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Toronto International Film Festival 2016 Award Winners
Jackie, La La Land, Free Fire, and the other winners for the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Awards have been announced. The 41th Annual Toronto International Film Festival Awards are accolades given during the film festival for that year.
Jackie, a film reviewed by FilmBook Film Critic Mary Cox here, won Toronto Platform Prize. She had this to say about the film:
Jackie is a powerful drama that you're not going to forget any time soon. It might be one of the best films of this year, and it's certainly the best from TIFF this season.
The jurors (Brian De Palma, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, and Zhang Ziyi) had this to say about the film:
"Our decision was unanimous. We found one film that combined an extraordinary script with precise direction and unforgettable acting. For its exploration of the myth of American Camelot and its preeminent performance by Natalie Portman, the 2016 prize goes to Jackie."
Free Fire, a dark action comedy that we will publishing a TIFF review for soon, was the winner of the Grolsch People's Choice Midnight Madness Award. Grolsch People's awards are awards voted on by audience members at TIFF.
Musical La La Land was the winner of the Grolsch People's Choice Award.
The full listing of the Toronto International Film Festival 2016 Award winners:
The short film awards below were selected by a jury comprised of American filmmaker Abteen Bagheri (That B.E.A.T.), French filmmaker Eva Husson (Bang Gang), and Canadian filmmaker Jeff Barnaby (Rhymes for Young Ghouls).
The Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Alexandre Dostie's Mutants. The jury remarked, "Mutants takes a summer in Quebec and infuses it with a ribald lyricism. Awkward moments of sexual awakening paired with self cannibalism and self immolation rise it above standard nostalgia. It was a film that took chances with both its subject matter and humour, and framing it through the eyes of children. Congratulations." The award offers a $10,000 cash prize.
The Short Cuts Award for Best Short Film goes to Raymund Ribay Gutierrez's Imago. The jury remarked, "Some films are not easy to watch. But it's a beautiful thing to find a filmmaker who has a daring voice. We feel that with this movie we witnessed a bold, cinematic statement, and we cannot wait to see what features this director will give to the world." The award offers a $10,000 cash prize.
The jury gave honourable mentions to Or Sinai's Anna, and Orlando von Einsiedel's The White Helmets.
The Canadian awards below were selected by a jury comprised of producers Luc Déry (Incendies, Monsieur Lazhar) and Anita Lee (Stories We Tell, Invention), filmmaker Mina Shum (Double Happiness, Ninth Floor), and cultural critic and novelist Hal Niedzviecki.
The City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film goes to Johnny Ma's Old Stone(Lao shi). The jury remarked, "For its remarkably mature, powerfully rendered portrait of an innocent taxi driver caught in a proto-capitalist China, the jury is pleased to select Old Stone." This award carries a cash prize of $15,000, made possible by the City of Toronto.
The Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature Film goes to Mathieu Denis and Simon Lavoie for Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves (Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n'ont fait que se creuser un tombeau). The jury remarked, "For its uncompromising, electrifying portrait of youthful idealism and democratic exhaustion in contemporary Canada, and for its capacity to stir both heart and mind, the jury is thrilled to selectThose Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves." This award carries a cash prize of $30,000 and a custom award, sponsored by Canada Goose.
The Festival welcomed an international FIPRESCI jury for the 25th year. The jury members composed of jury president Steffen Moestrup (Denmark), Neta Alexander (Israel), Michael Sicinski (USA), Diego Faraone (Uruguay), Jake Howell (Canada), and Louis-Paul Rioux (Canada).
Prize of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) for the Discovery programme is awarded to Mbithi Masya for Kati Kati. The jury remarked, "With a generous and poetic tone, not without a degree of anger at personal and political injustice, FIPRESCI is pleased to present the prize in the Discovery programme to an exciting and unique new voice in cinema, Mbithi Masya for his debut feature Kati Kati."
Prize of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) for Special Presentations is awarded to Feng Xiaogang for I Am Not Madame Bovary. The jury remarked, "For its ambitious rendering of a woman's Kafkaesque struggle as she takes on the Chinese legal system, and sophisticated play of both form and content, FIPRESCI presents the prize in the Special Presentations programme to Feng Xiaogang's I Am Not Madame Bovary."
As selected by a jury from the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema for the 5th consecutive year, the NETPAC Award for World or International Asian Film Premiere goes to Maysaloun Hamoud's In Between (Bar Bahar). Jury members include jury chairperson Jeannette Paulson Hereniko (USA), Bina Paul (India), and Sabrina Baracetti (Italy). The jury remarked, "A confident debut about three contemporary Palestinian women living in Tel Aviv whose strong bond of sisterhood supports an exploration and shift in relationships, careers, and sexuality."
This is the sophomore year for Platform, the Festival's juried programme that champions director's cinema from around the world. The Festival welcomed an international jury comprised of legendary filmmakers Brian De Palma and Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, and acclaimed actor Zhang Ziyi, who awarded the Toronto Platform Prize to Pablo Larraín for Jackie. The jury remarked, "Our decision was unanimous. We found one film that combined an extraordinary script with precise direction and unforgettable acting. For its exploration of the myth of American Camelot and its preeminent performance by Natalie Portman, the 2016 prize goes to Jackie." The award offers a $25,000 cash prize and a custom award.
The jury awards a special mention to Khyentse Norbu's Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait (he-mà he-mà), "for a film that is a metaphor for our time. In an age of technology, this film uses masks to reconnect its characters with human instinct and emotion."
This year marked the 39th year that Toronto audiences were able to cast a ballot for their favourite Festival film for the Grolsch People's Choice Award. This year's award goes to Damien Chazelle's La La Land. Writer-director Damien Chazelle captures the story of Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for destroying hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. The award offers a $15,000 cash prize and custom award, sponsored by Grolsch. The second runner up is Mira Nair's Queen of Katwe. The first runner up is Garth Davis's Lion.
The Festival presents a free screening of the award-winning film La La Landtonight at 6 p.m.at Roy Thomson Hall. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 4 p.m. at Roy Thomson Hall.
The Grolsch People's Choice Midnight Madness Award goes to Ben Wheatley's Free Fire. Justine has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen and a gang led by Vernon and Ord who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired in the handover, a heart stopping game of survival ensues. The second runner up is Julia Ducournau's Raw. The first runner up is André Øvredal's The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
The Grolsch People's Choice Documentary Award goes to Raoul Peck for I Am Not Your Negro. With unprecedented access to James Baldwin's original work, Raoul Peck completes the cinematic version of the book Baldwin never finished — a radical narration about race in America today that tracks the lives and assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. The second runner up is Fisher Stevens' Before the Flood. The first runner up is Steve James' ABACUS: Small Enough to Jail.
The Dropbox Discovery Programme Filmmakers Award goes to Yanillys Perez for Jeffrey. Jury members include Lane Kneedler, Director of Programming at AFI, producer Caroline Benjo of Haut et Court, and Alice Tynan of Dropbox. The jury remarked, "A true collaboration between subject and storyteller, Jeffrey weaves verite and socially conscious observation together with poetic moments of magical realism. With this beautiful combination, director Yanillys Perez not only captures the boundless spirit and imagination of her protagonist, but also offers new possibilities for narrative filmmaking. We believe people will love discovering Jeffrey." The production team is awarded a free Dropbox for Business account.
Leave your thoughts on the Toronto International Film Festival 2016 Award Winners below in the comments section. Readers seeking more film festival news can visit our Film Festival Page. Want up-to-the-minute notification? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Written By:PPS, Posted: Mon, Oct 31, 2011
President Mwai Kibaki has called on Kenyans in the Diaspora to study the privileges and rights of citizens as enshrined in the country's constitution and identify provisions that require amendments to serve them better.
President Kibaki said the constitution, promulgated in August last year, is particularly concerned about inclusion and welfare of all Kenyans without any bias.
Addressing Kenyans living in Western Australia in Perth city on Sunday night, the Head of State affirmed that the Constitution demonstrates an admirable concern for human dignity and the rights of individuals, particularly citizenship of Kenyans at home and in the Diaspora.
The Head of State assured that the drafters of the Constitution gave a window of amendment to Kenyans and victims of prejudice and discrimination to fight for their rights and privileges through amendments as provided for in the law.
"Your country's constitution is not a static document, but can be improved further to serve the diverse interests", the President observed.
He assured Kenyans in the Diaspora that the country's constitution guaranteed the rights and privileges provided both in their country of birth and their respective countries of residence through the dual
President Kibaki asserted that the concept of citizenship, providing for dual citizenship, enables Kenyans living abroad to participate in governance and contribution to the economy through investment.
The Head of State therefore urged Kenyans in the Diaspora to take advantage of the relevant provisions of the country's constitution to register as voters at the country's missions abroad and participate in
Chapter three of the Kenya constitution allows for dual citizenship.
A Kenyan citizen can therefore acquire citizenship of another country, and any person can acquire Kenyan citizenship if they meet the requirements of this chapter.
"We want to ensure that Kenyans enjoy their rights as enshrined in the constitution while guarding against abuse of the privileges by unscrupulous people," President Kibaki said.
The President, at the same time, encouraged Kenyans studying abroad to consider returning home on completion of their studies to participate developing their mother country.
"The country needs the manpower and expertise of Kenyans in the Diaspora to hasten development", said President Kibaki.
He however pointed out that the government was encouraging Kenyans to acquire a world view so that they could be global citizens who can work and live anywhere.
