course and clear him if there were no evidence of any crime. Rich made a huge mistake by accessing city property during this process. Again, he was collecting a paycheck to just do nothing while the police conducted their investigation. We pay the police to do the job they were doing so just let them do it, even if you feel they are doing it poorly. I now see a new person selling tickets at the box office, and she too is very nice so the theater was able to adapt and move on. Rich is very personable and I wish him well in his next endeavor.
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on May 6, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Anyone who knows Rich, like I have, since he was 11, knows that he put his heart and soul into the Children's Theater. He went from a misfit to a leader. It's so pathetic reading these posts and reading optinions from people who do not know him. Richard is not only a feat person, but he is honest and trustworthy. Can you say the same? No, you all cowards that put down people that you don't know while you sit on your fat asses at your computer. The Children's Theater was my home from 1974 to 1985 and Rich was there everyday because he loved it as much as me. He would never do anything to shame it's reputation. In addition, Pat and Michael were like second parents to me. How dare you tempt to taint their reputation. They brought more joy into kids lives like me than you ever will. Get off if your f***ing computer and even try to do what they accomplished. Richard put his heart and soul into The Children's Theater his whole life. Shame one anyone who thinks otherwise.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 7, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Ummm, you do know that these are five-year-old posts?
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text:
Yes, the early Mormons were a pretty violent bunch and did some awful things. I've seen documentaries and read accounts... and they're pretty bad to say the least. I've also seen/read varying accounts about the original reasons for polygamy and why it was abolished. It appears that there are very biased accounts on both sides, so... as always... YMMV. Like I said, I'm not Mormon and I'm not poly... (not polygamous, not poly-amorous even.)
While it's not for me, I do know some groups (very rare to encounter any group like them, but I happen to have met a few) that are open, poly-amorous, and seem to be/live quite nicely. In those groups I only know of two married "couples" that also "share" each other. The majority are "single" or in an "open" relationship. (Their terminology) Until I made it very clear that I wasn't interested, I was propositioned a number of times... from both sexes in those groups. Now, they completely respect my ground rules and boundaries. When I was younger we always just thought of guys like that as "players" and women... well, that term was much more derogatory, but evidently (from conversations that I've heard) that derogatory attitude and double standard has maintained its hold on many of today's younger folks. But not in these open groups.
Personally, I only need my lovely wife. She's my life and my love and no amount of alternative physical sexual gratification comes close to how much I love her. I could be celibate the rest of my life as long as I have her. Fortunately for me, with her I don't/won't have to be!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Unique Venues
Every event happens in unique venues around the cities and all are dog-friendly and open to everyone – whether you own a dog or just like being around dogs and dog owners.
Dogs & People
It's all about dogs and dog people, especially those who reside in the Twin Cities area. You'll quickly understand that we're not a chain, and not about to become one.
Relaxed Fun
K9 Connection is not a dating service, it's for anyone and everyone who wants to hang out with other great people and their dogs!


text:
My day started as the clock struck midnight and an email conversation started mid-evening continued into the early hours.
I had been searching for the 'footprint' of the well-known author of Historia Ecclesiae and many other worthy tomes, known to us as Eusebius of Caesarea. I treat ancient texts as artefacts, an approach that seems to puzzle many historians. Though a number of scholars, some quite eminent, have questioned the veracity, or accuracy of this Eusebius (the name is quite common in antiquity, which is why this one is usually distinguished with of Caesarea or Pamphili), my opening approach is more simple: did he exist?
Having checked the literature and texts back as far as I could, I still could find no 'footprint', so asked a number of libraries and specialists. At around midnight, one responded and with three potential leads, the most promising being a possible discovery of a papyrus in Egypt. Undeterred by night, I began immediately to try and track it down.
The morning sun awoke me and again, there were emails from my transatlantic and antipodean colleagues, with papers for me to study and questions to answer. After maybe two hours, I was outside eating breakfast, with laptop for company. Today's the day and I have to think about what to write here.
I missed a teleconference in order to get to a local dig, where I had been asked to take a look at a cavity which had opened unexpectedly. I did look and also felt around underground, as far as my arm would reach. Big and apparently empty. I advised to be careful not to break the surface, step in and twist an ankle. It's being examined now.
Though my particular interest is panhellenism in classical antiquity, which draws my attention to sites from the Indus (Greco-India) to the Nile, I am also involved with local sites.
