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Home » FEATURES
Why You Should Choose Playa del Carmen – 10 Great Reasons To Visit
Sarah Barlow UPDATED ON May 28, 2020
Where is Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is a popular tourist destination located along the eastern shoreline of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
With one of the fastest growing populations in Latin America, the beachfront town is situated along the northwestern portion of the Caribbean Sea just 45 minutes south of Cancun International Airport and one hour north of Tulum.
Simple, right?
It may seem that way, but context is key.
Because Playa del Carmen’s location is what graces the town with those special characteristics that make it such a popular destination for tourists and emigrants the world over.
Yes, it’s all that.
So Where Is Playa del Carmen Anyway?!
For starters, Playa del Carmen is located in Mexico.
You know, that country south of the U.S. border along which a certain orange-haired, vitriolic man-child would like to build a wall…
Second, Playa del Carmen forms part of the region of the world know as the Caribbean, occupying the northwestern corner of this body of water which converges with the Gulf of Mexico just north of Cancun.
Playa del Carmen is considered to be part of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a prime stretch of land that runs south from Cancun down to the town of Tulum.
This town on the Caribbean is the epitome of sun-kissed destination, with over 300 days a year of sunshine.
Yes, you heard that right, people of the north.
(By the way, winter is coming and it will be here long before the next season of Game of Thrones).
In addition, temperatures average from about 73° F to 83° F year round.
Check out these five things you need to know about Playa del Carmen weather as well as our blog post on Riviera Maya weather for more details about our delicious tropical climate.
And if that doesn’t clear up where Playa del Carmen is located, then have a look at this nifty Playa del Carmen map by Google!
10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Playa del Carmen
All that is well and good, but what makes Playa del Carmen so special?
After all, there are many beach destinations with lots of sunshine and large, colorful sombreros.
Okay, maybe not the sombreros but definitely sunshine and margaritas.
Well, glad that you asked.
Here are just a few reasons why you should make your next vacation a Playa del Carmen vacation.
#1 You Can Eat Stew-Filled Tacos at El Gran Taco
Bob Marley once said that a hungry man is an angry man.
We all know that to be true.
In Mexico, there’s another saying: “belly full, satisfied heart.”
That’s why the first reason I recommend you visit Playa del Carmen is to eat some of the best damn tacos this side of, well, anywhere.
Stew-filled tacos, Mexico City-style, brimming with succulent and perfectly spiced stews.
Whenever I eat there it makes me believe in a higher being and that he in all likelihood is actually Mexican and really likes spicy food.
Gran Taco is located right smack dab in front of the Centro Maya shopping mall.
Oh, and they have flautas, carnitas, barbacoa and more!
#2 You Can Get the Blues Without Being All Depressed
Getting the blues is a good thing if you find yourself in the Caribbean.
The sea is a stunning array of beautiful blue hues.
It’s mesmerizing.
And inspiring.
In fact, you may be even inspired to reach over to the small wooden table set upon a white sand beach and grab that refreshing tropical cocktail that has your name written all over it.
#3 You Can Strut Your Stuff on 5th Avenue
Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue is a true hip strip.
Over twenty pedestrian blocks lined with shops, boutiques, stands, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs run north to south through the city parallel to that beautiful coastline.
From large international chains such as Starbucks, Victoria Secrets & H&M to rock star bars such as Kitxen or cool art galleries like the Gaston Charó gallery, the Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) has a little something for everyone.
At night the street really comes alive, with the sunbathers of the day dressed to kill at night, strutting their stuff up and down the avenue as they peruse, shop, drink, and eat their way merry through the numerous quality establishments located on this hip strip.
For some good ideas, be sure to check out our post on Playa del Carmen shopping tips as well as our live music guide.
#4 You Can Swim in a Portal to the Netherworld
Have you ever heard of a cenote?
A few months back we wrote an article about what are cenotes.
They’re basically just the portal to the Netherworld.
At least to the ancient Maya.
And sinkholes.
In fact, the entire Yucatan Peninsula has almost no above-ground rivers.
All the water that flows through the region does so via a system of underground sinkholes.
Of which there are thousands, by the way (and still counting).
Over the course of time, the limestone covering these cenotes eroded, leaving them exposed.
Some more than others.
That’s why you have different types of cenotes, such as open, closed, bottleneck, etc.
And you can swim in these celestial bodies of water that the ancient Maya believed connected us mortals to those otherworldly deities of death.
#5 You Can Taste the Elixir That Is Xtabentun
Photo credit: Casa D’Aristi
Having survived the Netherworld, you may just be about ready for a drink.
Or two.
Try Xtabentun (pronounced ISHTA-ben-TUN).
Bees have been essential to the region for centuries.
And if Jesus made water into wine, Jesús made honey into liquor.
Yes, Jesús one-upped our lord and savior.
And he did a very good job.
Xtabentun is a product only found locally.
Honey liquor.
Quite tasty and a wonderful aperitif.
Or so I’ve heard.
Can I get a hallelujah?
#6 You Can Visit a New Seven Wonder of the World
There are 196 countries in the world.
And there are only Seven New Wonders of the World.
One of those testaments to our common humanity just happens to be a two-hour drive from Playa del Carmen.
A great place for selfies but an even better place to learn about the rich and storied history of Mexico and the Mayan people, Chichen Itza is well worth a visit.
Yes, it’s a long day.
Plus, there are quite a few vendors, some of whom are amazingly persistent.
And it can get hell-like hot.
And there had to be a but to this story, Chichen Itza is amazing.
Don’t go without a guide.
Learn about this fascinating place and the level of knowledge and wisdom that it represents.
Just do it right.
Check out our Chichen Itza tour tips and be sure to plan a trip to this or some of the other Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula.
#7 You Can Experience Yet Another UNESCO World Heritage Site
Have you ever heard of Sian Ka’an?
Like its cultural kin, Chichen Itza, Sian Ka’an is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meaning place where the sky is born in Maya, this place is as beautiful as its name suggests.
Type it in on Google and be amazed at the images.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this nature reserve is about as close as you get to pristine.
The only other place even close is the protected island of Isla Contoy (also worth a visit by the way).
This massive biosphere south of Tulum is a great place to explore the beauty of the region’s flora and fauna.
Just be sure to be as generous to her as she is to you.
It is, after all, the place where the sky was born.
You can visit the biosphere on the Sian Kaan tour.
#8 You Can Swim with Whale Sharks
I would have put this higher up on the list if it weren’t for the fact that it’s such a seasonal activity.
You see, the whale sharks migrate once a year to this part of the Caribbean to feed on micro-organisms such as plankton and krill.
And you can swim with whale sharks departing from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or basically anywhere in the Riviera Maya.
The area where they migrate basically runs from the area of Cabo Catoche of Holbox Island in the Gulf of Mexico to the waters just east of Isla Contoy.
The latter region is where, if you’re lucky (this is nature after all), you can see the largest whale shark congregation in the entire world.
And whale sharks are basically present in all sub-tropical and tropical waters.
Why do they come?
To chow down.
You can witness this feast of ocean giants each year from June through September.
Just be sure to be generous to them as well.
These gracious creatures are now considered an endangered species.
To learn more about whale sharks, be sure to read our tips on swimming with whale sharks written by our very own travel guru and former whale shark guide, Elizabeth Urraza!
#9 You Can Treat Yourself to a Soul-Pampering Spa Treatment
Ommmmmm.
Breathe in deeply.
Playa del Carmen spas have done a great job of pooling all that international talent that has chosen Playa del Carmen as their place of therapeutic residence to offer a wide array of incredible treatments for mind, body, and soul.
You might not save a lot of money getting a treatment here instead of doing so back home, but the quality and variety of spa treatments in Playa del Carmen is, shall we say, soothing.
For more information check out our suggestions for spas in Playa del Carmen and be sure to see our post on the hidden gem that is Bric Spa.
Now slowly exhale and feel the tension leaving your body.
#10 You Can Even Have a Playa del Carmen Wedding
Photo credit: Sandos Caracol
It’s fitting that this be the last point of this long and convincing list of reasons to visit this paradise be Playa del Carmen weddings.
After all, the end (and the beginning) of a romantic journey that evolves, expands and transforms following that magical moment of saying “I do” represents a full circle in the love cycle of life.
First, there’s the flirting, the butterflies in the stomach, and the process of getting to know one another.
Then comes the divorce.
That’s not what I meant to say!
Then comes the marriage and the funny-looking kids!
Which is just the beginning of something truly special (or what the great Jim Morrison once proclaimed to be the end, my friend).
Whatever the outcome, there’s no better place to say I do, renew those vows or simply enjoy a romantic getaway with that special someone than on a love-filled trip to beautiful Playa del Carmen.
Did I mention the white sand beaches?
Need some more of that travel-inducing goodness that is Playa del Carmen?
Our travel specialists have your fix.
Give ’em a holler toll-free at 888-537-9797!
Sarah Barlow
Sarah is a travel enthusiast from England, who swapped the rainy clouds of Manchester for beachside bliss in Playa Del Carmen. If she’s not salsa dancing by the shore, you’ll find her soaking up the sun in one of her favorite rooftop party pools. Sarah is the content and social media manager here at PlayaDelCarmen.com
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Get discounts on the top-rated tours in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Up to 25%! 👇
Playa del Carmen Blog
This is the official blog for Playa del Carmen in beautiful Mexico. Dig in and enjoy!
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See our list of job opportunities in Playa del Carmen.
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4 baseball apps hit it out of the park
The MLB.com At Bat app.
By PETER KING. Special to Newsday April 3, 2015
After a long snowy winter, the only white that Long Islanders want to see on a grass field is the line that separates fair territory from foul. The Mets and Yankees begin their 2015 season Monday, and these apps can add to your viewing enjoyment or help take you out to the ballgame.
MLB.com At Bat
(iOS, Android; free)
This official app from Major League Baseball features a complete redesign for the 2015 season, which will be especially noticeable for Android users running Lollipop. At Bat also supports the Apple Watch, so users of the much-anticipated wearable device can see scores with the flick of a wrist. While the app has some free features, you will need a subscription to access live game audio ($2.99 a month). To get live streaming video through the app, you have to subscribe to MLB.TV Premium ($24.99 a month).
MLB Preplay
Anyone can predict what will happen in a replay, but making a right prediction before the play occurs is trickier. With this app you try to outguess other players about what will happen during each at bat, inning or game. The better your predictions, the more points you score.
This app is typically updated during the season when the All-Star game approaches, but until then it is still fun to play using real players from 2014. The goal is, obviously, to hit as many home runs as possible. As you progress, you unlock features that make hitting homers easier. You can also purchase power boosts as in-app purchases. The graphics are stunning, but the arcade-type play is hard to master.
Let's say it's a beautiful spring day, and you decide nothing could be better than spending nine innings at the ballpark. You can head to Yankee Stadium or Citi Field and buy tickets at the box office, or you can load up this popular app and browse for best seats and maybe even some bargains. Have tickets but can't make the game? Sell them using the app.
Fare warning
Last month's subway and bus fare increase played havoc with anyone who hates a MetroCard with a small, unusable balance. Fortunately, the MTA has updated its online calculator to reflect both the new $2.75 fare and the higher 11 percent bonus for MetroCard users. The calculator tells you the exact amount you need to reload so you don't have a leftover balance. Access the calculator at nwsdy.li/mta-calc.
If you're 34 or younger, chances are you're part of the Snapchat generation and think Facebook is for your grandparents. A new study by research firm ComScore found that 71 percent of the photo-messaging app's users were under 35. As for Facebook, only 38 percent of users were under 35. And 10 percent of Facebook users were 65 or older, the highest number of seniors on any social network.
Your government at work
Uncle Sam wants you . . . to know how many people are using government websites. The new Digital Analytics Program (analytics.usa.gov) offers a real-time window on traffic at 300 government Web domains. Not surprisingly, the most accessed website over the past month is the IRS' Where's My Refund site. While you're watching the government, it is not watching you. The General Services Administration says it does not track visitors to the site. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7661195397377014, "wiki_prob": 0.7661195397377014, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line914590"} |
Swiss Center For Affective Sciences Swiss Center for Affective Sciences
Annual Activity Reports
CISA Jobs
Research Material and Online research
NCCR Affective Sciences Archive
Current Specific Research Projects
Swiss Doctoral School
Summer School (ISSAS)
IT Ressources
What is EC?
Components of EC
Applications of EC
CISA Publications
MERT
MiniPONS
Exploring your EC
On this page, you can explore some of the latest tests measuring emotional competence. These tests have been developed according to high scientific standards by the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences.
For each test, you can choose between a short demo version (1-2 minutes) to get an idea of what the test is measuring. For most tests you have a choice between an English, French or German version.
In the future we will offer the possibility to participate in a free emotional competence assessment program with personal feedback. Please keep checking this page for updates.
Geneva Emotion Recognition Test (GERT)
This test measures how well you are able to recognize emotions from the face, voice, and body. You will see short video clips in which actors express different emotions. Your task is to guess which emotion was expressed.
Available languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Chinese, Hungarian, Italian
Demo version EN (1-2 min) Demo version FR (1-2-min) Demo version DE (1-2 min)
Multimodal Emotion Recognition Test (MERT)
This test measures how well you recognize emotions in different modalities. You will be presented with pictures, videos, and audio recordings in which actors display different emotions. Your task is to guess which emotion was expressed after each recording.
Available languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
Emotion Recognition Index (ERI)
This test measures how well you recognize emotions expressed by the face and the voice. You will see pictures of facial expressions and hear audio recordings of emotional voices. After each picture and recording, you will be asked to choose which emotion has been expressed.
Available languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch
MiniPONS (brief version of the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity)
This test measures your ability to recognize the communication of feelings, attitudes, and intentions from nonverbal expressions. You will see and hear pictures and short video and audio clips in which an actress displays various affective states. Your task is to guess which affective state she expressed.
Available languages: English, French, German, Dutch
Recognition of Emotions in the Singing Voice
You will listen to 28 phrases interpreted by internationally renowned opera singers. Your task will be to try to judge the emotion expressed. At the end there is feedback on how many emotions you identified correctly.
Available languages: English, French, German, Spanish
Geneva Emotion Profiler (GEP)
We often have problems describing our complex emotional experiences with a specific word to communicate our feelings to others as precisely as possible. The Geneva Emotion Profiler is an expert system based on meaning profiles for common emotion words that have been empirically measured for over 25 languages. You can use the system to obtain a prediction of what most people would call an emotion that you have experienced and compare that to what you have called it yourself.
Available languages: English, French, German
Full test EN (5-10 min) Full test FR (5-10 min) Full test DE (5-10 min)
Geneva Emotion Analyst (GEA)
How well do you know your emotions? Ask the Geneva Emotion Analyst! It will diagnose your emotions in a situation of your choice by asking you some simple questions. The diagnosis is made on the basis of theoretical predictions about the factors that determine specific types of emotions in a given situation.
Geneva Emotion Knowledge Test (GEMOK)
This test measures your understanding of emotional words and concepts. In the first part, you will read short descriptions of emotional events and will be asked to indicate which emotion a person is most likely to feel in this situation. In the second part, you will be asked to rate the likelihood that different characteristics or features occur in particular emotions. The full items for this test can be found in the paper by Schlegel & Scherer (2018; supplementary material).
Available languages: English
Demo version (English)
Geneva Emotional Competence Test (GECO)
The GECo Test is an online-only performance-based test to measure individual differences in Emotional Intelligence (EI). The test comprises 110 items and requires about 50 minutes to complete. You can try it out here.
Campus Biotech
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What is the CIPP?
CIPP is the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals. They’re a not-for-profit professional body that’s dedicated to raising the profile of payroll in business, both in the UK and globally. Not just representing payroll professionals, the CIPP covers pension and reward professionals too.
The CIPP has a membership of 9,500 individuals. It offers members a host of benefits as well as training and professional development. CIPP members are governed by a Code of Conduct to ensure they remain compliant and deliver the highest levels of professionalism within their field.
Committed to both professionalism and quality, the CIPP has an extensive education portfolio to provide relevant and up to date training to members – both for UK and international payroll. Payroll professionals can advance their careers by gaining UK payroll qualifications and certifications through CIPP. These certifications and qualifications are internationally recognised.
The CIPP also has a Policy and Research team to represent industry professionals during Government consultations. There are over 175 pieces of legislation that affect payroll and pensions and CIPP involvement in forums and policymaking means CIPP members’ views are heard at government level.
Levels of membership:
The CIPP has membership levels for all payroll, pensions and reward professionals, whatever their level and stage of their payroll journey.
- Affiliate– this is an entry-level membership for those starting out their career and seeking professional development in the areas of payroll, HR, book-keeping or accountancy
- Associate Student– this level is a mandatory membership level for those who study the Foundation Degree payroll programmes
- Associate– this level of membership is for those that are progressing through their career and are experienced payroll, rewards or pension professionals
- Full– payroll, pensions and rewards professionals with managerial experience or who are qualified to FoundationDegree level (level five)
- Fellow – this level of membership is for those who have qualified to level six, which is BA (Hons) in Business Management or for those that have contributed to the profession and the CIPP
- Chartered – this is a membership level that’s awarded to payroll, rewards and pension professionals that have demonstrated a significant level of professional standing within the industry
All levels attract a membership fee and membership for the higher levels is assessed by the membership committee to ensure the required levels of seniority and contribution to the industry have been met and maintained.
Continuing Professional Development (‘CPD’) is a mandatory part of CIPP membership for Associate, Full and Fellow levels.
Why is the CIPP important in the payroll industry?
The CIPP is important in the payroll industry for several reasons. It’s officially registered with the UK government for providing training, higher education and qualifications for payroll professionals - ensuring that payroll professionals continue with their professional development and meet the required standards of the government.
The CIPP is also a member of the government’s Employment and Payroll Group. This is His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ (‘HMRC') principal consultation forum for employers and their intermediaries. The CIPP is also a member of the Compliance Reform Forum – where HMRC consults about changes to HMRC compliance-checking.
By being part of these committees and forums, the CIPP has representation at the highest level and has a hand in shaping the future of payroll legislation.
Members have to uphold CIPP’s Code of Conduct, which outlines expected behaviour and good practices for payroll professionals. By upholding the CIPP Code of Conduct, businesses across the UK can trust the quality and professionalism of members.
Does PayCaptain have CIPP members?
Yes! Not only does PayCaptain have team members who are CIPP members, the company pays for their memberships, keeping our payroll professionals accredited.
Stacey Heathcote – Head of Payroll for PayCaptain – is a Fellow of the CIPP (‘FCIPP’) and Payroll Managers Val Ellis and Rebecca Davenport are both Members(‘MCIPP’). Stuart Hall, one of PayCaptain’s Non-Executive Directors, serves as a board Director for the CIPP.
Payroll Software of the Year 2022
The CIPP hosts Annual Excellence Awards in October each year. The awards recognise the contribution of payroll professionals and they are the longest-running awards within the payroll industry. The awards were established to recognise the important role that payroll and pensions have in the UK economy.
On October 6th, PayCaptain was recognised by the CIPP and awarded with the Software Product of the Year Award for 2022, an incredible achievement for a company that was only launched during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
PayCaptain is built on the Salesforce platform and has enormous strength in areas such as security, automation and user experience. Building on that platform, Simon Bocca – CEO and Founder – and the team have been able to scale the payroll solution quickly and effectively. The PayCaptain solution makes running payroll easy for employers, whilst enhancing the employee experience of payroll and giving them the tools and ability to improve their financial well-being.
With a host of innovative functionality that improves financial wellness for all employees, the CIPP recognised the impact that PayCaptain is having on employees – particularly those who are vulnerable or on lower incomes. Functionality in the solution includes:
- On demand pay – where companies can give their employees access to payments when they need them, even if it’s outside of the regular pay period
- Payment splitting – where employees can make payments direct from their net pay to family members, landlords, loans, credit cards, etc – eliminating risk of missing an important payment
- Interactive payslips – these are graphical payslips which break down payments and deductions for employees. Employees can click on Help icons for more information on how their deductions have been calculated so they know exactly how their pay has been worked out. Help icons explain tax, NICs, student loan and pension calculations directly on thepayslip
- Savings - employees can pre-plan the amount to save and it's automatically transferred from net pay. This builds some resilience for times of financial hardship
- Money planning tool – where employees can create a personal budget
- Personalised financial guidance – trusted, impartial and confidential financial guidance from Money Helper can be accessed directly through the PayCaptain app
- PayCaptain has an AI Chatbot that can answer the most frequently asked questions raised by employees about their pay. If the employee needs to speak to an expert, they can be transferred to a member of the PayCaptain team for more guidance and support. When the employee calls PayCaptain, their last payslip automatically comes up on screen for the advisor so they can handle the enquiry quickly and efficiently
- Pensions – to make provision and build better financial resilience for later life
In summary, the CIPP is a membership organisation that sets standards for payroll, pensions and rewards professionals in the UK. Membership of the CIPP means that individuals have access to continuing professional development, support and have a voice within the industry when it comes to directing legislation that drives the industry forward. Membership of the CIPP gives credibility and inspires trust in the individuals that work in the profession.
PayCaptain Payroll Solutions Limited, www.paycaptain.com is a multi award-winning HR/FinTech company that delivers a fully automated cloud outsourced payroll service. The solution contains many unique and innovative features for employees, helping them to take control of their pay and increase their financial well-being. PayCaptain is a payroll solution that helps employers pay their workforce, regardless of income and personal circumstances. The solution also incorporates functionality that's specifically designed to positively impact financial resilience for people struggling with money, or vulnerable and low-income employees.
PayCaptain is the world’s first payroll company to be B-Corporation certified. To read more about B-Corporations, visit www.bcorporation.net
PayCaptain has been recognised and rewarded with two B Corp ‘Best for the World’ awards for being within the top 5% of highest scorers within both the Workers and Governance impact areas in the B Corporation B Impact Assessment.
In October2022, PayCaptain was awarded the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals ’Software Product of the Year 2022 at the CIPP Annual Excellence Awards. | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.7154032588005066, "wiki_prob": 0.2845967411994934, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line928201"} |
The Next Steps for Bell’s Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque
From the creation of the first certified commercial helicopter to introducing tiltrotor technology, Bell’s iconic legacy consists of revolutionary ideas that have disrupted industries. Today we continue this pursuit for coveted vertical lift products, evident through our unveiling of Bell’s Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque (EDAT), an unconventional tail rotor with innumerable opportunities. In a Vertical Flight Society online webinar on Nov. 16, Bell’s Program Director for Light Aircraft, Eric Sinusas, shared potential applications for this latest innovation. “I think it has potential to potentially replace them [traditional tail rotors],” Sinusas said. “There are benefits to the system that the conventional system just does not have innately.”
This unprecedented technology was revealed in February 2020, sparking global interest from rotorcraft community and technology aficionados for its ingenuity. Since then, Bell continues to test the unique concept, which includes four electrical motors driving a fixed-pitch, rpm-controlled fan capable of operating speeds around 6,000 to 7,000 rpm. “I think we can say that we have successfully proven the concept… it works,” Sinusas says. “Now we’re into the phase of optimization and we’re fine-tuning the performance characteristics, pushing the envelope further.”
After participating in the VFS forum, Aviation Week clarified how EDAT’s technology offers an enhanced experience in terms of extra flight operational support and cost. “The fans are driven by generators run off the tail rotor drive, with wires to the electrical motors replacing the complex tail rotor shaft and gearboxes running through the tail boom. This eliminates the cost of maintaining the tail rotor shaft.”
With growing global intrigue, Bell can’t wait to showcase this aircraft in action and continue exploring new technology to offer our customers enhanced flight experiences.
Michael Savbäck, Founder and Head of Sales
Tel: (+46) 0706–365 135
[email protected]
and read more at www.savback.com | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7978357672691345, "wiki_prob": 0.7978357672691345, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1433725"} |
Adapting Lord of the Rings
Elthir
Ringdrotten
TranshumanAngel
Page 15 of 17 • 1 ... 9 ... 14, 15, 16, 17
Re: Adapting Lord of the Rings
by Forest Shepherd Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:52 am
Do you really need to ask Petty?
He talks around minute 8-something about how you can't make a film for the fans. You have to make the film that you want to see. The alternative is to go the hollywood "film-by-committee" route, which is where people with a feel for fads and popular trends don't so much make decisions as simply deliver what needs to happen in order for the film to do well.
Hardly a convincing argument against the idea that Jackson and Co. failed in terms of delivering a good adaptation.
by Pettytyrant101 Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:04 pm
I listened to the first 15 mins roughly- for a man claiming he doesn't bend to Hollywood trends and fads its odd he made a set of films that exemplify every worst aspect of the current Hollywood trend for spectacle over any substance. And his seeming admission, picked up by Eldo, that the only reason th lotR's is not also a physics free cartoon zone is that he didn't have the tech to make it that way, rather smashes all the lies they told at the time about aiming for a feel of historical reality.
by Eldorion Fri Aug 28, 2015 4:03 pm
I do kind of wonder how much of his claims that he would have done things different in LOTR are entirely true, and how much is ass-covering and/or a factor of his tastes changing over the years. Like I don't doubt that he would have done things differently if he'd had as much freedom and as little to prove in 1999 as he does now, but the directives he gave to the crew about "historical reality" and the fact that even with ROTK-EE they moved back towards the books from some of their earlier, greater divergences makes me suspect that his LOTR approach was genuine to a significant extent. But maybe that's wishful thinking.
by dak Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:43 am
I wonder if for LOTR he assembled a very capable team and was very careful not to screw it up but the Hobbit he didn't take as seriously and indulged his own ideas more. And other people went along with his ideas since lotr was a big hit.
Shireling
by halfwise Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:00 pm
True except for having the same team for both. And I wouldn't say his ideas, more like his team's ideas.
Come to think of it, he didn't have John Howe and Alan Lee to anchor the look. That probably led to a flurry of changes.
by Mrs Figg Sat Aug 29, 2015 5:38 pm
Howe and Lee are very wonderful illustrators, when you look at their drawings they conjure up magical atmospheres. wonder what went wrong? I didn't get any magic in TH. wasn't their fault the designs got hidden under a mile of plastic and cgi.
by Eldorion Sat Aug 29, 2015 6:13 pm
halfwise wrote: Come to think of it, he didn't have John Howe and Alan Lee to anchor the look. That probably led to a flurry of changes.
Lee and Howe worked on The Hobbit films.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dWq2vV6q6mQ
They did? That's almost disappointing. I think they'd have kept the dwarf looks under control.
by Eldorion Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:33 am
I'm not sure how much of a say they had in the character designs. IIRC PJ wanted the dwarves to all be identifiable solely by silhouette, so they were always gonna be ... unusual.
by Orwell Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:16 pm
I still haven't seen Movie 3!!
by halfwise Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:24 pm
Soldier on!
by Mrs Figg Mon Aug 31, 2015 3:10 pm
I wish I hadn't
by Orwell Tue Sep 01, 2015 1:38 pm
by Forest Shepherd Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:12 am
I'm glad I did but wish that it didn't exist.
by Eldorion Wed Sep 02, 2015 2:55 am
I'm glad it exists because otherwise I wouldn't have met you guys (even the whiners ).
I honestly struggle to think of any downside to these movies existing. With LOTR there was the criticism that they would overshadow the book and affect people's perception of Tolkien's work, but I think the movies are different enough (and looked down on enough) that that's much less the case here. One could argue that they tarnished the LOTR films' reputation retroactively but I think for more people they drove home how special that trilogy was. There has been to some extent a reassessment of LOTR and I think people are more willing to acknowledge its flaws than they were in, say, 2004, but that process was already underway when The Hobbit came out.
As I've said before, I don't think The Hobbit films were good films (though they weren't as bad as the SW prequels), but even just from the fan perspective, having something is better than nothing, at least insofar as there isn't that what-if hanging over our heads. Though I guess I might feel differently if I had previously been a true blue PJ believer, which I think many of the most vocal critics of The Hobbit were (feelings of broken trust/promises seem to be a recurring theme in certain discussions). So I guess The Hobbit films did cost a certain segment of fandom their innocence.
{{{I hope you guys know I'm just teasing }}}
by Mrs Figg Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:28 pm
I agree about the broken trust.
by davidjoneshoward Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:20 am
Pettytyrant101 wrote: If Aragorn had been rock solid from the start it wouldn't have been such a satisfying ending.- Figg
But he isn't rock solid in the book. He is certain of his right and of his claim but nothing beyond that.
That's an interesting quote you have picked. Lets pull it to bits and see what it's made of!
The first bit- "I do not know what strength is in my blood" is an addition, its not in the book, and its another reference to the reluctant king arc, as we have already had a conversation about Aragorns blood at Rivendell with Arwen, in which we learned Aragorn fears the inherent weakness in his blood. So it is raising that question again and Aragorns fears he will fail because of it- he questions here how much strength is in it.
This is the way I see it: Back in 1989, after The Last Temptation of Christ devoted catholics who saw it (not that many actually did ) were so petrified that Christ was changed from an all knowing savior (who was a bit cocky too) to a self doubting, occasionally self denigrating, and who starts a family with a hooker, that they hardly even looked into what Jesus was changed into, but simply that he was changed in the first place. Personally, I find the temptation of christ to be vastly superior to the source it's based on (but hey, this is coming from someone who's very nonreligious, so that might have to do with it), and I find Aragorn to be better to his book counterpart, because it is adding more to an otherwise 2 dimensional (I'm really not trying to bash book Aragorn here).
The point is: Viggo's Aragorn brought something to LOTR just like Willem DaFoe brought something to Jesus, and we don't have to hold the books too sacred. However I feel like they should have kept Thorin more close to his book character, mostly because it resembles filmaragorn too much and because he's just a mopey asshole all the time.
Question: do you think RA is a decent actor? I know he's no Viggo, but back when AUJ came out I actually thought he was really good... until everything about him got super repetitive. From the way he delivered his lines, to his facial expressions, etc., till every time he was on screen it became even harder to watch.
davidjoneshoward
Location : NYC, but the Shire in spirit
by azriel Thu Sep 03, 2015 12:07 pm
For me, film 3 was the biggest pile of claptrap ive seen so far. Its whole atmosphere, lack of determination & cheesy acting just killed the whole aura of what should have been a final defiant resolution, a stirring ending that was believable & in keeping with the 'flavour' of Tolkien not this weird alien, anime or Manga stab at comic book glory.It was utter sensationalism, it was all, "look at me!", it had no direction, lacked conviction, actors might have just been stand ins looking for work. It all relied far too heavily on CGI, too much 'name dropping' in the vain hope it might inspire interest. Er NO ! my inspired interest was when the fook is this shat going to end ? where's my chocolate ? The last film was & is abysmal, It has no redeeming features at all. the so called comedic moments were purile & scratching in the dark for cheap schoolkid laughs, which it failed on. I couldnt give a rats arse about Thorin, he died, so what ? The utter incredulous love match was border line, 9PM watershed porn. The mere thought that an Elf & a Dwarf could live happily ever after made me barf as if Id read about the woman at No 56 having it off with her Alsation ! These things happen, its disgusting & so was the script that was fobbed off as something Tolkien & something called "The Hobbit", if this WAS verbatim then this is one book Id NEVER read to my kids & one they wouldnt want to hear again.
by halfwise Thu Sep 03, 2015 12:24 pm
I think Richard Armitage did what he could with what he was given, which unfortunately ended up being rather one-note. I don't blame him for how the films came out.
I also understand the film-makers urge to change both Aragorn and Thorin. I think they took it slightly too far with Aragorn so that he doesn't feel quite kingly to me, and too far the other way with Thorin so that he isn't interesting.
by Mrs Figg Thu Sep 03, 2015 2:45 pm
davidjoneshoward wrote:
that's exactly how I see Viggo's Aragorn, he brought something very special to the story. and using Willem Dafoe is a good example to illustrate it.
quite honestly RA bored me to tears. He was pretty one note all the way through. Book Thorin is way more complex and interesting. RA's performance turned him beige.
by azriel Thu Sep 03, 2015 3:32 pm
Beige is good, I like that. RA was certainly some sort of poop colour, poor chap. I saw him act in an early episode of "Miss Marple" on TV & he was 1 dimensional & boring then
by davidjoneshoward Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:28 pm
I think Richard Armitage did what he could with what he was given, which unfortunately ended up being rather one-note. I don't blame him for how the films came out. - Halfwise
But if he was any other decent actor, like Viggo, he would get though it in the best way possible. In fact, I think Viggo improved on the screenplay with his acting skills, and added a subtle element to it that's hard to identify. It's the exact opposite with RA, it's like he was TRYING to sound so repetitive just to bore the audiences whenever he was supposed to have a character moment.
by malickfan Thu Sep 03, 2015 10:46 pm
I think Armitage is a decent enough actor (I've heard good things about his stage work and seen him in a few Tv shows) with a fantastic voice, but Thorin in the films just...bores me, almost as if they were trying so hard to make Thorin brooding, relatable and 'deep' they lost site of some of his nobility and larger than life flaws, he's too obviously constructed to be 'tragic' it just comes across as intrusive and cliched,he's less of a character, more a grumpy poster boy who stares into the middle distance whilst Bilbo is pushed out of frame in his own story (though I did think Armitage and Freeman had good chemistry at least) I'd go as far to say that I actually liked the tactically ignorant greedy git Thorin was for a large proportion of the book more-at least Thorin in the book acted like a king in exile-arrogant and prideful, but corteous to friends, brave, suffering no fools and larger than life, I found it easier to sympathize with him becuase he just seemed more imposing and memorable-sure he was a git at times, but at least no one is trying hard to get you to like him, Armitage could have given an oscar winning performance, but for all the supposed 'depth' Jackson and co tried to give the character, I just don't find it very interesting in the films.
I'd said it before and I'll say it again, before Armitage was cast I pictured Ian Mcshane in the role...after Armitage was cast I pictured Ian Mcshane in the role...so yeah, he did nothing for me as a viewer personally.
The Thorin: An Unexpected Rewrite December 2012 (I was on the money apparently)
The Tauriel: Desolation of Canon December 2013 (Accurate again!)
The Sod-it! : Battling my Indifference December 2014 (You know what they say, third time's the charm)
Well, that was worth the wait wasn't it
I think what comes out of a pig's rear end is more akin to what Peejers has given us-Azriel 20/9/2014
Location : The (Hamp)shire, England
by Mrs Figg Thu Sep 03, 2015 11:21 pm
He tried too hard to be a broody hero figure. It didn't convince me. that bit where he is arguing with Bard through a hole in the wall is ludicrous.
» Lord of the Rings: the Musical
» What is so great about The Lord of the Rings?
» Harry Potter vs The Lord of the Rings
» Oscars and Lord of the Rings | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.6357304453849792, "wiki_prob": 0.6357304453849792, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1802479"} |
Good away win for Köln, overcoming adversity. Helmes and Risse each shot penlaties against the bar and post, which could have set Köln on the way to an easy win at Karlsruhe. Instead they fell behind, but to their credit, they attacked furiously and were rewarded at the death with Brecko’s winner. Overall, an impressive performance as Köln looks more and more growing into their role as a promotion favorite. KSC put in a good effort, but was clearly the inferior side.
An easy win for Union, as they controlled Sandhausen and banged in a few goals to get the points.
Solid performance by Kaiserslautern, driven by Idrissou. FCK outplayed Bielefeld, who never really got into the match.
St.Pauli laid an egg as they got mugged at home by Paderborn. The Paulistas were hoping to vault into the middle of the promotion race, but this setback hurts. Paderborn needed the points, as they are struggling in the bottom zone.
Dresden got a key home win against Aalen, although it was a bit of a struggle. Despite having the upper hand, Dynamo was in trouble for much of the 2nd half, as Aalen proved to be a tough nut. However a combination of luck and determination allowed them to hold onto the valuable points.
FSV Frankfurt had a relatively easy time against Aue and continue to do well. One has to wonder if they would draw better if they had a bigger stadium, but I doubt it, since they can’t even fill up the one they have. Still, it does seem odd that a city the size of Frankfurt has no room for a second club.
Speaking of second clubs, 1860 kinda sucked again and got nothing against Cottbus. Visiting Energie had no energy, basically having one chance in the whole match. Their GK was sharp however, so when 1860 finally started trying to win in the 2nd half, they were able to ride it out and get a point.
Bochum is in crisis, losing at home to Ingolstadt, who are showing signs of life. The Blues have lost 3 in a row, and coach Peter Neururer may start feeling the heat, despite coming in as a saviour not too long ago. Meanwhile the “Schanzer” have done well in the last couple outings and no longer look totally hopeless. They’re still dead last, but within striking distance.
Monday Night had crisis-torn Düsseldorf hosting contender Greuther Fürth. Fortuna needed a result badly, but the favored guests from the south were controlling the match and looked to be well on the way to victory. But in the 2nd period, Düsseldorf came out flying and turned things around with a double from Dutch forward Charlison Benschop.
Total attendance 170,796 (avg 18,977)
1. FC Union Berlin - SV Sandhausen 3:0 (1:0) 18,756
1:0 Mattuschka (25., Köhler)
2:0 Terodde (47., Mattuschka)
3:0 Brandy (66., Terodde)
FC St. Pauli - SC Paderborn 07 1:2 (0:0) 28,022
0:1 Saglik (49., Vrancic)
1:1 Nöthe (66., Rzatkowski)
1:2 Wurtz (78., ten Voorde)
Arminia Bielefeld - 1. FC Kaiserslautern 0:3 (0:2) 18,274
0:1 Occean (9., Idrissou)
0:2 Idrissou (45., Gaus)
0:3 Idrissou (79., penalty, Matmour)
Dynamo Dresden - VfR Aalen 2:0 (2:0) 21,709
1:0 Aoudia (28.)
2:0 M. Hartmann (35., Dedic)
Karlsruher SC - 1. FC Köln 1:2 (0:0) 20,233
1:0 van der Biezen (52., Nazarov)
1:1 Helmes (59., Peszko)
1:2 Brecko (90.)
FSV Frankfurt - Erzgebirge Aue 3:1 (3:0) 3,455
1:0 Oumari (5., Epstein)
2:0 Kapllani (15., M. Görlitz)
3:0 Kapllani (30., Epstein)
3:1 König (74., Benatelli)
1860 München - Energie Cottbus 0:0 (0:0) 16,100
VfL Bochum - FC Ingolstadt 04 0:1 (0:0) 14,465
0:1 P. Groß (78., direct freekick)
Fortuna Düsseldorf - SpVgg Greuther Fürth 2:1 (0:1) 30,412
0:1 Trinks (15., direct freekick)
1:1 Benschop (52., Bellinghausen)
2:1 Benschop (55., Schmidtgal)
1 1. FC Köln 10 5 5 0 16:5 +11 20
2 SpVgg Greuther Fürth (A) 10 6 2 2 18:9 +9 20
3 1. FC Union Berlin 10 6 2 2 20:12 +8 20
4 1. FC Kaiserslautern 10 5 2 3 15:11 +4 17
5 FSV Frankfurt 10 4 3 3 15:9 +6 15
6 FC St. Pauli 10 4 3 3 13:12 +1 15
7 Arminia Bielefeld (N) 10 4 2 4 17:19 -2 14
8 1860 München 10 4 2 4 8:10 -2 14
9 Fortuna Düsseldorf (A) 10 3 4 3 11:12 -1 13
10 Energie Cottbus 10 3 3 4 18:16 +2 12
11 Karlsruher SC (N) 10 3 3 4 9:10 -1 12
12 VfR Aalen 10 3 3 4 9:12 -3 12
13 SV Sandhausen 10 3 3 4 8:11 -3 12
14 Erzgebirge Aue 10 4 0 6 12:17 -5 12
15 SC Paderborn 07 10 3 3 4 12:19 -7 12
16 VfL Bochum 10 3 2 5 12:12 0 11
17 Dynamo Dresden 10 1 5 4 10:18 -8 8
18 FC Ingolstadt 04 10 2 1 7 9:18 -9 7
1st line: Promotion to Bundesliga
2nd line: Playoff with 16th Bundesliga
3rd line: Playoff with no.3 of 3.Liga
4th line: Relegation to 3.Liga | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.7399001121520996, "wiki_prob": 0.2600998878479004, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1448244"} |
Investment scam victims raise questions over fake Lloyds and NatWest accounts
Victims of sophisticated investment scams have questioned how Britain’s biggest banks are allowing fraudsters to set up bank accounts to harvest tens of thousands of pounds by posing as representatives of legitimate financial firms.
Clone scammers peddling fake investment products stole close to £213,700 a day from Britons in 2020, with victims losing £45,242 on average, according to the fraud reporting service Action Fraud.
Well-known investment companies including Aberdeen Standard Investments and Aviva are among those which have been impersonated by fraudsters, with two readers of This is Money collectively losing £80,000 to such scams in December and January.
Open season: Warnings of scammers impersonating the likes of Aberdeen Standard Investments more than doubled in 2020
Janet Christie, not her real name, 68, from Shropshire, transferred £20,000 to fraudsters posing as ASI in early December after being duped by marketing materials which could ‘easily have been mistaken as coming from ASI’, according to its own company secretary.
Meanwhile another reader from West Yorkshire, who asked to be referred only by his initials, CM, sent £60,150 to Aviva impersonators.
His money was returned after he contacted NatWest asking for the funds he transferred in two lots of £30,000 to be frozen.
In both cases, the victims were asked to transfer money to third-party accounts claiming to be legitimate brokerages operating on behalf of investment companies.
Mrs Christie was told to transfer money to ‘JJ West Ltd’, described by the scammers as ‘a regulated clearing agent and escrow facility’.
Meanwhile Mr M was told to send money to a company called ‘Bond Swift’.
In both cases, the scammers had set up accounts with high street banks, Lloyds Bank and NatWest, respectively.
Mr M told This is Money after his money was returned on 5 March: ‘The key to the scam is in the recipient bona fide company name, harboured by a mainstream bank.’
Mrs Christie said: ‘I cannot get over the fact that Lloyds Bank can just say they are not liable even though they allowed a cloned account to be set up.’
This is Money was told by one high street bank that the use of third-party ‘handling’ accounts was becoming an increasingly common tactic of fraudsters who were using it to get around Confirmation of Payee.
This system is designed to alert potential fraud victims if account details don’t match the name they were given.
Seven ways to spot a scam email
1) The sender’s address doesn’t match the website address of the organisation it says it’s from. Roll your mouse pointer over the sender’s name to reveal its true address
2) The email doesn’t use your proper name. It might use something like ‘Dear customer’ instead
3) There is a sense of urgency, asking you to act immediately
4) There’s a prominent website link which may seem like the proper address, but with one character different
5) The email makes a request for personal information
6) There are spelling and grammatical errors
7) The entire text of the email is within an image, rather than the usual text format, and the image contains an embedded hyperlink to a bogus site. Again, roll your mouse pointer over the link to reveal its true destination
However, in the case of Mrs Christie the Confirmation of Payee check came back all-clear as a recognised account provided by Lloyds Bank.
Lloyds told Santander, her bank, on 6 January no money remained in the account after she finally realised and reported the fraud a day earlier.
Meanwhile Mr M said he felt his bank did little to protect him from initially losing £60,150 after he attempted to get them to ‘either assure or unnerve’ him over the money.
He said he had transferred an initial £150, described by the fraudsters as a non-refundable broker’s fee, to ‘Bond Swift’ on 4 February, and called NatWest.
‘I explained my concern, that nowhere on the credentials did there appear to be a mention of Aviva. I was prepared to back out at this stage, but I was assured the NatWest recipient was a bona fide business account.
‘I was relying on my bank to either assure me or unnerve me to cancel the impending huge transactions over the next 48 hours. The man on the phone gave me the green light.’
Afterwards, he sent two instalments of £30,000 on 4 and 5 February, before calling them late that night to get them to freeze the funds.
He said he felt the bank ‘let him down’ but was grateful for the recovery of the monies.
NatWest said in a statement: ‘Criminals are using increasing sophisticated techniques to scam customers. We are glad that our fraud prevention systems were able to prevent Mr M’s money from being lost in this case.
When making an investment we would recommend reviewing the Financial Conduct Authority Scam Smart site and contacting the investment provider on an independently found number.’
A spokesperson for Bank of Scotland, part of Lloyds, said: ‘Helping to protect people’s money from getting into the hands of fraudsters is our priority and we have a great deal of sympathy for Mrs Christie as victim of a scam.
‘We have sophisticated and multi-layered account opening procedures in place to prevent fraudulent applications – some of these are visible to the applicant, while others are not. Whilst we cannot talk in detail about the specific beneficiary account in this case, we can confirm it was not opened fraudulently, and passed all the relevant identity and verification checks.’
It said very few handling accounts were opened fraudulently and there was nothing suspicious about the account when it was opened.
‘We also complete checks against national fraud databases including CIFAS, which provide information on whether an individual has been associated with fraudulent applications and where customers have been victims of fraud.’
Investment scam warnings double in 2020
The two cases also reveal the minefield Britons face when trying to work out whether propositions found online are legitimate ones or scams.
A survey of 200 investment scam victims by the consumer group Which? found 39 per cent had been targeted by email, search engines, Facebook or other online advertising.
Mrs Christie told This is Money she had been contacted by ASI impersonators after she gave her details to a fake comparison site masquerading as MoneySupermarket.
This document looks like it has been carefully designed to copy the Aviva style. Comparing it to our genuine Aviva Investors website, you will see that the colour scheme, font, graphics, and format are consistent. In addition, this document contains some genuine details.
Aviva investigator to Mr M
The fraudsters used email addresses ending ‘@aberdeenstandard-investments.com’, compared to the real company’s ‘@aberdeenstandard.com’.
Both the email addresses and the 22-page bond prospectus she and her partner were subsequently sent could ‘easily have been mistaken as coming from ASI’, according to the investment firm’s company secretary.
He also described it as a ‘very sophisticated scam.’
An investigator for Aviva who separately investigated Mr M’s case said the prospectus he was sent ‘looks like it has been carefully designed to copy the Aviva style’ and that ‘the colour scheme, font, graphics, and format are consistent’.
Mrs Christie was offered a one-year fixed-rate bond paying 1.89 per cent.
While higher than the 0.85 per cent top rate on offer at the time, she said she ‘checked the documents with my partner and we both thought it sounded plausible.
‘I looked at the official ASI website and checked the address, the company registration number in Scotland and they matched. I then went onto “Scam Smart” – a warning page run by the Financial Conduct Authority – and there was no indication this was a scam.’
She decided to invest, sending £20,000 in two £10,000 instalments to ‘JJ West Ltd’ on 6 and 8 December.
Aviva was cloned four times in 2020, according to the FCA’s warning list of suspected scams
Having not heard anything, she phoned the fraudster’s number back in early January but found the line had been suspended.
‘My heart sank’, she said. ‘I then found out neither of the staff I had been speaking to had worked for ASI and that I had been the victim of a scam.
‘Immediately I burst into tears, told my partner, then rang my bank within 10 minutes of finding out about the scam.’
Her bank, Santander, said clone warnings had been placed against both the companies she had been investing in before she sent the money, although Mrs Christie said she had checked the FCA’s website and confirmed the details of the ASI impersonator.
Mrs Christie was offered 1.89% on a one-year fixed-rate bond by the Aberdeen Standard investment fraudsters
She was told she would not be reimbursed by the bank on 23 January, but Santander failed to tell her at the time it had been informed by Lloyds Bank that no money remained in the fraudulent broker’s account.
It has offered her £100 compensation for this after being contacted by This is Money.
Santander said in a statement: ‘We have a great deal of sympathy for Mrs Christie, and all those who fall victim to the criminals who carry out scams.
‘Unfortunately, despite being provided with several warnings about the dangers of investment scams and the importance of checking with the FCA the details of the company she was paying, Mrs Christie confirmed she was happy to proceed with the payments.’
Investment fraud made up just 6 per cent of all authorised push payment scam cases last year, according to figures from HSBC, but customers lost £18million in total and £19,728 per case on average, with losses tripling between 2019 and 2020.
Separate data from Lloyds Bank found the over-55s, likelier to have more savings and be more vulnerable to investment fraud as a result, lost £25,000 on average, compared to £4,486 in cases involving those under 55.
This is Money frequently reports on stories of investment scams and clone firms that affect our readers.
Often we’re contacted by readers who have themselves been contacted out of the blue by fraudsters offering inflation-busting returns to check if they are too good to be true, the answer to which is normally yes.
We found in December that Allianz, Aviva, JP Morgan and Royal London had all been impersonated by fraudsters last year, with 425 alerts issued by the Financial Conduct Authority about clone firms.
However, the FCA’s blacklist is not comprehensive.
In 2019 we reported on how victims lost more than £70,000 to scammers who impersonated Dutch bank ABN Amro, which hadn’t been blacklisted despite us reporting it to the regulator.
‘Scams should be included in online harms crackdown’
The increasing regularity with which financial firms are cloned by fraudsters has also led to calls for a crackdown on search and social media firms which display them.
The number of FCA warnings about investment scam firms doubled from 573 in 2019 to 1,184 last year, Which? said, while the consumer group added that many adverts and websites stayed online weeks after the FCA had published details on its blacklist.
Aviva was cloned four times last year and ASI twice, according to the warning list, while one company was linked to 28 separate sites on the FCA warning list.
Mark Taber, a consumer campaigner who reports scam adverts to the regulator, said he had reported 130 so far this year.
He said he believed the number of warnings was higher than in 2020 but that the FCA had ‘become more proactive in identifying online adverts itself’, reducing his workload slightly.
Tech giants, banks, regulators and the government must all step up and do much more to stop victims from facing the devastating consequences of scams.
Google said it takes ‘dishonest business practices and misleading ads very seriously and consider them to be a violation of our policies and recently updated our policies to enable verification of businesses promoting financial services in the UK.
‘When ads do not comply with our policies; we take immediate action to remove them.’
Banks, other financial firms, consumer groups and opposition politicians have all called on the Government to include scams in its upcoming Online Harms Bill.
Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, said: ‘The financial strain of the last year and record-low saving rates are pushing more people than ever to look for investments online, just as fraudsters are looking to exploit the uncertainty and confusion caused by the coronavirus crisis – resulting in a perfect storm for scams.
‘Tech giants, banks, regulators and the government must all step up and do much more to stop victims from facing the devastating consequences of scams.
‘Scams must be included in the proposed Online Safety Bill so that online platforms have legal responsibility for preventing fake and fraudulent content posted by scammers from appearing on their sites, and are forced to do more to protect their users.’
Best savings accounts 2022: Top 10 high-interest regular savings accounts now | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.8337417840957642, "wiki_prob": 0.8337417840957642, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1105152"} |
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Pre-Order: Londinium (The P.A.W.S. Saga, #4) by Debbie Manber Kupfer
BLURB “The pea soup has spoken,” said Caradog. “You are destined for Londinium.” “Londinium?” asked Miri. “It was the ancient city from which London sprang. The P.A.W.S. Institute of Londinium is the oldest in the world. It started before the city of today existed and straddles the old and the new. Unfortunately, today it is run by a fool.” Join Miri as she continues her journey through Umbrae and Londinium with the help of werecats, wild warlocks, an old dog, a duck, and
5 Questions with: Gena Showalter
1. Out of all your Heroine's you've written, do you personally relate to any of them? and Why? GS: I do relate to many of them. They are flawed, and they make mistakes. They love and they want to be loved. They fight for what they believe is right, and when they get knocked down, they do whatever it takes to stand back up. 2. If you had to choose a demon to possess you, which would it be? GS: I hate demons. Like, I hate hate hate hate HATE demons. They are pure evil, and I wa
Book Spotlight: The Caging at Deadwater Manor by Sandie Will
The Caging at Deadwater Manor by Sandie Will Genre: YA/NA Psychological Thriller/Suspense Release Date: March 31st 2017 Summary: Time is running out for Jeannie, a young girl taken against her will by staff at Deadwater Manor - a psychiatric hospital with an unscrupulous past. Inspired by true events, this is a captivating story where Jeannie shares her heart-wrenching experience while undergoing treatments that will make you cringe. On a cold, January evening, fourteen-y
Exclusive Excerpt: Trial by Song by Alicia Gaile
PUBLISHER: Alicia Gaile RELEASED: August 3, 2017 GENRE: YA, PARANORMAL, URBAN FANTASY LENGTH: 261 pages BLURB As the youngest of seven brothers born with magical gifts, Jack's often felt he has something to prove. But revealing their powers makes them targets of the fae, who will stop at nothing to hide their existence from mankind. So when Jack sneaks out on Halloween to compete in a local Battle of the Bands, he breaks his family's cardinal rule to guard their secret at all
Book Spotlight: Child of Clay (Those Who Are Awake, #1) by Fiona Skye
BLURB Abandoned at birth on the steps of a Catholic orphanage, Jerrilyn Seton spent most of her childhood learning about the saints and angels, serving Jesus, and suffering the sisters' tough discipline, until they, too, abandoned her. Despite this, she still relies on her faith to help her with her work as a ghost hunter. But not once has she ever received an answer to her prayers. Until now. Now Jerrilyn hears whispers in the dark, a strange voice that hints at hidden k
New Release: A Turn for the Worse (Grant Wolves #1) by Lori Drake
PUBLISHER:Clockwork Cactus Press RELEASED: September 22, 2017 GENRE: NEW ADULT, PARANORMAL, FANTASY LENGTH: 300 pages BLURB She couldn’t save his life. Can she save his soul? Werewolf by birth and dancer by choice, Joey is a force to be reckoned with on and off the dance floor. Relentless in the pursuit of perfection, she never does anything halfway. Fortunately, Chris—her partner and packmate—keeps her from taking herself too seriously. When he’s murdered, her carefully orde
Sneak Peek: Full Bleed: Vampire Wars by Robert Nix
A man with dark past he cannot remember must find a way to survive two warring factions who have come to kill or save his life. Along the way, he will find out his true origins, along with it, his destiny. Full Bleed: The Vampires Wars. This story is about a prophecy the concerns the first vampire, Cain. 4000 years ago, in an ancient battle between the forces of light and darkness, Cain, the first murderer and leader of the armies of shadow made war with his own father, Adam,
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Tag Archives: History
The Stay at Home! Literary Festival – Week 1 – Part 1 #SAHLF2021
Posted on May 4, 2021 by Nina Lewis
The S@HLF programme is extensive (80 events)
Unlike last year I am not trying to bed down for the entire festival… but here are some bitesize clips from some of my festival experience.
Documenting the Past: Neema Shah (Kololo Hill) in conversation with Catherine Menon
Here is an author who proves you CAN come to writing after/during a career, you can write if you haven’t chosen an academic route into it, you can write a book and still work full time (many authors prove this) and you can get a book published (via Agent) within 5 years! Not only that but this first novel was also shortlisted for several prizes.
It was a fascinating conversation both in terms of the book itself and the writing process.
Set in Uganda in 1972, Kololo Hill (shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award and the First Novel Prize) tells the story of one family’s escape. From the green hilltops of Kampala, to the terraced houses of London, Neema Shah’s debut explores what it means to leave your home behind, what it takes to start again, and the lengths some will go to protect their loved ones. © Stay-at-Home! Festival
Neema Shah
S@HLF Bookshop
‘[An] incredible debut’ Stylist
‘Shah is excellent on the theme of home . . . an absorbing storyteller’ Daily Mail
Catherine Menon
***ONE OF TELEGRAPH’S BEST NOVELS OF 2021***
‘Supple, artful, skilful storytelling – it takes an immediate grip on the reader’s imagination and doesn’t let go’ HILARY MANTEL
The Scene of the Crime: William Shaw, Rebecca Wait and Nina Allan
This panel was a great discussion between several crime writers looking at how their work addresses similar themes and how it is approached differently. I enjoyed the discussion over various planning (or not) approaches, hearing about research and how their novels developed.
William Shaw
Grave’s End
The brilliant third book in the DS Alexandra Cupidi investigations.
‘If you’re not a fan yet, why not?’ VAL MCDERMID
‘A superb storyteller’ PETER MAY
With meticulously realised characters and a brooding setting, Grave’s End confronts the crisis in housing, environmentalism, historic cases of abuse and the protection given to badgers by the law.
Rebecca Wait
Our Fathers
A gripping, tender novel about fathers and sons from the highly acclaimed author
A Guardian crime and thriller book of the year 2020
‘This is a beautifully realised novel, touching on the fallibility of memory and the unknowability of families, and gripping in its intensity. Outstanding’ Mail on Sunday
‘ A spectacular novel’ Spectator
Nina Allen
The Dollmaker
THE BEWITCHING NEW NOVEL FROM THE AWARD-WINNING GUARDIAN FRESH VOICES AUTHOR
‘A fantastic book’ Andrew O’Hagan
‘Wholly original – worthy of a modern Grimm’ Andrew Caldecott, author of Rotherweird
‘A masterful and multi-layered haunted toyshop of a novel’ Tony White, author of The Fountain in the Forest
Are You a Leaf or a Tree?
This was an intriguing title for a workshop, that was enough for me to sign up! Amanda White will be known to many of you as the founder of THE DAILY HAIKU, a group which now has over 5800 members. This was a fun creative writing workshop and not only did I produce two haiku but I found lots of surprises writing themselves into my notebook too.
Turns out I’m a leaf from a Canadian Red Maple tree, who knew!
Amanda also posts daily writing prompts on the festival’s INSTAGRAM.
Hidden Gems from Novel Research
One aspect I love about writing is research. One thing I love about Literary Festivals (and the list of loves is long), is discovering new-to-me authors but equally exciting is finding one you admire or have read on the bill! To hear they’re writing a sequel?! How much could my heart take! I was super excited even before this panel started.
I was enthralled by: Kerry Postle’s insight into what is hidden, the historical information Ali Bacon provided us on early photography and the woman behind it all, Heather Child’s delve into Quantum physics and Jean Burnett’s exploration of quirky historical facts.
The programme suggested we would be sure to learn something new and I certainly did – about 4 pages worth. This was a fun session where each Bristol novelist offered us three gems from their research.
All available at the S@HLF Bookshop
In the Blink of an Eye is a reimagining of the life of the Scottish painter David Octavius Hill from the moment of his encounter with Robert Adamson, a pioneer in the use of calotypes – pictures made by the light of the sun – until the day when his great Disruption Painting is unveiled.
In the words of competition judge Nick Bellorini, “These are exquisitely rendered tales which reveal their truths with all the delicate resonance of the art they celebrate.” © Linen Press
Taking in London, Paris and Brighton, Who Needs Mr Darcy? details the charming, lively and somewhat dastardly further exploits of the youngest Bennet sister. Pride and Prejudice this isn’t, and Mr Darcy certainly won’t be rescuing her this time . . .
‘High-spirited, great fun and full of racket Georgian atmosphere’ DAILY MAIL
‘The plot romps along in this funny and charming novel . . . a perfect book to curl up with as the evenings draw in’ BRISTOL MAGAZINE
WHAT IF YOUR LIFE HAD AN ‘UNDO’ BUTTON?
‘Brilliantly twisty, thought-provoking stuff – such enjoyable reading’ Jenny Colgan
‘A moving time-slip romance . . . The Undoing of Arlo Knott is a triumph’ Guardian
Inspired by a heartbreaking true story, this stunning and evocative novel is perfect for fans of The Sapphire Widow , Beneath a Burning Sky and The Emerald Affair .
I would have loved the workshop with Jen Hadfield, but I had another workshop to attend. I did manage to hotfoot it across to S@HLF in time to see Rachel Bower and Jay Whittaker. Rachel’s readings at last year’s S@HLF were amazing and I was looking forward to hearing more.
Two Poets: Rachel Bower and Jay Whittaker
A great event where we were not only gifted with readings from these two talented poets but also a generous and wonderful Q&A.
Rachel Bower
Rachel Bower is an award-winning writer based in Sheffield. She is the author of Moon Milk (Valley Press, 2018) and a non-fiction book on literary letters (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017). Her poems and stories have been widely published, including in Anthropocene, The London Magazine, Magma, New Welsh Reader and Stand. Rachel won The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2019/20 and the W&A Short Story Competition. She edited the Verse Matters anthology (Valley Press, 2017) with Helen Mort and she is currently editing an anthology with Simon Armitage (Faber & Faber). Her new poetry collection, These Mothers of Gods, will be published by Fly on the Wall Press in July 2021.
Jay Whittaker
Jay Whittaker is an Edinburgh-based poet. Her second poetry collection, Sweet Anaesthetist, was published by Cinnamon Press in September 2020. Her debut collection, Wristwatch, was Scottish Poetry Book of the Year 2018 in the Saltire Society Literary Awards. Both Jay’s books are accessible poetry collections on the themes of resilience, grief, living with cancer, family secrets, and LGBT+ lives (including her own). She prioritised her writing after her personal annus horribilis, during which her civil partner died and she started cancer treatment. Her poems are included in the 404 Ink anthology We were always here: a queer words anthology and in the new Bloodaxe anthology, Staying Human.
This S@HLF Jpeg says it all…
Wednesday was so busy I had to rewrite my schedule on a large post it (the almost A5 ones) and cover over the scribble on my diary page. It meant that this wondrous reading was the only part of the S@HLF I managed to get to. It was a great programme of events I missed out on but it brings me joy to know thousands of others didn’t!
Look out For Week 1 – Part 2 COMING SOON!
Filed under A Writers Fountain, awritersfountain, Events, Festival, Literature Festival, Lockdown, Nina Lewis, poetry, Readings, Review, workshops, Writing and tagged #SAHLF, Ali Bacon, Amanda White, Catherine Menon, Crime Writing, Heather Child, Hidden Gems, History, interviews, Jay Whittaker, Jean Burnett, Kerry Postle, Neema Shah, Nina Allan, Novelists, Panel Discussions, poetry, Rachel Bower, Readings, Rebecca Wait, research, S@HLF, Stay at Home Lit Festival, Stay at Home Literary Festival, Week 1 S@HLF, William Shaw, workshops | Leave a comment
Not so Idle Women
Posted on April 11, 2018 by Nina Lewis
On Saturday night I finally managed to catch the Idle Women Tour, this is a project Heather Wastie has worked on since 2016, I missed the 2017 performances and have been meaning to catch a show ever since!
The show gained financial support from Arts Council England, which enabled the employment of a Tour Manager, Zoe Hunn and Director, Milla Jackson.
Last Autumn Idle Women featured on BBC Country File, which aired November 12th as part of Remembrance programming.
https://alarumtheatre.co.uk/broadcast/bbc-countryfile/
The Spring Tour started last week with a performance at The Chestnut Inn, Worcester on Tuesday 3rd April.
© 2018 – Alarum Theatre
I knew the basic content of the show and have been aware of Heather’s work and some of the poetry. I purposefully didn’t look into the Double Bill and had no idea what to expect from Kate Saffin (other than half the show).
Photographs taken in the first week of the 2017 Tour © 2017 – Alarum Theatre
Kate Saffin took care of the first part of the evening with her theatrical piece about the Idle Women, great story and wonderful portrayal of multiple characters (as a former actress I know how challenging this can be). The story she told was moving and educational. Kate uses simple dramatic devices masterfully in her one woman show.
Kate is a Boater, writer, storyteller and actor, Kate Saffin has lived on a narrowboat and told stories of the waterways as solo plays since 1999. She trained as a writer for stage and broadcast media at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (MFA). © 2017 – Alarum Theatre
I regret not speaking to Kate after the show, (I was so excited to see Heather), Kate’s performance was moving. ‘Isobel’s War’ was full of character and story, told in a way with simple props and devices that transported us back in time.
Heather Wastie gave us the second half of the show. ‘Idle Women’, a performance filled with facts and passion. It was great to watch her perform again. She gave us both songs and poetry and new material to the show.
Heather was Worcestershire Poet Laureate 2015/16 and is well known for her interpretations of oral history. In 2013 she was Writer in Residence at the Museum of Carpet, turning people’s memories into poems, monologues and songs which she now performs. This work was published in November 2015 by Black Pear Press under the title Weaving Yarns. In 2017 she was commissioned by Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust to compose a children’s song cycle, ‘Loom in the Loft’, to celebrate the restoration of the Weavers’ Cottages in Kidderminster.
In 2017 she was commissioned to write and perform poems for the popular Nationwide Building Society ad campaign, Voices Nationwide. She has also worked as poet and actor for National Trust property Croome Court in Worcestershire. © 2017 – Alarum Theatre
Heather was also a Guest Poet for INKSPILL (AWF’s Online Writing Retreat) in October 2014.
It was a very factual show both in terms of the waterways and the wartime volunteers.
I loved discovering how the term ‘Idle Women’ came to be and to hear talk of the Tardebigge Canal (where we took our own poetry adventure on board a narrowboat back in the summer of 2016 – and there were many locks). I have my tiller girl badge to prove it.
This show is a must for Water Dwellers but is just as fun for Land Lovers. I think it appeals to both communities, anyone interested in history, waterways or just looking for a good night out! It is great to have many tour venues on the canal itself. This makes the interval exceptionally special – when you step out and see part of the world the show is all about.
https://alarumtheatre.co.uk/who-were-the-idle-women/
It was quality storytelling and an entertaining, fun evening.
If you are local enough, I urge you to catch Idle Women. Here is the Tour Schedule https://alarumtheatre.co.uk/2018-tour/2018-tour-dates/ you will not be disappointed!
The Summer Tour will see them travel further North on the Leeds & Liverpool Waterways.
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/our-work/caring-for-our-heritage/heritage-team-blog/heritage-team/idle-women-the-land-girls-of-the-waterways
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-truth-about-the-idle-women-of-the-canals-some-extraordinary-wartime-volunteers-are-together-1531552.html
Filed under A Writers Fountain, Events, Nina Lewis, performing poetry, poetry, Poetry Performance, Storytelling and tagged 2018 Tour Idle Women, Alarum Theatre, Heather Wastie, History, Idle Women, Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways, Idle Women Tour, Kate Saffin, poetry, Storytelling, Waterways, WWII | 6 Comments | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.5468485951423645, "wiki_prob": 0.4531514048576355, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1276974"} |
Show only collections with digitial content
North Carolina State University. Libraries. University Archives
North Carolina State University -- Sports
North Carolina State University -- Photographs
North Carolina State University -- Buildings -- Photographs
North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
Filters: North Carolina State University. Libraries. University ArchivesNorth Carolina State University -- History1920-19291910-1919North Carolina State University -- Buildings -- PhotographsUniversity Archives
Digital content available
University Archives Photograph Collection, Historical Photographs, 1896-1929
Size: 0.5 linear feet (1 archival legal box) Collection ID: UA 023.020
This subgroup contains photographs usually mounted on boards and primarily depicting athletic team shots, class pictures, buildings, and cadet companies from the first few decades of the university. Similar images also exist in other photograph subgroups. The North Carolina College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts was founded as the ... More
This subgroup contains photographs usually mounted on boards and primarily depicting athletic team shots, class pictures, buildings, and cadet companies from the first few decades of the university. Similar images also exist in other photograph subgroups. The North Carolina College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts was founded as the state's land-grant institution in 1887, and formally opened its doors two years later. In 1917, the school was renamed the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering, reflecting its broadened instructional and research activities. In 1965 the institution was renamed North Carolina State University (officially the North Carolina State University at Raleigh). Less | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7353923916816711, "wiki_prob": 0.7353923916816711, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line256478"} |
Gordon Raphael
Gordon Raphael has over 270 followers across YouTube Music and Songkick. Currently we track 2 digital music and social platforms for Gordon Raphael. When AVR-Music Stats last calculated the current growth of Gordon Raphael's social media following, it was roughly 0 followers per day. We collect data on 10,000’s of rappers, singers, musicians, producers, bands & DJs from around the world across multiple genres including edm, rock, hip hop, grime, pop, jazz, folk and many more. Found something missing? You can add data for Gordon Raphael here.
Gordon Raphael's Music Bio
Gordon Raphael is a record producer and musician from Seattle, Washington, and New York, currently living in Berlin. Raphael is most widely known for his work with The Strokes, whom he met while attending an early show at Luna Lounge on Ludlow Street, New York City. He produced their debut EP The Modern Age as well as their first two albums Is This It and Room on Fire. The EP and first album were (Continue reading more here...)
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Scotty McCreery Breaking News, Photos, and Videos
Main > Scotty McCreery
Sat, 17 December 2022
Here's How Scotty McCreery's 'Five More Minutes' Song Inspired Hallmark's New Movie Series
Scotty McCreery‘s song “Five More Minutes” is inspiring another new holiday movie for Hallmark this season.
The 29-year-old singer is an executive producer on the budding film series, and in a recent interview, opened up about how he, and his song, inspired the movies.
Click inside to read more…More Here! »
Posted to Hallmark Channel, Scotty McCreery
Photos: Getty, Hallmark Media
Scotty McCreery & Wife Gabi Welcome First Child Together!
Scotty McCreery is a dad!
On Tuesday (October 25), the 29-year-old country music singer, who won the 10th season of American Idol, announced that he and wife Gabi welcomed their first child together, a baby boy.
Click inside to find out his name…More Here! »
Posted to Birth, Celebrity Babies, Gabi Dugal, Scotty McCreery
Photos: Getty Images
Scotty McCreery Photo Gallery
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Tue, 21 June 2022
Scotty McCreery & Wife Gabi Announce They're Expecting First Child Together
Scotty McCreery and his wife Gabi are expecting!
The 28-year-old American Idol alum announced the exciting news in an interview with People published Tuesday (June 21).
Posted to Gabi Dugal, Pregnant Celebrities, Scotty McCreery
Maren Morris & Gabby Barrett Couple Up With Their Hubby's At The CMA Awards 2021
Maren Morris hits the red carpet next to husband Ryan Hurd for the 2021 Country Music Association Awards held at the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night (November 10) in Nashville, Tenn.
The twosome were joined by many other country couples including Gabby Barrett and Cade Foehner, Elle King and Dan Tooker, Scotty McCreery and his wife Gabi, and Jimmie Allen and his wife, Alexis.
Emma Slater, who was Jimmie‘s pro dance partner on Dancing With The Stars, was also seen at the event, along with Breland.
If you didn’t see, find out who all is up for a coveted award tonight, and take a look at all the performances planned!
FYI: Jimmie wore a Travis Austin hat, Black Menswear suit, Styles of Elise shirt and Paul Kaufman boots. Gabby wore a Melique Street look with a Tyler Ellis clutch. Emma is wearing Sterling Forever earrings.
Click inside to see 25+ pictures of Maren Morris, Gabby Barrett and more with their S.O.’s at the CMA Awards 2021…
Posted to 2021 CMA Awards, Breland, Cade Foehner, CMA Awards, Dan Tooker, Elle King, Emma Slater, Gabby Barrett, Jimmie Allen, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Scotty McCreery
Photos: Getty, ABC
Pregnant Maren Morris & Husband Ryan Hurd Couple Up for BMI Country Awards 2019
Maren Morris is showing off her growing baby bump!
The 29-year-old country singer and husband Ryan Hurd coupled up for the 2019 BMI Country Awards on Tuesday (November 12) at the BMI in Nashville, Tenn.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Maren Morris
Other stars at the event included Thomas Rhett and his pregnant wife Lauren, Colbie Caillat, Jessie James Decker, and Scotty McCreery with wife Gabi.
Maren and Ryan announced late last month they were expecting their first child together. During an interview last week, Maren revealed that she is expecting a boy!
FYI: Thomas is wearing Dolce&Gabbana. Ryan is wearing Bruno Magli shoes.
15+ pictures inside of the stars at the event…More Here! »
Posted to Colbie Caillat, Gabi Dugal, Jessie James Decker, Lauren Akins, Maren Morris, Pregnant Celebrities, Ryan Hurd, Scotty McCreery, Thomas Rhett
Sun, 07 April 2019
Cassadee Pope & Danielle Bradbery Show Some Leg at ACM Awards 2019
Cassadee Pope looks over her shoulder while posing on the red carpet at the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night (April 7) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The 29-year-old “Take You Home” singer was joined at the awards show by Danielle Bradbery, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery with wife Gabi, and Maddie & Tae.
Cassadee and Danielle are both previous winners of The Voice, while Scotty won the tenth season of American Idol and Lauren was his runner up.
Danielle was nominated for New Female Artist of the Year, but unfortunately lost out to Ashley McBryde. Lauren will hit the stage as a presenter.
FYI: Cassadee is wearing a Vitor Zerbinato dress, Loriblu shoes, a Marisa Clermann ring and earrings, a Jack Vartanian ring, and a Judith Leiber clutch. Lauren is wearing an EMIL Couture dress. Danielle is wearing Ritch Erani NYFC shoes and a Liven co. ring.
Posted to 2019 ACM Awards, ACM Awards, Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, Gabi Dugal, Lauren Alaina, maddie & tae, Scotty McCreery
Photos: Getty, CBS
Fri, 05 April 2019
Carrie Underwood Set to Take the Stage With Chrissy Metz at ACM Awards 2019
Carrie Underwood is kicking off 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards festivities!
