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Is Running a Dying Sport?Posted by Adeel Filed Under: Elite Running, News and Opinion
Ostensibly, it is ludicrous to question the health of running. The sport is experiencing unprecedented growth in its numbers as countless numbers take up the sport around the world. Participation in road races around the world is burgeoning and fields numbering in the tens of thousands are commonplace. In the United States, 8.1 million people finished a road race in 2005 according to the Road Running Information Center, approximately 3% of the adult population. The highest levels of the sport are also doing well as distance running, particularly on the roads, remains fiercely
competitive. Strong fields at the newly-minted World Marathon Majors are evidence.
However, there is a latent instability inherent in the sport. At least in North America, running appears to be increasingly an activity and far less a sport. Though more and more people are involved in running, it is on a purely non-competitive basis. Though competition at the professional level is arguably stronger than ever, public interest in professional competition, dominated by Africans, is lower than ever.
Coupled with changing economics rooted in non-competitive enjoyment, the future is at best uncertain for running as a sport. It seems ridiculous to offer large purses when the competition at the front of the pack has little to no interest for most customers, the competitors sadly indistinguishable. The success of the Marine Corps Marathon, a prominent race with roughly 30,000 finishers and no prize money, testifies to this reality.
Public interest in competitive running, obviously but unquantifiably at a low, may have been best crystallized by the recent New York Marathon. When little-known Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won the New York Marathon earlier this month, he did so in near-total obscurity in the world's largest media market. Indeed, even most runners are more aware that seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong ran the race than they are that Gomes dos Santos' won it. On message boards and blogs, Armstrong's intentions, training, goals, perseverance received microscopic examination. Few, if any, were concerned with Gomes dos Santos' background prior to the race or the daring strategy he employed so successfully.
It is hardly difficult to understand why interest distance running has waned to the point where the appearance of a top American runner on the cover of Sports Illustrated, once a reality, is now unthinkable. The complete dominance of the sport at all levels and disciplines by Africans, especially Kenyans, Ethiopians and Moroccans, has destroyed interest in Western countries.
Every single one of the 73 fastest 10,000 metre times by men have been recorded by Africans. For marathons, the number is 45 of the top 50. At the 2005 World Championships, 12 of the 15 finalists in the men's 5,000 metres were born in Africa. At the 2006 World Cross Country Championships, the first 16 finishers in the men's long race were born in Africa, as were the members of 10 of the 20 teams. Many European countries no longer enter international competitions due to European dominance. African runners win races in Europe, North America and elsewhere in anonymity, known to most as a single uniform entity: "the Kenyans".
Needless to say, television coverage of major championships and races is non-existent, newspaper coverage limited to doping scandals. It seems that the only thing that can arouse interest in competitive distance running is an unfortunate accident. Videos of Robert Cheruiyot falling at the finish line of last month's Chicago Marathon made it to the mainstream, thanks to the Internet.
Ultimately, however, it is doubtful that the death of running as a sport will ever be complete or that its obscurity will matter. Running may become an activity for most, but the sport at the highest levels will always be around for myriad reasons. Olympic champions in all sorts of sports come about regardless of the sport's popularity. Moreover, some degree of competition in running will naturally always remain, as it did on a small scale in the often-romanticized past.
As for the latter question, it should be noted that running is a participatory sport. Though it was once more popular, running never was and never will be a spectator sport in the way of football or baseball. Most of those who enjoy running as a sport do so on the basis of an intimate connection with the sport as a participant. To those who care about the winners and losers of a race, those will be
around long after recreational marathoning has ceased to be a cultural fad. Running is far too natural a sport to ever be fully eliminated, no matter how obscure it may become. Few runners have ever run solely for money or fame, most have run for the
enjoyment and the competition.
About Adeel
Adeel is a 21-year old student living in Canada. He has been running for eight years and has personal bests of 17:44 for 5k, 36:38 for 10k, 1:26 for a half marathon and 3:10 for a marathon.
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Running is not a dying sport « Run to Win » on
November 28th at 7:08 am
[…] Adeel at Complete Running wonders, "Is running a dying sport?" He argues that African domination has eroded American interest in running as a sport, and that it is only viable because of the participation factor. Coupled with changing economics rooted in non-competitive enjoyment, the future is at best uncertain for running as a sport. It seems ridiculous to offer large purses when the competition at the front of the pack has little to no interest for most customers, the competitors sadly indistinguishable. The success of the Marine Corps Marathon, a prominent race with roughly 30,000 finishers and no prize money, testifies to this reality. […]
21stCenturyMom on
November 28th at 11:27 am
I think a better question to ask is what percentage of all marathons do carry prize money? The Rock 'n Roll series has been sponsored by Suzuki for a long time and the prizes include cars. MCM is sponsored by the military which could arguably come up with the best prizes given their budget but they might not be the prizes we want.
I have no idea what the answer is but the fact remains that there are many, many, many marathons all over the coutnry and some of them have rich corporate sponsorship and big prize money and some do not.
Running is just a sport like a lot of sports – swimming, cycling, fencing, archery,etc. America is all about mens football, baseball and basketball. That's where the money is and that's where it will stay until some marketing genius decides to promote some other sport. Soccer is kind of catching up but mostly during the World Cup. Women's soccer had its 15 minutes and then faded to the very occasional mention on the sports page again. Individual sports are all pretty much obscure with the exception of the Tour de France but until another American dominates for several years in a row it will also fade to grey.
I think you might be on to something about the "Kenyans". We root for our own pretty much exclusively. Now if someone wanted to make a big deal about an American who was trying to top "the Kenyans" running would shine again. Any takers? 🙂
Adeel on
November 28th at 2:35 pm
Now if someone wanted to make a big deal about an American who was trying to top "the Kenyans" running would shine again.
Those Americans are already out there. Khalid Khannouchi held the world record in the marathon from 1999 to 2003, Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor won silver and bronze respectively at the Olympic Marathon. Keflezighi was also third at Boston this year. Abdihakem Abdirahman ran 2:08 at Chicago, finishing fourth. It would probably take a white male, however, to pique mainstream interest.


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On May 19, 2017, the District of Columbia Circuit Court (the "D.C. Circuit Court") issued a decision in Taylor v. Huerta, striking down a 2015 Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") Registration Rule (requiring owners of unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS") weighing between 0.55–55 lbs. to pay a $5 fee and register their UAS with FAA) to the extent that it applies to model aircraft. In its published opinion, the D.C. Circuit Court ultimately held that FAA's Registration Rule clearly conflicts with Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which expressly prohibits FAA from promulgating and enforcing rules and regulations with respect to model aircraft.
Following the D.C. Circuit Court decision, recreational UAS and other model aircraft operators will no longer be required to register their UAS under the Registration Rule. Importantly, operators of recreational UAS must still comply with the guidance located in Advisory Circular 91-57A. In addition, UAS owners should also note that commercial operators will continue to be required to comply with both the Registration Rule and the regulations located in Part 107 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations or face strict civil and criminal penalties.
To date, FAA has not indicated whether it will challenge the decision of the D.C. Circuit Court or whether it will seek congressional amendment of Section 336. To that end, FAA has placed the following statement on its UAS homepage: "We are carefully reviewing the U.S. Court of Appeals decision (PDF) as it relates to drone registrations. We are in the process of considering our response to the decision as well as any registration implications for non-commercial users. Please check this website regularly for further updates and instructions."
Contact David Agee or Erik Dullea for more information regarding the Husch Blackwell UAS team.