A few years ago, I surveyed a hill near Wolverton and since then, taken part in excavations there and further surveying. It's become quite a big, community project and also a training site. We also have metal detectorists from a local club working with us. Summer weekends see quite a lot of people there, of all ages. There are Bronze Age barrows, an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and masses of worked flints. I like the site for all sorts of reasons, but mainly because it offers a continuous history of the island people I love most.
Now the evening approaches, I am working on cartography, making a map. I am trying to identify the many headwaters of the Euphrates and see if (and how) they relate to baptising cults.
One of the better known today is known as the Mandaeans:
Mandaeans appear to have settled in northern Mesopotamia, but the religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers that surround the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran. There are thought to be between 60,000 and 70,000 Mandaeans worldwide, and until the 2003 Iraq war, almost all of them lived in Iraq. Many Mandaean Iraqis have since fled their country (as have many other Iraqis) because of the turmoil of the war and terrorism. By 2007, the population of Mandaeans in Iraq had fallen to approximately 5,000. Most Mandaean Iraqis have sought refuge in Iran with the fellow Mandaeans there. Others have moved to northern Iraq. There has been a much smaller influx into Syria and Jordan, with smaller populations in Sweden, Australia, the United States, and other Western countries.
Another sect is the Yazidi, members of a Kurdish religion with ancient Indo-Iranian roots, primarily a Kurdish-speaking people living in the Mosul region of northern Iraq, with additional communities in Transcaucasia, Armenia, Turkey, and Syria in decline since the 1990s – their members emigrating to Europe, especially to Germany. Yazdanism blends elements of Mithraism, pre-Islamic Mesopotamian religious traditions, Christianity and Islam. Their principal holy site is in Lalish, northeast of Mosul. (Wikipedia)
Those whose place of origin lies within easy reach of the Yazidi religious center Lalish (Pers. Lāleš, in present-day Iraq) tend to use the translation "baptism" for the ceremony of mor kirin, which in fact shows similarities to Christian baptism. This ceremony should ideally take place at Lalish, since water from the holy Kaniya Spî (White Spring) or the only slightly less holy Zimzim spring must be used. (Initiation in Yazidism)
To me, archaeology is not divorced from the past. We today are a part of our own cultural layer, just one more atop many earlier.


text:
OK, most everyone hates the current figure skating scoring system. It's complicated, inelegant, and impenetrable to the casual fan. But there's also a lot of insights to be gleaned from why the judges gave the marks they did to whom.
This is a deeper look at how the judges scored the top six competitors in Wednesday night's women's short program. Consider it your cheat sheet for understanding what might lie ahead Thursday in the free skate.
1. Kim Yu-na (74.92 points)
What stands out when you look at Kim's scores is that they're all good. She scores high on everything. OK, duh. She's Kim Yu-na. What's new?
Well, it means she was skating well within herself. She didn't need to hit a home run in any one area of her skating in order to finish first. And that bodes well for Thursday night, because it suggests that even if she does make an error, she has the quality in other parts of her program to make up for it.
Take the difficulty of her program. If you add up the points for all the elements she did – jumps, spins, and step sequences – she performed the second most difficult program of the night. (Her technical base score was 31.43 points.)
Take the marks that judge how well the judges think she executed these elements. Add them up and you see she performed the second cleanest program of the night in the eyes of the judges. (Her cumulative grade of execution score was 7.6 points.)
Take the more subjective scores that judge skating skills, choreography, and artistic interpretation, among other things. Add them up and she performed the second most aesthetically pleasing skate in the eyes of the judges. (Her program components score was 35.89.)
She didn't do anything the best. But she did everything better than almost everyone else. Imagine when she does do everything the best, as she is certainly capable of doing.
The gold is still hers to lose, despite the close margin.
2. Adelina Sotnikova (74.64 points)
Last week, 15-year-old Russian phenom Yulia Lipnitskaya put in the best performance of her young skating career in the team short program to take first place. The immediate question was: Could she do it again in the free skate the following night? She did, setting a personal best and blowing away the field.
Sotnikova is likely going to need to do the same thing Thursday if she wants to keep up with Kim.
Both Sotnikova's artistry and the difficulty of her program are close to Kim's marks – but close isn't enough. If both skate clean, Kim will surely get the higher component scores for artistry and technical scores for difficulty. The way Sotnikova made up the ground Wednesday was by skating the cleanest program of the night. Her grade of execution score was 9.04; Kim's was 7.6.