The 36-year-old country music superstar stepped out for the ACM Awards press day on Friday (April 5) in Las Vegas.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Carrie Underwood
She was joined by other country stars including Cassadee Pope, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Scotty McCreery, Jason Aldean, Lauren Alaina and AJ McLean.
That day, it was also revealed that Carrie will be performing at the show alongside This Is Us star Chrissy Metz, who will be singing on live television for the first time.
The duo will be joined by Lauren, Mickey Guyton and Maddie & Tae, as they sing “I’m Standing with You” from Chrissy‘s upcoming movie Breakthrough.
“As an actress, you’re not always taken seriously as a singer. You can’t always cross over, whether it’s drama to comedy or an actress to musician. I can’t even believe it’s happening. I really, really can’t. It’s been a gift on top of a gift. It’s one of those bucket list moments you didn’t think would actually happen. Standing on stage with five incredible women who are brilliant vocalists and artists is beyond thrilling,” Chrissy told The Tennessean.
The Academy Of Country Music Awards airs on April 7th at 8 PM.
Posted to AJ McLean, Carrie Underwood, Cassadee Pope, Jason Aldean, Lauren Alaina, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Scotty McCreery | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.504978597164154, "wiki_prob": 0.504978597164154, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1213485"} |
Members of Bolivia's extreme-right Santa Cruz Youth Union (Unión Juvenil Cruceñista, or UJC), and Luis Fernando Camacho (on right)
Bolivia coup led by Christian fascist paramilitary leader and millionaire – with foreign support
Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton· November 11, 2019
Bolivian coup leader Luis Fernando Camacho is a far-right multi-millionaire who arose from fascist movements in the Santa Cruz region, where the US has encouraged separatism. He has courted support from Colombia, Brazil, and the Venezuelan opposition.
Puedes leer este artículo en español aquí.
When Luis Fernando Camacho stormed into Bolivia’s abandoned presidential palace in the hours after President Evo Morales’s sudden November 10 resignation, he revealed to the world a side of the country that stood at stark odds with the plurinational spirit its deposed socialist and Indigenous leader had put forward.
With a Bible in one hand and a national flag in the other, Camacho bowed his head in prayer above the presidential seal, fulfilling his vow to purge his country’s Native heritage from government and “return God to the burned palace.”
“Pachamama will never return to the palace,” declared the pastor to his side, referring to the Andean Mother Earth spirit. “Bolivia belongs to Christ.”
Far-right Bolivian opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho in Bolivia’s presidential palace with a Bible, after the coup
Bolivia’s extreme right-wing opposition had overthrown leftist President Evo Morales that day, following demands by the country’s military leadership that he step down.
Virtually unknown outside his country, where he had never won a democratic election, Camacho stepped into the void. He is a powerful multi-millionaire named in the Panama Papers, and an ultra-conservative Christian fundamentalist groomed by a fascist paramilitary notorious for its racist violence, with a base in Bolivia’s wealthy separatist region of Santa Cruz.
Camacho hails from a family of corporate elites who have long profited from Bolivia’s plentiful natural gas reserves. And his family lost part of its wealth when Morales nationalized the country’s resources, in order to fund his vast social programs — which cut poverty by 42 percent and extreme poverty by 60 percent.
In the lead-up to the coup, Camacho met with leaders from right-wing governments in the region to discuss their plans to destabilize Morales. Two months before the putsch, he tweeted gratitude: “Thank you Colombia! Thank you Venezuela!” he exclaimed, tipping his hat to Juan Guaido’s coup operation. He also recognized the far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro, declaring, “Thank you Brazil!”
Camacho had spent years leading an overtly fascist separatist organization called the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista. The Grayzone edited the following clips from a promotional historical documentary that the group posted on its own social media accounts:
The rich oligarch leader of Bolivia's right-wing coup, Luis Fernando Camacho, was the leader of an explicitly fascist paramilitary group.
Here are some clips from a promotional historical documentary it published:https://t.co/gFMyfjsi2p pic.twitter.com/XXNQfhD7ii
— The Grayzone (@TheGrayzoneNews) November 12, 2019
While Camacho and his far-right forces served as the muscle behind the coup, their political allies waited to reap the benefits.
The presidential candidate Bolivia’s opposition had fielded in the October election, Carlos Mesa, is a “pro-business” privatizer with extensive ties to Washington. US government cables published by WikiLeaks reveal that he regularly corresponded with American officials in their efforts to destabilize Morales.
Mesa is currently listed as an expert at the Inter-American Dialogue, a DC-based think tank funded by the US government’s soft-power arm USAID, various oil giants, and a host of multi-national corporations active in Latin America.
Evo Morales, a former farmer who rose to prominence in social movements before becoming the leader of the powerful grassroots political party Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), was Bolivia’s first Indigenous leader. Wildly popular in the country’s substantial Native and peasant communities, he won numerous elections and democratic referenda over a 13-year period, often in landslides.
On October 20, Morales won re-election by more than 600,000 votes, giving him just above the 10 percent margin needed to defeat opposition presidential candidate Mesa in the first round.
Experts who did a statistical analysis of Bolivia’s publicly available voting data found no evidence of irregularities or fraud. But the opposition claimed otherwise, and took to the streets in weeks of protests and riots.
The events that precipitated the resignation of Morales were indisputably violent. Right-wing opposition gangs attacked numerous elected politicians from the ruling leftist MAS party. They then ransacked the home of President Morales, while burning down the houses of several other top officials. The family members of some politicians were kidnapped and held hostage until they resigned. A female socialist mayor was publicly tortured by a mob.
The squalid US-backed fanatics of the Bolivian right ransack the house of the country’s elected president, Evo Morales. And the havoc is just beginning. Let no one call them “pro-democracy.” https://t.co/rwwvOSAEaA
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) November 11, 2019
Following the forced departure of Morales, coup leaders arrested the president and vice president of the government’s electoral body, and forced the organization’s other officials to resign. Camacho’s followers proceeded to burn Wiphala flags that symbolized the country’s Indigenous population and the plurinational vision of Morales.
The Organization of American States, a pro-US organization founded by Washington during the Cold War as an alliance of right-wing anti-communist countries in Latin America, helped rubber stamp the Bolivian coup. It called for new elections, claiming there were numerous irregularities in the October 20 vote, without citing any evidence. Then the OAS remained silent as Morales was overthrown by his military and his party’s officials were attacked and violently forced to resign.
The day after, the Donald Trump White House enthusiastically praised the coup, trumpeting it as a “significant moment for democracy,” and a “strong signal to the illegitimate regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua.”
Emerging from the shadows to lead a violent far-right putsch
While Carlos Mesa timidly condemned the opposition’s violence, Camacho egged it on, ignoring calls for an international audit of the election and emphasizing his maximalist demand to purge all supporters of Morales from government. He was the true face of the opposition, concealed for months behind the moderate figure of Mesa.
A 40-year-old multi-millionaire businessman from the separatist stronghold of Santa Cruz, Camacho has never run for office. Like Venezuelan coup leader Juan Guaidó, whom more than 80 percent of Venezuelans had never heard of until the US government anointed him as supposed “president,” Camacho was an obscure figure until the coup attempt in Bolivia hit its stride.
He first created his Twitter account on May 27, 2019. For months, his tweets went ignored, generating no more than three or four retweets and likes. Before the election, Camacho did not have a Wikipedia article, and there were few media profiles on him in Spanish- or English-language media.
Camacho issued a call for a strike on July 9, posting videos on Twitter that got just over 20 views. The goal of the strike was to try to force the resignation of Bolivian government’s electoral organ the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). In other words, Camacho was pressuring the government’s electoral authorities to step down more than three months before the presidential election.
It was not until after the election that Camacho was thrust into the limelight and transformed into a celebrity by corporate media conglomerates like the local right-wing network Unitel, Telemundo, and CNN en Español.
All of a sudden, Camacho’s tweets calling for Morales to resign were lighting up with thousands of retweets. The coup machinery had been activated.
Mainstream outlets like the New York Times and Reuters followed by anointing the unelected Camacho as the “leader” of Bolivia’s opposition. But even as he lapped up international attention, key portions of the far-right activist’s background were omitted.
Left unmentioned were Camacho’s deep and well-established connections to Christian extremist paramilitaries notorious for racist violence and local business cartels, as well as the right-wing governments across the region.
It was in the fascist paramilitaries and separatist atmosphere of Santa Cruz where Camacho’s politics were formed, and where the ideological contours of the coup had been defined.
Cadres from the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista (UJC), the Bolivian fascist youth group that Luis Fernando Camacho got his start in
Cadre of a Francoist-style fascist paramilitary
Luis Fernando Camacho was groomed by the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista, or Santa Cruz Youth Union (UJC), a fascist paramilitary organization that has been linked to assassination plots against Morales. The group is notorious for assaulting leftists, Indigenous peasants, and journalists, all while espousing a deeply racist, homophobic ideology.
Since Morales entered office in 2006, the UJC has campaigned to separate from a country its members believed had been overtaken by a Satanic Indigenous mass.
The UJC is the Bolivian equivalent of Spain’s Falange, India’s Hindu supremacist RSS, and Ukraine’s neo-Nazi Azov battalion. Its symbol is a green cross that bears strong similarities to logos of fascist movements across the West.
And its members are known to launch into Nazi-style sieg heil salutes.
Here is another video posted by Bolivia's fascist opposition Santa Cruz Youth Union.
Coup leader Luis Fernando Camacho @LuisFerCamachoV previously helped lead this sieg-heiling group.
These are the people who overthrew elected President Evo Morales. https://t.co/gFMyfjsi2p pic.twitter.com/GvvMfL21UZ
Even the US embassy in Bolivia has describedUJC members as “racist” and “militant,” noting that they “have frequently attacked pro-MAS/government people and installations.”
After journalist Benjamin Dangl visited with UJC members in 2007, he described them as the “brass knuckles” of the Santa Cruz separatist movement. “The Unión Juvenil has been known to beat and whip campesinos marching for gas nationalization, throw rocks at students organizing against autonomy, toss molotov cocktails at the state television station, and brutally assault members of the landless movement struggling against land monopolies,” Dangl wrote.
“When we have to defend our culture by force, we will,” a UJC leader told Dangl. “The defense of liberty is more important than life.”
Armed members of the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista
Camacho was elected as vice president of the UJC in 2002, when he was just 23 years old. He left the organization two years later to build his family’s business empire and rise through the ranks of the Pro-Santa Cruz Committee. It was in that organization that he was taken under the wing of one of the separatist movement’s most powerful figures, a Bolivian-Croatian oligarch named Branko Marinkovic.
In August, Camacho tweeted a photo with his “great friend,” Marinkovic. This friendship was crucial to establishing the rightist activist’s credentials and forging the basis of the coup that would take form three months later.
Hoy cumple años un gran líder cruceño y expresidente del Comité pro Santa Cruz pero todo un gran amigo, Branko Marinkovic, quien entregó todo, su libertad y su vida, por su pueblo. pic.twitter.com/uVzNrgH2pI
— Luis Fernando Camacho (@LuisFerCamachoV) August 21, 2019
Camacho’s Croatian godfather and separatist powerbroker
Branko Marinkovic is a major landowner who ramped up his support for the right-wing opposition after some of his land was nationalized by the Evo Morales government. As chairman of the Pro-Santa Cruz Committee, he oversaw the operations of the main engine of separatism in Bolivia.
In a 2008 letter to Marinkovic, the International Federation for Human Rights denounced the committee as an “actor and promoter of racism and violence in Bolivia.”
The human rights group added that it “condemn[ed] the attitude and secessionist, unionist and racist discourses as well as the calls for military disobedience of which the Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee for is one of the main promoters.”
In 2013, journalist Matt Kennard reported that the US government was working closely with the Pro-Santa Cruz Committee to encourage the balkanization of Bolivia and to undermine Morales. “What they [the US] put across was how they could strengthen channels of communication,” the vice president of the committee told Kennard. “The embassy said that they would help us in our communication work and they have a series of publications where they were putting forward their ideas.”
In a 2008 profile on Marinkovic, the New York Times acknowledged the extremist undercurrents of the Santa Cruz separatist movement the oligarch presided over. It described the area as “a bastion of openly xenophobic groups like the Bolivian Socialist Falange, whose hand-in-air salute draws inspiration from the fascist Falange of the former Spanish dictator Franco.”
The Bolivian Socialist Falange was a fascist group that provided safe haven to Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie during the Cold War. A former Gestapo torture expert, Barbie was repurposed by the CIA through its Operation Condor program to help exterminate communism across the continent. (Despite its antiquated name, like the German National Socialists, this far-right extremist group was violently anti-leftist, committed to killing socialists.)
The Bolivian Falange came into power in 1971 when its leader, Gen. Hugo Banzer Suarez, ousted the leftist government of Gen. Juan Jose Torres Gonzales. The government of Gonzales had infuriated business leaders by nationalizing industries and antagonized Washington by ousting the Peace Corps, which it viewed as an instrument of CIA penetration. The Nixon administration immediately welcomed Banzer with open arms and courted him as a key bulwark against the spread of socialism in the region. (An especially ironic 1973 dispatch appears on Wikileaks showing Secretary of State Henry Kissinger thanking Banzer for congratulating him on his Nobel Peace Prize).
The movement’s putschist legacy persevered during the Morales era through organizations like the UJC and figures such as Marinkovic and Camacho.
The Times noted that Marinkovic also supported the activities of the UJC, describing the fascist group as “a quasi-independent arm of the committee led by Mr. Marinkovic.” A member of the UJC board told the US newspaper of record in an interview, “We will protect Branko with our own lives.”
Marinkovic has espoused the kind of Christian nationalist rhetoric familiar to the far-right organizations of Santa Cruz, calling, for instance, for a “crusade for the truth” and insisting that God is on his side.
The oligarch’s family hails from Croatia, where he has dual citizenship. Marinkovic has long been dogged by rumors that his family members were involved in the country’s powerful fascist Ustashe movement.
The Ustashe collaborated openly with Nazi German occupiers during World War Two. Their successors returned to power after Croatia declared independence from the former Yugoslavia – a former socialist country that was intentionally balkanized in a NATO war, much in the same way that Marinkovic hoped Bolivia would be.
German Fuhrer Adolph Hitler meets Ustashe founder Ante Pavelić in 1941
Marinkovic denies that his family was part of the Ustashe. He claimed in an interview with the New York Times that his father fought against the Nazis.
But even some of his sympathizers are skeptical. A Balkan analyst from the private intelligence firm Stratfor, which works closely with the US government and is popularly known as the “shadow CIA,” produced a rough background profile on Marinkovic, speculating, “Still don’t know his full story, but I would bet a lot of $$$ that this dude’s parents are 1st gen (his name is too Slavic) and that they were Ustashe (read: Nazi) sympathizers fleeing Tito’s Communists after WWI.”
The Stratfor analyst excerpted a 2006 article by journalist Christian Parenti, who had visited Marinkovic at his ranch in Santa Cruz. Evo Morales’ “land reform could lead to civil war,” Marinkovic warned Parenti in the Texas-accented English he picked up while studying at the University of Texas.
Today, Marinkovic is an ardent supporter of Brazil’s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, whose only complaint about Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was that he “didn’t kill enough.”
Marinkovic is also a public admirer of Venezuela’s far-right opposition. “Todos somos Leopoldo” — “we are all Leopoldo,” he tweeted in support of Leopoldo López, who has been involved in numerous coup attempts against Venezuela’s elected leftist government.
While Marinkovic denied any role in armed militant activity in his interview with Parenti, he was accused in 2008 of playing a central role in an attempt to assassinate Morales and his Movement Toward Socialism party allies.
He told the New York Times less than two years before the plot developed, “If there is no legitimate international mediation in our crisis, there is going to be confrontation. And unfortunately, it is going to be bloody and painful for all Bolivians.”
An assassination plot links Bolivia’s right to international fascists
In April 2009, a special unit of the Bolivian security services barged into a luxury hotel room and cut down three men who were said to be involved in a plot to kill Evo Morales. Two others remained on the loose. Four of the alleged conspirators had Hungarian or Croatian roots and ties to rightist politics in eastern Europe, while another was a right-wing Irishman, Michael Dwyer, who had only arrived in Santa Cruz six months before.
Alleged assassination plotter Michael Dwyer with his weapons
The ringleader of the group was said to be a former leftist journalist named Eduardo Rosza-Flores who had turned to fascism and belonged to Opus Dei, the traditionalist Catholic cult that emerged under the dictatorship of Spain’s Francisco Franco. In fact, the codename Rosza-Flores assumed in the assassination plot was “Franco,” after the late Generalissimo.
During the 1990s, Rosza fought on behalf of the Croatian First International Platoon, or the PIV, in the war to separate from Yugoslavia. A Croatian journalist told Time that the “PIV was a notorious group: 95% of them had criminal histories, many were part of Nazi and fascist groups, from Germany to Ireland.”
By 2009, Rosza returned home to Bolivia to crusade on behalf of another separatist movement in Santa Cruz. And it was there that he was killed in a luxury hotel with no apparent source of income and a massive stockpile of guns.
The government later released photos of Rosza and a co-conspirator posing with their weapons. Publication of emails between the ringleader and Istvan Belovai, a former Hungarian military intelligence officer who served as a double agent for the CIA, cemented the perception that Washington had a hand in the operation.
Rosza and Dwyer with their arms cache in Bolivia
Marinkovic was subsequently charged with providing $200,000 to the plotters. The Bolivian-Croatian oligarch initially fled to the United States, where he was given asylum, then relocated to Brazil, where he lives today. He denied any involvement in the plan to kill Morales.
As journalist Matt Kennard reported, there was another thread that tied the plot to the US: the alleged participation of an NGO leader named Hugo Achá Melgar.
“Rozsa didn’t come here by himself, they brought him,” the Bolivian government’s lead investigator told Kennard. “Hugo Achá Melgar brought him.”
The Human Rights Foundation destabilizes Bolivia
Achá was not just the head of any run-of-the-mill NGO. He had founded the Bolivian subsidiary of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), an international right-wing outfit that is known for hosting a “school for revolution” for activists seeking regime change in states targeted by the US government.
HRF is run by Thor Halvorssen Jr., the son of the late Venezuelan oligarch and CIA asset Thor Halvorssen Hellum. The first cousin of the veteran Venezuelan coup plotter Leopoldo Lopez, Halvorssen was a former college Republican activist who crusaded against political correctness and other familiar right-wing hobgoblins.
After a brief career as a firebrand right-wing film producer, in which he oversaw a scandalous “anti-environmentalist” documentary financed by a mining corporation, Halvorssen rebranded as a promoter of liberalism and the enemy of global authoritarianism. He launched the HRF with grants from right-wing billionaires like Peter Thiel, conservative foundations, and NGOs including Amnesty International. The group has since been at the forefront of training activists for insurrectionary activity from Hong Kong to the Middle East to Latin America.
Though Achá was granted asylum in the US, the HRF has continued pushing regime change in Bolivia. As Wyatt Reed reported for The Grayzone, HRF “freedom fellow” Jhanisse Vaca Daza helped trigger the initial stage of the coup by blaming Morales for the Amazon fires that consumed parts of Bolivia in August, mobilizing international protests against him.
At the time, Daza posed as an “environmental activist” and student of non-violence who articulated her concerns in moderate-seeming calls for more international aid to Bolivia. Through her NGO, Rios de Pie, she helped launch the #SOSBolivia hashtag, which signaled the imminent foreign-backed regime-change operation.
Courting the regional right, prepping the coup
While HRF’s Daza rallied protests outside Bolivian embassies in Europe and the US, Fernando Camacho remained behind the scenes, lobbying right-wing governments in the region to bless the coming coup.
In May, Camacho met with Colombia’s far-right President Ivan Duque. Camacho was helping to spearhead regional efforts at undermining the legitimacy of Evo Morales’ presidency at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, seeking to block his candidacy in the October election.
Camacho with Colombian President Ivan Duque in May
That same month, the rightist Bolivian agitator also met with Ernesto Araújo, the chancellor of Jair Bolsonaro’s ultra-conservative administration in Brazil. Through the meeting, Camacho successfully secured Bolsonaro’s backing for regime change in Bolivia.
This November 10, Araújo enthusiastically endorsed the ouster of Morales, declaring that “Brazil will support the democratic and constitutional transition” in the country.
Then in August, two months before Bolivia’s presidential election, Camacho held court with officials from Venezuela’s US-appointed coup regime. These included Gustavo Tarre, Guaido’s faux Venezuelan OAS ambassador, who formerly worked at the right-wing Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank in Washington.
After the meeting, Camacho tweeted gratitude to the Venezuelan coup-mongers, as well as to Colombia and Brazil.
No vamos a parar hasta tener una democracia real! Seguimos avanzando!
Vamos sumando apoyo… ahora lo hace Venezuela…Gracias a Dios.. hay esperanza!
Gracias Colombia!
Gracias Venezuela!
Gracias Brasil! pic.twitter.com/v9TQ2Fi2Sa
Mesa and Camacho: a marriage of capitalist convenience
Back in Bolivia, Carlos Mesa occupied the spotlight as the opposition’s presidential candidate.
His erudite image and centrist policy proposals put him in a seemingly alternate political universe from fire-breathing rightists like Camacho and Marinkovic. For them, he was a convenient front man and acceptable candidate who promised to defend their economic interests.
“It might be that he is not my favorite, but I’m going to vote for him, because I don’t want Evo,” Marinkovic told a right-wing Argentine newspaper five days before the election.
Indeed, it was Camacho’s practical financial interests that appeared to have necessitated his support for Mesa.
The Camacho family has formed a natural gas cartel in Santa Cruz. As the Bolivian outlet Primera Linea reported, Luis Fernando Camacho’s father, Jose Luis, was the owner of a company called Sergas that distributed gas in the city; his uncle, Enrique, controlled Socre, the company that ran the local gas production facilities; and his cousin, Cristian, controls another local gas distributor called Controgas.
According to Primera Linea, the Camacho family was using the Pro-Santa Cruz Committee as a political weapon to install Carlos Mesa into power and ensure the restoration of their business empire.
Mesa has a well-documented history of advancing the goals of transnational companies at the expense of his own country’s population. The neoliberal politician and media personality served as vice president when the US-backed President Gonzalo “Goni” Sanchez de Lozada provoked mass protests with his 2003 plan to allow a consortium of multinational corporations to export the country’s natural gas to the US through a Chilean port.
Bolivia’s US-trained security forces met the ferocious protests with brutal repression. After presiding over the killing of 70 unarmed protesters, Sanchez de Lozada fled to Miami and was succeeded by Mesa.
By 2005, Mesa was also ousted by huge demonstrations spurred by his protection of privatized natural gas companies. With his demise, the election of Morales and the rise of the socialist and rural Indigenous movements behind him were just beyond the horizon.
US government cables released by WikiLeaks show that, after his ouster, Mesa continued regular correspondence with American officials. A 2008 memo from the US embassy in Bolivia revealed that Washington was conspiring with opposition politicians in the lead-up to the 2009 presidential election, hoping to undermine and ultimately unseat Morales.
The memo noted that Mesa had met with the chargé d’affaires of the US embassy, and had privately told them he planned to run for president. The cable recalled: “Mesa told us his party will be ideologically similar to a social democratic party and that he hoped to strengthen ties with the Democratic party. ‘We have nothing against the Republican party, and have in fact gotten support from IRI (International Republican Institute) in the past, but we think we share more ideology with the Democrats,’ he added.”
Today, Mesa serves as an in-house “expert” at the Inter-American Dialogue, a neoliberal Washington-based think tank focused on Latin America. One of the Dialogue’s top donors is the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department subsidiary that was exposed in classified diplomatic cables published on Wikileaks for strategically directing millions of dollars to opposition groups including those “opposed to Evo Morales’ vision for indigenous communities.”
Other top funders of the Dialogue include oil titans like Chevron and ExxonMobil; Bechtel, which inspired the initial protests against the administration in which Mesa served; the Inter-American Development Bank, which has forcefully opposed Morales’ socialist-oriented policies; and the Organization of American States (OAS), which helped delegitimize the Morales’s re-election victory with dubious claims of irregular vote counts.
Finishing the job
When Carlos Mesa touched off nationwide protests in October by accusing the Evo Morales government of committing electoral fraud, the right-wing firebrand hailed by his followers as “Macho Camacho” emerged from the shadows. Behind him was the hardcore separatist shock force that he led in Santa Cruz.
Mesa faded into the distance as Camacho emerged as the authentic face of the coup, rallying his forces with the uncompromising rhetoric and fascist symbology that defined the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista paramilitary.
As he declared victory over Morales, Camacho exhorted his followers to “finish the job, let’s get the elections going, let’s start judging the government criminals, let’s put them in jail.”
Back in Washington, meanwhile, the Trump administration released an official statement celebrating Bolivia’s coup, declaring that “Morales’s departure preserves democracy.”
BoliviaBrazilCarlos MesaColombiaDonald TrumpEvo MoralesfascismIndigenousIvan DuqueJair BolsonaroLuis Fernando CamachoMASOASPro-Santa Cruz Committee
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Prince Harry: Viewers respond to bombshell ITV interview - 'Let it go'
The Duke of Sussex's ITV interview angered critics while fans were turned off.
Albertina Lloyd
·Contributor
January 9, 2023, 3:41 AM ·3 min read
Watch: Dartford pub goers give their verdict on ITV Harry interview
Prince Harry's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby has united his fans and critics on social media, as both were turned off by his latest attack on the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex opened up to his journalist friend to promote his upcoming memoir, Spare, and while critics branded him "bitter" for criticising his family, fans of Harry and Meghan Markle just want him to make peace.
Outspoken TV presenter Piers Morgan tweeted: "Never seen an unhappier ‘happy man’ in my life. Prince Harry’s a bitter, delusional, paranoid, family-trashing halfwit exposing & exploiting the Royals’ most personal secrets for gazillions whilst wanging on with jaw-dropping hypocrisy about media intrusion. He’s pathetic."
Read more: Everything Harry said about William in the interview
Channel 5 news presenter Dan Walker said: "If they are watching Harry at the palace I would like to know how they reacted to this line… “what they have to say to me & what I have to say to them will be in private, & I hope it can stay that way” I do hope they can all find a resolution at some point."
Sky's Kay Burley simply tweeted: "Oh, Harry"
Prince Harry's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby prompted fans and critics to respond on social media. (Getty Images)
Kirstie Allsopp said: "So far there has been no concessions from Prince Harry that any of this is fault. He & his wife have seemingly done nothing wrong and everything is everyone else’s fault. That’s not how life works."
Writer Caitlin Moran observed: "Harry interview in a nutshell: the royal family are so scared of the media they regularly chucked Harry & Meghan under the bus, so they would look good by comparison. And now - given that quitting & moving to the US didn't stop it - he feels he has nothing to lose by revealing it."
And LBC's James O'Brien wrote: "Very impressed by Tom Bradby. If William is watching, I don't think he could find much fault with how this interview has been conducted. And similarly, I think Harry will feel he's been treated fairly but robustly. That's quite an achievement for an interviewer in this situation."
Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive to hold a vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall. (Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Harry supporters among the viewing public felt he had gone too far.
Another posted: "Whilst I do agree with Harry, I reckon he has to stop here....any further 'tell my story' interviews and he starts to look somewhat fanatical."
One tweeted: "At this point The royals should probably thank Harry. Everytime he opens his mouth one more person slides over to Team Monarch."
And another shared: "Everything Harry said at the start regarding his mother and the press I was totally on side for. Really felt for him and what he and William went through. Then it all went downhill annoyingly quickly."
One viewer said: "I suspect a lot of Black celebrities are going to distance themselves from Harry&Meghan now they've spoken in support of Susan Hussey & downplayed the racism towards M& their kids. Being a racist-apologist is bad for branding in a post 2020 world."
But some felt they witnessed a man who was finally at peace.
Read more: Harry says William used 'heartbreaking' code word
One said: "Tom Bradby did a great job with this intrvw as he always does—he's 1 of the only journalists I listen to.. He was firm & fair; made push-backs; asked vital questions even tho he's known Harry for decades. Harry came across; warm, sincere, at peace. Well done."
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GOP-controlled Arizona county refuses to certify election
An election worker verifies a ballot on a screen inside the Maricopa County Recorders Office in Phoenix on Nov. 10.
(Matt York / Associated Press)
Republican officials in a rural Arizona county have refused to certify the 2022 election despite no evidence of anything wrong with the count
By JONATHAN J. COOPER
PHOENIX —
Republican officials in a rural Arizona county refused Monday to certify the 2022 election despite no evidence of anything wrong with the count, a decision that was quickly challenged in court by the state’s top election official.
The refusal to certify by Cochise County in southeastern Arizona comes amid pressure from prominent Republicans to reject results showing Democrats winning top races.
Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who narrowly won the race for governor, asked a judge to order county officials to canvass the election, which she said is an obligation under Arizona law. Lawyers representing a Cochise County voter and a group of retirees filed a similar lawsuit Monday, the deadline for counties to approve the official tally of votes, known as the canvass.
The two Republican county supervisors delayed the canvass vote until Friday, when they want to hear once more about concerns over the certification of ballot tabulators, though election officials have repeatedly said the equipment is properly approved.
State Elections Director Kori Lorick wrote in a letter last week that Hobbs is required by law to approve the statewide canvass by next week and will have to exclude Cochise County’s votes if they aren’t received in time.
That would threaten to flip the victor in at least two close races — a U.S. House seat and state schools chief — from a Republican to a Democrat.
Hobbs’ lawsuit asks the Cochise County Superior Court to order officials to certify by Thursday. Failing to certify would undermine the will of the county’s voters “and sow further confusion and doubt about the integrity of Arizona’s election system,” lawyers for Hobbs wrote.
“The Board of Supervisors had all of the information they needed to certify this election and failed to uphold their responsibility for Cochise voters,” Sophia Solis, a spokeswoman for Hobbs, said in an email.
Arizona law requires county officials to approve the election canvass, and lawyers in several counties warned Republican supervisors they could face criminal charges for failing to carry out their obligations.
Election results have largely been certified without issue in jurisdictions across the country. That’s not been the case in Arizona, which was a focal point for efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election and push false narratives of fraud.
Officials in a northeastern Pennsylvania county where paper shortages caused Election Day ballot problems deadlocked Monday on whether to report official vote tallies to the state, effectively preventing their certification of the results.
Arizona was long a GOP stronghold, but this month Democrats won most of the highest profile races over Republicans who aggressively promoted Trump’s 2020 election lies. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for governor who lost to Hobbs, and Mark Finchem, the candidate for secretary of state, have refused to acknowledge their losses.
They blame Republican election officials in Maricopa County, the state’s largest, including metro Phoenix, for a problem with some ballot printers. Officials in Maricopa County said everyone had a chance to vote and all legal ballots were counted.
Navajo, a rural Republican-leaning county, and Coconino, which is staunchly Democratic, voted to certify on Monday. In conservative Mohave and Yavapai counties, supervisors voted to canvass the results despite their own misgivings and several dozen speakers urging them not to.
“Delaying this vote again will only prolong the agony without actually changing anything,” said Mohave County Supervisor Hildy Angius, a Republican. The county last week delayed its certification vote to register a protest against voting issues in Maricopa County.
In Cochise County, GOP supervisors abandoned plans to hand count all ballots, which a court said would be illegal, but demanded last week that the secretary of state prove vote-counting machines were legally certified before they would approve the election results. On Monday, they said they wanted to hear again about those concerns.
There are two companies that are accredited by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to conduct testing and certification of voting equipment, such as the electronic tabulators used in Arizona to read and count ballots.
Conspiracy theories surrounding this process surfaced in early 2021, focused on what appeared to be an outdated accreditation certificate for one of the companies that was posted online. Federal officials investigated and reported that an administrative error had resulted in the agency failing to reissue an updated certificate as the company remained in good standing and underwent audits in 2018 and in early 2021.
Officials also noted federal law dictates the only way a testing company can lose certification is for the commission to revoke it, which did not occur.
Lake has pointed to problems on Election Day in Maricopa County, where printers at some vote centers produced ballots with markings that were too light to be read by on-site tabulators. Lines backed up amid the confusion, and Lake says an unknown number of her supporters may have been dissuaded from voting as a result.
She filed a public records lawsuit last week, demanding the county produce documents shedding light on the issue before voting to certify the election on Monday. Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich also demanded an explanation ahead of the vote.
The county responded on Sunday, saying nobody was prevented from voting, and 85% of vote centers never had lines longer than 45 minutes. Most vote centers with long lines had others nearby with shorter waits, county officials said.
The response blamed prominent Republicans, including party chair Kelli Ward, for sowing confusion by telling supporters on Twitter not to place their ballots in a secure box to be tabulated later by more robust machines at county elections headquarters.
The county said that just under 17,000 Election Day ballots were placed in those secure boxes and all were counted. Officials also said the problem was distributed across the county, dispelling claims by Lake that it was concentrated in Republican areas. Election Day ballots went overwhelmingly for Republicans, though only 16% of the 1.56 million votes cast in Maricopa County were made in-person on Election Day.
Maricopa County supervisors heard for hours from dozens of people angry about the election, some demanding the county hold a revote, though there is no provision in state law allowing that. Supervisors unanimously approved the canvass.
“This was not a perfect election,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates, a Republican. “But it was safe and secure. The votes have been counted accurately.”
Meanwhile, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Randall Warner said he would decide in the next few days whether to allow an election challenge by Abraham Hamadeh, the Republican candidate for Arizona attorney general, to move ahead.
Warner, who was appointed to the court in 2007 by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, spoke after a Monday afternoon hearing. Hamadeh filed the lawsuit earlier this month against his opponent, Democrat Kris Mayes, who holds a 510-vote lead in the race, along with every county recorder in Arizona and Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now governor-elect.
The lawsuit alleges errors and inaccuracies at some voting centers and seeks to have Hamadeh installed as attorney general. A lawyer for Mayes says the suit is premature.
Associated Press writers Terry Tang and Anita Snow in Phoenix and Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta contributed.
Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections
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Israeli police have arrested an American tourist after he allegedly knocked down and broke a statue of Jesus in a church in Jerusalem’s Old City
Syria has dismissed the global chemical weapons watchdog’s statement that investigators found “reasonable grounds to believe” Syria’s air force dropped two cylinders of chlorine gas on the city of Douma in 2018
Bulgaria’s president calls nation’s 5th election in 2 years
Bulgaria’s president has dissolved the National Assembly and called early parliamentary elections for April 2
A mess of ice, sleet and snow is lingering across much of the southern U.S. as thousands in Texas endure freezing temperatures with no power
Police in South Africa say 10 people have been killed in separate shootings in Eastern Cape province
Supreme Court police officers are looking for a few good men and women — as are law enforcement departments around the country in a tight employment market
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Area residents address natural gas leaks
Employees of Columbia Gas update a line outside a house on Hubbard Ave in Northampton. Carol Lollis '; }
Ania Camargo speaks during a forum in Northampton on Thursday to address natural gas leaks across the state. STEPHANIE MURRAY '; }
By STEPHANIE MURRAY
@StephMurr_Jour
Published: 6/3/2016 12:13:52 AM
NORTHAMPTON — A group of 40 climate-minded residents crowded into the lower level of the Unitarian Society Thursday evening for a public forum to address the 91 natural gas leaks that exist in the city, some dating back to 1999, which they say are plaguing their neighborhoods and harming the environment.
The forum, led by Mothers Out Front representative Ania Camargo, encouraged community members from across western Massachusetts to pressure utility companies and local and state legislators to plug natural gas leaks in a state where infrastructure is crumbling as it ages.
“You can all go and talk about this,” said Camargo. “Our elected officials are responsive to what you all say.”
Camargo fielded questions from the crowd as she shared her own story of fighting natural gas leaks. Less than two years ago, Camargo read an article in the Boston Globe about natural gas leaks in Boston. She gathered in a living room with her concerned Beacon Hill neighbors and the campaign began.
Now there are 12 teams statewide affiliated with Mothers Out Front, including an Amherst chapter led by Andra Rose.
The push to plug the leaks will not end at the Thursday night forum. According to Rose, a public demonstration to raise awareness is in the works.
An intergenerational march and street theater display featuring a “giant puppet pageant march” will be held in downtown Northampton at 1 p.m. July 2. The presentation will be led by master puppeteer Beth Fairservis, according to Rose.
The same day, a group will take to the streets to flag locations where gas leaks exist, according to data in a Dec. 31, 2015, annual report Columbia Gas of Massachusetts filed with the state Department of Utilities. A meeting to coordinate the flagging will by hosted by Christine Olson at 7:30 p.m. June 9 at 12 Forbes Ave.
During the forum, Camargo advised residents to meet with city and town officials and share data compiled by the Home Energy Efficiency Team, a Cambridge nonprofit that maps leaks across Massachusetts. She said residents should look to their leaders to pass resolutions supporting state legislation that could better regulate leak repair and pass city ordinances to stop leaks on a local level.
According to Camargo, natural gas is leaking into the environment through every step of the distribution process, and consumers are paying for it through what utilities call a “lost and unaccounted for gas” charge.
To combat the leaks, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is spending $80 million annually to replace all cast iron and bare steel pipes across its service area, according to spokeswoman Andrea Luppi. The company has replaced 200 miles of cast iron and bare steel pipes in the past five years, reducing methane emissions by 33 million cubic feet, president Stephen H. Bryant wrote in a letter to concerned Northampton community members.
Luppi declined to say how much gas is escaping from each of the Northampton leaks, as each leak is different, she said. Many of the leaks are classified as Grade 3, meaning the company must monitor them but is not required to repair them.
Camargo stressed that methane emissions caused by gas leaks outpace the speed of pipe replacement. To ease the problem, utilities must repair the existing leaks quickly before addressing replacement. Camargo is leading a “fix leaks first campaign.”
“Call every time you smell a leak, no matter what,” said Camargo. “If you are smelling it, it exists. It’s just a question of where it is.”
Camargo spoke at another public forum earlier in the evening in Springfield, hosted by the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition and Arise for Social Justice, before arriving in Northampton.
The forum in Northampton was organized by a partnership of TwoDegreesatGreenNeighbors.Earth, Climate Action Now, Mothers Out Front, Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence Climate Action Group.
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IND vs SL, 1st ODI : To get 370 plus total was a great effort from all batters : Rohit Sharma
BollywoodBookCricket
Guwahati : India skipper Rohit Sharma was pleased with the “great” effort from all his batters to make an imposing 373 and set the base for 67-run victory over Sri Lanka in the ODI series opener at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, here on Tuesday.
Virat Kohli can try and be a little more…
If not for Rahul Tripathi’s innings, Shubman Gill…
Hansal Mehta’s ‘Faraaz’ to release in 100 screens…
An opening stand of 143 between Shubman Gill, who made 70 off 60 and Rohit, who smashed 83 off 67 balls, put India into ascendancy early and set the tone for a big total.
Then Virat Kohli smacked his second consecutive and overall 45th ODI century, 113 off 87 balls, making the most out of two reprieves while hitting 12 fours and a six for India to make an improbable 373/7.
In reply, Sri Lanka made 306/8, with captain Dasun Shanaka’s 88-ball 102 coming too late after opener Pathum Nissanka made 72 off 80 balls. Young tearaway pacer Umran Malik picked figures of 3/57, while Mohammed Siraj scalped an impressive 2/30.
Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Hardik Pandya had a wicket each as the hosts’ now have 1-0 lead in the three-match series. “We started off really well and to get that total was a great effort from all the batters.
The platform was set to come out and play freely. I thought we could’ve bowled slightly better, but don’t want to be too critical of it although the dew was not so much. We bowled well as a unit and if you want to win games like this, everyone has to come to the party,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Though India ticked all boxes in the run-fest at Guwahati, they will be concerned with the inability to bowl out Sri Lanka after reducing them to 206/8 in 37.5 overs. Rohit also spoke on Mohammed Shami’s attempted run-out of Shanaka at the non-striker’s end in the final over when he was at 98.
“There are some areas we need to look at as a group and again it’s a team sport. No, I mean I had no idea Shami did that. Again, he’s batting on 98 and the way he batted was brilliant. Cannot get him out like that and wanted to get him out the way we wanted to get him out.
Hats off to him,” he said. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Shanaka admitted that he will have to bat up the order in ODIs after getting a valiant 102 not out while conceding his bowlers have to be better with the new ball.
“The start from India’s batters and our bowlers didn’t use the new ball well. Their bowlers used the swing very well,” he said. “I think there was a plan, but the bowlers didn’t execute it.
We need to stick to the stump line and use the slower balls. I think I’m doing the basics well. I think in ODIs, I’m not doing that well and in T20Is I might have to go up the order,” he added.
1st ODIBatsmanBowlerCricketCricketerIndiaIndia Vs Sri LankaODI seriesPlayerRohit SharmaSports NewsSri Lanka
1st ODI : Virat Kohli century; Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill fifties power India to 67-run victory over Sri Lanka
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Virat Kohli can try and be a little more aggressive against spinners : Irfan Pathan
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Efforts on to make Punjab carbon neutral : Aman… | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.768258273601532, "wiki_prob": 0.768258273601532, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line538184"} |
Home 1 › Wonders of Exploration 2
Wonders of Exploration
Discover the world with famous explorers
Who was the first person to orbit Earth in a spacecraft? What inventions enabled humans to breathe and explore underwater? Without maps, how did early explorers find their way to the New World from Europe, or cross the Pacific Ocean? What did Marco Polo learn in his travels to China? Experience the thrill of the Wonders of Exploration through lessons with three levels of difficulty, then test your knowledge with interactive quizzes and challenging games.
o The first manned space missions
o The history of underwater exploration
o Early voyages to the New World
o The race to Earth's poles
o Exploring the Pacific Ocean
o The world's highest mountain peaks
o Marco Polo's journey to the Far East
Ages 9 & up
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Community Lecture: Natural History and (un)natural future of plants in Keweenaw and Isle Royale
On Tuesday, March 17, Kareena Schmidt, expert on natural plant communities, will lead a discussion about Keweenaw plants. The event is part of a monthly series of sessions on the Geoheritage and Natural History of the Keweenaw, at the Carnegie Museum in Houghton. The discussions are aimed at the general public, but discuss current research and science.
Ms Schmidt explains her discussion: “Geologically, Isle Royale and the Keweenaw Peninsula reflect each other quite nicely. Bedrock twins one could say. Botanically, too, the spare acidic soils maneuvered by glaciers are the substrate to a host of plants that manage to survive dynamic influences of Lake Superior. Historically humans, in their quest for cash, mined for copper and harvested magnificent old-growth forests; their actions radically altered the vegetative landscape, even more than a beaver or moose could ever dream. Isle Royale and the Keweenaw have recovered quite differently from these ventures for a variety of reasons we will explore.
There is no end to the botanical delights that await discovery and understanding. Many plants here are western disjuncts, primarily having home base in the Pacific Northwest. Many arctic species reach their southern-most limit. Plants readily identified with more southerly climes reach their northern-most limit, putting down roots yet declaring thus far and no farther. Unique too are large and diverse populations of orchids, heathers and lichens all of which have evolved unique and admirable adaptations to abide in the spectacular Keweenaw terrain..”
The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw, located at Huron & Montezuma in downtown Houghton. Seminars are held in the recently restored Community Room on the ground level of this historic building. Lectures are free, open to the public, and barrier free (wheelchair accessible). For each monthly lecture, the museum will open at 6:30 pm for refreshments; lectures and discussion occur from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Please contact the Museum for further information, 906-482-7140.
Mining Engineering at Summer Youth Program – Superior Idea
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Brittany Buschell Receives the Above and Beyond Making a Difference Award
Simon Carn on the Tonga Eruption
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What Is The Philadelphia Wage Tax? (Solution found)
The City of Philadelphia is decreasing its Wage Tax and Earnings Tax rates for resident and non-resident taxpayers as of July 1, 2021. Here are the new rates: The new Wage Tax rate for residents is 3.8398%. The Earnings Tax rate for residents is also decreasing from 3.8712% to 3.8398%.
Do I have to pay Philadelphia city wage tax?
All Philadelphia residents owe the City Wage Tax, regardless of where they work. Non-residents who work in Philadelphia must also pay the Wage Tax.
Who must pay Philadelphia wage tax?
What is Pennsylvania’s wage tax?
Pennsylvania State Payroll Taxes Pennsylvania state income taxes are relatively simple with a 3.07% flat income tax rate. However, it isn’t the only tax you need to take into consideration. There is also a local Earned Income Tax (EIT) that goes up to almost 4%, depending on location.
What is the Philadelphia resident tax rate?
Philadelphia residents are subject to the wage tax at a rate of 3.8712% no matter where they work.
Do I have to pay Philadelphia city wage tax if I live in NJ?
PA residents will get a credit for income tax paid to NJ on wages earned there. NJ will do the same. PA has a flat tax rate of 3.07 percent. The NJ tax rate increases by income level.
Does Philadelphia have state income tax?
Pennsylvania personal income tax is levied at the rate of 3.07 percent against taxable income of resident and nonresident individuals, estates, trusts, partnerships, S corporations, business trusts and limited liability companies not federally taxed as corporations.
You might be interested: What Is A Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan? (Correct answer)
Is payroll tax same as income tax?
The key difference is that payroll taxes are paid by employer and employee; income taxes are only paid by employers. However, both payroll and income taxes are required to be withheld by employers when they make payroll. The taxes also affect employees differently.
What is the federal wage tax?
What is the federal payroll tax rate? (2021) The current FICA tax rate is 15.3%. Paid evenly between employers and employees, this amounts to 7.65% each, per payroll cycle.
What percentage is payroll tax in PA?
About Employer Withholding Taxes: Employers are required to withhold PA personal income tax at a flat rate of 3.07 percent of compensation from resident and nonresident employees earning income in Pennsylvania. This rate remains in effect unless you receive notice of a change from the Department of Revenue.
What is the PA unemployment tax rate?
A 0.06 percent (. 0006) tax on employee gross wages, or 60 cents on each $1,000 paid. Employee withholding contributions are submitted with each quarterly report. Employee withholding applies to the total wages paid in 2021.
What is PA income tax rate for 2021?
Pennsylvania Income Tax Rate The withholding rate for 2021 remains at 3.07%.
Are taxes high in Philadelphia?
What is the wage tax? For Philadelphia, those who live within city limits pay a slightly higher rate — 3.8712% — than non-residents who work in the city, as residents presumably consume more city services. Non-residents are taxed at 3.5019%. Residents must also pay the wage tax, whether they work in the city or not.
You might be interested: How Much Of Car Registration Is Tax Deductible?
How do I pay Philadelphia wage tax?
To file and pay the Earnings Tax by mail:
Mail the application form to:
File returns and send quarterly payments to: Philadelphia Dept. of Revenue. P.O. Box 1648. Philadelphia, PA 19105‐1648.
File and pay the annual reconciliation by mailing it to: Philadelphia Dept. of Revenue. P.O. Box 1648. Philadelphia, PA 19105‐1648.
What city has the highest wage tax?
Among major cities, Tacoma, Washington imposes the highest combined state and local sales tax rate, at 10.30 percent. Five other cities—Fremont, Los Angeles, and Oakland, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Seattle, Washington—are tied for the second highest rate of 10.25 percent.
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Fantasy Player Profile John Hightower
WR #82
'21 0.00 -
AActive
@DEN: #3 vs opposing WR - 27.06 FPA
Bye Week8 Rank208 % Rostered- % Change- WK 17 Pts0.00 WK 18 Pts0.00
1 LV
Win, 24-19
- - - - - - - - - - - - 0.00
2 @KC
Loss, 24-27
3 JAX
4 @HOU
5 @CLE
9 @ATL
10 @SF
11 KC
12 @ARI
13 @LV
16 @IND
Win, 20-3
18 @DEN
1 LV,
- - - - - 0.00
2 @KC,
3 JAX,
4 @HOU,
5 @CLE,
6 DEN,
7 SEA,
9 @ATL,
10 @SF,
11 KC,
12 @ARI,
13 @LV,
14 MIA,
15 TEN,
16 @IND,
17 LA,
18 @DEN,
8 Bye
Inks futures deal
The Chargers signed Hightower to a reserve/future deal Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Hightower was signed to the Chargers' practice squad at the end of September after failing to make the Eagles' initial 53-man roster, but he didn't make any appearances during the 2022 campaign. The undrafted wideout out of Boise State played in 13 games as a rookie for Philadelphia, totaling 10 receptions on 29 targets for 167 yards across 346 offensive snaps, but he's seen NFL action in just one game since.
Published: Mon, Jan 16 at 3:21pm by Rotowire.com
Joins Chargers' practice squad
The Chargers signed Hightower to the practice squad Wednesday.
Analysis: Hightower dealt with a groin injury early in training camp and was ultimately waived by the Eagles ahead of the 53-man roster deadline. However, now the 2020 fifth-round pick will get a new opportunity with the Chargers, who recently placed Jalen Guyton (knee) on IR and haven't had Keenan Allen (hamstring) since Week 1.
Published: Wed, Sep 28 at 12:15pm by Rotowire.com
Waived by Philly
The Eagles waived Hightower on Tuesday, Chris McPherson of the Eagles' official site reports.
Analysis: Hightower dealt with a groin injury early in training camp and didn't play in the Eagles' preseason opener, but he was on the field for the team's final two exhibition matchups. While the 2020 fifth-rounder seems to have moved past his injury, he was unable to secure a spot on Philadelphia's 53-man roster.
Published: Tue, Aug 30 at 6:48pm by Rotowire.com
Dealing with groin injury
Hightower won't practice Tuesday due to a groin injury, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The severity of the injury is unclear, but the 2020 fifth-round pick will have to return to practice quickly if he has any shot of making the initial 53-man roster. Hightower played 346 offensive snaps over 13 games as a rookie, but he spent the majority of last season on Philadelphia's practice squad, totaling just 11 snaps during his lone appearance of the campaign -- Week 9 against the Chargers.
Published: Tue, Aug 9 at 7:19am by Rotowire.com
Signs contract with Eagles
The Eagles signed Hightower to a future/reserve contract Thursday.
Analysis: Hightower logged eleven total snaps in Week 9 for Philadelphia after spending most of the season on the team's practice squad. This is a severe drop-off compared to the wideout's 346 offensive snaps over 13 games played in his 2020 rookie campaign. The 25-year-old will have an opportunity to carve out a depth role on the team's active roster heading into the 2022 season.
Published: Thu, Feb 3 at 1:28pm by Rotowire.com
Returns from COVID list
The Eagles restored Hightower (illness) to the practice squad from the COVID-19 list Tuesday.
Analysis: Hightower landed on the COVID list Dec. 28 after logging a positive test for the virus. Now, he can return to all usual team activities. The second-year pro has only appeared in one game this season.
Published: Tue, Jan 4 at 7:50am by Rotowire.com
Hits COVID list
Hightower has landed on the Eagles' practice squad COVID-19 list.
Analysis: Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, Hightower tested positive for the virus. Thus, he will not be eligible to return to practice until he clears the NFL's health and safety protocols.
Published: Tue, Dec 28 at 4:48pm by Rotowire.com
Reverts to practice squad
Hightower reverted to the Philadelphia practice squad Wednesday.
Analysis: Hightower played two offensive snaps and nine special teams snaps Sunday. After catching 10 passes for 167 yards in 2020, the 25-year-old wide receiver has yet to make an impact this year.
Published: Thu, Nov 11 at 9:03am by Rotowire.com
Joins active roster
Hightower was elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
Analysis: A fifth-round pick by the Eagles back in 2019, Hightower was a surprise cut by the team this offseason only to rejoin the practice squad immediately after. The speedy wideout will make his first return to the active roster this season and could be asked to take on a special teams role to start.
Published: Sat, Nov 6 at 2:50pm by Rotowire.com
On Eagles' practice squad
The Eagles signed Hightower to the practice squad Wednesday, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Hightower, a 2020 fifth-round pick, appeared in 13 games for Philadelphia as a rookie but wasn't very effective in his opportunities. He will turn his attention toward progressing in his development with the team, with the potential to secure a depth role in the future.
Published: Thu, Sep 2 at 5:02am by Rotowire.com
Jettisoned by Philadelphia
The Eagles waived Hightower on Tuesday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: Philadelphia cut loose Hightower and Travis Fulgham to leave the team with five healthy wide receivers (DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins, Greg Ward and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside). A fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Hightower wasn't very efficient as a rookie last season, hauling in just 10 of 29 targets for 167 yards and no touchdowns in 13 appearances. He'll look to land elsewhere in the NFL, likely on a practice squad.
Published: Tue, Aug 31 at 12:13pm by Rotowire.com
Returns to action
Hightower played 13 offensive snaps and five snaps on special teams in Thursday's preseason game against the Patriots.
Analysis: Hightower had been dealing with a groin injury since Aug. 7, though he was able to return for the team's second preseason contest. Further confirming Hightower's healthy status was his absence from the team's practice report, which listed players who were out due to injury as reported by Tim McManus of ESPN.com. After being sidelined for just under two weeks, Hightower will turn his attention to winning a spot on the roster and will have to compete with Quez Watkins and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside…read more
Published: Sun, Aug 22 at 5:30pm by Rotowire.com
Likely to play Thursday
Hightower (groin) is in uniform ahead of Thursday's preseason game against the Patriots, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Hightower sustained a groin injury during practice in early August and was held out of the preseason opener against the Steelers. The 25-year-old should be available to make his preseason debut Thursday as he competes for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Published: Thu, Aug 19 at 4:07pm by Rotowire.com
Struggling with consistency
Hightower (groin) has had issues with drops and route-running this preseason, Chris Franklin of NJ.com reports.
Analysis: Hightower has shown the speed to make plays both in 2020 and in camp but hasn't consistently executed his routes or catching the ball so far this year. Those just happen to be two of the primary elements in the job description of a wide receiver. Add to that he's currently week-to-week with a groin injury, and it's safe to say that the 2020 fifth-round pick is currently behind Quez Watkins and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in the competition for one of the final spots on the Eagles' roster.
Published: Mon, Aug 9 at 2:39am by Rotowire.com
Week-to-week
Hightower is week-to-week after leaving Thursday's practice with a groin injury, the Eagles' official site reports.
Analysis: It remains to be seen how long Hightower will miss, but a lengthy absence could hurt his chances of making the team's roster, Zach Berman of The Athletic notes. Hightower is competing with the likes of Quez Watkins and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for depth slotting in the Eagles' wide receiving corps.
Published: Sat, Aug 7 at 8:04pm by Rotowire.com
Posts 10 catches in rookie season
Hightower caught 10 of his 29 targets for 167 yards across 13 games during the 2020 season.
Analysis: Since Hightower often functioned as a downfield threat for Philadelphia, he didn't draw many high-percentage targets as a rookie, though he didn't help himself by dropping three passes. Hightower did most of his damage in the first half of the season when many of the Eagles' receivers were banged up, but he became a healthy scratch for three of Philadelphia's last four games, with fellow rookie Quez Watkins passing him up on the depth chart. Hightower will almost certainly have to fight for a…read more
Published: Wed, Jan 20 at 11:58pm by Rotowire.com
Healthy scratch again Sunday
Hightower (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 16 tilt against the Cowboys, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: The rookie wideout has been a healthy scratch for three consecutive games, a status that was seemingly even more of a certainty this week with DeSean Jackson (ankle) being activated from injured reserve Saturday.
Published: Sun, Dec 27 at 12:05pm by Rotowire.com
Inactive Week 15
Hightower (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: The rookie is a healthy scratch for the second straight game as the Eagles move forward with Quez Watkins and Travis Fulgham as their No. 4 and No. 5 receivers against Arizona.
Published: Sun, Dec 20 at 11:51am by Rotowire.com
Healthy scratch Week 14
Hightower (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 14 tilt against the Saints.
Analysis: The rookie had played a combined 37 snaps over the previous two games, but with the Eagles receiving corps back to full health save for DeSean Jackson (IR, ankle), Hightower will be inactive for Jalen Hurts' first NFL start. The Boise State product's next opportunity to garner active status will come in a Week 15 road battle versus the Cardinals.
Fails to catch two targets
Hightower didn't catch his two targets during Sunday's 30-16 loss at Green Bay.
Analysis: The 24-year-old played 18 of 62 offensive snaps but was unable to make an impact in the passing game. Hightower has only one reception for one yard since Week 7.
Published: Tue, Dec 8 at 5:00pm by Rotowire.com
Offensive role shrinking
Hightower wasn't targeted during Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Analysis: The 24-year-old played only one offensive snap and didn't have a reception for the second straight contest. Hightower is buried on the depth chart behind Travis Fulgham, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward and Alshon Jeffery.
Published: Tue, Nov 24 at 5:43pm by Rotowire.com
Shut out Sunday night
Hightower did not catch any of his three targets in Sunday's 23-9 win over the Cowboys.
Analysis: After catching a couple bombs over his past two games, Hightower got yet another deep target early in the contest but was unable to corral it this time. The last pass thrown his way was intercepted, so he had little chance to make an impact. Most importantly, the rookie fifth-rounder was only on the field for 10 snaps, a trend that will likely continue now that Jalen Reagor is healthy again.
Published: Tue, Nov 3 at 12:03am by Rotowire.com
Big fourth-quarter grab
Hightower secured one of two targets for 59 yards in the Eagles' 22-21 win over the Giants on Thursday night.
Analysis: As was the case in Week 6 against the Ravens, Hightower's one reception covered plenty of ground, and in Thursday's case, it came at a critical juncture of the contest. The rookie got loose down the right sideline for his 59-yard grab with Philadelphia down by 11 and 6:05 remaining, setting up the Eagles at the Giants' 14-yard line ahead of what would be one of two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Hightower has lived by the big play in the last two games, but he's still been unable to fully…read more
Published: Thu, Oct 22 at 10:07pm by Rotowire.com
Makes most of one catch
Hightower brought in one of four targets for 50 yards in the Eagles' 30-28 loss so the Ravens on Sunday.
Analysis: The rookie checked in second in receiving yards on the Eagles despite making just a single catch. Hightower's yardage tally was a career high, but even with the Eagles missing multiple pass catchers over the last several games, the 2020 fifth-round pick has disappointingly failed to make much of an impact. HIghtower will look to carry the moment from his big grab into a Week 7 Thursday night battle against the Giants.
Published: Sun, Oct 18 at 2:39pm by Rotowire.com
Targeted six times in loss
Hightower caught two of his six targets for 18 yards and a two-point conversion in Sunday's 38-29 loss to the Steelers.
Analysis: Hightower saw a season-high six targets but was able to reel in only two on the day. The rookie ended up tied with Zach Ertz as the second-most targeted Eagles pass catcher behind Travis Fulgham. However, with Alshon Jeffery (foot) and DeSean Jackson (hamstring) nearing returns, the Boise State product's opportunities could take a hit going forward.
Published: Sun, Oct 11 at 10:45pm by Rotowire.com
Likely starting again
Hightower is one of four healthy wide receivers on the Eagles' roster ahead of Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Jeff Skervsky of 6 ABC Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is returning from a chest injury after missing one game, but DeSean Jackson (hamstring) and Alshon Jeffery (calf) will be out for at least one more week. Hightower played 86 and 81 percent of snaps in Philadelphia's past two games, catching four of five targets for 41 yards. It's possible the steady playing time eventually leads to more targets, but Zach Ertz, Greg Ward and Miles Sanders are the safer bets to see passes from Carson Wentz.
Published: Fri, Oct 9 at 3:11pm by Rotowire.com
Clear of illness
Hightower (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Analysis: The 2020 fifth-round pick was absent from Thursday's practice due to an illness, but it won't impact his availability for Week 4. Hightower played 78 offensive snaps and caught two of three targets for 19 yards during last Sunday's tie with the Bengals, and he should see plenty of playing time again this week with Alshon Jeffery (foot) and DeSean Jackson (hamstring) sidelined and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (calf) doubtful.
Comes down with illness
Hightower (illness) didn't participate in practice Thursday.
Analysis: After seeing just four targets and 34 offensive snaps in the Eagles' first two games of the season, Hightower increased the latter substantially this past Sunday versus the Bengals to 78 plays. That said, he was targeted just three times on his way to two catches for 19 yards. The Eagles' receiving corps has been hammered by injuries in 2020, with all of Alshon Jeffery (foot), DeSean Jackson (hamstring) and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (calf) also absent Thursday. As a result, if Hightower can get…read more
Published: Thu, Oct 1 at 3:19pm by Rotowire.com
Snags two passes in tie
Hightower caught two of three targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 23-23 tie against the Bengals.
Analysis: With Jalen Reagor (thumb) out and DeSean Jackson (hamstring) leaving the game early, Hightower led Eagles wide receivers with 78 of 91 offensive snaps (86 percent). Greg Ward wasn't far behind with 76 snaps. Jackson's injury is expected to be minor, but if he's forced to miss Week 4's matchup against the 49ers, Hightower and Ward should both handle increased duties against a defense that's without CB Richard Sherman (hamstring) and DE Nick Bosa (torn ACL).
Published: Mon, Sep 28 at 10:39am by Rotowire.com
Nabs first NFL catch
Hightower caught one of his four targets for a loss of two yards in Sunday's 27-17 loss to Washington
Analysis: The Boise State product was on the field for 27 snaps (40 percent) in his NFL debut. While that was one play fewer than what J.J. Arcega-Whiteside received, it was Hightower who was more involved in the offense with four passes thrown his way to Arcega-Whiteside's zero.
Published: Tue, Sep 15 at 1:36pm by Rotowire.com
Could have early role
Hightower has looked good throughout training camp, potentially setting himself up for a role on offense if Jalen Reagor (shoulder) is out for an extended period, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Early reports suggest Reagor will miss at least one or two games but should be back in the lineup by late September or early October. While J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward look like the favorites to get snaps alongside DeSean Jackson in three-wide formations to start the season, Hightower also has a shot at a role. If nothing else, the rookie fifth-round pick is on track for a roster spot, while sixth-rounder Quez Watkins (upper body) has been absent from recent practices and could be on…read more
Published: Mon, Aug 31 at 5:18am by Rotowire.com
Could replace Goodwin
Hightower and fellow rookies Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins may have to pick up some of the slack after Marquise Goodwin opted out of the 2020 season, ESPN.com's Tim McManus reports.
Analysis: All four wideouts have two things in common: 1) they were acquired by Philadelphia in late April; 2) they're known for their speed above all else. Reagor, a first-round pick, is a roster lock and potential Week 1 starter, whereas Hightower (fifth round) and Watkins (sixth) figure to compete for depth roles. At first glance, it was difficult to see how both Hightower and Watkins would fit on the regular-season roster, but the Eagles may have room for the two similar rookies now that Goodwin is…read more
Published: Thu, Jul 30 at 8:29am by Rotowire.com
Sinnett places perfect pass to John Hightower for 19 yardsSat, Aug 27 at 5:58pm
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Reid Sinnett places perfect pass to wide receiver John Hightower for 19 yards.
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Carson Wentz dials launch codes to John Hightower for 59 YARDSThu, Oct 22 at 8:14pm
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz dials launch codes to wide receiver John Hightower for 59 YARDS.
John Hightower finds room in Ravens' secondary for 50-yard grabSun, Oct 18 at 12:34pm
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver John Hightower finds room in the Baltimore Ravens' secondary for 50-yard grab.
Wentz extends the play to convert on two-point pass to John HightowerSun, Oct 11 at 12:22pm
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz completes a two-point conversion to wide receiver John Hightower.
Eagles vs. 49ers highlights | Week 4Sun, Oct 4 at 8:45pm
Watch the highlights from the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the San Francisco 49ers during Week 4 of the 2020 season.
Hightower dives to convert for Eagles on fourth-and-4Sun, Oct 4 at 8:02pm
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver John Hightower dives to convert for Eagles on fourth-and-4.
WR #82 LAC | Manager: FA | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.9552443623542786, "wiki_prob": 0.9552443623542786, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line377383"} |
Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals
Rune Thorsen, Maurizio Ferrarin
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus
Surface Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) requires high stimulation voltages. A step-up transformer in the output stage of the stimulation circuit is often used. In the present technical paper a voltage controlled current source (VCCS) is presented as an alternative to the transformer coupling. Two (master-slave) coupled transconductance amplifiers (TAs)-in series with pre-charged capacitors-are used to drive the output current. After each stimulation pulse the capacitors are recharged to a high voltage by a switch mode power supply (SMPS). A multiplexer in the output stage is used to provide biphasic output. Output rise-time (10-90%) was less than 2 μs at 100 mA output. Biphasic charge balanced stimulation current can be produced with a net current to ground of less than 20 nA, thus virtually separated from ground. The circuit permits recording of the volitional myoelectric signal from the stimulated muscle. It is part of a portable myoelectrically controlled FES system powered by 2 AA batteries and currently used in clinical trials.
Medical Engineering and Physics
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
Biphasic stimulation
Myoelectric signals
Stimulation artifacts
Stimulation circuit
10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
Dive into the research topics of 'Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Electric Stimulation Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Electric Power Supplies Medicine & Life Sciences 80%
Networks (circuits) Engineering & Materials Science 59%
Capacitors Engineering & Materials Science 57%
Electric potential Engineering & Materials Science 56%
Transconductance Engineering & Materials Science 43%
Clinical Trials Medicine & Life Sciences 35%
Thorsen, R., & Ferrarin, M. (2009). Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals. Medical Engineering and Physics, 31(8), 1032-1037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals. / Thorsen, Rune; Ferrarin, Maurizio.
In: Medical Engineering and Physics, Vol. 31, No. 8, 10.2009, p. 1032-1037.
Thorsen, R & Ferrarin, M 2009, 'Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals', Medical Engineering and Physics, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 1032-1037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
Thorsen R, Ferrarin M. Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals. Medical Engineering and Physics. 2009 Oct;31(8):1032-1037. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
Thorsen, Rune ; Ferrarin, Maurizio. / Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals. In: Medical Engineering and Physics. 2009 ; Vol. 31, No. 8. pp. 1032-1037.
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title = "Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals",
abstract = "Surface Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) requires high stimulation voltages. A step-up transformer in the output stage of the stimulation circuit is often used. In the present technical paper a voltage controlled current source (VCCS) is presented as an alternative to the transformer coupling. Two (master-slave) coupled transconductance amplifiers (TAs)-in series with pre-charged capacitors-are used to drive the output current. After each stimulation pulse the capacitors are recharged to a high voltage by a switch mode power supply (SMPS). A multiplexer in the output stage is used to provide biphasic output. Output rise-time (10-90%) was less than 2 μs at 100 mA output. Biphasic charge balanced stimulation current can be produced with a net current to ground of less than 20 nA, thus virtually separated from ground. The circuit permits recording of the volitional myoelectric signal from the stimulated muscle. It is part of a portable myoelectrically controlled FES system powered by 2 AA batteries and currently used in clinical trials.",
keywords = "Battery powered, Biphasic stimulation, Functional Electrical Stimulation, Myoelectric signals, Portable, Stimulation artifacts, Stimulation circuit",
author = "Rune Thorsen and Maurizio Ferrarin",
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journal = "Medical Engineering and Physics",
T1 - Battery powered neuromuscular stimulator circuit for use during simultaneous recording of myoelectric signals
AU - Thorsen, Rune
AU - Ferrarin, Maurizio
N2 - Surface Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) requires high stimulation voltages. A step-up transformer in the output stage of the stimulation circuit is often used. In the present technical paper a voltage controlled current source (VCCS) is presented as an alternative to the transformer coupling. Two (master-slave) coupled transconductance amplifiers (TAs)-in series with pre-charged capacitors-are used to drive the output current. After each stimulation pulse the capacitors are recharged to a high voltage by a switch mode power supply (SMPS). A multiplexer in the output stage is used to provide biphasic output. Output rise-time (10-90%) was less than 2 μs at 100 mA output. Biphasic charge balanced stimulation current can be produced with a net current to ground of less than 20 nA, thus virtually separated from ground. The circuit permits recording of the volitional myoelectric signal from the stimulated muscle. It is part of a portable myoelectrically controlled FES system powered by 2 AA batteries and currently used in clinical trials.
AB - Surface Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) requires high stimulation voltages. A step-up transformer in the output stage of the stimulation circuit is often used. In the present technical paper a voltage controlled current source (VCCS) is presented as an alternative to the transformer coupling. Two (master-slave) coupled transconductance amplifiers (TAs)-in series with pre-charged capacitors-are used to drive the output current. After each stimulation pulse the capacitors are recharged to a high voltage by a switch mode power supply (SMPS). A multiplexer in the output stage is used to provide biphasic output. Output rise-time (10-90%) was less than 2 μs at 100 mA output. Biphasic charge balanced stimulation current can be produced with a net current to ground of less than 20 nA, thus virtually separated from ground. The circuit permits recording of the volitional myoelectric signal from the stimulated muscle. It is part of a portable myoelectrically controlled FES system powered by 2 AA batteries and currently used in clinical trials.
KW - Battery powered
KW - Biphasic stimulation
KW - Functional Electrical Stimulation
KW - Myoelectric signals
KW - Portable
KW - Stimulation artifacts
KW - Stimulation circuit
U2 - 10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
DO - 10.1016/j.medengphy.2009.06.006
JO - Medical Engineering and Physics
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Sydney 7's
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Fiji 7's 3 3 0 0 9
New Zealand 7's 3 2 1 0 7
Wales 7's 3 1 2 0 5
Kenya 7's 3 0 3 0 3
South Africa 7's 3 3 0 0 9
Argentina 7's 3 2 1 0 7
France 7's 3 1 2 0 5
Samoa 7's 3 0 3 0 3
Pool C
USA 7's 3 3 0 0 9
Australia 7's 3 2 1 0 7
Scotland 7's 3 0 2 1 4
Japan 7's 3 0 2 1 4
Pool D
England 7's 3 3 0 0 9
Ireland 7's 3 1 2 0 5
Canada 7's 3 1 2 0 5
Spain 7's 3 1 2 0 5
Conv.
Angelo Davids 6 0 0 30
Napolioni Bolaca 3 0 7 29
Selvyn Davids 3 0 6 27
Stephen Tomasin 2 0 6 22
JC Pretorius 4 0 0 20
Ben Pinkelman 4 0 0 20
Aminiasi Tuimaba 4 0 0 20
Robbie Fergusson 2 0 4 18
Santiago Mare 2 0 4 18
Billy Dardis 1 0 6 17
South Africa 7's Vs Fiji 7's at Bankwest Stadium 2nd Feb 2020
USA 7's Vs England 7's at Bankwest Stadium 2nd Feb 2020
USA 7's
Eng 7's
New Zealand 7's Vs Australia 7's at Bankwest Stadium 2nd Feb 2020
Aus 7's
Argentina 7's Vs Ireland 7's at Bankwest Stadium 2nd Feb 2020 | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.9479988217353821, "wiki_prob": 0.9479988217353821, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line471562"} |
« Aurora theater shootings
riot on-off switch »
Schadenfreude and the Dear Leader
By compatriot, on October 21st, 2013
Monday, October 21st, 2013 by Claire
I know it’s ignoble, but is anybody else enjoying the spectacle of the Obamacare crash? Or more specifically, the spin on the spin on the spin coming from the administration and its media toadies?
First it’s, “Oh, our wonderful system is … just so wonderful that it’s being overwhelmed by the gazillions of people who want to sign up!”
Then as tech types began to look into the code, as more horror stories began to emerge, as unnamed “inside sources” spoke up, and as it became clear to that the back end (the part of the federal exchange that feeds data to the insurance companies) was as broken as the public interface, even some of Obama’s biggest supporters were forced into using terms like trainwreck and catastrophe.
Now Team Obama is getting on its feet again. Dear Leader himself proclaims prissy indignation: “I think it’s fair to say that nobody is more frustrated by that than I am. … Nobody is madder than me about the fact that the website is not working as well as it should …”
And the DC wonk crew rushes in to cry, Obama was blindsided! Yes, how could anybody expect the president to know what was going to happen? It was those techies who covered up the mess. It was their managers hiding the truth from their managers. It was anybody, anybody but Dear Leader’s fault.
“Nobody expects the chief executive to be reviewing computer code or hosting East Room ‘hackathons.’”
In a lesser way* it reminds me of the excuses made for Josef Stalin’s misrule. The failures and famines? All the fault of wreckers and saboteurs. The brutality? Underlings exceeding their authority.
But of course Obama really didn’t know. His aloofness (is that a word?) from his own policies is infamous. He delegated to Pelosi and Reid, who delegated to bureaucrats, who spent $400 million supervising and tinkering with tech they didn’t understand. And no doubt toward the end every desperate soul working on the now-infamous federal exchange was trying to hide from superiors just how huge a mess the whole thing was going to be.
So now all Dear Leader (who doesn’t have a leaderly bone in his body or a leaderly wrinkle in his brain) can do is stand in the White House rose garden and POUT. But by golly, as he himself proclaims (though not exactly in those words), “Nobody, but nobody, has more to pout about than ME. Because I’m so very special.
And because it’s your name going doing in infamy, Boss Man.