He observed that the massive infrastructural development ongoing in various parts of the country was made possible through participation of Kenyans with support of development partners.
Participate in election
The meeting was also attended by Cabinet Ministers Moses Wetangula, Franklin Bett and Paul Otuoma and legislators Benedict Gunda and George Nyamweya who are members of the parliamentary department committee on defense and several senior government officials.
In his address, Mr Wetangula urged the 2.5 million Kenyans in the Diaspora to register as voters and participate in the election of the country's next leadership.
The Minister said the huge Diaspora vote could sway the final election result and empower Kenyans abroad to hold their political leaders accountable.
On their part, Mr. Bett and Mr Otuoma praised President Kibaki for his visionary leadership that had enabled equitable development in the country.
The three Cabinet Ministers said, President Kibaki who retires next year in line with the constitution, will leave behind a great legacy of a strong economy and quality infrastructure in the country.
Responding to the currency depreciation concerns by students in the Diaspora, the leaders stressed the need for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to consider disbursement of loans to students abroad in foreign exchange to enable them complete their studies.
Kenyans residing in Western Australia led by the country's High Commissioner to Australia Amb. Stephen Tarus and Honorary Consul to Perth Mr. Amu Shah appreciated the provision of dual citizenship in the country's constitution which they said provided a condusive environment for Kenyans abroad to invest in their motherland.
The Diaspora Kenyans said promulgation of the constitution had strengthened structures to fight corruption and impunity while enhancing respect for the rule of law.
They commended President Kibaki for providing visionary leadership in restoring peace among the various communities after the 2008 political clashes.
Monthly Archives: October 2011
Author vs warlord: Jubaland's 'governor-in-waiting'
By EAST AFRICAN TEAM (email the author)
Will it be the prolific author and French educated PhD Dr Mohammed Abdi Gandi or the former warlord Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Islam, known also as Sheikh Ahmed Madobe?
It is widely held within the intelligence community in the region that the choice of either is of great interest to two regional powers, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Gandi, who is a former minister of defence of Somalia, and the current "president of Azania" (Jubaland) is said to be the candidate favoured by the Kenyan intelligence establishment. He is based in Kenya and is also said to be a favourite with the French.
Nicknamed "Gandi," Mohammed hails from the Ogaden sub-clan of the Darod, which is prevalent in Kenya and Ethiopia.
The choice of Gandi is said to make Addis Ababa uncomfortable, largely because of the notion that he could harbour the territorial ambitions of his people to carve out an Oromia super-state that unites the Oromo population in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya Shemsudin Ahmed however, says that his people know Gandi well and they have a good working relationship. Ethiopia also supports Kenya's military incursion.
He said that Ethiopia's worry is foreign powers such as Eritrea that have in the past supported Oromo insurgents.
Gandi holds PhD degrees in geology and anthropology and history.
A former research scientist at the IRD in Paris, Gandi was awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma. He also served as a senior programme advisor of UNDP Somalia in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR).
An active participant in the Somali peace process, Gandi was lead consultant in an initiative called "Mapping the Somali Civil Society." He also chaired the Technical Committee at the Arta Somali Peace process that took place in Arta, Djibouti, as well as being a member of the Somali civil society at the Somali Peace and Reconciliation Conference that was held in Kenya.
An accomplished author, Gandi has published eight books in addition to more than 40 scientific articles in various academic journals.
In February 2009, Gandi was appointed Somalia's minister of defense by the nation's then head of government, prime minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. He held the position until November 2010.
In April 2011, the new autonomous region in southern Somalia referred to as Azania (formerly Jubaland), was formed and Gandi took over as its first president. Gandi's first stated policy initiative is to remove the Al Shabaab group of militants from the territory.
Ras Kamboni
Sheikh Ahmed Madobe is the chairman of the Ras Kamboni movement. As a member of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) he was governor of Kismayu in 2006.
This is the man favoured by Kenya's military establishment and Ethiopians who have dealt with him.
The military view Madobe in a good light because he has commanded a militia in the past and he could easily raise an army.
When the ICU was overthrown by the Ethiopian National Defense Force, he fled towards the Kenyan border when he was wounded, and later received medical treatment at an Ethiopian hospital. He was later arrested by the Ethiopians.
When the Somali parliament expanded to 550 MPs, he was elected MP in January 2009 and released from Ethiopian prison.
In April 2009, he announced his resignation from parliament.
Sheikh Ahmed Madobe was the leader of Ras Kamboni Brigades (the predecessor to the Ras Kamboni movement) which was allied to Hizbul Islam. In October 2009, armed conflict between Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab began in a dispute between a fraction of the Ras Kamboni Brigades and Al Shabaab over who was in charge of Kisimayu.
The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia and Jabiso, which were aligned to Al Shabaab in Hiiraan and Mogadishu refused to support the Ras Kamboni Brigades.
This also led to a split within the Ras Kamboni Brigades, with a faction led by Ahmed Madobe starting the war against Al Shabaab and a faction led by Hassan "Turki" siding with Al Shabaab.
The battle of Kismayu was decisively won by Al Shabaab, which expelled Madobe's Ras Kamboni forces from the city.
In the battles that followed, in November 2009, Madobe's forces were overpowered by Al Shabaab and local allies and forced to withdraw from the Lower Juba region and most of southern Somalia.
Source: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/1264380/-/nij3pkz/-/
Two Men Convicted in the 2009 Murder of a Kenyan Native in California
George Onyango was a loving father who gave hugs to his sons each day before he left for work.
An English teacher in his native Kenya before bringing his family to the U.S. in 2006, Onyango urged his sons to study hard to prepare for success in the world.
Onyango taught by example, attending Whittier Law School during the day and working nights as a group home counselor in Yucaipa.
In his free time, Onyango loved to take his family to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and other sights.
Onyango also took his group-home charges on field trips, trusting them and believing they shared a mutual respect, his cousin said.
That's why he never suspected two of the youths were plotting the horrible crime that ended his life on a summer night two years ago, leaving his sons orphaned.
The teen killers were tried as adults and were convicted recently on all charges.
Carlos Dubose, 17 at the time of the crime, was convicted of murder, carjacking, robbery, kidnapping, evading arrest and using a steam iron and dowel to beat Onyango to death, as well as special circumstances including torture.
Now 19, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole at sentencing Nov. 4.
Davion Whitmore 15 years, 8 months old at the time of the crime was convicted of murder, carjacking, robbery and kidnapping to commit robbery, said Deputy DA Beth Houser.
Because he was under 16 at the time, Whitmore, now 18, faces 25 years to life.
Houser hopes the convictions bring Onyango's sons a sense of justice knowing their father's assailants will never get out of prison to harm someone else.
The boys' relatives, Rose and Godfred Masinde, took them in to raise them with their daughters.
It wasn't an easy transition for the traumatized boys, who lost their mother to a brain tumor a few months after moving to this country and now had lost their father.
Masinde said he had to reassure the boys they were full members of his family.
I sat down with them on Thursday evening to ask how they are doing.
Abraham Onyango, 16, and David Onyango, 13, said their studies suffered at first, although teachers and friends were sympathetic.
David misses the walks his father used to take with him. Abraham misses the family road trips to Arizona.
Today both boys are doing well in school. Abraham is a senior at Yucaipa High School. He plans to study pre-med or engineering at college next year.
David would like to be a dentist or study law.
Especially difficult for Abraham was having to testify at the trial. He had to identify his father from bloody crime-scene photos.
"It was disturbing," he said quietly, adding that he had nightmares afterward.
The killers sat expressionless in court, he said, "like they didn't care."
Masinde wants the boys to write victim statements to be read at the sentencing. Both boys are reluctant, saying it is painful to relive the crime.
Abraham said he never wants to see the killers' faces again. I hope no one outside prison ever sees them again.
Source- http://www.pe.com/local-news/columns/cassie-macduff-headlines/20111022-yucaipa-killers-convicted-in-group-home-slaying.ece
Kenyan Jets Bomb Southern Somalia, 10 Dead
VOA News
Suspected Kenyan fighter jets have bombed the southern Somali town of Jilib, killing at least 10 people.
At least 45 people were also wounded in the attack.
Local officials say Sunday's strike targeted an area where al-Shabab militants were distributing food to internally displaced people.
Reports say many of those killed were civilians, including several children.
Kenya sent an undisclosed number of troops across the border earlier this month to fight Al-Shabab, which is blamed for a series of kidnappings of foreigners on Kenyan soil.
On Saturday, Kenya's military chief General Julius Karangi told reporters there is no timeline on the operation against al-Shabab rebels. He said his troops will remain in southern Somalia until Kenyans feel safe.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Somalia's al-Shabby militants say an American citizen was one of two suicide bombers behind a recent attack on an African Union military base in the capital.
A pro-Shabab radio station and website identified the Somali-American bomber as a young man named Abdisalan. It said he emigrated to the United States at the age of two.
U.S. authorities have not verified the claim, although several American citizens of Somali origin are believed to have traveled to Somalia to join the insurgency.
On Saturday, two suicide bombers detonated explosives outside the AU peacekeeping base in Mogadishu. It is unclear how many soldiers were killed in the attack, but al-Shabab says dozens died.
Al-Shabab is fighting to topple the U.N.-backed Somali government and set up an Islamic state in Somalia. The militant group has lost ground to Somali government and African Union troops in recent months but still controls considerable territory in southern and central Somalia.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Kenyan-Jets-Bomb-Southern-Somalia-10-Dead-132884553.html
Kenya air raid targets al-Shabab militants in Somalia
A Kenyan military spokesman told the BBC the planes had targeted the outskirts of the town of Jilib.