Skating cleaner than Kim would not seem like the best bet, but unless Kim falters, it will likely be the only way Sotnikova can beat her.
3. Carolina Kostner (74.12 points)
Kostner has officially made her "Ave Maria" short program among the most memorable of the Olympic Games. It is what got her within 0.80 points of the Olympic champion. The question now is: Can she make her free skate just as memorable?
Throughout her career Kostner has been prone to mistakes in big events. If she makes one here, she'll likely be out of the gold medal chase and very possibly out of the medals entirely. If she skates clean, she'll need to be memorable to beat Kim.
Like Sotnikova, she skated a sightly easier program than Kim Wednesday. The way she kept up was by beating Kim in the artistic component score. Her performance got her a component score of 36.63, compared with Kim's 35.89. It was the performance of a mature, 27-year-old skater at the height of her artistic craft. Her scores for choreography and interpretation – a 9.25 and a 9.39 – were the highest component scores of the night.
But she might have set the bar impossibly high. To keep up the pace, she'll need to equal or even exceed the emotion she generated Wednesday.
4. Gracie Gold (68.63 points)
There is nothing whatsoever wrong with Gold's score. It was not a personal best, but it was a great achievement on the Olympic stage. The problem, for Americans, is that it could give false hope. Being in fourth usually means dreams of moving onto the podium. That could absolutely happen, but Gold will likely have to skate clean on Thursday and hope for at least two skaters to stumble.
Why? Because Wednesday's scores suggest that the judges, while valuing her highly, don't appear to think she's arrived as the finished product yet.
Gold's greatest achievement was in skating the most difficult program of the night. Her base technical score of 32.04 topped Kim's 31.43. That is a credit to Gold, but it also speaks to the brilliance of her coach, Frank Carroll, who is a master of using the new scoring system to maximize the number of points his skaters can compile. That is precisely how his last student, Evan Lysacek, beat Evgeni Plyushchenko in Vancouver.
The problem is that Gold can't really ramp up her technical scores any higher, and there is a noticeable gap between her and the other top skaters in artistry and execution, according to the judges. She had the lowest component score for artistry (32.08) by some margin – a full 3.81 points behind Kim, for instance. Of the top six, she also had the second-lowest execution scores, with only Ashley Wagner scoring lower.
Wednesday was by no means a poor skate for Gold, which suggests her scores are close to her ceiling. She might be able to go a little higher, but others will still likely have to come lower.
5. Yulia Lipnitskaya (65.23 points)
Though Gold sits 3.4 points ahead of Lipnitskaya, if both skate clean, Lipnitskaya is likely to overtake her, and therefore might have a better chance of making the podium than Gold.
The numbers explain why.
The judges liked Lipnitskaya's artistry more, giving her a component score of 33.08, 1 point higher than Gold. Gold made about 0.6 back in the technical difficulty of the program. But Lipnitskaya outscored Gold on execution Wednesday even though she fell. Over the course of a free skate, with more elements, these differences compound significantly, as was apparent in the team event.
In the team free skate, Gold set a personal best of 129.38 points. Lipnitskaya then outscored her by more than 12 points, setting her own personal best in the process, too. In other words, if both skate to the best of their abilities in Thursday's free skate, Lipnitskaya more than makes up the 3.4 point difference between them. The difference between Lipnitskaya and the top three, however, is big enough that she might need one of them to make a big mistake to medal.
6. Ashley Wagner (65.21 points)
How did Wagner end up behind Lipnitskaya when Lipnitskaya fell and Wagner didn't? That's 6.0 thinking. That's not to say jumps aren't important in the current scoring system. They are. To win, you need them to keep up with the top skaters. But the scoring system isn't all about the jumps, and those who are well-rounded skaters can often make up points elsewhere even if they fall.
That's how Lipnitskaya did it.
First, she was planning to skate a significantly more difficult program than Wagner, so when she fell that simply knocked her technical score down into the same ballpark as Wagner's.
Second, except for the fall, Lipnitskaya skated cleanly. Even including a mandatory 1 point deduction for the fall, Lipnitskaya's execution scores were 0.98 points higher than Wagner's. Much of that gap came in spins, one of Lipnitskaya's specialties.
Wagner's scores Wednesday night don't suggest she has much upward mobility. Her artistic component score, execution scores, and technical score were all well behind the top three, and she skated relatively cleanly. Her personal best in a free skate was 128.33 in 2013, about on par with Gold's personal best.