But worry not! Because another five year plan “tech surge” will fix everything in two shakes of a jiffy.
(And meanwhile the sick are the only ones desperate enough to keep trying to sign up while the young and healthy whose blood contribution is most needed say no way.)
Seriously. This is great comic theater.
Yeah … we all know that the screwed up website is only one tiny part of the much larger mess. And the big picture isn’t funny. These people are going to destroy what’s left of all that was good in the American health care system. They’re jeopardizing the well-being of millions. They’re going to wipe out the middle and working classes. They’re Sovietizing our country. They’re plunging us into debt so monumental that even seeing is hard to believe.
Still, this whole business with the exchange and all this spinning, spinning, spinning is hysterical.
Enjoy it while you can.
* Everything about the US mis-managerial state remains “lesser” at this point. But give gov time; it’s working on improving its ineptitude.
Category: politics | | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6623031497001648, "wiki_prob": 0.3376968502998352, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1454471"} |
Last edited by Arashizilkree
Saturday, May 9, 2020 | History
3 edition of Boom business of the 90"s found in the catalog.
Boom business of the 90"s
Francis Hitching
the essential start-up guide to network marketing
by Francis Hitching
Published 1992 by MPG in Altrincham .
Statement Francis Hitching.
Pagination 96p.
Know the exact ’90s look you’re going for. Every decade has standout fashion trends that become go-to looks, but styles change through the years, so don’t assume the outfit you have in mind works for any s project you’re booked on. When Casting Directors book you, they will give you wardrobe details. The huge success of comic books back in the early 90s led to a lot of cottage industries. One of them was the non-sports trading card, which before was generally reserved for the rare movie and TV show. With the advent of the speculator boom, the streams of .
The Austin Business Journal features local business news about Austin. Use caution in the continuing boom of the `90s. By I. Craig Hester no earnings and sell at enormous multiples of. We may be entering the second great technology boom. The first one, of the late '90s, was a boom in expectations, which pushed up stock valuations and investor enthusiasm in .
In you could buy an average copy of Action Comics #1—the first appearance of Superman—for about $ By , that comic cost about $5, This was real money, and by . The BPO book takes up were ended in the 90s. BY BALFORD HENRY but a decade later hit a virtual sleeping policeman and the boom crashed, leaving a few optimists to continue searching.
Breaking the political glass ceiling
Hong Kong After the Elections: The Future of One Country, Two Systems
Training manual on means of escape in case of fire for University of Greenwich
Cinderella in sunlight
American Catholic Schools for the 21st Century
Discounts and Good Deals for Seniors in Texas
Excavations at Giza.
Young Mrs. Ruskin in Venice
poems of Alexander Lawrence Posey.
Oil paintings, watercolours & prints.
Process and data modelling project report
S&T BANCORP, INC.
Financial systems in transition
Use of on-line computers in environmental research
USA-Croatia scientific cooperation 1963-1993
world of architecture.
Boom business of the 90"s by Francis Hitching Download PDF EPUB FB2
Boom Business of the 90's: The Essential Start-Up Guide to Creating Personal Wealth [Francis Hitching] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Buy a cheap copy of BOOM BUSINESS OF THE 90S: ESSENTIAL book.
Free shipping over $ Boom Business of The 90s Essential Start-up Guide to Network by Fran. Be the first to write a review. About this product. Pre-owned: lowest price. The lowest-priced item that has been used or worn previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is. The s was a decade that changed the comic book industry forever in any number of ways, whether it was the speculator-fueled boom and bust that killed a.
Jan. 01, Business books of the s range from one profiling visionary companies for emulating to one that pokes fun at Corporate America. Some of the books actually started trends, while others have helped develop them. At any rate, the ’90s have provided a wealth of business acumen.
The comic collecting craze of the early nineties was a text book case of bubble economics. It came crashing into an industry that was unprepared for it but recognized that it was time to make hay while the sun was shining.
Millions of people suddenly started entering comic books shops in the early ’s and just as quickly stopped. COVID Resources. Reliable information about the coronavirus (COVID) is available from the World Health Organization (current situation, international travel).Numerous and frequently-updated resource results are available from this ’s WebJunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
This particular book -- Boom. -- is different from many business books of this type in that Kevin and Jackie take off the gloves and really tell it like it is. Boom. is NOT politically correct, and the Freibergs don't beat around the bush/5.
The dotcom boom of the 90s saw the first wave of tech startups and although com is still up and running, there are a number of lessons which can. The s economic boom in the United States was an economic expansion that began after the end of the early s recession in Marchand ended in March with the start of the early s recession during the Dot-com bubble crash.
It was the longest recorded economic expansion in the history of the United States until July ISBN: OCLC Number: Description: vii, 78 pages: illustrations ; 28 cm. Contents: Part 1. Understanding Network Marketing --Quiz: What Is Network Marketing --Network Marketing: A Person-to-Person Process --The Organizational Structure --A Leveraged Income Vehicle --Market Trends Point Toward Network Marketing --Part to Look For and What to Avoid.
Joseph E. Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel in economic science, has staked out the second position. His new book, ''The Roaring Nineties: A. During the very late 80’s and early s there was Diamond Distributors and Capital City who shared the burden of delivering comic books to all of the comic book shops across America.
During the height of the boom, that number of shops reached somewhere aro - Explore ONwheelsIGO's board "80's 90's boom box radio" on Pinterest. See more ideas about Boombox, Old school and Hip hop pins.
Ah, the ’90s. Gameboy and Furbie’s ruled kids’ wishlists. J.K. Rowling released the first Harry Potter book. And a gallon of gas in was $. A new house could cost you $, and. This is a list of bookstore chains with brick-and-mortar locations. In the United Kingdom and many parts of the English speaking world, they are known as "Bookshops" and "newsagents".
In American English, they are called "bookstores", or sometimes "newsstands", as they also usually carry newspapers and list includes both current and defunct businesses, and also includes large. Back To The Economy Of The '90s. Not So Fast As the parties wrangle over taxes and the "fiscal cliff," there's been a lot of talk about the golden days of the s — and each party's role in.
The Bubble Economy tells the story of the greatest failure of Japanese economic management since In the second half of the s Japan's financial madness and arrogance centered on a booming stockmarket and rocketing land prices, which dragged the solid manufacturing economy into a whirlwind of outrageous speculation.
Then the boom when spectacularly bust, leaving in its wake a withered. Let’s begin with the quantifiable bits. America at large was prospering in the ’90s. The United States economy grew by an average of 4 percent per year between and Boom: A boom refers to a period of increased commercial activity within either a business, market, industry or economy as a whole.
For an individual company, a boom. Late ’80s to Mids. The ’80s had Scooby Doo in the forefront of childhood favorites. Besides the crime solving gang, not much else seemed to incorporate horror into the story line. While Scooby Doo gave us some memorable moments in television history, it was very tamed.
As a ’90s baby, I also remember being excited for the Scholastic Book Fair at school.It's a story that's been told, retold, analyzed and done to death: the late 90's tech boom. Books and articles wistfully look back at when Napster Inc.
ruled, stock options made millionaires out.The biggest winners of the s were workers, not investors. That is the punch line of "Restating the '90s," Michael Mandel's cover story in the April 1,edition of Business .
autohelp.club - Boom business of the 90s book © 2020 | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7377653121948242, "wiki_prob": 0.7377653121948242, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1133645"} |
Home > Big Story > Money laundering case: Sanjay Raut appears before Mumbai court; hearing adjourned to Feb 27
Money laundering case: Sanjay Raut appears before Mumbai court; hearing adjourned to Feb 27
BY MPost24 Jan 2023 8:12 AM GMT
MPost24 Jan 2023 8:12 AM GMT
A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in a money laundering case against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and others to February 27.
Rajya Sabha member Raut was present before special judge R N Rokade on Tuesday.
The matter was listed for hearing before framing of charges in the case.
However, the proceedings could not take place due to non-submission of summon reports to other accused by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a probe into the case.
The ED had arrested Raut on August 1, 2022 for his alleged role in financial irregularities in connection with the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl (row tenement) in suburban Goregaon.
A special court here had granted him bail in November last year.
The ED's probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl and related financial transactions involving Raut's wife and associates.
Siddharth Nagar, popularly known as the Patra Chawl, in Goregaon is spread over 47 acres and houses 672 tenant families.
In 2008, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), a government agency, assigned a redevelopment contract for the Chawl to Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited (GACPL), a sister company of the Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL).
The GACPL was supposed to build 672 flats for the tenants and also give some flats to MHADA. It was free to sell the remaining land to private developers.
But the tenants did not get a single flat in the last 14 years as the company did not redevelop the Patra Chawl and sold land parcels and Floor Space Index (FSI) to other builders for Rs 1,034 crore, as per the ED.
SanjayRaut ShivSena BJP Maharashtra MP ED MoneyLaundering BombayHighCourt UddhavThackrey EknathShinde | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.9701598286628723, "wiki_prob": 0.9701598286628723, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1635260"} |
Evidence shows that badgers do transmit bovine TB to cattle and contribute to the persistence of the disease
University of Exeter expert contributes to Government’s bovine TB strategy review
A University of Exeter expert has contributed to the review of the Government’s 25 Year Bovine TB Strategy.
Professor Michael Winter was appointed by the Defra Secretary of State, Michael Gove. The review aims to inform future strategies around the government’s goal of eradicating the disease by 2038.
The review was led by zoologist Sir Charles Godfray. The findings from the report include:
industry must take greater responsibility for on-farm controls, biosecurity and safe trading practices to stop the disease spreading
more can be done to help farmers make purchasing decisions reflecting the risks of cattle being infected
disease reduction would benefit from greater flexibility and agility in adapting bovine TB control measures as new research findings emerge
A new independent body on disease control would be helpful to take over disease control operations from APHA, Natural England and local authorities (this recommendation will be considered by the government in light of the wider Dame Glenys Stacey review into farm inspections).
Professor Winter said: “Bovine TB has been one of the most challenging issues facing the livestock farming community for many years. I hope this review will improve the way the disease is controlled.”
Farming Minister George Eustice said: “We welcome this review of the Government’s 25-year Bovine TB strategy and I extend my thanks to Sir Charles Godfray and his team for their hard work in producing the report.
“As a Government we are committed to eradicating bTB and have always been clear that there is no single measure for tackling it. That’s why we have pursued a range of interventions, including cattle movement controls, vaccinations and controlled culling in certain areas.”
Sir Charles’ report is an important contribution that will inform next steps in the strategy to achieve officially TB free status for England by 2038. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7783864736557007, "wiki_prob": 0.7783864736557007, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1486490"} |
GETTING THE HANG OF THURSDAYS
Yes, dear readers, I know you’re reading this on Friday, but I’m
writing it on Thursday. Normally I write these bloggy things two
days before I post them. That gives me a little bit of lead time
to reconsider what I wrote. It’s part of my ongoing plan to exude
the wisdom and restraint that should come with a man of my advanced
years. No smirking, children. It’s not nice to mock your elders.
I have alluded to stressful situations in my life, situations that
I’m not writing about and which I may never write about. I wrote
a bloggy thing on Wednesday about one of those situations and then
thought twice about it as I drifted off to an uneasy sleep. So, come
Thursday morning, I shelved it and replaced it with the blog I had
written for Friday. My wife thought this was incredibly mature of
me. Hot chicks dig smart old men.
A situation I can write about is that I’ve been dealing with back
problems. These seem to be mostly stress-related, so I have also
been forcing myself to spend more times sitting in comfy chairs and
sofas. Which, this being America and all, are usually facing one
of our TV sets. Since I was sitting there anyway, I watched three
new shows and a pilot for a show which I’m guessing isn’t going any
further than that pilot. If I write about them here, I won’t feel
quite so bad about being such a couch potato.
Three Inches aired on the SyFy Channel in late December. The two-
hour pilot was described as a sitcom, but, while there were several
comedic moments in the movie, it was more street-level super-hero
drama than anything else.
Walter Spackman (Noah Reid) is a young man still trying to discern
his path in life and still living with his mother (Andrea Martin).
He decides to tell the girl next door, his best friend since they
were kids, that he loves her. She doesn’t feel the same way and,
to add injury to heartbreak, he then gets struck by lightning and
ends up in a coma.
When he comes out of it, he discovers he can move objects with his
mind. But only three inches and only if he’s within 17 feet of
the object. He’s recruited by former government intelligence
specialist Troy Hamilton (James Marsters) to join a team of people
with moderately useful super-powers.
The pilot held together pretty well. It didn’t shy away from some
darker elements, including a client whose concern for basic civil
rights was nonexistent. Marsters was completely believable as an
older man who had seen terrible things and was committed to finding
a better way for his second-string heroes. With the exception of
a non-super squad leader, Walter and his fellow heroes jelled well.
The only jarring note was a surprise familial relationship that didn't
ring true. All in all, not a bad pilot.
My completely unsupported by any actual real knowledge speculation
is that the SyFy Channel looked at Three Inches and Alphas...and
then went with the latter. That wouldn’t surprise me. Alphas is
far more traditional street-level super-heroes and Three Inches is
as quirky as they come. I don’t make the scheduling calls at SyFy,
but I think there’s room for both shows.
I watched the first two episodes of Alcatraz, the new series from
Bad Robot. Around 250 inmates and 50 guards disappeared from the
prison before it was closed and now some of the inmates have come
back to commit new crimes. It cribs from The 4400, but that’s not
a deal breaker for me.
The big whopping pluses that will keep watching a little longer are
Sarah Jones as San Francisco homicide detective Rebecca Madsen and
Jorge Garcia as Dr. Diego Soto. She’s smart, tough, and a surprise
plot twist involving one of her relatives has her even more highly
motivated than usual. He’s a PhD. in Criminal Justice, an expert
on Alcatraz, a comic-book writer, and the owner of a comics shop.
He’s our entry into this weird world and his reactions are spot-on.
They are unlikely partners and I love them a lot.
The potential minuses start with two opposing shadowy conspiracies,
which will bore of the snot out of me if they remain mysterious for
too many episodes...and the dubious morality of characters played
by Sam Neill and Parminder Nagra. Both are terrific in the roles,
but I’m reserving judgment for now.
The Fades made its U.S. debut last Saturday on BBC America. It’s
a supernatural series with such a jumbled mythology that I found it
both confusing and tedious. It’s no secret to bloggy thing readers
that I prefer my storytelling to be straightforward. If you have
a good story, then tell it.
The Fades are the spirits of the dead who’ve been unable to ascend
to Heaven or whatever. Teenage protagonist Paul, played by Iain de
Caestecker, can see them and also has visions of an extremely dusty
apocalypse. Apparently, the Apocalypse is not unlike being trapped
in a huge field of asbestos. It’s a tiresome visual repeated over
and over again.
“Angelics” like Paul can see the Fades. The Fades get really nasty
because they can’t cross over. One of the Fades seems to be able
to touch, hurt, and even kill living humans. After watching this
first episode and the tepid acting that accompanied it, I’m going
to pass on watching the remaining episodes.
One more from the SyFy Channel.
According to Wikipedia, Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural crime
drama television series that premiered on the Showcase Television
network in September 2010. The series is developed and produced by
Prodigy Pictures. The series follows the life of a succubus named
Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her abilities,
help those in need, and discover the truth about her origins. The
show received positive initial reviews, and was renewed for a
second season two months after its premiere. As of December 2011,
the show has been renewed for a third season.
This one is on the bubble for me. There are two factions of these
supernatural creatures - the Light Fae and the Dark Fae - who live
among us as a society within the human world. Neither side seems
to have much regard for humans.
The pilot episode had its moments. I liked several of the actors:
Silk, Ksenia Solo as her human friend Kenzi, and Zoie Palmer as a
human doctor and researcher working with the Light Fae. I’ll watch
the show for a few more weeks to see if it can win me over.
The comfy chair - or maybe the comfy sofa - is calling to me. I’ll
be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Posted by Tony Isabella at 10:24 AM
PRESENTABLE?
MONDAY MUTTERING
CONTEST! PRIZES! FAME! NO SHIT!
CRIME CAN’T WIN!
HELPING COMICS CREATORS IN NEED
GO WEST, YOUNG FAN!
COLD WAR ADVENTURES INTO WEIRD WORLDS
JOSS WHEDON COMICS
A SUPER-SPENDING SPREE
IN THE MONTH OF MY BIRTH
HOT LEAD AND LIGHTNING
BACK WITH MORE STUFF
NO BLOGGY THING TODAY
THE OTHER COMMISSIONER GORDON
MISS FURY AND OTHER MIDWEEK DELIGHTS
NEWS, VIEWS, AND BIG RED SHOES
TONY ISABELLA’S DAY OFF
KEVIN K GOT MARRIED
PILGRIMAGE TO TOKYO
I’M WATCHING THE WATCHMEN?
JOURNEY TO THE CORE OF THE SUPER-HERO GENRE
LIST-LESS | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.5580187439918518, "wiki_prob": 0.4419812560081482, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1266660"} |
EVOLVE: The Campaign for York College nearly doubles original goal of $50 million, led by $5-million gift to name Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing
York College is announcing the conclusion of the EVOLVE campaign as of the end of December 2022. The final amount raised: $91,800,765.62, nearly double the original goal.
York College of PA joins national marketing campaign to share the value of higher education
York College of Pennsylvania has joined a national marketing campaign to share the many benefits that colleges and universities provide to individuals, communities, and the world.
York College of PA’s Kenneth Osowski to present Feb. 10 faculty recital on piano
York College of Pennsylvania’s Kenneth Osowski will present a faculty recital on piano at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 10, in DeMeester Recital Hall, Wolf Hall.
York College of PA, Appell Center for Performing Arts host Dread Scott artist talk on Feb. 8
York College of Pennsylvania’s Art Galleries and the Appell Center for Performing Arts will cosponsor a talk by artist and 2021 Guggenheim Fellow Dread Scott at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 8, in the Appell Center’s Capitol Theatre.
York College of PA’s spring sustainability series to focus on history of U.S. National Park System
York College of PA to screen ‘On the Beach,’ with cinematography discussion by Temple prof, on Feb. 16
York College of PA to host Feb. 1 live character portrayal of MLK | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.9299072027206421, "wiki_prob": 0.9299072027206421, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line223505"} |
3 November 2021 • 0 Comment
The Caledonia Festival, a hybrid event, will be showcasing some amazing grassroots and emerging talent as part of this year’s St Andrew’s Day celebration event. The virtual event being screened online during the day will include a line-up of artists, theatre and film clips from a fantastic mini-tour of Scotland.
This week the festival announced their live comedy night will be hosted at the Creative Stirling Hub event space, in the centre of Stirling. It’s a wonderful venue that supports a variety of cultural and other artist-led events within the area.
The line-up for the evening includes Raymond Mearns, who will also be taking on the role of compere. Mearns is both an actor and comedian, with a number of television credits and a BAFTA award-winning short film to his name.
Stuart Mitchell is also on the line-up. He has been a regular panellist on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Breaking the News’, written for ‘Mock the Week’, ‘Newsquiz’, ‘The Now Show’ and ‘The Loser World Cup’.
The third name announced is Jay Lafferty, who is an experienced writer and performer, working on a number of hit BBC Scotland and BBC Four radio shows and one of the longest-running panellists on Radio Scotland’s ‘Breaking The News’.
Ceangail, based in Stirling, is the social enterprise behind this new Winter Festival and they continue to create projects and events that benefit more than just their social aim of providing practical learning experiences for young people.
Ceangail’s Director, Matt McGrandles, explains, “With the news from a couple of weeks ago that Stirling had made it through to the next round of City of Culture 2025, I was keen to show our support to the city by exploring some venue options in Stirling.”
“We have delivered the Stirling Highland Games event since 2014, which is now Stirling’s leading cultural sporting event, so working with Creative Stirling on our live comedy event is really exciting. We are delighted to host the event in our hometown as it gets ready to represent Scotland in the UK City of Culture 2025 bid.”
For more details on the Caledonia Festival, visit www.caledoniafest.scot
#caledonia festival#calefest#city of culture 2025#comedy night#creative stirling#eventscotland#jay lafferty#raymond mearns#scottish comedians#stirling#stuart mitchell#visitscotland#winter festival
Stirling Celebrates St Andrews Day with New Caledonia Festival
Caledonia Festival Presenter’s Scottish Road Trip | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.5431321859359741, "wiki_prob": 0.4568678140640259, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line791571"} |
The Other Half of Happy: (Middle Grade Novel for Ages 9-12, Bilingual Tween Book) (Hardcover)
By Rebecca Balcárcel
Kobo eBook (August 19th, 2019): $16.99
Paperback (September 14th, 2021): $7.99
2020 Pura Belpré Honor Book
ALSC Notable Children's Book
2020 Jean Flynn Award for Best Middle Grade Book
2020 Spirit of Texas Reading Program Recommended Title
This immersive and beautifully written novel follows the story of Quijana, a girl in pieces.
Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole.
This is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.
• Lyrical middle grade debut from author Rebecca Balcárcel
• A diverse and family-centered story that resonates with anyone who remembers, or is going through, growing pains
• Inclusively embraces real life experiences with biracial, autistic, and gay characters
One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana's Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn't know more about her family's heritage.
One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she's found true friends. But she can't help the growing feelings she has for Jayden.
One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what's going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.
• A wonderful gift for bilingual and bicultural readers, introspective tweens and teens, and parents and educators
• Perfect for those who love the heart of Matt de la Peña, the honesty of Meg Medina, and the poetry of Kate DiCamillo
• Add it to the shelf with books like We Were Here by Matt de la Peña, Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Rebecca Balcárcel received the Jane Kenyon Poetry Prize, and her work has appeared in journals such as the North American Review. She is an associate professor of English at Tarrant County College. She lives in Bedford, Texas.
"Lyrical and heartfelt, this poetic debut novel will speak to anyone who has felt like they live between the 'categories' of our world."-A Mighty Girl
"A lovely, moving, and realistic view of the struggles and insecurities—as well as the beauty—that comes from being bicultural."—Booklist, starred review
"Balcárcel's well-rounded characters, complex friendships, and nuanced family dynamics will resonate with many readers. This is a title that will remain relevant long past its publication date. A must-have for all library collections." — School Library Journal, starred review
"Rebecca Balcárcel has written a powerful story that seeps into the spaces where language and heritage meet family and new discoveries. The Other Half Of Happy strikes all the right chords, bridging a gap and stretching open arms to readers looking for home in both familiar and unfamiliar places. Bravely told, with notes of vulnerability, brevity, and hope, this is a story that invites quiet courage to speak love, regardless of your native language." —Beth Hautala, author of The Ostrich and Other Lost Things
"Rebecca Balcárcel has penned a touching and oh-so-satisfying story featuring a fierce and tender new Latinx super star, Quijana Carrillo! Quijana will capture your heart with her defiant spirit and unwavering love for friends and family." —Angela Cervantes, author of Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
"The palpable push-and-pull of Quijana's yearning for her father's homeland, Guatemala, will propel readers through this poetic, deeply affecting debut." —Jenn Bishop, author of The Distance to Home
"Quijana's journey to understand herself better and how she fits between two cultures is authentic and relatable to readers of all backgrounds, and her language struggles will particularly hit home for some. With Rebecca Balcárcel's lyrical language, Quijana's voice feels both fresh and familiar. A beautiful coming of age story." —Hena Khan, author of Amina's Voice
Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Adolescence & Coming of Age
Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism
Juvenile Fiction / Disabilities & Special Needs | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7401784062385559, "wiki_prob": 0.7401784062385559, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line861052"} |
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Jury goes a week with no verdict at Weinstein rape trial
FILE - Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 4 2022.(Etienne Laurent/Pool Photo via AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jurors at the Los Angeles rape and sexual misconduct trial of Harvey Weinstein have been deliberating for a week without reaching a verdict.
The jury of eight men and four women went home Friday afternoon and will return to resume deliberations on Monday morning.
They must decide on two counts of rape and five other sexual assault counts against the 70-year-old former movie magnate.
The jurors have had no questions for the court that might provide insight into the status of their work.
They got the case at the end of closing arguments on Dec. 2. They have been deliberating for 5 1/2 days, or about 24 hours total.
The only issue raised, and the only time the attorneys have returned to the courtroom in a week, came Friday morning when one of the five alternate jurors asked if he could be excused because of travel plans. Weinstein’s lawyers objected, and the judge rejected the request.
Weinstein still has more than 20 years left on his sentence in New York after a rape and sexual assault conviction there that is under appeal.
In California, he could get 60 years to life in prison if he’s convicted on all counts involving all four women he’s charged with assaulting.
All four testified during the trial, along with four other accusers who testified for prosecutors attempting to show a propensity for such acts by Weinstein.
Prosecutors urged jurors to end the “reign of terror” of a man they called a “degenerate rapist.”
Weinstein’s lawyers argued that two of the women’s accusations are entirely fabricated and two others reframed consensual sexual encounters as assault years later, after the #MeToo movement made Weinstein a target.
He has pleaded not guilty and denied engaging in any non-consensual sex.
Monroe teen killed in fatal crash
Man dies after shooting at Monroe gas station, 1 suspect arrested
Monroe woman arrested for alleged bank fraud
Driver killed when lumber truck flips over on highway
KNOE
1400 Oliver Road
[email protected] - (318) 388-8888 | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.8959512114524841, "wiki_prob": 0.8959512114524841, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1844742"} |
PSERS backtracks, says staffers were on both sides of real estate dealings
June 17, 2021 by Staff Reporter
State Sen. Katie Muth (D., Montgomery), who became a PSERS board member this year, said Monday that she had asked the fund’s management weeks ago for information about the nonprofits and the Harrisburg real estate investments, but had never received answers. The response, she said, was: “We are still looking into it.”
Late Tuesday, Muth took the unusual step of suing PSERS in Commonwealth Court in a bid to force the fund to turn over the records.
In the lawsuit, her lawyer, Terry Mutchler, with Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell and Hippel, LLP in Philadelphia, said the fund was harming the ability of the board members to exercise oversight.
“To act in blind obedience, particularly given the errors that precipitated this investigation, would be nothing short of reckless,” Mutchler wrote.
In its statement Monday, the retirement system said it created nonprofits to own real estate as a buffer against lawsuits, “to limit legal risk.”
PSERS did not say when it filed the revised forms. As The Inquirer and Spotlight have previously reported, federal prosecutors sought information about the Harrisburg real estate in subpoenas dated March 24. At a May 5 board meeting closed to the public and the media, lawyers from the Morgan Lewis firm, one of three firms hired by PSERS to address the FBI probe, briefed the board about the disclosure forms and said it was looking into whether the staff was paid by the real estate firm and whether the board even knew that the nonprofits had been formed, sources said.
The fund has created about a half-dozen nonprofits to hold titles to its 15 or so real estate investments around the nation, IRS records show. While the statement Monday cites only one, 812 Market Inc. public records show that the same flawed language is in the filings for two other PSERs nonprofits, one for its headquarters buildings and another for a mall property in San Antonio, Texas.
Before the board issued its statement, reporters asked Charles Elson, a finance professor at the University of Delaware and an expert on corporate governance, to examine the filings, known as 990s, named for their official IRS form number. He said they were either “poorly worded” or revealed an obvious conflict of interest for PSERS.
“It puts those individuals on both sides of the transaction,” Elson said. “You’re an employee of the pension system, but why are you working with and being paid by an entity that does business with the pension fund?”
Filed Under: INVESTING
MoDOT says commercial driver shortage affecting snow plow operators
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This week’s cold snap helped to bring into focus plans for the upcoming winter.As organizations plan out their winter responses, one area that’s still in high-demand: qualified snow … [Read More...] about MoDOT says commercial driver shortage affecting snow plow operators | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.8471927642822266, "wiki_prob": 0.8471927642822266, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line34886"} |
India reopens to crypto: the ban is unconstitutional
By Lorenzo Dalvit - 4 Mar 2020
The news coming directly from Mumbai indicates that the Supreme Court of India has lifted the ban of the central bank which prohibited the facilitation of banking transactions aimed at purchasing crypto.
The news starts spreading on social media: the ban of April 2018 is unconstitutional.
Supreme Court of India has struck off Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) banking ban against #Crypto. The Court held that RBI Circular dated 6th April 2018 is unconstitutional.
— Crypto Kanoon (@cryptokanoon) March 4, 2020
The statement on the legitimacy of the ban was submitted in the context of an ongoing legal proceeding between RBI and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), represented by Ashim Sood.
A panel of three judges led by Rohinton F. Nariman supported the petition against restrictions on the cryptocurrency market.
Startups and industry bodies that challenged the Reserve Bank of India’s April 2018 decision to ban banks from offering any services in support of digital currency won.
One of them is Nischal Shetty, CEO of WazirX, who rejoices by saying:
Crypto has won in India 🇮🇳
We won! #IndiaWantsCrypto
— Nischal (WazirX) ⚡️ (@NischalShetty) March 4, 2020
This verdict is a big step forward for the whole industry. In a country where minds are ready and technically ahead of the software world, this restriction has greatly limited investment and private initiatives.
While the Indian central bank is trying to develop its digital currency so as not to be technologically unprepared, it is now faced with a legal precedent that hinders its plan to suppress cryptocurrencies.
The restrictions seem to be motivated by a protectionist spirit aimed at reducing the impact on the national economy caused by bad players able to take advantage of an unregulated sector.
The perverse effect of such measures appears to be a great limitation to the opportunities lost by those who would have been able to seize the opportunities at the right time.
That is why the great work of the group before the Supreme Court has set a precedent that could radically change the situation in India.
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Lorenzo Dalvit
Blockchain enthusiast tutor, expert in sales and marketing, social community manager, artistic director, musician, lover of disruptive paradigms and life. All my skill are about human interaction and connection | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6904062032699585, "wiki_prob": 0.3095937967300415, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1683162"} |
Contents 43
Japan is at a momentous crossroads. Despite the tragedy that has engulfed the nation, now is a time for it to embrace large-scale change as it rebuilds. And this means playing the international market and realising its full arts and business potential.
Al Jazeera has become the must-watch news channel for the unrest in the Middle East. But it is also a potent soft power weapon that the channel’s owner, the Emir of Qatar, is happy to wield. Monocle travels to the headquarters in Doha.
True crime fighter
Brankica Stankovic presents Serbia’s hard-hitting investigative TV show ‘Insajder’ (Insider). In Serbia, where political corruption has gone unpunished and the media shies away from controversy, she represents a fresh voice. But at a cost.
Europe Briefing
The Prince of Monaco's motorcade, the UK's looming referendum and an upset over the "Made in Italy" tag.
China finds itself left behind in the race to develop Mongolian resources, but its home-grown film industry will get to double in size.
Japan Briefing
As Japan starts to rebuild following the events of March, the management of the crisis and its aftermath has revealed deep-seated problems within the Japanese political system. The country boasts a long list of dysfunctional post-war leaders – and a highly nepotistic system.
Oceania Briefing
Perth's drive to compete with Australian's east coast cities and a flag furore in New Caledonia.
Americas Briefing
A report on Canada's upcoming election, the referendum in Ecuador and the new high-speed internet connection between Cuba and Venezuela.
Africa/Middle East Briefing
Our column from Pretoria looks at how South Africa is manoeuvering itself into a world-power position. Plus elections in Seychelles, educating ultra-orthodox children in Israel and demanding change in Lebanon.
MONOCLE interviews the commander of the Norwegian Coast Guard and reports on military deals in Afganistan and Australia.
We meet José Luís Robaína García, Cuba's ambassador to New Zealand, for the first on our new series on diplomacy. We also look at the "diplomatic pouch", that slightly quaint method of shipping secret documents.
Not to be sniffed at
Cocaine consumption in the US is responsible for much of the violence that takes place in its ‘backyard’. But if demand were to suddenly plummet, would the criminal gangs and middlemen simply find another racket?
Bright young Finns
As Nokia takes part of its software development abroad, a new generation of Finnish entrepreneurs is waiting to fill the gap – as long as they get the chance.
Make some dough
Pizza has long been heralded as a cheap, all-American staple. But delegates at Las Vegas’s International Pizza Expo were also witness to a booming artisanal pizza trend – and some dough tossers to boot.
With many of Japan’s businesses cruelly flattened, the rebuilding process must begin, but with energy in short supply and the economy having suffered a huge blow, that’s a big challenge. Monocle looks at 10 badly hit sectors.
Franc discussion
Tainted by its association with Nazi Germany’s gold looters, perhaps, but the Swiss franc remains one of the world’s most popular investor currencies. And, rather like a reliable relative, it’s proved remarkably steady during recent global economic woes.
Cogan’s run
Andrew Cogan, CEO of design firm Knoll, has made some hard decisions (letting a fifth of his staff go) while building a loyal team. His management style sees him choosing face-to-face over Skype and Jay-Z over management tomes.
An indian energy start-up, an African hotel group and a Turkish taxi designer, plus other companies making waves this month.
Following the March earthquake and tsunami, NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, provided the footage that filled the world’s TV screens. Monocle visits the studios to find out what happened when the disaster drill became real.
The show man
He has been named as one of the most influential men in London, but gallery owner Harry Blain believes his success relies on the trust he has built up with some of the world’s most acclaimed contemporary artists. We catch him between art fairs.
Novel concept
Physical book sales may be declining, but the graphic novel sector is booming. London-based publisher SelfMadeHero is reaping the rewards of taking on the market and it’s not afraid to shake up tradition along the way. Manga-style Shakespeare anyone?
A round of the best books, films and music.
Media/Art Briefing
A gallery in Istanbul, a radio for rock star and a Q&A with New-York based art collector Henry Buhl.
Setting up shop on your own after three decades at a leading engineering firm is a huge leap of faith. But for Cecil Balmond, who runs a nascent design company with his daughter, it seemed like the logical step.
One to watch
The BaselWorld watch fair is ticking over nicely. With watchmakers posting healthy profits, everything from jewel-encrusted timepieces to golden age classics are on display. And the trade chatter? Chinese and Brazilian markets.
Making shelter
An association of housing manufacturers and builders is providing prefabricated homes for people in the areas worst hit by Japan’s tsunami and earthquake. Monocle visits Rikuzen-Takata, where over a third of the town needs shelter.
Collaborations, new lines, designers and retailers.
Playing footsie
Monocle pulls back the tablecloth at our favourite brasserie for a flash of heel, a hint of calf and a couple of handsome ankles and some good brogues, wedges and loafers.
Inventory No. 43
Wooden games, fine chocolate, olive oil and extra-slim soap bars are on the Monocle shopping list this month
Avant-garde dining in an Athens art gallery, designer apartments in the Bavarian mountains, whale-sighting off the unspoilt Tasmanian coast – explorations to savour in this month’s Monocle travel round-up.
Northern flights
PenAir was set up by a teenager as a lifeline for Alaska’s more remote communities. Today, it is the region’s second-largest commuter airline.
From the perfect Martini to the best nibbles, plus something to read while sipping your sundowner, the Monocle drinks trolley is well stocked and ready for cocktail hour.
The Lisbon neighbourhood of Lapa retains much of its traditional charm, making it feel more like a quiet village than part of Portugal’s sprawling capital. Peppered with cafés and small shops, it’s far enough from the centre to escape the noise and near enough to be able to walk there.
Flemish flair
Monocle samples the Belgian city’s top food and drink haunts with a renowned local wine expert.
Jahangir Razmi
Pulitzer-winning photographer Jahangir Razmi wants his Last Meal surrounded by friends, family and neighbours, tucking into a delicately prepared Shandiz kebab. No bother if it takes a while to arrive – good things come to those who wait.
The trouble with editing an issue featuring a design directory is that it immediately forces you to challenge and rethink most things in your daily routine, says Tyler Brûlé.
Expo 43: Treasure trove
Japan is full of master craftsmen, traditional stage artists and virtuoso musicians. But it’s only the elite – and those who have been plying their trade for decades – that is rewarded with the accolade of “living national treasure”. Japan’s Living National Treasures represent the qualities of tradition and resilience that, despite the recent tragedies, will help the country move forward. Gatekeepers of artistic and artisanal trades, they are individuals who have come to represent entire institutions through their passion and dedication. Monocle meets 11 of them.
Rebranding Japan / Japan
Tyler Brûlé
Every morning for the past three weeks I’ve been waking up and hoping for a bit of good news from Japan. I’m not quite sure what this particular bit of good news would sound or look like, but I’ve found myself in front of my screen by 05.00 London time scanning the websites of The Mainichi Daily, Yomiuri Shimbun, NHK and the BBC wishing for a “breaking news” banner with a headline flashing “Fukushima plant under control”, “All homeless to be re-housed by late spring” or “Japanese consumers go on spending spree to bolster economy”. Sadly no such headlines have greeted me during my daily news trawl.
I flew into Tokyo shortly after the quake and was unsettled by the nervous calm that had blanketed the city. Outwardly everything was normal, but on the inside you could feel a rising sense of panic as western media organisations whipped people into a frenzy with their radiation reports. Multinationals ordered their top executives to leave the country and rolling power cuts started to affect the retail and restaurant metabolism of the city.
By day my meetings with Japanese companies and colleagues went off as normal and, by night, I chatted to my fellow editors about a PR story spinning out of control. In the days that followed, much was written in dailies and business weeklies about the determination of the Japanese people, their calm reserve and how Japan would have little trouble getting things back on track. Over a month later and it’s clear that, while much can be done to prepare and rehearse for such events, you need professional players to manage such a set of crises.
If it’s the nation’s deeply held values of selflessness and pitching-in that have so far helped the country keep a sense of calm and order in hardest hit areas of Miyagi and the shelters throughout the Tohoku region, some other traits and institutions threaten to slow progress and hold the country back. Just as the sakura blossom at this time every year, April also marks a time of corporate transition when a great game of musical chairs happens in companies large and small. At airlines, catering managers find themselves promoted to marketing directors; at automotive offices in Nagoya, supply chain executives suddenly become regional sales managers assigned to Jakarta; and at the HQ of a major bank in Marunouchi a CEO’s assistant can find himself assigned to the audit office.
While some would argue this is great for corporate culture as it lets everyone learn about every aspect of the business, it only takes a little time in the boardrooms of some companies to recognise there’s a glaring lack of experience on the part of many managers as they’ve been moved to a department that doesn’t interest them or is beyond their managerial grasp. This unique corporate culture has created an environment with legions of jacks-of-all-trades and even more masters with no marketable skill-set – though our Expo in this issue on Living National Treasures is perhaps an example for more of Japan Inc to follow.
The result is that this type of “management” behaviour has become institutionalised at the highest level of government, where prime ministers change with the seasons and the electorate seems comfortable with it. When everything and everyone follows the script, this might work brilliantly, but the triple disasters that hit Japan have put on show (and trial) a prime minister lacking in leadership skills.
Who knows what became of the TEPCO president during the Fukushima crisis? If they’ve failed the PR and leadership test with flying colours, they alone shouldn’t shoulder the blame. The often-heard phrases “doing it the Japanese way” or “needs to be adapted for Japan” to many ears – Japanese included – are now shorthand for “we’re too stubborn and slow moving to change” and “we can’t be bothered to learn English”. This culture has left Japan almost incapable of marketing itself.
Where many countries and companies succeed on slick marketing and razor-sharp PR initiatives alone, to Japan’s credit its brands have succeeded thanks to honest hard work, good products and exceptional quality – not award-winning integrated global advertising campaigns.
This magazine has long maintained that Japan would be a force to reckon with if it knew how to market itself. But unfortunately it’s been unable to field credible frontmen or women throughout this crisis and the Cool Japan campaign featuring an ageing boy band in white suits is unlikely to inspire the world.
Four years ago we set up a bureau in Tokyo because we believed in the unrecognised and undervalued power that Japan wielded as the world’s second biggest economy. Since then, we’ve shown how it’s a world leader in urban development projects, unrivalled as a source for retail inspiration, an unmatched innovator in textile technology, at the forefront of high-speed rail initiatives and, perhaps most importantly, a nation that places enormous value in fine craftsmanship and ancient manufacturing techniques.
At the same time, we’ve also seen Japan slip to the number three position on the economic scale, its national carrier collapse and its young people retreat within its own borders. We still believe Japan is not only undervalued and unrecognised for so many of its contributions to the global economy, the cultural stage and the design world – it’s also misunderstood.
The international media can do its bit to cover Japan in greater depth and detail, and go beyond the tired news cycle of a flat Nikkei, weird happenings in Akihabara and robots. Japan has challenging task of sharpening its marketing and PR skills on both a corporate and government level, while keeping focused on its rehabilitation and reconstruction effort.
The recovery process: an action plan
For the moment, the Japanese government needs to focus its efforts and resources on fixing the situation at Fukushima, ensuring there’s first-rate housing for the homeless, reuniting families, offering maximum care and comfort to the injured, and implementing assistance programmes to everyone from farmers and gifted shirt-makers to single mothers. Soon, however, it might want to start thinking about how it performed in front of the media and its own citizens (not particularly well) and take a proactive stance to restore eroded public confidence and create a fresh mood of confidence. The following might be a starting point:
Hire a top PR team and get them to work up a communications plan for internal and external affairs and also cast for a multilingual team of the best spokespeople.
Employ a globally minded agency to develop a series of campaigns to sell Japanese innovation, stimulate inward investment and also bolster the tourism industry.
Get that same agency to encourage more Japanese to study, work and travel abroad.
Put English higher up on the national curriculum and also encourage more companies to demand higher English proficiency.
Launch a short term “buy Japanese, buy now” programme to get people back into shops, into trains, sitting in restaurants and booking into ryokans.
Bid for the Olympics again.
Develop Asia’s most respected government and diplomacy school to groom a new generation of leaders and civil servants for the national and global stage.
Put more effort into developing and exporting service brands – JR-East, Tokyu, ANA, Transit General, Lawson.
Strengthen NHK’s output and make it Asia-Pacific’s major broadcast news player. This means stronger presenters, better producers, more relevant shows and better graphics.
Put an emphasis on bolstering its small- and medium-sized specialist and craft focused enterprises. These will become a huge asset in an increasingly automated, mass manufacturing world. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7443431615829468, "wiki_prob": 0.7443431615829468, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1426791"} |
Bletilla - Hardy Orchids
Plant Families / Bletilla - Hardy Orchids
Bletilla are deciduous terrestrial perennial orchids boasting attractive pleated, linear to lance-shaped leaves, and erect racemes of bell-shaped flowers in spring and summer. The delicate flowers vary in color from white to purple to yellow. Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) and Bletilla ochracea (Chinese Butterfly Orchid) are 2 popular hardy species of orchids grown by gardeners in temperate climate areas. Regarded as one of the simplest orchids to maintain in the garden, they grow from pseudobulbs that resemble spreading corms and usually sit at ground level. A well established clump of these in flower is quite beautiful, and they are surprisingly hardy even into USDA Zone 5.
Compare All Bletilla - Hardy Orchids
Bletilla - Hardy Orchids Guides
Bletilla (Hardy Orchids)
Bletilla are deciduous terrestrial perennial orchids boasting attractively pleated, linear to lance-shaped leaves, and erect racemes of bell-shaped flowers in spring and summer. The delicate flowers vary in color from white to purple to yellow. The genus includes five currently recognized species distributed through China, Japan, Taiwan, and south to Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Bletilla formosana (Taiwan Ground Orchid)
Bletilla formosana (Taiwan Ground Orchid) is a deciduous terrestrial perennial orchids with arching, linear green leaves, and loose spikes of up to 6 nodding pale-pink or white flowers with lips marked with deep yellow and red spots. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the blossoms are borne on wiry stems above the foliage. Arising from pseudobulbs, the foliage remains fresh-looking during the entire growing season before fading and disappearing in the fall.
Bletilla striata 'Alba' (Chinese Ground Orchid)
Unlike many orchids, Bletilla striata 'Alba' (Chinese Ground Orchid) is an easy-to-care-for hardy terrestrial orchid. It produces small, cattleya-like, pure white flowers, 1 in. (2.5 cm). Borne in elegant racemes of 5-10 blossoms, they rise artfully above the foliage. Each exotic-looking flower has five spreading petals with an undulating, furrowed lower lip. Blooming for about 4-6 weeks in early to mid-summer, the flowers open from the bottom of the raceme and progress to the top.
Bletilla striata 'Big Bob' (Chinese Ground Orchid)
Unlike many orchids, Bletilla striata 'Bib Bob' (Chinese Ground Orchid) is an easy-to-care-for hardy terrestrial orchid. It produces small, cattleya-like, rose-lavender flowers, 2 in. (5 cm), adorned with dark lavender highlights. Borne in elegant racemes of up to 20 orchids, they rise artfully above the foliage. Each exotic-looking flower has five spreading petals with an undulating, furrowed lower lip. Blooming for about 4-6 weeks in late spring to early summer, the flowers open from the bottom of the raceme and progress to the top.
Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' (Chinese Ground Orchid)
Unlike many orchids, Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' (Chinese Ground Orchid) is an easy-to-care-for hardy terrestrial orchid. It produces small, cattleya-like, soft pink to white flowers with a marked pink flush around the lip. Borne in elegant racemes, they rise artfully above the foliage. Each exotic-looking flower has five spreading petals with an undulating, furrowed lower lip. Blooming for about 4-6 weeks in early to mid-summer, the flowers open from the bottom of the raceme and progress to the top.
Bletilla striata 'Shi-Ran' (Chinese Ground Orchid)
Unlike many orchids, Bletilla striata 'Shi-Ran' (Chinese Ground Orchid) is an easy-to-care-for hardy terrestrial orchid. It produces small, cattleya-like, purple-pink flowers, 2 in. (5 cm). Borne in elegant racemes of up to 7 orchids, they rise artfully above the foliage. Each exotic-looking flower has five spreading petals with an undulating, furrowed lower lip.
Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid)
Unlike many orchids, award-winning Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) is an easy-to-care-for hardy terrestrial orchid. It produces small, cattleya-like, pinkish-purple flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), in pretty racemes of up to 12 blooms. Rising artfully above the foliage, each exotic-looking flower has five spreading petals with an undulating, furrowed lower lip. Blooming for about 4-6 weeks in early to mid-summer, the flowers open from the bottom of the raceme and progress to the top. | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.63055020570755, "wiki_prob": 0.36944979429244995, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1824544"} |
Afterlife of the Party – review
Brief synopsis: In the run-up to her twenty-fifth birthday, a young woman dies. She wakes to find herself in limbo, neither in heaven or hell.
She is told that she has unfinished business on Earth. She has five days to complete a list. The completion of the list will determine her fare.
Is it any good?: Afterlife of the Party is a sweet and heartwarming film. With a nod to similar films, like Ghost, but more pertinently, Blithe Spirit, the brilliant Noel Coward film with a similar premise, remade multiple times, Afterlife of the Party brings an energy and sweetness that makes it a highly enjoyable watch.
Spoiler territory: It is Cassie’s (Victoria Justice) twenty-fifth birthday in a few days and she is excited. Her best friend since childhood, Lisa (Midori Francis), who she lives with, arrives home from work. Carrie is a party-girl and is determined to kick off her birthday week in style.
Lisa is focused on furthering her career, wants to stay in and have a quiet evening. Carrie wins, the two ladies leaving their apartment for a night out.
As they leave, they meet their new neighbour, Max (Timothy Renouf). Lisa is immediately enamoured by him. Max is equally taken by Lisa.
Carrie gently ribs her friend about the obvious attraction between the two, as they make their way to a club. Lisa deflects. She has no time for a relationship.
Carrie tells her that she needs to have fun. They change the subject, a slightly embarrassed Carrie noting that her father, Howie (Adam Garcia), has posted on Instagram.
She feels awkward about him being in, what she feels, is a young space and how cloying he can be. Lisa thinks he is nice and just wants to be closer to his adult daughter. Carrie loves her father but is happy that they lead separate lives.
They arrive at the club and similarly, party-loving peers, greet Carrie. She is the queen of the night. The partying begins. Carrie is drinking and dancing. Lisa is more reserved, conscious of working the next day.
The group leave, going to another party at one of their houses. Lisa wants to go home and tries to persuade Carrie to go with her. The two women argue. Cassie tells her that they have probably outgrown one the friendship. Lisa goes home.
A drunken Carrie staggers home in the early hours. She knocks on Lisa’s bedroom door but Lisa pretends not to hear her. Carrie goes to bed. In the morning, a still worse for wear Carrie stumbles into her bathroom.
She slips whilst bracing on the sink. She grabs for the towel rail to steady herself but the rail breaks causing her to fall and hit her head on the toilet bowl. She dies.
Carrie wakes up to find a woman watching videos of her life. Carrie sees images from her final night on Earth. She has no idea where she is.
The woman, noting she is awake, starts recounting the facts of Carrie’s life. She is dead. Val (Robyn Scott), is her temporary guardian angel.
After getting over the notion of finding out she is dead, Carrie wants to know if she is in heaven. Or hell. Val tells her she is in a place they call the In-Between.
She is there because she has unfinished business on Earth. She has to make things right with a select list of people who she left behind. That is the only way for her to be sure of getting into heaven.
Val takes her to the first person on the list. It is her father. He is depressed, his home is a mess. How long has she been dead? A year. Carrie is shocked, she thought it had been a day.
The next person on the list is Lisa. Carrie does not want to see her. Val tells her she has no choice. She is on the list. Who else is on the list?
Val takes her to see Sofia (Gloria Garcia), her estranged mother. Carrie has not spoken to her since she was a child, her mother having left her father to bring her up alone. They return to the In-Between. Val tells her she has five days to clear the three names off the list.
Carrie worries about how she is meant to do anything. Especially as no one can see or hear her. Only animals and children. After a quick wardrobe change, Val tells her that her mission begins immediately. Val sends her to Lisa’s apartment.
Unable to communicate with Lisa, Carrie just follows her around. Lisa meets Max in the corridor. It has been a year and Carrie can see that their spark for one another is still present, even if the relationship has not advanced.
She follows her as she goes to a new coffee shop. Lisa is very friendly with the owner, Emme (Myfanwy Waring).
Carrie follows her to work and observes in frustration, Lisa’s lack of confidence as she is challenged by one of her colleagues, Raj (Kiroshan Naidoo), when an opportunity to work for a leading palaeontologist comes up.
The interviews will be conducted that week, but Raj keeps up the mind games. Only one person will be picked. He is confident of it being him.
Carrie goes to see Val. She laments the fact that her best friend does not seem to miss her or need her. Val tells herself that perhaps she should be thinking about their needs, rather than her own. She sends her back.
Carrie is back in Lisa’s bedroom. Carrie tries speaking to Lisa again. Nothing happens, Lisa soundly asleep. She begins to hum, her humming waking Lisa. Carrie looks at Lisa. Lisa opens her eye to see Carrie appearing and screams. Carrie goes to see Val.
Val checks an ancient book. It is possible to connect with a living person if you had a strong connection with them. They go to see Howie again. He has left Carrie’s bedroom as a shrine to her. He still cannot see her.
Day two and Carrie returns to Lisa. Lisa is the only person who can see and hear her.
Lisa tries to ignore, sure that she is no more than a figment of an overworked and stressed imagination. Carrie keeps on following her. Lisa goes to see Emme and tells her what is happening.
Emme tells her she should take it as a compliment. Lisa just wants Carrie to leave her alone. Carrie’s persistence pays off. Lisa begins to interact with her, their friendship rekindling.
They bond over the music of Carrie’s living crush, Koop (Spencer Sutherland). She asks Lisa what is she going to do about her year-long crush on the neighbour, Max.
Lisa is reluctant to do anything. Carrie directs her to turn up the music. The loud music, gets Max knocking on her door. She invites him in but loses her nerve as the relationship seems to be going well. Max, a diffident individual himself, leaves. Lisa beats herself up about her ineptitude with relationships.
Carrie decides to give them a push, arranging a sequence of events that pushes the two together. Max asks Lisa to join him on a visit to the set of Koop’s new video. She accepts the invite.
Carrie decides to tackle her father next. She goes over to his home and arranges his space in the hope of pushing him back into his yoga practice. Howie, being a spiritual person, sees it as a sign from Carrie.
She returns to Lisa, telling her about seeing both her father and mother. She does not know how and if she will be able to connect with her mother.
Lisa returns home to get ready for her date with Max. Carrie helps her pick an outfit. It being a Koop video, Carrie accompanies Lisa and Max, not wanting to miss out on the opportunity of seeing him.
Carrie tries to get close to Koop but is pulled back to the In-Between Place. Val reminds her that she only has three more days and Koop is not on the list.
Lisa and Max get together. Lisa returns home and sees Carrie. The date was great. Carrie is overcome with sadness at all the things she will miss in her friend’s life.
Lisa feels guilty about leaving Carrie alone the night they argued. Carrie does not know how she will deal with her mother.
Lisa goes to see Sofia, acting as Carrie’s proxy. Sofia is wracked with guilt over her abandonment of Carrie. Sofia says she was too young and headstrong for her relationship with Howie.
She was not ready to be a mother. Lisa, much to the chagrin of Cassie, asks Sofia what she would say if Cassie was there.
Back at the apartment, Cassie rages at Lisa, angry that her life is over. They argue and Carrie leaves. Back in the In-Between place, Val tells her she can end her mission. All that she has done will be undone and she will go to hell. Cassie decides to continue.
She goes to see her father. Much to her surprise, Sofia is there. She apologises for leaving him to bring up Cassie alone. Cassie witnesses them reconnecting.
She forgives her mother. Sofia’s name fades from the list. Cassie goes to see Val again with an unusual request. She wants to add a name to the list. Emme, thinking that she would be good for her dad.
Val agrees to the request. Cassie engineers a meeting between Howie and Emme. The next day is her last day. She goes to see Lisa. Lisa is still hesitating to put herself forward for the interview.
Cassie gives her the confidence to sign up. Lisa has her interview and is successful, getting the much sought after position.
Emme is having the first anniversary of the opening of her coffee shop. Howie arrives at the opening and meets Emme. The two click instantly.
Lisa and Max arrive at the opening. Lisa tells Carrie to meet her after the party. Later that evening, Lisa hosts a small gathering of Cassie’s family and friends, honouring her life on the anniversary of her death.
Howie remembers a song he used to sing to Cassie when she was a child. Cassie sings along with him and becomes visible to him. She hugs him farewell.
Cassie returns to Lisa’s apartment. She wants to find a jigsaw piece. They have a large puzzle of the Mona Lisa that is incomplete.
Carrie has just missed her deadline and Val does not know if she will get into heaven. They return to the In-Between place to await the verdict. Val gets promoted and Cassie gets into heaven.
An elevator is the way to heaven. Whilst in the elevator, Koop gets on. He was killed whilst performing at a charity relief gig. They both reach heaven, a beautiful garden. The end.
Final thoughts: Afterlife of the Party is such a nice film. Written by Carrie Freedle and directed by Stephen Herek, the film flows through its one-hundred-and-nine-minute runtime.
The chemistry between the two leads, Victoria Justice and Midori Francis as Carrie and Lisa respectively, works beautifully, their life-long friendship believable.
The rest of the cast ably support them but the central story of friendship and love is what makes this film such a good watch. Freedle’s script is clever and funny in parts, the characters driving the story rather than any outside McGuffin.
Though the film does not feel overlong, it could have ended earlier, the Koop angle and emergence to the Eden-esque garden more of an indulgence than a necessity. That said, it does not detract from the film and is a minor gripe.
Afterlife of the Party is a romcom without a central romance and that, in this case, is not a problem. A lovely film.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags comedy, film, life, Netflix, reviewLeave a comment on Afterlife of the Party – review
Red Notice – review
Brief synopsis: An art thief plans to steal a collection of three ancient, jewelled, eggs. He is tracked by a tenacious Interpol agent and an FBI behavioural specialist.
He is not the only thief after the eggs. Another thief is tasked with retrieving the eggs by a Saudi billionaire. He wants to give them to his daughter as a wedding gift.
Is it any good?: Red Notice is watchable and if you like any of the stars, you might even enjoy it. It is not a good film. It is a mishmash of Raiders of the Lost Ark, National Treasure and The Pink Panther but fails to reach even half the heights of those films.
At just under two hours, it is a little overlong. Red Notice is just okay. Throwing up no surprises whatsoever, Red Notice is a brain in neutral watch, that you put on in the background whilst doing something else.
Spoiler Territory: the film opens, telling us the story of three ornate jewelled eggs that were created for Cleopatra. The whereabouts of two of the eggs is known. One is in an art museum, the other in the hands of a dangerous arms dealer. The third eggs location is only known by one person, art thief, Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds).
Inspector Urvashi Das (Ritu Aryu) heads an Interpol unit that is after Nolan. She is being assisted by FBI agent, John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson).
One of the eggs, which is on display in a museum in Rome, is a target. They get to the museum and the egg is on display. John is sure that the egg is not real, pouring cola onto the exhibit.
The egg dissolves when hit by the fizzy liquid. John sees Nolan in the room and gives chase, even as the museum security try to lockdown the room.
Nolan is chased by multiple security personnel, managing to evade and injure many of them in the process. Like any episode of that eighties classic show, The A-Team, not one of them is seriously injured.
This is a pattern in the film. Bullets fly, there are falls from great heights, explosions, crashes and fisticuffs. All result in minor injuries, not one death or incapacitation.
Unsurprisingly, Nolan escapes, even with John in pursuit. John does manage to get a nice Porsche product placement in, the Taycan he commandeers being crashed into, moments after he gets into it.
Nolan takes his booty to his Bali – there is a real Bond-esque desire to include as many locations as possible in this film – retreat. He is quickly apprehended by John and Das and her team.
They arrest him and Das gives John the egg to look after. Nolan wants to know how they found him. A tip-off from the elusive thief, the Bishop.
John hands the egg to a masked female Interpol agent. The agent steals the egg unbeknownst to John. The next evening, Das comes and arrest John. Nobody knows him at the FBI. He gets sent to a prison in Russia. His roommate is Nolan.
He tells Nolan that he was set up by the Bishop. He does not know why, especially as no one knows where the third egg is. Nolan gets John beat up by revealing he is a cop.
The Bishop (Gal Gadot) comes to visit John and Nolan. She tells Nolan that she knows that he knows where the third egg is. She tells John, that she set him up. She is there to make a deal with Nolan.
She will get them out if he tells her the location of the egg plus ten percent of her fee for the theft. Nolan rejects the deal. Later, John says they need to escape and capture the Bishop. The two bond over their similar upbringing and relationships with estranged fathers.
They escape the prison. Bullets fly, rocket launchers are fired, explosions. No deaths. They need to head to a masquerade party being held by Soto Voce (Chris Diamantopoulos), the arms dealer. The party is in Spain.
The Bishop breaks into the Interpol offices – yes she does – and sends Das a message, telling her that John and Nolan have escaped.
Nolan explains the elaborate security system Soto employs. They need to avoid cameras. They also must get hold of an ever-changing passcode that can only be found in Soto’s phone. There is voice and facial recognition software, plus the heavily armed guards. They arrive in Valencia and go to the party.
John sees The Bishop and goes after her. The two have some verbal sparring and dance before being interrupted on the dance floor by Soto. The Bishop is in partnership with Soto. John steals Soto’s mobile phone. Das is also at the party. Soto makes a speech at the party.
John and Nolan take the opportunity to go and steal the egg. As they get to the egg, The Bishop is waiting for them. She tells them there was an easier way to get into the room. She fights and overcomes both men. Soto and his security come into the vault, alerted by the door having been opened.
Soto ties up the two men under a bull ring. The Bishop joins him and tortures John to get information out of Nolan. She wants to know where the third egg is. Soto, impatient for the information, chokes John. Nolan tells them the egg is in Egypt.
The Bishop drugs Soto and leaves with the egg. John and Nolan escape into the bull ring. John gets hit by the bull. Haha haha. He is okay. A-Team violence remember. Nolan lied to them. The egg is in Argentina. It was hidden in a vault that the Germans had during the war. They head to the Argentinian jungle.
They find the vault. The Bishop finds them. Das has followed the Bishop. The Bishop, John and Nolan join forces to escape Das and her team. There is another product placement with a rare Mercedes making an appearance.
They escape Das. John reveals his relationship with The Bishop. They are both the Bishop, working as a partnership. They take the egg and leave Nolan.
They head to Cairo to deliver all three eggs to the billionaire. Das turns up at the wedding party and arrests the billionaire and his daughter for having Nazi loot. John and The Bishop escape again. A little while later, they are in Sardinia enjoying their life.
Nolan interrupts their joy. He has told Das about their off-shore account and all their assets have been frozen. What does he want? There is another job that needs three thieves. The end.
Final thoughts: Red Notice is a lazy star vehicle, written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber entirely around Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds popularity.
Gal Gadot has enough star power and beauty not to be overshadowed by the two men, neither of whom are required to get out of second gear in their respective personas.
Thurber’s script has a few gems, allowing Reynolds, especially, to bring his acerbic wit to proceedings. It is not as clever as he would like it to be and there are too many unnecessary scenes in the film.
The constant changing of locations served no purpose except for increasing the use of studio green screen and editorial title cards. The film is competently directed and bumps along at a good pace. Unfortunately, the story is convoluted and takes too much inspiration from better films without bringing anything new.
Rita Arya, outstanding in The Umbrella Academy, has little to do but scowl and collect her paycheque as the tenacious Das. Chris Diamantopoulos as Soto is such a waste of screen time, one can almost forget he was in the film and I’ve watched it twice!
Red Notice is a moderately amusing, overlong, action-comedy that is a little light on both counts. Watchable but not unmissable.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags action, comedy, film, Netflix, review, scriptLeave a comment on Red Notice – review
Intrusion – review
Brief synopsis: a couple, tired of big city living, moved across the country to a small rural town in the hopes of living a more sedate life. Returning from a date night, they find their home ransacked after a break-in.
Their relationship comes under severe strain when the husband kills multiple assailants during a second break-in.
Is it any good?: Um, it might be if one had any idea what was happening! To say Intrusion is a confusing mess is an understatement. That the central pairing of Pinto and Marshall-Green lack any chemistry does not help either.
Midway through the film, one is still confused. What is it about? Who are the characters? The film could – and probably should be – called ‘Trust’, but I suspect that title is somewhat overused. It is still a weak effort. Something that is all too often the case on Netflix.
Spoiler territory: out for a date night, psychiatric counsellor, Meera (Freida Pinto) and her architect husband, Henry Parsons (Logan Marshall-Green), the least compatible looking couple in tv-movie-history, return home to find their new place wrecked.
Meera, a cancer survivor and prone to anxiety, is, understandably, an emotional wreck. Henry, ever the doting husband, tries to reassure her that everything will be fine. They report the break-in to the police.
Detective Steven Morse (Robert John Burke), visits Henry, whilst Meera is at work. The detective asks what items were taken. Just a couple of mobile phones and a laptop. Did they have any enemies? Not that Henry knew of. They had only been in the town for a year.
They had moved from Boston. He had decided to build a house in Corrales. He had wanted to get away from the rat race, create a place for his wife to feel safe after her health issues. None of this is explained until five minutes from the end of the film. I guess the writer thought it would be too much exposition.
Did he have any enemies in Boston? The spectacle-wearing, Henry, looks aghast at the thought that he could have an enemy that would cross the country. Truthfully, Henry looks like a serial killer but the detective is too polite to say.
The detective remarks on the lack of a security system in the house. Henry says he thought Corrales was a safe town. Never watched shitty Netflix movies then…
Meera goes to see her oncologist, doctor Burke (Denielle Fisher Johnson). The doctor mentions how she heard about the break-in. It’s a small town. Back at the house, Henry is installing a locks and security system. It works vis their mobile phones.
Meera returns home. Henry has been busy putting the home back in order. He has replaced their mobile phones. He also installed an app, so as they know where the other person is at all times. Not big brother like at all. Meera seems unperturbed by all the changes, trusting her, slightly overprotective husband, implicitly.
During the night, Meera wakes up and notices that the power is out. She wakes Henry. He checks the generator outside the house. It has been tampered with, the power deliberately cut. He looks back to the house and sees torch beams in the rooms. Henry runs back to the house.
Meera is tied up in the bedroom. Henry quickly frees his wife and the two sneak downstairs. The intruders are in Henry’s office. Henry goes and gets a gun that he had hidden in a plant pot, much to the obvious surprise of Meera. Henry is tackled by one of the men, Meera’s screams alerting the others.
The couple manages to escape, running back up to the bedroom. Henry tells Meera to get to the car, lowering her over the balcony. Before he can follow his wife, Henry is grabbed by the intruders. Meera goes to the car but hears shots fired and screams for her husband. One of the intruders staggers towards the car, already dying from a gunshot wound. Henry shoots him in the back. In the back!
The next day, Meera wants to know why there was a gun in the house. Henry apologises. He is bullish about not having told her about the weapon, as that weapon saved their lives. Detective Morse comes to see the couple. The men who broke into their home were all from the same family. The Cobb family. They resided in a trailer park in the rough part of town. Not that trailer parks are ever in the nice part.
The family is also connected to the disappearance of a girl; Christine Cobb (Megan Elisabeth Kelly). She was a relation to the men. Later on, Meera cannot understand Henry’s blasé attitude. He killed three men. Henry lies, telling her it makes him sick to think about it. She does not believe him, especially as he seems to be focused on the house-warming they were planning.
Henry pops out to pick up some things for the aforementioned party. He forgets his wallet and Meera’s efforts to contact him on his mobile are met with his voicemail. She decides to go after him, to give him the wallet.
Whilst following after him, she notes that he takes a road heading towards the hospital. She is unable to keep following him, getting into a minor accident on the road. She returns home and asks him about his journey, telling him she followed him and he took the wrong road.
Henry, his dodgy facade fading by the minute since his murder spree, says he took the wrong road. Meera does not look convinced. She gives him his wallet. What happened to her car? She had it towed and took an Uber.
At work the next day, Meera suffers a PTSD episode. She imagines one of the intruders pointing a gun at her. It never happened. She leaves work. One of her colleagues bid her farewell and voices her sadness at the cancellation of the housewarming party. Meera did not know about the cancellation.
In the car park, she is surprised by detective Morse. He heard about her accident. He also tells her that one of the intruders, who had been in hospital, died. He died on Sunday night. He notes that Meera is driving a new car. It’s Henry’s, she tells him. The detective leaves.
Meera checks the vehicle’s satellite navigation, scrolling through the addresses. One is the trailer park home of the Cobbs, the family Henry wiped out. She visits the home and finds one of Henry’s business corporate envelopes addressed to the Cobbs.
She finds a video camera and USB drive in their mail slot. Meera is confronted by a paranoid trailer park resident, Clint Oxbow (Clint Obenchain). He smashes the camera, believing she had filmed him. A shaken Meera returns home and tries to view the video but the damage done to the camera prevents it from playing properly.
She orders a new camera, putting her work address for the delivery. Alone at home, Meera snoops around Henry’s office. She looks at the contents of the USB drive. There are pictures of the house construction. One of the Cobbs, the father of Christine, Dylan (Mark Sivertsen) is in the photos. So is Christine.
Henry returns home. Meera gets flustered as Henry questions about her whereabouts. The app showed her across town. Meera avoids the question. Later, sitting down to dinner, Henry comes back to the question. He is intense, asking her if she is hiding something. Meera, nervous, a little guilty, stammers.
He asks her about her doctor’s appointment and if she got the results as he thought that the specialist was on the other side of town. He is just worried that she is keeping it from him. He apologises for the inquisition.
As Henry sleeps, Meera gets up to look at the photos on the USB stick. In the morning, Henry wakes up to see the bed beside him empty. Meera has already left. Outside the police station, Meera is wrestling with the notion of giving the USB to the authorities. She decides against it, deterred by seeing a crazed Clint being taken into the station under arrest for killing a female.
Meera returns home and confronts Henry about the evidence she found at the trailer park. Henry tells her that the house and her treatment forced him to make certain decisions that impacted them financially. A deal he made with the Cobb family resulted in him being blackmailed.
Meera laps up the excuse, her worries soothed by his elaborate explanation. The tension lifted, Henry thinks it would be a good idea to have the cancelled housewarming party. A few days later, the house is full of people and Henry and Meera are the gracious hosts.
During the evening, Meera sees a news broadcast reporting on Clint’s arrest. He was arrested for animal cruelty, killing a dog. A bitch, the female. Suspicions surrounding his connection to the disappearance of Christine, had been dismissed.
Something in the newscast prompts her to watch the video she found. The video shows Dylan saying he thinks Henry had something to do with his daughter’s disappearance. Meera decides to search Henry’s office. The party is still going on.
She finds a button in his office. The button opens a secret door to a basement. Meera finds Christine tied to a chair in the room. Christine sees Meera and begins to scream and panic. The sound does not travel as she is gagged. Henry, who had noticed the light in his office go on, finds Meera in the room.
He tries to explain to her that he has urges. That is why he built the house. Really? They have been married for twelve years, the house is a year old. Anyhoo, Meera, standing in front of her deranged husband, tries to call the police. Henry stops her and ties her up in the basement. Henry returns to the party and gets rid of the guests, making an excuse about Meera being unwell.
In the basement, Christine tells Meera she has no idea how long she has been in the basement. He did not abuse her physically. It was purely mental, telling her that he would decide. Meera manages to free herself. She frees Christine.
Henry returns to the basement, still wanting to continue his relationship with Meera. The two women escape the basement, into the main house. They try to leave the house but Henry locks all of the doors remotely.
He finds the women in the house and knocks Meera into a daze as he drags Christine back to the basement. In the basement, Henry picks up a baseball bat. He is going to kill Christine. Meera hits Henry first, splitting his head open with a heavy ornament, killing him.
Sometime later, Meera sells the house and returns to Boston. The end.
Final thoughts: Intrusion is a very silly film. It is too short for the story it wants to tell and most of the tension comes from the music instead of the story. Ably directed by Adam Salky, this underwritten film comes from the pen of Chris Sparling.
There are all the elements of a promising film; a loving central relationship. A relocation to a small town. A secretive yet possessive spouse. A curious protagonist to help the viewer discover the story and unravel the plot. It is all there.
Unfortunately, none of the elements are utilised particularly well. There is a vague thread about cancer and Meera’s understandable worry. Then five minutes from the end we learn that it was quite serious, crippling her for a period. We only find this out through an expository dump as Henry whines about his urges.
His ‘urges’, as he calls them, are not alluded to at any other time in the film. There is no hint at a history of murderous urges or missing girls. Even though he had Christine captive, it only seemed to be so as he could decide when to cave her head in with the baseball bat. A very specific urge.
How they had managed to be married for over a decade yet Meera did not notice his homicidal urges, is inconceivable and unbelievable. Henry is clingy and overbearing but the film portrays them as though their relationship is new.
The film looks good in a modern, lean sort of way. The set design lacks soul, with none of the locations looking natural or adding to the story. Admittedly, the film does whizz through its ninety-two-minute runtime but that speed is to its detriment. An extra fifteen minutes, allowing for more of a build-up would have improved this film immensely. One to give a miss.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags film, Netflix, review, script, thriller, writingLeave a comment on Intrusion – review
Lethal Love – review
Brief synopsis: After opening a new bakery coffee shop, a mother and daughter team cannot agree on a suitable method to attract customers. When a handsome musician busks outside of their new establishment and brings in customers, the two women are enamoured by him. The musician secretly woos both women until the daughter discovers what he is doing forcing him to change his plans.
Is it any good?: hmm. It has a standard lazy title, Lethal Love, an attractive B-list cast and a silly premise, so not really, no. it does, however, almost tick the box of being awfully entertaining. The ending is horribly weak. There is a female-centric-ness about the film that skews the story.
Considering the story was written by a woman, this does not seem especially strange except that the female characters, without exception, are exceedingly stupid.
Spoiler territory: Blaine King (David Pinard) is penning a letter to Penny Jackson (Dayle McLeod), apologising for leaving. He glances at a photo of Penny and her sister, Camila (Cait Alexander).
He scrubs blood off of the floor and cleans up. Something wicked happened there, one thinks.
Outside, he tells an unconscious or dead Camila, who is in a duffle bag in the boot, that they could have been good together. We do not see Camila again.
In a picturesque town, mother and daughter, Sandra (Tori Higginson) and Sophie Sullivan (Joelle Farrow) are interviewed by a reporter (Michelle Rambharose) about the realisation of their bakery, Sweet Surrender, a name inspired by their favourite film.
The reporter takes a photo for the local paper. The turnaround of news is pretty swift as dodgy geezer Blaine, has the article a few days later as he sizes up the bakery.
Inside, Ange (Tommie-Amber Pirie), a local artist and someone who helps out in the bakery drops by. Sandra laments the lack of customers. Ange remarks how it has only been open a few weeks. As there are more staff than customers, Ange must be getting paid in cake.
Sophie says she has been brainstorming ideas for promotions, but as her mother does not know any of the ideas, I do wonder who she brainstormed with as it is not something one generally does alone.
Anyhoo, Sophie thinks they should try social media, utilising local influencers. Sandra immediately shoots the idea down. Too expensive. Not if you pay in cake!