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Pruning a Pyracantha Mohave
With its masses of orange-red berries, the scab- and blight-resistant Pyracantha Mohave is the "go-to" Pyracantha variety for nurseries and landscapers. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 through 11, Pyracantha are grown as espalier, hedges, shrubs and as an essential winter food source for birds and wildlife. Growing up to 12 feet tall and equally wide, Pyracantha Mohave requires regular pruning to shape the shrub into the desired form.
Protective Gear
Pyracantha are well-known for their sharp thorns, hence the name "firethorn." Puncture wounds from the thorns may cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Avoid putting your hands and arms into the thorny shrub. Wear heavy gloves, long sleeves and pants, boots and safety glasses when pruning Pyracanthas.
Pruning Tools
Pruning a Pyracantha Mohave requires shears for hedge pruning, anvil pruners for small branches, loppers for larger branches and a pole pruner to reach deep into large or overgrown shrubs. A pair of long-handled barbecue tongs are helpful in pulling the pruned branches out of the shrub.
When to Prune
Pyracantha are usually pruned in early spring after they've finished blooming. However, spring pruning also removes the developing berries. If you're growing Pyracantha as part of a habitat for birds and local wildlife, leave some of the fruiting branches unpruned. Pyracantha also tolerate light pruning to reduce errant, quick-growing branches during the summer.
Pyracantha Mohave grows into a 12-foot-wide-by-12-foot-tall shrub if left unpruned. With regular pruning, however, it makes a lovely espalier against a stucco or masonry wall. Pyracantha is also used as a security hedge, sheared into a thick mass of branches and sharp thorns that protect against intruders. In gardens grown as a wildlife habitat, Pyracantha is sometimes shaped into a tree-like form, with the upper branches left unpruned, providing berries for the birds.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images


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Challenged with 'designing a training shoe that will assist developing ballet dancers during the evolution from beginners ballet slippers to traditional pointe shoes', Miami based designer, Guercy Eugene came up with this 'Nike Arc Angels' concept –
'Using Nike's performance characteristics and BLOCH's history with dance wear, the Nike ARC ANGELS will provide the support/style a dancer will need during her transition.' – Guercy
A very impressive and in-depth project, Guercy shows off not only his sketching and rendering abilities, but also his creativity and thought process. Check out more of Guercy's project, after the jump.
[divider style="thin"]
ConceptKicks © 2013-20


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I had an idea today. In the last few weeks I've been struck with the amount of struggle and heartache all around me. On a day to day basis, we can all have joy, yes, but who has not had heartache or hardship in their life? I honestly don't think anyone has been exempt.
Here are some examples:
- Death of a spouse
- Miscarriage
- Death of a child
- Cancer or serious illness
- Serious illness of a child or spouse
- Child with disability
- Infertility
- Divorce
- Rape
- Brain surgery
- Dementia/ Alzheimer's
- Depression
I've learned that we ALL struggle. We ALL have hardship. What defines us is what we do in those times. Do we turn to GOD for comfort and strength? Do we trust that He is in complete control of the hardship and that it is His will without becoming angry?
I'll tell you a little secret. For me, THAT was the only truth that made my struggle doable. Knowing that GOD was in control of it made me feel like I could overcome, because He would be the one to see me through it.
We all have crosses to carry. Yours is no easier or harder than mine, and you aren't a better or worse person than me. Our struggles are just different. But they all matter to God.
WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING YOUR STRUGGLE HERE? WE COULD ALL BENEFIT IN KNOWING WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES. No one's life is perfect. Let's show each other our weaknesses. We are all REAL.
I'll go first. {I'll share a few, but I'm sure there are more}
- I have struggled with DEPRESSION on and off during my life. (Even before everything happened with Ian.) My depression seems to be seasonal. It comes when times are tougher than usual (beginning of school year, deadlines at work, etc), and it comes in the summertime which is the opposite of when most people experience it. I've learned that I have to be constantly analyzing my mood and attitude, my willingness to participate in activities, and friendships. Sleeping better and exercise help a great deal, but when that is not enough, I've had to supplement with medicine. It was hard to admit I needed it. I thought I should be able to control it myself, thinking I was weak when I couldn't. Ian helped me see it this way. "If you had diabetes or high blood pressure you'd take medicine for that, right? This is no different." Have I told you how much I love my husband? He's full of wisdom and encouragement.
- When Emma was 23 months old, we found out we were expecting a baby. We told my family and friends all about it, and everyone was happy for us. Unfortunately, that turned into a MISCARRIAGE. I've never written about it, or talked about it much either. It was a special occasion holiday dinner on a Saturday and I told my parents and sister.. actually we had little one year old Emma tell them. "What's in Mommy's tummy?" I prompted her. "A baby!" she said. Everyone was thrilled. I went to bed just fine that night. The following day, a Sunday, we were sitting at a restaurant at lunch, and I started to feel the most painful cramping I'd ever felt and realized I was bleeding. I didn't want to say anything and ruin my family's lunch. Ian and I came home afterward, and I lay in excruciating pain in my bed crying for the rest of the day, knowing I was losing my baby and there was nothing I could do. After several months, we found out we were pregnant with what would be Jack. We had a complication with that pregnancy, something called a subchorionic hemorrhage. They found it during our first ultrasound. Ian tells me when he looked at the screen he thought we were having twins. But, no, it was an accumulation of blood that my body could release at any time. Basically, it was a condition that could cause my placenta to separate from the uterine wall and I could miscarry. Praise God I didn't miscarry. Jack was a happy baby boy. But, my entire pregnancy was a constant worry, what ifs, and having to totally trust God.
- The most notable struggle has been the one with Ian in the last several years. He got sick, almost died, lost his legs and fingers, and life changed forever for us. I became a CAREGIVER for him and my three children. I learned to be SELFLESS. I had to continue to look up when times were hard. I had to change my attitude to a positive and encouraging one. Those who knew me before the ordeal can confirm that I was a very different person. God changed my heart and perspective to be less selfish and more positive. Looking back on it, it wasn't so bad. GOD gave me STRENGTH to do it.
So you see, my life has been far from perfect. Every day I choose to live according to God's plan for me. To have joy and to love those around me. To HELP when I can, to TEACH what I know, and to ENCOURAGE others.


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Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo
Consisting of forty-one black-and-white photographs taken between 1988 and 1992, Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo documents the gay rodeo circuit and the lives of many of its participants in those years. The collected body of work not only serves as a stunning example of black-and- white portraiture and rodeo photography, it also explores the diverse and complex natures of individual and community identity in the West.
Drawn from an exhibition at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis as part of its Out West series, Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo elegantly combines classic portraiture and rodeo action and informs each image with a complex and rich multi-cultural identity. "Blake Little chronicles the proud tradition of this wholly American sport from the action-packed arena floor to the rodeo cowboy's most intimate, contemplative moments behind the chutes," observes author Gregory Hinton. The exhibition's curator Johanna Blume adds, "This exhibit also explores the diverse and complex natures of individual and community identity in the West. Many of the people in these photos were LGBT men and women from rural backgrounds, and the gay rodeo circuit gave them a place where they could embrace and celebrate their full identities."
Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Little graduated in 1982 from Seattle's Central College with a degree in photography. He relocated to Los Angeles, where he began to establish himself as a professional photographer. He attended his first gay rodeo in 1988 and was hooked. He says of the experience, "The sport, camaraderie, and atmosphere of this first rodeo experience transformed me. I was completely drawn to it and I had to be a part of it. I wanted to be a cowboy." Along the way, Blake photographed many of his experiences and the people he met.