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Ro/Haskell Books
Would you like to add this two books, too. One of them is available on-line. Or should be from some networks. The other is presented on the main page and has a foreword by Simon P.J.
Book #1 12 oct 2008 Am primit cu bucurie din partea Domnului Conf. Dr. Mihai Gontineac urmatoarea veste:
Salut, (Hi)
Am reusit sa-mi fac update la site si cartea se gaseste pe link-ul (I have just updated my site and the book can be find using this link!)
http://www.math.uaic.ro/~gonti/Cursuri/ProgramareFunctionala/ProgrFunct.pdf Sper ca este OK. (I jope it's ok.)
In rest (...)Spor in toate, (Looking forward to hear about you.)
Mihai (Mike :) )
Book #2Practica interpretarii monadice, a new textbook on Haskell from MatrixRom is now available. (Romania and Moldova)
I think this page needs a serious facelift.
I've copied the old stuff and changed the formatting a little bit but I think this should probably be split up and that books and papers should have their own pages. I don't like the formatting - it would be nice for someone to write a template to make this look nicer.
--John Peterson 04:07, 25 January 2006 (UTC)
I suggest the "Haskell Companion" is (again) added to this page. While no longer available from the original url, it is still available from archive.org:
--[Vincentk, May 2007]
I wonder if we should link to http://www.cs.chalmers.se/~rjmh/tutorials.html ? SamB 17:19, 13 November 2007 (UTC)


text:
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text:
Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December, there has been a national discussion about our failing mental health system and how adults and children with behavioral health issues in our country are treated. The President's recently announced plan for addressing the Connecticut shootings would increase access to mental health services; but it would also add controls on some types of guns, so we can expect an emotional, expensive and difficult debate in Congress.
It is also time for a more public discussion about New Hampshire's community mental health system, once a model for other states, which has been all but decimated by years of state budget cuts. The effects of this neglect can be found in the wait times for outpatient community mental health services; the extended stays that adults and children are experiencing in hospital emergency rooms; the frequent closures of admittances at the NH Hospital; the loss of beds due to inadequate reimbursement of residential facilities; the lack of designated receiving facilities for those in a mental health crisis; and the human tragedies that are happening every day in our state.
On Jan. 14, a month before Governor Hassan will present her budget to the Legislature, the NH Community Behavioral Health Association released an outline for restoring the system, based on the State's 2008 Ten-Year Mental Health Plan. As leaders in the mental health field in New Hampshire, we believe it is our responsibility to present a proposal for addressing the crisis now, before the community-based system falls into further collapse.
The Ten-Year Plan was released almost five years ago after extended study and evaluation by a broad group of stakeholders, including our association, the Department of Health and Human Services, NH Hospital, and others. It was hailed as a great step forward for both the state and for the community-based system. But while some small efforts have been made to begin the investments outlined in the Plan, the reality is that, at almost every level, we have actually fallen backward since 2008.
The NHCBHA strongly believes that the Governor and the Legislature must take the appropriate steps to correct this situation now, by funding recommendations made in the Ten-Year Plan to the levels recommended for the 2014-2015 State Fiscal Year. Further, NHCBHA believes that measures for funding children's mental health and substance abuse programs also need to be addressed and funded in this year's state budget.
But as we have discussed the urgency of funding the Ten-Year Plan over the past few weeks with policymakers in Concord, there has been some pushback from those working to craft a state budget. There is a reluctance to promise too much, too soon in any area of the budget; and there is an equally strong reluctance to promise restoration of state programs that were cut or eliminated two years ago. The official mantra is, "Be innovative and be fiscally responsible."
The public and our elected representatives need to be mindful of the fact that the lack of investment in community mental health services is driving costs in other areas of state, county and local government. Taxpayers' money is already being spent — but in the wrong places and with less timely, effective and humane results than if it was being directed appropriately. Money is being consumed in a fragmented "system" that has grown up in place of a community-based one that actually worked once — and that can work again.
The Ten-Year Mental Health Plan still provides a solid framework for restoring our community-based mental health system, and its recommendations should be funded now. The areas of state investment that NHCBHA believes should stand as the baseline for adequate public health, safety, and humanity include: increasing community residential supports and community-based inpatient psychiatric care; developing assertive community treatment (ACT) teams; retaining and developing our community mental health workforce; and working closely with the NH Department of Corrections on mental health housing, training, and specialized services.