Sophie does not come up with that retort and instead listens to her mother’s, frankly, turd of a suggestion to give out coupons. A respectful daughter, Sophie reluctantly agrees.
Their discussion is interrupted by the sound of music coming from outside. They go outside to find Blaine busking outside of the store. Blaine stops as they come out, apologising for singing outside their shop. Mother and daughter, who obviously have too much time on their hands and do not get out much, encourage him to continue.
Blaine can carry a tune. Soon, a bit of a crowd gathers. It seems this is a town full of people who are easily distracted and pleased. Sophie goes into the store and grabs some cake samples to hand out.
It seems Blaine’s impromptu concert has brought the patrons. The bakery is buzzing. After some introductions, Sandra invites Blaine in for coffee.
Sophie, an attractive girl who somehow manages to not get hit on at all, thinks they should ask Blaine if he would play for them in the store. Sandra is sure he has his own thing going on. Sophie reasons that it does not hurt to ask.
She asks Blaine what his plans are. He spins the vaguest bollocks about using his savings and going where the road and this ‘gee – tar’ – okay he didn’t say ‘gee – tar’ but he should have – takes him.
Movie romantics that they are, mother and daughter lap up the story. Sophie, panties getting moist in the presence of such a hottie, remarks she would not mind doing the same. Very subtle.
Mind back on the job, she asks Blaine if he would play in the store. That is if he is going to be around for a few days. Sandra, more pragmatic than her hormonally challenged daughter, says they will pay. Her tone intimates that the pay would be minimal.
Blaine, not as hot as we are meant to believe, with an unsettling smile, says that he would help them out by playing for tips. And cake. He didn’t say cake, but he will get cake. And coffee.
In the evening, mother and daughter and Ange, who just hangs around for the free food, are enjoying a glass of wine and some chocolates that Sophie created. Outside, Blaine watches on with the eyes of a serial killer.
The next day, Blaine waits for Sophie to come out of the store. He walks towards her, pretending not to see her and damn near takes her out – linebacker-style – as he ‘accidentally’ crashes into her.
Apologising, Blaine asks her what she is up to. She is going to hand out flyers around town. Would she like some company? Of course, she would! No other man in town talks to her!
They walk around town and Blaine invites her to sit on a bench as he probes her for information on herself. Sophie tells him it was one of her dreams to open the bakery with her mother and that she wants to go cliff jumping.
He feints interest but nearly trips himself up when he lets on that he knows about her working at the farmer’s market, Sophie wants to know how he knows about that. Blaine tells her that her mother mentioned it. That is a good enough explanation for her.
Sophie asks what his dreams are. He already mostly, lives them, playing his music and singing his songs. He would like to settle down somewhere though.
Sophie, a woman on heat and as subtle as a branding iron, asks if he would consider settling down in a town like theirs. Blaine, thinking this must be too damn easy, says he could be persuaded.
Okay, so Sophie stands mesmerised by Blaine playing in the store, oblivious to Ange trying to get her attention. Ange is also impressed by Blaine, saying that if she was not married she would go for him.
The fact that she is married to a woman does not seem to matter. Equality right there.
Ange, who moments before had seen how entranced Sophie was by Blaine, intimates to Sandra that she should go for Blaine. With friends like her….anyhoo, Sandra points out that there is a bit of an age difference and she is happily single.
Ange, not one to give up and remarkably dense when it comes to emotional cues considering she swings both ways, asks Sophie what she thinks of Blaine.
She says her mother would frown upon her dating an older guy. Older guy? I’m not sure how old Sophie is meant to be but Blaine is at most eight years older.
Ange, reinforcing her denseness, says she means for her mother. Sophie, progressive in thought, says she is happy with whatever her mother wants.
Later, dodgy Blaine goes and finds Sophie’s identification and finds out she is a Leo star sign. Back in the store, Sandra gives him some sort of dessert as a thank you for the music.
Blaine compliments the dish and manages to weave into the conversation that he is a Leo. Sophie, as people do, remarks she too is a Leo. He is slick. He talks about how nice it is to be there and how homely it feels.
Sandra remarks how his family must be proud of him. Yes, because families are always proud of the travelling musician in the family. Blaine, a pained furrowing of the brow, tells them his family has all died.
Sandra comforts him with the fact that he has them now. Blaine offers to help with clearing up in the store. There is a lot of dishes. It is as though they do not wash anything up until the end of the day.
He offers to help with the clearing of leaves at their home. At their home the next day, Blaine takes the time to snoop around. Sophie returns home but Blaine sees her and returns to the garden.
Sophie goes and interrupts him raking leaves and gets knocked over by a startled Blaine for her troubles. She cuts her hand falling. Blaine takes her into the house and tends to her wound.
Sophie had brought him lunch. Blaine shares the food with her and makes his move. Sophie, doe-eyed over him, puts up little resistance.
She belatedly, mentions that she thought that he was into her mother. Blaine says he prefers her. Guilt absolved, Sophie succumbs to his…charms.
She wants to keep their relationship secret as she does not think her mother would understand. Blaine unsurprisingly agrees.
Later that evening, a text conversation has Sophie sending Blaine a couple of risqué – there was shoulder on show. Naked shoulder! – photographs. In the store the next day, Blaine is not exactly careful as he shows Sophie some love.
He then goes into the back office and sees Sandra making ingredient orders. She keeps the passwords under the keyboard, joking about how she cannot remember them. Blaine asks if he can use the computer. Sure.
Blaine adjusts the ingredients’ order. No idea why. He fashions another accidental meeting with Sophie, catching her as she is locking up the store.
Sandra is waiting for her at home, planning an evening of movie rewatching. Blaine persuades Sophie to hang out with him. Did not take much persuasion. He just asked her.
Blaine quotes her favourite poet, having seen the book of poems by her bed. How the heck people remember entire poetry books is beyond me. I penned a book of poetry and if someone quoted one of my own poems at me I’m not sure I would realise.
They get on to the subject of family again. This gives Blaine another chance to tug at the emotional heartstrings, telling Sophie how his family never understood him and treated him poorly.
Somewhat ominously, they all died in a fire. It was only his Cinderella-like treatment – he was made to sleep in the shed – that saved his life. Right…
The next day, Sophie is a little perturbed to find Blaine massaging her mother’s arm. She needs to speak with her mother. The ingredients order is wrong, several items are missed off. She is sure she ordered everything.
Sandra tells her she will have to sort it out. Sophie and Blaine are left alone. She confronts him about his closeness to her mother. He tells her he just wants her to like him.
That evening, Sandra returns home late. She tells Sophie that she will have to take on more responsibility. Sophie goes to visit Blaine. Blaine tricks her into giving him her phone’s passcode. The woman’s an idiot.
Blaine sings a song to Sophie, telling her he wrote it especially for her. He barely gets through the first chorus and Sophie throws herself at him. She wakes to find herself alone in his bedroom.
She sees an old book and begins flicking through it. The newspaper clipping about her and her mother opening the bakery is in the book. Blaine comes back into the bedroom and grabs the book.
He tells her that people looking through his things trigger him because his sisters used to do the same to get at him. Why has he got clippings of her? He admires them. Okay then. Later in the day, Blaine gifts Sophie a pendant. It is their three month anniversary, a little juvenile but different strokes…
Sophie wants to tell her mother about their relationship but Blaine says he wants to just keep it between them. Sandra is displeased at Sophie’s recent tardiness. The two exchange terse words. Blaine sneaks into the store’s office and begins photographing the cake recipes. He is caught by Sophie. He tells her he wanted to surprise her.
Sandra thinks Sophie is keeping something from her as she has been secretive of late. Sophie gives the most adolescent answer ever, telling her that she is an adult and needs her privacy.
The two come to an amiable accord, Sandra agreeing to treat her idiot daughter more like an adult. Sophie tells Blaine that they need to tell her mother. Blaine warns her that if they tell her mother their relationship will end.
Sophie tells him that her mother cannot stop their relationship. Blaine tells her that her mother sees him as a potential mate and shows her a photo she sent. Like mother, like daughter, there is provocative shoulder aplenty.
Blaine says he will have to leave. Sophie, emotion overriding the little intelligence she has, begs him to stay. Even just as a friend. Blaine agrees to stay around. As a friend but he will never stop loving her.
Later, Sophie is woken by her mother crashing into the house late. She has been seeing someone. Who? She does not want to say. It might jinx it.
The next day, Sophie tell her mother she wants to get together with her. Sandra tells her she is busy but they will get together the next evening. Sophie follows her mother on her evening out.
She goes to Blaine’s home. Sophie confronts them. How long have they been seen one another? A few months. She does not let on to her mother about her relationship with Blaine. She leaves them.
Blaine goes after her, gaslighting her, saying he was destroyed after their breakup and found solace in the arms of her mother. An explanation every woman longs to hear. Sandra tells Ange, a woman who is so ‘team Sandra’ that Sophie should be worrying about her safety, that Sophie saw them together. She thinks she should split up with Blaine.
Ange says not to worry about it, Sophie will come around. Sandra deserves happiness. Sandra, who still loves her daughter more than a travelling musician, goes home to talk with her daughter.
Sophie, in true telenovela style – always keeping secrets – does not tell her mother about her and Blaine.
Blaine messages Sophie and tells her to come and see him. Blaine tries to convince Sophie that he can be with both of them. Sophie says she is going to tell her mother. She will show her the messages.
Blaine tells her there are no messages. She will tell him anyway. Blaine grabs her violently and forces her to promise not to say anything. Sophie promises.
In the store, Blaine comes in with Sandra in tow, greeting a subdued Sophie. He is going to play a special song for her. The song is the same one he played to Sophie. She puts Blaine on a live stream.
After closing, Blaine proposes to Sandra. Ange, – team Sandra! Rah! Rah! Rah! – is an ordained minister and agrees to marry them. Sophie is in the back office, trying to find information about Blaine.
Blaine comes into the back office to threaten her some more. He tells her that he is marrying her mother at the weekend.
Sophie goes and finds Penny. Penny tells her that Blaine seduced both her and her sister. When she found out she told her sister but her sister just disappeared, leaving a note behind.
Apparently, her sister was her best friend. Really? Not close enough for her to realise that the note was not in her handwriting. He also stole their songs, all his supposed music being the sisters.
Sophie, smart enough to work out how to find out about Blaine but not clever enough not to confront him, gets caught by Blaine. He knocks her unconscious and stuffs her in a duffle back. Into the river with her!
He steals her mobile. Though how he plans to open it again is anyone’s guess considering he used her fingerprint the last time.
He returns to Sandra. She is worried about Sophie and sends her a message. The phone buzzes from Blaine’s pocket. He tells Sandra that it is a football score notification. She believes him. Love makes you dumb.
The next morning, Sophie has survived. Yes, she has. It is the wedding day but Sandra does not think she should get married without her daughter present. Blaine persuades her that she needs to go for what she wants. Sandra’s love addled brain agrees.
A dishevelled Sophie, flags down a car and the driver (Ryan Boyko) lets her use his phone. She calls her mother. As it is an unknown number, Sandra ignores it. Sophie asks the driver to take her home.
In her home, she sees Ange. Where is her mother? Upstairs. Sophie tells Ange that Blaine’s dangerous. Blaine appears in the kitchen. She tells Ange to run but Blaine knocks Ange out with a candlestick holder. She runs to her mother and tells her that Blaine tried to kill her. Blaine tries to convince Sandra that Sophie is crazy.
Blaine is frantic at the notion of Sandra choosing her daughter over him. He attacks Sophie. Sandra hits him with a heavy ornament, knocking him unconscious.
Sometime later, mother and daughter are in the bakery and Penny is singing her song – the one Blaine stole – for the patrons. The end.
Final thoughts: Lethal Love is so much hokum. The acting is serviceable and the performances, direction and setting are good enough for this made-for-tv-esque movie.
Written by Heather Taylor and Directed by Avi Federgreen, Lethal Love is a slightly farfetched movie, let down by a piss poor conclusion.
Like many Netflix/made-for-tv efforts, the characters are inexplicably stupid. I suppose that is half the fun of the films. The problem is when you tack on such an underwhelming climax, it brings down the entire film.
The actors work gamely with the material. Unfortunately, with an eighty-seven-minute runtime, Taylor’s script wastes time on songs and red herrings – why did he mess up the cake ingredient order? – when a more exaggerated conclusion could have elevated this film from its IMDB four-point-six to a solid six.
Lethal Love is not an unwatchable mess but it is eye-rollingly stupid in parts and I cannot recommend taking ninety minutes out of your day to watch it. Meh.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags film, Netflix, review, writingLeave a comment on Lethal Love – review
Love Hard – review
Brief synopsis: an LA writer of a popular dating column about her failed internet dating life, falls for a man from Lake Placid, NY, in the run-up to Christmas. She decides to surprise him with a surprise visit for the holidays only to find that she has been catfished.
Is it any good?: if you enjoy a Christmas rom-com, you will love Love Hard. With a sparkling script and a modern story that both pokes fun whilst simultaneously showing deference to other rom-coms and Christmas films, Love Hard is a rom-com with heart and wit. Lovely.
Spoiler territory: Natalie Bauer (Nina Dobrev) is an LA columnist who writes about her eventful dating adventures. Dating via an online dating app, Natalie is jaded about the dating scene and feels deflated by the chicanery of online dating profiles.
Kerry (Heather McMahan ), a work colleague and friend, explains to her that not only is she the commonality in all of her dates but her refusal to date outside of LA is restricting her options. Natalie’s pushy boss, Lee (Matty Finochio), wants to know when her next article will be ready.
Natalie wants to get away from her miserable dating life and write something more wholesome. Lee is not entertaining that notion, telling her to keep writing what the readers want. He states everybody’s miserable.
At home, Natalie puts up her Christmas tree and settles down in her apartment for another night of single-dom.
She swipes through her dating app, dismissing a slew of unsuitable candidates. She comes across the profile of Josh. Handsome guy with an appealing bio. They begin exchanging messages.
She tells Kerry about him and shows her his profile. Kerry is a little sceptical. The profile could be fake or the photos old. She should call him and get an up-to-date photo of him. Natalie is reluctant to call him, so Kerry grabs her phone and does it for her. Josh sends a current photo of himself that matches his profile.
The message exchange romance continues with the two getting closer. Natalie laments the distance between them, with her living on the West coast and him on the East.
He tells her he wishes they could spend Christmas together. Their messaging is interrupted by her boss. He wants her next story, when can he expect it?
She tells him she thinks she might have met someone. Lee is not interested. He wants her to keep dating internet losers.
Natalie tells him that she plans to fly across the country and meet up with the man for the first time. On hearing this, Lee, convinced that the meeting is a disaster in the making, gives it his blessing.
Natalie flies to Lake Placid. The trip does not begin well, with her losing her luggage as soon as she gets there. She takes a taxi to Josh’s home.
The taxi ride is eventful, with Natalie refusing the multitude of snacks offered to her by E-Rock (Fletcher Donovan), the driver. He offers her kiwi slices. She is highly allergic to kiwi, so politely declines.
They arrive at Josh’s home. The house is covered in Christmas decorations. She nervously approaches the house. She is greeted by Josh’s stepmother, Barb (Rebecca Staab).
Barb welcomes her into the home. Josh is not home but she can meet the rest of the family. Josh’s father, Bob (James Saito) and his grandmother, June (Takayo Fischer).
Josh arrives home and Natalie meets him for the first time. Josh (Jimmy O Yang) looks very different from his photos. A shocked Natalie leaves the house, Josh following after her.
They argue outside, him apologising for fooling her but questioning the fact she would decide to visit a person she has never met as a surprise. A furious Natalie leaves, going to the local bar.
In the bar, Natalie sees the person who she thought was Josh. He is Tag (Darren Barnet) and is a popular guy in the town.
Natalie calls Kerry and tells her that she has been catfished but the guy who she thought was Josh does live in Lake Placid. Kerry tells her to approach him. Natalie decides she is going to perform a karaoke song to impress Tag.
She steals a couple of shots that a girl had ordered to give herself courage. Unfortunately, the shots have kiwi in them. Her face, unbeknownst to her, bloats, reacting to the kiwi.
Josh, who had followed her to the bar, watches as she scares the bar’s patrons with her exuberant performance and bloated, Halloween face. Natalie catches a reflection of her face in a mirror and rushes out of the bar.
Josh follows her out as her allergy causes her to pass out. He takes her to the local veterinary hospital, the doctor, Foye (Debbie Podowski), helps her. Allergy under control and conscious, Josh asks Natalie to pretend to be his girlfriend in the run-up to Christmas.
In exchange, he will help her get together with Tag. Natalie reluctantly agrees, the pressure of needing to submit an article reinforced by a message from Lee.
After an awkward breakfast with the family, Natalie and Josh’s plan begins. He takes her to the local clothing store that his family runs. Tag is picking up an order there that morning. Josh tells her that Tag is a real outdoorsy person and loves climbing.
He introduces Tag to Natalie, telling him that Natalie is his cousin on his stepmother’s side. Tag invites Natalie climbing. She agrees but later tells Josh that she cannot climb.
Josh is confident that he can give her enough pointers to survive the date, even though Natalie is fearful of heights.
Later that evening, Natalie sees a box of candles. She asks Josh about it. He, a little embarrassingly, tells her he makes candles with a masculine scent. It is his passion. Why doesn’t he start a business?
Josh says his father would scoff at the notion and his brother would ridicule him. She did not know he had a brother. Josh’s brother arrives at the house to much fanfare.
In the main house, Josh’s brother, Owen (Harry Shut Jr.) and his partner, Chelsea (Mikaela Hoover) have come for Christmas. Josh is brash and confident. He and Chelsea are surprised to see that not only does Josh have a girlfriend, but she is also attractive.
The family and Natalie gather together to decorate the tree. The next day, Natalie and Josh meet Tag at the climbing centre. She goes into a panic when she sees the size of the climbing walls. Josh helps her through the ordeal.
Tag, oblivious to Natalie’s panic, invites her out again. Natalie goes out with the family carol signing. Owen and Chelsea take centre stage, really showing off. Natalie and Josh momentarily take the spotlight with a reworked rendition of Baby It’s Cold Outside. Owen and Chelsea, decide to announce they are having a baby.
Josh, taking advice that Natalie had given him about not letting Owen steal the spotlight, proposes to Natalie. Not wanting to embarrass him, she accepts.
She calls Kerry to lament her situation but gets no valuable advice. The next day, Tag takes her bobsleighing. Natalie has to get high to get through the date, because of her fear of bobsleighing.
In the evening, the family sit down to watch Love Actually, a film Natalie dislikes preferring another Christmas classic, Die Hard.
Barb excitedly tells everybody that Natalie and Josh’s engagement announcement is going into the local newspaper the next day. The next morning, Josh and Natalie race around the town, stealing all the copies of the newspaper.
Natalie checks out Josh’s original dating profile. It is a little off-putting, to say the least. She tells him that he needs to promote his strong points as opposed to creating a profile he thinks people want.
Vegetarian Natalie has another date with Tag. It is at his family’s steakhouse restaurant. Josh challenges her, asking if she is prepared to lie even against her principals.
Natalie takes umbrage, especially as the only reason she is there is because of his fake profile. Owen sees Natalie out with Tag.
Natalie is surprised to find out that Tag does not celebrate Christmas. He thinks it is too commercial and a scam. He gives her a goodbye kiss. Natalie is not overly enamoured by the kiss.
Natalie tries to talk to Josh about their disagreement the next morning. They are interrupted by June who wants them to come and tell an elderly group about online dating.
After the meeting, June disappears down the road, Josh and Natalie hurrying after her, worried that she is getting lost. She disappears into the steakhouse.
Josh and Natalie go into the steakhouse and are surprised to see the entire town are there to celebrate their engagement. The family have even invited her boss.
Tag still does not know that Josh and Natalie are the engaged couple. He introduces his parents to Natalie, who remark on how he never introduces his girlfriends.
Bob gets everybody’s attention, about to give a congratulatory speech. Natalie interrupts him and confesses to the relationship being a sham and pretending to like the same things as Tag to get with him.
Back at the Lin house, Natalie has left. The family console Josh. Bob sees Josh’s candles and is happy to support his dream to be a candlemaker. Natalie is unable to get a flight home and stays in the town’s lodge house. After a heart to heart with her boss, Natalie writes her article.
In the morning, she gets an alert from the dating app. It is Josh’s new profile. Natalie goes and sees Josh and re-enacts the title card sequence from Love Actually to show her love for Josh. They kiss. The end.
Final thoughts: Directed by Hernan Jimenez and written by Daniel Mackay and Rebecca Ewing, Love Hard is a sweet, heartwarming rom-com. With Dobrev ably taking on the mantle of lovelorn wordsmith Natalie and a sparkling script that all the actors commit to, the story bumps along nicely.
With Jimmy O Yang playing Josh and Darren Barnet as the movie-star-looks Tag, it is Yang’s Josh everyman that tickles the heartstrings and has you rooting for the romance.
Shying away from the easy path of making Barnet’s Tag a bit of a cad or narcissist, Mackay and Ewing fashioned a story that feels more realistic, having the personalities be what attracts instead of just marrying up two beautiful people.
Shum Jr’s Owen is put forward as a perfunctory villain but ultimately, he only cares about the wellbeing of his less confident brother. Like all good and classic romcoms, Love Hard is about the central protagonist finding out about themselves. In this regard, Love Hard hits all the right notes as well as being a feel-good Christmas film. Nice.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags comedy, film, Netflix, review, romcomLeave a comment on Love Hard – review
Hypnotic – review
Brief synopsis: Reeling from the trauma of stillbirth and the breakup of a long term relationship, a woman finds her life spiralling into depression. She is convinced by her best friend to see a hypnotherapist. Initially, the sessions yield good results. Then strange things start happening.
Is it any good?: Hypnotic begins promisingly but quickly descends into a lazy mess. An interesting, though in no way new or unique premise, is used in the most uninspiring fashion. Utilising the obsessive/possessive troupe, Hypnotic becomes a plodding chore, losing the drive and promise of the opening scenes by the midway point. Disappointing.
Spoiler territory: Andrea Bowen (Stephanie Cudmore) is alone in her office late into the evening. Peeking nervously through her office blinds. Somebody is watching her. She calls a police detective but gets his answer machine.
She leaves her office and heads to the elevator. She is still nervous and panicky as she steps into the elevator. She gets an anonymous caller. I don’t know about you but I never answer anonymous calls. Andrea however, does. The caller tells her this is how the world ends.
Andrea goes into a full-blown panic and feels the walls of the elevator closing in on her. That is the last we see of Ms Bowen.
Jenn Tompson (Kate Siegel) arrives for her friends’, Gina (Lucie Guest) and Scott Kelman (Luck Roderique), housewarming. She apologises to an apprehensive Gina for her tardiness. She also apologises for drinking the bottle of wine she was going to bring them, offering up a frankly pathetic, dying plant instead.
Gina is a little flustered. She had been trying to contact her because Brian (Jaime M Calllica) is at the party. Awkward. She did not think that Jenn was going to come. Ever the aspiring alcoholic, Jenn says she needs a glass of wine.
Inside the new home, Jenn comforts herself with a glass of wine. She exchanges furtive glances with ex-fiancé, Brian.
Truthfully, their housewarming looks like the most staged event ever, the home overflowing with people. It is more of a house showing-off.
Anyhoo, ever the gracious host and good friend, Gina introduces Jenn to Dr Collin Meade (Jason O’Mara). She is gushing in praise of the good doctor – always a red flag – and encourages Jenn to go and see him. Jenn is not overly keen on the idea of therapy, preferring to wallow in her drunken depression.
A little later, Gina, Scott, Jenn and Brian are sitting around a table chatting. Brian’s career is going really well. He is a software engineer and is explaining his new project when Brian, rudely, interrupts the conversation to ask about Jenn’s life and career. A reticent Jenn tells him she is between jobs. Unemployed.
Brian goes to eat one of the hor d’oeuvres Gina and Scott had provided and is stopped by Jenn. The snack contains sesame, something Brian is extremely allergic to. Damn that Jenn! Thwarting Gina and Scott’s murderous plan! Brian seems nonplussed that his supposed friends were serving him life-threatening snacks.
As the party wraps up, Jenn is still hugging a wine bottle and never-empty glass. Dr Collin gives her his card and tells her to call him. Outside the house, Brian thanks Jenn for saving his life. She is waiting for an Uber.
They have a stilted, cryptic conversation, the kind only people who know one another can have. Brian offers to take her home. Jenn is reluctant, wary of her feelings. He tells her it is just a lift. She accepts the offer.
In the morning, she wakes up to find a note from Brian on her pillow. It was the booze! Of course it was…She meets up with Gina and confesses her weakness of succumbing to Brian’s barely-made-an-effort game. Gina, ever the cheerleader for Dr Meade, advises her to go and see the therapist.
Jenn, somewhat coerced by her enthusiastic friend, goes to see the doctor. In the spartan reception area of the doctor’s office, Jenn encounters another one of his patients, Tabby (Devyn Dalton). The slightly off-kilter Tabby gushes about the doctor’s abilities and how they have helped her.
Jenn goes into Dr Collin’s somewhat cold office space. The doctor greets her. He is feeding his fish and remarks the having fish can be calming. I assume he means as a pet, not as part of one’s diet.
He begins the session. He finds out that the crux of Jenn’s issues. She had been pregnant with her fiancé, Brian’s, child. The child had been stillborn six months into the term.
Meade asks her if she had ever tried hypnotherapy. Jenn says she does not like the thought of being out of control. The fear of making monkey sounds every time you hear a bell is real! The good doctor assures her that she is the only one who can control her subconscious mind. He does not laugh manically. He should but resist the temptation.
Jenn, at the end of her resistance in life anyway, agrees to be hypnotised. The session goes well and Jenn keeps up the sessions for a few months, getting her life together and finding employment.
Jenn and Gina meet up, Jenn updating Gina about her life. Gina asks her if she is still seeing Meade for sessions. Jenn tells her twice a week for the past few months.
Gina complains that she only saw him twice for sessions. No hypnotherapy. She wishes he would deal with her phobia of spiders. Be careful of what you wish for…
Jenn dreams of the doctor that night. They are in bed together. He caresses and tells her she is perfect. The next day, Jenn bumps into Dr Collin in the mall. Alarms bells? No…he invites her for coffee.
Jenn asks him about himself. He had been married but his wife died. He tells her about his mentor, Doctor Sullivan.
He changes the subject, asking how her relationship with Brian is. She is avoiding him, fearful of the feelings she would have to face. The doctor advises her to invite him over for dinner. Jenn is not so sure but follows the doctor’s suggestion.
On the way to the supermarket, Jenn listens to a message from Brian accepting her invitation. She gets a call from an anonymous number. Answering the call, she falls into a trance.
She snaps out of the trance and finds herself at home sitting at the dinner table. She hears someone choking in her bathroom.
She goes into the bathroom and finds Brian on the floor, gasping for air. She gets him to the hospital. Gina comes to see her. Jenn tells her that she cannot remember anything about the evening.
At her next session, Meade asks about Brian. He is in a coma. Jenn thinks it might be her fault. Meade gaslights her, babbling on about ego and the battle against fear. She needs to trust him. Okay. That night, she has a dream-cum-memory about Meade again.
Troubled by the dream, Jenn goes to the kitchen for a glass of water. She finds the receipt from her trip to the supermarket, the last thing she remembered before waking up at the dinner table. The receipt triggers her memory. She remembers cooking with sesame seed oil.
A troubled Jenn researches the good doctor. She finds out about Andrea Bowen, a former patient, and reads some worrying articles about the dark side of hypnotism. She goes to see Gina to voice her concerns. Gina does not buy it. She is team Meade all the way.
Jenn believes that Collin could be using his hypnotherapy sessions nefariously. Gina, – team Meade! Rah! Rah! Rah! – thinks she is being ridiculous. Jenn shows her multiple articles addressing the same subject. Gina is a little more open to the possibility of something murky about her favourite doctor.
They both go to see detective Wade Rollins (Dule Hill). Rollins worked on the case of Andrea Bowen. Jenn tells him that she has had strange happenings, believing they may be connected to her sessions with doctor Meade. Rollins tells them that he interviewed Meade. The investigation was halted shortly afterwards.
He shows them the CCTV of Andrea Bowen freaking out in the lift. Not very professional. He advises that they stay away from Meade. They leave the detective’s office.
Gina is worried. She had spoken about Jenn in her last session with Meade. She had also been hypnotised.
Jenn decides to arrange a session with Meade, planning to record the session on her phone.
His interest piqued by the visit from the two women, Rollins investigates similar deaths and finds that all the victims look similar. All were former patients of Meade and had undergone hypnotherapy.
After the session, Jenn is listening to the recording she made. Meade knows what she has done and that they were at the police station. Realising that Gina is in danger, she calls her friend. Gina is driving with Scott in the car. She is expecting a business call. Jenn calls trying to tell her that Meade knows they are looking at him.
Jenn’s call cuts out. Gina receives another call. It is Meade. He tells her this is how the world ends. Gina falls into a trance. She believes a tarantula is crawling on her. Scott, the poor guy, has no idea what is happening. Gina, petrified by the tarantula, that only she can see, floors the accelerator. They get hit by a truck and killed.
Rollins goes to see Meade. He tells him that Gina and Scott died in a car accident. She had been a patient of his. Had he given her any hypnotherapy sessions? Just one. Their last session. The doctor offers Rollins a hypnosis session. Rollins declines, pointing out that he only works his hypnotherapy on female clients. The doctor tells him he would make an exception.
Rollins visits Jenn. He believes Gina’s death was caused by Meade. He is a detective after all. He leaves her with files on the other cases. There is another knock on the door. Jenn opens the door thinking it is Rollins.
It is Meade. He causes Jenn to freeze with a hypnotic command. Yes, really.
Meade proceeds to lay out his plans to her, wittering on like the crazy, control freak he is. He explains that all of his extreme acts are for her. Meade leaves. Jenn immediately rings Rollins and gets his voicemail.
Rollins gets home and settles down for the evening. He hears a sound in his apartment. A knife-wielding Tabby attacks him. She slashes at him and when he disarms her, bites him. Rollins eventually overcomes her, killing her with a blow.
Jenn visits him in the hospital the next day. She tells Rollins that she wants to get hypnotised by another therapist to perhaps help her recall what happens in sessions with Meade. She goes and sees doctor Stella Graham (Tanja Dixon-Warren).
Dr Stella gives her a version of the ‘with great power come great responsibility’ speech, pointing out that hypnotherapy can be used for good or bad. Thank you, Sherlock.
She tells her that she will put her under for a gentle session. Stella begins and asks Jenn about her sessions with Meade. Jenn begins choking.
She recalls an address and fragments of memories with Meade. Stella snaps her out of the trance. Stella tells her that Meade planted some fail-safe suggestions in her mind to prevent the sort of thing that they were attempting.
Stella is not confident that she can combat Meade’s auto-suggestions but she might be able to create a fail-safe override herself. Jenn decides to follow a memory after finding some research about an old CIA program that Meade’s supposed mentor was a part of.
The program was a series of experiments exploring the possibility of planting false memories in peoples minds.
Jenn tells Rollins that she going to the address, even as he advises against it. At the remote house – of course, it is remote – Jenn searches for doctor Sullivan. She sees a picture of a dark-haired woman hugging Meade. The woman looks like her. Meade startles her, standing behind her as he points out how beautiful his wife was.
The house is his, left to him by his father, the now-deceased doctor Sullivan. Oops. Meade puts Jenn into a trance.
Rollins, who had run some fingerprints from a spoon he had lifted from Meade’s office, gets the results. They are for a Julian Sullivan. That’s the same name as the other doctor! He tries to contact Jenn but gets her voicemail. Rollins gets out of his hospital bed.
Jenn wakes up in the therapist office. She calls Rollins and tells him what he already knows; Meade is a Sullivan. Truthfully, Rollins should be embarrassed that it took four murders, – nope five, can’t forget Scott – for them to find Meade’s true identity, especially as he as in the system!
Jenn tells him that she is in Meade’s office. Rollins sends a SWAT team to the offices of Meade. Meanwhile, Meade is, once again, boring Jenn with his story and recounting the first time he saw her.
Rollins is racing to the offices. The SWAT team are there already, preparing to enter the office. Meade wakes Jenn up. She is still in the house, the office scenario was all in her mind.
Rollins is told that there is no one in the offices. Rollins gets the address of the Sullivan residence and races over there. In the Sullivan house, Jenn realises that Meade had planted memories he had with his deceased wife, Amy(Jessie Fraser), in her mind. Yeah, he did that.
Meade has dressed up Jenn in the image of his deceased wife. She is unable to move due to his auto-suggestions. Rollins is racing to the house. Meade is still babbling sweet nothings and making plans for the future with the captive Jenn as Rollins enters the house.
Meade hears him enter the house and leaves Jenn alone, forcing her to grip the bed frame. Rollins looks for Meade. Meade attacks him and they fight. Rollins loses his gun in the fight.
Jenn is struggling to break the trance that is keeping her in the bedroom. As they fight, Jenn breaks the trance and finds them. Meade is strangling Rollins. Rollins tells her to grab his gun. Meade shouts the sleep command and Jenn struggles to stay awake, picking up the gun.
She points the gun at the fighting men and pulls the trigger. She wakes up with Rollins looking after her. He tells her it is all over and she is safe. he calls her ‘my love’.
Doctor Stella had placed an auto-suggestion in her mind. It would let her see clearly if those words were uttered by Meade. Yes, she did! Jenn realises it is Meade, not Rollins.
She escapes his grasp and finds Rollins. Meade pursues her, quickly finding her with Rollins. Rollins tells her has another gun in his ankle holster. Jenn kills Meade.
One month later, Jenn is getting some sort of normality back in her life. Brian is still in a coma. She apologises to him for their relationship falling apart. She goes and sees Rollins. He has been promoted. She thanks him. Rollins gives her a hypnosis CD. What a comedian. The end.
Final thoughts: directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote and written by Richard D’Ovidio, Hypnotic is a good looking film and is competently directed. The script is quite good and almost makes up for the silly story. Almost.
Mind control, hypnosis or remote possession has always been and will continue to be popular as a story element. The notion of being controlled by another is both the stuff of nightmares and dreams.
Unfortunately, D’Ovidio’s story is too rushed, not allowing for any real buildup in tension. With a runtime of eighty-eight minutes, Hypnotic is not a long film but it is a little uneven. O’Mara’s Meade is the villain and fills the role comfortably but there is no subtlety in his villainy.
Not that subtlety is necessary but the character and the speed at which he is accepted by the sceptical Jenn is not believable. The acting from all on show is good, with Lucie Guest particularly good as Gina, in a quite unforgiving role as the best friend.
Unusually, the story, to its detriment, gives over almost half of its runtime to resolution. This affects the pacing and the emotional impact of the story, the set-up being too truncated for the viewer to care.
Hypnotic is not a terrible film it is just a bit underwhelming. Hypnotic is watchable but by no means a must-watch. One you watch only if you watched all of your watchlist.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags film, Netflix, review, scary, script, thrillerLeave a comment on Hypnotic – review
Britney Vs Spears – review
Hit Me Baby One More Time. Oops, I Did It Again. Toxic. Overprotected. I’m A Slave 4 U. (You Drive Me) Crazy. Stronger. These are some of the hits that propelled a teenage Britney Spears to global superstardom at the end of the nineties and into the early part of the new century.
Less than twenty years on from her peak, it is difficult to express how famous Britney was at that time. She remains very famous and, though her musical output has slowed over the past decade or so, she is still enough of a name for a documentary on Netflix bearing her name, is something of an event.
On Instagram, Spears has over thirty-five million followers, so she has obviously not been forgotten in the fallow years. In comparison, footballing superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has ten times as many followers.
Even the ‘famous for existing’ Kardashian/Jenner siblings all individually dwarf Spears’ account for followers, each one comfortably commanding over one hundred million followers.
To put the above facts into perspective, The Kardashians came into public consciousness in 2007. Spears, who had gone global with her first single – Hit Me Baby One More Time – in 1998, had released seven albums by 2007. Spears had become a star before digital downloads became the norm, before the attention grab of multiple media outlets and platforms as the internet evolved.
None of this is alluded to in the documentary. Britney Spears is part of the last, dying breed of proper global superstars. There are still artists who become famous but few, especially with the fast-paced, disposable need-for-new, internet social media age we live in, maintain that career-high over decades.
In the documentary by Erin Lee Carr and journalist Jenny Eliscu, Britney Vs Spears, they look at the court battle of Britney to wrest control of her life, career and finances from her father, James.
Her father had a conservatorship imposed on her through the courts, sighting her supposed inability to manage any aspect of her life competently as reasoning.
Unfortunately, a subject with great scope for exploration and intrigue, suffers from being a bit of a fawning, fan-made exercise, with Carr and Eliscu’s bias towards the star achingly obvious.
Told in a mix of documentary styles, employing film footage, voiceovers, hearsay and interviews, the filmmakers also take the odd decision to add themselves into the documentary, reading various accounts of happenings and snippets from redacted documents.
The lack of impartiality, with Britney portrayed as a bit of damsel-in-distress, weakens the film, having the effect of bringing out the cynic in the non-Britney fan. Even the most myopic Spears fan would challenge the one-sidedness of this documentary.
The makers ask pointed questions to a raft of slightly reticent interviewees, hamfistedly trying to coerce support of the notion of a Britney under, a somewhat, draconian dictatorship.
This alleged dictatorial conservatorship is supported by the legal system and enforced by her father. It truly is the stuff of telenovelas, only not as entertaining.
Truthfully, the documentary sheds very little light on the conservatorship. Much of what is shown, is little more than an interested party could have gleaned from the press or, especially in these highly informed times, the internet.
Lee Carr, who instigated the documentary as the filmmaker, says she spent two years putting it together. Eliscu, for her part as a music journalist, says that she was not into Spears music and knew very little about her as an artist. After meeting her, Eliscu liked her immensely and always enjoyed interviewing her.
It is not as though I feel they should be trying to destroy Spears’ reputation. After all, a vociferous press has spent more than a decade documenting and exposing her every foible and misstep, relishing her discomfort and misery.
The issue is, if one is selling a documentary, which by its very nature should be factual and, where possible, impartial, Britney Vs Spears fails.
That Carr claims to have been making it for two years does not bode well either, given the bias and paucity of storytelling. The film seems to be told with a handbrake on, due to possible legal ramifications, something hinted at towards the end of the film.
I suspect that the use of musical footage was probably prohibitively expensive, with any musical clips ‘blink-and-you-miss-it’ brief. Most of the Britney footage is from the news, showing her multiple encounters with the press and various partners.
It is a little haphazard, with the film trying to paint her father, James, as the villain. It is not an entirely surprising or, sadly, unusual story of those who should be looking after a star’s interest, benefitting and taking advantage of their privilege. What makes the film fail is the expectation.
The title sets up a battle. What one expects is a little history. How the opposing sides, father and daughter, came to their positions. The public deterioration of Britney. Her family and friends reaction to it. Maybe, showing her father’s reasoning, no matter how flimsy, behind deciding to implement such an extreme measure.
Unfortunately, as I said earlier, the people interviewed say so little that one is forced to fill in ominous blanks, something I suspect the filmmaker might have been aiming for. It is a misstep.
Britney Vs. Spears should have been a compelling and, hopefully, illuminating insight into an unusual situation. Instead, it is a patchy and frustrating film, leaving more questions than answers.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories documentary, film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags Britney, documentary, Netflix, review, writingLeave a comment on Britney Vs Spears – review
The Tomorrow War – review
Brief synopsis: In the future, the human race is near extinction due to an alien invasion. As the war rages on, an estranged father and daughter battle to find a way to defeat aliens and save the human race.
Is it any good?: The Tomorrow War is a multi-million pound B-movie without the humour or amusingly bad script and actors. Taking influence from the far superior Edge Of Tomorrow (2014) in style, this Chris Pratt starrer is mostly noise and special effects with the story eliciting very little emotion.
Spoiler territory: biology teacher and ex-military man – of course – Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) is hosting a Christmas party in 2022. He has popped out to pick up a few bits and returns to the party.
He is greeted by his young daughter, Muri (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) and makes his way to the kitchen where his wife, Emmy (Betty Gilpin), is looking after guests.
Dan is waiting on a call about a job he has applied for, stepping out again as he receives the call. Unfortunately, he does not get the job. A frustrated Dan returns to the party.
He joins his daughter on the sofa and the two are watching a soccer game that is being shown from Qatar. As Muri chatters away, the soccer game, which is being broadcast live, is interrupted.
A military unit has appeared out of thin air onto the pitch. Lieutenant Hart (Jasmine Mathews) addresses the world – apparently, the world watches soccer games that happen in Qatar… – she is from the future and the human race is about to be wiped out. Okay, we’ll take your word for it.
A year later, soldiers are being sent into the future to fight the alien threat known as Whitespikes. Their efforts are proving fruitless and the world’s military is quickly decimated. The world’s collective governments decide to start drafting civilians for the cause.
Dan struggles to engage his students amidst the tragic events happening around the globe, with only Martin (Seth Schenall), a kid obsessed with volcanoes – it will be relevant later – showing any zeal in the classroom. The rest of the student body cannot see the point in studying with impending doom all around.
As Dan tries to assure the kids that science can help them find a solution, he receives a text. He is to report to the local military facility. He is being enlisted.
They fit him with a jump-band, a device fitted on his forearm that allows them to track him and will send him into the future. He is required to serve one hundred and sixty-eight hours. Seven days. Bummer.
Elsewhere, Emmy is addressing a room of veterans. All of the veterans are injured or maimed in some way. Dan comes to visit her and shows her the arm sleeve. Emmy, knowing the chances of him returning from a mission are slim, wants the family to run.
Dan points out to her that they cannot run from the government. She tells him that they could if he would go and see his father. Dan is reluctant but Emmy persuades him.
Dan goes to see his father, James (J. K. Simmons). James does not trust the government. Dan and his father are estranged. Probably abandonment issues on Dan’s part. It is hastily explained. He shows his father the bracelet but James thinks he has come to rat him out to the government and the two argue over his abandonment. So there is that.
Dan returns home and tells Emmy he is going on deployment. He tells Muri that he is leaving. It’s emotional. Not really. At the centre for deployment, a rag-tag bunch of civilians are given the most basic military training in the history of military training.
Amongst the group, besides Dan, is the talkative and nervous Charlie (Sam Richardson), who befriends Dan, the taciturn Dorian (Edwin Hodge), a man who is on his third tour and Diablo (Alexis Louder), a Dora Milaje escapee hanging out in the wrong film.
Charlie tells Dan that he is in research and development. They both note that all of the assembled in the room are upwards of forty, whereas those running operations are in their twenties. As they are jumping twenty-eight years into the future, they assume it must mean they are all dead at that point.
Norah (Mary Lynn Rajskub) asks why they could not just jump to a time before the invasion – like twenty-eight years before perhaps….? – lieutenant Tran (Alan Trong) explains some bollocks about it being two bridges and fragile and always moving forward, whatever that means.
Norah asks why there are no pictures from the future or images of the aliens. Lieutenant Hart tells her that the powers-that-be thought it would hurt the recruitment process if people knew what they were up against.
So the seventy percent failure rate or trauma of those that have gone before has no effect but photos of aliens would put would-be soldiers off? Right.
Later in the hanger, as the new recruits prepare to bed down for the night, alarms start to sound. They are to be deployed immediately. The aliens are attacking the research centre and are about to win the war. The battalion is to be deployed to Miami Beach.
As they begin to teleport to the future, there is a glitch and they appear in war-torn Miami. They get their first look at the aliens, the Whitespikes. They are multi-tentacled, fast-moving killing machines that can fire spikes from their tentacles. Lovely.
Dan immediately takes charge of proceedings having been contacted by the future director of operations, colonel Forester (Yvonne Strahovski). The rest all follow his lead. That was easy. Forester tells them to go and rescue the research team in a specific location.
Dan finds them but they are all dead. Forester tells them to leave as they plan to bomb the area. Aliens attack and Dan and the battalion escape to the streets. In the streets, the battalion ends up in a pitched battle with the aliens. Norah and Cowan (Mike Mitchell) sacrifice themselves for the rest of the battalion.
Dan and Charlie wake up the next day on a military base in the Dominican Republic. They see Dorian and he tells them he is going to die of cancer in six months, which is why he keeps going on tours. Dan meets colonel Forester and finds out it is Muri in the future. She is a little cold towards him.
Muri tells him she brought him there for a reason but he does not need to know the reason yet. She tells him that they have a special mission to get to the queen of the aliens because as a female she is immune to the toxin that she had created, even though it works on the males.
Dan wants to know what happened in his life but Muri refuses to tell him. A team have trapped the queen Whitespike. Muni wants it captured so as she can create a fatal toxin. The alien fights, killing multiple soldiers but eventually, they capture it. Muri is not happy when Dan helps, telling him he could jeopardise the mission.
She tells him why she is cold towards him and how he left her and her mother when she was a teenager. A few years later he was dead. Awkward. Later, at a different military base, Muri is working on creating the toxin with the heavily sedated queen in the room. Because that seems really safe…
Dan comes and assists her. Muri continues to run tests, the results improving every time. Muri tells Dan why he is there. He needs to take the toxin back to the past and recreate it. Muri finds the formula. This, strangely, brings the queen to life and she summons all of the aliens to attack the base. Why they did not attack before is anyone’s guess.
Muri and Dan head for a helicopter as the aliens’ attack. The queen comes after them having been freed by her subjects. The aliens kill everyone on the base. Dan is close to returning to the past. Muri gives him the toxin. The queen grabs Muri. Dan grabs on to Muri and tries to save her but is sent back to the past.
Dan tells Hart that they need to replicate the toxin and send it back to the future. Hart tells him that the jump link to the future is broken. Later, Dan speaks to Emmy about their daughter in the future and their failure to find a solution.
Emmy who, it turns out, thinks a bit, works out that the aliens could be on the planet earlier. Of course, they could. Dan goes and sees Dorian, who had collected an alien spike on his first mission. Charlie examines the spike and finds volcanic ash on it. They need a volcano expert and….yes really, they talk to Martin.
With Martin’s help, they work out that the aliens are frozen in the Russian tundra. Dan goes to see his father and asks him to help pilot a covert mission to Russia because he has a plane. A military plane. They head to Russia and find the aliens in an underground cavern, all in hibernation. They begin to inject the toxin into the aliens but the screams of the dying ones wake up the rest.
Dorian tells Dan to leave. He will blow up the ship. No one else leaves. Dan goes after the queen. Dorian blows up the ship killing all the aliens and the crew except for Dan, James and Charlie. Dan and James battle against the queen. No idea where Charlie is.
James and Dan keep fighting but Dan eventually kills the queen. Charlie reappears. Dan returns home and introduces Muri to her grandfather. The end.
Final thoughts: The Tomorrow War is a passable, if not particularly creative, alien invasion film. It is too damn long but not unwatchably so. Directed by Chris McKay and written by Zach Dean, The Tomorrow War is almost an alien invasion film by numbers. There are scary, violent aliens, global stakes, the world pulling together, a heroic everyman and the repair of relations.
This is a film that just ticks boxes without ever giving the audience anything different. The hive/queen device is so overused in alien films and a lazy trope. I actually do not believe they pay anyone to create ‘aliens’ anymore as in every film they are now generic, screeching, multi-tentacled, razor-teethed fiends.
Chris Pratt brings a five out of ten Pratt performance, barely needing to get out of second gear for this. Yvonne Strahovski is as good as ever but does not have anything to do. As I say, The Tomorrow War is not terrible but is not very good either. If you are a lover of alien invasion films you might enjoy this, otherwise, at a bum-numbing two-hour-and-twenty-minute runtime, you might want to give this one a miss.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags action, Amazon, film, review, scifi, writingLeave a comment on The Tomorrow War – review
Fatale – review
Brief synopsis: a successful married sports agent’s life is thrown into turmoil after he has a one-night stand in Las Vegas. Returning home after his trip to Vegas, he gets assaulted in his home one night. The detective looking into his case turns out to be the same person he had a one-night stand with.
Is it any good?: Fatale is too many stories rolled into one. It has elements of Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Strangers on a Train, plus a bit of The Fugitive thrown in to add to the confusion. I have watched telenovelas with fewer stories going on than in this film. Fatale is a confusing mess of a film with no story thread making sense.
That Academy Award winner Hilary Swank and Golden Globe nominee Michael Ealy are in this, tells you more about the paucity of good roles in the present production landscape than anything else.
Spoiler territory: sports agent Derrick (Michael Ealy) is hosting a small gathering with his wife, Tracie, (Damaris Lewis), a realtor, his business partner, Rafe (Mike Colter) and Rafe’s partner, Micaela (Kali Hawk). Everyone seems very relaxed except for Tracie, who is a little cold towards her husband. And snappy, definitely snappy.
The next day, Derrick is going away to Las Vegas but he tells Tracie that he can cancel the trip as he wants to work on their relationship. She tells him not to. She does not mind if he goes. The ice is not thawing on her anytime soon. Derrick heads off.
In Vegas, Derrick is worrying about his relationship and tells Rafe. Rafe, the best shady friend ever, tells him he needs to relax and enjoy Vegas. Rafe takes Derrick’s wedding ring off of him and tells him to go and enjoy himself.
Derrick wanders over to the bar. Whilst at the bar he ogles a woman dancing. She comes to the bar and is immediately hit on by a guy (Johann Sebastian). She gives him short shrift, quickly rejecting his advances.
She is more comfortable with Derrick and smiles at him, asking him why he is there. He tells her he is at a bachelor party. It is not his. He is not accustomed to chatting with women. He’s married. The woman continues to flirt with him.
He asks her if she is with a group. No, she rolls alone. Derrick mentions the fact that he is married but the music is too loud and she does not hear him. He loses his nerve. Telling the truth can be particularly difficult for men when talking to beautiful women.
She tells him her name is Val (Hilary Swank). Derrick lies – he’s all in now – telling her his name is Darren. He is not overly creative. She repeats his name back to him, whilst simultaneously giving him the crazy eyes.
The two of them dance for a bit before retiring to her hotel room for some bedroom gymnastics. Derrick wakes up the next day and eases out of the bed. As he is getting dressed, Val wakes up. He is searching for his mobile phone. Val tells him it is in the hotel safe but she cannot remember the combination.
Her memory could be jogged with an encore performance from him. After obliging, he gets his phone back. He returns home and guiltily watches his wife sleeping. Back at the office, Derrick is visited by his cousin, Tyrin (Tyrin Turner). Tyrin has come to pick up some money because Derrick is wealthy and looks after him with cash handouts.
Rafe comes into the office. He does not like Tyrin and does not think Derrick should let him come to the office. He does not try to hide his disdain, mocking Tyrin’s height to his face. A little bit rude. Tyrin leaves the partners to a meeting.
Rafe wants to sell the company to a bigger agency. They can make millions. Derrick does not want to sell, he has no desire to work for somebody else. Rafe, who wants to be rich and work less, keeps pushing the idea of selling.
Back at home, Derrick cooks a meal for his frosty wife. He wants to rekindle their relationship. Tracie thaws a little at his efforts. He is rewarded with more bedroom antics. Whilst she is on top of him, she hears a noise in the house. Derrick goes to investigate.
Derrick has armed himself with a golf club and looks around the house. He is attacked by an intruder from behind. The intruder has a gun but seems to want to beat him up rather than just shoot him. The two tussle around the kitchen, Derrick getting punched, kicked and smashed into furniture. Belatedly, the intruder tries to shoot him, having knocked him to the floor.
Derrick hits him with the golf club and the intruder runs off. Tracie, who had been watching her husband taking a kicking, screams his name. Loudly. Derrick, for his part, advises her to do what she should have done in the first place and call the police.
The police come and ask about the attack and the cameras around the property. Derrick tells them that the system does not work. What about the alarm? Tracie says she thought they put it on before going to bed. The officer says that a detective will take over their case. Derrick recognises the detective, Valerie Quilan. Val!
Derrick, who is understandably nervous, stutters as Val plays with him, asks him if she has met him before. Tracie helpfully interjects that he is a well-known sports agent. Val acknowledges that that is where she might have seen his face. She keeps up the mental pressure on Derrick, taking Tracie aside to look at the bedroom.
In the bedroom, Val asks Tracie the frankly ludicrous question, which side of the bed does she sleep on. Tracie thinks the question is odd but answers it anyway. Val sits on the bed and caresses the sheets. She asks if anyone wants to harm her husband as nothing in the house had been stolen. Tracie does not think so. They return to the lounge. Derrick is still nervous, something Val takes joy in pointing out. Val leaves a card with her contact information.
In the morning, Carter Heywood (Danny Pino) is wheeling his chair-bound daughter, Haley (Oakley Bull), to the car. His wife (Lexa Gluck) is already at the car. As Carter is putting Haley into the car, his wife indicates Val, doing her best Horatio Caine NCIS: Miami impression, is leaning on a car down the road. Carter approaches her.
He tells her she cannot be there – cannot and should not are two different things. Semantics. She wants access to her daughter. Carter is not particularly empathic, telling her she lost any right to access due to her drunken antics. Val tells him she has not had a drink since the accident. Oh, you mean the accident that paralysed your daughter? All’s forgiven then.
Carter is not in a forgiving mood and has no intention of being so in the future. He tells Val she will never be a mother to Haley again. Val remembers being passed out on the bed and rising up in a stupor to see her daughter playing with her service revolver moments before it went off.
Derrick goes to the station to see Val. He wants to know if she is going to expose him and to apologise for misleading her and lying. She tells him he is a very convincing liar, having told her his name was Darren Johnson in Las Vegas. The fact that she made a hard play for him and they exchanged no information after their hook up has no impact on her indignation. He fooled her!
Derrick returns to work and googles Val. he reads about her messy divorce from Carter. Returning home, Val is there speaking to Tracie. She tells them she just wanted to see the house in the day. Val leaves. Shortly afterwards, Tracie leaves to go and show a house. Derrick returns to the office.
Rafe thinks that Tyrin might have been the person who arranged the break-in. Derrick tells him about Val. Val gets more information about the break-in. There was no forced entry, whoever broke into the house knew how to get in. Rafe tells Derrick he is heading to the gym and asks him if he wants to come. Derrick declines continuing to look into Val.
He leaves the office a little later, Val drives up and tells him to get in the car. She has new information about the case. Couldn’t phone him then? okay…Derrick gets into the car and they head to the beach. Why he would follow her to the beach I do not know.
As they walk along the beach, Val gives him a telescope and tells him to look into a specific house. He sees Rafe and Tracie together. What if he had decided to join Rafe in the gym? Threesome? Anyhoo, Derrick is crushed. Val tells him she had a notion that Tracie might be cheating on him. She leaves him on the beach. Hope he’s got the Uber app.
Val goes to see Carter again to beg him to let her see Haley. Carter, a well connected political figure, smugly tells her that she has no chance of gaining custody. He is too well connected. Basically, he pokes the bear.
Derrick is getting drunk at home and calls Val. She invites him over to her loft apartment. He is a brilliant driver, as he speeds over in his high powered sports car whilst the worse for drink. Val tells him that Rafe and Tracie are trying to kill him. He does not believe her. He is a lovesick fool. Val lays out the evidence for him.
She tells him that they will try again. He needs to kill them first. Drunk and a little stupid, Derrick says that he feels he could in that moment. Val, who really enjoyed their coitus in Vegas, takes advantage of his emotional state to get a little more Derrick. He finishes and staggers off.
Early the next morning, Derrick is woken by the police. He is taken to the police station. Val comes and sees him in the interview room. She asks him if he did it. She knows he did not but she is a crazy bitch. He has no idea what she is talking about. She shows him crime scene photographs. Rafe and Tracie are dead, murdered.
Val brings up his colourful past, how his cousin Tyrin took the fall for him so as he could take up a basketball scholarship. Val continues to push the narrative of an emotional and angry Derrick going back to the beach house and killing Rafe and Tracie. They found his wedding ring at the scene.
The press has a field day with Derrick being a suspect in the murder of his wife and business partner. Derrick goes to the office. Only the receptionist (Hajin Cho), is there. Obviously needs the job. He sends her home. The business, unsurprisingly, starts to lose clients.
Val comes to see Derrick at his wife’s wake. He realises that she killed them. She tells him he is about to be indicted. She leaves him to the wake. Derrick speaks with his mother (Denise Dowse). She tells him that she will always be there for him until the day she dies. It’s not like she could be there for him afterwards.
She carries on spouting not at all inspirational bollocks and telling him he will always have his name. Doesn’t really matter if your name is tarnished and dog shit does it. Derrick tells Tyrin about Val and how she is behind everything. Tyrin says he can deal with it. Derrick does not want him to get involved. Tyrin is not one for listening.
Val creeps into Carter’s house and spies on her daughter sleeping. She looks in on Carter and his wife. No security at his home then. Tyrin goes to see his guy, Bumpy (Compton Menace). They both go to see Val. At home, Derrick is having a nightmare, seeing himself being drowned by Val.
Val gets blindsided by Bumpy, getting smashed in the back of the head. He drags her in front of Tyrin. Tyrin wants to know why she is hassling Derrick. Val starts to hyperventilate and choke, crying and pleading. Tyrin tells Bumpy to take her to the bathroom. Dumb thugs that they are, Val gets hold of a shotgun she has hidden in the ceiling and kills them both.
Val calls Derrick and tells him to meet her at the beach house. At the beach house, she tells him she killed Tyrin in self-defence – which is kind of true. Derrick scuffles with her and grabs her gun. Val tells him that they can blame Tyrin for the murders. Derrick is pointing the gun at her. Val keeps talking, moving forward. He shoots her twice but…they are blanks! Haha!
Val pulls out her gun. It does not have blanks in it. The gun he used was the murder weapon – obviously – and now it has his prints on it. She wants him to kill Carter Heywood. If he does that, she will give him back the gun and pin the murders on his dead cousin.
Derrick returns home. His options are not good. He goes to intercept Carter, pulling the gun on him and trying to tell him that his ex-wife, Val, is trying to frame him. Carter, a complete dickhead and egomaniac, decides to fight the man with the gun. He gets killed for his hubris.
Derrick goes to Val’s loft. He tells her that he went to warn Carter but ended up killing him. No idea why he would tell her that, it’s not like she is the most compassionate person. He is also sure that she will want to kill him, to tie up any loose ends. Val, sweetheart that she is, tells him he is pathetic – nice – and that he better take the evidenced and leave.
She then tries to shoot him in the back. In the back! Derrick, anticipating her duplicity, pulls a gun and returns fire. She wounds him but he shoots her twice, putting her down. He checks her, taking the gun out of her hand. He goes to leave the apartment. He looks back and she is gone.
She attacks him with a kitchen knife, hacking at him like a maniac. He shoots her in the chest. Before she dies, Derrick reveals that he taped her confessing to all of the crimes. He is vindicated. The end.
Final thoughts: Fatale is a mishmash of films, with no real central story. It was supposed to be about Swank’s Val desperation to get her daughter back but her Training Day approach to police work completely overshadows that.
Ealy’s Derrick is gullible and easily manipulated by everybody, even if ultimately, doing so proves to be bad luck as all his manipulators end up dead. Val’s desire for a one night stand and then her offence at finding out that he is married was a little silly. Did she expect to see him again? Of course not.
Lewis’ Tracie had too little involvement in the story for her embittered wife angle to work, especially as she seemed to be the one who was miffed even before he had his one-night stand. Colter’s Mike was pitched just about perfectly and worked for what the film was trying to do but the rest of the story did not match the strength of that character.
Written by David Loughery and directed by Deon Taylor, the film does look good and is well edited. Loughery’s script is pretty flat, most of the actors sounding as though they are just saying lines. Which they are.
Swank is pretty entertaining as the crazy Val and Colter is good as the greedy and duplicitous Rafe. Even Ealy does okay with the material he has. The acting is good from all on show, to tell the truth, but the script is so poor that most of the characters are either underwritten or unconvincing.
With a runtime of one hundred and two minutes, Fatale is not a long film and potters through its runtime pretty comfortably. Worth a watch if you like either of the leads otherwise you could probably give it a miss.
Posted on December 1, 2021 Categories film, filmmaking, films and television, writingTags film, Netflix, review, thriller, writingLeave a comment on Fatale – review | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6181952357292175, "wiki_prob": 0.38180476427078247, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1801426"} |
Juncos Racing to field second Indy 500 car for Sebastián Saavedra
Saavedra and Spencer Pigot will drive cars previously owned by KV Racing
By Matt Weaver
One day after announcing that Spencer Pigot would be its first-ever entrant into the Indianapolis 500, Juncos Racing added Sebastián Saavedra to its lineup for the traditional Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Saavedra is 26 and will drive the No. 17 AFS/Juncos Chevrolet with co-ownership from longtime supporter Gary Peterson. The Colombian last competed in IndyCar back in 2015, making five starts for Chip Ganassi Racing, including the Indy 500. His best result in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing was a 15th for KV Racing back in 2014.
Saavedra says the year off gave him an itch to scratch.
"I am very excited about this opportunity," he said via a press release. "We have been working on this project for some time now and making it a happen is a great feeling for all the parties involved. I feel very blessed to have such a unique and special relationship with AFS for nine consecutive years. In particular with 'the boss' Gary Peterson. After a year off, it is gratifying to be back on the race track. This is something I am very proud of and looking forward to.
"I want to thank Ricardo (Juncos) and the whole Juncos Racing organization. Back in January going into the new Juncos Racing shop and seeing the great manpower and the facilities gave me a lot of confidence. I’m approaching this year with the right mindset. I am looking forward to a strong month of May for both AFS and Juncos Racing."
Juncos Racing made headlines in February when it acquired the assets of the now-defunct KV Racing team, a package that included three chassis and speedway aero kits. With Pigot and Saavedra, the team’s first-ever lineup is now complete.
Team owner Ricardo Juncos believes that the tandem will work well together.
"Sebastian’s IndyCar oval and Indy 500 experience will be an asset for our team, especially considering that this will be our first year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Juncos said. "I want to thank AFS owner and co-entrant of the AFS/Juncos Racing car Gary Peterson for making this relationship possible. Gary also has a lot of experience at the Speedway, which I know will be helpful to our effort."
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Naples to Prattsburgh: Back off with wind towers
Emily McFaul
Supervisor Frank Duserick said the town of Naples is investigating what legal standing it may have to protest the placement of wind turbines planned for neighboring Prattsburgh.
“We’re not against wind towers,” Duserick said. “But we are for appropriate placement of towers. Our concern is they should have put them a minimum of 1,500 feet from the town line.”
Ecogen of West Seneca, near Buffalo, has proposed building up to 53 turbines — though the number could fall to 31 if it switches from a 1.5 to 2.5-megawatt model — in Prattsburgh in 2009.
One tower would go up on Knapp Hill less than 500 feet from the property line of a parcel John Servo owns in Naples that borders Prattsburgh. Servo, who is president of the anti-windfarm group Advocates of Prattsburgh, urged the Naples Town Board at a recent meeting to demand a 1,500-foot setback.
Servo said that Naples landowners near the town line where the wind towers are planned would effectively be prevented from full use of their property because of the noise he said turbines make. He called the Prattsburgh plan “reverse zoning for Naples.”
The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency is the lead agency responsible for determining the guidelines for the completion of the Prattsburgh wind-tower project. It has not sought input from Naples.
Duserick called SCIDA and Ecogen’s decision to place towers less than 500 feet from the town line an abrogation of Naples property owners’ rights.
“It may be legal, but it’s totally unethical and immoral,” Duserick said. “No one in their right minds would build within 500 feet of a wind turbine. The right thing to do is to get an appropriate setback.”
The Ecogen project is not related to the two wind farms now under construction in Cohocton by UPC Wind. Cohocton has a local law requiring towers to be at least 1,500 feet from a residence. The town of Prattsburgh, however, has no standard minimum distance for tower placement.
Setbacks for the Prattsburgh project vary from a minimum of 489 feet, intended as a safe fall zone should a tower collapse, to a maximum of 1,375 feet, to cut down on noise to nearby residences. The setback from Servo’s property was based on the distance outlined for a seasonal residence because the property generates its own power rather than hooking into the power grid.
UPC Wind has said that at a distance of 750 to 1,500 feet, the noise level of a wind turbine is comparable with a refrigerator, and that at 800 to 900 feet, a working turbine’s noise is masked by the wind. However, Servo said that studies of completed wind farms in Pennsylvania have determined that the noise from the turbines, at the source, was measured at up to 105 decibels, closer to the noise of a tractor or generator.
Servo also reminded the board that the towers have flashing lights for aviation purposes that can impact nearby homeowners.
Servo has visited operational wind farms such as the one in Fenner, Madison County, during his research on the impact of the turbines to nearby homeowners. “When I visited Fenner, the noise was shocking at 2,300 feet away,” he later said. “If they put the towers next to my son’s house, it will be unlivable. My main house may be unlivable. We moved to the country to get some peace and quiet.”
Servo also told the board that there was precedent, in the case of the Glimmerglass Historic District in Herkimer, in which the Public Service Commission acknowledged a distance of five miles as a standard for how close wind turbines could be set near a historic site.
There are several sites within the village of Naples that are registered as historic sites, such as the Memorial Town Hall and the Maxwell Building and tower behind the Naples Pharmacy. The sites are less than three miles from the planned wind towers on Knapp Hill.
Matt Dallas, a spokesman for Babcock & Brown, a company affiliated with Ecogen, confirmed that the five turbines on Knapp Hill are scheduled for construction sometime in 2009. He said the placement was selected because the turbines should be more effective at this site.
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Oil companies see unprecedented profits as consumer prices soared
On Friday, Exxon Mobil booked an unprecedented $17.85 billion profit for the second quarter and Chevron made a record $11.62 billion.
By CATHY BUSSEWITZAP Energy Writer
High gas prices are shown as a pedestrian waits to cross the street in Los Angeles, June 16, 2022. Oil companies were swimming in record profits the last few months. They were benefiting from high energy costs at a time when Americans struggled to pay for gasoline, food and other basic necessities. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil companies swam in record profits over the last few months at a time when Americans struggled to pay for gasoline, food and other basic necessities.
On Friday, Exxon Mobil booked an unprecedented $17.85 billion profit for the second quarter and Chevron made a record $11.62 billion. The sky-high profits come one day after the U.K.’s Shell shattered its own profit record.
Soaring energy prices have rattled consumers and become a political flash point. Last month, President Joe Biden said that “Exxon made more money than God this year. ”
Consumers are facing high fuel prices not just at the pump, but soaring energy prices are being baked into delivery costs, which is driving up the cost of everything from apples to toilet paper.
Inflation is already changing where Americans go and what they eat. It’s also changing the way they consume energy.
Two-thirds of Americans changed their driving habits and lifestyle, with the vast majority choosing to drive less or combine errands, said AAA spokesman Andrew Gross. Among thowse surveyed by AAA, 2% said they bought an electric vehicle since March, he said.
“They have really altered their lifestyles to cope with these high prices,” Gross said.
Exxon, based in Irving, Texas, increased its oil and gas production as crude prices hovered above $100 a barrel. Revenue at Exxon skyrocketed to $115.68 billion, up from $67.74 billion during the same quarter last year.
Natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices are also elevated due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions against Russia, a major supplier of natural gas. Many European nations have been scrambling for alternatives to Russian natural gas, and have been competing for boatloads of LNG, driving up prices for natural gas both globally and in the U.S. Inflation in Europe has also been surging, including soaring costs for energy.
Surging prices have been a boon for investors, including energy executives of whom receive a massive share of compensation through company shares. Exxon earned $4.21 per share, exceeding analyst expectations of $4.02 per share, according to analysts polled by Factset. Chevron earned $5.95 per share, exceeding analyst expectations of $5.16 per share.
Shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. jumped 4% at the opening bell Friday and Chevron rose 8%
Exxon CEO Darren Woods attributed the company’s success to its investments in oil and gas fields in Guyana and the Permian Basin, as well as its investments in liquefied natural gas, which has been in high demand globally.
“Given the long investment cycle times, growing supply will not happen overnight,” said Woods in a conference call Friday.
Gasoline prices rose particularly quickly during the quarter because there are fewer refineries operating in the U.S. than before the pandemic, which drove energy consumption down severely.
Exxon plans to increase refining capacity by about 250,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2023 by expanding its Beaumont Refinery. That represents the industry’s largest single capacity addition in the U.S. since 2012, the company said.
To alleviate Europe’s energy crisis, Exxon sees potential for fracking and unconventional gas in Germany, and “there’s an opportunity where certainly ExxonMobil could play a key role,” Woods said.
Exxon also plans to increase its exports of LNG to Europe. Golden Pass, its LNG export facility under construction in Port Arthur, Texas, will increase LNG exports from the Gulf Coast by 20% when it starts up in 2024, he said.
“Bringing more LNG supplies to help offset some of the Russian gas going into Europe will be another really critical step forward in diversification of supplies for Europe,” Woods said.
Climate scientists and residents who live near Gulf Coast LNG export facilities warn that expanding fossil fuel infrastructure could exacerbate disasters caused by climate change.
Exxon expects to increase oil-equivalent production in the Permian Basin by 25% this year compared to 2021 and to eliminate routine flaring in the Permian by the end of the year.
First Trader Joe’s union approved at Massachusetts store
Ships must slow down more often to save right whales, regulators say
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Rockstar Genealogist Winners – We’ve Come a Long Way Baby
Posted on September 20, 2014 by Roberta Estes
John Reid, over this past week, has announced the full complement of Rockstar genealogist winners.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners in each category and to make a couple of comments, because I found the distribution of winners very interesting.
John divided the competition into several geographies plus DNA. Really, I kind of viewed the geographies like specialties because you need a different set of skills and knowledge to search Irish records, for example, than you need to search US records. The same holds true for the DNA category.
Several people placed in multiple categories. In particular, of the 10 winners in the DNA group, 7 of these folks also placed in the USA category. That’s pretty amazing, especially because this field is relatively new. Of the people in the DNA category, 3, I didn’t consider specifically as genetic genealogy specialists, although they are clearly genealogists, and one person I didn’t know at all. Two are very well known and clearly incorporate genetic genealogy into a genealogy career.
What was my criteria for a genetic genealogist? If I recognized the name as a participant in any of the several online lists and forums that are specifically focused on genetic genealogy, or know of them to be a consistent contributor on the genetic genealogy topic, I considered them a genetic genealogist. Pretty simple.
Of the DNA winners, Judy, Megan and Dick were included in 2 or more categories, with Dick Eastman being included in 5 of the 6 categories. We can certainly say that Dick is well-known worldwide.
For me, though, the take home story in all of this isn’t about who is or isn’t a genetic genealogist, but it’s about blending and assimilation. When genetic genealogy was first introduced into the genealogy landscape, we were utterly thrilled when one word was uttered in a magazine or newspaper or anyplace public about DNA and genealogy. We were genetic missionaries, trying to convince genealogy societies and conferences that they needed to allow us to speak about this new brick-wall-crashing technology. It was always an uphill battle and we weren’t always welcome.
Today, just over a decade later, DNA is all over the news media. Just this week alone there have been 4 or 5 major stories involving population genetics, found families and other DNA related topics. And that’s not counting the numerous blogs, some dedicated to genetic genealogy and population genetics, and some incorporating genetic genealogy as a tool.
In another few days, this summer/fall’s second TV series focused on genealogy, including genetic genealogy airs. Spencer Wells has become a household word, and DNA in words and images is now used in ads, an acronym and image that many adults didn’t even know 15 years ago and certainly wasn’t a part of everyday vocabulary. Today, everyone knows what a double helix is.
From my perspective, assimilation is good. In fact, it’s the ultimate goal. For genetic genealogy to become entirely mainstream, DNA testing has to become a tool that no genealogist would be without and everyone knows how to use appropriately. Every genealogist needs to be a genetic genealogist at some level, because DNA testing can benefit every single genealogist – their own testing and that of others as well.
From the looks of the results this year, maybe we’ve arrived. We went from no genetic genealogists in the winner’s circle last year to 7 this year. Of the DNA category winners, perhaps some of those folks have redefined our idea of what a genetic genealogist really is.
In several cases, genetic genealogy seems to be a dual specialty, like Judy and Megan. People who are considered to be top notch in other categories are ALSO genetic genealogists. Both Judy and Megan were in the USA winning group last year, but since they weren’t exclusively or specifically genetic genealogists, I didn’t include them as such. However, the public voting this year clearly shows they are both – and very well respected in both fields.
Perhaps the day has arrived when genetic genealogy is a specialty, just like with Irish or Scottish or English records, under the larger genealogy umbrella, not separate anymore. Maybe John was right and genetic genealogy is its own specialty “country” in the larger genealogy world and genetic genealogy experts will exist for folks needing specialized assistance, but all genealogists will be a genetic genealogist at some level.