Over the next several years he became increasingly involved in the gay rodeo community and the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA), participating in many of the events. In 1990 he was named Bull Riding Champion of the Year at the IGRA Finals.
Speaking about Photographs from the Gay Rodeo, Little sums up how his personal experience informs the images. "These photographs represent an amazing, magical time in my life. Back then, I questioned if I was a 'real' cowboy because in the back of my mind I always felt like an observer—and photography was my first passion. But my unique situation allowed me to document the growing sport of gay rodeo from the inside along with the thrills and personal challenges of fulfilling my cowboy dreams."
From an evaluation from Rapid City Arts Council (Rapid City, SD) about Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo
"The strengths of this exhibition include the fact that it featured a diverse subject matter but was still accessible to all viewers, provided a uniform presentation style, and was a great opportunity for our TAP (Teaching Artists Program) programming. Additionally, it was a unique exhibit that elevated our LGBTQ community exclusively as a subject for the first time. Our community appreciated the addition of this exhibit. We had many LGBTQ visitors from our region who don't normally come to our galleries. They expressed pride and ownership in this show."
Tour Schedule
Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo is touring July 2015 through June 2020. The dates below reflect five-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact firstname.lastname@example.com or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
July 5–September 6, 2015
Salina Art Center
Salina, KS booked
October 21–November 30, 2015
Gallery 210, University of Missouri–St. Louis
St. Louis, MO booked
December 15, 2015–March 10, 2016
University of Arizona Museum of Art
Tucson, AZ booked
June 3–24, 2016
The Culture Lab at Mid-America Arts Alliance
Kansas City, MO booked
September 1–November 30, 2016
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA booked
May 15–June 20, 2017
University of Central Oklahoma, Melton Gallery
Edmond, OK booked
October 21–November 30, 2017
Dahl Arts Center
Rapid City, SD booked
December 15, 2017–April 30, 2018
High Desert Museum
Bend, OR booked
May 15–June 20, 2018
Kansas City, MO booked
July 5–November 30, 2018
Gilcrease Museum
Tulsa, OK booked
February 3–April 30, 2019
University of Idaho Library
Moscow, ID booked
July 5–August 18, 2019
Monterey Museum of Art
Monterey, CA booked
September 1–February 20, 2020
Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Eugene, OR booked
March 25–October 4, 2020
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
St. Petersburg, FL booked
Exhibition Details
41 black-and-white photographs by Blake Little
Fee Includes
Press Kit
Registrar's Packet
Programming Guide
Gallery Guide
Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates
Curated By
Johanna Blume, Assistant Curator, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis, IN
Organized By
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis, IN
Out-of-Region Rental Fee
In-Region Rental Fee
$1,600 before 7/1/17 and $2,240 after 7/1/17
5-week display
Van Line
Running Feet
Square Feet
Moderate B
Number of Crates/Total Weight
4 crates/860 pounds
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.


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www.bungie.net | halo.bungie.net | bungiestore.com
By SketchFactor
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2002, 10:47 AM
If you look at things simply from a logistical perspective, the Halo National Championship tournament was a success in many ways: thousands of people from all over the country competed, and the finals were recorded and televised, and there were none of the catastrophes that usually accompany such a large undertaking. But for all the satisfaction we took in the National Championship, it wasn't an unmitigated triumph. The decision to make the tournament open only to players 18 and older, the emphasis on every-man-for-himself play, and the chosen game types left some players dissatisfied. In the aftermath of the Tournament, a group of dedicated Halo players coalesced with one aim: create another tournament that would allow a wider spectrum of players to participate and reward team effort. Together with iGames, the coalition of gaming centers that had acted as the base for the Halo National Championship, this "Player's Council" spent several months hammering out the rules for what is now known as the Halo Winter Season tournament.
The Halo Winter Season is simple on its surface; the press release describes it as "a series of four-man, single-elimination tournaments held at iGames-affiliated game centers across North America." It's not until you peruse the rules page that you realize the depth of thought and planning that has gone into this tournament. Much of that planning came from a small group of Halo players whose only reward is the satisfaction of a well-organized tournament. It didn't surprise me at all to learn that one of these players is Jesse Tribby, perhaps better known to some of you as Jester (or Jesteribby of The Psyjnir Complex. Jester graciously took time out of his busy schedule to answer some of our questions about the tournament.
How did the Players Council begin?
The Players Council was actually iGames' idea. After the last minute changes, the game center screw-ups, and the general community backlash that accompanied the first Halo National Tournament, iGames sought to make drastic improvements. Their hope was to have a knowledgable group of players who could come up with the structure, concept, and rules for the next national-scale Halo event ... AND who they could blame for everything that goes wrong. ;-)
What's it been like working with them?
The best part about working with iGames is that they respected the Players Council, not only as advisors, but as an executive body. They recognize that their business is serving players and thus give us freedom to create, defend, and negotiate what we see fit. Having said that, the Players Council still fights an uphill battle. It comes down to a group of volunteer game players trying to convince game centers, sponsors, and businesses to give us what we want.
Why a team tournament?
Mostly, we just like team tournaments better. Some people will read that and cry, "That's just your opinion! You aren't representing the players!" But if you look at the kind of large scale events the Halo community is organizing right now (e.g. Halo50k, Halo: Running Riot Invitational, etc.), it's obvious that team is what people want to play. And while Halo may not be the huge squad-based multiplayer experience that Bungie first envisioned, it's still a damn good team game.
However, there is another reason as well. The painful reality is that free-for-all Halo is extremely susceptible to random factors. If you spawn far away from the action, whether it be in a Race, King, Oddball, or Slayer game, you are going to be at a disadvantage. As a tournament director, my first concern is to advance the player or team with the best skills and strategy by minimizing these random factors. In my opinion, the first Halo National Tournament failed to do that. It became most obvious when I watched the best players at my venue warm-up for their "Snipers Sidewinder" game. Almost every game there was a different winner. The guy who took first place in one game would take last in the next... it was insane. While the Players Council recognizes that it is impossible to completely eliminate random factors, we feel that a team tournament, by design, is less susceptable to randumbness and more open to strategy.
Was it easy to settle on rules and game types, or was there a lot of heated debate? Was putting this tournament together easier or more difficult than you originally anticipated?
Within the Players Council, we established a very orderly, efficient method of brainstorming and settling disputes. We created the original concept for this tournament in less than a week. Near the end of the process, we had a short, heated debate concerning "Radar vs No Radar" and ended up making 1/3 of the games No Radar. (Following later discussion, we decided that the next series of events would be closer to half Radar and half No Radar.) It was hard work, but the initial process was easier than I expected.
BUT THEN we handed it to iGames. The game centers immediately had some problems with our proposal, especially with the third Qualifying Tournament (CTF tournament). The Players Council was forced to defend, explain, and alter our original concept in order to make this series of events actually happen. The power struggle between what the businesses wanted (game centers and iGames) and what the players wanted became extremely frustrating at times. For example, the Qualifying Tournament registration fees are double what the Players Council thought was appropriate. But it was a compromise that had to be made in order to pull off this series of events. In the end, I'm happy with the product, but I'll be the first to admit that it still isn't perfect. (Just so everyone knows, the Players Council will continue fighting to get the costs down for future events.)
Are there any specific examples of pitfalls that other tournaments have fallen into that you managed to avoid?
All of us have run Halo events and about half of us have run regional/interstate Halo events before. Just from running those events, our collective knowledge of what works and what does NOT work is pretty vast. Add to that our participation in Battle of the Bay, the E3 2002 Bungie Fanfest Tournament, Myth World Cup, Halo National Tournament, and regional tournaments in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and New York... just to name a few...