He said 10 fighters of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group had been killed and dismissed reports of civilian deaths as "al-Shabab propaganda".
Kenyan forces have moved across the Somalia border to target the group.
The country blames al-Shabab for frequent assaults on its security forces in the border province of North Eastern as well as a spate of kidnappings.
"We received intelligence that a top al-Shabab leader was to visit a camp in Jilib so we conducted an air raid," Kenya army spokesman Maj Emmanuel Chirchir told the BBC.
"Confirmation from the human intelligence is that 10 al-Shabab fighters were killed and 47 others wounded," he added.
He said that no civilian camp had been attacked. Earlier reports said that displaced civilians had been killed in the raid.
"This is all al-Shabab propaganda," he said.
The hardline al-Shabab group, which controls much of southern Somalia, denies carrying out kidnappings and has warned Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia or face bloody battles.
The Islamist group is locked in a battle with the transitional government for control of parts of the country currently outside of is power, particularly in the capital Mogadishu.
The government controls very little territory, but does have several militant groups around the country it regards as allies, and it is backed by the international community.
Kenya military chief suggests Somalia incursion could be long
Gen. Julius Karangi declares that his troops will remain in neighboring Somalia until the threat from the militant Islamist militia Shabab is eliminated and Kenyans feel safe.
- Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya—
Kenya's decision to get involved with one of Africa's most intractable war zones, a failed state that hasn't had a government for two decades, was a "spur of the moment" one, Karangi said Saturday.
Speaking at a news conference in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, he said the decision was made in early October. Twelve days later, troops were in Somalia, he said.
"Some people mentioned that this entire operation was preplanned, [that] it had been on the table for many, many months and years, and the answer is no. We acted as a country on the spur of the moment," he said.
Government authority to invade was given Oct. 4, three days after Somali gunmen kidnapped Frenchwoman Marie Dedieu from the Lamu resort archipelago on Kenya's northern coast. She died in captivity, but the date and details of her death aren't clear. Kenyan troops entered Somalia on Oct. 16, three days after two Spanish aid workers were kidnapped from a refugee camp in Kenya by Somali gunmen.
The kidnappings, and their repercussions for Kenya's $730-million tourist industry, have boosted public support for Operation Linda Nchi, which means "protect the nation."
Karangi said that for Kenyans to feel safe, the Shabab would have to be severely "degraded."
"This campaign is not time bound. When the Kenya government and the people of this country feel that they are safe enough from the Al Shabab menace, we shall pull back. Key success factors or indicators will be in the form of a highly degraded Al Shabab capacity," he said.
Karangi said one Kenyan soldier had died in the military action. He did not say how many Kenyan soldiers are involved in the mission, but said the number is "sufficient."
Kenya's key aim is to take the town of Kismayu, a deep-water port that is the Shahab's main base and its key supply point.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kenya-somalia-20111030,0,4326630.story
Kenya says its forces will stay in Somalia as long as it takes
REPORTING FROM NAIROBI, KENYA — The commander of Kenya's defense forces declared Saturday that his troops will remain in neighboring Somalia until the threat from the Islamist militia Shabab is eliminated and Kenyans feel safe.Given the messiness of other countries' incursions in Somalia, the vow by defense forces chief Julius Karangi suggests that Kenya's first military adventure since independence nearly half a century ago could be a long one.
In 1992, U.S.-led forces launched Operation Restore Hope, which led to the "Black Hawk Down" catastrophe of October 1993, in which the bodies of 18 U.S. troops were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, the Somali capital.
Ethiopia invaded Somalia in 2006 to defeat the Islamic Courts Union, a religious alliance that had taken power in the country. Ethiopian forces withdrew in 2009, only to see the rapid advance of Shabab, a successor to the ICU. Ethiopia claimed to have achieved its mission, but the situation in Somalia suggested otherwise.
Kenya's decision to get involved with one of Africa's most intractable war zones, a failed state that hasn't had a government for two decades, was a "spur of the moment" one, Karangi said Saturday.
Speaking at a Nairobi news conference, he said the decision was made in early October. Twelve days later, troops were in Somalia, he said. "Some people mentioned that this entire operation was preplanned, [that] it had been on the table for many, many months and years, and the answer is no. We acted as a country on the spur of the moment," he said.
Government authority to invade was given Oct. 4, three days after Somali gunmen kidnapped Frenchwoman Marie Dedieu from the resort of Lamu on Kenya's northern coast. She died in captivity, but the date and details of her death aren't clear. Kenyan troops entered Somalia on Oct. 16, three days after two Spanish aid workers were kidnapped by Somali gunmen.
The kidnappings, and their effect on Kenya's $730-million tourist industry, have boosted public support for Operation Linda Nchi, which means "protect the nation." Karangi said that for Kenyans to feel safe, Shabab would have to be severely "degraded."
"This campaign is not time-bound. When the Kenya government and the people of this country feel that they are safe enough from the Al Shabab menace, we shall pull back. Key success factors or indicators will be in the form of a highly degraded Al Shabab capacity," he said. Karangi said only one Kenyan soldier had died so far in the military action.
He did not say how many Kenyan soldiers are on the ground, but added it was "sufficient." Kenya's key aim is to take the port town of Kismayu, a deep-water port that is Shahab's main base and its key supply point.
Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/10/kenya-somalia-al-shabab-militants.html
Are Kenyans seeking a buffer zone in Somalia?
"I hope in three or four months, al-Shabab will have been removed from our region. Then one day I'll invite you to come to Kismayo to see what's going on," said Abdullahi Shafi, personal assistant to the governor of Somalia's Lower Juba region.
He is hopeful that with Kenyan military help, he can soon return home to a new semi-autonomous region in southern Somalia.
"We have been in hell for the last 20 years. We need a new Somalia," he said, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "Azania" – the name of the new region which comprises Gedo, Lower Juba and Middle Juba.
"Start Quote
I think the Kenyans are into a very long and messy intervention in Somalia"
End Quote Rashid Abdi Horn of Africa analyst
It already has a flag – blue, white and red – a parliament, a house of elders and a president in waiting.
The Kenyan government says it sent troops to Somalia to fight al-Shabab, whom it blames for the recent kidnappings of tourists and aid workers.
"Kenya has the capacity, the ability and the will to defend its territory and its people," said Moses Wetangula, Kenya's foreign minister.
But analysts point out that for several years Kenya, with international support, has been pushing for Azania, traditionally known as Jubaland, to be set up.
Kenya has trained and equipped Somali troops, as it would like a buffer zone to shield its territory from lawless Somalia.
So some analysts see the kidnappings as just a convenient excuse for carrying out the plan militarily.
The army has been giving unverifiable reports of success across the border.
The Kenyan media, which have scarcely questioned the motive for going to war, have told the country about captured towns that no one has ever heard of.
One front page article referred to the "imminent fall of Kismayo".
For now, the cautious voices are being drowned out.
"It's not going to be easy for Kenya to stabilise and pacify that part of Somalia, much less drive out al-Shabab," said Rashid Abdi, of the International Crisis Group.
"I think the Kenyans are into a very long and messy intervention in Somalia."
Rich in oil?The man who hopes to soon end his absentee presidency says the creation of Azania, in April, came about following the consultation of more than 30 clans.
He says he is not a separatist, but speaks of a bright future for his people in a Somalia where power is devolved from Mogadishu.
"Our priority will be to consolidate the peace, set up the administration and re-establish education and health systems before we move on to development and infrastructure," Somali MP Professor Mohammed Abdi Gandhi told me in Nairobi.
Asked where he got his last name from, he smiled and replied, "Because I'm against violence."
A geologist with dual French and Somali nationality, he has critics who accuse him of imposing what some call the "Gandhi plan" without being all-inclusive.
"They met at a hotel in Naivasha where Professor Gandhi was proclaimed the president. Everybody clapped. The constitution was produced. They all clapped again, even though they hadn't even read it," one critic told me.
In response, Mr Gandhi says the process has been as inclusive as possible with dozens of consultative meetings.
There are reports that Azania – or at least the sea off its coast – is rich in oil.
"Start Quote
[President] Sheikh Sharif doesn't want change… He wants al-Shabab to stay"
End Quote Mohammed Abdi Gandhi President of self-declared Azania
Mr Gandhi, a former Somali defence minister, has worked as a consultant for the French oil giant Total. This and this has led some to conclude that countries including France and Norway have thrown money at the Azania project.
"These are all rumours. Not true," he says.
"To my knowledge, there are no groups or companies that have come to us. When it's peaceful, then we will open the door and all the international oil companies can come to explore. Nothing is under the table."
Centralised power has not worked well in Somalia.
The war has kept the government confined to the capital Mogadishu and, more often than not, to hotels in Nairobi.
As Puntland and Somaliland and several other states break away, a devolved form of government is seen as better way forward, as long as it is well planned and not done through the gun alone.
"Ideally, Somalis should have been given the opportunity to plan for a federal state in a gradual, consensual way," says Mr Abdi.
"Right now, we have clans competing among themselves to carve out clan enclaves or cantons in various parts of Somalia. I don't think clan states are the way forward for Somalia."
Ethiopian factorSomali government officials have given mixed reactions to the Kenyan incursion.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the government was grateful for logistical support but said the Kenyans should stay out of Somalia – a comment which drew this response from the president of Azania.