Yea, we’ve come a long way baby. It feels good to be part of the mainstream. We don’t have to scrap to be heard anymore, nor do our relatives have to wonder if we are crazy. Ok, maybe they still wonder….but it’s no longer the genetic part of genealogy that begs that question:)
Here are the top 10 winners in each category, along with links to John’s blog where statistics and more information about each category are given:
1. Roberta Estes
2. CeCe Moore
3. Judy G. Russell
4. Megan Smolenyak
5. Bennett Greenspan
6. Blaine Bettinger
7. Dick Eastman
8. Tim Janzen
9. D. Joshua Taylor
10. Stephen P. Morse
6. Thomas W. Jones
8. Thomas MacEntee
9. John Philip Colletta
10. Bennett Greenspan
England/Scotland/Wales:
1. Janet Few
2. Kirsty Gray
3. Else Churchill
4. Celia Heritage
6. Debbie Kennett
7. Michael Gandy
8. Chris Paton
9. Nick Barratt
10. Jackie Depelle
Ireland:
1. Steven C. Smyrl
4. Lisa Louise Cooke
6. Glenn Wright
7. Geoff Rasmussen
9. Brenda Dougall Merriman
10. Lisa Alzo
Australia/New Zealand:
1. Shauna Hicks
2. Judy Webster
3. Jill Ball
5. Pauleen Cass
8. Cyndi Ingle
8. Sharn White
10. Nick Barratt
10. Kirsty Gray
10. Pat Richley-Erickson (DearMyrtle)
Thanks John for running the poll. In addition to honoring awesome genealogists, it shows us just how fast the landscape is changing, the progress we’ve made and the impact of social media, in particular, blogs, which makes regular publication and communication easy. There couldn’t be a better time to be a genealogist!
Mea culpa – I thought John was finished with publishing winning categories. Obviously not, because just as this article went to print, I received notification of two additional categories, Commonwealth and International. Obviously these categories are not included in the commentary, above.
10. Celia Heritage
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15 thoughts on “Rockstar Genealogist Winners – We’ve Come a Long Way Baby”
Patti Hacht on September 20, 2014 at 4:36 pm said:
Congrat’s again. You must have written this before you discovered YOU were in the international winners too. YAY for you. And for Genetic Genealogy.
robertajestes on September 20, 2014 at 4:40 pm said:
You’re right, Patti, I did. I’ve made a slight amendment at the end.
Elaine Moore Lunsford on September 20, 2014 at 5:44 pm said:
Congrats Roberta!! I sure have enjoyed DNAeXplained blog this year. Especially the
Roberta vs the shower. It’s amazing to see how you go about your research and how
much you accomplish. Genealogy on!!
Elaine Moore Lunsford
Nancy Frey on September 20, 2014 at 6:19 pm said:
Congrats Roberta for heading the DNA List with a second in USA. I was also pleased to see my friend Janet Few in the England category. I feel honoured to know two Rockstar genealogists.
Carol Preece on September 20, 2014 at 6:41 pm said:
Your pop-up is so annoying. I am already subscribed, yet it kept popping u. In frustration I put in my e-mail to which a pop-up said, “You’re already subscribed” but still no X to delete. Common courtesy, please.
I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. I hope you know that bloggers use a platform, such as WordPress or Blogger, and that we have no control over popups or anything else like that.
Richard Slaughter on September 20, 2014 at 6:51 pm said:
This is really awesome. I think one other category that should be included next year is Genetic Genealogy Search Angels for those of unknown parentage. Not sure of the title. Lots of headway being made there and mostly starting with only the adoptees amended birth name.
You might drop John a note at his blog, or comment on his postings with your suggestion.
Vernon Smith on September 20, 2014 at 7:15 pm said:
Great news and well-deserved accolades for you.
Mark A. Beasley on September 20, 2014 at 7:17 pm said:
Congrat’s Roberta.
“When we die, what we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains immortal.” -Albert Pike
Jason Lee on September 20, 2014 at 10:52 pm said:
“…DNA testing has to become a tool that no genealogist would be without and everyone knows how to use appropriately. Every genealogist needs to be a genetic genealogist at some level, because DNA testing can benefit every single genealogist – their own testing and that of others as well…”
Yes. And this is especially true for professional genealogists.
Carla Wallain Davis on September 22, 2014 at 9:02 pm said:
Congratulations Roberta! An honor well deserved!!!
Carla Wallain Davis
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Baile › [RSF News] Statements › CT, USA: Éire Nua U.S. 2016 Campaign Kickoff
CT, USA: Éire Nua U.S. 2016 Campaign Kickoff
“The flame of Irish Nation-Hood has not been extinguished and it is time for new political action in the United States. We owe our gratitude to all steadfast Irish American activists who have supported and continue to support the cause of Irish Freedom. So many have sacrificed so much for the cause of Ireland. However, the 32 county Irish Republic is unfinished business; it remains an on-going goal. Your renewed commitment to getting the British out and creating one United Ireland as declared in 1916 is needed.
Today’s blueprint for an All-Ireland Republic as envisioned by the patriots of 1916 is Éıre Nua – New Ireland. An Ireland worthy of the lofty ideals of the 1916 Proclamation, based on true political, social and economic democracy. It would be an honor if you would contribute your good will to the Éıre Nua Campaign in the U.S.
Originally authored in 1971, Éıre Nua seeks an All-Ireland Constitutional Convention leading to a four province, federal democratic Republic comprising all of Ireland. Many of you have acted in similar capacities before and we call on you again to join and unite with the Éıre Nua Campaign. It is now time for a well-coordinated push. The Éıre Nua goal is to have the appropriate U.S. Congressional Oversight Committee listening to our Irish American voices seeking recognition of the Éıre Nua – New Ireland program as recorded in the U.S. Congressional Record in 1973.
The National Irish Freedom Committee (NIFC) has re-launched the Éı re Nua Campaign in the U.S. and it is drawing endorsements and memberships. We ask you to join an Éıre Nua Campaign in your home state and work with others to learn the ideals via presentations, teleconferences, planning activities and participating in promotional events explaining the awareness of Éıre Nua – New Ireland.
We are also soliciting ideas and contacts for educational forums/gatherings of interested people to whom we can present the Éıre Nua Program to as an alternative to the current situation in Ireland. To discuss what you can do, please contact an Éıre Nua U.S. Campaign activist at [email protected] or visit the campaign web sites at: www.eirenua.net or www.irishfreedom.net .”
Peadar Mac Maghnuis and Seosamh O Flatharty, Eire Nua U.S. Co-Chairs
Crioch/End
‹ The Revolution of 1916 Remains Unfinished Business
RSF New Year Statement ›
Ranganna:[RSF News] Statements | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.577564537525177, "wiki_prob": 0.422435462474823, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line547177"} |
« Int’l Lab Network to Assess Covid-19 Vaccines
Biotech, Analytics Companies Partner on Drug Discovery »
Wireless Sensor Detects Multiple Covid-19 Indicators
By Alan, on October 2nd, 2020
RapidPlex sensor, in orange, and circuits (Caltech)
2 Oct. 2020. Biomedical engineers designed a lab-on-a-chip sensor that quickly detects SARS-CoV-2 viruses in saliva or blood, as well as antibodies and indicators of disease severity. The device, from the bioelectronics lab of California Institute of Technology professor Wei Gao, is described in yesterday’s issue of the journal Matter.
Gao and colleagues are seeking a portable device for fast point-of-care or home diagnostics of Covid-19 infections, but can also provide other important information about the status of the disease in the patient, such as the presence of antibodies to the virus and proteins indicating inflammation in the body from an infection. Gao’s lab studies bioelectronic devices, particularly materials and robotics for wearable systems providing real-time health monitoring. In November 2019, Science & Enterprise reported on wearable sensors developed by the lab to detect gout from sweat.
The researchers’ solution, called RapidPlex, is a microfluidics, or lab-on-a-chip device, with laser-cut graphene sensors. Graphene is very light, strong, chemically stable, and only one atom in thickness, arrayed in a hexagonal pattern. The material can conduct both heat and electricity, with many applications in electronics, energy, and health care. The lasers create tiny pores in the graphene that enable the sensor to require only a small quantity of specimen fluid, either saliva or blood serum.
The graphene sensors then are primed with proteins for detecting or measuring the relevant biological indicators. For detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, RapidPlex tests for the protein capsid or outer shell of the virus. To test for antibodies, the sensors measure immunoglobulin M and G, IgM and IgG, antibodies that appear in response to SARS-CoV-2 viruses. And to detect the severity of the disease, the sensors measure for the presence of c-reactive protein, made in the liver in response in inflammation, a characteristic response of the body to Covid-19 infections. The sensors then send their measures wirelessly over a Bluetooth link to an external reader, such as a smartphone app.
The Caltech team pilot-tested RapidPlex on blood and saliva samples from small numbers of patients hospitalized with Covid-19 infections, who were also tested with so-called gold-standard diagnostic methods, such as the RT-PCR test to detect SARS-CoV-2 viruses, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA systems found in most licensed diagnostic labs that identify and measure the number of antigens in blood samples.
The researchers say RapidPlex returns results in about 10 minutes. The results show a high correlation between the RapidPlex findings and conventional test results. The strong correlations are found in all three test measures: SARS-CoV-2 virus detection, antibody measures, and inflammation biomarkers. And perhaps most encouraging, says the team, results for saliva samples match the findings for blood samples.
“This is the only telemedicine platform I’ve seen that can give information about the infection in three types of data with a single sensor,” says Gao in a Caltech statement. “In as little as a few minutes, we can simultaneously check these levels, so we get a full picture about the infection, including early infection, immunity, and severity.”
The researchers plan to expand testing to larger numbers of Covid-19 patients, as well as assess the device’s durability for long-term use. “Our ultimate aim really is home use,” notes Gao. “In the following year, we plan to mail them to high-risk individuals for at-home testing. And in the future, this platform could be modified for other types of infectious disease testing at home.”
Study Testing Wearables Data for Covid-19 Clues
Univ Lab, Company Developing Phone-Based Virus Sensor
Quick Crispr-Based Test Detects Malaria in Blood
Point-of-Care Covid-19 Diagnostic Shows High Accuracy
Breath Analysis Sensor Licensed to Detect Covid-19
New products biomedical, Covid-19, engineering, life sciences, materials science, medical device, physical sciences, preclinical, semiconductors, university
2 comments to Wireless Sensor Detects Multiple Covid-19 Indicators
Process Tests Thousands of Covid-19 Samples at Once | Science and Enterprise
[…] Wireless Sensor Detects Multiple Covid-19 Indicators […]
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2020-21 Hunting Season
COURTESY PHOTO Scott Vaughn and grandson posing with a hog shot in Northern Tyler County October 30, 2020.
By Caleb Fortenberry
Covid-19 has had people recreating more this past year than in the last several years and with White-tailed deer muzzleloader season being over, there have been plenty of eager East Texan sportsmen wanting to show off a few bagged game animals.
For years, newspapers have been publishing sportsmen and their game. Here recently, showcasing has been less than normal. Maybe it’s time to start showing off those game that hunters haven’t been able to brag on for some time.
Here’s a list of a few of the harvests from East Texas, or people from the area:
1. Tina Barnes
Tina Barnes - 9 point, with crossbow in Chester, TX on October 24, 2020.
2. Dusty Sturrock
Dusty Sturrock - 9 point in Chester, TX on November 15th, 2020
3. KimSturrock
Kim Sturrock – 8 point in Chester, TX on November 8th, 2020
4. Mark Keller
Mark Keller - 9 point 14.5”, spread in Colmesneil, Tx on November 27, 2020
5. Buck Odom
Buck Odom – Hog shot between Woodville and Chester on December 17, 2020.
6. Nathan Vaughn
Nathan Vaughn - 8 point buck at the Diamond T Ranch in Warren, Texas on January 3, 2021.
7. Scott Vaughn
Scott Vaughn - 10 point buck in Northern Tyler County November 8, 2020.
8. Ashton Davis
Ashton Davis - Doe, harvested in Texas hunters club in Soda, TX.
9. Paul Oliver
Paul Oliver - 10 Point with a 19 Inch Spread at the Texas Hunter Club in Soda, TX.
10. Hunter Burris
Hunter Burris, 9 years old from Danbury, TX holding his first deer, 7-point, on January 2, 2021 in Crockett, TX.
Brady addresses ‘border crisis’ at town hall
ALTON PORTER | HCC Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tx 8) addresses a crowd of constituents at a Monday town hall held at the Moosehead Café in Crockett.
By Alton Porter
CROCKETT – US Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Tx 8) held a town hall with an audience in Crockett at the Moosehead Café on Monday highlighting his presentation with a talk about what he termed a “border crisis” on the southern border of the United States.
“So, right now, I know President (Joe) Biden is in denial, but we’ve got a humanitarian crisis at the border,” Brady said.
“We’ve got a security crisis at the border. The number of those illegal (immigrants)—whether they’re kids coming without their parents or single people coming across that border—has just surged since the election,” he continued.
Brady also spoke about Biden’s halting of the border wall construction and the reinstatement of a release policy for undocumented border crossers.
“You’ve got to shut the back door of illegal immigration so you can keep open the front door of legal immigration,” Brady said.
Brady also spoke of issues with law enforcement surrounding the border issue. He said the number of home break-ins have surged in Uvalde, where police officers are engaged in 10 to 12 dangerous car chases each week and city officials are seeing property damage.
“This president, President Biden, he incited this border surge. He needs to take responsibility for it,” he said.
Before speaking about the border issue, Brady touched on several other issues, and he responded to comments and questions from attendees.
One point he addressed is a bill that passed the House to nationalize state and local elections, which he said would effectively ban states from having voter ID laws, allow same-day voter registration and ballot harvesting.
“Plus, when they take over our state and local elections, I guarantee you we’re going to have less integrity in our elections, not more. And we’ve got a problem right now where a lot of Americans just don’t trust election results,” he said.
In answer to a question, asking what Senate Republicans are doing to stop this, Brady said, “They couldn’t do anything about that COVID bill because they (senators) did it with a simple majority (vote). As long as Democrats don’t get rid of the filibuster and Republicans hang tight, those bills don’t go farther. What our (Republicans) role is right now (is that) not a single Republican voted for Covid (stimulus) payoff. No one voted for the (elections) nationalization. No one voted to defund the police, which was the next bill. No Republican voted to ban state right to work laws,” he said.
Brady also addressed “two more gun-control bills that will do nothing to keep us safer—do nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, just make it harder for law-abiding citizens to be able to defend themselves,” both of which passed the House two weeks ago.
“We all … want these mass shootings to end,” he said. “Those two bills they passed, which I opposed, won’t do a single thing to stop a single mass shooting.”
Broadband project sees some funding
Graphic courtesy of Pixabay
By Chris Edwards
LUFKIN – A project that has been three years in the making for the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) moved from the planning stages into one signaled by a green light.
Broadband funding for the 12-county East Texas region that DETCOG services has been high on the council’s list of priorities since 2018, and last Thursday, a chunk of a $32 million round of General Land Office funding for various projects will be allocated toward a broadband project in northern Newton County.
“We are thrilled to learn that our grant application to construct a rural broadband network in northern Newton County has been approved,” Lonnie Hunt, DETCOG’s Executive Director, said.
He called the Newton project’s funding award “a significant step toward realizing our ultimate goal of ensuring every home and business in Deep East Texas has reliable and affordable broadband.”
The project claims $9,008,688 of the overall pie, and Hunt said that DETCOG is awaiting word on another larger grant application, which if approved, would enable the agency to construct a rural broadband network in all 12 member counties.
“It’s very, very doable,” he said last week on a conference call before the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Stakeholders and added that the larger grant application may take a couple of months.
Hunt described the project as intimidating, even scary, when DETCOG first began the initiative in early 2018, but now it is a must. “It must be done here in Deep East Texas,” he said.
All of the DETCOG member counties signed resolutions in support of the initiative. The Newton County-specific request came from funding after flooding in 2016. The other grant DETCOG is awaiting an answer on is from the GLO’s Hurricane Harvey recovery funds.
Hunt acknowledged the state legislature, which has placed priority on broadband access throughout the region.
Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) filed identical bills in the Senate and House (SB 506 and HB 1446) to address the issue by forming a state broadband office, creating a comprehensive statewide plan and identifying which areas have the greatest need.
Hunt said that broadband access is a big project, which will take time to complete. With the Newton project, he said a contract will have to be put in place with the GLO, and then there is additional engineering work and environmental assessments before any construction can begin.
“We will move as quickly as we can but will also take the time to make sure this project is done right. Since we began the DETCOG broadband initiative three years ago, we have sought out the best experts available to make sure we have a solid plan that will be successful. We already have our engineering and grants management teams in place and ready to start once we have a contract in place,” he said.
Bulldogs knock down 12 treys in blasting Elkhart
LARRY LAMB | HCC Crockett’s Delvin Walker launches one of his seven three-pointers against Elkhart in the district opener.
By Larry Lamb
You’d never know the Crockett Bulldogs had only played two games before their district opener.
The Bulldogs swooshed in 12 three-point shots as they raced past Elkhart 86-39 Tuesday, Dec. 15 at The Hop in Crockett.
“This was only our third game with probably just 15 practices,” said Bulldog head coach Jordan Caldwell, noting that Elkhart had played eight games and came in with a 4-4 record.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 25-10 first quarter lead and increased it to 50-29 by halftime. Outscoring the Elks 18-9 in the last two quarters, Crockett carried a 68-28 lead into the final period.
The Bulldogs put on a three-point shooting clinic behind junior Delvin Walker, who buried seven from behind the arc. Jadyn Collins drained two while Tayshawn Simon, Ty White and Ja’Lyne Carruthers each nailed a trey for a team total of 12.
Walker finished with 25 points to pace the Bulldogs. White tossed in 13 points, all in the first half, while Keshun Easterling and Jadyn Collins booked 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Rounding out the scoring were Chris Purvis with eight, Courtney Byrd six, Carruthers four and Simon three. Carlester Nealy, Bre’Dron Tucker and Jalen Patton chipped in two apiece.
Elkhart sophomore Cale Starr pumped in five treys and accounted for 28 of the Elks’ 39 points.
“I’m very satisfied with the way we played tonight. As a unit everybody did good. Elkhart played a heck of a game,” Caldwell continued.
He said individual standouts were Delvin Walker with his seven three-pointers, point guard Ty White and guard Tayshawn Simon. “Delvin’s only a junior so his future playing basketball is very bright,” added Caldwell.
Caldwell noted the Bulldogs only practiced once before their 56-36 season opener loss New Waverly.
“Hats off to New Waverly. They’re a great team,” said Caldwell, noting that New Waverly has earned a spot in the state polls. New Waverly (9-1) was ranked No. 14 in the TABC poll issued Dec. 21. Crockett was ranked No. 7 in early polls but has since dropped out.
“We’re still learning. We’re obviously young but we have a lot of players who came back. I think we definitely have the potential to go far,” said Caldwell.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 2-0) closed out pre-holiday action by beating district rival Groesbeck 87-46 on Dec.18.
Before resuming district play Jan. 5 at Buffalo, Crockett will travel to Pollok Central Dec. 29 and host a varsity home game Dec. 31 at noon against the East Texas Archers, a team comprised of homeschool students in the Lovelady area.
Campbell wins elite bull riding event
COURTESY OF PBR Boudreaux Campbell
KANSAS CITY, MO – For Crockett’s own Boudreaux Campbell, the hard work just keeps paying off in the form of shiny new buckles, prize monies and fame on the bull riding circuit.
Campbell, who is the reigning PBR (Professional Bull Riders) “Rookie of the Year” just won another highwater mark in his sport: the PBR’s annual “Unleash the Beast Caterpillar Classic,” which took place Sunday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., an elite event that a PBR news release referred to winning as “the bull riding equivalent to a walk-off grand slam.”
The 22-year-old Campbell has skyrocketed up in the world standings of bull riders from #53 to #14, trailing fellow East Texan Cooper Davis, from Jasper, out of a field of 45 top competitors. Davis placed second in Sunday’s event with 97 points, while Cambpell’s first place finish amounted to 143 points and a check for $27,636.74.
Since beginning his PBR career in 2018, Campbell has accumulated winnings of $541K and won three PBR events. His standings in the world-ranked bull riders last year were #3, and last year he won the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls contest, among others.
Cambpell has been active in rodeos since the age of 4, when he started mutton bustin’, and since graduating from Lovelady High School in 2017, he has made a steady climb to the top of the professional rodeo world.
Cambpell went for a flawless three-for-three in the events that comprise the two-day “Unleash the Beast.” In round one, he had the second-best score of 88.5 when he rode Hard Shot. His results in round two put him atop the leaderboard when he made the 8 on Dr. Campbell for 86.75 points, according to the news release.
It was his ride atop the fierce bovine Woopa that gave him 95.5 points and put him where he needed to be in the overall standings for his sport.
Fans can watch all of the action from Unleash the Beast on RidePass, at RidePass.com or via the mobile app.
Centerville boys win 20-2A title, Groveton takes second
Larry Lamb | HCC Lovelady’s Shaun Easterling took district titles in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles during the District 20-2A Track and Field Meet at Centerville recently.
The Centerville Tigers hosted the District 20-2A track meet and claimed the varsity boys championship during competition that required an extra day to complete due to inclement weather.
The Tigers racked up 181 points to claim the title by a comfortable margin over Groveton, which tallied 135.5 points. The Lovelady Lions were hot on the Indians’ heels with 134 points followed by Grapeland (66), Jewett Leon (46.5), Latexo (30) and Slocum (0.
Field events, running prelims and 3200-meter races took place Monday, April 5 at Tiger Stadium. Athletes returned Thursday for the running finals at 6 p.m. but just over an hour into the session threatening weather prompted meet officials to call a 30-minute lightning delay. Subsequent threatening weather in the area forced the delay to be extended and eventually the remaining six events were postponed until Friday morning.
The top four finishers in each event advanced to the area meet Thursday in Madisonville. The top four performers at area qualify for the Class 2A Region III meet April 23-24 at Palestine High School.
Results of the district meet are as follows:
District 20-2A Track Meet
Monday, April 5 - Thursday, April 8 - Friday, April 9
Team Standings- 1, Centerville 181. 2, Groveton, 135.5. 3, Lovelady, 134. 4, Grapeland 66. 5, Jewett Leon 46.5. 6, Latexo 30. 7. Slocum 0.
100 dash – B. J. Lamb, Grapeland, 10.94. 2, Kaden Dunn, Centerville, 11.10. 3, T. Cornett, Leon, 11.32. 4, Ashton Hargrove, Latexo, 11.47. 5, Phoenix Bowman, Groveton, 11.57. 6, D. Watson, Leon, 11.57.
200 dash – 1, T. Cornett, Leon, 22.30. 2, Cadarian Wiley, Grapeland, 22.82. 3, Ashton Hargrove, Latexo, 22.83. 4, Andrew Newman, Centerville, 23.12. 5, D. Watson, Leon, 23.41. 6, Angel Villareal, Centerville, 23.50.
400 dash - 1, Donivan Moehr, Centerville, 50.97. 2, Dillon Denman, Centerville, 54.68. 3, Haden Lee, Groveton, 54.78. 4, Jackson Jefferies, Lovelady, 54.90. 5, James Williams, Groveton, 56.68.6, Halston French, Centerville, 56.75.
800 run – 1, Kasen Jeitz, Centerville, 1:59.18. 2, Joel Pomeroy, Lovelady, 2:11.61. 3, Haden Lee, Groveton, 2:13.62.4, Luke Carter, Centerville, 2:17.11. 5, Blake Patrick, Lovelady, 2:18.00. 6, Cyris Gray, Centerville, 2:18.02.
1600 run – Logan Ray, Latexo, 5:16.11. 2, Jarrett Loftin, Groveton, 5:21.59. 3, Luke Carter, Centerville, 5:22.02. 4, Enrique Cruz, Centerville, 5:23.21. 5, Cyrus Gray, Centerville, 5:23.34. 6, Caden Alexander, Groveton, 5:26.56.
3200 run – 1. Logan Ray, Latexo, 11:44. 2, Jarrett Loftin, Groveton, 11:52. 3, Cyris Gray, Centerville, 11:53. 4, Luke Carter, Centerville, 11:54. 5, Caden Alexander, Groveton, 12:07. 6, Enrique Cruz, Centerville, 12:12
110 hurdles – 1, Shaun Easterling, Lovelady, 15.34. 2, Brett Wagnon, Centerville, 16.84. 3, Bradi Minter, Centerville, 18.15. 4, King Jones, Groveton, 18.56. 5, Ian Utz, Groveton, 19.18. 6, Tyler Stanford, Centerville, 19.46.
300 hurdles – 1, Shaun Easterling, Lovelady, 42.28. 2, Brett Wagnon, Centerville, 42.37. 3, Karter Kornegay, Centerville, 43.75. 4, King Jones, Groveton, 45.37. 5, Tuff Reynolds, Groveton, 46.34. 6, Brandon Fry, Lovelady, 52.05.
4x100 relay – Grapeland (Riley Murchison, Cadarian Wiley, Lekarian Smith, B.J. Lamb), 44.60. 2, Centerville (French, Newman, Kornegay, Moehr), 44.61. 3, Groveton (Phoenix Bowman, Byron Thomas, David Ayala, Malachi Stewart), 45.31. 4, Lovelady (Conner Martinez, Cole Harris, Slade Murray, Keivon Skinner), 45.85.
4x200 relay – Leon (Leggett, Noey, Watson, Cornett), 1:34.99. 2, Groveton (Navid Pat, Bryon Thomas, David Ayala, Malachi Stewart), 1:36.88. 3, Centerville (Roberts, Newman, Villareal, White), 1:36.88. 4, Lovelady (Conner Martinez, Cole Harris, Slade Murray, Keivon Skinner), 1:37.12.
4x400 relay – 1, Centerville (Jeitz, Denman, White, Moehr), 3:32.62. 2, Lovelady (Joel Pomeroy, Keivon Skinner, Shaun Easterling, Cole Harris), 3:36.84. 3, Groveton (David Ayala, Navid Pat, Chase Blair, Haden Lee), 3:47.52.
Long Jump- 1, B.J. Lamb, Grapeland, 20-10 ¾. 2, Keivon Skinner, Lovelady, 19-6 ½. 3, T, Cornett, Leon, 19-5. 4, Halston French, Centerville, 18-5 ¼. 5, Andrew Newman, Centerville, 18-4 ¾. 6, James Williams, Groveton, 17-9 ¾.
Shot put – 1, Tyler Allen, Groveton, 40-2. 2, Jabez Fills, Centerville, 38-2. 3, Levodrick Phillips, Centerville, 36-6. 4, Jason DeCluette, Grapeland, 35-10 ½. 5, B.J. Kelly, Centerville, 35-4. 6, Dayvian Skinner, Lovelady, 35-2 ½.
Discus – 1, Eric Castillo, Lovelady, 112-4. 2, Shaun Easterling, Lovelady, 110-10 ½. 3, Tyler Allen, Groveton, 99-10 ½. 4, Jason DeCluette, Grapeland, 99-0. 5, Dayvian Skinner, Lovelady, 91-2 ½. 6, Holley Zantayl, Centerville, 90-2.
Triple jump – 1, Riley Murchison, Grapeland, 39-0. 2, Slade Murray, Lovelady, 38-7. 3, Chase Blair, Groveton, 37-2 ½. 4, Navid Pat, Groveton, 37-1. 5, James Williams, Groveton, 36-11 ½. 6, T. Kirschner, Leon, 36-8.
High jump – 1, Shaun Easterling, Lovelady, 5-10. 2, Keivon Skinner, Lovelady, 5’10. 3, Dillon Denman, Centerville, 5-8. 4, Malachi Stewart, Groveton, 5-8. 5, Chase Vycital, Groveton, 5-6.
Pole vault – 1, Cole Harris. Lovelady, 11-6. 2, Dalton Chandler, Groveton, 10-0. 3, Haden Lee, Groveton, 9-0. 4, James Webb, Centerville, 8-6. 5, Jackson Jefferies, Lovelady, 8-6. 6, Brett Wagnon, Centerville, 8-6.
Chamber 2020 award winners recognized at banquet (GALLERY)
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber Board Chairperson Carey Minter and Executive Director Liza Clark presented a Chairman’s Award of Excellence certificate to a representative of each member organization of the chamber.
Members of the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce held their 2021 Membership Awards Banquet, themed “A Starry Night,” Tuesday, March 23, at which several chamber members, ambassadors, sponsors and volunteers were recognized for their support and service to the organization last year.
2020 chamber awards presented at the banquet included Volunteer of the Year to William Clark; Ambassador of the Year to Carolyn McKnight, Crockett Economic & Industrial Development Corporation executive assistant; and Director of the Year to Carey Minter, who is chairperson of the chamber’s board of directors and Houston County Appraisal District chief appraiser.
In addition, the chamber’s Citizen of the Year award went to Pastor Audice Leon Wallace, of Good Shepherd Fellowship Church and the Business of the Year award was presented to Good Shepherd Fellowship Church.
New chamber members Tiffany Wiggins-Blackmon of Crockett Printing, Chip Miles of Styles by Miles and Joshua Hamelinck of Hamelinck Guns each were presented a Rising Star award, a new chamber award that recognizes outstanding businesses that joined the chamber in 2020.
These award winners were also presented certificates of recognition Congressman Trent Ashby (R-Dist. 8) of the Texas House of Representatives.
A Chairman’s Award of Excellence, another new chamber recognition certificate honoring chamber members for their outstanding service and contributions to the chamber, was presented to representatives of each member organization of the chamber.
Minter also recognized former chamber board member and former Houston County Courier Managing Editor Toni Browning for the superb service and support she contributed to the chamber for many years before recently resigning from the chamber and Courier to relocate to Italy.
The banquet also featured chamber fundraising auctions, raffle drawings, dinner prepared by chef Margaret Broughton and her staff, a video presentation about the Covid-19 pandemic and Governor Greg Abbott’s response to it, a moment of silence for persons who were impacted by the virus, an invocational prayer by Pastor Darryl Bennett of Eastgate Family Church and live music performed by East Texas artist Levi Kitchen.
Crockett Medical Center was the event’s sponsor and the Piney Woods Leo youth organization, with advisor Ellen Brooks, served as event volunteers.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber Executive Director Liza Clark presented the Volunteer of the Year award to William Clark.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber board member Leanne Henson presented the Ambassador of the Year award to Carolyn McKnight.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber Executive Director Liza Clark presented the Director of the Year award to board of directors Chairperson Carey Minter.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber board member Greg Beaver presented a Rising Star award to Joshua Hamelinck.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber board member Greg Beaver presented a Rising Star award to Chip Miles.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber board member Andrea Hill presented the Citizen of the Year award to Pastor Audice Leon Wallace.
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber Board Chairperson Carey Minter and Executive Director Liza Clark presented a Chairman’s Award of Excellence certificate to a representative of each member organization of…
ALTON PORTER | HCC Chamber board member Carole Martin, right, presented the Business of the Year award to representatives of Good Shepherd Fellowship Church. Pictured, from left to right, are Najah…
Christmas angels in Kennard (video)
TONI BROWNING | HCC The anticipation was almost unbearable as the crowd waited for the Kennard Volunteer Fire Department parade to appear down the main street on Saturday, Dec. 5. Lights in the distance could be seen flashing, sirens could be heard and children eagerly asked parents how much longer they had to wait. The parade, when it appeared, did not disappoint anyone.
By Toni Browning
The feel-good Christmas movies are already available on your television, cooler weather is here, hot chocolate is being enjoyed, Thanksgiving has passed, children and teachers are looking forward to holiday breaks and the friendly town of Kennard has recently enjoyed their annual Christmas celebration! Are you feeling warm and cozy yet?
Kennard residents have long been huge supporters of Christmas cheer, fun and worship. This year, the town celebrated the Christmas season at the Crossing Over the Cochino’s 33rd annual Christmas and Trade Days event. The “Angels over the Pines” themed event was held Saturday, Dec. 5.
The fun started with a house decorating contest named, The Angel’s Spirit. Everyone in Kennard was encouraged to decorate their homes to be judged.
Video of the Kennard Tree Lighting
The Christmas tree, placed near the city sign, was festively decorated by school children to symbolize the hope, love and true meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ. Community members also helped decorate the tree with homemade or store-bought pinecones and angels. Coming together at the annual tree lighting helps residents show and feel community support.
Cool clear skies made the day of the festival perfect as vendors filled the sides of the road with their wares and food. Each year items such as woodwork, crafts, gifts, garage sale items and food are sold. Tummy warming gumbo was on offer by the Tabernacle of Praise Church.
The 4th Annual Fire in the Hole Chili Cook-off fund raiser benefiting the Kennard Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) invited local chili cookers to showcase their best recipe in the hopes of winning over the tasting judges.
As if this all-day fun were not enough to get you in the spirit, the KVFD sponsored a huge lighted parade that began at 6 p.m. The parade is touted to be the largest in Houston County!
Festival goers enjoyed floats, vehicles, wagons, horses, motorcycles, bicycles, 4-wheelers, police cars and many fire trucks from around the county.
Christmas is a time for children. Some children’s families may not be as fortunate as others. Several community members collected toys that will be given to local children. New, unwrapped toys were dropped off at Fellowship Hall (formerly Country Church Café), Curry’s Grocery and the Citizens National Bank in Kennard.
Another donation opportunity featured a Husqvarna Z254F zero turn mower. The funds from the tickets sold will help host the event in 2021.
CISD election results canvassed, trustees sworn in
ALTON PORTER | HCC Longtime CISD trustees Roy E. Johnson, center, and Karen Norman, right and newly elected trustee Gerald Colter, left, were sworn-in to begin their new terms on Monday.
CROCKETT – Two longtime members of the Crockett ISD board of trustees and one newly elected member began serving new terms on the school board at a special meeting Monday.
The two trustees who were already on the board—Vice President Roy E. Johnson, who represents District 3, and Secretary Karen Norman, the representative of District 4—were unopposed in their bids to continue serving on the board.
So, they did not have to run for reelection, and members of the board canceled the May 1 election to fill the District 4 position at a Feb. 22 meeting and canceled the election for the District 3 position at a March 29 meeting, therefore, Johnson and Norman were automatically re-seated on the board.
Gerald Colter, a Crockett High School graduate, Texas Department of Transportation retiree and current parttime employee of the city of Crockett, is the newly elected trustee and he fills the Super District 7 position on the board, which was held by the late Lela Pearl Houston Wheeler, who served as board president until her death last November.
Colter received 150 votes—98 in early voting and 52 on election day—in the May 1 election to fill the District 7 position, defeating Pastor Johnny Taylor, who has been employed 30-plus years as a school administrator, teacher and coach, and received 137 votes—89 in early voting and 48 on election day.
The election results for the District 7 position were canvassed and approved at Monday’s meeting, the primary reason why the special meeting was called.
After the canvass and approval of the results for the District 7 position election, the three trustees who are beginning new terms—Johnson, Norman and Colter—were administered the Crockett Independent School District Board of Trustees oath of office before they took their seats among the other board members and began serving the new terms.
The oaths were administered by Rhonda Kendrick, CISD’s executive secretary and human resources director.
In other business, the trustees voted to reelect officers who were already serving in board leadership positions giving them the opportunity to continue serving in those positions: District 5 Trustee Dr. John Garner, president; Johnson, vice president; and Norman, secretary.
“I feel honored that the board has elected me to serve (as president) again,” Garner, who will soon begin his 11th year on the board, said in a statement to the Courier after the meeting was adjourned. “And I’ll do my best to lead in a way that will be similar or in a manner worthy of Mrs. Lela Wheeler, who preceded me.”
“I appreciated her very much and I’m real excited about having a full complement of board members again. I appreciate Mr. Colter’s willingness to be able to serve on the board. I look forward to this time that we can serve the community and the district. I appreciate those that are willing to serve on the board,” he said.
CISD trustees accept $3.2m bid for juvenile center
ALTON PORTER | HCC Crockett High School junior students Katlyn Marshall, left, and Keaton Crabtree addressed CISD trustees at Monday night’s meeting asking that the wearing of facemasks not be mandatory for students as they attend this year’s prom at the school.
CROCKETT – Crockett ISD trustees have accepted a bid to sell the district’s Juvenile Justice Center property for a substantially higher price than they paid to purchase the facility a little over three years ago.
The Crockett Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to accept a $3.2 million bid, submitted by Merkabah, Inc., headquartered in the Houston area, to purchase the former Crockett State School property at a meeting Monday evening.
The school district’s officials paid $650K in cash and turned over the district’s $61,000 bus barn/transportation facility to the city of Crockett to pay for the property, located across Loop 304 from the district’s administrative office building in January 2018.
“We did invest some money in that property,” School Board President and District 5 Trustee Dr. John Garner said.
Merkabah’s owner has indicated that he plans to have the property developed into a residential facility, but not for the same level of students that some of the past organizations that owned the property served, CISD Superintendent John Emerich said.
Although the campus will be a juvenile facility, plans are for it to be a place for foster care youth, the CISD superintendent said, adding, so it won’t be for kids that have been sent there because they’re in trouble.
“It will be much different,” Emerich said. “They (Merkabah employees) take care of the education of their students, so it won’t be something where we’re constantly (having) kids coming to our school. That will not be the case. It will not be a burden on the school, which has been something that has happened here in the past.”
Garner said the Merkabah company and its owner were vetted quite extensively, and it was determined that they will be good owners and developers of the property.
The motion that passed, approving and accepting Merkabah’s bid, after the trustees reconvened the open, public part of the meeting following an executive session, was made by Board Secretary and District 4 Trustee Karen Norman and seconded by District 1 Trustee Ansel Bradshaw.
“I’d like each one of us to consider the transition that will have to take place and how that will affect our students’ positivity by selling this property,” said District 2 Trustee Stephen Tuggle. “It is an asset, but we have an investment that we are, I guess, cashing in, for lack of a better word. And we also have an opportunity to use those funds for the betterment of our students here in Crockett High School.”
“I think it is worthy to note that this bid and the proposed action that will take place there is something that will benefit not just the school district but the entire community with jobs coming to the area,” Emerich said. “And I think this is a win-win all the way around.”
“I feel that all the board members understand the history and the heritage that property has brought in this community,” said Garner. “We take this action very seriously. It’s been considered extensively. We feel that, as the bid process is ongoing, it’s an opportunity, as Mr. Tuggle said, not only for the district but for the Crockett community, the company of value, and very worthy of our consideration.
“Any action that’s taken regarding the property is done after due diligence and our effort to make the best use of this entrusted property for the district as well as the whole community. We feel like that’s what will occur if this purchase proceeds.”
Emerich said, “There are some things in the agreement that we’re going to get some time to continue using … after the sale goes through to give us time to build new facilities.”
He noted that he visited some of the other facilities that belong to the Merkabah owner and he feels “very comfortable about this gentleman and his operation (and) what they were doing.
“This company has some big plans to do a lot of additional building. When everything is up and going, it’s going to bring a lot of jobs to the Crockett community.”
“It will help infuse additional revenue and business activity,” Garner added. “That’s one of our main goals.”
Mask resolution adopted
CISD trustees voted to adopt a resolution regarding the wearing of face coverings by students and employees at the district’s schools.
In offering the motion to adopt the resolution, Bradshaw read a statement, saying, “Masks are recommended for all staff and students. Temperature checks will be continued to be done on all campuses for staff and students. And any visitor visiting Crockett Independent School District during instructional time are required to wear facemasks while on district property.”
During public comments, Crockett High School junior’s Katlyn Marshall and Keaton Crabtree, daughter of District 6 Trustee Josh Crabtree, addressed the trustees and asked that it not be mandatory for students to wear facemasks at this year’s prom. They requested that wearing facemasks to the event be optional.
In his monthly report to the trustees, Emerich noted that they will have a special meeting Monday, May 10, beginning at 5:45 p.m., to canvass the results of the district’s trustee election. Emerich reported that 136 voters had cast ballots early—103 in person and 33 by mail—in the election as of Monday evening. Early voting ended Tuesday; election day is this coming Saturday, May 1.
Seeking election to the Super District 7 position are Johnny Taylor, who has been employed 30-plus years as a school administrator, teacher and coach, and Gerald Colter, a Crockett High School graduate, Texas Department of Transportation retiree and current part-time employee of the city of Crockett.
The trustees voted to approve personnel recommendations submitted by Emerich and his staff: the hiring, resignation and reassignment of district employees. Among those employed is Judy Leediker, who was rehired to fill the position of Crockett Junior High School principal.
In a district continuing education credit board training report, Rhonda Kendrick, CISD executive secretary and human resources director, noted that all of the trustees are in compliance with the Texas Association of School Boards training requirements.
Among items requiring action, the trustees approved changing a district’s previously scheduled half day of school from Sept. 24, the previously scheduled homecoming day, to Oct. 8, the rescheduled homecoming day, on the district’s 2021-22 school calendar.
In addition, the board members approved the district’s annual Allotment and TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) Certification for the 2021-2022 school year and approved continuation of a legal services agreement with Powell Law Group, LLP, the district’s legal counsel firm.
CISD’s SHAC actions cut back due to COVID, but not totally halted
ALTON PORTER | HCC Six members of CISD Superintendent John Emerich’s Superintendent’s Student Cabinet, pictured above, shared comments about their experiences on the cabinet at a board of trustees meeting Monday.
CROCKETT – The usual activities of Crockett ISD’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) were curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic during the 2020-2021 school year, however, the council was still able to take a few policy-related actions and kept tabs on health-related issues, according to Superintendent John Emerich.
In his monthly report to the Crockett Independent School District Board of Trustees, at a meeting Monday, Emerich explained that the district’s SHAC is an advisory committee, and its purpose is for members to “look at health-related things and bring recommendations to me.
“They had their last meeting of the year” recently and there was “a couple of big items from that meeting.
“Obviously, there were a lot of things this year that we were not able to do because of Covid. So, some of the things in the family and community involvement area—we didn’t have much there.
“But a couple of big things I do want to point out is that we had an audit this year of our nutrition services, and they passed for that. And so that was part of this. I think Ms. (LouAnn) Turner (Chartwell Food Service director of child nutrition) was on that committee.
“One thing that came out of that was any policies that have to be in place—they actually wanted to look at some of those. But we passed on all of that.”
Emerich continued, “They did talk about the mask policy. Of course, that’s been taken care of by your action last month and also by the governor’s action now. So, nothing more to say there.
“And finally, one of the other things they did is they listened to a presentation that they recommended. And I want to tell you that, based on that recommendation, we allowed a company to come in. They’re actually in district today (Monday, May 24) and they will be in district tomorrow.
“That comes in and does imaging on our employees if they so choose. It’s a voluntary thing if they want to do that. And I know we’ve had a lot of staff members take advantage of that. I don’t know the final number is going to end up being, but a lot of people thought that was a good thing to do.
Next, Emerich announced that a district Employee Appreciation Breakfast, instead of a luncheon this year, is scheduled for Friday, June 4, at which, end of year awards will be presented to winning staff members, beginning at 9 a.m.
Emerich reminded meeting attendees that June 17 is the deadline date to nominate persons for Ring of Honor recognition this year. He said no nominees had been received as of Monday.
During his report, Emerich also introduced six members of the Superintendent’s Student Cabinet and gave them the opportunity to speak about the experiences they’ve had and the input, suggestions, concerns and opinions they’ve voiced to Emerich as cabinet members to help themselves, other students and community members.
The cabinet members introduced were senior student and President Katie Bradshaw, junior and Vice President Katlyn Marshall, senior and Secretary Gloria Hernandez, senior and Community Service Chair Khushi Bratt, junior Keaton Crabtree and junior Trinity Meadows.
“I cannot thank these ladies enough for what they’ve done for the district in giving their time this year,” Emerich said.
Aiken hired as asst. supt.
Following discussion in an executive session at the meeting, the trustees voted to approve the hiring of a new CISD Assistant Superintendent, Brian Aiken.
In other meeting agenda items requiring action, the trustees voted to accept the donation of a laptop computer, delivered by Jason Barron on behalf of ABM, the district’s commercial janitorial services contractor.
The computer is to be presented to a Crockett High School graduating senior in June. “We will continue to do this throughout the year,” Barron said. Other donations also were accepted by the trustees.
In other business, the trustees approved a food service management proposal approving the continuation of Chartwell as the preparer and provider of food for district students.
“We were just very glad and honored to be part of Crockett ISD,” said Turner, the Chartwell director. “And we have been for 15 years. We appreciate it.”
In another action, the board members adopted a resolution, extending the district’s depository contract with a local bank.
The trustees also approved the district’s school year 2021-2022 contracts with the Region VI Education Service Center.
During public comments, community residents Dr. Robert Grier and John Jenkins addressed the trustees, touching on various matters, including the sale of the district’s Juvenile Justice Center property, being more transparent in board discussions and decision-making, prayer and moral teaching at CISD schools, teachers’ aides to enhance elementary education, transgender girls competition and establishing and enhancing vocational training.
City receives highest audit opinion
ALTON PORTER | HCC Molly Abele, of Axley & Rode, announced that Crockett city officials were issued an unmodified audit opinion and presented highlights of the city’s 2020 audit report to city councilmembers at a meeting Monday.
CROCKETT – Crockett city officials have again received the highest audit opinion an accounting and auditing firm can issue to them.
The city officials were recently issued an unmodified opinion by the Axley & Rode, LLP, certified public accounting firm for their financial performance during fiscal year 2020, as has been so the past several years.
They were informed of the opinion by Molly Abele, an Axley & Rode certified public accountant and audit partner, who presented the city’s previous year audit report to members of the city council Monday evening.
“Management is responsible for the presentation and of these financial statements,” said Abele. “And our responsibility is to issue an opinion on them. We are issuing an unmodified opinion, which is the highest opinion we can give. It states that everything here is presented fairly in all material respects.”
Presenting some of the report highlights to the councilmembers, Abele first referred to a part of the report that focused on “governmental activities, which is your general fund, service fund and grant fund; and your business type activities is your water and sewer,” she said.
“As far as your total assets for the current year compared to last year, they are up just approximately over $3 million. The majority of that, between both your general activities and the business type activities, is your construction you have going on. And most of that is around $4 million as well.”
Total liabilities citywide was up approximately $2.4 million, Abele said, adding, “You’re drawing down on that USDA loan and you’re down to about $2.5 million. So, that was the majority of the increase of the total liabilities there.
“Overall, your total net position, including those assets and that debt that you acquired is just over that $10 million. You can see that the majority of that is in your capital assets for the city. So, over 60% of that $10 million is your capital assets.”
Referring to activity for the general fund, total revenue in 2020 was pretty comparable to that in the previous year—nothing unusual there, Abele said. “Your expenditures increased approximately $200,000. The majority of that was the increase in payroll as well as an increase in general administration and police. Most of those were payroll.
“Your overall expenditures for the general fund were $5.3 million…, and your net increase in the general fund was just over $76,000.”
Concerning the city’s general fund budget, which is how officials operate the city, Abele said, “You were under budget on your revenues just slightly, but you were (also) under on your expenses about $186,000 for the year.
“So, you did a very good job of staying within your budget for the year. With the increase in your sale of assets, which is not necessarily a budgeted item, you had an overall change from where you expected to be which was a net loss of $75,000 to a net increase of $76,000. So, you had a good year for what 2020 was.”
Referring to a slight change in the 2020 audit report, Abele said, stemming from federal money and grants, the city received over $750,000 in federal revenue for the year. “We had to come in and do what’s called a compliance audit,” she said.
“So, we picked some of those programs. We go in-depth in some of that detail and we audit that particular program. The largest one that we reviewed this year, of course, was the USDA loan. “We have no issues or compliance findings with that to report to you, so everything was working well with that grant.”
In other business, the councilmembers voted to adopt a resolution denying a distribution cost recovery factor rate request recently made by Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC, and that addresses other related matters.
“Oncor is submitting a request to recover a little over $97 million in their distribution cost for this past winter storm,” said City Administrator John Angerstein, noting that had the councilmembers not approved the resolution or responded to Oncor’s request, city officials would automatically have had to participate in the company’s distribution cost increases for the city of Crockett.
“By doing this (adopting the resolution), we push it (Oncor’s request) back. (Now) they (Oncor executives have to go through the Public Utility Commission proceedings and justify the cost and their expenses and also retain a special counsel that they will have to pay for that represents the city to help negotiate those policies to spread it out over a longer period of time and/or argue some of those costs, whether they were necessarily winter-related damages,” Angerstein said. “So, it makes them go through a little more checks and balances before they increase the electricity rates in our city.”
During the public comments part of the meeting, Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher noted that early voting began Monday and continues through next Tuesday for the city’s May 1 election. Precincts 1 and 2 council member seats are up for election.
Commissioners receive judge’s disaster declaration
ALTON PORTER | HCC Houston County Judge Jim Lovell issued a Declaration of Local Disaster for the county in response to the recent severe winter storms that wreaked havoc on the county and the county’s commissioners voted to receive the declaration as information at a meeting held in person and via the Zoom video communications app Thursday morning.
Houston County was declared a disaster area by the county judge as a result of the major winter storms that wreaked havoc throughout the county a couple of weeks ago and the declaration was received by county commissioners.
Saturday, Feb. 20, Judge Jim Lovell issued a seven-day Declaration of Local Disaster for the county. And five days later, at a meeting of the commissioners court, following explanations by Lovell and county Emergency Management Coordinator Heath Murff, the commissioners voted to pass a motion to receive as information the declaration.
The declaration stated that “the County of Houston, on the 14 day of February, AD 2021 suffered widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life, with massive amounts of debris creating a public health threat (or there is imminent threat of same), resulting from the arrival of a major winter storm that has impacted Houston County and caused freezing temperatures, snow and ice accumulations.”
It continued, the storm “essentially prevented access and safe passage on many roadways and caused long term electrical power and utility outages and major infrastructure and property damage thus creating a public safety hazard.”
Because the county judge determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property, he declared the state of disaster.
The declaration noted that the county’s emergency management plan was implemented, and “Whereas Section 418.108 of the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, as amended, Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated, Government Code Chapter 418, provides that the state of disaster shall continue for a period of not more than seven days of the date hereof, unless the same is continued by consent of the Commissioner’s Court of the County of Houston, Texas.”
In other business, the commissioners scheduled a public hearing for April 13, “regarding the Tax Abatement Agreement with Houston County and Lincoln Lumber Crockett, LLC, to modify or terminate the agreement and to consider entering a Tax Abatement Agreement with the City of Crockett and Lincoln Lumber Crockett, LLC.”
The commissioners and Crockett city councilmembers approved a tax abatement agreement with Lincoln Lumber several weeks ago, and the Crockett officials later approved a related agreement that had been amended. County officials are now considering whether to terminate their original agreement and approve the amended one that was adopted by the city.
“What happened is Houston County and Lincoln Lumber have a tax abatement agreement…,” said County Attorney Daphne Session. “That was approved in November of 2020 based on the application for a tax abatement.
“The city entered or approved a tax abatement agreement in November of 2020 also with Lincoln Lumber. Then, Lincoln Lumber made some acquisitions and made some new purchases of land in the area.”
The city did a new tax abatement agreement—modified the old one based on the acquisitions and new purchases—and approved it in January, Session said. “And the city would like the county to be included in their tax abatement because their tax abatement they approved is for the city of Crockett, for Houston County and Lincoln Lumber, which was not done here. We have our own agreement with Lincoln Lumber. They would like for the county to join their tax abatement agreement and have just one tax abatement agreement for all three.”
The public hearing had to be set to modify or terminate the county’s current tax abatement agreement with Lincoln Lumber, Session said, adding, the city’s agreement and county’s agreement are very similar, with the exception of the addition of the acquisition of the new land by Lincoln Lumber on the city’s agreement.
Lincoln Lumber is building a high-tech sawmill in the 200 block of West Austin Street and on two adjoining properties.
In another action, the commissioners approved a new contract with Piney Woods Sanitation for solid waste collection service in unincorporated areas of the county.
They voted to approve motions appointing commissioners Jimmy Henderson, Gene Stokes and Willie Kitchen to negotiate for right of way and construction/temporary easements in their precincts as necessary for the Texas Department of Transportation bridge improvement project.
Henderson is to negotiate for easements on County Roads (CR) 1060 and 1050 for the Hickory Creek tributary, Stokes for easements on CR 3585 for the Wright Creek tributary and Kitchen for easements plus relocation of utilities on CR 2215, CR 2230 and CR 2120 for Little Elkhart Creek and Big Elkhart Creek tributaries.
The commissioners received as information racial profiling reports from county law enforcement agencies and an audit report for the fiscal year ending 2020 for county Emergency Services District No. 2.
They approved an order declaring an exemption from bidding necessary to preserve and protect the public health and safety of county residents as authorized under Local Government Code 262.024(a)(2).
The commissioners voted to approve acceptance of a $2,000 donation from the city of Kennard for Precinct 4 and to authorize the making of necessary budget amendments.
And the commissioners heard annual summary interpretation presentations of 2020 AgriLife Extension Service education programs given by Jo Smith and Tasha Brent, extension agents of the county’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Corey J. Hicks, of the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program.
During her presentation, Smith noted that the Houston County Fair and Youth Livestock Show is still one for late March and early April.
Covid-19 regional update
FILE PHOTO Covid-19
By ETxN Staff
Polk, San Jacinto, and Tyler Counties
In the Trauma Service Area designated H, which includes Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler counties, the amount of hospital bed usage by COVID-19 patients is down to 10% as of Wednesday, April 21, according to figures from the state department of health services.
Of the ICU beds available, 14% are being used as of Wednesday by COVID-19 patients.
The figure for daily cases reported as of Wednesday was 13 and the cumulative totals for the trauma region are 11,591 cases reported since reporting began in 2020, and 698 total COVID-related fatalities.
Since reporting of active cases ceased in early March, concurrent with the lifting of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mandate, Tyler County reported 1,213 total cases and 34 deaths since March of 2020 when the county’s first confirmed case was reported."
According to emergency management coordinator Heath Murff, as of April 30, the total number of Covid vaccination doses that had been administered in the county was 10,431.
He added, “6,500 of those have been first doses; 4,633 of those are fully vaccinated people.
“Houston County Emergency Management has hosted three vaccinations clinics, and we have vaccinated 600 citizens.”
Murff said DSHS staff members “used to give us information daily, as far as, how many cases we had, how many active cases we had, how many recoveries we had, all that kind of specific (information) for Houston County, and they quit doing that.”
**More information for up-to-date numbers can be found at:
https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83
Crockett boys edge Madisonville in home debut
LARRY LAMB | HCC Madisonville’s Casey Holliday (4) tries to wrestle the ball away from Crockett’s Chris Purvis-Torres during a non-district game Tuesday, Dec. 8 at The Hop. The Bulldogs won 48-44 to even their record at 1-1.
Crockett and Madisonville’s hardwood reunion after a two-year hiatus exceeded fans’ expectations.
The Bulldogs fended off the class 4A Mustangs in the closing minutes to win their home opener 48-44 Tuesday, Dec. 8 at The Hop.
Madisonville had an early 9-7 lead but never led again as Crockett went ahead 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mustangs got within a point several times over the next three quarters, but Crockett led 24-19 at the break and 35-31 at the end of three.
After Madisonville opened the fourth with a bucket to make it a two-point game, Delvin Walker heaved in a three-pointer and Jadyn Collins canned a bucket to put Crockett up 40-33 with 6:27 left.
After the Mustangs cut it to five, Walker slammed down a dunk to put Crockett up 42-35 with 5:15 to go.
Back-to-back buckets by Madisonville made it a three-point game before Tayshawn Simon swooshed in a trey to give the Bulldogs some breathing room with a 45-39 lead at the 3:30 mark.
The Mustangs refused to go away quietly, scoring two straight buckets and a free throw to get within a point, 45-44, with 2:41 left.
After several scoreless possessions by both teams, Walker went back to the hole with :30 left to give Crockett a three-point cushion. Simon went to the line with :18 left and hit the front end of a one-and-one for a 48-44 lead.
Madisonville missed the front end of a one-and-one with :13 left but got the rebound and put up an errant shot that was knocked out of bounds. The Bulldogs inbounded with :11 left and ran out the clock.
Six Bulldogs scored, but none were able to crack double figures. Collins (1 trey), Simon (2 treys) and Walker (1 trey) scored nine apiece. Chris Purvis-Torres had eight, Tyvondrick White seven (1 trey) and Courtney Byrd rounded out the scoring with six.
Madisonville’s Casey Holliday was the only double-digit scorer for either team with 16.
This was only the second game for the Bulldogs while the Mustangs had already played six games.
After starting their district schedule against Elkhart and Groesbeck before the holiday break, the Bulldogs will sandwich in a pair of non-district games with Pollok Central on the road Tuesday, Dec. 29 and East Texas Archers of Lovelady at home on Dec. 31. The Archers team is comprised of home school athletes in the area.
Crockett gets back to district action Jan. 5 at Buffalo.
Crockett burglary suspect arrested in Huntsville
MUGSHOT Castein Austin Corley
CROCKETT – Crockett Police last week identified one of the suspects in a burglary that occurred earlier in the month.
According to a news release from CPD, a 20-year-old Crockett man, Castein Austin Corley, was arrested on March 12 by the Huntsville Police Department for warrants issued by CPD. The warrants were for Burglary of a Habitation and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
The burglary Corley was named as a suspect in occurred on March 4 in the 500 block of Anson Jones and was one of several to occur at the home within the last few months.
Police say that suspects have taken in excess of $200K in cash and property.
Footage from the victim’s home DVR system allowed law enforcement to obtain videos depicting the crime as it occurred, and the videos are available on the Crockett Police Department Facebook page, as well as the Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers page. The footage shows four suspects making unlawful entry into the home through a window.
Both charges Corley faces are felonies, with the conspiracy charge a first-degree felony and the burglary a second-degree felony.
According to the investigators working the case, the investigation is still ongoing, with the arrests of the other suspects to follow.
CPD is asking the public to help with this case. Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the remaining suspects is urged to call the Crockett Police Department at 936-544-2021, or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 936-639-TIPS. Crime Stoppers tipsters can remain anonymous and can be eligible for a cash reward if information leads to an arrest.
Crockett Chamber $100 weekly drawing (VIDEO)
TONI BROWNING | HCC The Crockett Area Chamber Executive Director Liza Clark, left, and Ashley Keenan, a chamber ambassador and Houston County Courier marketing director, conducted the drawing for the fourth week’s raffle Monday, Feb. 1, inside the office of the Courier, one of the sponsors of the event.
By Alton Porter and Toni Browning
The Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a 10-week series of free giveaway drawings, called “10 in 2021”, through which lucky visitors to chamber-member businesses can win $100 each week.
Chamber Executive Director Liza Clark visited the Houston County Courier office to draw the winning name on Feb. 1. Ashley Keenan, a chamber ambassador and Houston County Courier marketing director, assisted Clark by drawing the winner’s name.
Linnea Robison, a visitor to Betty Boop’s restaurant, was the $100 winner of the fourth week’s drawing. Robison will receive $100 in cash and the restaurant will receive a free E-Blast from the Chamber. The E-Blast is sent out to all chamber businesses by email and contains information that is important to the winning company.
Each Monday at 10 a.m., a winner’s name will be drawn at a sponsoring business. A live video is streamed on the Chamber’s Facebook page at that time.
Sponsoring the drawings are Smitty’s BBQ, Knox Furniture, Bella’s Gifts and the Houston County Courier.
For information on how you can participate in the free raffles, contact Clark by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 936-544-2359.
Crockett knocks off unbeaten Malakoff
LARRY LAMB | HCC Crockett senior Ty White glides to the basket during the Bulldogs’ 60-57 area round victory over Malakoff.
Malakoff came into the area round unbeaten and ranked No. 9 in the state but the Crockett Bulldogs weren’t intimidated.
Coach Jordan Caldwell’s squad toppled the Tigers 60-57 Thursday night in Palestine and advanced to the third round for a clash with No. 14 Lorena at noon Saturday in College Station.
Closing out the first quarter with an 8-0 run, the Bulldogs took a 15-5 lead.
Malakoff got within seven in the second quarter but trailed 27-16 at halftime.
The Tigers started the third quarter by rattling off six unanswered points to make it a five-point game. Crockett answered with its own 6-0 spurt to push the lead back to 11, however, Malakoff got within six on two other occasions.
Falling behind 41-33 with 2:36 left, the Tigers staged an 8-1 run to make it a one-point game with :42 left.
Crockett scored with :25 left in the third to go up 44-41.
The Bulldogs pulled away in the fourth with an 11-2 run that stretched their lead to 55-43 with 3:44 left.
Senior Ty White splashed in a three-pointer and a deuce while senior Chris Purvis canned a bucket for a nine-point lead with 4:17 left.
The Tigers called a timeout and then heaved up a three-pointer that rolled around the rim several times before falling out.
After Purvis grabbed the rebound, White was fouled with 3:44 left and went to the line for two technical shots and two free throws. He nailed three of four, putting Crockett up by 12.
Baskets by Tayshawn Simon and D.J. Walker kept the Bulldogs in front by 11 with 1:20 left, but Malakoff finished strong with a 9-1 run that included a pair of buckets and five-of-six free throw shooting to close the gap to three with 11.4 seconds left.
The Bulldogs, who only made one of seven at the line down the stretch, missed an opportunity for two insurance free throws with 3.6 seconds left.
But their three-point lead was enough to punch their ticket to the third round.
White, seven of 11 at the line, led the scoring with 16 points. Walker tossed in 11 and Jadyn Collins rounded out double figures with 10.
Courtney Byrd finished with nine, all in the first half. Purvis had six and Keshun Easterling had four while Simon and Ja’Lyne Carruthers chipped in two apiece.
The Bulldogs made 13 of 27 free throws for 48 percent and Malakoff hit 17 of 32 for 53 percent.
Nathan Jones led Malakoff with 16 and Jay Mosley had 14. Klayton Copeland, nine of 13 at the line, followed with 13. Karter Fuller, who fouled out with 3:41 left, scored seven.
“We knew 24 (Copeland) and 4 (Fuller) were their best players. I’ll take losing but I’m not going to let just one or two players beat me. I know both are a heck of a player but I’ve got 13 guys on my team,” said coach Caldwell. “We mainly focused on 24 defensively. They had several people in foul trouble early and that helped us a lot.”
“We came out slow in the second half and Malakoff went on that run. We had some guys that were making mistakes and getting down on themselves. I told the guys at this point it’s win or go home, so they rallied together and we got the W as a team. That’s what matters,” added Caldwell.
Crockett leaders updated on winter storm damage and recovery
ALTON PORTER | HCC Crockett City Administrator John Angerstein, above, updated the city’s councilmembers on last month’s winter storm events and water losses and announced that the city has recovered from most of the damage done to its water system by the storms at a meeting Monday evening.
The city of Crockett sustained damage as a result of last month’s extremely cold winter storms. However, the city has recovered from most of the water problems and other damage caused by the weather events that were atypical for this part of the country.
City Administrator John Angerstein presented an update on the recent “winter storm events and water loss” to Crockett city councilmembers and they discussed the matters at a meeting Monday evening.
In a related item of business, the councilmembers voted to pass a motion approving a policy, which offers certain city water customers the opportunity for a one-time adjustment to lower their bills for “water loss due to the winter storm damage/leaks.”
“Friday through Sunday (Feb. 12-14), after we were getting reports in from our weather forecasters, we realized that it (the winter storms) was going to be even worse than we initially had been told,” Angerstein said, in presenting his update, referring to a timeline he had distributed to the councilmembers.
The timeline “gives everyone an idea of when this event happened and kind of our recovery process throughout it,” the city administrator said.
“So, we sent out a couple of PSAs (public service announcements)—one on Friday and one on Sunday. We started scrambling as a city, going around and winterizing everything, covering and insulating all of our pipes, and doing what we could to double check our pumps and exposed piping and everything.
“As a note, our pumps, all of our exposed piping, weathered the storm event really well. We have 12-inch water mains that go up our towers; those actually froze. We had heaters on those, keeping those thawed out. That’s how cold it really got.”
“But we lost a couple of pumps at our wastewater plant due to freezing,” said Angerstein. “And we lost a pump on our sewer trailer. As we were trying to work it and also take care of sewer issues, the water froze up within that pump and it cracked as well. Those are insured losses.
“Other than that, we faired (well), as a city, with our city infrastructure and our pumps and our systems. We came out of it with relatively little losses.”
Angerstein continued, “During the night between Sunday and Monday (Feb. 14-15), is when things got serious for us enough to where our (water) system pressure really dropped…. We had no explanation for it, so we began sending people throughout the city, thinking we had water mains that had broken.
“Between Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb. 15-17), our pressure just continued to drop with just no end in sight, and all the way up until last weekend, we were continuing to find water leaks. As of that time, we had turned off approximately 500 meters at locations where we had found leaks.”
Angerstein noted that city officials and staffers opened the Crockett Civic Center as a warming shelter for residents whose electric power was out and needed a warm place to stay during the extremely cold weather days.
“As a city, we spent a lot in manpower—staffing, overtime, fuel, equipment—but did not receive any really uninsured damages or losses,” Angerstein said.
Concerning the Water/Sewer Bill Adjustment Policy, adopted in response to the winter storms, “Angerstein noted, “The city of Crockett is helping its water/sewer utility customers who experienced significant higher water/sewer bills as a result of water leaks resulting from the winter storms and prolonged freezing temperatures during the week of Feb. 14, 2021.
“If you are a city of Crockett water utility customer and your water/sewer bill that included the week of February 14 was at least 25% higher than the billing average of your November 2020, December 2020 and January 2021 bills, you are eligible for a one-time water/sewer bill adjustment.
“The adjustment is based on an assumption that such an increase would be due to a water leak. If eligible, the adjustment will reduce your monthly water/sewer bill that covers the week of Feb. 14 to be equal to your monthly average bill for November 2020, December 2020 and January 2021.”
Water customers who believe they are eligible for an adjustment, can contact the city of Crockett water department office by phone at 936-544-5156, Extension 206.
Also, during the meeting, the councilmembers received an update on Phase 2 of the city’s Small Business Relief Program presented by James Gentry, executive director of the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation (CEIDC).
The program provides financial assistance to Crockett small businesses that have experienced economic fallout as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gentry said several businessowners have expressed interest in receiving funds from the program.
Forty businesses were granted $500 each through the first phase of the program. The CEIDC initially put up the money for that phase and was later reimbursed with funds made available by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Gentry said the CEIDC is planning to provide $20,000 for Phase 2 as well.
Owners of businesses with 10 or less employees that were impacted by the pandemic or last month’s winter storms may apply for funds through Phase 2 of the relief program by visiting the CEIDC office in the Crockett Civic Center or calling the office at 936-546-5636.
Crockett nips Rogers in bi-district
LARRY LAMB | HCC Crockett sophomore Jadyn Collins (2) celebrates with teammate Courtney Byrd after a go-ahead bucket by Collins with six seconds left. The Bulldogs won the bi-district game 49-47.
The Crockett Bulldogs dug themselves an early 12-0 hole, climbed all the way out and squeezed past Rogers 49-47 in bi-district basketball action Tuesday, Feb. 23 in Bryan.
With the game tied at 47-all, sophomore Jadyn Collins converted an offensive rebound and putback with :06 left to give Crockett a two-point cushion.
A deflection by Collins on a last-second trey by Rogers sealed the victory.
“Rogers is a tough team. They played hard all the way down the stretch. I was telling my guys that we don’t need a repeat of the Franklin game,” coach Jordan Caldwell said in reference to a buzzer shot that lifted district champion Franklin to a 52-51 victory over the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs trailed 14-4 after a quarter but dominated the second 16-5 to slip in front 20-19 at intermission.
Caldwell’s crew opened up a five-point lead late in the third only to see Rogers drain a three-pointer in the waning seconds to make it 34-32 heading into the final period.
Early in the fourth Rogers wrestled its way in front 35-34 on a three-point play but Crockett answered with its own to regain the lead with 6:05 left.
The rest of the game was a back-and-forth battle. Crockett never trailed, but Rogers tied the score four times.
Crockett took its biggest lead of 45-40 on a putback by “big man” Chris Purvis and a three-point play by Collins at the 3:34 mark.
Rogers hit a trey on its next possession and tied it at 45-all with 2:18 left.
After a travelling call on Crockett gave Rogers possession, the Eagles put up an errant shot. Ja’Lyne Carruthers grabbed the rebound, took it down the floor and sank a shot off the glass to put the Dogs up 47-43 with 1:20 left.
When Rogers tied it back up at 47-all with 55 seconds left it appeared the battle would go into overtime.
Crockett ran down the clock to :14 before Carruthers drove the lane and put up a shot that rolled around the rim and out.
But luckily, Collins collected the rebound and put the ball in for the game-winning bucket with six seconds left.
This was only Crockett’s third game with its roster back at full-strength after playing half of its district schedule with a skeleton crew.
The rust was evident early as the Dogs, plagued by turnovers and missed shots, didn’t dent the scoreboard until the 1:45 mark in the first quarter. Sophomore Courtney Byrd broke the scoring drought and junior D.J. Walker converted a steal into a layup with 10 seconds left, but the Bulldogs still faced a 14-4 deficit at the end of the quarter.
Rogers seemingly couldn’t miss a shot in the first quarter but then couldn’t hit the mark in the second as the momentum shifted to Crockett.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Collins booked 12 points after halftime to lead the offense.
Walker finished with nine, followed by Carruthers with seven, Ty White and Purvis with six apiece, Byrd with five, and Tayshawn Simon and Keshun Easterling with two each.
Senior Ben Hutka and junior Kade Sebek led Rogers with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
The Bulldogs made seven of 11 free throws while Rogers hit seven of nine. Most of Rogers’ free throws were by senior Ty Sebek, who knocked down six of seven.
Caldwell was encouraged by the resiliency his team exhibited.
“For the most part my guys never gave up but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Caldwell. “We started off horrible and got down 12-0. Then we went on a 20-7 run to take the lead at halftime.
“We started playing our style of basketball and pushing the ball. I told the guys if you make a mistake just be sure you’re moving fast. I think that was the difference late in the game. We kept pushing the ball and then we started getting some rebounds at the bottom too.
“We’ll be okay. We just have to keep playing hard and fighting hard,” said Caldwell, whose team faced undefeated No. 9 Malakoff in the area round Thursday.
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UVI is light on its feet
October 11, 2013 uvivoiceonline 1 Comment
Salsa Club works to promote Latin culture on campus
MARKIDA SCOTLAND|
ST.CROIX — The counting of steps and Latin music could be heard from the cafeteria of the Albert A. Sheen campus on Tuesday afternoon, as the Salsa Club worked to promote Latin culture through dance.
According to University of the Virgin Islands graduate and president of the Salsa Club, Ismael Rosado Jr., Latin culture, especially salsa is underrepresented at the university.
“I was a part of the first Salsa Club in St. Thomas, and after three or four solid years over there I decided that since I’ve been home for about a year, let’s see if this could work out,” Rosado said. “There is nothing like that here, no salsa exposure.”
Humanities Professor, La Vaughn Belle (center in black) and Ismael Rosado Jr (back center in grey) instructs students on dancing salsa
According to the listing of clubs and organizations on the university’s website, there are no clubs or organizations geared towards Latin culture. The closest organization would be the “Social and Cultural Committee.”
While the Salsa Club is led by Rosado, the class was taught by Humanities Professor La Vaughn Belle, and her husband, Rivert Diaz, which was the first time the class was taught by guest instructors.
The instructors were chosen for their background in knowing how to dance salsa, although their salsa style is more Cuban.
“I wanted to see how their teaching style was, and how the students received them,” Rosado said. “Hey, anytime you have a guest professor who knows salsa you take them up on it.“
Diaz and Belle are in the process of opening a dance studio called “House of Clave,” but are currently instructors at the Bailar Casino Social Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Comanche Hotel, and Saturdays at La Laguna.
“We’ve been teaching for a long time,” Belle said. “I was going to start a Salsa Club, but it just happened to be synergetic that he was starting one at the same time so it was perfect.”
Belle said that while she would not be able to attend every class, she would try to attend as many as possible.
According to Rosado the classes are scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
One of the most challenging tasks with the club is attracting male students.
“Originally it was just girls and with some recruiting on the day, which is why I think 12:30 is a good time, you can kind of recruit guys,” Rosado said. “Generally, towards the beginning recruiting is a lot easier than later on because they already are exposed and they know what it is. So if they don’t want to come, they just don’t want to come. But I’m optimistic.”
Rivert Diaz teaching UVI students how to dance salsa
With National Hispanic Heritage Month coming up in November, Rosado is hoping that with some practice, there will be a group that can represent the Salsa Club, even if it is only a small performance.
“It’s going to take some work, but ideally that would be great. Maybe if we can get La Vaughn Belle and some of the other instructors and students who are more skilled, we could do a simple performance,” Rosado said.
“I had fun,” nursing major and Dance Team captain, Deidre Dubois, said. “I knew Ismael for a very long time and he invited me to take just one day of classes and I decided to stick with it.”