I won't be so arrogant as to point out other tournament's pitfalls before we see the pitfalls of the Winter Halo Season ... but I will say that the I am pretty confident that the Players Council knows what it's doing.
Is this a one-off tournament or will you do it again?
With the Halo Winter Season, we are hoping to lay down the blue-prints for a full blown, corporate-sponsored, ranked Halo League next year... and then a worldwide 2004 Halo 2 league... and now I'm starting to get goosebumps again... :D
The Halo Winter Season is a rare bird: a collaborative effort between a business devoted to LAN gaming and a group of passionate gamers, with both parties struggling to create a positive experience. Not only that, they're hoping to make this an ongoing project. Want to be part of the first wave? Register your team today!
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TV3 are releasing a new crime documentary special, 'Paul Williams: Gangsters at War'.
Renowned crime journalist Paul Williams is following up is award-winning series 'Dirty Money' with this one-off special edition following the horrific gangland shooting at The Regency Hotel.
On Friday February 5, criminal David Byrne was gunned down at The Regency Hotel, followed by the brutal hit on Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's brother Eddie Hutch Senior just three days later.
Paul will trace the growth of the Spanish based 'Kinahan cartel', the rise and fall of Gary Hutch and the all the events that triggered this latest gangland feud.
Read more:
The show will include an interview with Detective Chief Superintendent Michael O'Sullivan, head of the new Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau.
Read more:
Williams will investigate the recent murder surge of the Irish criminal world and whether or not our authorities have the power to battle against them.
The feud has put organised crime as the main talking point of the upcoming general election as the public prepare to cast their votes on who should be in our next Government.
'Paul Williams: Gangsters at War' will air tomorrow night on TV3 at 9pm.


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Blog Archives
The Kosherwine.com French wine options
With the new year, I wanted to repeat my rules of engagement with wine. Also, with the continued plethora of people writing about wine and selling them as well, I decided to remind my readers, I DO NOT shill. I do not take money or free wines. I pay for my wines and I write about them, no matter what others think. I do go to wine tastings and yes, at that time I do not pay for the wines, but neither does anyone else at the wine tasting. So, yes, I bought these wines from kosherwine.com and I am posting my notes about them. I am also adding my notes about a few wines that I tasted at YC's house when he had a few Kosherwine.com wines as well. Those notes and the tasting can be found here, and I will post them at the end, just for completeness.
Many of these wines are produced by Louis Blanc, a producer that makes lower level wines at very reasonable prices. Sadly, when they get here, the prices are somewhat elevated. Depending on the location you can find the Brouilly below for 10 euro or so, but here in the USA, it goes for 23 dollars or so. Figure in the shipping, the extra hand (AKA extra person/company) in the mix and you get the price you get. Still, some of the wines are nice enough to buy, IMHO.
Sadly, the best reasonably priced French Bordeaux wine, that I have tasted so far, that costs, in France some 11 euro, would be the 2014 Chateau Grand Barrail, Prestige, Red. It is far better than any of these wines listed here, other than the crazy good 2016 Chateau Guimberteau, Lalande de Pomerol, but that is 4x the price!
I wanted to keep this simple, so the wine notes follow below – the explanation of my "scores" can be found here:
2012 Louis Blanc La Gravelle Chinon, Cuvee Terroir – Score: 90 (QPR)
This wine has changed since the last time I had it. It is showing far better than the clearly bad bottle I had in Israel. This wine is made from 100% Cabernet Franc. The nose on this wine starts off a bit funky, with time it opens to show lovely barnyard, mushroom, with a rich garden of green notes, earthy, foliage bomb, with crazy raspberry, red fruit, showing loads of floral and tart notes. The mouth on this medium bodied wine is nice and layered, and restrained, with nice elegance, showing green notes, soft tannin, and bell pepper, lovely with lovely balancing acid! The finish is long and green, with hints of leather, tobacco, and rosemary. Nice! Drink now through 2019!
2012 Louis Blanc Duc de Serteil Coteaux Bourguignons – Score: 86
This wine is a blend of 60% Gamay and 40% Pinot Noir. The nose on this wine is a bit closed, but with air, it opens to cherry notes, Kirshe, with olives, green notes, herbs, and strawberry, with currant, and foliage. The mouth on this medium bodied wine is a bit too simple, it shows great acidity, with nice enough notes, but the metallic notes and soft tannins make it a bit too simple. The finish is average and nice enough, with more herb, and cherry red notes. Drink UP!
My top 25 kosher wines of 2018 including wine of the year and best wine of the year awards
Like last year, I wanted to make this post short and sweet – so the criteria are simple I could care less about price, color, or where it was made. All that matters is that it is/was available this year sometime to the public at large and that I tasted it in a reliable environment, not just at a tasting, and that it was scored a 93 or higher. Also, there are a few lower scoring wines here because of their uniqueness or really good QPR. I also included some of the best wines I tasted this year – they are at the bottom.
We are returning with the "wine of the year", and "best wine of the year". Wine of the year will go to a wine that distinguished itself in ways that are beyond the normal. It needs to be a wine that is easily available, incredible in style and flavor, and it needs to be reasonable in price. It may be the QPR wine of the year or sometimes it will be a wine that so distinguished itself for other reasons. This year, it is one of the QPR Kings of 2018. Yes, last year, we had a single QPR King, this year, there are a few. Why? Because as I will discuss in my year in review, 2018 was about having more solid wines than having GREAT wines. Sure there is a clear Best wine of the year, which is revealed below, but 2018 will be remembered for having MANY very enjoyable wines, rather than a few GREAt wines.
Also, yes, the Wine of the year and the Best wine of the year, both made by Royal wines, such is life, and I could care less for the most part.
Again, the list is missing wines I have yet to taste, like the 2015/2016 Chateau Pape Clement, which I am sure would have been on this list if I had tasted them. There are also interesting wines below the wines of the year, think of them as runner-up wines of the year. There will be no rose wines on the list this year – blame that on the poor crop or rose wines overall, they did not even crack the interesting list. Also, this year, we were given a bounty of top wines and finding the list this year was really a task of removing then adding.
The supreme bounty comes from the fact that Royal released the 2015 and 2016 French Grand Vin wines a bit early! Throw in the incredible number of kosher European wines that are coming to the USA and being sold in Europe and this was truly a year of bounty for European kosher wines.
Now, separately, I love red wines, but white wines – done correctly, are a whole other story! Sadly, in regards to whites, we had no new wines from Germany. Thankfully, we had Domaine Netofa and Yaccov Oryah Wines to come to the rescue. On top of that, we had another EPIC year for 2016 Herzog Chardonnay, Reserve, Russian River. This year, quite deservedly, it cracked the top 25 wines of the year! The new Chablis is also nice, but the winner in the "very close" section has to be the 2016 Koenig Riesling – Bravo guys!
Some of these wines are available in the USA, some only in Europe, and a few only available in Israel.
Finally, some of these wines are hard to find and they may have different siblings – but they are worth the effort. The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my "scores" can be found here:
The 2018 kosher wine of the year – we have a TIE!
This one was a NOT a no-brainer to me this year. It was really hard. I wanted to give it to the 2016 Chateau Larcis Jaumat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, straight up, but it is already sold out, between me and Gabriel Geller, we sold that wine out in no time. So, instead, we will share the winner with the almost impossible to find, aforementioned Larcis Jaumat, along with another from Europe, the 2015 Cantina Terra di Seta Chianti Classico, which is also QPR superstar as well! Congratulations to Cantina Terra di Seta and Royal Wines, and to Chateau Larcis Jaumat, along with an elevated nod of the chapeau to Menahem Israelievitch for finding and curating this wonderful QPR winery tucked into a corner of Saint-Emilion! Bravo!