"Sheikh Sharif doesn't want change. To prolong his power, he wants the status quo. He wants al-Shabab to stay. He is a big obstacle to peace. He has done a lot to block our programme," Professor Gandhi told me – without ruling out the possibility of this stance leading to armed conflict between the president's and his soldiers.
"If he keeps the status quo, he can convince the international community that he is fighting al-Shabab. He needs more help and more time. For him, all he has in mind is to stay in power."
The controversial issue of foreign troops in Somalia could complicate the Kenyan mission.
Some analysts suggest it could even help bolster al-Shabab, which has played the nationalist card before.
The Kenyans are fighting alongside a militia run by Sheikh Ahmed Madobe – a man who does not see eye-to-eye with Mr Gandhi.
As well as this potential source of tension, there is also concern that clan rivalries could break out if the common enemy of al-Shabab is dealt with.
Then there is the Ethiopia factor.
Analysts say Addis Ababa is strongly opposed to Azania being set up.
The fear is Ethiopian Somalis of the Ogaden clan may seek support or refuge across the border in Azania which is inhabited mainly by people of the Ogaden clan.
As for Kenya, it clearly had to act to secure its border – the question is whether that should have been done without crossing the frontier or at least without going deep into Somalia's web of war.
"I think once the body bags come back home and the huge bill comes in at a time when the shilling is depreciating so fast, Kenyans will sober up. They will realise that this kind of foreign adventurism may have been ill advised," said Mr Abdi.
Al Shabaab vows huge blast in Kenya
- Somalia's al Shabaab rebels called on Thursday for supporters in Kenya to carry out a major strike in retaliation for a 12-day military incursion by east Africa's powerhouse.
Kenya has sent soldiers and heavy weapons into southern Somalia to crush the al Qaeda-linked militants Nairobi blames for a string of kidnappings on Kenyan soil and frequent border incursions.Kenyan units have advanced on several fronts with Somali government troops and allied militias towards al Shabaab strongholds and a fighter jet bombed its port city of Kismayu on Sunday."The time to ask Kenya to stop war has passed. The only option is to fight them. Kenya, you have started the war and so you have to face the consequences," Sheikh Muktar Robow Abu Mansoor, a top al Shabaab official, told a demonstration.Kenyan military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir told Reuters their forces clashed with al Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia, east of a town called Tabda, on Thursday and two wounded soldiers had been evacuated."There was action today between al Shabaab and our forces. We managed to kill nine al Shabaab," he said.An al Shabaab spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters his fighters had ambushed four Kenyan military vehicles near Tabda. He did not give details of any casualties.The al Shabaab official urged sympathisers in Kenya to shun the grenade attacks that hit the capital Nairobi on Monday, killing one person and wounding 29. Police said on Thursday that all but six of the victims had now returned home."The Kenyan Mujahideen who were trained by Osama in Afghanistan, stop throwing grenades at buses. We need a huge blow against Kenya. Hand grenades hurled can harm them but we want huge blasts," he told hundreds of people gathered in Elasha, near Mogadishu.Residents said al Shabaab had ordered them on Wednesday to close businesses and attend the anti-Kenyan rallies.The two grenade attacks on a bar and a bus terminus in downtown Nairobi have spooked Kenyans and security has been beefed up in the capital at hotels, government buildings, restaurants, bars and shopping malls.The blasts came two days after the U.S. embassy warned of an imminent attack. A Kenyan man has pleaded guilty to one of the attacks and being a member of al Shabaab.MORE GRENADE ARRESTSKenya's Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said two more people had been arrested over the attacks and were due to appear in court this week. He said the man who pleaded guilty went to Somalia in February and returned to Kenya in August.The United Nations has warned that hundreds of Kenyan Muslims have been recruited by al Shabaab and that youth organisations have raised funds for the Somali militants.A U.N. Monitoring Group report on Somalia published in July said al Shabaab had extensive funding, recruiting and training networks within Kenya.Al Shabaab has yet to carry out a major strike in Kenya but has used suicide bombers to devastating effect in Somalia and Uganda — whose troops are fighting the rebels in Mogadishu as part of an African Union force.Twin suicide blasts in Kampala killed 79 people watching the soccer World Cup final last year and a truck bomb in Mogadishu killed more than 70 people earlier this month.Gunmen also attacked a vehicle in northeastern Kenya on Thursday not far from the Somalia border, killing four government employees and wounding two guards, officials said.Northeastern Provincial Commissioner James Ole Serian told Reuters the attackers were being pursued and another official said there were reports they were heading towards Somalia.NO TALKS WITH SHABAABKenya's southern neighbour Tanzania also issued a terrorism alert late on Wednesday following the Nairobi attacks."We have received threats," Robert Manumba, director of criminal investigations, told state TV. "Experience shows us that terrorism is an international crime. The al Shabaab group is composed of members from all east African countries."Al Qaeda struck Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, killing hundreds of people in suicide bombings of the U.S. embassies there.A diplomatic row between Somalia and Kenya over the incursion appeared to have been resolved. Somalia's president had cast doubt on the government's support for the Kenyan incursion on Monday.But on Wednesday, the Somali government said while it had not agreed for Kenyan troops to cross the border, the prime minister would head a new committee to liaise with Nairobi."We support Kenya's operation inside Somalia because they support, train and provide other military support to our troops to defeat al Shabaab and we are very grateful to Kenya," Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali told Reuters in an interview."But we have to understand one thing: Somalia has the lead, our military has the lead in all operations taking place inside Somalia," he said late on Wednesday.The semi-autonomous northern Somali region of Puntland also said on Thursday it supported the Kenyan incursion.Kenya has long watched its anarchic neighbour warily and its troops have made forays across the porous border with Somalia in the past, but this month's assault marks the first concerted push to drive the rebels away from the frontier.Kenyan government spokesman Mutua stressed Kenya had no intention of occupying southern Somalia and would return once it had dismantled al Shabaab's networks. He also said Kenya would not negotiate with the militants.
Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/18723-al-shabaab-vows-huge-blast-in-kenya.html
Memorial for Professor Wangari Muta Maathai
Philosopher, environmentalist, educationist, political activist, freedom fighter,
mother, grandmother, guiding light. We will miss her. We will celebrate her. We will
emulate her. We will never forget her.
— H. E. Macharia Kamau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative at Kenya Mission to
United Nations
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street)
New York, NY.
Monday November 14th, 2011
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
All are invited to attend. The ceremony will begin promptly.
Please, no flowers or presents.
Donations to Green Belt Movement
Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations
866 UN Plaza Suite 304
New York, NY 10017
Tel. +1(212)-421-4741
Fax. +1(212)-486-1985


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For YEARS this is what the right side of my sewing area has looked like, a complete mess thrown together.
So one day I decided I was going to make a Sewing Mat Organizer. I just "wung" it, if you know what I mean. I measured the distance from the left edge of my machine to the right edge of the table, measured from the back of my machine to the front edge of the table, THEN measured how far down I wanted to pockets to hang down above my thighs. I knew I wanted LOTS of pockets. I had to use some of my owl fabric to go with the theme of my logo and sewing room.
I made 2 rows of 5 pockets. The end pockets are 3 inches wide and the others are 6 inches wide. Lots of space for all my stuff. At first I was going to make a velcro thread/scrap catcher but decided to stick with taping a grocery bag underneath on the corner.


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Still being in Texas, and seeing a State Park sign reminded me that I have...Read More
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Zombie Shark Air Swimmer R/C
When you first watched Jaws during your wee years, were you scared stiff of swimming in unchartered waters? After all, with the haunting soundtrack in the background, not to mention the ferocious killing machine that sharks are made out to be on the TV, what's worse than a shark which is hungry for flesh – human flesh in particular? Why, zombie sharks take the cake, as they aren't only after that chunk of meat on your thigh, but are gunning for your brains as well.
The $39.99 Zombie Shark Air Swimmer R/C is a funny, light hearted and zombified take on the classic Shark Air Swimmer R/C. It is on the hunt for human brains, and will be made from the same durable, high-quality nylon material that allows it to remain inflated for weeks on end. Some of the remote functions include the ability to climb, descend, and tail fin control for turning. The infra-red remote should be able to help get the job done from afar, where a quartet of AAA batteries keep it going instead of fresh brains. Keep this "pet" indoors and you should be fine.


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Date: 23/01/2016
Opponent: Arizona
Location: Glendale
Loss: 6-2
Habs Goalie: Condon (L)
Opposition Goalie: Domingue (W)
Habs goalscorers: Weise, Gallagher
Opposition goalscorers: Hanzal, Duclair, Richardson, Ekman-Larsson, Connauton, Vermett,
There were lots of questions about our beloved Canadiens heading into this one and no answers to be had. With a win tonight, we're keeping pace. A loss, and we can go back to scouting for the draft.
Brendan GallagherYou have to admire Brendan Gallagher in this one and in most of the games he's played. The team looked defeated tonight before the game even started. The only player who seemed to feel the gravity of tonight was Gallagher. He's a good player and might be a better choice for a captain than the one we have.
Dale WeiseDale had a great start to the season. Somewhere along the line, along with the rest of the team, what made him a good player was forgotten. Tonight, at least for his goal, he got into a dirty spot; the kind of spot you pay a price to get into. He banged home the tying goal by doing what he's supposed to do. It's too bad we don't see more of that play from him.