In 2008, this list of investments was seen as reasonable and necessary; five years later, it still is. The current default model for providing mental health services is the opposite of innovation and fiscal responsibility, and benefits no one — not taxpayers, citizens, communities, or the adults and children who need and deserve these critical services the most. It's time for our state leaders to act in a truly fiscally responsible manner and fund the Ten-Year Mental Health Plan.
Brian Collins
Executive Director
Chris Roundy
Board President
Community Partners


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The Teachers College at Columbia University has developed a workshop model of instruction for both reading and writing. Our staff began training using the Writers Workshop model with our K-5 grades and we have both embraced and embedded professional development in both Readers and Writers Workshop.
In this model, students are actively involved in both the reading and writing process through a series of mini lessons, conferences, writing journals, genre and author studies. Students are explicitly taught strategies and then given the opportunity to practice them and embed those skills. The workshop model is focused on the students as active learners, active readers and writers.
The Writers Workshop is the format for writing instruction that includes authentic practice, through the use of student writing journals. Each student is a working author with the teacher as mentor and guide. Students keep writing journals, develop seed ideas, create numerous written pieces and take chosen pieces to publication. Students write in many different genres, selecting topics, peer conferencing with the teacher as model and guide.
The Next Generation Science Standards introduce an exciting approach to science instruction. These new standards, or performance expectations, link three dimension of learning. These are the Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts and Science & Engineering practices. Implementation of the new standards begins in the coming year (2016-2017) for grades 6 and above. The K through fifth grade implementation will occur with the 2017 - 2018 school year. Our staff has been preparing for this new change by working with all the sending district schools during the 2015 - 2016 school year.
The Crosscutting Concepts allow students to explore the connections within Earth, Life, Physical, Space sciences and Engineering design as well as allow them to see those connections across many curricular areas. Some examples of these would include cause and effect relationships and patterns. We see the use of patterns in science, art, spelling, math and many other content areas. This helps students see the "science" behind much of our lives.
The Science and Engineering Practices involve the process by which scientists investigate and explore the world around us. The new standards follow an inquiry based approach to learning. By using this "hands on" approach to studying, students have a deeper understanding of our world and can better apply that knowledge in any setting.
The Disciplinary Core Ideas are those key ideas in science that have the broadest level of importance within science and engineering. The are grouped traditionally into the four domains of Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science and Engineering. These domains would include the study of the universe, life cycles, ecosystems, biology, matter and energy, waves, and engineering design, to name a few.
Math instruction, for many years now, has been concept based instruction. This includes a more hands on approach to math, with the use of manipulatives and hands on lessons, that allow students greater understanding of the concepts that underlie the basis of mathematics. It is often referred to as "teaching beyond the facts."
Our district utilizes Go Math! in grade K through 5th. This program utilizes both print and computer based materials. Go Math provides for both large and small group instruction, with options for both acceleration and remediation, to meet the needs of all learners. We continue to work towards creating a math program that uses a variety of resources, addresses the standards and is engaging for students.
The New Jersey Tiered System of Supports committee oversees instruction for students based on screenings mandated by the state of New Jersey's new Dyslexia legislation. Our approach has been to cast a broad net for our students that would benefit from additional instruction in language arts. We feel that providing that instruction at the early years of schooling allows student to grow quickly and successfully. We have a three tiered approach in identifying students, using data gathered from several assessment sources. Our teachers then provide targeted instruction in those areas. Each tier dictates the amount and frequency of time devoted to this instruction. Some of the intervention materials we use include the DIBELS assessments, Wilson Fundations and Just Words, Sonday and Torgeson kits for instruction.
In Clinton Township, we follow the Renzulli model of enrichment for all students. It is our philosophy that all learners have a gift, whether that be in academics, athletics or the arts. We have numerous programs that provide enrichment for our students. Some of those programs include, Robotics, Word Masters, POPS, Law Fair, School newspapers, photographers, Memory Book, Continental Math League, Geography Bee, Reading Olympics, Art Line, and Golden Eagle Singers, to name a few. We encourage all students to participate in the many clubs and activities that are offered.
If you have any additional questions or concerns about the Enrichment Program or opportunities please contact Joanne Hinkle, Director of Special Projects, or Jennifer Paccione, Supervisor of Instruction, Data, and Assessment.
As with other learning disabilities, dyslexia is a lifelong challenge that people are born with. This language processing disorder can hinder reading, writing, spelling and sometimes even speaking. Dyslexia is not a sign of poor intelligence or laziness. It is also not the result of impaired vision.