2016 Chateau Larcis Jaumat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – Score: 92 (Crazy QPR)
This wine starts off open and then closes so tight like an oil drum, this thing is nuts. The wine is made of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a classic right bank wine from Saint-Emilion. The nose on this wine is really bright, ripe, and intense, with rich intensity, mushroom, earth, but so much redolence, the nose is far more open than the mouth, showing rich blackberry, dark plum, and rich vanilla, followed by herb, mint, rosemary, and green notes galore. The mouth on this medium to full-bodied wine is crazy rich, it does at times remind me of Benyo's Merlots with a fair amount of blackcurrant thrown in, which is never found on Benyo wines, but the mad acid, rich mouthfeel, closed tight fruit structure has me reminded often of a Four Gates wine, with intense notes, they scream because of the acid, that gives way to rich tannin structure that is searing and yet inviting, with rich cranberry, cherry, and crazy earth, that will give way to mushroom and forest floor with time. The finish is long, really long, lingering, and intense, with gripping tannin, acid, tobacco galore, mounds of blackcurrant, vanilla, herb, foliage, and green notes, that give way to a gripping mouthfeel that will crush anything, with tar, menthol, and more earth. OMG, this Benyo in France! Wow!! Drink from 2021 to 2030.
2015 Terra di Seta Chianti Classico – Score: 92
The nose on this wine is ripe, at first, the wine starts off with heat, but that blows off, but it is also well balanced, with lovely earth, mineral, dirt, with dark cherry, coffee, and lovely dark fruit. The mouth on this medium to full-bodied wine is beautiful, complex, well layered, with rich concentration, nice extraction, all balanced and plush, with rich blackberry, currant, lovely mouth draping tannin, with lovely foliage, and some nice earthy and fruit bite. With time, it shows its ripeness, but also intense minerality, saline, graphite galore, and lovely tannin structure. The finish is long, green, and ripe but balanced, with lovely acid, great texture, that gives way to more coffee, graphite, scarping mineral, and light almond bitterness on the long finish. Bravo!! Drink 2019 to 2023.
The 2018 best kosher wine of the year!
This one was really tough. First of all, the one I chose is not available yet for purchase in the USA. Also, in terms of score, it did not beat out the 2016 Chateau Giscours, 2016 Chateau Lascombes, 2016 Chateau Du Tertre, Margaux, 2016 Chateau Montviel, or 2014 Chateau Tour Seran, Medoc (NOT Mevushal), or the 2014 Chateau Cantenac Brown, which I somehow missed from last year's top wines. In the end – for its sheer awesomeness it beat out a very crowded field. In the end, the winner of the BEST kosher wine of 2018 goes to the 2016 Chateau Malartic, and it deserves the crown – bravo!!
2016 Chateau Malartic Lagraviere, Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classe – Score: 94
The 2016 Malartic-Lagraviere is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (at least in the non-kosher version). Wow, the nose is really ripe, not what I expect from a Malartic, but still lovely, with chocolate, black fruit, earth, and lovely hints of umami, with sweet oak, earth, and sweet blue fruit. The mouth on this full bodied wine is rich, layered, and concentrated with nice control, expressive, with blackberry, blueberry, and what a change, Malartic with blueberry! Showing more raspberry, earth, and rich fruit, with a truly incredible plushness, that gives way to a rich mouth coating tannin that drapes and lifts the mouth, showing a precision, and an incredible professional touch, with plush fruit, loam, and lovely saline. The finish is long, and plush, with more blue, green, and red fruit, with leather, and power that belies its youth, a wine that will push long into its life, with tannin, licorice, and graphite/mineral that lingers long, Bravo!! Drink from 2025 until 2035. Read the rest of this entry
A wine tasting of some incredible 2015 and 2016 kosher French wines with Nathan Grandjean
When I last left off on the story of my trip to Israel and Europe, I had just ended an epic tasting of the new 2016 wines from Royal Wines. I then jumped on a train and came to Strasbourg for a tasting of Alsace wines and other wines that are not made by Royal. It included some new 2016 and 2017 wines but it mostly involved French wines from the 2014 and 2015 vintage.
Last year we made a run for Von Hovel, and I wanted to do that again this year, and maybe even Nik Weis. Sadly, they told me there were no new wines for 2017 or 2018. I am really so sad, those wineries have so much potential, but I guess Gefen Hashalom ("Vine of Peace") felt they had too much inventory already. I am really not sure what they have that is not sold? All the Nik Weis wines are sold, from what I know, Gary got the rest of the 2016 wines. Von Hovel did not make any wines after the 2015 vintage, and they have nothing left either. I really hope they make wines in 2019.
After last year's epic tasting with Nathan Grandjean, I had tasted all of the 2014 French wines that I know of. The 2015 wines are slowly being released, from producers other than Royal. Kosher Wine International, the producers for all the Magrez wines, has now just released the 2015 wines. Rose Camille is slowly releasing the 2014 wines now. Bokobsa has released many of the 2016 wines, along with Taieb, though Taieb has not officially released the 2016 Pommard from Lescure yet.
I have yet to taste the new 2016 Lescure Pommard. I have a couple of bottles and will post soon. I have also not yet tasted the 2015 Pape Clement, I have a few bottles to get to soon. I have not yet tasted the 2015 Haut Condissas, but that is not in the USA yet, or if it is, it is not for sale as Royal still has the 2014 vintage to sell. I have tasted all of the Magrez wines, other than the Pape, and I will post those on a subsequent post (buzz killer – they are not that great). Nathan and I did taste two of them, and yeah, they are OK, nothing great. They are far too ripe for me to be happy. I would stick with Royal's options any day before them.
If you are interested in these wines, they are mostly wines that are here or will be here eventually. If you cannot find them or do not want to wait, Nathan Grandjean has them for sale on his website: www.yavine.fr (I DO NOT work for wine stores, never have and never will. I get no kickback or payment for this). I state this here only as information. It also seems that kosherwine.com will hopefully have some of these as well.
We tasting these wines twice, once in the evening and once more the next day. This did help some of the wines to open, but most of the wines were either unchanged or some were worse off. I posted here scores from Koenig wines and from Giersberger, as we had visited them both earlier in the day and took some of the wines with us to taste again, the notes here are the best of those wines.
My many thanks to Nathan, and his family (for putting up with us). The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my "scores" can be found here:
Bordeaux whites and one Swiss White
Let me make this 100% clear if the notes are not obvious enough. The 2015 Magrez Fombrauge Blanc, is a HUGE letdown. The 2014 vintage is a home run, in comparison. The clear overall winner here is the Barrail white – like WOW, crazy wine for the price, sadly it is still only available in France, come on Kosherwine.com, get moving already!