Jacob De La RoseJacob had a good game tonight and was arguably our best forward. He was buzzing, and made a great play to drive to the net and dish the puck back to Weise for the goal. He played like he has something still to play for; a spot on the big club next year perhaps. It's too bad Therrien couldn't convince more of the players that, they too, had something to play for.
Nathan Beaulieu - Game PuckNathan had moments of brilliance tonight. He had a nice rush and drove to the net hard on Gallagher's goal, perhaps distracting the goaltender just enough for that one to squeak through. That was an excellent pass to Byron for that breakaway that was so nearly a very important goal.
Tom GilbertTom had the shift of the game tonight. He broke up a two on one, then helped maintain some great possession in the Arizona end by holding the line, pinching in, and even cycling down low before getting a pretty good chance on net.
Ben ScrivenBecause he's the one who should have been in the net to start this game. Two goals Condon should have had and the team knew it. Once that happened the Canadiens quit. There's no excuse for quitting, but, at this point I don't know too many people who wouldn't.
Post GameSolid plays tonight were few and far between. The pass by Beaulieu to Byron who eventually rung a shot off the post was pretty so see but I'd have to say Tom Gilbert's entire shit, late in the second period was masterful. He sprawled to break up an odd man rush, then skated hard to get into the play on the attack. Held the line well, pinched to keep the puck in when needed, then found himself cycling down low, with better effectiveness than many of the Montreal forwards tonight. He even got himself open for a good chance on goal. With so few of our team dialed in, it was nice to see, at least for one shift, this game mattered to Tom.
The Good News is I think after this game we can safely say we're out of the playoffs with no hope of getting into them this year. We're still only 6 points behind the last Wild Card spot (now Tampa Bay who has two games in hand on Montreal), and the three teams we have to leap frog are now Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh but with play like tonigh it's safe to say that the 3 game winning streak was a blip on the radar and that the play indicative of Montreal since December reflects this team more accurately right now. How is that good news? Well, we're only 6 points ahead of Columbus for third last place which gives us a decent shot at winning the draft lottery. And the best news is, by just coaching as per usual, Michel Therrien gives us an excellent shot of getting there.
The Bad News, in a nutshell, everything else. The fact that the absence of Carey Price is being used as an excuse to keep Michel Therrien is alarming. I know there's not a wealth of bilingual coaches out there so maybe we'll just have to hire the best coach available, language notwithstanding, and have in his contract that he has to take French lessons. I'm sick of hearing this buffoon, night in and night out, talk about puck luck and holding the players accountable. If the players are half as sick of him as I am, they're ready for a change and would probably welcome a trade if it gets them out of this mess. The fact that Carey Price has been on camera so much tells me one thing, and one thing only. That the Montreal management are using the media to string us along. They know what his injury is, and I'll bet they knew his rehab would take longer than they initially said. There's more. The fact that Geoff Molson hasn't stepped in and told Bergevin to do something or pack his bags would lead me to think that Geoff is okay with this mediocrity too.
There's not much positive going on right now but maybe the trade deadline can lift our spirits. Jonathan Drouin has played his last game as a Lightning so there is still a chance to make him a Canadien. Montreal has great pieces outside of Galchenyuk to go back to a team hoping to make a run at the Cup. Bergevin has stated that he will not trade Galchenyuk and I believe him. He stated that he wouldn't fire Therrien and despite overwhelming evidence and opinion that he should, he hasn't it. Other than that, Montreal has some pretty good trade bate. I've talked about Markov going. He's a great puck moving defenseman but his days of being a 1-2 guy are over. I've talked about Dale Weise. I love the guy when he's playing his game but he's a UFA and would potentially bring in more than his worth for a team wanting a proven playoff performer. I've talked about Tom Gilbert. He's 33 and a UFA. Draft picks and an open door for a younger player to step in would be nice. What we need? Youth. A defensively sound defenseman who can log big minutes and play with Subban to allow PK to be the all-star he is, a young, potential big scorer (Drouin), and some grit to replace the grit we're losing.
Now here's something to blindside the entire fanbase. Trade Tomas Plekanec. Trade him for a bag of pucks. Just get him and his salary off the books. Why? I love Plekanec and as a second line centre he would flourish. If we had a top centre and dropped Plekanec down to the second line, Desharnais would be relegated to third and we'd be better for it, but we're not going to get something for nothing. If we unload Markov for prospects or draft picks we free up $4.25 million for next year's salary cap. If we can unload Plekanec we free up another $7 million for next year. PK Subban is locked up for a long time for some big money. Wouldn't it be nice to bring in some friends for him to play with? If nothing else, Mr. Stamkos looked sharp the last time he wore a Habs jersey.


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This policy setting ignores the customized run list. You can create a customized list of additional programs and documents that the system starts automatically when it runs on Windows Vista Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 Professional. These programs are added to the standard run list of programs and services that the system starts. If you enable this policy setting the system ignores the run list for Windows Vista Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 Professional. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting Windows Vista adds any customized run list configured to its run list. This policy setting appears in the Computer Configuration and User Configuration folders. If both policy settings are configured the policy setting in Computer Configuration takes precedence over the policy setting in User Configuration. Note: To create a customized run list by using a policy setting use the ""Run these applications at startup"" policy setting. Also see the ""Do not process the run once list"" policy setting.
Additional Information
Registry path is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Policies -> Explorer # DisableCurrentUserRun
The Administrative Template path is:
System -> Logon


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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|"Matt Goodall" <matt.good...@gmail.com>
|API suggestions
|Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:01:49 GMT
Hi, OK, I'm not a big user of CouchDB yet (I hope that will change one day!) but, since you're all talking about heading for 1.0, I thought I would post some thoughts on the CouchDB API in case any of it makes sense to users with real experience of using it in applications. I'm aware that some are significant changes and would break language bindings but better now than post 1.0! So, here goes ... I have my flame proof jacket on ... time to post to the mailing list! ;-) Hope it makes sense. - Matt ===== = Document Revisions = Identify document revision using a segment arg instead of query param, e.g. my_db/my_doc;rev=123 That would make child resources (attachments and whatever might happen in the future) more easily addressable, e.g. GET my_db/my_doc;rev=123/foo.txt I think the biggest benefit is probably accessing attachments. To me: PUT my_db/my_doc;rev=123/foo.txt is so much prettier, more readable and more "semantically" correct than: PUT my_db/my_doc/foo.txt?rev=123 Not sure how important the rev= bit would be; my_db/my_doc;123 may well be sufficient. = Document Bits = (See also, Reserved Names) It might be nice to move attachments to a special '_attachments' child of the document resource, e.g. my_db/my_doc/_attachments/foo.txt. That's consistent with the structure of my_doc's JSON document and also allows CouchDB to provide more information about the document should it ever need to. e.g. my_db/my_doc/_views might return a list of the URLs of views the document exists in ... or something. Sure, the _views resource is just an example, and might not be that useful, but at least extending the document resource would be possible if/when the need comes up. = Reserved Names = Following on from "Document Bits", would it be sensible to reserve *all* path segments beginning with an underscore for CouchDB's use? For instance, attachments are currently immediate children of the document and can start with an underscore making it impossible (without a little guess work from CouchDB as to what the user means) to add couch-specific child resources under document resource should it ever want to. CouchDB uses the underscore prefix in a lot of places already (_id, _rev, _view, _all_docs, etc) so it would be a reasonable and natural restriction to impose on users in my opinion. = View API - start/end pairs = Would it make sense to combine the startXXX and endXXX pairs into a single range query param. For instance, startkey=1&endkey=25 would become keyrange=[1,25] (obviously, it would need to JSONified). Really, really not sure about this idea, but they do seem to go together. I guess you could even allow multiple keyrange params to select multiple bits of the view ... although I can't really think why you'd do that ;-). = View API - map/reduce/rereduce control = There are currently two view query params - group and reduce - that control how far the map/reduce/rereduce process is taken. In fact, I believe the group arg is ignored unless the reduce step is used. Would it make sense to combine them into a single query param (dunno what it would be called though ;-)) that can have a value of "map", "reduce" or "rereduce" with the following current meaning: "map" => reduce=false "reduce" => reduce=true&group=true "rereduce" => reduce=true&group=false
|View raw message


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- Netherlands
Sint Maarten (Dutch pronunciation: [sɪnt ˈmaːrtə(n)]) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, while the northern half of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin. Its capital is Philipsburg.
Before 10 October 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten (Dutch: Eilandgebied Sint Maarten), and was one of five island territories (Eilandgebieden) that constituted the Netherlands Antilles.
In 1493, during Christopher Columbus' second voyages to the West Indies, upon first sighting the island he named it Isla de San Martín after Saint Martin of Tours because it was 11 November, St. Martin Day. However, though he claimed it as a Spanish territory, Columbus never landed there, and Spain made the settlement of the island a low priority.
The French and Dutch, on the other hand, both coveted the island. While the French wanted to colonize the islands between Trinidad and Bermuda, the Dutch found San Martín a convenient halfway point between their colonies in New Amsterdam (present day New York) and Brazil. With few people inhabiting the island, the Dutch easily founded a settlement there in 1631, erecting Fort Amsterdam as protection from invaders. Jan Claeszen Van Campen became its first governor, and soon thereafter the Dutch East India Company began their salt mining operations. French and British settlements sprang up on the island as well. Taking note of these successful colonies and wanting to maintain their control of the salt trade, the Spanish now found St. Martin much more appealing. The Eighty Years' War which had been raging between Spain and the Netherlands provided further incentive to attack.