One of Rosado’s ultimate goals is to get a worthwhile group that can participate in and bring awareness to the community.
“I’m hoping to get a solid group together that can learn gradually and develop their skills to potentially being able to perform and go outside into the community and participate in the social culture, which is salsa and Latin dance,” Rosado said.
ArtscubancultureDanceLatinLatin CultureNational Hispanic Heritage MonthPerforming ArtsSalsaSalsa ClubSalsa RomanticaUniversity of the Virgin Islands
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The Suicide of Unbelief - Part 2 (Hebrews 3:7-19) - Jack Hibbs
Published in Jack Hibbs
Thursday, 31 March 2022 23:39
Jack Hibbs - Watch Sermon: The Suicide of Unbelief - Part 2 (Hebrews 3:7-19)
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Here are some passages you can meditate on as you are seeking insight into what gifting you have received:
1 Corinthians 12:4–11
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Home / Journals / Research Journal of Applied Sciences / Volume 11 Issue 9 ,Year 2016 Abstract / References
Inspecting the Collective Behaviours: A Survey for Football Teams
Authors : Filipe Manuel Clemente, Fernando Manuel Lourenco Martins, Micael Santos Couceiro and Rui Sousa Mendes
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Carling, C., T. Reilly and A. Williams, 2009. Performance Assessment for Field Sports. Routledge, London, England, UK.,.
Clemente, F., M. Couceiro, F. Martins, G. Dias and R. Mendes, 2012. The influence of task constraints on attacker trajectories during 1v1 sub-phase in soccer practice. Sport Logia, 8: 13-20.
Clemente, F.M., M.S. Couceiro, F.M. Martins and R. Mendes, 2013. An online tactical metrics applied to football game. Res. J. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., 5: 1700-1719.
Clemente, M.F., M.S. Couceiro and F.M. Martins, 2012. Towards a new method to analyze the soccer teams tactical behaviour: Measuring the effective area of play. Ind. J. Sci. Technol., 5: 3792-3801.
Costa, I.T., J. Garganta, P.J. Greco, I. Mesquita and A. Seabra, 2010. Influence of relative age effects and quality of tactical behaviour in the performance of youth soccer players. Int. J. Perform. Anal. Sport, 10: 82-97.
Duarte, R., D. Araujo, L. Freire, H. Folgado and O. Fernandes et al., 2012. Intra- and inter-group coordination patterns reveal collective behaviors of football players near the scoring zone. Hum. Mov. Sci., 31: 1639-1651.
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Duarte, R., D. Araujo, V. Correia and K. Davids, 2012. Sports teams as superorganisms. Sports Med., 42: 633-642.
Franks, I.M. and T. McGarry, 1996. The Science of Match Analysis. In: Science and Football, Reilly T., (Ed). Spon Press Taylor & Francis Group, Oxon, pp: 363-375.
Frencken, W., K. Lemmink, N. Delleman and C. Visscher, 2011. Oscillations of centroid position and surface area of football teams in small-sided games. Eur. J. Sport Sci., 11: 215-22310.1080/17461391.2010.499967.
Garganta, J., 2009. Trends of tactical performance analysis in team sports: Bridging the gap between research training and competition. Portuguese J. Sport Sci., 9: 81-89.
Horvath, S., 2011. Weighted Network Analysis: Applications in Genomics and Systems Biology. Springer, New York, USA., ISBN-13: 9781441988195, Pages: 421.
Hughes, M. and I.M. Franks, 2004. Notational Analysis-A Review of the Literature. In: Notational Analysis of Sport: Systems for Better Coaching and Performance in Sport, Hughes, M. and I.M. Franks (Eds.). Routledge, New York, USA., pp: 59-106.
Lames, M., J. Ertmer and F. Walter, 2010. Oscillations in football-order and disorder in spatial interactions between the two teams. Int. J. Sport Psychol., 41: 85-86.
Lusher, D., G. Robins and P. Kremer, 2010. The application of social network analysis to team sports. Meas. Phys. Educ. Exercise Sci., 14: 211-224.
McGarry, T., D.I. Anderson, S.A. Wallace, M.D. Hughes and I.M. Franks, 2002. Sport competition as a dynamical self-organizing system. J. Sports Sci., 20: 771-781.
Moura, F.A., L.E.B. Martins, R.D.O. Anido, R.M.L. De Barros and S.A. Cunha, 2012. Quantitative analysis of Brazilian football players organisation on the pitch. Sports Biomech., 11: 85-96.
Nevill, A., G. Atkinson and M. Hughes, 2008. Twenty-five years of sport performance research in the journal of sports saciences. J. sports Sci., 26: 413-426.
Okihara, K., A. Kan, M. Shiokawa, C.S. Choi and T. Deguchi et al., 2004. Compactness as a strategy in a football match in relation to a change in offense and defence. J. Sports Sci., 22: 6-515.
Passos, P., K. Davids, D. Araujo, N. Paz, J. Minguens and J. Mendes, 2011. Networks as a novel tool for studying team ball sports as complex social systems. J. Sci. Med. Sport, 14: 170-176.
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How big is a battalion in Singapore?
7 battalions
The Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR) is the main and largest formation of the Singapore Army. It consists of seven full-time battalions and a number of National Service (NS), or Reservist battalions….
Singapore Infantry Regiment
Type Infantry
Role Heavy infantry
Size 7 battalions
Part of Singapore Armed Forces
How long is Singapore commando training?
A 65-day course, Ranger Trainees go through intense combat leadership training oriented towards small-unit-tactics.
How many SAF camps are there in Singapore?
Other CIFs included D’Resort NTUC in Pasir Ris and the Changi Exhibition Centre. The SAF also housed about 3,000 recovering migrant workers with COVID-19 in six military camps across Singapore.
How much does a colonel earn in Singapore?
The national average salary for a O6 – Army – Colonel is $15,000 in Singapore….O6 – Army – Colonel Salaries.
Singapore Armed Forces O6 – Army – Colonel salaries – 1 salaries reported $15,000/mo
Is Singapore Army Strong?
For 2022, Singapore is ranked 42 of 140 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 0.6253 (a score of 0.0000 is considered ‘perfect’). This entry last updated on 01/13/2022.
What does SAF infantry do?
The Infantry is the dominant force in the battlefield, renowned for its courage, tenacity, brotherhood and discipline. Our Infantry troops are trained to operate under all weather conditions, across all terrain profiles, and in both day and night to defeat the enemy and secure terrain.
What is the work of SAF?
Today, its functions include the conduct of counterinsurgency operations, counter-terrorism in urban and rural areas, hostage rescue, civil disturbance management, search and rescue operations in times of disasters and calamities and other special operations.
What do Guards do SAF?
The Guards are infantry soldiers who are proficient in helicopter operations. All Guardsmen are able to execute hover-jump, heli-rapelling, and fast-rope down, in full battle order. The specialised skills that Guardsmen possess are vital to the SAF as they add a new dimension to the modern battlefield.
How many US troops are in Singapore?
Today, the Singapore-based U.S. military community includes more than 800 active duty, civilian personnel and family members, distrib- uted among 15 commands.
How much LTC earn in Singapore?
The Officers Scheme with the Singapore Army
Monthly Gross Starting Salary
A Level/Diploma
Officer Cadet Trainee (OCT) $2,420 – $3,010 $1,990 – $2,670
2nd Lieutenant (2LT) $2,660 – $3,220 $2,140 – $2,790
Lieutenant (LTA) $2,890 – $3,280 $2,500 – $2,850
How many fighter jets Singapore has?
It also has overseas detachments in various countries, most notably in Australia, the United States, Thailand and France. In 2021, the RSAF had a strength of 8,000 active personnel and 319 aircraft….
Republic of Singapore Air Force
State Colour
Aircraft flown
Fighter F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-35B
How many seconds behind is my clock in Singapore?
Your clock is 0.7 seconds behind. Accuracy of synchronization was ±0.245 seconds. The IANA time zone identifier for Singapore is Asia/Singapore. Latitude: 1.37.
What is Singapore Time (SGT)?
Singapore Time (SGT). Offset UTC +8:00 hours Offset: CST is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and is used in North America Countries: It is used in following countries: Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, United States
What is the time zone for Singapore?
Time zone. Singapore Time (SGT), UTC +8. No daylight saving time, same UTC offset all year. The IANA time zone identifier for Singapore is Asia/Singapore. Read about Singapore in Wikipedia. Make Singapore time default.
What is the IANA time zone identifier for Singapore?
The IANA time zone identifier for Singapore is Asia/Singapore. Latitude: 1.37. Longitude: 103.80 Each of the stripes represents one year.
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Home » Reviews » CD » B » Borders - Purify
Borders - Purify
by Santiago Puyol at 24 June 2019, 8:57 PM
Some albums are simply enjoyable because of how aggressive and straight to the point they are. BORDERS achieves exactly that point with "Purify", delivering an album that barely exceeds 33 minutes over 10 songs, but is a constant burst of energy. This band manages to fuse elements from different subgenres of Rock and Metal, including Metalcore, Progressive Metal, Deathcore, Rap Rock and even some Hardcore.
Although the themes it covers in lyrical terms are quite dense and heavy, "Purify" is a fairly catchy album and can be heard without paying too much attention to the lyrics, by mixing complexity, technique and songwriting with pop sensibilities. BORDERS relies on writing three-minute songs, helping to sustain a level of heaviness and brutality while avoiding overwhelming some listeners.
The slow intro of "731" gives way to complex riffing and layered harsh vocals covered with electronic touches. With a very modern sound and small, soft melodic breaks, we are introduced to the world of BORDERS. "Wake Up" and "Damage Everything" follow the trend, with more electronic and vocal effects, memorable choruses, violent riffs and intricate drumming.
"Bad Blood" introduces some subtle Middle Eastern influences in the main melody, while the song gives a new twist around the 2:46 minute with the use of the delay pedal on the guitars, generating a textured layering that brings BORDERS closer to the work of Post-Metal bands like THE OCEAN or late-era ISIS underneath a more typical Metalcore structure.
A groovy bassline, subtle synth melodies and a much cleaner vocal style, while being aggressive and conversational, "War" quickly becomes a highlight of the album. The guitars vaguely evoke CHON but sound like a twisted and sinister version of that band, better known for being quite relaxing. This song is, at the same time a great example of how the band incorporates Rap Rock/Metal influences into their sound, something also highlighted in the epic closer "Walking Dead". BORDERS uses rapping to generate a sense of urgency, drawing inspiration from bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN or RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE but building upon what they did.
"Nothing to Lose" and "A World Apart" show a more diverse and natural sound from the drums, bearing in mind that sometimes drumming can be somewhat repetitive and arid. This is particularly noticeable in the mid-track breakdown of the latter. These two songs show more noticeable influences from both Prog and Hardcore that inform the band’s sound. Meanwhile, "Faded" and "Demon's Reach" move through a more typical Deathcore territory, without sounding like filler anyway.
"Purify" turns out to be a success as a memorable album and it keeps you headbanging all the way through. Combining fierce sound, catchiness and technical prowess, BORDERS manages to keep your attention and interest. Production wise, the bass could be a little more audible, but the sound certainly fits the mood the band was going for. I have to admit I missed having any solos, from guitar or any other instrument, especially as it could have been incorporated into any of the most dynamic songs on the record. Still, it is just a small nitpick from me. Keep an eye out for what's coming next from BORDERS, I know I will.
2. Wake Up
3. Damage Everything
4. Bad Blood
5. War
6. Demon’s Reach
7. Nothing to Lose
8. A World Apart
9. Faded
10. Walking Dead
JJ Olifent
Gav Burton
Tom Britton
Dan Hodson
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WOA
World Olivet Assembly
Olivet News
WOA Churches Greeted the New Year by Offering the First to the Lord
World Olivet Assembly churches around the world greeted the New Year by offering a New Year's service at midnight, giving thanks for 2022 and offering the first moment of 2023 to the Lord.
WOA 30th World General Assembly Brings together 1,500 Delegates at Olivet Asia Pacific Center in Korea
The World Olivet Assembly (WOA) held its 30th World General Assembly with the theme "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done in Earth as It Is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10) at the Olivet Asia Pacific Center in Hoengseong, South Korea. Opening on the morning of October 28 and concluding on the 31st, the WGA brought together some 1,500 delegates from every region of the world.
WEA Global Ambassador Welcomed at WOA Headquarters at Evangelical Center
The World Olivet Assembly leadership welcomed World Evangelical Alliance Global Ambassador Bishop Efraim Tendero for two days of warm fellowship and mutual encouragement.
WOA Churches Enter New Year of 2022 by Offering First Moment to God
World Olivet Assembly churches around the world entered 2022 by holding midnight services and together concluding the old year and offering the first moment of the new year to God in prayer and worship.
World Evangelical Alliance Leader Visits WOA HQ, Spends Time in Fellowship
World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Ambassador for Religious Freedom and member of the International Council Godfrey Yogarajah visited the World Olivet Assembly (WOA) headquarters in Dover, NY to spend a day and a half between Thanksgiving and his meetings in Washington, D.C. following the weekend.
WOA Churches in the United States Celebrate Thanksgiving with Grateful Hearts to God
World Olivet Assembly churches across the United States observed the Thanksgiving holiday with a special service giving thanks to God for the past year.
WOA World General Assembly Emphasizes Digital Outreach, Reignites Fire to Fulfill Great Commission
The World Olivet Assembly's 29th World General Assembly held from October 28-31 in St. Louis, MO, brought together church and mission leaders in-person and online for a time of worship, fellowship, sharing and strategizing. Delegates from the United States joined the event in person while international leaders from several dozen countries participated online.
WOA Gives Thanks to God for a Blessed 2022, for Growth and Developments
World Olivet Assembly (WOA) is giving thanks to God for a richly blessed year of 2022. With the pandemic restrictions easing up in most countries and life returning to a more normal pace, churches around the world have resumed regular in-person programs, including worship services, retreats, Bible studies and more. All the while, the online outreach continued and led more seeking souls to find peace in the Lord Jesus Christ as they study God's Word and learn about His truth, love, salvation, forgiveness, and new life.
WOA Churches Gather to Celebrate Christmas 2022
OLI Training Program in Indonesia Concludes with Determination to Make Disciples of All Nations
WOA Churches in the United States Celebrated Thanksgiving
Photos of WOA 30th World General Assembly
Landmark Property near Orlando, FL to Be Used as Administrative Center for World Mission
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PHIL2125
Rationality and Social Cooperation
An undergraduate course offered by the School of Philosophy.
Code PHIL2125
Offered by School of Philosophy
ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Course subject Philosophy
Areas of interest Philosophy, Psychology, Economics, Artifical Intelligence, Politics
Rationality and Social Cooperation (PHIL2125)
This course examines what it means to be 'rational' in negotiating the world and conducting one's life. At issue is the quality of one’s beliefs, desires and choices about how to act, particularly in the face of uncertainty, and in concert with others.
Part I is a critical examination of the standard theory of individual rationality - expected utility theory – that unites and explicates the aforementioned key mental attitudes. This theory stems from the classic work of philosophers/social scientists such as Ramsey, de Finetti and Savage. Contemporary challenges to the standard theory come from diverse directions, with some arguing that the theory is too little constrained and even vacuous, others arguing that it is too rigid, either in its prescriptions for representing and handling uncertainty or else by virtue of being in conflict with some prominent ethical accounts of right action, and yet others arguing that it gives outright bad advice in various special cases. The course considers these challenges to the standard theory and the responses/developments they have inspired.
Part II turns to rationality in a social context. The initial focus is the theory of games, applicable to cases where what an individual should do depends on what others do, and vice versa. Standard solution concepts for games are introduced, and the collective-action problems that may arise, including possibilities for their resolution, are considered, with an eye to the ethical significance of these scenarios. Finally, the course turns to group choice proper, where individuals effectively join forces and act as a single entity. Here the starting point for investigation is Arrow’s theorem regarding the (im)possibility of an adequate group aggregation of individual attitudes; this invites examination of Arrow’s assumptions, and raises further questions regarding interpersonal comparability and the plausibility of Utilitarianism and other aggregative solutions.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Understand and articulate key philosophical issues pertaining to rational choice and inference, both for individuals and groups
Engage with and critically evaluate (in essay form) formal and discursive material relevant to individual, game and social choice theory
Engage in well-reasoned, justified and articulate discussion and debate.
1 x mid-semester take-home exam (15%) (Learning Outcome 1)
1 x 2000-word essay (30%) (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2)
Tutorial participation (10%) (Learning Outcomes 1 and 3)
Weekly lectures plus tutorials
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 35 hours of contact: 24 hours of lectures and 11 hours of tutorials.
b) 95 hours of independent student research, technical exercises, reading and writing, supported by WATTLE recordings and lecture notes.
6 units of Philosophy (PHIL) courses, or with permission of the course convenor.
Richard Jeffrey, 'The Logic of Decision', Michael Resnik, 'Choices: an introduction to decision theory', Martin Peterson 'An Introduction to Decision Theory', Amartya Sen 'Collective Choice and Social Welfare', Duncan Luce and Howard Raiffa 'Games and Decisions', Wulf Gaertner 'A Primer in Social Choice Theory', J. S. Kelly 'Social Choice Theory. An Introduction', Daniel Hausman and Michael McPherson 'Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy and Public Policy'.
Philosophy and Science | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.640666127204895, "wiki_prob": 0.359333872795105, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line287015"} |
St. Catherine Annual Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes History
Legacy Award
Committee Members - Sponsors
2022 Prizes
St. Catherine Sweepstakes Ministry Purpose Statement
“We are the ministry that supports other ministries.”
With a passion instilled by Sister Paula in the early 1980’s who wanted to build a Kindergarten to complete the elementary school program, the community responded and began the Annual St. Catherine Sweepstakes. The Kindergarten was funded and the Sweepstakes has endured providing financial support to so many other ministries while hosting an enjoyable time for all along the way.
The committee for the sweepstakes has a strong desire and determination to keep our Parish and School communities thriving, growing and empathetic. Those who serve on this committee are supportive of this important fundraising cause year-in and year-out and are dedicated to ensuring that the Annual St. Catherine Sweepstakes remains a vibrant ministry supporting important initiatives in our Catholic community.
Now, as in past years, our funds provide support to our Parish and School programs such as sacramental preparation and faith formation, our liturgical and pastoral care ministries; our computer labs and drama program. But really the children, young adults and families that make up our Parish and School community are the real beneficiaries.
St. Catherine Annual Sweepstakes is proud to be instrumental in providing real support to keep our local Catholic community and doing it in a fun manner that positively engages the community it benefits.
THE SWEEPSTAKES COMMITTEE!
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You are here: Home › Corpora › Corpus of Oz Early English › 1-026 (Text)
1-026 (Text)
author,female,Macarthur, Elizabeth,22 addressee,female
Hale, 1950
1-026-plain.txt
1-026#Text
1-026-plain.txt — 16 KB
Sydney, Port Jackson, N.S. Wales, March 7th, 1791. At length we have a prospect of communication once more with our friends by letter. The Gorgon, so long wished for, and so long expected, is not yet arrived, and by her unaccountable delay, has involved us all in the most mysterious uncertainty, and clouded our minds with gloomy apprehensions for her safety. I hope you will have rec'd my letter, dated August, 1790, which I sent by the Scarborough transport, by way of China.
I told you of the unfortunate loss of the Syrius, a King's ship, that had been stationed here from the first settling of the Colony. She was wrecked on Norfolk Island. The ship's company, who all escaped with life, but not altogether without hurt, remained on the Island, and the Supply, a small brig, that sailed from this place with the Syrius, returned with the news of her sad fate.
The provisions of the Colony, at that time, being at a very low ebb, it was deemed necessary to take some step lest supply might not arrive from England in time to prevent a threatened famine. Every individual of this Colony was reduced to a very short allowance, and the little brig was dispatched to Batavia under the command of Lieutenant Ball, there to take up a Dutch ship, and purchase a certain quantity of provisions for this place, with which it was to be freighted and dispatched hither with all possible expedition. A few weeks after the Supply sailed, the first ship, Lady Juliana, arrived, and brought an account of the loss of the Guardian, occasioned by falling in with islands of ice. The ship arrived on the 3rd June, and came timely to prevent very great distress.
On the 21st June the Justiana arrived, a store ship, and on the 29th our fleet was safely anchored in the Cove. As all these ships were under contract to return by way of China to take home Tea for the East India Company, and there being at that time no ship stationed here, no way was left to convey a relief to the inhabitants of Norfolk Island, but by ordering some of those ships to touch there on their way to China. The Justiana and Surprize received orders, for that purpose reimbarked a certain proportion of provision for the island. We had every hope that the supplies might arrive in time to prevent any fatal consequences; yet, as we could have no certainty of that, and till some ship should first arrive here that might be dispatched to know the particulars of their fate, our minds were never perfectly easy on their account. At that time there was, with the Syrius's company, the Marines, and convicts, near 700 persons on the Island, and I can truly say that for upwards of six months I never passed a day without reflecting on them with pain and anxiety. Week after week stole away, and month after month with little diversity. Each succeeding sunset produced among us wild and vague conjectures of what could be the cause of the Gorgon's delay, and still we remained unsatisfied - indeed all our surmises have nearly worn themselves out and we are at a loss for new ones - time the great resolver of all events alone can determine this seeming mystery to us.
On the 20th October a general cry prevailed through the Garrison of the Flags being hoisted (which is a signal of a ship appearing off the Harbour). I was preparing myself to receive Mrs. Grose and Mrs. Paterson, being fully persuaded it was the Gorgon, however I was soon undeceived, as it proved to be the Supply from Batavia; she had a very quick passage but had experienced a very sickly one.
On the 21st of January the Supply was sent to bring hither the Syrius ship's company, and learn the state of affairs at that place. She returned on the 25th of February with the officers and men in health, and brought a good account of the health of every individual left behind. This circumstance removed some considerable anxiety from our minds; but it proved our fears had been but too well grounded, as when the Supply arrived they had not more than ten days' provisions in the store, at a full allowance, and from the 14th of last May, till the 18th of July, they were reduced to the scanty pittance of 3 lbs. of flour and 1.5 lbs. of beef for a week. At this time a most merciful relief came to their assistance. It had been observed on a high hill in the island (which they have named Mount Pitt) that many seabirds frequented it. An endeavour was made to take some of them, which was successful, and by attending more particularly to the time of their appearance and their favourite haunts they were discovered in the greatest abundance. It was the season in which they laid their eggs, and both birds and eggs were taken in such quantities as occasioned the small allowance of meat they had issued before to be stopped, and, however wonderful it may appear to you, yet true it is, that those birds for many weeks, were the chief subsistence of seven hundred men, and they were so easily taken that after sunset it was impossible to walk on the Mount without treading on them, and sometimes towards evening, they have been observed hovering in the air in such innumerable flocks as considerably to exclude the light from admiring spectators. But now the melancholy truth of their decrease became more and more apparent. Their flights were directed to other quarters and at length few remained. But before hope was quite extinguished, a ship appeared and brought them a long expected supply. Believe me, my dear friend, that in writing these faithful traits of the pitiable situation of the inhabitants of Norfolk Island, a chill seems to overpower my faculties; my mind has so truly entered into their distresses that a dread comes over me, which I am unable to describe, but it is succeeded by so firm a reliance on the merciful dispensations of an Almighty, whose hand I think we may here trace without presumption, that I can only admire in silence.
I shall begin my relation now of things more immediately occurring to myself.
We passed our time away many weeks cheerfully if not gaily - gaily indeed it could not be said to be. On my first landing everything was new to me, every Bird, every Insect, Flower, etc.; in short, all was novelty around me, and was noticed with a degree of eager curiosity and perturbation, that after a while subsided into that calmness I have already described. In my former letter I gave you the character of Mr. Dawes, and also of Captain Tench. Those gentlemen and a few others are the chief among whom we visit. Indeed we are in the habit of intimacy with Captain Tench that there are few days pass that we do not spend some part of together. Mr. Dawes we do not see so frequently. He is so much engaged with the stars that to mortal eyes he is not always visible. I had the presumption to become his pupil and meant to learn a little of astronomy. It is true I have had many pleasant walks to his house (something less than half a mile from Sydney), have given him much trouble in making orreries, and explaining to us the general principles of the heavenly bodies, but I soon found I had mistaken my abilities and blush at my error. Still, I wanted something to fill up a certain vacancy in my time which could neither be done by writing, reading, or conversation. To the first two I did not feel myself always inclined, and the latter was not in my power, having no female friend to unbend my mind to, nor a single woman with whom I could converse with any satisfaction to myself, the Clergyman's wife being a person in whose society I could reap neither profit or pleasure. These considerations made me still anxious to learn some easy science to fill up the vacuum of many a solitary day, and at length under the auspices of Mr. Dawes I have made a small progress in Botany. No country can exhibit a more copious field for botanical knowledge than this. I am arrived so far as to be able to class and order all common plants. I have found great pleasure in my study; every walk furnished me with subjects to put in practice that Theory I had before gained by reading, but alas, my botanical pursuits were most unwelcomely interrupted by Mr. Macarthur being attacked by a severe illness. In December he got better, and in January we removed into a more convenient house.
I shall now tell you of another resource I had to fill up some of my vacant hours. Our new house is ornamented with a pianoforte of Mr. Worgan's, he kindly means to leave it with me, and now, under his direction, I have begun a new study, but I fear without my Master I shall not make any great proficiency. I am told, however, that I have done wonders in being able to play off 'God Save the King,' and Foot's minuet, besides that of reading the notes with great facility. In spite of musick I have not altogether lost sight of my botanical studies. I have only been precluded from pursuing that study by the intense heat of the weather which has not permitted me to walk much during the summer. I have seen very little rain since my arrival, indeed I do not think we have had a week's rain in the whole time, the consequence of which is our garden produces nothing, all is burnt up; indeed, the soil must be allowed to be most wretched and totally unfit for growing European productions, though you would scarcely believe this, as the face of the ground at this moment, when it is in its native state, is flourishing even to luxuriance, producing fine Shrubs, Trees, and Flowers which by their lively tints afford a most agreeable landscape. Beauty, I have heard from some of my unlettered countrymen, is but skin deep. I am sure the remark holds good in New South Wales, where all the beauty is literally on the surface, but I believe I must allow it has symetry of form also to recommend it, as the ground in all the parts that have been discovered is charmingly turned and diversified by agreeable vallies and gently rising hills; but still, these beauties are all exterior.
Of my walkes round Sydney the longest has not extended beyond three miles, and that distance I have, I believe, only ventured upon twice: once to a farm which Captain Nepean has for his Company, to which we sent our tea equipage and drank tea on the turf, and once to a hill situated between this and Botany Bay where I could command a prospect of that famous spot. Nor do I think there is any probability of my seeing much of the inland country until it is cleared, as beyond a certain distance round the Colony there is nothing but native paths, very narrow and very incommodious. The natives are certainly not a very gallant set of people, who take pleasure in escorting their ladies. No; they suffer them humbly to follow Indian file like. As I am now speaking of the natives, I must give you an account of how we stand with them. In the winter, 1789 (which you will recollect is summer in England) a dreadful small pox was discovered amongst the natives. Amongst the unhappy objects that were discovered was a Boy and Girl. These were brought in, and from the humanity of the Clergyman, who took the Girl, and of the principal surgeon, Mr. White, who took the Boy, they were both saved. After they began to learn English and to make us understand them, it was immagined from their communication that if a man or two could be brought to reside with us, that some valuable information might be obtained respecting the interior parts of the country. With this view the Governor left no means untried to effect an intimacy with them, but every endeavour of that sort, as before, proved ineffectual. They accept of his presents as children do playthings; just to amuse them for a moment and then throw them away disregarded. Despairing to gain their confidence by fair means, the Governor ordered that two men should be taken by force. This was done; the poor fellows, l am told, exhibited the strongest marks of terror and consternation at the proceeding, believing they were certainly meant to be sacrificed. When they were taken to the Governor's house and immediately cleaned and clothed their astonishment at everything they saw was amazing. A new world was unfolded to their view at once. For some days they were much dejected, but it soon gave way to cheerfulness. They were then admitted to the Governor's table, and in a little time ate and drank everything that was given them. They now walked about the settlement as they liked, only with a man who was appointed to attend them that they might not escape into the woods, but, as they showed no apparent inclination to do that the vigilance of their keeper by degrees abated, which the older of the two (named Coleby) soon observed, and in a very artful manner one night made his escape. The one who remained, and called himself Banoyloog, till May, 1790, and then took himself off without any known reason, having been treated with the most uniform kindness, and appeared highly pleased with our people and manners, taking it a great compliment to be called White Man. On the 7th Sept., Captain Nepean and several other Gentlemen went down the Harbour in a boat, with an intention of proceeding to Broken Bay to take a view of the Hawkesbury River. In their way they put in at Manly Cove, a place so called from the spirited behaviour of the natives there at the Governor's first landing. At this time about 200 natives were assembled feeding on a whale that had been driven on shore. As they discovered no hostile intentions our party, having arms, went up to them. Nanberry was in the boat and was desired to inquire fur Bannylong and Coleby, when behold both gentlemen appeared, and advancing with the utmost confidence asked in broken English for all their old friends at Sydney. The Governor lost no time, but as soon as he was acquainted with the above circumstances, ordered a boat, and accompanied by Mr. Collins, the Judge Advocate, and a Lieut. Waterhouse of the Navy, repaired to Manly Cove. He landed by himself unarmed, in order to show no violence was intended.
Bannylong approached and shook hands with the Governor, but Coleby had before left the spot. No reason was asked why Bannylong had left us. He appeared very happy, and thankful for what was given him, requesting an hatchet and some other things which the Governor promised to bring him the next day. Mr. Collins and Mr. Waterhouse now joined him, and several natives also came forward. They continued to converse with them with much seeming friendship until they had insensibly wandered some distance from the boat, and very imprudently none of the Gentlemen had the precaution to take a gun in their hand. This the Governor perceiving deemed it prudent to retreat, and, after assuring that he would remember his promise, told him he was going. At that moment an old man advanced whom Bannylong said was his friend, and wished the Governor to take notice of him. At this he approached the old man with his hand extended, when on a sudden the savage started back and snatched up spear from the ground and poised it to throw, the Governor, seeing the danger, told him in their tongue that it was bad, and still advanced, when, with a mixture of horror and intrepidity, the native discharged the spear with all his force at the Governor. It entered above his collarbone, and came out at his back nine inches from the entrance, taking an oblique direction. The natives from the rocks now poured in their spears in abundance so that it was with the utmost difficulty and the greatest good fortune that no other hurt was received in getting the Governor into the boat. As soon as they returned to this place you may believe an universal solicitude prevailed, as the danger of the wound could by no means be ascertained until the spear was extracted, and this was not done before his Excellency had caused some papers to be arranged lest the consequences might prove fatal, which happily it did not, for on drawing out the spear, it was found that no vital part had been touched. The Governor, having a good habit of bodily health, the wound perfectly healed in the course of a few weeks. Since then a convict game keeper has been killed by a spear, but it seems in some measure to have been owing to his own imprudence. Bannylong came many times to see the Governor during his confinement, and expressed great sorrow, but the reason why the mischief was done could not be learnt, since that period the natives visit us every day, more or less.
My spirits are at this time low, very low, to-morrow we loose some valuable members of our small society and some very good friends. In so small a society we sensibly feel the loss of every member, more particularly those that are endeared to us by acts of kindness and friendship. From this circumstance and my former letters you may be led to question my happiness, but this much I can with truth add for myself, that since I have had the powers of reason and reflection I never was more sincerely happy than at this time. It is true I have some wishes unaccomplished, but when I consider this is not a state of perfection I am abundantly content.
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<service android:description="string resource"
android:directBootAware=["true" | "false"]
android:enabled=["true" | "false"]
android:exported=["true" | "false"]
android:foregroundServiceType=["camera" | "connectedDevice" |
"dataSync" | "location" | "mediaPlayback" |
"mediaProjection" | "microphone" | "phoneCall"]
android:icon="drawable resource"
android:isolatedProcess=["true" | "false"]
android:label="string resource"
android:name="string"
android:permission="string"
android:process="string" >
</service>
contained in:
can contain:
Declares a service (a Service subclass) as one of the application's components. Unlike activities, services lack a visual user interface. They're used to implement long-running background operations or a rich communications API that can be called by other applications.
All services must be represented by <service> elements in the manifest file. Any that are not declared there will not be seen by the system and will never be run.
Note: On Android 8.0 (API level 26) and higher, the system places limitations on what your app can do while it's running in the background. For more information, see the guides that discuss background execution limits and background location limits.
android:description
A string that describes the service to users. The label should be set as a reference to a string resource, so that it can be localized like other strings in the user interface.
android:directBootAware
Whether or not the service is direct-boot aware; that is, whether or not it can run before the user unlocks the device.
Note: During Direct Boot, a service in your application can only access the data that is stored in device protected storage.
The default value is "false".
android:enabled
Whether or not the service can be instantiated by the system — "true" if it can be, and "false" if not. The default value is "true".
The <application> element has its own enabled attribute that applies to all application components, including services. The <application> and <service> attributes must both be "true" (as they both are by default) for the service to be enabled. If either is "false", the service is disabled; it cannot be instantiated.
android:exported
Whether or not components of other applications can invoke the service or interact with it — "true" if they can, and "false" if not. When the value is "false", only components of the same application or applications with the same user ID can start the service or bind to it.
The default value depends on whether the service contains intent filters. The absence of any filters means that it can be invoked only by specifying its exact class name. This implies that the service is intended only for application-internal use (since others would not know the class name). So in this case, the default value is "false". On the other hand, the presence of at least one filter implies that the service is intended for external use, so the default value is "true".
This attribute is not the only way to limit the exposure of a service to other applications. You can also use a permission to limit the external entities that can interact with the service (see the permission attribute).
android:foregroundServiceType
Specify that the service is a foreground service that satisfies a particular use case. For example, a foreground service type of "location" indicates that an app is getting the device's current location, usually to continue a user-initiated action related to device location.
You can assign multiple foreground service types to a particular service.
android:icon
An icon representing the service. This attribute must be set as a reference to a drawable resource containing the image definition. If it is not set, the icon specified for the application as a whole is used instead (see the <application> element's icon attribute).
The service's icon — whether set here or by the <application> element — is also the default icon for all the service's intent filters (see the <intent-filter> element's icon attribute).
android:isolatedProcess
If set to true, this service will run under a special process that is isolated from the rest of the system and has no permissions of its own. The only communication with it is through the Service API (binding and starting).
android:label
A name for the service that can be displayed to users. If this attribute is not set, the label set for the application as a whole is used instead (see the <application> element's label attribute).
The service's label — whether set here or by the <application> element — is also the default label for all the service's intent filters (see the <intent-filter> element's label attribute).
The label should be set as a reference to a string resource, so that it can be localized like other strings in the user interface. However, as a convenience while you're developing the application, it can also be set as a raw string.
android:name
The name of the Service subclass that implements the service. This should be a fully qualified class name (such as, "com.example.project.RoomService"). However, as a shorthand, if the first character of the name is a period (for example, ".RoomService"), it is appended to the package name specified in the <manifest> element.
Once you publish your application, you should not change this name (unless you've set android:exported="false").
There is no default. The name must be specified.
android:permission
The name of a permission that an entity must have in order to launch the service or bind to it. If a caller of startService(), bindService(), or stopService(), has not been granted this permission, the method will not work and the Intent object will not be delivered to the service.
If this attribute is not set, the permission set by the <application> element's permission attribute applies to the service. If neither attribute is set, the service is not protected by a permission.
For more information on permissions, see the Permissions section in the introduction and a separate document, Security and Permissions.
android:process
The name of the process where the service is to run. Normally, all components of an application run in the default process created for the application. It has the same name as the application package. The <application> element's process attribute can set a different default for all components. But component can override the default with its own process attribute, allowing you to spread your application across multiple processes.
If the name assigned to this attribute begins with a colon (':'), a new process, private to the application, is created when it's needed and the service runs in that process. If the process name begins with a lowercase character, the service will run in a global process of that name, provided that it has permission to do so. This allows components in different applications to share a process, reducing resource usage.
introduced in:
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Gas Is Not a Bridge Fuel, It’s a Wall
byInternational Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
in Energy, Environment, Global Leaders
At this week’s meeting of G7 leaders, fossil fuels are on the agenda. Governments have agreed to phase out financing for “carbon-intensive” energy projects but have so far failed to adopt a clear timeline to end support to oil and gas. This is a serious blind spot: gas projects receive more international public finance in low- and middle-income countries than any other energy source, four times as much as wind or solar.
This is a poor use of public money, serving the interests of powerful and polluting companies when it could be used instead to help countries in the Global South transition to zero-carbon energy systems.
The gas industry increasingly sees its future in developing countries, where it is calling on governments—especially in Asia and Africa—to make a dash for gas. Expanding liquefied natural gas exporters such as the United States and Australia are seeking new markets, while gas companies look for new resources to extract and export. This expansion risks locking Global South countries into a high-carbon pathway, imperilling their economic future and the global climate.
In The Photo: The gas industry increasingly sees its future in developing countries, where it is calling on governments to make a dash for gas. Photo Credit: ICMC / Patrick Gerber
As early as the 1980s, the gas industry began to propose that their product could serve as a bridge from coal and oil to cleaner energy on the other shore. More than 30 years on, the same argument is being made, now targeted mainly at the Global South.
Gas is more like a wall than a bridge, impeding rather than enabling the energy transition.
Today, however, the idea of a bridge is obsolete for three reasons. First, after decades of continually rising carbon emissions, there is no longer room for more fossil fuels of any type: the International Energy Agency argued last month that to meet the Paris Agreement goals, there should be no investments in new gas, oil, or coal production.
Related Articles: Clash Over Energy Charter Treaty’s Protection for Fossil Fuels | Are the G7 Countries Sabotaging Their Own Climate Efforts?
Second, the costs of renewable energy have fallen dramatically, and renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels in most of the world. Third, recent findings on the extent of methane leakage from gas infrastructure undermine claims of environmental benefits over other fossil fuels.
In other words, we have missed the opportunity to cross by bridge, but we don’t actually need one anyway. Besides, gas is more like a wall than a bridge, impeding rather than enabling the energy transition by competing with renewable energy for investment and policy support.
The largest use of gas is in power generation. But in the majority of countries for which data are available, wind and solar are now the cheapest power sources. And although gas advocates may argue that wind and solar are too variable to power the grid single-handedly, fluctuations in power generation are better addressed by batteries than fossil fuels.
Battery costs too are falling rapidly, and the combined cost of wind or solar with batteries is often less than that of “peaker” gas plants, which add power to the grid during times of high demand. For the minority of gas uses where clean alternatives are not yet available or affordable—such as in heavy industry—rapid technological development is underway, with commercialization expected by the early 2030s.
Gas is also a poor solution to the problem of energy access. Of the 800 million people worldwide lacking electricity, 85% live in rural areas where decentralized renewable energy is a better, cheaper option for electrification. Providing clean cooking fuels for the 3 billion people relying on dangerous solid biomass is an urgent priority, but costly plans to expand natural gas connections to residential consumers may prove obsolete as the cost of renewables falls and the efficiency of electric stoves rises.
Gas advocates may argue that wind and solar are too variable to power the grid single-handedly, but fluctuations in power generation are better addressed by batteries than fossil fuels.
If we want to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, we need far less private capital flowing into fossil fuels and far more into renewables. Public finance plays an outsized role in influencing private funds by de-risking projects and sending market signals.
Instead of funding the gas industry, public money could help unlock renewables projects in the Global South, opening the doors to more private funding. Public financial institutions could also help with technology transfer, integrating renewables into often weak or unstable electricity grids, and delivering energy access.
The greatest impacts of climate change will be felt in the Global South, especially by the poorest people. New gas expansion compounds this threat, putting countries in danger of being left behind as the world transitions to clean energy, saddled with stranded assets, more expensive energy, and a dependence on imports.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed how rapid global change can affect countries in deeply inequitable ways and underscored the importance of building resilient and socially just economies. As economic resources remain constrained in the coming years, it will be vital that scarce public funds are devoted to building back better, away from fossil fuels.
The G7 has an opportunity to lead and should use this week’s summit to announce an end to all finance for fossil fuels, directing energy finance instead to clean energy solutions.
About the author: Greg Muttitt is Senior Policy Advisor, Energy Supply at IISD.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com.— In the Featured Photo: Natural gas plant. Featured Photo Credit: Ryan Adams / Flickr
Tags: Fossil Fuel Subsidiesgas industryNet ZeroRenewable energyZero-carbon
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The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning, independent think tank championing research-driven solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Our vision is a balanced world where both people and the planet thrive; our mission is to accelerate the global transition to clean water, fair economies and a stable climate. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa and Toronto, our work impacts lives in nearly 100 countries.
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Kriessmann Archive
Home » Special Treatment for Jews
The Trump Effect? – New Jersey authorities expose 'Special Treatment for Jews' in welfare fraud investigation
Published by carolyn on Sat, 2017-07-01 15:21
By Carolyn Yeager
AS i SAID IN MY PREVIOUS POST, "Stop Special Treatment for Jews", examples of Jewish special privilege are easy to find. They are ubiquiitous. And indeed, an excellent example appeared immediately after I posted that article. I mentioned it in the comments, and now am giving it fuller treatment - special treatment, if you will.
The following are quotes from two news articles by New Jersey 101.5 about the reaction of the good citizens of Lakewood, NJ to the news of the fraudulent activity, which many have been aware of all along. The quoted material is indented; my comments are not.
June 28, 2017, by Adam Hochron
LAKEWOOD – They were warned.
Two years ago, before state and federal authorities arrested 14 people this week on charges of scamming welfare benefits, prosecutors held a public meeting to warn township residents about avoiding this type of crime.
Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg, a member of the Lakewood Vaad, a local orthodox Jewish council serving as a bridge to other government agencies [welfare assistance], said close to a thousands people attended a meeting in 2015 with representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
“They wanted to alert the community that they've come across certain issues that are of concern for us and just want everyone to be extremely careful when you're dealing with these programs, Weisberg said. “If information is misrepresented or fraudulent or something like that, there are penalties to it. [In other words, authorities knew in 2015 – 2 years ago - that the fraud and theft was going on, but gave the “Jewish community” a heads up to stop it!]
Weisberg said in the years since that meeting, leaders in the community have continued to reinforce the message.
“We knew for awhile that there were issues out there, and as far as the community leadership has gone, we've always encouraged people that […] whatever programs they're getting involved with, they should certainly be honest and forthright and transparent and all of that.”
Authorities have not explained why they had focused on Lakewood, a municipality known for its large concentration of orthodox Jewish residents.
Three more couples arrested on Tuesday, June 27, two of whom had earned millions of dollars in annual income as of 2014.
But years later, an investigation involving a multitude of state and federal agencies resulted in the high-profile arrests Monday of four couples, including a rabbi, and the arrests on Tuesday night of three couples on charges that they collected Medicaid, food stamps, housing subsidies and other benefits from 2009 to 2015. Two of the couples who collected these benefits as late as 2014 had earned millions of dollars in annual income, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Monday.
Law enforcement officials say even more people may face charges.
The rabbi, according to form, criticized the criticism expressed by Lakewood residents against “his community.”
“Don't talk about 'they' or 'them' or 'those people.' That is offensive. That is hate speech and that's what really concerns us really, that the genie is out of the bottle and it's extremely difficult to control.”
Oh, yeah, the genie is out of the bottle for sure. What to do? As always, blame the white folks and social media for “antisemitism.”
In a time of social media, Weisberg said the news of the past week “is a catalyst for people that are basically haters, anti-Semitic, have other chips on their shoulders. They come out of the woodwork in all kinds of forms and just blast the whole Jewish community.” […] “If there are individuals that fell short then we need to deal with that, but painting the community as being immoral is unforgivable.” He added, “I'm not justifying or apologizing for any wrongdoing, [but[ if there are people that did take advantage of the system, we certainly feel it was shameful and they shouldn't have done it.” [Avoids saying there should be legal repercussions, doesn't he.]
Here he seeks to spread the blame around:
Weisberg said government bureaucracy also plays a role in issues the community is facing when it comes to government benefits.
“I only have the highest praise for the Ocean County Board of Social Services and other agencies involved, [but] gien the resources and responsibilities they have, they don't have the staff of the training to go into very intricate questions from thousands of people with all kinds of complicated financial situation.”
“We don't look at them as the enemy, we look at them as our partners and our friends.”
Ha, I'll say - partners and friends. He also brings up the “complicated rules and regulations” that his community should be forgiven for “not getting right the first time.”
In the second article: Why did prosecutors warn Lakewood about avoiding welfare fraud?
Unnamed couple who were charged in 2015 with collecting government benefits to which they were not entitled have still not been sentenced, their case still unresolved.
June 30, 2017 by Adam Hochron
LAKEWOOD – Authorities in Ocean County are defending a 2015 meeting they held to warn hundreds of residents against scamming welfare.
The meeting was prompted after a Lakewood couple {pictured above) and others in the county were charged with collecting government benefits to which they were not entitled.
Two years later, authorities arrested 14 more people in this community after an investigation into the owner of a beeper store, who pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed money-transmitting business that transmitted millions of dollars, revealed ties to some suspects charged this week, officials said.
After announcing the first round of arrests on Monday, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato pointed out that the community had been warned in 2015 about abusing welfare services. This prompted readers to question why prosecutors would give potential scammers a head's up.
Below are some of the comments that appeared at the New Jersey 101.5 story and at Facebook, selected by me as the most interesting. Not a single comment excused or defended “the community” for its actions. They are worth reading – Gentiles are mad and fed up.
Karen Ann Campbell Seriously! They warned there would be more "raids" this week, allowed the people they were arresting to call babysitters for their children before they took them in. Always special treatment.
Anna Hackett That's the whole point of doing a investigation to get as many people possible without warning. So they warned them 2 years ago and are still warning them .Federal needs to handle this. .and tell all the people who warned this community who works for the county their resignations are due.
ChrisnLori Morrison The point of the meeting 2 years ago was to inform the large influx of people who were being encouraged to move to Lakewood, I believe the term was "Pioneers" Most of the elected officials in Lakewood are Jewish. There are 35,000 school age children but only 5000 attend public school. The reports of more arrests came from a source who was not allowed to give information. Time to make people accountable for their actions, starting at the top.
Tom Lanzano If the public knew this was going on for years, why did it take so long for the authorities to figure it out!! How about that community not getting marriage licenses and claiming they are single parents with 6,7 or 8 kids. How about the school board having only people from this community on it, meanwhile not one child from this community is in the public school system!! I can go on and on!!!!
Joe Mufalli This is a systemic problem in this community. And it's generational. The real story here is what finally got the authorities to say "game over"?
Christine Randazzo D'Onofrio It's about time The residents of Lakewood in the Jewish Community are audited. How do they afford all those oversized houses and how do they afford all the things they have and yet Lakewood is bankrupt? The town is a crowded mess. After working there a few years, I hope all the questions are being answered and all the cheats are found out.
Jane Herron Now saying 'they" to refer to a collective group of accused scammers is hate speech. Give me a break.
George Worthington My friend who is Jewish told me over 30 years ago how the Ultra Orthodox or Hasidics were abusing the welfare system, my question is, why did it take the state and Feds so long to do something?
Chris Kisseberth Here is a clue... if a home is owned under an L L C then in my opinion that's a red flag. The reason for LLC and not "John Smith" is to hide the assets
Laura McHale So anyone that criticizes that is outside their faith is automatically anti- Semitic...people are standing up and saying something because this has been known, there has been a blatant abuse of the system...unbelievable. When you lie, cheat, and steal from people...you do not get to play the "victim" card because they criticize you for doing it!
John Farese Might be the changing of the guard finally with the abuse of the system !! Let's see them start getting honest jobs and join their community instead of isolating themselves and ruining towns !!!
John Currie You wouldn't need as much assistance if you just stopped producing children like an assembly line.
JoAnne Hanvey Granato Are you kidding, they were warned?! Explain this, why won't orthodox live with people other than their own, why won't they send their 15 children to public school? Why is this even allowed? Every single one of them knew what they were doing and they would do it again. I hope they go to federal prison and have their assets seized, because they have plenty. If they want to live this way, go to israel.
Elizabeth Ann Don-Trainor Thank God the FBI is coming down on this group. Tip of the iceberg and I swear 90% of this group has defrauded the govt. . All who defrauded the govt should be punished full extend of the law. Put them in jail, no special treatment---they will have to eat what is supplied, wear prison clothes----etc.. There should be given no breaks [...] All of us regular hardworking people do not owe these people anything who are healthy able bodied people who can work.
Donald Peter Didn't take long for the "anti-Semitic" card to be thrown around, did it. When the same group of people continue to be "persecuted" all throughout history and everywhere you go it's time to acknowledge that it's not EVERYONE else, it's YOU ! Even the Israeli citizens in Israel are fed up with your group.
Jeff W Wienaker OK, its wrong , very wrong... but as I understand the scam, where they get married under their religion but no marriage license, then therefore its not a valid marriage. ... then technically according to the law, applying for section 8 housing and assistance as a single unemployed mother is not lying. Don't get me wrong, these people need to repay the system because that system is designed for people who really need the assistance.
Hasidic Orthodox community, scamming the system, Welfare fraud, welfare cheats
Jews, Non-White on White Crime, Special Treatment for Jews
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Jett Rucker (not verified)Sat, 01/07/17
Lying, Cheating and Stealing
The people this article is about are said to have lied, cheated and stolen.
The difference between these people and those truly qualified beneficiearies is that the latter group isn't lying. They're still cheating and stealing - with the government's knowing assistance.
carolynSat, 01/07/17
Of course, there are a lot of
Of course, there are a lot of non-Jewish people in this country who lie, cheat and steal. The difference between those people and these people, in my book, is the size and scale of their cheating but also all the other harmful stuff they do at the same time.
If you read the linked news articles, you know that Lakewood is the fastest growing town in New Jersey ... because of the influx of Hasidic Orthodox Jews who are forming (have formed) an influential electoral bloc there. Everyone agrees they dominate the seats on the Public School Board even though none send their children to public school. They all send their many children to private Jewish schools, which apparently is very expensive for them. Why then do they want to sit on the public school board??
For control. Their intention is to control the town government and agencies so they can be used for their community's benefit. Right?
Not only are there a lot of these orthodox Jews in the town - they have a lot of children which means they expand faster than other groups do. This is a form of occupation. If I lived in Lakewood NJ, had an investment in a home and a family there, I certainly wouldn't like it and many of the residents appear not to like it.
What to do? From the photos, these people look, and no doubt feel, repulsive to the regular American residents of Lakewood. They are a foreign and unassimilated element. Their intentions are not good. So there are multiple problems with them. It isn't a matter of "live and let live" when you're dealing with people like this. They are your enemy, but they put on a pose of holding you to a moral standing regarding them that they don't live up to themselves.
In short, these are not your normal folks and they will never be true Americans. There is only one place they belong and that is in Israel.
carolynSun, 02/07/17
Half of Lakewood children receive government aid
Guess which half.
http://www.app.com/story/news/investigations/watchdog/2017/06/30/lakewood-welfare-half-children-get-assistance-families-panic-after-arrests/438839001/
LAKEWOOD - Welfare is so widespread in the township that half of all children live in homes that receive some form of government aid, an Asbury Park Press analysis of census data found.
But one statistic stands out among all other municipalities in the state. There are 10,000 more children in households with married couples in Lakewood receiving food, income or state aid than the next closest town.
Of the 43,600 children under 18 years of age in Lakewood, 18,200 with married parents receive government assistance. Newark, the largest city in the state, is second with 7,800 children with married parents receiving aid, according to the Census Bureau's 2015, 5-year average American Community Survey. Newark has a total of 70,669 children, and 37,965 children in households receiving public assistance, the data show.
That poverty indicator is telling in two ways: Lakewood has a strong family tradition with many of it residents living in a two-parent household with young children, yet most of those families can't make ends meet without government help.
This is all due to the orthodox Jews who live there, with more coming. They are not good citizens.
[Rabbi] Weisberg said that many young Jewish families collect public assistance as their families grow.
The men are often studying in yeshivas and have moderate incomes, if any income at all, he said. Census data shows that 3,302 people in Lakewood between the ages of 25 and 34 – 21.8 percent of everyone in that age range – are enrolled in school, most of those likely being yeshiva students.
"The average family feels it an absolute necessity to send their children to private schools," Weisberg said, adding that large families are also a part of Jewish culture. "They really want to build a large family with lots of happy children.
"Financial considerations come second," he said.
To make ends meet, many of these families rely on public assistance, Weisberg said.
Oy vey. Whatever they want they should have, right? They expect to be subsidized by the Gentile taxpayers. Considering their "poverty" (while living in large new homes and having high child-care expenses), they don't pay taxes either.
Half of Lakewood's 100K residents are Orthodox Jews
This is a news report from March by the Jewish Telegraph Agency:
NEW YORK (JTA) – The mayor of a town adjacent to the Orthodox Jewish stronghold of Lakewood, New Jersey, says a comment he made about Jewish home buyers invading his town does not make him anti-Semitic.
Thomas Kelaher, the mayor of Toms River, was quoted in a recent Bloomberg News story as saying that Orthodox Jews are trying to buy homes in his town and warning local homeowners that if they don’t sell, they will be the only non-Orthodox left.
“It’s like an invasion,” Kelaher told Bloomberg. “It’s the old throwback to the 1960s, when blockbusting happened in Philadelphia and Chicago with the African-American community — ‘I want to buy your house. You’ll be sorry if you don’t [sell].’ It scares the hell out of people.”
Kelaher later told the Asbury Park Press that his remark was taken out of context, and that if he indeed used the word “invasion,” it was to denote how Toms River residents feel.
“To suggest that I am anti-Semitic is ridiculous,” Kelaher told the Asbury Park Press. “We have a lovely relationship with the Jewish community in Toms River.” [Oh sure.]
Lakewood is home to one of America’s largest yeshivas, Beth Medrash Govoha, and is among the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the United States. It also has the highest birthrate in New Jersey at 44 births per 1,000 residents. More than half of Lakewood’s 95,000 residents are Orthodox Jews, locals say.
With the town bursting at the seams, Orthodox Jews are seeking to buy homes in nearby areas, including the North Dover neighborhood of Toms River. Last month, the Toms River Town Council enacted an ordinance creating a five-year “cease-and-desist” zone to bar door-to-door solicitations. The town already had a no-knock registry, but locals said it was failing to keep real estate agents away.
Annie Getturgeun (not verified)Wed, 05/07/17
Why not RICO charge? Can you
Why not RICO charge? Can you imagine if these were blacks, hispanic, Mexican or even Italian, would they get a warning? No they would get thrown under the bus by every newspaper. I've gone to major supermarket in Borough Park, where houses are worth a good deal, pricey cars. I was shocked to see how many Hasidics paid with EBT card. I go to regular supermarkets in my predominantly black neighborhoods, some near projects, and mostly see cash, credit or debit. I can't even name 2 people that I know get food stamps and most people I know are low-income and struggle. I have friend living next to "LLC" house. They purposely gutted house and is letting house rot with mold and disrepair so my friend can get tired and sell his house to them. I love and respect Jews, but these are organized crimes by many in a particular religious group.
carolynFri, 07/07/17
Thanks for your comment, Annie. You're right that what they're doing is "organized." Then they call it "a few bad apples" and "antisemitism" when light is shined on it. No one from that community ever turns another one in, or even tells them to stop. The rabbis are the worst offenders of all. But this is one religion the government won't go after along organized crime lines.
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The warming process is self-reinforcing, say scientists. Source: Pixabay
The Arctic Ocean has “extraordinarily hot” surface and air temperatures, which are stopping ice forming and could lead to record lows of sea ice at the North Pole in 2017, according to Danish and US researchers.
Climate change was blamed but so was El Nino, which wreaked havoc with the world’s weather last year.
Satellite pictures and Arctic weather stations have shown air temperatures peaking 20 degrees Celsius higher than normal. In addition, sea temperatures were averaging nearly 4C higher than usual since September.
Rasmus Tonboe, a sea ice specialist at the Danish Meteorological Institute in Copenhagen, said: “Sea surface temperatures in the Kara and Barents seas are much warmer than usual. That makes it very difficult for sea ice to freeze.
“When we have large areas of open water, it also raises air temperatures, and it has been up to 10-15C warmer. Six months ago the sea ice was breaking up unusually early. This made more open water and allowed the sunlight to be absorbed, which is why the Arctic is warmer this year,” Tonboe said.
“What we are seeing is both surprising and alarming. This is faster than the models. It is alarming because it has consequences.”
Professor Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University agreed with his findings. “It’s been about 20C warmer than normal over most of the Arctic Ocean, along with cold anomalies of about the same magnitude over north-central Asia. This is unprecedented for November.”
Francis blamed climate change: “It’s all expected. There is nothing but climate change that can cause these trends. This is all headed in the same direction and picking up speed.”
Temperatures were above freezing when minus 25C should be expected, she said. “These temperatures are literally off the charts for where they should be at this time of year. It is pretty shocking. The Arctic has been breaking records all year. It is exciting but also scary,” Francis said.
Francis said near-record low sea ice had contributed to the higher temperatures. “This helped make the jet stream wavier and allowed more heat and moisture to be driven into Arctic latitudes and perpetuate the warmth. It’s a vicious circle,” Francis said.
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This fossil-fuel exec jumped to geothermal. He tells us why
Michelle Lewis | Oct 8 2020 - 11:52 am PT
Residential geothermal company Dandelion Energy yesterday announced that it’s hired a new vice president of drillings whose name is Jeremy Smith. What’s unique about Smith? The exec comes from a fossil-fuel background.
From fossil fuels to geothermal
Smith brings more than 18 years of experience in the natural gas and oil industries to Dandelion’s geothermal drilling operations. Before joining Dandelion, Smith was the consulting drilling manager for Shale Petroleum Ltd. in Alberta, Canada. Prior to that, he worked in drilling operations leadership positions with various natural gas and oil extraction companies.
Electrek asked Smith why he chose to leave the fossil fuels and join the green energy sector. He replied:
Moving to geothermal and away from fossil fuels was all about a better opportunity for myself and my family. There is no question that there is more economic opportunity in green energy than oil and gas. Fossil fuel extraction is a shrinking industry that often requires people to move and work in places on the edge. With Dandelion, I’m joining a fast-growing company that allows me to build a future.
Electrek’s Take
Electrek recently had a Q&A with Dandelion Energy founder Kathy Hannun about why home geothermal systems are affordable, convenient, and energy-efficient, which you can read here. Dandelion was spun out of Alphabet’s X (formerly called Google[x]) in May 2017, and it’s growing like crazy.
The whole world is rapidly transitioning to green energy, and the sector will create thousands of good jobs and help the fight against climate change. Jeremy Smith just reiterated that — the operative word he used being “opportunity” — and his transferrable drilling experience will be used for good. He’s a great example of how fossil-fuel professionals can move into a cleaner career — and again, in Smith’s words, “build a future.”
In August, we reported that green energy leads new US generating capacity in 2020. Post-election, the next US administration needs to embrace green energy fully — and that includes the abandonment of fracking.
To learn more about whether Dandelion Energy would work for you, you can click my referral link here.
Michelle Lewis @michelle0728
Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at [email protected]. Check out her personal blog.
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F.I.S.T.
Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller
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Johnny Kovak joins the Teamsters trade-union in a local chapter in the 1930s and works his way up in the organization. As he climbs higher and higher his methods become more ruthless and finally senator Madison starts a campaign to find the truth about the alleged connections with the Mob.
Sylvester Stallone as Johnny Kovak
Bruce McGill as Hitman
Rod Steiger as Senator Madison
Brian Dennehy as Frank Vasko
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Reviewed by gridoon 7 / 10
Well-made.
For the most part, this is a good, solid (pseudo)biography of a charismatic labor leader, but towards the end it runs out of steam and loses the clarity and effectiveness of the early sequences. Still, it's worth seeing, with Stallone getting one of his most atypical roles and handling it satisfyingly. (**1/2)
Reviewed by sunwarrior13 10 / 10
A Signature Film For Unions And Union Members
F.I.S.T. is Sylvester Stallone's first film after gaining success and stardom in Rocky.In it,he plays Johnny Kovak, a Cleveland warehouse worker who becomes involved in the labor union leadership of the fictional "Federation of Inter-State Truckers" or F.I.S.T. He finds that he must sacrifice his principles as he moves up through the union and attempts to expand its influence. Among them is getting involved with the mob.It was loosely based on the Teamsters union and their former union president,Jimmy Hoffa.
It was definitely an enjoyable and entertaining film as the viewer get to see Stallone play a different role that relies on his capability as an actor rather than an action star.He did well as a Kovak.Also,the film provides great insight on unions and how the mob gets involved with it through its detriment.This also is a signature films for unions and union members.As for the performances,the rest of the cast played their roles with conviction and director Norman Jewison was steady behind the camera.
Reviewed by mm-39 8 / 10
One of Stallone's best
This film is done on a very low budget, and its a great film. Some times, low budget film compensate with good acting. The script, probably has some real life experiences in it, with a few of the scenes, especialy with the apple boxes, and the double cross part in the film. After watching this film, I thought this film is great, and I am happy I spent my time watching a true gem. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.5286809206008911, "wiki_prob": 0.5286809206008911, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line180747"} |
Heritage of homeopathy
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Scientific proof of existance of the law of similarity in homeopathy – Svirina MD
Svirina Z.A.
Doctor homeopath of the Ryazan Medical Center “Similia”, Ph.D., assistant of the Department of Matophysiology of the RyazGMU named after Academician I.P. Pavlova
Homeopathy is a science that studies the human body as a whole and correctly applies the law of similarity to stimulate the vital energy of man [2].
In the very word “homeopathy”, consisting of two Greek words “homois” similar and “pathos” disease, the basic law of homeopathy is hidden: similar is treated similar [1,10,11].
The German doctor Samuel Hahnemann formulated the main principles of the homeopathic method of treatment. In 1796, in his medical work “Experiment of a new principle of finding healing properties of medicinal substances”, he published his conclusions on the first fundamental principle – the law of similarity. Hahnemann’s genius is that he was the first in the world to formulate the law of the similarity – like treated like [1, 10, and 11].
In the work, “Organon of Medical Art” Hahnemann described in detail four basic provisions of the homeopathic method of treatment. Hahnemann came to the law of similarity, because he was a brilliant experimental scientist, thanks to the experiment with a cinnamon crust, he proved that under normal conditions, china is capable of causing fever attacks that are characteristic of malaria, and in the pathological conditions of chin, respectively, cures according to the law of similarity. The bark of a cinchona is described in Cullen’s “Materia Medica”. In the chapter on the healing effect of the cinchona bark, Cullen expounded the long-known thesis that the effectiveness of this drug in malaria is explained by its “tonic effect on the stomach, as an astringent.” Hahnemann completely disagreed with the author, so Hahnemann decided to test the effect of the cinchona bark on himself, eventually opening with the help of the “allopathic similar preparation” the law of similarity [10, 11].
It must be said that Hahnemann was not the first to experience the effect of drugs on a healthy body and came to the idea of the law of similarity.
We all know Hippocrates well and boldly call him the father of medicine. He lived much earlier than Hahnemann did and, as a doctor-philosopher was a homeopath. It belongs to him the words “similar things should be treated with similar things, vomiting should be treated with emetics” [1].
A famous physician Paracelsus, who lived in the late 16th – early 16th centuries, again developed a homeopathic idea, almost forgotten from the time of Hippocrates. “Never,” he said, “the opposite heals the opposite, but alike always treated alike” [1].
Kravkov Nikolai Pavlovich – the founder of Soviet pharmacology, was born in Ryazan. In 1924, he conducted an experiment and proved that high dilutions of metal salts and poisons in 10-32 exert a noticeable effect on the vessels of the rabbit ear and on the pigment cells of the living frog, and wrote a paper “On the limits of sensitivity of living protoplasm” [4].
Until now in scientific circles and among doctors, there is a mistrust towards homeopathy, misunderstanding of the law of similarity, homeopaths are sometimes considered charlatans, instead of doctors, and medicines are called placebos. The positive effect of homeopathic preparations is explained by the placebo effect [5]. To prove the law of similarity to the modern world, we need a model of the disease [8, 9] to exclude the placebo effect – it is necessary to carry out the experiment on animals, this requires a similar preparation in high dilution and in a potentiated form. The resulting material must be subjected to histological, morphometric and statistical studies. If all these conditions are met, the similarity law will be proved at the morphological level, which is very important for the further development of homeopathy in the world [5].
All these conditions we fulfilled in the conditions of the experiment and proved the similarity law at the cellular level [5]. The purpose of this work is to study the influence of homeopathic nanodilution on the state of the body and mammary gland of white, non-native virgin female rats under normal conditions and in cystic mastopathy in an experiment.
As a model of the disease, we chose cystic mastopathy, which was caused by synestrol (synthetic analogue of estrogens) for 45 days, as a similar preparation we chose homeopathic dilutions of veroshpiron, which caused complete regression of the cysts. Professor P.A. Chumachenko developed the model of cystic mastopathy at the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the RyazGMU [3, 6, 7, 8, and 9].
In 2000, in the experiment we randomly found the therapeutic effect of veroshpiron in cystic mastopathy. I must admit that veroshpiron (potassium saving diuretic) was chosen for the experiment with a different purpose – we wanted to get a model of breast cancer in laboratory animals. After reading the description of the action of veroshpiron in the annotation and in the literature, we found out that veroshpiron can cause mastopathy, gynecomastia and even breast cancer as side effects in women, so we started using veroshpiron after creating cystic mastopathy in rats [3, 5, 6, and 7]. In the candidate’s thesis, the following data were obtained: when studying material doses of veroshpiron in an intact series that means animals received veroshpiron under normal conditions, veroshpiron expanded the passages, increased glandular secretion, and in cystic mastopathy caused narrowing of the passages to normal, healing the cystic mastopathy. What is the mechanism of action of veroshpiron – if it normally extends the passages, and with cystic mastopathy, it narrows them back to normal? This is the essence of the law of similarity – the like is treated like that. Veroshpiron was similar to the synestrel model of cystic mastopathy [5]. To prove the consistency of homeopathic preparations and the effect of homeopathic doses at the cell level, we decided to repeat the experiment with veroshpiron, to make homeopathic nanodilutions from it and to conduct a repeated experiment. In 2007, we offered our idea to the rector of the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, Professor George Vithoulkas, so we decided to work together, as a result of our studies in 2010, our joint monograph “Scientific proof of the similarity law in homeopathy (experimental research)” was published /
With the help of this work, we managed to bring homeopathy to the level of evidence-based medicine [5].
We studied the mammary glands of 200 white mongrel virgin females of rats that were conditionally divided into 7 experimental groups and 9 control groups. The work with animals was carried out in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrates used for experimental and other scientific purposes”(Strasbourg, 1986), Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation of August 23, 2010 and 708n” On Approval of Regulations laboratory practice “and the order of the Ministry of Health of the USSR of 12.08.1977, № 755 “On measures to further improve the organizational forms of work using experimental animals.” Experimental groups after receiving the model of cystic mastopathy received homeopathic veroshpiron orally for a month according to the schemes, control groups – group 1 control of cystic mastopathy and group 2 control of cystic mastopathy – a month after developing it. Separately there was a group of intact animals that did not receive drugs (control of the norm), the group after receiving the model of cystic mastopathy received placebo-empty granules. After the expiration of the experiment, rats were slaughtered under ether anesthesia; the mammary glands were removed, fixed in a 10% formalin solution. Paraffin, all sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin, selectively hematoxylin and picrofuxin, sudan3 for lipids, for elastic according to Weigert, impregnated silver with reticular fibers according to Futu. Further, the study of histological preparations was carried out using the following methods:
General morphological description.
Morphometric analysis.
Statistical. The morphometric method included 23 indicators (Russian).
Homeopathic dilutions of C6, C12, C30, and C200 were made from the allopathic veroshpiron in the Ollo pharmacy (Moscow). Professor D. Vithoulkas suggested schemes for the introduction of homeopathic veropyron.
Seven experimental groups:
First group – 6s 3 times a day for 1 month;
Second group – 6c, 12c, 30c per day 1 month. – “wave-like scheme of introduction”;
Third group – 30s 3 times a day for 1 month;
Fourth group – 30c once a week;
Fifth group – 6c 3 times a day – 10 days, 12c 3 times a day – 10 days, 30c 3 times a day – 10 days;
Sixth group – 200s 3 times a day 1 month;
Seventh group – intact animals 6c-14 days, 12c – 14 days 3 times a day 1 month.
RESULTS OF OWN RESEARCH
Normally, the mammary glands consist of collapsed passages with cubic epithelium, which are located in the adipose tissue, poor in blood vessels and cells.
Fig. 1. Normal rat mammary glands (staining with hematoxylin and eosin, volume 8, app.7) When rats were given material doses of veroshpiron for 2.4, 8 weeks in some cases, especially when receiving maximum doses of veroshpiron for two weeks and minimum doses for 8 weeks.
Fig. 2. Mammary glands of rats of the intact series when receiving material doses of veroshpiron for 8 weeks (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
We observed an interesting picture: the passages were arranged in groups of 5-10 passages, the epithelium was cubic, the lumens of the passages were clearly distinguishable, with some passages slightly enlarged, having irregularly shaped lumens, and a little secret in the lumens. This phenomenon can be regarded as a phenomenon of proving veroshpiron and some mammothropic effect on the body, that is, the material doses cause some kind of disease of the mammary glands. Based on the morphometry, we found that veroshpiron during 2, 4, and 8 weeks of use increases the rate of PS, with some indicators increasing significantly compared with the control (p <0.05), the maximum dose of veroshpiron increases significantly the rate of EC for 4 weeks, veroshpiron in material doses affects the size of the nuclei of the EC. All the parameters of the PS, EH, EC of the intact series are shown in Fig. 3 in the form of diagrams, which also speaks of the stimulating mammotropic action of veroshpiron in the mammary glands of rats.
Fig. 3. Intergroup morphometric parameters: average passage size [DS] epithelial height (EH), epithelial cariometry (EC) of an intact series of rats upon obtaining material doses of veroshpiron
Fig. 4. Mammary glands with sinestrol injection for 6 weeks in the control groups – a model of cystic mastopathy (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
When receiving the model of cystic mastopathy (Figure 4), the passages were located in small groups; the passages were sharply expanded to the formation of small, medium and large cysts, epithelium flattened, in the lumens of cysts, protein-fat masses and cells of condensed epithelium. After 2, 4, 8 weeks from the moment of obtaining the model of cystic mastopathy in the control groups, the morphological signs of cystic mastopathy do not disappear – we also observed cysts of different sizes with a flattened epithelium.
Fig. 5. Mammary glands of control rats after 4 weeks from the moment of obtaining the model of cystic mastopathy (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
Objectively, when sinestrol was administered, rats became sluggish, drowsy, ate poorly, some lost weight, a watery stool appeared on the skin there was a tick-like lesion, especially in the ears and nose. Palpation in the abdominal wall palpated breast cysts. According to the morphometry data, virtually all indicators, in particular, PS, EH, EC, were significantly changed.
Intergroup morphometric parameters: average size of passages (DS), epithelial height (EH), epithelial cariometry (EC) in cystic mastopathy with the introduction of homeopathic veroshpiron of experimental groups
When obtaining homeopathic dilutions of veroshpiron in the intact conditions for 4 weeks (6C – 2 weeks, 12C – 2 weeks), mammary glands of rats had a normal structure.
Fig. 7. Mammary glands with the introduction of homeopathic veroshpiron in the intact conditions for 4 weeks (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
Veroshpiron in homoeopathic doses had no effect on the mammary glands of rats; we did not receive proving in homeopathic doses of veroshpiron in normal conditions, which is very important.
In experimental groups with the introduction of homeopathic dilutions of veroshpiron for a month, the rats were objectively different from the control animals (control of cystic mastopathy), which were not given homeopathic veroshpiron: the animals under the action of the drug “came to life in front of their eyes,” became more active, ate well, at end of the month on the tick-borne lesions started to disappear, which indicates an increase in immunity. In control this was not observed, the animals were sluggish, some even died. Histologically, the mammary glands had the following structure in the preparation of 6C in group 1 of the experiment with CM: the passages were somewhat enlarged with the cubic epithelium, the lumens were clearly discernible, and in general a picture of incomplete regression of the cystic process.
Fig. 8. Mammary glands with the introduction of potency 6C veroshpiron in cystic mastopathy for 4 weeks (staining with hematoxylin and eosin, volume 8, about 7)
According to the morphometry data, the PS index significantly decreases compared to the control of the CM model (p <0.05), compared to the control of CM in 4 weeks from the moment of its receipt it has little changes, and compared with the norm control – it is irrelatively increased, the process of regression of cysts is active, but it is slow and incomplete.