2015 Chateau du Grand Barrail, White – Score: 91 (Crazy QPR)
The nose on this wine shows smoke, flint, with lovely dry fruit, showing rich honeysuckle, white flowers, with honeyed apples, and lovely Asian pears. The mouth on this medium bodied wine shows riper fruit than the nose, showing more sweet fruit, with sweet melon, with a richer mouthfeel than I would expect, with rich acidity that shows a bit further in the mouth, with intense honeydew, melon, and lovely grapefruit, and Meyer lemon. The finish is long, truly searing with acid, and rich with more honeyed fruit, and lovely citrus fruit. Bravo! Drink now till 2023. (This is sadly only available in France)


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Brandon Stewart
West Virginia University -- Morgantown, WV
Class of 2012
M.S. Computer Science
Coursework: Advanced Analysis of Algorithms, Compiler Construction, Computational Complexity, Developing Portable Software, Distributed Systems, Empirical Methods in Software Engineering and Computer Science, Formal Specification of Language, Statistical Pattern Recognition, Software Performance Engineering, Theory of Operating Systems
Report: Portability Study of Android and iOS
Marshall University -- Huntington, WV
Class of 2007
B.S. Computer & Information Technology
(Emphasis in Software Development)
Minor: Mathematics
GPA: 3.50 (Major: 3.67)
Coursework: Advanced Communications, Statistics, Calculus 1&2, Linear Algebra w/Differential Equations, Advanced C++ Problem Solving, Algorithms, Data Structures, Network Protocols, Web Programming, Software Engineering 1&2, E-Commerce, Computer Graphics w/OpenGL, Scripting Languages, Database Programming, Operating Systems
Senior Consultant -- October 2016 - Present
Attain, LLC -- Morgantown, WV
Currently a full-stack application developer in support of CDC NIOSH. Development has mostly involved .NET Core Web API services with SQL Server databases and modern Angular single page applications. Ongoing recent work has been in support of the World Trade Center Health Program.
Programmer Analyst, Lead -- September 2015 - September 2016
CACI International Inc -- Morgantown, WV
Worked as an application developer in support of CDC NIOSH. Primary development was on a new WPF application with SQL Server database backend for the Western States Division.
Information Technology Specialist -- June 2012 - September 2015
S.M. Stoller Corporation -- Morgantown, WV
Worked in support of the Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management, primarily on development of environmental services applications. Participated in both self-driven development as well as in agile team development projects. Development typically involved C# programming with SQL Server or Oracle databases.
Extensive work with Esri JavaScript API on public-facing application connecting ArcGIS Server map services with existing environmental database for reports and visualization.
Graduate Teaching Assistant -- August 2010 - May 2012
West Virginia University -- Morgantown, WV
Taught two sections per semester of CS 101 for the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Responsibilities included class lectures, assisting students during open lab hours, and grading assignments.
Software Engineer -- July 2007 - August 2010
Ultra Electronics, ProLogic -- Morgantown, WV
Worked at the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Worked on migration and retirement of legacy applications as well as ASP.NET with C# web applications with Oracle databases.
Began working at the Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management in October 2007. Work was primarily on web applications in ASP.NET with C# using SQL Server databases. Responsibilities typically included the full development cycle from requirements gathering through deployment and user support.
Teaching Assistant -- August 2005 - December 2005
Marshall University -- Huntington, WV
Graded programming assignments for Professor Brian Morgan's IST 263: Data Structures class.
Intern -- Summer 2005 & 2006
ProLogic, Incorporated -- Fairmont, WV
Worked with an existing team on a NASA contract in the summer of 2005, mainly on parts of the user interface with software that was in its early stages (UI was a plugin for Eclipse). Programming was primarily in Java.
Worked on a Department of Defense contract in the summer of 2006, again mainly on parts of the design of the user interface (a plugin for ArcGIS). Gained much more experience with the software requirements and design processes. Programming was in Java/C#. I also developed C# unit tests for classes which did not yet have tests written for them.
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Assisted with various tasks in the IT department including computer maintenance and network diagramming.
Owner/Webmaster/Programmer -- 1999 - Present
Started releasing Perl scripts in September, 1999 in spare time while in school. Website became a commercial operation in March, 2002. Main specialty was a cross-platform mailing list manager. New products were released and existing products were updated for nearly six years. Created documentation for all products. Maintained website for product downloads, documentation, and private logins for paying users. Products have been and continue to be used on commercial websites. Continue to support users via email and an online forum in spare time.
References available upon request.


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Chana Bloch
Translator, Hebrew
Chana Bloch is the author of four books of poems: The Secrets of the Tribe, The Past Keeps Changing, Mrs. Dumpty, and Blood Honey. She is co-translator of the biblical Song of Songs, as well as contemporary Israeli poetry—most recently The Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai and his Open Closed Open, and Hovering at a Low Altitude: The Collected Poetry of Dahlia Ravikovitch. Among her awards are the Poetry Society of America's Di Castagnola Award, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, and the 2012 Meringoff Poetry Award. (Photo credit: Peg Skorpinski)
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Hell Ride to Paradise
To reach Kaparkan Falls in Tineg, Abra, first you need to take the four hour Hell Ride to Paradise, over a bumpy, muddy, cliff edged dirt track. Be prepared for the most body battering roller coaster ride of your life.
There's only one Road to Kaparkan
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Club House
In recent years the club has undertaken numerous redevelopments and additions to its facilities. A pavillion extension was opened, which included an umpires' changing room, new showers for the players' changing rooms, baby-changing facilities and also a disabled toilet as well as access for wheelchairs to the pavillion.
The club house also contains a bar, function room and kitchen which is available for hire for private events.


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President Obama's decision to revisit George Bush's defense architecture early on in his presidency has been influenced by a number of underlying issues. The President believed it was important to meet the evolving threat of Iran, North Korea, and other rogue states with adequate defense capabilities, but he had to take into consideration spending realities resulting from the financial crisis while seeking to preserve the international non-proliferation regime and maintain strategic stability. While wanting to emphasize the shared transatlantic security burden in Europe, President Obama also wanted to reset relations with Russia, which had cooled considerably during the Bush years.
Meaningful progress has been made over the past 18 months. With regard to present and potential outcomes of President Obama's Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) to missile defense, there is a positive shift toward more collaborative bilateral efforts between the U.S. and Russia on missile defense, nuclear non-proliferation and strategic arms reduction. Our analysis suggests that NATO's present search for a new strategic identity offers a possibility to make U.S. missile defense a national contribution to the Alliance's Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD). The mid-term elections and other contentious political trends in the U.S. could hinder President Obama's ability to pursue his missile defense, disarmament and no-proliferation agenda over the next two years.
If the Obama Administration succeeds in communicating convincingly the non-offensive motives behind the expansion of its missile defense architecture, joint efforts with Russia in missile defense, disarmament and non-proliferation could succeed. Positive milestones in U.S.-Russia cooperation on missile defense have been established since Obama took office. For instance, a couple of months prior to the announcement of the change of course from the Bush Administration, the two states agreed on a Joint Treaty Assessment effort to allow for exchange of threat perceptions and estimation of shared ballistic missile risks.[1] A U.S-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission was with an Arms Control and International Security Working Group charged with missile defense cooperation, among other issues.[2] Initiatives of this kind have served to reassure the Russians of America's peaceful intentions behind the PAA to missile defense. Furthermore, they have established a more comprehensive format for bilateral cooperation on other matters.