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TE Connectivity (TE) introduces its new CeeLok FAS-X connector series, a high-speed solution for 10 Gbps data delivery using rugged, mil-spec components.
CeeLok FAS-X connectors are optimized for high speed signaling and offer performance beyond what is obtainable with popular pinouts used in standard D38999 connectors. This product offering surpasses the performance of RJ45 in D38999 connectors with its smaller size (shell size 11 vs shell size 19) and intentional use of standard M39029 contacts suitable for harsh environments. CeeLok FAS-X connectors are designed to maintain highly matched 100-ohm impedance and superior signal integrity and they provide a performance margin that enables effective signal delivery in rugged environments.
Key Benefits:
See also:
TE CeeLok FAS-X connector series (.pdf) for more product information, specifications, applications and ordering information.


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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Laying It down
You see, I love to shoot.
This started back when I was six years old and received a BB gun for my birthday. My dad and I used to go out in our backyard and set up skeet for me to plink at. It was there that I learned the fundamentals of marksmanship as well as how to handle a weapon safely. This would be further refined over the years as I learned to hunt dove, squirrels, ducks, deer, and other wildlife with my dad and brothers in the woods and marshes of Georgia and Virginia. Eventually, the Marine Corps would build upon this solid foundation and teach me to hit a target consistently at up to 500 yards using the open sights of my M-16A2 service rifle. My dream was to one day be assigned to the Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team and compete in enough matches to earn the coveted Distinguished Rifle and Pistol badges. Alas, it was not to be...
But that didn't mean I couldn't try.
Since all Marines are riflemen, and since officers are required to qualify with both rifle and pistol, I had ample opportunity to show my stuff on the range on an annual basis. In boot camp, the weeks we spent on the rifle range were my favorite times, if anything can be considered favorable during those hellacious 12 weeks. The reason was simple - on the range the DIs couldn't mess with you - it was just you, your rifle, and the target. No distractions, just you in your own little world. I loved it. Unlike others who worried about getting enough points to qualify, my only concern in those days was to see how high I could score in the Expert category. In fact, at one point I held the range record at Camp Pendleton with a score of 63 out of 65 - a mere two points away from a "possible," or perfect score; a record that would remain unbroken until just a few years ago. Eventually, I would earn multiple awards for consistently shooting Expert with both rifle and pistol - as denoted on the requalification bars on the different badges:
This would be enough for many Marines; indeed, most would be quite proud of this achievement.
But I wanted more - I want to compete in an actual match. I finally got my chance in the spring of 1999 when I heard that Camp Pendleton would be hosting the Pacific Fleet/All Navy matches. I found out that my regiment - 11th Marines - would be putting together a team, and that they needed a "tyro," or new shooter who'd never competed before. After begging my CO for permission, I was granted TAD to shoot with the team. The only problem was that the competition was only a few weeks away, and none of us had much time to get familiar with the weapons we would be using - M-14s for the rifle competition, and .45s for the pistol matches.
Still, we did the best we could with the time we had, and by the time the competition rolled around we were as ready as we would ever be. Among our fellow competitors would be SEAL teams, Recon Marines, and marksmanship units from other services. Quite an impressive lineup. In the end, though, our team would go on to take first place in the team matches for both rifle and pistol, have our pictures taken for the base newspaper, and I would earn an individual bronze medal for the Excellence in Competition (EIC) pistol match.
Sadly, those glory days are long past. To add insult to injury, as a (future) chaplain I am forbidden from even carrying a weapon, much less shooting one - not even in training. It may not seem like much, but this was a hard thing for me to give up - to sacrifice on the altar as it were. But, I know that I'm answering a higher calling and that certain desires must be set aside in order to accomplish the mission that God has set before me. I don't regret it - not even a little bit - but I still feel a longing as I watch the show and wonder what might have been if I had pursued a different path.
I think I would've made a pretty good sniper.
But, I have to admit, I'm pretty pleased with the fact that the Army at least allows me to wear my EIC badge on my new uniform - I figure it lets the troops know that I'm not a complete pogue. :)
5 comments:
- Dana Michael Krull said...
Amen, brother...laying down that M4 has been tough for me too. Guess that just means it's time to pray for a chaplain assistant who's not a pogue either, lol.
- April 13, 2009 at 12:09 AM
- Doctor Eric said...
I have a slightly funny, mostly sad, story about my expert shooting medals (or lack thereof).
I entered the Navy through the ROTC, which does not see fit to train future naval officers in the proper use of small arms (consider that when you see a junior naval officer wearing a sidearm while standing duty as officer of the deck...)
When I joined the fleet and was assigned to my first command, I expected that I'd have the opportunity to get some hands-on shooting experience, and hopefully earn my pistol and rifle medals (I'd taken the time to learn how to handle firearms outside of my military training, and figured I could at least earn a sharpshooter rating, if not expert).
But there was a problem. It seems that every command is allocated a certain ammunition budget, and the ammo is used to train and maintain proficiency among the members. So far, so good. Alas, the previous CO had decided to send herself off into retirement with a, well... bang. For her retirement ceremony, the guest speaker was an admiral who, according to his rank, rated an 15-gun salute. Now you may be conjuring up images of a detail of sailors in their dress uniforms firing their M-1's in unison; please erase that image. She managed to find a full-size howitzer (where, I don't know), along with huge blank cartridges that cost over $100 each. Needless to say, the entire ammo budget went up in smoke in about 90 seconds. Everyone was impressed, but none of the officers or sailors had become any better prepared to use a firearm to support a potential, future military endeavor. (And nobody earned their shooting medals...)
Your tax-dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen!
- April 17, 2009 at 9:03 PM
- Dave Harvey said...
Too bad you couldn't have gotten ahold of one of those blank brass cartidges - they make nifty mugs if you can find a decent sized handle to put one 'em. I still have one from when one of my gun crews had the honor of firing the salute for (former) President Reagan back in 1998.
- April 20, 2009 at 3:21 AM
- Dave Harvey said...
Oh, and here's another story: back when I was a Corporal my Reserve unit got the chance to qualify with our rifles - something that unfortunately didn't happen too often as we didn't have regular access to a rifle range (being located in Joliet, IL). I remember the weather being pretty crappy - rainy and windy. Still, I somehow managed to shoot Expert, but just barely. A few years later, as a newly minted 2ndLt I was checking out of this unit and was perusing my Service Record Book when I happened to notice that my score & qualification for that particular date hadn't been recorded. I asked the admin chief why not and he replied that since most of the unit had gone "UNQ" (unqualified), the scores had all been tossed. "No way," says I, "I shot expert, and I'll be danged if I'm gonna have my score tossed because of a bunch of non-shooters!" I somehow managed to locate my score sheet from that day (fortunately, they hadn't thrown those out) and had the clerk enter it in my SRB then and there!
- April 20, 2009 at 3:33 AM
- Wilko said...
I expect that might be the equivalent of giving up flying for me. "Hold all things loosely" is easy to say, not easy to do at times.
Major Dave-if possible, would you shoot me your e-mail address? You can contact me at my website.
- April 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM


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Sunday, 19 March 2017
This week at Valley Press, #46: 'Off the hook'
The highlight of this week was our 'don't call it a launch' launch event for the Yorkshire Anthology. Due to the vagaries of my Arts Council project, and the selling schedule of the book trade, the anthology won't be in shops until August 1st – but we needed to 'launch' it in March. And launch it we did, in style! Although the event featured no less than twenty poets reading consecutively, everyone seemed to agree that the hour flew by.
I got an emergency print run to cover the event, and those copies are already pretty much gone: I'll get some more of course, but pre-orderers please note, you may need a wait a little longer for yours to arrive. The scene was captured by anthology contributor David Coldwell, who as you can see was sat with the other readers behind the microphone. The figure at the mic here is me; one of the better photos of me, actually...
This was also the week of my final meeting with Helen Burke about her new book. Slightly magical things tend to happen when you're with Helen, and this was no exception: Helen last saw her late father at 4.20pm on the 13th March 1999, and every year on that day, at that time, he finds some way to drop into her life. This is described to some extent in her poem 'The Last Time'.
Sure enough, as we headed towards the end of the meeting, with all other questions settled, there was one poem out of the hundreds in the book which I didn't have a 'note' for (Helen's books always have a notes section, offering background information on the poems). The poem without a note was 'The Last Time', and as I brought it up on the screen so Helen could dictate the story above, it was 4.20pm on the 13th March. Thought that was worth a mention here.
I won't share the poem now, will save it for another time, but here's an illustration by Helen that might make it into the book – though won't be quite as colourful.
While I was on my way to see Helen, Antony Dunn's 'Animal Rescue' (from Take This One to Bed) went on the Guardian's website as 'Poem of the Week'. You can read the poem, and Carol Rumens's elegant examination of it here – a highly recommended article. It's always wonderful to see a Valley Press poem getting such careful consideration, and the publicity is not too shabby either!
Someone reminded me this week that I never told you the end of the saga about the limited edition hardbacks for Antony's book. When I wrote the last newsletter before Christmas, two months after they were originally due for delivery, I'd given the offending printer a deadline of 5pm on the 21st December to hand over the books – or I'd never accept them, and would be demanding my money back.
After a tense day watching the clock, they were eventually delivered by the printing firm's managing director, personally, just minutes before the deadline. So all's well that ends well (sort of), and there are now only a couple of dozen hardbacks left; you can purchase one here for just £10. They look like this:
The final bit of news this week is perhaps the most significant, long-term; so brace yourself! On my way to Leeds on Saturday I took a good long look at my diary, my to-do list, and my inbox (all bulging), and realised I've reached a point that has been steadily creeping up for months – it is now physically impossible for me to keep up with the basic running of Valley Press.