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Revision as of 15:51, 26 September 2014
Bruce Hyde (born 14 September 1941; age 79) is the actor who played Lieutenant Kevin T. Riley in the original series episodes "The Naked Time" and "The Conscience of the King".
He filmed his scenes for "The Naked Time" on Tuesday 5 July 1966, Wednesday 6 July 1966, Thursday 7 July 1966 and Friday 8 July 1966, and his scenes for "The Conscience of the King" on Thursday 15 September 1966 and Monday 19 September 1966, all at Desilu Stage 9.
He also had a recurring role during the fifth and final season of the TV series Dr. Kildare in early 1966. Overall, Hyde's on-screen acting career was quite brief, encompassing a grand total of nine TV guest appearances from November, 1965 to December, 1966. Following a role in the musical Hair in San Francisco, Hyde decided to remain in the city, and step away from his acting career. He noted, "I played a hippie - and I decided I wanted to be a hippie instead of playing one. I was going to get a Volkswagen bus and a big bag of brown rice and go find God. And that's what I did." (Star Trek Magazine issue 117)
While Hyde was living in Bay Area he parlayed his education into a substitute teachers certification, worked as a substitute teacher and directed at least one high school musical. Hyde also attempted to break into the music business while in the area playing occasionally at coffee houses in San Francisco. While his music was profound and his style engaging Hyde recognized that the challenges involved in the music business were beyond his tolerance and moved back near his family in Denton, TX. Some recordings were made by Hyde himself but very few copies of his performances remain in existence.
Hyde eventually earned a PhD in Rhetoric/Communications Studies at the University of Southern California, and became chair of the Theater, Film Studies and Dance department at St. Cloud State University. He has also worked with the charity Landmark Education.


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The following policies (collectively, the "Policy Statement") are applicable to all staff of the Investment Department and management and staff above Salary Level 5 in the Offices of the President, General Counsel and Treasurer (collectively, the "Foundation Staff"). Specific policies are followed by the steps necessary to implement the policy. If there is any conflict between any policy or practice imposed on Foundation Staff by reason of an outside affiliation (such as membership in the Association for Investment Management and Research) and the Policy Statement, the more strict policy will govern the conduct or practice at issue.
This Policy Statement is intended to provide guidance to Foundation Staff for conforming to Foundation practices and standards and in complying with applicable legal standards, but it is not intended to alter the legal standards that would otherwise exist in the absence of the Policy Statement. The Policy Statement is distributed to Foundation Staff when they join the Foundation.
Changes to Policy
This Policy Statement may be revised from time-to-time as approved by the Institutional Policy Committee and the Investment Committee to reflect developments in the law, questions of interpretation, and application of practical experience, as well as new policies of the Foundation.
Implementation in General
The Vice President/Chief Investment Officer of the Foundation is directly responsible for the implementation of the Policy Statement with respect to Investment Staff. The Vice President/Chief Investment Officer of the Foundation will meet periodically with Investment Staff to review this Policy Statement, including any developments in the law.
A Compliance Committee (consisting of the President, the Vice President/Chief Investment Officer, the Chair of the Investment Committee, and the Vice President/General Counsel) shall be formed to resolve any issues or questions regarding compliance with the Policy Statement or the interpretation thereof. The Vice President/Chief Investment Officer of the Foundation shall, in consultation with the Vice President/General Counsel and the President, develop the guidelines necessary to implement these policies. In the event a member of the Compliance Committee is involved in the issue before the Committee, such staff shall recuse himself/herself. In the event circumstances preclude the entire Compliance Committee from considering an issue, any decision shall be made only upon prior consultation with and the approval of the President and Vice President/General Counsel and will be reported to the entire Committee promptly thereafter.
It is the responsibility of the Foundation Staff to ensure that he/she is not in conflict with any law or Foundation policy. The Compliance Committee is responsible for dealing with alleged violations. Ignorance of the policies and/or laws is not a valid reason for violation of this Policy Statement. If Foundation Staff is unsure about any aspect of a transaction, whether for the Foundation or for himself/herself, it is his/her responsibility to ask a member of the Compliance Committee for advice. If the employee is still uncertain, he/she should not enter into the transaction. To ensure compliance with the Policy Statement, the Foundation reserves the right to request information regarding the investment activity and personal trades of Foundation Staff. The Foundation further reserves the right to impose restrictions on Foundation Staff's right to make investments in a broad range of investment vehicles.