President Obama's effort to promote transparency and international cooperation on missile defense issues has the potential to result in joint U.S.-Russia research, development, testing and analysis of current and future missile defense architectures. Given that the present Administration remains open to the 2007 Russian proposal to share intelligence on Iranian flight tests retrieved by some of its early warning radars, there is a great potential for refining bilateral cooperation further.[3] A positive indication of improving cooperation was President Medvedev's July 2010 statement expressing a desire to advance relations with the U.S. more generally in technology and innovation. As Medvedev noted, 'cooperation cannot be limited to missile reduction'.[4]
Recent diplomatic developments vis-a-vis the Iranian nuclear weapons issue have indicated a tendency to increase Russia's role in helping defuse Iran's continued enrichment of uranium. Early in 2010, the Iranian government announced its plans to develop up to 20 percent enriched uranium nuclear fuel and to expand its present program with ten additional uranium enrichment plants within the year ahead.[5] The decision followed Iran's refusal to agree to a nuclear fuel swap which would have resulted in the exchange of Iran's partially enriched uranium with fuel from abroad (Turkey and Brazil).[6] Tehran's detour raised Russia's concern over Iran's suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons — allegations that have been further enhanced by the politicization of Iran's verification obligations under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines. A joint letter from Moscow, Washington and Paris voiced their concern over the Islamic Republic's plans for uranium enrichment.[7] This was an early indication of Russia's readiness to collaborate with the U.S. in sustaining the nuclear nonproliferation regime, resulting in UN Security Council Resolution 1929 (2010), as agreed by all the permanent members of the Council. The positive vote on the Resolution was in part a manifestation of Russia's agreement with the U.S. conclusion regarding the presence of a potential ballistic missile threat from Iran. It also indicated the potential for more proactive engagement from Russia in joint missile defense efforts.
The ratification of the 2010 Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Arms (the New START) and possible endorsement of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) will be decisive factors to this end. Regardless of the initial cynicism expressed by the Kremlin vis-à-vis the expansion of U.S. missile defense assets, the ratification process of the New START has been initiated by the legislatures of both Russia and the U.S. Cold War negativism still exists amongst both Russia's Duma and the U.S. Senate with regard to the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons. However, there is some expert consensus in both states that the gradual reduction of such weapons is a long-term objective from a cost reduction perspective, necessary in order to be compliant with treaty obligations, and essential for sustaining security and cooperation.[8] As President Medvedev put it, Russia is committed to "'simultaneous ratification, neither earlier, nor later" than the American side.[9] Discussions in the Russian legislature would be carried out in parallel with hearings in the U.S. Congress, in accordance with an agreement between the two parties on simultaneous ratification of the New START.
Eventual ratification of the Treaty would not only lead to reductions in the nuclear stockpiles of the two signatory states, but will also be a positive step forward and a source of pressure for greater international nuclear disarmament. Given that the U.S. has embraced missile defense as a driving element of its nuclear disarmament objectives, endorsement of the New START will facilitate the process of limiting offensive capabilities and enhancing the role of non-nuclear defense systems. It will also allow for further development and deployment of missile defense elements. Following the recent U.S. decision to reveal the number of its nuclear warheads, Russia has indicated the potential for a reciprocal disclosure of information upon entry into force of the New START.[10] This would significantly enhance transparency and cooperation between the two states, which would benefit collaboration on missile defense. Eventual ratification of the Treaty would also pave the way for more comprehensive discussions on the CTBT.
Regardless of the progress the Obama Administration has made in resetting relations with Russia, a number of negative developments could impede some of the objectives behind the new missile defense posture. As the democrats lack the sixty seats necessary in the Senate to approve the Treaty outright, President Obama might find it difficult to fulfill some of the obligations and promises made to America's foreign allies and partners. The mid-term elections, the mood of American voters, and the growing polarization of lawmakers in Washington will continue to impact the legislative process. The revised missile defense policy might, therefore, fail to live up to its potential of facilitating Obama's new transparent and particularly multilateral foreign policy objectives.
If the Congress fails once again to endorse the CTBT, relations between Russia and the U.S. will experience a new setback that will likely prolong Russia's suspension under the CFE and allow for further belligerence in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The signing of a modified missile defense agreement between the U.S. and Poland in July 2010 was not welcome by the Russian leadership and may ultimately negatively affect CFE developments and the endorsement of the New START. Pursuant to the revised accord, Poland agreed to host U.S. land-based missile defense interceptors as part of the PAA developments scheduled for 2018.[11] In conjunction with a recent deployment of PATRIOT interceptor batteries in Poland, such developments have questioned U.S. intent and can prove damaging for the New START ratification process.


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Endogenous Partial Insurance and Inequality
55 Pages Posted: 25 Sep 2015 Last revised: 2 Jan 2019
Date Written: October 27, 2016
In this paper, we propose a model of endogenous partial insurance and we investigate its implications for macroeconomic outcomes, such as wealth inequality, asset accumulation, interest rate, and consumption smoothing. To this end, we include participation costs to state-contingent asset markets into an otherwise standard Aiyagari (1994) model. We highlight the resulting non-monotonic relationship between wealth and insurance-market participation when insurance is costly. Poor households remain uninsured, middle-class households participate in the insurance market, while rich households decide to self-insure by only purchasing risk-free assets. After theoretically characterizing the endogenous partial equilibrium, we quantify its effect, emphasizing the roles of a participation channel and an interest rate channel.
Keywords: Wealth inequality, Participation costs, Endogenous Partial Insurance
JEL Classification: D31, E21, G11
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation


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Fireworks erupt around Manchester Town Hall as the clock chimes midnight. Edited highlights from the 11-minute-long display. The music is not from the live event and was added in the edit.
Date: Monday 31 December 2012.
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There are watches and then there is the Rebellion 540 Magnum Tourbillon. Actually it is only the tourbillon part of its name that gives it away that we are actually talking about a watch, and not an assault rifle or muscle car. That's not to say that the Rebellion 540 Magnum Tourbillon doesn't have anything in common with those two, because it is as subtle as an assault rifle and as powerful as a muscle car. And that is a good thing!
The Rebellion 540 Magnum Tourbillon was introduced at the end of last year and can best be described as Haute Horlogerie on steroids. It redefines the boundaries of Haute Horlogerie by approaching it in a very contemporary and innovative way. Much of this is achieved by its bold looks that would make it on anybody's wrist a statement piece, not to mention a conversation starter! With dimensions of 46 mm wide, 56.7 mm long and a thickness of 19.6 mm, this is a watch just shouting for attention.
The 540 Magnum Tourbillon though is more than about sheer body mass. The skilled pencil of watch designer Eric Giroud (Experiment ZR012, Romain Jerome Spacecraft) has ensured that the case has a certain elegance. Of course, we're not talking about the classical kind of elegance here, but even combined with your cut-to-the-bone Brioni suit, you won't commit any faux pas with this watch. Just don't expect it to fit under your cuff though. Clever details give the watch a polished and refined industrial look that makes an even bigger visual impact because the case is crafted out of carbon fiber. Not only does this result in a pleasantly sinister look, it also ensures that the weight of the watch stays within wearable limits.
Rebellion is a brand that can easily fool you with their bold design, but that is not all they bring to the table. Behind the visual splendour, there is indeed a technical prowess present that makes the watch not a empty promise of great design, but also a statement of contemporary Haute Horlogerie. Rebellion has achieved this by combining old school craftsmanship with innovative materials and time displays. This becomes especially clear when you realize that the man who developed the movement of the 540 Magnum Tourbillon for Rebellion is one David Candaux, the man behind the Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica, the Fonderie 47,(a watch crafted partially from scrapped assault rifles) and the superlative Badollet Ivresse. There is no AK47-metal for the new Rebellion, instead an aluminium main plate and a carbon-fibre back plate supporting the gear train is used, not at all common in the world of the Haute Horlogerie. In fact the style brings to mind the movements that high-end movement maker BNB created, before it went bust and got bought out by Hublot.