For a long time, things worked like this: when I replied to an email or completed a task, another one would arrive immediately in its place – which is a somewhat sustainable situation. But for the past few weeks, as I sent a reply or finished something, two new items arrived in the 'in tray'... which meant the situation got ugly, fast.
I'm urgently working on finding more staff to join me in the Scarborough office, but in the short term, the majority of Valley Press emails are going to stay unanswered, and non-critical tasks remain undone. I simply don't have a choice; I've done fifteen days' worth of work in the last two weeks, but there's no way I can keep that up. So please try your best to let me off the hook, and I'll make sure normal service is resumed as quickly as possible.
I probably need a holiday ... but in the meantime, at least I have a trip to Birmingham to look forward to! A quick reminder about that: on Wednesday 22nd, from 6.30pm at The Woodsman, you can hear VP authors Tom Preston, Di Slaney and Michael Stewart read from their recent publications, and you can meet a rather tired (but hopeful) young publisher. See you there; and if not, in your inbox next week.
All best,
Jamie McGarry, VP Publisher
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text:
I finally had to chance to scour the neighborhood antique mall last week and oh, what a joy it was! I am itching to go back already. And the wonderful thing, is that my two young sons love going and seeing the treasures as well (strapped safely in the confines of our bulky double stroller, that is).
I came home with a few vintage bottles, an amazing metal enamel daisy chandelier that I got for a song, some prisms and this lovely book and globe bookends.
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry and illustrated by Wesley Dennis is a tale of a horse brought overseas, survived a shipwreck and brought joy to a little family. Apparently, there is an actual foundation for this book to preserve it and the history, as well as a fanbase since it was based on a true story! If you are interested in taxidermy, this is Misty and her daughter in the flesh.
I was wanting a lovely old story to read to my children, and I'm so happy to have found this little treasure. There is something wonderful about seeing the names and dates of the library card (last checked out in 1976 by a little James Harris), and the smell and feel of old, worn, yet treasured pages.
I also have a love of horses, as evident in this post here. This painting of the horses swimming reminds me of the rescue of the Netherlands horses. (If you watch the heartwarming video) it may be wise to have a box of tissues near by).
For those wondering about the music in the video, it is *believed* to be Vangelis' main theme from the film 1492 — Conquest of Paradise.
These wonderful vintage globe bookends I found are amazing as well. The globes have such detail and they actually spin! My boys, as well as myself and enamored of them. Don't you love them? If so, I found some that are very similar on Etsy HERE, and some on Ebay HERE.
Do you collect old books? Are they more for stacking together and as design elements to you, or do you also read them?
*ps for moms... that blue spined book you see on the left, Busy Book by Trish Kaufner... excellent activity book for kids! Tons of crafts and recipes for playdough, paints, edible crafts and more fun learning ideas.... this one I have is for toddler age, but there are other age groups available as well.


text:
Friday, 7 May 2010
dance to your own music.xx
products used are purple and orange card.dovecraft and freebie papers.purple buttons.inkadinkado sentiment.purple gems.whiff of joy image coloured with promarkers.pink chalk.
promarker colours used are:
SKIN=ivory,blush,dusky pink,soft peach.
SHOES &BELT=cerise, mulberry.
and a sideways view.apologies for the piccys again, don`t know if its the colours but i just couldn`t get a very clear piccy today.thanks so much for popping by and for all the fab comments you leave me.i will hopefully (everything crossed) be back tonight with a new whiff of joy image or if not i think i may be sulking.lol.ttfn luv coops.xxx
22 comments:
- kay said...
fabby card and love how you have coloured her,enjoy your day at work,x
- 7 May 2010 at 10:31
- angel4031 said...
WOW I love your card thanks for joining us at Creative Inspirations this week!! xx
- 7 May 2010 at 10:44
- susiestacey said...
Love this image and your card is so vibrant x Susan x
- 7 May 2010 at 10:56
- Julie said...
wow what gorgeous colours really like this card.
- 7 May 2010 at 11:08
- Di said...
Another fab card, I love how you've put the colours together, they look great, and perfect for the image too.
Di x
- 7 May 2010 at 16:02
- CRAZYCRAFTSHED said...
Gorgeous card Nic,
Hugs Dianne xx :)
- 7 May 2010 at 16:08
- jules said...
oh! just gorgeous!!!!lush colours!!!!
- 7 May 2010 at 16:31
- Janette said...
Fab card Nic,great image.x
- 7 May 2010 at 17:39
- Di said...
Another fab one.Hot summer colours,the buttons look really good too.My pics haven't been coming out very good for the last few days either. Di.
- 7 May 2010 at 18:03
- Annette said...
Very sassy card. I love it.xx
- 7 May 2010 at 19:50
- Patricia said...
Excellent Coops love it, your colouring is brilliant xx
- 7 May 2010 at 20:54
- Delphine said...
Wow! What gorgeous colours, Coops! I love this combo! And your colouring of this beautiful image is amazing! I love all the buttons too! Hugs Delphine xx
- 7 May 2010 at 20:55
- Jennifer said...
HI Coops! You have done a fab job with the colour combo! It looks great.Good luck!xx Jenny xx http://myinkyhands-jennifer.blogspot.com/
- 7 May 2010 at 21:09
- Little K Smith said...
Love this Coops, such fab colours together, love the buttons too.
- 7 May 2010 at 22:17
- Lizzy xx said...
Stunning card Nic ~ fab image & colour combo ~ luv your layout too ~ good luck in the challenge hun xx Lizzy xx :)
- 7 May 2010 at 23:51
- Diamond Doll said...
Gorgeous card nic, love those colours.By the way Crafty Catz is having a DT call you should apply!!!!
Thanx for all the lovely comments on my blog.
Trish (-:
- 8 May 2010 at 00:09
- Aunty Sue said...
Hi coops wow thanks again for joining us this week another stunning card.
- 8 May 2010 at 00:53
- RachyK said...
Lovely card the colours really do work well together! :) xx
- 8 May 2010 at 10:57
- Janet said...
Gorgeous card Coops.....your colouring is fab!x
- 8 May 2010 at 16:25
- Christine said...
Hi Coops this is gorgeous love this colour combo goes so well together..your image colouring is fab..&&& your H/Mouse card is awesome i sure would like to see you at our chall. some time..
Hugs Christine xx
- 8 May 2010 at 17:29
- Mina said...
wow I love these fizzy colours...beautifully coloured Nic
Mina xxx
- 8 May 2010 at 19:12
- Sarpreet said...
such a gorgeous fun card x
- 9 May 2010 at 11:33


text:
Emergency preparedness can be an overwhelming and expensive, but there are ways around each of those barriers. I covered the overwhelming feeling of food storage HERE a few weeks ago. But today I want to cover the expense of emergency preparedness.
Most of you probably recognize this store front from the Dollar Tree Dollar Store. I noticed a sign they had in the window advertising their emergency supplies. They do have quite a few items that work great for emergency preparedness. I have found duct tape, bungee cords, water, batteries, canned food (they carry canned strawberries that are really great for pureeing and dehydrating into fruit leather), small organizing containers for my storage room, lots of first aid items, baby items, solar yard lights, etc.
Some of the items from the dollar store may have fewer in a box or not as much tape on a roll, but the quality, I feel, is pretty close to other brands.
Don't shy away from discount stores like Big Lots and the Dollar Stores. There is nothing to be afraid of shopping at these stores and no one is judging you for it either. Big Lots even has 20% off days where everything in the store is 20% off. Read about one of my shopping trips to Big Lots HERE. Just sign up for email alerts and you'll know when the next sale day will be.
If you don't have a Dollar Store or Big Lots try your local Army Navy store, or camping store. In Utah, Recreation Outlet carries a large variety of camping and emergency prep items for a fraction of retail prices. I purchased all 7 of our sleeping bags from them and they were all under $60 dollars. The children's bags were only $39.95, and they are quality sleeping bags with a -20 rating.
Keep your eyes open wherever you shop for clearance bins and percent off baskets. Especially check stores the week after a holiday for deeply discounted items. I found LED small flashlights at Walgreens after Halloween for .50. They had vampires on them, but they were the same as any other LED flashlight. They had the same metal casing that non-vampire flashlights have and work just as well. Plus, they are kind of fun to talk about when people give you weird looks :)
After holiday sales are also a great time to stock up on candy. I store my candy in mason jars and then I seal it with my foodsaver.
Have an open mind when you are shopping and don't look over something because it may have a vampire picture on it :) Think outside of the box when it comes to prepping and you'll be able to save money.


text:
Renal vascular disease affects the blood flow into and out of the kidneys. It may cause kidney damage, kidney failure, and high blood pressure.
Vascular conditions include:
Renin is a strong hormone that raises blood pressure. Decreased blood flow to the kidney(s) from renal vascular disease may cause too much renin to be made. This can lead to high blood pressure.
The cause of renal vascular disease will depend on the specific condition involved. The main causes are:
Risk factors for renal vascular disease include:
Symptoms of renal vascular disease vary depending on the type of disease and degree of involvement present.
Type of renal vascular disease
Renal artery stenosis
Renal artery thrombosis
A gradual or incomplete clot may not cause symptoms and go undetected
Renal artery aneurysm
Atheroembolic renal disease
Renal vein thrombosis
Slow onset:
Sudden onset:
The symptoms of renal vascular disease may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and do a physical exam. Other tests may include:
Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on:
Treatment will also vary depending on the type of renal vascular disease that is present.