With the “wave-like” scheme of administering veroshpiron in the second group of the experiment (6C – morning, 12C – lunch, 30C evening). This scheme for the introduction of a homeopathic preparation is not recognized by all homeopaths, for comparison a very interesting experimental group. The passages were located in large groups of 20-30 passages in one group, forming lobes, passages narrowed, lumens distinguishable, epithelium cubic.
Fig. 9. Mammary glands with a wave-like scheme of administration of homeopathic veroshpiron for 4 weeks (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
According to the morphometry data, the PS index was significantly lowered compared with the control of CM (p <0.05), but compared with the norm control, the index was significantly increased (p <0.05), normalization of CE did not occur, and CE was significantly increased. Regression of cysts is better than in the first group, but not all indicators are normal. When 30C was administered three times a day in experimental group 3 histologically, we observed a picture of pronounced regression of the cysts; passages narrowed, epithelium cubic, stroma full blood vessels.
Fig. 10. Rat mammary glands with 30C potency administered daily for 4 weeks with cystic mastopathy (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
With a weekly potency of 30C with CM in the four group of the experiment, the passages were arranged in groups, some passages dilated, other passages narrowed, but the epithelium was cubic, it means that histologically, we observed incomplete regression of the cysts.
Fig. 11. Rat mammary glands with weekly potency of 30C veroshpiron in cystic mastopathy, incomplete regression of cysts (staining with hematoxylin and eosin).
In terms of morphometric parameters in group 3, PS significantly decreases in comparison with CM control (p <0.05), but it is elevated (p <0.05) compared to norm control, significantly increased EH compared with cyst control (p < 0.01), compared with the norm control it was reduced (p <0.01), significantly increased EC compared with the control of the cyst-model and control of the norm (p <0.01).
According to the morphometry in the 4th group of the experiment, PS was significantly decreased (p <0.05), but compared to the control of CM in 4 weeks – there are no changes, compared to the norm control – the indicator is elevated, but unreliable; EH is significantly increased in comparison with the control model (p <0.05), compared with the control of cysts after 4 weeks – the indicator reacts poorly, compared with the norm control – significantly lowered (p <0.01); significantly increased CE in comparison with the control of the cyst-model and the control of the norm (p <0.00 1), (p <0.05).
With the introduction of homeopathic veroshpiron in the 5th group – the scheme of a gradual increase in doses during the month (6C – 10 days, 12C – 10 days, 30C – 10 days) – clinically the animals also gradually and gently recovered and recovered with increasing dilution and potencies . Histologically, the mammary glands in all studied cases of the experiment had a pronounced regression of the cysts-the passages narrowed, the epithelium cubic, in the lumens the residual secret.
Fig. 12. Mammary glands of rats with the introduction of homeopathic veroshpiron in cystic mastopathy – gradual increase in potencies of 6C, 12C, 30C for a month (staining with hematoxylin and eosin).
According to the morphometry data: the PS was significantly lowered compared to the control of the CM model (p <0.01) and CM control 4 weeks after the model was obtained (p <0.05), and compared with the norm control, the indicator was slightly elevated, but the data are unreliable, which indicates a pronounced regression of cysts in this group of experiences; significantly increased EH compared with the control groups of CM (p <0.001), compared with the control of the rate slightly increased; significantly increased CE compared with the control of cysts – model CM (p <0.001) and control norm (p <0.01).
With the introduction of homeopathic veroshpiron C200 in the 6th group of the experiment, histologically the mammary glands had the following structure. In all cases of the experiment, complete regression of cystic mastopathy was observed – the passages were sharply narrowed, the lumens were not distinguishable, the epithelium was cubic.
Fig. 13. Mammary glands of rats with the introduction of 200C veroshpiron in cystic mastopathy, pronounced regression of cysts (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
According to the morphometry data: PS significantly decreases in comparison with the control of the cysts – the CM model (p <0.01) and cyst control after 4 weeks (p <0.05), in comparison with the norm control – complete normalization of this indicator, which indicates complete regression of cysts, that is, cystic mastopathy; significantly increases EH compared with the control of cysts (p <0.001), significantly increased EC compared with the control of cysts – the model and control of the norm (p <0.01).
Fig. 14. Mammary glands of rats with placebo administration in cystic mastopathy (staining with hematoxylin and eosin)
Intergroup changes in the indicators of PS, EC, and EC are shown in Figure 6 in the form of diagrams. Separated from the experimental groups, we conducted a group of experiments after obtaining the model of CM. Rats received placebo empty granules for a month (placebo-controlled animals). Histologically and morphometrically, the picture typically matches with the second group of CM control – that is, we observed cystic mastopathy, which does not change in any way compared to the model control (Figures 14, 15). This group has proved the scientific fact that homeopathy is not a placebo effect.
Fig. 15. Change in the morphometric index of PS (passage size) in all study groups
Veroshpiron in homeopathic nanodilution exerts its influence on the mammary glands in cystic mastopathy.
In many cases, the degree of regression of the cysts has reached a high level in comparison with the control.
In single observations, especially with the action of low potencies of veroshpiron, regression is incomplete, but under the action of veroshpiron, the epithelium is restored to normal.
According to the morphometry data, homeopathic veroshpiron in most cases causes a pronounced regression of the cysts, the higher the dilution, the more intensive the treatment effect, the better the potency C200, the complete regression of the cysts in all cases. 5. Veroshpiron in homeopathic doses does not affect the intact mammary gland, but in material doses, it has a stimulating mammothropic effect, which resembles the picture of proving a kind of “synestral model” of cystic mastopathy.
According to the mechanism of action, veroshpiron is an organotropic drug with synestrel model of cystic mastopathy; veroshpiron can be further studied and used in the treatment of women from cystic mastopathy, especially if there is an application of hormones during pregnancy and childbirth, with the purpose of contraception.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK
In this scientific study, the project and plan of which was developed in conjunction with the rector of the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy George Vithoulkas, in an animal experiment using morphometry, we managed to bring homeopathy to the level of evidence-based medicine, and we proved the law of similarity at the cellular level with the help of homeopathic veroshpiron – similar organotropic potentiated preparation. At the time of Hahnemann, there was no modern morphology, no pathophysiology, and, especially, microscopy and morphometry, so 200 years after Hahnemann’s discovery of homeopathy, we managed to conduct these unique experiments on animals. To all of humanity, we can confidently state now that homeopathy is not a placebo effect, and homeopathic preparations are not placebo. Homeopathy is a great science, based on the law of similarity and the effect of nanodilution of the drug on the cell and on the body as a whole. Treatment with the help of homeopathy is an art; curing any pathological process occurs according to the LAW OF SIMILARITY! The future of medicine for homeopathy!
Arkhangelskaya N.V. Hahnemann and his homeopathy / N.V. Arkhangelskaya. – St. Petersburg: “Center for Homeopathy”, 2007. – p. 432.
Vithoulkas D. The Science of Homeopathy / Transl. with English. – M.000 “Classical Medicine”, 2007. P. 352.
Ogoltsova Zh.A. Influence of veroshpiron on pathomorphosis of cystic mastopathy in the experiment / Zh.A. Ogoltsova // Problems of Medical Science: Scientific-practical. Conf. of young scientists. – St. Petersburg, 2002.-P.225.
Beyond the limits of the sensitivity of living protoplasm // Zeitschrift fur die Gesamte Experimentalle Medizin.-1925. – Ed. – 5.279-306.
Svirina Zh.A. Scientific evidence of the existence of the law of similarity in homeopathy (experimental study) / Zh.A. Svirina, J.Vithoulkas, P.A. Chumachenko. – Academy of Natural History, 2010. – 92 pp.
Svirina Zh.A. Influence of homeopathic verospiron on mammary glands in cystic mastopathy in the experiment / J.A. Svirina, P.A. Chumachenko // Fundamental-Mental Studies. – 2008. – m 8. – P. 130-131.
Svirina Zh.A. Influence of veroshpiron on the processes of mammogenesis in usual conditions and in cystic mastopathy in the experiment / Zh.A. Svirina, P.A. Chuma-chenko // Russian medicine-biological bulletin.-2003. – Nd 1-2. – P. 162-169.
Chumachenko P.A. Mammary gland (morphometric analysis) / P.A. Chumachenko, I.P. Shlykov. – Voronezh, 1991.
Chumachenko P.A. 0 pathogenetic mechanisms of ki-formation in the mammary glands / PA Chumachenko // Arch. pathology.-1979. – Gio.-p. 45-49.
lmmunology and Homeopathy.1.Historical Background / RaoIo Bellavite [et al.] // Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine .- 2005.- Nd 2 (4) .- P 441-452.
lmmunology and Homeopathy. The Rationale of the “Simile” / RaoIo Bellavite [et al.] // Advance Access Publication. – 2007. – Vo1.4, No. 2. – P 149-163.
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Woolworths, Coles to face fine of $13,750 EVERY TIME this happens
Siobhan Graham
19 November 2021, 3:04 am ·3-min read
The legions of abandoned shopping trolleys that have littered suburban streets could become a thing of the past following the tightening of impounding laws in NSW.
Local Government NSW President Linda Scott said the new Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Bill 2021, which was introduced into NSW Parliament this week, is a significant improvement on existing laws.
“These abandoned trolleys pose a very real risk to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, while others clog our local waterways,” said Ms Scott.
Coles and Woolworths will be responsiible for removing abandoned shopping trolleys from the community. Source: Getty Images
She added: “There are 8,900 supermarkets right across NSW, and thousands more stores offering the use of shopping trolleys every day – recently four western Sydney councils alone collected 550 abandoned trolleys in a single day.”
According to Ms Scott, the widely-used Trolley Tracker app has reported more than three million abandoned trolleys since it was launched, which gives local councils an idea of the scope of the problem.
The Trolley Tracker app works by allowing people to report abandoned shopping trolleys in the neighbourhood for retailers, such as Woolworths, Big W, IKEA and Dan Murphy.
Each time you report a shopping trolley using the app you go in the draw to win a $1,000 prize.
“Past efforts to deal with the problem, including deposit-based systems, geofencing, wheel locks and trolley trackers have not prevented the abandonment of millions of trolleys, which is why local governments have pushed so hard for legislative change just like this,” explained Ms Scott.
Fines of up to $13,750 for owners of abandoned property
Ms Scott said the new bill marked a considerable improvement of the Impounding Act 1993, which is almost 30 years' old.
The new legislation will put a three-hour collection time limit on trolleys, vehicles or other items causing a safety hazard, and a seven-day limit for others.
Fines ranging from $660 trolley to $13,750 would be applied, depending on the nature, number and time the items remained.
Retailers could be fined up to $13,750 for abandoned shopping trolleys. Source: Facebook
“Essentially these new rules put the onus right back on the owners to ensure their property is not abandoned throughout our communities,” said Ms Scott.
This means that supermarkets, such as Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, and any other retailers who provide shopping trolleys, will be responsible for removing these items from the community within an appropriate time frame.
However, the items go beyond shopping trolleys, extending to items such as unregistered vehicles.
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“Right now the community is spending more than $17 million each year recovering these trolleys; the new cost-recovery components in the legislation means councils alone will be able to claw back almost $10 million of this cost,” she said.
The legislation will also benefit other agencies responsible for keeping public spaces clear, including the police.
“Officers will now be able to enter an abandoned motor vehicle to identify its owners, and then charge that individual fees for recovery and possible storage of that item,” she added.
“It’s a sensible move, and councils are grateful to the government for the extensive consultation and other work it has done with councils and supermarkets to help resolve this problem.” | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.5382024645805359, "wiki_prob": 0.5382024645805359, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1611484"} |
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CMS Releases Proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Rule for 2021
Proposed rule promotes greater stability, lower premiums, and choice in the health insurance markets
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the proposed annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Rule for 2021, also known as the Proposed 2021 Payment Notice. This proposed rule would update regulatory and financial standards applied to issuers and Exchanges, as well as set parameters for the risk adjustment program. Similar to Payment Notices issued in prior years, the Proposed 2021 Payment Notice contains a number of other provisions that support the Trump Administration’s ongoing commitment to lowering premiums, protecting taxpayer dollars and strengthening the health insurance markets to deliver more competition and choice for consumers.
“From day one, President Trump has been committed to providing more affordable health coverage choices to Americans who can’t afford Obamacare’s sky-high premiums,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “His bold measures to promote competition on the individual market have delivered consumers a previously unheard of two consecutive years of lower premiums and increased choice for health plans. That said, premiums remain too high for those without subsidies, and we are dedicated to bringing them down.”
This proposed rule includes various provisions specifically targeted at delivering lower premiums. The rule would maintain the user fee rate charged to issuers participating on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) and State-based Exchanges on the Federal Platform (SBE-FPs). CMS is also requesting comment on whether to further reduce the user fee rate. A decrease would add to the one half of one percentage point reduction finalized for the 2020 benefit year. Savings from CMS’ ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the Exchanges using HealthCare.gov may make further reductions in the user fee possible and these reductions would be passed on to consumers through lower premiums.
Protecting taxpayer dollars is a top priority for the Trump Administration and this proposed rule includes a number of provisions aimed at guaranteeing premium tax credits go to the right people and pay for the right benefits. Under the proposed rule:
Periodic data matching standards would be amended to help ensure premium subsidies are not inappropriately paid to enrollees who are determined to be deceased, or dually eligible for Medicare.
States would also be required to annually notify CMS of any state-required benefit mandates for which the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires states to pay certain costs. There has been limited information collected on such mandates, which has created a potential risk where taxpayers and consumers may inappropriately be footing the bill for such mandates.
Furthermore, CMS solicits public comment on new automatic re-enrollment processes for enrollees whose share of the premium after applying premium subsidies is $0, in order to reduce the risk of incorrect expenditures on subsidies that cannot be recovered through reconciliation.
The Proposed 2021 Payment Notice would continue to strengthen and stabilize the insurance market by updating the risk adjustment program, an important program that seeks to prevent issuers from avoiding high-cost, high-risk individuals. These technical changes would continue our ongoing efforts to improve the reliability of the risk adjustment program, which is critical to strengthening the insurance market and encouraging broader issuer participation and more choice for consumers.
In conjunction with the release of the Proposed 2021 Payment Notice, CMS published a bulletin to extend, for one additional year, the non-enforcement policy that gives states the flexibility to allow issuers to continue offering plans that do not meet all mandates and restrictions in the ACA. These plans, often called “grandmothered” plans, can be more affordable for people who choose to renew coverage with them and offers another example of this Administration’s commitment to ensure access to affordable coverage options and consumer choice.
Today, CMS also issued the Proposed 2021 Annual Letter to Issuers which provides guidance to issuers that want to offer qualified health plans (QHPs) on an FFE; the proposed Key Dates Charts for the 2020 Calendar Year; and the ICD-10 Crosswalk for potential updates to the HHS-HCC Risk Adjustment Model.
To view the proposed rule, click here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-02021.pdf
To view the fact sheet on the proposed rule, please click here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/proposed-2021-hhs-notice-benefit-and-payment-parameters-fact-sheet.pdf
To view the proposed 2021 Letter to Issuers, click here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2021-draft-letter-issuers-clearance-version-final-13120.pdf
To view the proposed Key Dates for Calendar Year 2020 for QHP Certification, Rate Review, and Risk Adjustment, click here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/proposed-key-dates-tables-cy2020.pdf
To view the Draft ICD-10 Crosswalk for Potential Updates to HHS-HCC Risk Adjustment Model for the 2021 Benefit Year, click here: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/index.html#Premium-Stabilization-Programs
To view the bulletin on non-enforcement of certain ACA plan requirements with respect to certain non-grandfathered health insurance coverage in the individual and small group health insurance markets, click here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/extension-limited-non-enforcement-policy-through-calendar-year-2021.pdf
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Graffiti and street art displayed in different lights at the largest Chingay community art installation
Home Uncategorized Graffiti and street art displayed in different lights at the largest Chingay community art installation
Singapore – Graffiti, more commonly associated with vandalism, stands to attract a different public response. Chingay Parade next year520 Singaporeans used spray paint and street art to express themselves in the event’s largest community art installation.
At 18 meters high and 60 meters wide, the installation consists of 28 shipping containers uniquely designed by the community to celebrate the country’s mix of cultures.
Austin “Skratch” Poh, 42, one of eight local artists who helped with the graffiti artwork, said the installation was an opportunity for the community to see graffiti in a different light.
“Many people associate the art of spray painting with vandalism and the ‘O$P$’ sign, but it’s actually a respected art form,” he said, adding, “Borrow money, You mentioned the message of the usurer that stands for ‘Pay me the money’. .
“Graffiti requires techniques such as shading, painting, blending and outlining, and not just irresponsible squirts of paint to render large letters and bright images,” he added.
The installation, he said, shows the public that with the right discipline and management, spray painting can be an amazing way for someone to express themselves.
The main focus of the artwork depicts performers surrounded by various iconic Chingay elements such as cultural motifs, costumes and props.
The same artwork also includes a hand net, symbolizing the convergence of Singapore’s many cultures and communities.
Conceived by Chingay Art Director Sam Lo, the installation serves as a backdrop during parade performances and complements the audience’s visual experience.
Following the theme of embracing tomorrow, the 36-year-old said conceptualization follows his own work as a street artist.
He led eight artists to mentor and mentor the public in spray painting workshops over four weekends in November and December.
“For me, as an artist working in public space, starting with street art, it feels like it’s come full circle because now it’s public’s turn to project their voice into these containers,” he says. I was.
Ada Soh, 42, and her family were among the participants in the installation. A mother of her three children, she had the opportunity to bond with her family and understand her children better while learning more about spray painting. “The pandemic has made us realize the importance of taking time to watch our children grow up,” she said.
Attending workshops and spending afternoons with her family were highlights of 2022 for her.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/graffiti-and-street-art-showcased-in-a-different-light-in-largest-chingay-community-art-installation Graffiti and street art displayed in different lights at the largest Chingay community art installation
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Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats
Kiyofumi Yamada, Masanori Takayanagi, Hiroyuki Kamei, Taku Nagai, Misato Dohniwa, Kana Kobayashi, Shigeru Yoshida, Tatsuo Ohhara, Kazuhiro Takauma, Toshitaka Nabeshima
We investigated the effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β (Aβ)-induced memory impairment in rats, which was assessed by a delayed-matching to position (DMPT) paradigm in three-lever operant chambers. Aggregated Aβ1-40 was microinjected bilaterally (1 nmol/side) into both CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus in rats that had previously performed the DMTP task. Memantine (20 mg/(kg day), s.c.) was continuously infused by an osmotic minipump for 4 weeks from 3 days before the microinjection of Aβ. Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 60 min before the DMTP test session. Bilateral microinjections of Aβ1-40 into the hippocampus resulted in a delayed, but persistent impairment of DMTP performance, which appeared more than 50 days after the injection. Memantine prevented the development of Aβ-induced memory impairment, while donepezil symptomatically alleviated the deficits. Because of a ceiling effect, the combination of donepezil with memantine failed to produce any additive or synergic effects. These results support the clinical data showing that memantine and donepezil are effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it is suggested that memantine is effective for preventing Aβ-induced short-term memory impairment.
Behavioural Brain Research
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036
10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036
Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Donepezil Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Memantine Medicine & Life Sciences 99%
Amyloid Medicine & Life Sciences 70%
Memory Medicine & Life Sciences 53%
Microinjections Medicine & Life Sciences 27%
Hippocampus Medicine & Life Sciences 19%
Short-Term Memory Medicine & Life Sciences 11%
Alzheimer Disease Medicine & Life Sciences 9%
Yamada, K., Takayanagi, M., Kamei, H., Nagai, T., Dohniwa, M., Kobayashi, K., Yoshida, S., Ohhara, T., Takauma, K., & Nabeshima, T. (2005). Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 162(2), 191-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036
Yamada, Kiyofumi ; Takayanagi, Masanori ; Kamei, Hiroyuki et al. / Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats. In: Behavioural Brain Research. 2005 ; Vol. 162, No. 2. pp. 191-199.
@article{f532c85c023745e1b0bc8b0e2f83d383,
title = "Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats",
abstract = "We investigated the effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β (Aβ)-induced memory impairment in rats, which was assessed by a delayed-matching to position (DMPT) paradigm in three-lever operant chambers. Aggregated Aβ1-40 was microinjected bilaterally (1 nmol/side) into both CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus in rats that had previously performed the DMTP task. Memantine (20 mg/(kg day), s.c.) was continuously infused by an osmotic minipump for 4 weeks from 3 days before the microinjection of Aβ. Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 60 min before the DMTP test session. Bilateral microinjections of Aβ1-40 into the hippocampus resulted in a delayed, but persistent impairment of DMTP performance, which appeared more than 50 days after the injection. Memantine prevented the development of Aβ-induced memory impairment, while donepezil symptomatically alleviated the deficits. Because of a ceiling effect, the combination of donepezil with memantine failed to produce any additive or synergic effects. These results support the clinical data showing that memantine and donepezil are effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it is suggested that memantine is effective for preventing Aβ-induced short-term memory impairment.",
author = "Kiyofumi Yamada and Masanori Takayanagi and Hiroyuki Kamei and Taku Nagai and Misato Dohniwa and Kana Kobayashi and Shigeru Yoshida and Tatsuo Ohhara and Kazuhiro Takauma and Toshitaka Nabeshima",
note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank Drs. Wojciech Danysz and Yoshiharu Yamanishi for critical reading of the manuscript. We also thank Merz Pharmaceuticals and Eisai Co. Ltd. for providing us with memantine and donepezil, respectively. This study was supported in part by Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research 14370031 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and by a Grant from the Smoking Research Foundation.",
doi = "10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036",
journal = "Behavioural Brain Research",
Yamada, K, Takayanagi, M, Kamei, H, Nagai, T, Dohniwa, M, Kobayashi, K, Yoshida, S, Ohhara, T, Takauma, K & Nabeshima, T 2005, 'Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats', Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 162, no. 2, pp. 191-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036
Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats. / Yamada, Kiyofumi; Takayanagi, Masanori; Kamei, Hiroyuki et al.
In: Behavioural Brain Research, Vol. 162, No. 2, 30.07.2005, p. 191-199.
T1 - Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats
AU - Yamada, Kiyofumi
AU - Takayanagi, Masanori
AU - Kamei, Hiroyuki
AU - Nagai, Taku
AU - Dohniwa, Misato
AU - Kobayashi, Kana
AU - Yoshida, Shigeru
AU - Ohhara, Tatsuo
AU - Takauma, Kazuhiro
AU - Nabeshima, Toshitaka
N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank Drs. Wojciech Danysz and Yoshiharu Yamanishi for critical reading of the manuscript. We also thank Merz Pharmaceuticals and Eisai Co. Ltd. for providing us with memantine and donepezil, respectively. This study was supported in part by Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research 14370031 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and by a Grant from the Smoking Research Foundation.
N2 - We investigated the effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β (Aβ)-induced memory impairment in rats, which was assessed by a delayed-matching to position (DMPT) paradigm in three-lever operant chambers. Aggregated Aβ1-40 was microinjected bilaterally (1 nmol/side) into both CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus in rats that had previously performed the DMTP task. Memantine (20 mg/(kg day), s.c.) was continuously infused by an osmotic minipump for 4 weeks from 3 days before the microinjection of Aβ. Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 60 min before the DMTP test session. Bilateral microinjections of Aβ1-40 into the hippocampus resulted in a delayed, but persistent impairment of DMTP performance, which appeared more than 50 days after the injection. Memantine prevented the development of Aβ-induced memory impairment, while donepezil symptomatically alleviated the deficits. Because of a ceiling effect, the combination of donepezil with memantine failed to produce any additive or synergic effects. These results support the clinical data showing that memantine and donepezil are effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it is suggested that memantine is effective for preventing Aβ-induced short-term memory impairment.
AB - We investigated the effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β (Aβ)-induced memory impairment in rats, which was assessed by a delayed-matching to position (DMPT) paradigm in three-lever operant chambers. Aggregated Aβ1-40 was microinjected bilaterally (1 nmol/side) into both CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus in rats that had previously performed the DMTP task. Memantine (20 mg/(kg day), s.c.) was continuously infused by an osmotic minipump for 4 weeks from 3 days before the microinjection of Aβ. Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 60 min before the DMTP test session. Bilateral microinjections of Aβ1-40 into the hippocampus resulted in a delayed, but persistent impairment of DMTP performance, which appeared more than 50 days after the injection. Memantine prevented the development of Aβ-induced memory impairment, while donepezil symptomatically alleviated the deficits. Because of a ceiling effect, the combination of donepezil with memantine failed to produce any additive or synergic effects. These results support the clinical data showing that memantine and donepezil are effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it is suggested that memantine is effective for preventing Aβ-induced short-term memory impairment.
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036
DO - 10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036
JO - Behavioural Brain Research
JF - Behavioural Brain Research
Yamada K, Takayanagi M, Kamei H, Nagai T, Dohniwa M, Kobayashi K et al. Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid β-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats. Behavioural Brain Research. 2005 Jul 30;162(2):191-199. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.036 | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.6476849317550659, "wiki_prob": 0.6476849317550659, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line773176"} |
Artificial intelligence on a global scale
Artificial intelligence and automation are changing the way we do business. Companies across all industries are deploying a variety of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning technologies to automate and optimize business processes. We can help you understand the risks and opportunities of creating and deploying these game-changing technologies. From compliance with an array of global regulations to ethics and everyday business decisions, our global team has you covered.
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AI and machine learning technologies are transforming the way we do business. From chatbots and natural language processing to classifiers and intelligent robotics, AI helps you automate and optimize processes. Navigating regulatory compliance, liability risk, privacy, transparency, and ethics calls for a knowledgeable, experienced global team. Our team is at the forefront of AI regulations and work closely with government agencies and industry associations to shape emerging rules.
“We collaborate with clients across the AI ecosystem to understand the legal and compliance risks and develop the right compliance and government affairs strategy for your success. ”
Our clients range from FDA breakthrough-designated device-makers to leading national security developers to some of the largest financial and consumer companies implementing AI into legacy systems. We cover all elements that touch AI, including compliance with an ever-increasing array of global AI regulations, procuring, and contracting for AI-enabled systems and services, intellectual property strategies, data management and cybersecurity, privacy laws and data protection, liability for operators and users of AI systems, and issues of ethics and transparency.
We collaborate with clients across the AI ecosystem – developers of AI technologies, investors, and established businesses implementing AI solutions – to understand the legal and compliance risks and develop the right compliance and government affairs strategy for your success.
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AiCure, LLC, an innovative AI company, in its USD24.5 million Series C financing; its debt financing; and its representation in a loan agreement to increase the commitment of up to USD8 million term loan from Silicon Valley Bank
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An AI company in its Series Seed 2 financing
Cars Wars, an AI phone solution for auto dealerships, in its acquisition of VistaDash, an industry leader in standardizing marketing metrics
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Insilico Medicine, Inc., a biotechnology company applying AI to drug discovery, in its Series A financing; in its joint venture with Juvenescence Ltd.; and in its Common Equity financing
Merlyn.AI Corp., a developer of an AI investment platform, in its Series Seed financing
Raw Shorts, an AI video editor and text to video maker, in its early stage venture financing
Veeve, Inc., a technology company using AI for power shopping, in its convertible note financing
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Performing internal risk assessments and mitigations for Artificial Intelligence programs at major leading pharmaceutical, medical device and digital health companies
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BCG at its global legal conference on AI, machine learning and data analytics
Capital One in its patent strategy related to implementing AI in banking and consumer finance
DeNa Company, Ltd. in its partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Yokohama Baystars, who use AI in analysis of baseball prospects and on-field/in game strategy
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Numerous startups and public companies on patent strategy for AI across these sectors: life sciences, healthcare, sports, entertainment, consumer goods and products, and real estate
Ombudsman Service in the procurement and implementation of an AI tool for claims processing and management
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Samstag, 5. November 2022 - 07:04
Cabinet has approved the Ghana Space Policy and Implementation Plan that will enable the full operationalisation of the Ghana Space Agency next year.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia announced this at the opening of the plenary session of the Group of Earth Observations (GEO) Conference in Accra on Wednesday.
The policy, he said, would support efforts by the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute to explore and harness the space industry for accelerated growth.
Space applications are essential tools for security, environmental monitoring, communication, disaster prevention and risk reduction.
Ghana is hosting a five-day GEO 2022 Week titled “Global Action for Local Impact” to explore ways to use accurate and timely data, technology and services to address environmental challenges.
The meeting was organised by the Group of Earth Observations Secretariat, in collaboration with a local organising committee, comprising the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana Statistical Service and the University of Energy and Natural Resources as well as the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, ahead of the Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP 27) in Egypt next week.
The GEO is a global partnership that works to make Earth observations tools and services openly available around the world for better policy and investment decisions.
Vice President Bawumia noted that investments in Earth observations capabilities were growing and enabling the widespread application of environmental intelligence to tackle environmental challenges.
Despite the increased data availability than ever before, the Vice President said, many low- and middle-income countries were lagging in infrastructure, capacity, and expertise to tap into advances made in Earth Observations technologies.
“The Africa Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, the continent’s blueprint which is aligned with the post-2030 Agenda, seeks to transform Africa through inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.
“Fundamental to Agenda 2063 are the African Outer Space Programme and African Space Policy and Strategy that reinforce the continent’s vision to not only be a consumer in the global space arena but to become a producer and regulator of space products,” he said.
Dr Bawumia noted that through those initiatives, the AU was working to address the growing needs of African countries to harness space technologies and services, including Earth observations to drive policies and decisions to attain the agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He observed that recent heatwaves and wildfires in Europe and severe storms and floods unleashed in some parts of Africa, the Americas and Asia had contributed to severe destruction and displaced thousands of people.
“These events reinforce our resolve to continue working collaboratively to find innovative solutions to build resilient economies, secure food, and water systems, and ensure the sustainable management of our planet,” Dr Bawumia added.
The Vice President stated that the meeting presented a unique opportunity for Africa to renew her unequivocal commitment to deepen international collaborations and develop national EO capabilities to support socio-economic transformation for the achievement of the “Africa We Want” and the “World We Want”, as articulated in the agenda 2063 and post-2030 Agenda respectively.
Dr Bawumia said the intra north-south and rural-urban migrations contributed to urban sprawl and expanding informal settlements. Unplanned spatial expansion of big cities threatened economic efficiency, increasing social and environmental costs for urban commuting.
More also, natural resource depletion heightened by unsustainable mining, inadequate waste management and sanitation, make Ghana extremely vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation and threaten resilience and economic growth.
Therefore, he said, earth observation systems could easily be used to track, and in some instances minimise the negative impact of these environmental problems.
“In Ghana, for example, we are applying the products of the Digital Earth Africa programme to monitor landscape changes because of illegal mining activities.
“Developing an interoperable data ecosystem that combines Earth observations data with other data, including socio-economic data, citizen data, and statistical data, among others would be more meaningful and impactful,” the Vice President stated.
He stressed government’s development priorities with focus on economic transformation through value-addition to create jobs, reduce poverty, and enhance social inclusion while sustaining the integrity of the environment.
“Our medium and long-term development plans are underpinned by the “Ghana Beyond Aid” vision to change the mindsets of our citizens towards an increased reliance on internal resources plus private sector investment to lead economic transformation,” he said.
He was of the belief that application of digital technologies was fundamental to the achievement of the “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda, with emphasis on the maximisation of resources, investments in agriculture, improved health, and industrialisation, enhancing critical skills and education as well as promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“We are almost finalising a new Digital Economy Policy and a Digital Transformation Blueprint to position Ghana as the leader in ICT innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
The ongoing Ghana Digital Acceleration Project, he said, was expected to increase access to mobile internet and broadband services by encouraging private sector investment in last-mile connectivity in underserved and rural areas, with particular attention to women, persons with disabilities and the youth.
He observed that the fight against poverty, hunger, natural resource depletion and efforts toward a clean environment, and to achieve economic prosperity posed a serious risk without a safe and secured planet.
“We believe that this gathering offers Ghana and the rest of Africa the opportunity to catalyse increased use of Earth observations data, tools, and services to inform decisions for accelerated climate and sustainable development action,” he stated.
The government, he said, was working through bilateral and multilateral partnerships to put in place concrete actions to boost resource efficiency, establish a circular economy, mitigate, and adapt to climate change, mitigate disaster risks and halt biodiversity loss.
“We are also actively pursuing improved ways to harness the power of earth observations to support planning and decision-making in weather forecasting, measuring land-use change, monitoring coastlines, and monitoring and responding to disasters, including fires, floods, and earthquakes.
The Vice President called upon the GEO community to continuously invest in capacity development in low and middle-income countries to acquire the necessary technologies, knowledge and skills to access and use EO data effectively.
The Vice President said it was imperative that the GEO community continue working together to create the enablers for nations not only to access GEO data and services but use them to address identified development challenges.
“Ghana reaffirms her commitment to being an active member of GEO. I remain hopeful that the outcomes of this meeting will maintain the momentum and reassert the global call to leave no one behind,” he stated.
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The Green Treehouse
The Green Treehouse is a craft and community café in its infancy as a charity. It is a social enterprise that will attract all age groups from the local community to various group activities that will be run throughout the day. Organised programmes of recreational, social, leisure, physical, educational and other craft activities for mum’s and toddler groups, carers, young people and the elderly will be run along with a café which will generate income to help ensure the initial pilot scheme achieves the goals of the charity; which is to be a successful community outreach project within 12 months of opening that can be upscaled to a larger venture.
Evidence of a successful programme of activities servicing all areas of the local community will be obtained to secure future funding to enable the charity to continue to deliver its core activities in Biddulph and surrounding areas including Congleton on the border with Cheshire.
Chairman, Amanda Beech, contacted Cheshire Connect in November 2015 to explore how Cheshire Connect works and discuss the current skills requirements for the charity. As Biddulph is 4 miles over the Cheshire border and would be providing a service for clients from within Cheshire the decision was made that Cheshire Connect could offer support. At that time the most immediate concern was to aquire premises.
Helen Rankine from Cheshire Connect contacted Kevin Cook of Business Doctors, Cheshire, an organisation that helps small and medium-sized enterprises to grow and flourish, and he agreed to provide the skills The GreenTreehouse required to become established. Kevin generated a business overview for the charity with a 3-5year strategy plus immediate 12month critical activities. These documents have been used when presenting to the council and prospective landlords.
He generated a budget spreadsheet for the first 12 months, with financial modelling to support the goals of the charity, as well as immediate interactions with the landlord of the initial prospective premises with the aim of reducing the rent. Kevin also reviewed any legal documents with regard to supporting the acquisition of premises plus reviewed rental agreements prior to signing. The initial premises proved unsuitable and so began a search for a more acceptable building. Finally, in June 2016 premises were acquired.
Kevin Cook said: “I first heard about Cheshire Connect at an East Cheshire Chamber business briefing and was keen to get involved. I initially agreed a simple strategic plan for The Green Treehouse, with the key objective for 2016 being to acquire premises from which it can operate. One of my areas of expertise is property and lease acquisition so I was able to provide lots of practical support to The Green Treehouse in their search for these premises.
This proved particularly valuable when the original premises that they were hoping to acquire fell through in negotiation, we were able to re-group and re-focus with the result a few months later being the lease now agreed and the charity in occupation of its new home.
It is terrific to be able to give my time to a charitable cause and help it by doing something that I am good at. It is extremely fulfilling to see The Green Treehouse achieve a major milestone as it establishes its services to the local communityâ€
Amanda commented “To have access to a business professional to give the charity the means to go forward with a realistic business plan and guidance has been fantastic. It has enabled the first step of the successful development of the charity which has been to obtain leasehold of suitable premises. And from here we shall move forward to deliver our core goals to the local communityâ€
Pictured above: Kevin Cook of Business Doctors and Amanda Beech Chair of The Green Treehouse outside the newly acquired premises
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Now reading: Meet Flemming Lassen
Meet Flemming Lassen
Architect Flemming Lassen (1902-1984) was a modernist and part of the movement to bring functionalism to Denmark. He is particularly renowned for his overstuffed furniture, receiving major international recognition in the design world for his armchairs which today have become known as “the Flemming Lassen style”. Like his brother Mogens Lassen, Flemming already knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an architect. He was born into an artistic family with a father who was a decorative painter and a mother who was also a painter. As a child, he and his brother spent all their savings on architecture books and their favorite pastime was measuring houses with the intention of sketching them.
The Lassen brothers attended boarding school with Arne Jacobsen, with whom they developed a close friendship. Their relationship continued into adulthood and Flemming Lassen and Arne Jacobsen maintained a close bond as colleagues. In 1929, a competition was announced to design the ´House of the Future´ and together they submitted their contribution for the exhibition held at the Forum, Copenhagen. The result was the now famous circular house, which featured a helicopter landing pad on the roof and flat screen TVs on the walls. Their design won first prize at the competition and the ´House of the Future´ ensured international recognition for Flemming Lassen and Arne Jacobsen, providing them with their breakthrough as major international architects. Flemming Lassen and Arne Jacobsen continued their partnership, designing buildings such as Søllerød Town Hall and its complete interior.
Flemming went on to design many important buildings during the rest of his life, developing several iconic furniture pieces to complete the interior of his projects. Today, his designs are rare and typically distinctive, making them highly attractive to collectors and pushing auction prices to record levels. In fact, an original Flemming Lassen design, Tired Man armchair from 1935, holds the record as the most expensive chair ever sold in Denmark. Flemming won many awards and grants for his architecture during his lifetime, and he remains a significant influence on the Scandinavian design scene to this day.
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We carefully and humbly select the furniture designs we choose to reintroduce to the world to hopefully live a long life in the homes of future generations as beacons of the Danish design tradition that has inspired so many design talents.
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2015 86 min PG Family
"Black Beauty," a film centering on a 15 year-old girl who volunteers at a city pound, and convinces her Grandfather in the country to adopt a horse that was rescued from an abusive owner. They spend the summer rehabilitating "Black Beauty."
Available on Demand
"Black Beauty," a film centering on a 15 year-old girl who volunteers at a city pound, and convinces her Grandfather in the country to adopt a horse that was rescued from an abusive owner.
Bruce Davison, Luke Perry, Sarah Ann Schultz
Daniel Zirilli
Daniel Zirilli, David Bellino
Amy Zirilli, Daniel Zirilli
Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure
TV-G Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure
When a mysterious whirlpool appears in the Atlantic Ocean, astronauts Belka and Strelka must once again act heroically and complete a mission to save the planet along with the distant home of their ne...
Brothers Of The Wind
In a world where it takes courage to fly, a young boy nurtures a baby eagle into adulthood. Searching for their place in the world, they bond over their desire to be free.
Dolphin Kick
TV-G Dolphin Kick
On a tropical island vacation, a young boy's friendship with a playful and friendly dolphin helps him find the courage to get back in the water after the sudden loss of his mother.
Space Dogs Family (episodes 1-52)
A TV series based on the animated feature film "SPACE DOGS" and "SPACE DOGS: ADVENTURE TO THE MOON." In the TV series, the tale of the dogs who went to space continues as their puppies and friends go ...
Two holiday traditions come together in this yuletide adventure. When Santa’s sleigh is stolen and Baby Jesus is kidnapped from the nativity scene, Christmas Eve is on the brink of disaster. Now it�...
A Tiger's Tail
A boy winds up in this live-action adventure of a lifetime when Luna, a baby tiger cub, escapes from an animal sanctuary and follows him home. It is up to one boy, his friend, and his dog to return Lu...
PG Black Beauty
Space Dogs Adventure to the Moon
G Space Dogs Adventure to the Moon
Blast off for fun! Join an all-star cast including Alicia Silverstone (Clueless) and Popstar Ashlee Simpson on an out-of-this-world adventure as our pup Pushok, with the help of his space pals, rocke...
PG Who Gets The Dog?
A couple going through a divorce (Alicia Silverstone and Ryan Kwanten) resort to cheap tactics and dirty tricks as they pull out all the stops to win custody of their precious dog.
Get notified about locations near me or when Black Beauty becomes available on demand:
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COVID Conflict: NH Rejects $27 Million in Vaccine Funds
New Hampshire's Executive Council rejected tens of millions of dollars in federal funds for vaccination outreach when the four Republican members of the five-member body voted it down despite the objection of Republican Gov. Chris Sununu
By Holly Ramer • Published October 13, 2021 • Updated on October 15, 2021 at 8:21 am
New Hampshire's Executive Council on Wednesday rejected $27 million in federal funds for vaccination outreach, thrilling outspoken activists who previously derailed a public meeting and delayed the vote. Nine were arrested Wednesday after audience members repeatedly interrupted the debate.
Among other things, the money would have allowed the state to hire a public health manager and a dozen workers to promote the COVID-19 vaccine and address public concerns about it.
Opponents argued the grant language would have required the state to comply with any "future directives" issued by the Biden administration regarding COVID-19, such as vaccine mandates. The same language has appeared in other grants accepted by the council, a five-member body that approves state contracts. And it does not in any way impede the state's sovereignty, said both Attorney General John Formella and Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.
"I appreciate that you have concerns, but they're based on fantasy," Sununu told Councilor Joe Kenney.
"You reject these federal dollars, the federal government doesn't put it in a savings account. … They're going to send it to New York and California. The dollars are ours, for programs we already implemented," said Sununu. "So to say no makes no logical sense whatsoever."
All four of the Republican councilors voted against the grants, including David Wheeler, who urged Sununu to "stand up like the governor of Texas." Although Sununu plans to join a lawsuit against President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers, he said he won't be following the lead of Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott, who on Monday issued an executive order barring private companies or any other entity from requiring vaccines.
"You want the government to tell private businesses who to hire and fire?" Sununu said. "That is completely un-American."
Two weeks ago, the council canceled its meeting after shouting protesters paraded around the meeting room at Saint Anselm College. There were no arrests that day, but nine people were arrested on Wednesday, when the meeting was held at the state police training facility in Concord.
Holding signs that read "FIGHT MEDICAL TYRANNY" and "THE FINAL VARIANT IS CALLED COMMUNISM," audience members repeatedly interrupted the meeting with applause and jeers, although at several points they stood in silent protest with their backs to the governor and council. Dozens more gathered outside.
"Shame on you. The gallows are calling for all you tyrants!" one man yelled outside toward the entrance used by state officials. Another participant, Devon Dukelow, said it was important for him to attend because his rights are being trampled on.
"Even though they arrested people for practicing their First Amendment rights, in the end, the people got what we wanted," he said. "The Constitution is not being adhered to, and Gov. Sununu, we see what he's really about."
Republican Councilor Janet Stevens called for an end to the "frightening fictional banter that's out there," but voted against the contracts, saying money could be found elsewhere for the same purposes. But Councilor Cinde Warmington, the lone Democrat on the council, cast her colleagues' votes as political pandering to a "small, misinformed minority."
"Rejecting these funds would impede people who want to get the vaccine or boosters to readily access them, it would place additional burdens on our already stressed health care system and our health care workers, it would delay our recovery from this pandemic and it would prevent the full recovery of our businesses and our schools," she said.
Sununu later said the vote showed a "reckless disregard for the lives we're losing." State Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette said she did not know of any other states that have rejected such funds.
"I don't care about other states," one man said as he was arrested. "This is the Live Free or Die state."
In other coronavirus developments:
More than 126,000 people have tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, including 510 cases announced Wednesday. Two new deaths were announced, bringing the total to 1,511.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 494 new cases per day on Sept. 27 to 540 new cases per day on Oct. 11.
CoronavirusCOVID-19New HampshirevaccineChris Sununu
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New low-carbon electricity most cost-effective option for UK power sector
Reacting to a new report today from the Government’s Committee on Climate Change saying that low-carbon electricity is the most cost-effective way to meet the need for more generation in the 2020s given the UK’s climate change commitments.
Power sector scenarios for the fifth carbon budget has been published on the CCC website this morning. You can access it here.
Friends of the Earth senior energy campaigner Simon Bullock said: “The Government’s own advisers say it will be cheaper to use low-carbon electricity rather than gas to power our economy in the 2020s.
“Ministers should be championing the UK renewable sector, instead of strangling the life out of solar and on-shore wind, threatening tens of thousands of jobs and pushing up bills in the future. Energy bill payers and our climate will pay a hefty price for the Government’s costly and short sighted obsession with gas, oil and fracking.”
Lord Turner of Ecchinswell said: “This report confirms what other recent analyses have also found, namely that the cheapest forms of renewable energy are increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels for electricity generation.
“But if the Government wants to have a genuinely level playing field, it’s imperative that fossil fuel generators pay the full costs to society of their emissions, which can be accomplished simply by raising the carbon floor price. As the Committee makes clear, this will also keep customers’ bills down, so it’s a win-win strategy for the Treasury.”
Professor Catherine Mitchell, Professor of Energy Policy, University of Exeter, said: “With DECC apparently planning to release a report on the ‘real cost’ of renewables next month, this report from the CCC is a useful contribution.
“It’s clear that renewables like onshore wind and solar are nearly cost-competitive already with fossil fuel generators, and crucially the Committee states that remains true even if the costs of managing their variable output are included.
“It also confirms what many professionals know already, that the way forward in electricity systems is through flexibility and efficiency, using demand response and interconnectors with other countries, and that centralised baseload generation will increasingly be a thing of the past.”
Scottish Renewables’ Chief Executive Niall Stuart said: “The UK Government has consistently stressed its commitment to climate change targets whilst at the same time taking the knife to support schemes for renewables. This report is just the latest in a series from independent experts which show that delivering on the Government’s energy promises will require significant growth in renewables – and other low carbon generation – over the next 15 years.
“We would urge ministers to set out their own clear ambitions for renewables and how they intend to deliver those – or credible alternatives that will deliver the same levels of carbon reduction for a similar cost. If they don’t, they risk their climate change pledges starting to sound a little hollow as we build up to the global climate change talks in Paris next month.
“The report also highlights that ‘established’ renewables such as onshore wind and solar power are already on track to undercut the costs of power from new gas-fired power stations by the end of this decade, and the role that both could play in meeting carbon targets at the lowest overall cost to consumers.”
Related Topics:fifth carbon budgetFriends of the EarthGovernment’s Committee on Climate Changelow-carbon electricityUK power sector
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Friends Of The Earth Warn Theresa May To Challenge Trump Over Climate Change
London Air Pollution: Restrict Traffic Not Outdoor Activity
Egnedol’s Milford Haven Waste And Biomass Plans Opposed By Campaigners
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Patrick Istilart official photo. Istilart was awarded the 2021 Civilian of the Year for Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic.
MC2 ALFRED COFFIELD
SUBLANT Awards Civilian of the Year
By MC1Cameron Stoner Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic
Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (SUBLANT) recognized Patrick Istilart as the command’s 2021 Civilian of the Year during an award ceremony.
Istilart, SUBLANT’s broadcast authority officer (BCA), received the award for the superior performance of his duties throughout 2021.
Vice Adm. William Houston, Commander, U.S. Submarine Forces (SUBFOR), outlined Istilart’s achievements during the award ceremony.
“Patrick’s work at SUBLANT has been critical to ensuring the continued success of the Submarine Force communications program,” said Houston. “His dedicated work on a critical satellite system has directly resulted in making a new capability available to support national missions vital to the defense of the United States. None of this would have been possible without Patrick and his team’s ability to be humble, dig deep to find the root causes of issues, and drive the resolution.”
As the broadcast authority officer, Istilart expertly managed the operations, training, and qualifications of 42 personnel on a daily basis. His transparent work alongside others in SUBLANT, and the key command, control, communications and computers organizations around the world, has shown the effectiveness of maintaining a focused approach to troubleshooting.
“The civilian staff at SUBLANT continues to remain a cohesive and highly functional team,” said Dr. Martin Irvine, SUBFOR’s executive director. “Patrick is simply one example of the outstanding civilians that don’t shy away from challenges, but take pride in fixing them. I look forward to our civilian’s continued ‘one team, one fight’ work ethic embodied in our workforce to support Admiral Gilday’s ‘Get Real and Get Better’ initiative, by building trust and challenging the previously accepted norm.”
Upon receiving the award, Istilart acknowledged the challenges he embraced while performing his job and took time to thank those in attendance, as well as his team.
“The toughest challenge I faced in 2021 was adjusting to my new position, but my team shared their knowledge with me and we quickly built trust in each other,” said Istilart. “Diving into being the BCA and working on the satellite system helped me acclimate to the new environment. I quickly took on the project and determined all the barriers through a disciplined and streamlined approach.”
Since Istilart’s work, the Submarine Force now has added a crucial capability in support of national security. This work would not have been possible without transparent and collaborative efforts from multiple commands.
“Establishing the communications system was a coordinated effort that we led with U.S. Air Forces’ 4th Space Operations Squadron, U.S. Naval Information Forces, the Defense Information Systems Agency, Program Executive Offices, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, Commander, Tenth Fleet, and others,” said Istilart.
While Istilart is SUBLANT’s civilian of the year, he is only one of approximately 80 civilian employees who ensure SUBLANT’s goals and requirements are met on a daily basis.
The Submarine Force executes the Department of the Navy’s mission in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending added capacity to naval forces, the Submarine Force, in particular, is expected to leverage those special advantages that come with undersea concealment to permit operational, deterrent and combat effects that the Navy and the nation could not otherwise achieve.
The Submarine Force and supporting organizations constitute the primary undersea arm of the Navy. Submarines and their crews remain the tip of the undersea spear.
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Live Casino / Games / Live Mega Ball
Best Live Mega Ball Live Casino in 2023
The unique live megaball game was first introduced in 2020 along with eleven other new games from Evolution Gaming. It's a fast and exciting game inspired by a mix of bingo, lottery and game show experiences. Mega Ball is among the top live games and boasts the potential to win 1,000,000x your bet.
Another bonus for playing live casino games is the real-time video streaming and an opportunity to interact with a real live human dealer and other players. Live Mega Ball is a great choice for bingo lovers but with extra features!
General InformationWhat is Live Mega Ball?How to play Mega Ball?How does Live Mega Ball work?How to win at Live Mega BallLive Dealer Casino Software ProvidersTop Live Mega Ball BonusesLive Mega Ball Payouts
Game name Live Mega Ball
Game provider Evolution
Game type Game Shows
Streaming from Latvia
What is Live Mega Ball?
This is a new game that combines the best aspects of bingo and lottery play to create a unique casino game. Mega Ball also takes into perspective several aspects of the popular slot games. The live aspect simply means that players taking part in Live Mega Ball drawing see and interact with the dealer in real time as if they were in an actual casino.
The objective of the game is to get the maximum number of lines possible, in order to keep increasing a player's winnings. It is set such that within the shortest period of a game round, players go through the thrill and excitement of changing possible outcomes.
The game was created by Evolution Gaming and only hit the market in April 2020. This not only makes it a unique game but a fresh one as well. By playing this game, one notices that Evolution Gaming has put in a lot t of work to make the player comfortable. There is very little an individual player needs to do in a game round.
How to play Mega Ball?
Live Mega Ball is an easy live game of chance. The rules are simple and even first-time players stand a good chance of winning handsomely.
Live Mega Ball rules
Live Mega ball runs on one cardinal rule: make your bet. Players decide how much they are winning to stake and on which numbers, then sit back and watch things unfold. The dealer in the house does the rest of the work.
Players are required to buy at least one card and a maximum of 200 cards in a game value. Each player also sets the value of their cards by placing a bet e.g. if a player assigns a card value of $1 and buys 20 cards, they have a stake of $20.
A Mega Ball multiplier of between 5x and 100x is generated at the end of every round to determine winnings.
The rules allow players to interact with the dealer through text or sending tips during the Mega Ball Live drawing process. However, the dealer is usually engaged in the game and may not have a lot of time to respond to individual players.
How does Live Mega Ball work?
The player sets the game rolling by clicking on the Mega Ball option in the live casino site section. This can be done through the browser, either on a computer or mobile device. The player then assigns a card value and picks the number of cards they want to buy. The game interface displays these cards and tables of possible winnings.
Once the purchase is done, the dealer then gets the game rolling. 51 balls are released into the machine. 20 balls are then quickly drawn from these 51 in a row. If any of these cards matches the player's cards, the rows beside that card are filled. A multiplier is then generated, then a Mega Ball is drawn. If the Mega ball completes any of the player's lines, then the winnings are multiplied according to the multiplier. There is a chance of winning up to 1,000,000 x. On rare occasions, a second Mega ball is drawn.
How to win at Live Mega Ball
Mega Ball is a game of chance and winning will necessarily depend on luck. Buying more cards does not significantly increase winning chances.
Live Mega Ball strategy
Little can be done in terms of strategy since players are not involved in live Mega Ball drawing. The best thing to do is to follow general gambling strategies such as managing the purse and knowing when to walk away.
Live Dealer Casino Software Providers
Live Mega Ball is made exclusively by Evolution Gaming, a top live casino software provider, and is streamed by live HD video from their studio in Latvia. Live Mega Ball is available in the best live casinos and can be accessed by desktop, laptop or mobile (both iOS and Android). It's a top quality software that is made perfect for the operating system and device being used. It also features a seamless experience when switching between devices. It is a great game show experience that can be enjoyed at home or on the move.
Evolution Gaming has once again delivered on providing a user-friendly experience for players, making the game very easy to play. Players are not offered a free-to-play demo, but instead can watch the game in action to see how it is played. Apart from a detailed set of game rules, a handy reminder of them is displayed on the user interface. The game is easy to follow with all balls drawn in the game displayed clearly. A player's cards are shown on the UI, and are automatically reordered to show the one closest to winning being placed at the top.
Top Live Mega Ball Bonuses
Bonuses, especially the famous Mega Ball multiplier bonus, are a key attraction in this game. With a minimum bet of 0.010 EUR up to a maximum of 100 EUR per game, original bets can be multiplied exponentially with the multiplier bonus. There are not any strategies to win because it is purely a game of chance.
Change Your Number Bonus
The change your number bonus is an opportunity to change the numbers given on a player's 'bingo card'. The numbers can be changed any amount of times up to and until the betting time is closed. This feature allows players to change the numbers on their cards if they don't like the look of them. All a player has to do is to zoom into the card and select the 'Refresh Numbers' button to change the numbers. This can be done a number of times but only while the betting time is open.
Mega Ball Multiplier Bonus
Each round of Mega Ball involves 20 numbered balls selected randomly, followed by a final Mega Ball. Players can win if they complete any of the rows horizontally, vertically or diagonally with the first 20 balls. A multiplier (between 5x and 100x) for the Mega Ball is generated on a giant wheel that is spun before the Mega Ball is selected. If the final Mega Ball completes any line, then the player's winnings are multiplied by the generated multiplier. This could add up to a player receiving 1,000,000x their original bet.
Live Mega Ball Payouts
The megaball pay out depends on the amount of the wager, number of lines completed, and if the Mega Ball completed any lines resulting in the winnings being multiplied. The maximum win is 1,000,000x the original bet up to a maximum payout of 500,000 USD, GBP or EUR. The Return to Player (RTP) is around 95%. If one card is in play then the RTP will be about 95.4%, but this reduces to between 94.61% and 95.4% with multiple cards.
Similar to regular bingo, it's the amount of completed lines that dictate the winnings. One completed line will get the player 1x their bet. Two lines will receive 5x the original bet, three lines 50x, four lines 250x, five lines 1,000x, and six or more lines receiving 10,000x the player's bet. The ultimate payout would be six or more lines that were completed with a Mega Ball bonus that had a 100x multiplier, giving the winner 1,000,000x their placed wager.
Read more about the best payouts in live casinos here.
Everything you need to know about casinos
When was Live Mega Ball invented?
Live Mega Ball was first launched in the spring of 2020.
Does Live Mega Ball use RNG?
Yes, RNG-based random multipliers are applied of between 5x–100x. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.5248063802719116, "wiki_prob": 0.5248063802719116, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line962654"} |
Launchpad itself
How to remove a translation?
Asked by David Paleino on 2012-05-06
I'm trying to remove some unmaintained translations from wicd.
wicd is currently using LP also for translations, and it is setup so that it imports/exports .po files from the bzr repo. However, even "bzr rm" didn't work, since LP re-added the files on the next sync.
http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~wicd-devel/wicd/experimental/revision/773
Is there a way to completely remove some languages?
(in this particular case, they're unmaintained language variants, say en_CA or es_MX, which are largely incomplete, so that a Mexican user prefers having "es", instead of a few strings in "Mexican Spanish" and the rest in English)
Launchpad itself Edit question
Jeroen T. Vermeulen
Laura Czajkowski (czajkowski) said on 2012-05-08 : #1
There's no way to remove unmaintained translations, really. Generally speaking, anyone can come in and help out, so it should be better to fix the lack of maintenance. we don't really have a line we can draw for “this is sufficiently translated to ship.” Some might say a bit of translation is almost always better than none at all. We set no bar that translators must reach in order for their efforts to have any effect at all.
A workaround is to clear those translations, or set them to copies of the “proper” language (e.g. by browsing them with the “proper” language as a guide, and selecting the translations that are suggested from that language) The project owners may want to assign the translations to a translation group, and ask their translators to join or work with that group.
There's no way to remove unmaintained translations, really. Generally speaking, anyone can come in and help out, so it should be better to fix the lack of maintenance. we don't really have a line we can draw for “this is sufficiently translated to ship.” Some might say a bit of translation is almost always better than none at all. We set no bar that translators must reach in order for their efforts to have any effect at all. A workaround is to clear those translations, or set them to copies of the “proper” language (e.g. by browsing them with the “proper” language as a guide, and selecting the translations that are suggested from that language) The project owners may want to assign the translations to a translation group, and ask their translators to join or work with that group.
David Paleino (dpaleino) said on 2012-05-08 : #2
This reasoning works well for "main" languages. However, for language variants (think at es_MX, es_AG, es_CL, ... being the main language es), "a bit of translation" is not useful. It's better to ship the "main" language translation (es in this case).
Surely I can put a threshold in my project's buildsystem.
Anyhow, please remove the following languages from wicd:
po/en_CA.po
po/en_GB.po
po/es_AR.po
po/es_CL.po
po/es_CO.po
po/es_GT.po
po/es_MX.po
po/es_NI.po
po/es_VE.po
po/fr_CA.po
This reasoning works well for "main" languages. However, for language variants (think at es_MX, es_AG, es_CL, ... being the main language es), "a bit of translation" is not useful. It's better to ship the "main" language translation (es in this case). Surely I can put a threshold in my project's buildsystem. Anyhow, please remove the following languages from wicd: po/en_CA.po po/en_GB.po po/es_AR.po po/es_CL.po po/es_CO.po po/es_GT.po po/es_MX.po po/es_NI.po po/es_VE.po po/fr_CA.po Thanks, David
Hi, as I said above it's not possible, but you could be better off keeping a list of "maintained" translations in his build procedure, and just not shipping translations that aren't on that list. Or shipping them in a separate directory as optional extras. You could also consider exporting to a separate branch, rather than straight back to his development branch, so that there's an extra step in accepting them back that you have control over.
If you create a separate branch _based on your development branch_ that you can export translations to, then you can use “bzr merge” etc. to manage the PO files. It does mean that there's an extra step to be performed in getting translations back in, but that's the price of wanting to customize that flow: You have to implement your own version of the flow. (Note that you can only _import_ from the series' main branch, but you can _export_ to a branch of your choosing)
Hi, as I said above it's not possible, but you could be better off keeping a list of "maintained" translations in his build procedure, and just not shipping translations that aren't on that list. Or shipping them in a separate directory as optional extras. You could also consider exporting to a separate branch, rather than straight back to his development branch, so that there's an extra step in accepting them back that you have control over. If you create a separate branch _based on your development branch_ that you can export translations to, then you can use “bzr merge” etc. to manage the PO files. It does mean that there's an extra step to be performed in getting translations back in, but that's the price of wanting to customize that flow: You have to implement your own version of the flow. (Note that you can only _import_ from the series' main branch, but you can _export_ to a branch of your choosing)
Sorry, this question is not answered yet. I _hate_ to play ping-pong, so I won't reopen it a third time.
I see there are similar "please delete translation X" filed along this one, which are completed just fine. Why this one can't be acted upon?
I surely will make a check in my buildsystem though.
Thank you for your help so far,
Sorry, this question is not answered yet. I _hate_ to play ping-pong, so I won't reopen it a third time. I see there are similar "please delete translation X" filed along this one, which are completed just fine. Why this one can't be acted upon? I surely will make a check in my buildsystem though. Thank you for your help so far, David
Jeroen T. Vermeulen (jtv) said on 2012-05-10 : #5
Deleting translations is technically possible, of course, but not very practical. We do it occasionally but it takes a lot of time and work. We haven't invested in making it more practical because “deleting a translation” can mean lots of different things technically, and for a variety of use cases. In some of those use cases, deleting translations sounds like a solution but is actually wrong, or just a temporary way to hide another problem.
In the case of wicd, there's not much point talking about deletion if its translations operate under the Structured permissions model. With those permissions, anyone can add translations for languages that are not managed by the translation group. It just takes one drive-by contribution to bring an unwanted language back! We try to discourage language variants that we think unnecessary, but we don't go as far as to block them completely.
And that does create a problem for you. If your translations go straight into your branch, and from there straight into your build and from there, straight into release then the good and bad effects of whatever level of openness you choose for your translations will show up in your release. To control the bad effects without obstructing contribution, the best thing to do is to filter out any translations that aren't good enough near the rear end of the process — basically the build stage.
The translations-to-branch exports are an earlier stage of the process: they were designed to store your translations as part of the development process, not to make the final call on which translations you consider usable for a release. It might be nice if Launchpad could automate that step, but as things stand, it doesn't. It's not as easy as it sounds: Launchpad doesn't know if maybe you or some of your translators prefer to commit translations through the branch, for instance, and we think adding even more buttons and switches to control those things is detrimental to the effectiveness of the Launchpad application. The application doesn't know if you like to release your translations as part of the same package or separately, or as part of larger language packs. Nor does it know whether your translators prioritize strings effectively, which can make an enormous difference to how much coverage you need for a useful translation — but you can't just set a custom percentage because practice will differ between languages. We could make Launchpad find some of these things out, but complexity also has a way of making your life harder.
So how do we make things better? I can think of one thing. Perhaps the Launchpad Translation Group should have empty translation teams for languages it thinks are redundant, such as national variants of Spanish. That way, people will still be able to suggest translations for those languages but not actually approve them in any project the group manages. I'll start a discussion about that; if they agree, then we're in a position where deleting translations in some way makes sense as a one-time cleanup.
Deleting translations is technically possible, of course, but not very practical. We do it occasionally but it takes a lot of time and work. We haven't invested in making it more practical because “deleting a translation” can mean lots of different things technically, and for a variety of use cases. In some of those use cases, deleting translations sounds like a solution but is actually wrong, or just a temporary way to hide another problem. In the case of wicd, there's not much point talking about deletion if its translations operate under the Structured permissions model. With those permissions, anyone can add translations for languages that are not managed by the translation group. It just takes one drive-by contribution to bring an unwanted language back! We try to discourage language variants that we think unnecessary, but we don't go as far as to block them completely. And that does create a problem for you. If your translations go straight into your branch, and from there straight into your build and from there, straight into release then the good and bad effects of whatever level of openness you choose for your translations will show up in your release. To control the bad effects without obstructing contribution, the best thing to do is to filter out any translations that aren't good enough near the rear end of the process — basically the build stage. The translations-to-branch exports are an earlier stage of the process: they were designed to store your translations as part of the development process, not to make the final call on which translations you consider usable for a release. It might be nice if Launchpad could automate that step, but as things stand, it doesn't. It's not as easy as it sounds: Launchpad doesn't know if maybe you or some of your translators prefer to commit translations through the branch, for instance, and we think adding even more buttons and switches to control those things is detrimental to the effectiveness of the Launchpad application. The application doesn't know if you like to release your translations as part of the same package or separately, or as part of larger language packs. Nor does it know whether your translators prioritize strings effectively, which can make an enormous difference to how much coverage you need for a useful translation — but you can't just set a custom percentage because practice will differ between languages. We could make Launchpad find some of these things out, but complexity also has a way of making your life harder. So how do we make things better? I can think of one thing. Perhaps the Launchpad Translation Group should have empty translation teams for languages it thinks are redundant, such as national variants of Spanish. That way, people will still be able to suggest translations for those languages but not actually approve them in any project the group manages. I'll start a discussion about that; if they agree, then we're in a position where deleting translations in some way makes sense as a one-time cleanup.
Thank you very much Jeroen. :)
Thanks Jeroen T. Vermeulen, that solved my question. | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6782119870185852, "wiki_prob": 0.3217880129814148, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line881683"} |
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Sidney Health Center Releases Statement Regarding CMS Vacine Mandate Injunction
Yesterday, November 30, a federal district court in Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction temporarily freezing of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services vaccine mandate set forth in the November 5, 2021 Interim Final Rule (IFR).
“Upon receiving this news, we announced to our staff that we will not be enforcing the CMS COVID-19 vaccination mandate as previously communicated,” stated Jen Doty, Sidney Health Center Chief Executive Officer. “We will continue to watch the state and federal updates very closely and be transparent as changes in the regulations take place. We remain committed to our mission and providing medical care to residents living in our community and the surrounding area.” | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.565010666847229, "wiki_prob": 0.434989333152771, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line42966"} |
Updated on Wednesday 25th January 2023
As the third largest economy in the world, Japan has a highly developed transportation network comprised of a complex infrastructure, airways, an extremely industrialized automotive industry and a world-leading railway. Our company formation consultants in Japan can assist you to open a transportation company in this country.
The airline industry and airports in Japan are projected to be privatized to grow their efficiency, while the infrastructure will witness major urban developments which are being developed before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As about the trains, the local government has high ambitions to export trains and railway technology.
Types of transportation companies in Japan
Here are a few types of transportation companies you could decide to set up in Japan:
• Owner or operator trucking: the basic structure of the trucking business is to bid and deliver contracts in the country;
• Moving van business: it involves quite an easy start. The key to a successful moving van business is to open and conduct your firm professionally, maybe providing add-on services like space for temporary and in-between moves storage;
• Air transport: a transport company by air, be it by plane or helicopter, requires a quite significant start up investment for equipment, licenses (for yourself and your employees) and insurances. Small plane transport could imply delivering goods or mail or transport freight internationally;
• Marine shipping: it is a very developed sector and a great business. It is often effectuated by tankers full of containers which get lifted off the trailer of an 18-wheeler and then placed on the boat. This type of business usually consists of international import or export and it needs a certain level of knowledge of the customs regulations in general and for a certain merchandise;
• Specialty transportation: our company registration specialists in Japan can provide further details on what this type of transportation business consists of.
The safety license in Japan
According to the Road Vehicles Law, in connection to opening a transportation company in Japan, entrepreneurs should be aware that transportation companies in this country should have certain safety licenses.
These licenses are issued by the Transportation Ministry upon receiving certain documents. Our company formation advisors in Japan can offer more information on what these documents are.
A foreign national who undertakes the rile as an executive member in a Japanese transport company is required to apply for the right type of visa and permit that will grant residency in Japan. In most cases, this is the business manager visa and the application conditions concern both the business itself, as well as the applicant, namely his qualifications for the management position.
If you would like to know more about the transportation industry in Japan, or for assistance in setting up a company in Japan, please contact our friendly staff. | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6726400852203369, "wiki_prob": 0.3273599147796631, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1096078"} |
SOCY1004
Analysing the Social World: Work, Care and Identity
An undergraduate course offered by the School of Sociology.
Code SOCY1004
Offered by School of Sociology
Course subject Sociology
Areas of interest Sociology, Psychology
Dr Baptiste Brossard
Analysing the Social World: Work, Care and Identity (SOCY1004)
This course will introduce theories and perspectives that have shaped (and continue to reshape) sociological understandings of the world around us. By investigating the relationships between economy, society and culture that inform the experience of everyday life – in Australia and around the world – the course will examine how social inequalities are reproduced and contested. Through a focus on the themes of ‘work’, ‘care’ and ‘identity’, students will develop critical awareness of how the organisation of social and economic life varies across time, by place and according to positionality. We will consider key issues emerging from the transition from industrial to post-industrial societies in the Global North, while working to decolonise dominant perspectives by resituating these debates in Global South settings – where the majority of the world live and work.
understand major sociological theories of work relating to the organisation of society, economy and culture
evaluate and compare the relevance of these theories in the Global North and Global South;
apply these theories to everyday life and contemporary social issues; and
reflect on and discuss their learning in relation to the course content using written and audiovisual media
Tutorial Participation (10) [LO 4]
Mid-Term Essay, approx 1000 words (25) [LO 1,2]
Video Project, 4 minute video, with approx 500 word script (30) [LO 3,4]
Take-Home Examination approx 2000 words (35) [LO 2,1]
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 12 hours of workshops; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
You are not able to enrol in this course if you have previously completed ANUC1104 | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.7490458488464355, "wiki_prob": 0.25095415115356445, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1723840"} |
More than 100,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Germany
More than 100,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Germany since the start of the pandemic, a public health agency announced Thursday.
Europe’s largest economy is battling a fresh surge in coronavirus cases, and recorded 351 fatalities in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 100,119, according to figures from the Robert Koch Institute.
As infections reach a record high and intensive care units fill up, the health crisis is posing an immediate challenge to the new coalition government set to take over from Angela Merkel’s cabinet.
Some hospitals are already facing an “acute overload” that has made it necessary to transfer Covid patients abroad, said Gernot Marx, head of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine.
Germany last week announced tougher Covid curbs, including requiring people to prove they are vaccinated, cured or have recently tested negative for the virus before they can travel on public transport or go into the workplace.
Several of the worst-hit areas have gone further and ordered new shutdowns.
The spike has ignited a fierce debate in Germany about whether to follow Austria’s example and make vaccination mandatory for all citizens.
Incoming chancellor Olaf Scholz has voiced support for mandatory jabs and said his new government will invest one billion euros in bonuses for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic.
Germany’s fourth virus wave has in part been blamed on its relatively low vaccination rate of about 69 percent, compared to other European countries such as France, where it is 75 percent.
‹ Southern Cameroons Crisis: Francophone army soldiers are dying like flies › Africa Cup of Nations 2021: The most useless Francophones in Africa are living in Cameroon
twenty − 14 = | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.8226801156997681, "wiki_prob": 0.8226801156997681, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line251708"} |
On Urbanity
Filed under: Talking Books,Talking Movies — Fergal Casey @ 12:36 pm
Tags: 300, Adam Gopnik, Baldassare Castiglione, Cambridge Analytica, Competing Philosophies in That They May Face the Rising Sun, Dorothy Parker, Dublinks.com, Facebook, Fergal's Guide to Misanthropy, Gilmore Girls, Gonzo, Graham Price, Hunter S Thompson, InDublin, Irish University Review, James Thurber, Jamesie, Jim Jarmusch, John McGahern, Lake Tahoe, Legion, Malcolm Gladwell, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dwyer, PG Wodehouse, Prometheus, Ready Player One, Richard Brody, Talking Movies, That They May Face the Rising Sun, The Bear Who Let It Alone, The Book of the Courtier, The Irish Times, The New Yorker, The Shining, The Years with Ross, University Observer, WB Yeats
Prefacing my attack on Legion last month I noted decorum was important, and that urbanity was important as a stylistic and aesthetic goal, and noted one could stretch to call it an ethical goal too.
What then is urbanity? When I was writing for the University Observer I used to think our house style was aiming for the droll elegance of the New Yorker. I’m not sure anybody else did. I’m not sure I would even have been able to pin down where I got that notion of the New Yorker from, possibly a refracted Dorothy Parker vibe from the Gilmore Girls. Having recently, deliriously enjoyed James Thurber’s The Years with Ross I think that I wasn’t far off in my peculiar sense of the magazine’s house style. Although it may have been just Thurber himself rather than the New Yorker writers en masse in possession of that style. Certainly the current New Yorker writers are en masse in possession of a house style, and the deployment of it by Gladwell, Gopnik & Co can be maddening in its repetition.
The New Yorker film reviews these days mostly overshoot urbanity and instead sound jaded, and snobbish. Richard Brody’s review of Ready Player One is a recent particular lowlight. Brody seems to have the shakiest of grasps on the commercial realities of movie-making, and indeed how movies are remembered by non-critics. His notion that a blockbuster themed around 1980s nostalgia should chuck The Shining for Jim Jarmusch’s oeuvre is tragicomic; once you stop laughing in astonishment, you realise he’s serious, and then need to lie down. But how should one write film reviews? I went from writing a movie column for the University Observer titled ‘Fergal’s Guide to Misanthropy’ to reviewing for InDublin. In thrall at the time to Hunter S Thompson I wrote reviews in a style that I would now never countenance. Hunter S Thompson is a great stylist, but he is not urbane.