The movement, though, of the 540 Magnum Tourbillon, named caliber T-14, has more than enough to make the mouth of even the most spoiled watch connoisseur water with anticipation. First and foremost, there is the extra large tourbillon at a stupendous diameter of 17.2mm and a circumference of 540 tenths of a millimetre. The "540" in the name of the watch comes from this measurement. This tourbillon is crafted out of magnesium and covered with a micro-thin ceramic protection layer. On the subject of names, the "14" in the name of the caliber refers to the power reserve of the watch, measured not in hours obviously, but in days. To accomplish this, the movement has two barrels that are connected in series. That Rebellion is also in for a joke is evident from the fact that they have relief-engraved words like "Rebel", "Passion" and "Extreme" amongst others, on the barrels, which slowly pass by on the skeleton dial as the watch winds down.
The dial itself remains the visual centre of attention. Because the watch lacks a dial in the traditional sense you are looking straight into the belly of the beast. Apart from the engraved main spring barrels and the tourbillon, the watch also has a retrograde second hand, a precision power reserve indicator displayed by a roller and a general power reserve meter which is chain driven. Rarely does any Haute Horlogerie watch feature so many different time displays on the dial.
Nouveau Riche is a term usually used with a certain undertone by "old money". Rebellion can, especially with the 540 Magnum Tourbillon, be seen as Nouveau Haute Horlogerie. Make no mistake however, it does not indicate a lack of style or values as with the Nouveau Riche, but the opposite. It brings classical, complicated watchmaking into new waters, daring to take on old values and sailing forth to new directions. For this, Rebellion can only be applauded. That the 540 Magnum Tourbillon will gain wide praise is very likely, yet the fact that it remains limited to only 10 pieces will mean that only a happy few will be able to enjoy it.
Martin Green
Eclectic taste in Haute Horlogerie, passion for diamond set watches, loves the classics


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Hello everyone! Today is my stop of the blog tour for The Clock Flower, the third book in the F.I.G Mysteries series by Barbra Casey. If you have not read the previous two books, worry not because the Clock Flower can be read as a standalone! Now, onto tour.
Book Details:
Book Title: The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Book 3 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)
Category: YA Fiction, 208 pages
Genre: Mystery / Fantasy
Publisher: Gauthier Publications, The Hungry Goat Press Imprint
Release date: February 2018
Tour dates: Feb 26 to March 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is light profanity and some threat of violence.)
Book Description:
Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.
Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.
Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Juilliard.
The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is "one of them," for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn't include the orphanage; but if things don't work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.
Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.
To read reviews, please visit Barbara Casey's page on iRead Book Tours.
Buy the Book:
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About the Author:
Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.
Connect with the author: Website
My review:
In the third book of the F.I.G Mysteries Series that can also be read as a standalone, the three F.I.G's have now graduated high school and are now ready for live in the real world. Gone off in her own direction, Mackenzie is now hard at work on a secret project involving the missing element to immortality. But strange things begin to happen when her work place is strangely close to the ancient dig site Dara is working. Soon, Mackenzie must use her problem-solving skills to solve a mystery and fight a blood-thirsty dragon. Only her friends can help her now when secrets are revealed and Mackenzie discovers who exactly her true parents are.
When I first read the description of this book, I was immediately blown away. I love how the author is continuing to add more and more fantasy elements into her books. In the Clock Flower in particular, the author again made great use of research into Chinese history. Through her words, I once again felt like I was traveling the world along with the F.I.G's and Carolina. And the fantasy element made me only love it more.
As for the characters, I was happy to see them each continue to grow. In this novel in particular, Mackenzie finally received the full spotlight on her, something that I was very happy about. Readers will enjoy experiencing the story through her eyes because you get to see exactly what she is thinking. And because she is so smart, this only makes the story that much more interesting. Mackenzie isn't the only one who gets to grow in this story though, with Carolina finally showing more of her gypsy powers. This is an element that the author has utilized since the first book and I am very happy that she has continued with it. So few books feature gypsy culture so I am very happy to see it in this series.
Another enjoyable aspect of the book was the humor the author uses. Because the main characters are so smart, they see things in a different way than others, and can be quiet frank at times. An example of this is Dara's response to an overzealous frat boy when she first gets to her university. Scenes like this were very refreshing contrasted to the fantasy and more serious elements of the book. Also, male characters are often the ones to make jokes and snarky remarks in books because when female characters do it, they are often looked at as rude. But in The Clock Flower, it only adds a comedic element to the book.
Fans of books with fantasy elements set in the real world will enjoy this novel. The author researches everything she writes, which makes the story feel that much more real. If you love exploring new cultures with a fantastic twist ending, this book is for you!
Enter the Giveaway!
Ends April 7, 2018
3/26/2018 09:06:04
I want to thank you for your continued interest in The F.I.G. Mystery Series, and for your wonderful reviews of the three books in that series. I have enjoyed visiting with you on the tour, and I will look forward to visiting with you again perhaps in the future. In the meantime, I wish you all the best.
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Welcome to the Book Enigma! I review different genres of books from young adult fiction to sci-fi. Enjoy!
Author: Camille
Aspiring author who, along with reading YA and with other genres, also fosters kittens, and play the piano and cello!
January 2020
"A room without books is like a body without a soul."


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Use Your Credit Card for MGM M life Rewards Slot Play at Borgata Atlantic City
But Borgata is a favorite of credit card reward enthusiasts for a very different reason: the ability to redeem Borgata gift cards for MGM M life Rewards Slot Play.
But Borgata is a favorite of credit card reward enthusiasts for a very different reason: the ability to redeem Borgata gift cards for MGM M life Rewards Slot Play.
The B Bar at the Borgata is the only bar in Atlantic City that still comps top shelf drinks (or any drinks for that matter) for playing video poker or slots on the bar top machines. The beauty of this is that while you are being comped for your drinks, you are also earning comps that can be used for something else, like the $10 entry fee for the Amphora Lounge (if you've got a Black Label Card.) The machines also include full pay Jacks or Better!
I have some clarification to add to my Borgata Mlife post from last week.I played video poker again and the Mlife Express Comps, Slot Dollars and Tier Credits were updated in my account immediately. The Global Points were not, but the Mlife Desk had the correct session total in their records, when I inquired about it.
I played at the Borgata Atlantic City last week for the first time since my Mlife at Borgata post in February. In that update, I told you that the representative at the Borgata, that I was contacting after every single time I played, to have my numbers adjusted in line with the Mlife Earn Rates…
I have been writing about the Mlife program at the Borgata, since the transition from My Borgata Rewards in June. It was difficult to figure out the Mlife Earn Rates because the computer system is not tallying all the numbers correctly in everyone's account and I could not confirm the earn rates that they gave me verbally, even though they were updating my account to these values.
Why NO Tier Credit for Spend at Borgata ? | Could it be that there's a purposeful reason that there's no Spend Credit at Borgata? Is the result of the transition from My Borgata Rewards to Mlife being a muddy mess a coincidence?
The Borgata has always thrown some extra perks to their lower level players during slow times and it's nice that Mlife is continuing that tradition.
Atlantic City | Borgata Comps – With trial and error and many emails, phone calls and visits to the Mlife desk, I believe I have figured out the Earn Rates of the new Players Club Program (Mlife) at the Borgata, which was instituted on June 7, 2017.
The transition from My Borgata Rewards to Mlife isn't going as well as I thought it was. Last week, there were no elite lines at the Mlife desk and no signs to indicate why this was so. When I got to the front of the line, I had so many questions to ask (with a long line behind me) that I didn't add this to the list.
The lines at the Mlife desk at the Borgata are back to normal and the courteous and professional staff is forthright with answers to general questions about Mlife at Borgata. Mlife account information may not be current online; especially Points, Tier Credits and Tier Status but they are working on correcting that. It seems to me that the program is unnecessarily complicated but it's almost identical to My Borgata Rewards except for some extra benefits for higher daily play.
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