Medical treatment:
Surgical treatment:
In acute cases, thrombolytic (clot-busting) medicine may be infused into the renal artery for several hours to several days to break up the clot.
Surgery to remove the clot or bypass the artery may be done in some situations.
Treatment of a renal artery aneurysm depends on symptoms and the size and location of the aneurysm. Some smaller aneurysms may not be treated, but may be watched for growth or problems.
Surgery may be used to treat larger, tearing, or growing aneurysms. It may also be used for aneurysms causing lack of blood flow to the kidney and high blood pressure, and aneurysms causing symptoms.
Because of the increased risk for rupture (bursting), a renal artery aneurysm in a pregnant woman or a woman of childbearing age will generally be treated with surgery.
Treatment may include medicines to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and treat other related conditions, such as diabetes.
Diet and exercise are urged to lower blood pressure. Avoid foods high in fats and salt.
Surgical treatment may include:
Renal vein thrombosis is generally treated with an anticoagulant, which keeps the blood from clotting. They may be given intravenously (IV) for several days, then given by mouth for a few weeks or more.
In time, renal vascular disease can lead to kidney failure. This may call for dialysis or a kidney transplant. Other complications include:


text:
Renaissance, a large investor and developer of shopping centers and commercial assets in Turkey and Russia, engaged the advisory services department of Colliers International Turkey.
The assignment was in collaboration with our London team to provide a biannual portfolio valuation of 18 properties throughout Turkey, of both standing assets and development land. The locations of these properties included Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Malatya, Gaziantep, Samsun, Antalya and Izmit.
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text:
I'm in the process of writing a book based on my five years of experience working with the youth of the Sweet Potato Project. The tentative title is "When we Listen." The book, which will be used as a fundraiser, is based on the one-on-one access I have to the worldview of young African Americans. I have admirably watched how they navigate a world that routinely demeans, dismisses and denies them based primarily on the color of their skin. The words the students have shared with me and the situations I've observed will serve to accentuate the need to invest and protect this endangered demographic.
You see, our youth did not create the environments that feed dysfunction in their lives. They had nothing to do with the abandonment of their neighborhoods or the disinvestment in their public schools. It's not their fault that they were born into a system that finds it easier to incarcerate them rather than nurture them. If we are to be honest, we will admit that black youth are summarily locked out of opportunity, disproportionately locked up and prematurely labeled as criminals based on stereotypical perceptions rather than facts.
Take for example the recent online petition to label Black Lives Matter a "terrorist group." Reportedly 140,000 people signed this appeal that was sent to the White House. Never mind that American-made groups like the Klu Klux Klan and its various hybrids have never been labeled "terrorist" even though they are. According to a study by the New America Foundation, radical white supremacists groups are the biggest terror threat in the United States. Yet, Donald Trump and his supporters stoke the embers of white angst by labeling black demonstrators Public Enemy #1.
In order to drive home the message of out-of-control, lawless black youth, the GOP Convention launched a propaganda campaign suspiciously based on the ambushing of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Instead of listening and responding appropriately to our young people, many choose to criminalize those who are publicly crying out for justice, accountability and that police simply stop killing unarmed black people.
As Vox Media accurately noted, there is a troubling fervor, shared by "a deep swath of the American population…that it is important to declare that the lives of police officers matter but to declare the lives of African-Americans those officers stop matter is an unacceptably radical and potentially terroristic act."
"...it is important to declare that the lives of police officers matter but to declare the lives of African-Americans those officers stop matter is an unacceptably radical and potentially terroristic act."
However, it's easy to point fingers at extreme examples of racial stereotyping. What's harder to accept is our overall complicity in the defamation and degradation of black youth. It irks me that every time a black youth commits a horrific, violent crime, many black adults will publicly damn all black youth or their parents or hip-hop music or the so-called "culture of violence." We participate in the blame game without even acknowledging that we helped design the game board. Older African Americans are the ones who failed to provide educational solutions, economic opportunities or alternate systems designed to clog the nefarious preschool-to-prison pipeline.
What's harder to accept is our overall complicity in the defamation and degradation of black youth.
The BLM movement was birthed right here in 2014 during protests that followed the police shooting of Michael Brown, Jr. The shooting led to dozens of articles, commentaries and studies outlining the economic, health, criminal justice and social disparities in our region that help fuel negative interactions with police. All this information underscored the feelings of youth who live hellish lives of generational poverty, social and governmental neglect, police oppression and greedy municipalities that have fed off their vulnerabilities for decades.
I wasn't surprised when young people in Ferguson came out in droves to speak out against police brutality. Why? Because a year earlier, I watched and listened to my students describe their hurt and sense of betrayal to the "not guilty" verdict handed down in the George Zimmerman case. The indignity they stressed as young people who travel unknown neighborhoods, who eat Skittles and drink Arizona Ice Tea was palpable as they realized their lives really don't matter. So, when the body of Mike Brown lay in the street for hours; when police showed up with automatic weapons and slathering German Sheppards and later with tanks, teargas and rubber bullets, I instinctively knew "something" was about to pop off.
It stays with me that a year after Mike Brown's death; after reams of documented disparities contained in the DOJ, Ferguson Report and Wash U's "For the Sake of All" damning study and after all the promises to "do better"…the biggest news item of the region was an effort to use tax-payer money to build a billion-dollar football stadium in downtown St. Louis. It was as if the powers-that-be, with complete compliance of many local politicians, flipped the proverbial bird to our youth and went about business as usual.
It's hard to point fingers at far right extremists when left-leaning politicians in the region flat out ignore the conditions and concerns of young, black youth. It's hard to scream "racism" when black politicians sign off on initiatives and efforts that primarily benefit already rich, white developers.
According to the East West Gateway Council of Governments, St. Louis is the sixth most segregated city in the United States amongst its peer cities in terms of education, health, labor market and wealth.
"...after all the promises to 'do better'…the biggest news item of the region was an effort to use tax-payer money to build a billion-dollar football stadium in downtown St. Louis.
Politicians, especially black politicians and leaders, can't pretend they're unaware of the disproportionate ills that their constituents endure daily. Recently, Michael P. McMillan, president & chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis wrote an editorial about some of these inequities. At the time of Michael Brown's killing, McMillan wrote, black unemployment in Missouri "was 15.7 percent in the fall of 2014 – triple the state's 4.5 percent white unemployment rate at the time."
Last year, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch issued an editorial that should have been a clarion call for collective action when it wrote: "To be black in the St. Louis region means that you are more than three times as likely as your white neighbors to live in poverty, to be unemployed, to have less education, to die earlier and to see your child die in infancy."
There is a rabid sense of endangerment for black youth even if they survive infancy. They live in areas where bullets fly on their way to school. The color of their clothing in certain neighborhoods can result in death. Not only do they have to worry about being shot by the "bad guys," they live with the reality of nervous cops with fingers on triggers of guns aimed at stereotypes.
|A group of elders talking with some of our students
Yet, through all these obstacles our young people manage to maintain, to navigate, to challenge our injustices, dream big dreams and try to make the best out of what a selfish, segregated society provides.
Now some will read this and interpret it as an excuse for the behavior of violent youth. It's not. In reality, we may have lost a whole generation of youth who have turned to crime as a means for survival or just a way of life. The point I'm trying to stress is that, unless we find a way to change their environments and nurture their inherent genius and survival skills, we will have more crime, more deaths and more black youth herded into our nation's already over-populated juvenile detention centers and adult prisons.
Yet, through all these obstacles our young people manage to maintain, to navigate, to challenge our injustices, dream big dreams and try to make the best out of what a selfish society provides.
|A few of the young men who have participated in the Sweet Potato Project
I've learned that, if we listen, young people will tell us about the inequities they face and their thoughts on fixing them. The solutions may not be perfect but, if we care, we'll attempt to address those concerns no matter how inconvenient they seem to be or how uncomfortable they make us feel.
I often wonder if people who support the petition or callously stereotype black youth have any black people in their lives. Thankfully, there are thousands who do. You've seen them protesting with BLM or speaking out against injustices designed to imprison or disenfranchise black youth.
I often wonder if people who supported the online petition or callously stereotype black youth have any black people in their lives. Thankfully, there are thousands who do.
Because I have been placed in a position where I can actually hear our youth, I'm immune to the propaganda. I don't see young people calling for the death of police officers; I see them courageously reacting to senseless deaths enacted by the "bad cops" of a broken criminal justice system. I don't see a generation of thugs and drug dealers; I see young people without direction, opportunities and resources surviving alone in a cold, materialistic world.
What promises may come if we encouraged them to use their energy, creativity and naïve optimism to change their worlds? What gifts will a nation receive if it shifted its priorities from criminalizing and denying a whole generation of young people to empowering them to make great change?
This we will never know...until we listen.


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text: Microsoft is going to be sharing the source code for Windows with the Russian government to enable them to audit it for security purposes. It's a move designed to forestall the advance of Linux internationally. Does this mean that security through obscurity is officially dead? How does the US government, which is obviously heavily reliant on Windows, feel about Microsoft sharing its source code with other governments? To me, this is the worst of all possible worlds — the people with big bank accounts get to see the innards of Windows, but the rest of us are stuck out. At least Linux is egalitarian, everyone gets a shot at looking for exploits.