Policy regarding Compliance with Governing Laws and Regulations
Prohibition Against Assisting Legal and Ethical Violations
Foundation Staff shall not knowingly participate in, or assist with, any acts in violation of any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any government, governmental agency, or regulatory organization.
Prohibition Against Use of Material Non-Public Information
Foundation Staff shall comply with all laws and regulations relating to the use and communication of material non-public information. The employee's duty is generally defined as not to trade while in possession of, nor communicate, material non-public information in breach of a duty or if the information is misappropriated.
Duties under this standard include the following: (1) If Foundation Staff acquired such information as a result of a special or confidential relationship with the issuer or others, he/she shall not communicate the information (other than within the relationship), or take investment action on the basis of such information, if it violates that relationship. (2) If Foundation Staff is not in a special or confidential relationship with the issuer or others, he/she shall not communicate or act on material non-public information if he/she knows, or should have known, that such information (a) was disclosed to him/her, or would result, in a breach of a duty, or (b) was misappropriated.
Responsibilities of Supervisor
Foundation Staff with supervisory responsibility shall exercise reasonable supervision over those subordinate employees subject to his/her control, to prevent any violation by such persons of applicable statutes, regulations, or provisions of the Policy Statement.
Policy regarding Personal Transactions
The Foundation requires that Foundation Staff maintain the highest standards of professional ethics with respect to personal investments in securities, particularly those which may be bought or sold by the Foundation.
Personal Transaction
The definition of "personal transaction" includes transactions by or for immediate family members or any other person who receives financial support from the employee and transactions executed in accounts in which the employee has sufficient influence to cause a transaction to be performed. Involvement in Investment Clubs is included under this definition. Transactions are considered "related" regardless of whether the Foundation transaction is in the underlying security while the employee's transaction is in an option, convertible security, or other derivative security thereof, or vice versa, and regardless of whether the Foundation and the employee are on the same side of the market (buy/buy; long/long; short/short) or opposite sides (buy/sell; long/short).
Front Running
Real or apparent "front running" of the Foundation's transactions is prohibited. "Front running" is defined as the execution of a personal transaction by an employee prior to execution of a related Foundation transaction, irrespective of whether execution of the personal transaction affects the Foundation transaction or the employee was actively involved in the execution of the Foundation transaction.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
Foundation Staff is required to obtain approval from the Compliance Committee prior to any investment in an IPO from a company in which the Foundation, or a limited partnership in which the Foundation has invested, holds an equity or debt interest. Secondary public offerings by publicly-traded companies in which the Foundation owns less than 10% of the equity are excluded from this Policy Statement.
Policy regarding Investments in Foundation Vendor or Purchaser
Foundation Staff is prohibited from making any equity or equity derivative investment (long or short) in any of the Foundation's vendors or purchasers of Foundation property where the employee has decision-making authority or influence with respect to the vendor relationship. This includes existing vendors and vendors under consideration for future business. If Foundation Staff is unsure whether this Policy Statement applies in a specific circumstance, it is his/her responsibility to ask the Compliance Committee prior to making any such investment. In those circumstances where an employee already holds securities in a publicly-traded company (other than in a blind investment account) that comes under consideration as a vendor or purchaser, the employee also should seek guidance from the Compliance Committee before any decision is made regarding such vendor or purchaser. The Compliance Committee reserves the right to request Foundation Staff to reverse transactions found to be in violation of this Policy Statement.
Policy regarding Confidentiality
Foundation Staff should use care to maintain the confidentiality of information he/she receives, reviews or distributes that is marked confidential or, under the circumstances, should be considered sensitive or confidential. Unless clearance has been obtained by a supervisor, Foundation Staff should not discuss pending or potential transactions with third parties, including family members, or provide information to third parties that would allow third parties to determine that the Foundation is likely involved in a potential transaction. Similarly, employees should exercise care in discussing potential transactions with other employees of the Foundation unless such other employees have a need to know the information to accomplish the transaction, particularly when advised of, or circumstances reflect, the sensitivity of the transaction.
Policy on Service on Boards of Directors Not Related to a Foundation Investment
Foundation Staff may serve in an individual capacity on a board of directors of a company which is not an investment of the Foundation if there is no real or apparent conflict with the Foundation and Foundation Staff complies with the Foundation's Conflict of Interest Policy. If Foundation Staff has any question whether his/her service would create a conflict with the Foundation, he/she should seek guidance first from the Vice President/Chief Investment Officer, and, if necessary, from the Compliance Committee. If at any time subsequent to accepting this role the possibility of conflict develops, it should be immediately reported to a member of the Compliance Committee. The Foundation reserves the right to request that Foundation Staff resign the Board membership if it is determined by the Compliance Committee that there is a conflict or the appearance of a conflict with the Foundation.