It doesn’t matter that Hunter S Thompson is not urbane, because he is Hunter S Thompson. But it matters a great deal when people who are not Hunter S Thompson are neither urbane nor Thompsonian despite their best efforts. And those best efforts usually betray fierce labour as they attempt to do the Gonzo style without being the man who was Gonzo. As I wrote more and more film reviews for InDublin I began to appreciate that reinventing the wheel with snark and wildness each time was not sustainable. So, as I have recounted before, I turned to an earlier mentor, Michael Dwyer. I pored over his 300 review in an effort to understand how it worked, and especially how he could write so many reviews with such apparent ease; given their clarity and simplicity. I adopted my interpretation of his technique as my model.
Initially though the interpolated technique was all structural. It was only over time and ever more reviews for Dublinks.com and Talking Movies that the mature style revealed itself; borrowing a structure from Michael Dwyer had seamlessly led to an Augustan style. Films were reviewed without hyperbole over their strengths or hysteria over their weaknesses. As a result they could be reviewed with astonishing speed; my review of Prometheus took 26 minutes from first keystroke to published post. It wasn’t vitriolic, like so many reviews, it maintained an even keel. But it had taken 5 years to get to the point where that review could be penned in 26 minutes. What one looks for in urbanity is the appearance of effortlessness concealing much effort; the sprezzatura of Castiglione so promulgated by WB Yeats as the ideal of lyric poetry. Which brings us back to James Thurber…
Thurber’s droll story ‘The Bear Who Let It Alone’ concerns a bear that gets too fond of honey mead at the local bar:
He would reel home at night, kick over the umbrella stand, knock down the bridge lamps, and ram his elbows through the windows. Then he would collapse on the floor and lie there until he went to sleep. His wife was greatly distressed and his children were very frightened.
But our hero sees the error of his ways. He becomes a teetotaller, and a physical fitness freak, and boastful of how the two are connected:
To demonstrate this, he would stand on his head and on his hands and he would turn cartwheels in the house, kicking over the umbrella stand, knocking down the bridge lamps, and ramming his elbows through the windows. Then he would lie down on the floor, tired by his healthful exercise, and go to sleep. His wife was greatly distressed and his children were very frightened.
The simplicity of the gag makes you feel like you always knew it just after you first read it, and of course belies what must have been careful paring and paring by Thurber to get it just right. That is the key. It appears effortless; elegant, graceful, simple; and it took much effort to make it appear so. Thurber was in a contract with himself as much as the reader not to let go of the piece until he’d finely chiselled it to perfection and then polished it to remove all trace of the chisel marks. And it’s that determination to do oneself and others justice that I argue can move urbanity from aesthetics to ethics. To write urbanely is to do more, to be beneficent.
PG Wodehouse once wrote “The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well”. One might advance a similar notion when it comes to urbanity. Consider Mark Zuckerberg’s painfully laboured non-apology apology for the Cambridge Analytica flap:
“I’ve been working to understand exactly what happened and how to make sure this doesn’t happen again. The good news is that the most important actions to prevent this from happening again today we have already taken years ago. But we also made mistakes, there’s more to do, and we need to step up and do it”
A billionaire, surrounded by expensive lawyers and media consultants, who can take five days (which I like to imagine were spent brainstorming on a luxury houseboat moored in the dead centre of Lake Tahoe), to write and/or approve something as inelegant as that italicised sentence… Well, I opine, in identical manner to the man who cheats at golf, a man capable of writing like that is capable of anything.
John McGahern is the endpoint of the notion of urbanity as an ethical goal. His description of fictional Leitrim farmer (and, as Graham Price persuasively has it, dandy) Jamesie sitting in Ruttledge’s passenger seat on their way to the market I have characterised in my Irish University Review article ‘Competing Philosophies in That They May Face the Rising Sun’ as a Stoic benediction: “He praised where he could, but most people were allowed their space without praise or blame in a gesture of hands that assigned his life and theirs to their own parts in this inexhaustible journey”. That may be the ideal of urbanity I wish for in journalism. How it got muddled together with Thurber’s New Yorker drollness in my head is a puzzler, but there it is. Socrates said that nobody would willingly commit evil. An evil-doer is in possession of imperfect information. Nobody sets out to write badly, paint badly, compose badly, or to direct a bad film. In reviewing one should try to nudge where possible, and always offer solutions when identifying problems. One should only eviscerate if something is positively harmful, and even then try to do it with a light touch. A bad review done with urbanity is a judo flip. Identify what is obnoxious, and, if possible; and it is surprisingly often possible; see how the work can be read against itself, so that it is condemned out of its own mouth.
Re-Elect Calvin Coolidge as President
Filed under: Talking Nonsense — Fergal Casey @ 8:55 pm
Tags: B Bradley Bradlee, Barry Goldwater, Boston Police Strike, Broder Mackin, Calvin Coolidge, Cleveland, Die Emmerich-Zeitung, Donald Trump, Dorothy Parker, Dwight D Eisenhower, George HW Bush, GOP, Grand Old Party, Jeb Bush, Make America Great Again, National Education Week, Republican National Convention, Republican Party, Roland Emmerich Movie, Ronald Reagan, Stockton Crouse, The Gipper, Tom O'Shanter, United States of America
Rumours had been rife that an attempt would be made at the Republican National Convention to sideline Donald Trump in favour of an alternative Presidential nominee. Little did anyone suspect the man chosen would be the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, writes B. Bradley Bradlee from Cleveland.
Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ slogan is shamelessly lifted from The Gipper, so perhaps it shouldn’t surprise that his enemies in the GOP establishment have reached even further back to the precedent of Eisenhower and Goldwater. After all, elephants can remember. What does surprise is their decision to leave drafting an alternative candidate to thwart Trump so very late. Their choice of former President Coolidge as a unity candidate is proving controversial in the media at this particular moment of national tension for two reasons: because of his hard-line actions during the Boston Police Strike, and him being dead.
Kentucky Trump delegate Tom O’Shanter was outraged, “It’s a crying shame that a man who won so many votes in primaries can be thrown over for a multicultural advocatist like Coolidge.” On being pressed O’Shanter elaborated, “Coolidge signed that Act giving Injuns the rights to practice their culture. I mean, give me a break! This is ’Murica. You adopt the culture that’s already here!!” Asked whether Coolidge’s track record on tax cuts might sway his vote O’Shanter’s opposition faltered, “Well, I’ll allow he did cut taxes in ’24, ’26, and ’28. He’s got a track record, even if he’s dead.”
Stockton Crouse, a strategist for Jeb Bush’s failed primary campaign, was as surprised as anyone, “I know we were short on choice when it came to one-term Presidents, I myself ruled out drafting George HW, but Coolidge…” Crouse was in two minds on Coolidge’s platform, “On the one hand, I like that he tried to improve our strained relations with Mexico, that’s important after Trump’s rhetoric. On the other hand, signing the Immigration Act is just too like a 1920s piece of Trump demagoguery for my taste. And that’s to say nothing of his being dead, what about the debates?”
But according to Coolidge’s communications director, Broder Mackin, Crouse’s concerns are overplayed. “Don’t listen to his sour grapes. I think we’re all familiar with that Dorothy Parker quote, B. Bradley, Calvin is going to do just fine in the debates.” Pressed on how active a President Coolidge could reasonably be Mackin was firm, “The people have had enough of executive over-reach, B. Bradley. What they want is to be left alone. And Calvin will do that. First, he has form in this; this is a man who said National Education Week did not need his imprimatur. And second, he’s dead.”
B. Bradley Bradlee is fictional editor emeritus of The New York Times. He is currently covering the Republican Convention for the German weekly Die Emmerich-Zeitung.
Fast Intent presents Zelda
Filed under: Talking Books,Talking Theatre — Fergal Casey @ 3:49 pm
Tags: A Tragic Honesty, Aoife Fealy, Blake Bailey, Bram Stoker, Cole Porter, Culture Night, Daisy Buchanan, Dorothy Parker, Dracula, Eddie Naughton, Eoghan Carrick, Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald, Fast Intent, Flappers & Philosophers, Ger Adlum, Harold Pinter, Joan of Arc, Macbeth, Nessa Matthews, Richard Yates, Sarah Finlay, Sharon Coade, The Great Gatsby, The Lark, Theatre Upstairs, This Side of Paradise, Zelda, Zelda Fitzgerald, Zelda Sayre
Before she was Zelda Fitzgerald, she was Zelda Sayre. Before she was a Riviera socialite, she was a Southern belle. Before she was F Scott’s crazy tormentor, she was his beloved muse. And both personae are explored in Eddie Naughton’s new play, Zelda, based on Zelda’s life and own writings.
I’ve been poring over Blake Bailey’s biography of Richard Yates (A Tragic Honesty) again recently, and was struck by the notion that Yates had modelled himself so much on the doomed F Scott as a writer that his entire life started to slide into equal drink-fuelled catastrophe. Yates, of course, was compounding his own mental illness with drinking that erased his medication’s benefit; and Zelda’s own slide into madness was not dissimilar. But there’s another striking note in Bailey’s book; the idea that every writer has some essential tale to tell, that can be disguised in any number of interesting ways – but will always be at the core of their best work. For F Scott, that was his love for the unattainable Zelda; and The Great Gatsby was F Scott spinning out that epic romance into a piercing continent-encompassing metaphor.
Naughton’s play strips away the Daisy Buchanan facade to examine the real woman in a script which puts Zelda in a hospital room telling her story. Zelda Sayre was a Southern belle who became internationally famous alongside her husband F Scott Fitzgerald whose stunning debut This Side of Paradise mythologised their romance; casting Zelda as the archetypal flapper. Their life together was a never-ending parade of alcohol-fuelled jazz-scored parties, with F Scott’s talent keeping them in a luxurious lifestyle; in New York, Paris and the Riviera; previously reserved for the self-indulgent robber barons. Friends with Cole Porter, Hemingway and Dorothy Parker, a writer and painter, dancer and mother, it should never have ended in a fiery death at a psychiatric hospital; but such was the price of alcoholism and escalating mental illness. Naughton resurrects the biting wit before that curtain.
Zelda seems a perfect fit for Fast Intent. Fast Intent was set up in 2011 by director Sarah Finlay and actors Ger Adlum and Nessa Matthews. Their previous productions include Harold Pinter’s Ashes to Ashes (The Complex), Family Voices and One for the Road (New Theatre), Jean Anouilh’s The Lark and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (both Smock Alley), and an adaptation of Dracula for the Bram Stoker Festival at Dublin Castle; part of a residency there which included Shakespeare by Candlelight in December and a series of monologues for Culture Night in September. Zelda joins Joan of Arc as another radical heroine for Fast Intent to explore in their pared down style that focuses on ideas and emotions. Zelda is performed by Sharon Coade, directed by Sarah Finlay, and produced by Gerard Adlum and KH T’*, with Lights, Sound, and Set design by Eoghan Carrick, Nessa Matthews, and Aoife Fealy respectively.
Zelda runs at Theatre Upstairs from Tuesday the 3rd of June to Saturday 14th. Performances are at 1pm, Tuesday to Saturday, when the ticket price of €10 includes a light lunch. There are 7pm performances from Thursday to Saturday. Bookings can be made at http://www.theatreupstairs.ie. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7569592595100403, "wiki_prob": 0.7569592595100403, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line375134"} |
NGA Awards GDIT $4.5B User Facing and Data Center Services Contract
General Dynamics Information Technology announced that it has been awarded the User Facing and Data Center Services contract by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The deal calls for the provision of hybrid cloud services, including commercial clouds and data centers, and innovative IT design, engineering, implementation and operations and sustainment to NGA and its mission partners, GDIT said Friday.
In a statement, the Virginia-headquartered company said the UDS deal is a single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a $4.5 billion ceiling and 10-year ordering period.
Amy Gilliland, GDIT’s president, said that her company is proud of its longstanding partnership with the NGA and looks forward to the opportunity to continue to leverage its portfolio of innovative technologies and services to advance the agency’s mission.
Gilliland added that as part of the contract, GDIT will advance geospatial intelligence capabilities and support global users by delivering a full range of enterprise services. The company will supply the NGA with application services, high-performance computing, virtual desktop, unified communications, DevOps, platform as a service, and mobile secure wireless across multiple networks and agency locations worldwide.
The deal also involves supporting the IT infrastructure at NGA’s new campus in St. Louis, Missouri. GDIT added that it has already expanded its presence in St. Louis with the opening of its flagship facility at the city’s Cortex innovation district in December 2021.
In October 2021, the NGA published its data strategy outlining plans to transform and improve the way data is created, managed and shared in order to maintain dominance in the delivery of geospatial intelligence. The GDIT deal is fruit of the new data strategy, which aligns with an effort to “deliver trusted GEOINT with the speed, accuracy and precision required,’’ the NGA said on its website.
Tags: Amy Gilliland contract award Defense and Intelligence General Dynamics Information Technology National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency UDS
$200M Allocation Seen to Help Hasten Combatant Commands’ AI Efforts
DOD Budget Request to Include Funding Mechanism for JADC2
SIMBA Chain Receives Funding to Support US Air Force Supply Chain Management
Three Companies to Work on Utility-Scale Quantum Computing Under DARPA Program
Newly-Established Marine Corps Command to Focus on Information Modernization | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.9373739957809448, "wiki_prob": 0.9373739957809448, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line289264"} |
Home » Technological Revolutions: Part II — Have Electric Vehicle Sales Reached the Tipping Point?
23rd Nov '22
Technological Revolutions: Part II — Have Electric Vehicle Sales Reached the Tipping Point?
For Part I of this short series covering the early development and adoption of automobiles, airplanes, calculators, computers, televisions, the Internet, and more, see “Technological Revolutions: Part I.”
Gas mobile vs. Electric Vehicle Technology
As a former NASA scientist with an engineering background, I didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to observe that electric vehicles were a vastly superior technology to combustion vehicles. Electric cars are also the answer to stopping the spewing of planet-warming CO2 and toxic gases out of your vehicle while you drive. The simplicity and efficiency of a battery and electric motor combination versus the mix of an extremely complex internal combustion engine, fuel, cooling, exhaust and emissions control system was a no brainer. Electric vehicles quickly became feasible the moment battery technology reached an inflection point.
For me, the tipping points came in 2014 when Nissan offered Nissan LEAF leases for a $200/month payment. I figured I would save more on gas per month than I would pay on the LEAF lease. The LEAF was a wonderful car for local driving, but did not meet our needs for our commute each year from our winter home in Utah to our summer home in northern Wisconsin. My second EV tipping point came in 2019 when we figured out a way to finance a long-range Tesla Model 3. The range of more than 300 km and the amazing Tesla Supercharger network made long-distance driving only slightly more difficult than driving a gas car.
Has the global production and sale of electric cars reached the tipping point?
In 2021, global electric car sales were 6,750,000, but this was only 8.3% of the total market. See the discussion below to see EV sales progress for 2022 and forecast for 2023.
First country where EV uptake reached dominance (~90%): Norway
In October 2021, Norway’s plug-in car sales reached 90% of total car sales. In 2016, 24% of vehicles sold in Norway had a plug. Let’s call 25% of sales the tipping point. Sales of electric cars in Norway went from ~25% to ~90% in 6 years. Electric vehicle sales in Norway have been stable recently, but the percentage of pure battery electric (BEV) has recently increased to 77.5%. Government incentives for electric cars will be reduced for plug-in hybrids, so when countries reach 90% electric cars, most of these cars will be clean cars.
How soon will this happen in the rest of the world?
2nd country with EV uptake beyond the tipping point (well on the way to dominance): Sweden
In October 2022, Sweden’s plug-in electric car share was reached ~60% of the car market.
3rd country with EV uptake beyond tipping point: Ireland
In September 2022, Ireland saw with ~37% of all new vehicle registrations are plugin vehicle registrations. 29.31% were fully electric.
4th country with EV uptake beyond the tipping point: China
September 2022 plugin vehicles in China hit 35% market share with 26% fully electric (this is especially important as more electric cars are sold in China than in the entire rest of the world).
5th country with EV uptake beyond the tipping point: Germany
January-September 2022 sales of new cars: 32% have a connector and 19% are BEVs.
Country with EV adoption nearing tipping point: France
September 2022 plugin vehicles now at 24% (14.8% BEV)
Country with EV adoption nearing tipping point: UK
October 2022 plugin vehicles now at 21% (16% BEV).
EV uptake is approaching the tipping point: Europe
September 2022 plug-in vehicle share of the total European car market was 24% (16% full electricity/BEV). The tipping point can be reached by the end of 2022.
Tipping point for adoption of electric cars not reached: California
September 2022 the plugin vehicle’s share of the car market was 18% (mostly full electric/BEV). Note: California’s GDP would be 8th in the world if the state were a country.
EV adoption tipping point not reached: US
July-September 2022, only 6% of US car sales were fully electric. Since EV uptake in the US is totally dominated by all-electric Teslas, the total plug-in market is almost the same as all-electric.
Rivian electric truck. Lehi, Utah. 28 October 2022. Photo by Fritz Hasler.
Since California is by far the leading US EV with 18% uptake, one would expect much lower uptake in other states. But since we returned to Utah for the winter this October, Teslas in the northern Utah metro area seem to have multiplied like rabbits. Today I saw 12 Teslas here in Saint George, Utah. You still see the occasional Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt. But recently a beautiful tan Rivian pickup truck drove by my house, later in the day I saw the blue one (see above) in American Fork on my daily bike ride, and even later a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Bottom line: EVs from multiple companies are starting to appear in the wild even in a US state that isn’t California.
The tipping point for the uptake of electric cars has not been reached: Globally
In September 2022, plugins represented 17% share of the total global car market.
(Note: If we use 10% as the tipping point instead of 30%, then all the major European countries, China and California have all already exceeded it.)
If the past is prologue, EVs in Sweden, Ireland, China and Germany should reach dominance by 2028 or sooner. Most legacy car companies could design and set up mass production EVs in 5 years or less if they are willing. The problem is getting enough batteries. Tesla has been the company that is most proactive in obtaining/building batteries for its electric cars. This has enabled the massive uptake in production of the Model 3 and Model Y. However, production of the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck has been delayed due to battery shortages. Lack of batteries is probably the reason for the anemic production of electric cars from many other companies, apart from the Chinese company BYD, which makes its own batteries.
Europe plans to ban all cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. If EV uptake for the rest of Europe follows Norway’s lead, it should be able to easily meet the deadline. China should also be able to ban all combustion engine cars by 2035.
California also plans to ban all cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. Based on current progress, it will be more difficult than for Europe, but it should also be possible. It will be difficult for the rest of the United States to move that quickly.
Car and battery companies are making massive investments in electric cars in the US and other countries. With global EV adoption doubling from 8.3% to 17% from 2021 to 2022. If it doubles again in 2023, we will have already reached the 30% tipping point for the entire world. Now may be the point where companies realize that if they don’t switch to electric cars as soon as possible, they will end up declaring bankruptcy just like Kodak, Nokia and Blackberry.
Figure 3: 40 stall Tesla Supercharger. Baker, California. February 21, 2022. Photo by Fritz Hasler.
In addition to a huge increase in the production of electric batteries, there is also a need for a huge increase in electric chargers if electric cars are to become dominant. For local travel, anyone with a garage, carport or driveway will have sufficient access to charging. For multi-unit homes, electric car chargers must be installed in their parking stalls. Street chargers must be expanded to the rest of electric vehicles. For long-distance travel, only Tesla has a system of Superchargers that make cross-country travel hassle-free. Tesla is also making a massive expansion of its Supercharger system to keep up with its massive expansion in car production and sales. Figure 3 shows the Tesla Supercharger in Baker, California, with forty 250 kW stalls all occupied. 100-stall Superchargers are planned for the near future. This is the situation with new electric car sales in California at just 17%. Can you imagine how many charging stations for electric cars will be needed if not only the sales of new electric cars exceed 90%, but the total car fleet exceeds 90%. I can imagine several 100 stall EV chargers at every freeway exit. In urban areas with expensive land prices, this can be a real problem.
Your comments and corrections are welcome in the comments section. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.5843809247016907, "wiki_prob": 0.5843809247016907, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1821485"} |
FOCAL POINT Green Acres documentary 2006
Home / Media Assets / FOCAL POINT Green Acres documentary 2006
Bill Leslie
WRAL Documentaries
Focal Point: Green Acres looks at how development is affecting ordinary people and places across North Carolina. It examines development trends that may hold the key to managing growth in a way that protects important green spaces and it looks at how conservation groups are scrambling to protect land in the face of rapid growth and skyrocketing land prices.
The program, hosted by WRAL News anchor Bill Leslie, aired Wednesday, August 9 2006.
More Highlights for Bill Leslie
Bill Leslie Revisits Troubles of Neuse River in New WRAL Documentary
Retired WRAL-TV Anchor Bill Leslie will be back to discuss current problems for the Neuse River, a natural resource he first reported on 30 years ago. The WRAL Documentary “New Trouble on the Neuse River” premieres this Thursday, April 18,
Bill Leslie Receives Highest Civilian Honor in NC
On Friday night, November 16, 2018, retired WRAL news anchor and musician Bill Leslie received the state’s highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award. Leslie is among a group of six civilians that was honored for their contributions to our
WRAL-TV Names New Morning Anchor, Set to Replace Retiring Bill Leslie
Television news veteran Jeff Hogan will join the WRAL Morning News team beginning January 29, 2018. Jeff will work alongside the team of Renee Chou, Elizabeth Gardner, Brian Shrader and Lena Tillett along with long-time morning anchor Bill Leslie who
America’s Favorite Journey: The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most popular destination in our national park system, hosting about 17 million visitors a year.
Nearly half the 469-mile route runs through North Carolina, including its highest elevations. Some of the parkway’s iconic features are in our state, including its highest peak and the Linn Cove Viaduct at Grandfather Mountain.
Visitors to the parkway generate more than $2 billion dollars a year for mountain communities. Its biological diversity, rich history and its parks and trails make the parkway a valuable educational and recreational resource.
Host: WRAL News anchor Bill Leslie
Producer/writer: Clay Johnson
Photographer/editor: Jay Jennings
America’s Favorite Journey’ aired June 29, 2010 on WRAL-TV.
Tar Heel Tartans
Tar Heel Tartans!
WRAL news anchor Bill Leslie and news photographer Rick Armstrong document North Carolina native Bill Caudill’s search for his Scottish ancestral homeland. Along the way they meet an artist, visit castles, watch Bill Caudill participate in a bagpipe competition and learn about the significance of the tartan.
Enjoy this six part series produced in May, 1986 and aired prior to the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans in July, 1986. You will discover that the people in Scotland have a high regard for the gathering that takes place every year near Linville, North Carolina.
Bill Caudill is Director of the Scottish Heritage Center and Instructor of the College Pipe Band at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina.
Organ Donation The Gift of Life
Paddling Down the Neuse: WRAL-TV’s Richard Adkins Shares Behind the Scenes of New WRAL Doc
High Definition. We Were 1st! | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.607022225856781, "wiki_prob": 0.392977774143219, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line219667"} |
Breeze Airways Adding Phoenix Service to Charleston, Provo
Home » News » Breeze Airways Adding Phoenix Service to Charleston, Provo
Breeze Airways, a low-cost carrier headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, will start offering service between Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) and Charleston SC as well as Provo, UT.
“Breeze always seeks to connect cities which have previously had no nonstop service,” said Breeze’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Wuerger. “Charleston, our largest base, is one of the largest routes from Phoenix without existing nonstop service today, so we’re excited to announce the first nonstop to connect these two fantastic destinations – along with our other new routes announced today.”
Breeze Airlines is expanding its service by adding four new routes between existing cities. Twice-weekly service will be available between Charleston and Los Angeles, as well as three flights a week between Westchester County Airport (HPN) and Nashville International Airport (BNA).
Breeze Airlines announced it had ordered 80 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft. These planes will be delivered one per month over the next six years, with the option to order an additional 40 planes.
Breeze is a business model that provides fast, efficient, and affordable air service between underserved city pairs. The airline focuses on using mid-sized aircraft, such as the A220-300. Breeze doesn't charge change or cancellation fees up to 15 minutes prior to departure and offers other benefits such as free family seating and a la carte pricing and upgrades including premium seating.
Breeze Continues Expansion by Establishing a Base at Rhode Island
Breeze plans to grow its network at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to 20 routes by 2023 over a 5 year period which they also expect to create 250 new jobs. The airline will base 8 jets at PVD that will increase the number of weekly departures from PVD to 44 by 2027.
United and other legacy carriers have cut service to smaller markets (like Provo). Breeze and other upstarts are trying to fill that market. First, they have get in to profit in order to survive long-term. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.6242638826370239, "wiki_prob": 0.6242638826370239, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line450423"} |
Colleges open new shops run by students with SEN
Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are running new on-campus shops at Activate Learning’s City of Oxford College and Banbury and Bicester College.
The shops, which stock a range of stationery, art equipment, snacks and soft drinks, were set up to provide students with the chance to learn valuable employment skills while gaining an academic qualification.
Students complete daily retail tasks alongside more specialist jobs such as cashing up, banking and ordering stock. This is complemented by English and maths lessons. The profits from the shops will help fund supported employment support for the learners when they leave Activate Learning.
The City of Oxford College shop was opened by Janet Johnson, Oxfordshire County Council's strategic lead for vulnerable learners (below).
Engaging with employers
Lifeskills faculty director, Michelle Parks said: “We have now redeveloped both our learning companies in Oxford and Banbury. This will enable us to grow and engage further with local and national employers to collaborate on designing new programmes. Our learning companies provide all of the necessary training to enable SEN learners to progress into supported internships and paid work.”
Hannah Thomas, Lifeskills faculty manager for Banbury and Bicester College added: “One of the things we would like to look into is if local businesses would like to rent a space from us so we can start selling their products for them.”
The council provides support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, working with families, learning providers and other partners to help them get the best possible start in life.
The council’s Cabinet Member for Education Hilary Hibbert-Biles said: “This is a great initiative which is providing young people valuable employment experience, while developing confidence, social skills and teamwork in a supportive and busy working environment.
“Achievement rates of students with SEND who attend Oxfordshire FE colleges is above the national average, and supported internships within the county have proved to be very successful with many positive employment outcomes.” | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6715935468673706, "wiki_prob": 0.3284064531326294, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1547642"} |
On transversality
J.W. Bruce
The notion of transversality has proved of immense value in differential topology. The Thom transversality lemma and its many variants show that transversality is a dense,and often open, property. In one parameter families the occurrence of non-transversality is inevitable; for example one cannot pull two linked curves in 3 apart without a non transverse intersection. The aim of this note is to prove the following. In any generic family of mappings each map in the family fails to satisfy some fixed transversality conditions at worst at isolated points, and even at these points in rather special sorts of way. So, returning to the above example, given two space curves C1 and C2 without a (necessarily non-transverse) intersection we expect, in any genericisotopy of C2, that it will meet C1 if at all, at isolated points In particular generically we do not expect C1 and C2, any time, to have an arc in common
Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Series 2)
Dive into the research topics of 'On transversality'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Transversality Mathematics 100%
Intersection Mathematics 39%
Family Mathematics 36%
Transversality Condition Mathematics 34%
Space Curve Mathematics 32%
Sort Mathematics 26%
Transverse Mathematics 26%
Arc of a curve Mathematics 22%
Bruce, J. W. (1986). On transversality. Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Series 2), 29(1), 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0013091500017478
Bruce, J.W. / On transversality. In: Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Series 2). 1986 ; Vol. 29, No. 1. pp. 115-123.
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journal = "Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society",
Bruce, JW 1986, 'On transversality', Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Series 2), vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0013091500017478
On transversality. / Bruce, J.W.
In: Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Series 2), Vol. 29, No. 1, 1986, p. 115-123.
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JO - Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society
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Bruce JW. On transversality. Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (Series 2). 1986;29(1):115-123. doi: 10.1017/S0013091500017478 | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.6163982152938843, "wiki_prob": 0.3836017847061157, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1215036"} |
Asics Fizzles, Nike Sizzles at Major Tokyo Marathon
Nike is running circles around Asics—and a Tokyo relay marathon casts their lopsided battle for racing dominance into stark relief.
Though Asics footwear usually puts in a good showing with the runners competing in Tokyo’s Hakone Ekiden relay marathon, the starting gun on Jan. 2 signaled that Nike’s newest long-distance running shoe has officially taken over, relegating the Japanese brand and its peers to second-tier status.
More than one-fifth (22 percent) of 2019’s participants donned Asics sneakers, for the second-strongest rate among shoe brands. But this year, Asics’s share of shoes plunged to just 3 percent of the runners, as counted by Ekiden News and as reported by Bunshun Online, a local news organization.
Of the 210 participants in the Hakone Ekiden in 2020, just seven wore Asics footwear, down from 51 runners the year before.
Nike, the global athletic powerhouse, takes the credit for beating the Japanese footwear brand on its home turf, as the Oregon brand’s Vaporfly Next% marathon running shoe took the lion’s share of Asics’ missing market share. Although Nike also dominated last year’s race with about 43 percent penetration, more than 84 percent of the runners participating in 2020 did so in the “Just Do It” brand’s sneakers. Not only that, every one of the 177 runners that represented Nike wore the Vaporfly Next%, according to Ekiden News.
Even the Aoyama Gakuin University relay team—frequent winners of the two-day, 200-kilometer race—switched from their traditional Adidas running shoes to Nike’s marathon runner this year.
There may be a practical reason for this shift.
The Nike Vaporfly Next% pulled its reputation as the ultimate marathon running footwear from the highly specialized features that give the shoe its name. Built with an embedded carbon fiber plate and off-set aerodynamics, the Vaporfly Next% is said to help long-distance runners achieve times even more improved than the 4 percent promised by the line’s previous model.
Asics and other performance running brands may be able to claw back some of their position in the future with running shoes that can offer comparable improvements in competition times. However, until that point, brands may struggle to compete with the Vaporfly Next%, no matter where the competition is held.
During the 2020 race, fellow Japanese shoemaker Mizuno and American brand New Balance also garnered better representation than Asics—but not by much. The running rivals both claimed nine runners to Asics’ seven.
Considering it was second only to Nike in the previous year, Asics’ 2020 Hakone Ekiden showing was enough to rattle some investors. On the Monday following the race, Asics’ shares fell by nearly 4 percent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, its largest loss in two months.
performance footwear
Entrepreneur Turns Racy Waste Into Sexy Shoes
Reebok’s High-Concept Collab Inspires New Footwear Launch | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.534926176071167, "wiki_prob": 0.465073823928833, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line193352"} |
Adult Situations
DD Productions, Films Antenne 2, Franco London Films, RAI 2, Renn Productions
AMLF
Jean de Florette (1986)
Directed by Claude Berri / Yves
Genres - Drama | Sub-Genres - Rural Drama, Period Film | Release Date - Jun 26, 1987 (USA) | Run Time - 122 min. | Countries - Switzerland, France, Italy | MPAA Rating - PG
AllMovie ReviewReview ↓
Awards ↓
Review by Dan Jardine
The plot of Jean de Florette is as melodramatic as any soap opera, but its treatment is just a little askew, just off-center enough for the film to evolve into a moving and powerful pastoral tragedy. The film is a naturalistic story about the dehumanizing effect of greed on a community and on the human soul. Watching the hunchbacked Jean de Florette (Gérard Depardieu) struggle against all odds to keep his small farm alive, maintaining to the bitter end his optimism and naïve faith in his reference books, is like watching Sisyphus make his daily toil up the hill. Only here, it is not the gods who have trapped the victim, but the xenophobia and covetousness of his neighbors. Director Claude Berri shoots the countryside in grand scope, dwarfing the human figures whose daily exertions hardly make a mark on it. As the story moves inexorably to its tragic conclusion, the wicked plotting of the simultaneously likable and vicious father (Yves Montand) and son (Daniel Auteuil) leaves the audience pleading for divine retribution. However, humans created this cruel world in Provence, and they will have to mete out their own justice. The sequel, Manon of the Spring, realizes this desire for revenge with perfectly poetic magnitude. Nominated for nine British Academy Awards (BAFTA) in 1988, Jean de Florette took home three awards. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.922012984752655, "wiki_prob": 0.922012984752655, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line202391"} |
Home/News/Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number announced
Sequel to last year's ultra-violent indie hit slated for release in 2013
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number announced
Devolver Digital has confirmed that a sequel to last year’s indie hit, Hotline Miami, is set for release in 2013.
Confirmed to appear on PC, Max and Linux, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will pick off where the first left off – with players donning their blood-soaked shoes and embracing on a whirlwind of retro-themed violence.
With several new characters, each with their own interlinking storylines, players can look forward to the stylised visuals and intense soundtrack of the original Hotline Miami to make a return in the sequel – and of course, an insanely high difficulty level.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is due to release in 2013. Check out the trailer below.
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Nikki Sixx Fires Back at Eddie Vedder Diss, Calls Pearl Jam “One of the Most Boring Bands in History”
Published on: Feb 5, 2022, 11:36 AM
by The Pit - Editor
In maybe one of the more random (and frankly pretty dumb) arguments in recent times, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx are slinging it out on the ‘ol internet.
The war of digital words seemingly started due to a comment Vedder made in a New York Times interview recently. Responding to the question of “Do you think any ripples from that Gen X, alt-culture explosion extended to the present?”, Vedder replied:
“You know, I used to work in San Diego loading gear at a club. I’d end up being at shows that I wouldn’t have chosen to go to — bands that monopolized late-’80s MTV. The metal bands that — I’m trying to be nice — I despised. “Girls, Girls, Girls” and Mötley Crüe: [expletive] you. I hated it. I hated how it made the fellas look. I hated how it made the women look. It felt so vacuous.”
Nikki Sixx clearly didn’t take too kindly to the comments, as he took to Twitter to say the following:
Made me laugh today reading how much the singer in Pearl Jam hated @MotleyCrue. Now considering that they’re one of the most boring bands in history it’s kind of a compliment isn’t it?#TheStadiumTour #RocknRoll
— 📷 (@NikkiSixx) February 5, 2022
If you want our pressing thoughts on the whole matter, this probably best sums it up:
Stay tuned for the Eddie Vedder Nikki Sixxi boxing match at 11.
Until then, if you feel so inclined, you can buy a ticket to see Motley Crue playing stadiums later this year:
June 16 – Atlanta, GA
June 18 – Miami, FL
June 19 – Orlando, FL
June 22 – Washington, DC
June 24 – New York, NY
June 25 – Philadelphia, PA
June 28 – Charlotte, NC
June 30 – Nashville, TN
July 2 – Jacksonville, FL
July 5 – St. Louis, MO
July 8 – Chicago, IL
July 10 – Detroit, MI
July 12 – Hershey, PA
July 14 – Cleveland, OH
July 15 – Cincinnati, OH
July 17 – Milwaukee, WI
July 19 – Kansas City, MO
July 21 – Denver, CO
Aug 5 – Boston, MA
Aug 10 – Buffalo, NY
Aug 12 – Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 14 – Minneapolis, MN
Aug 19 – Houston, TX
Aug 21 – San Antonio, TX
Aug 22 – Arlington, TX
Aug 27 – Los Angeles, CA
Aug 28 – San Diego, CA
Aug 31 – Seattle, WA
Sept 7 – San Francisco, CA
Words by: The Pit staff
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Detroit Tigers Recaps
Watch Willi Castro launch his second spring HR in as many games
Meanwhile, Rule 5 pick Akil Baddoo is impressing early on while Spencer Torkelson made his pro debut on Tuesday.
By Brandon Day@Fiskadoro74 Mar 2, 2021, 2:57pm EST
Share All sharing options for: Watch Willi Castro launch his second spring HR in as many games
Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images
We all know the drill. Don’t get too excited about spring training. For the past three seasons, that’s been pretty easy for fans of the Detroit Tigers. However, as the better prospects are beginning to make their presence felt, and the 2021 roster is fortified with a decent selection of veteran players and reclamation projects, things are finally turning a little brighter for the organization.
One of the biggest stories of 2020 was an eye-catching month of pure raking from shortstop Willi Castro. While his peripherals screamed regression, and his struggles at the shortstop position drew much discussion, he set the bar high enough with the bat to expect a quality offensive campaign in 2021.
So far, he’s off to a pretty good start. In Sunday’s opener, he crushed the first pitch he saw this spring for a home run to centerfield off of veteran Ivan Nova. After a day off on Monday, Castro was back at it again against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday afternoon in his second start in Grapefruit League action. He took this J.T. Brubaker hanger and mashed it out to right centerfield with aplomb.
Speaking of the new breed, the Tigers Rule 5 selection, outfielder Akil Baddoo, has acquitted himself well in the early going. He struck out in the first inning of Tuesday’s contest, and walked in the fifth. In between, he took this rising heater away and roped it the opposite way into the left field corner. So far he already has three balls in play at 102 mph or better. Pretty good stuff from a guy who hasn’t faced game action since early 2019 at the Advanced-A level.
Casey Mize didn’t have particularly good fastball command on Tuesday, something we’ve seen a fair bit of over the past year. He walked three and struck out three in two scoreless innings, with A.J. Hinch allowing him to throw 45 pitches, 25 strikes, to get through his first spring outing. Still, the splitter was in effect as usual.
Casey Mize's splitter for the K pic.twitter.com/xaDBYRhdvm
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) March 2, 2021
The Tigers took the five inning long exhibition contest by a score of 6-1. JaCoby Jones contributed an RBI double, while Spencer Torkelson drew a walk and came around to score in his first professional plate appearance. Jake Rogers continued to swing right through a lot of fastballs. Bryan Garcia threw one scoreless inning of relief, while veteran reliever Erasmo Ramirez allowed the lone Pirates run. | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.7615165710449219, "wiki_prob": 0.7615165710449219, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1641523"} |
Kirstie Alley's Estate Lists Lisa Marie…
A Look Inside Connie Britton’s Spanish-Inspired Home
By Mark David
Mark David
Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief
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Plus Icon Location Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, Calif.
Plus Icon Price $1.95 million
Plus Icon Size 2,564 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Plus Icon Year 1931
A carefully restored and sensitively updated 1930s Spanish home along a serpentine street above L.A.’s Beachwood Canyon, long owned by actor Connie Britton, has come to market with an asking price of close to $2 million. The “Friday Night Lights” and “Nashville” alum, a two-time Golden Globe nominee, most recently in 2019 for the limited series “Dirty John,” hopes to earn a substantial windfall on the sale of the not-quite 2,600-square-foot vintage charmer she picked up more than 19 years ago for $765,000.
The tastefully maintained and character-rich three-bed and three-and-a-half-bath home sits high and privately above the street with gorgeous canyon and city views. Vibrant tiles accent stairways inside and out, French doors open to a variety of loggia and terraces, and hand-stenciled wood beams are showcased in the spacious living room. Listings held by Andrew Mortaza and Bryan Castaneda of The Agency indicate the dining room has been converted to a cozy den. A boldly wallpapered breakfast room flows into a roomy, well-preserved kitchen where original lemon-chiffon-colored ceramic tile countertops are offset by minty-green inlays. There are two sun-filled bedrooms on the upper floor, both with en suite bathrooms, and a third bedroom on the lower level has a private terrace and outside entrance that makes it suitable as a home office or guest quarters.
Britton, who will appear opposite Mark Wahlberg on the big screen in the soon-to-be-released “Good Joe Bell,” maintains several homes across the country. Several years ago, she upgraded her L.A. residence to a $3.1 million Mediterranean villa in the Los Feliz area, and she’s hung onto a fully restored early-1900s bungalow in the Travis Heights area of Austin, Texas, since 2010, when it was acquired for nearly $600,000. Tax records show she also owns a cooperative apartment in a landmarked downtown Manhattan building where past and present residents include Richard Gere, Toni Morrison, Megan Ellison and OG supermodels Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista.
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Home HOT NEWS HOLLYWOOD NEWS The Walking Dead Spinoff Dead City (2023): Cast, Plot Details and More
The Walking Dead Spinoff Dead City (2023): Cast, Plot Details and More
The Walking Dead is spinoff metropolis, they usually’re taking not less than one spinoff into the town that by no means sleeps: Dead City. Dead City will observe two TWD fan-favorites, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan and Lauren Cohan as Maggie, all the way in which to New York City. Get all the main points we all know thus far concerning the subsequent Walking Dead spinoff Dead City, together with the forged and the best way to watch!
Related: 9 Apocalyptic Books Every Walking Dead Fan Should Read
What is the brand new Walking Dead spinoff, Dead City?
Originally titled Isle of the Dead, Dead City was introduced on March 7, 2022. It’s simply the most recent in a sequence of TWD spinoffs. Fear the Walking Dead, a prequel sequence detailing the early days of the zombie apocalypse, premiered in 2015 and will soon be on its eighth season.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond premiered in 2020 and ended after two seasons.
There are additionally two extra upcoming spinoffs. within the pipeline: Tales of the Walking Dead dropped in August 2022, whereas The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (clearly starring Norman Reedus) continues to be to return. Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) was beforehand slated to be within the Daryl-focused spinoff as properly, however in the end withdrew from the sequence because of its filming in Europe.
Related: Why Norman Reedus Thought He Was Going to Die on the Set of The Walking Dead‘s Final Season
What is Dead City from The Walking Dead?
The official synopsis of Dead City from AMC describes the present as an journey for Negan and Maggie. According to AMC, “Dead City envisions the popular Maggie and Negan characters traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan long ago cut off from the mainland. The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror.” We can solely assume that Manhattan might be at least as civilized as, say, Jadis’ Scavenger settlement, however that every one nonetheless stays to be seen!
Who is within the Dead City forged?
The Dead City forged consists of:
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in “The Walking Dead” spinoff “Dead City”
Morgan mentioned in an announcement about becoming a member of the spinoff (through Variety—earlier than it was renamed Dead City), “I’m delighted that Negan and Maggie’s journey continues. It’s been such a ride walking in Negan’s shoes, I’m beyond excited to continue his journey in New York City with Lauren. Walkers in an urban setting has always been such a cool image, but 5th Avenue, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty? The greatest city in the world? The backdrop is amazing, but it’s the story that Eli Jorné cooked up that is even better. Buckle up folks, Isle of the Dead is going to reinvent the TWD Universe. Huge thank you to Dan McDermott, Scott Gimple and AMC for having us back for more… we simply can’t wait.”
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee in AMC’s “The Walking Dead” spinoff “Dead City”
Lauren Cohan mentioned in an announcement, “I’m thrilled to partner with Dan McDermott and the team at AMC on the next chapter in The Walking Dead Universe. Maggie is very close to my heart and I’m excited to continue her journey against the iconic backdrop of New York City, alongside my friend and collaborator, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Eli Jorné has created something incredibly special and I cannot wait for the fans to see what we have in store for Maggie and Negan.”
(scroll to maintain studying)
Trey Santiago-Hudson as Jano
Trey Santiago-Hudson as Jano, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in AMC’s “The Walking Dead” spinoff “Dead City”
Trey Santiago-Hudson stars as Jano, pictured right here with Maggie and Negan. Not a lot else is thought at this juncture concerning the character.
Charlie Solis because the Bartender
Charlie Solis as The Bartender and Lauren Cohen as Maggie Rhee in “The Walking Dead” spinoff “Dead City”
Not a lot is thought concerning the Bartender aside from that he is performed by Charlie Solis (and seems to serve Maggie a drink).
Other castmembers embody:
Alex Borlo
Gaius Charles
David Chen
Randy Gonzalez
Jonathan Higginbotham
Alex Huynh
Željko Ivanek
Aixa Kendrick
Mahina Napoleon
Karina Ortiz
Caleb Reese Paul
Eleanor Reissa
John Wu
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What is the Maggie and Negan spinoff Dead City?
Maggie and Negan will be part of forces in New York City’s Manhattan for Dead City. As of this writing, it is unclear precisely how the unlikely duo will find yourself within the Big Apple. One factor that is secure to imagine: Negan’s signature leather-based jacket will assist him match proper in with any hipster survivors he encounters throughout their journey to and in New York.
When is the Dead City release date?
Dead City would not but have a release date. However, we do know that the present is anticipated to premiere someday in April 2023. In summer time 2022, Morgan revealed that the manufacturing of the sequence was underway with an Instagram submit revealing a script for the present.
Related: Lauren Cohen Dishes on Relationships and More
How many episodes of The Walking Dead spinoff Dead City are there?
Dead City is slated to have six episodes in its first season. It isn’t clear whether or not the present is slated to be an ongoing challenge or a restricted sequence, which can decide the overall variety of episodes to count on from this specific TWD spinoff.
Is there a Dead City trailer?
No trailer exists but for Dead City. However, AMC has launched a promo poster picture for the sequence, which exhibits the doorway to New York City’s Lincoln Tunnel. The tunnel is closed off and coated in warnings concerning the walker apocalypse, together with one which may be fairly acquainted to followers of the franchise: “DON’T OPEN DEAD INSIDE.” You can see elements of the New York City skyline, in addition to a pair of straggler walkers off to the left of the picture. The metropolis is visibly in tough form, with overgrown weeds and ivy, potholes (which, to be honest, some New Yorkers, relying on the borough and neighborhood, might say are regular!) and a usually soiled, dingy vibe.
How can I watch Dead City?
Dead City will debut on AMC someday in April 2023. You may also be capable to stream the present on AMC+, although it has not but been reported if AMC+ subscribers will get early entry to Isle of the Dead as they do with new episodes of The Walking Dead.
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Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy
Hyun Jung Kim, Jin Ho Song, Hyeong Sik Ahn, Bong Hoi Choi, Hojin Jeong, Hoon Sik Choi, Yun Hee Lee, Ki Mun Kang, Bae Kwon Jeong
Purpose: Rectal cancer patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) have a better prognosis compared to those without a pCR. Therefore, the “Wait and See” (W&S) approach in those who achieved clinically complete response (cCR) after CCRT was introduced as an alternative modality to the total mesorectal excision (TME). The aim of this study was to compare the oncological outcomes between W&S and TME via meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search on January 14, 2016, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus. In addition, the references of all articles obtained were searched manually. The qualities of each study were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. The main outcomes were recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) for the recurrence and survival rates, respectively. Results: The RR of patients whose initial recurrences was local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), LR + DM, or overall recurrences were 0.18, 1.00, 0.61, and 0.49, respectively. There was no heterogeneity in the results. The HR of DFS was 0.59 and indicated that DFS in the TME group was superior compared with that in the W&S group. The OS has no significant difference between the studies. Conclusions: Although the W&S approach seemed feasible for rectal cancer patients with a cCR after neoadjuvant CCRT, concrete evidence obtained in well-controlled randomized trials with a long-term follow-up is required to validate potential treatment options.
International Journal of Colorectal Disease
Published - 2017 May 1
Chemoradiotherapy
Mesorectal excision
Salvage therapy
Dive into the research topics of 'Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Chemoradiotherapy Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Rectal Neoplasms Medicine & Life Sciences 95%
Disease-Free Survival Medicine & Life Sciences 44%
MEDLINE Medicine & Life Sciences 13%
Kim, H. J., Song, J. H., Ahn, H. S., Choi, B. H., Jeong, H., Choi, H. S., Lee, Y. H., Kang, K. M., & Jeong, B. K. (2017). Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 32(5), 723-727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-016-2709-0
Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy. / Kim, Hyun Jung; Song, Jin Ho; Ahn, Hyeong Sik et al.
In: International Journal of Colorectal Disease, Vol. 32, No. 5, 01.05.2017, p. 723-727.
Kim, HJ, Song, JH, Ahn, HS, Choi, BH, Jeong, H, Choi, HS, Lee, YH, Kang, KM & Jeong, BK 2017, 'Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy', International Journal of Colorectal Disease, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 723-727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-016-2709-0
Kim HJ, Song JH, Ahn HS, Choi BH, Jeong H, Choi HS et al. Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy. International Journal of Colorectal Disease. 2017 May 1;32(5):723-727. doi: 10.1007/s00384-016-2709-0
Kim, Hyun Jung ; Song, Jin Ho ; Ahn, Hyeong Sik et al. / Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy. In: International Journal of Colorectal Disease. 2017 ; Vol. 32, No. 5. pp. 723-727.
@article{a9d1861f804741028e71489deac2b32b,
title = "Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy",
abstract = "Purpose: Rectal cancer patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) have a better prognosis compared to those without a pCR. Therefore, the “Wait and See” (W&S) approach in those who achieved clinically complete response (cCR) after CCRT was introduced as an alternative modality to the total mesorectal excision (TME). The aim of this study was to compare the oncological outcomes between W&S and TME via meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search on January 14, 2016, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus. In addition, the references of all articles obtained were searched manually. The qualities of each study were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. The main outcomes were recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) for the recurrence and survival rates, respectively. Results: The RR of patients whose initial recurrences was local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), LR + DM, or overall recurrences were 0.18, 1.00, 0.61, and 0.49, respectively. There was no heterogeneity in the results. The HR of DFS was 0.59 and indicated that DFS in the TME group was superior compared with that in the W&S group. The OS has no significant difference between the studies. Conclusions: Although the W&S approach seemed feasible for rectal cancer patients with a cCR after neoadjuvant CCRT, concrete evidence obtained in well-controlled randomized trials with a long-term follow-up is required to validate potential treatment options.",
keywords = "Chemoradiotherapy, Mesorectal excision, Overall survival, Rectal cancer, Salvage therapy, Wait and see",
author = "Kim, {Hyun Jung} and Song, {Jin Ho} and Ahn, {Hyeong Sik} and Choi, {Bong Hoi} and Hojin Jeong and Choi, {Hoon Sik} and Lee, {Yun Hee} and Kang, {Ki Mun} and Jeong, {Bae Kwon}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.",
journal = "International Journal of Colorectal Disease",
T1 - Wait and see approach for rectal cancer with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy
AU - Kim, Hyun Jung
AU - Song, Jin Ho
AU - Ahn, Hyeong Sik
AU - Choi, Bong Hoi
AU - Jeong, Hojin
AU - Choi, Hoon Sik
AU - Lee, Yun Hee
AU - Kang, Ki Mun
AU - Jeong, Bae Kwon
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
N2 - Purpose: Rectal cancer patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) have a better prognosis compared to those without a pCR. Therefore, the “Wait and See” (W&S) approach in those who achieved clinically complete response (cCR) after CCRT was introduced as an alternative modality to the total mesorectal excision (TME). The aim of this study was to compare the oncological outcomes between W&S and TME via meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search on January 14, 2016, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus. In addition, the references of all articles obtained were searched manually. The qualities of each study were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. The main outcomes were recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) for the recurrence and survival rates, respectively. Results: The RR of patients whose initial recurrences was local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), LR + DM, or overall recurrences were 0.18, 1.00, 0.61, and 0.49, respectively. There was no heterogeneity in the results. The HR of DFS was 0.59 and indicated that DFS in the TME group was superior compared with that in the W&S group. The OS has no significant difference between the studies. Conclusions: Although the W&S approach seemed feasible for rectal cancer patients with a cCR after neoadjuvant CCRT, concrete evidence obtained in well-controlled randomized trials with a long-term follow-up is required to validate potential treatment options.
AB - Purpose: Rectal cancer patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) have a better prognosis compared to those without a pCR. Therefore, the “Wait and See” (W&S) approach in those who achieved clinically complete response (cCR) after CCRT was introduced as an alternative modality to the total mesorectal excision (TME). The aim of this study was to compare the oncological outcomes between W&S and TME via meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search on January 14, 2016, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus. In addition, the references of all articles obtained were searched manually. The qualities of each study were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. The main outcomes were recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) for the recurrence and survival rates, respectively. Results: The RR of patients whose initial recurrences was local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), LR + DM, or overall recurrences were 0.18, 1.00, 0.61, and 0.49, respectively. There was no heterogeneity in the results. The HR of DFS was 0.59 and indicated that DFS in the TME group was superior compared with that in the W&S group. The OS has no significant difference between the studies. Conclusions: Although the W&S approach seemed feasible for rectal cancer patients with a cCR after neoadjuvant CCRT, concrete evidence obtained in well-controlled randomized trials with a long-term follow-up is required to validate potential treatment options.
KW - Chemoradiotherapy
KW - Mesorectal excision
KW - Overall survival
KW - Rectal cancer
KW - Salvage therapy
KW - Wait and see
JO - International Journal of Colorectal Disease
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Bryson Tiller pops up in the 502
Posted on June 14, 2017 by livemusiclou
Louisville’s own Bryson Tiller played a sold out, all ages show at Mercury Ballroom last week. Tix were gone hella fast but Live Music Lou was “in the know” and snagged a couple.
Tiller was originally in town to celebrate the refurbished basketball court/park at Wyandotte Park that he sponsored with Nike. (Side note: we checked out that event and the courts are BEAUTIFUL.) The show was a special added bonus for his local fan base. It was announced only a week before the show itself with tickets on sale immediately. It confused a bunch of people as he also announced his KFC Yum! Center show shortly before that, but obviously the demand for Bryson x2 was there. (FYI — Those tickets are on sale NOW!)
Photo from Nike
Mercury was packed to the brim and were ready to sing along to Bryson Tiller jams for about an hour and a half. It seemed that many had seen the artist before; we were not part of the group, not being able to get tickets to his last Palace show. The layout of the stage included an extension out into the crowd. It wasn’t ideal for picture taking, as there was no pit, but it did bring Tiller to the people…which was ultimately the point of the evening. I know a handful of Bryson’s songs but in no way will admit to being a super-fan or anything, which most definitely put me in the minority. People were PUMPED to see him. There were lots of young ladies screaming and folks singing along with him…for every. single. word. We got a special surprise as the night was closed out with an appearance from Yo Gotti.
Bryson Tiller at Mercury Ballroom
The crowd, to be honest, was very young; Brittany actually saw one of her former student at the show (shout out to Adriana – so proud that you’re doing so well!). There was also a large section upstairs that was only family, close friends and people involved in the production of this new album. They were loving the night as I’m sure it almost honors them as much as highlights him.
The tour is called Trap Soul Series but the big stuff is coming up. At the end of May, he released his sophomore album, True To Self, which has since hit #1 on Billboard, and he’s announced an extensive tour that will culminate here in Louisville at the Yum! Center in September. A lot of people like to give Tiller a hard time for overplaying his Louisville ties and not really being a true, committed Louisvillian, but he definitely has preferential treatment for the city.
Check out the rest of Britt’s photos here! Cool fact, Britt was one of only 2 photographers at the show…so these are EXCLUSIVE!
-Aubrey
Posted in Aubrey, BrittanyTagged basketball, Bryson Tiller, Do502, KFC Yum! Center, live music, Live Music Lou, Live Music Louisville, local, Louisville, Louisville love, Louisville Parks, Mercury Ballroom, Music, Nike, pop up, pop up show, The Louisville Palace Theater, The Mercury Ballroom, The Palace, Trapsoul, Trapsoul Series, True To Self, Wyandotte Park, Yum! Center
JTE returns to HDL
Franz Ferdinand is on their rock concert game | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.546444296836853, "wiki_prob": 0.546444296836853, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line1036844"} |
Tag Archives: Weatheradio Canada
Jock shares: “A bit more about NOAA Weather Radio”
Photo by Raychel Sanner via Unsplash
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post:
A bit more about NOAA Weather Radio
By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM
Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m a fan, an advocate, an evangelist for NOAA Weather Radio (NWR).
Why? Because, quite simply, if you live in the United States, it is one of the very best deals you are ever likely to get. NWR is the voice of the National Weather Service. It is the fastest and most reliable means of receiving alerts when hazardous weather approaches.
NWR includes more than 1000 transmitters, covering some or all of 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz): 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550. Radios capable of receiving NWR signals may include consumer radios, ham radios, scanners, and dedicated weather radios.
For more information about coverage, check these:
Nationwide Station Listing Using Broadcast Frequencies
County Coverage Listings by State
NOAA Weather Radio is free. There are no commercials, you don’t have to wait for other programming to be completed to hear the weather forecast, and, because it is radio, you can listen and get a concise summary of what’s going on with the weather in your area while you are doing something else. Even better, the folks at the National Weather Service tell me that over 80 percent of the NWR transmitters have some form of backup or emergency power, many of which can continue to operate for 5-10 days while the main power is out. There is a wealth of information about NWR here: https://www.weather.gov/phi/nwrfaq scroll down to see details.
Why do you want a receiver that can hear NOAA Weather Radio? Short answer: because every state in the Union has some form of hazardous weather that could prove lethal. Early warning just might save your life.
In his excellent book Warnings – the true story of how science tamed the weather, Mike Smith points out how successful meteorology has been at saving lives. In the 1950s, with the beginning of the tornado warning system, the death rate from tornados was 1.5 deaths per million people. By 2009, the death rate was down to .068 deaths per million, a decrease or more than 95 percent. The investment weather radar, prediction techniques, and warning systems such as NWR has paid handsome dividends.
So what makes an NWR-capable radio good? First, sensitivity. Greater sensitivity increases the odds that the radio will be able to hear more NWR stations in your local area, which in turn raises the probability that you’ll be able to hear an NWR station with backup power when the lights go out.
Second, alert capability. An alert function – that is, the ability to put the radio in standby mode and have it automatically switch on when NWR transmits an alert tone is a great plus. You can go about your business, and the radio will wake up and alert you when you need to pay attention.
Third, advanced alert capability. Ideally, you would like to be alerted only when a hazard is close to your immediate vicinity. Some dedicated weather radios and advanced scanners offer Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) that can be programmed by the user to only alarm for weather and other emergency events in specific, desired counties, thereby eliminating unwanted alerts for areas that are not of concern to the listener. In addition, some weather radios have a selectable alert option that can be programmed to alert only when certain hazard codes – ranging from Avalanche to Winter Storm Warning – have been selected by the user and are transmitted by the local NWR station.
With that in mind, here are some NWR-capable radios with which I have had personal experience. With each radio, I did a quick search from the same location to see how many local NWR stations it would receive, as a rough indication of sensitivity. The good news is that every single one of the radios below could receive at least two NWR stations in my local area and had basic alert capabilities.
Consumer radios with AM/FM receive
CC Skywave SSB
CCrane 2E –could hear clearly 3 NWR stations in my area, basic alert function, house mains and battery power (over 200 hours).
CCrane Skywave SSB – could hear 2 NWR stations clearly and one scratchy, basic alert function, battery power (over 50 hours).
Eton FRX3+ — could hear NWR 3 stations clearly, basic alert capability, power options include solar, hand-crank dynamo, and rechargeable battery (can also be recharged off house power with USB capable), internal battery can be used to recharge cell phone battery.
Ham radio hand-talkies
Icom V80 with aftermarket high-performance antenna – could hear 2 NWR stations clearly and one scratchy, basic alert capability.
Yaesu VX-6 with Diamond 77 aftermarket antenna — could hear 2 NWR stations clearly and one scratchy, basic alert capability.
Uniden BC125AT with Diamond 77 aftermarket antenna – could hear 3 NWR stations clearly, basic alert function.
Uniden SDS200 with homebrew off-center-fed dipole antenna (see below) – could hear 6 NWR stations clearly, highly sophisticated programmable SAME and specific hazard alert functions, no battery power (the SDS100, handheld version of this scanner provides battery power); would require uninterruptible power supply or something similar if mains power goes off. Author’s note: while the performance is stellar, this is by far the most expensive option. With the stock antenna that comes with the SDS200, I could hear two NWR stations clearly.
Dedicated NOAA Weather Radio Receiver
Midland WR120 Weather Alert Radio – At the time I began this write-up, I did not own a dedicated weather radio receiver, so I reached out to www.midlandusa.com, and they were kind enough to send me this unit, which is built solely to receive National Weather Radio stations. With the built-in whip antenna extended, the receiver was clearly very sensitive. I could hear 4 of my local NWR stations clearly, and 2 more scratchy but copyable. If you are in a fringe area, there is a socket for plugging in an external antenna such as the one I describe below.
There is a little symbol on the box that says “EZ Progamming,” and I was pleasantly surprised that it was true. Between the MENU and SELECT keys, it is easy to walk through the setup. I thought that I would have to look up the SAME code for my location, but the WR120 has a built-in database of all the states and counties, so selecting my county was a snap. In addition to SAME programming, the WR120 has a long list of selectable alert options that you can choose to meet your needs. That list can be downloaded here: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0531/2856/0817/files/SAME_List_of_Emergencies_Non-Weather_Emergencies.pdf?v=1636648846
The WR120 is powered by a tiny wall-wart transformer that plugs into house power, and the user installs 3 AA batteries to provide back-up power in case the lights go out. The manual does not say how long it will operate on battery power.
It seems to me that if you do not already own a device that will receive NOAA Weather Radio stations, the WR120 would be an excellent choice.
Boosting Performance
If you want to boost the performance of the radio you are using to listen to NOAA Weather Radio, I can highly recommend this antenna: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Homebrewed_Off-Center_Fed_Dipole .
I built the wire version, hung it inside in a corner of my radio shack, and with it attached to either Uniden scanner or my Icom V80 ham handi-talkie, I can hear six NWR stations from my location. This antenna offers a large boost in performance for a modest investment of time and money.
In his blog, Smith argues that each of us ought to have redundant means of alerting us to hazardous weather: an app on your smart phone, plus an NWR-capable radio with alert function at home, plus your local TV or radio stations. To which I say: darn good idea!
This entry was posted in Guest Posts, News, Weather Radio and tagged Jock Elliott (KB2GOM), NOAA weather radio, Weather Radio, Weatheradio Canada on February 20, 2022 by Thomas.
Radio Waves: Brazil Proposes End of all Ham Radio Exams, Radio Engineer Files Objection to WIPE, Radio in the Malvinas War, and List of 48 Weatheradio Sites in Proposed Closure
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Rob (PE9PE), Bennett Kobb, Harald
(DL1AX), and Dennis Dura for the following tips:
Brazil proposes end of all amateur radio exams (Southgate ARC)
ANATEL, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency, recently published a public consultation, CP65, which is available at this link:
In their website, LABRE, the Brazilian Amateur Radio League, was surprised by the CP65 proposal that proposes, among other topics, the extinction of the COER (amateur radio certificate) exam for all classes and replacement by free access to initial class C, as is done today with the Citizen’s Band, as well as access to subsequent classes B and A upon presentation of the Certificate of Technical Course and Graduation in Telecommunications, respectively, or minimum stay of 3 years in each class.
In addition, the aforementioned proposal suggests ending the rules of different prefixes for each of the States of the Federation, remaining only the prefix per class and there would no longer be any special callsigns.
The proposal, in addition to going against what is consensus in the international regulation related to the Amateur Radio Service, is absolutely contrary to the LABRE’s thinking with regard to the minimum requirements to be a radio amateur and also does not match ANATEL’s request for support from LABRE in the revision of amateur radio regulations in Brazil.
For further clarification on the subject, LABRE has already requested a meeting with ANATEL, which will be scheduled soon.
PR7GA
Radio Engineer Files Objection to WIPE (DRMNA.info)
Story by Bennett Kobb:
On September 3, radio engineer Alex Pilosov of Shortwave Solutions filed with the FCC an objection to WIPE, the DRM-based HF station of Turms Tech of New York, presumed to be ready to broadcast from the Armstrong Tower in Alpine, NJ.
WIPE is suspected to be intended mainly for secret, non-broadcast message transmission for private trading clients while broadcasting financial and economic news for the public.
WIPE is not yet operational. The station is waiting on its FCC license, but Pilosov took aim at possible glitches in its license application. He also raises the issue of whether U.S. shortwave stations can legally conduct non-public telecommunications in the broadcast bands in a service limited to broadcasting.
Pilosov is a consultant to HF stations in the Experimental Radio Service, which are not constrained by the broadcast rules; thus he or his clients are prospective competitors to WIPE. This is Pilosov’s second FCC objection. He also filed against the application of Parable Broadcasting for WPBC, a DRM HF station proposed for Batavia, IL.[…]
Radio in the Malvinas War (RAE)
In 2020 we celebrate the centenary of radio in Argentina. Such an event can be approached in various ways, since there are several milestones along this century of radio in our country. There are some events that are marked by fire in collective memory.
It is our intention to approach the celebration focusing on an event in which radio was in the spotlight: the 1982 Malvinas War, a conflict waged on various fields: military, economic, diplomatic and, of course, communications, mainly as a means of propaganda.
Most countries over time have recognised the great potential of radio as an effective instrument both in times of war and peace. Historically, Germany was the first country to use this for purely political purposes.
During WWII the broadcasts of Radio Tokyo, Radio Germany, the BBC in London and other stations were used for propaganda and military purposes by combatant nations.
The post-war period and the subsequent Cold War brought along a “war of the airwaves”. During these years, countless stations emerged with their own propaganda styles, looking to advance their social, political and economic systems.
An example of this are the broadcasts of Radio Moscow, Voice of America or Radio Beijing. Along with these stations, others of a clearly political nature emerged, such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, that targeted countries in Eastern Europe, as well as nations that became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This group also includes the so-called clandestine stations, which generally broadcast secretly from conflict zones or from nearby regions or using rented transmission sites.
Before April 2, 1982, the Malvinas Islands had one radio station: the Falkland Islands Radio Service (FIBS) – with broadcasts in English. Content aired included locally-produced programs as well as news services of BBC London. It broadcast on 536 khz and 2370 khz.
The AM frequency was intended to cover the Port Stanley area, reaching a little further with SW transmissions.[…]
List of 48 Weatheradio Canada transmitting site proposed for decommissioning (Weatheradio Newsletter)
As mentioned in a previous post, Weatheradio Canada is considering shutting down 48 network transmitters across the country. SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, recommends checking out the Weatheradio Canada Newsletter for updates.
He also forwards the following list of sites that are proposed for decommissioning. Click here to download the list as a PDF.
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This entry was posted in Ham Radio, News, Radio History, Shortwave Radio, Weather Radio and tagged Benn Kobb, Brazil, Dennis Dura, DRMNA.info, Ham Radio, Harald Kuhl, Radio Argentina To The World, RAE, Rob (PE9PE), Weatheradio Canada, Weatheradio Canada Closures, WIPE on September 7, 2020 by Thomas.
Weatheradio Canada considers shutting down 48 network transmitters across the country
Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post readers who’ve recently contacted me regarding announced closures at Weatheradio Canada. Dennis Dura recently shared this link from the Weatheradio Newsletter which is essentially a call to action to save the Weatheradio service.
For those of you not familiar, Weatheradio Canada is very much like NOAA Weather Radio service in the US: essentially, a vast network of transmitters which provide local forecasts and weather warnings. Both Weatheradio Canada and NOAA Weather Radio use seven fixed frequencies of 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550 MHz.
I found it difficult to believe that Canada would close their entire network of Weatheradio FM transmitters because, like the US, there are vast rural and remote areas that are well-served by the radio network. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been camping or travelling outside of mobile phone network coverage in the US and Canada and relied on weather radio for my forecast.
I decided to reach out to Environment and Climate Change Canada and get their official word. Here’s the response I received from their Media Relations representative:
As Canada’s official source for weather forecasts and alerts, Canadians rely on getting the latest current weather conditions from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Meteorological Service. Since 1871, Canada’s Meteorological Service has continuously adapted to and taken advantage of the latest science and technology to maximize services to Canadians, including those living in remote or Northern areas, or areas without cellular service.
The Weatheradio network, introduced in the 70’s, is made up of 230 transmitting stations. For the most part, these Weatheradio transmitters are in urban areas with plenty of options for accessing weather information and alerts, e.g. internet, mobile apps, radio, television. ECCC has identified 48 Weatheradio transmitters across Canada for potential decommissioning. Of these 48, 12 in Ontario, three are in BC, three in AB, five in SK, four in MB, five in QC, five in NB, three in NS, one in PEI and seven in NL.
In other words, Environment and Climate Change Canada is considering decommissioning about 21% of their Weatheradio transmitters, targeting ones located in urban areas.
The Midland WR120 weather radio.
I haven’t seen a map of the transmitters marked for potential closure, but I strongly suspect if you live in a very rural area you’re unlikely to be affected.
If you live in an urban area, however, and routinely rely on a weather radio for forecasts and automatic alerts, you may soon only hear static.
If you feel strongly about these potential changes within the Weatheradio Canada network, I suggest you reach out to your Member of Parliament and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
This entry was posted in News, Weather Radio and tagged Weather Radio, Weatheradio Canada, Weatheradio Canada Closures on September 5, 2020 by Thomas. | {"pred_label": "__label__cc", "pred_label_prob": 0.7144816517829895, "wiki_prob": 0.2855183482170105, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line459455"} |
THE HOME OF DUBAI LITTLE LEAGUE
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Dubai Parks and Resorts™ gifting multi-park annual passes to the first 400 that sign up to DLL
The UAE's favourite integrated theme park destination has partnered with the not-for-profit international baseball organization to get children and young people moving.
The Middle East’s largest integrated theme park destination, Dubai Parks and Resorts™, has teamed up with Dubai Little League, a not-for-profit international baseball organization, to encourage more young people to get active through sport, and is offering multi-park annual passes to the first 400 people that sign up to join the league.
The Dubai Parks and Resorts™ multi-park annual pass is worth AED 695, and will give each pass holder unlimited access to a whole year of fun and excitement at all four of Dubai Parks and Resorts™ amazing theme parks that include, MOTIONGATE™ Dubai, LEGOLAND® Dubai, LEGOLAND® Water Park and BOLLYWOOD PARKS™ Dubai.
Vice President, Sales and Marketing, of Dubai Park and Resorts, Rami Mashini said: “After a tough year for everyone due to COVID-19 which has seen sporting events and after school clubs being cancelled for children, we wanted to give something back to the community and incentivize children to be active, whilst having fun with their friends, and partnering with such as great organization such as Dubai Little League seemed like a natural fit. There is so much fun to be had at Dubai Parks and Resorts and we can’t wait to welcome the Dubai Little League annual pass holders!”
Roger Duthie, President of Dubai Little League said: “To have a prestigious brand such as Dubai Parks and Resorts join our community only enhances our two-fold goals to not only grow baseball and softball in the region, but to also to make the Dubai Little League the most family-friendly sporting community in Dubai. We are so excited and grateful to Dubai Parks and Resorts for this partnership and have named one of our fields the Dubai Parks and Resorts Fields to say thank you.”
A not-for-profit international baseball organization run by volunteers, Dubai Little League is ideal for kids and teens from 5 years old, up to 18 years. Both diverse and inclusive, Dubai Little League has members from more than 30 nationalities, a division for people of determination, and more than 400 members training throughout the week with competitive games taking place every weekend.
The partnership between Dubai Parks and Resorts™ and Dubai Little League not only includes year round access to all four of Dubai Parks and Resorts™ amazing theme parks, but also in-game promotions at the Dubai Little League weekly games.
For more information about Dubai Little League, to sign up to the 2020/21 season and to avail the Dubai Parks and Resorts™ annual multi-park pass offer please visit, https://dubailittleleague.com/
Please visit www.dubaiparksandresorts.com to find out more information about Dubai Parks and Resorts and to check the park’s enhanced safety guidelines and procedures.
TEEBALL OPEN SESSIONS!
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DLL RULES
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American Pie star says she got the ‘best d***’ after Stifler’s Mom role
American Pie star Jennifer Coolidge has spilled the beans about the "best d***" she got because of playing Stifler's Mom.
The actress played the sexy character – who got intimate with her son's classmate – in the 90s comedy and its follow-ups and recently suggested that she slept with 200 people because of the sizzling role.
She opened up about it further during an interview with Ariana Grande for Entertainment Weekly’s 2022 Entertainers of the Year cover – but explained that the 200 had been an "exaggeration".
READ MORE: American Pie cast now – threesome fail, rehab, DUIs and awkward flashing fails
Quizzing the star on her past comments, Ariana asked: "Do you remember the best d*** you got from playing Stifler's Mom?"
Jennifer, 61, replied that it was "definitely the youngest fellow" – clarifying that it was "legal, of course".
Ariana said the star wasn't under any pressure to share the details, but Jennifer went on: "No, I'm glad you asked this because you see, I did say that jokingly and, God, you really can't make jokes in our town, because I did make the terrible mistake of saying, 'Thank God for that movie, I got to sleep with 200 men' or whatever.
"And look, I would love to say that was true, but I mean, that was sort of an exaggeration – so I'm glad you're asking me."
However, the White Lotus actress did say that the part opened her up to a broader group of handsome and younger men.
In the summer, Legally Blonde star Jennifer told Variety that she got a "lot of sexual action" as a result of her part in the films
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
"There were so many benefits to doing that movie," she said in an interview.
"There would have been like, 200 people that I would have never had slept with."
American Pie was released in 1999.
Sequel American Pie 2 followed two years later, before 2003's American Wedding and 2012's American Reunion.
Stifler's mom star, 61, had 'lots of sex' and slept with '200 people' after iconic role
American Pie's Sherminator looks very different two decades on
Stifler's mom actress Jennifer Coolidge posed as her own twin so she could date two men
Pamela Anderson puts a new spin on her iconic 90s feathered hat
adidas Revitalizes Its Y-3 Marathon TR Sneaker | {"pred_label": "__label__wiki", "pred_label_prob": 0.9641727209091187, "wiki_prob": 0.9641727209091187, "source": "cc/2023-06/en_middle_0103.json.gz/line638415"} |
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