Compliance Policy With Respect to Outside Businesses
Foundation Staff may not conduct any material outside business or other remunerative activities during his/her employment by the Foundation regarding investment-related matters without the prior written approval of the Compliance Committee. In all other respects, Foundation Staff are subject to the policies of the Foundation regarding work outside the Foundation. Nominal payments for participating or serving on committees, seminars, or making presentations are not prohibited. When in doubt, however, approval of such payments should be sought by Foundation Staff's supervisor or the Compliance Committee.
Policy regarding Application of Director Compensation
General Policy
Director compensation in the form of a fee paid by a Portfolio Company to Foundation Staff for service on the Board of such company shall be applied to the benefit of the Foundation in an appropriate manner so as not to affect adversely the position of the Foundation Staff. Foundation Staff should not receive additional compensation for such services from the Portfolio Company. "Portfolio Company" means a company (a) in which the Foundation has a direct investment, (b) that has borrowed money from the Foundation, or (c) in which a partnership in which the Foundation has made an investment has made an investment. This Policy is not intended to apply to service on boards of a publicly-traded company where the Foundation owns less than ten percent of the stock.
Certain Considerations
The appropriate manner for applying director compensation to the benefit of the Foundation should be developed by the Vice President/General Counsel and approved by the Compliance Committee at the time of initial Board service or initial authorization of a new form of director compensation, in light of all relevant considerations.
This Policy is administered by the Compliance Committee, provided that if the issue involves a person who is a member of the Compliance Committee such person shall be excused from participating in the decision. New engagements and new forms of compensation should be reported promptly to the Vice President/General Counsel and the Compliance Committee. Any questions of interpretation should be decided by the Compliance Committee.
This Policy shall become effective as of the date approved by the Investment Committee. The Policy shall not require the return of any payments received prior to the date of such approval, but shall be applied prospectively commencing as of the date of such approval to all payments received for board service, notwithstanding that election to a particular board occurred prior to the effective date of this Policy.


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Australia signs free-trade deal with Malaysia
May 22, 2012
The Australian Federal Government has signed a free-trade agreement with Malaysia that will strip away trade tariffs and encourage investment.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says the agreement will see Malaysia cut tariffs on 99 per cent of Australian imported goods by 2017, and Australia will eliminate all tariffs on Malaysian imports.
After seven years of negotiating, the agreement will reduce tariffs on dairy, automotive, food manufacturing, wine and iron and steel products.
Malaysia is Australia's third-largest trading partner in South-East Asia and 10th biggest worldwide.
Two-way trade in goods and services reached $16 billion in 2011.
Australia has several similar agreements with Singapore, Thailand and the United States, and bilateral negotiations with China, Japan and South Korea are under way.
Trade Minister Craig Emerson described the deal with Malaysia as "a platinum agreement" in trade liberalisation.
"I know the business community in both countries value this agreement," he told reporters.
A statement released by his office said the deal "will further integrate the Australian economy with the fast-growing Asian region, benefiting Australian exporters, importers and consumers."
Malaysian trade minister Mustapha Mohamad hailed the deal as historic.
"Australian exporters to Malaysia will also be able to immediately enjoy significantly reduced tariffs for goods, reaching up to 99 per cent by 2020," he said at a signing ceremony with Mr Emerson.
The agreement also allows Malaysian investors to participate in Australian private hospital services including massage, homeopathy and traditional medicine.
Malaysia, meanwhile, has agreed to allow 100 per cent equity holdings by Australian entities in the Malaysian education and telecommunication sectors, and 70 per cent holdings in the Malaysian insurance and investment-banking sectors.
Farming impact
Malaysia is currently worth around $1 billion to Australia's agricultural exporters, and is the fourth largest buyer of Australian sugar and the fifth largest wheat buyer.
The National Farmers Federation (NFF) hopes the agreement will bring it closer to deals with bigger countries like China.
The NFF's Duncan Fraser says the deal shows a with China is possible.
"You can learn from that and how to go about forging agreements and dealing with some of the sensitive issues with agricultural products that have been a barrier in the past, especially in the area of say rice and dairy," he said.
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